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To evaluate the atmosphere–ocean coupled data assimilation system developed at the Meteorological Research Institute, the lead-lag relation between the intraseasonal variations (with a time scale of 20–100 days) in precipitation and sea surface temperature (SST) is examined in the tropics. It is shown that the relationship over the tropical western Pacific in the coupled reanalysis experiment (CDA) follows the observed relationship more closely than that in the uncoupled reanalysis experiment (UCPL). However, the lead-lag correlations with the observed SST are almost identical between precipitations in CDA and UCPL, indicating that the atmospheric component is strongly constrained by atmospheric observations and hardly affected by the SSTs as boundary conditions. Better representation of the SST–precipitation relationship in CDA is, thus, mostly due to the SST variation modified by the model physics. Comparison with additional reanalysis experiments using coupled and uncoupled systems that assimilate only in-situ observations without satellite observations suggests that the coupled model's physics complements the relatively weak observation constraints and reduces the degradation of the SST–precipitation relationship. Additional analysis for CDA suggests that the warming-to-cooling (cooling-to-warming) transition of the surface net flux, which is in phase with precipitation, is delayed from the positive (negative) peak of SST due to downward heat propagation in the ocean. Comparison of the oceanic near-surface temperature field with observation data indicates that the downward propagation of heat signals is too fast in CDA, resulting in smaller lags of transitions of the net heat flux and precipitation behind SST peaks.

Activity concentrations of the radioactive cesium (134Cs and 137Cs) were investigated in invertebrates at two sites of moderately high and higher air radiation dose rates, 14 km and 11 km distances, respectively, from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) from 2013 to 2016. At a14-km point, the 134+137Cs concentrations of soils in coniferous and broadleaf forests increased from 2013 to 2014, and thereafter declined until 2016. The 134+137Cs concentrations of the phytophagous beetle Anomala cuprea (Hope) rapidly decreased by 76.1% from 2013 to 2014, reflecting reduction in those of broadleaves. The 134+137Cs concentration levels of the carnivorous beetle Dolichus halensis (Schaller) showed a relatively low levels. The 137Cs concentrations of the necrophagous beetle Eusilpha japonica (Motshulsky) and coprophagous beetle Onthophagus lenzii (Harold) remained constant without reduction from 2013 to 2016. Average 134+137Cs concentrations throughout four years were the highest in the geophagous crustacean (Armadillidium vulgare Latreille), followed by necrophagous beetle and coprophagus beetle. The 134+137Cs concentrations in earthworms with gut contents were significantly correlated with those in soils at each habitat from 2014 to 2015 at a14-km point, and the concentration levels at an 11-km point in 2015 were remarkably high (898 kBq kg−1). Transfer factors (TFs) in earthworms ranged from 1.02 to 2.66 at a 14-km point and 0.66 to 5.0 at an11-km point. The transfer and chronological changes of radiocesium in invertebrates were discussed in relation to food habits through trophic levels in woodlands and pasturelands.

This paper describes the Japan Meteorological Agency/Meteorological Research Institute-Coupled Prediction System version 2 (JMA/MRI-CPS2), which was put into operation in June 2015 for the purpose of performing seasonal predictions. JMA/MRI-CPS2 has various upgrades from its predecessor, JMA/MRI-CPS1, including improved resolution and physics in its atmospheric and oceanic components, introduction of an interactive sea-ice model and realistic initialization of its land component. Verification of extensive re-forecasts covering a 30-year period (1981–2010) demonstrates that JMA/MRI-CPS2 possesses improved seasonal predictive skills for both atmospheric and oceanic interannual variability as well as key coupled variability such as the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). For ENSO prediction, the new system better represents the forecast uncertainty and transition/duration of ENSO phases. Our analysis suggests that the enhanced predictive skills are attributable to incremental improvements resulting from all of the changes, as is apparent in the beneficial effects of sea-ice coupling and land initialization on 2-m temperature predictions. JMA/MRI-CPS2 is capable of reasonably representing the seasonal cycle and secular trends of sea ice. The sea-ice coupling remarkably enhances the predictive capability for the Arctic 2-m temperature, indicating the importance of this factor, particularly for seasonal predictions in the Arctic region.

An ensemble of nine operational ocean reanalyses (ORAs) is now routinely collected, and is used to monitor the consistency across the tropical Pacific temperature analyses in real-time in support of ENSO monitoring, diagnostics, and prediction. The ensemble approach allows a more reliable estimate of the signal as well as an estimation of the noise among analyses. The real-time estimation of signal-to-noise ratio assists the prediction of ENSO. The ensemble approach also enables us to estimate the impact of the Tropical Pacific Observing System (TPOS) on the estimation of ENSO-related oceanic indicators. The ensemble mean is shown to have a better accuracy than individual ORAs, suggesting the ensemble approach is an effective tool to reduce uncertainties in temperature analysis for ENSO. The ensemble spread, as a measure of uncertainties in ORAs, is shown to be partially linked to the data counts of in situ observations. Despite the constraints by TPOS data, uncertainties in ORAs are still large in the northwestern tropical Pacific, in the SPCZ region, as well as in the central and northeastern tropical Pacific. The uncertainties in total temperature reduced significantly in 2015 due to the recovery of the TAO/TRITON array to approach the value before the TAO crisis in 2012. However, the uncertainties in anomalous temperature remained much higher than the pre-2012 value, probably due to uncertainties in the reference climatology. This highlights the importance of the long-term stability of the observing system for anomaly monitoring. The current data assimilation systems tend to constrain the solution very locally near the buoy sites, potentially damaging the larger-scale dynamical consistency. So there is an urgent need to improve data assimilation systems so that they can optimize the observation information from TPOS and contribute to improved ENSO prediction.

AIM Most patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience poor food intake and/or loss of appetite, which accelerates cognitive impairment. Several reports have shown that rivastigmine improves appetite in AD patients. The present study investigated the efficacy of a rivastigmine transdermal patch for the treatment of low food intake in AD patients. METHODS AD patients, recruited through the Attitude Towards Food Consumption in Alzheimer's Disease Patients Revive with Rivastigmine Effects study, were recognized as experiencing either a loss of appetite or poor food intake. A rivastigmine transdermal patch was administered to study participants for 16 weeks. Patients' food intake, bodyweight, Mini-Mental State Examination scores and any adverse events were recorded. RESULTS A total of 38 patients with AD (age 86.2 ± 5.4 years) were examined. Their mean Mini-Mental State Examination score was 10.1 ± 7.0 at baseline. A significant increase in food intake amount (54.9 ± 98.0 g, P

This paper describes the operational seasonal prediction system of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the Japan Meteorological Agency/Meteorological Research Institute-Coupled Prediction System version 1 (JMA/MRI-CPS1), which was in operation at JMA during the period between February 2010 and May 2015. The predictive skill of the system was assessed with a set of retrospective seasonal predictions (reforecasts) covering 30 years (1981–2010). JMA/MRI-CPS1 showed reasonable predictive skill for the El Nino–Southern Oscillation, comparable to the skills of other state-of-the-art systems. The one-tiered approach adopted in JMA/MRI-CPS1 improved its overall predictive skills for atmospheric predictions over those of the two-tiered approach of the previous uncoupled system. For 3-month predictions with a 1-month lead, JMA/MRI-CPS1 showed statistically significant skills in predicting 500-hPa geopotential height and 2-m temperature in East Asia in most seasons; thus, it is capable of providing skillful seasonal predictions for that region. Furthermore, JMA/MRI-CPS1 was superior overall to the previous system for atmospheric predictions with longer (4-month) lead times. In particular, JMA/MRI-CPS1 was much better able to predict the Asian Summer Monsoon than the previous two-tiered system. This enhanced performance was attributed to the system’s ability to represent atmosphere–ocean coupled variability over the Indian Ocean and the western North Pacific from boreal winter to summer following winter El Nino events, which in turn influences the East Asian summer climate through the Pacific–Japan teleconnection pattern. These substantial improvements obtained by using an atmosphere–ocean coupled general circulation model underpin its success in providing more skillful seasonal forecasts on an operational basis.

Using oceanographic observations and an eddy-resolving ice–ocean coupled model simulation from 1955 to 2004, the effects of the wind-driven ocean circulation change that occurred in the late 1970s during multidecadal-scale freshening of the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) at salinity minimum density (~26.8 σθ) were investigated. An analysis of the observations revealed that salinity decreased significantly at the density range of 26.6–26.8 σθ in the western subtropical gyre, including the mixed water region (MWR). The temporal variability of the salinity is dominated by the marked change in the late 1970s. With results similar to the observations, the model, selectively forced by the interannual variability of the wind-driven ocean circulation, simulated significant freshening of the intermediate layer over the subtropical gyre. The significant freshening is related to the increase in southward transport of the Oyashio associated with the intensification of the Aleutian low. Accompanying these changes, the intrusion of fresh and low potential vorticity water, originating in the Okhotsk Sea, to the MWR increased, and the freshening signal propagated farther southward in the western subtropical gyre during the subsequent 6 yr, crossing the Kuroshio Extension. These results indicate that the multidecadal-scale freshening of the NPIW is partly caused by intensification of the wind-driven cross-gyre transport of the subarctic water to the subtropical gyre.

Objective: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to the clinical condition between normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Heterogeneity in this entity has also been recognized, and an accelerated rate of progression to AD was documented in some individuals diagnosed with MCI. It is important for the early detection of and intervention for AD to determine the clinical subtype of MCI with a high risk of progression to AD. Studies have demonstrated that deceased glucose metabolism or regional cerebral blood flow in the posterior cingulate may be associated with a higher risk of such progression. The aim of this study was to investigate whether any polysomnography (PSG) variables support the prediction of progression from MCI to AD. Methods: Twenty-four subjects with MCI were enrolled in this study. Clinical evaluation, cognitive screening tests, and PSG were carried out at the baseline. A diagnosis of MCI was made with standard criteria. Outcome measures were carried out to examine whether: 1) there was a significant cognitive decline, and 2) it progressed to AD according to the standard criteria for it. After a 2-year follow-up, subjects were divided into 2 groups. The MCI-AD group included subjects who progressed to AD, and the MCI-MCI group included those who did not meet the criteria for dementia. Basal PSG variables were compared between the groups. Results: Nineteen subjects completed the study. Six subjects (32%) progressed to AD within 2 years. Subjects in the MCI-AD group showed a shorter stage REM sleep (p=0.043), and a reduced REM density (p=0.043) at the baseline. Conclusion: Subjects who progressed to AD demonstrated altered REM sleep variables, yet they did not meet the criteria for clinically probable AD in the examination period. We consider that these properties may be associated with a higher risk of progression from MCI to AD.

Objective: Evidence of the effects of Yokukansan (YKS), a traditional herbal medicine, on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) has accumulated. As well as BPSD, patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) demonstrate poorer sleep quality. Specific sleep disorders such as sleep-disordered breathing and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) can be prevalent in the elderly. PLMs are generally considered to produce sleep fragmentation by provoking arousals. This study aimed to examine whether YKS alters polysomnography variables in patients with AD. Methods: Seven patients (3 men and 4 women) with probable AD according to the standard criteria were investigated. Participants were treated with YKS for 4 weeks. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory for the assessment of BPSD, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognitive function, polysomnography for evaluation of sleep structure and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for subjective sleep quality, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were carried out at baseline and at the end of the treatment. The local institutional review boards approved this study. All patients gave written consent according to institutional guidelines and the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. Results: Treatment with YKS resulted in a decreased NPI score, a prolonged total sleep time, a shortened sleep latency, an increased sleep efficiency, and decreased periodic limb movement during sleep. YKS also improved subjective evaluations with PSQI and ESS. Conclusions: YKS was effective for BPSD and sleep disturbances in patients with AD. YKS did not induce daytime somnolence, extrapyramidal signs, or an increased apnea-hypopnea index.

Ocean heat content (HC) is one of the key indicators of climate variability and also provides ocean memory critical for seasonal and decadal predictions. The availability of multiple operational ocean analyses (ORAs) now routinely produced around the world is an opportunity for estimation of uncertainties in HC analysis and development of ensemble-based operational HC climate indices. In this context, the spread across the ORAs is used to quantify uncertainties in HC analysis and the ensemble mean of ORAs to identify, and to monitor, climate signals. Toward this goal, this study analyzed 10 ORAs, two objective analyses based on in situ data only, and eight model analyses based on ocean data assimilation systems. The mean, annual cycle, interannual variability, and long-term trend of HC in the upper 300 m (HC300) from 1980 to 2009 are compared. The spread across HC300 analyses generally decreased with time and reached a minimum in the early 2000s when the Argo data became available. There was a good correspondence between the increase of data counts and reduction of the spread. The agreement of HC300 anomalies among different ORAs, measured by the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), is generally high in the tropical Pacific, tropical Indian Ocean, North Pacific, and North Atlantic but low in the tropical Atlantic and extratropical southern oceans where observations are very sparse. A set of climate indices was derived as HC300 anomalies averaged over the areas where the covariability between SST and HC300 represents the major climate modes such as ENSO, Indian Ocean dipole, Atlantic Niño, Pacific decadal oscillation, and Atlantic multidecadal oscillation.

ObjectiveBehavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are commonly present in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Disturbed sleep quality is also observed in AD patients. However, the effects of memantine on sleep architecture have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of memantine on polysomnography (PSG) variables and BPSD.MethodsIn total, 12 patients with AD (mean age: 79.0±4.1 years old) were enrolled in this study. The following tests were performed: the Neuropsychiatric Inventory for the assessment of BPSD, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognitive function, and PSG for evaluation of sleep architecture. After baseline examinations, patients were treated with memantine according to a standard prescription protocol. After being treated with 20 mg/day of memantine for 4 weeks, examinations were carried out again.ResultsAll subjects completed the trial. The mean MMSE and NPI scores were 22.6±3.4 and 13.8±12.9, respectively. Treatment with memantine significantly decreased the NPI score (5.8±4.3, pp=0.04) and irritability/lability (p=0.04). PSG demonstrated a longer total sleep time (TST) (ppp=0.02), and decreases in nocturnal awakening (ppp=0.02).ConclusionMemantine was effective for reducing fragmented sleep and improving BPSD, and was well tolerated.

An analysis is presented of snapshot data (eastward and northward velocity components: u and v; tracer such as potential temperature: τ) from an eddy-resolving (Rgrid: 1/12°) ocean model experiment, in order to explore a method for improving eddy-permitting model performance. Horizontal 3 × 3 R-grid averages give the eddy-permitting grid (P-grid: 1/4°) variables: 〈u〉, 〈v〉, and 〈τ〉, where 〈〉 denotes the spatial P-grid scale average. The difference between the horizontal tracer flux across the boundary face of a P-grid and that across the corresponding faces of R-grids is estimated as F2E. It is found that the correlations among the gradients of u, v, and τ give a good approximation F2C to the estimated flux F2E. The approximated flux is a function of these gradients and the grid size. A method is presented for implementing the F2C for density to an eddying ocean model as an additional advection. Practical experiments were conducted with a realistic configuration. It is shown that the zonal mean isotherms in the Kuroshio extension region are more flattened in the run using the proposed method than in another run using the conventional horizontal biharmonic operator, suggesting that the additional flux correction leads to an enhancement of sub-basin scale mixing.

The meridional shift of the Kuroshio Extension to decadal wind variations is examined by analyzing the hindcast simulation of a high-resolution ( 1 / 12 ∘ × 1 / 12 ∘ ) North Pacific ocean general circulation model (OGCM) and by conducting a series of idealized OGCM experiments. The meridional shift of the Kuroshio Extension in the hindcast is consistent with observations and former studies. Using a series of sensitivity experiments in idealized settings, the following possible mechanism for this shift is proposed. The baroclinic Rossby waves that arise in the northern half of the subtropical gyre cannot directly enter the Kuroshio–Oyashio Extension region due to the strong Kuroshio Extension jet. When the Rossby waves accompanying the negative (positive) sea-surface height anomalies propagate westward and reach the region to the east of the recirculation gyre, the difference in thermocline depth between the recirculation gyre and the region to its east becomes larger (smaller), resulting in stronger (weaker) baroclinic instabilities. These stronger (weaker) instabilities cause a shallower (deeper) thermocline in the recirculation gyre. To compensate for this shrinking (stretching), the recirculation gyre migrates southward (northward), leading to the southward (northward) shift of the Kuroshio Extension.

Cytogenetic analysis has identified 12p gain as the most frequent abnormality in human testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). It has been suggested that amplification and overexpression of stem cell-associated genes, including cyclin-D2, on the human chromosome 12p region are involved in germ cell tumorigenesis. By subtractive cDNA analysis, we identified Ddx1, a member of the DEAD-box protein family, as a gene predominantly expressed in the primordial germ cells of mouse embryos. Knockdown of Ddx1 in a mouse spermatogonia-derived cell line, GC-1spg, by short interference RNA repressed the expression of cyclin-D2, CD9 and GDF3 genes. In the mouse cyclin-D2 gene, a genomic DNA region between -348 and -329 was responsible for transcriptional activation by DDX1 based on reporter and gel shift assays. Similarly, DDX1 knockdown in the human TGCT cell line NEC8 repressed the expression of stem cell-associated genes localized on chromosome 12p13.3, including cyclin-D2, CD9 and NANOG. DDX1-knocked-down TGCT cells could not form solid tumors in nude mice. Furthermore, in situ hybridization revealed that DDX1 mRNA was produced in both seminoma and nonseminoma types of human TGCT samples. We conclude that DDX1 is a critical factor for testicular tumorigenesis.

Numerical experiments were conducted to clarify the processes through which the Southern Ocean wind affects the meridional overturning (NA cell) associated with North Atlantic Deep Water production. These were based on idealized single- and twin-basin (idealized Atlantic and Pacific Ocean) models with a periodically connected passage under various forcings at the surface. Relationships among the wind stresses, the NA cell, and the buoyancy fluxes were investigated. Increased westerly wind stresses increase the surface buoyancy gains in the Southern Ocean under the density-restoring boundary condition. The buoyancy anomalies excited in the Southern Ocean propagate as baroclinic waves into the northern North Atlantic, modify the density field, and enhance the NA cell, which increases buoyancy losses there until the global buoyancy flux budget balances. The results from experiments using a realistically configured global ocean model confirm that the Southern Ocean wind effects on the NA cell can be understood consistently through thermodynamics and that the wind stresses outside the channel latitudes, as well as those at the Cape Horn latitude, affect the global buoyancy fluxes and the NA cell.

Background: Nodular gastritis (NG) was considered a physiological change with little pathological significance, mostly in young women. In recent years, however, it has been often reported in patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, or in patients with gastroduodenal ulcer/gastric cancer, suggesting possible clinical significance. Methods: From July 2003 to July 2006, 59 patients were diagnosed with NG among 32 404 patients examined endoscopically. The incidence of NG was evaluated in relation to age, sex, H. pylori infection status, symptoms leading to endoscopy, associated lesions in the upper digestive tract at the time of NG diagnosis, and existence of other systemic conditions. Results: The NG patients consisted of 13 out of 18 152 (0.07%) male patients and 46 out of 14 252 (0.32%) female patients, with a mean age of 45.3 ± 17.7 years. All 28 patients who were examined for H. pylori infection were positive. Endoscopic examination was performed for precordial pain and upper abdominal pain in 24 (40.7%) patients, symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease in eight (13.6%) patients, and symptoms of functional dyspepsia in six (10.2%) patients. NG was associated with duodenal ulcer in eight (13.6%) patients, hyperplastic gastric polyps in five (8.5%), gastric ulcer in one (1.7%), and gastric cancer in one (1.7%) patient. Conclusion: NG is a specific gastritis resulting from H. pylori infection that may be strongly associated with H. pylori-related lesions.

Repeated hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) exposure prior to ischemia has been reported to provide neuroprotection against ischemic brain injury. The present study examined the time course of neuroprotection of HBO (3.5 atmosphere absolute, 100% oxygen, 1 h for 5 consecutive days) and the changes of gene/protein expression in rats. First, at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 72 h after HBO sessions, rats were subjected to forebrain ischemia (8 min). Histopathological examination of hippocampal CA1 neurons was done 7 days after ischemia. Second, temporal genomic responses and protein expression were examined at the same time points after HBO sessions without subjecting animals to ischemia. HBO significantly reduced loss of hippocampal CA1 neurons that normally follows transient forebrain ischemia when the last HBO session was 6 h, 12 h, or 24 h before ischemia (survived neurons 55%, 75%, and 53%, respectively), whereas if there was a 72-h delay before the ischemic insult, HBO was not protective (survived neurons only 6%). Statistical analysis on microarray data showed significant upregulation in 60 probe sets including 7 annotated genes (p75NTR, C/EBPdelta, CD74, Edg2, Trip10, Nrp1, and Igf2), whose time course expressions corresponded to HBO-induced neuroprotection. The protein levels of p75NTR, C/EBPdelta, and CD74 were significantly increased (maximum fold changes 2.9, 2.0, and 7.9, respectively). The results suggest that HBO-induced neuroprotection against ischemic injury has time window, protective at 6 h, 12 h and 24 h but not protective at 72 h. Although the precise interaction is to be determined, the genes/proteins relevant to neurotrophin and inflammatory-immune system may be involved in HBO-induced neuroprotection.

In general, barotropic-mode computation requires the largest communication time in ocean models because of its iterative nature, when parallel computation is performed based on regional partitioning. In this study, reduction in the overhead time included in the communication in the parallel computation of the barotropic mode is considered to achieve a high parallelization efficiency of ocean models. We verify that the reduction in the communication frequency based on the multi-grid boundary ghost area reduces the total communication time. We find that this is because the sum of several kinds of overhead time for communication occupies a fairly large part of the total communication time. We discuss the trade-off between the decrease in communication time and the increase in computation time due to increased boundary area in such cases, leading to a determination of a suitable width of the multi-grid boundary that minimizes the total required time. We also discuss the efficiencies of the one- and two-dimensional partitioning of the model domain, when a multi-grid boundary is used. In general, two-dimensional partitioning is more efficient than one-dimensional for large partitioning numbers.

A series of numerical experiments were conducted with a high-resolution (eddy-permitting) North Pacific model to simulate the formation and spreading of the salinity minimum associated with the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW). It was found that two factors are required to simulate a realistic configuration of the salinity minimum: a realistic wind stress field and small-scale disturbances. The NCEP reanalyzed wind stress data lead to better results than the Hellerman and Rosenstein wind stress data, due to the closer location of the simulated Oyashio and Kuroshio at the western boundary. Small-scale disturbances formed by relaxing computational diffusivity included in the advection scheme promote the large-scale isopycnal mixing between the Oyashio and Kuroshio waters, simulating a realistic configuration of the salinity minimum. A detailed analysis of the Oyashio water transport was carried out on the final three-year data of the experiment with reduced computational diffusivity. Simulated transport of the Kuroshio Extension in the intermediate layer is generally smaller than the observed value, while those of the Oyashio and the flow at the subarctic front are comparable to the observed levels. In the Oyashio-Kuroshio interfrontal zone the zonally integrated southward transport of the Oyashio water (140–155°E) is borne by the eddy activity, though the time-mean flow reveals the existence of a coastal Oyashio intrusion. In the eastern part (155°E–180°) the zonally integrated transport of the Oyashio water indicates a southward peak at the southern edge of the Kuroshio Extension, which corresponds to the branching of the recirculating flow from the Kuroshio Extension.

The ballast water contains many planktons, fish eggs, etc. which sometimes gives a detrimental effect on the environment where thousands miles away from the ballast water is loaded. The present experimental study showed that the high-speed water flow could destroy planktons. The generation of cavitation should increase the effect of destruction.We examined two methods; those were two nozzles in a pipe, and cavitating jet flow into a chamber. Both were promising and should continue the experiment to find the best set-up to destroy planktons.

Melanoma, a kind of carcinoma cutaneum, occurs at high frequency in aged gray horses. For the basic study of horse melanoma occurrence, the establishment of melanoma culture cell lines derived from three aged gray horses was attempted. Three types of enzymes, collagenase, hyaluronidase and pronase, were used for the separation of melanoma cells in the primary culture. Those enzyme treatments were highly efficient for the resolution of connective tissue. The culture medium was Iscove's modified Dulbecco's medium (IMDM) + 10% fetal calf serum (FCS; Toyobo) and the culture condition was 37°C temperature, 100% humidity, 5% CO2 and 95% air. After cloning a separated cell, three cell lines term culture were established for long term culture. These culture cell lines were named EMT-1, EMT-2 and EMT-3, respectively. These cell lines had high growth ability and the colony of the cell line was formed by a low density culture. The form of each culture cell, the cell surface and the distribution of the cytoskelton completely agreed with the characteristics observed in cancer cells. The numbers of chromosomes in these culture cell lines showed wide distribution mainly on 2n=64, and the hereditary characteristics were different from normal cell lines. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), nucleoside phoshorylase (NP) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) isozyme patterns of these culture cell lines were compared by starch gel electrophoresis, but there was no difference from the original cells. As a result of the above, it is considered that there was no contamination between the culture cell lines and the culture cells that came from the horse melanoma which showed signs of special hereditary variation.

In recognition that similarity in the density balance leads to resemblance in circulation between the two-dimensional non-rotating and three-dimensional rotating systems which have similar density stratification, we investigate convection induced by cooling at one side wall and heating at the sea surface by using a two-dimensional non-rotating model as idealized representation for the deep Pacific circulation. In the model, various vertical profiles are taken for the side wall cooling, which are assumed to correspond to the density structure of the Anatarctic Circumpolar Current. In a small diffusivity range, two important features are found to be robust against change in the vertical profile of the side wall cooling. One is that the density stratification is horizontally almost uniform. The other is that the balance in the density equation between the vertical advection and the vertical diffusion holds in the interior. Consequently, the vertical density balance, together with the equation of continuity, determines the circulation pattern for the prescribed vertical profile of the side wall cooling. The multi-layered meridional flow, which is expected to exist in the deep Pacific, is shown to form for certain vertical profiles of the side wall cooling.

Effects of the presence of a circumpolar region on buoyancy-driven circulation are investigated by using an idealized numerical ocean model. Comparison of circulation and meridional density (heat) transport is made between a closed ocean and an ocean with a cyclic gap near its southern boundary. The presence of the circumpolar region leads to disconnection of the meridional overturning across the circumpolar region. And the circumpolar eastward flow reaches the bottom of the ocean. It is essential for this that the pycnocline is deeper than the bottom of the gap. Since the amount of the mass transported northward must return southward at the levels deeper than the bottom of the cyclic gap, the weak stratification, hence weak vertical geostrophic shear, at the deeper levels leads to inactive communication across the circumpolar region. Meridional heat transport across the circumpolar region is made mainly by horizontal diffusion for the ocean with the cyclic gap, while the contribution of the advection is dominant for the closed ocean. Sensitivity of meridional heat transport to change in horizontal diffusivity is studied. The meridional heat transport for the ocean with the cyclic gap is more sensitive than for the closed ocean. The change in heat transport occurs not only in the circumpolar region but also in the rest of the ocean. It is suggested that subgrid scale phenomena, especially mesoscale eddies, in the circumpolar region controls the whole ocean to a great extent.

We have investigated the magnetic properties of a quaternary magnetic semiconductor Cd1‐x‐yMnxCryTe with a fixed Mn content x∼0.2 and varied Cr contents in the range of y = 0∼0.07. Ferromagnetic behaviors were observed in the films containing even a small amount of Cr less than 1%; hysteretic loops appear in the M‐H curves and the paramagnetic Curie temperature deduced from the fitting of Curie‐Weiss plot turns to be positive from a negative value in (Cd,Mn)Te. These results suggest that the interaction between Mn spins becomes ferromagnetic due to the presence of a small amount of Cr.

Objective This study aims to examine the effect of levothyroxine, a thyroid hormone, on a prolonged nocturnal sleep and excessive daytime somnolence (EDS) in patients with idiopathic hypersomnia. Methods In a prospective, open-label study, nine patients were enrolled. All subjects met criteria for idiopathic hypersomnia with long sleep time defined by the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 2nd edition (ICSD-2). Subjects with sleep apnea syndrome, obesity or hypothyroidism were excluded. Sleep architecture and subjective daytime somnolence were estimated by polysomnography (PSG) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), respectively. After baseline examinations, levothyroxine (25μg/day) was orally administered every day. Mean total sleep time, ESS score at baseline were compared with those after treatment (2, 4 and 8weeks). Results Mean age of participants was 23.8±13.7years old. At baseline, mean total sleep time (hours) and ESS score were 12.9±0.3 and 17.8±1.4, respectively. Mean total sleep times after treatment were 9.1±0.7 and 8.5±1.0h at 4 and 8 treatment weeks, respectively. Mean ESS scores were 8.8±2.3 and 7.4±2.8 at 4 and 8 treatment weeks, respectively. One patient dropped out at the 2nd week due to poor effect. No adverse effects were noted. Conclusions After treatment with levothyroxine for over 4weeks, prolonged sleep time and EDS were improved. Levothyroxine was effective for hypersomnia and well tolerated.

7-Alkyl-1, 3, 6-trimethylpyrrolo[2, 3-d]pyrimidine-2, 4(1H, 3H)-diones were readily synthesized by treatment of 6-alkylamino-5-allyl-1, 3-dimethyluracils, which were derived from 5-allyl-6-chloro-1, 3-dimethyluracil and alkylamines, with bis(acetonitrile) palladium (II) chloride. In addition, 4-alkylamino-2, 5-dimethyl-2, 3-dihydrofuro[3, 2-e]pyrimidin-6-ones were easily synthesized by treatment of 5-allyl-6-chloro-1-methyluracil with alkylamines.

Direct and ketone (acetone or acetophenone)-sensitized photocycloaddition of 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene to 2′-deoxyuridine (1a), thymidine (1b), 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine (1c), and their 3′,5′-di-O-acetyl derivatives 1d—1f by near-UV irradiation have been studied. The triplet excited state of the nucleosides was found to be the major intermeidate by the triplet quenching technique. From the respective reactants, a pair of diastereomeric products having a cyclobutane ring were isolated. The absolute configuration of the bridgehead carbon atoms was identified by X-ray crystallographic analyses with two of them as (1R, 6R)-isomer 3a and (1S, 6S)-isomer 2b and by 1H NMR. The conformations of the glycosyl bond, the pyrimidine ring, and the sugar portion in solution were identified by 1H NMR and compared with the ones in the crystalline state.