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Sex ratio is an important factor in population dynamics as it influences the production of offspring; understanding the sex ratio of a given population is vital for the conservation of endangered species. In sea turtles, the sex of hatchlings is temperature dependent, with warmer incubation temperatures producing more female hatchlings. The rise in temperatures due to global warming may skew the sex ratios towards females. We studied the sex ratio of immature green turtles at a foraging ground in the Yaeyama Islands from 1997-1999 and from 2016-2017, using laparoscopy. The overall proportion of females was 68.2% (N = 314), and proportions were not significantly different between 1997-1999 (69.9%; N = 183) and 2016-2017 (65.6%; N = 131). Thus, sex ratios have not changed at this site over the last 20 years, suggesting minor or no effect of global warming/environmental influences on this population. The small size class (

Droplet microfluidics has become a powerful tool in precision medicine, green biotechnology, and cell therapy for single-cell analysis and selection by virtue of its ability to effectively confine cells. However, there remains a fundamental trade-off between droplet volume and sorting throughput, limiting the advantages of droplet microfluidics to small droplets (

We have investigated the initial-cycle battery behavior of epitaxial thin films of Li2MnO3 cathodes by employing resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) at the O K-edge and Mn L3-edge. Thin films (25 nm thickness) with Li/Mn ratios of 2.06 (stoichiometric) and 2.27 (overstoichiometric) were epitaxially grown by pulsed laser deposition and electrochemically cycled as battery cathodes in a half-cell setup, stopped at potentials for full charge (delithiation) and complete discharge (relithiation) for X-ray analysis. No signatures of localized oxygen holes are found in O K-RIXS of the Li2MnO3 regardless of the Li/Mn ratio. The prepeak region of the O K-XAS shows a net increase (a net decrease) after delithiation (relithiation) for both material compositions. Moreover, signatures of additional phases are detected only for the overstoichiometric material upon relithiation. Mn L-RIXS of the overstoichiometric cathode material shows a progressive loss of charge transfer state intensity during the first battery cycle, revealing a more rapid loss of Mn-O covalency in the overstoichiometric material.

Daiji Nagayama,1,2 Kentaro Fujishiro,3 Kenji Suzuki,3 Kohji Shirai4 1Department of Internal Medicine, Nagayama Clinic, Tochigi, Japan; 2Center of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Toho University, Sakura Medical Center, Chiba, Japan; 3Research and Development Division, Japan Health Promotion Foundation, Tokyo, Japan; 4Internal Medicine, Mihama Hospital, Chiba, JapanCorrespondence: Daiji Nagayama, Nagayama Clinic, 2-12-22, Tenjin-Cho, Oyama-City, Tochigi, 323-0032, Japan, Tel +81-285-22-0219, Fax +81-285-22-0219, Email deverlast96071@gmail.comAbstract: Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) was developed to reflect the stiffness of the arterial tree from the aortic origin to the ankle. This arterial stiffness parameter is useful for assessing the severity of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk. However, compared to pulse wave velocity (PWV), the conventional gold standard of arterial stiffness parameter, there has been a concern regarding CAVI that there are fewer longitudinal studies for CVD. Furthermore, the accuracy of CAVI for atherosclerotic diseases compared to other parameters has not been well validated. This review article aims to summarize recent findings to clarify the predictive ability of CAVI in longitudinal studies. First, several large longitudinal studies have found that not only baseline CAVI but also CAVI changes during the observation period predict cardiovascular events. Second, CAVI may have superior discriminatory power for all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular endpoints compared to PWV. Furthermore, one large longitudinal study found CAVI to be a stronger predictor for renal function decline compared to PWV as well as CAVI0, a variant of CAVI that mathematically excludes BP dependence. Additionally, CAVI shows the properties that allow the elucidation of specific hemodynamics in aortic valve disease or hypovolemia. In conclusion, CAVI may be a modifiable arterial stiffness parameter not only for predicting and preventing atherosclerotic diseases but also for elucidating specific hemodynamic pathophysiology.Keywords: cardio-ankle vascular index, pulse wave velocity, CAVI0, longitudinal study, cardiovascular disease, renal function decline

Keisuke Suzuki, Shiho Suzuki, Tomohiko Shiina, Saro Kobayashi, Koichi Hirata Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, JapanCorrespondence: Keisuke Suzuki, Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Shimotsuga, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan, Tel +81-282-86-1111, Fax +81-282-86-5884, Email keisuke@dokkyomed.ac.jpAbstract: Central sensitization (CS) is an increase in the responsiveness of nociceptive neurons in the central nervous system to their normal afferent input. As a result, even minor irritation can induce severe pain, leading to the chronicity and severity of various diseases, such as neurological disorders. CS is associated with migraine, which is a major neurological disorder that inflicts a high disability in daily life. Specifically, CS is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of cutaneous allodynia as well as chronification of migraine. In this article, we reviewed the association between CS and migraine, including pathophysiological aspects and evidence from clinical studies. We suggest that appropriate screening and management of CS in migraine could further improve the quality of life of migraine patients.Keywords: migraine, central sensitization, cutaneous allodynia, restless legs syndrome

Keita Suzuki,1 Hiromasa Tsujiguchi,1– 3 Akinori Hara,1– 3 Oanh Kim Pham,1 Sakae Miyagi,3,4 Thao Thi Thu Nguyen,5 Haruki Nakamura,1 Fumihiko Suzuki,2,6 Tomoko Kasahara,2 Yukari Shimizu,7 Yohei Yamada,2 Yasuhiro Kambayashi,8 Hirohito Tsuboi,9 Takehiro Sato,3,10 Takayuki Kannon,3,10 Kazuyoshi Hosomichi,3,10 Atsushi Tajima,3,10 Toshinari Takamura,11 Hiroyuki Nakamura1– 3 1Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan; 2Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan; 3Kanazawa University Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences Research Center, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan; 4Innovative Clinical Research Center, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan; 5Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Haiphong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong, Vietnam; 6Community Medicine Support Dentistry, Ohu University Hospital, Koriyama, Fukushima, Japan; 7Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Komatsu University, Komatsu, Ishikawa, Japan; 8Department of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Imabari, Ehime, Japan; 9Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan; 10Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Graduate School of Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan; 11Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, JapanCorrespondence: Keita Suzuki, Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1, Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan, Tel +81 76 265 2218, Fax +81 76 234 4233, Email ksuzuk@staff.kanazawa-u.ac.jpBackground: Previous studies examined the association between chronic pain (CP) and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations; however, the findings obtained were inconsistent. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with the transcriptional activity of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene may influence the association of 25(OH)D levels with CP. We aimed to clarify the association between CP, serum 25(OH)D concentration, and SNPs.Methods: In the Shika study, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of 551 participants older than 40 years who were asked whether they had been having persistent pain lasting for at least 3 months in any part of the body on a self-administered questionnaire. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were assessed as a biomarker of the vitamin D status using a radioimmunoassay. rs731236, rs7975232, rs1544410, rs2228570, and rs11568820 were identified using peripheral blood samples, and participants were assigned to those with or without the minor allele for each SNP.Results: The prevalence of CP was 37.2%. We observed a tendency for lower 25(OH)D levels in participants with CP than in those without CP in the hetero/minor group of rs11568820, which is a polymorphism within the CDX2-binding site in the 1e promoter region of the VDR gene. Furthermore, a logistic regression analysis revealed that lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly associated with CP in the hetero/minor group, but not in the major group.Conclusion: These results suggest that sufficient serum 25(OH)D concentration reduces the risk of CP in individuals with the minor allele of the CDX2 polymorphism.Keywords: chronic pain, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, vitamin D receptor gene, promoter, polymorphism, epidemiology

We present a chromatic deflection aberration-free beam-image-shifting technique for low-voltage scanning electron microscopy. The technique utilizes a Wien filter to correct the chromatic deflection aberration induced by the beam-image shift. Experimental results demonstrated that this method significantly improves spatial resolution across a large field of view (FOV) of 28 × 28 μm2, covered by the beam-image shift. By correcting the chromatic deflection aberration, the degradation rate of the spatial resolution at the corner of the FOV relative to its center reduced from a maximum of 16% to 8%. The developed Wien filter responded 60% faster than the beam-image shift, eliminating the need for additional settling time for correction. Furthermore, we applied the presented technique to semiconductor pattern measurement and showed significant potential to improve the critical dimension uniformity in the FOV covered by the beam-image shift. We believe that the proposed method provides a practical and cost-effective amelioration as a beam-image-shifting technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyse whether initiating nintedanib treatment at a reduced dose could improve the treatment continuation rate while maintaining efficacy in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD)-associated interstitial lung disease. In total, 51 patients (age 61.6 ± 13.2 years; 38 women, 13 men) were retrospectively analysed. The primary endpoint was the cumulative discontinuation rate due to adverse events. Secondary endpoints included changes in drug dosage, efficacy evaluated based on annual changes in forced vital capacity (FVC), and safety assessed based on the frequency of adverse events. Eighteen patients who started treatment at the standard dose of 300 mg (standard dosage group) were compared with 33 patients who started treatment at a reduced dose (reduced dosage group). Systemic sclerosis was the most common CTD (n = 32), followed by idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and, rarely, rheumatoid arthritis. Both groups exhibited comparable cumulative discontinuation rates due to adverse events and similar frequencies of adverse events. No significant differences were observed in maintenance doses between the two groups; however, patients in the reduced dosage group had a lower cumulative dose for up to 52 weeks than those in the standard dosage group. No significant differences were observed in changes in FVC between the two groups. There was no evidence for a difference between the two groups in terms of discontinuation rates, efficacy, and safety. To provide further evidence, future studies using more precise dose-escalation protocols are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though the risk of a negative encounter with a large and potentially dangerous shark species (e.g. white sharks—Carcharodon carcharias) is exceedingly rare, some localities implement indiscriminate shark culls to minimize this risk.Due to the negative ecological impact that these lethal shark control measures can have, the present study aimed to test a novel and eco‐friendly shark barrier system, known as the Shark Exclusion Barrier. The Shark Exclusion Barrier is a shark deterrent technology that is composed of a combination of interconnected and telescoping vertical barrier elements (i.e. the visual stimulus) and electromagnetic stimuli (e.g. electromagnets and Barium Ferrite (BaFe12O19) permanent magnets). Using this system, two separate C. carcharias swim pattern manipulation studies were conducted over the course of two research seasons.In the first season (i.e. 2021), 9, 1‐h trials were conducted where 9–13 different C. carcharias interacted with the barrier.In the second season (i.e. 2023), 35, 2‐h trials were conducted where 6–10 C. carcharias interacted with the barrier.Throughout experimentation, C. carcharias exhibited a significantly greater entrance frequency (p < 0.05) and a significantly reduced pass around frequency (p < 0.05) towards the control region when compared to the Shark Exclusion Barrier region.Furthermore, the barrier exhibited the ability to maintain its structural integrity during swells of ≥2.13 m, breaking waves of ≥1.52 m and a current of ≥1.12 m/s.Due to the promising results, this technology warrants further investigation to determine if it is a plausible alternative to lethal culling measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]