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Using baited camera landers, the first images of living fishes were recorded in the hadal zone (6000–11000m) in the Pacific Ocean. The widespread abyssal macrourid Coryphaenoides yaquinae was observed at a new depth record of approximately 7000m in the Japan Trench. Two endemic species of liparid were observed at similar depths: Pseudoliparis amblystomopsis in the Japan Trench and Notoliparis kermadecensis in the Kermadec Trench. From these observations, we have documented swimming and feeding behaviour of these species and derived the first estimates of hadal fish abundance. The liparids intercepted bait within 100–200min but were observed to preferentially feed on scavenging amphipods. Notoliparis kermadecensis act as top predators in the hadal food web, exhibiting up to nine suction-feeding events per minute. Both species showed distinctive swimming gaits: P. amblystomopsis (mean length 22.5cm) displayed a mean tail-beat frequency of 0.47Hz and mean caudal:pectoral frequency ratio of 0.76, whereas N. kermadecensis (mean length 31.5cm) displayed respective values of 1.04 and 2.08Hz. Despite living at extreme depths, these endemic liparids exhibit similar activity levels compared with shallow-water liparids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate time operators in the context of quantum time crystals in ring systems. A generalized commutation relation called the generalized weak Weyl relation is used to derive a class of self-adjoint time operators for ring systems with a periodic time evolution: The conventional Aharonov–Bohm time operator is obtained by taking the infinite-radius limit. Then, we discuss the connection between time operators, time crystals and real-space topology. We also reveal the relationship between our time operators and a -symmetric time operator. These time operators are then used to derive several energy-time uncertainty relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NO2 concentration profiles, which are important in studies of atmospheric chemistry and urban pollution, were measured by a differential absorption lidar (DIAL) based on a pair of Nd:YAG pumped dye lasers. In the experiments, 448.1 nm and 446.8 nm were used for “on” and “off” wavelengths, respectively. NO2 concentration profiles of 0–40 ppb were obtained for altitudes between 900 and 2250 m with a 150 m range resolution. Null error, which was estimated by deviation of the null profile from zero, was <2 ppb. The statistical error, systematic error from aerosols, and error due to uncertainty of absorption cross section were <3.35 ppb, <4.44 ppb and <1 ppb, respectively. The total error was about 6.0 ppb. The estimation of aerosol backscatter and extinction error in NO2 measurement due to inhomogeneous aerosol distribution is treated in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of the Laurencia complex based on phylogenetic and DNA barcoding analyses revealed a new species, Laurencia longiramea Cassano, G.N. Santos, J.M.C. Nunes, M.C. Oliveira & M.T. Fujii sp. nov., on the Brazilian coast. The rbcL phylogenetic analysis resolved L. longiramea as sister to Laurencia species from the North Atlantic (L. pyramidalis, L. viridis and L. obtusa) and the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (L. intricata), with a divergence of 2.4%–3.7%. Using the DNA barcode COI-5P, L. longiramea was closest to L. pacifica from the United States, with a divergence of 4.2%. The new species has the typical features of the genus Laurencia and is characterised by: sparse branching, axes smaller than 1 mm diameter, often long branchlets, lenticular thickenings always present and abundant, and absence of cortical cells projected near branch apices. Morphologically, L. longiramea is similar to Laurencia filiformis. However, an rbcL sequence of L. filiformis from the type locality (Western Australia) confirmed that they are distinct species, with 4.3% divergence. Examination of Laurencia clavata from Brazil, deposited in the University of São Paulo (SPF) herbarium, were misidentified and corresponded to the new species, L. longiramea. In addition, the rbcL and COI-5P sequences of L. clavata from the type locality (Australia) did not join with L. longiramea. Laurencia clavata formed a well-supported clade with the two species of Coronaphycus. Priority supported the recognition of Corynecladia over Coronaphycus, requiring the new combinations Corynecladia elata (C.Agardh) comb. nov. and Corynecladia nova (Metti) comb. nov. Based on our results, Corynecladia clavata does not occur in the Brazilian marine flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species diversity within the genus Osmundea in the Macaronesian region was explored by conducting a comprehensive sampling in the Azores, the Canary, and the Madeira archipelagos. Toward identification, all specimens were first observed alive to verify the absence of corps en cerise, a diagnostic character for the genus and morphometric data were measured (thallus length and width, first-order branches length and width, branchlets length and width, cortical cell length and width in surface view, cortical cell length and width in transverse section). Specimens were sequenced for COI-5P (39 specimens) and three species delimitation methods (Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent, Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery method, and Poisson Tree Processes) were used to assess the threshold between infra- and interspecific relationships. Subsequently, one or several sequences of plastid-encoded large subunit of RuBisCO (21 specimens) per delimited species were generated to assess the phylogenetic relationships among Macaronesian Osmundea. Moreover, for each delineated species, vegetative and reproductive anatomy was thoroughly documented and, when possible, specimens were either assigned to existing taxa or described as novel species. This integrative approach has provided data for (i) the presence of O. oederi, O. pinnatifida, and O. truncata in Macaronesia; (ii) the proposal of two novel species, O. prudhommevanreinei sp. nov. and O. silvae sp. nov.; and (iii) evidence of an additional species referred as ' Osmundea sp.1,' which is a sister taxon of O. hybrida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study we undertook an integrative approach, using both morphological and molecular data (COI-5P +rbcL), to assess the presence ofLaurencia pyramidalisin Lusitanian Macaronesia. We studied type material ofL. pyramidalisfrom the herbarium of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the Netherlands, and designated a lectotype and syntypes. Vegetative and reproductive features ofL. pyramidaliswere observed and we included a specimen from the type locality in our molecular analyses. We also investigated the geographical distribution ofLaurenciella marilzae, a species recently described from the Canary Islands. Barcode sequences (COI-5P andrbcL) were generated forL. pyramidalisfrom the type locality (Normandy, France), the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands, and forL. marilzaefrom its type locality (Tenerife, Canary Islands), the Azores and Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An abstract of the article "Early and mid-term results of transapical and right axillary artery cannulation for acute aortic dissection" by T. Terasaki and colleagues is presented.

To create and test a multistation telemedicine support system, three remote locations wereconnected: the homes of two patients with chronic respiratory failure, the hospital of the attendingphysician, and the hospital of the pulmonary specialist. Real-time connections wereset up between the three locations. Medical history and biologic variables were noninvasivelyrecorded, including blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, three-lead electrocardiogram,and end-tidal carbon dioxide. Both physicians shared in these data real-time. If necessary, therespiratory specialist could provide medical advice to the attending physician based on thepatient's condition. The trial program resulted in the same information being exchanged remotelyusing the multi-station telemedicine system that would be exchanged in a direct, faceto-face encounter. This result, together with the improvement in quality of life and the establishmentof appropriate treatment and cooperation between the respiratory specialist andattending physician, suggests our system can be considered useful and promising for furtheruse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine that can induce interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and it plays an important role in T-helper 1 responses. Among idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP), nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) has an increased number of lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid compared with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). However, the difference in their pathogenesis is unclear. Objective: The present study aims to investigate the roles of IL-18 in patients with idiopathic UIP and idiopathic NSIP. Methods: We measured the serum and BAL fluid (BALF) levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ in 22 patients with IIP (12 with UIP, 10 with NSIP) and 9 healthy volunteers. Results: Lymphocyte proportions in BALF were significantly higher in NSIP than in UIP and healthy subjects. No significant differences were observed in the serum IL-18 levels of all subjects, while the BALF levels of IL-18 in patients with NSIP were significantly higher than in patients with UIP (p < 0.005) and in healthy subjects (p < 0.005). Among all subjects, the levels of IL-18 in BALF correlated significantly with those in serum and the lymphocyte proportions in BALF. The serum IFN-γ levels of all subjects were below sensitivity, but there was significant reverse correlation between the levels of IFN-γ and the lymphocyte proportions in BALF. Conclusion: The lymphocytosis in BALF of patients with idiopathic NSIP and a part of idiopathic UIP might be associated with the high levels of IL-18.Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waveguide-integrated pin photodiodes (WGpinPDs) planar-embedded by a semi-insulating (SI) InP buried layer exhibit very stable dark current characteristics after aging tests for over 8000 h at 175°C with a bias voltage of -10 V. A wear-out failure rate of much less than 1 failure in time (FIT) after 25 years of operation at 40°C was primarily estimated. Stable operation for over 5000 h were also confirmed under high power optical input aging test at an atmosphere temperature of 85°C. For the optical receiver module using the WGpinPD and a GaAs pHEMT travelling wave amplifier (TWA), a recorded minimum received power of -11.2 dBm at 40 Gbit/s was obtained for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a measurement of the cosmic ray energy spectrum by the Telescope Array Low-Energy Extension (TALE) air fluorescence detector (FD). The TALE air FD is also sensitive to the Cherenkov light produced by shower particles. Low-energy cosmic rays, in the PeV energy range, are detectable by TALE as Cherenkov events. Using these events, we measure the energy spectrum from a low energy of ∼2 PeV to an energy greater than 100 PeV. Above 100 PeV, TALE can detect cosmic rays using air fluorescence. This allows for the extension of the measurement to energies greater than a few EeV. In this paper, we describe the detector, explain the technique, and present results from a measurement of the spectrum using ∼1000 hr of observation. The observed spectrum shows a clear steepening near 1017.1 eV, along with an ankle-like structure at 1016.2 eV. These features present important constraints on the origin of galactic cosmic rays and on propagation models. The feature at 1017.1 eV may also mark the end of the galactic cosmic ray flux and the start of the transition to extragalactic sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence for an intermediate-scale energy spectrum anisotropy has been found in the arrival directions of ultra-high energy cosmic rays for energies greater than 1019.2 eV in the northern hemisphere using 7 years of Telescope Array surface detector data. A relative energy distribution test is done comparing events inside oversampled spherical caps of equal exposure, to those outside, using the Poisson likelihood ratio. The center of maximum significance is at 9h16m, 45°, and has a deficit of events with energies 1019.2 ≤ E < 1019.75 eV and an excess for E ≥ 1019.75 eV. The post-trial probability of this energy anisotropy, appearing by chance anywhere on an isotropic sky, is found by Monte Carlo simulation to be 9 × 10−5 (3.74σglobal). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Telescope Array (TA) observatory utilizes fluorescence detectors and surface detectors (SDs) to observe air showers produced by ultra high energy cosmic rays in Earth’s atmosphere. Cosmic-ray events observed in this way are termed hybrid data. The depth of air shower maximum is related to the mass of the primary particle that generates the shower. This paper reports on shower maxima data collected over 8.5 yr using the Black Rock Mesa and Long Ridge fluorescence detectors in conjunction with the array of SDs. We compare the means and standard deviations of the observed distributions with Monte Carlo distributions of unmixed protons, helium, nitrogen, and iron, all generated using the QGSJet II-04 hadronic model. We also perform an unbinned maximum likelihood test of the observed data, which is subjected to variable systematic shifting of the data distributions to allow us to test the full distributions, and compare them to the Monte Carlo to see which elements are not compatible with the observed data. For all energy bins, QGSJet II-04 protons are found to be compatible with TA hybrid data at the 95% confidence level after some systematic shifting of the data. Three other QGSJet II-04 elements are found to be compatible using the same test procedure in an energy range limited to the highest energies where data statistics are sparse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the search for steady point-like sources of neutral particles around 1018 eV between 2008 and 2013 May with the scintillator SD of the Telescope Array experiment. We found overall no significant point-like excess above 0.5 EeV in the northern sky. Subsequently, we also searched for coincidence with the Fermi bright Galactic sources. No significant coincidence was found within the statistical uncertainty. Hence, we set an upper limit on the neutron flux that corresponds to an averaged flux of 0.07 km−2 yr−1 for EeV in the northern sky at the 95% confidence level. This is the most stringent flux upper limit in a northern sky survey assuming point-like sources. The upper limit at the 95% confidence level on the neutron flux from Cygnus X-3 is also set to 0.2 km−2 yr−1 for EeV. This is an order of magnitude lower than previous flux measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We successfully fabricated nanochannel arrays with silicon dioxide (SiO2) surfaces for single biomolecule detection. The SiO2 nanochannel fabrication is based on the combination of anisotropic etching by potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution, local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) and plasma etching of silicon. This fabrication technique is easily controllable and is a simple and practical solution for low-cost and high-throughput fabrication of nanofluidic channels. Thus, this technique enables the generation of nanochannels with various nanoscale dimensions without using nanolithography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]