Tenascin is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein known to be an essential factor for the modulation of reciprocal interactions between the epithelium and mesenchyme during embryogenesis and tumourigenesis. The interactions between the expression of tenascin in the liver of Syrian golden hamster and the development of bile duct cancer in an Opisthorchis viverrini-associated cholangiocarcinoma model were investigated. The tenascin was expressed in connective tissues surrounding the dilated ducts, ductal rims and the stroma of cancers, and strongly in the stroma flame of necrotic cancer nodules. The mRNA signal for tenascin was also recognized in the stroma cells. The potential roles of tenascin as prognostic tumour markers are discussed.

In the present study, a compressible low-Reynolds-number flow over a circular cylinder was investigated using a low-density wind tunnel with time-resolved schlieren visualizations and pressure and force measurements. The Reynolds number ($Re$) based on freestream quantities and the diameter of a circular cylinder was set to be between 1000 and 5000, and the freestream Mach number ($M$) between 0.1 and 0.5. As a result, we have clarified the effect of $M$ on the aerodynamic characteristics of flow over a circular cylinder at $Re=O(10^{3})$. The results of the schlieren visualization showed that the trend of $M$ effect on the flow field, that are the release location of the Kármán vortices, the Strouhal number of vortex shedding and the maximum width of the recirculation, is changed at approximately $Re=3000$. In addition, the spanwise phase difference of the surface pressure fluctuation was captured by the measurement using pressure-sensitive paint at approximately $Re=3000$ of higher-$M$ cases. The observed spanwise phase difference is considered to relate to the spanwise phase difference of the vortex shedding due to the oblique instability wave on the separated shear layer caused by the compressibility effects. The Strouhal number of the vortex shedding is influenced by $M$ and $Re$, and those effects are nonlinear. However, the effects of $M$ and $Re$ can approximately be characterized by the maximum width of the recirculation. In addition, the $M$ effect on the drag coefficient can be characterized by the maximum width of the recirculation region and the Prandtl–Glauert transformation.

The number of tests performed is an important surveillance indicator. We illustrate this point using HIV surveillance data, focusing on Tokyo and Okinawa, two prefectures with high HIV notification rates in Japan. Restricting to data reported from local public health centres and affiliate centres where testing data are accessible, we assessed HIV surveillance data during 2007–2014, based on the annual HIV notification rate (per 100 000 population), HIV testing rate (per 100 000 population) and proportion testing HIV-positive (positivity). Nationally, testing activity and positivity showed an inverse relationship; in 2008, the testing rate peaked, but positivity was lowest. While notification rates were higher for Tokyo (median = 0.98, range = 0.89–1.33) than Okinawa (median = 0.61, range = 0.42–1.09), Okinawa had slightly higher testing rates (median = 187, range = 158–274) relative to Tokyo (median = 172, range = 163–210). Positivity was substantially lower in Okinawa (median = 0.34%, range = 0.24–0.45%) compared with Tokyo (median = 0.57%, range = 0.46–0.67%). Relative to the national testing rate (median = 85, range = 80–115) and positivity (median = 0.34%, range = 0.28–0.36%), Tokyo had higher positivity, despite more testing. In 2014 in Okinawa, all three indicators increased, providing a strong reason to be concerned as positivity increased despite more testing. Together with other information, accounting for testing and positivity improve interpretation of surveillance data to guide public health assessments.

New mid-Cretaceous stable isotope (δ18O and δ13C) records of multiple planktonic foraminiferal species and coexisting coccoliths from Blake Nose (western North Atlantic) document a major depth-ecology reorganization of planktonic foraminifera. Across the Albian/Cenomanian boundary, deep-dwelling Praeglobotruncana stephani and Rotalipora globotruncanoides adapted to living at a shallower depth, while, at the same time, the population of surface-dwelling Paracostellagerina libyca declined. Subsequently, the opportunistic species Hedbergella delrioensis shifted to a deep environment, and the deep-dwelling forms Rotalipora montsalvensis and Rotalipora reicheli first appeared. The primary paleoenvironmental cause of the observed changes in planktonic adaptive strategies is uncertain, yet their coincidence with an earliest Cenomanian cooling trend reported elsewhere implicates the importance of reduced upper-ocean stratification. Although there has been an implicit assumption that the species-specific depth habitats of fossil planktonic foraminifera were invariant through time, planktonic paleoecology is a potential variable. Accordingly, the possibility of evolutionary changes in planktonic foraminiferal depth ecology should be a primary consideration (along with other environmental parameters) in paleoceanographic interpretations of foraminiferal stable isotope data.

Agriculture and livestock production systems are two major emitters of greenhouse gases. Methane with a GWP (global warming potential) of 21, and nitrous oxide (N2O) with a GWP of 300, are largely emitted from animal production agriculture, where livestock production is based on pasture and feed grains. The principal biological processes involved in N2O emissions are nitrification and denitrification. Biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) is the natural ability of certain plant species to release nitrification inhibitors from their roots that suppress nitrifier activity, thus reducing soil nitrification and N2O emission. Recent methodological developments (e.g. bioluminescence assay to detect BNIs in plant root systems) have led to significant advances in our ability to quantify and characterize the BNI function. Synthesis and release of BNIs from plants is a highly regulated process triggered by the presence of NH4+ in the rhizosphere, which results in the inhibitor being released precisely where the majority of the soil-nitrifier population resides. Among the tropical pasture grasses, the BNI function is strongest (i.e. BNI capacity) in Brachiaria sp. Some feed-grain crops such as sorghum also have significant BNI capacity present in their root systems. The chemical identity of some of these BNIs has now been established, and their mode of inhibitory action on Nitrosomonas has been characterized. The ability of the BNI function in Brachiaria pastures to suppress N2O emissions and soil nitrification potential has been demonstrated; however, its potential role in controlling N2O emissions in agro-pastoral systems is under investigation. Here we present the current status of our understanding on how the BNI functions in Brachiaria pastures and feed-grain crops such as sorghum can be exploited both genetically and, from a production system's perspective, to develop low-nitrifying and low N2O-emitting production systems that would be economically profitable and ecologically sustainable.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, August 7–August 11, 2011.

Shock propagation through a bubbly liquid contained in a deformable tube is considered. Quasi-one-dimensional mixture-averaged flow equations that include fluid–structure interaction are formulated. The steady shock relations are derived and the nonlinear effect due to the gas-phase compressibility is examined. Experiments are conducted in which a free-falling steel projectile impacts the top of an air/water mixture in a polycarbonate tube, and stress waves in the tube material and pressure on the tube wall are measured. The experimental data indicate that the linear theory is incapable of properly predicting the propagation speeds of finite-amplitude waves in a mixture-filled tube; the shock theory is found to more accurately estimate the measured wave speeds.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 in Richmond, Virginia, USA, July 26 – July 30, 2009

This paper proposes a new method for dealing with geometrical layout constraints. Geometrical layout constraints are classified into three classes of dimensional, regional, and interference constraints. Dimensional constraints are handled by using an existing methodology. A method is proposed to translate the other two classes of constraints into dimensional constraints. Thus, it is possible to uniformly deal with all of those geometrical layout constraints. The method is twofold. First, it converts regional, interference constraints into a set of simple inequalities. Then each inequality is solved by a geometric gadget, which is a structured set of dimensional constraints. A prototype system is developed and applied to some layout design examples.

Plasmodium falciparum thymidylate kinase (PfTMK) can tolerate a range of substrates, which distinguishes it from other thymidylate kinases. The enzyme not only phosphorylates TMP and dUMP but can also tolerate bulkier purines, namely, dGMP, GMP, and dIMP. In order to probe the flexibility of PfTMK in accommodating ligands of various sizes, we developed 6 mutant enzymes and subjected these to thermodynamic, inhibitory and catalytic evaluation. Kinase activity was markedly affected by introducing a larger lysine residue instead of A111. The lack of the hydroxyl group after inducing mutation of Y107F affected enzyme activity, and had a more severe impact on dGMP kinase activity. PfTMK can be inhibited by both purine and pyrimidine nucleosides, raising the possibility of developing highly selective drugs. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that enthalpic forces govern both purine and pyrimidine nucleoside monophosphate binding, and the binding affinity of both substrates was highly comparable. The heat produced due to dGMP binding is lower than that attributable to TMP. This indicates that additional interactions occur with TMP, which may be lost with larger dGMP. Targeting PfTMK not only affects thymidine nucleotide synthesis but may also affect purine nucleotides, and thus the enzyme represents an attractive antimicrobial target.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2007 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA, August 5 – August 9, 2007

An outbreak of psittacosis related to a bird park occurred in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, during winter 2001. Seventeen cases of psittacosis (12 visitors, three staff, and two student interns) were confirmed. A cohort study was conducted among the park staff and students to determine the risk factors for the development of acute serologically confirmed psittacosis (SCP) infection. Being ‘bird staff’ had an increased risk of SCP infection (RR 3·96, 95% CI 1·48–10·58). Entering the staff building, where ill birds were maintained without proper isolation, was also associated with an increased risk of SCP infection (RR 3·61, 95% CI 1·03–12·6). Isolation of ill birds and quarantine measures were found to be insufficient. Dehumidifiers and a high-pressure water spray under a closed ventilation environment may have raised the concentration of Chlamydophila psittaci in the hothouses. Bird park staff and visitors should be educated about psittacosis.

We present detailed abundance measurements of neutron-capture elements for the two very metal-poor stars HD 6268 and HD 122563, based on very high-quality, near-UV spectra (S/N >140 @3100A) using Subaru/HDS. Abundances have been obtained for a total of 26 and 19 neutron-capture elements in these two stars, respectively, including Nb, Mo, Ru, Pd, Ag, Pr, and Sm. We have confirmed that the abundance pattern of neutron-capture elements in HD 6268 agrees very well with that of previously known r-process-enhanced stars. In contrast, the elemental abundances of HD 122563 are found to steeply decrease with increasing atomic number than those of HD 6268, and are much lower than than the r-process pattern in solar-system material. This result provides a new, strong constraint on models of the nucleosynthetic process that has provided light neutron-capture elements in the very early Galaxy.

We describe the discovery of HE 1327–2326, a dwarf or subgiant with $\mbox{[Fe/H]}=-5.4$. The star was found in a sample of bright metal-poor stars selected from the Hamburg/ESO survey. Its abundance pattern is characterized by very high C and N abundances. The detection of Sr which is overabundant by a factor of 10 as compared to iron and the Sun, suggests that neutron-capture elements had already been produced in the very early Galaxy. A puzzling Li depletion is observed in this unevolved star which contradicts the value of the primordial Li derived from WMAP and other Li studies. Possible scenarios for the origin of the abundance pattern (Pop. II or Pop. III) are presented as well as an outlook on future observations.

We present preliminary results on the chemical abundance patterns of extremely metal-poor stars obtained during an ongoing observing program with Subaru/HDS. High-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra have been obtained for 14 stars with [Fe/H]$\lesssim -3$. Five of them exhibit clear overabundances of carbon, a remarkable characteristic found only in the most metal-poor range. One of the carbon-rich stars, HE 1327–2326, has [Fe/H]$_{\rm NLTE}=-5.4$, the lowest Fe abundance known. No stars with ${-}5\,{<}\,$[Fe/H]$\,{<}\,{-}4$ have yet been found in our program, suggesting that quite different enrichment processes were responsible for stars with [Fe/H]$\,{<}\,{-}5$ and [Fe/H]$\,{>}\,{-}4$. While neutron-capture elements are deficient in most of our stars, one star (BS 16550–087) exhibits large enhancements of its light neutron-capture elements (Sr, Y and Zr), providing a strong constraint on models for the production of such elements in the very early Galaxy.