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The authors implanted P atoms at 50 and 140-keV energies with respective fluences of 1 × 10 14 and 2 × 10 14 /cm 2 into diamond thin films synthesized by chemical vapor deposition on the type-Ib diamond substrate formed by high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. The occupational sites of implanted P atoms were determined in each processing stage of P implantation, ion-beam-induced epitaxial crystallization (IBIEC) annealing by 3-MeV-Ne 2 + ion irradiation at 750 ° C, and thermal annealing at 850 ° C in vacuum, by quantitatively comparing the random and channeling yields in Rutherford backscattering (RBS) measurements. In the analysis of RBS spectra, simulated distributions were fitted to the experimentally obtained spectra and we quantitatively identified the occupational sites and ratio of implanted P atoms. In addition, we investigated the diffusion phenomenon of implanted P atoms during annealing processes from the depth profile of scattered He ions. Consequently, the averaged occupational ratio in the substitutional lattice site was stably recorded around 50%. From the depth profile in the RBS spectra, thermal diffusion of implanted P atoms was clearly observed during the last thermal annealing after MeV-IBIEC annealing. We finally discuss the potentials of the MeV-IBIEC irradiation at relatively low temperatures applying to useful and credible annealing methods for electrical activation as well as recovery of damaged crystallinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GaN caps are commonly used to reduce sheet charge modulation induced by AlGaN/GaN surface potential. However, the details on how GaN caps affect C – V and G – V characteristics are still unclear. In this paper, we report a difference between these characteristics with and without GaN caps, and we discovered a mechanism in which GaN caps act as quantum wells to affect the charging and discharging of interface states. Finally, we developed a numerical model to simulate admittance characteristics of AlGaN/GaN MIS structures with a GaN cap in high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

External female genital mutilation (EFGM) is the strategy employed by male spiders to ensure paternity during sexual conflict over female remating. Three orb-web spider species have been identified to engage in EFGM, wherein males remove the female's genital scape, which is crucial for successful genital coupling. Mutilated females lose their remating ability. Despite the apparent fitness advantage of mutilator males over non-mutilators, mutilation success rates vary across these species. The extent to which females engage in aggression and sexual cannibalism as potential countermeasures against EFGM is also variable. In this study, two consecutive staged matings were conducted in Cyclosa confusa and C. vallata spiders to determine the rate of successful mutilation and the influence of sexual cannibalism and female aggression. Both species exhibited low rates of sexual cannibalism and female aggression. While most matings involving unmated C. vallata females resulted in successful mutilation, one-third of C. confusa females retained an intact scape after mating. Additionally, mutilation rates in C. confusa increased with male size and weight and decreased with female weight. In contrast to previous studies on other species, our results revealed low mutilation success with low sexual cannibalism and female aggression in C. confusa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

InGaN, a group‐III nitride semiconductor, is expected to be widely used in the field of optoelectronics, owing to its excellent physical properties. However, InGaN has various limitations. This study reports face‐to‐face annealing (FFA) using vapor‐phase and in‐plane mass transport to improve the surface flatness of an InGaN template. InGaN layers are grown on a GaN template that is grown on a c‐plane sapphire substrate using metal–organic vapor‐phase epitaxy. NH3‐assisted FFA is performed at 1050 °C for 20 min, causing V‐pits to vanish from the InGaN template despite their initial density of 3.3 × 108 cm−2. The surface condition of the lower InGaN layer is worse than that of the upper InGaN layer due to the FFA‐induced upward mass transport from the lower layer, thereby eliminating the V‐pits. Compositional analysis of the upper layer through Auger electron spectroscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy reveals In peaks despite high‐temperature annealing, thus confirming the presence of InGaN. The results of this study offer possibilities for future InGaN crystal growth and InGaN‐based device fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive and their accumulation causes oxidative damage to cells. Cells maintain survival upon mild oxidative stress with anti-oxidative systems, such as the kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) system. On the other hand, upon severe oxidative stress, cells undergo regulated cell death, including apoptosis, for eliminating damaged cells. To execute efficient cell death, cells need to turn off the anti-oxidant systems, while triggering cell death. However, it remains unknown how cells orchestrate these two conflicting systems under excessive oxidative stress. Herein, we show that when cells are exposed to excessive oxidative damage, an E3 ubiquitin ligase Roquin-2 (also known as RC3H2) plays a key role in switching cell fate from survival to death by terminating activation of transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), a positive regulator for Nrf2 activation. Roquin-2 interacted with TAK1 via four cysteine residues in TAK1 (C96, C302, C486, and C500) that are susceptible to oxidative stress and participate in oligomer formation via disulfide bonds, promoting K48-linked polyubiquitination and degradation of TAK1. Nrf2 was inactivated upon lethal oxidative stress in wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells, whereas it sustained activation and conferred resistance to Roquin-2 deficient cells, which was reversed by pharmacological or genetic inhibition of TAK1. These data demonstrate that in response to excessive ROS exposure, Roquin-2 promotes ubiquitination and degradation of TAK1 to suppress Nrf2 activation, and thereby contributes to an efficient cell death, providing insight into the pathogenesis of oxidative stress-related diseases, including cancer. [Display omitted] • TAK1 binds to Roquin-2 via four oxidation-sensitive cysteine residues in TAK1. • Ubiquitination of TAK1 by Roquin-2 facilitates its proteasomal degradation. • Roquin-2 sensitizes cells to oxidative stress by suppressing the TAK1-Nrf2 axis. • Roquin-2 is required for efficient cell death upon lethal oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genome is constantly exposed to DNA damage from endogenous and exogenous sources. Fine modulation of DNA repair, chromatin remodeling, and transcription factors is necessary for protecting genome integrity, but the precise mechanisms are still largely unclear. We found that after ionizing radiation (IR), global trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) was decreased at an early (5 min) post-IR phase but increased at an intermediate (180 min) post-IR phase in both human and mouse hematopoietic cells. We demonstrated that PTIP, a component of the MLL histone methyltransferase complex, is required for H3K4me3 upregulation in the intermediate post-IR phase and promotes cell cycle arrest by epigenetically inducing a cell cycle inhibitor, PRDM1. In addition, we found that PTIP expression is specifically downregulated in acute myeloid leukemia patients. These findings collectively suggest that the PTIP-PRDM1 axis plays an essential role in proper DNA damage response and its deregulation contributes to leukemogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odours used by insects for foraging and mating are carried by the air. Insects induce airflows around them by flapping their wings, and the distribution of these airflows may strongly influence odour source localisation. The flightless silkworm moth, Bombyx mori, has been a prominent insect model for olfactory research. However, although there have been numerous studies on antenna morphology and its fluid dynamics, neurophysiology, and localisation algorithms, the airflow manipulation of the B. mori by fanning has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we performed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses of flapping B. mori to analyse this mechanism in depth. A three-dimensional simulation using reconstructed wing kinematics was used to investigate the effects of B. mori fanning on locomotion and pheromone capture. The fanning of the B. mori was found to generate an aerodynamic force on the scale of its weight through an aerodynamic mechanism similar to that of flying insects. Our simulations further indicate that the B. mori guides particles from its anterior direction within the ~ 60° horizontally by wing fanning. Hence, if it detects pheromones during fanning, the pheromone can be concluded to originate from the direction the head is pointing. The anisotropy in the sampling volume enables the B. mori to orient to the pheromone plume direction. These results provide new insights into insect behaviour and offer design guidelines for robots for odour source localisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral guanidine-catalyzed acylative and silylative dynamic kinetic resolutions of 6-hydroxy-2 H -pyran-3(6 H)-one were achieved. We succeeded in developing a non-enzymatic acylative dynamic kinetic resolution of 6-hydroxy-2 H -pyran-3(6 H)-one with high enantioselectivity, which could be improved by recrystallization. In contrast, the non-enzymatic silylative dynamic kinetic resolution of 6-hydroxy-2 H -pyran-3(6 H)-one was accomplished with a moderate selectivity for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a large-scale online survey in February 2023 to investigate the public's perceptions of COVID-19 infection and fatality risks in Japan. We identified two key findings. First, univariate analysis comparing perceived and actual risk suggested overestimation and nonnegligible underestimation of COVID-19 risk. Second, multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that age, income, education levels, health status, information sources, and experiences related to COVID-19 were associated with risk perceptions. Given that risk perceptions are closely correlated with daily socioeconomic activities and well-being, it is important for policy-makers and public health experts to understand how to communicate COVID-19 risk to the public effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (mIBG) has been applied to patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the relationship between 123I-mIBG activity and lethal arrhythmic events (ArE) is not well defined. This study aimed to determine this relationship in Japanese and European cohorts. Results: We calculated heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) count ratios and washout rates (WRs) of 827 patients using planar 123I-mIBG imaging. We defined ArEs as sudden cardiac death, arrhythmic death, and potentially lethal events such as sustained ventricular tachycardia, cardiac arrest with resuscitation, and appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) discharge, either from a single ICD or as part of a cardiac resynchronization therapy device (CRTD). We analyzed the incidence of ArE with respect to H/M ratios, WRs and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classes among Japanese (J; n = 581) and European (E; n = 246) cohorts. We also simulated ArE rates versus H/M ratios under specific conditions using a machine-learning model incorporating 13 clinical variables. Consecutive patients with CHF were selected in group J, whereas group E comprised candidates for cardiac electronic devices. Groups J and E mostly comprised patients with NYHA functional classes I/II (95%) and II/III (91%), respectively, and 21% and 72% were respectively implanted with ICD/CRTD devices. The ArE rate increased with lower H/M ratios in group J, but the relationship was bell-shaped, with a high ArE rate within the intermediate H/M range, in group E. This bell-shaped curve was also evident in patients with NYHA classes II/III in the combined J and E groups, particularly in those with a high (> 15%) mIBG WR and with ischemic, but not in those with non-ischemic etiologies. Machine learning-based prediction of ArE risk aligned with these findings, indicating a bell-shaped curve in NYHA class II/III but not in class I. Conclusions: The relationship between cardiac 123I-mIBG activity and lethal arrhythmic events is influenced by the background of patients. The bell-shaped relationship in NYHA classes II/III, high WR, and ischemic etiology likely aids in identifying patients at high risk for ArEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cirrhosis is a liver disease resulting from abnormal continuation of fibrosis, and ultrasound imaging is widely used for cirrhosis diagnosis because of its non‐invasiveness. However, due to unclear appearances of cirrhosis on ultrasound images, diagnoses are difficult and individual results possibly differ depending on the physician's experience. Recently, computer‐aided diagnostic systems using image processing and machine learning have been developed to help physicians detect cirrhosis as a 'Second opinion'. Some related studies have focused on a scenario where physicians set ROIs (Region of Interests) manually because selecting reliable ROIs for training a classifier and classification of patients is indispensable. But, the accuracy of such systems depends inherently on the quality of ROIs, and thus the workloads of physicians increase. In this paper, we propose a reliability evaluation method (REM) for each ROI based on its posterior probability and relationship to peripheral ROIs. The assumption of our proposal is that reliable regions of cirrhosis and normal can be observed in certain regions predominantly. We evaluated the effectiveness of the REM and its optimization for practical use. Experimental results showed that our proposed method curated reliable ROIs and improved classification performance in terms of AUC (Area Under the Curve). © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is an evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine protein kinase in eukaryotes. In plants, the GSK3-like kinase BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 2 (BIN2) functions as a central signaling node through which hormonal and environmental signals are integrated to regulate plant development and stress adaptation. BIN2 plays a major regulatory role in brassinosteroid (BR) signaling and is critical for phosphorylating/inactivating BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (BZR1), also known as BRZ-INSENSITIVE-LONG HYPOCOTYL 1 (BIL1), a master transcription factor of BR signaling, but the detailed regulatory mechanism of BIN2 action has not been fully revealed. In this study, we identified BIL8 as a positive regulator of BR signaling and plant growth in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Genetic and biochemical analyses showed that BIL8 is downstream of the BR receptor BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) and promotes the dephosphorylation of BIL1/BZR1. BIL8 interacts with and inhibits the activity of the BIN2 kinase, leading to the accumulation of dephosphorylated BIL1/BZR1. BIL8 suppresses the cytoplasmic localization of BIL1/BZR1, which is induced via BIN2-mediated phosphorylation. Our study reveals a regulatory factor, BIL8, that positively regulates BR signaling by inhibiting BIN2 activity. The regulatory factor BIL8 promotes brassinosteroid signaling and plant growth by inhibiting the phosphorylation activity of BIN2 kinase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Members of the neurotrophic tropomyosin receptor kinase (NTRK) gene family, NTRK1, NTRK2, and NTRK3 encode TRK receptor tyrosine kinases. Intra‐ or inter‐chromosomal gene rearrangements produce NTRK gene fusions encoding fusion proteins which are oncogenic drivers in various solid tumors. Methods: This study investigated the prevalence of NTRK fusion genes and identified fusion partners in Japanese patients with solid tumors recorded in the Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics database of comprehensive genomic profiling test. Results: In the analysis population (n = 46,621), NTRK fusion genes were detected in 91 patients (0.20%). The rate was higher in pediatric cases (<18 years; 1.69%) than in adults (0.16%). NTRK gene fusions were identified in 21 different solid tumor types involving 38 different partner genes including 22 (57.9%) previously unreported NTRK gene fusions. The highest frequency of NTRK gene fusions was head and neck cancer (1.31%) and thyroid cancer (1.31%), followed by soft tissue sarcoma (STS; 0.91%). A total of 97 NTRK fusion gene partners were analyzed involving mainly NTRK1 (49.5%) or NTRK3 (44.2%) gene fusions. The only fusion gene detected in head and neck cancer was ETV6::NTRK3 (n = 22); in STS, ETV6::NTRK3 (n = 7) and LMNA::NTRK1 (n = 5) were common. Statistically significant mutual exclusivity of NTRK fusions with alterations was confirmed in TP53, KRAS, and APC. NTRK gene fusion was detected from 11 STS cases: seven unclassified sarcoma, three sarcoma NOS, and one Ewing sarcoma. Conclusions: NTRK gene fusion identification in solid tumors enables accurate diagnosis and potential TRK inhibitor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objective Materials and methods Results Discussion and conclusions An animal model of the partial restoration of spermatogenesis may be useful in the field of reproductive biology and medicine. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) induces the restorable arrest of spermatogenesis at the level of spermatogonia and is used as a mouse model of spermatogenesis disorder.We aimed to establish an animal model in which spermatogenesis is partially restored by switching a vitamin A deficiency diet to a normal vitamin A‐containing diet and conduct a comprehensive analysis to identify vulnerable sites in the seminiferous tubules that affect the efficient restoration of spermatogenesis in this model.Mice fed a vitamin A deficiency diet until 12 weeks old and then reared with a normal diet for 15 weeks served as the restoration model. We performed three‐dimensional reconstructions of the seminiferous tubules and analyzed the three‐dimensional distribution of restored spermatogenesis throughout the testis.Fifteen weeks after the switch to the normal diet, spermatogenesis was restored in 78% of the length of seminiferous tubules. The percentage of restored spermatogenesis was lower in longer seminiferous tubules. An analysis of the distribution of spermatogenesis throughout the testis in this model revealed that it was restored less in portions of seminiferous tubules near the rete testis and hairpin curves and also in those located in the caudal region of the testis. These sites tended to correspond to sites with fewer spermatogonia in the vitamin A deficiency testis.We established an animal model of the partial restoration of spermatogenesis and examined the three‐dimensional distribution of restored spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules. The results obtained provide insights into the mechanisms underlying spermatogenesis disorders and may contribute to better clinical practices, such as the screening of drugs or therapeutic interventions for human male infertility and improvements in fertility preservation techniques for individuals undergoing chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various factors contribute to the development of infection-related acute encephalopathy (AE) in children, such as infectious agents and chronic underlying disorders. We studied underlying disorders in children with AE to identify predisposing factors of AE. We investigated underlying disorders or past histories in patients with two types of AE from the database in the Tokai area of Japan between 2009 and 2022: 204 patients with AE with reduced subcortical diffusion (AED) and 137 with clinically mild encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS). We compared them with 89 patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) to clarify the specific disorders in the two AE types. The prevalence of underlying disorders in AED (34%, 70 patients) was significantly higher than that in ADEM (12%, 11 patients) (P < 0.01). The prevalence of underlying disorders in MERS was 23% (32 patients). The underlying disorders included seizure disorders, premature birth, genetic/congenital disorders, and endocrine/renal diseases. In patients with seizure disorders in AED, five patients (18%) had Dravet syndrome and four (15%) had West syndrome, whereas none with MERS had these syndromes. Twenty-five (12%) of 204 patients with AED, three (2%) with MERS, and one (1%) with ADEM were preterm or low birth weight. The high prevalence of seizure disorders suggests that seizure susceptibility is an important predisposing factor in AED. Premature birth also has an impact on the development of AED. Caution is required regarding the development of AE in patients with chronic seizure disorders or premature birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The d5 electron configurations under the crystal field, spin–orbit coupling, and Coulomb interaction give rise to a plethora of profound ground states. Ruthenium perovskite oxides exhibit a number of unconventional properties yet the Ru4+ state (4 d 4 ) is usually stable in these materials. In this regard, Ru3+ ions in perovskite materials are expected to be a mesmerizing playground of 4 d 5 electron configurations. Here, we report measurements of x-ray photoemission spectroscopy on recently synthesized perovskite ruthenium oxide thin films, LaRuO3 and NdRuO3, whose valence state of the ruthenium ions is trivalent. We discuss correlation and spin–orbit effects from the valence band spectra, in particular an additional peak structure around 3–5 eV, reminiscent of the so-called 3 eV peak observed in Sr2RuO4. Moreover, we find that the core-level spectra of these materials are quantitatively different from those in other ruthenates, which possess Ru4+ ions, e.g., SrRuO3. We therefore argue that the core level spectra of LaRuO3 and NdRuO3 are peculiar to the Ru3+ states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has proven to be extremely effective at managing certain cancers, its efficacy in treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been limited. Therefore, enhancing the effect of ICB could improve the prognosis of PDAC. In this study, we focused on the histamine receptor H1 (HRH1) and investigated its impact on ICB therapy for PDAC. Methods: We assessed HRH1 expression in pancreatic cancer cell (PCC) specimens from PDAC patients through public data analysis and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. The impact of HRH1 in PCCs was evaluated using HRH1 antagonists and small hairpin RNA (shRNA). Techniques including Western blot, flow cytometry, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and microarray analyses were performed to identify the relationships between HRH1 and major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) expression in cancer cells. We combined HRH1 antagonism or knockdown with anti-programmed death receptor 1 (αPD-1) therapy in orthotopic models, employing IHC, immunofluorescence, and hematoxylin and eosin staining for assessment. Results: HRH1 expression in cancer cells was negatively correlated with HLA-ABC expression, CD8+ T cells, and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. Our findings indicate that HRH1 blockade upregulates MHC-I expression in PCCs via cholesterol biosynthesis signaling. In the orthotopic model, the combined inhibition of HRH1 and αPD-1 blockade enhanced cytotoxic CD8+ T cell penetration and efficacy, overcoming resistance to ICB therapy. Conclusions: HRH1 plays an immunosuppressive role in cancer cells. Consequently, HRH1 intervention may be a promising method to amplify the responsiveness of PDAC to immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Management of emergency care Background: Neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) is a rare complication of neurological insults, such as traumatic brain injury and intracranial hemorrhage, in children. NPE frequently accompanies left ventricular (LV) dysfunction mediated via central catecholamine surge and inflammation. A high serum natriuretic (BNP) level was prolonged even after the LV contraction was improved in this case with severe myocardial injury. The overloading stress to the LV wall can last several days over the acute phase of NPE. Case Report: A 6-year-old boy developed NPE after the removal of a brain tumor in the cerebellar vermis, which was complicated by hydrocephalus. Simultaneously, he experienced LV dysfunction involving reduced global contraction with severe myocardial injury diagnosed by abnormally elevated cardiac troponin I level (1611.6 pg/ml) combined with a high serum BNP level (2106 pg/ml). He received mechanical ventilation for 4 days until the improvement of his pulmonary edema in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). On the next day, after the withdrawal of mechanical ventilation, he was discharged from the ICU to the pediatric unit. Although the LV contraction was restored to an almost normal range in the early period, it took a total of 16 days for the serum BNP level to reach an approximate standard range (36.9 pg/ml). Conclusions: Even in a pediatric patient with NPE, we recommend careful monitoring of the variation of cardiac biomarkers such as BNP until confirmation of return to an approximate normal value because of the possible sustained overloading stress to the LV wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unidirectional porous hydroxyapatite (UDPHAp) was developed as a remarkable scaffold characterized by a distinct structure with unidirectional pores oriented in the horizontal direction and connected through interposes. We evaluated the radiographic changes, clinical outcomes, and complications following UDPHAp implantation for the treatment of bone tumors. Excellent bone formation within and around the implant was observed in all patients treated with intralesional resection and UDPHAp implantation for benign bone tumors. The absorption of UDPHAp and remodeling of the bone marrow space was observed in 45% of the patients at a mean of 17 months postoperatively and was significantly more common in younger patients. Preoperative cortical thinning was completely regenerated in 84% of patients at a mean of 10 months postoperatively. No complications related to the implanted UDPHAp were observed. In a pediatric patient with bone sarcoma, when the defect after fibular resection was filled with UDPHAp implants, radiography showed complete resorption of the implant and clear formation of cortex and marrow in the resected part of the fibula. The patient could walk well without crutches and participate in sports activities. UDPHAp is a useful bone graft substitute for the treatment of benign bone tumors, and the use of this material has a low complication rate. We also review and discuss the potential of UDPHAp as a bone graft substitute in the clinical setting of orthopedic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Very large chest wall resections can lead to acute thoracic insufficiency syndrome due to the interdependence of lung expansion and thoracic volume. Chest wall tumor surgeries often encounter complications, with the size of the chest wall defect being a significant predictor. Several methods for large chest wall reconstruction have been described, aiming to provide stability, prevent flail chest, and ensure airtight closure. However, no single method fulfills all requirements. Composite chest wall reconstruction using titanium plates and Gore-Tex patches has shown the potential to minimize physiologic abnormalities caused by extensive defects. Case presentation: A 42-year-old man with myxofibrosarcoma underwent multiple surgeries, chemotherapies, and radiation therapies due to repeated local recurrences. After right arm amputation and resection of the right third to fifth ribs, a local recurrence was detected. A 30 × 40 cm chest wall defect was resected en bloc, and a titanium plate was used for three-dimensional formability, preventing flail chest and volume loss. The Gore-Tex patch was then reconstructed into an arch shape, allowing lateral thoracic mobility. The patient recovered well and did not experience respiratory dysfunction or local recurrence but later succumbed to distant metastasis. Conclusions: In this case, the combination of a titanium plate and a Gore-Tex patch proved effective for reconstructing massive lateral chest wall defects. The approach provided stability, preserved thoracic volume, and allowed for lateral mobility. While the patient achieved a successful outcome in terms of local recurrence and respiratory function, distant metastasis remained a challenge for myxofibrosarcoma patients, and its impact on long-term prognosis requires further investigation. Nevertheless, the described procedure offers promise for managing extensive chest wall defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries have experienced multiple waves of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. We propose a novel but parsimonious extension of the SIR model, a CSIR model, that can endogenously generate waves. In the model, cautious individuals take appropriate prevention measures against the virus and are not exposed to infection risk. Incautious individuals do not take any measures and are susceptible to the risk of infection. Depending on the size of incautious and susceptible population, some cautious people lower their guard and become incautious—thus susceptible to the virus. When the virus spreads sufficiently, the population reaches "temporary" herd immunity and infection subsides thereafter. Yet, the inflow from the cautious to the susceptible eventually expands the susceptible population and leads to the next wave. We also show that the CSIR model is isomorphic to the SIR model with time-varying parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The language and cultural priorities in Australian Indigenous education have been priority areas since the inaugural national Indigenous education policy was launched in 1989. For over thirty years, these priorities have sat awkwardly in the largely non-Indigenous teaching profession and classroom teachers continue to struggle with how to embed these priorities into the education process, despite the efforts of Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority and their elaborations for application at curriculum and practice levels. In this article, I suggest that these language and cultural priorities are at cross-purposes with education priorities, and neither have helped to curb the demise of our Indigenous languages nor improved Indigenous students' educational outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunonutrition is effective in preventing postoperative infections, but its efficacy in ileal conduit procedures has not been well documented. In this study, the efficacy of immunonutrition was investigated in 86 patients with bladder cancer. Results showed that a reduction in the incidence of SSI was associated with the use of immunonutrition. Background: Radical cystectomy and ileal conduit have a high incidence of surgical site infection. In this study, we evaluated the effects of preoperative immunonutrition on its incidence following these procedures. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 86 patients who underwent radical cystectomy and ileal conduit at our hospital between 2014 October and 2021 July. They were sequentially divided into the Immunonutrition group (n = 43) and Control group (n = 43). Patients in the Immunonutrition group drank 4 packs of IMPACT (Nestle, Japan) per day for 5 days before surgery. IMPACT contains arginine and eicosapentaenoic acid. We compared levels of plasma arginine and eicosapentaenoic acid before and after surgery and the rate of surgical site infection between the groups. Factors related to surgical site infection were analyzed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed in patient characteristics between the groups except for surgical operative method (P < .001) and transfusion (P = .009). Levels of plasma arginine and eicosapentaenoic acid were significantly increased the day before surgery in the immunonutrition group (P < .001). However, the levels of plasma arginine on the day after surgery did not vary significantly between the groups. The incidence of surgical site infection was significantly lower in the immunonutrition group (P = .014). Multivariate analyses showed a significant association of surgical site infection with immunonutrition (OR = 0.14, CI 0.03-0.72, P = .019) and with ASA classification (OR = 4.76, CI 1.23-18.40, P = .024). Conclusions: Preoperative immunonutrition significantly reduced the incidence of surgical site infection following radical cystectomy and ileal conduit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Circulating blood volume (BV) during exercise changes depending on the intensity and duration, and post‐exercise hypotension is observed after continuous exercise. We investigated the safety and efficacy of both interval and continuous IDE at anaerobic threshold (AT) levels with respect to hemodynamic stability and dialysis efficiency. Methods: In this crossover randomized controlled trial, 16 patients on haemodialysis were subjected to three trial arms, including non‐IDE, interval‐IDE, and continuous‐IDE arms. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), BV, and ultraviolet absorbance – an indicator of dialysis efficiency – were continuously measured, and each change was compared between the three arms by two‐way analysis of variance. Results: Continuous IDE decreased SBP from post‐exercise to the end of dialysis compared with baseline (pre 142.8 ± 19.0 vs. post 127.5 ± 24.5 mmHg, p =.02), whereas interval IDE maintained better SBP levels post‐exercise (pre 139.9 ± 17.1 vs. post 140.1 ± 15.8 mmHg, p = 1.0) than continuous IDE (non‐IDE 133.2 ± 19.9 vs. interval 140.1 ± 15.8 vs. continuous 127.5 ± 24.5 mmHg, p =.04). Moreover, interval IDE caused less tiredness and few symptoms (p <.05), despite reaching higher intensity than continuous IDE (p =.001). The BV of each IDE arm decreased during exercise and recovered post‐exercise to the same level as non‐IDE. Ultraviolet absorbance was not different between each arm (p =.16). Conclusion: AT‐level interval IDE maintains better hemodynamic stability from post‐exercise to the end of dialysis and may represent a novel approach that can be effectively performed with fewer symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacitance–voltage (C – V) and conductance–voltage (G – V) characteristics of GaN metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) structures have a frequency dependence due to the capture and emission of electrons by the high density of the interface states. However, the details of how an interface state affects C – V and G – V characteristics is still not well understood. In this paper, we report a numerical modeling method that can simulate the frequency dependent C – V and G – V characteristics of GaN MIS structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lumbopelvic movement patterns during prone hip extension has been proposed as a clinical screening method for trunk muscle dysfunction in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). However, correlations between trunk muscle onset and pelvic kinematics have not been investigated. To examine the correlation between trunk muscle onset and pelvic kinematics during prone hip extension in participants with CLBP. Fifteen patients with CLBP and 15 healthy individuals participated. We evaluated the muscle activities of the lumbar multifidus, the longissimus, and the semitendinosus via electromyogram and the displacement angles of the pelvic tilt, oblique and rotation. The onset of the multifidus at the ipsilateral side of hip extension was significantly delayed in the patients with CLBP compared to the control group (P< 0.001). The onset of the ipsilateral multifidus in the control group was significantly correlated with increased anterior pelvic tilt angle (P= 0.019, r= 0.597), whereas no significant correlation was observed in the CLBP group (P= 0.810, r=-0.068). The results suggest that pelvic kinematics during prone hip extension does not predict the delayed trunk muscle onset in patients with CLBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quick decision making is a vital factor for a successful pass in soccer games. Many previous studies of decision making in soccer focused on motor execution, but inhibitory processing has remained unclear. This study aimed to clarify the differences in motor execution and inhibitory among Japanese collegiate soccer players with different skill levels. We evaluated the behavioral data and event-related potentials in the high-skilled, low-skilled, and novice groups during the Go/No-go and pass choice reaction tasks. The reaction time (RT) was significantly shorter in the high group than in the novice group, and RT variability was small in the high group. The amplitude of the N2 component was significantly larger in the high group than in the low and novice groups, and the latency of the P3 component was significantly shorter in the high and low groups than in the novice group during the pass choice reaction task. The subtracted No-go N2 amplitude was also significantly larger in the high and low groups than in the novice group, and correlations existed between the RT, RT variability, and the subtracted No-go N2 amplitude during these tasks. These data indicate that soccer players' behavioral responses and inhibition processing decision-making activities are associated with skill levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of animated food consumption on human psychology. We developed a movable, edible robot and evaluated the participants' impressions induced by the visualization of its movements and eating of the robot. Although several types of edible robots have been developed, to the best of our knowledge, the psychological effects associated with the eating of a robot have not been investigated. We developed a pneumatically driven edible robot using gelatin and sugar. We examined its perceived appearance and the participants' impressions when it was eaten. In the robot-eating experiment, we evaluated two conditions: one in which the robot was moved and one in which it was stationary. Our results showed that participants perceived the moving robot differently from the stationary robot, leading to varied perceptions, when consuming it. Additionally, we observed a difference in perceived texture when the robot was bitten and chewed under the two conditions. These findings provide valuable insights into the practical applications of edible robots in various contexts, such as the medical field and culinary entertainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban development greatly alters the natural and semi‐natural habitats of native plants. Urbanisation results in a range of diverse habitats including remnant agricultural lands, urban parks, and roadside habitats. This habitat diversity often promotes trait divergence within urban areas. However, the mechanisms by which diverse urban habitats influence the population genetic structure of individual plant species remain poorly understood. We investigated the effects of urbanisation on genetic diversity and structure within 24 Commelina communis populations across diverse habitat types (rural agricultural land, urban agricultural land, urban park land, and urban roadsides) within the Kyoto–Osaka–Kobe megacity in Japan. We conducted multiplexed inter‐simple sequence repeat genotyping to compare genetic diversity among populations in different habitats. We also examined the correlation between Nei's genetic distance and geographic and environmental distances and performed principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) to evaluate genetic differentiation among urban habitats. There were no significant differences in genetic diversity indices between urban and rural populations and among urban habitat types. Although we detected no isolation‐by‐distance structure in population pairs of the same habitat type and in those of different habitats, the difference in surrounding landscape facilitated genetic differentiation not only between urban and rural habitats but also between different urban habitats. PCoA revealed no clear genetic differentiation among rural and urban habitat populations. Our findings indicate that the establishment of diverse habitat types through urbanisation has no and little impact on genetic diversity and structure, respectively, in C. communis, likely due to its high selfing rate and ability to adapt to urban conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decarbonization and idle cropland reclaiming pose critical policy challenges. Agrivoltaic systems (AVSs), which merge agriculture and photovoltaics, offer a promising solution by reducing land use conflicts between agriculture and energy production. This study develops a GIS-based methodology to identify reclaimable idle croplands and assess the AVS's contribution to agriculture and photovoltaic energy in Japan's Kansai region. Using official geographic data and excluding high-risk areas, this study employs GIS for quantitative analysis. Our method detected more reclaimable idle cropland than previous studies. Focusing on food security while limiting AVS installations to reclaimable idle croplands could still generate up to 4564.08 GWh of electricity (0.8% of regional consumption) and 930.82 tons of soybeans (6.2% of regional yield). Under a more stringent scenario that excludes areas less suitable for solar power, 5 of 227 municipalities could achieve 15% electricity self-sufficiency through AVS. This research uncovers the existence of reclaimable idle croplands that could not be detected by existing methods and a decentralized power source available alongside food security maintenance. These insights will inform decarbonization and agricultural policy and guide the development of supportive and regulatory AVS frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We verified a method of acquiring digital surface models of steep, forested, small watershed topography, where real‐time kinematic processing is difficult because of the presence of interfering objects. Our approach involved using an uncrewed aerial vehicle with a built‐in global navigation satellite system, which reduces time and labour costs. We tested the applicability of structure‐from‐motion multi‐view stereo processing, and post‐processing motion corrections of positional coordinate data were also tested. Nine verification points were established in a small 0.5 km2 watershed, with check dams established in the headwaters of the forested area. The position accuracy and overall working time of verification points extracted by the method were compared with the position accuracy and work time obtained by a field survey using a conventional total station. The results show that the vertical error between the total station and each verification point at an altitude of 150 m ranged from 0.006 to 0.181 m. The working time of the survey was 13% of that of the total station survey. The proposed workflow shows that safe and non‐destructive topographic surveying, including fluvial geomorphological mapping, is possible with a vertical error of ±0.103 m in small watersheds. This method will be useful for rapid topographic surveying in inaccessible areas during disasters, namely, debris flow monitoring at check dam sites and efficient topographic mapping of steep valleys in forested areas where positioning ground control points is laborious. It should also be of widespread interest to geographers working with spatial challenges related to land management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses two separate studies on the diastereoselective cross-dehydrogenative coupling reactions of amides with diarylmethanes. The first study focuses on the use of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) as an oxidant, while the second study explores the use of a chiral-auxiliary technique. Both studies demonstrate the successful synthesis of various products with high yields and diastereoselectivities. The findings provide valuable insights into the development of efficient approaches for these reactions, and further research is being conducted to explore the scope of other nucleophiles in this reaction. [Extracted from the article]

A discharging circuit with high energy efficiency is designed for supercapacitors. In this design, the capacitors are connected in parallel during charging and connected in series during discharging. With this method, the voltage of the capacitors in series becomes two times larger during discharging; thus, the step-down circuit can be used to produce the desired output voltage. The efficiency of the step-down circuit is four times larger than that of the step-up circuit in simulations. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical values. These results show that a step-down circuit is superior to a step-up circuit for extracting electrical energy from supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Acyl-activating enzyme (AAE) 3 gene encodes an oxalyl-CoA synthetase that catalyzes the conversion of oxalate to oxalyl-CoA as the first step in the CoA-dependent pathway of oxalate catabolism. Although the role of this enzyme in oxalate catabolism has been established, its biological roles in plant growth and development are less understood. As a step toward gaining a better understanding of these biological roles, we report here a characterization of the Arabidopsis thaliana aae3 (Ataae3) seed mucilage phenotype. Ruthidium red (RR) staining of Ataae3 and wild type (WT) seeds suggested that the observed reduction in Ataae3 germination may be attributable, at least in part, to a decrease in seed mucilage accumulation. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression of selected mucilage regulatory transcription factors, as well as of biosynthetic and extrusion genes, was significantly down-regulated in the Ataae3 seeds. Mucilage accumulation in seeds from an engineered oxalate-accumulating Arabidopsis and Atoxc mutant, blocked in the second step of the CoA-dependent pathway of oxalate catabolism, were found to be similar to WT. These findings suggest that elevated tissue oxalate concentrations and loss of the oxalate catabolism pathway downstream of AAE3 were not responsible for the reduced Ataae3 seed germination and mucilage phenotypes. Overall, our findings unveil the presence of regulatory interplay between AAE3 and transcriptional control of mucilage gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We report a case of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) that presented with bilateral optic disc swelling and diplopia in the absence of headaches. Case Presentation: A 54-year-old woman with no relevant medical history presented with a 2-week history of diplopia and no loss of visual acuity in each eye. Eye movements revealed bilateral abduction deficits, and fundoscopic examination revealed bilateral optic disc swelling. Non-contrast computed tomography of the head showed no abnormalities. Magnetic resonance venography revealed the absence of flow in the superior sagittal and left transverse sinuses as a consequence of thrombosis. The patient was diagnosed with intracranial hypertension associated with abducens nerve palsies secondary to CVST and was initiated on anticoagulant therapy. CVST can lead to stroke even in younger individuals. Conclusion: CVST should be considered in differential diagnosis when bilateral papilledema and abducens nerve palsies are present, even in the absence of headache or other neurological findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Kocuria genus, encompassing gram-positive coccoid actinobacteria belonging to the Micrococcaceae family, has recently been discovered residing on the human skin and oral flora. Reports of Kocuria-associated infections in humans have been scarce. Herein, we present the first case of relapsing peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis caused by Kocuria rhizophila. Case Presentation: The patient, a 78-year-old male, presented with turbid effluent PD fluid, accompanied by an elevated white blood cell count of 253 cells/μL, of which 59% were neutrophils. A diagnosis of PD-associated peritonitis was established, leading to the initiation of intraperitoneal administration of ceftazidime and vancomycin. Subsequently, Kocuria rhizophila was identified through the bacterial culture of the dialysate. On the seventh day of initial treatment, the antibiotic regimen was changed to penicillin G, and the patient underwent a 3-week course of antibiotics. However, 1 week after discharge, the patient's dialysis fluid became cloudy once again, with subsequent detection of Kocuria rhizophila in the fluid culture. Ultimately, the decision was made to remove the patient's PD catheter and transition to hemodialysis. Conclusion: PD-associated peritonitis attributed to Kocuria species may be considered a potential risk for recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the scarcity of studies using human tissues, the limited information is currently available on the gross structure of the caput epididymis in humans, at which efferent ducts connect to the epididymal duct. Objective: The present study investigated the three‐dimensional structures of efferent and caput epididymal ducts in humans, with a focus on junctions between the former and the latter. Materials and methods: We examined three sets of human efferent and caput epididymal ducts in specimens obtained from prostatic carcinoma patients. They were reconstructed from serial paraffin sections using a segmentation model created by a deep learning protocol and high‐performance three‐dimensional reconstruction software. Results: Serial sections and three‐dimensional images of human efferent and caput epididymal ducts were combined to obtain the detailed anatomical information. When a single efferent duct was defined as a duct connecting to both the extra‐testicular rete testis and epididymal duct, there were 14.7 efferent ducts with a total length of 3.0 m per specimen on average. The cranial portion of the efferent ducts joined to a single duct and terminated at the end of the epididymal duct, whereas other efferent ducts terminated independently on the side of the epididymal duct. These two types of junctions between the efferent and epididymal ducts differed in the patterns of the epithelial‐type switch. The epididymal duct consisted of multiple segments, which were separated by a minimal amount of connective tissue septa or even without them. Efferent ducts occupied most of the volume of the caput epididymis. Discussion and conclusions: By utilizing deep learning, we reconstructed human efferent and caput epididymal ducts and revealed their precise three‐dimensional structures, which differed from those of rodents in several aspects. The present results may be useful for analyzing anatomical abnormalities related to some types of male infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how closely aggregate macroeconomic indices such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and market price volatility indices are associated with social welfare when heterogeneous beliefs are present. While it is widely recognised that the GDP fails to capture distributional effects, volatility measures are often argued to supplement the GDP with this regard. Although heterogeneous beliefs are known to be capable of generating large economic and/or price fluctuations, it is not straightforward whether volatility is closely associated with welfare when heterogeneous beliefs are present. By constructing a simulation model of a financial economy with production and credit constraints that allows for heterogeneous beliefs, we show that major discrepancies between aggregate measures, including volatility measures, and ex post welfare are not the exception, but the rule. Also, the paper analyses the mechanism that causes the discrepancies. Our results strongly suggest welfare be measured by observing the distribution of realised consumption across agents and over time — in particular, its lower tail. In short, macroeconomic indices may well easily become a fool's gold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inside-out repair technique is the gold standard for treatment of meniscal tears, while some soft tissues can be hung as the sutures are tied outside the capsule. The purpose was to clarify the association between the suture site and knot location in the arthroscopic inside-out technique. Inside-out meniscal suture was arthroscopically performed on medial and lateral menisci in twenty-three cadaveric knees, on the assumption that longitudinal tear existed. A retractor was inserted above the semi-membranous tendon and anterior to the gastrocnemius for the medial side, while the retractor was placed in the anterior space of the gastrocnemius for the lateral side. After identifying three segments (anterior, middle and posterior segments), eight sutures were inserted into the following eight areas in each knee: anterior (M1, L1) and posterior (M2, L2) areas of the middle segment, and anterior (M3, L3) and posterior (M4, L4) areas of the posterior segment. Twelve knees underwent meniscal repair on femoral side and eleven passed sutures on the tibial side, while knots were tied outside of the joint. Attentive dissection was performed to assess the relation between knot locations and the principal structures around the knee joint. In medial meniscal suture, most sutures for the middle portion (M1, 2) bound medial collateral ligament (MCL), while a few cases included the semi-membranous tendon for the M4 area. In lateral meniscal suture, sutures for the L1 area tied some fibers of lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in high frequency, while popliteal muscles/tendons were tied over at the L3 area. Most suture knots were located on MCL or capsule in medial meniscus suture, while more than half sutures passed through LCL or popliteal tendon/muscle in lateral meniscus suture. An assistant should retract LCL under direct observation and the surgeon must confirm the direction of needle for lateral meniscal repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Malvaceae family, dynamic solar tracking by leaves is actuated by the deformation of the pulvinus, a thickened region at the leaf blade–petiole junction. While the internal structure is believed to play a crucial role in this process, experimental verification has been challenging due to technical limitations. To address this gap, we developed a semi-automated workflow, which integrates data analysis and image processing to simultaneously analyze the shape and internal structure of a Malvaceae pulvinus using X-ray microtomography. Firstly, we found that kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.), a Malvaceae species with curved pulvini, exhibited solar-tracking leaf movement and selected it as a model system. We employed diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography to visualize the internal structure of the kenaf pulvinus. Analysis of the pulvini's shape revealed variations in pulvinus morphology, yet plausible prediction of the centerline was accomplished using polar polynomial regression. Upon slicing the pulvini perpendicular to the centerline, we observed distinct gray value gradients along the proximo-distal and adaxial-abaxial axes, challenging threshold-based tissue segmentation. This workflow successfully generated three modified 3D images and derived quantitative parameters. Using these quantitative parameters, we conducted network analysis and found the linkage between the size-normalized cortex cross-sectional area and curvature. Polynomial least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression revealed the relationship between the size-normalized cortex cross-sectional area and curvature commonly in all three tested samples. This workflow enables simultaneous analysis of the shape and internal structure, significantly improving the reproducibility of Malvaceae leaf pulvinus characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the biological profile of lectins isolated from raw and boiled Japanese red Kintoki beans (red kidney beans [RKB]; Phaseolus vulgaris). Lectins in beans showing agglutination activity were retained after heating. Raw and boiled RKB lectins were fractionated using carboxymethyl‐ and diethylaminoethyl‐Sepharose, respectively. Boiled RKB lectins were evaluated for carbohydrate specificity as well as cytokine‐inducing and antiproliferative activities against cancer cells and compared with raw RKB lectins. Raw RKB lectins showed specificity for thyroglobulin and fetuin, whereas boiled lectins showed specificity for N‐acetylneuraminic acid. Raw RKB lectins showed low resistance to proteases and tolerated temperatures greater than 80°C for 5 min. Notably, lectins from raw and boiled beans showed antiproliferative activity against five types of cancer cells B16, LM8, HeLa, HepG2, and Colo 679. In particular, lectins from raw beans exhibited a significantly stronger activity than those from boiled beans. Anti‐inflammatory effects were notably observed in crude extracts from raw and boiled beans. Specifically, lectins fractionated from boiled beans markedly inhibited the expression of tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐6. Overall, our results showed that RKB lectins from boiled beans exert anti‐inflammatory and anticancer effects and could be developed as potential chemopreventive agents. Practical Application: Japanese red kidney beans (RKB) are cultivated in numerous parts of the temperate zone and consumed in many countries. Lectins from boiled beans exhibited anticancer activity, similar to lectins from raw beans. Additionally, crude and fractionated lectins from boiled beans showed anti‐inflammatory activity. Thus, boiled RKB lectins have the potential to be used as a bioactive protein for medical research and could be developed as anticancer agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study clarifies the physical, psychological, and social forms of distress in, and care needs of, cardiac surgery patients, including optimal times for supporting them in their post‐hospital discharge daily lives. Methods: Semi‐structured qualitative interviews were conducted. Participants included 12 adults (11 male and one female, mean age = 66.5 years) who had undergone cardiac surgery, experienced intensive care, and received outpatient care at the first post‐discharge visit (around 2 ~ 3 weeks after discharge), around 3 months after discharge, and between 3 months and 1 year after discharge. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed based on similarities and differences for codes based on assessment items, and subcategories and categories were generated. Results: After surgery, patients experienced physical, psychological, and social distress. First, they experienced physical pain shortly after discharge. Moreover, as they recovered at home, a gap between their sense of their recovery and the perceptions of those around them about their recovery often persisted, which led to psychological and social distress. Patients gained a sense of safety through "assurance of physical recovery" and security through "shared subjective distress." Conclusions: Post‐cardiac surgery patients seek reassurance and safety by sharing experiences owing to daily life distress. Our findings could help provide better support to meet the care needs of such patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiogenic shock is a complex and diverse pathological condition characterized by reduced myocardial contractility. The goal of treatment of cardiogenic shock is to improve abnormal hemodynamics and maintain adequate tissue perfusion in organs. If hypotension and insufficient tissue perfusion persist despite initial therapy, temporary mechanical circulatory support (t-MCS) should be initiated. This decade sees the beginning of a new era of cardiogenic shock management using t-MCS through the accumulated experience with use of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO), as well as new revolutionary devices or systems such as transvalvular axial flow pump (Impella) and a combination of VA-ECMO and Impella (ECPELLA) based on the knowledge of circulatory physiology. In this transitional period, we outline the approach to the management of cardiogenic shock by t-MCS. The management strategy involves carefully selecting one or a combination of the t-MCS devices, taking into account the characteristics of each device and the specific pathological condition. This selection is guided by monitoring of hemodynamics, classification of shock stage, risk stratification, and coordinated management by the multidisciplinary shock team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are able to fly stably in the complex environment of the various gusts that occur in nature. In addition, many insects suffer wing damage in their lives, but many species of insects are capable of flying without their hindwings. Here, we evaluated the effect of hindwings on aerodynamics using a Navier–Stokes-based numerical model, and then the passive dynamic stability was evaluated by coupling the equation of motion in three degrees of freedom with the aerodynamic forces estimated by the CFD solver under large and small perturbation conditions. In terms of aerodynamic effects, the presence of the hindwings slightly reduces the efficiency for lift generation but enhances the partial LEV circulation and increases the downwash around the wing root. In terms of thrust, increasing the wing area around the hindwing region increases the thrust, and the relationship is almost proportional at the cycle-averaged value. The passive dynamic stability was not clearly affected by the presence of the hindwings, but the stability was slightly improved depending on the perturbation direction. These results may be useful for the integrated design of wing geometry and flight control systems in the development of flapping-winged micro air vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submarine levéed channels are often observed in submarine fans, although submarine fans without continuous levéed channels are also common depending on the composition of supplied sediments, particularly the proportion of muddy/sandy materials. However, parameters governing the inception of levéed channels have not yet been studied. Furthermore, depositional levéed channel topography has not been simulated in experimental flumes in any previous study conducted with dilute flows (flow concentration <10%). Herein, four experimental series were conducted (Series A, B, C and D) to simulate depositional submarine channels and to study their formative conditions. A mixture of sediment and saline water was used in the experiments, and both the width of an outlet diffuser and flow discharge rate were varied in the experimental series. A topography composed of a channel with two ridges resembling natural depositional submarine channels with levées was formed in all experiments. Comparisons between the experimental topographies and natural submarine fans revealed that two of the four experimental series produced channel levées with length to width ratios similar to those produced by natural systems. An experiment with half the outlet size produced a channel two times deeper (4.5 cm against 2.0 cm and 2.2 cm) as compared to other experiments. The flow discharge rate and outlet width were half of those observed in Series A and B. Furthermore, salt was removed from the initial mixture for one of the experiments, resulting in high natural levées with a short channel. This study demonstrated that dilute flows could form purely depositional channel levées without precursor or resultant erosive features. In addition, results revealed that the formation of submarine channels is related to two factors: channel width and muddy suspended sediment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization observations, calibration of detector polarization angles is essential. We have developed a fully remote controlled calibration system with a sparse wire grid that reflects linearly polarized light along the wire direction. The new feature is a remote-controlled system for regular calibration, which has not been possible in sparse wire grid calibrators in past experiments. The remote control can be achieved by two electric linear actuators that load or unload the sparse wire grid into a position centered on the optical axis of a telescope between the calibration time and CMB observation. Furthermore, the sparse wire grid can be rotated by using a motor. A rotary encoder and a gravity sensor are installed on the sparse wire grid to monitor the wire direction. They allow us to achieve detector polarization angle calibration with an expected systematic error of 0.08°. The calibration system will be installed in small-aperture telescopes at Simons Observatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active or man-made seismic sources are often used to delineate subsurface geological structures via seismic imaging techniques. Although conventional controlled seismic sources have provided high-resolution subsurface images, the high cost of data acquisition necessitates improved use of cheaper alternative seismic sources for subsurface imaging, such as traffic noise, quarry blasts and earthquakes. Here, we explore the potential use of quarry blasts as an active seismic source for subsurface imaging. The goal of our study is to demonstrate the utility of quarry blasts as seismic sources for investigating subsurface structure with a field experiment in Mill Creek, southern Oklahoma. We deployed a 7455-m-long receiver line of 72 receivers (105 m spacing) extending away from a quarry, with a recording time of 28 d. We analyse similarities between blasts, wave types, origin time and excitation location of quarry blasts, which is important information for using such signal as an active source. Given a relative homogeneous geological condition in the study area, we could not observe clear reflected waves. However, the use of P - and S -wave velocities led to the delineation of a major basement damage zone in the study area, which further demonstrates the viability of quarry blasts as a useful seismic source for subsurface geological imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been argued that teaching promotes the accurate transmission of cultural traits and eventually leads to cumulative cultural evolution (CCE). However, previous studies have questioned this argument. In this study, we modified the action sequences model into a network exploring model with reinforcement learning to examine the conditions under which teaching promotes CCE. Our model incorporates a time trade-off between innovation and teaching. Simulations revealed that the positive influence of teaching on CCE depends on task difficulty. When the task was too difficult and advanced, such that it could not be accomplished through individual learning within a limited time, spending more time on teaching—even at the expense of time for innovation—contributed to CCE. On the contrary, the easier the task, the more time was spent on innovation than on teaching, which contributed to the improvement of performance. These findings suggest that teaching becomes more valuable as cultures become more complex. Therefore, humanity must have co-evolved a complex cumulative culture and teaching that supports cultural fidelity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cellular compartment plays an essential role in organizing the complex and diverse biochemical reactions within the cell. By mimicking the function of such cellular compartments, the challenge of constructing artificial compartments has been taken up to develop new biochemical tools for efficient material production and diagnostics. The important features required for the artificial compartment are that it isolates the interior from the external environment and is further functionalized to control the transport of target chemicals to regulate the interior concentration of both substrate and reaction products. In this study, an artificial compartment with size‐selective molecular transport function was constructed by using a DNA origami‐guided liposome prepared by modifying the method reported by Perrault et al. This completely isolates the liposome interior, including the DNA origami skeleton, from the external environment and allows the assembly of a defined number of molecules of interest inside and/or outside the compartment. By incorporating a bacterial membrane protein, OmpF, into the liposome, the resulting artificial compartment was shown to transport only the molecule of interest with a molecular weight below 600 Da from the external environment into the interior of the compartment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used in multimodal pain control following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). However, few studies have assessed the complications associated with the combinations of NSAIDs in this population despite the known risks associated with this class of medications. The Premier Healthcare Database was queried to identify adults who underwent primary total hip or knee arthroplasty from 2005–2014. The following most common inpatient combinations of NSAIDs were chosen for analysis: aspirin + celecoxib (A + C), toradol + aspirin (T + A), toradol + ibuprofen (T + I), celecoxib + ibuprofen (C + I), ibuprofen + aspirin (I + A), and toradol + celecoxib (T + C). Primary outcomes included acute kidney injury (AKI), gastrointestinal bleed, and stroke. Secondary outcomes included periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to compare differences and address confounds. Overall, 195,833 patients were identified. After controlling for confounds, increased odds of AKI was associated with A + C (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–1.34, p < 0.001) and decreased odds was associated with T + A (aOR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.69–0.83, p < 0.001). Increased odds of stroke was associated with A + C (aOR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.15–2.84, p = 0.011); T + I (aOR 3.48, 95% CI: 1.25–9.73, p = 0.017); and I + A (aOR 4.29, 95% CI: 1.06–17.9, p = 0.046). Increased odds of PJI was associated with C + I (aOR: 10.3, 95% CI: 1.35–78.3, p = 0.024). In the TJA patient population, NSAID pairings should be regarded as distinct entities. Our results suggest that combinations including A + C, T + I, I + A, and C + I should be used cautiously. With this knowledge, providers should consider tailoring NSAID prescriptions appropriately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]