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Instructor Talk-noncontent language used by instructors in classrooms-is a recently defined and promising variable for better understanding classroom dynamics. Having previously characterized the Instructor Talk framework within the context of a single course, we present here our results surrounding the applicability of the Instructor Talk framework to noncontent language used by instructors in novel course contexts. We analyzed Instructor Talk in eight additional biology courses in their entirety and in 61 biology courses using an emergent sampling strategy. We observed widespread use of Instructor Talk with variation in the amount and category type used. The vast majority of Instructor Talk could be characterized using the originally published Instructor Talk framework, suggesting the robustness of this framework. Additionally, a new form of Instructor Talk-Negatively Phrased Instructor Talk, language that may discourage students or distract from the learning process-was detected in these novel course contexts. Finally, the emergent sampling strategy described here may allow investigation of Instructor Talk in even larger numbers of courses across institutions and disciplines. Given its widespread use, potential influence on students in learning environments, and ability to be sampled, Instructor Talk may be a key variable to consider in future research on teaching and learning in higher education.

Instructor Talk--noncontent language used by instructors in classrooms--is a recently defined and promising variable for better understanding classroom dynamics. Having previously characterized the Instructor Talk framework within the context of a single course, we present here our results surrounding the applicability of the Instructor Talk framework to noncontent language used by instructors in novel course contexts. We analyzed Instructor Talk in eight additional biology courses in their entirety and in 61 biology courses using an emergent sampling strategy. We observed widespread use of Instructor Talk with variation in the amount and category type used. The vast majority of Instructor Talk could be characterized using the originally published Instructor Talk framework, suggesting the robustness of this framework. Additionally, a new form of Instructor Talk--Negatively Phrased Instructor Talk, language that may discourage students or distract from the learning process--was detected in these novel course contexts. Finally, the emergent sampling strategy described here may allow investigation of Instructor Talk in even larger numbers of courses across institutions and disciplines. Given its widespread use, potential influence on students in learning environments, and ability to be sampled, Instructor Talk may be a key variable to consider in future research on teaching and learning in higher education.

Dynamic inversion of the planar-chiral responses of a metasurface is experimentally demonstrated in the terahertz regime. To realize this inversion, the critical transition of the checkerboard-like metallic structures is used. Resonant structures with planar chirality and their complementary enantiomeric patterns are embedded in the checkerboard. Using vanadium dioxide as a variable resistance, the metasurface is implemented in the terahertz regime. The responses of the metasurface to circularly polarized waves are then characterized by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Further, the sign of the circular conversion dichroism, which is closely related to the handedness of the planar chirality of the metasurface, is observed to be inverted at 0.64 THz by varying the temperature. Such invertible planar-chiral responses can be applied practically to the handedness-invertible chiral mirrors.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression, is a subtype of depression typically manifesting in winter. Typical symptoms of SAD, such as an increased need for sleep and carbohydrate cravings associated with increased appetite and weight, are distinct from those of major depression, and the underlying mechanisms of SAD remain unclear. Although laboratory mice are generally considered non-seasonal animals, we observed depression-like behaviors in melatonin-proficient female CBA/N mice maintained under winter-mimicking conditions. Transcriptome analysis of the brains of CBA/N mice maintained under winter- and summer-mimicking conditions revealed changes in the expression of circadian clock genes, including Arntl (also known as Bmal1). We generated Arntl-deficient, melatonin-proficient CBA/N mice using the speed congenic method to examine the role of Arntl in depressive behavior. The tail suspension test in these mice revealed a depressive phenotype. These results suggested that the circadian clock gene Arntl may be involved in winter depression-like behavior., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To assess the incidence of ramp lesions in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and to compare preoperative knee laxity between the patients with and without ramp lesions by using an electromagnetic measurement system (EMS)., Methods: Two hundred six patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction with preoperative EMS measurements were retrospectively enrolled in the present study. The diagnoses of the ramp lesions were made by arthroscopic inspections. The patients with ramp lesions and no other meniscal lesions were allocated to 'ramp group', and the patients without any meniscal lesions were allocated to 'control group'. Before ACL reconstruction under general anaesthesia, the side-to-side difference (SSD) in anterior tibial translation (ATT) during Lachman test (mm) and tibial acceleration (m/s 2 ) of posterior tibial reduction during the pivot-shift test was measured using the EMS. The SSD in tibial internal/external rotation angle (°) at 30, 60 and 90 were further measured using the EMS. The SSD in ATT using KT-2000 was also measured. Knee laxity measurements were compared between two groups using unpaired Student's t test., Results: Ramp lesions were observed in 30 patients (14.7%). Subsequently, 17 patients were allocated to 'ramp group' and 77 patients to 'control group', and there were no statistical differences with regard to background demographics. ATT-SSD during Lachman test was significantly greater in 'ramp group' (9.1 [95% confidence interval, CI: 5.7-12.5] mm vs. 6.2 [95% CI: 5.1-7.3] mm, p = 0.037). However, SSD in ATT with KT-2000, tibial acceleration during pivot-shift test, and SSD in tibial rotational angles were not significantly different between the two groups., Conclusion: Presence of ramp lesion was associated with increased anterior knee laxity during Lachman test, suggesting ramp lesions may need to be addressed at the time of ACL reconstruction., Level of Evidence: IV., (© 2024 European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy.)

Background: Thyroid hormones (TH) regulate the basal metabolic rate through their receptors THRα and THRβ. TH activates lipid metabolism via THRβ, however, an excess amount of TH can lead to tachycardia, bone loss, and muscle wasting through THRα. In recent years, TH analogs that selectively bind to THRβ have gained attention as new agents for treating dyslipidemia and obesity, which continue to pose major challenges to public health worldwide., Methods: We developed a TH analog, ZTA-261, by modifying the existing THRβ-selective agonists GC-1 and GC-24. To determine the THRβ-selectivity of ZTA-261, an in vitro radiolabeled TH displacement assay was conducted. ZTA-261 was intraperitoneally injected into a mouse model of high-fat diet-induced obesity, and its effectiveness in reducing body weight and visceral fat, and improving lipid metabolism was assessed. In addition, its toxicity in the liver, heart, and bone was evaluated., Results: ZTA-261 is more selective towards THRβ than GC-1. Although ZTA-261 is less effective in reducing body weight and visceral fat than GC-1, it is as effective as GC-1 in reducing the levels of serum and liver lipids. These effects are mediated by the same pathway as that of T 3 , a natural TH, as evidenced by similar changes in the expression of TH-induced and lipid metabolism-related genes. The bone, cardiac, and hepatotoxicity of ZTA-261 are significantly lower than those of GC-1., Conclusions: ZTA-261, a highly selective and less toxic THRβ agonist, has the potential to be used as a drug for treating diseases related to lipid metabolism., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

We report the design, synthesis, and biological activity of a series of compounds that exhibit potent mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation 1 (MALT1) inhibition. Structural transformation of the substructures of a starting compound gave amidomethyl derivatives and sulfonylguanidine derivatives that exhibited potent inhibition of MALT1. Compound 37 had good oral bioavailability and showed anti-psoriatic activity in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model after oral administration., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (OUKA), the flexion and extension gaps should be adjusted to prevent mobile-bearing dislocation. The extension gap is recommended to be evaluated in the 20° flexion position to avoid underestimation due to tension of the posterior capsule. However, we have become aware of a looser gap in full extension than in 20° flexion in some instances., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively investigated 83 knees in 60 patients who underwent OUKA between January and June 2020. During surgery, the extension gaps were measured in both full extension and 20° flexion. The knees were classified into two groups: the gap was looser in full extension (0° group), and the gap was equal or looser in 20° flexion than in full extension (20° group). The hip-knee-ankle angle (HKAA), the lateral distal femoral angle (LDFA), the medial proximal tibia angle (MPTA), the posterior tibial slope angle (PTSA), and the last spigot size were also measured and compared between the groups., Results: There was looseness in approximately 41% of knees (34 out of 83 knees) in full extension. In the knees in the 0° group, the last spigot size was significantly smaller (median 1 and 2, P < 0.01). However, there were no significant differences in the HKAA, MPTA, LDFA or PTSA between the groups., Conclusions: Approximately 41% of knees have a looser gap in full extension than in 20° flexion after OUKA. Further investigation is needed to better understand which extension gap should be used in such cases, and to find the contributing factors in loose full extension gap other than the size of the last spigot., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Transition metal oxide nanoparticles have been extensively studied for the development of smart windows which are expected to be a promising technology to save energy in buildings. However, most of them turn blue under UV irradiation. Since the blue coloration affects the color of objects through the windows, the development of materials with a neutral color which hardly disturbs the view is more beneficial. In this work, we prepared a colorless-transparent TiO 2 colloidal solution containing Mo 6+ ions (Mo-TiO 2 ), which turns black via gray in a nitrogen atmosphere under UV irradiation. An absorption peak was observed at 535 nm, which increased with an increase in the UV irradiation time and reached a constant value (Abs max ). The Abs max value increased linearly with an increase in the Mo doping amount. We demonstrated that the photochromic behavior of the Mo-TiO 2 nanoparticles is completely different from that of pure MoO 3 or the mixture of MoO 3 and TiO 2 . In addition, we performed a kinetic study to elucidate the mechanism and found that the coloration rate at the initial stage decreased with an increase in Mo doping amount. Based on the kinetic analysis, the following results are obtained: a color center is formed at a deeper energy level than the Mo dopant level; the number of the color center depends on the Mo doping amount, and the color center traps the photogenerated electrons more rapidly when it is isolated. The black color was bleached by purging the air in the solution. In particular, the gray state which is observed as a transient color is promising for the development of smart windows to shield the sunlight while allowing a clear and undistorted view.

Many organisms living along the coastlines synchronize their reproduction with the lunar cycle. At the time of spring tide, thousands of grass puffers (Takifugu alboplumbeus) aggregate and vigorously tremble their bodies at the water's edge to spawn. To understand the mechanisms underlying this spectacular semilunar beach spawning, we collected the hypothalamus and pituitary from male grass puffers every week for 2 months. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis identified 125 semilunar genes, including genes crucial for reproduction (e.g., gonadotropin-releasing hormone 1 [gnrh1], luteinizing hormone β subunit [lhb]) and receptors for pheromone prostaglandin E (PGE). PGE 2 is secreted into the seawater during the spawning, and its administration activates olfactory sensory neurons and triggers trembling behavior of surrounding individuals. These results suggest that PGE 2 synchronizes lunar-regulated beach-spawning behavior in grass puffers. To further explore the mechanism that regulates the lunar-synchronized transcription of semilunar genes, we searched for semilunar transcription factors. Spatial transcriptomics and multiplex fluorescent in situ hybridization showed co-localization of the semilunar transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein δ (cebpd) and gnrh1, and cebpd induced the promoter activity of gnrh1. Taken together, our study demonstrates semilunar genes that mediate lunar-synchronized beach-spawning behavior. VIDEO ABSTRACT., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Postoperative flexion angle is associated with preoperative flexion in the same knee after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, whether the preoperative contralateral knee flexion angle could influence postoperative flexion remains unknown. This study aimed to test the effect of contralateral knee flexion on final flexion in the postoperative knee after unilateral TKA. We hypothesized that the preoperative contralateral knee flexion angle affects postoperative knee flexion, as does preoperative flexion, in the operated knee., Patients and Methods: Ninety-five patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who underwent cruciate-retaining TKA were included in this study, and their maximum passive knee flexion angle was evaluated preoperatively and at final follow-up on the operative and contralateral sides. Patients were divided according to their preoperative flexion angles: Group C, those whose contralateral knee flexion angle was greater than the operative knee flexion angle; and Group O, those whose contralateral knee flexion angle was equal to or smaller than the operative knee flexion angle. We performed multiple regression analysis, with postoperative flexion and improvement in the flexion angle as objective variables and preoperative predictors (age, sex, body mass index, preoperative flexion, and contralateral knee flexion) as explanatory variables. The results of the flexion angles were compared between the two groups using unpaired t-tests., Results: Postoperative flexion angle was significantly affected by the preoperative contralateral knee flexion angle (β=0.35, p=0.002), and an improvement in flexion was negatively affected by preoperative flexion of the operated knee (β=-0.83, p<0.001) and positively affected by contralateral knee flexion (β=0.35, p=0.001). Group O achieved poorer postoperative flexion than Group C (110.4±16.6° vs 119.6±16.5°, p=0.0017)., Conclusion: Patients with less flexion of the contralateral knee are less likely to obtain a greater degree of knee flexion after TKA., Level of Evidence: III; retrospective comparative study., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

This study evaluated the relationships between anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grading using the Oxford classification system and cartilage defects on the medial tibial plateau to clarify the validity of the system. We studied the location and size of a full-thickness cartilage defect of the medial tibial plateau in 154 knees (97 patients) treated by unicompartmental (113) or total (41) knee arthroplasty between April 2017 and January 2018, and analyzed their relationship to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grade, Grade 1 (normal), Grade 2 (synovial damage), Grade 3 (longitudinal split), Grade 4 (friable and fragmented), and Grade 5 (absent). Significant trends in decreased posterior preserved cartilage, increased defect length, and posteriorized defect center were associated with increasing ACL grade. Multiple comparison analysis revealed that the measurements were significantly different between ACL functional (Grades 1-3) and ACL deficient (Grades 4 and 5). On the other hand, the anterior preserved cartilage was consistent among the Grades. The macroscopic Oxford ACL classification system well described the disease progression where the cartilage defect extends posteriorly with ACL damage. However, 38% of ACL deficient knees had well-preserved posterior cartilage with no evident tibial anterior translation., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Restricted kinematically-aligned total knee arthroplasty (KA-TKA) is a reasonable modification to avoid the alignment outlier that may cause implant failure. However, despite a noted high incidence of constitutional varus in Japanese individuals, there has been no investigation into how many knees require the restriction in restricted KA-TKA (RKA-TKA) among Japanese patients. Therefore, we conducted a study using preoperative long-leg radiograms., Methods: We studied long-leg radiographs of 228 knees in 114 consecutive patients. The numbers of knees within the safety range and their corrective osteotomy angle in the restriction algorithms advocated by Almaawi et al. (2017) and MacDessi et al. (2020) were evaluated., Results: According to the algorithms used by Almaawi et al. and MacDessi et al., out of 228 knees, 46 (20%) and 39 (17%) fell within the safety range, respectively. The mean correction angles of the hip-knee-ankle angle, lateral distal femoral angle and medial proximal tibial angle were 2.8 ± 3.4°, 0.4 ± 1.4° and 2.4 ± 2.8° in the algorithm used by Almaawi et al., while they were -4.9 ± 4.7°, 1.1 ± 2.5° and -6.0 ± 3.4° in the algorithm used by MacDessi et al. Most of the knees needed to be restricted in order to perform RKA-TKA, regardless of the algorithm used., Conclusions: Based on a preoperative analysis of long-leg radiograms in a Japanese population, most knees fall out of the safety range in RKA-TKA. Surgeons must consider whether to allow component outlier or to perform corrective osteotomy that likely requires soft tissue release., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, the relationship between the mobile bearing and the vertical wall of the tibial tray is important in preventing bearing dislocation. Separation of the bearing from the vertical wall can cause spinning of the bearing with an increased risk of subsequent dislocation. We report on intraoperative adjustment of the tibial tray performed to prevent the bearing from spinning. After tibial and femoral bone cutting and adjustment of the flexion and extension gap, the trial bearing is inserted and the bearing-vertical wall distance is evaluated before the preparation using the tibial template and bearing trial. In the case of separation, it can be resolved by medialization with or without rotational adjustment. The technique is useful and can be easily performed, it is therefore recommendable for all cases of Oxford mobile-bearing unicompartmental arthroplasty., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Takafumi Hiranaka received honorarium for instruction and presantation from Zimmer Biomet. No other potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (Copyright © 2021 by The Korean Orthopaedic Association.)

At high latitudes, approximately 10% of people suffer from depression during the winter season, a phenomenon known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Shortened photoperiod and/or light intensity during winter season are risk factors for SAD, and bright light therapy is an effective treatment. Interestingly, reduced retinal photosensitivity along with the mood is observed in SAD patients in winter. However, the molecular basis underlying seasonal changes in retinal photosensitivity remains unclear, and pharmacological intervention is required. Here we show photoperiodic regulation of dopamine signaling and improvement of short day-attenuated photosensitivity by its pharmacological intervention in mice. Electroretinograms revealed dynamic seasonal changes in retinal photosensitivity. Transcriptome analysis identified short day-mediated suppression of the Th gene, which encodes tyrosine hydroxylase, a rate-limiting enzyme for dopamine biosynthesis. Furthermore, pharmacological intervention in dopamine signaling through activation of the cAMP signaling pathway rescued short day-attenuated photosensitivity, whereas dopamine receptor antagonists decreased photosensitivity under long-day conditions. Our results reveal molecular basis of seasonal changes in retinal photosensitivity in mammals. In addition, our findings provide important insights into the pathogenesis of SAD and offer potential therapeutic interventions.

In 2017, Leoni et al. reported myticalins as novel cationic linear antimicrobial peptides obtained from marine mussels. The authors focused on myticalin A6 (29 amino acids), which has a relatively short chain length among myticalins and contains a repeating X-proline(Pro)-arginine (Arg) sequence in its structure. We investigated the antimicrobial activity of myticalin A6 against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Fragment derivatives of myticalin A6 were synthesized, and the site required for expression of antimicrobial activity was examined. To investigate the structure-antimicrobial activity relationship of myticalin A6, short-chain derivatives and partially substituted derivatives were synthesized, and the antimicrobial activity was measured. Furthermore, some cyclized derivatives were synthesized and examined for antimicrobial activity. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy of myticalin A6 and its derivatives was carried out to evaluate the secondary structure. Myticalin A6 exhibited an antimicrobial activity of 1.9 µM against S. aureus. Myticalin A6 (3-23)-OH (21 amino acids) exhibited an antimicrobial activity of 2.4 µM against S. aureus, suggesting that the X-Pro-Arg repeat sequence is important for antimicrobial activity. Derivatives with different CD measurement results from myticalin A6 (3-23)-OH exhibited decreased activity. The myticalin A6 (3-23)-OH derivative in which all Arg residues were replaced with lysine (Lys) residues exhibited reduced antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. We succeeded in synthesizing cyclic derivatives using 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-aspartic acid (Asp)(Wang resin)-[2-phenylisopropyl ester (OPis)], but the yield of derivatives with 21 amino acids was decreased. The myticalin derivatives synthesized in this study did not exhibit any enhancement in antimicrobial activity due to cyclization.

We attempted to modify the monoclinic-rutile structural phase transition temperature ( T tr ) of a VO 2 thin film in situ through stress caused by amorphous-crystalline phase change of a chalcogenide layer on it. VO 2 films on C- or R-plane Al 2 O 3 substrates were capped by Ge 2 Sb 2 Te 5 (GST) films by means of rf magnetron sputtering. T tr of the VO 2 layer was evaluated through temperature-controlled measurements of optical reflection intensity and electrical resistance. Crystallization of the GST capping layer was accompanied by a significant drop in T tr of the VO 2 layer underneath, either with or without a SiN x diffusion barrier layer between the two. The shift of T tr was by ~30 °C for a GST/VO 2 bilayered sample with thicknesses of 200/30 nm, and was by ~6 °C for a GST/SiN x /VO 2 trilayered sample of 200/10/6 nm. The lowering of T tr was most probably caused by the volume reduction in GST during the amorphous-crystalline phase change. The stress-induced in in situ modification of T tr in VO 2 films could pave the way for the application of nonvolatile changes of optical properties in optoelectronic devices.

To reduce the stress on the medial tibial cortex and to decrease the risk of fracture, a varus cut of the tibia appears to be a reasonable alternative to the orthogonal cut by conventional methods. We present a new instrument and procedure, which enables a varus tibial cut for Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. We used a custom-made, slidable fixator instead of the standard fixator to set the extramedullary rod on the leg. We also made a numeric formula and a chart to arrange the varus cutting angle using the length of the mediolateral shift of the distal end and the longitudinal extension length of the extramedullary tibial rod. A varus cut up to 4.5° can be controlled. This technique is a simple and useful means of obtaining a varus tibial cut for Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (Copyright © 2020 by The Korean Orthopaedic Association.)

Background: Windswept deformity is a condition of the lower limbs with a valgus knee on one side and a varus knee on the other. We present a case series of bilateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) for windswept knee osteoarthritis (WSKO)., Methods: We analysed the outcomes of 26 knees of 13 consecutive patients with WSKO treated with bilateral UKA. The mean age was 73.0 years and the mean follow up period was 2.6 years. Pre- and postoperative Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, radiological measurements and postoperative complications were evaluated. No knees required revision for either infection or loosening., Results: The mean preoperative OKS was 25.3 ± 9.7, which increased to 34.9 ± 5.8 at the latest follow up. The mean preoperative JOA scores for the varus and the valgus sides were 64.6 ± 12.5 and 66.9 ± 14.1, which increased to 85.0 ± 11.3 and 84.6 ± 11.2, respectively, after operation., Conclusions: Our results show that good short-term clinical results can be achieved by bilateral UKA in cases of WSKO. Bilateral UKA may be an effective treatment for WSKO if indications are met., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The effect of increased tibial slope on the bearing movement and clinical results in mobile-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty has not been well discussed. We aimed to clarify the extent of in vivo sagittal bearing movement and bearing overhang using fluoroscopy and their relationship with the tibial posterior slopes and clinical results., Methods: This retrospective study included 40 patients who underwent Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for anteromedial osteoarthritis or osteonecrosis of the knee. Intraoperative posterior translation and posterior overhang of the bearing were assessed during flexion. The tibial posterior slopes were evaluated before and 2 weeks after surgery, and its increment was recorded. Clinical evaluations were also performed preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively (maximum flexion angle, Oxford Knee Score). Single linear regression analysis was performed to assess the correlation between the tibial posterior slopes and the posterior translation and the posterior overhang and determine if these could affect the clinical outcomes., Findings: The average posterior translation was 10.7 ± 4.3 mm, and posterior overhang of the mobile bearing was found in 35% of overall patients. They were associated with increased tibial slope as well as poorer improvement in Oxford Knee Score at 2 years postoperatively., Interpretation: In Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, mobile bearing can probably move posteriorly beyond the posterior margin of the tibial component during flexion when the tibial posterior slope increases more than the original magnitude. Additionally, the posterior translation and posterior overhang closely correlated with the poorer improvement in Oxford Knee Score at 2 years postoperatively., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Photocatalysis is a promising technique for developing sustainable and environmentally friendly materials to improve indoor air quality. Visible-light-responsive TiO 2 has been widely investigated but there are inconsistent results because photocatalytic properties depend strongly on synthetic methods. Herein, we synthesize TiO 2 doped with 10 different metal ions (M-TiO 2 ) by conducting a dialysis in a sol-gel method to obtain the best photocatalyst for the degradation of acetaldehyde under LED irradiation. Purification of a sol by dialysis enables us to discuss pure effects of dopants on the photocatalytic activity because impurities such as counter ions of metal salts are removed before sintering. Only Cr-, Pt-, V-, and Fe-TiO 2 show photocatalytic activity and the optimal doping amounts are 0.50-1.7, 0.10, 1.0, and 0.10 atom%, respectively. Such differences in the optimal amounts can be explained in terms of the dopant ions having different valence states, suggesting the formation of oxygen vacancies. The Cr-TiO 2 powder exhibits high activity even at the doping amount of 4.2 atom%. We also demonstrate that the Cr-TiO 2 film prepared on a glass substrate can be used to degrade acetaldehyde by changing the film thickness and the LED intensity depending on the degree of the indoor contamination., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Organisms that inhabit the temperate zone exhibit various seasonal adaptive behaviors, including reproduction, hibernation, molting, and migration. Day length, known as photoperiod, is the most noise-free and widely used environmental cue that enables animals to anticipate the oncoming seasons and adapt their physiologies accordingly. Although less clear, some human traits also exhibit seasonality, such as birthrate, mood, cognitive brain responses, and various diseases. However, the molecular basis for human seasonality is poorly understood. Herein, we first review the underlying mechanisms of seasonal adaptive strategies of animals, including seasonal reproduction and stress responses during the breeding season. We then briefly summarize our recent discovery of signaling pathways involved in the winter depression-like phenotype in medaka fish. We believe that exploring the regulation of seasonal traits in animal models will provide insight into human seasonality and aid in the understanding of human diseases such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD)., (© Endocrine Society 2020.)

Seasonal changes in the environment lead to depression-like behaviors in humans and animals. The underlying mechanisms, however, are unknown. We observed decreased sociability and increased anxiety-like behavior in medaka fish exposed to winter-like conditions. Whole brain metabolomic analysis revealed seasonal changes in 68 metabolites, including neurotransmitters and antioxidants associated with depression. Transcriptome analysis identified 3,306 differentially expressed transcripts, including inflammatory markers, melanopsins, and circadian clock genes. Further analyses revealed seasonal changes in multiple signaling pathways implicated in depression, including the nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (NRF2) antioxidant pathway. A broad-spectrum chemical screen revealed that celastrol (a traditional Chinese medicine) uniquely reversed winter behavior. NRF2 is a celastrol target expressed in the habenula (HB), known to play a critical role in the pathophysiology of depression. Another NRF2 chemical activator phenocopied these effects, and an NRF2 mutant showed decreased sociability. Our study provides important insights into winter depression and offers potential therapeutic targets involving NRF2., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest., (Copyright © 2020 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.)

Background: The primary purpose of this study was to compare the postoperative muscular strength and functional performance between early versus late bipolar hip arthroplasty (BHA) intervention for femoral neck fracture classified by the duration from the onset to surgery., Methods: Twenty-one patients who could walk at 12 months or more after BHA were enrolled into this study. We examined the muscular strength of hip flexion, extension, abduction, and knee extension of these patients. Time of one-leg standing, timed up and go test, pain grade by visual analog scale, and Barthel index were also evaluated as functional indices. We classified these patients into two groups by the duration from the onset to surgery, namely: within 3 days until BHA (early OP) and more than 4 days (late OP) to compare these indices at the latest follow-up., Results: The mean days until operation were 2.3 days in the early-OP group and 5.9 days in the late-OP group, showing a significant difference between the two groups. Muscular strength and other functional indices were also found to have no significant differences between these two groups., Conclusion: Our study suggests that the delay to operate might not severely compromise the muscular strength around the hip joint for least 1.5 years among ambulatory patients.

Aim: To retrospectively evaluate the outcomes of conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≥10 cm., Methods: Twenty-five patients with naïve HCC ≥10 cm (mean maximum tumor diameter, 130 ± 27.6 mm; single [n = 12], 2-9 [n = 6], and ≥10 [n = 7]) without extrahepatic spread treated with cTACE were eligible. Five (20%) had vascular invasion. Two to three stepwise cTACE sessions using iodized oil ≤10 mL in one cTACE session were scheduled. When the tumor recurred, additional cTACE was repeated on demand, if possible. Overall survival (OS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The prognostic factors were evaluated using uni- and multivariate analyses., Results: Stepwise cTACE sessions were completed for 20 (80%) patients, but could not be completed for four (16%). In the remaining (4%) patient, the whole tumor was embolized in one session. Additional treatment, mainly cTACE, was undertaken for 19 (76%) patients. The OS rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 68, 34.7, and 23.1%, respectively. A tumor number of three was a significant prognostic factor (P = 0.020) and the 1-, 3-, and 4-year OS rates in patients with ≤3 and ≥4 tumors were 81.3 and 33.3, 55.6 and 11.1, and 38.9% and 0%, respectively. Whole tumor embolization and the serum level of protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II were also significant prognostic factors (P < 0.001 and P = 0.042, respectively). Bile duct complications requiring additional interventions developed in two (8%) patients., Conclusion: Conventional TACE is safe and effective for huge HCCs, but has limited effects in cases with four or more tumors., (© 2019 The Japan Society of Hepatology.)

To cope with seasonal environmental changes, animals adapt their physiology and behaviour in response to photoperiod. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these adaptive changes are not completely understood. Here, using genome-wide expression analysis, we show that an uncharacterized long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), LDAIR, is strongly regulated by photoperiod in Japanese medaka fish (Oryzias latipes). Numerous transcripts and signalling pathways are activated during the transition from short- to long-day conditions; however, LDAIR is one of the first genes to be induced and its expression shows a robust daily rhythm under long-day conditions. Transcriptome analysis of LDAIR knockout fish reveals that the LDAIR locus regulates a gene neighbourhood, including corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2, which is involved in the stress response. Behavioural analysis of LDAIR knockout fish demonstrates that LDAIR affects self-protective behaviours under long-day conditions. Therefore, we propose that photoperiodic regulation of corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2 by LDAIR modulates adaptive behaviours to seasonal environmental changes.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of conventional transarterial chemoembolization using guidance software for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients., Materials and Methods: One hundred two patients with treatment-naïve HCC with ≤ 7-cm and ≤ 5 lesions treated with conventional transarterial chemoembolization using guidance software were selected. Technical success was classified into 3 grades by computed tomography performed 1 week after transarterial chemoembolization: (i) A, complete embolization with a safety margin; (ii) B, entire tumor embolization without a safety margin; and (iii) C, incomplete embolization. Intrahepatic tumor recurrence was classified into 2 categories: local tumor progression (LTP) and intrahepatic distant recurrence (IDR). Overall survival (OS) and tumor recurrence rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Additionally, the incidences of LTP between grade A and B tumors, IDR with/without LTP, and OS with/without LTP were compared by the log-rank test., Results: One hundred fifty-six (82.1%) tumors were determined to be grade A, 26 (13.7%) were determined to be grade B, and 8 (4.2%) were determined to be grade C. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year LTP and IDR rates were 31.7%, 49.4%, and 59.4% and 33.9%, 58.2%, and 73.3%, respectively. LTP developed more frequently in grade B tumors than grade A tumors (P = .0016). IDR developed more frequently in patients with LTP than without LTP (P = .0004). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 96.1%, 71.1%, and 60%, respectively; the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates in patients with/without LTP were 95.7%, 69.8%, and 59.3% and 96.2%, 71.6%, and 59.4%, respectively (P = .9984)., Conclusions: Transarterial chemoembolization guidance software promotes the technical success of transarterial chemoembolization and excellent OS in HCC patients., (Copyright © 2018 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We report two cases of pediatric deep renal injury at a local hospital. Case 1 was a 13-year-old girl. She fell from a bicycle and hit her back in a gutter. She complained of left back pain. Computed tomography (CT) revealed left deep renal injury accompanied by peripancreatic hematoma. Emergent surgery was performed and the transected kidney was resected, but pancreatic injury was not noted. Case 2 was a 10-year-old girl. She slipped during walking on her way home from school and hit her back on a concrete block. She complained of left back pain and gross hematuria. CT revealed left deep renal injury. Interventional radiology (IVR) was performed, but arterial bleeding was not noted, and so conservative therapy was performed. Although pediatric deep renal injury might be treated conservatively in general, treatment of such cases should be performed ideally at a hospital with IVR available for general anesthesia, and radiologists on-call in the event of any sudden change in the patient's condition. However, pediatric patients with serious renal injury, including the above, who cannot be transported to an advanced treatment hospital, can be treated through cooperation between skilled interventional radiologists and surgeons even in local hospitals with limited facilities and manpower.

In nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals, the selection of pump light wavelengths for the generation of terahertz (THz) waves is limited due to problems associated with coherence length, refractive index, and absorption by the crystal. Relaxation of this limitation would open up potential light sources for THz generation. One such solution, Cherenkov phase matching, removes the coherence length constraint. In this study, we attempted to generate THz waves from an NLO crystal using femtosecond pulses of various wavelengths. Specifically, 805-nm and 1560-nm femtosecond pulses were used to pump a prism-coupled LiNbO 3 crystal. Broadband THz-wave generation and a THz-wave output proportional to the square of the pump light intensity were observed at both wavelengths. The generation of THz waves by prism-coupled Cherenkov phase matching was not limited by the wavelength of the pump light. Moreover, THz-wave generation at even greater intensities may be possible by optimizing the pump source and coupling to an NLO crystal.