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Abstract: We measured differential tunneling conductance (dI/dV, d2 I/dV 2) spectra of spin-valve-type magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with a MgO(001) tunnel barrier layer and amorphous CoFeB ferromagnetic electrodes that show 315% magnetoresistance (MR) ratio at 4.3K. The dI/dV spectra showed clear reduction in the conductance at around ±400mV for a parallel magnetic configuration. Such anomalous spectra have never been observed for MTJs with an amorphous Al–O barrier. The d2 I/dV 2 spectra showed several distinct peaks between 5 and 100mV. Magnon excitations are assigned to an origin of those peaks and thought to be a dominant process to reduce MR at finite bias voltage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

3C–SiC is a promising platform for semiconductor spintronics because it consists of light group-IV elements and has a zinc blende structure. To demonstrate spin transport in this attractive semiconductor, we conducted an experiment of spin-pump-induced spin transport through n-type 3C–SiC. A spin current is injected from Ni 80 Fe 20 into the SiC channel under ferromagnetic resonance of the Ni 80 Fe 20. The DC electromotive force caused by the inverse spin Hall effect in an adjacent metal detector attached to the SiC is detected as a manifestation of the spin current transport. This indicates 1.2-μm-long spin transport through the n-type 3C–SiC at room temperature. This achievement is the first step in the investigation of the physics of 3C–SiC for further spintronics study and its application. • 3C–SiC is a promising candidate for a spintronic semiconductor material. • Spin pumping is used for generation of spin current in 3C–SiC. • 1.2-μm-long spin transport is achieved in n-type 3C–SiC at room temperature. • Our results can be a great milestone for development of spintronics using 3C–SiC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has preventive effects against postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after upper abdominal surgery. However, its impact on diaphragmatic function has not been evaluated. This study investigated the effect of preoperative IMT on diaphragmatic excursion (DE) and prevention of PPCs for patients with esophageal cancer., Methods: This study was an unblinded, parallel, randomized controlled trial. Patients with thoracic or abdominal esophageal cancer scheduled for esophagectomy were randomized into the incentive spirometry (IS) or IMT group. During preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy, IS or IMT intervention was performed. The inspiratory resistance of the IMT group was consistently set at 50% maximal inspiratory pressure. The primary outcome was the amount of change in DE evaluated with ultrasonography, and the secondary outcome was the incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade II or higher PPCs., Results: This study recruited 42 patients. Among these patients 21 were randomized into the IS or IMT group, and 2 patients dropped out from the study. Finally, 40 patients were included in this analysis. The DE of the IMT group increased significantly after the intervention. The IMT group had significantly larger DE changes than the IS group. Of the 39 patients analyzed for postoperative outcome, 5 experienced grade II PPCs. The IMT group had a lower incidence of PPCs than the IS group., Conclusions: Patients with thoracic and abdominal esophageal cancer scheduled for surgery who had preoperative IMT have increased DE, which may have an important role in prevention of PPCs., (© 2024. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Objective: Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) is used to improve inspiratory muscle strength in patients with COPD. However, the effect of IMT on diaphragmatic function has not yet been thoroughly evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of IMT on maximum diaphragmatic excursion (DE max ) using ultrasonography in patients with COPD., Methods: This was a single-centre, randomised, prospective, parallel-group, unblinded controlled trial involving 38 participants with stable COPD. Participants underwent a standardised 12-week pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programme followed by a 12-week IMT programme, consisting of home-based IMT and low-frequency outpatient PR sessions supervised by physiotherapists (once every 2 weeks), versus low-frequency outpatient PR alone as a control. The DE max and exercise tolerance were measured., Results: Out of the 38 patients initially enrolled in the PR programme, 33 successfully completed it and were subsequently randomised to the IMT programme. Finally, 15 (94%) and 14 (88%) patients from the IMT and control groups, respectively, completed the study. Following the IMT programme, DE max increased in the IMT group (mean±sd 50.1±7.6 mm to 60.6±8.0 mm, p<0.001), but not in the control group (47.4±7.9 mm to 46.9±8.3 mm, p=0.10). Changes in DE max and exercise tolerance (peak oxygen uptake) were greater in the IMT group than in the control group (both p<0.01)., Conclusions: IMT following the PR programme improved DE max and exercise tolerance. Therefore, DE max may be an important outcome of IMT., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright ©The authors 2024.)

Dynamically changing interpersonal relationships lie at the core of the emergence of in-group structures, such as polarity or conflict. We explore these dynamics in a simple continuous dynamical model obtained by generalizing a previously proposed model based on Heider's balance theory from social psychology. Previous findings include a rigorous proof of the emergence of in-group harmony or bipolar conflict (global minima) and the identification of local minima called jammed states, along with their corresponding energy spectrum in terms of structural complexity. However, some unrealistic scenarios constrain our capacity to contextualize and directly apply these results to real-world social behaviors. To address these challenges, we first introduce a unified dynamical model and find that group size can be critical to the onset of in-group bipolar conflict. Using random matrix statistics, we then characterize the pathways leading to jammed states, which have previously been discussed only in stochastic models. Unexpectedly, we also show that perturbing our dynamical model can increase the chances of getting trapped in jammed states, giving rise to a novel notion called the noise-induced jammed state. We conclude this Letter by discussing possible real-world implications as well as potential contributions to the existing literature in relevant fields such as anthropology.

Idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (iPPFE) is a rare form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. We report a case of a patient with iPPFE in whom postural changes improved diaphragmatic excursion (DE) and exercise tolerance. Chest radiography showed a greater elevation of the diaphragm at maximum expiration in the supine position than the standing position. DE measured by ultrasonography was higher in the supine position than the standing position. The findings may suggest greater diaphragm movement in the supine position, leading to successful rehabilitation and improved exercise endurance. There is no effective treatment for iPPFE; therefore, an innovative treatment strategy is warranted., Competing Interests: No conflict., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Background: Decreased respiratory muscle strength and muscle mass is key in diagnosing respiratory sarcopenia. However, the role of reduced diaphragm activity, expressed as the maximal level of diaphragmatic excursion (DEmax), in diagnosing respiratory sarcopenia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear. This study aimed to characterize patients with COPD and low DEmax and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), a measure of inspiratory muscle strength, and assess the role of DEmax in respiratory sarcopenia., Methods: Patients with COPD underwent spirometry, exercise tolerance (VO 2peak ) test, and MIP measurement. DEmax and sternocleidomastoid thickness at the maximal inspiratory level (TscmMIL) were assessed using ultrasound sonography., Results: Overall, 58 patients with COPD (median age, 76 years; median %FEV 1 , 51.3 %) were included, 28 of whom showed a %MIP of ≥80 %, defined as having preserved MIP. Based on the %MIP of 80 % and median value of DEmax (48.0 mm) as thresholds, the patients were stratified into four groups: both-high (n = 18), %MIP-alone low (n = 11), DEmax-alone low (n = 10), and both-low (n = 19) groups. The both-low group exhibited the lowest %FEV 1 , Δinspiratory capacity, VO 2peak , and TscmMIL, and these values were significantly lower than those of the both-high group. Except for %FEV 1 , these values were significantly lower in the both-low group than in the %MIP-alone low group despite adjusting DEmax level for body mass index., Conclusion: Measuring DEmax along with MIP can characterize patients with COPD, reduced exercise capacity, and decreased accessory respiratory muscle mass and can help diagnose respiratory sarcopenia., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Japanese Respiratory Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Social insects often share tasks among individuals. In this study, we analyzed the foraging activity of ants (Camponotus japonicus) and recorded the daily passage event counts of individual workers between a nest chamber and a foraging arena in five monodomous colonies. We proposed two hypotheses on the time series of foraging frequency by individual worker ants as follows: (i) for the time series of foraging frequency by individual worker ants, the foraging frequency on a certain day could be expressed by the product of the foraging frequency on the previous day and the exponential of a random number. (ii) The random numbers are correlated between some pairs of worker ants. The results for the five tested ant colonies showed that the probability of total daily passage counts (the sum of an individual's passage count) followed a log-normal distribution. The worker ants behaved differently in terms of active days and foraging frequency. However, for > 54% of the worker ants, the probability of the daily passage count was characterized by a log-normal distribution, and these worker ants performed > 72% of the tasks in each colony. Furthermore, for > 73% of the worker ants, the time development of the passage count was mathematically modeled; the logarithmic first difference between the passage counts on a certain day and those on the previous day was a random normal variable. These results support hypothesis (i). Additionally, the random numbers that were equivalent to the logarithmic first difference were correlated for some pairs of worker ants. These results support hypothesis (ii)., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Goko et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The low attenuation area percentage (LAA%) is gaining popularity. LAA% is an index of quantitative emphysema on computed tomography (CT) imaging of the chest. This study aims to retrospectively investigate whether preoperative LAA% is associated with postoperative prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer who were scheduled for esophagectomy. From January 2016 to March 2020, 105 patients with esophageal cancer underwent esophagectomy via right thoracotomy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A Synapse Vincent volume analyzer (Fujifilm Medical, Tokyo, Japan) was used for measurement. The software automatically quantified LAA% using a threshold of less than - 950 Hounsfield units on CT images of lung regions. Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed in univariable and multivariable forms. Estimates of the receiver operating curve are used to determine the cutoff value for death of LAA%, and the binary value is then inserted into Cox proportional hazard analyses. The preoperative LAA% cutoff value was ≥ 6.3%. Patients with a preoperative LAA% ≥6.3% had a significantly worse prognosis than those with a preoperative LAA% of < 6.3%. LAA% ≥6.3% (hazard ratio: 6.76; 95% confidence interval: 2.56-17.90, P < .001) was the most influential preoperative factor for overall survival after esophagectomy in multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses. LAA% is one of the preoperative risk factors for survival after esophagectomy and an indicator of lung condition using routinely performed preoperative CT images. We quantified the extent of preoperative emphysema in patients with esophageal cancer, who were scheduled for surgery, and for the first time, reported LAA% as one of the preoperative risk factors for survival after esophagectomy., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterised by worsening dyspnoea and exercise intolerance., Research Question: Does a long-term pulmonary rehabilitation improve exercise tolerance in patients with IPF treated with standard antifibrotic drugs, which are expected to reduce disease progression?, Methods: This open-label randomised controlled trial was performed at 19 institutions. Stable patients receiving nintedanib were randomised into pulmonary rehabilitation and control groups (1:1). The pulmonary rehabilitation group underwent initial rehabilitation which included twice-weekly sessions of monitored exercise training for 12 weeks, followed by an at-home rehabilitation programme for 40 weeks. The control group received usual care only, without pulmonary rehabilitation. Both groups continued to receive nintedanib. The primary and main secondary outcomes were change in 6 min walking distance (6MWD) and change in endurance time (using cycle ergometry) at week 52., Results: Eighty-eight patients were randomised into pulmonary rehabilitation (n=45) and control (n=43) groups. Changes in 6MWD were -33 m (95% CI -65 to -1) and -53 m (95% CI -86 to -21) in the pulmonary rehabilitation and control groups, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (mean difference, 21 m (95% CI -25 to 66), p=0.38). Changes in endurance time were significantly better in the pulmonary rehabilitation (64 s, 95% CI -42.3 to 171)) than in the control (-123 s (95% CI -232 to -13)) group (mean difference, 187 s (95% CI 34 to 153), p=0.019)., Interpretation: Although pulmonary rehabilitation in patients taking nintedanib did not improve 6MWD in the long term, it led to prolonged improvement in endurance time., Trial Registration Number: UMIN000026376., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The following authors received payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speaker bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events outside the submitted work: KK and ON (Nippon Boehringer Ingerheim); TaO (Nippon Boehringer Ingerheim; Shionogi; Eisai; Astellas Pharma; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Taiho Pharmaceutical); TT and HT (Nippon Boehringer Ingerheim; KYORIN Pharmaceutical; AstraZeneca K.K.; Teijin Pharma Limited), KT (Nippon Boehringer Ingerheim; Teijin Pharma); HIs, KI and HaS (Nippon Boehringer Ingerheim); YK (Nippon Boehringer Ingerheim; Asahi Kasei Pharma Corp.; Shionogi; Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K.; Healios K.K.; Taiho Pharmaceutical; AstraZeneca K.K.; Eisai; KYORIN Pharmaceutical; Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma; Novartis Pharma K.K.)., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background and Objective: Dynamic lung hyperinflation (DLH) can play a central role in exertional dyspnoea in patients with COPD. Chest radiography is the basic tool for assessing static lung hyperinflation in COPD. However, the predictive capacity of DLH using chest radiography remains unknown. This study was conducted to determine whether DLH can be predicted by measuring the height of the right diaphragm (dome height) on chest radiography., Methods: This single-centre, retrospective cohort study included patients with stable COPD with pulmonary function test, cardiopulmonary exercise test, constant load test and pulmonary images. They were divided into two groups according to the median of changes of inspiratory capacity (ΔIC=IC lowest - IC at rest). The right diaphragm dome height and lung height were measured on plain chest radiography., Results: Of the 48 patients included, 24 were classified as having higher DLH (ΔIC ≤-0.59 L from rest; -0.59 L, median of all) and 24 as having lower DLH. Dome height correlated with ΔIC (r=0.66, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that dome height was associated with higher DLH independent of % low attenuation area on chest computed tomography and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) % predicted. Furthermore, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of dome height to predict higher DLH was 0.86, with sensitivity and specificity of 83% and 75%, respectively, at a cut-off of 20.5 mm. Lung height was unrelated to ΔIC., Conclusion: Diaphragm dome height on chest radiography may adequately predict higher DLH in patients with COPD., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared., (Copyright ©The authors 2023.)

While the effective g -factor can be anisotropic due to the spin-orbit interaction (SOI), its existence in solids cannot be simply asserted from a band structure, which hinders progress on studies from such viewpoints. The effective g -factor in bismuth (Bi) is largely anisotropic; especially for holes at T -point, the effective g -factor perpendicular to the trigonal axis is negligibly small (<0.112), whereas the effective g -factor along the trigonal axis is very large (62.7). We clarified in this work that the large anisotropy of effective g -factor gives rise to the large spin conversion anisotropy in Bi from experimental and theoretical approaches. Spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance was applied to estimate the spin conversion efficiency in rhombohedral (110) Bi to be 17 to 27%, which is unlike the negligibly small efficiency in Bi(111). Harmonic Hall measurements support the large spin conversion efficiency in Bi(110). A large spin conversion anisotropy as the clear manifestation of the anisotropy of the effective g -factor is observed. Beyond the emblematic case of Bi, our study unveiled the significance of the effective g -factor anisotropy in condensed-matter physics and can pave a pathway toward establishing novel spin physics under g -factor control.

The physics related to Berry curvature is now a central research topic in condensed matter physics. The Berry curvature dipole (BCD) is a significant and intriguing condensed matter phenomenon that involves inversion symmetry breaking. However, the creation and controllability of BCDs have so far been limited to far below room temperature (RT), and nonvolatile (i.e., ferroic) BCDs have not yet been discovered, hindering further progress in topological physics. In this work, we demonstrate a switchable and nonvolatile BCD effect at RT in a topological crystalline insulator, Pb 1- x Sn x Te (PST), which is attributed to ferroic distortion. Surprisingly, the magnitude of the ferroic BCD is several orders of magnitude greater than that of the nonferroic BCDs that appear, for example, in transition metal dichalcogenides. The discovery of this ferroic and extraordinarily large BCD in PST could pave the way for further progress in topological materials science and the engineering of novel topological devices.

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have difficulties inhaling as the diaphragm becomes flattened and weakened due to lung hyperinflation. This weakened respiratory function is compensated for by the increased activity of the accessory respiratory muscles, such as the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM)., Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the difference in the SCM thickening fraction (SCM TF) of each respiratory phase (end-expiration, resting inspiration, and end-inspiration), as measured using ultrasonography (US), between patients with COPD and control subjects. We also evaluate the correlation between the SCM TF of each respiratory phase and exercise tolerance in patients with COPD., Methods: Patients with COPD (n = 44) and age-matched controls (n = 20) underwent US for determination of the SCM TF. Ventilation parameters, including the peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) and the change in the inspiratory capacity, were measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The SCM thickness and TF was measured during end-expiration, resting breathing, and end-inspiration., Results: The SCM was significantly thinner in patients with COPD than in controls at end-expiration. The increase in the SCM TF from end-expiration to end-inspiration in patients with COPD did not differ significantly from that in control subjects. In contrast, the SCM TF from end-expiration to resting inspiration was significantly greater in patients with COPD than in control subjects. The peak VO2 was strongly positively correlated with the SCM TF from end-expiration to end-inspiration in patients with COPD (r = 0.71, p < 0.01)., Conclusions: The SCM may be thinner in patients with COPD than in controls. The SCM TF may also be associated with exercise tolerance., (© 2022 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Dysphagia is frequently observed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Decreased tongue strength is one of the causes of dysphagia, and it is often observed in patients with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is also frequently observed in COPD patients. We hypothesized that tongue strength is lower in COPD patients compared to normal subjects. This was a single-center, observational, cross-sectional study. Maximum tongue pressure (MTP) was measured in 27 patients with COPD and 24 age-matched control subjects. We also evaluated handgrip strength, gait speed, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass to define subjects as having sarcopenia. We used bioelectrical impedance analysis to assess body composition. The eating assessment test-10 was used to diagnose dysphagia. MTP was significantly lower in COPD patients than in control subjects (33.8 ± 8.4 vs 38.0 ± 5.3; p = 0.032). All measures of muscle and fat free body mass, handgrip strength, and gait speed were also significantly lower in COPD patients compared to control subjects (p < 0.01). The prevalence of sarcopenia in COPD patients was higher than that in control subjects (6/27 versus 0/24; p = 0.007), but the prevalence of dysphagia was not different between groups (COPD: 5/27, versus control: 1/24; p = 0.112). MTP was moderately correlated with skeletal muscle mass index (r = 0.56, p = 0.003) and handgrip strength (r = 0.43, p = 0.027) in COPD patients. Tongue strength was lower in COPD patients compared to normal subjects, and decreased tongue strength may be correlated with sarcopenia in COPD patients., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the maximum level of diaphragm excursion (DE max ) is correlated with dynamic lung hyperinflation and exercise tolerance. This study aimed to elucidate the utility of DE max to predict the improvement in exercise tolerance after pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in patients with COPD., Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. Of the 62 patients with stable COPD who participated in the outpatient PR programme from April 2018 to February 2021, 50 completed the programme. Six-minute walk distance (6MWD) was performed to evaluate exercise tolerance, and ultrasonography was performed to measure DE max . Responders to PR in exercise capacity were defined as patients who demonstrated an increase of > 30 m in 6MWD. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the cut-off point of DE max to predict responses to PR., Results: Baseline levels of forced expiratory volume in 1 s, 6MWD, maximum inspiratory pressure, DE max and quadriceps muscle strength were significantly higher, and peak dyspnoea of modified Borg (mBorg) scale score was lower in responders (n = 30) than in non-responders (n = 20) to PR (p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, DE max was significantly correlated with an increase of > 30 m in 6MWD. The area under the ROC curve of DE max to predict responders was 0.915, with a sensitivity and specificity of 83% and 95%, respectively, at a cut-off value of 44.9 mm of DE max ., Conclusion: DE max could adequately predict the improvement in exercise tolerance after PR in patients with COPD., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The spin-orbit interaction (SOI), mainly manifesting itself in heavy elements and compound materials, has been attracting much attention as a means of manipulating and/or converting a spin degree of freedom. Here, we show that a Si metal-oxide- semiconductor (MOS) heterostructure possesses Rashba-type SOI, although Si is a light element and has lattice inversion symmetry resulting in inherently negligible SOI in bulk form. When a strong gate electric field is applied to the Si MOS, we observe spin lifetime anisotropy of propagating spins in the Si through the formation of an emergent effective magnetic field due to the SOI. Furthermore, the Rashba parameter α in the system increases linearly up to 9.8 × 10 -16  eV m for a gate electric field of 0.5 V nm -1 ; that is, it is gate tuneable and the spin splitting of 0.6 μeV is relatively large. Our finding establishes a family of spin-orbit systems., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: A recent paper reported that low muscle mass in the erector spinae muscles (ESM) was strongly associated with poor prognosis and declining muscle mass over time in subjects with COPD. However, effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), if any, on ESM mass have not been reported. We hypothesized that PR reduces the annual decline in ESM mass., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Thirty-nine subjects with COPD who received PR and underwent chest computed tomography before and after PR were evaluated (rehabilitation group). We also evaluated 39 age-matched subjects with COPD who did not receive PR (nonrehabilitation group). Data were collected from August 2010 until March 2020 in both groups. The ESM cross-sectional area (ESM CSA ) was measured using axial computed tomography images, and annual changes were calculated. The 6-min walk distance (6MWD) was measured before and after PR; the minimum clinically important difference was defined as 30 m., Results: ESM CSA declined in the nonrehabilitation group over time (-116.0 ± 141.2 mm 2 /y) but increased in the PR group (51.0 ± 95.3 mm 2 /y; P < .001). The annual increase in ESM CSA was significantly higher among subjects with an increase in 6MWD that exceeded the minimum clinically important difference compared with nonresponders in the rehabilitation group. The annual change in ESM CSA was negatively correlated with comorbidity index, and triple therapy (long-acting β 2 -agonist/long-acting muscarinic antagonist/inhaled corticosteroid) had a favorable effect on annual change in ESM CSA . Multiple regression analysis revealed that only PR was an independent factor for annual change in ESM CSA ., Conclusions: ESM mass was shown to decline yearly in subjects with COPD. The annual decline in muscle mass was reduced by PR., Competing Interests: Dr Tohda has disclosed relationships with Kyorin Pharmaceutical, Teijin Pharma, Meiji Seika Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi Sankyo, Astellas Pharma, and Pearl Therapeutics. The other authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 by Daedalus Enterprises.)

Background: Although the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the development of dyspnoea and poor exercise tolerance in patients with COPD are complex, dynamic lung hyperinflation (DLH) plays a central role. Diaphragmatic excursions can be measured by ultrasonography (US) with high intra- and interobserver reliability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of diaphragmatic excursions as assessed by US on exercise tolerance and DLH in patients with COPD., Methods: Patients with COPD (n=20) and age-matched control subjects (n=20) underwent US, which was used to determine the maximum level of diaphragmatic excursion (DE max ). Ventilation parameters, including the change in inspiratory capacity (ΔIC), were measured in the subjects during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). We examined the correlations between DE max and the ventilation parameters., Results: The DE max of patients with COPD was significantly lower than that of the controls (45.0±12.8 mm versus 64.6±6.3 mm, respectively; p<0.01). The perception of peak dyspnoea (Borg scale) was significantly negatively correlated with DE max in patients with COPD. During CPET, oxygen uptake/weight ( V ' O 2 / W ) and minute ventilation ( V ' E ) were significantly positively correlated with DE max , while V ' E / V ' O 2 and V ' E /carbon dioxide output ( V ' CO 2 ) were significantly negatively correlated with DE max in patients with COPD. DE max was also significantly positively correlated with ΔIC, reflecting DLH, and with V ' O 2 / W , reflecting exercise capacity., Conclusion: Reduced mobility of the diaphragm was related to decreased exercise capacity and increased dyspnoea due to dynamic lung hyperinflation in COPD patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: M. Shiraishi has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Y. Higashimoto has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: R. Sugiya has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: H. Mizusawa has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Y. Takeda has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: S. Fujita has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: O. Nishiyama has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: S. Kudo has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: T. Kimura has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Y. Chiba has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: K. Fukuda has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Y. Tohda reports grants from Kyorin Pharmaceutical, MeijiSeika Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Teijin Pharma, DaiichiSankyo, Astellas andPearl outside the submitted work., (Copyright ©ERS 2020.)

The concept of response threshold (RT) has been developed to explain task allocation in social insect colonies, wherein individual workers engage in tasks depending on their responsiveness to the task-related stimulus. Moreover, a mathematical model of RT has been proposed to explain data obtained from task allocation experiments; however, its applicability range warrants clarification through adequate quantitative analysis. Hence, we used an automatic measuring system to count passage events between a nest chamber and a foraging arena in five colonies of ants, Camponotus japonicus. The events were measured using radio-frequency identification tags attached to all workers of each colony. Here, we examined the detailed forms of i) labour distribution during foraging among workers in each colony and ii) the persistence of rank-order of foraging among workers. We found that labour distribution was characterized by a generalized gamma-distribution, indicating that only few workers carried out a large part of the workload. The rank-order of foraging activity among workers in each colony was maintained for a month and collapsed within a few months. We compared the obtained data with testable predictions of the RT model. The comparison indicated that proper evaluation of the mathematical model is required based on the obtained data.

A mathematical model of garden ants (Lasius japonicus) is introduced herein to investigate the relationship between the distribution of the degree of stochasticity in following pheromone trails and the group foraging efficiency. Numerical simulations of the model indicate that depending on the systematic change of the feeding environment, the optimal distribution of stochasticity shifts from a mixture of almost deterministic and mildly stochastic ants to a contrasted mixture of almost deterministic ants and highly stochastic ants. In addition, the interaction between the stochasticity and the pheromone path regulates the dynamics of the foraging efficiency optimization. Stochasticity could strengthen the collective efficiency when the variance in the sensitivity to pheromone for ants is introduced in the model., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

A d-orbital electron has an anisotropic electron orbital and is a source of magnetism. The realization of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) embedded at a LaAlO 3 /SrTiO 3 interface surprised researchers in materials and physical sciences because the 2DEG consists of 3d-electrons of Ti with extraordinarily large carrier mobility, even in the insulating oxide heterostructure. To date, a wide variety of physical phenomena, such as ferromagnetism and the quantum Hall effect, have been discovered in this 2DEG system, demonstrating the ability of d-electron 2DEG systems to provide a material platform for the study of interesting physics. However, because of both ferromagnetism and the Rashba field, long-range spin transport and the exploitation of spintronics functions have been believed difficult to implement in d-electron 2DEG systems. Here, we report the experimental demonstration of room-temperature spin transport in a d-electron-based 2DEG at a LaAlO 3 /SrTiO 3 interface, where the spin relaxation length is about 300 nm. Our finding, which counters the conventional understandings of d-electron 2DEGs, highlights the spin-functionality of conductive oxide systems and opens the field of d-electron spintronics.

Aim: Although the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) have been well defined for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it remains controversial whether PR improves physical activity (PA). The purpose of the present study was to identify factors associated with the effect of PR on PA., Methods: This was a prospective study of 29 patients with COPD. They underwent pulmonary rehabilitation twice weekly for 12 weeks, and were assessed using the hospital anxiety and depression score, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), and the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) before and after they underwent PR. The PA of patients was measured by a three-axis accelerometer. Physical activity level (PAL) was calculated by dividing each patient's total energy expenditure by basal metabolic rate. Correlations between changes in PAL after PR and 6MWD, St. George Respiratory Questionnaire, and hospital anxiety and depression score scores, and clinical parameters, including forced expiratory volume in 1 s were determined., Results: 6MWD was significantly increased, but PAL was unchanged after PR. PAL was positively correlated with 6MWD, but not with percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s nor St. George Respiratory Questionnaire scores before PR. The increase in PAL was negatively correlated with changes in hospital anxiety and depression score anxiety and depression scores, but was not correlated with the change in 6MWD., Conclusions: A PR program for COPD patients improved results of the 6MWD, but not PAL. Increased PAL was associated with improvements in anxiety and depression, but not with increased exercise capacity. Treating the depression and anxiety of patients with COPD might not only reduce emotional distress, but also improve their PAL. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 17-23., (© 2015 Japan Geriatrics Society.)