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ABSTRACT Background Methods Results Conclusion The effectiveness of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) of the left atrial (LA) roof in addition to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using a novel cryoballoon catheter, POLARx, remains unclear.This study compared the efficacy of LA roof line ablation and PVI using POLARx (Boston Scientific) or AFA‐Pro (Medtronic) in 100 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. The right superior pulmonary vein (PV) anchoring and raise‐up techniques were consistently used for LA roof line ablation, and rapid right ventricular pacing was applied if the cryoballoon temperature did not reach −40°C.Complete conduction block at the LA roof could be obtained in all patients with POLARx and in 98.0% of patients with AFA‐Pro. Rapid right ventricular pacing was needed in 64.0% of patients with AFA‐Pro and in no patients with POLARx. During LA roof line ablation, the nadir cryoballoon temperature was significantly lower with POLARx than with AFA‐Pro (right: −54.2°C ± 4.4°C vs. −46.0°C ± 5.4°C; central: −56.8°C ± 4.4°C vs. −45.7°C ± 4.8°C; left: −56.1°C ± 4.3°C vs. −46.1°C ± 5.7°C), and the cryoballoon temperature reached −40°C earlier with POLARx than with AFA‐Pro (right: 30.8 ± 7.4 s vs. 74.1 ± 37.7 s; central: 28.2 ± 5.2 s vs. 62.9 ± 30.9 s; left: 29.8 ± 5.8 s vs. 69.6 ± 40.7 s).The nadir cryoballoon temperature with POLARx was approximately 10°C lower than with AFA‐Pro, consistently dropping below −40°C during LA roof line CBA. Thus, a complete conduction block of the LA roof line can be easily accomplished using right superior PV anchoring and the raise‐up techniques without the need for rapid right ventricular pacing with POLARx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Posterior cerebral artery (PCA) aneurysms represent up to 1% of all cerebral aneurysms. P1-P2 perforator aneurysms are thought to be even less prevalent and often require complex treatment strategies due to their anatomical and morphological characteristics, with risk of a perforator infarct. We studied the treatment of P1-P2 perforator aneurysms in a single-center cohort from a high-volume tertiary center, reporting clinical and anatomical characteristics, treatment strategies, and outcomes. Methods: A retrospective analysis of adult patients with a P1-P2 perforator aneurysm who presented at our institution between January 2000 and January 2023 was performed. The patients were analyzed for demographics, clinical presentation, imaging findings, treatment techniques, outcomes, and complications. Subgroup analyses between ruptured versus non-ruptured cases were included. Results: Out of 2733 patients with a cerebral aneurysm, 14 patients (0.5%) presented with a P1-P2 perforator aneurysm. All six patients with a ruptured aneurysm were treated by endovascular coiling, of whom one patient (16.7%) required surgical clipping of a recurrence. One out of eight (12.5%) patients with unruptured aneurysms was treated by surgical clipping. P1-P2 perforator aneurysms predominantly affected middle-aged individuals (median 59.5 years), with 10/14 (71.4%) being female. Endovascular coiling was the primary treatment modality overall, yielding favorable technical outcomes, however, it was complicated by a perforator infarct in two patients (33.3%) without new permanent morbidity or mortality secondary to treatment. Conclusions: P1-P2 perforator aneurysms are a rare subtype of intracranial aneurysm. Endovascular coiling could present an effective treatment modality; however, care should be taken for ischemic complications in the dependent perforator territory. Larger studies are required to provide more insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Tip‐in endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has a high en bloc resection rate for large colorectal neoplasms. However, non‐experts' performance in Tip‐in EMR has not been investigated. We investigated whether Tip‐in EMR can be achieved effectively and safely even by non‐experts. Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent Tip‐in EMR for 15–25 mm colorectal nonpedunculated neoplasms at a Japanese tertiary cancer center between January 2014 and December 2020. Baseline characteristics, treatment outcomes, learning curve of non‐experts, and risk factors of failing self‐achieved en bloc resection were analyzed. Results: A total of 597 lesions were analyzed (438 by experts and 159 by non‐experts). The self‐achieved en bloc resection (69.8% vs 88.6%, P < 0.001) and self‐achieved R0 resection (58.3% vs 76.5%, P < 0.001) rates were significantly lower in non‐experts with <10 cases of experience than in experts, but not in non‐experts with >10 cases. Adverse event (P = 0.165) and local recurrence (P = 0.892) rates were not significantly different between experts and non‐experts. Risk factors of failing self‐achieved en bloc resection were non‐polypoid morphology (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.6–7.3, P = 0.001), lesions with an underlying semilunar fold (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.6–7.3, P < 0.001), positive non‐lifting sign (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.2–8.0, P = 0.023), and non‐experts with an experience of ≤10 cases (OR 3.6, 95% CI 2.1–6.3, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The clinical outcomes of Tip‐in EMR for 15–25 mm lesions performed by non‐experts were favorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acer mono is thought to comprise seven varieties, but its classification and nomenclature are controversial. A recent molecular phylogenetic study suggested that A. mono varieties glabrum (G) and mayrii (M) do not interbreed, despite occurring syntopically (same location) and having a common genetic origin. However, if these are separate, reproductively isolated species, the basis for that isolation remains unclear. Here, we tested whether G and M can be considered separate species that differ in multiple ecological characteristics. We compared G and M in terms of distribution, habitats, drought tolerance of leaves, and flowering phenology of trees, and we verified their reproductive isolation (RI) in Japan. G showed higher drought and salt tolerance than M, which is consistent with the distribution of G in salt‐stressed coastal areas with relatively low precipitation. In contrast, M occurs in snowy, mesic, and mountain habitats. Even in neighboring M and G trees, the onset of flowering in M is earlier than that of G. Similarly, flower drop in M is completed sooner than in G. Although the presence of post‐zygotic reproductive barriers was not tested, the high calculated RI index probably contributes to RI. Two varieties of A. mono with a common genetic origin but different drought tolerance should be considered separate species. They likely shifted their climatic niches, involving local adaptation to different climatic conditions. This is roughly supported by an ENM‐based niche analysis and significant differences in flowering time. These findings help to understand the physiological diversification of A. mono. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chordoma, a rare malignant tumor arising from notochordal tissue, usually occurs along the spinal axis. Only a few published reports of primary lung chordomas exist. Herein, we present a case of primary lung chordoma and discuss important considerations for diagnosing rare chordomas. Case presentation: We report a case of primary lung chordoma in a 39-year-old male with a history of testicular mixed germ-cell tumor of yolk sac and teratoma. Computed tomography revealed slow-growing solid lesions in the left lower lobe. We performed wedge resection for suspected germ-cell tumor lung metastasis. Histologically, large round or oval cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm were surrounded by large cells with granular, lightly eosinophilic cytoplasm. Tumor cells were physaliphorous. Immunohistochemistry was positive for brachyury, S-100 protein, epithelial membrane antigen, vimentin, and cytokeratin AE1/AE3, suggesting pulmonary chordoma. Re-examination of the testicular mixed germ-cell tumor revealed no notochordal elements. Although some areas were positive for brachyury staining, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining did not show morphological features typical of chordoma. Complementary fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of the lung tumor confirmed the absence of isochromosome 12p and 12p amplification. Thus, a final diagnosis of primary lung chordoma was established. Conclusions: In patients with a history of testicular mixed germ cell tumors, comparison of histomorphology using HE and Brachyury staining of lung and testicular tumors, and analyzing isochromosome 12p and 12p amplification in lung tumors using FISH is pivotal for the diagnosis of rare lung chordomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atezolizumab, one of the immune checkpoint inhibitors, has been approved as an adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum‐based chemotherapy in patients with stage II–IIIA non‐small cell lung cancer with 1% or more programmed death ligand‐1 (PD‐L1) expression. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved SP263 as a companion diagnostic assay for adjuvant treatment with atezolizumab; however, in clinical practice, the 22C3 assay is most commonly used for advanced non‐small cell lung cancer. Therefore, our study aimed to compare two PD‐L1 assays, SP263 and 22C3, to evaluate whether 22C3 could replace SP263 when deciding whether to administer adjuvant atezolizumab. Methods: We retrospectively and prospectively analyzed 98 patients who underwent surgical resection at Kanagawa Cancer Center (Japan). An immunohistochemistry assay was performed for all the cases with both SP263 and 22C3. We statistically analyzed the concordance of PD‐L1 expression between SP263 and 22C3 assays. Results: The concordance between the two assays using Cohen's kappa was κ = 0.670 (95% CI: 0.522–0.818) at the 1% cutoff and κ = 0.796 (95% CI: 0.639–0.954) at the 50% cutoff. The Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.874 (p < 0.01) indicated high concordance. PD‐L1 expression with 22C3 resulted slightly higher than that with SP263. Conclusions: This study showed a high concordance of PD‐L1 expression with the SP263 and 22C3 assays. Further studies examining the therapeutic effects of adjuvant atezolizumab are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Docetaxel (DTX) is commonly used as a primary chemotherapy, and cabazitaxel (CBZ) has shown efficacy in patients who are DTX resistant. Primary prophylactic granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapy is currently used with CBZ treatment in routine clinical care in Japan. Methods: In this study, we performed a systematic review following the Minds guidelines to investigate the effectiveness and safety of primary prophylaxis with G-CSF during chemotherapy for prostate cancer and to construct G-CSF guidelines for primary prophylaxis use during chemotherapy. A comprehensive literature search of various electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Ichushi) was performed on January 10, 2020, to identify studies published between January 1990 and December 31, 2019 that investigate the impact of primary prophylaxis with G-CSF during CBZ administration on clinical outcomes. Results: Ultimately, nine articles were included in the qualitative systematic review. Primary G-CSF prophylaxis during CBZ administration for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer was difficult to assess in terms of correlation with overall survival, mortality from infection, and patients' quality of life. These difficulties were owing to the lack of randomized controlled trials comparing patients with and without primary prophylaxis of G-CSF during CBZ administration. However, some retrospective studies have suggested that it may reduce the incidence of febrile neutropenia. Conclusion: G-CSF may be beneficial as primary prophylaxis during CBZ administration for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer, and we made a "weak recommendation to perform" with an annotation of the relevant regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The terminology for lung cancer diagnosis in small biopsies was adopted in the 2015 World Health Organization classification. If non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has no clear adenocarcinoma (AD) or squamous cell carcinoma morphology, the tumor is further classified based on mucin or immunohistochemical staining as NSCLC favor AD (NFAD), NSCLC favor squamous cell carcinoma, or NSCLC not otherwise specified. Since this new term was defined, the difference between AD and NFAD has not yet been fully explored. This study aimed to examine the differences in clinical background, gene alteration frequency, and programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression. Methods: We included patients diagnosed with AD or NFAD with small samples, and who underwent testing with the Oncomine Dx target test between August 2019 and April 2023 in Kanagawa Cancer Center. Results: This study comprised 268 patients. A total of 96 patients underwent surgery after AD or NFAD diagnosis. The clinical stage was more advanced and pathological N0 was lower in NFAD than in AD. The pathology of the surgical specimens revealed that solid predominant AD was significantly more common in NFAD than in AD (p < 0.001). In both AD and NFAD, EGFR mutation was the most frequent gene alteration, followed by KRAS mutation. The frequency of EGFR mutations was significantly higher in AD than in NFAD. PD‐L1 expression was significantly higher in NFAD than in AD (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study shows a clear difference between AD and NFAD in terms of cancer progression, pathological features of the main tumor, genetic characteristics, and PD‐L1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transanal drainage tube (TDT) is used to prevent anastomotic leakage after surgery for rectal cancer. However, it remains unclear whether intraoperative TDT placement is also useful in preventing anastomotic leakage after ileal pouch–anal or ileal pouch–anal canal anastomosis (IPAA) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative TDT placement in preventing anastomotic leakage after IPAA in patients with UC. Methods: Patients with UC who underwent proctectomy with IPAA in the study institution between January 2000 and December 2021 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. The relationship between TDT placement and anastomotic leakage was evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Results: The study population included 168 patients. TDT was placed intraoperatively in 103 of the 168 patients (61.3%). The rate of anastomotic leakage was significantly lower in the TDT group than in the non-TDT group (7.8% vs 18.5%, p = 0.037). Reoperation was not needed in any patient in the TDT group whereas two reoperations were necessary in the non-TDT group (3.1%). By logistic regression analysis, intraoperative TDT placement was an independent protective factor for anastomotic leakage. Conclusions: TDT placement was significantly associated with anastomotic leakage of IPAA in patients with UC undergoing surgery. Although two-stage surgery with ileostomy is usually preferred in UC surgery, our findings suggest that TDT placement might contribute to the improvement of postoperative outcomes after UC surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) of the left atrial (LA) roof in addition to a pulmonary vein isolation has been expected to improve the clinical outcomes post‐atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. We demonstrated the characteristics and efficacy of CBA of the LA roof through our experience with a large volume of procedures. Methods: Among 1036 AF ablation procedures with CBA of the LA roof, 834 patients who underwent a de novo ablation were analyzed. Results: Complete LA roof line conduction block was obtained in 767 patients (92.0%) solely by CBA (Group A). Compared with the other patients (Group B), the mean nadir balloon temperature during CBA of the LA roof (−44.5 ± 5.6°C for Group A vs. −40.5 ± 7.5°C for Group B, p <.01) and number of cryoballoon applications during the LA roof ablation with a circular mapping catheter located in the left superior pulmonary vein (1.3 ± 0.8 for Group A vs. 1.6 ± 1.0 for Group B, p =.02) were significantly lower in Group A. A multivariate analysis revealed that those were predictors of a complete LA roof conduction block after only CBA. The 1‐year Kaplan–Meier atrial arrhythmia free rate estimates were 80.6% for Group A and 59.0% for Group B (p <.01). Conclusion: Complete LA roof line conduction block could be obtained with a cryoballoon without touch‐up ablation in most cases. The LA roof CBA with a circular mapping catheter located in the right superior pulmonary vein was preferable to obtaining complete LA roof conduction block, which was important with regard to the clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Patients affected by microgastria, severe gastroesophageal reflux, or those who have undergone subtotal gastrectomy, have commonly described reporting dumping syndromes or other symptoms that seriously impair the quality of their life. Gastric tissue engineering may offer an alternative approach to treating these pathologies. Decellularization protocols have great potential to generate novel biomaterials for large gastric defect repair. There is an urgency to define more reliable protocols to foster clinical applications of tissue-engineered decellularized gastric grafts. Methods: In this work, we investigated the biochemical and mechanical properties of decellularized porcine stomach tissue compared to its native counterpart. Histological and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to screen the quality of decellularized samples. Quantitative analysis was also performed to assess extracellular matrix composition. At last, we investigated the mechanical properties and cytocompatibility of the decellularized tissue compared to the native. Results: The optimized decellularization protocol produced efficient cell removal, highlighted in the absence of native cellular nuclei. Decellularized scaffolds preserved collagen and elastin contents, with partial loss of sulfated glycosaminoglycans. Decellularized gastric tissue revealed increased elastic modulus and strain at break during mechanical tensile tests, while ultimate tensile strength was significantly reduced. HepG2 cells were seeded on the ECM, revealing matrix cytocompatibility and the ability to support cell proliferation. Conclusion: Our work reports the successful generation of acellular porcine gastric tissue able to support cell viability and proliferation of human cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is unclear how early- and delayed-onset organ/space surgical site infections (SSIs) affect the long-term prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer, who are potential candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the association between the timing of SSI onset and clinical outcome. Methods: This retrospective, multicenter cohort study evaluated patients who were diagnosed with high-risk stage II or III colorectal cancer and underwent elective surgery between 2010 and 2020. Five-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) was the primary endpoint and was compared between early SSI, delayed SSI (divided based on the median date of SSI onset), and non-SSI groups. Results: A total of 2,065 patients were included. Organ/space SSI was diagnosed in 91 patients (4.4%), with a median onset of 6 days after surgery. The early-onset SSI group had a higher proportion of patients with Clavien–Dindo grade ≥IIIb SSI than the delayed-onset SSI. Patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) had earlier organ/space SSI onset than those who did not. The adjusted hazard ratio of 5-year RFS in the delayed-onset SSI was 2.58 (95% confidence interval: 1.43–4.65; p = 0.002): higher than that in the early-onset SSI, with the non-SSI as the reference. Conclusions: Delayed-onset organ/space SSI worsened long-term prognosis compared to early-onset, and this may be due to delayed initiation of AC. Patients who are clinically suspected of having lymph node metastasis might need additional intervention to prevent delays in commencing AC due to the delayed SSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical ways to calculate the tunneling matrix elements and analyze the tunneling pathways for protein electron-transfer (ET) reactions with a fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method are presented. The straightforward use of minimal basis sets only for the atoms involved in the covalent bond detachment in FMO can properly describe the ETs through the protein main-chains with the cost-effective two-body corrections (FMO2) without losing the quality of double-zeta basis sets. The current FMO codes have been interfaced with density functional theory, polarizable continuum model, and model core potentials, with which the FMO-based protein ET calculations can consider the effects of electron correlation, solvation, and transition-metal redox centers. The reasonable performance of the FMO-based ET calculations is demonstrated for three different sets of protein-ET model molecules: (1) hole transfer between two tryptophans covalently bridged by a polyalanine linker in the ideal α-helix and β-strand conformations, (2) ET between two plastoquinones covalently bridged by a polyalanine linker in the ideal α-helix and β-strand conformations, and (3) hole transfer between ruthenium (Ru) and copper (Cu) complexes covalently bridged by a stretch of a polyglycine linker as a model for Ru-modified derivatives of azurin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endometrial cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies. Because the findings mentioned in radiogram interpretation reports issued by diagnostic radiologists influence treatment strategies, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) interpretation results in clinically relevant settings. Methods: The clinical records of patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer treated at Tohoku University Hospital from January 2012 to December 2021 were reviewed. The preoperative and pathologically estimated cancer stages were compared based on the results mentioned in the radiogram interpretation report. Results: The preoperative and postoperative cancer stages were concordant in 70.0% of the patients. By contrast, the cancer stage was underdiagnosed and overdiagnosed in 21.7% and 8.2% of the patients, respectively. The sensitivities of MRI for deep myometrial invasion, cervical stromal invasion, vaginal invasion, and adnexal metastasis were 65.1%, 58.2%, 33.3%, and 18.4%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for pelvic lymph node metastasis using a combination of CT and MRI were 40.9% and 98.4%, respectively. Those for para-aortic lymph node metastases using CT were 37.0% and 99.5%, respectively. Conclusions: The low sensitivity observed in this study clarified the limitations of preoperative diagnostic performance in current clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriomas (chocolate cysts) are cystic lesions that can develop on ovaries, and are characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue or similar tissue. Such lesions can cause a decline in the number and quality of oocytes, and lead to implantation failure. In this study, we retrospectively assessed the efficacy of repeated endometrioma aspiration and dienogest combination therapy in patients suffering endometriosis-associated infertility with endometriomas. A comparison was made between a treated group that underwent combination therapy followed by controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) (n = 30) and a control group that did not undergo treatment (n = 40), at the IVF Osaka Clinic from September 2019 to September 2021. There were no differences in patient background between the two groups. A reduction in endometrioma size continued for 12 months after treatment. The numbers of follicles that developed to 15 mm or greater in size following COH and mature oocytes were significantly lower in the treated group compared to those in the control group. The levels of inflammatory cytokines in the follicular fluid significantly decreased in the treated group (p < 0.05). In patients in the treated group who underwent a second ova retrieval, the results were compared between those in the first ova retrieval (immediately after the end of treatment) and those in the second ova retrieval (four months after the first retrieval). The numbers of follicles following COH, retrieved, mature and fertilized ova were significantly increased in the second ova retrieval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2018 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) revision to the staging criteria for uterine cervical cancer adopted pathological staging for patients who underwent surgery. We investigated the correlation between clinicopathological factors and prognosis in patients with high-risk factors in accordance with the FIGO 2018 staging criteria by analyzing a real-world database of 6,192 patients who underwent radical hysterectomy at 116 institutions belonging to the Japan Gynecologic Oncology Group. A total of 1,392 patients were categorized into the high-risk group. Non-squamous cell carcinoma histology, regional lymph node metastasis, pT2 classification, and ovarian metastasis were identified as independent risk factors for mortality. Based on pathological findings, 313, 1003, and 76 patients were re-classified into FIGO 2018 stages IIB, IIIC1p, and IIIC2p, respectively. Patients with stage IIIC2p disease showed worse prognoses than those with stage IIB or IIIC1p disease. In patients with stage IIIC1p disease, overall survival was significantly better if their tumors were localized in the uterine cervix, except for single lymph node metastasis, with a 5-year overall survival rate of 91.8%. This study clarified the heterogeneity of the high-risk group and provided insights into the feasibility of upfront radical hysterectomy for a limited number of patients harboring high-risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Resistance training adaptively increases muscle strength and mass, contributing to athletic performance and health promotion. Dietary intervention with natural foods provides nutrients that help accelerate muscle adaptation to training. Matcha green tea contains several bioactive factors such as antioxidants, amino acids, and dietary fibers; however, its effect on muscle adaptation is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of matcha beverage intake on muscle adaptation to resistance training. Methods: Healthy, untrained men were randomized into placebo and matcha groups. Participants consumed either a matcha beverage containing 1.5 g of matcha green tea powder or a placebo beverage twice a day and engaged in resistance training programs for 8 (trial 1) or 12 weeks (trial 2). Results: In trial 1, maximum leg strength after training tended to increase more in the matcha group than that in the placebo group. In the matcha group, subjective fatigue after exercise at 1 week of training was lower than that in the placebo group. Gut microbe analysis showed that the abundance of five genera changed after matcha intake. The change in Ruminococcus, Butyricimonas, and Oscillospira compositions positively correlated with the change in maximum strength. In trial 2, the change in skeletal muscle mass in response to training was larger in the matcha group. In addition, the salivary cortisol level was lower in the matcha group than that in the placebo group. Conclusion: Daily intake of matcha green tea beverages may help in muscle adaptation to training, with modulations in stress and fatigue responses and microbiota composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extended phase-consistent dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) method, which reconstructs density fields from density gradient fields in multiple directions, was developed and applied to schlieren images in the low-density wind tunnel tests. Schlieren images were acquired in the Re = 3000, 10,000, and M = 0.15, 0.50 flows around a triangular airfoil, and the density gradient fields were calculated from the calibration of the optical system. The proposed density field reconstruction method adopts the extended phase-consistent DMD principle for the estimation of the DMD modes of the density field. The density field was reconstructed with good accuracy in a numerical simulation for comparison, and the density fluctuation region caused by vortex shedding around a triangular airfoil was visualized by the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The relationship between physical activity (PA) intensity and executive functions in older adolescents remains poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the associations between PA intensity, volume, attentional control, and working memory and the moderating effects of sex in older adolescents. Method: We analyzed baseline data from 418 participants (211 females, Mage = 16.5 ± 0.40 years) from the Burn 2 Learn trial. Adolescents wore GT9X Link accelerometers on a non‐dominant wrist for 7 days, 24‐h·d−1. PA intensity was expressed as intensity gradient (IG) and moderate‐to‐vigorous PA (MVPA, Hildebrand cut‐points); PA volume was expressed as average acceleration (AvACC). Attentional control was measured with a standard deviation (SDRT) and a coefficient of variation (CVRT) of the reaction time on the incongruent trials of a flanker task. Working memory was expressed as a d prime (a signal discrimination index) on the 2‐back task. The moderating effects of sex on the PA‐executive functions associations, adjusting for age, BMI z‐score, and cardiorespiratory fitness, were tested using multilevel random intercept models. Results: After controlling for AvACC, sex moderated the relationships between IG and incongruent SDRT (B = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.94) and CVRT (B = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.22, 1.05; ps ≤ 0.002). Only girls with higher IG showed smaller incongruent SDRT and CVRT (Bs ≤ −0.26, ps ≤ 0.01). IG was not related to working memory. AvACC and MVPA were not associated with attentional control or working memory. Conclusion: Our findings reveal a novel association between higher‐intensity PA and superior attentional control among adolescent girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The number of lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a strong prognostic factor in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the impact of the mesentery location on LNM remains unclear. We assessed the impact LNM location on the recurrence of stage III CRC. Methods: Subjects with CRC and pathologically positive LNM were enrolled retrospectively. We defined three groups: LNM adjacent to the tumour (group A), metastases with horizontal or vertical spread (group B), and metastases with both horizontal and vertical spread (group C). Recurrence‐free survival (RFS) was the primary outcome measure used for the study. Results: A total of 241 (Group A: 121, B: 90, and C: 30) patients were recruited for the study. Multivariate analysis by Cox regression model indicated LNM location to be an independent predisposing risk factor for recurrence [group B: Hazard ratio (HR) 2.01, 95% Confidential interval (CI) 1.12–3.60, P = 0.019; group C: HR 3.00, 95% CI 1.34–6.72, P = 0.008]. Addition of mesentery spread to the N classification was significant risk factor for recurrence (mN2a: HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.07–3.78, P = 0.029; mN2b: HR 3.96, 95% CI 2.12–7.40, P < 0.01). Comparison of Harrell's C‐index values was conducted, and the modified N staging risk was 0.6377, whereas the TNM N stage classification was 0.5869. Conclusion: Mesentery location of LNM was a risk factor and consideration of it might be beneficial for accurate prediction of CRC prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At craniotomy, the dura shrinks due to the drying effect of illumination and air exposure, rendering its primary closure difficult. When the opening is narrow, it can be patched with autologous grafts. However, tissue harvesting and meticulous suturing take time. As the cost-effectiveness of using dural substitutes is poor, we developed a new technique that involves dural scratching for the primary closure of dural openings. We applied our technique because in 53 adults who underwent supratentorial craniotomy we encountered difficulties with the primary closure of a dural opening 5 mm or less in width. With a scalpel, we placed several fine scratches parallel to the edge of the opening on the surface of the dura, taking care not to perforate the deep layer. This relieved dural tension and the tissue was stretched enough to permit closing with sutures. Our technique achieved primary dural closure in 46 of 53 patients (87%) who primarily had undergone narrow supratentorial craniotomies. The other 7 additionally required small autologous grafts to patch narrow residual openings at the intersection of the durotomy. There were no procedure-related complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage and persistent headache due to tension of the closed dura. Dural scratching is simple, safe, requires no special instrumentation, facilitates primary closure of the shrunken dura by stretching, and reduces the need for patch grafting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane proteins are attractive targets for drug discovery due to their crucial roles in various biological processes. Studying the binding poses of amphipathic molecules to membrane proteins is essential for understanding the functions of membrane proteins and docking simulations can facilitate the screening of protein–ligand complexes at low computational costs. However, identifying docking poses for a ligand in non-aqueous environments such as lipid bilayers can be challenging. To address this issue, we propose a new docking score called logP-corrected membrane docking (LoCoMock) score. To screen putative protein–ligand complexes embedded in a membrane, the LoCoMock score considers the affinity between a target ligand and the membrane. It combines the docking score of the protein–ligand complex with the logP of the target ligand. In demonstrations using several model ligands, the LoCoMock score screened more putative complexes than the conventional docking score. As extended docking, the LoCoMock score makes it possible to screen membrane proteins more effectively as drug targets than the conventional docking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watch a video of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug resistance contributes to poor therapeutic response in urothelial carcinoma (UC). Metabolomic analysis suggested metabolic reprogramming in gemcitabine‐resistant urothelial carcinoma cells, whereby increased aerobic glycolysis and metabolic stimulation of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) promoted pyrimidine biosynthesis to increase the production of the gemcitabine competitor deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) that diminishes its therapeutic effect. Furthermore, we observed that gain‐of‐function of isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) induced reductive glutamine metabolism to stabilize Hif‐1α expression and consequently stimulate aerobic glycolysis and PPP bypass in gemcitabine‐resistant UC cells. Interestingly, IDH2‐mediated metabolic reprogramming also caused cross resistance to CDDP, by elevating the antioxidant defense via increased NADPH and glutathione production. Downregulation or pharmacological suppression of IDH2 restored chemosensitivity. Since the expression of key metabolic enzymes, such as TIGAR, TKT, and CTPS1, were affected by IDH2‐mediated metabolic reprogramming and related to poor prognosis in patients, IDH2 might become a new therapeutic target for restoring chemosensitivity in chemo‐resistant urothelial carcinoma. Synopsis: The role of metabolic alterations in acquired chemoresistance and molecular upstream regulators involved remain unclear. This metabolomic analysis reports isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) as a driver of resistance in urothelial carcinoma (UC), suggesting new avenues for targeting bladder cancer. Gemcitabine (GEM)‐resistant UC cells require aerobic glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway and glutamine metabolism.GEM‐resistant UC cells decrease glutamine anaplerosis through the TCA cycle, and increase the reverse α‐ketoglutarate/isocitrate reaction.By mediating the α‐ketoglutarate/isocitrate conversion, IDH2 enhances reductive glutamine metabolism, 2‐HG production and stabilization of HIF‐1α.IDH2 / HIF‐1α‐mediated metabolic reprogramming spurs molecular competition of dCTP with GEM.Depletion or pharmacological inhibition of IDH2 restores chemosensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconducting properties were investigated in epitaxially layered films consisting of superconductor NbN and half-metallic Heusler alloy Co2MnSi (CMS). Temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity ρ(T) was measured by applying perpendicular magnetic fields to the surface of NbN/CMS films. With the increase of the CMS thickness dCMS, the upper critical field μ0Hc2 decreased monotonically, but the superconducting transition temperature Tc had the minimum of 10.1 K at dCMS ≈ 5 nm. The Tc behavior was in qualitative agreement with the theory of the π-coupling. The pair-breaking parameter δ determined by the superconducting fluctuation theory took the maximum at dCMS = 3 ∼ 5 nm, which would be related to the minimum of Tc. The experimental results reveal that the superconductivity of the NbN layer in NbN/CMS films is affected by the interplay between the superconducting NbN layer and the half-metallic CMS layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims To date, studies on terrestrial plant ecology and evolution have focused primarily on the trade-off patterns in the allocation of metabolic production to roots and shoots in individual plants and the scaling of whole-plant respiration. However, few empirical studies have investigated the root : shoot ratio by considering scaling whole-plant respiration at various sizes throughout ontogeny. Methods Here, using a whole-plant chamber system, we measured the respiration rates, fresh mass and surface area of entire roots and shoots from 377 Fagus crenata individuals, from germinating seeds to mature trees, collected from five different Japanese provenances. Non-linear regression analysis was performed for scaling of root and shoot respiration, fresh mass and surface area with body size. Key Results Whole-plant respiration increased rapidly in germinating seeds. In the seedling to mature tree size range, the scaling of whole-plant respiration to whole-plant fresh mass was expressed as a linear trend on the log–log coordinates (exponent slightly greater than 0.75). In the same body size range, root and shoot respiration vs. whole-plant fresh mass were modelled by upward-convex (exponent decreased from 2.35 to 0.638) and downward-convex trends (exponent increased from –0.918 to 0.864), respectively. The root fraction in whole-plant respiration, fresh mass and surface area shifted continuously throughout ontogeny, increasing in smaller seedlings during early growth stages and decreasing in larger trees. Conclusions Our results suggest a gradual shift in allocation priorities of metabolic energy from roots in seedlings to shoots in mature trees, providing insights into how roots contribute to shoot and whole-plant growth during ontogeny. The models of root : shoot ratio in relation to whole-plant physiology could be applied in tree growth modelling, and in linking the different levels of ecological phenomena, from individuals to ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-grade dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are known to demonstrate classical dural supply and can demonstrate pre-existing dural supply and ‘pure’ arterial supply from pial branches. The latter two are examples of congenital versus acquired pial to dural shunting, respectively. We describe the recognition of dural to pial supply during combined transarterial and transvenous embolization of a high-grade DAVF with holocephalic venous reflux, stressing the importance of careful assessment of this condition with micro catheter injections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the structure of human sexual contact networks is vital in a broad range of disciplines, including sociology, biology, public health, and anthropology. However, sexual contact networks are yet to be understood because technical and privacy issues make it difficult to conduct accurate, large-scale surveys. In this study, we surveyed data openly available on one of the largest adult entertainment websites in Japan, where male clients (MCs) can write online customer reviews of female commercial sex workers (FCSWs). In particular, our investigation focused on a type of establishment called "soapland," the only type of sex industry in Japan where sexual intercourse is publicly permitted. Soaplands are scattered throughout Japan, and the study website covers approximately 66% of them. Using such a vast amount of data on a nationwide scale, we clarified the network structure of commercial sex, characterized by small-world, scale-free, and disassortative mating properties. To study geographical characteristics, we compared the resulting network with three different artificially generated networks via the random rewiring of links. Moreover, we considered a simple epidemic model on the resulting network, and investigated whether it would be more effective to provide infection control measures to FCSWs or MCs. We determined that active FCSWs constitute an important pathway of infection propagation in commercial sex networks, but MCs also play an essential role as weak ties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite holding soft tissue away from high-speed drills during surgery, tissue can unexpectedly wrap around the drill shaft. We performed experiments to examine what precipitates such mishaps. In a windless environment, a Signature Drill System (Stryker) featuring a 4-mm diameter coarse diamond or cutting bit was placed parallel to a suspended strip of polypropylene. The distance between the end of the strip and the drill shaft or bits was 4 or 8 mm. In another experiment, we placed the drill horizontally 10 mm above the top of dry-ice fog. The maximum drill speed was 75,000 rpm, and the horizontal motion of the polypropylene strip and the vertical motion of the dry-ice fog were recorded by a video camera. In the experiments, the strip parallel to the vertical shaft and the dry-ice fog were pulled toward the shaft; the higher the revolving drill speed, the faster its motion. On the other hand, in experiments where the end of the strip was next to either bit, no such motion was observed. The pulling force generated by revolving high-speed drill shafts may result in tissue wraparound even when soft tissue is held away from the shaft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adjuvant therapy is usually considered for surgically treated patients with uterine cervical cancer harboring intermediate risk (IR) factors such as large tumor diameter, stromal invasion to the outer half, and lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI). However, the indications and types of adjuvant therapy for the IR group remain controversial. This study aimed to analyze the differences in patient outcomes in the IR group to provide novel insights for tailoring adjuvant therapy. Methods: Data from 6192 patients with cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy at 116 institutions belonging to the Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group were reviewed. Results: In total, 1688 patients were classified into the IR group, of whom 37.3% did not receive adjuvant therapy. Conversely, approximately equal proportions of the remaining patients received adjuvant radiotherapy, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Patients with all three risk factors showed worse overall survival than those with one or two risk factors. In addition to LVSI, non-squamous cell carcinoma histology, and vaginal invasion were identified as independent risk factors for both recurrence and mortality in multivariate analyses. Tumor diameter greater than 40 mm and surgical center volume were identified as independent risk factors for recurrence. Stromal invasion to the outer half and ovarian metastasis were identified as independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusions: This study revealed the significant differences in prognosis in the IR group. The indications for adjuvant therapy should be further studied, focusing on conventional risk factors and other pathological findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Signal processing methods that remove noise due to atmospheric fluctuation and image sensors and extract fluid phenomena from schlieren images obtained in the low-density wind tunnel test were developed together with the highly sensitive schlieren measurement setup. Time-series schlieren images of the flow around a triangular airfoil were analyzed, and the effectiveness of noise reduction methods using the randomized singular value decomposition and band-pass filtering using the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and the inverse FFT were investigated. The proposed method succeeded in removing noise by taking advantage of the frequency difference between the noise and fluid phenomena, and the fluid phenomena around the airfoil were clearly visualized at a Reynolds number of 3000 and a Mach number of 0.15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Crohn's disease; Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; Postoperative complication EN Crohn's disease Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio Postoperative complication 1516 1519 4 07/21/22 20220701 NES 220701 Introduction In recent studies, preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported as a useful inflammatory marker for predicting postoperative complications in abdominal surgery [[1]]. Furthermore, abscesses and inflammation were treated before the elective surgery and the serum CRP and/or albumin levels of the patients were almost normal. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction (VAWCM) in patients undergoing open abdomen management (OAM).Data from cases with OAM for at least five days who were admitted to our institution between January 2011 and December 2020 were included. We compared the patient’s age, sex, medical history, indication for initial surgery, APACHE II scores, indication for OAM, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative transfusion, success of primary fascial closure (rectus fascial closure and bilateral anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flap method), success of planned ventral hernia, duration of OAM, and in-hospital mortality between patients undergoing VAWCM (VAWCM cases, n = 27) and vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAWC) alone (VAWC cases, n = 25).VAWCM cases had a significantly higher success rate of primary fascial closure (70% vs. 36%, p = 0.030) and lower in-hospital mortality (26% vs. 72%, p = 0.002) than VAWC cases. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that VAWCM was an independent factor influencing in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 0.14; 95% confidence interval: 0.04–0.53; p = 0.004).VAWCM is associated with an increased rate of successful primary fascial closure and may reduce in-hospital mortality.Methods: To determine the effectiveness of vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction (VAWCM) in patients undergoing open abdomen management (OAM).Data from cases with OAM for at least five days who were admitted to our institution between January 2011 and December 2020 were included. We compared the patient’s age, sex, medical history, indication for initial surgery, APACHE II scores, indication for OAM, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative transfusion, success of primary fascial closure (rectus fascial closure and bilateral anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flap method), success of planned ventral hernia, duration of OAM, and in-hospital mortality between patients undergoing VAWCM (VAWCM cases, n = 27) and vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAWC) alone (VAWC cases, n = 25).VAWCM cases had a significantly higher success rate of primary fascial closure (70% vs. 36%, p = 0.030) and lower in-hospital mortality (26% vs. 72%, p = 0.002) than VAWC cases. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that VAWCM was an independent factor influencing in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 0.14; 95% confidence interval: 0.04–0.53; p = 0.004).VAWCM is associated with an increased rate of successful primary fascial closure and may reduce in-hospital mortality.Results: To determine the effectiveness of vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction (VAWCM) in patients undergoing open abdomen management (OAM).Data from cases with OAM for at least five days who were admitted to our institution between January 2011 and December 2020 were included. We compared the patient’s age, sex, medical history, indication for initial surgery, APACHE II scores, indication for OAM, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative transfusion, success of primary fascial closure (rectus fascial closure and bilateral anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flap method), success of planned ventral hernia, duration of OAM, and in-hospital mortality between patients undergoing VAWCM (VAWCM cases, n = 27) and vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAWC) alone (VAWC cases, n = 25).VAWCM cases had a significantly higher success rate of primary fascial closure (70% vs. 36%, p = 0.030) and lower in-hospital mortality (26% vs. 72%, p = 0.002) than VAWC cases. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that VAWCM was an independent factor influencing in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 0.14; 95% confidence interval: 0.04–0.53; p = 0.004).VAWCM is associated with an increased rate of successful primary fascial closure and may reduce in-hospital mortality.Conclusion: To determine the effectiveness of vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction (VAWCM) in patients undergoing open abdomen management (OAM).Data from cases with OAM for at least five days who were admitted to our institution between January 2011 and December 2020 were included. We compared the patient’s age, sex, medical history, indication for initial surgery, APACHE II scores, indication for OAM, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative transfusion, success of primary fascial closure (rectus fascial closure and bilateral anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flap method), success of planned ventral hernia, duration of OAM, and in-hospital mortality between patients undergoing VAWCM (VAWCM cases, n = 27) and vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAWC) alone (VAWC cases, n = 25).VAWCM cases had a significantly higher success rate of primary fascial closure (70% vs. 36%, p = 0.030) and lower in-hospital mortality (26% vs. 72%, p = 0.002) than VAWC cases. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that VAWCM was an independent factor influencing in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 0.14; 95% confidence interval: 0.04–0.53; p = 0.004).VAWCM is associated with an increased rate of successful primary fascial closure and may reduce in-hospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate biological characteristics and transitions of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) through metachronous bladder tumors after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU), we conducted immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of tumor specimens of UTUC tumor origin, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and MIBC progressed after intravesical recurrence (IVR), and bladder primary MIBC. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), p53, cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6), and CK20 were stained to examine expression rates. After expression assessment with heatmap clustering, the overexpression of four biomarkers from UTUC origin to metachronous MIBC progression was analyzed with clinicopathological variables. We found that high CK20 and low CK5/6 expression were both observed in UTUC tumor origin and subsequent NMIBC after RNU. By investigating molecular expression in the IVR specimen, we observed that low pT stage bladder recurrence occupied the majority of CK20 high CK5/6 low expression, but would change to CK20 low CK5/6 high expression as it progressed to MIBC. UTUC metachronous MIBC has different characteristics compared with bladder primary MIBC, which comprises favorable biological features such as high FGFR3 expression, and follows favorable prognosis compared to those without FGFR3 expression. The present study demonstrated that the biological characteristics of UTUC tumor origin shifts from luminal to basal-like features with progression to MIBC, but FGFR3 expression taken over from UTUC origin may comprise a favorable entity compared to primary MIBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ichthyopterygia is a major clade of reptiles that colonized the ocean after the end-Permian mass extinction, with the oldest fossil records found in early Spathian substage (late Olenekian, late Early Triassic) strata in the western USA. Here, we describe reptilian remains found in situ in the early Spathian Neocolumbites insignis ammonoid zone of South Primorye in the Russian Far East. Specimen NSM PV 23854 comprises fragmentary axial elements exhibiting a combination of morphological characteristics typical of Ichthyopterygia. The cylindrical centra suggest that the specimen represents a basal ichthyopterygian, and its size is comparable to that of Utatsusaurus. Specimen NSM PV 24995 is represented by a single limb bone, which is tentatively identified as an ichthyopterygian humerus. With a body length of approximately 5 m estimated from the humeral length, NSM PV 24995 represents one of the largest specimens of early Spathian marine reptiles known to date. Such size variation among the earliest ichthyopterygians might suggest an explosive diversification in size immediately after the end-Permian mass extinction. Both vertebrae and humerus specimens exhibit an extremely cancellous inner structure, suggesting a high degree of aquatic adaptation in ichthyopterygians, despite their short history of evolution in the ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The erector spinae plane (ESP) block requires a large volume of local anesthetic to provide effective analgesia, which has the potential to cause local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST). Adjunctive epinephrine slows the entry of local anesthetic into the plasma and decreases its toxic effect on vulnerable tissues. We compared plasma levobupivacaine concentrations with and without epinephrine after ESP blocks for breast cancer surgery. Methods: In this prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 35 patients who underwent elective unilateral partial mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy were enrolled. The patients were randomized to group L (ESP block with 2 mg/kg levobupivacaine) or LE (ESP block with 2 mg/kg levobupivacaine and 5 μg/mL epinephrine). Blood samples were obtained at 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min after the ESP block, and plasma concentrations of levobupivacaine were compared. Results: Twenty-nine patients were included in the analysis. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and the time to maximum concentration (Tmax) were, respectively, 1.24 μg/mL and 6.0 min in group L and 0.62 μg/mL and 7.2 min in group LE. The two groups showed no significant differences in the numerical rating scale scores immediately after extubation and 5 and 9 h after the ESP block, or in the interval from the ESP block to the first rescue analgesia. No patient developed symptoms suggestive of LAST. Conclusions: A single bolus of 2 mg/kg levobupivacaine in the ESP block resulted in a short Tmax with high Cmax. Adding epinephrine to levobupivacaine decreased the Cmax and delayed the Tmax after ESP blocks but had no effect on postoperative analgesia. Trial registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000034479. The trial was retrospectively registered on October 13, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the critical behavior of the magnetization in Heusler alloy Co2TiGa0.8Sn0.2 as a potential candidate of high spin-polarized materials with the characteristics of topological Weyl fermions. The Weyl semimetals are materials of great interest for applying spintronics devices, due to their unusual magnetoelectronic and magnetothermal properties. The magnetic properties of the synthesized Heusler alloy Co2TiGa0.8Sn0.2 are investigated around the Curie temperature ${T_{\mathrm {C}}}$. The magnetic isotherm measurements of Co2TiGa0.8Sn0.2 around ${T_{\mathrm {C}}}$ exhibit that the critical exponent ${\delta }$ is deduced to be 4.455(4) in high maximum applied field of 50 kOe and 4.823(9) in low maximum applied field of 10 kOe, respectively. Both ${\delta }$ values are different from 3.0 derived by the conventional molecular field theory, but they are close to 5.0 predicted by the spin fluctuation theory for the itinerant electron ferromagnets. Possible origins for the discrepancy between experimental results and theoretical models are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the magnetovolume effect of quaternary Heusler alloy CoFeCrAl as a potential candidate of spin gapless semiconductor. The crystal structure of CoFeCrAl was confirmed as the single phase of the ordered LiMgPdSn-type structure. From magnetization measurements at ambient pressure, the Curie temperature ${T_{\mathrm {C}}}$ and the spontaneous magnetization ${M_{\mathrm {s}}}$ were determined to be 575.2 K and 2.01 ${\mu _{\mathrm {B}}}$ /f.u., respectively. The ${T_{\mathrm {C}}}$ is higher enough than room temperature and the ${M_{\mathrm {s}}}$ follows the Slater–Pauling rule. High-pressure magnetization measurements showed that the ${M_{\mathrm {s}}}$ is almost independent of applying pressures not only at 10 K but also up to 300 K, exhibiting that the electronic state of CoFeCrAl is fully spin polarized and it is preserved even at 300 K. The experimental results reveal that the quaternary Heusler alloy CoFeCrAl is an attractive material for functional electrode ferromagnets in spintronics devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new sulfur‐containing gold cluster, Au18S2(STipb)12, was serendipitously obtained using the bulky thiol, 2,4,6‐triisopropylbenzyl mercaptan (TipbSH), as protecting ligands. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed that Au18S2(STipb)12 has a deformed octahedral Au6 core clutched by two tridentate S[Au2(STipb)2]3 units in an interlocked manner. Based on density functional theory calculations, we propose that the Au6 core with two electrons is better viewed as a face‐to‐face dimer of Au3(1e) superatoms rather than an electronically closed Au6(2e) superatom. In situ formation of the sulfide anions (S2−) via C‐S bond breakage is ascribed to the steric repulsion between the TipbS ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new sulfur‐containing gold cluster, Au18S2(STipb)12, was serendipitously obtained using the bulky thiol, 2,4,6‐triisopropylbenzyl mercaptan (TipbSH), as protecting ligands. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed that Au18S2(STipb)12 has a deformed octahedral Au6 core clutched by two tridentate S[Au2(STipb)2]3 units in an interlocked manner. Based on density functional theory calculations, we propose that the Au6 core with two electrons is better viewed as a face‐to‐face dimer of Au3(1e) superatoms rather than an electronically closed Au6(2e) superatom. In situ formation of the sulfide anions (S2−) via C‐S bond breakage is ascribed to the steric repulsion between the TipbS ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) is useful for the early detection and treatment of many diseases; however, GIE is considered a high‐risk procedure in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic era. This study aimed to explore the rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) positivity in saliva and gastrointestinal fluids to which endoscopy medical staff are exposed. Methods: The study was a single‐center cross‐sectional study. From June 1 to July 31, 2020, all patients who underwent GIE at Yokohama City University Hospital were registered. All patients provided 3 mL of saliva. For upper GIE, 10 mL of gastric fluid was collected through the endoscope. For lower GIE, 10 mL of intestinal fluid was collected through the endoscope. The primary outcome was the positive rate of SARS‐CoV‐2 in saliva and gastrointestinal fluids. We also analyzed serum‐specific antibodies for SARS‐CoV‐2 and patients' background information. Results: A total of 783 samples (560 upper GIE and 223 lower GIE samples) were analyzed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on saliva samples did not show any positive results in either upper or lower GIE samples. However, 2.0% (16/783) of gastrointestinal fluid samples tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. No significant differences in age, sex, purpose of endoscopy, medication, or rate of antibody test positivity were found between PCR positive and PCR negative cases. Conclusions: Asymptomatic patients, even those with no detectable virus in their saliva, had SARS‐CoV‐2 in their gastrointestinal tract. Endoscopy medical staff should be aware of infection when performing procedures. The study was registered as UMIN000040587. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gastric hypomotility (GH) is a major complication of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. We aimed to clarify whether additional cryoballoon ablation (CBA) of the left atrial (LA) roof is associated with GH. Methods and Results: This study included 54 patients with non‐paroxysmal AF who underwent CBA for pulmonary vein isolation and of the LA roof line. GH was defined according to the results of esophagogastroscopy performed 2 days after ablation. GH was observed in 10 patients. There were significant differences in LA diameter (LAD), right inferior pulmonary vein (RIPV) diameter, and the height of the LA roof from the point where the LA posterior wall and esophagus make contact between patients with (GH+) and without GH (GH–) (LAD: 41.0 [36.3–41.8] mm vs. 46.5 [42.8–50.0] mm, p <.01; RIPV diameter: 19.7 [19.0–20.5] mm vs. 23.2 [21.2–24.9] mm, p <.01; height of LA roof: 5.7 [5.1–6.1] mm vs. 8.8 [7.1–11.2] mm for, p <.01, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that LA roof height was a predictor of GH. Moreover, Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Disorders‐Symptom Severity Index (PAGI‐SYM) scores increased significantly 1 week after ablation (from 1.0 [0.0–2.8] to 5.0 [3.0–11.0], p =.03) in patients with GH. Conclusion: The height of the LA roof may be a predictor of GH after CBA of the LA roof line. Additionally, GH‐related symptoms may still appear 1 week after ablation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has established an impact of acute exercise on cognitive performance, which has inspired investigations into neurobiological mechanisms that may underlie the observed benefits. Pupillary responses have been posited to reflect activation of such underlying neurobiological mechanisms. The current study recruited healthy young adults to investigate the effects of a single bout of moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic exercise on subsequent performance and pupillary responses during an inhibitory control task. Results showed that an acute bout of exercise was related to shorter reaction times and increased tonic pupil dilation during an inhibitory control task. Although pupillary responses did not mediate the acute exercise effect on inhibitory control, higher cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with greater phasic pupil dilation following exercise relative to seated rest. The current study supported the plausibility of the pupillary response as a marker of LC-NE system activation that is sensitive to acute exercise. Whether pupillary responses could account for transient benefits of acute exercise on brain and cognition remains unclear. • Pupillary responses may index acute exercise benefits on cognition. • Acute exercise was related to inhibitory control performance and tonic pupil dilation. • Pupillary responses did not mediate acute exercise effect on inhibitory control. • Cardiorespiratory fitness was related to the acute exercise effect on phasic pupil dilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stabilization of the amorphous structure in amorphous silicon film by adding Ge atoms was studied using Raman spectroscopy. Amorphous Si1-xGex (x=0.0, 0.03, 0.14, and 0.27) films were deposited on glass substrates from electron beam evaporation sources and annealed in N2 atmosphere. The change in the amorphous states and the phase transition from amorphous to crystalline were characterized using the TO, LO, and LA phonons in the Raman spectra. The temperature of the transition from the amorphous phase to the crystalline phase was higher for the a-Si1-xGex (x=0.03, 0.14) films, and the crystallization was hindered. The reason why the addition of a suitable quantity of Ge atoms into the three-dimensional amorphous silicon network stabilizes its amorphous structure is discussed based on the changes in the Raman signals of the TO, LO, and LA phonons during annealing. The characteristic bond length of the Ge atoms allows them to stabilize the random network of the amorphous Si composed of quasi-tetrahedral Si units, and obstruct its rearrangement [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) and tree forests have a large biomass; they are considered to play an important role in ecosystem carbon budgets. The scaling relationship between individual whole-shoot (i.e., aboveground parts) respiration and whole-shoot mass provides a clue for comparing the carbon budgets of Moso bamboo and tree forests. However, nobody has empirically demonstrated whether there is a difference between these forest types in the whole-shoot scaling relationship. We developed whole-shoot chambers and measured the shoot respiration of 58 individual mature bamboo shoots from the smallest to the largest in a Moso bamboo forest, and then compared them with that of 254 tree shoots previously measured. For 30 bamboo shoots, we measured the respiration rate of leaves, branches, and culms. We found that the scaling exponent of whole-shoot respiration of bamboo fitted by a simple power function on a log–log scale was 0.843 (95 % CI 0.797–0.885), which was consistent with that of trees, 0.826 (95 % CI 0.799–0.851), but higher than 3/4, the value typifying the Kleiber's rule. The respiration rates of leaves, branches, and culms at the whole-shoot level were proportional to their mass, revealing a constant mean mass-specific respiration of 1.19, 0.224, and 0.0978 µmol CO2 kg− 1 s− 1, respectively. These constant values suggest common traits of organs among physiologically integrated ramets within a genet. Additionally, the larger the shoots, the smaller the allocation of organ mass to the metabolically active leaves, and the larger the allocation to the metabolically inactive culms. Therefore, these shifts in shoot-mass partitioning to leaves and culms caused a negative metabolic scaling of Moso bamboo shoots. The observed convergent metabolic scaling of Moso bamboo and trees may facilitate comparisons of the ecosystem carbon budgets of Moso bamboo and tree forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occipital transtentorial approach (OTA) is a very useful but challenging approach to expose the pineal region because the deep-seated arachnoid membranes usually fold and extend over the great vein of Galen (GVG), leading to dense and poor visibility. In addition, the practical aspects of arachnoid anatomy are not well understood. We aimed to develop a safe surgical procedure for the OTA according to the practical aspects of arachnoid anatomy. The procedure is shown through an illustrative video of surgery and cadaver. Five cadavers were analyzed for their arachnoid structures and the surgical procedures via the OTA, in strict compliance with legal and ethical requirements. All cadavers showed a 2-layered arachnoid structure—one belonging to the occipital lobe, and the other to the cerebellum. According to our cadaveric analysis, the arachnoid attachment of the tentorial apex can be peeled bluntly, with an average distance of 10.2 mm. For our clinical presentation, a pineal tumor with hydrocephalus was detected in a 14-year-old boy. While using the OTA and expanding the deep surgical field, we detached the membrane from the tentorial apex and bluntly peeled it to reveal the deep veins. Finally, gross total removal of the tumor was achieved. A 2-layered arachnoid structure interposes the GVG from above and below the tentorium. The arachnoid membrane below the tentorium can be peeled off bluntly from the GVG to the attachment bundle limited by the penetrating veins. This detachment technique is useful for safe enlargement of the surgical field for the OTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transvenous embolization (TVE) through the superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) is a useful approach for the treatment of cavernous sinus (CS) dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVFs). This venous route is usually confirmed by angiography. Herein, we present a case of favorable embolization of the CS DAVF through the angiographically occlusive SOV. A 61-year-old man presented with progressive exophthalmos and hypertonia. The patient was diagnosed with a CS DAVF, and TVE was planned. The first approach through the inferior petrosal sinus was infeasible; therefore, we attempted to approach the fistula through the left facial vein. The microcatheter was easily advanced to the shunt point through the angiographically occlusive SOV. We performed coil embolization, and the CS DAVF was completely obstructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]