is quantified using 2 yr of echosounder data from a cabled observatory. The continuous and high-resolution nature of the observations allows examination of secondorder seasonal variability in migration timing relative to civil twilight times. Early dusk ascent and late dawn descent occur during spring-fall, while late dusk ascent and early dawn descent occur during winter. Ascent timing appears to be regulated by (1) light availability at the daytime depth of the euphausiids, which is modulated by phytoplankton bloom shadowing, and (2) euphausiid size-dependent visual predation risk. Because (1) does not apply at dawn, descent timing appears to be regulated by (2). During the pre-spawning period, higher energy demand for reproduction may cause earlier dusk ascent and later dawn descent to maximize energy gain, even with larger body size. Instead of the traditional view of diel vertical migration timing, correlated solely with civil twilight, our data suggest that euphausiids also adapt their migration timing to accommodate changes in environmental cues as well as their growth.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) suppresses synovial hyperplasia and synovial cell proliferation characterized for rheumatoid arthritis, but the molecular mechanisms remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the mechanotransduction pathway via the integrin/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in LIPUS exposure on the synovial membrane cells. Rabbit knee synovial membrane cell line, HIG-82, was cultured with or without FAK phosphorylation inhibitor, PF-573228. One hour after stimulation with PF-573228, the cells exposed to LIPUS for 20 min or sham exposure. A possible integrin/MAPK pathway was examined by immunofluorescence and Western blotting analysis with antibodies targeting specific phosphorylation sites on intracellular signaling proteins. LIPUS exposure increased phosphorylation of FAK, JNK, ERK, and p38, but the phosphorylation was inhibited by PF-573228. In conclusion, LIPUS exposure might be involved in cell apoptosis and survival of synovial membrane cells via integrin/FAK/MAPK pathway.

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IntroductionLow-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been known to promote bone healing by nonthermal effects. In recent studies, LIPUS has been shown to reduce inflammation in injured soft tissues. Xerostomia is one of the most common symptoms in Sjögren syndrome (SS). It is caused by a decrease in the quantity or quality of saliva. The successful treatment of xerostomia is still difficult to achieve and often unsatisfactory. The aim of this study is to clarify the therapeutic effects of LIPUS on xerostomia in SS.MethodsHuman salivary gland acinar (NS-SV-AC) and ductal (NS-SV-DC) cells were cultured with or without tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α; 10 ng/ml) before LIPUS or sham exposure. The pulsed ultrasound signal was transmitted at a frequency of 1.5 MHz or 3 MHz with a spatial average intensity of 30 mW/cm2 and a pulse rate of 20 %. Cell number, net fluid secretion rate, and expression of aquaporin 5 (AQP5) and TNF-α were subsequently analyzed. Inhibitory effects of LIPUS on the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway were determined by Western blot analysis. The effectiveness of LIPUS in recovering salivary secretion was also examined in a MRL/MpJ/lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mouse model of SS with autoimmune sialadenitis.ResultsTNF-α stimulation of NS-SV-AC and NS-SV-DC cells resulted in a significant decrease in cell number and net fluid secretion rate (p < 0.01), whereas LIPUS treatment abolished them (p < 0.05). The expression changes of AQP5 and TNF-α were also inhibited in LIPUS treatment by blocking the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, we found that mRNA expression of A20, a negative feedback regulator, was significantly increased by LIPUS treatment after TNF-α or interleukin 1β stimulation (NS-SV-AC, p < 0.01; NS-SV-DC, p < 0.05). In vivo LIPUS exposure to MRL/lpr mice exhibited a significant increase in both salivary flow and AQP5 expression by reducing inflammation in salivary glands (p < 0.01).ConclusionsThese results suggest that LIPUS upregulates expression of AQP5 and inhibits TNF-α production. Thus, LIPUS may restore secretion by inflamed salivary glands. It may synergistically activate negative feedback of NF-κB signaling in response to inflammatory stimulation. Collectively, LIPUS might be a new strategic therapy for xerostomia in autoimmune sialadenitis with SS.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0798-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Mobile autonomous platforms are revolutionizing our understanding of ocean systems by providing a solution for the four-dimensional observation problem faced in the ocean. The sensors commonly used in autonomous platforms, however, leave a large gap in our observations of the food chain between primary producers and large predators. Echosounders have the potential to fill this gap. Here, we present details of a new, commercially available quantitative scientific echosounder specifically designed to meet the challenges of deployment in autonomous platforms, including those of relatively low power and small size, while providing data comparable to systems deployed from ships. We detail the integration into a Slocum glider of this echosounder and both upwardand downward-looking transducers to provide guidance for those considering similar efforts. We also identify key features of the system and the challenges that must be overcome to ensure collection of high-quality data. The most important feature of the integrated glider is that it carries instruments capable of providing depth profiles of bio-optical and environmental variables that are synoptic with the echosounder data. On a dive-by-dive basis, we can use these co-located data to quantify relationships between the acoustic, bio-optical, and environmental data. A field deployment of the echosounder-equipped glider elucidated the processes driving diel migration in zooplankton and nekton in Monterey Bay, emphasizing the novel science questions that can be addressed using contemporary means of accessing the sea and new, integrated tools for describing the habitat and its inhabitants.