Despite extensive studies of phenological shifts associated with climate change, a few unresolved issues remain. In particular, little is known about the phenological shifts of marine organisms, and ...simultaneous evaluations of phenological and distributional shifts in reproduction are needed. Chub mackerel Scomber japonicus in the western North Pacific is a small pelagic fish species with its main spawning ground around the Izu Islands. Since its spawning patterns are affected by the sea surface temperature (SST), changes in the spawning time and spawning ground are expected if the SST has increased around the Izu Islands. Here, to elucidate phenological and distributional shifts in reproduction associated with climate change and the underlying causes, we first examined the long-term changes in spawning patterns and spawning ground using a geostatistical model with 40 yr time series data for spawning eggs of chub mackerel in the western North Pacific. We then tested the prediction that increasing SST impacts the timing and distribution of chub mackerel reproduction. We found that the spawning period was extended owing to a delay in the end of spawning. The geographic location of the spawning ground moved northward after the 2000s, and this was probably related to the change in SST. In addition, SST in the spawning ground after the 2000s was not significantly different from the SST in the previous spawning ground. Therefore, the environmental change associated with climate change likely influences phenological and distributional shifts in reproduction simultaneously and underlines the importance of focusing on spatio-temporal changes in reproduction.
Proper fisheries management is difficult in fisheries targeting small pelagic fish that are subject to climate-induced oceanic regime shifts. A favourable regime tends to induce capacity investments, ...but the results of these investments turn out to be irreducible overcapacity under the next unfavourable regime. The Japanese purse seine fishery studied here, which targets small pelagic fish, is a typical example of such overcapacity. However, we demonstrate that this fishery represents a best practice of properly designed effort management in recent years through its quantitative evaluation. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) applied to daily logbook data revealed that effort restrictions on daily purse seine operations (in terms of the duration and the total number of operations per ship and day) significantly reduced total fishing efforts on chub mackerel. Stochastic simulations based on the parameters estimated in GLMMs quantified the extent of the potential catch reduction by the effort reductions at approximately 20%. Combined with the effect of another concurrently implemented management measure, i.e. day closures, the net effects of the effort management on the total catch reduction were estimated at 30%. Because the quota uptake percentages in this fishery were 60–80% during the study period, we conclude that the effort management helped avoid overshooting of the quota and consequent seasonal closures.
The integration of time from gene to system levels is an exciting feature of circadian biology. In mammals, clock cells in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) generate time by an autoregulatory ...transcription-(post)translational feedback loop. Clock activity in the SCN neurons is expressed as activity-dependent electric signals, which are coupled to those of other SCN neurons. The SCN spreads the time signals in a form of synchronized nerve impulses to central parasympathetic nuclei (e.g., dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus) and central sympathetic nuclei (e.g., intermediolateral cell column of the spinal cord). The vagal nerve innervates gastrointestinal and respiratory organs. Sympathetic signals to the adrenal gland are converted to hormonal (glucocorticoid) signals. Glucocorticoids released into the bloodstream bind to glucocorticoid receptors of peripheral organs, activate the mammalian Per1 gene in systemic cells, and reset the time of body clocks. Thus, the SCN-evoked time generated by specific genes localized to the SCN is converted to neuronal and hormonal signals and synchronizes the clocks in the whole body.
Abstract Hereditary hearing loss is one of the most prevalent inherited human birth defects, affecting one in 2000. A strikingly high proportion (50%) of congenital bilateral nonsyndromic ...sensorineural deafness cases have been linked to mutations in the GJB2 coding for the connexin26. It has been hypothesized that gap junctions in the cochlea, especially connexin26, provide an intercellular passage by which K+ are transported to maintain high levels of the endocochlear potential essential for sensory hair cell excitation. We previously reported the generation of a mouse model carrying human connexin26 with R75W mutation (R75W+ mice). The present study attempted to evaluate postnatal development of the organ of Corti in the R75W+ mice. R75W+ mice have never shown auditory brainstem response waveforms throughout postnatal development, indicating the disturbance of auditory organ development. Histological observations at postnatal days (P) 5–14 were characterized by i) absence of tunnel of Corti, Nuel's space, or spaces surrounding the outer hair cells, ii) significantly small numbers of microtubules in inner pillar cells, iii) shortening of height of the organ of Corti, and iv) increase of the cross-sectional area of the cells of the organ of Corti. Thus, morphological observations confirmed that a dominant-negative Gjb2 mutation showed incomplete development of the cochlear supporting cells. On the other hand, the development of the sensory hair cells, at least from P5 to P12, was not affected. The present study suggests that Gjb2 is indispensable in the postnatal development of the organ of Corti and normal hearing.
When the optical reflectance spectrum of a sample under high pressure is studied with a diamond anvil cell (DAC), it is measured at a sample/diamond interface. Due to the large refractive index of ...diamond, the resulting reflectance Rd(ω) may substantially differ from that measured in vacuum. To obtain optical constants from Rd(ω), therefore, the usual Kramers-Kronig (KK) transform cannot be straightforwardly applied, and either a spectral fitting or a modified KK transform has been used. Here we describe an alternative method to perform KK analysis on Rd(ω). This method relies on the usual KK transform with an appropriate cutoff and extrapolation to Rd(ω), and may offer a simpler approach to obtain infrared conductivity from measured Rd(ω).
Although rehabilitation for cancer patients is being practiced in clinical settings, it has not been very well recognized in cancer care. However, interest has been turning to cancer rehabilitation ...in recent years in association with advances in palliative care and the increasing numbers of patients who survive for long periods, while enduring symptoms caused by cancer or adverse effects associated with treatment. The fact that cancer patient rehabilitation fees were newly established in the 2010 revision of the Japanese medical service fees has propelled interest in this topic. Rehabilitation can be applied throughout the entire phase from the time of diagnosis to the terminal stage, and it is an approach that can involve psychosocial aspects as well as physical aspects. Although its effectiveness has not been adequately demonstrated, especially in the area of palliative medicine, rehabilitation for cancer patients is expected to be an important means of supporting the hopes of patients and their families, and attempting to maintain and improve patients' quality of life.
Although interleukin-18 is structurally homologous to IL-1 and its receptor
belongs to the IL-1R/Toll-like receptor (TLR) superfamily, its function is
quite different from that of IL-1. IL-18 is ...produced not only by types of
immune cells but also by non-immune cells. In collaboration with IL-12, IL-18
stimulates Th1-mediated immune responses, which play a critical role in the
host defense against infection with intracellular microbes through the
induction of IFN-γ. However, the overproduction of IL-12 and IL-18
induces severe inflammatory disorders, suggesting that IL-18 is a potent
proinflammatory cytokine that has pathophysiological roles in several
inflammatory conditions. IL-18 mRNA is expressed in a wide range of cells
including Kupffer cells, macrophages, T cells, B cells, dendritic cells,
osteoblasts, keratinocytes, astrocytes, and microglias. Thus, the
pathophysiological role of IL-18 has been extensively tested in the organs that
contain these cells. Somewhat surprisingly, IL-18 alone can stimulate Th2
cytokine production as well as allergic inflammation. Therefore, the functions
of IL-18 in vivo are very heterogeneous and complicated. In principle, IL-18
enhances the IL-12-driven Th1 immune responses, but it can also stimulate Th2
immune responses in the absence of IL-12.
The Hawai'i State Department of Health, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division (CAMHD) has maintained a longstanding partnership with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ...(SAMHSA) to enhance capacity and quality of community-based mental health services. The current study explored CAMHD's history of SAMHSA system of care (SOC) awards and identified common themes, lessons learned, and recommendations for future funding.
Employing a two-phase qualitative approach, the study first conducted content analysis on seven final project reports, identifying themes and lessons learned based on SOC values and principles. Subsequently, interviews were conducted with 11 system leaders in grant projects and SOC award projects within the state. All data from project reports and interview transcripts were independently coded and analyzed using rapid qualitative analysis techniques.
Content validation and interview coding unveiled two content themes, interagency collaboration and youth and family voice, as areas that required long-term and consistent efforts across multiple projects. In addition, two general process themes, connection and continuity, emerged as essential approaches to system improvement work. The first emphasizes the importance of fostering connections in family, community, and culture, as well as within workforce members and child-serving agencies. The second highlights the importance of nurturing continuity throughout the system, from interagency collaboration to individual treatment.
The study provides deeper understanding of system of care evaluations, offering guidance to enhance and innovate youth mental health systems. The findings suggest that aligning state policies with federal guidelines and implementing longer funding mechanisms may alleviate administrative burdens.
Abstract Mutations in the connexin26 gene (GJB2) are the most common genetic cause of congenital bilateral non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss. Transgenic mice were established carrying human ...Cx26 with the R75W mutation that was identified in a deaf family with autosomal dominant negative inheritance Kudo T et al. (2003) Hum Mol Genet 12:995–1004. A dominant-negative Gjb2 R75W transgenic mouse model shows incomplete development of the cochlear supporting cells, resulting in profound deafness from birth Inoshita A et al. (2008) Neuroscience 156:1039–1047. The Cx26 defect in the Gj b2 R75W transgenic mouse is restricted to the supporting cells; it is unclear why the auditory response is severely disturbed in spite of the presence of outer hair cells (OHCs). The present study was designed to evaluate developmental changes in the in vivo and in vitro function of the OHC, and the fine structure of the OHC and adjacent supporting cells in the R75W transgenic mouse. No detectable distortion product otoacoustic emissions were observed at any frequencies in R75W transgenic mice throughout development. A characteristic phenotype observed in these mice was the absence of the tunnel of Corti, Nuel's space, and spaces surrounding the OHC; the OHC were compressed and squeezed by the surrounding supporting cells. On the other hand, the OHC developed normally. Structural features of the lateral wall, such as the membrane-bound subsurface cisterna beneath the plasma membrane, were intact. Prestin, the voltage-dependent motor protein, was observed by immunohistochemistry in the OHC basolateral membranes of both transgenic and non-transgenic mice. No significant differences in electromotility of isolated OHCs during development was observed between transgenic and control mice. The present study indicates that normal development of the supporting cells is indispensable for proper cellular function of the OHC.
Pulsatile release of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) is indispensable to maintain normal gonadotrophin secretion. The pulsatile secretion of GnRH is associated with synchronised electrical ...activity in the mediobasal hypothalamus (i.e. multiple unit activity; MUA), which is considered to reflect the rhythmic oscillations in the activity of the neuronal network that drives pulsatile GnRH secretion. However, the cellular source of this ultradian rhythm in GnRH activity is unknown. Direct input from kisspeptin neurones in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) to GnRH cell bodies in the medial preoptic area or their terminals in the median eminence could be the intrinsic source for driving the GnRH pulse generator. To determine whether kisspeptin signalling could be responsible for producing pulsatile GnRH secretion, we studied goats, measured plasma levels of luteinising hormone (LH) and recorded MUA in the posterior ARC, where the majority of kisspeptin neuronal cell bodies are located. Rhythmic volleys of MUA were found to be accompanied by LH pulses with regular intervals in the ARC, where kisspeptin neuronal cell bodies were found. Exogenous administration of kisspeptin stimulated a sustained increase in LH secretion, without influencing MUA, suggesting that the GnRH pulse generator, as reflected by MUA, originated from outside of the network of GnRH neurones, and could plausibly reflect the pacemaker activity of kisspeptin neurones, whose projections reach the median eminence where GnRH fibres project. These observations suggest that the kisspeptin neurones in the ARC may be the intrinsic source of the GnRH pulse generator.
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