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Burcucumber (Sicyos angulatus), first introduced in 1952 from North America to Japan, has recently become a seriously invasive alien species that has spread nationwide. The pollination mode is likely to play a crucial role in seed production and invasion. Burcucumbers have been characterized as self‐compatible flowers with distinct anthers and stigmas, indicating pollen vector‐mediated pollination. In this study, we aimed to describe the floral biology of burcucumbers and clarify their relationships with pollinators. We found that: (1) primarily native insects (at least 70 species) repeatedly visited burcucumbers, both during the day and night; (2) in terms of visitation frequency and pollen‐carrying load, honeybees, vespid wasps, and hoverflies were the most important diurnal pollinators, followed by sphingid and noctuid moths as nocturnal ones; and (3) the production of highly concentrated nectar as floral reward coupled with floral scents, predominantly aliphatic compounds such as heptanal and hexanol, may mediate the visitation of floral visitors. Our observations confirmed that burcucumber visitation is dominated by native pollinators, indicating the integration of burcucumbers into native pollinator webs. Our findings highlight the significance of a generalized pollination system in alien plants to overcome reproductive failure within a new region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: An efficient component model has been developed that captures strength and stiffness deterioration of steel hollow structural section (HSS) columns. The proposed model consists of two fiber‐based segments at a member's ends along with an elastic segment in between. The fibers exhibit nonlinear uniaxial stress–strain behavior, which is explicitly defined by uniaxial monotonic tensile and cyclic round coupon tests. The postbuckling behavior of an HSS column is traced through a proposed uniaxial effective stress–strain constitutive formulation, which includes a softening branch in compression and an energy‐based deterioration rule to trace the influence of cyclic deterioration in the inelastic cyclic straining. These may be inferred by uniaxial stub‐column tests. The component model captures the coupling between the column axial force and flexural demands. Consistent model parameters for a number of steel materials used in the steel construction in North America and Japan are proposed along with the associated model calibration process. The efficiency of the proposed model in predicting the hysteretic behavior of HSS columns is demonstrated by comparisons with physical steel column tests subjected to various loading histories, including representative ones of ratcheting prior to earthquake‐induced collapse. The proposed model is implemented in an open‐source finite element software for nonlinear response history analysis of frame structures. The effectiveness of the proposed model in simulating dynamic instability of steel frame buildings is demonstrated through nonlinear response simulations of a four‐story steel frame building, which was tested at full‐scale through collapse. Limitations as well as suggestions for future work are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the project of scientists from North America, Japan, and Europe entitled "Relevance and Follow-Up of Positive Results from In Vitro Genetic Toxicity" (IVGT). The author states that the aim of the project under Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) aims to improve genetic toxicology in vitro test. Moreover, he relates on the workshop sponsored by HESI on June 21-22, 2006 and its partnership with working groups to meet the objective of the project.

Relationships between invasive plants and other species in their introduced ranges may facilitate or hinder the process of invasion. Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed), Fallopia sachalinensis (giant knotweed), and their hybrid Fallopia × bohemica (Bohemian knotweed) are widespread invasive plants in North America and Europe. These species possess extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) that attract mutualist insect protectors in their native ranges. Popillia japonica Newman, 1841 (Japanese beetle) is a primary herbivore of invasive Fallopia spp. in these species' native range in Japan. These natural enemies are reunited in North America, where Fallopia spp. have been repeatedly introduced as ornamental plantings of residential and commercial properties since the 1800s, and the Japanese beetle has become a widespread insect pest. Spread of Fallopia spp. and their hybrids along linear features of urban landscapes such as roads, railways, and waterways make their performance in urban environments important to these invasive species' impact. To test the role of insect interactions in the success of Fallopia japonica and F. × bohemica in urban conditions in their invasive range, we examined ant visitation, Japanese beetle abundance and herbivory, ant-Japanese beetle interactions, pollinator visits, and seed production. All active herbivory observed was by Japanese beetles. Leaf area loss to herbivory was much lower than levels reported in Japan, suggesting partial enemy release. New Fallopia leaves were more frequently visited by ants than mature leaves, while Japanese beetle herbivory was observed on mature but not on new leaves. All ant species observed visiting invasive Fallopia EFN were native to North America. Active physical defense by these ants against Japanese beetles was observed but was rare. Native and non-native insects visited Fallopia flowers, followed by seed production. Our results indicate that both native and non-native species may facilitate invasion of Fallopia through pollination and protection mutualisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compare buyer-supplier links established by pairs of Japanese-owned automobile assemblers and component manufacturers operating in Japan and in North America during 1989-90. Eight assemblers and more than 170 Japanese component manufacturers had established North American manufacturing facilities. In total, Japanese automobile assembly organizations operating in North America had recreated about a quarter of their Japanese supply links. The suppliers that set up North American facilities had recreated almost 60 percent of their links with traditional buyers and formed more than 16 percent of the possible extension links with new assembler partners. We identify several economic and organizational factors that influence whether an existing buyer-supplier link will be recreated in a new location and whether firms that do not have a buyer-supplier relationship at home will form an extension link in the new location. We find that the presence of a long-term buyer-supplier relationship, buyer and supplier entry timing to the new location, the joint venture status of the buyer, supplier size, and the breadth of a supplier's sales base in the home market influence the likelihood that links will be recreated and extension links will be formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little research has been done to date on the role of subsidiary boards (SBs) in MNCs. A two-phase survey research design has yielded responses from 90 subsidiaries in 36 MNCs based in Europe, North America, and Japan. The sample provides evidence that: (1) SBs are perceived to be in transition from lesser to greater proactivity, and (2) MNCs with parent headquarters in North America, Europe, and Japan perceive the usefulness of these boards in different ways. The results indicate an increasingly active use of these boards in selective advisory and strategic roles. Some recommendations are presented for CEOs, chairmen, and subsidiary directors who are interested in designing their SBs to take better advantage of already legally mandated, but often underutilized, structures. SBs are not a panacea for resolving tensions between parents and subsidiaries and for monitoring changes in host country environments; however, they can provide added strategic governance for subsidiaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'A Global Hardy' seeks to situate the fiction of Hardy's Wessex in a network of international exchange. It explores the part played by empire in his fiction, the value he placed on cultural dialogue, his objections to imperialism and patriotism, and the modernist multiplicity of perspective to be found in The Dynasts, as well his awareness of the limits of moves between languages and cultural contexts. In examining the circulation of Hardy's work, it pays particular attention to his navigation of copyright issues and his engagement with translators around the world as his work reached audiences beyond Europe and North America, including Russia, China and Japan. Illuminating the multiplicity of Hardy's work, as scholars, researchers and translators take Hardy Studies in new directions, the project explores ways in which his work has found new audiences in the past one and a half centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Over the past three decades, the World Health Organization expert panel proposed cesarean delivery rate of 10-15 percent was used as a doctrine for an optimal rate of cesarean delivery despite the lack of concrete evidence. We set out to compile cesarean delivery rates, socioeconomic indicators, and health outcomes by countries in the last three decades to explore the optimal rates for medically necessary cesarean delivery. Methods We selected 19 countries which have readily accessible cesarean delivery and low maternal and infant mortality, including countries in North and West Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Information on cesarean delivery rate, human development index ( HDI), gross domestic products ( GDP), maternal, neonatal, and infant mortality rates of each country in the past 30 years was collected from published reports. A two-level fractional polynomial model was used to model the association between cesarean rate and mortality rates. Results Most of the countries have experienced sharp increases in cesarean delivery rates. Once cesarean delivery rate reached 10 percent, with adjustment for HDI and GDP, further increase in cesarean delivery rate had no impact on maternal, neonatal, and infant mortality rates. Conclusions Our findings corroborate the statement that a population-level cesarean section rate above 10-15 percent is hardly justified from the medical perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations made largely from summer breeding sites in Europe and North America have been used to document the effects of climate change on many bird species. We extend these studies by examining 23 years of observations between 1986 and 2008 of six winter bird species made by citizens at a city park in Yokohama, Japan. Bird species arrive in autumn and spend the winter in the area, before departing in the late winter or spring. On average, birds species are arriving 9 days later than in the past and are departing on average 21 days earlier, meaning that the average duration of their stay in Yokohama is about 1 month shorter now than in the past. Patterns of changes over time varied among species, but departure dates changed for more species than did arrival dates. Dates of departure and arrival were sometimes correlated with monthly average temperatures-later arrivals and earlier departures were associated with warmer temperatures. In addition, interannual variation in arrival and departure dates were strongly correlated across species, suggesting that species were responding to the same or similar environmental cues. This study provides a clear demonstration of the value of using citizens to make observations that contribute to research in climate change biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To undertake a systematic literature review to examine the effect of food cost on diet quality and risk factors for chronic disease, specifically focusing on diet-related lifestyle diseases affecting the Australian population. Methods: A search of six databases resulted in the inclusion of one systematic review, three cohort studies, 41 cross-sectional studies and four modelling studies in this review. Results: Between 2000 and 2006, the price of healthy foods has increased more than the price of less healthy foods. Healthy Food Access Basket surveys show that a healthy diet may often be unaffordable for low- and average-income households. Diets of higher energy density were associated with lower diet cost, whereas diets of higher nutrient density and nutritional quality were associated with higher diet cost. Recent studies report an inverse association between food price and food consumption. Consequently, an increase in food cost was associated with a significant reduction in weight, waist circumference, body mass index, obesity and insulin resistance. Conclusions: Manipulation of food cost may alter food consumption and therefore risk factors for chronic disease. Further longitudinal studies investigating the impact of pricing strategies on diet quality and disease risk are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new monotypic genus, Bangiadulcis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) is described to accommodate the freshwater, filamentous species found in Europe, North America, and Japan, previously known as Bangia atropurpurea (Roth) C. Agardh. Bangiadulcis can be distinguished from other members of the Bangiales on the basis of cytological, reproductive, and ecological characters. Phylogenetic analyses of molecular sequence data have provided strong support for this distinct lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. We tested the hypothesis that the bottom-up influence of coniferous plant resources promotes the probability of outbreak or eruptive dynamics in sawflies. The literature was examined for three geographical regions − North America north of Mexico, Europe and Japan.2. In each region tenthredinid sawflies (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) were significantly more likely to be eruptive on conifers than on angiosperms.3. The diprionid sawflies (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) that attack conifers exclusively showed a significantly higher probability of eruptive dynamics than the tenthredinid sawflies on angiosperms in two regions, North America and Europe, and in Japan the trend was in the same direction.4. The probability of species showing eruptive dynamics on coniferous hosts was not significantly different among tenthredinids and diprionids on conifers in North America, Europe and Japan.5. The weight of evidence supports the hypothesis of conifers supporting a higher percentage of eruptive species than angiosperms.6. In the adaptive radiation of tenthredinid sawflies from flowering plants onto conifers, larches (Larix) appear to be particularly favourable for colonization, but pines (Pinus) have not been colonized in any region, a pattern likely to be explained by the growth characteristics of the host plants.7. Among tenthredinid species in Europe, where sawfly/host relationships are best known, there is a significant trend for an increasing proportion of outbreaking species from herbs, to shrubs, to trees.8. The results indicate for the first time the strong bottom-up effects of plant resources on the population dynamics of sawflies, involving general features of host plant taxa and growth characteristics.Journal of Animal Ecology(2005)doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2005.00935.x [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the entomosporium leaf spot of Pomoideae in Japan. Sizes of conidia produced on each plant inoculated with 7 isolates, which were used in the previous cross inoculation tests. In order to obtain much information discussing identity of the fungi belonging to the genus entomosporium, variation of sizes of conidia produced on the different substrata in the isolates mentioned above and also on many exsiccati collected from North America and Europe were investigated in the present article.

The topic of suicide has long been an important socioeconomic issue studied in many countries. Suicides inject an atmosphere of unrest into society, and media attention furthers that social uneasiness. From the viewpoint of economics and management, suicide is a waste of human resource: it decreases the labor force in society and deteriorates human capital. This paper provides a series of analyses of suicide rate based on theoretical reasoning and empirical approaches. Aggregate data from G7 countries are obtained and stacked into panel data for analysis. Data are collected for different age groups. Even though suicide issues have been extensively discussed in the past, newly developed econometric tools are applied to her. Beyond previously recognized relationships between economic factors and suicide rates findings include that unemployment strikes men more than women in terms of psychological pressure: for middle age or older women, unemployment may even be positive for the entire family; and female labor force participation exerts pressure on male counterparts and increases its suicide rate. As a result, a low income family with an unemployed man and an employed woman is at high risk for adult male suicide.

Morphological variations of the deciduous dentition are as useful as those of the permanent dentition for determining the biological affinities of human populations. This paper provides material on morphological variations of deciduous teeth of the prehistoric Japanese population from the Late and the Latest Jomon Period (ca. 2000-ca. 300 B.C.). The expression of nonmetric traits of the deciduous teeth in the Jomon sample shows a closer affinity with modern Japanese and Native American samples than with American White, Asiatic Indian, and African samples. However, the frequency of shoveling in deciduous upper incisors in the Jomon sample is lower than those in modern Japanese and Native American samples. The Jomon sample also expresses a much higher frequency of cusp 6 in deciduous lower second molars than seen in modern Japanese, Ainu, and Native American samples. The frequency in the Jomon sample is equal to that in the Australian Aboriginal sample, which shows cusp 6 most frequently among the samples compared. A somewhat low incidence of incisor shoveling in the Jomon sample was also reported in the permanent dentition (Turner [1976] Science 193:911-913, [1979] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 51:619-635, [1987] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 73:305-321, [1990] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 82:295-317; T. Hanihara [1992] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 88:163-182, 88:183-196). However, the frequency of cusp 6 in the Jomon sample shows no significant difference from those of Northeast Asian or Native American samples in the permanent dentition (Turner [1987] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 73:305-321; T. Hanihara [1992] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 88:163-182, 88:183-196). Evidently, some nonmetric traits express an inter-group difference only in the deciduous dentition.