e under threat of photoinhibition) An important aspect of our w

e. under threat of photoinhibition). An important aspect of our work to date aiming to construct an effective SatBałtyk PD0325901 datasheet operational system included the successful attempts to expand the applicability of the earlier DESAMBEM algorithms by linking them

up with the packet of algorithms from the BALTFOS Forecasting System. The latter are based on forecasting models and procedures for their calibration by the assimilation of satellite data and other data obtained using the diagnostic subalgorithms of the DESAMBEM (see Figure 1 in Part 1 of Woźniak et al. (2011), in this issue). As we have already stated, this is essential in the case of the Baltic, where frequent cloudiness partially or entirely precludes the use of satellite sensors for recording radiation in the visible and thermal infra-red bands for diagnosing various parameters of the marine environment (including chlorophyll concentration and SST). In such IWR-1 mw cases, interpolation (between points in time-space) of measurements remotely sensed in cloud-free areas is often resorted to. Our trials

with respect to SST interpolations in cloudy areas have shown that such geostatic methods would not be very effective in an operational system for the Baltic, because of the long periods for which cloudiness persists there. In our opinion, the most effective and reliable approach would be to use data generated by prognostic hydrodynamic and eco-hydrodynamic models, which assimilate data calibrated with data from satellite estimates and/or data generated using the DESAMBEM algorithm. This is shown by the results of filling

Celecoxib in the SST map of the Baltic carried out in various ways for 28 April 2009 (11:52 UTC), shown in Figure 9. The SST maps are drawn with the aid of a NLSST algorithm ( Walton et al. 1998, Krężel et al. 2005) for cloudless areas on the basis of satellite data recorded with an AVHRR sensor (TIROS-N/NOAA). On that day most of the Baltic Sea area was overcast, and estimating SST from satellite data and using diagnostic algorithms was possible for only small areas of the sea (see Figure 9b). The area overcast on that day had been ‘seen’ by the satellite four days earlier, i.e. on 25 April 2009 at 19:15 UTC (see the SST distribution in Figure 9a). Kriging interpolation with the aid of linear regression was applied to these data to make up the missing SST data on the cloudy 28 April 2009 (see the SST distribution in Figure 9d). Another way of filling in gaps in SST fields in overcast areas is to use prognostic models. Figure 9e shows the remotely sensed distribution of SST in which overcast areas ( Figure 9b) have been replaced by results supplied by the M3D hydrodynamic model ( Kowalewski 1997, Kowalewski & Kowalewska-Kalkowska 2011).

The patient gave his consent to submit his images for publication

The patient gave his consent to submit his images for publication purposes. “
“Podstawowym źródłem składników odżywczych powinna być właściwie zbilansowana

dieta. W sytuacji, gdy z różnych przyczyn codzienna dieta nie pokrywa zapotrzebowania na podstawowe składniki odżywcze, można rozważyć stosowanie suplementacji. Suplement diety to środek spożywczy, którego celem jest uzupełnienie normalnej diety, będący skoncentrowanym źródłem witamin lub składników mineralnych bądź innych substancji wykazujących efekt odżywczy lub inny fizjologiczny, pojedynczych lub złożonych, wprowadzany Selleck Dasatinib do obrotu w formie umożliwiającej dawkowanie, w postaci: kapsułek, tabletek, drażetek i w innych podobnych postaciach: saszetek z proszkiem, ampułek z płynem, butelek z kroplomierzem itp. [1]. Przez suplementację diety rozumiemy również jej wzbogacanie, tzn. dodawanie do środków spożywczych jednego lub kilku składników odżywczych, niezależnie od tego, czy naturalnie występują one w tym środku spożywczym, czy nie, w celu zapobiegania niedoborom lub korygowania niedoborów tych składników odżywczych w całych populacjach albo określonych grupach ludności (zgodnie z poniżej przywołanymi regulacjami). W Polsce suplementy diety to

produkty spożywcze podlegające następującym regulacjom prawnym: – Ustawa z dnia 25 sierpnia 2006 r. o Bezpieczeństwie learn more Żywności PtdIns(3,4)P2 i Żywienia (Dz. U. Nr 171, poz. 1225) Niezbędnymi składnikami diety są kwasy tłuszczowe omega-3, z których kwas alfa-linolenowy (alphalinoleic acid, ALA) nie jest syntetyzowany przez organizm ludzki i uważany jest za prekursora pozostałych kwasów z tej rodziny, przede wszystkim długołańcuchowych wielonienasyconych kwasów tłuszczowych (long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, LC-PUFA), w tym kwasów dokozaheksaenowego (docosahexaenoic acid,

DHA) i eikozapentaenowego (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA). Podstawowym źródłem EPA i DHA są ryby morskie, olej rybi oraz owoce morza. Kwasy omega-3 posiadają właściwości przeciwzapalne, zapobiegają miażdżycy naczyń krwionośnych i dlatego znalazły zastosowanie w zapobieganiu chorób sercowo-naczyniowych, zespołu metabolicznego oraz w przewlekłych chorobach zapalnych [2, 3, 4, 5]. Zasadnicze znaczenie ma również zapewnienie właściwej podaży kwasów omega-3 w okresie ciąży, laktacji, a także w wieku rozwojowym. Szczególnie istotne w tym okresie jest zaopatrzenie organizmu rozwijającego się płodu i dziecka w kwas dokozaheksaenowy, który w dużych ilościach odkłada się w rozwijającym się ośrodkowym układzie nerwowym [6]. Polska należy do krajów szczególnie zagrożonych niedoborem kwasów tłuszczowych długołańcuchowych omega-3.

The contents of each tube were then

diluted 1 in 10 and a

The contents of each tube were then

diluted 1 in 10 and analysed by ICP-MS as per the method specified above. Five of each sample type were analysed. In order to ascertain whether a worker with a “steady” history of lead exposure would produce differing results to one whose lead exposure had fluctuated, it was necessary to quantify the degree to which each worker’s historical exposure had fluctuated. Over 90% of the lead content of whole blood is contained in the erythrocytes (Goyer, 2001). The average survival time of erythrocytes in the bloodstream is 120 days (Dessypris, 1999). To account for this, the mean of all blood lead values acquired since January 2009, and recorded ≥120 days selleck chemicals llc prior to the measurement of the study sample, was calculated for each individual. The difference between the result of the study blood lead value and the mean of the historical observations (Δ) was then calculated. The median Δ was −1 μg/dL, and the 25th and 75th percentiles −2 μg/dL and +1 μg/dL respectively. However, the presence of a small number of large Δ values produced an overall standard deviation Talazoparib cost of 9.49 μg/dL. It was decided to categorise the samples for their exposure history according to the magnitude of Δ. History “1” included all samples where Δ ≤ ± 1 μg/dL; history

“2” all samples where Δ ≤ ± 2 μg/dL; history “3” all samples where Δ ≤ ± 3 μg/dL. Samples where Δ > ± 3 μg/dL were categorised as “fluctuating history”. Samples with no blood lead values recorded ≥120 days prior to the measurement of the study sample were categorised as “no sample history”. Neither the blood lead nor the salivary lead data were normally distributed, with the salivary

lead data more skewed than the blood Urocanase lead data. Both datasets could be much more closely approximated to a log-normal distribution; therefore the relationship between log(saliva lead) and log(blood lead) was investigated. Log(saliva lead) was plotted against log(blood lead) and the Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) was calculated, for the entire dataset and for the various history categories. Multiple regression analyses were also carried out to investigate whether smoking status or the age of the participant had any effect on the saliva or blood lead levels, or on the relationship between the two. For the blood lead analysis, all CRM results were within the certified range. Values obtained for the CRMs were as follows: level 1 lot 36741 (certified range 9.39–14.1 μg/dL): n = 91 mean 11.1 μg/dL, standard deviation (SD) 0.63 μg/dL; level 3 lot 36743 (certified range 43.7–65.5 μg/dL): n = 91, mean 52.5 μg/dL, SD 2.81 μg/dL. The limit of detection (LOD) for the saliva analysis for the study was 0.011 μg/L, based on the mean of all the blank samples, plus three times the standard deviation of the mean (McNaught and Wilkinson, 1997). All results were greater than the LOD and therefore no non-detects were observed.

STRENDA׳s requirements that the pH, temperature and substrate con

STRENDA׳s requirements that the pH, temperature and substrate concentration be reported are therefore critical in isotope http://www.selleckchem.com/products/pd-0332991-palbociclib-isethionate.html effect studies as each can influence the magnitude and meaning of the measured KIE (Cook and Cleland, 2007, Cornish-Bowden, 2012 and Segal, 1975). Furthermore, the saturation level of the substrate concentration used should also be noted (e.g. relative to its Km value) in steady-state assays or if pre-steady state rates are reported the

portion of prebound substrate should be mentioned. In addition to the general recommendations of STRENDA, proper error analysis is vital when reporting data from isotope effects. This is especially true for secondary, solvent, equilibrium or heavy atom KIEs since the magnitudes of these values are quite small and therefore can be obscured by the experimental errors selleckchem if careful steps are not taken during the measurement. Even for larger primary KIEs, though, a rigorous error analysis must be carried out since biophysical studies on enzymes often involve measurements over a range of conditions and the conclusions drawn from such studies can be dramatically changed by the uncertainty of the experimental values. One of the probes of quantum mechanical nuclear tunneling in enzymatic C–H activation, for example, relies on measurements

of the temperature dependence of the KIE (Kohen et al., 1999, Nagel and Klinman, 2006, Sutcliffe et al., 2006, Sutcliffe and Scrutton, 2002 and Wang et al., 2012). Temperature independent KIEs and the associated isotope effect on Arrhenius preexponential factors Thalidomide (Al/Ah, where l and h are the light and heavy isotopes, respectively) outside the semi-classical limits are taken as evidence for quantum mechanical tunneling of the hydrogen isotope ( Bell, 1980, Nagel and Klinman, 2006, Nagel and Klinman, 2010, Sutcliffe et al., 2006, Sutcliffe and Scrutton, 2002 and Wang et al., 2012). For KIE data, Arrhenius or Eyring plots, or the isotope effects on

their parameters are identical, as all differences in the rate equations drop out of the ratio equation. Yet visual inspection of Arrhenius or Eyring plots, or simple regression to average values, is often insufficient to determine whether the Al/Ah value is within or outside semiclassical limits (i.e., can be explained without invoking nuclear tunneling). Experimental errors have to always be introduced with even the most sensitive experimental methodologies, to enable assessment of whether the data can be explained by a certain theoretical model or not. Similarly, comparison of KIEs calculated by computer based simulation and experimental data requires both a clear indication of certainty in the calculated values, their distribution (e.g., PES vs. PMF calculations) and the statistical confidence or deviation range of the experimental data from their average value.

Water saturation shift referencing (WASSR) [28]

Water saturation shift referencing (WASSR) [28] buy Y-27632 is one of the most commonly used techniques to

correct for this shift; however, the method requires extra scans possibly before and after the CEST imaging. Using a model-based approach eliminates the additional scan(s) required because the shift can be determined directly from the collected spectrum as part of the model fitting [29]. Performing model-based quantitative analysis of the CEST effect for CW-CEST is simple and is generally achieved using the analytical solution to the Bloch–McConnell equations. However, CW-CEST is not feasible in clinical applications due to specific absorption rate (SAR) and hardware limitations, making pulsed-CEST the only viable irradiation scheme for clinical translation currently. Apitolisib clinical trial Finding the proton MR behavior in response to time varying RF power as present in the pulsed-CEST scheme for model-based analysis is time consuming because the solution to the Bloch–McConnell equations must be arrived at either using a numerical differential equation solver or discretizing the pulses into a series of short continuous RF segments. In the latter case, referred to here as the discretization method, the individual segments are solved using the simple analytical solution

for CW-CEST with the magnetization being propagated through each of the segments, the final values from one segment serving as the initial conditions for the next one [25] and [30]. Due to the combination of the repeated calculations required in the discretization method and the multiple iterations within the optimization used for model-based strategy, the analysis of pulsed-CEST is often much slower than its continuous counterpart. Hence, pulsed-CEST is often treated as CW-CEST by finding the equivalent

average field (AF) [31] and [32] or power (AP) [33] of the pulse train to perform the analysis using the faster solution to the Bloch–McConnell equations under continuous saturation. isothipendyl Recently, studies have shown that a continuous approximation (both AF and AP) produces narrower off-resonance excitations when compared with pulsed saturation [33] and that the CESTR is different for pulsed-CEST and CW-CEST when the exchange rate is more than 50 s−1[30]. These raise the issue whether pulsed-CEST can be analyzed via the equivalent CW-CEST or a discretization method must be used. In this study, the differences in the z-spectra from a pulsed-CEST experiment and the equivalent continuous (AF and AP) approximation are examined using simulations to determine the validity of the latter for the analysis of pulsed-CEST data. Additionally, model-based quantitative analysis of pulsed-CEST data from a tissue-like phantom using the continuous approximation and discretization methods are compared.

However, the exposure of the crystalline structures could be bloc

However, the exposure of the crystalline structures could be blocked by inducible aggregation or by the repolymerizing colonies, owing to the WEBI conditions (Fig. 3c). The changes in the total mass following all pretreatments were negligible to within a reasonable error GDC-0941 supplier range, regardless of the conditions. For reference, the two major changeable components of the WEBI-based RS, xylan

(approximately 12.5%) and lignin (approximately 8.3%), did not exhibit significant reductions of mass compared to those (12.1% and 7.7%, respectively) of the original EBI pretreatment. Furthermore, the extracellular portion of the reducing sugars (for the WEBI-based system or only for EBI) after the irradiation did not change with significant variance (below 0.8%), and thus it was actually similar to the percent yield of the theoretical glucose maximum. The formation of a water barrier may have prevented a direct attack to an external protective layer composed of hemicellulose and a lignin complex, thereby indirectly generating ROS or directly involving the oxidative degradation of the recalcitrant wall. Moreover, if mTOR inhibitor water soaking helps to loosen the cell wall, then electrons have more space for extensive participation. However, the regulation of the substrate-specific or non-specific cascades via ROS in the WEBI system needs to be further investigated. Loss of the external layer components can also

occur during the general conventional processes [19]. As for the pretreatment involving ammonia-soaking, the loss of lignin is significantly different during the removal of 50–85% of the initial content [14] and [13]. Lastly, regarding the ioxilan use of external inhibitory compounds against either the hydrolysis or fermentation, although the theoretical yields of the WEBI-straw were not higher than those of lignocellulose pretreated using conventional methods, the generation of inhibitors, such as hydrogen peroxide,

HMF, and furfural, was either negligible or not detected. In terms of the hydrolysis and fermentation yields, the intentional removal of the inhibitors was found to result in higher substrate conversion (% maximum) compared with substrate conversation on inhibitor accumulation [17]. Furthermore, in this system, I hypothesized that any accumulation of hydrogen peroxide would gradually be reduced to low levels (<0.01 mM) because of its utilization in the ligninolytic cascade. Therefore, although the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide has negative effects on the fermentable yeast [4] and carbon sources [6], SSF still functions under constant pH. Using the same assumption for untreated samples, WEBI pretreatment and enzymatic digestibility steps resulted in a total of 22.4 g (untreated RS, 9.4 g) of glucose from 100 g of RS (Fig. 1). Furthermore, when 100 g of initial RS was consecutively subjected to WEBI pretreatment and then SSF, 10.6 g (untreated RS, 3.7 g; and EBI-RS, 9.

e , joining together left and right halves of the same face posin

e., joining together left and right halves of the same face posing different neutral or happy expressions) and asked to judge whether the upper or bottom face looked happier. Right-hemisphere damaged patients with left neglect typically select the face that is smiling on the right side of the display (e.g., Mattingley et al., 1993, Mattingley et al., 1994 and Ferber et al., 2003), whereas the opposite tends to apply for normal controls (e.g., Mattingley et al., 1993, Mattingley et al., 1994 and Ferber and Murray, 2005). Prism adaptation

did not alter the strong rightward bias or ‘preference’ exhibited by the patients in this task. This latter finding in our three patients (Sarri et al., 2006) was a direct replication of a previously reported single-case study by Ferber et al. (2003), who likewise showed that Bortezomib price their patient continued to show a strong rightward bias in the face expression task after prism adaptation (despite an increase of ocular exploration towards the contralesional side in their case). Thus the apparent discrepancy between the effects of prism adaptation on different chimeric tasks, with benefits being found for identification of non-face chimeric objects (Sarri et al., 2006) yet not for emotional judgements of chimeric face tasks

(Ferber et al., 2003 and Sarri et al., 2006), still requires explanation. this website For the existing results, it may be hard to compare directly across tasks that varied both in

the nature of the judgement required and in the nature of the stimuli employed. One possibility is that specialized face-processing mechanisms in the brain, as indexed in the Mattingley et al. (1993) chimeric face expression task, may be less influenced by the prism intervention in neglect patients, than for other classes of stimuli. This might conceivably accord with abundant evidence for putatively specialized neural mechanisms for the processing of faces (e.g., see Farah et al., 1995, Kanwisher, 2000 and Duchaine and Nakayama, 2005) along ventral pathways, along with other recent suggestions that prism adaptation may primarily affect more dorsal pathways instead (e.g., Dankert and Ferber, 2006). GPX6 We note also that the judgement required of the chimeric face tasks is based on emotion recognition, which might potentially be less influenced by prism therapy than non-affective mechanisms (for evidence on the potentially separate mechanisms supporting recognition of facial identity versus emotion, see e.g., Bowers et al., 1985 and Young et al., 1993; and for specialized neural mechanisms for processing of emotional facial expressions see, e.g., Dolan et al., 1996, Winston et al., 2003 and Vuilleumier and Pourtois, 2007). On the other hand, the reported lack of prism effects for the chimeric face task might reflect some particular aspect of the task used, rather than the category of stimulus (i.e.

The average soil salt content was 0 66% The results showed that

The average soil salt content was 0.66%. The results showed that the biomass per plant and the number of tillers per plant of transgenic lines were significantly higher than those of the wild type Jimai 19. The seedling emergence rate, effective number of tillers per plant, grain number per plant, and grain weight per plant of the transgenic lines

DNA Damage inhibitor were significantly greater than those of Jimai 19. The spike length of transgenic lines was significantly less than that of Jimai 19. There were no significant differences in plant height, grain number per spike, or 1000-grain weight between the transgenic lines and the wild type (Table 2). Although the spike length of the transgenic lines was significantly lower, the grain number per spike was not significantly different between transgenic lines and the wild type. Because of the significantly higher number of effective tillers per

plant find more in the transgenic lines, the grain number per plant of the transgenic lines was more than 20% greater than that of Jimai 19, and the grain weight per plant and the biomass per plant were also significantly greater in the transgenic lines. As a result, the salt tolerance of the transgenic lines was greater than that of the wild type Jimai 19 throughout the growing season when the plants were grown in natural fields. This difference is reflected primarily in the increased values per plant of number of effective tillers, biomass, grain number, and grain weight of the transgenic lines. As indicated in Table 2, the overexpression of the GmDREB1 gene improves

the salt tolerance of wheat at the germination stage, the seedling stage and throughout the growing season. Because the salt tolerance of the transgenic line T349 was slightly higher than that of T378, we selected the transgenic line T349 for further investigation of physiological and protein responses to the salt stress. After 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of NaCl treatment, the first leaves of T349 and Jimai 19 seedling samples were harvested Smoothened for measurement of the betaine, proline, and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and relative electrolyte leakage. Although proline and glycine betaine are critical for osmoprotection, there were no significant differences in glycine betaine and proline contents between T349 and Jimai 19 after 0 and 1 day of NaCl treatment. After 3, 5, and 7 days of NaCl treatment, glycine betaine, and proline contents were significantly higher in T349 than in Jimai 19 (Fig. 3). The MDA content and relative electrolyte leakage are associated with the oxidization of the cell membrane. There were no significant differences in MDA content or relative electrolyte leakage between T349 and Jimai 19 after 0, 1, and 3 days of NaCl treatment.

Theoretically, if in calm waters only gravitation were used as th

Theoretically, if in calm waters only gravitation were used as the dominant force, it would be possible to determine what percentage of particles of a specified diameter would settle and which particles would have a velocity too low to ensure settlement. An example of such an approach was given by Imam et al. (1983), who established

the vertical velocity field using a finite difference model of the vorticity transport stream function equations with a constant eddy viscosity. The eddy viscosity is obtained by applying a theoretical model. That is, in order to determine http://www.selleckchem.com/products/fg-4592.html the sedimentation rate other theoretical assumptions should be made; hence, sedimentation has a complex nature, even under idealised theoretical conditions. The main reason for this is that sedimentation, besides its complicated nature, is a highly nonlinear and unstable phenomenon (wave and current forcing) and therefore difficult to subject to rigorous mathematical treatment. Any attempt at describing sedimentation processes requires the

simultaneous identification of the mechanisms governing sediment deposition, erosion and the evolution of a number of morphological seabed forms (Pruszak, 1990, Pruszak, 1998 and Komar, 1998). The rate of sediment accumulation in water basins depends on a number of factors, such as the quantity and quality of sediment being deposited, distance from sediment source, intensity of biological processes (e.g. phytoplankton blooms, bioturbation), seasonal phenomena (e.g. Sotrastaurin ic50 phytoplankton blooms,

autumn and winter storm surges), geological seabed composition, depth of seabed and hydrological and hydrodynamic regimes. Moreover, the amount of sediment transported from land to sea may also be affected by the intensity of weathering, erosion and degradation. The sediment Staurosporine supply to Puck Bay from rivers varies seasonally. Sediment discharges peak in late January and early February and fall to a minimum between June and August (Szymczak, 2006 and Szymczak and Piekarek-Jankowska, 2006). In the southern Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Gdańsk it is estimated that the rate of accumulation ranges between 0.5 and 2 mm year− 1. The aim of this study was to determine the recent sediment deposition rate and sediment accumulation rate specific to seabed formation in the eastern part of Puck Bay using two methods: in situ sediment traps and radioisotopes. In order to describe adequately the deposition and accumulation processes, we applied two ways of expressing the rates: (1) the linear rate of accumulation, giving the depth of sediment layer deposited in unit time (linear accumulation rate – LAR), expressed in [mm year− 1] and, (2) the mass sediment accumulation, which quantifies the mass of sediment deposited in unit time on unit surface area (mass accumulation rate – MAR) expressed in [g m− 2 day− 1] or [g m− 2 year− 1] (Einsele, 2000, Syvitski, 2003 and Hille et al., 2006).

Here we describe an in vivo and ex vivo simulated papilla by usin

Here we describe an in vivo and ex vivo simulated papilla by using live pig stomach and rectum easily created by injection of 0.4% hyaluronate solution that allows ES and EP. A 0.4% hyaluronate solution could create hemispheroidal bulgings similar to a human papillae. This study was performed in accordance with the rules for the protections of animals and approved by the Animal Ethical and Welfare Committee of Tokyo Medical University. A live 36-kg mixed Landrace and Yorkshire pig was

used as the animal model. Selleck SB431542 The animal was fasted 24 hours before the procedure. Intravenous ketamine (0.2 mg/kg) and 0.2% xylazine (Selactar; Bayer Yakuhin, Tokyo, Japan) (0.1 mg/kg) were used to induce general anesthesia, which was maintained by using 2% to 5% isoflurane. Atropine (1 mg) was administered to reduce

secretions. We used ex vivo methods as used for training in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).14 We prepared a metal container with normal saline solution that stabilizes the pig stomach and allows electrocautery devices to be used (Johnson & Johnson, Tokyo, Japan) (Fig. 1). An overtube was sutured to the gastric antrum, allowing insertion of the duodenoscope. A resected porcine rectum was placed in an ESD container that allows the use of electrical cautery devices (ERBE Elektromedizin GmbH, Tubingen, Germany) (Fig. 2). One experienced ERCP endoscopist (T.I.) created all blebs. MucoUp, 1.5 to 2.5 mL (20 mL/V, 0.4% hyaluronic acid diluted with sodium chloride) (Johnson & Johnson) was injected submucosally by using a 25-gauge sclerotherapy needle (Hiflow, H-type; Top Co Ltd, Tokyo, DNA Damage inhibitor Japan) to create a mucosal bleb as a simulated major duodenal mTOR inhibitor papilla mound (Fig. 3, upper left). For the stomach model, the solution was mixed with 0.1% indigo carmine. As an alternative to MucoUp, 1% hyaluronic acid (Bioventus LLC, Durham, NC) can be diluted to 0.4%. For ES training, 3 more injections were made in the lesser and greater curvature and the anterior and posterior walls of the proximal gastric body of the in vivo

and ex vivo stomach models. An approximately 2-mm orifice was made in the mucosal bleb by using a needle-knife (KD-1L-1; Olympus Medical Systems, Tokyo, Japan) to simulate a papillary os (Fig. 3, upper right). In the ex vivo rectum model, the mucosal bleb was circumferentially and longitudinally created by means of to-and-fro movements of the duodenoscope and rotation of the box containing the pig rectum. In the in vivo model, ERCP was performed with the animal placed in the supine position and by using a conventional therapeutic duodenoscope (ED-530X T8; Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan). A standard grounding pad was placed under the mid-dorsum of the animal. In the ex vivo stomach or rectum model, a conventional therapeutic duodenoscope (TJF-260V; Olympus Medical Systems) was used for ES and EP. Electrosurgical generators (VIO300D and ICC200; ERBE Elektromedezin, GmbH) were used to perform ES.