No distinct local cuisines among humpback whales: A population diet comparison in the Southern Hemisphere.

Southern hemisphere humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae, SHHW) breeding populations follow a high-fidelity Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) diet while feeding in distinct sectors of the Southern Ocean. Their capital breeding life history requires predictable ecosystem productivity to fuel migration and migration-related behaviours. It is therefore postulated that populations feeding in areas subject to the strongest climate change impacts are more likely to show the first signs of a departure from a high-fidelity krill diet.

Effects of Aging and Hypertension on the Antithrombotic Function of Atrial Endocardium in Rats.

We have previously reported that atrial endocardial remodeling is induced by atrial fibrillation (AF), and the endocardial dysfunction may be partly responsible for the thrombus formation in the left atrium associated with AF. However, the relationship between the endocardial dysfunction and the epidemiologically determined risk factors of AF-related strokes, including aging, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, is yet to be elucidated.To test the hypothesis that aging, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus individually impair the atrial endocardial function in conjunction with AF, we have analyzed the expression of the tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and thrombomodulin (TM) in the atrial endocardium in 30-week-old Wister-Kyoto (WKY), 60-week-old WKY, 30-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and 30-week Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats during normal sinus rhythm and after rapid atrial pacing at 1200 bpm for 8 hours, using Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis.

Commercial Pressure Retarded Osmosis Systems for Seawater Desalination Plants.

The development of renewable energy technologies is of global importance. To realize a sustainable society, fossil-resource-independent technologies, such as solar- and wind-power generation, should be widely adopted. Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is one such potential renewable energy technology.

Submerged nanofiltration without pre-treatment for direct advanced drinking water treatment.

Membrane fouling is a major challenge toward achieving direct nanofiltration (NF) treatment of surface water. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of the novel submerged flat-sheet NF membrane module to achieve low fouling propensity and high separation performance during the direct filtration of surface water. Laboratory-scale NF tests showed that the transmembrane pressure (TMP) increased only by 10 kPa over 24 d during the direct treatment of river and dam water.

Assessment of online bacterial particle counts for monitoring the performance of reverse osmosis membrane process in potable reuse.

Safety of potable reuse can be enhanced by improved water quality monitoring techniques for assessing water treatment processes. This study evaluated the efficacy of online bacterial counting for continuous monitoring of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes to remove bacteria using real-time bacteriological commercial counters and an on-site pilot-scale RO system. Prior to on-site assessments, the online bacterial counting was verified by comparing the measurement of fluorescent particles in water with flow cytometry.

Social support and psychological and physical states among Japanese women with breast cancer before and after breast surgery.

Purpose/objectives: To investigate the relationship of social support and psychological and physical states among Japanese women with breast cancer and to compare the variables before and one year after breast surgery.

Design: A prospective longitudinal study.

Setting: A general hospital in northern Japan.

Social support and psychological and physical states among Japanese patients with breast cancer and their spouses prior to surgery.

Purpose/objectives: To assess social support and psychological and physical states among Japanese patients with breast cancer and their spouses prior to surgery.

Design: Descriptive, comparative, and correlational.

Setting: A general hospital in northern Japan.

Components of social support among Japanese women with breast cancer.

Purpose/objectives: To describe social support from the perspective of Japanese women with breast cancer.

Design: Qualitative, descriptive, and interpretive.

Setting: Outpatient breast clinic at a cancer center in a metropolitan area in Japan.

[Central serous chorioretinitis. Therapy experience over 20 years with and without laser coagulation].

Since 1969, 1,179 eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy have been examined with fluorescein fundus angiography. The classic form with fluorescein leakage (type I) decreased in incidence from 86.4% to 55.

[Laser therapy of eyelid and conjunctival tumors, especially in AIDS patients].

We treated patients with Kaposi's sarcoma of the lid or conjunctiva, molluscum contagiosum and papilloma of the lid with dye laser photocoagulation. This therapeutic device is extremely efficient as the chosen wavelength of 577 nm is absorbed selectively by haemoglobin. Since Kaposi's sarcoma is a haemoglobin-containing tumour composed of endothelial cells and papilloma is a benign tumour composed of connective tissue and branching vessels, dye laser photocoagulation causes selective damage to abnormal vessels and surrounding connective tissue.

[Echographic follow-up of the chamber angle in suspected simple glaucoma].

We have recently seen a number of patients with angle-closure glaucoma who had been treated for glaucoma simplex (primary open-angle glaucoma). The main cause of this misdiagnosis was gonioscopy, as its findings are subject to the impression of the examiners. For objective examination of the chamber angle and the iris configuration, B-scan ultrasonography was performed using a contact eye cup filled with saline.

[Krypton laser coagulation in idiopathic macular holes].

Twenty-six eyes with acute idiopathic senile macular holes and visual acuity of between 0.02 and 0.5 were treated by laser coagulation with krypton red.

[Electronystagmographic objective perimetry].

We have recently been referred patients with visual field contraction from simulation or aggravation. For unmasking, we used optokinetic nystagmus, which can also be induced by stimulation of the peripheral retina. At electronystagmography the central portion of the screen was covered from 20 degrees-60 degrees by means of a black disk in front of the projection nystagmus drum.

[Comparative studies of the width of the anterior chamber angle using echography and gonioscopy].

Using a thin B-scan probe the anterior chamber angle was ultrasonographically studied using a contact eye cup filled with saline. The width of the chamber angle was measured on the display video copy and compared with the gonioscopic findings. Sixty-four eyes with primary glaucoma and 53 nonglaucomatous eyes were examined.

[Krypton and argon laser coagulation in chorioretinitis centralis serosa].

Central serous chorioretinopathy was treated by laser photocoagulation of the site of fluorescein dye leakage. In 22 cases, in most of which the leakage was located in the nasal macular area or close to the foveola, krypton red was used, and in 85 cases argon blue-green. There was a significantly greater improvement after treatment with the krypton laser, and healing also tended to be faster than with the argon laser.

[Comparative krypton and argon laser trabeculoplasty].

Laser trabeculoplasty was performed to treat medically uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma (glaucoma chronicum simplex). Twenty-five eyes were treated with a red krypton laser, while in 110 eyes the usual blue-green argon laser was used, and in 14 eyes a pure green argon laser, under the same conditions. After treatment with the krypton laser the average drop in intraocular pressure at 24 hours was 4.

[Instrument myopia as a possible source of error in nyktometer examinations].

In comparative studies covering 142 eyes a "night myopia" of 0.5 to 1.5 D was found in 33 eyes with the Nyktometer (Rodenstock) and in 23 eyes with the Mesoptometer I (Oculus).

[Laser scotometry in macular diseases].

Retinal sensitivity is examined by projecting the aiming beam of an argon krypton laser photocoagulator onto the fundus through a contact lens. Even at normal intensity the brightness of the projected aiming on the retina is much greater than the maximum-intensity light target in ordinary scotometry. The discrepancy between scotomata when comparing the results of ordinary and laser scotometry suggests a potential for recovery of visual function, especially in macular diseases.