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AimsThe invasion success of alien plants is strongly affected by both biological and human-associated factors. Evaluation of the relative contribution of each factor is important not only for the further understanding of invasion processes but also for the better management of invasion risk, particularly in protected areas of high conservation priority. Here, we quantified the relative importance of species biological traits and association with a human activity, i.e., agriculture, in explaining the invasion success of alien plants across the entire region and in protected areas in Hokkaido, Japan.MethodsAs a quantitative measure of invasion success, the distribution extent of naturalized populations across the entire prefecture and in protected areas was calculated for 63 alien species with equal residence time based on species occurrence records at a spatial resolution of 5-km mesh grid units. For each species, we identified seven biological traits (seed mass, dispersal mode, maximum plant height, capability of vegetative reproduction, flowering start time and period, and life span) and two human-associated factors (introduction purpose and cultivation frequency for agricultural use). Cultivation frequency was determined based on the frequency of seed-sowing in pastures: 1. not sown, 2. accidentally sown as a seed contaminant, and 3. intentionally sown for commercial cultivation. The importance of biological traits and human-associated factors in explaining the distribution extent was determined using an information-theoretic approach.Important FindingsIn explaining the distribution extent across the entire prefecture, species biological traits and human-associated factors showed comparable importance; cultivation frequency exhibited the highest importance value closely followed by seed mass, maximum height, and flowering period. In contrast, when focusing on protected areas, human association was more important than biological traits, as indicated by the greatest importance of cultivationfrequency and much lower values for most biological traits. The results demonstrated that species biological traits and human association almost equally contributed to invasion success across the entire region, while invasions into protected areas were more attributable to human association than to biological traits. We highlight that the control of propagule pressure associated with artificial cultivation may be key to preventing further invasions into protected areas.

Objective: In patients with hemiplegia, botulinum toxin type A injection for ankle spasticity of the plantar flexors reportedly improves walking speed. This improvement may be affected by background factors and patient baseline physical performance. This study aimed to clarify the factors affecting gait velocity improvement after botulinum toxin type A injection. Methods: Background and evaluation data were collected for 60 patients with stroke who received botulinum toxin type A injection for spasticity of the plantar flexors. The patients were divided into improvement (n=27) and non-improvement (n=33) groups based on the gait velocity change from before injection to 2 weeks after injection. Logistic regression analysis was performed with the improvement and non-improvement groups as response variables and background data and evaluation data at baseline as explanatory variables. Results: The presence or absence of physical therapy following botulinum toxin type A injection (odds ratio: 7.82) was the only significant explanatory variable for gait velocity change. Conclusion: Background factors and physical performance at baseline did not affect gait velocity improvement after botulinum toxin type A injection. If botulinum treatment of the ankle plantar flexors in patients with stroke is targeted at walking performance improvement, then physical therapy following botulinum toxin type A injection should be an essential part of the treatment strategy.

Increasing incidences of swallowing dysfunction, or dysphagia, a risk factor for aspiration pneumonia, are being reported in aging populations.To investigate the relationship between swallowing function and oral bacteria in independent, community-dwelling elderly.This study recruited 139 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 70 years with poor swallowing function. The presence of anaerobic (Prevotella spp. and Fusobacterium spp.) and aerobic bacteria was examined in the participants' oral cavity flora. Swallowing function was evaluated using a 30 mL water swallowing test. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between oral bacteria and swallowing function.Swallowing function was assessed as abnormal in 2.9% and as abnormal in 47.5% of the subjects. The colony-forming units (CFUs/ml) of Prevotella spp. were associated with the swallowing dysfunction (odds ratio [OR] 3.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49-8.11). Further, CFUs/ml of Fusobacterium spp. and aerobes did not correlate with the swallowing dysfunction but were related with the number of teeth (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.28-5.74, and OR 0.40; 95% CI, 0.18-0.91, respectively) CONCLUSIONS: Swallowing dysfunction in community-dwelling elderly is associated with increased abundance of Prevotella spp., which indirectly may be an increased risk factor for aspiration pneumonia.

Background In Cambodia, the age-standardized prevalence of diabetes mellitus has increased in both men and women. The main objective of this study was to identify factors associated with diabetes medication adherence among people with diabetes mellitus in poor urban areas of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 using a structured questionnaire for face-to-face interviews by trained interviewers. The participants were people with diabetes mellitus who were the active members of a peer educator network, lived in poor urban areas of Phnom Penh, and attended weekly educational sessions during the survey period. Diabetes medication adherence was measured using four items of modified Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Participants were classified into two groups based on their adherence score: 0 (high adherence) and from 1 to 4 (medium or low adherence). Sociodemographic characteristics; medical history; accessibility to health services; and knowledge, attitude, and practices related to diabetes mellitus were examined. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted adjusting for sex, age, marital status, and education levels. Results Data from 773 people with diabetes were included in the analyses. Of the total, 49.3% had a high level of diabetes medication adherence. A high level of adherence was associated with higher family income (≥50 USD per month) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.25–11.08), absence of diabetes mellitus-related complications (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.19–2.32), use of health services more than once per month (AOR = 2.87, 95% CI = 1.64–5.04), following special diet for diabetes mellitus (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.17–2.81), and absence of alcohol consumption (AOR = 13.67, 95% CI = 2.86–65.34). Conclusions High diabetes medication adherence was associated with better family economic conditions, absence of diabetes mellitus-related complications, and healthy behaviors. It would be crucial to improve affordable access to regular follow-ups including promotion of healthy behaviors through health education and control of diabetes mellitus-related complications.

To investigate the prolonged effects of a 12-month exercise-plus-diet intervention in Japanese adults at risk of impaired glucose or lipid metabolism.A total of 180 participants were randomly divided into an intervention group (n=94), and a control group (n=86). An exercise-plus- diet intervention was conducted on the intervention group for 12 months. The effects were evaluated by questionnaire, physical examinations, and blood tests at baseline, 3 months, 12 months (the end of intervention), and 24 months (one year after the end of intervention). The control group took only the same examinations as the intervention group.At the end of the 12-month intervention, body weight, waist circumference, fasting glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol were improved in the intervention group compared to the control group (all p0.05). One year after the end of the intervention, body weight, waist circumference, fasting glucose, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol were still decreased in the intervention group compared to the control group (all p0.05), especially among non-overweight participants. Among overweight persons, only body weight in the intervention group was lower than the control group. The personal behaviours of physical activity and diet in the intervention group were also improved.The 12-month exercise-plus-diet programs were found to be effective in improving glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as personal behaviour one year after completion of the intervention.

The aim of the study was to investigate the difference in response to a motor imagery task between individuals with and without painful temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). The participants were 24 adults with and without TMD (TMD and control group, resp.). A set of photographic images of the profile view of a person’s head and neck and a hand and a foot were presented in a random order. The set consisted of six different orientations with rotations of each image at 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 degrees and included left and right representations. The participants were required to view the image and make a decision as to whether it was a left or a right side presented, that is, mental rotation (MR) task. Data were collected on 48 tasks (including left and right) at each orientation for each body part. Reaction times (RTs) for correct answers and accuracy in making the left or right judgements were recorded. The RT was slower in the TMD group than in the control group. The RT for the profile image was slower than those for the hand and foot images. For images that were 180 degrees, the RT was slower and the accuracy was lower than those for five of the other image orientations. The judgements made about the 180-degree rotated image were more inaccurate compared to images of all other orientations among all types of stimuli.

Adolescents spend an increasing amount of time on mobile phones. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between duration of mobile phone use and insomnia and depression in senior high school students. The cross-sectional study was conducted on 295 senior high school students in Japan. Mobile phones were owned by 98.6% of students; 58.6% of students used mobile phones for more than 2 h daily and 10.5% used them for 5 h daily. The risk of insomnia was significantly high in students who used mobile phones for 5 h or more (OR: 3.89 [95% CI: 1.21-12.49]). There was no significant association between depression and duration of mobile phone use. However, individuals who spent 120 min or more using mobile phones for social network services (OR: 3.63 [1.20-10.98]) and online chats (OR: 3.14 [1.42-6.95]) were at risk for depression. Excessive mobile phone use is associated with unhealthy sleep habits and insomnia. Moreover, the excessive use of the social network services and online chats are related to depression rather than duration of mobile phone use. Adolescents should use mobile phones appropriately to avoid sleep disturbances and the impairment of mental health.

Inelastic neutron scattering, far-infrared spectroscopy, and cryogenic nuclear magnetic resonance are used to investigate the quantized rotation and ortho–para conversion of single water molecules trapped inside closed fullerene cages. The existence of metastable ortho -water molecules is demonstrated, and the interconversion of ortho -and para -water spin isomers is tracked in real time. Our investigation reveals that the ground state of encapsulated ortho water has a lifted degeneracy, associated with symmetry-breaking of the water environment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that cerebral hemoglobin (Hb) oxygenation is related to phosphorylation potential during primary and secondary cerebral energy failure in newborn infants who have experienced birth asphyxia. We subjected newborn piglets to severe transient cerebral hypoxic-ischemia followed by resuscitation and examined cerebral energy metabolism by 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and evaluated changes in cerebral Hb oxygen saturation (ScO2) using full-spectrum near-infrared spectroscopy before, during, and up to 54 h after the hypoxic-ischemic insult. ScO2 was significantly decreased during the hypoxic-ischemic insult compared with baseline values. During secondary energy failure, piglets were separated based on the relationship between the ratio of phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate and ScO2; those with a negative correlation were less injured than those with a positive correlation. These results indicate that changes in ScO2 as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy are related to phosphorylation potential during secondary energy failure in asphyxiated infants.

The Clinical Trial Management Center in Kyushu University Hospital was originally established in April 1999 and was later reorganized to form the Clinical Research Center in October 2003 due to the expansion of support activities for clinical trials. In pace with this, the number of clinical research coordinators (CRCs) increased from 2 in 1999 to 13 in 2005. To improve the performance of clinical research for physicians, CRCs and secretariats, we conducted a questionnaire survey of sponsors of clinical trials (pharmaceutical company staff) to see how they evaluated the work done by our Clinical Research Center. The questionnaire consisted of 10 items regarding our overall conduct of trial practice for which scores were obtained anonymously. We sent the questionnaire to 116 sponsor staff and received replies from 101 of them, a recovery of rate of 87%. The sponsors were generally satisfied with the conduct of clinical research at our Center, but were not fully satisfied regarding a few items which included the payment system for trial expenses, physicians' awareness, and recruitment of subjects by CRCs.Based on the results, we have recently introduced a new education system designed to increase physicians' motivation. Under this system, the conduct of clinical trials is limited to physicians who receive regular lectures on clinical research and are certified by our Clinical Research Center.

The Clinical Trial Management Center of Kyushu University Hospital was originally established in April 1999 and reorganized as the Clinical Research Center in October 2003 due to the expansion of support for clinical trials and general clinical research. In pace with this, the number of full-time clinical research coordinators (CRCs) increased from 2 in 1999 to 11 in 2004. To evaluate our function as CRCs and further improve it, we surveyed the opinions of physicians who have been in charge of clinical trials by questionnaire. Although most of the physicians generally appreciated the service we provide as CRCs, several of them said that there were not enough CRCs and that we had to provide better support. In conclusion, we felt there was a need to revise the content of the support provided to physicians by CRCs in the future. Also, in order to ensure the smooth conduct of clinical trials, in addition to enhancing physicians' appreciation of clinical research, we must further improve the situation of clinical trials, for instance by introducing a new system for evaluating their performance.

Noroviruses (NVs) cause many cases of oyster- or clam-associated gastroenteritis in various countries. We collected 191 samples from Japanese oysters intended for raw consumption that had been harvested from the sea in two different areas between December 2001 and February 2002. To detect, quantitate, and phylogenetically analyze the NV genome in purified concentrates from the stomachs and digestive diverticula of these oysters, we amplified the NV capsid gene by reverse transcription-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by using the neighbor-joining method. We detected the NV genome in 17 of 191 oysters (9%). Phylogenetic analysis indicated genogroup I (Norwalk virus type) in 3 of the 17 oysters and genogroup II (Snow Mountain virus type) in the other 14. Both genogroups showed wide genetic diversity. To quantify the NV capsid gene in these oysters, we performed real-time PCR using genogroup-specific probes. More than 10 2 copies of the NV genome were detected in 11 of 17 oysters. The results suggested that about 10% of Japanese oysters intended for raw consumption harbored NVs, and more than 50% of those oysters in which NVs were detected had a large amount.

A study was conducted to determine the length of exposure to heat necessary to kill water-imbibing weed seeds at 55 and 60°C. The examination covered ten upland weed species: Solanum carolinense L., S. americanum Mill., Abutilon theophrasti Medic., Phytolacca americana L., Amaranthus spinosus L., A. patulus Bertoloni, Persicaria lapathifolia (L.) S. F. Gray, Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. var. crus-galli and Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler. All seeds of each species were killed by exposure to heat at 55°C for 72hr and at 60°C for 24hr except for those of Abutilon theophrasti (dormant seed rate 80%) which were killed by exposure for 120 and 30hr at the respective temeratures.These weed species fell into four groups, categorized by a combination of short-duration heat-tolerance (SDHT) and long-duration heat-tolerance (LDHT). SDHT was determined by the viability of weed seeds when treated at 60°C for 3hr, with low and high subcategories of tolerance. LDHT was detemined by the duration required to kill all the seeds at 1% level of significance when treated at 60°C, into three subcategories (low, medium and high tolerance). Persicaria lapathifolia, E. crus-galli, and D. ciliaris were low for both SDHT and LDHT (Group I), and Amaranthus spinosus and Panicum dichotomiflorum were low-SDHT and medium-LDHT (Group II). Solanum species, Phytolacca americana, and Amaranthus patulus were high-SDHT and medium-LDHT (Group III), while Abutilon theophrasti was low-SDHT and high-LDHT (Group IV). The viability of seeds at short-duration heat treatment for Group I, II and IV was low, but the durations required to kill all seeds were different among the groups. Group III consisted of species for which the viability of seeds at short-duration heat treatment was high, and the fatal duration was medium.For Abutilon teophrasti which required the longest duration of heat exposure to kill all seeds at each temperature, 95% confidence intervals of LD90 values were calculated using the probit method, and were 42 to 58 and 10 to 17hr at 55 and 60°C, respectively.

Many phylogeographic studies of various tree species have been conducted to elucidate the locations of refugia and the colonization patterns during the Pleistocene. However, only a few large-scale phylogeographic studies have been conducted on herbaceous plants, especially scarce on herbs that are adapted to disturbance. Artemisia indica is a fast-growing perennial herb found in open habitats. To examine the basic information on the genetic structure of this species, we investigated the chloroplast DNA variation within and among populations across Japan. We detected 26 haplotypes in 604 individuals from 28 Japanese populations. The haplotype A1 had wide geographic distribution, and its close relatives were locally present. Some putative ancestral lineages were found mainly in the Kyushu region. This may be because several lineages migrated from the Eurasian continent to the northern coast in Kyushu via the Korean peninsula during the Pleistocene, and the A1 haplotype expanded northward, whereas others remained in southern areas. Phylogenetic distant haplotypes were present mainly in the Kanto region. Because the geographic distribution pattern of these haplotypes in this region is believed to be unnatural, these haplotypes may be derived from commercial sources for re-vegetation during the last few decades.

A case of intranuclear coccidiosis in an 11-month-old female Japanese Black calf is described. Because the calf exhibited diarrhea and failure to grow and then became moribund, euthanasia was performed. Histologically, the small intestinal villi were highly atrophic, and the epithelial cells frequently had meronts or merozoites within the nuclei. A few intranuclear gametocytes were also seen. The presence of Eimeria alabamensis-specific DNA in the lesions was demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequence analyses. Electron microscopy disclosed that most parasites were within nuclear inclusions encircled by the two membranes derived from the nuclear envelope, and that intracytoplasmic meronts and merozoites were in direct contact with the cytosol. Apparently, mature merozoites could be free without destruction of the host cells, and this may be associated with the relatively low pathogenicity of this coccidium.

Young women being underweight is a public health problem in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate this problem by measuring lymphocyte count as an indicator of nutritional status.The subjects were 114 women aged 20-39 who participated in an annual health checkup for residents in a city in Aichi, Japan. Data from a questionnaire, physical examination, and blood tests were analyzed in relation to women who were severely underweight [body mass index (BMI)/= 17.5 kg/m(2)], slightly underweight (17.5BMI18.5 kg/m(2)), of normal weight (18.5/= BMI25 kg/m(2)), and obese (BMI/= 25 kg/m(2)).Lymphocyte count tended to be lower with a decrease in BMI. The prevalence of low lymphocyte count of1,500/mm(3) increased in underweight women. In women who had restricted food intake for weight loss, leukocyte count, and total serum protein, and lymphocyte count were lower. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the association of low lymphocyte count to being severely underweight [odds ratio (OR): 1.95; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-3.56] and to restricted food intake for weight loss (OR: 3.73; 95% CI: 0.91-15.30).This study suggests that being severely underweight and on restricted food intake for weight loss in adult women can be risk factors for low lymphocyte count, an indicator of malnutrition. It is important for young women to maintain BMI17.5 kg/m(2) and not to restrict food intake when of normal weight or underweight in order to prevent malnutrition.

Norovirus (NV) is a causative agent of acute gastroenteritis in humans, and shellfishes including oysters act as major vehicles of the virus. To investigate the genetic characteristics of NVs, we collected 1,512 oysters for raw consumption between October 2002 and March 2005 from two distinct areas (area A: the Sanriku Sea area; area B: the Setouchi Sea area). We detected the capsid gene and subjected it to phylogenetic analysis. By further quantification of the copy number of the genome by using real-time PCR, the NV capcid gene was detected in approximately 5% of the oysters, and they showed wide diversity. Two percent of the oysters from area B showed relatively large number of NVs, i.e., over 100 copies of capsid gene/oyster, whereas this was not observed in area A. Most of the detected NVs from oysters and humans were genetically related when the capsid region was compared. These results suggested that NVs obtained from humans and those obtained from oysters showed a potential relationship to each other and that some populations of Japanese oysters accumulated a relatively large number of NVs.

Near-infrared spectroscopy has been used for measurement of changes in cerebral Hb concentrations in infants to study cerebral oxygenation and hemodynamics. In this study, measurements by time-resolved spectroscopy (TRS) were performed in 22 neonates to estimate the values of light absorption coefficient and reduced scattering coefficient (mu'(s)), cerebral Hb oxygen saturation (SCO2), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and differential pathlength factor (DPF), and the relationships between postconceptional age and mu'(s), SCO2, CBV, and DPF were investigated. A portable three-wavelength TRS system with a probe attached to the head of the neonate was used. The mean mu'(s) values at 761, 795, and 835 nm in neonates were estimated to be (mean +/- SD) 6.46 +/- 1.21, 5.90 +/- 1.15 and 6.40 +/- 1.16/cm, respectively. There was a significant positive relationship between postconceptional age and mu'(s) at those three wavelengths. The mean SCO2 value was calculated to be 70.0 +/- 4.6%, and postconceptional age and SCO2 showed a negative linear relationship. The mean value of CBV was 2.31 +/- 0.56 mL/100 g. There was a significant positive relationship between postconceptional age and CBV. The mean DPF values at 761, 795, and 835 nm were estimated to be 4.58 +/- 0.41, 4.64 +/- 0.46, and 4.31 +/- 0.42, respectively. There was no relationship between postconceptional age and DPF at those three wavelengths. The results demonstrated that our near-infrared TRS method can be used to monitor mu'(s), SCO2, CBV, and DPF in the neonatal brain at the bedside in an intensive care unit.

We investigated contamination of environmental surfaces by Staphylococcus aureus from April 1 to the end of June in 2002 in the dermatological ward (37 beds) of a university hospital. For surfaces contaminated by high levels of S. aureus, disinfection methods were evaluated. 100-10(5) colony forming units (cfu) of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) or methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) were detected on items such as an immersion bathtub (examined area, about 900 cm2), foot washbowl, stretcher for an immersion bath, and chair for the shower. After disinfection, no S. aureus was detected on smooth surfaces such as the immersion bathtub and foot washbowl; however, S. aureus was detected even after disinfection on porous surfaces made of sponge-like materials (polyethylene foam) such as the stretcher for the immersion bath and the shower chair. Scanning electron microscopy of the porous surfaces showed formation of a large amount of coccus and bacillus biofilms on the walls of pores in the multi-pore structure. Material that is porous should not be used in patient care settings because it is not possible to disinfect it properly.

The complete nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone representing the M5 RNA segment of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus Japan serotype 2 (EHDV-2), Ibaraki virus, was determined. The M5 segment is 1641 base pairs long with the single open reading frame which predicts a polypeptide of 527 amino acids. The comparison of the amino acid sequence of the VP5 with those of EHDV-1, bluetongue virus serotype 10, and African horse sickness virus serotype 4 revealed that the protein shared 67%, 57% and 42% homologies, respectively. In addition, the VP5 protein was expressed in insect cells by recombinant baculovirus, which could be recognized by the mouse anti-EHDV-2 sera at a position of the expected 59 kDa on immunoblot analysis.

Nine species of plants having antifeeding activities for the larvae of the yellow butterfly, Eurema hecabe mandarina DE L'ORZA, were found. From one of them, Arachniodes standishii (MOORE) OHWI, the known compound, 1-(2, 4, 6-trimethoxyphenyl) but-trans-2-en-1-one (I), was isolated as an antifeedant. This compound was synthesized according to the Friedel-Crafts procedure, which also gave two new compounds, 1, 3-bis (2, 4, 6-trimethoxyphenyl) butan-1-one (VI) and 1-(2, 4, 6-trimethoxyphenyl)-3-[3-(2-trans-butenoyl)-2, 4, 6-trimethoxyphenyl] butan-1-one (VII), as by-products. Treatment of 1, 3, 5-trimethoxybenzene (V) with ferric chloride was found to afford 2, 2', 4, 4', 6, 6'-hexamethoxybiphenyl (VIII), which has been synthesized according to Ullmann's procedure.