Meguro Parasitological Museum

<strong class="journal-contentHeaderColor">Abstract.</strong> Assessing future changes in typhoon-related hazards is essential for climate adaptation. We develop an event-based storyline framework coupling high-resolution meteorological simulations with river discharge and storm-surge models to quantify future risks under specified warming levels. Using Super Typhoon Hagibis (2019) as a case study, we conduct multi-model, multi-initial-condition ensemble experiments to account for structural model uncertainty and internal variability. Three meteorological models are run with 27-member initial-condition ensembles to drive three river models and two storm-surge models. Experiments cover the present climate and two warming scenarios (+2 K, +4 K). Across ensembles, Hagibis intensifies under warming: precipitation and near-surface winds strengthen, along with lower central pressure relative to present-climate runs. Consistent with these changes, many river basins in eastern Japan exhibit increased discharge, amplifying flood risk, and coastal models indicate larger storm surges. For Typhoon Hagibis, we quantify uncertainties in peak discharge and maximum storm-surge level. The multi-model combination widens uncertainties by sampling structural model differences, thereby spanning a wider range of plausible outcomes. Thus, our multi-model, multi-initial-condition framework provides a more comprehensive assessment of future typhoon-related risks than single-model experiments.

Abstract. Assessing future changes in typhoon-related hazards is essential for climate adaptation. We develop an event-based storyline framework coupling high-resolution meteorological simulations with river discharge and storm-surge models to quantify future risks under specified warming levels. Using Super Typhoon Hagibis (2019) as a case study, we conduct multi-model, multi-initial-condition ensemble experiments to account for structural model uncertainty and internal variability. Three meteorological models are run with 27-member initial-condition ensembles to drive three river models and two storm-surge models. Experiments cover the present climate and two warming scenarios (+2 K, +4 K). Across ensembles, Hagibis intensifies under warming: precipitation and near-surface winds strengthen, along with lower central pressure relative to present-climate runs. Consistent with these changes, many river basins in eastern Japan exhibit increased discharge, amplifying flood risk, and coastal models indicate larger storm surges. For Typhoon Hagibis, we quantify uncertainties in peak discharge and maximum storm-surge level. The multi-model combination widens uncertainties by sampling structural model differences, thereby spanning a wider range of plausible outcomes. Thus, our multi-model, multi-initial-condition framework provides a more comprehensive assessment of future typhoon-related risks than single-model experiments.

Encotyllabe percussa n. sp. is proposed based on morphology and DNA sequences analysis of ribosomal (18S, 28S) and mitochondrial (COI) gene fragments. Encotyllabe percussa n. sp. was found infecting the spangled emperor Lethrinus nebulosus (n = 75) with higher prevalence from Dibba, Musandam (Gulf of Oman) than in Dhofar Salalah (Indian Ocean), Oman (p = 0.03). The general morphology of E. percussa n. sp. resembles E. caballeroi, E. chironemi and E. spari, which exhibit pre-equatorial testes. However, E. percussa n. sp. shows unique morphological characteristics distinguishing from congeneric species: the large hamuli bear notch allocated externally between the first half proximal of the root, and the small hamuli exhibit semicircular shape with undivided roots. Phylogenetic relationships within the Encotyllabe genus remain unresolved. However, the tree topology with the 28S showed overall consistency with the principal component analysis arrangement (PCA) derived from the morphological analysis. Which showed that the large and small hamuli, marginal hooks, ovary, testes (length and width) and peduncle are currently the most important morphological traits within the genus. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene fragment showed high interspecific genetic divergence adding unambiguous resolution to discriminate/designate species identity. Interrelations within the genus support the identity of Encotyllabe percussa as a new species. This is the first species characterized with three gene fragments, the second congeneric species described in L. nebulosus and the first recorded in Oman.

Abstract Purpose The Podasconidae, which are parasitic on the Amphipoda, are poorly studied taxa within marine isopods. Consequently, information on occurrence has been limited to shallower waters and molecular sequence data are not available. Here we report first podasconid specimens from amphipods collected from abyssal and hadal depths. In this study, these podasconids were characterised through morphological and molecular analyses. Methods Podasconids were detected from amphipods sampled from abyssal and hadal depths of the Japan and Kuril-Kamchatka Trenches. Newly collected podasconids were observed under a stereoscopic microscope. Partial sequences of nuclear 18S and mitochondrial 16S rRNA genes were determined for all parasites, whilst those of mitochondrial COI gene were provided for the host amphipods. Results In total, seven podasconids were found from three species of benthic amphipods, Aristiassp., Byblisoides arcillis and Epimeria abyssalis, collected at 4556–6539 m of the Japan Trench. Differences in body size and morphology of uropods and article 1 of antennule were observed among parasites. 18S phylogenetic tree, constructed with other cryptoniscoid sequences from the GenBank, agreed with morphological analyses. As a result, we have assigned three morphospecies for the present podasconid samples whilst the non-monophyletic nature of Podasconidae was also indicated. Conclusion This study identified three novel amphipod hosts of Podasconidae and extends the known geographical and bathymetrical distribution of Podasconidae to include the abyssal and hadal depths. Additionally, our results indicated a high diversity of Podasconidae in the deep water, with an inference to potentially complex diversification of cryptoniscoids.

We provide a brief biography, recollections and memories of Kiyoshi Inoue, the long-time President of the International Odonatological Foundation, Societas Internationalis Odonatologica (SIO), with his complete odonatological bibliography, including editorials, for the first time.

Neoentomelas asatoi Hasegawa, 1989 is a parasitic nematode that infests only the scincid lizard Ateuchosaurus pellopleurus (Hallowell, 1861) that inhabits the forest floor in the Northern and Central Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. As a member of Rhabdiasidae, the reproductive mode of N. asatoi is characterised by the alternation of the protandrous hermaphroditic mode and gonochoristic mode throughout the life cycle. The intrafamily phylogenetic position and intraspecific diversity of this nematode species were inferred by molecular phylogenetic analyses. The results revealed the phylogenetic distinctiveness of NeoentomelasHasegawa, 1989 in Rhabdiasidae that supports the unique generic status of Neoentomelas within the family. The intraspecific phylogenetic analyses of N. asatoi revealed a minor concordant phylogenetic pattern with the host and mosaic geographic arrangement of the major clades that was discordant with the host. The analyses and distribution pattern of subclades suggested that this geographic arrangement can be explained by at least three dispersal events and subsequent switching to indigenous host populations. Colonisation events might be promoted by the high establishment rate of new populations stemming from the parthenogenesis-like reproduction mode of N. asatoi. This study demonstrated that reproductive modes can affect the intraspecific genetic diversity of parasites.

Detailed numerical simulations are performed to probe performance loss mechanisms and limiting parameters of Ta3N5-NRs based photoanodes. Device modelling enables the development of design strategies to realize efficient solar water oxidation.

A fast blackening process of titanium dioxide nanoparticles by exposing to atomic hydrogen was studied by estimating the color of the nanoparticles. The whiteness of TiO2 decreased exponentially with time, which suggests a first-order reaction between atomic H and surface oxygen, whose rate constant is proportional to the ambient pressure of H2. The rate constant increases as the temperature of nanoparticles at exposing to atomic hydrogen. The structure and size of nanoparticles were estimated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), which shows that a part of anatase transferred to rutile and the crystal sizes of both anatase and rutile increased by hydrogenation above 600 K. The blackening of TiO2 halfway stopped under the condition of the similar partial pressure of water with hydrogen. This suggests the presence of reverse reaction between H2O and oxygen vacancy, whose reaction rate constant is proportional to the partial pressure of H2O.

An isolable small-molecule cysteine sulfenic acid (Cys-SOH) protected by a molecular cradle was synthesized by direct oxidation of the corresponding cysteine thiol and its structure was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Studies on biologically relevant reactivity indicated its usefulness as a biorepresentative small-molecule sulfenic acid model.