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Agradecimentos: This study was part of the research program "Programa de Monitoramento de Longa Duração das Comunidades Recifais de Ilhas Oceânicas - PELD" (441241/2016-6, Carlos E.L. Ferreira-PI). K.Y.I. received scholarships from Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) - Finance Code 001 - and Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq); T.C.M. received post-doctoral fellowship from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ; E-26/202.858/2016); J.P.Q. received post-doctoral fellowship from FAPESP (2018/21380-0); M.C. received post-doctoral fellowships from CNPq (153797/2016-9), Projeto Monitoramento de Praias (PMP/BS UFPR/UNIVALI 46/2016) and CAPES (PDE 88881.170254/2018-01); I.S. received grants from CNPq. We thank J.P. Krajewski, C. Sazima, and L. Almeida for the photographs of reef fish follower-feeding associations, and two anonymous referees for insightful suggestions. J.P.Q. thanks for the contribution of the Research Center for Marine Biodiversity of the University of São Paulo (NPBiomar) Abstract: Structurally complex and competitive environments such as reef habitats may promote alternative behavioural feeding tactics in fishes. An understudied behavioural tactic is the follower-feeding association, in which individuals of a species follow (called "follower") and benefit from the foraging activities of individuals of another species that disturbs the substrate (called "nuclear"). Here, we investigated the incidence of this tactic at three oceanic islands in the southwestern Atlantic by characterizing pairwise, and the emergent network of follower-feeding associations. We quantified associations among species according to their trophic categories, activity period, and group size. The incidence of follower-feeding associations was higher at islands with higher species richness, but the proportion of associations per species was higher at islands with lower species richness. Overall, mobile invertebrate-feeders, omnivores and macrocarnivores were the most common trophic categories engaged in this tactic. Most of follower-feeding associations involved diurnal species, which indicates that followers rely on visual cues to engage in this tactic. We also found that nuclear species were mainly solitary, while followers tended to aggregate in small- to medium-sized groups. Our study indicates that follower-feeding association is an opportunistic yet frequent feeding tactic at oceanic islands, which may stem from resource partitioning in such remote habitats CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQ COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPES FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP Fechado

Interactions among species are likely to change geographically due to climate-driven species range shifts and in intensity due to physiological responses to increasing temperatures. Marine ectotherms experience temperatures closer to their upper thermal limits due to the paucity of temporary thermal refugia compared to those available to terrestrial organisms. Thermal limits of marine ectotherms also vary among species and trophic levels, making their trophic interactions more prone to changes as oceans warm. We assessed how temperature affects reef fish trophic interactions in the Western Atlantic and modeled projections of changes in fish occurrence, biomass, and feeding intensity across latitudes due to climate change. Under ocean warming, tropical reefs will experience diminished trophic interactions, particularly herbivory and invertivory, potentially reinforcing algal dominance in this region. Tropicalization events are more likely to occur in the northern hemisphere, where feeding by tropical herbivores is predicted to expand from the northern Caribbean to extratropical reefs. Conversely, feeding by omnivores is predicted to decrease in this area with minor increases in the Caribbean and southern Brazil. Feeding by invertivores declines across all latitudes in future predictions, jeopardizing a critical trophic link. Most changes are predicted to occur by 2050 and can significantly affect ecosystem functioning, causing dominance shifts and the rise of novel ecosystems., SI

Background The optimal coronary revascularization strategy for the patients on hemodialysis is yet to be determined. In the real-world practice, we sometimes encounter the rapid deterioration after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to angiographically intermediate but functionally significant stenosis. According to the fractional flow reserve (FFR) based revascularization strategy, the clinical outcome of the deferred lesions is reported to be almost equivalent to that of the lesions received PCI. However, whether the relationship also applies to hemodialysis patients is unclear. Purpose To assess the clinical outcome of the lesions for which revascularization strategy was determined by FFR in patients with hemodialysis. Methods Consecutive 147 vessels in 120 patients with hemodialysis whose revascularization strategy was decided according to the FFR were enrolled in this study. We compared the clinical outcomes of the deferred group (FFR ≥0.80, 87 vessels, 78 patients) with the PCI group (FFR Results The median follow-up period was 2.3 years (interquartile range, 1.5–4.0 years). The beseline characteristics of the lesions and patients were well balanced between the 2 treatment groups except for the distribution of target vessels and FFR value. The cumulative TVF rate was not significantly different between the deferred group and PCI group (2-year event rate 26.7% vs. 17.7%; Log-rank p=0.23). The risk of MACE was also not significantly different between two groups (2-year event rate 35% vs. 30%; Log-rank p=0.48). Conclusion The clinical outcome of the lesions/patients for which received revascularization based on FFR was equivalent to the deferred lesions/patients even in the patients on hemodialysis (2,129/3,000). Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Table 1Figure 1

Aims The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of aggressive lipid-lowering therapy with pitavastatin and ezetimibe in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as compared with those with other classification of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) including non-STEMI (NSTEMI) and unstable angina pectoris (UA). Methods This is a post hoc sub-analysis of the HIJ-PROPER study. In the original study, ACS patients with dyslipidemia were randomized to either pitavastatin + ezetimibe therapy or pitavastatin monotherapy. In the present analysis, we divided HIJ-PROPER participants into the STEMI group (n=880) and NSTEMI + UA group (n=841). Cardiovascular events were analyzed between the two groups. The primary endpoint was a composite of major advanced cardiovascular events (MACE; all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, unstable angina pectoris, and ischemia-driven revascularization) Result During median follow-up period of 3.4 years, the cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint in STEMI group was 31.9% in the pitavastatin+ezetimibe therapy, compared with 39.7% in the pitavastatin-monotherapy (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.62–0.97; p=0.02). However, there was no effect of pitavastatin+ezetimibe therapy on the primary endpoint in the NSTEMI + UA group. Concerning the individual components of the primary endpoint in STEMI group, the percentage of occurrence of all-cause death was significantly lower in the pitavastatin+ezetimibe therapy compared to pitavastatin mono-therapy (14 patients (3.2%) vs. 31 patients (6.9%), respectively; HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.23–1.84, p=0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that use of ezetimibe and prevalence of diabetes mellitus at baseline were independent predictors of primary endpoints in STEMI group (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63–0.99; p=0.04 for use of ezetimibe, HR 1.54; 95% CI, 1.22–1.94, p=0.0003 for diabetes mellitus). Conclusion Patients with pitavastatin+ezetimibe therapy as compared with pitavastatin-monotherapy had lower cardiovascular event in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Kaplan-Meier curves for primary endpoint Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Background This study aimed to elucidate whether high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) at 3-month follow-up for patients receiving contemporary lipid-lowering therapy after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) could predict cardiac events. Methods The HIJ-PROPER study was a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial comparing intensive lipid-lowering therapy (pitavastatin + ezetimibe) and conventional lipid-lowering therapy (pitavastatin monotherapy) after ACS. For the present analysis, the entire cohort was divided into three groups according to HDL-C levels at 3-month follow-up (Group 1, HDL-C ≤43 mg/dL; Group 2, 43–53.6 mg/dL; Group 3; HDL-C ≥53.6 mg/dL). Baseline characteristics and the incidence of the primary endpoint (a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, unstable angina pectoris, or ischemia-driven revascularization) were compared among the three groups. Results The primary endpoint was reported in 34.8%, 30.1%, and 24.6% of patients in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The incidence of the primary endpoint was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 3 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19–1.9; p=0.001). Irrespective of the treatment regimen, Group 1 had a significantly higher rate of the primary endpoint than Group 3 (pitavastatin + ezetimibe therapy: HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.12–2.22; p=0.01 and pitavastatin monotherapy: HR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.05–1.98; p=0.02). These trends remained even after adjustment for baseline characteristics and lipid profiles. Conclusions Lower levels of HDL-C at 3-month follow-up are associated with higher incidence of the cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome receiving contemporary lipid-lowering therapy. HDL-C levels and Cardiovascular events Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Phyto-Fenton process utilizes the endogenous hydrogen peroxide in plants to degrade organic pollutants in presence of iron catalyst. In this study, we have applied the magnetite particles in continuous treatment system of constructed wetland (CW) to study the effectiveness in removing sulfamethoxazole (SMX) antibiotics. Experimental results demonstrated that SMX was removed by constructed wetlands in the presence and absence of magnetite fine particles. OH radical formation was observed in the plant+Fe system with electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The magnetite addition favoured the plant growth and endogenous H2O2. However, enhanced treatments by phyto-Fenton process were not enhanced in the presence of magnetite particles, but the plants+soil CWs showed better removal efficiencies compared to the soil CWs.

We report 1H NMR results for (CH3)2NH2CuCl3measured at very low temperature down to 0.1 K using a dilution refrigerator. Field induced magnetic ordered state is revealed by the NMR measurements and a magnetic phase diagram for the system is proposed.

Low-pressure arc cleaning is a process for removing an oxide layer. Currently, chemical and mechanical means are typically used to remove such layers. However, both methods present difficulties such as a liquid waste, dust, and noise. Regarding the low-pressure arc cleaning, waste comes from one source: the oxide layer. In addition, the cathode spot has very high temperatures that are sufficient to remove the oxide layer. This paper describes the removal of the nanometer-thick oxide layer from a thin metal plate. An oxide layer of 27-157 nm was removed, thereby, obtaining a smooth surface whose respective arithmetical mean height (Ra) and average length of an outline curve element (R sm) are 0.04 and 6.4 mum. In that case, Ra and R sm increased with an increasing oxide-layer thickness at 397-1680 nm. Those results depend on the oxide-layer thickness. Therefore, although the surface is cratered and rough after a cathode-spot treatment on the chemical oxide layer (6.7 nm), a smooth surface is obtainable after the cathode-spot treatment on the thermal oxide layer (27, 66, and 157 nm). Surface roughness depends on the processing time to produce one crater, which depends on the oxide-layer thickness

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether oral clonidine premedication becomes an alternative to N2O in terms of shortening the induction time and attenuation of the adrenergic response to tracheal intubation during inhalation induction with sevoflurane, and to evaluate the quality of anesthetic induction according to the patient's satisfaction. Methods: We studied 84 female patients who were randomly allocated into four study groups: Groups I and II received a placebo orally, and Groups III and IV received clonidine at 150 and 300 µg, respectively, 90 min before induction of anaesthesia. Patients were anesthetized using a triple-deep-breath technique with 5% sevoflurane in Groups I, III and IV, and with 60% N2O−5% sevoflurane in group II. Results: Induction time was significantly longer (P

We have studied the properties of ramp-edge interface modified Josephson junctions (IMJs) whose barriers are formed during the etching process and subsequent annealing process. We investigate the effect of process parameters on junction characteristics (I/sub c/, R/sub n/) and obtain an empirical equation concerning their relationship. We select accelerating voltage (V/sub acc/) and etching time (t/sub etch/) for the control of I/sub c/ of IMJs and set the target value of I/sub c/ at 4.2 K to 500 /spl mu/A in this study. This target value can be realized by V/sub acc/=500 V and t/sub etch/=20 min from our empirical equation. We prepare four different samples fabricated in the same conditions, and examine the reproducibility and controllability of I/sub c/. The obtained I/sub c/s are very close to the target value, and the run-to-run spread is confined to about 150 /spl mu/A. The reproducibility and controllability of I/sub c/ are improved compared to our previous data of junctions with artificial barriers.

This paper presents a method of estimating the initial rotor position of a surface permanent-magnet synchronous motor without a position sensor. The estimation is performed by using the nonlinear magnetization characteristics of the stator core caused by the magnet of the rotor. This method is based on the principle that the d-axis current value for the voltage vector applied to the motor under some conditions increases as the voltage vector generated from the inverter approaches the N pole of the rotor. During the estimation process, the rotor is practically at standstill. The experimental results show that the average of the estimation error is /spl plusmn/3.8 electrical degrees.

To clarify the relationship between the epidemics of severe invasive group A streptococcal infections (streptococcal Toxic Shock-Like Syndrome; TSLS) and common group A streptococcal infections in Japan, we examined the T serotypes of S. pyogenes strains (group A streptococci) isolated from clinical specimens of the streptococcal infections (17999 cases) in the period 1990–5, including the severe infections (TSLS) (29 cases) in the period 1992–5. Characteristic points of the analyses were: (1) dominant serotypes of the infections in these periods were T12, T4, T1, T28 and TB3264, which were consistently isolated; (2) isolates of T3 rapidly increased through 1990 to 1994 while T6 decreased in the period 1990–3; (3) when Japanese area was divided into three parts, T3 serotype tended to spread out from the north-eastern to the south-western area; (4) strains of T3 and T1 serotypes were dominant in the TSLS. Dominant-serotype strains of streptococcal infections did not always induce severe infections and dominance of T3 serotype in the TSLS seemed to be correlated with the increase of T3 in streptococcal infections. These results may indicate that certain clones of S. pyogenes are involved in the pathogenesis of the TSLS.

Summary ONO-4641 is a next-generation sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonist selective for S1P receptors 1 and 5. The objective of the study was to characterize the immunomodulatory effects of ONO-4641 using preclinical data. ONO-4641 was tested in both in-vitro pharmacological studies as well as in-vivo models of transient or relapsing–remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In vitro, ONO-4641 showed highly potent agonistic activities versus S1P receptors 1 and 5 [half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values of 0·0273 and 0·334 nM, respectively], and had profound S1P receptor 1 down-regulating effects on the cell membrane. ONO-4641 decreased peripheral blood lymphocyte counts in rats by inhibiting lymphocyte egress from secondary lymphoid tissues. In a rat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model, ONO-4641 suppressed the onset of disease and inhibited lymphocyte infiltration into the spinal cord in a dose-dependent manner at doses of 0·03 and 0·1 mg/kg. Furthermore, ONO-4641 prevented relapse of disease in a non-obese diabetic mouse model of relapsing-remitting EAE. These observations suggest that ONO-4641 may provide therapeutic benefits in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

While the recent discovery of the Cepheid variables in the Virgo cluster galaxies puts additional support for the Hubble constant $H_0 \sim 80$km/sec/Mpc, a relatively lower value $H_0 \sim 50$km/sec/Mpc is suggested by other distance indicators based on the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect and the gravitational lens which probe the universe at higher redshifts $z=(0.1\sim 1)$. In order to reconcile the possible discrepancy between the estimates of the Hubble constants from nearby galaxy samples and high-redshift clusters, we consider a model of locally open universe embedded in the spatially flat universe. We find analytic expressions for the lower limit on the global Hubble constant $\hg$, and the upper limit on the age of the universe with a given value for the Hubble constant $\hl$ in the local universe. We conclude that it is quite unlikely that the above difference in the estimates of the Hubble constant is explained within the framework of the gravitational instability picture.

Using an M X-ray spectrum from electron capture in 163Ho together with M X-ray fluorescence spectra of the Dy atom, the partial decay constants of 163Ho, λM1 and λM2 were measured. With λM1, λM2 and λt (total decay constant) as three constraints, the mass of the electron neutrino, mVe, the Q-value, and log(ft) of the 163Ho decay were simultaneously determined. Results obtained are m V e = 110 − 110 + 350 e V , Q = 2.710 − 0.500 + 0.100 k e V , and log ( f t ) = 4.993 − 0.001 + 0.030 .

A high-statistics experiment on the reaction π − p→ π + π − π 0 n at 8.06 GeV/ c has been performed using a spectrometer detecting both charged particles and gamma rays. A partial-wave analysis based on the isobar model has been carried out for π + π − π 0 data in the mass range between 0.86 and 1.50 GeV for four t ′ regions: 0.0–0.1, 0.1–0.25, 0.25–0.45 and 0.45–0.95 (GeV/ c 2 ). Two axial-vector resonances, a 1 (1260) and h 1 (1170), were observed in the analysis. The masses and widths of a 1 and h 1 were determined to be M (a 1 = 1121 ± 8 MeV, Λ (a 1 = 239± 11 MeV, M (h 1 = 1168±4 MeV and Λ (h 1 = 345±6 MeV, respectively, by fitting the Breit-Wigner formula to the partial wave amplitude. A fit including the Deck type background was also tried in each t ′ region. The results showed a small effect on these resonance parameters and were consistent with those obtained by the simple Breit-Wigner fitting.

An experimental method is proposed for extracting individual data items from library cataloging cards and classify them into the cataloging item classes automatically. The basic idea for the recognition strategy is to utilize various kinds of knowledge stepwise on the basis the generation/verification process of object hypotheses. In this approach, such knowledge as layout information of card structures, relationship information among cataloging items, and property information of data items is effectual. The knowledge is not represented as same-level information, but is mutually specified with the hierarchical relationship. Lower-level knowledge is successful for recognizing the processing objects interpreted by higher-level knowledge. Though the authors' primary concern is about the understanding of library cataloging cards, the proposed framework is applicable to other documents with particular layout structures such as pamphlets, letters, office mail, office documents, articles, papers and so on. >

A further study on the ηππ system in the charge exchange reaction π−p→ηπ+π−n at 8.95 GeV/c has been performed at KEK. A partial wave analysis was done for three t′ regions, 0–0.05, 0.05–0.20 and 0.20–0.60 (GeV/c)2 in the mass range between 1.155 and 1.555 GeV. The IJpc=00−+ wave via a0(980)π intermediate state shows clear peaks of η(1295) and η(1400) in the third t′ region. The state η(1400) shows a mass value of 1388±4 MeV. The 01++ wave via a0π shows also a clear peak of f1 (1285) in the third t′ region. The higher mass region between 1.51 and 1.83 GeV was also studied for the same three t′ regions. No I=0 pseudoscalar state is seen in the analysis.

A small transducer for distinguishing color with high spectral selectivity is proposed. It consists of an Si p-n junction photodiode and a filter consisting of an electrically controlled birefringence (ECB) mode liquid-crystal cell mounted on the photodiode. Since the spectral transmittance of the filter can be electronically tuned by regulating the applied voltage across the liquid-crystal cell, a filter having continuously different spectral response with time can be realized. The filter can accurately distinguish colors by observing the photodiode output at increasing or decreasing voltage across the liquid-crystal cell. Eight kinds of colored paper are discerned by the transducer. >

The development of a captioning system that supports the real-time understanding of monologue speech such as lectures and commentary is now in demand. In a realtime captioning system, it is necessary to summarize speech so that the audience can understand it within the display time and to output the caption simultaneously with the monologue speech input. This paper proposes a technique for simultaneous summarization of Japanese spoken monologue toward real-time captioning. Our technique identifies a unit for which the summarization is executed each time a clause boundary is detected. Then our technique summarizes it based on the dependency structure. An experiment using Japanese monologues has shown the feasibility of our technique.

It is important to store the library information in the machine-readable form into the computer systems (e.g. the library information systems) effectually with a view to extending the library information managements and services. Today, such a task can be satisfied with many costs and heavy man-powers. Therefore, it is very desirable to develop some effective method. In this paper, we report our experimantal approach to extract and classify data items automatically from library cataloging cards. A basic strategy concept in our approach is to utilize various kinds of knowledge cooperatively, concerning cataloging cards: structure information of the card description, relationship information among data items, format information of data values and so on. In comparison with many traditional character recognition approaches, our approach is adaptable to even cataloging cards, composed of blurred and indistinct characters and/or described by various layout structures, without difficulty.

Children who experienced the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Disaster were followed to ascertain how the psychological and physical reactions after this disaster changed. Changes observed in the symptoms of children at one and two years after the earthquake were compared between those who had lived in severely damaged area (level 7 on the Japan Meteorological Agency intensity scale) and those who had lived in mildly damaged area (less than 5 on the same scale). The survey was conducted using a questionnaire filled out by the children's parents. Two years after the earthquake, the children had returned to normal in terms of their physical conditions, even in the severely damaged area. However, symptoms of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) such as persistent reexperiencing, persistent avoidance, and increased arousal were significantly more frequently found among children from the severely damaged area than among those from the mildly damaged area. To evaluate the psychological and physical reactions after the disaster is very important in order to support the children when large-scale disasters occur.

Galectin-1 has recently been identified as a factor that regulates initial axonal growth in peripheral nerves after axotomy. Although galectin-1 is a well-known beta-galactoside-binding lectin, its potential to promote axonal regeneration as a lectin has not been reported. It is essential that the process of initial repair in peripheral nerves after axotomy is well clarified. We therefore undertook to investigate the relation between the structure and axonal regeneration-promoting activity of galectin-1. Recombinant human galectin-1 secreted into the culture supernatant of transfected COS1 cells (rhGAL-1/COS1) was purified under nonreducing conditions and subjected to structural analysis. Mass spectrometric analysis of peptide fragments from rhGAL-1/COS1 revealed that the secreted protein exists as an oxidized form containing three intramolecular disulfide bonds (Cys2-Cys130, Cys16-Cys88 and Cys42-Cys60). Recombinant human galectin-1 (rhGAL-1) and a galectin-1 mutant in which all six cysteine residues were replaced by serine (CSGAL-1) were expressed in and purified from Escherichia coli for further analysis; the purified rhGAL-1 was subjected to oxidation, which induced the same pattern of disulfide linkages as that observed in rhGAL-1/COS1. Oxidized rhGAL-1 enhanced axonal regeneration from the transected nerve sites of adult rat dorsal root ganglion explants with associated nerve stumps (5.0-5000 pg. mL-1), but it lacked lectin activity. In contrast, CSGAL-1 induced hemagglutination of rabbit erythrocytes but lacked axonal regeneration-promoting activity. These results indicate that galectin-1 promotes axonal regeneration only in the oxidized form containing three intramolecular disulfide bonds, not in the reduced form which exhibits lectin activity.

We recently reported cloning of Streptococcus anginosus (S. anginosus) DNA fragments containing the 16S ribosomal gene from DNA samples of surgical specimens of gastric cancers. To investigate the specificity of S. anginosus infection, Southern blot analysis with S. anginosus 16S ribosomal DNA probe and PCR analysis with S. anginosus-specific primers were performed in DNA samples prepared from 15 esophageal cancers, 43 gastric cancers, 16 lung cancers, 10 cervical cancers, 14 renal cell carcinomas, 10 colorectal cancers, and 19 bladder cancers. We frequently found S. anginosus DNA sequences in DNA samples from esophageal cancer and gastric cancer tissues, as well as in those from dysplasia of the esophagus of esophageal cancer patients. No S. anginosus DNA bands were detected by Southern blot analysis on DNAs from the noncancerous portions of the esophagus or the stomach. By PCR analysis with 35 cycles, only 7% of the noncancerous portion of the esophagus was shown to contain S. anginosus sequences. No S. anginosus sequences were found in DNAs from cancers in lung, cervix, and kidney, but they were found in 1 of 10 colon cancers.

To clarify the relationship between the epidemics of severe invasive group A streptococcal infections (streptococcal Toxic Shock-Like Syndrome: TSLS) and common group A streptococcal infections in Japan, we examined the T serotypes of S. pyogenes strains (group A streptococci) isolated from clinical specimens of the streptococcal infections (17999 cases) in the period 1990-5, including the severe infections (TSLS) (29 cases) in the period 1992-5. Characteristic points of the analyses were: (1) dominant serotypes of the infections in these periods were T12, T4, T1, T28 and TB3264, which were consistently isolated; (2) isolates of T3 rapidly increased through 1990 to 1994 while T6 decreased in the period 1990-3; (3) when Japanese area was divided into three parts, T3 serotype tended to spread out from the north-eastern to the south-western area; (4) strains of T3 and T1 serotypes were dominant in the TSLS. Dominant-serotype strains of streptococcal infections did not always induce severe infections and dominance of T3 serotype in the TSLS seemed to be correlated with the increase of T3 in streptococcal infections. These results may indicate that certain clones of S. pyogenes are involved in the pathogenesis of the TSLS.

Chemical modification and inactivation of bovine pancreatic, porcine pancreatic, Naja naja atra and Pseudechis australis phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), belonging to Group I, and of Trimeresurus flavoviridis, Vipera russelli russelli and Agkistrodon halys blomhoffii PLA2s, belonging to Group II, were investigated by the use of a manoalide (MLD)-analogue, 1-(2,5-dihydro-hydroxy-5-oxo-3-furanyl)-8,12-dimethyl-4-formyl-3,7, 11-tridecatrienol. At appropriate time intervals, residual PLA2 activities towards monodispersed, anionic mixed micellar and non-ionic mixed micellar substrates were measured. We tested the protective effect of micellar n-dodecylphosphocholine (n-C12PC) on enzyme inactivation. Inactivation of pancreatic PLA2s (Group I) was only observed towards anionic mixed micellar substrates. This inactivation was completely prevented by the presence of micellar n-C12PC. From a fragmentation study of modified bovine pancreatic PLA2 using lysyl endopeptidase, we speculated that Lys-56 of this enzyme was modified by MLD-analogue and that this modification was responsible for enzyme inactivation. Inactivation of non-pancreatic PLA2s was observed towards all types of substrate, except that no significant inactivation of N. naja atra PLA2 (Group I) towards monodispersed substrate was noted. Micellar n-C12PC protected N. naja atra PLA2 (Group I) completely from inactivation by MLD-analogue, but had lesser protective effects on P. australis PLA2 (Group I), T. flavoviridis and V. russelli russelli PLA2s (Group II). However, no significant protection of A. halys blomhoffii PLA2s (Group II) activity was observed. These results indicate that the inactivation of pancreatic and N. naja atra PLA2s originates from the modification of Lys residues at the interfacial recognition site, and that inactivation of P. australis, T. flavoviridis and V. russelli PLA2s arises from the modification of Lys residues at the catalytic site, interfacial recognition site and regions outside both sites. The inactivation of A. halys blomhoffii PLA2 was assumed to be due to the modification of Lys residues outside the two sites described above.

To clarify the site and potency of the analgesic and anesthetic action of epidurally administered morphine, we investigated the effects of epidurally and intravenously administered morphine (100 micrograms/kg) on change in the pressure pain threshold (PPT) and the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of halothane. Epidural morphine (EM) increased PPT significantly (P0.01) at the points around the surgical incision by 40% and 60% from baseline compared with intravenous morphine (IM) with which PPT remained at baseline 1 and 2 h after administration, respectively. Duration of analgesia was much longer in EM than in IM (18 h vs 1.7 h). EM increased PPT from preoperative value at the forehead and the points around the surgical incision by 9.9% and -24.9% at 1 h, by 10.9% and 3.8% at 4 h, and by -19.5% and -50.4% at 12 h after administration at mean values, respectively. Halothane MAC in EM and IM were 0.54% and 0.57%, respectively, 40 min after administration. Halothane MAC in EM at 4 h and 12 h after administration were 0.45% and 0.70%, respectively. The results suggest that EM provides long-lasting analgesia by its time-related differential effects on the neuraxis.

The transcriptional features of the human alpha 2(V) collagen gene (COL5A2) were examined by transfection experiments coupled to various DNA binding assays. This approach identified an upstream region essential for the cell type-specific expression of the COL5A2 promoter. Within this region are two nuclear factor-binding sites, FP-A and FP-B, responsible for the formation of distinct DNA-protein complexes. Mutations introduced across each of the two binding sites eliminated the formation of the cognate complex and decreased promoter activity by about 3-fold (FP-A) and 40-fold (FP-B) in transfection experiments. Competition experiments using recognition sequences for known transcription factors exhibiting some similarity to the FP-A- and FP-B-binding sites failed to inhibit COL5A2/protein interactions. Thus, COL5A2 expression appears to be under the positive control of a short regulatory sequence likely to harbor two novel nuclear factor-binding sites.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term results of medical treatment for a dissecting aorta and to detect the risk factors that determine the prognosis of medically treated patients. During the past 10 years, 228 patients with aortic dissections were admitted to our hospital and affiliated hospitals. One hundred thirty-four patients, including 60 with proximal type (Stanford, type A) and 74 with peripheral type (Stanford, type B) dissections, were treated by medical means alone. The survival rates of medically treated patients with type A dissections at 24 hours, 2 weeks, and 5 and 10 years after the onset of the disease were 72, 43, 34, and 28%, respectively, and the survival rates in type B dissections were 100, 92, 76, and 56%, respectively. The risk factors that determine poor prognosis in the acute phase of dissections were type A dissection and serious complications (rupture of the aorta, shock, cerebral accident, myocardial infarction, severe aortic regurgitation, renal failure, mesenteric infarction, and arterial occlusion in the extremities). The risk factors in the chronic phase were serious complications, excluding shock and rupture in the acute phase, the large diameter of the dissecting aorta, and increasing age. These results show that emergency surgical intervention is indicated in the patients with acute type A dissections and in those who had acute type B dissections with these serious complications. Medical treatment may be tentatively recommended for the patients with uncomplicated type B dissections until the operative death rate in these patients becomes less than presently identified.

High statistics data of the ηππ system in π − p → ηπ + π − n were obtained. A partial wave analysis was performed in the mass region between 1.37 and 1.85 GeV. Resonant structures were observed in the IJ PC = 11 −− wave around 1.6 GeV and in 13 −− around 1.7 GeV. The structure in 11 −− was fitted with a single Breit-Wigner and also fitted with two Breit-Wigner's. The result suggests the possible existence of two vector resonances around 1.6 GeV. The structure in 13 −− is considered to be the π 3 (1690).

The π + and π − momentum spectrum of the reaction γ p → ππ N have been measured at lab angles 20°, 40°, 60° and 90° and photon energies 0.744, 0.844, 0.944 and 1.044 GeV with a magnetic spectrometer using the photon subtraction method. Both spectra show a peak corresponding to the production of the πΔ(1236) state. The analysis has been carried out with amplitudes for the quasi two-body process γ p → πΔ (1236) and a phase-space background so as to reproduce both π + and π − spectra. The ratio of cross sections σ ( γ p → π + Δ 0 )/ ( γ p → π − Δ ++ ) is found to vary 0.0 to 1.8, depending on kinematical conditions.

Pathological studies were undertaken on 106 mammary tumours (89 benign, 17 malignant) appearing spontaneously in 95 normal female Sprague-Dawley rats which were killed at Day 756. The benign tumours comprised those with a predominant acinar hyperplasia and those with adenomatous or fibroadenomatous pattern. No significant differences were found histochemically between the acinar cells of the benign tumours and of the lactating gland, except that the amount of fibrous interstitial connective tissue was larger in the former. 3H- or 35S-glycosaminoglycan synthesis by the benign tumours was found to be much higher. The prolactin value in the plasma of the benign-tumour-bearing rats was about 27 times that of 6-month-old virgin rats, and similar to that of rats on the 7th day post partum. Carcinomatous proliferation of tubuloacinar cells could be seen in 5 of the 89 benign tumours. The incidence of benign tumours increases with the age of the rats. Images Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3