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Little is known about the ecology of insect species in the hyporheic zone of rivers, despite its importance in understanding how species survive in specialized habitats. We report on the life history and trophic characteristics of the hyporheic stonefly species Alloperla ishikariana Kohno, 1953 (Order: Plecoptera, Family: Chloroperlidae) in a gravel-bed river in northern Japan, using year-round sampling of both benthic and hyporheic larvae, as well as flying adults in the riparian zone. Adults emerged between May and August, and the larval cohort structure consisted of three sized groups with some sex dimorphism in their body size, with an average growth rate of 0.0043 mg/day. Diet analyses based on C and N stable isotope ratios indicated minimal ontogenetic diet shifts. In contrast, the temporal diet shift was more apparent with higher dependence on Oligochaeta in winter, with an increasing dependence on Chironomidae in spring and early summer. Other insect taxa, namely, Leuctridae and small-sized Lepidostoma, demonstrated a high to moderate affinity for the hyporheic zone. Alloperla ishikariana spent most of its larval stage in the hyporheic zone. With adults living from 7 to 10 days, A. ishikariana completes a life span of approximately 3 years with its larval stage in the dark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammals exhibit several types of diel activity pattern, including nocturnal, diurnal, crepuscular, and cathemeral. These patterns vary inter- and intra-specifically and are affected by environmental factors, individual status, and interactions with other individuals or species. Determining the factors that shape diel activity patterns is challenging but essential for understanding the behavioral ecology of animal species, and for wildlife conservation and management. Using camera-trap surveys, we investigated the species distributions and activity patterns of terrestrial mammals on the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan, with particular focus on brown bears and sika deer. From June to October 2019, a total of 7,530 observations were recorded by 65 camera-traps for eight species, including two alien species. The diel activity pattern of brown bears was diurnal/crepuscular, similar to that of bears in North America, but different from European populations. Bear observations were more frequent during the autumnal hyperphagia period, and adult females and sub-adults were more diurnal than adult males. In addition, bears inside the protected area were more diurnal than those outside it. These findings suggest that appetite motivation, competitive interactions between conspecifics, and human activities potentially affect bear activity patterns. Similar to other sika deer populations and other deer species, the diel activity patterns of sika deer were crepuscular. Deer showed less variation in activity patterns among months and sex-age classes, while adult males were observed more frequently during the autumn copulation period, suggesting that reproductive motivation affects their activity patterns.

Introduction. An on-going coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a challenge all over the world. Since an endoscopy unit and its staff are at potentially high risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, we conducted a survey for the management of the gastrointestinal endoscopic practice, personal protective equipment (PPE), and risk assessment for COVID-19 during the pandemic at multiple facilities. Methods. The 11-item survey questionnaire was sent to representative respondent of Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka City University Hospital, and its 19 related facilities. Results. A total of 18 facilities submitted valid responses and a total of 373 health care professionals (HCPs) participated. All facilities (18/18: 100%) were screening patients at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection before endoscopy. During the pandemic, we found that the total volume of endoscopic procedures decreased by 44%. Eleven facilities (11/18: 61%) followed recommendations of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society (JGES); consequently, about 35%-50% of esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy were canceled. Mask (surgical mask or N95 mask), face shield/goggle, gloves (one or two sets), and gown (with long or short sleeves) were being used by endoscopists, nurses, endoscopy technicians, and endoscope cleaning staff in all the facilities (18/18: 100%). SARS-CoV-2 infection risk assessment of HCPs was conducted daily in all the facilities (18/18: 100%), resulting in no subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCPs. Conclusion. COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on the gastrointestinal endoscopic practice. The recommendations of the JGES were appropriate as preventive measures for the SARSCoV-2 infection in the endoscopy unit and its staff., (© 2021 Hirotsugu Maruyama et al., published by Sciendo.)

Objective: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is diagnosed by the presence of dysphagia and intraepithelial eosinophilic infiltration of ≥15 per high-power field (HPF). EoE should be distinguished from proton pump inhibitor-responsive esophageal eosinophilic infiltration (PPI-R EEI) in patients that are responsive to PPI treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of EoE and PPI-R EEI in Japanese patients in a multicenter study., Methods: Ten hospitals participated in this study. Esophageal biopsy was performed when the patients had typical EoE symptoms or when endoscopic findings revealed a typical EoE appearance. EEI was defined as the intraepithelial eosinophilic infiltration of ≥15 per HPF. Patients with EEI received rabeprazole for 8 weeks to distinguish EoE from PPI-R EEI., Results: A total of 13,634 subjects that underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy because of further examination or as a routine checkup were enrolled. Seventy-one (0.5%) patients suspected with EoE were examined by biopsy. A histological examination of 7 (9.9%) cases revealed EEI. Two of these 7 patients showed no symptoms and the other 5 were treated with PPI. Two (0.01%) patients were diagnosed with EoE and 3 (0.02%) with PPI-R EEI., Conclusion: EoE and PPI-R EEI were rare in Japanese patients that underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Genetic polymorphisms have recently been found to be related to clinical outcome in septic patients. The present study investigated to evaluate the influence of genetic polymorphisms in Japanese septic patients on clinical outcome and whether use of genetic polymorphisms as predictors would enable more accurate prediction of outcome. Effects of 16 genetic polymorphisms related to pro-inflammatory mediators and conventional demographic/clinical parameters (age, sex, past medical history, and APACHE II score) on ICU mortality as well as disease severity during ICU stay were examined in the septic patients (n=123) admitted to the ICU between October 2001 and November 2007 by multivariable logistic regression analysis. ICU mortality was significantly associated with TNF -308GA, IL1β -31CT/TT, and APACHE II score. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis demonstrated that, compared with APACHE II score alone (ROC-AUC=0.68), use of APACHE II score and two genetic parameters (TNF -308 and IL1β -31) enabled more accurate prediction of ICU mortality (ROC-AUC=0.80). Significant association of two genetic polymorphisms, TNF -308 and IL1β -31, with ICU mortality was observed in septic patients. In addition, combined use of these genetic parameters with APACHE II score may enable more accurate prediction of outcome in septic patients., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Road traffic injuries among the elderly have recently become a public health issue; therefore, we investigated the clinical characteristics of such injuries among the elderly in Japan., Methods: A retrospective study was performed using data from a medium-sized hospital emergency department. Data were extracted from medical records for one year, and patients were categorized into groups ages 18-64, 65-74 and 75+. Variables included demographic characteristics, injury circumstances, and nature of injury. Univariate and bivariate descriptive statistical analyses were performed, and multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate injury severity and hospital admission by age groups., Results: A total of 1,656 patients were studied. Patients aged 65+ had more chest wall injury, intracranial injury, lower extremity fracture, and intrathoracic injury than patients aged 18-64., Conclusions: Injury circumstances and nature of injuries associated with traffic incidents showed different patterns by age groups, particularly among the elderly.

Objectives: To determine the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among intensive care unit (ICU) patients in Japan and to assess the impact of VAP on patient outcomes, including mortality, length of stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation., Design: Multicenter cohort study., Setting: Twenty-eight ICUs in multidisciplinary Japanese hospitals with more than 200 beds., Patients: A total of 21,909 patients 16 years or older who were admitted to an ICU between June 2002 and June 2004, stayed in the ICU for 24 to 1,000 hours, and were not transferred to another ICU., Results: The overall infection rates for nosocomial pneumonia and VAP were 6.5 cases per 1,000 patient-days and 12.6 cases per 1,000 ventilator-days, respectively. The standardized mortality rates for the patients with VAP was 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.6): 1.1 (95% CI, 0.9-1.4) for the cases due to drug-susceptible pathogens and 1.5 (95% CI, 1.1-1.9) for the cases due to drug-resistant pathogens. After adjusting for Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, the mean length of stay for the patients with VAP caused by drug-susceptible pathogens (15.2 days [95% CI, 14.6-15.8]) and by drug-resistant pathogens (17.8 days [95% CI, 17.0-18.6]) was significantly longer than that in the patients without nosocomial infection (6.8 days [95% CI, 6.7-6.9]). The mean duration of mechanical ventilation in the patients with VAP caused by drug-susceptible pathogens (12.0 days [95% CI, 11.5-12.5]) and drug-resistant pathogens (14.1 days [95% CI, 13.5-14.8]) was significantly longer than that in the patients without nosocomial infection (4.7 days [95% CI, 4.6-4.8])., Conclusion: The incidence of VAP is substantial among ICU patients in Japan. The potential impact of VAP on patient outcomes emphasizes the importance of preventive measures against VAP, especially for VAP caused by drug-resistant pathogens.

We derived fat indices for sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) in eastern Hokkaido, Japan, and estimated the probability of over-winter survival with a logistic regression model using fat indices. Kidney fat mass (KFM) appears to be an adequate index of wide range of physical conditions before the onset of severe nutritional stress. When KFM values fell below 20 g, femur (FMF) and mandible cavity fat (MCF) indices declined sharply. FMF and MCF were useful indices for detecting malnourished deer. A logistic regression model describes survival thresholds in two bone fat indices for calves (45%) and three fat indices for adult females (FMF = 25%, MCF = 30%, KFM = 20 g). These models are useful for estimating the probability of winter survival in Hokkaido sika deer.

In order to determine the sex of carcass remains of the Sika deer (Cervus nippon), we improved a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for amplification of the Sika deer Sry, a male-specific DNA region on the mammalian Y chromosome. From the nucleotide sequence of the Sry region obtained here, PCR primers, MT1 and MT2, capable of amplifying a shorter Sry region were newly designed, and a microsatellite locus was used as a positive control. Using these primers, 96 of 109 sex-unknown fawns (88%, 96/109) were successfully sexed (46 males and 50 females) regardless of the conditions of carcasses found in the field. The results and the methodology could greatly contribute to the study of the mortality pattern of the Sika deer population.

Background: Recent climate changes have produced extreme climate events. This study focused on extreme snowfall and intended to discuss the vulnerability of temperate mammals against it through interspecies comparisons of spatial niches in northern Japan. We constructed niche models for seven non-hibernating species through wide-scaled snow tracking on skis, whose total survey length was 1144 km. Results: We detected a low correlation (rs < 0.4) between most pairs of species niches, indicating that most species possessed different overwintering tactics. A morphological advantage in locomotion cost on snow did not always expand niche breadth. In contrast, a spatial niche could respond to (1) drastic landscape change by a diminishing understory due to snow, possibly leading to changes in predator-prey interactions, and (2) the mass of cold air, affecting thermoregulatory cost and food accessibility. When extraordinary snowfall occurred, the nonarboreal species with larger body sizes could niche shift, whereas the smaller-sized or semi-arboreal mammals did not. In addition, compared to omnivores, herbivores were prone to severe restriction of niche breadth due to a reduction in food accessibility under extreme climates. Conclusions: Dietary habits and body size could determine the redundancy of niche width, which may govern robustness/vulnerability to extreme snowfall events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The standard treatment for platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer (PSROC) is platinum-based chemotherapy followed by olaparib monotherapy. A retrospective study was conducted to identify factors affecting the survival of patients with PSROC undergoing olaparib monotherapy in real-world clinical settings. The study enrolled 122 patients who received olaparib monotherapy between April 2018 and December 2020 at three national centers in Japan. The study used the Kaplan–Meier method and univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the associations between factors and progression-free survival (PFS). Patients with BRCA1/2 mutations had a significantly longer median PFS than those without these mutations. Both the BRCA1/2 mutation-positive and mutation-negative groups exhibited a prolonged PFS when the platinum-free interval (PFI) was ≥ 12 months. Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) level within reference values was significantly linked to prolonged PFS, while a high platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (≥ 210) was significantly associated with poor PFS in the BRCA1/2 mutation-negative group. The study suggests that a PFI of ≥ 12 months may predict survival after olaparib monotherapy in patients with PSROC, regardless of their BRCA1/2 mutation status. Additionally, a CA-125 level within reference values may be associated with extended survival in patients without BRCA1/2 mutations. A larger prospective study should confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying biodiversity trends in economically developed countries, where depopulation, associated secondary succession, and climate warming are ongoing, provides insights for global biodiversity conservation in the 21st century. However, few studies have assessed the impacts of secondary succession and climate warming on species' population trends at a national scale. We estimated the population trends of common breeding bird species in Japan and examined the associations between the overall population trend and species traits with the nationwide bird count data on 47 species collected from 2009 to 2020. The overall population trend varied among species. Four species populations increased moderately, 18 were stable, and 11 declined moderately. Population trends for 13 species were uncertain. The difference in overall trends among the species was associated with their habitat group and temperature niche. Species with relatively low-temperature niches experienced more pronounced declines. Multispecies indicators showed a moderate increase in forest specialists and moderate declines in forest generalists (species that use both forests and open habitats) and open-habitat specialists. Forest generalists and open-habitat specialists also declined more rapidly at sites with more abandoned farmland. All species groups showed an accelerated decline or decelerated increase after 2015. These results suggest that common breeding birds in Japan are facing deteriorating trends as a result of nationwide changes in land use and climate. Future land-use planning and policies should consider the benefits of passive rewilding for forest specialists and active restoration measures (e.g., low-intensive forestry and agriculture) for nonforest specialists to effectively conserve biodiversity in the era of human depopulation and climate warming., (© 2023 The Authors. Conservation Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Conservation Biology.)

Aims: Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐prolyl hydroxylase (HIF‐PH) inhibitors have been developed for the treatment of renal anaemia; however, no study has evaluated the safety and efficacy of HIF‐PH inhibitors in patients with heart failure (HF). This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of daprodustat, a HIF‐PH inhibitor, in patients with HF and renal anaemia. Methods and results: We designed a pilot, multi‐centre, open‐label, randomized controlled study, in which 50 patients with HF complicated with chronic kidney disease and anaemia will be randomized 1:1 to either the daprodustat or control group at seven sites in Japan. Study entry requires New York Heart Association Class II HF symptoms or a history of hospitalization due to HF, an estimated glomerular filtration rate of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, and a haemoglobin level of 7.5 to <11.0 g/dl. Patients randomized to the daprodustat group will be treated with oral daprodustat, and the dose will be uptitrated according to the changes in the haemoglobin level from previous visits. In this study, we will evaluate the impact of HIF‐PH inhibitors on cardiac function using advanced cardiovascular imaging modalities, including cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The primary outcome is the haemoglobin level at 16 weeks of randomization, and all adverse events will be recorded and evaluated for any association with daprodustat treatment. Conclusion: Considering the hypothetical upside and downside of using HIF‐PH inhibitors in anaemic patients with HF and chronic kidney disease, and because there are virtually no safe and effective treatments for patients with anaemia not caused by iron deficiency, our study results will contribute significantly to this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reintroducing apex predators is an important approach in ecosystem restoration; however, it is challenging. Wolves (Canis lupus) were exterminated in Japan around 1900, and since then, there has been a lack of top predators throughout the country. Currently, the wild ungulate population is increasing, causing agricultural and forest damage. This has triggered an ongoing debate among researchers and nongovernmental organizations on whether wolves should be reintroduced to promote self-regulating biodiverse ecosystems. We conducted a nationwide survey to examine public attitudes toward wolf reintroduction (WR) in Japan. We sent online questionnaires to 88,318 citizens across the country. Among the 12,028 respondents, excluding those with invalid or incomplete answers and unqualified respondents, we obtained and analyzed 7500 responses that were representative of Japanese citizens in terms of some key sociodemographic attributes. More respondents disagreed with WR (39.9%) than agreed (17.1%), and many respondents (43.0%) were undecided. Structural equation modeling revealed that risk perceptions affected public attitudes, implying that the greater the perceived threat of wolf attacks, the less likely people are to support WR. In contrast, attitudes toward wolves (e.g., "I like wolves.") influenced by wildlife value orientation and beliefs about the ecological role of wolves (e.g., controlling deer populations) positively affected public attitudes toward WR. Those who had a positive attitude toward WR showed intentions to engage in behaviors that support WR. Our results suggest that the dissemination of information related to the ecological role of wolves and the development of a more mutualistic mindset in people could positively influence public support for WR in Japan., (© 2023 The Authors. Conservation Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Conservation Biology.)

Increased ungulate browsing alters the composition of plant communities and modifies forest ecosystems worldwide. Ungulates alter their diet following changes in availability of plant species; however, we know little about how browse selection and plant community composition change with different stages of deer establishment. Here, we provide insight into this area of study by combining multiple approaches: comparison of the understory plant community, analysis of records of browsing damage, and DNA barcoding of sika deer feces at 22 sites in forests in northern Japan varying in when deer were first established. The coverage of vegetation and number of plant species were only lower at sites where deer were present for more than 20 years, while the difference in plant coverage among deer establishment years varied among plant species. Deer diet differed across establishment years, but was more affected by the site, thereby indicating that food selection by deer could change over several years after deer establishment. Plant life form and plant architecture explained the difference in plant coverage across establishment years, but large variability was observed in deer diet within the two categories. Integrating these results, we categorized 98 plant taxa into six groups that differed in vulnerability to deer browsing (degree of damage and coverage). The different responses to browsing among plant species inferred from this study could be a first step in predicting the short- and long-term responses of forest plant communities to deer browsing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate regional characteristics of future changes in snowfall in Japan under two emission scenarios--RCP2.6 and RCP8.5--using a high-resolution regional climate model with 5km grid spacing and discuss the influence of changes in atmospheric circulation. The high-resolution model can simulate details of changes in distributions of total snowfall in Japan. Under RCP2.6, the annual total snowfall decreases in most parts of Japan except for Japan's northern island, Hokkaido. In Hokkaido, the winter snowfall increases even under RCP8.5, especially in January and February. The snowfall peak is delayed from early December to late January in Hokkaido. Along the Sea of Japan in eastern Japan, the winter-total snowfall decreases even if the winter mean temperature is below 0°C in the future climate. The different snowfall changes in Hokkaido and on the Sea of Japan side of eastern Japan are caused by precipitation changes in each region. Future changes in atmospheric circulation related to the Aleutian low cause the enhancement and the inhibition of winter precipitation in Hokkaido and the Sea of Japan side of eastern Japan, respectively, contributing to changes in the regional characteristics of snowfall and snow cover in addition to moistening due to atmospheric and ocean warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Record-breaking precipitation due to a back-building convective system occurred in Kyushu Island, Japan, on 5 July 2017. In this paper, a quasi-stationary back-building convective system is reproduced using a regional weather prediction model initialized with a single representative sounding in which the land–sea distribution around the observed convective system is crudely simplified. The simulated convective system and heavy precipitation are reasonably similar to observations. Horizontal resolution finer than 1 km is found to be necessary for reproducing the convective system. The area of heavy precipitation tends to shift downstream with finer horizontal resolution. The surface temperature contrasts at the northern and southern coastlines cause sea breezes and a stationary convergence line between them continuously triggers cumulus clouds. The horizontal convergence near the surface is further enhanced by preceding cumulus clouds that cause the latent heating aloft and generate a mesoscale surface pressure depression. Vertical shear of the environmental wind is also found to be important for organizing the convective system but veering of its wind direction and a cold pool are not essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zonisamide has been used as an add-on treatment in order to overcome the deficiencies of the general therapies currently used to resolve the motor complications and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson disease. Various trials have been designed to investigate the mechanism of action and treatment effects of zonisamide in this condition. Most clinical trials of zonisamide in Parkinson disease were from Japan. The vast majority of studies used changes in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores and daily "OFF" time as primary endpoints. Based on adequate randomized controlled trials, zonisamide is considered a safe and efficacious add-on treatment in Parkinson disease. The most convincing proof is available for a dosage of 25–50 mg, which was shown to lead to a significant reduction in the UPDRS III score and daily "OFF" time, without increasing disabling dyskinesia. Furthermore, zonisamide may play a beneficial role in improving non-motor symptoms in PD, including impulsive–compulsive disorder, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, and dementia. Among the various mechanisms reported, inhibition of monoamine oxidase-B, blocking of T-type calcium channels, modulation of the levodopa–dopamine metabolism, modulation of receptor expression, and neuroprotection are the most often cited. The mechanisms underlying neuroprotection, including modulation of dopamine turnover, induction of neurotrophic factor expression, inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis, inhibition of neuroinflammation, modulation of synaptic transmission, and modulation of gene expression, have been most extensively studied. This review focuses on structure, pharmacokinetics, mechanisms, therapeutic effectiveness, and safety and tolerability of zonisamide in patients with Parkinson disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In clinical practice, the cancer-immunity cycle of an individual patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) must be described to support the clinical management of cancer. The present study explored the immunograms of patients with liver cancer based on liver RNA sequencing data to visually display the individualized cancer-immunity cycles. Two independent HCC cohorts [The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Liver Cancer-RIKEN, Japan (LIRI-JP) HCC cohorts] with whole exome sequencing (WES) data, RNA sequencing data, and clinical data from TCGA and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) were enrolled in this study. This study constructed HCC immunograms of cancer immune cells to visually explore the anticancer immune responses of patients with HCC. The patterns of the HCC immunograms were categorized into two clusters: hot and cold HCC immunograms. Favorable overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were observed in the hot immunogram cluster in the TCGA cohort. The results for LIRI-JP cohort were similar to the TCGA cohort. The OS of patients with HCC presenting the hot immunogram was longer than patients with the cold immunogram in the LIRI-JP HCC cohort. Compared with cold immunograms, hot immunograms were characterized by higher levels of immune cell infiltration and stronger immune signatures, including cytolytic activity, IFN-γ signature, immunocostimulator, immunoinhibitor, chemokine, adhesion molecule, MHC I, MHC II, and non-class MHC levels. The main difference in molecular features between hot and cold immunograms was reflected in WNT-CTNNB1 alterations and copy number variant (CNV) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) scores, which are the molecular features associated with resistance to immunotherapy and tumor escape. The immunogram patterns were distinct in terms of the different molecular features of HCC tumors. The HCC immunogram for the cancer-immune cycle was able to visualize the personalized antitumor immune response of patients with HCC, and the patterns of the HCC immunograms contributed to the clinical outcomes of patients, which may facilitate an individualized assessment of the antitumor immune response for optimal personalized immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deer overabundance is a contributing factor in the degradation of plant communities and ecosystems worldwide. The management and conservation of the deer-affected ecosystems requires us to urgently grasp deer population trends and to identify the factors that affect them. In this study, we developed a Bayesian state–space model to estimate the population dynamics of sika deer (Cervus nippon) in a cool-temperate forest in Japan, where wolves (Canis lupus hodophilax) are extinct. The model was based on field data collected from block count surveys, road count surveys by vehicles, mortality surveys during the winter, and nuisance control for 12 years (2007–2018). We clarified the seasonal and annual fluctuation of the deer population. We found a peak of deer abundance (2010) over 12 years. In 2011 the estimated deer abundance decreased drastically and has remained at a low level then. The deer abundance gradually increased from April to December during 2013–2018. The seasonal fluctuation we detected could reflect the seasonal migration pattern of deer and the population recruitment through fawn births in early summer. In our model, snowfall accumulation, which can be a lethal factor for deer, may have slightly affected their mortality during the winter. Although we could not detect a direct effect of snow on population dynamics, snowfall decrease due to global warming may decelerate the winter migration of deer; subsequently, deer staying on-site may intensively forage evergreen perennial plants during the winter season. The nuisance control affected population dynamics. Even in wildlife protection areas and national parks where hunting is regulated, nuisance control could be effective in buffering the effect of deer browsing on forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have suggested that a healthy lifestyle (HL) may prolong the years of life spent in good health. However, the impact of HL on disability-free survival (DFS) among the elderly is still uncertain.Objective: To investigate the relationship between HL and DFS in the general elderly population.Design: Prospective cohort study with a 10-year follow-up (2006-2016).Participants: 9910 community-dwelling elderly people (≥ 65 years).Main Measures: A HL index derived by summing the number of HL behaviors. Data on incident disability were retrieved from the public Long-term Care Insurance database. Multivariate-adjusted 50th percentile differences (PDs) in age at disability or death (months) and their 95% CIs were estimated with the Laplace regression model.Key Results: During the 10 years, 4562 disability or death events occurred. Participants who adhered to all three HL behaviors lived 17.1 (95% CI 12.7, 21.5) months longer without disability than those who adhered to zero or one. Each 1-point increase of the index score conferred 8.8 months additional life without disability. The tendency for the 50th PDs to increase with a higher HL index score did not differ according to age (< 75 or ≥ 75 years), sex, or the presence of chronic conditions (none, or ≥ 1 chronic condition).Conclusions: A combination of HL behaviors may substantially increase DFS, even for late-elderly (≥ 75 years), or elderly people with chronic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, with increasing prevalence worldwide. IBD Ahead is an international educational program that aims to explore questions commonly raised by clinicians about various areas of IBD care and to consolidate available published evidence and expert opinion into a consensus for the optimization of IBD management. Given differences in the epidemiology, clinical and genetic characteristics, management, and prognosis of IBD between patients in Japan and the rest of the world, this statement was formulated as the result of literature reviews and discussions among Japanese experts as part of the IBD Ahead program to consolidate statements of factors for disease prognosis in IBD. Evidence levels were assigned to summary statements in the following categories: disease progression in CD and UC; surgery, hospitalization, intestinal failure, and permanent stoma in CD; acute severe UC; colectomy in UC; and colorectal carcinoma and dysplasia in IBD. The goal is that this statement can aid in the optimization of the treatment strategy for Japanese patients with IBD and help identify high-risk patients that require early intervention, to provide a better long-term prognosis in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Daprodustat is an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor that stimulates erythropoiesis and regulates genes related to iron metabolism. The efficacy (noninferiority) and safety of daprodustat compared with standard therapy (darbepoetin alfa) was evaluated., Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: This was a randomized, phase 3, double-blind, active-control study in Japanese patients receiving hemodialysis with anemia of CKD. Participants' treatment was switched from current erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) to daprodustat 4 mg once daily or darbepoetin alfa 10-60 μ g once weekly (on the basis of the prestudy ESA dose). Dose was adjusted every 4 weeks for daprodustat or every 2 weeks for darbepoetin alfa, according to a protocol-specified algorithm. The primary end point was mean hemoglobin during weeks 40-52 in the intent-to-treat population., Results: Of 332 participants screened, 271 participants were randomized (safety evaluation: 271 participants; efficacy evaluation: 267 intent-to-treat population). The mean hemoglobin during weeks 40-52 were maintained within the target range in both groups (10.9 g/dl [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 10.8 to 11.0] for daprodustat, and 10.8 g/dl [95% CI, 10.7 to 11.0] for darbepoetin alfa). Daprodustat was noninferior to darbepoetin alfa, as the lower bound of the confidence interval for the treatment difference (0.1 g/dl; 95% CI, -0.1 to 0.2 g/dl) was greater than the noninferiority criterion of -1.0 g/dl. For most participants, hemoglobin was maintained within the target range (10.0-12.0 g/dl) during weeks 40-52 (88% daprodustat; 90% darbepoetin alfa). Geometric mean hepcidin levels decreased more at week 52 with daprodustat (-37%; 95% CI, -49 to -23) than with darbepoetin alfa (-20%; 95% CI, -36 to -1), and an increase in total iron-binding capacity was observed in the daprodustat group. Frequency of adverse events were generally similar between daprodustat and darbepoetin alfa., Conclusions: Oral daprodustat was noninferior to darbepoetin alfa as measured by mean hemoglobin over weeks 40-52 in Japanese patients receiving hemodialysis switched from ESAs., Clinical Trial Registry Name and Registration Number: 201754, Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02969655., (Copyright © 2020 by the American Society of Nephrology.)

Background and Objectives: Large, randomized, controlled trials targeting higher hemoglobin level with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents for Western patients with CKD showed harm. However, the effect of anemia correction using erythropoiesis-stimulating agents may differ between CKD subpopulations. The Prevention of ESKD by Darbepoetin Alfa in CKD Patients with Non-diabetic Kidney Disease study, a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study, aimed to examine the effect of targeting hemoglobin levels of 11-13 g/dl using darbepoetin alfa with reference to a low-hemoglobin target of 9-11 g/dl on kidney outcome in patients with advanced CKD without diabetes in Japan., Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: We enrolled 491 patients with CKD without diabetes, and an eGFR of 8-20 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 . Of these 491 patients, 239 and 240 were ultimately assigned to the high- and low-hemoglobin groups, respectively (12 patients were excluded). The primary outcome was a kidney composite end point (starting maintenance dialysis, kidney transplantation, eGFR≤6 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 , and 50% reduction in eGFR)., Results: Mean hemoglobin levels were 11.2±1.1 and 10.0±0.9 g/dl in the high- and low-hemoglobin groups, respectively, during the mean study period of 73.5±29.7 weeks. The kidney composite end point occurred in 105 (44%) and 116 (48%) patients in the high- and low-hemoglobin groups, respectively (log-rank test; P =0.32). The adjusted Cox proportional hazards model showed that the hazard ratio for the high- versus low-hemoglobin group was 0.78 (95% confidence interval, 0.60 to 1.03; P =0.08). Cardiovascular events occurred in 19 (8%) and 16 (7%) patients in each group, respectively, with no significant between-group difference (log-rank test; P =0.66)., Conclusions: Targeting a higher hemoglobin level (11-13 g/dl) with darbepoetin alfa did not improve kidney outcome compared with targeting a lower hemoglobin level (9-11 g/dl) in patients with advanced CKD without diabetes., Clinical Trial Registry Name and Registration Number: Prevention of ESKD by Darbepoetin Alfa in CKD Patients with Non-diabetic Kidney Disease (PREDICT), NCT01581073., (Copyright © 2020 by the American Society of Nephrology.)

Irreversible shifts in ecosystems caused by large herbivores are becoming widespread around the world. We analyzed data derived from the 2009-2010 Sika Deer Impact Survey, which assessed the geographical distribution of deer impacts on vegetation through a questionnaire, on a scale of 5-km grid-cells. Our aim was to identify areas facing irreversible ecosystem shifts caused by deer overpopulation and in need of management prioritization. Our results demonstrated that the areas with heavy impacts on vegetation were widely distributed across Japan from north to south and from the coastal to the alpine areas. Grid-cells with heavy impacts are especially expanding in the southwestern part of the Pacific side of Japan. The intensity of deer impacts was explained by four factors: (1) the number of 5-km grid-cells with sika deer in neighboring 5 km-grid-cells in 1978 and 2003, (2) the year sika deer were first recorded in a grid-cell, (3) the number of months in which maximum snow depth exceeded 50 cm, and (4) the proportion of urban areas in a particular grid-cell. Based on our model, areas with long-persistent deer populations, short snow periods, and fewer urban areas were predicted to be the most vulnerable to deer impact. Although many areas matching these criteria already have heavy deer impact, there are some areas that remain only slightly impacted. These areas may need to be designated as having high management priority because of the possibility of a rapid intensification of deer impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have reported that immune checkpoint inhibitors are effective against various defective mismatch repair (dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) cancers. A limited number of reports are available on the frequency of dMMR/MSI-H carcinoma in biliary tract cancer (BTC), describing its clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. The latter carcinoma is also associated with Lynch syndrome (LS). The present study was performed to investigate the frequency of patients with dMMR/MSI-H in BTC and the clinical characteristics of BTC with dMMR/MSI-H in a single institution in Japan. A total of 116 patients with BTC who underwent curative surgical resection at Kagawa University Hospital between January 2008 and December 2017 were included. The protein expression levels of the mismatch repair (MMR) genes [mutL homolog 1 (MLH1), mismatch repair endonuclease PMS2 (PMS2), MutS homolog (MSH)2 and MSH6] were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens. Subsequently, MSI testing was performed on patients who exhibited loss of MMR protein expression. Loss of expression of one or more proteins was detected in five cases (4.3%). Loss of MLH1/PMS2 expression was observed in one case of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, whereas loss of PMS2 expression was noted in one case of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Loss of MSH2/MSH6 and MSH6 expression was noted in two cases of distal cholangiocarcinoma and loss of PMS2 expression in one case of ampullary carcinoma. Out of the five patients, two demonstrated MSI-H. Microsatellite stability was observed in two cases and for one case, no data were available. Two MSI-H cases were patients with loss of expression of MLH1/PMS2 and MSH2/MSH6. None of the five patients exhibited a past medical history or family history of suspected LS. The frequency of dMMR in BTC was ~5%, which was similar to that reported by similar studies performed in other countries. In the present study, IHC appeared to be more useful than MSI testing for detecting MMR abnormalities with regards to the detection rate. Furthermore, there may only be a limited number of patients with BTCs who are likely to benefit from the therapeutic effects of treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Round bale silage is a widely used forage production system in Japan. In recent years, several suspected instances of damage to bales of round bale silage by sika deer were reported on a dairy farm in central Japan. We sought to confirm whether this damage was indeed caused by sika deer, and if so, when and how they caused the damage. We also analyzed the effects of possible covariates on seasonal and spatial variances in the incidence of the observed damage. Continuous monitoring using camera traps revealed that sika deer were responsible for the damage to the bales of round bale silage. The sika deer were observed to nibble at the surface of the bales of round bale silage after puncturing the plastic film used to promote anaerobic digestion of the silage. Several sika deer were responsible for damaging the bales of round bale silage, and the incidence of damage to the bales increased as snow cover increased in winter. Further, the incidence of damage to the bales of round bale silage was greatest farthest away from the center of the farm facilities, and farthest inside the wildlife protection area, which covered a large proportion of the farm. The findings clarified the extent of damage caused by sika deer to bales of round bale silage, and illustrated the need to prevent such damage throughout the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife managers often manipulate hunting regulations to control deer populations. However, few empirical studies have examined the level of hunting effort (hunter-days) required to limit population growth and demographic effects through harvesting of females. Moreover, the relative importance of density effects on population growth has not been quantified. We reconstructed a sika deer [Cervus nippon] population over a period of 12 years (1990-2001) using age- and sex-specific harvest data. Using cohort analysis, we analyzed population dynamics, focusing on 1) the relationship between hunting effort and hunting-induced mortality rate, 2) relative contributions of hunting mortality and recruitment of yearlings to annual changes in population growth rate, and 3) annual variation in recruitment rate. Population size increased until 1998 and declined thereafter. The population growth rate changed more in response to annual changes in recruitment rate than hunting mortality rate. Temporal variation in recruitment rate was not controlled by birth rate alone; direct density dependence, intensities of hunting mortality for fawns, and for females ( ⩾2 yr of age), which accounted for the fawn survival rate, were required as factors to explain temporal variation. Density effects on the recruitment rate were not strong enough to regulate the population within the study period; high hunting mortality, with intensive female harvesting, was necessary to prevent population growth. Hunting effort was a good predictor of the hunting mortality rate, and female harvest had a negative effect on the recruitment rate through fawn survival. We suggest that >3,500 hunter-days and prioritization of female harvesting are required to prevent increases in this deer population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing trend in ground-level ozone (O3) concentrations has recently been recognized in Japan, although concentrations of ozone precursors, nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) have decreased. In this paper, the relationship between meteorological factors (temperature and wind speed) and ground-level ozone concentrations in the summer over the central Kanto area of Japan was examined using both statistical analyses and numerical models. The Fifth-Generation NCAR/Penn State Mesoscale Model (MM5) and the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model were employed in this study. It was found that there is a close relationship between meteorological conditions and ground-level ozone concentrations over the central Kanto area. In summer, up to 84% of the long-term variation in peak ozone concentrations may be accounted for by changes in the seasonally averaged daily maximum temperature and seasonally averaged wind speed, while about 70% of the recent short-term variation in peak ozone depends on the daily maximum temperature and the daily averaged wind speed. The results of numerical simulations also indicate that urban heat island (UHI) phenomena can play an important role in the formation of high ozone concentrations in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Investigating the interspecific interactions between species provides a suitable model for understanding the mechanisms of coexistence between sympatric species. We assessed the spatial and temporal partitioning of spaces between Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus) and sika deer (Cervus nippon), which are usually allopatric, in an area with early-stage invasion of sika deer into Japanese serow habitat. The habitat selection and activity patterns of the two species were evaluated using camera traps. Both species were recorded in >25% of the same camera sites and showed similar selection tendencies for water resources. The Japanese serows selected steep slopes, whereas the sika deer selected areas distant from human settlements, resulting in low spatial overlap. Additionally, the Japanese serows were more active during the daytime, whereas the sika deer were active at the crepuscule. The observed spatial and temporal partitioning likely reduces their encounter rates, thereby minimizing possible interference competition. However, spatial and temporal overlaps between the two species are likely to increase as the density of sika deer increases, potentially resulting in a decline in the density of Japanese serows with smaller body sizes. Trapping for deer management should be focused on areas with gentle slopes, away from valleys and human settlements, to reduce the unintentional capture of Japanese serows. The Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) and sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Japan are usually allopatric. However, a recent expansion in the distribution range of sika deer, combined with an increase in abundance, has resulted in an overlap of the distribution ranges of the two species. We examined the habitat selection and activity patterns of Japanese serows and sika deer using camera traps placed at 83 sites within a 210 km2 study area, where the distribution range of these two species has recently overlapped. Although both species were photographed throughout the study area, we observed a low spatial overlap between them. The Japanese serows selected steep slopes, and the sika deer selected areas far away from human settlements. In addition, the Japanese serows and sika deer exhibited temporal partitioning with diurnal and crepuscular activity patterns, respectively. The observed partitioning could be explained by differences in their species-specific habitat selections, rather than competition, because the photographic capture rate of the Japanese serows was not affected by that of the sika deer and vice versa. These partitioning behaviors are likely to reduce the rate of encounters between the two ungulates, which enables their coexistence considering the sika deer density remains low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Drawing has increasingly been proposed as an enrichment activity for captive primates in zoological parks and research institutes. The monkeys and apes are free to use the materials at their disposal and are not constrained or conditioned to show this behaviour. This provides a good opportunity to collect drawings by non-human primates and allows for comparative studies between hominids. This study is based on 749 drawings recovered from five orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus) at Tama Zoological Park in Japan, where caretakers regularly facilitated drawing activities for the apes. Analyses showed that individuals differ in their drawing style, especially in the colours used, the space they filled, and the shapes they drew. One individual, Molly, did more complex drawings than other individuals and drew differently according to the seasons and her age. This study is the first to reveal such individual differences and can give some clues about the emergence of drawings in human beings. This study analyses 749 drawings by five female Bornean orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus) at Tama Zoological Park in Japan. We searched for differences between individuals but also tried to identify possible temporal changes among the drawings of one individual, Molly, who drew almost 1300 drawings from 2006 to 2011. An analysis of the drawings was carried out after collecting quantitative and qualitative variables. Our findings reveal evidence of differences in the drawing style of the five individuals as well as creative changes in Molly's drawing style throughout her lifetime. Individuals differed in terms of the colours used, the space they filled, and the shapes (fan patterns, circles, or loops) they drew. Molly drew less and less as she grew older, and we found a significant difference between drawings produced in winter, when orang-utans were kept inside and had less activity, and those produced during other seasons. Our results suggest that the drawing behaviour of these five orang-utans is not random and that differences among individuals might reflect differences of styles, states of mind, and motivation to draw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 30 years, environment and behavior research in Japan has paralleled the international growth of the field. Unfortunately, despite noteworthy periodic efforts to cross-culturally bridge language barriers between English- and Japanese-speaking researchers, public policy makers, planning and design practitioners, and students specializing in this subject area, significant communication obstacles persist. In response, a literature review is presented of recent research in Japan on the subject of environment and aging. The review spans a 17-year period (1985-2002). The objective is to enhance international communication, stimulate collaborative work, and foster appreciation of the broad parameters of the dramatic trends in aging occurring globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Highlights: To ensure sustainable forest regeneration, it is important to clarify whether new recruits or advanced regenerants are more likely to be stripped. Therefore, the effects of bark stripping on saplings in subalpine forests with abundant saplings should be analyzed by regeneration mode, but there have been no such studies until now. Background and Objectives: I investigated the effects of bark stripping by Cervus nippon on saplings in a subalpine coniferous forest in central Japan to (1) reveal differences in bark stripping between new recruits and advanced regenerants and (2) clarify the factors affecting survivorship. Materials and Methods: A 50 m × 140 m (0.7 ha) plot was set in the old-growth subalpine coniferous forest. All trees in the plot that were ≥2 m in height were tagged, identified to species, measured diameter at breast height and recorded bark stripping by deer. These trees and new recruits were counted and measured in 2005, 2007, 2012, and 2017. I compared saplings recruited in 2007, 2012, and 2017 ("new recruits") with existing saplings of the same size ("advanced regenerants"). Results: The density of new recruits of Abies mariesii and Tsuga diversifolia increased, whereas that of Abies veitchii decreased. The proportion of stripped saplings was greater in new recruits than in advanced regenerants, significantly so in A. veitchii, which also had the highest maximum bark stripping ratio. Factors affecting the survivorships applied by the regression tree analysis were the maximum stripping ratio of stems for the two Abies species and the initial size for the T. diversifolia. Conclusions: Bark stripping by deer was more intensive on new recruits than on advanced regenerants in a subalpine forest, and regeneration in canopy gaps might fail because of intensive bark stripping in areas overabundant in deer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jōmon period/culture corresponds to the Neolithic period/culture in Japanese prehistory. The Sannai-Maruyama site (5.9–4.2 cal. kyr BP), the most famous, the largest, and the well-studied mid-Holocene (mid-Jōmon) archeological site inhabited by hunter-gatherers with sedentary lifestyle in northern Japan, started at early Bond event 4 and collapsed at late Bond event 3 (4.2 cal. kyr BP at the boundary between mid-Holocene, Northgrippian, and late-Holocene, Meghalayan), synchronous with the decline of the north Mesopotamian civilization and the Yangtze River civilization in China. Alkenone sea surface temperatures (SSTs), a proxy for early-midsummer SSTs, generally suggest that the early-midsummer SSTs (and atmospheric temperatures (ATs)) at 41° 00′ N, 140° 46′ E, about 20 km north to the Sannai-Maruyama site, located in Aomori Prefecture, peaked around 4.8–4.3 cal. kyr BP and showed minima at 5.9 and 4.1 cal. kyr BP. In spite of some discrepancy in short periods, this feature is consistent with that estimated from the assemblages of Ostracodas. δ18O value of benthic foraminifera of Nonionellina labradorica and Nonionella stella, alkenone production flux, and pollen assemblages could reflect annual-based temperature, which generally suggests that the climate was warmer at 6.0–4.2 cal. kyr BP, which could show the warmer environments at 6.0–5.0 cal. than expected from alkenone SST in early-midsummer. Overall, northward shift of the westerly jet, in association with a strengthened East Asian Summer Monsoon, could cause a relatively warm climate around 6.0–4.3 cal. kyr BP, when the Sannai-Maruyama site flourished. High food production density, by effective hansaibai (selective preservation or growth) in Castanea- and Aesculus-dominated forests, up to one sixth of the rice production density, could have supported high population density, resulting large community at the Sannai-Maruyama site. Cooling episode at 4.2 cal. kyr BP could have resulted in the decline of chestnut hansaibai, leading to the collapse of the site. Recent results from a compiled archeological site map suggested no large decline of the population but, instead, a dispersal to the surrounding area at 4.2 cal. kyr BP. It is consistent with ancestral population dynamics for the descendent from Jōmon people, in contrast to those from the immigrants from Far East Asia to the Japanese Archipelago with paddy rice cultivation technology after 2.9 cal. kyr BP, based on modern Japanese molecular sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stratigraphic and paleontological investigations in Mugi Town, on the Pacific coast of Shikoku Island, revealed evidence of as many as five tsunami inundations from events along the Nankai Trough between 5581 and 3640 cal yr BP. Nine event deposits (E1–E9) were identified in cores ranging in length from 2 to 6 m, consisting of sandy and gravelly layers interbedded with organic-rich mud. Sedimentary structures in the event deposits observed by computed tomography included normal grading and sharp lower stratigraphic contacts. Event deposits E3, E6, E7, and E8 contained mainly brackish-marine diatom species, suggesting that they had been deposited during inundation by seawater. In addition, fossil diatom assemblages were markedly different above and below event deposits E3, E4, E6, and E8. For example, assemblages below event deposit E6 were dominated by a freshwater species (Ulnaria acus), whereas assemblages above it were predominantly brackish-marine (Diploneis smithii, Fallacia forcipata, and Fallacia tenera). We attributed these changes to the increase of marine influence due to coastal subsidence associated with subduction-zone earthquakes, as documented in the 1946 Showa-Nankai earthquakes. We conclude that event deposits E3, E6, and E8 and perhaps E4 and E7 were deposited by tsunamis generated by subduction zone earthquakes along the Nankai Trough. The ages of these event deposits, as constrained by ten radiocarbon ages, suggest that some of the tsunamis that impacted Mugi Town were correlated with those reported elsewhere along the Nankai Trough, thereby complementing the existing but still incomplete geological record for these events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]