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In recent years, blooms of toxic Alexandrium ostenfeldii strains have been reported from around the world. In 2013, the species formed a red tide in a shallow lagoon in western Japan, which was the first report of the species in the area. To investigate the genetic relatedness of Japanese A. ostenfeldii and global isolates, the full-length SSU, ITS and LSU sequences were determined, and phylogenetic analyses were conducted for isolates from western and northern Japan and from the Baltic Sea. Genotyping and microsatellite sequence comparison were performed to estimate the divergence and connectivity between the populations from western Japan and the Baltic Sea. In all phylogenetic analyses, the isolates from western Japan grouped together with global isolates from shallow and low saline areas, such as the Baltic Sea, estuaries on the east coast of U.S.A. and from the Bohai Sea, China. In contrast, the isolates from northern Japan formed a well-supported separate group in the ITS and LSU phylogenies, indicating differentiation between the Japanese populations. This was further supported by the notable differentiation between the sequences of western and northern Japanese isolates, whereas the lowest differentiation was found between the western Japanese and Chinese isolates. Microsatellite genotyping revealed low genetic diversity in the western Japanese population, possibly explained by a recent introduction to the lagoon from where it was detected. The red tide recorded in the shallow lagoon followed notable changes in the salinity of the waterbody and phytoplankton composition, potentially facilitating the bloom of A. ostenfeldii.

The European sea squirt, Ascidiella aspersa was first found as an alien species in 2008 from Funka Bay, Hokkaido, northern Japan, causing serious damage to the scallop aquaculture industry. We investigated A. aspersa on cultured scallops and larval occurrence from July 2010 to June 2014 to clarify life history traits and population dynamics, and consider the relation between the life history of A. aspersa and the process of scallop aquaculture. Larvae of A. aspersa were found from June to December, and recruitment on cultured scallops occurred mainly between July and October. The ascidians grew well and their weights increased until February. We found that 60–80% of A. aspersa that had settled in summer had eggs or sperm in autumn, and 90–100% of A. aspersa matured early the following summer. Maturity size in September was 17–20 mm as male, 22–24 mm as female. Scallops in Funka Bay are hung in the spring and harvested from winter to the next spring. Ascidiella aspersa settle as larvae in early summer, and grow well until winter, resulting in overgrowth on scallops in the harvest season. The linking of the process of scallop aquaculture and the life history of A. aspersa explains why this invasive ascidian has caused serious damage to the aquaculture industry in the bay. In comparison to the earlier descriptions of the native population, A. aspersa in Funka Bay has longer reproductive and growth periods, earlier initiation of reproduction, and possibly smaller maturity size.

The identification and quantification of okadaic acid (OA)/dinophysistoxin (DTX) analogues and pectenotoxins (PTXs) in Dinophysis samples collected from coastal locations around Japan were evaluated by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. The species identified and analyzed included Dinophysis fortii, D. acuminata, D. mitra (Phalacroma mitra), D. norvegica, D. infundibulus, D. tripos, D. caudata, D. rotundata (Phalacroma rotundatum), and D. rudgei. The dominant toxin found in D. acuminata was PTX2 although some samples contained DTX1 as a minor toxin. D. acuminata specimens isolated from the southwestern regions (Takada and Hiroshima) showed characteristic toxin profiles, with only OA detected in samples collected from Takada. In contrast, both OA and DTX1, in addition to a larger proportion of PTX2, were detected in D. acuminata from Hiroshima. D. fortii showed a toxin profile dominated by PTX2 although this species had higher levels of DTX1 than D. acuminata. OA was detected as a minor toxin in some D. fortii samples collected from Yakumo, Noheji, and Hakata. PTX2 was also the dominant toxin found among other Dinophysis species analyzed, such as D. norvegica, D. tripos, and D. caudata, although some pooled picked cells of these species contained trace levels of OA or DTX1. The results obtained in this study re-confirm that cellular toxin content and profiles are different even among strains of the same species.

The Japanese scallop (Patinopecten (Mizuhopecten) yessoensis) is an important commercial species in Funka Bay, Japan, where it is farmed using the hanging culture method. Our study was based on 6 years (from 2006 to 2011) of monthly in situ observations of scallop growth at Yakumo station. To produce a basic spatial distribution dataset, we developed an interpolation solution for the shortage of Chl-a concentration data available from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite. Additionally, we integrated four-dimensional variational (4D-VAR) assimilation water temperature data from ocean general circulation models (OGCMs), with four vertical levels (6, 10, 14, and 18 m) from the sea surface. Statistical models, including generalized additive models (GAMs) and generalized linear models, were applied to in situ observation data, satellite data, and 4D-VAR data to identify the influence of environment factors (interpolated Chl-a, temperature, and depth) on the growth of scallops, and to develop a three-dimensional growth prediction model for the Japanese scallops in Funka Bay. We considered three methods to simulate the growth process of scallops (accumulation, summation, and product), and used them to select the most suitable model. All the interpolated Chl-a concentrations and 4D-VAR temperature data were verified by shipboard data. The results revealed that GAM, using an accumulation method that was based on a combination of integrated temperature, integrated log Chl-a, depth, and number of days, was best able to predict the vertical and spatial growth of the Japanese scallop. The predictions were verified by in situ observations from different depths (R2 = 0.83–0.94). From the distribution of three-dimensional predicted scallop growth maps at each depth, it was suggested that the growth of the Japanese scallop was most favourable at 6 m and least favourable at 18 m, although variations occurred in each aquaculture region in different years. These variations were probably due to the ocean environment and climate variation.

The determination of the causes for the changes in marine environment in areas with similar oceanic climate forcing on most suitable sites for scallop aquaculture can help to ensure long-term sustainability of the coastal ecosystem. This study assessed aquaculture suitability sites using dominant indicators of marine ecological dynamics on Japanese scallop culture in Funka and Mutsu Bays, Japan as comparative examples. Data sources comprised of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), four dimensional-variational (4D-VAR) data assimilation system, Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS), in situ and buoy measurements. The suitable sites were ranked on a scale of 1 (least suitable) to 8 (most suitable). In the most suitable sites in aquaculture operational areas, Funka Bay had a high proportion (51.1%) than Mutsu Bay (13.7%) for the best performed model. Peaks of aquaculture suitability scores were attributed to potential effects of currents. Extreme sea temperatures (>24°C) in summer 2010 were associated with low performance of the 2010 model in Mutsu Bay and mortality of scallops based on sea temperature-depth visualizations. Future global warming effects are likely to decrease the most suitable culture sites in Funka Bay and loss of similar areas in Mutsu Bay. Thus, change in marine environment influences scallop culture development. Such concepts could form scientific basis for aquaculture planning on designated system of larval distribution and stock management of cultured species to minimize mortality and economic losses.

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent huge tsunami greatly affected both human activity and the coastal marine ecosystem along the Pacific coast of Japan. The tsunami also reached Funka Bay in northern Japan and caused serious damage to the scallop cultures there, and this tsunami was believed to have affected the coastal environments in the bay. Therefore, we investigated the changes in the spatial abundance and distribution of the toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense cysts before the tsunami (August 2010) and after the tsunami (May 2011, August 2011, May 2012 and August 2012) in the bay. Further, monthly sampling was conducted after the tsunami to identify seasonal changes of Alexandrium catenella/tamarense cysts and vegetative cells. Significant increases were observed in the populations of A. catenella/tamarense cysts, comparing the abundances before the tsunami (in August 2010; 70 ± 61 cysts g −1 wet sediment) to those just after it (in May 2011; 108 ± 84 cysts g −1 wet sediment), and both A. tamarense bloom (a maximum density was 1.3 × 10 3 cells L −1 ) and PSP (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) toxin contamination of scallops (9.4 mouse unit g −1 was recorded) occurred in the bay. Seasonal sampling also revealed that the encystment of A. tamarense and the supply of the cysts to bottom sediments did not occur in the bay from September to April. These results strongly suggested that the mixing of the bottom sediments by the tsunami caused the accumulation of the toxic A. tamarense cysts in the surface of bottom sediment through the process of redeposition in Funka Bay. Moreover, this cyst deposition may have contributed to the toxic bloom formation as a seed population in the spring of 2011.

The optimal management of microcystic lymphatic malformations (LMs) in children has not been established. We describe how we used the Ligasure™ Vessel Sealing System (LVSS) to achieve partial resection of refractory microcystic LMs in a 1-year-old boy. The child was admitted in respiratory distress caused by infection and swelling of cervical LMs. The LMs had been diagnosed prenatally, but had not decreased in size despite three treatments with OK-432 sclerotherapy. We performed direct dissection of the microcystic LMs using the LVSS with minimal intraoperative blood loss or lymphatic leakage. The LMs were resected as completely as possible without damage to the jugular vein or major nerves. His postoperative course was uneventful. Histological examination revealed complete sealing of the lymphovascular channels with obliterated lumens. Resection using the LVSS is effective and easy to perform for partial resection of microcystic LMs. We recommend the combination of initial OK-432 injection therapy and subsequent partial resection using the LVSS for refractory microcystic LMs.

Intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) stones are one of the most complicated morbidities that occur after Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (RYH); however, the optimal therapeutic approach is controversial.Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) has been widely and frequently performed even in pediatric patients. We herein report the successful management of IHBD stones by biliary lithotripsy using DBE after RYH for a choledochal cyst (CC). DBE has made it possible to perform endoscopic therapeutic intervention, including balloon dilatation of an anastomotic stricture and removal of IHBD stones, without any major complications.DBE is a less invasive and safe treatment method for IHBD stones in pediatric patients, which is capable of reaching the bilioenteric anastomosis after RYH for CC.

Aim Congenital tracheal stenosis is an obstructive airway lesion that often presents as a life-threatening emergency. We had introduced the balloon dilatation and placement of the expandable metallic airway stent as a therapeutic option, and this study aimed to clarify the long-term outcomes in pediatric patients. Methods A retrospective review of five infants in whom balloon expandable metallic airway stents (10–40mm long and 6–8mm in diameter) were inserted in 1997 to 2000 was conducted. Results There was an immediate improvement of respiratory obstruction in all five infants (aged 7days to 12months) with four weaned from ventilation. One child died after 9months of palliative treatment. In all inflammation and granulation tissue developed over the stents, but this could be managed by scraping or balloon compression. Metallic stents have been in place a mean of 12years (range 6months to 13years) after insertion without other complications. Four children are alive and well with their stents in place. Recently, an attempt to remove the stent was done in two patients who showed dyspnea on exertion. They underwent tracheoplasty following successful complete removal of metallic stent using cardiopulmonary bypass. Conclusion Use of expandable metallic airway stents following balloon dilatation can be left for long periods to relieve tracheal obstruction. Development of granulation tissue is a major treatable complication. Removal of the stent was safely completed by open surgical intervention using a cardiopulmonary bypass. The airway stent may provide an important therapeutic option in selected cases with congenital tracheal stenosis.

Intrapericardial extralobar pulmonary sequestration is a very rare congenital lung anomaly. We report a case of this condition, detected as an intrathoracic cystic lesion by using prenatal ultrasonography. The neonate was born at 38 weeks of gestation with no progression of the lesion and no respiratory or cardiac symptoms. Ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) revealed a 40 × 17 × 17-mm intrapericardial lesion, composed of cystic components and a solid component. Intrapericardial extrapulmonary sequestration was suspected largely because CT showed a vague aberrant artery. At the age of 3 months, elective surgery was performed, and the postoperative course was uneventful.

Quantification of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins (okadaic acid analogues), and other lipophilic toxins in single-cell isolates of the dinoflagellates Dinophysis fortii, D. acuminata, D. mitra, D. norvegica, D. tripos, D. infundibulus and D. rotundata, collected in coastal waters Hokkaido, Japan in 2005, was carried out by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Okadaic acid (OA), dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1), 7-O-palmitoyldinophysistoxin-1 (DTX3), pectenotoxin-1 (PTX1), pectenotoxin-11 (PTX11), pectenotoxin-2 (PTX2), pectenotoxin-6 (PTX6), pectenotoxin-2 seco-acid (PTX2sa), yessotoxin (YTX) and 45-hydroxyyessotoxin (45-OHYTX) were quantified by LC–MS/MS. PTX2 was the dominant toxin in D. acuminata, D. norvegica and D. infundibulus whereas both DTX1 and PTX2 were the principal toxins in D. fortii. None of the toxins were detected in D. mitra, D. rotundata and D. tripos. These results suggest that D. fortii is the most important species responsible for DSP contamination of bivalves in Hokkaido. This is the first finding of PTX2 in D. infundibulus, and confirms the presence of PTX2 in Japanese D. acuminata and D. norvegica collected from natural seawater.

To elucidate the factors that influence the interannual variation in the density of cultured Japanese scallop ( Mizuhopecten yessoensis ) spat, we analyzed the relationship between spat density (Ds), monthly chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration, water temperature, and adductor muscle weight of spawners over 15 years (1992–2006) in Funka Bay (Japan) on the western North Pacific Ocean. The interannual variation of spat density was best explained by a campaniform model that used chl a concentration in February ([chl]Feb) and a categorical variable that indicates whether growth of spawners in a year is low or not as independent variables (R2 = 0.91). The gonadosomatic index increased fastest in February. Low growth years were detected as outliers in the Ds – [chl]Feb relationship and were characterized by an average weight of adductor muscles in February of Feb and low growth. Those years corresponded with El Niño and La Niña years, respectively. Thus, global climatic anomalies apparently affect reproduction of the scallop in Funka Bay.

We report the successful growth of the toxic dinoflagellate Dinophysis infundibulus under laboratory conditions, when fed the marine ciliate Myrionecta rubra grown with the cryptophyte Teleaulax amphioxeia; this study follows previous studies on D. acuminata, D. caudata, and D. fortii, showing the mixotrophy. We succeeded in maintaining several clonal strains of D. infundibulus for a relatively long period of time (> 8 mol. Growth rates in D. infundibulus ranged from 0.40 to 0.94 divisions d -1 , reaching a maximum concentration of 1.2 to 2.3 x 10 3 cells ml -1 . The rate was 0.36 divisions d -1 when apparently fully expanded cells, resulting from the active ingestion of Myrionecta rubra, were cultivated without the ciliate prey. In contrast, the culture of D. infundibulus was not established in the absence of the ciliate or when provided only with the cryptophyte T. amphioxeia, suggesting that D. infundibulus cannot directly use T. amphioxeia as prey. We also determined the sequences of nuclear small subunit (SSU) rRNA, 5.8S rRNA with internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2), and large subunit (LSU) rRNA regions in D. infundibulus. Phylogenetic relationships revealed that they are non-identical with regard to any of the DNA sequence data of Dinophysis deposited in GenBank, and are distinguishable from other Dinophysis species for species identification.

Ladd手術の1年3カ月後に中腸軸捻転を再発した稀な症例を経験したので報告する．生後5日に腸回転異常のため中腸軸捻転をきたしLadd手術を施行した男児が，1年3カ月後に胆汁性嘔吐のため当院を受診した．術後イレウスの診断で入院し保存的に治療したが改善が得られなかった．第3病日に急激に全身状態の悪化を生じ，腹部CTにて腸管の拡張と多量の腹水を認めた．絞扼性イレウスを疑い，同日，緊急手術を施行した．小腸は再び中腸軸捻転をおこし拡張し，広汎に壊死していた．捻転解除後も腸管虚血は改善されず，壊死腸管を切除した．残存した腸管は40cmであり，術後に患児は短腸症候群をきたした．

In November 2003, we first observed prevalent occurrence of a hydroid, Eutima japonica, on soft body tissues of age zero Japanese scallop (Mizuhopecten yessoensis) juveniles cultured in large areas of Funka Bay, Hokkaido. The occurrence coincided with massive death of juvenile scallops. A major objective was to clarify ecological relationships between the symbionts, and to infer the relationship between symbiosis and the massive mortality. To do this, we investigated distributions of association rates of hydroids with juvenile scallops at 15–34 sites over 3 years (2003–2005), with age one adult scallops at 24 sites in 2003, and with mussels at 13 sites in 2004. We studied seasonal changes in association rates with juvenile scallops, and numbers of polyps per juvenile scallop at three sites from November 2003 to June 2004. We also quantified the hydroid impacts on juvenile scallop shell length growth and triglyceride accumulation in the digestive gland. The association rate of E. japonica polyps with juvenile scallops was high in large areas of Funka Bay in 2003, and overlapped the distribution of mussels bearing polyps. Association rates with age one adult scallops were very low in November 2003, even at the sites where polyps were very common on juvenile scallops. Levels of hydroid occurrence in juvenile scallops varies by year. We found that hydroids presence in juvenile scallops declined drastically in 2004 and 2005. The association rates with juvenile scallops, and numbers of polyps per juvenile scallop declined during winter, until they disappeared completely in the following June. Since polyps were rare in adult scallops, we believe that infection of juvenile scallops was probably initiated from the planulae produced by medusae released from polyps growing on Mytilus spp., especially M. galloprovincialis. Subsequently, the inhabitation spread intraspecifically and interspecifically. In juvenile scallops, inhabitation of polyps reduced shell length growth by 43%, and triglyceride accumulation in digestive glands by 24–47%. Inhabitation of E. japonica on juvenile scallop is best regarded as parasitism, rather than inquilinism or commensalism. Occurrence of polyps was probably not a direct lethal factor for juvenile scallops, because there were some sites where association rates were high, but mortalities were low. Massive mortalities in 2003 may have resulted from simultaneous impacts of heavy polyp load and stresses caused by the way in which the animals were handled (transferred from cages for pre-intermediate culture to cages for intermediate culture), because the massive mortality occurred within a month of the transfer. The presence of polyps in juvenile scallops does not affect the quality of the product in Funka Bay, because market size scallops are hydroid-free.

We developed a system to estimate the age composition of a fish population (Sebastes schlegelii) from length data by considering fish growth, length variation, proportion of age classes, and sexual dimorphism. Reasonable interpolations allowed age composition to be estimated when length data and age–length relationships were measured in different seasons. A growth curve was fitted to the mean length growth using a maximum likelihood method with an assumption of a normal distribution in length variation. Posterior probabilities were constructed with normal distributions according to Bayes’ theorem, and age composition and its confidence limits were reasonably estimated from the posterior probabilities and by bootstrap resampling. The influence of annual fluctuations of population properties was assessed by cross-validation, which was improved by updating the prior probabilities. While the new system was more robust than the age–length key for small numbers of aging data, it was impossible to improve the system by focusing on the length data alone because the correlation between the estimation error and the likelihood calculated from the length data alone was weak.

Summary A specific and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for measurement of vitellin in the hemolymph and ovary of the Japanese scallop, Mizuhopecten yessoensis. We observed two peaks of vitellin concentration in the hemolymph during the annual reproductive cycle. The peaks corresponded with the occurrence of two types of oocyte necrosis, type I and type II. Type I necrosis occurs in the early phase of vitellogenesis and is characterized by necrotic oocytes that do not have a germinal vesicle. Type II necrosis occurs during the mid-to late-phase of vitellogenesis and peaks just before spawning. It is characterized by necrotic oocytes whose germinal vesicle is strongly stained by eosin, i.e., the germinal vesicle has lost basophilic properties. In immunohistochemical examinations, oocytes and auxiliary cells (which are in contact with oocytes), reacted with anti-vitellin serum; mid-gut gland, adductor muscles, intestine, gonoduct, kidney, and gill do not. These results sugge...

Nonoperative management is acceptable treatment for minor pancreatic injuries. However, management of major pancreatic duct injury in children remains controversial. We present our experience in treating isolated pancreatic duct injury. We describe the cases of three male patients treated for complete pancreatic duct disruption in the past 5 years at our institution. We performed pancreatic duct repair to avoid distal pancreatectomy and to maintain normal pancreatic function. All patients underwent enhanced computed tomography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the early period. The injuries were classified as grade III according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma classification. In two cases, we performed end-to-end anastomosis of the pancreatic duct during the delayed period. In the third case, we placed a stent across the disruption to the distal pancreatic duct. The patients’ postoperative courses were uneventful, and the average hospitalization was 25.6 days after the procedure. At a median follow-up of 36 months (range 14–54 months), all patients remain asymptomatic, with normal pancreatic function, but with persistent distal pancreatic duct dilatation. We suggest that distal pancreatectomy should not be routinely performed in patients with isolated pancreatic duct injury.

Neonates with congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) sometimes develop respiratory distress and may be difficult to intubate. We used balloon tracheoplasty with a rigid bronchoscope for emergency airway management in neonates with symptomatic CTS. Herein, we describe the balloon tracheoplasty procedure and the early outcomes following its use as the initial treatment of neonatal symptomatic CTS. We performed a retrospective analysis of five neonates with CTS who were initially treated with balloon tracheoplasty at our institution from January 2010 to December 2013. Five patients with a mean birthweight of 2,117 g were treated during the study period. Of these, four developed respiratory distress after birth, and all patients had difficult intubations. In all five patients, definitive diagnosis of CTS was made by rigid bronchoscopy and 3-dimensional reconstruction scan. A total of nine balloon dilatations were performed in five patients. Following balloon tracheoplasty, two patients were extubated, one was extubated after resection and end-to-end anastomosis following initial balloon dilatation, and one remained hospitalized with tracheostomy for tracheomalacia. The remaining patient died from tracheal bleeding associated with congenital heart disease. Although our sample size was small, balloon tracheoplasty is a potentially effective initial treatment for selected cases with neonatal symptomatic CTS.

6 páginas, 1 tabla, 2 figuras., The solitary ascidian Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) has sometimes been regarded as conspecific with A. scabra (Müller, 1776), although previous detailed morphological comparisons have indicated that the two are distinguishable by internal structures. Resolution of this taxonomic issue is important because A. aspersa has been known as a notoriously invasive ascidian, doing much damage to aquaculture e.g. in Hokkaido, Japan. We collected many specimens from European waters (including the Swedish coast, near the type localities of these two species) and Hokkaido, Japan (as an alien population) and made molecular phylogenetic analyses using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, and found that in terms of COI sequences all the analyzed specimens were clustered into two distinct groups, one of which is morphologically referable to A. aspersa and the other to A. scabra. Thus, these two species should be regarded as distinct from each other.

The abundance of planktonic larvae (veliger) of Corbicula japonica in Lake Abashiri, which is near the northern limit of this species' range, was extremely low in 1995 and 1996, compared to other years (1989, 1990, 1994 and 1997). In histological examinations, the female genital tubules were filled with the atretic oocytes after the spawning season of 1995. Therefore, it was concluded that most C. japonica failed to spawn in 1995. The effects of temperature and salinity on the spawning of C. japonica were examined in a spawning induction experiment under laboratory conditions. Probability of spawning by C. japonica in the experiment was described by the equation: 1/( 1 + exp[-(-15.57 + 0.57 T- 12.64S- 0.55Gam + 0.69 T.S- 0.1T.S.Gam)]) (T: temperature, S: salinity, Gam: dummy variable of 1 or 2, i.e. 1 denotes each group to which the gamete suspension was added and 2 each group to which the gamete suspension was not added). The probability of spawning within the group to which the gamete suspension was added (i.e. Gam =1) explained well both annual and seasonal fluctuations of larval occurrence in Lake Abashiri in past years. The spawning of C. japonica may have been extremely low in 1995 and 1996 because of low temperature and low salinity. Such unfavorable conditions for spawning are not exceptional and occurred in 10 out of 21 years for which data were available. In C. japonica, reproduction succeeds less frequently in northern than in southern populations because the probability of spawning depends markedly on the temperature.

A double cleavage drilled compression (DCDC) specimen with fiber/matrix interface has been proposed and analyzed in mixed-mode using the boundary element method (BEM). At the same time, the experiments on this DCDC specimen were conducted for CFRP composites in order to examine the crack propagating behavior and calculate the interfacial fracture energy at the fiber/matrix interface. It was confirmed that the DCDC specimen with the hole offset from the mid plane has a mixed-mode stress distribution, and the effect of the mode II on interfacial fracture energy increases with the offset value. The DCDC specimen in mode I with bridge fiber at the mid plane is also analyzed. It is found that the transition from the mode I to the mixed-mode occurs when the bridge fiber with angle to the mid plane exists. It was shown that the DCDC test is a useful method for evaluating the interfacial behavior of fiber reinforced plastic materials. However, both experimental and analytical approaches are needed to achicve a quantitative evaluation of the fiber/matrix interface.

Blunt trauma to the abdomen accounts for the majority of abdominal injuries in children. Pancreatic injury is the fourth most common solid organ injury, following injuries to the spleen, liver and kidneys. The most common complications are the formation of pancreatic fistulae, pancreatitis and the development of pancreatic pseudocysts, which usually present several weeks after injury. The nonoperative management of minor pancreatic injury is well accepted; however, the treatment of more serious pancreatic injuries with capsular, ductal or parenchymal disruption in pediatric patients remains controversial. Based on the data presented in this literature review, although children with pancreatic injuries (without ductal disruption) do not appear to suffer increased morbidity following conservative management, patients with ductal disruption may benefit from operative intervention.

Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is a useful and feasible modality for evaluating small intestinal lesions, even in children. DBE makes it possible to perform biopsy, diagnosis, polypectomy and endoscopic therapies including hemostasis, tattooing and clipping of the small intestinal lesions. However, endoscopic procedures in the small intestines of children are more difficult than in adults, because the intestinal wall is thin and the lumen is narrow. A novel hybrid treatment was developed using DBE for small bowel lesions combined with transumbilical minimal incision surgery. This hybrid treatment is safe, effective, provides excellent cosmetic results and can be used as an alternative for traditional open laparotomy or endoscopic surgery.

We analyzed cryptophyte nucleomorph 18S rRNA gene sequences retained in natural Myrionecta rubra cells and plastid 16S rRNA gene and psbA sequences retained in natural cells of several Dinophysis species collected from Japanese coastal waters. A total of 715 nucleomorph sequences obtained from 134 M. rubra cells and 564 plastid 16S rRNA gene and 355 psbA sequences from 71 Dinophysis cells were determined. Almost all sequences in M. rubra and Dinophysis spp. were identical to those of Teleaulax amphioxeia , suggesting that M. rubra in Japanese coastal waters preferentially ingest T . amphioxeia . The remaining sequences were closely related to those of Geminigera cryophila and Teleaulax acuta . Interestingly, 37 plastid 16S rRNA gene sequences, which were different from T. amphioxeia and amplified from Dinophysis acuminata and Dinophysis norvegica cells, were identical to the sequence of a D. acuminata cell found in the Greenland Sea, suggesting that a widely distributed and unknown cryptophyte species is also preyed upon by M. rubra and subsequently sequestered by Dinophysis . To confirm the reliability of molecular identification of the cryptophyte Teleaulax species detected from M. rubra and Dinophysis cells, the nucleomorph and plastid genes of Teleaulax species isolated from seawaters were also analyzed. Of 19 isolates, 16 and 3 clonal strains were identified as T. amphioxeia and T. acuta , respectively, and no sequence variation was confirmed within species. T. amphioxeia is probably the primary source of prey for M. rubra in Japanese coastal waters. An unknown cryptophyte may serve as an additional source, depending on localities and seasons.

This study investigated the role of snowmelt runoff on water circulation, water mass formation, and the production of cultured scallop larvae, as a part of a land-sea linkage, by analyzing hydrological data in conjunction with nutrient data and by conducting sensitivity experiments based on a coupled land-sea model of Funka Bay, Japan, a typical semi-enclosed bay. A comparison between observed data and the simulated runoff showed that, using newly compiled datasets of nutrient concentrations in rivers and groundwater, the model was sufficiently accurate to estimate the terrestrial dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) flux from the river and submarine groundwater discharges (SGDs). The average volume flux from the SGDs accounted for 26% of the riverine runoff flux. The DIN flux from SGDs accounted for a maximum of 40% of the total DIN loading to the bay before the snowmelt period. Sensitivity experiments using an ocean simulation indicated that the freshwater flux supplied by snowmelt runoff not only enhances clockwise circulations along with upwelling along the coast, but also modifies the distributions of wintertime water masses in the bay. However, the snowmelt runoff has little effect on larvae transport since wind forcing, rather than riverine buoyancy, dominates the circulation patterns. The annual density of scallop spat was highly correlated with snowmelt runoffs associated with high DIN concentrations, which suggested that riverine nutrients can increase the biomass of phytoplankton in near-shore seas and improve food availability for scallop spawners, resulting in increased egg production in March to April. Therefore, the nutrient flux from agricultural source areas through the large snowmelt runoff has an important role in larvae production. Land-sea linkages need to be identified to design sustainable and synergetic systems of aquaculture and agriculture for the integrated management of coastal regions.