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We investigated the field-dependent Néel relaxation time of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in an AC excitation field. Specifically, a fundamental component of the magnetization for immobilized MNPs was studied by numerical simulation while changing the frequency f and amplitude Hac of the field. From the simulation results, we clarified the Hac dependence of the effective Néel relaxation time τN,e and obtained an empirical expression for τN,e(Hac) for the first time. The expression was obtained for the cases when the angle of the easy axis of magnetization in MNPs is fixed and randomly distributed. Using the Hac dependencies of τN,e and the previously reported Brownian relaxation time τB,e, we showed that the behavior of suspended MNPs changes from Brownian-dominant to Néel-dominant when Hac increases, even when the MNP parameters are fixed, and we obtained an expression for the boundary field between them. Furthermore, we classified several types of responses for the suspended MNPs in the AC field using the magnitude relationship among τN,e(Hac), τB,e(Hac), and 1/(2πf). Finally, we experimentally verified the classification, and reasonable agreement was observed between the experiment and analysis. The results are useful for determining suitable MNP parameters and excitation conditions for various biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we conducted two studies to validate a multidimensional scale of fan engagement behavior. In Study 1, we generated survey items through a systematic review of the relevant literature, collected data from fans of professional baseball (n = 319) and soccer (n = 301), and provided evidence for the construct and concurrent validity of the scale composed of six dimensions. In Study 2, we reassessed construct validity in professional baseball (n = 582) and found that fan engagement behavior was represented by the proposed six dimensions with a final list of 21 items. Further, our predictive analysis throughout a season showed that fan engagement behavior fully mediated the relationship between predictor (team identification and awareness of fan engagement initiatives) and outcome variables (media viewing frequency, attendance frequency, and flourishing). The developed scale advances our understanding of fans' voluntary actions that are culturally embedded in spectator sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusions To investigate metabolic risk factors (RFs) that accumulated over 20 years related to left ventricular mass index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT) and LV remodelling patterns in participants with versus without early‐onset type 2 diabetes (T2D) or prediabetes (pre‐D).A total of 287 early‐onset T2D/pre‐D individuals versus 565 sociodemographic‐matched euglycaemic individuals were selected from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, years 0‐25. We used the area under the growth curve (AUC) derived from quadratic random‐effects models of four or more repeated measures of RFs (fasting glucose [FG], insulin, triglycerides [TG], low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐c), total cholesterol (total‐c), blood pressure and body mass index) to estimate the cumulative burden, and their associations with LV outcomes.One standard deviation greater AUC of log (TG) (per 0.48) and HDL‐c (per 13.5 mg/dL) were associated with RWT (β 0.21 and −0.2) in the early‐onset T2D/pre‐D group, but not in the euglycaemia group (β 0.01 and 0.05, P interactions .02 and .03). In both the early‐onset T2D/pre‐D and euglycaemia groups, greater AUCs of log (FG) (per 0.17) and log (insulin) (per 0.43) were associated with higher RWT (β ranges 0.12‐0.24). Greater AUCs of systolic blood pressure (per 10 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (per 7.3 mmHg) were associated with higher RWT and LVMI, irrespective of glycaemic status (β ranges 0.17‐0.28). Cumulative TG (odds ratio 3.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.8‐6.3), HDL‐c (0.23, 0.09‐0.59), total‐c (1.9, 1.1‐3.1) and FG (2.2, 1.25‐3.9) were statistically associated with concentric hypertrophy in the T2D/pre‐D group only.Sustained hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia are associated with RWT, and those individuals with early T2D/pre‐D are potentially at greater risk because of their higher levels of glucose and insulin. Dyslipidaemia was associated with LV structural abnormalities in those individuals with early‐onset T2D/pre‐D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal administration of inotrope after cardiac surgery is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the impact of postoperative inotrope on clinical outcomes in adult elective cardiac surgery patients. Data from the Blood Pressure and Relative Optimal Target after Heart Surgery in Epidemiologic Registry study were analyzed, employing propensity score considering the hospital of admission. The primary outcome was the length of hospital stay evaluated using quantile regression. Secondary outcomes were kidney injury progression, renal replacement therapy, atrial fibrillation, mortality, mechanical ventilation duration, and length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Among 870 patients from 14 ICUs in Japan, 535 received inotropes within 24 h of ICU admission, with usage rates ranging from 40 to 100% among facilities. After propensity score matching, 218 patients were included in each group. The inotrope group had a significantly longer hospital stay compared to the control group (16 days vs. 14 days; median difference 1.78 [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31–3.24]; p = 0.018). However, no significant differences were observed in the secondary outcomes, except for mechanical ventilation duration. The results of the sensitivity analysis using a mixed-effects quantile regression analysis considering the hospital of admission for length of hospital stay in the original cohort were consistent with the results of the propensity analyses (median difference in days, 2.35 [95% CI, 0.35–4.36]; p = 0.022). The use of inotropes within 24 h of ICU admission in adult elective cardiac surgery patients was associated with an extended hospitalization period of approximately 2 days, without offering any prognostic benefit. Clinical trial registration: UMIN-CTR, https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index-j.htm, UMIN000037074. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cold snare polypectomy (CSP)‐dedicated snares (DSs) may have a higher resection ability than conventional snares. However, a model that can accurately and objectively evaluate and compare the resection ability of each snare has yet to be determined, and characteristics of snare parts that increase resection ability remain unknown. Therefore, we elucidated DSs' resection ability and all characteristics of the parts required for acquiring high resection ability. Methods: An ex vivo model for evaluating resection ability was generated using human colons obtained from forensic autopsy specimens. The force required to resect a 15 mm wide human colonic mucosa (FRR) was measured using this model; if the FRR is small, the resection ability is high. Next, after measuring the stiffness of each snare part, the correlation between the stiffness and resection ability was analyzed. Results: The force required to resect using SnareMaster Plus, Micro‐Tech Cold Snare, Captivator Cold, Exacto Cold Snare, or Captivator II was 13.6 ± 1.0, 12.5 ± 1.2, 7.4 ± 1.2, 6.5 ± 1.0, and 28.7 ± 3.7 N, respectively. All DSs had significantly lower FRR than the conventional snare (Captivator II) and had higher resection ability (P < 0.001). A negative correlation was found between FRR and sheath or wire spindle stiffness, with correlation coefficients of 0.72 (P = 0.042) or 0.94 (P < 0.001), respectively. Moreover, 1 × 7 type wire rings had significantly higher friction coefficients than 1 × 3 type wire rings (P < 0.002). Conclusion: Sheath and wire spindle stiffness should be increased to increase resection ability; 1 × 7 type wire rings may be suitable for CSP‐snare parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal switching by magnetic fields is one of the important functionalities in thermal management technologies. In low-temperature devices, superconducting states can be used as a magneto-thermal-switching (MTS) component because carrier thermal conductivity (κ) is strongly suppressed in superconducting states. Recently, we demonstrated that the MTS ratio (MTSR) of pure Nb reached 650% at a temperature (T) of 2.5 K under a magnetic field (H) of 4.0 kOe [Yoshida et al., Appl. Phys. Express 16, 033002 (2023)]. In this study, to enrich knowledge on MTS of superconductors, the MTSRs of pure Pb wires with 5 N and 3 N purities were investigated by measuring the temperature or magnetic-field dependences of κ. For 5N-Pb, a large MTSR exceeding 1000% was observed below 3.6 K under H > 600 Oe. Although higher MTSRs were expected at lower temperatures under H > 600 Oe, the obtained data under those conditions were accompanied by large errors due to magnetic-field-induced huge κ at low temperatures. In contrast, the κ for 3N-Pb was observed to be clearly lower than that for 5N-Pb. Although the magnetic-field-induced change in κ was small, the MTSR at T = 2.5 K was 300%. These results suggest that Pb is a promising material for low-temperature magneto-thermal switching because of wide-range κ tunable by magnetic field and purity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Junctional epidermolysis bullosa is a rare skin and mucosal disorder characterized by blister formation in response to minor trauma and extracutaneous manifestations. There have been no reports of cardiac surgery and prognostication in patients with epidermolysis bullosa due to skin and mucosal fragility. Case presentation: A 55-year-old man presented with congenital junctional epidermolysis bullosa, hypertension, and vasospastic angina. He complained of dyspnea on exertion, and transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe aortic valve regurgitation, moderate aortic valve stenosis (tricuspid valve), and severe mitral valve regurgitation. Considering that the skin condition in the right chest wall was relatively healthy, the right thoracotomy approach was preferred and totally endoscopic concomitant mitral valve repair and aortic valve replacement were performed using a sutureless bioprosthetic valve (Perceval™ (Corcym, Group, Milan, Italy)). Polyurethane and silicon dressing foams were used to protect the skin at the site of contact with the bag valve mask, arterial pressure catheter, intravenous catheter, and the tracheal intubation tube. Vertical mattress sutures were used for the skin sutures. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged nine days after the operation. There was no indication for reoperation until three years follow-up period. Conclusions: The totally endoscopic concomitant aortic and mitral valve surgery using Perceval™ prosthesis can be performed safely in patients with junctional epidermolysis bullosa by adequate protection of the skin and mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adenosine triphosphate (ATP)–protein interactions have been of great interest since the recent experimental finding of ATP's role as a hydrotrope. The interaction between ATP and disordered proteins is fundamental to the dissolution of protein aggregates and the regulation of liquid–liquid phase separation by ATP. Molecular dynamics simulation is a powerful tool for analyzing these interactions in molecular detail but often suffers from inaccuracies in describing disordered proteins and ATPs in high concentrations. Recently, several water models have been proposed to improve the description of the protein-disordered states, yet how these models work with ATP has not been explored. To this end, here, we study how water models affect ATP and alter the ATP–ATP and ATP–protein interactions for the intrinsically disordered protein, α-Synuclein. Three water models, TIP4P-D, OPC, and TIP3P, are compared, while the protein force field is fixed to ff99SBildn. The results show that ATP over-aggregates into a single cluster in TIP3P water, but monomers and smaller clusters are found in TIP4P-D and OPC waters. ATP–protein interaction is also over-stabilized in TIP3P, whereas repeated binding/unbinding of ATP to α-Synuclein is observed in OPC and TIP4P-D waters, which is in line with the recent nuclear magnetic resonance experiment. The adenine ring-mediated interaction is found to play a major role in ATP–ATP and ATP–protein contacts. Interestingly, changing Mg2+ into Na+ strengthened the electrostatic interaction and promoted ATP oligomerization and ATP–α-Synuclein binding. Overall, this study shows that changing the water model can be an effective approach to improve the properties of ATP in high concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjective vitality is an important, yet understudied, indicator of eudaimonic well-being. People experience subjective vitality when they engage in need-satisfying activities. We investigate two sport consumption activities (stadium attendance and sport television viewing), team identification, and subjective vitality to understand how sport consumption mediates the impact of team identification on subjective vitality. Throughout a season, data were collected from local residents (n = 618) living within the franchise area of a Japanese professional baseball team. Structural equation modeling and bootstrapping mediation analysis showed that team identification exerted both a direct and an indirect effect via attendance frequency on subjective vitality. The proposed model and the findings offer new theoretical insights into the roles of subjective vitality, team identification, and stadium attendance in spectator sport. Consequently, sport teams can leverage these insights to intensify consumer experiences when people attend games, positively contributing to their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the stability of a system consisting of a positron (e+) and two lithium anions, [Li−; e+; Li−], using first-principles quantum Monte Carlo calculations combined with the multi-component molecular orbital method. While diatomic lithium molecular dianions Li 2 2 − are unstable, we found that its positronic complex can form a bound state with respect to the lowest energy decay into the dissociation channel Li 2 − and a positronium (Ps). The [Li−; e+; Li−] system has the minimum energy at the internuclear distance of ∼3 Å, which is close to the equilibrium internuclear distance of Li 2 − . At the minimum energy structure both an excess electron and a positron are delocalized as orbiting around the Li 2 − molecular anion core. A dominant feature of such a positron bonding structure is described as the Ps fraction bound to Li 2 − , unlike the covalent positron bonding scheme for the electronically isovalent [H−; e+; H−] complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon carbide fiber–reinforced silicon carbide (SiCf/SiC) composites have been expected to be used as next‐generation heat resistant structural materials with high reliability. The fiber/matrix interface for SiCf/SiC composites plays an important role for toughening and strengthening, and it is important to form the optimal interphase for SiCf/SiC composites. In this study, hexagonal‐boron nitride (h‐BN), which shows better oxidation resistance than carbon, was selected as the interphase for SiCf/SiC composites, and h‐BN coating was formed on low‐conductive SiC fibers by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method using flaked h‐BN suspension prepared by wet‐jet milling. Unidirectional SiCf/SiC composites with the BN interphase formed by the EPD method were prepared by polymer impregnation and pyrolysis (PIP) method, and their mechanical properties were evaluated. The uniform h‐BN interphase was successfully formed on the low‐conductive SiC fibers by EPD when thin polypyrrole (Ppy) coating, that is, conductive polymer, was formed on the SiC fibers. The h‐BN coating became denser by heat‐treatment at 1000°C, and the h‐BN coating deposited tightly on the SiC fibers was confirmed. It was demonstrated that the SiCf/SiC composites with the uniform and relatively dense h‐BN interphase formed by EPD using flaked h‐BN particles exhibited pseudo‐ductile fracture behavior with large amount of fiber pullout and higher fracture energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel proofs show that the sum of a specific pair of normal random variables is not normal are established in this note. This is one of the most often misunderstood facts by first-year students in probability theory and statistics. The first proof is concise using the moment generating function. The second proof checks whether the moments of the sum have the property of normal distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solvent plays an essential role in a variety of chemical, physical, and biological processes that occur in the solution phase. The reference interaction site model (RISM) and its three‐dimensional extension (3D‐RISM) serve as powerful computational tools for modeling solvation effects in chemical reactions, biological functions, and structure formations. We present the RISM integrated calculator (RISMiCal) program package, which is based on RISM and 3D‐RISM theories with fast GPU code. RISMiCal has been developed as an integrated RISM/3D‐RISM program that has interfaces with external programs such as Gaussian16, GAMESS, and Tinker. Fast 3D‐RISM programs for single‐ and multi‐GPU codes written in CUDA would enhance the availability of these hybrid methods because they require the performance of many computationally expensive 3D‐RISM calculations. We expect that our package can be widely applied for chemical and biological processes in solvent. The RISMiCal package is available at https://rismical-dev.github.io. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Methods Results Conclusion There are no previous studies in which computer‐aided diagnosis (CAD) diagnosed colorectal cancer (CRC) subtypes correctly. In this study, we developed an original CAD for the diagnosis of CRC subtypes.Pretraining for the CAD based on ResNet was performed using ImageNet and five open histopathological pretraining image datasets (HiPreD) containing 3 million images. In addition, sparse attention was introduced to improve the CAD compared to other attention networks. One thousand and seventy‐two histopathological images from 29 early CRC cases at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine from 2019 to 2022 were collected (857 images for training and validation, 215 images for test). All images were annotated by a qualified histopathologist for segmentation of normal mucosa, adenoma, pure well‐differentiated adenocarcinoma (PWDA), and moderately/poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (MPDA). Diagnostic ability including dice sufficient coefficient (DSC) and diagnostic accuracy were evaluated.Our original CAD, named Colon‐seg, with the pretraining of both HiPreD and ImageNET showed a better DSC (88.4%) compared to CAD without both pretraining (76.8%). Regarding the attentional mechanism, Colon‐seg with sparse attention showed a better DSC (88.4%) compared to other attentional mechanisms (dual: 79.7%, ECA: 80.7%, shuffle: 84.7%, SK: 86.9%). In addition, the DSC of Colon‐seg (88.4%) was better than other types of CADs (TransUNet: 84.7%, MultiResUnet: 86.1%, Unet++: 86.7%). The diagnostic accuracy of Colon‐seg for each histopathological type was 94.3% for adenoma, 91.8% for PWDA, and 92.8% for MPDA.A deep learning‐based CAD for CRC subtype differentiation was developed with pretraining and fine‐tuning of abundant histopathological images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In gonochoristic animals, the sex determination pathway induces different morphological and behavioral features that can be observed between sexes, a condition known as sexual dimorphism. While many components of this sex differentiation cascade show high levels of diversity, factors such as the Doublesex-Mab-3-Related Transcription factor (DMRT) are widely conserved across animal taxa. Species of the phylum Tardigrada exhibit remarkable diversity in morphology and behavior between sexes, suggesting a pathway regulating this dimorphism. Despite the wealth of genomic and zoological knowledge accumulated in recent studies, the sexual differences in tardigrades genomes have not been identified. In the present study, we focused on the gonochoristic species Paramacrobiotus metropolitanus and employed omics analyses to unravel the molecular basis of sexual dimorphism. Results: Transcriptome analysis between sex-identified specimens revealed numerous differentially expressed genes, of which approximately 2,000 male-biased genes were focused on 29 non-male-specific genomic loci. From these regions, we identified two Macrobiotidae family specific DMRT paralogs, which were significantly upregulated in males and lacked sex specific splicing variants. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis indicated all tardigrade genomes lack the doublesex ortholog, suggesting doublesex emerged after the divergence of Tardigrada. In contrast to sex-specific expression, no evidence of genomic differences between the sexes was found. We also identified several anhydrobiosis genes that exhibit sex-biased expression, suggesting a possible mechanism for protection of sex-specific tissues against extreme stress. Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive analysis for analyzing the genetic differences between sexes in tardigrades. The existence of male-biased, but not male-specific, genomic loci and identification of the family specific male-biased DMRT subfamily provides the foundation for understanding the sex determination cascade. In addition, sex-biased expression of several tardigrade-specific genes which are involved their stress tolerance suggests a potential role in protecting sex-specific tissue and gametes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Setting Methods Design Participants Results Conclusions To clarify the knowledge and practical skills needed for cancer pain management among nurses on remote islands in Japan and related factors nationwide.Due to geographical factors, nurses working on remote islands in Japan have few opportunities to attend training programs, which makes it difficult to acquire the knowledge and practical skills needed to provide pain management for patients with cancer.We conducted a self‐administered questionnaire survey regarding knowledge and practical skills in pain management for patients with cancer.Cross‐sectional study.Nurses working in cancer pain care in medical facilities and home care on remote islands throughout Japan.We analysed 128 responses. Regarding knowledge, the average accuracy level was 49.1%. Items with a low accuracy rate included selecting medicine according to the type of pain and the patient's condition. Regarding practice, the items with low scores included analgesics appropriate for the type of pain and relating physical pain to mental, social and spiritual aspects. The most common significant factor in both knowledge and practice was related to postgraduate training.These findings suggest that to improve the knowledge and practical skills for cancer pain management among nurses on remote islands in Japan, it is necessary to incorporate clinical reasoning into basic education and establish remote education systems and consultation systems with other facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quasi‐planar N, N, N',N'‐tetraphenyl‐para‐phenylenediamine, where all the phenyl rings are tethered by four oxygen atoms to embed quasi‐planar triphenylamine moieties into the molecular skeleton, was prepared and characterized to evaluate the impact by incorporating the structural rigidity. The monocationic and dicationic species could be selectively generated, depending on the type of oxidizing agents used. Spectroscopic and X‐ray diffraction analyses revealed the radical cation was in a unique charge/spin delocalized class III mixed‐valence state due to an exquisite balance between the electronic effect by the oxygen‐bridges and the rigidity of molecular framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims at an innovative sample preparation strategy for fiber reinforced thermoplastic (FRTP) composites analyzed via polarized optical microscopy to visualize the crystalline structure of the matrix resin. Investigating the structure is relevant for understanding the relationship with the mechanical properties. In general, polarized optical microscopy is a powerful technique for visualizing polymer crystalline structures at samples sliced into thin sections below 30 μm. However, analyzing FRTPs remains challenging in absence of suitable methods for the preparation of thin sections owing to the embedded fibers. Herein, the preparation of appropriately thin sections in a novel sequence of steps is shown that may generically be applied to FRTPs. Four different types of FRTPs with major matrix resins (GF/PBT, CF/PA6, CF/PEEK and GF/PP) were successfully processed to thickness of 5 μm or below without fiber loss, resin breakage or delamination between fiber and resin demonstrating the utility of the developed method, which is the significant outcome of the study. To the best of our knowledge, the subsequently obtained polarized optical microscopic images for the first time visualized the crystalline structure of the matrix resin revealing nucleation of crystals from the fiber surface and effects of mold flow on the crystallization behavior. Highlights: Thinning of fiber reinforced thermoplastics to thickness of 5 μm or below.Thinning achieved despite fiber volume at industrial applications level.Sample preparation ensures ideal conditions for polarized optical microscopy.Visualization of crystalline structure of the matrix resin for the first time.Potential advancement for spectroscopic and electron microscopic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile synthesis of multi(triazole)s by iterative click reactions is disclosed. Good functional group tolerance of sequential click assembly by sulfur–fluoride exchange (SuFEx), copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), and thia-Michael reaction realizes the iterative click reactions. Diverse multi(triazole)-type mid-molecules can be synthesized easily from readily available modules through good chemoselective reactions without functional group transformation steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unisexual hybrids that reproduce either clonally or hemiclonally are considered to be evolutionarily short-lived as they lack the ability to reduce deleterious mutations and increase genetic diversity. In the greenling (Teleostei: Hexagrammidae, genus Hexagrammos), unisexual hybrids that produce haploid eggs containing only the H. octogrammus (maternal species) genome generate hemiclonal offspring by fertilization with haploid sperm of H. agrammus (paternal species). When hemiclonal hybrids are backcrossed to a male of the maternal species, the offspring (BC-Hoc) are phenotypically similar to the maternal species and produce recombinant gametes through conventional meiosis. BC-Hoc (recombinant generation) individuals referred to as carriers harbor the genetic factor for hybridogenesis, thereby facilitating the production of new hemiclonal lineages through hybridization. Previous studies based on field research have suggested that the carriers produced by two-way backcrossing (mating pattern in which hemiclonal hybrids are backcrossed with both parental species) may overcome the evolutionary dead end imposed by the lack of recombination. The present study verified this hypothesis by regenerating a newly hemiclonal lineage through artificial hybridization. To clarify the genetic mode of hybrids produced by crosses between BC-Hoc and Hag, mature eggs were obtained from 16 individuals and fertilized with either Hag or Hoc sperm. Hybridogenesis was confirmed in one of the 16 individuals. Based on the low occurrence rate, these findings suggest that hemiclonal lineages can be regenerated, and that the hemiclonal factors are likely distributed across multiple genes on different chromosomes. The findings provide important evidence for the retention of a robust system for increasing genetic variability and maintaining evolutionary succession in unisexual hybrids that reproduce hemiclonally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to evaluate the materials based on 4‐methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride/methyl methacrylate tri‐n‐butylborane (Super‐bond [SB]) and nano hydroxyapatite (naHAp) for the repair of perforation at pulp chamber floor (PPF) in vitro and in vivo models. SB and naHAp were mixed in the mass ratio of 10% or 30% to produce naHAp/SB. Human periodontal ligament stem cells (HPDLSCs) were cultured on resin discs of SB or naHAp/SB to analyze the effects of naHAp/SB on cell adhesion, proliferation, and cementoblastic differentiation. A rat PPF model was treated with SB or naHAp/SB to examine the effects of naHAp/SB on the healing of defected cementum and periodontal ligament (PDL) at the site of PPF. HPDLSCs were spindle‐shaped and adhered to all resin discs. Changing the resin from SB to naHAp/SB did not significantly alter cell proliferation. Both 10% and 30% naHAp/SB were more effective than SB in promoting cementoblastic differentiation of HPDLSCs. In the rat PPF model, 30% naHAp/SB was more effective than SB in promoting the formation Sharpey's fiber‐like structures with expression of the PDL‐related marker and cementum‐like structures with expression of cementum‐related markers. In conclusion, 30% naHAp/SB can be the new restorative material for PPF because it exhibited the abilities of adhering to dentin and healing of defected periodontal tissue. Significance Statement: Perforation at pulp chamber floor (PPF) induces inflammatory reactions in surrounding periodontal tissues and leads to tooth loss. An ideal restorative material should exhibit biocompatibility, provide an adequate bond strength to dentin, and induce the healing of defected periodontal tissues. However, the materials meet all requirements were not reported. We aimed to develop and evaluate new materials based on 4‐methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride/methyl methacrylate tri‐n‐butylborane (super‐bond [SB]) and nano hydroxyapatite (naHAp) and mixed them (naHAp/SB). The naHAp/SB exhibited biocompatible properties with adhering ability to dentin and induced the healing of natural periodontal tissues. Our results suggested that naHAp/SB may be the new material meeting all requirements for the repair of PPF and it seems to lead to long‐term preservation of tooth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart growth in the pregnant patient helps maintain cardiovascular function while supporting the growing fetus. However, in some cases, the cardiovascular demand of pregnancy can trigger life-threatening conditions, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and peripartum cardiomyopathy. The mechanisms that control heart growth throughout pregnancy are unclear, and treating these diseases remains elusive. We previously developed a computational model that accounts for hormonal and hemodynamic interactions throughout pregnancy and demonstrated its ability to capture realistic cardiac growth in normal rat pregnancy. In this study, we evaluated whether this model could capture heart growth beyond normal pregnancy. After further validation of our normal pregnancy predictions, we tested our model predictions of three rat studies of hypertensive pregnancies. We next simulated the postpartum period and examined the impact of lactation on cardiac growth in rats. We demonstrate that our multiscale model can capture cardiac growth associated with new-onset hypertension during pregnancy and lactation status in the postpartum period. We conclude by elaborating on the potential clinical utility of our model in the future. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: Our multiscale model predicts appropriate heart growth beyond normal pregnancy, including elevated heart weights in rats with induced hypertension during pregnancy and in lactating mice and decreased heart weight in nonlactating mice. Our model captures distinct mechanisms that result in similar organ-level growth, highlighting its potential to distinguish healthy from diseased pregnancy-induced growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we focus on analysing scale effects on the roll motion of the Italian ship Bettica using a numerical method. First, the roll decay motion of the ship is simulated at both the model scale and full scale, and the predicted results are compared with experimental data to validate the numerical strategy. The results show that there are scale effects that cause the difference in roll amplitudes between the model and the full-scale ship. To investigate the viscous effects on the roll damping components, forced roll simulations are carried out at the model scale and full scale, and the roll damping components (frictional, wave-making, eddy-making, bilge keel and lift components) are obtained. An analysis of these roll damping components indicates that the frictional component is influenced by scale effects, especially in the case of zero or low forward speed. We also show that the bilge keel component is affected by scale effects when the height of the bilge keels is reduced to a certain value below the boundary layer thickness. The velocity fields around the bilge keels are analysed to better understand the scale effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Japan, a considerable number of foreigners encounter challenges in accessing appropriate healthcare services due to the lack of insurance coverage. However, the absence of a public database on these individuals makes it difficult to assess their health problems and healthcare access status. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of vulnerable Thai patients in Japan and to shed light on the specific challenges they face within Japan's healthcare system. A retrospective analysis was conducted using records of patients who required emergency healthcare support from the Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo between 2004 and 2020. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to examine the general characteristics, insurance status, and diseases of the patients. Additionally, patients were classified as either prolonged residents or brief residents based on their duration of stay in Japan until hospital admission (1 year or more or less than 1 year). A total of 74 patients were identified, with the majority (91.9%) lacking insurance coverage. Notably, there was an increase in the number of brief residents, including tourists, during the 2010s. Prolonged residents were more likely to experience chronic diseases, whereas brief residents were more prone to sustaining injuries. The patient records from the Thai Embassy consistently highlight the urgent requirement for emergency healthcare support within this population. However, the existing policies in Japan fall short in adequately addressing the healthcare access needs of this vulnerable population. Therefore, it is crucial to provide additional support and interventions to enhance their healthcare access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous study showed that daily six maximal eccentric contractions that were performed 5 days a week for 4 weeks increased maximal voluntary isometric (MVC‐ISO), concentric (MVC‐CON), and eccentric contraction (MVC‐ECC) strength of the elbow flexors and muscle thickness of biceps brachii and brachialis (MT) by 8.3 ± 4.9%, 11.1 ± 7.4%, 13.5 ± 11.5%, and 10.6 ± 5.1%, respectively. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the muscle strength and MT would still increase when the training intensity was reduced to 2/3 or 1/3 of the peak MVC‐ECC torque. Thirty‐six healthy young (19–24 years) adults who had not performed resistance training were placed to three groups (n = 12/group): 2/3MVC or 1/3MVC that performed six eccentric contractions with 2/3 or 1/3 MVC‐ECC load using a dumbbell 5 days a week for 4 weeks or control group that did not perform any training. Changes in the MVC‐ISO, MVC‐CON, MVC‐ECC torque, and MT before and after the 4‐week period were compared among the groups and with the group of the previous study in which six maximal eccentric contractions were performed 5 days a week for 4 weeks (MVC group; n = 12). The control and 1/3MVC groups showed no significant changes in any measures. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in MVC‐ISO (10.3 ± 11.4%), MVC‐CON (10.9 ± 9.5%), and MVC‐ECC (9.3 ± 8.8%) torque and MT (10.1 ± 9.2%) were observed for the 2/3MVC group. These changes were not significantly different from those of the MVC group. These results suggest that the 2/3‐intensity eccentric contractions with a dumbbell are as effective as maximal‐intensity isokinetic eccentric contractions to induce muscle adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of defects on the acceptor properties of nitrogen-doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated through the fabrication of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Nitrogen-doped ZnO NPs were synthesized by an arc discharge in-gas evaporation method and post-annealed at 800 °C in an oxygen and nitrogen atmosphere. The annealed ZnO NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. It was found that the annealing of nitrogen-doped ZnO NPs in a nitrogen environment increased the number of zinc vacancies, while annealing in an oxygen environment increased the number of oxygen vacancies due to nitrogen desorption. The output characteristics of LEDs fabricated with oxygen-annealed NPs were degraded, while those with nitrogen-annealed NPs were significantly improved. From these results, the contribution of zinc vacancies to acceptor formation in ZnO NPs was confirmed for the first time in actual pn junction devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Prevalence of colonoscopy (CS) is an important countermeasure against colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we used large-scale data for a comparison of CS with esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in Japan. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study. Commercially anonymized patient data were collected from various health insurance societies (JMDC, Inc. Tokyo, Japan) generated from the insurance registry, receipts (inpatient, outpatient, and prescription), and health checkup data. The data also included healthy subjects who had never been examined in a hospital. The data of 2,760,048 persons who were 50–75 years old during January 2012–December 2019 were extracted from the original data source. The annual rate, the prevalence rate (frequency of those undergoing at least one endoscopy during the period), and the percentage of repeaters (undergoing endoscopy at least twice during the period) of CS were calculated and compared to those of EGD. Results: The annual rates in 2012/2015/2019 were 3.4%/4.5%/5.3% for CS, respectively, and increased gradually from 2012 to 2019. Those rates were 7.0%/7.9%/7.4% for EGD, respectively, and did not increase. The prevalence rates of CS and EGD were 25.3% and 36.2%, respectively, among the 137,246 participants over 8 years. The prevalence rates of individuals in their 50 s/60 s/70 s were 23.0%/25.9%/31.4% for CS and 33.0%/37.6%/40.7% for EGD, respectively. The proportions of males/females were 27.9%/20.7% for CS, and 36.4%/35.8% for EGD, respectively. The repeat rates of CS and EGD were 40.3% and 44.8%, respectively, over 8 years. Conclusions: Using large-scale data, we determined the status of CS and EGD in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The challenges of fertility loss owing to cancer treatment persist long after treatment. However, psychosocial care for fertility among cancer survivors who have completed cancer treatment is insufficient. This systematic review examined psychosocial experiences related to the potential loss of fertility and unsuccessful pregnancy after treatment in cancer survivors of reproductive age to identify psychosocial care needs. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the online databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Ichushi-Web between August and December 2022 to identify studies that addressed psychosocial experiences after fertility loss or failure to conceive among young cancer survivors. Study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: Forty studies were included, revealing psychosocial experiences across five categories: subjective fear of (potential) fertility loss, impact on romantic relationships, alternative methods for family building, reliance on social support, and specialized care. Only one study addressed the psychosocial aspects after complete loss of fertility in young cancer survivors. Conclusions: The possibility and uncertainty of fertility loss led to stress and depression, loss of identity, decreased opportunities to meet a new partner, and damaged relationships established before diagnosis. The needs encompass fertility preservation, sexuality, approaches to building a family, partner communication, and other diverse needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial planets currently in the habitable zone around M dwarfs are estimated to have been in runaway greenhouse conditions for up to ∼1 Gyr due to the long-term pre-main-sequence phase of M dwarfs. These planets likely lose a significant portion of water during the pre-main-sequence phase owing to H2O photolysis followed by hydrogen and oxygen loss to space. However, the effects of H2O reproduction reactions and UV shielding by chemical products that reduce photolysis-induced water loss have yet to be estimated. Here, we apply a 1D photochemical model to a H2O-dominated atmosphere of an Earth-like planet around a pre-main-sequence M dwarf to estimate these effects. We find that water loss is suppressed by efficient H2O reproduction reactions and by UV shielding due to O2. The water loss rate decreases by several to several hundred times compared to that in previous studies, with the assumption that the water loss rate is limited by stellar X-ray and extreme-ultraviolet flux or hydrogen diffusion through the atmosphere. Our results imply that terrestrial planets currently in the habitable zone around M dwarfs are more likely to retain surface water than previously estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Introduction: Gene–environment interactions are considered to critically influence type 2 diabetes mellitus development; however, the underlying mechanisms and specific interactions remain unclear. Given the increasing prevalence of low birthweight (LBW) influenced by the intrauterine environment, we sought to investigate genetic factors related to type 2 diabetes development in individuals with LBW. Materials and Methods: The interaction between 20 reported type 2 diabetes susceptibility genes and the development of type 2 diabetes in LBW (<2,500 g) individuals in a population‐based Japanese cohort (n = 1,021) was examined by logistic regression and stratified analyses. Results: Logistic regression analyses showed that only the G/G genotype at the rs1862513 locus of the resistin gene (RETN), an established initiator of insulin resistance, was closely related to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in individuals with LBW. Age, sex and current body mass index‐adjusted stratified analyses showed a significant interaction effect of LBW and the RETN G/G genotype on fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment 2‐insulin resistance, Matsuda index and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (all P‐values for interaction <0.05). The adjusted odds ratio for type 2 diabetes in the LBW + G/G genotype group was 7.33 (95% confidence interval 2.43–22.11; P = 0.002) compared with the non‐LBW + non‐G/G genotype group. Similar results were obtained after excluding the influence of malnutrition due to World War II. Conclusions: Simultaneous assessment of LBW and the RETN G/G genotype can more accurately predict the risk of future type 2 diabetes than assessing each of these factors alone, and provide management strategies, including early lifestyle intervention in LBW population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the impact of cataract surgery on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in older people. Methods: This prospective observational study included patients aged 75 years and older who underwent cataract surgery between 2019 and 2021. Mini‐mental state examination (MMSE) and MMSE for the visually impaired (MMSE‐blind) were measured to evaluate cognitive function before and 3 months after cataract surgery. MMSE score at baseline was used to categorize patients into dementia (MMSE ≤ 23) and MCI groups (23 < MMSE ≤ 27). Logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between improvement in cognitive function and other factors. Results: Of 132 patients screened for inclusion in the study, 88 met the inclusion criteria; 39 patients were assigned to the dementia group (mean age, 85.7 ± 4.2 years) and 49 to the MCI group (mean age, 84.2 ± 3.4 years). The MCI group showed significant improvement from before to after surgery in the MMSE score (25.65 ± 1.03 vs. 27.08 ± 1.99, respectively, p < 0.001) and MMSE‐blind score (18.04 ± 1.14 vs. 19.41 ± 2.01, respectively, p < 0.001). Cognitive function improved significantly in the MCI group compared with the dementia group (odds ratio, 2.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–7.97; and p = 0.046). Conclusions: Cataract surgery significantly increases cognitive test scores in older patients with MCI. After cataract surgery, the likelihood of improvement in cognitive function may be highly dependent on a patient's preoperative cognitive state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lorenzo Infantino's book, "Unintended Consequences and the Social Sciences: An Intellectual History," provides a comprehensive analysis of the concept of unintended consequences in the social sciences. The book explores the historical context of unintended consequences, delving into the role of religion and Greek tragedy. It also examines the perspectives of various philosophers and theorists, including Montesquieu, Smith, Burke, Constant, Comte, Spencer, and Darwin, on unintended consequences and their implications for political, economic, and sociological theories. While the book has some limitations, such as the omission of certain scholars and a lack of clarity in the author's selection of theorists, it offers valuable insights into the development of the idea of unintended consequences and its relevance to contemporary social science research. [Extracted from the article]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, including surgical care. While many studies examined the effect of the pandemic on different patient outcomes, there are none to date examining the impact of the pandemic surge on surgical outcomes. Our aim is to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 surges on surgical outcomes using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database. Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis of 7436 patients who underwent surgery between February 2020 and December 2022 was conducted. Patients were divided into those who underwent surgery during the surge of the pandemic (n = 1217) or outside that period (n = 6219). Primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and morbidity. Secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality, operation time, transfusion, reoperation, and specific postoperative complications. Multivariable logistic regression was used in our analysis. All analyses were conducted using the software "R" version 4.2.1. Statistical significance was set at α =.05 level. Results: After adjusting for confounders, we found no significant difference in 30-day mortality and morbidity (OR: 1.06, 95% CI:.89-1.226, P =.5173) or 30-day mortality only (OR: 1.39, 95% CI:.788-2.14, P =.1364) between the two groups. No significant differences were observed in secondary outcomes. Sensitivity analyses yielded similar results to the multivariable logistic regression. Conclusion: We found no evidence of increased 30-day mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing surgery during the COVID-19 surges compared to those undergoing surgery outside that period. Our results suggest that surgical care was maintained despite the challenges of the pandemic surges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Surgical resection is considered an effective cure for biliary tract cancer (BTC); however, the prognosis is unsatisfactory despite improved surgical techniques and perioperative management. The recurrence rate remains high even after curative resection. The efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic and gastric cancers has been previously reported, and the feasibility of adjuvant therapy with S-1 has recently been reported in patients with resected BTC. We aimed to retrospectively investigate the effects of adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 on resected advanced BTC. Methods: We included data from 438 BTC patients who underwent resection between 2001 and 2020. After excluding patients with pTis-pT1 (n = 112) and other exclusion criteria, 266 patients were included in the analysis. Results: After propensity score matching, 48 patients received S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy (S-1 group), and 48 patients received non-S1 adjuvant chemotherapy or underwent surgery alone (Non-S-1 group). The patients in the S-1 group had significantly better overall survival (OS) than those in the non-S-1 group (MST 51 vs 37 months, hazard ratio [HR]:.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]:.30-.98, P =.04). The S-1 group had a significantly better recurrence-free survival (RFS) than the non-S-1 group (94 vs 21 months, HR:.57, 95% CI:.33-.97, P =.03). Subgroup analyses for OS and RFS exhibited the benefits of S-1 in patients aged <75 years and in patients with primary sites of extrahepatic and perineural invasion and curability of R0. Discussion: S-1 adjuvant therapy is promising for improving the postoperative survival of patients with resected advanced BTC, positive nerve invasion, and R0 resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Sensory stimulation affects physical function; however, the type and range of physical function change remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the type and extent of changes in simple physical functions resulting from exposure to color and taste stimuli. Methods: Five basic colors (red, blue, yellow, green, and black) and foods representative of the five basic tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami) were used as stimuli. Three different physical function tests on muscle strength (grip strength), flexibility (bending length), and balance (stabilometer trajectory area) were performed while wearing color-tinted goggles or after tasting food stimuli. All the stimuli tests were performed in 1 day and repeated for 6 successive days each for color and taste stimuli. Results: Each stimulus had a different effect on the participants. For color stimulation, the median change ratio between the minimum and maximum effects was 5.68% (4.14–8.07%) for muscle strength, 8.52% (5.11–13.39%) for flexibility, and 30.60% (26.81–36.18%) for balance. The corresponding values for taste stimulation were 4.96% (3.67–7.89%), 6.11% (4.37–8.86%), and 28.92% (21.38–34.01%). The rate of change in balance was the highest among the three physical tests and was significantly different from the rate of change in other physical functions (balance vs. muscle power, P < 0.001; balance vs. flexibility, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Color and taste stimuli have different effects on physical function, with individual-level differences in sensitivity to stimuli. Sensory stimuli may affect individual physical functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria is currently spreading globally, including in Africa. Artemisinin resistance also leads to resistance to partner drugs used in artemisinin-based combination therapies. Sequencing of kelch13 , which is associated with artemisinin resistance, culture-based partner drug susceptibility tests, and ELISA-based growth measurement are conventionally used to monitor resistance; however, their application is challenging in resource-limited settings. Methods An experimental package for field studies with minimum human/material requirements was developed. Results First, qPCR-based SNP assay was applied in artemisinin resistance screening, which can detect mutations within 1 h and facilitate sample selection for subsequent processes. It had 100% sensitivity and specificity compared with DNA sequencing in the detection of the two common artemisinin resistance mutations in Uganda, C469Y and A675V. Moreover, in the partner drug susceptibility test, the cultured samples were dry-preserved on a 96-well filter paper plate and shipped to the central laboratory. Parasite growth was measured by ELISA using redissolved samples. It well reproduced the results of direct ELISA, reducing significant workload in the field (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.984; 95% CI: 0.975–0.990). Conclusions Large-scale and sustainable monitoring is required urgently to track rapidly spreading drug-resistant malaria. In malaria-endemic areas, where research resources are often limited, simplicity and feasibility of the procedure is especially important. Our approach combines a qPCR-based rapid test, which is also applicable to point-of-care diagnosis of artemisinin resistance and centralized analysis of ex vivo culture. The approach could improve efficiency of field experiments and accelerate global drug resistance surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The vancomycin presoaking technique (wherein grafts are treated with a vancomycin solution [VS] for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction [ACLR]) reduces the infection rate after ACLR. However, the effects of this technique on graft-bone healing have not been fully elucidated. Purpose: To investigate the effects of vancomycin presoaking on graft-bone healing in a rat ACLR model. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Long flexor digitorum longus tendons were obtained from 9 Wistar rats, and each was randomly allocated to the normal saline (NS) or VS groups. The grafts were immersed in sterile saline for 30 minutes in the NS group and in a 5-mg/mL VS in the VS group. The presence of time-zero graft bacterial contamination was confirmed, and the grafts were incubated in Fluidised Thioglycollate Broth for 2 weeks. ACLR was performed on the right knees of 65 male Wistar rats using the flexor digitorum longus tendons. Each graft was similarly treated. Biomechanical testing, micro–computed tomography, and histological evaluations were performed 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Results: The VS group showed significantly reduced graft contamination at time zero (P =.02). The mean maximum loads to failure were 13.7 ± 8.2 N and 11.6 ± 4.8 N in the NS and VS groups, respectively, at 4 weeks (P =.95); and 23.2 ± 13.2 N and 30.4 ± 18.0 N in the NS and VS groups, respectively, at 12 weeks (P =.35). Regarding micro–computed tomography, the mean bone tunnel volumes were 3.76 ± 0.48 mm3 and 4.40 ± 0.58 mm3 in the NS and VS groups, respectively, at 4 weeks (P =.41); and 3.51 ± 0.38 mm3 and 3.67 ± 0.35 mm3 in the NS and VS groups, respectively, at 12 weeks (P =.54). Histological semiquantitative examination revealed no clear between-group differences at any time point. Conclusion: Presoaking grafts in vancomycin in a rat ACLR model demonstrated no discernible adverse effects on short- and midterm biomechanical, radiological, and histological investigations. Clinical Relevance: The findings provide guidance for surgeons when considering this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fucoxanthin is a versatile substance in the food and pharmaceutical industries owing to its excellent antioxidant and anti-obesity properties. Several microalgae, including the haptophyte Pavlova spp., can produce fucoxanthin and are potential industrial fucoxanthin producers, as they lack rigid cell walls, which facilitates fucoxanthin extraction. However, the commercial application of Pavlova spp. is limited owing to insufficient biomass production. In this study, we aimed to develop a mixotrophic cultivation method to increase biomass and fucoxanthin production in Pavlova gyrans OPMS 30543X. The effects of culturing OPMS 30543X with different organic carbon sources, glycerol concentrations, mixed-nutrient conditions, and light intensities on the consumption of organic carbon sources, biomass production, and fucoxanthin accumulation were analyzed. Several organic carbon sources, such as glycerol, glucose, sucrose, and acetate, were examined, revealing that glycerol was well-consumed by the microalgae. Biomass and fucoxanthin production by OPMS 30543X increased in the presence of 10 mM glycerol compared to that observed without glycerol. Metabolomic analysis revealed higher levels of the metabolites related to the glycolytic, Calvin–Benson–Bassham, and tricarboxylic acid cycles under mixotrophic conditions than under autotrophic conditions. Cultures grown under mixotrophic conditions with a light intensity of 100 µmol photons m−2 s−1 produced more fucoxanthin than autotrophic cultures. Notably, the amount of fucoxanthin produced (18.9 mg/L) was the highest reported thus far for Pavlova species. In conclusion, the use of mixotrophic culture is a promising strategy for increasing fucoxanthin production in Pavlova species. Key points: • Glycerol enhances biomass and fucoxanthin production in Pavlova gyrans • Metabolite levels increase under mixotrophic conditions • Mixotrophic conditions and medium-light intensity are appropriate for P. gyrans [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents cultural conservation projects in Iran and Iraq, in each of which the social context of the archaeological site and the collection were also considered, in order to develop long-term conservation planning. The objective of one project is to improve the water supply for the local village population near an ancient salt mine in Iran in order to retain them as stewards of the archaeological site. Another project shows how digital media and different narrative perspectives are intended to appeal to different target groups in Iran and worldwide to raise awareness of the so-called salt mummies recovered from the ancient salt mine. International experts are also addressed via online formats to discuss the challenges of the ethical handling of human remains for conservation and exhibition. In Kurdistan (Iraq), young archaeology students are introduced to the topics of archaeological heritage management in order to recruit them as future caretakers. What all projects have in common is that relationships and cross-sector networks are being established to build a crisis-proof local community that takes care of its cultural heritage. In this way, projects can be implemented that are primarily carried out by local actors, thereby building up expertise that will endure. These projects are the initial attempts to link cultural preservation and social well-being and thus to make a contribution to sustainable development in line with the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agarose nanofiber with a diameter of 68 ± 33 nm is first prepared by electrospinning under an optimized condition of solvents with hexafluoroisopropanol/water (92.5/7.5, v/v). The results show the control of hydrogen bonding, which is important to prepare a nanoscale agarose material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, numerous studies focus on employing fMRI-based deep neural networks to diagnose neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), yet only a handful have provided results regarding explainability. We address this gap by applying several prevalent explainability methods such as gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) to an fMRI-based 3D-VGG16 network for AD diagnosis to improve the model's explainability. The aim is to explore the specific Region of Interest (ROI) of brain the model primarily focuses on when making predictions, as well as whether there are differences in these ROIs between AD and normal controls (NCs). First, we utilized multiple resting-state functional activity maps including ALFF, fALFF, ReHo, and VMHC to reduce the complexity of fMRI data, which differed from many studies that utilized raw fMRI data. Compared to methods utilizing raw fMRI data, this manual feature extraction approach may potentially alleviate the model's burden. Subsequently, 3D-VGG16 were employed for AD classification, where the final fully connected layers were replaced with a Global Average Pooling (GAP) layer, aimed at mitigating overfitting while preserving spatial information within the feature maps. The model achieved a maximum of 96.4% accuracy on the test set. Finally, several 3D CAM methods were employed to interpret the models. In the explainability results of the models with relatively high accuracy, the highlighted ROIs were primarily located in the precuneus and the hippocampus for AD subjects, while the models focused on the entire brain for NC. This supports current research on ROIs involved in AD. We believe that explaining deep learning models would not only provide support for existing research on brain disorders, but also offer important referential recommendations for the study of currently unknown etiologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are synthetic single-stranded oligonucleotides that bind to RNAs through Watson–Crick base pairings. They are actively being developed as therapeutics for various human diseases. ASOs containing unmethylated deoxycytidylyl-deoxyguanosine dinucleotide (CpG) motifs are known to trigger innate immune responses via interaction with toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). However, the TLR9-stimulatory properties of ASOs, specifically those with lengths equal to or less than 20 nucleotides, phosphorothioate linkages, and the presence and arrangement of sugar-modified nucleotides—crucial elements for ASO therapeutics under development—have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we first established SY-ODN18, an 18-nucleotide phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide with sufficient TLR9-stimulatory activity. We demonstrated that an unmethylated CpG motif near its 5′-end was indispensable for TLR9 activation. Moreover, by utilizing various sugar-modified nucleotides, we systematically generated model ASOs, including gapmer, mixmer, and fully modified designs, in accordance with the structures of ASO therapeutics. Our results illustrated that introducing sugar-modified nucleotides in such designs significantly reduces TLR9-stimulatory activity, even without methylation of CpG motifs. These findings would be useful for drug designs on several types of ASOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to compare the incidence rates (IRs) of infections, including herpes zoster (HZ), in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) or interleukin-6 inhibitors (IL-6is). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 444 RA patients treated using IL-6is (n = 283) or JAKis (n = 161). After adjusting for clinical characteristic imbalances by propensity score matching (PSM), we compared the IRs of infections including HZ between the JAKi and IL-6i groups. Results: Observational period: 1423.93 patient years (PY); median observational period: 2.51 years. After PSM, incidence rate ratios comparing JAKi with IL-6i were 3.45 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.48–9.04) for serious infections other than HZ indicating that the JAKi-treated group was more likely to develop serious infection than the IL-6i-treated group. Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that the use of prednisolone > 5.0 mg/day, coexisting interstitial lung disease (ILD), and diabetes mellitus (DM) were independent risk factors for serious infections. The crude IR for HZ was significantly higher in the JAKi group, but the difference between groups was not significant (IRR: 2.83, 95% CI: 0.87–10.96) in PSM analysis. Unadjusted and PSM analyses performed in our study showed increased IRs of serious infections in patients with RA treated with JAKis compared with those treated with IL-6is. Conclusions: The presence of ILD or DM and the use of prednisolone were found to be independent risk factors for serious infection in RA patients treated using JAKis. Whereas the IRs for HZ after PSM were not significantly different between the JAKi and IL-6i groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the eigenvalue problem for a self-adjoint 1D Dirac operator. It is known that, near an energy level where the square of the potential makes a simple well, the eigenvalues are approximated by a Bohr–Sommerfeld type quantization rule. A remarkable difference from the Schrödinger case appears in the Maslov correction term. This fact was recently found by Hirota [Real eigenvalues of a non-self-adjoint perturbation of the self-adjoint Zakharov–Shabat operator, J. Math. Phys. 58 (2017) 102–108] under the analyticity condition of the potential using a complex WKB method. In this paper, we approach this problem with a microlocal technique focusing on the asymptotic behavior of the eigenfunction along the characteristic set to generalize the result to C∞ potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Method Results Conclusion Contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is an emergent diagnostic imaging modality to identify the bleeding site and survey the abdominal cavity. The diagnostic utility of CECT for ectopic pregnancy (EP) has not been well‐investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of CECT findings in patients with EP and extract specific findings that could contribute to the identification of implantation sites.We conducted a retrospective study, reviewing suspected EP cases between April 2015 and March 2018 in our hospital. Clinical symptoms, blood test results, transvaginal sonography findings, and surgical and pathologic findings from the medical records were assessed. CECT images were evaluated by a certified radiologist and gynecologist retrospectively in consensus. The following were selected as positive findings for specific determination of the ectopic implantation site: the ectopic gestational sac, lateralization of the hemoperitoneum around the adnexa on either side, and extravascular leakage of the contrast agent outside the uterine cavity.CECT was performed in 41 women with an EP. The ectopic implantation site was detectable on CECT in 90.2% (37/41), whereas it was noted in 70.0% (32/41) on transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS). Of nine patients with an EP with an undetectable implantation site on TVS, six were positive for the specific determination of the ectopic implantation site on CECT.CECT has the potential to predict ectopic implantation sites with high‐level sensitivity. As CECT is an urgent diagnostic imaging tool to be used in an emergent setting, it may be a good option for EP diagnosis when the availability of magnetic resonance imaging is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a locally aggressive superficial mesenchymal neoplasm characterized by monomorphic spindle‐cell proliferation with a storiform pattern. It can demonstrate pigmentation, myxoid changes, myoid differentiation, plaque‐like growth, and fibrosarcomatous features; its varied presentation often complicates diagnosis. We report an extremely rare case of fibrosarcomatous DFSP with features reminiscent of a pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumor (PHAT) in a 73‐year‐old male. The diagnosis was confirmed using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. To the best of our knowledge, PHAT‐like changes in DFPS have not been described so far. Therefore, this report provides a novel variant of DFSP and expands the differential diagnosis of DFSP and PHAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adult nephrotic syndrome is a well-known kidney disease that causes heavy proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hypercholesterolemia, edema, and hypertension. The treatment varies according to its underlying cause but often faces medication resistance or adverse drug effects. Case presentation: A Japanese woman in her 80s presented with nephrotic syndrome after a 3 year latent period of urinary protein and occult blood. She did not have any secondary causes of nephrotic syndrome. Renal biopsy revealed thin glomerular basement membrane, partial foot process fusion on electron microscopy with minor glomerular change on light microscopy, and slight coarse immunoglobulin M deposition in the mesangium on immunofluorescence microscopy, which was inconsistent with any other glomerular diseases. Without steroid treatment, she dramatically remitted from proteinuria after the administration of the renal protective agents enalapril, ezetimibe, rosuvastatin, and dapagliflozin. Recurrence after 8 months of follow-up subsided with the administration of additional doses of the agents. Conclusions: This case illustrated the novel outcomes of combining medical treatment without steroid use for nephrotic syndrome with thin glomerular basement membrane disease. At the time of writing this report, the patient's renal function was stable and she was free of edema, although moderate proteinuria and occult hematuria persisted. The final diagnosis was uncertain because of the lack of genetic investigation; however, the response to the aforementioned medical treatment suggests the effectiveness of the supportive therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early prediction of neurological outcomes is useful for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The initial pH was associated with neurological outcomes, but the values varied among the studies. Patients admitted to our division with OHCA of cardiac origin between January 2015 and December 2022 were retrospectively examined (N = 199). A good neurological outcome was defined as a Glasgow–Pittsburgh cerebral performance category (CPC) of 1–2 at discharge. Patients were divided according to the achievement of recovery of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) on hospital arrival, and the efficacy of pH in predicting good neurological outcomes was compared. In patients with ROSC on hospital arrival (N = 100), the initial pH values for good and poor neurological outcomes were 7.26 ± 0.14 and 7.09 ± 0.18, respectively (p < 0.001). In patients without ROSC on hospital arrival (N = 99), the initial pH values for good and poor neurological outcomes were 7.06 ± 0.23 and 6.92 ± 0.15, respectively (p = 0.007). The pH associated with good neurological outcome was much lower in patients without ROSC than in those with ROSC on hospital arrival (P = 0.003). A higher initial pH is associated with good neurological outcomes in patients with OHCA. However, the pH for a good or poor neurological outcome depends on the ROSC status on hospital arrival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reflexive referentially depends on another NP. Long-standing inquiries in sentence processing literature revolve around whether and how forming this coreference relation during online sentence processing is susceptible to similarity-based interference. To address these questions, we conducted four experiments using L-maze tasks. The results revealed (delayed) interference in ungrammatical sentences, indicating facilitatory interference. We also found that structural information associated with a distractor and related to clause finiteness may influence memory retrieval. Interference effects were not observed in grammatical sentences across all experiments. These results suggest that online reflexive resolution may be susceptible to interference only when the reflexive mismatches its structurally accessible antecedent in features, and that structural information may influence how a distractor interferes with memory retrieval during online sentence processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the development of a novel methodology, image-processing-based ultrasonic velocimetry (IPUV). For evaluating flow velocity, we present a new perspective utilizing image processing for spatiotemporal echo images instead of conventional ultrasonic analysis methods such as pulse compression and quadrature detection. In addition to traditional tracer particle size O (100 μ m) , IPUV has a high applicability for measuring the velocity of microparticle dispersion of the particle size O (1 μ m) and dilute concentration O (0.001 wt. %). Velocimetry utilizing microparticles has significant merit: Velocity measurements can be conducted under conditions with less influence on the flow and higher traceability to fluid flow than the size conventionally used as a tracer particle. The accuracy and effectiveness of velocity analysis based on the IPUV principle are verified numerically and experimentally. In the experiments, IPUV was applied to Couette flow and stirring flow. In the former, the validity of the velocity profiling by IPUV was confirmed compared to the theoretical profiles of Couette flow. In the latter, IPUV measured velocity profiles in the stirring flows with different dispersions [spherical particle O (100 μ m) and mica O (1 μ m) ]. Differences in the ability of dispersed particles to follow turbulent fluctuations in stirring water flow appeared in the frequency spectrum of IPUV velocity profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]