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Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of new staple-line reinforcement (SLR) in pulmonary resection through a prospective study and to compare the results of this study with historical control data in an exploratory study. Methods: The subjects of this study were 48 patients who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy. The primary endpoint was air leakage from the staple line. The secondary endpoints were the location of air leakage, duration of air leakage, and postoperative pulmonary complications. Results: The incidence of intraoperative air leakage from the staple line was 6.3%. Three patients had prolonged air leakage as a postoperative pulmonary complication. No malfunction was found in patients who underwent SLR with the stapling device. When compared with the historical group, the SLR group had a significantly lower incidence of air leakage from the staple line (6.3% vs. 28.5%, P < 0.001) and significantly shorter indwelling chest drainage time (P = 0.049) and length of hospital stay (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The use of SLR in pulmonary resection was safe and effective. When compared with conventional products, SLR could control intraoperative air leakage from the staple line and shorten time needed for indwelling chest drainage and the length of hospital stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the spatial Stroop task, an arrow target produces a spatial Stroop effect, whereas a gaze target elicits a reversed congruency effect. The reversed congruency effect has been explained by the unique attentional mechanisms of eye gaze. However, recent studies have shown that not only gaze but arrow targets produced a reversed congruency effect when embedded in a complex background. The present study investigated whether non-gaze targets produce a reversed congruency effect. In Experiments 1 and 2, we used the tongue, which is not commonly used to indicate spatial directions in daily life, as a target in the spatial Stroop task, in addition to the conventional gaze and arrows. In Experiment 3, we used arrow stimuli embedded in a complex background as a target. Participants judged the left/right direction of the target presented in the left or right visual field. Although arrow and gaze targets replicated previous findings (spatial Stroop and reversed congruency effect, respectively), the tongue target produced a reversed congruency effect (Experiments 1 and 2). The spatial Stroop effect of arrow targets disappeared when they were in a complex background (Experiment 3). These results are inconsistent with previous accounts emphasising the unique status of eye gaze. We propose that temporal decay of the location code and response inhibition are responsible for the reversal of spatial interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, poor reproducibility of optical absorption edges in GeS2 glasses and films is seen. Reported spectral positions of the absorption edge in melt‐quenched glasses spread over ≈0.2 eV at ħω ≈ 3 eV. In deposited films, the edge red‐shifts to ħω ≈ 2.5 eV showing wider variations of ≈1 eV. This work considers plausible reasons of such low, spectral reproducibility, with the aid of ab initio molecular orbital analyses of Ge–S clusters and known insights on optical gaps, electron‐spin‐resonance signals, and structural data. The variation in the glass is likely to be governed by several factors including compositional fluctuation, edge/corner‐shared configurations, wrong bonds, and intimate valence‐alternation pairs. The conspicuous red‐shift in the films seems to be affected also by neutral dangling bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver transplantation (LT) in patients with alcohol‐associated hepatitis (AH) has rapidly increased following the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and the implementation of the Acuity Circle policy, raising questions of equity and utility. Waitlist mortality among high (≥37) Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease LT candidates with AH and post‐transplant survival were assessed with a semiparametric survival regression and a generalized linear mixed‐effect model with LT centre‐ and listing date‐level random intercepts. These models demonstrate a lower mortality for the candidates listed with AH (adjusted sub‐hazard ratio .58_.72_.90 and odds ratio .44_.66_.99) when compared to other diagnoses (autoimmune hepatitis, metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease and primary biliary cholangitis). Post‐LT survival was comparable. This study highlights the limitations of current tools in characterizing the risk of mortality, and thus need for the modifications in prioritizing LT candidates with AH. Policy revision may be needed to ensure equivalent access to LT regardless of diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Purpose Methods Results Conclusions Dynamic chest radiography (DCR) is a recently developed functional x‐ray imaging technique that detects pulmonary ventilation impairment as a decrease in changes in lung density during respiration. However, the diagnostic performance of DCR is uncertain owing to an insufficient number of clinical cases. One solution is virtual imaging trials (VITs), which is an emerging alternative method for efficiently evaluating medical imaging technology via computer simulation techniques.This study aimed to estimate the typical threshold thickness of residual normal tissue below which the presence of emphysema may be detected by DCR via VITs using virtual patients with different physiques and a user‐defined ground truth.Twenty extended cardiac‐torso (XCAT) phantoms that exhibited changes in lung density during respiration were generated to simulate virtual patients. To simulate a locally collapsed lung, an air sphere was inserted into each lung regions in the phantom. The XCAT phantom was virtually projected using an x‐ray simulator. The respiratory changes in pixel value (ΔPV) were measured on the projected air spheres (simulated lesions) to calculate the percentage of decrease (ΔPV%) relative to ΔPVexp‐ins in the absence of an air sphere. The relationship between the amount of residual normal tissue and ΔPV% was fitted to a cubic approximation curve (hereafter, performance curve), and the threshold at which the ΔPV% began to decrease (normal‐tissuethre) was determined. The goodness of fit for each performance curve was evaluated according to the coefficient of determination (R2) and the 95% confidence interval derived from the standard errors between the measured and theoretical values corresponding to each performance curve. The ΔPV% was also visualized as a color scaling to validate the results of the VITs in both virtual and clinical patients.For each lung region in all body sizes, the ΔPV% decreased as the amount of residual normal tissue decreased and could be defined as a function of the amount of residual normal tissue in front of and behind the simulated lesions with high R2 values. Meanwhile, the difference between the measured and theoretical values corresponding to each performance curve was only partially included in the 95% confidence interval. The normal‐tissuethre values were 146.0, 179.5, and 170.9 mm for the upper, middle, and lower lungs, respectively, which were demonstrated in virtual patients and one real patient, where the value of the residual normal tissue was less than that of normal‐tissuethre; any reduction in the residual normal tissue was reflected as a reduced ΔPV and depicted as a reduced color intensity.The performance of DCR‐based pulmonary impairment assessment depends on the amount of residual normal tissue in front of and behind the lesion rather than on the lesion size. The performance curve can be defined as a function of the amount of residual normal tissue in each lung region with a specific threshold of normal tissue remaining where lesions become detectable, shown as a decrease in ΔPV. The results of VITs are expected to accelerate future clinical trials for DCR‐based pulmonary function assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is well known that maternal diet affects the development of offspring. Herein, the relationship between maternal intake of fermented foods during pregnancy and offspring development was investigated. Methods: The diet of 103,060 pregnant women at >4 months of gestation who were enrolled in the Japan Environment and Children's Study was analyzed. Their intake levels of fermented soybeans (miso and natto), yogurt, and cheese were investigated. The developmental status of the offspring at 3 years of age was assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk of maternal intake levels of the fermented foods associated with subsequent developmental delay in the offspring. Results: Intake of cheese was associated with a reduced risk of child developmental delay in all intake level groups from the second quartile onward. Intakes of miso and yogurt were associated with a reduced risk of developmental delay in communication skills in the fourth quartile. There was no association between intake of natto and developmental delay. Conclusion: Maternal consumption of fermented foods during pregnancy may reduce the risk of later developmental delay in offspring. It is therefore important to review the mother's diet for fermented foods during pregnancy. However, further studies are warranted to evaluate the factors influencing the association between diet and offspring development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pod is an important organ for seed production in soybean. Pod size varies among soybean cultivars, but the mechanism is largely unknown. Here we reveal one of the factors for pod size regulation. We investigate pod size differences between two cultivars. The longer pod of 'Tachinagaha' is due to more cell number than in the short pod of 'Iyodaizu'. POD SIZE OF SOYBEAN 8 (GmPSS8), a member of the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) family, is identified as a candidate gene for determining pod length in a major QTL for pod length. Expression of GmPSS8 in pods is higher in 'Tachinagaha' than 'Iyodaizu' and is highest in early pod development. The difference in expression is the result of an in/del polymorphism which includes an enhancer motif. Treatment with an HSP70 inhibitor reduces pod length and cell number in the pod. Additionally, shorter pods in Arabidopsis hsp70-1/-4 double mutant are rescued by overexpression of GmPSS8. Our results identify GmPSS8 as a target gene for pod length, which regulates cell number during early pod development through regulation of transcription in soybean. Our findings provide the mechanisms of pod development and suggest possible strategies enhancing yield potential in soybean. The pod is a crucial organ for soybean seed production. One of the HSP70 family genes is associated with pod size regulation mediated by duration of cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a snake robot that has a long brush and a movement of the robot to clean the entire inner pipe walls. The snake robot is composed of two parts; the cleaning part which touches the long brush to the pipe wall and the pulling part which pulls the brush while generating slips. The two parts are connected by a passive roll joint and the two parts are twisted at different velocities respectively. In order to clean the entire pipe wall, we estimate a condition in which uncleaned areas are most likely to occur through preliminary experiments and adjust the rolling velocities of the cleaning part and the pulling part so that the brush cleans the entire pipe wall. The effectiveness of the proposed method was verified by simulations and experiments using the robot. We confirmed that the robot moved while slipping in the pipe axis direction and the robot cleaned the pipe wall at a high cleaning rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate early (t < 1 day) kilonova from a neutron star merger by deriving atomic opacities for all the elements from La to Ra (Z = 57–88) ionized to the states V–XI. The opacities at high temperatures for the elements with open f -shells (e.g., lanthanides) are exceptionally high, reaching κ exp ∼ 3 × 10 3 cm 2 g − 1 at λ ≤ 1000 Å at T ∼ 70,000 K, whereas the opacities at the same temperature and wavelengths for the elements with open d -, p -, and s -shells reach κ exp ∼ 1 , 0.1, and 0.01 cm2 g−1, respectively. Using the new opacity data set, we derive early kilonovae for various compositions and density structures expected for neutron star merger ejecta. The bolometric luminosity of the lanthanide-rich ejecta shows distinct signatures and is fainter than that of the lanthanide-free ejecta. Early luminosity is suppressed by the presence of a thin outer layer, agreeing with the results of Kasen et al. and Banerjee et al. The early brightness in the Swift UVOT filters and in the optical g, r, i, and z filters for a source at 100 Mpc are about ∼22–19.5 and ∼21–20 mag, respectively, at t ∼ 0.1 day. Such kilonovae are ideal targets for the upcoming UV satellites, such as ULTRASAT, UVEX, and DORADO, and the upcoming surveys, e.g., the Vera Rubin Observatory. We suggest that the gray opacities that reproduce the bolometric light curves with and without lanthanides are ∼1–10 and ∼0.8 cm2 g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular dichroism (CD) studies on poly(1,4‐phenylene)s bearing a chiral side chain in the aggregated conditions were carried out. Little CD was observed in a solution form, while addition of a poor solvent into the polyphenylene solution induced aggregation and a strong CD was observed, accordingly. Applying the controlled degree of polymerization (DP) of poly(1,4‐phenylene) in the use of bidentate diphosphine Chiraphos as a ligand for the nickel catalyst, the relationship of DP with CD strength was studied to reveal to show the highest CD at the DP=84 (gabs=ca. 2×10−2). It was also found that the related aggregation was observed in good solvent 1,2‐dichloroethane upon standing the solution at 4 °C for 3–23 days to observe gabs=ca. 10−1. Studies on the substituent effect of poly(1,4‐phenylene) suggested that CD behaviors were dependent on the type of non‐chiral substituent on the aromatic ring as well as the side‐chain chirality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm is a perennial plant of the Zingiberaceae family widely distributed in the subtropical and tropical areas of South America, Oceania, and Asia. Multiple plant parts of A. zerumbet have been traditionally used as medicinal sources, each with different clinical uses. These variations may arise from differences among the chemical components and/or accumulations of the active compounds in each part. Therefore, this review summarizes previous studies on the phytochemicals in A. zerumbet and reveals the similarities and differences among the chemical constituents of its multiple medicinal parts, including the leaves, rhizomes, fruits, seeds, and flowers. The results contribute to the scientific validation of the traditional understanding that A. zerumbet possesses different medicinal properties in each plant part. In addition, this review provides directions for further studies on the phytochemicals of this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study the differences between malignant hypermetabolic axillary lymphadenopathy (MHL) and COVID-19 vaccine-associated axillary hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy (VAHL) using clinical imaging. Methods: A total of 1096 patients underwent Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT) between 1 June 2021 and 30 April 2022 at Ehime University Hospital. In total, 188 patients with axillary lymphadenopathy after the COVID-19 vaccination were evaluated. The patients were classified into three groups such as VAHL (n = 27), MHL (n = 21), and equivocal hypermetabolic axillary lymphadenopathy (EqHL; n = 140). Differences in lymph node (LN) swellings were statistically analyzed using clinical imaging (echography, CT, and 18F-FDG PET). Results: MHL included a higher female population (90.5%) owing to a higher frequency of breast cancer (80.9%). Axillary LNs of MHL did not show any LN fatty hilums (0%); however, those of VAHL and EqHL did (15.8 and 36%, respectively). After the logistic regression analysis of the patients who had axillary lymphadenopathy without any LN fatty hilums, the minor axis length and ellipticity (minor axis/major axis) in the largest axillary LN, SUVmax, and Tissue-to-Background Ratio (TBR) were useful in distinguishing malignant lymphadenopathies. A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that a cut-off value of ≥7.3 mm for the axillary LN minor axis (sensitivity: 0.714, specificity: 0.684) and of ≥0.671 for ellipticity (0.667 and 0.773, respectively) in the largest LN with the highest SUVmax and TBR were predictive of MHL. Conclusions: Axillary lymphadenopathy of the minor axis and ellipticity in LN without fatty hilums may be useful to be suspicious for malignancy, even in patients who have received COVID-19 vaccination. Further examinations, such as 18F-FDG PET, are recommended for such patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various metabolites, including phytohormones, phytoalexins, and amino acids, take part in the plant immune system. Herein, we analyzed the effects of L-methionine (Met), a sulfur-containing amino acid, on the plant immune system in tomato. Treatment with low concentrations of Met enhanced the resistance of tomato to a broad range of diseases caused by the hemi-biotrophic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) and the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea (Bc), although it did not induce the production of any antimicrobial substances against these pathogens in tomato leaf tissues. Analyses of gene expression and phytohormone accumulation indicated that Met treatment alone did not activate the defense signals mediated by salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene. However, the salicylic acid-responsive defense gene and the jasmonic acid-responsive gene were induced more rapidly in Met-treated plants after infection with Pst and Bc, respectively. These findings suggest that low concentrations of Met have a priming effect on the phytohormone-mediated immune system in tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the amide proton transfer (APT), tumor blood flow (TBF), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) combined diagnostic value for differentiating intracranial malignant tumors (MTs) from benign tumors (BTs) in young patients, as defined by the 2021 World Health Organization classification of central nervous system tumors. Methods: Fifteen patients with intracranial MTs and 10 patients with BTs aged 0–30 years underwent MRI with APT, pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL), and diffusion-weighted imaging. All tumors were evaluated through the use of histogram analysis and the Mann–Whitney U test to compare 10 parameters for each sequence between the groups. The diagnostic performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The APT maximum, mean, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles were significantly higher in MTs than in BTs; the TBF minimum (min) was significantly lower in MTs than in BTs; TBF kurtosis was significantly higher in MTs than in BTs; the ADC min, 10th, and 25th percentiles were significantly lower in MTs than in BTs (all p < 0.05). The APT 50th percentile (0.900), TBF min (0.813), and ADC min (0.900) had the highest area under the curve (AUC) values of the parameters in each sequence. The AUC for the combination of these three parameters was 0.933. Conclusions: The combination of APT, TBF, and ADC evaluated through histogram analysis may be useful for differentiating intracranial MTs from BTs in young patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Compton camera is a gamma-ray imaging device, especially in the sub-mega-electron volt to higher than mega-electron volt range. Compton cameras have recently attracted attention as an environmental survey tool. However, owing to their limited sensitivity, Compton camera images often suffer from various artifacts, especially when the event statistics are low. To address this challenge, several deep learning models have been proposed to enhance the quality of reconstructed images with limited statistics. However, during the event selection phase of a typical Compton camera image reconstruction, a significant number of events that potentially reflect the source distribution are generally discarded. Effective utilization of these discarded events has the potential to estimate an accurate source distribution from limited statistical data. Thus, we initially developed ComptonNet-v1, a framework designed to directly estimate source distribution by integrating all measured events into a single model. To explicitly implement the difference in contribution between events that interact solely with scatterers, solely with absorbers, or with both, we developed ComptonNet-v2, which integrates these events individually. Consequently, our proposed models exhibited superior performance in both quantitative and qualitative assessments compared with existing models, even under low event statistics. In the future, we plan to implement a more memory-efficient model to estimate the distribution of complex source shapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tick-borne diseases cause economically significant losses to animal production globally, and anaplasmosis and theileriosis are associated with the greatest losses. However, the spread of the relevant pathogens in flocks of domesticated animals in southern Egypt is little understood. Accordingly, in this study, we aimed to determine the prevalences of Anaplasma ovis, Theileria ovis, and Theileria lestoquardi in southern Egyptian sheep and goats through blood tests, and to make a molecular characterization of the A. ovis detected in sheep targeting a specific gene. Results: We collected blood samples collected from 300 sheep and goats (n=150 /species) in Luxor Province in southern Egypt, and analyzed them for the presence of A. ovis, T. ovis and T. lestoquardi with screening by conventional and nested PCR targeting the msp4 and msp5, 18S rRNA, and merozoite surface protein genes. For A. ovis 140/300 samples (46.66%) were positive overall, with 90/150 (60%) and 50/150 (33.33%) positive samples in sheep and goats, respectively. Two major surface protein genes of A. ovis, msp4 and msp5, were sequenced using DNA extracted from sheep and goat blood samples, for phylogenetic analysis and genotyping. The msp4 gene sequence revealed no significant genetic diversity, to contrast to data on A. ovis strains from other countries. For T. lestoquardi, 8/150 (5.33%) samples were positive in sheep, but no samples were positive in goats (0%). For T. ovis, 32/150 (21.33%) samples were positive in sheep, but no samples were positive in goats (0%). Sequencing targeting the merozoite surface protein gene for T. lestoquardi and the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene for T. ovis revealed no significant genetic diversity in the study, another contrast to data on A. ovis strains from other countries. Conclusion: This study provides valuable data on phylogenetic and molecular classifications of A. ovis, T. ovis and T. lestoquardi found in southern Egyptian sheep and goats. It also represents the first report on detection and molecular characterization of T. lestoquardi in southern Egyptian sheep based on the specific merozoite surface protein gene, thus providing valuable data for molecular characterization of this pathogen in southern Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in wood treatment include the use of eco-friendly coatings to improve the wood's dimensional stability and appearance. Assessing coating performance during its service life is critical for establishing a knowledge base for product optimization. Numerous approaches, including microimaging, are available for analyzing coating behavior. In addition to conventional microscopic techniques, high-resolution X-ray microtomography is a tool that provides nondestructive imaging of coatings and their substrates. In this study, we performed two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) visualization of tomographic reconstruction images of two coating types, spray and brush, to observe and assess the distribution of several commercial Japanese coating materials in Fagus crenata. X-ray images and plot profiles were used to determine the penetration depths and thicknesses of coatings. Each coated sample was scanned using X-ray microtomography, which allowed successful visualization and quantification of the coating penetration depth. Chemical content and concentration of the coating materials influenced penetration depth and amount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

o-Carborane is an icosahedral cluster containing boron and has been paid attention as a versatile platform for constructing stimuli-responsive materials with solid-state luminescence properties by suppressing aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), which is the emission annihilation process observed in condensed states, such as concentrated solutions, solids and films. Non-specific intermolecular interactions in the condensed states resulting in ACQ are disturbed by the spherical boron cluster. More recently, it has been demonstrated from several reports that o-carborane is capable of assisting solid-state excimer emission in aryl-modified o-carboranes. Moreover, some of these materials provide unique stimuli-responsiveness. In the commodity design for solid-state luminescent materials, o-carboranes are responsible for disturbing intermolecular interactions and subsequently presenting solid-state luminescence. On the other hand, excimer emission, which is inducible from the intermolecular photophysical process, has been discovered in the solid state based on o-carborane materials. In this manuscript, recent progress in stimuli-responsive luminescent materials via excimer formation will be described. Moreover, as the further potential of o-carborane materials, recent findings on the photo-salient effect which can be induced through excimer formation followed by photoreaction will also be explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Talking to oneself using the second-person pronoun ["you" has been shown to enhance performance and autonomous motivation in English speakers. However, there is a lack of evidence on whether it can be replicated for speakers of other languages, such as Japanese, in which the grammatical subject is usually omitted in daily conversation. Based on self-determination theory, the present study examined the effects of second-person self-talk for a sample of Japanese individuals on task performance, intrinsic motivation, and three styles of extrinsically motivated regulations: identified, introjected, and external. We randomly assigned 411 undergraduate students to either an experimental group (second-person self-talk, first-person self-talk, and non-subject self-talk) or a control group. An anagram task was used to assess performance. No significant difference was found between the four groups in intrinsic motivation or performance. For extrinsic regulations, the results showed that first-person self-talk led to higher external regulation than non-subject self-talk and the control group. The possible reason for contradictory findings with our hypothesis and implications have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tardigrades are small aquatic invertebrates known for their remarkable tolerance to diverse extreme stresses. To elucidate the in vivo mechanisms underlying this extraordinary resilience, methods for genetically manipulating tardigrades have long been desired. Despite our prior success in somatic cell gene editing by microinjecting Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) into the body cavity of tardigrades, the generation of gene-edited individuals remained elusive. In this study, employing an extremotolerant parthenogenetic tardigrade species, Ramazzottius varieornatus, we established conditions that led to the generation of gene-edited tardigrade individuals. Drawing inspiration from the direct parental CRISPR (DIPA-CRISPR) technique employed in several insects, we simply injected a concentrated Cas9 RNP solution into the body cavity of parental females shortly before their initial oviposition. This approach yielded gene-edited G0 progeny. Notably, only a single allele was predominantly detected at the target locus for each G0 individual, indicative of homozygous mutations. By co-injecting single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODNs) with Cas9 RNPs, we achieved the generation of homozygously knocked-in G0 progeny, and these edited alleles were inherited by G1/G2 progeny. This is the first example of heritable gene editing in the entire phylum of Tardigrada. This establishment of a straightforward method for generating homozygous knockout/knock-in individuals not only facilitates in vivo analyses of the molecular mechanisms underpinning extreme tolerance, but also opens up avenues for exploring various topics, including Evo-Devo, in tardigrades. Author summary: Tardigrades, tiny aquatic invertebrates also known as water bears, are celebrated for their extraordinary resilience to various extreme stresses like dehydration, radiation, and unusual ranges of temperature and pressure. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of this resilience not only satisfies scientific curiosity but also holds promise for the development of innovative technologies for the dry preservation of biomaterials like biomedicines and vaccines. However, the lack of a heritable genome manipulation technology has hindered in vivo analyses of these mechanisms. This study addresses this longstanding challenge in the field. Employing an extremotolerant parthenogenetic tardigrade species, we established conditions that enable the efficient production of gene-manipulated individuals. Using these conditions, the simple injection of Cas9 genome-editing components into parental females leads to the generation of knockout/knock-in progeny. Unlike similar approaches in other animals, we obtained mutant progeny predominantly carrying a single type of mutation, namely, homozygous mutants, which significantly facilitates downstream analyses. This is the first report of a heritable gene-editing method in the entire group of tardigrades. The establishment of this straightforward method for generating gene-manipulated tardigrades not only facilitates in vivo analyses of the molecular mechanisms underpinning extreme tolerance, but also opens up avenues for exploring various topics, including Evo-Devo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flood management due to global warming is one of the most important issues to be considered worldwide. Communicating about flood risk between government and residents is important for enhancing awareness of residents’ evacuation. However, not enough risk information is provided to residents for evacuation from floods (e.g. where, when, and how to evacuate). Therefore, an evacuation analysis linked with a time series of inundation depths was conducted in Kawajima Town, which is surrounded by a ring levee in the watershed of the Arakawa River, Japan. According to the analysis of evacuation by walking, the evacuation should be started by the time an evacuation instruction is issued to avoid getting caught in flooding before reaching shelters. Although the analysis of evacuation by car did not consider road and bridge closures, it indicated that approximately 40% of the town’s residents would likely have difficulty evacuating to even the nearest bridge or road. The central and southern part of the town was also identified as an area where a wide-area evacuation, i.e. outside the town, would be difficult if road and bridge closures were considered. The risk map identifies high-risk areas and districts in the central, southern, and southwestern parts of the town. It also indicates the need for structures for emergent use, such as small mounds or towers for evacuation starting at the breaching time (BT) in these areas. Since there is no area where all residents can evacuate at the start of breaching time, it is necessary to start evacuation to shelters immediately after the evacuation instruction is issued. Because the number of municipalities with similar problems will increase in the future in Japan, the study of evacuation plans from flood inundation for residents in Kawajima Town is expected to serve as a model case for other municipalities to consider. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience difficulties in daily life and demanding self-care needs. The goal of our support for patients is to ease their difficulties and improve their belief in their capacity to self-manage their disease (self-efficacy), by increasing their ability for self-care. The nurse's contribution is vital in empowering patients and supporting them to better manage their disease. There is evidence that higher nurse staffing levels are associated with better patient outcomes in acute care settings, but little is known about the outpatient setting. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of multidisciplinary team care with abundant nurse staffing levels on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) among patients with IBD, encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), in clinical remission. Methods: Patients with IBD in clinical remission were included because disease activity influences the patient's subjective evaluation. A total of 499 valid responses from two different sources were analyzed: 318 from a specialized IBD clinic with abundant nurse staffing and a multidisciplinary care team (UC: 83, CD: 235) and 181 from an online survey panel (UC: 109, CD: 72). The IBD Self-Efficacy Scale (IBD-SES) and the difficulty of life scale (DLS) were used as disease-specific PROMs. Results: In two multiple regression models adjusted by background characteristics (age, sex, diagnosis [UC/CD], employment status, use of biologics, and disease duration) using the IBD-SES or DLS as a dependent variable, the responses from clinic patients showed a more favorable score (higher self-efficacy or lower difficulty) than the online responses. Conclusions: Multidisciplinary team care with abundant nurse staffing may improve self-efficacy and ease difficulties of life among patients with IBD in clinical remission. These results could help bring attention to nurse staffing in an outpatient setting, which has previously been overlooked, and be the first to provide evidence of its importance in encouraging enhanced staffing levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastics designed to degrade upon exposure to ambient stimuli after use are emerging as promising alternatives to conventional plastics, considering environmental pollution. The so‐called “biodegradable polymers,” which can be degraded by enzymes or microbes, are the most reliable biodegradable polymers, and considerable effort is devoted to their practical application. Several other examples are also developed for the cleavage of chemical bonds in macromolecules, as one part of a vast variety of “stimuli‐responsive polymers,” especially for biomedical applications. These chemical insights provide a design concept that can even be extended to plastic materials. Here, stimuli‐cleavable linkages, drawing from the chemical insights cultivated in biomedical fields, intended for application in degradable plastics, are outlined. As stimuli for polymer degradation, pH changes, photoirradiation, and redox conditions are selected because polymers released in natural environments may inadvertently be exposed to these stimuli. The degradation pathways are grouped into five categories: 1) stimuli‐cleavable linkages, 2) self‐amplifying, 3) self‐immolative, 4) chain shattering, and 5) double responsive. The classification and organization of the stimuli‐cleavable linkages provide insights for designing new, degradable polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Singly‐linked aromatic [22]smaragdyrin BF2 complex dimer was synthesized by the reductive coupling of 16‐brominated [22]smaragdyrin BF2 complex, which was oxidized to a stable diradical with PbO2. As the first example of fused smaragdyrin dimer, a fused [22]smaragdyrin BF2 complex dimer was synthesized by the oxidation of a CuCl‐BF2 complex dimer with FeCl3 and subsequent reduction with NaBH4. After removal of the BF2 group, the singly‐linked and fused aromatic dimers were oxidized to the corresponding antiaromatic [20]smaragdyrin free base dimers. The first oxidation and reduction potentials of these dimers are split depending upon the intramolecular electronic interactions, which are larger for the fused dimers. Despite the large electronic interactions, the aromatic and antiaromatic characters are well preserved in the fused dimers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigate the time–frequency-resolved resonant photon emission from a molecular vibrational oscillator driven by a monochromatic coherent external field. Using the complex spectral analysis of the Liouvillian, which integrates irreversible dissipative phenomena into quantum theory, we elucidate the fundamental processes of photon emission. Indeed, our analytical approach successfully decomposes the emission spectrum into two intrinsic contributions: one from a resonance eigenmode and another from continuous eigenmodes. These components are responsible for incoherent luminescence and coherent scattering photon emission processes, respectively. Our results show that while spontaneous emission dominates in the early stages of the emission process, coherent scattering gradually becomes more pronounced with time. Furthermore, destructive quantum interference between the two components plays a key role in determining the overall shape of the emission spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of portable navigation systems (PNS) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) has become increasingly prevalent, with second-generation PNS (sPNS) demonstrating superior accuracy in the lateral decubitus position compared to first-generation PNS. However, few studies have compared different types of sPNS. This study retrospectively compares the accuracy and clinical outcomes of two different types of sPNS instruments in patients undergoing THA. Methods: A total of 158 eligible patients who underwent THA at a single institution between 2019 and 2022 were enrolled in the study, including 89 who used an accelerometer-based PNS with handheld infrared stereo cameras in the Naviswiss group (group N) and 69 who used an augmented reality (AR)-based PNS in the AR-Hip group (group A). Accuracy error, navigation error, clinical outcomes, and preparation time were compared between the two groups. Results: Accuracy errors for Inclination were comparable between group N (3.5° ± 3.0°) and group A (3.5° ± 3.1°) (p = 0.92). Accuracy errors for anteversion were comparable between group N (4.1° ± 3.1°) and group A (4.5° ± 4.0°) (p = 0.57). The navigation errors for inclination (group N: 2.9° ± 2.7°, group A: 3.0° ± 3.2°) and anteversion (group N: 4.3° ± 3.5°, group A: 4.3° ± 4.1°) were comparable between the groups (p = 0.86 and 0.94, respectively). The preparation time was shorter in group A than in group N (p = 0.036). There were no significant differences in operative time (p = 0.255), intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.387), or complications (p = 0.248) between the two groups. Conclusion: An Accelerometer-based PNS using handheld infrared stereo cameras and AR-based PNS provide similar accuracy during THA in the lateral decubitus position, with a mean error of 3°–4° for both inclination and anteversion, though the AR-based PNS required a shorter preparation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Continuous monitoring of relative blood volume (percentage BV) in hemodialysis (HD) is critical for determining dry weight and preventing intradialytic hypotension. However, the cause of the BV variation remains unknown. This research aimed to examine factors that influence the percentage BV. Methods: We devised a formula based on coefficients ("a," "τ," and "b") to predict changes in percentage BV. "a" denotes a significant decrease in percentage BV in the early stages of HD. "τ" represents the transition from early to late phase of HD. "b" denotes the slope of the decrease in percentage BV in the late phase of HD. We measured the percentage BV in 18 patients with end-stage renal disease. The coefficients were estimated by fitting experimental data from patients using a least squares optimization algorithm. A correlation analysis of these parameters and patient predialysis data was performed. Results: Ultrafiltration rate (UFR) was found to be negatively correlated with "b" (r = −0.851, p < 0.01). However, UFR was not significantly related to "a." Predialysis serum total protein level was negatively correlated with "a" (r = −0.531, p = 0.042). Predialysis serum albumin and predialysis sodium were not significantly correlated with "a" and "τ." Plasma osmolarity did not have a significant relationship with "a" and "τ." Discussion/Conclusion: UFR influenced the decrease in percentage BV in the late phase but did not influence the decrease of percentage BV in the early phase. "a" was associated with predialysis serum total protein level but not with plasma osmolality or predialysis sodium. This implies that colloid oncotic pressure is important for plasma refilling immediately after dialysis begins. During the change of percentage BV, the decrease in the early phase of dialysis was not related to UFR, but related to other parameters, especially predialysis total protein level. A decrease in the late phase of dialysis is related to UFR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea contains only general rules concerning the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf. However, international courts and tribunals have, within their compass, elaborated the law of maritime delimitation through their jurisprudence, thereby maintaining the resilience of the Convention in a particular context of maritime delimitations. The jurisprudence is not a panacea, however. As regards the implications of maritime delimitation judgments for third States in the same region, for example, the jurisprudence has not been consistent. Lack of consistency of the jurisprudence may undermine the predictability of the law of maritime delimitation and weaken the resilience of the Convention. This article critically assesses the approach of the International Court of Justice to the presence of third States in the process of maritime delimitation, by analysing the Nicaragua v. Colombia case and the Costa Rica v. Nicaragua case, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Special Issue, based on an international conference commemorating 40 years of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC), Copenhagen, March 2023, examines emerging issues of resilience of the Convention. More than 40 years have passed since the adoption of the LOSC. Currently, the LOSC faces many challenges that were unforeseen at the time of its adoption in 1982. An essential question thus arises as to whether and how it is possible to address these unforeseen issues under the LOSC. Here, resilience of the LOSC must be envisaged. The six articles in this Special Issue provide an insight into the resilience of the LOSC, examining some cutting-edge matters the LOSC faces today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of NEDO's international demonstration projects, a large‐capacity hybrid battery storage system which consists of two types of battery cells with different charge‐discharge characteristics was constructed in the state of Lower Saxony in the Federal Republic of Germany. By using the hybrid battery system has a lithium‐ion which has an advantage in short time and high rate, and a sodium‐sulfur battery (NAS) which has an advantage in long time and low rate, the tender participation in the balancing power market in Germany had been executed. The hybrid battery storage system could successfully drive and provided services for primary and secondary control reserves, elimination of power imbalance, and reactive power injection, as well as a combination of these services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of various kidney diseases. Kidney perivascular cells (pericytes/fibroblasts) are responsible for producing proinflammatory molecules, promoting immune cell infiltration, and enhancing inflammation. Vascular adhesion protein-1, expressed in kidney perivascular cells, is an ectoenzyme that catalyzes the oxidative deamination of primary amines with the production of hydrogen peroxide in the extracellular space. Our study demonstrated that blocking this enzyme suppressed hydrogen peroxide production and neutrophil infiltration, thereby reducing renal ischemia–reperfusion injury. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) signaling was also observed to play an essential role in the regulation of perivascular inflammation. S1P, which is produced in kidney perivascular cells, is transported into the extracellular space via spinster homolog 2, and then binds to S1P receptor-1 expressed in perivascular cells. Upon injury, inflammatory signaling in perivascular cells is enhanced by this pathway, thereby promoting immune cell infiltration and subsequent fibrosis. Furthermore, inhibition of S1P transport by spinster homolog 2 reduces kidney fibrosis. Hypoxia-inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors can restore the capacity for erythropoietin production in kidney perivascular cells. Animal data suggested that these drugs could also alleviate kidney and lipid inflammation although the precise mechanism is still unknown. Neuroimmune interactions have been attracting significant attention due to their potential to benefit patients with inflammatory diseases. Vagus nerve stimulation is one of the most promising strategies for harnessing neuroimmune interactions and attenuating inflammation associated with various diseases, including kidney disease. Using cutting-edge tools, the vagal afferents–C1 neurons–sympathetic nervous system–splenic nerve–spleen–kidney axis responsible for kidney protection induced by vagus nerve stimulation was identified in our study. Further research is required to decipher other crucial systems that control kidney inflammation and to determine whether these novel strategies can be applied to patients with kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Japan, care-giving sons are noted for their high rates of abuse of care recipients. This study revealed, for the first time, the difficulties unique to sons caring for their mothers. All sons used long-term care insurance services. However, they provided care that could not be covered by such public services while harbouring psychological distress. In this study, we interviewed 13 sons living with their older mothers as the primary carer and conducted a thematic analysis focusing on their psychological distress. As part of our study findings, we have identified nine themes during analysis: uncomfortable feelings that cannot be mitigated as a son; feeling of futility in being unrecognised as a carer; fear of losing something important; a strong sense of responsibility for one's mother's life; disappointment in being unable to obtain understanding and co-operation from one's siblings in providing care; irritation and anger towards one's wayward mother; guilt about treatment of one's mother; sense of exhaustion due to demanding care; and experiencing hopelessness and despair. Thus, it is important to understand what psychological distress carers experience and to consider possible approaches for their support. The study findings provide suggestions for long-term care support in regions, such as East Asia, where the numbers of son carers are increasing inevitably owing to declining birth rates and ageing population, as in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: A key perspective in examining dignity, which is important for older adults, is spirituality. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the components of spirituality in older adults through interviews based on dignity therapy (DT). Methodological Design and Justification: Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenology was applied to understand experiences rooted in the life world of older adults from their own perspective. Ethical Issues and Approval: This study was approved by the ethical review committee of the author's university. All participants provided consent to participate. Research Methods: Semi‐structured interviews based on DT were conducted with 11 community‐dwelling adults aged 65 years or older who were using some form of medical or social services. The interviews were transcribed, and the text was analysed based on Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Results: Four themes were identified as components of spirituality in older adults: trauma, being silent about hard experiences, forming connections and taking on challenges and discovering one's own spirit. The participants felt a sense of helplessness and frustration as they dealt with traumatic events. Feelings of shame, guilt and/or resignation prevented them from talking about the distress they were experiencing, but they were able to move forward after receiving emotional support and having opportunities to share with others. These processes led to the discovery of a new self. Study Limitations: This study assessed the experiences of older adults in Japan and may therefore have been influenced by the social background and culture of Japan. Future research should target older adults from a variety of social backgrounds as well as those with specific health conditions. Conclusion: The findings suggest the importance of creating opportunities for healthcare professionals as well as family, friends and community members to help older adults reflect on their lives and talk about their accomplishments and unresolved issues. Doing so should help older adults maintain their dignity while remaining aware of their mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give an example of a pair of real Banach spaces such that they are neither linearly isomorphic nor isomorphic with respect to the structure of Birkhoff–James orthogonality, but have mutually homeomorphic geometric structure spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous study, we developed a novel analytical method to directly and simultaneously detect taste- and odor-active compounds using graphite carbon black (GCB)-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS). In this study, we aimed to evaluate food quality using a variety of soy sauces using the method to discriminate each product. Graphite carbon black-laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry allowed the provision of hundreds of MS peaks derived from soy sauces in both positive and negative modes without any tedious sample pretreatments. Principal component analysis using the obtained MS peaks clearly distinguished three soy sauce products based on the manufacturing countries (Japan, China, and India). Moreover, this method identified distinct MS peaks for discrimination, which significantly correlated with their quantitative amounts in the products. Thus, GCB-LDI-MS analysis was established as a simple and rapid technique for food analysis, illustrating the chemical patterns of food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is present in various foods and contains a choline moiety such as in glycerophosphocholine (GPC). However, the potential of LPC as a choline source remains unclear. This study investigated the single-dose pharmacokinetics of 480 mg soy-derived LPC in 12 healthy men compared with that of either soy oil with the same lipid amount (placebo) or GPC with the same choline amount. Both LPC and GPC supplementation increased plasma choline, serum phospholipid, and serum triglyceride concentrations, but neither of them significantly elevated plasma trimethylamine N -oxide concentration. In addition, although the intake of LPC slightly increased plasma LPC16:0, LPC18:2, and total LPC concentrations, their concentrations remained within physiological ranges. No adverse events were attributed to the LPC supplementation. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to compare LPC and GPC pharmacokinetics in humans and shows that LPC can be a source of choline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the mass utilization and total efficiency of miniature direct current (DC) ion thrusters, this article proposes a graphene–oxide–semiconductor (GOS) electron source as a cathode in the discharge chamber and neutralizer. To apply the GOS device to the discharge chamber, multiple electron sources were positioned downstream to provide sufficient electrons for plasma generation. Accordingly, the anode was placed upstream of the discharge chamber; thus, the potential structure was inverted from that of a conventional device. Based on this concept, two discharge chamber types were developed with different magnetic field configurations (1- and 2-Cusp types) using a filament cathode and their performance was experimentally evaluated. Probe diagnostics results showed that plasma was generated mainly in the center of the discharge chamber in 1-Cusp, whereas it was generated in the entire discharge chamber in 2-Cusp. Regarding ion beam extraction with 211-hole grids, 1-Cusp exhibited a higher screen current than 2-Cusp. However, using 391-hole grids with an expanded ion-extraction region, 2-Cusp outperformed 1-Cusp with 211-hole grids, attaining a minimum discharge loss of 273 W/A (excluding filament power) and a maximum mass utilization efficiency of 0.48. • Miniature DC ion thruster with a potential-inverted discharge chamber was developed. • Two different magnetic field configurations were designed. • A Langmuir probe was used to obtain the plasma density distribution. • A uniform plasma density distribution affects the thruster performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The diagnosis of drug‐induced liver injury (DILI) is challenging. We modified the revised electronic version of the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) for the diagnosis of DILI (RECAM), the scoring system developed in US and Spanish cohorts in 2022, and developed RECAM‐J 2023 to align with the clinical practice in Japan. In the current study, we introduce RECAM‐J 2023 and verify its performance in the context of Japanese patients with DILI. Methods: After translation of RECAM into Japanese, modifications were made to develop RECAM‐J 2023 without any alteration to the scores. To examine the validity and performance of RECAM‐J 2023, clinical information on DILI and non‐DILI cases in Japan were retrospectively collected. The diagnosis of DILI was made by expert's decision. Then we scored each case using RECAM‐J 2023, and calculated area under curve (AUC) values for identification for DILI. Results: We collected data from 538 DILI and 128 non‐DILI cases. The sum of highly probable (HP) and probable (PR) cases categorized by RECAM‐J 2023 were only 206 (38%) in DILI cases. As the primary cause of low scores was the deduction with missing hepatitis virus markers, which is unlikely to be an issue in prospective applications, we rescored without these deductions. At this time, the sum of HP and PR was raised to 421 (78%). The AUCs of RECAM‐J 2023 without deductions were 0.70 and 0.88 for identifying at least HP, and at least PR, respectively. Conclusion: RECAM‐J 2023, when prospectively used without any missing hepatitis virus markers, provides acceptable performance for identifying at least PR DILI cases in Japanese daily clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several reports have described dupilumab‐induced eosinophilic pneumonia (EP) after treatment with dupilumab in patients with type 2 inflammatory disease. Other reports have suggested the efficacy of dupilumab for chronic EP (CEP). Whether dupilumab can be continued in patients with type 2 inflammatory disease who develop EP during dupilumab treatment remains unclear. We present herein three cases with different clinical presentations involving dupilumab and EP. In Case 1, dupilumab was discontinued because of dupilumab‐induced EP during the treatment of asthma. In Case 2, although pre‐existing idiopathic EP worsened during the treatment of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS), dupilumab was continued. In Case 3, CEP and ECRS were successfully treated with dupilumab and corticosteroids were discontinued. In conclusion, treatment with dupilumab in patients with type 2 inflammatory disease and idiopathic EP is worth considering if the benefits are deemed to outweigh the risks and careful attention is given to the clinical course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Falls are themost frequent accident experienced by inpatients in hospitals. As falls affect patient outcomes, high fall risk factors should be studied to prevent falls and improve patient safety. However, the relationship between hospital unit characteristics and fall risk has never been assessed. Purpose: This studywas designed to identify the unit characteristics significantly related to fall risk. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the medical records of patients hospitalized in a Japanese academic hospital between 2018 and 2019. This study quantified unit activities and utilizedDiagnosis Procedure Combination data to examine unit characteristics related to falls based on unit day. Results: Data on 16,307 patients were included in the analysis, and 355 unit days were certified as fall events. Based on patient condition and medical treatment, the results identified antineoplastic injections, radiation therapy, aseptic treatment room, and functional status of partly assisted transfers,meals, and oral care as unit characteristics associated with increased fall events. Decreased nursing time per patient at night (odds ratio [OR] = 0.75, p = .04) and higher numbers of partially assisted transfer patients were also identified as unit characteristics associated with higher fall incidence rates (OR = 5.56, p = .01). Conclusions: The results of this study are expected to assist nurses to predict falls based on unit characteristics; reducing nursing time in the units was found to be a factor associated with higher fall risk. Nursemanagersmust understand the unit-related fall risk factors, appropriately assign nurse staffing numbers, and demonstrate nursing leadership to prevent falls in their units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the long-term visual outcomes after initial treatment with combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) or aflibercept treat-and-extend (TAE) monotherapy in patients with pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV). Methods: Patients diagnosed with PNV, initially treated with PDT combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) monotherapy in the TAE protocol and followed up for at least 6 months, were included in the study. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Survival analysis was performed, in which deterioration in logMAR visual acuity by 0.1 or 0.3 is defined as "death." The annual number of treatments was also analyzed. Sub-analysis was performed on 33 patients diagnosed with PNV without polypoidal lesions. Results: This study included 46 patients (23 in the initial combined PDT group and 23 in the IVA TAE group). Mean age, sex, mean baseline logMAR visual acuity, or duration of observation (3.6 ± 3.2 years vs. 3.1 ± 1.9 years) in both groups were comparable. As for visual outcome, no significant differences were found in survival analysis based on worsening of 0.1 or 0.3 logMAR (3-year survival; 26% vs. 26%, 91% vs. 90%, respectively). Meanwhile, the additional number of anti-VEGF injections per year was significantly lower in the initial combined PDT group than in the IVA TAE group (1.0 ± 1.3 vs. 4.1 ± 1.5, p < 0.0001). No significant differences were found in the number of additional PDTs per year (0.07 ± 0.20 vs. 0.02 ± 0.09, p = 0.27). Similar results were found in a sub-analysis of 33 patients without polyps. Conclusion: In the treatment of PNV, regardless of the presence of polyps, the long-term visual outcomes were similar between the initial combined PDT and IVA TAE monotherapy. However, the annual number of anti-VEGF injections was lower in the initial combined PDT group than in the aflibercept TAE group, whereas that of PDT was comparable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a control method to realize trajectory tracking for snake robots on multiple inclined planes. By explicitly controlling the relative relationship between the robot and the environmental plane, the robot gets into contact with the environmental plane and operates while switching the grounded plane during propulsion. The robot is controlled based on a kinematic model to follow the position and orientation of the head to target trajectory along each plane. The kinematic model is derived by combining the velocity constraint indicating that the wheels do not slip laterally and the kinematic relationship between the robot and the environmental plane. By switching the constraint conditions and the controlled variables, both the head trajectory tracking and maintaining the appropriate relative relationship between the robot and the environmental plane is realized. The effectiveness of the proposed control method was verified through experiments using a physical simulator, and the proposed methods realized the head trajectory tracking on the multiple planes. However, in experiments with actual robot, errors in joint angles and position and rotation of the head accumulated in the direction of the robot body, making it impossible to maintain the appropriate relative relationship, and propulsion was not achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The inflammatory bowel disease self-efficacy scale (IBD-SES) is an instrument used across many countries to measure important health outcomes of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to develop and validate a substantially shorter version of this scale to reduce patients' response burden. Methods: A total of 919 patients with IBD, 482 recruited from an IBD clinic and 437 recruited online, completed the Japanese version of the original, 29-item IBD-SES. These data were then used to develop a shorter version of the scale. The original 29 items of the IBD-SES were reduced with three analytic steps: assessing ceiling and floor effect, testing correlation between items, and assessing test-retest reliability. The resulting 13-item IBD-SES was evaluated for construct validity by confirmatory factor analysis, criterion validity by Pearson correlation coefficients with original version, and internal consistency by item-total correlations and the Cronbach's α coefficient. Results: The short version consisted of the same four subscales "managing stress and emotions," "managing medical care," "managing symptoms and disease," and "maintaining remission" as the original scale. The fit indices of the final model were as follows: normed chi-square, 7.18 (p < 0.001); comparative fit index, 0.94; goodness-of-fit index, 0.93; adjusted goodness-of-fit index, 0.89; parsimony goodness-of-fit index, 0.60; and root mean square error of approximation, 0.084. Correlation of each subscale with the original scale was high (0.97–0.98). Cronbach's α for each subscale ranged from 0.68 to 0.86. Conclusions: A short version of the IBD-SES was developed. The results confirmed the improved validity, reliability, and psychometric properties of the IBD-SES. Trial registration: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular junctions, which involve sandwiching molecular structures between electrodes, play a crucial role in molecular electronics. Recent advances in this field have revealed the vital role of organometallic chemistry in the investigation of molecular junctions, which has added to their well-known contributions to catalysis and materials chemistry. This review summarizes the recent examples of organometallic chemistry applications in molecular junctions, which can be categorized into three types, i.e., class I encompassing molecular junctions with bridging organometallic complexes, class II involving molecular junctions with covalent and noncovalent metal electrode-carbon bonds, and class III comprising organometallic reactions within molecular junctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dach1 is highly expressed in normal podocytes, but this expression rapidly disappears after podocyte injury. To investigate the role of Dach1 in podocytes in vivo, we analyzed global, podocyte-specific, and inducible Dach1 knockout mice. Global Dach1 knockout (Dach1-/-) mice were assessed immediately after birth because they die within a day. The kidneys of Dach1-/- mice were slightly smaller than those of control mice but maintained a normal structure and normal podocyte phenotypes, including ultrastructure. To study the role of Dach1 in mature podocytes, we generated Dach1 knockout mice by mating Dach1fl/fl mice with Nphs1-Cre or ROSA-CreERT2 mice. Due to inefficient Cre recombination, only a small number of podocytes lacked Dach1 staining in these mice. However, all eleven Nphs1-Cre/Dach1fl/fl mice displayed abnormal albuminuria, and seven (63%) of them developed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Among 13 ROSA-CreERT2/Dach1fl/fl mice, eight (61%) exhibited abnormal albuminuria after treatment with tamoxifen, and five (38%) developed early sclerotic lesions. These results indicate that while Dach1 does not determine the fate of differentiation into podocytes, it is indispensable for maintaining the normal integrity of mature podocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linkage between growth rate and feeding success has been shown to strengthen the effects of early growth rate on later growth rate in the early life history of fish. However, the growth–feeding linkage largely remains to be tested at the individual level within the same populations/cohorts. We examined the growth–feeding linkage for multiple populations/cohorts in Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus larvae and Pacific round herring Etrumeus micropus larvae, through otolith microstructure analysis, based on samples collected from the commercial fishery for larval fish in the Kii Channel, Japan. The three growth–feeding mechanisms, which are based on the respective potential advantages of larger somatic size, higher growth rate, and earlier morphological development for achieving feeding success, were tested to understand how growth rate relates to feeding success. The “somatic size” mechanism was supported for all of six samples for anchovy larvae and three of four samples for round herring larvae. The “growth rate” mechanism was supported for two of six samples for anchovy larvae and three of four samples for round herring larvae. The “morphological development” mechanism was supported for three of four samples for anchovy larvae and all of three samples for round herring larvae. Overall, the present analysis supported the growth–feeding linkage but revealed the dynamics of the growth–feeding mechanisms. All the mechanisms were shown to operate at least for certain populations/cohorts, but none of them were universally effective over all populations/cohorts across the two species. Understanding the dynamics of the growth–feeding mechanisms would provide precious hints for considering strategies of predicting recruitment dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Renal impairment is a predictor of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) severity. No studies have compared COVID-19 outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and patients with impaired renal function without a prior diagnosis of CKD. This study aimed to identify the impact of pre-existing impaired renal function without CKD on COVID-19 outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study included 3,637 patients with COVID-19 classified into three groups by CKD history and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on referral: Group 1 (n = 2,460), normal renal function without a CKD history; Group 2 (n = 905), impaired renal function without a CKD history; and Group 3 (n = 272), history of CKD. We compared the clinical characteristics of these groups and assessed the effect of CKD and impaired renal function on critical outcomes (requirement for respiratory support with high-flow oxygen devices, invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygen, and death during hospitalization) using multivariable logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease) and incidence of inflammatory responses (white blood counts, and C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and D-dimer levels) and complications (bacterial infection and heart failure) were higher in Groups 2 and 3 than that in Group 1. The incidence of critical outcomes was 10.8%, 17.7%, and 26.8% in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The mortality rate and the rate of requiring IMV support was lowest in Group 1 and highest in Group 3. Compared with Group 1, the risk of critical outcomes was higher in Group 2 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–1.70, P = 0.030) and Group 3 (aOR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.36–2.78, P < 0.001). Additionally, the eGFR was significantly associated with critical outcomes in Groups 2 (odds ratio [OR]: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.64–4.98, P < 0.001) and 3 (OR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.08–3.23, P = 0.025) only. Conclusions: Clinicians should consider pre-existing CKD and impaired renal function at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis for the management of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report highlights the first pediatric case of pilocytic astrocytoma with BRAF V599ins mutation, successfully treated with dabrafenib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

H-poor Type I superluminous supernovae (SLSNe I) are characterized by O ii lines around 4000–4500 Å in pre-/near-maximum spectra, the so-called W-shaped O ii lines. As these lines are from relatively high excitation levels, they have been considered a sign of nonthermal processes, which may provide a hint of the power sources of SLSNe I. However, the conditions for these lines to appear have not been well understood. In this work, we systematically calculate synthetic spectra to reproduce the observed spectra of eight SLSNe I, parameterizing departure coefficients from the nebular approximation in the supernova ejecta (expressed as b neb). We find that most of the observed spectra can be well reproduced with b neb ≲ 10, which means that no strong departure is necessary for the formation of the W-shaped O ii lines. We also show that the appearance of the W-shaped O ii lines is sensitive to temperature; only spectra with temperatures in the range of T ∼ 14,000–16,000 K can produce the W-shaped O ii lines without large departures. Based on this, we constrain the nonthermal ionization rate near the photosphere. Our results suggest that spectral features of SLSNe I can give independent constraints on the power source through the nonthermal ionization rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]