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application/pdf, Road overpasses cost more than underpasses and can be built for most terrestrial mammals to resolve and/or minimize effects from habitat fragmentation. Many overpasses intended for human activity might also allow wildlife passage. Using digital infrared cameras from 2015 to 2016 in Hokkaido, Japan, we evaluated such use in three overpasses, where two were designed for humans and one for wildlife. Nine mammal species were detected at the three overpasses. Three middle-sized mammals—raccoons (Procyon lotor), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides)—and a large mammal species, the sika deer (Cervus nippon), frequently used all of the overpasses. Our results showed that the overpass designed for wildlife was richer in species than the two overpasses for humans. However, results also showed that there were no significant differences in use among four animal species in the three overpasses. We propose the construction of small overpasses without plants to conserve habitat reconnection of middle-sized to large mammals. Arboreal species’ habitats need structural change with additional of plants. © 2019, International Consortium of Landscape and Ecological Engineering.

This paper proposes a displacement measurement system using two-photon absorption (TPA) process in a Si-avalanche photodiode and fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). The use of TPA process eliminates high-frequency and complicated RF circuits usually required for intensity correlation measurements. By controlling the phase difference between the modulation signals for probe and reference light, the displacements of FBGs are precisely measured. Small displacement of an FBG by 0.4 mm was successfully measured in the proof-of-concept experiment.

This paper presents an Antenna-Array-Integrated Module (AiM) with a low pass filter (LPF) in LTCC multilayered substrate with low loss, high attenuation and small size in 28 GHz band. A differential feeding method for each patch antenna is employed to improve symmetricity of directivity for beam forming. The insertion loss of the LPF is less than 0.5 dB and the spurious emission in 2nd harmonic band of Band-n257 was suppressed by over 20 dB thanks to putting the LPF in front of the antenna. The symmetricity of the directivity for beam forming was improved owing to the differential feeding.

We demonstrate a laser-based displacement measurement using an intensity modulator as a simple and wide-band intensity correlator. The proposed method applies intensity modulation not only to the output probe beam but also to the reflected beam from a target, where the fundamental frequency of modulation signal is the same for both, but the phase of modulation signal for the reflected beam is also modulated. The displacement is measured using harmonic signals from a photodetector. The principle is verified for 40 mm and 16 m ranges of displacement measurement, where the relative measurement uncertainty of 1.8 × 10 − 6 is achieved.

We propose real-time vibration displacement measurement system using probe light modulated by phase-modulated RF signal. The reflected probe light is processed by a signal detection unit composed of an optical intensity modulator and lock-in amplifier. Proof-of-concept experiment demonstrates real-time measurement of 50-Hz vibration displacement with an amplitude of 21 mm.

We propose a system for precise measurement of multi-point displacement and strain using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors along with intensity-modulated light and two-photon absorption process in a Si-avalanche photodiode (Si-APD). This method sweeps both the optical wavelength and the phase difference between the two modulation signals. The FBGs' reflection spectra and their change due to strain are successfully observed at the same time with the precision measurement of the FBG's displacement, where the relative measurement uncertainty is 10−4. This fiber sensing system is especially suitable for structural health monitoring.

An edge collection function is proposed for characterizing the optical efficiency of an energy-harvesting system that utilizes photoluminescence (PL) in a waveguide. We assume that a single spot in a waveguide is excited and that PL is isotropic. For the photons to be collected by one edge of the waveguide, they must be emitted toward the edge, trapped in the waveguide and they must survive self-absorption on the way. The optical efficiency is formulated as the product of these probabilities. When this function is calculated for every spot on the waveguide and for each wavelength of the PL spectrum, the efficiency of the system is given by superposition. Its validity is checked by a Monte Carlo simulation for the case of no self-absorption loss. In experiment, we fabricate a 5-cm2 waveguide with a thin layer of Lumogen F Red 305 and measure its efficiency by placing a photodiode array in the vicinity of its edge with a small air gap. The formula roughly reproduces the efficiency and its dependency on the position of the excitation spot. This analytical approach allows one to estimate the optical efficiency for an arbitrary incident light distribution with small computational complexity.

Thin-layer chromatography is a fast and easy tool for analyzing biomolecules, but opportunities for its use have up to now been limited due to its low resolution of separation. To overcome this problem, we have designed a new two-dimensional biomolecule analysis tool, in which analytes are first subjected to isoelectric focusing in a charge-specific-separation step, which is then followed by thin-layer chromatography in a polarity-specific-separation step. This new technique enables the separation of mixed large proteins as well as that of mixed synthetic oligopeptides that have similar physical properties. We propose here a newly developed thin-layer chromatographic technique that can be used to analyze various combinations of biomolecules, such as proteins, amino acids, and oligopeptides, within a single chip. The entire system is designed to be as rapid and easily applied as classic thin-layer chromatography to permit its use for high-throughput testing.

Forest-dwelling carabid beetles that have no flight ability were studied using mark-recapture methods in late-June to mid-October 2007. This study was done to determine the effects of narrow roads in Nopporo Forest Park, Hokkaido on carabid beetle movement and habitat use. The investigation was conducted at four sites: one site was an abandoned grassy road with a width of 3.5 m, two sites were gravel roads with widths of 3.5 and 4.5 m, and another site was an asphalt-paved road with a width of 4.5 m. A total of 3,580 individuals from six species of carabid beetles were collected using dry pit-fall traps, and recapture rates ranged from 6.1 to 36.2%. All examined roads acted as barriers against the movement of Leptocarabus arboreus ishikarinus. All roads, except the abandoned grassy road, acted as a barrier against Carabus granulatus yezoensis movement. Forest–roadside verge comparisons demonstrated that some carabid beetles avoid even narrow roadside verges. Harmful effects increase with increasing road width and both paved roads and narrow roads negatively affect the movement of carabid beetles inhabiting the bordering forest. Therefore, forest specialist beetles are influenced by a barrier effect that starts at the forest road verge, and this barrier effect may be exacerbated by vehicular traffic. Therefore, these barrier effects on carabid beetles should be considered when planning and implementing road construction and maintenance in forests.

We propose simultaneous measurement of distance and temperature using a multipoint sensor based on fiber Bragg gratings and two-photon absorption process in a silicon avalanche photodiode. Proof-of-concept experiments demonstrate high precision measurement.

Assembly of initiation factors on individual replication origins at onset of S phase is crucial for regulation of replication timing and repression of initiation by S-phase checkpoint control. We dissected the process of preinitiation complex formation using a point mutation in fission yeast nda4-108/mcm5 that shows tight genetic interactions with sna41+/cdc45+. The mutation does not affect loading of MCM complex onto origins, but impairs Cdc45-loading, presumably because of a defect in interaction of MCM with Cdc45. In the mcm5 mutant, however, Sld3, which is required for Cdc45-loading, proficiently associates with origins. Origin-association of Sld3 without Cdc45 is also observed in the sna41/cdc45 mutant. These results suggest that Sld3-loading is independent of Cdc45-loading, which is different from those observed in budding yeast. Interestingly, returning the arrested mcm5 cells to the permissive temperature results in immediate loading of Cdc45 to the origin and resumption of DNA replication. These results suggest that the complex containing MCM and Sld3 is an intermediate for initiation of DNA replication in fission yeast.

The magnetic vortex in a ferromagnetic disk has a unique feature of spin configuration to eliminate magnetostatic energy with a vertical bistable magnetization characteristics. We have observed magnetic vortex states in permalloy thin film disks with diameters ranging from 2μm to 25μm, using spin-polarized scanning electron microscopy (SP-SEM). Magnetic vortex states exist throughout range of diameters. At diameters larger than 15μm, multidomain states were also observed, however, a magnetic vortex state should be expected as one of the low-energy states even in a ferromagnetic disk as large as 25μm.

We propose a laser distance measurement using second harmonic signal component of two-photon absorption photocurrent from a Si-APD. The proof-of-concept experiment demonstrates the accurate measurement with short data acquisition time of several tens of seconds.

Hybridoma that produces rat anti-mouse interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6R) antibody, MR16-1, was established by the fusion of mouse P3U1 myeloma cells and spleen cells from mouse soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R)-immunized Wistar rat. In the present study, we examined the characteristics of MR16-1 in vitro and in vivo. MR16-1 bound to mouse sIL-6R dose-dependently. MR16-1 suppressed IL-6-induced proliferation of 7TD1 cells in a dose-dependent manner and this inhibitory effect was reversed by the addition of a higher concentration of IL-6. Cross-reactivity study using T cells from mouse, rat, and human revealed that MR16-1 did not cross-react with human and rat IL-6R. Binding region analysis using several human–mouse chimeric IL-6Rs showed that half of the fibronectin domain II of mouse IL-6R (amino acids 214–285) was required for MR16-1 binding. Furthermore, MR16-1 completely suppressed IL-6-induced antibody production in DNP–KLH immunized mice. These lines of evidence demonstrate that MR16-1 is useful to investigate the physiological and pathological roles of IL-6 and sIL-6R in mice.

Spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (SP-STM) is a promising technique for atomically resolved surface magnetic structure imaging. Since SP-STM is a surface-sensitive technique, the sample to be observed, such as a magnetic nanostructure, is required to have a well-defined clean surface. The magnetic sample preparation technique presented in this paper makes it easy to fabricate magnetic nanostructures in a vacuum. An Si3N4 membrane with submicron holes was used as a shadow mask for thin-film deposition. Conventional silicone processes were employed to make the Si3N4 membrane, and the shadow mask holes were formed on it using focused ion beam etching. The usability of this shadow mask was demonstrated by forming Co thin-film nanostructures on an Si substrate through the mask. The nanostructures were characterized by atomic force microscopy and magnetic force microscopy.

We surveyed male survival and reproductive performances associated with dimorphism in the Japanese horned beetleAllomyrina dichotoma L. in a secondary forest in 1996. Morphological comparisons between living marked and prey individuals indicated that the larger horned males suffered higher predatory pressure than the smaller ones. The dominant predators of the beetles were suspected to be 2 crow species. The small-horned males showed lower recapture rates than the large-horned ones. This suggested that the former was more sensitive to disturbance, and/or dispersed more than the latter. Fighting behavior was rarely seen because of the low population density of the beetles in the study area. These results suggested that the large-horned males suffer not only the injury risk of intrasexual competition but also more predatory risk than the small-horned ones.

A low-birth-weight female baby was admitted with respiratory distress after birth. Her mother had been diagnosed with mumps 4 weeks and 5 days prior to delivery. Mumps IgM antibody was elevated in the neonate and mumps virus ribonucleic acid was detected in the umbilical cord blood by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The perinatal virus infection was complicated with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and pulmonary hemorrhage. Successful treatment included the use of high frequency oscillation ventilation together with the administration of artificial surfactant.

We have identified and characterized a novel vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF-D, which is structurally related to vascular endothelial growth factor C. A full-length cDNA for human VEGF-D was cloned following the identification of an EST obtained through a TFASTA search of public EST databases. The murine VEGF-D was subsequently isolated from a mouse lung cDNA library. The human VEGF-D gene was mapped to human chromosome Xp22.31. Both human and mouse VEGF-D are strongly expressed in lung and encode the eight cysteine residues that are highly conserved among the members of this family. The high level of conservation between mouse and human VEGF-D may emphasize the biological importance of this gene. Recently the murine gene, FIGF, which is identical to mouse VEGF-D, was reported.

Summary The Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1 (Nbs1) subunit of the Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 (MRN) complex protects genome integrity by coordinating double-strand break (DSB) repair and checkpoint signaling through undefined interactions with ATM, MDC1, and Sae2/Ctp1/CtIP. Here, fission yeast and human Nbs1 structures defined by X-ray crystallography and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) reveal Nbs1 cardinal features: fused, extended, FHA-BRCT 1 -BRCT 2 domains flexibly linked to C-terminal Mre11- and ATM-binding motifs. Genetic, biochemical, and structural analyses of an Nbs1-Ctp1 complex show Nbs1 recruits phosphorylated Ctp1 to DSBs via binding of the Nbs1 FHA domain to a Ctp1 pThr-Asp motif. Nbs1 structures further identify an extensive FHA-BRCT interface, a bipartite MDC1-binding scaffold, an extended conformational switch, and the molecular consequences associated with cancer predisposing Nijmegen breakage syndrome mutations. Tethering of Ctp1 to a flexible Nbs1 arm suggests a mechanism for restricting DNA end processing and homologous recombination activities of Sae2/Ctp1/CtIP to the immediate vicinity of DSBs.

The Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 (MRN) complex is a primary sensor of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Upon recruitment to DSBs, it plays a critical role in catalyzing 5' --> 3' single-strand resection that is required for repair by homologous recombination (HR). Unknown mechanisms repress HR in G1 phase of the cell cycle during which nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) is the favored mode of DSB repair. Here we describe fission yeast Ctp1, so-named because it shares conserved domains with the mammalian tumor suppressor CtIP. Ctp1 is recruited to DSBs where it is essential for repair by HR. Ctp1 is required for efficient formation of RPA-coated single-strand DNA adjacent to DSBs, indicating that it functions with the MRN complex in 5' --> 3' resection. Transcription of ctp1(+) is periodic during the cell cycle, with the onset of its expression coinciding with the start of DNA replication. These data suggest that regulation of Ctp1 underlies cell-cycle control of HR.

DNA replication of eukaryotic chromosomes initiates at a number of discrete loci, called replication origins. Distribution and regulation of origins are important for complete duplication of the genome. Here, we determined locations of Orc1 and Mcm6, components of pre-replicative complex (pre-RC), on the whole genome of Schizosaccharomyces pombe using a high-resolution tiling array. Pre-RC sites were identified in 460 intergenic regions, where Orc1 and Mcm6 colocalized. By mapping of 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-incorporated DNA in the presence of hydroxyurea (HU), 307 pre-RC sites were identified as early-firing origins. In contrast, 153 pre-RC sites without BrdU incorporation were considered to be late and/or inefficient origins. Inactivation of replication checkpoint by Cds1 deletion resulted in BrdU incorporation with HU specifically at the late origins. Early and late origins tend to distribute separately in large chromosome regions. Interestingly, pericentromeric heterochromatin and the silent mating-type locus replicated in the presence of HU, whereas the inner centromere or subtelomeric heterochromatin did not. Notably, MCM did not bind to inner centromeres where origin recognition complex was located. Thus, replication is differentially regulated in chromosome domains.

Initiation of chromosome DNA replication in eukaryotes is tightly regulated through assembly of replication factors at replication origins. Here, we investigated dependence of the assembly of the initiation complex on particular factors using temperature-sensitive fission yeast mutants. The psf3-1 mutant, a GINS component mutant, arrested with unreplicated DNA at the restrictive temperature and the DNA content gradually increased, suggesting a defect in DNA replication. The mutation impaired GINS complex formation, as shown by pull-down experiments. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that GINS integrity was required for origin loading of Psf2, Cut5 and Cdc45, but not Sld3. In contrast, loading of Psf2 onto origins depended on Sld3 and Cut5 but not on Cdc45. These results suggest that Sld3 functions furthest upstream in initiation complex assembly, followed by GINS and Cut5, then Cdc45. Consistent with this conclusion, Cdc7-Dbf4 kinase (DDK) but not cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) was required for Sld3 loading, whereas recruitment of the other factors depended on both kinases. These results suggest that DDK and CDK regulate distinct steps in activation of replication origins in fission yeast.

We have been investigating the functional display of multipass membrane protein such as transporter or G-protein coupled receptor on the budded baculovirus (BV). We tested the use of a viral envelope protein gp64 transgenic mouse for the direct immunization of these membrane proteins displayed on BVs. The gp64 transgenic mice showed only a weak response to virus compared to wild type BALB/c mice. Immunizing gp64 transgenic mice with the BV expressing peptide transporter PepT1, we obtained 47 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). These mAbs were specific to the PepT1 on the pancreatic cancer cells AsPC-1 by fluorocytometric analysis and exhibited antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity or complement-dependent cytotoxicity to AsPC-1. We also generated 7 mAbs by immunizing gp64 transgenic mice on a CCR2-deficient background with the BV expressing chemokine receptor CCR2 together with partially purified CCR2. These mAbs possessed specific binding to CCR2 in CHO cells on fluorocytometric analysis, and exhibited neutralizing activities for ligand-dependent inhibition of cyclic AMP production. This method provides a powerful tool for the generation of therapeutic/diagnostic mAbs against membrane proteins.

In this paper, we have observed magnetic vortex states in the permalloy thin film disks which diameter ranged from 2 /spl mu/m up to 25 /spl mu/m using spin-polarized scanning electron microscopy (SP-SEM or called Spin-SEM).

Transgenic mice carrying human IL-6 cDNA fused with a murine major histocompatibility class-I promoter (H-2L(d)) were serially administered with anti-interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) monoclonal antibody (mAb), MR16-1, from the age of 4 weeks to estimate its efficacy on a variety of disorders developed in these mice, most of which are similar to the disorders associated with Castleman's disease. In the control mice treated with isotype-matched mAb, a massive and multiple IgG1 plasmacytosis, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, anemia and abnormalities of blood chemical parameters have developed in accordance with the elevation of serum IL-6, and 50% of mice have died of renal failure by 18 weeks of age. In contrast, the treatment with MR16-1 prevented all these symptoms and prolonged the lifetime of the majority of the mice. Thus, the constitutive overexpression of IL-6 caused various disorders, and the treatment with anti-IL-6R mAb completely prevented from these symptoms. These results clearly confirm that IL-6 indeed plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of a variety of disorders. Furthermore, anti-IL-6R mAb could provide novel therapy for Castleman's disease and MR16-1 should be a useful tool to estimate therapeutic potential of IL-6 antagonists in a variety of murine models for human disease.

We investigated the surface potential around nanotube channel during CNT-FET operation by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM). The results demonstrate that the local surface potential distribution depends on the fabrication process of FET devices. We also measured the transfer characteristic of CNT-FET and compared with the surface potential image. In addition, we investigate the specific FET device with the closed CNT loops into which channel CNT penetrates. The surface potential distribution is completely different with that of a simple single CNT channel. We find that the closed loop of CNT has a capability of trapping the charge inside the loop.

E-cadherin is a member of the cadherin family, which plays a crucial role in cellcell adhesion in normal epithelial tissues and some tumors ~)a. We reported here the expression of this adhesion molecule in human gastric carcinomas. Forty-six cases of human gastric carcinomas were employed. Cancerous and non-cancerous areas of surgical specimens were stained immunohistochemically with the ABC method in frozen sections. Monoclonal antibody for human E-cadherin was kindly donated by Dr. M. Takeichi (Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University). The samples were examined using a light microscope. In the mucosa of the non-cancerous area, epithelial cells, including intestinal metaplasia, were positively stained in the plasma membrane. In 27 of 46 cases the plasma membrane of cancer cell populations was positively stained (Fig.a), and in 14 cases the staining showed heterogeneity. In 5 cases, which were observed frequently in Borrmann's type 4 and scirrhous type (P < o.01), no cancer cell was stained (Fig.b). In 12 (75.0%) of 16 cases without lymphatic metastasis, all cancer cells were positively stained, while in 5 (62.5%) of 8 cases with lymphatic metastasis involving Group 3 lymph nodes 3) or more, none of the cancer cells were stained(P < o.01). These results indicate that the expression of E-cadherin correlates with invasiveness and lymphatic metastasis in human gastric carcinomas. (This work was supported in part by the Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research(63-2) from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.)

Stearyl methacrylate (SMA) was copolymerized with ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) in ratios of 1:4 to 4:1 by conventional suspension polymerization in w

Pre- and postoperative hemodynamics were assessed in 14 consecutive patients who developed ventricular septal perforation (VSP) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Results were correlated with the surgical outcome and with postoperative clinical improvements. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the time intervals between the onset of AMI and the operation; acute (within 2 weeks after AMI), subacute (between 2 and 4 weeks) and chronic (after 4 weeks). In the above groups, 6, 2 and 6 patients were included, respectively. Eleven patients had anteroseptal infarction and 3 patients sustained inferior infarction. The survival rates were 33, 50 and 100% in the acute, subacute and chronic groups, respectively with an overall survival rate of 64%. Hemodynamic comparisons between survivors and non-survivors revealed that the systolic aortic pressure and left ventricular stroke volume index were significantly higher and the right ventricular end-diastolic pressure was significantly lower in survivors than in non-survivors (p less than 0.05). Although no statistical significance was obtained, left ventricular end-diastolic volumes and ejection fractions were higher in survivors. No difference was present between survivors and non-survivors in either Qp/Qs, Pp/Ps, Rp/Rs, systolic pulmonary pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure or cardiac index. Patients with low arterial pressure and high right ventricular end-diastolic pressure under intensive medical regimens, indicating the presence of cardiogenic shock and/or associated right ventricular infarction or severe failure, had a high mortality and should be considered for emergency operation. Postoperative hemodynamics improved significantly in all variables measured (p less than 0.05-0.01). Patients with a VSP should all be considered for surgery unless a definite contraindication exists.

The fate of coronary aneurysms in Kawasaki disease or MCLS was examined by follow-up studies on 9 patients with multiple bilateral aneurysms in the coronary arteries demonstrated by coronary arteriography. Their ages at the time if first examination ranged from 0.3 to 11 years (mean, 4.1 years). The mean interval between the onset of acute illness and the initial examination was 15.8 months, and the mean interval between the first and second examination was 17.9 months. Eight of the nine patients received anticoagulants between examinations. The second coronary arteriogram showed morphologic changes of the aneueysm from the time of the first examination: changes were seen in the right coronary artery area in 8 patients (89%) and in the left coronary artery area in 7 patients. These morphologuic changes seemed to be mainly secondary to thrombus formation, calcification, stenosis and/or obstruction of the aneuryms. Thus, coronary aneuryms in Kawasaki disease were transformed despite the use of anticoagulants. It is considered that multiple large coronary aneurysms will not healed or disappear, but are simply transformed as a result of their thrombosis and/or calcification.