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The environmental contaminant perchlorate raises concern for hypothyroidism‐related brain disorders in children. This study investigated the effects of developmental perchlorate exposure on hippocampal neurogenesis and oligodendrocyte (OL) development. Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats were administered with ammonium perchlorate (AP) in drinking water at concentrations of 0 (control), 300, and 1000 ppm from gestation day 6 until weaning [postnatal day (PND) 21]. On PND 21, offspring displayed decreased serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine concentrations at 1000 ppm and thyroid follicular epithelial cell hyperplasia at ≥300 ppm (accompanying increased proliferation activity at 1000 ppm). Hippocampal neurogenesis indicated suppressed proliferation of neurogenic cells at ≥300 ppm, causing decreases in type‐1 neural stem cells (NSCs) and type‐2a neural progenitor cells. In addition, an increase of SST+ GABAergic interneurons and decreasing trend for ARC+ granule cells were observed at 1000 ppm. CNPase+ mature OLs were decreased in number in the dentate gyrus hilus at ≥300 ppm. At PND 77, thyroid changes had disappeared; however, the decrease of type‐1 NSCs and increase of SST+ interneurons persisted, CCK+ interneurons were increased, and white matter tissue area was decreased at 1000 ppm. Obtained results suggest an induction of hypothyroidism causing suppressed hippocampal neurogenesis (targeting early neurogenic processes and decreased synaptic plasticity of granule cells involving ameliorative interneuron responses) and suppressed OL maturation during the weaning period. In adulthood, suppression of neurogenesis continued, and white matter hypoplasia was evident. Observed brain changes were similar to those caused by developmental hypothyroidism, suggesting that AP‐induced developmental neurotoxicity was due to hypothyroidism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We report a case of monozygotic twin sisters with hereditary spastic paraplegia type 4 (SPG4) and epilepsy, only one of whom had a diagnosis of narcolepsy type 1 (NT1). The older sister with NT1 exhibited excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep‐onset rapid eye movement period in the multiple sleep latency test, and decreased orexin levels in cerebrospinal fluid. Both sisters had HLA‐DRB1*15:01‐DQB1*06:02 and were further identified to have a novel missense mutation (c.1156A > C, p.Asn386His) in the coding exon of the spastin (SPAST) gene. The novel missense mutation might be involved in the development of epilepsy. This case is characterised by a combined diagnosis of SPG4 and epilepsy, and it is the first report of NT1 combined with epilepsy and genetically confirmed SPG4. The fact that only one of the twins has NT1 suggests that acquired and environmental factors are important in the pathogenesis of NT1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusions Age‐related hearing loss (ARHL) is a common problem among older adults and contributes to adverse health outcomes such as cognitive impairment. However, the neural mechanisms underlying ARHL remain unclear. We aimed to reveal the structural and metabolic (i.e., neural activity) correlates of ARHL using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography with 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG‐PET).A total of 162 community‐dwelling older adults without cerebral disorders or cognitive impairment (Mini‐Mental State Examination score < 24) were included in this study. Auditory acuity was measured using a pure‐tone average (PTA) of hearing thresholds for the better‐hearing ear for 0.5–4‐kHz tones. ARHL was defined as a PTA of >40 dB (i.e., greater than moderate hearing loss). The participants then underwent MRI and FDG‐PET at rest to assess changes in brain structure and activity associated with ARHL.Among the 162 participants, 27 (16.6%) had ARHL. A region‐of‐interest analysis focusing on the bilateral superior temporal gyrus showed significantly lower glucose metabolism in this region, including in the auditory cortex (BA 41 and 42), in participants with ARHL than in those without ARHL. In contrast, no significant structural differences were observed between the groups.These findings suggest that, prior to structural changes, the effects of ARHL may manifest in neural activity, which is strongly reflected in the regions involved in auditory processing. It is possible that ARHL first alters neural activity in auditory‐related regions owing to reduced auditory stimulation. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; ••: ••–••. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate diagnosis of haematolymphoid malignancies is crucial for effective cancer care, but major obstacles to diagnosis exist in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). This article explores the global applicability of current haematolymphoid classification systems, which are predominantly derived from data generated in high‐income countries (HICs). Although disproportionately burdened with poor cancer outcomes, LMICs are generally faced with limited diagnostic resources, suboptimal access to therapeutics, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. The article highlights the challenges faced by LMICs, including inconsistent access to high‐quality pathology services, limited availability of advanced diagnostic techniques, and a lack of population‐based cancer registry data. It also discusses the progress made in narrowing the gap between LMICs and HICs, such as the introduction of resource‐adapted classifications, improved guidance on essential diagnostic tools, and strengthening of in‐country professional pathology networks. Innovative diagnostic approaches, including gene expression profiling and machine learning, represent potential solutions for improving the diagnostic accuracy in LMICs, but addressable gaps remain. Recommendations are suggested for sustainable investments in diagnostic infrastructure, capacity‐building, and population‐based cancer registries to enhance the global applicability of haematolymphoid classification systems and improve outcomes for patients in LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Thyroid cytopathology cases with suspicious for malignancy (SFM) diagnosis often result in resection. However, molecular testing offers details that may provide additional insights. In this study, the molecular profiles of SFM cases from two institutions that routinely used ThyroSeq v3 (TSV3) were examined. Materials and Methods: Following institutional review board approval, SFM thyroid cytopathology cases with TSV3 results were retrieved from the databases of two institutions. Molecular information including molecular‐derived risk of malignancy (MDROM), cytologic‐histologic correlation data, and other related parameters were calculated. Statistical comparisons were made with a p <.05 considered significant. Results: The core data set comprised 114 SFM cases that passed TSV3 quality assurance. All TSV3 results were reported as positive or negative for genomic alterations and all except five cases provided a probability of malignancy estimate. The overall combined baseline MDROM of 75.7% (95% CI, 70.0–81.4) was comparable to the risk of malignancy (74%) published in the Bethesda System. There was a statistically significant difference between the combined MDROMs of resected and unresected cohorts (79.0% vs 58.6%; p =.0153). Interestingly, the MDROMs of the resected cohorts from the two institutions were statistically different (75.0% vs 85.3%; p =.020). Cytologic–histologic correlation revealed malignant outcome in 88.5% of resected cases. Conclusions: Molecular analyses of SFM cases demonstrated higher risk genomic alterations that were associated with histologically overt neoplasms, resulting in increased malignancy outcome compared to baseline. MDROM analysis revealed differences in the cytopathologic practice patterns regarding follicular‐patterned neoplasms at the two institutions. Molecular testing on thyroid suspicious for malignancy diagnosis is associated with increased malignancy outcome among resected cases. Furthermore, molecular‐derived risk of malignancy and other related parameters have the potential to provide insights into nodule characteristics and practice patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Many studies have revealed the benefits of robotic surgery for rectal cancer; however, real‐world data are insufficient. This study aimed to compare the short‐term outcomes and perioperative costs of laparoscopic and robotic surgery for rectal cancer using a real‐world database. Methods: The data of patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic surgery for rectal cancer between January 2018 and January 2021 from a nationwide Japanese inpatient database provided by Medical Data Vision Co., Ltd. were analyzed. We performed propensity score matching (PSM) analysis to compare the in‐hospital mortality, morbidity, readmission rate, reoperation rate, length of postoperative stay, and medical costs between the two groups. Results: We performed PSM analysis on 18 952 eligible patients. After PSM, 1396 patients in the laparoscopic group and 1396 in the robotic group were compared. The robotic group had a lower surgical site infection rate (2.9% vs. 1.5%, p = 0.010), lower respiratory failure rate (1.3% vs. 0.6%, p = 0.049), and higher operative medical costs (1 291 371 vs. 1 312 462 JPY, p = 0.013). The total medical costs of the two groups were comparable (1 862 439 vs. 1 895 822 JPY, p = 0.051). Conclusions: PSM analysis revealed that robotic surgery was associated with better outcomes than laparoscopic surgery in terms of surgical site infection and respiratory failure rates. The operative medical costs of robotic surgery were significantly higher than those of laparoscopic surgery. However, there was no significant difference in the total medical costs between robotic and laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high plasticity of cells undergoing epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) promotes increased tumor heterogeneity, and its interaction with tumor‐associated stromal cells appears to contribute to developing a stemness phenotype. Cells with these characteristics exhibit increased resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, leading to disease relapse and metastasis. Here, we discuss the activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway in promoting EMT and stemness within the context of cellular resistance to these therapies. We discuss whether EMT and cancer stem cells (CSCs) function in conjunction, independently, or if a link is connecting their development. We further propose that this pathway is necessary to establish a connection between these two phenotypes. And suggest that it could hinder the rise of CSCs from treatment‐induced EMT cells when inhibited. Understanding this cellular phenomenon might allow the development of new targeted therapies to improve clinical responses, particularly in colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue specificity can render mitochondrial uncouplers more promising as leading compounds for creating drugs against serious diseases. In search of tissue‐specific uncouplers, we address anilinothiophenes as possible glutathione‐S‐transferase substrates (GST). Earlier, 'cyclic' uncoupling activity was reported for 5‐bromo‐N‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐3,4‐dinitro‐2‐thiophenamine (BDCT) in isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM). The mechanism by which BDCT induced two‐phase changes in mitochondrial respiration (stimulation followed by deceleration) was unknown. To clarify this issue, we synthesized BDCT and its two analogues. Among these, 5‐bromo‐3,4‐dinitro‐N‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐2‐thiophenamine (BDNT) appeared to be the most effective as a mitochondrial uncoupler, decreasing membrane potential and stimulating respiration at submicromolar concentrations. Importantly, BDNT exerted two‐phase changes in both mitochondrial membrane potential and respiration rate of RLM, which were enhanced by the addition of glutathione (GSH) but inhibited by the compounds capable of GSH depleting, such as 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene (CDNB). By contrast, the phase of recoupling was not observed in rat heart mitochondria (RHM). Remarkably, BDNT elicited mitochondrial depolarization in primary human fibroblasts but not in cultured human liver (HepG2) cells. By detecting proton‐selective electrical current through planar bilayer lipid membranes, we demonstrated the ability of BDCT and BDNT to transfer protons across membranes. BDNT proved to be an anionic protonophore with a pKa of 7.38. By using LC–MS and capillary electrophoresis, we directly showed the formation of BDNT conjugates with GSH upon incubation with RLM but not RHM. Therefore, we hypothesize that GST is involved in the disappearance of the anilinothiophene uncoupling activity in RLM, ensuring the tissue‐specific behavior of the uncoupler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: In grass cell walls, ferulic acid (FA) serves as an important cross‐linker between cell wall polymers, such as arabinoxylan (AX) and lignin, affecting the physicochemical properties of the cell walls as well as the utilization properties of grass lignocellulose for biorefinering. Here, we demonstrate that hydroxycinnamaldehyde dehydrogenase (HCALDH) plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of the FA used for cell wall feruloylation in rice (Oryza sativa). Bioinformatic and gene expression analyses of aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) identified two rice ALDH subfamily 2C members, OsHCALDH2 (OsALDH2C2) and OsHCALDH3 (OsALDH2C3), potentially involved in cell wall feruloylation in major vegetative tissues of rice. CRISPR‐Cas9 genome editing of OsHCALDH2 and OsHCALDH3 revealed that the contents of AX‐bound ferulate were reduced by up to ~45% in the cell walls of the HCALDH‐edited mutants, demonstrating their roles in cell wall feruloylation. The abundance of hemicellulosic sugars including arabinosyl units on AX was notably reduced in the cell walls of the HCALDH‐edited mutants, whereas cellulose and lignin contents remained unaffected. In addition to reducing cell wall‐bound ferulate, the loss of OsHCALDH2 and/or OsHCALDH3 also partially reduced cell wall‐bound p‐coumarate and sinapate in the vegetative tissues of rice, whereas it did not cause detectable changes in the amount of γ‐oryzanol (feruloyl sterols) in rice seeds. Furthermore, the HCALDH‐edited mutants exhibited improved cell wall saccharification efficiency, both with and without alkaline pretreatment, plausibly due to the reduction in cell wall cross‐linking FA. Overall, HCALDH appears to present a potent bioengineering target for enhancing utilization properties of grass lignocellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Styrylpyridinium dye bearing azadithia‐15‐crown‐5 ether receptor group SP and 4‐alkoxy‐1,8‐naphthalimide fluorophore were linked using copper‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition click reaction to afford dyad compound NI‐SP. Chemosensor NI‐SP exhibited selective ratiometric fluorescent response to the presence of Hg2+ in aqueous solution due to the interplay between resonance energy transfer (RET) and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) processes occurred upon excitation. The observed switching of the ratio of emission intensities in the blue and red channels R was higher than in the case of monochromophoric styrylpyridine derivative SP showing ratiometric response based on ICT mechanism only. Biological studies revealed that NI‐SP penetrates into human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells and accumulates in cytoplasm and lysosomes. When cells were pre‐incubated with mercury (II) perchlorate, the ratio R was increased 2.6 times, which enables detection of intracellular Hg2+ ions and their quantitative analysis in the 0.7–6.0 μM concentration range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heme enzymes play a central role in a medley of reactivities within a wide variety of crucial biological systems. Their active sites are highly decorated with pivotal evolutionarily optimized non‐covalent interactions that precisely choreograph their biological functionalities with specific regio‐, stereo‐, and chemo‐selectivities. Gaining a clear comprehension of how such weak interactions within the active sites control reactivity offers powerful information to be implemented into the design of future therapeutic agents that target these heme enzymes. To shed light on such critical details pertaining to tryptophan dioxygenating heme enzymes, this study investigates the indole dioxygenation reactivities of Lewis acid‐activated heme superoxo model systems, wherein an unprecedented kinetic behavior is revealed. In that, the activated heme superoxo adduct is observed to undergo indole dioxygenation with the intermediacy of a non‐covalently organized precursor complex, which forms prior to the rate‐limiting step of the overall reaction landscape. Spectroscopic and theoretical characterization of this precursor complex draws close parallels to the ternary complex of heme dioxygenases, which has been postulated to be of crucial importance for successful 2,3‐dioxygenative cleavage of indole moieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background and Aim Methods Results Conclusions Peutz–Jeghers syndrome (PJS) and juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) are autosomal dominant diseases associated with high cancer risk. In Japan, knowledge about the prevalence and incidence of PJS and JPS is lacking despite being crucial for providing appropriate medical support. We aimed to determine the prevalence and incidence of these diseases.In 2022, a nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted to determine the number of patients with PJS or JPS by sex and the number of newly confirmed cases from 2019 to 2021. The target facilities included gastroenterology, pediatrics, and pediatric surgery departments, which were stratified into seven classes on the basis of the total number of beds. We randomly selected target facilities using different extraction rates in each class, resulting in 1748/2912 facilities (extraction rate: 60%) as the final sample. We calculated the estimated number of patients using the response and extraction rates.A total of 1077 facilities responded to the survey. The estimated numbers of patients with PJS and JPS were 701 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 581–820) and 188 (95% CI: 147–230), respectively. The 3‐year period prevalences of PJS and JPS were 0.6/100000 and 0.15/100000, whereas the incidences in 2021 were 0.07/100000 and 0.02/100000, respectively. Male patients constituted 53.5% and 59.6% in the PJS and JPS groups, respectively.We determined the prevalence and incidence of PJS and JPS in Japan for the first time. Further research is needed to obtain more detailed information, including the clinical differences and outcomes in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This prospective study evaluates the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive radiofrequency microneedling (RFMN) for the correction of periorbital wrinkles. This study aimed to address the challenges posed by the periorbital region's unique anatomy and the limitations of existing non‐surgical treatments. Methods: Twenty‐four subjects, ranging from 34 to 54 years old with Fitzpatrick skin types II–V, underwent a series of treatments using the Voluderm RF microneedling device. Participants were divided into two groups based on the severity of their wrinkles and treated with customized protocols over four sessions, with a 3‐month follow‐up to assess outcomes. Efficacy was determined through comparisons of pre‐treatment and post‐treatment wrinkle severity, using the Lemperle Classification of Facial Wrinkles (LFW) and the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, evaluated by both the investigators and the patients. Safety and tolerability were assessed through adverse event reporting and a Visual Analog Scale for treatment discomfort. Results: The results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in periorbital wrinkle severity, with an average 49% decrease of LFW score and improvements noted across all skin types in both groups. The aggregated facial LFW score decreased from baseline mean 13.00 ± 4.75 to 6.09 ± 3.90 (p < 0.05). The treatment was well tolerated without anesthetics, with minimal downtime and few adverse events, which were transient and resolved without intervention. Conclusion: The efficacy of Voluderm RF microneedling in improving periorbital wrinkles of variable severity was demonstrated in patients with diverse skin types. The unique RF‐assisted mechanism of the skin penetration granted a high tolerability of the treatments, negligible downtime, and minimum number of adverse events with self‐resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In patients with Fontan‐associated liver disease (FALD), gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels are often elevated, however, its clinical importance is unclear. We investigated the relationship between the clinical course of FALD and GGT levels. Methods: We enrolled 145 patients with FALD who underwent right‐heart catheterization (RHC) and visited our department. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was administered to 62 of the patients. Patients with GGT levels <50 and ≥50 U/L were compared. Follow‐up RHC was undertaken in 76 patients. Cases in which GGT levels decreased by ≥10% or <50 U/L were defined as improved (n = 33). Results: Patients with GGT levels ≥50 U/L had significantly lower levels of albumin and higher levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) but no significant differences in RHC factors. Over a 4.6‐year period, 43.4% showed improvement in GGT levels. Improved cases had significantly lower total bilirubin (1.1 vs. 1.6 mg/dL), AST (22 vs. 28 U/L), and ALT (18 vs. 27 U/L) levels than nonimproved cases (n = 29, p < 0.05), and the change in platelet count (−0.5 vs. −3.0 × 10−4/μL) was significantly lower in the latter (p = 0.03). The improvement rate was significantly higher in UDCA‐treated cases (55.2%) with GGT levels ≥50 U/L compared to cases not treated with UDCA (18.2%, p = 0.04). Conclusion: In cases of FALD with no improvement in GGT level, the platelet count decreased over time, suggesting progression of fibrosis. Physicians should be aware of the importance of a high GGT level in patients with FALD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To analyse the general and primary outcome‐related characteristics of clinical trials protocols on COVID‐19 vaccines. Study Design and Setting: A meta‐research study. A search for clinical trial protocols on COVID‐19 vaccines was conducted on the ClinicalTrials.gov platform. We considered all protocols of comparative trials registered up to October 26, 2021. Results: Two hundred and eighty‐two trials were analysed. The median expected trial duration was 445 days (interquartile range [IQR] = 225), and the median target sample size was 420 participants (IQR = 1638). A retrospective registry (after the start date) was observed for 42.55% of the trials. Randomization procedures were planned by 84.75% and full‐blinding procedures by 34.75% of the 282 trials. Most trials were labelled as active or still recruiting, and 14 trials (5%) were completed. None of the 14 trials labelled as completed on our search date had results available. Industry funding was reported by 198 trials (70.2%). Most studies declared more than one primary outcome, usually a safety or immunogenicity outcome, and 59 studies (20.9%) had at least one primary efficacy outcome. The description of the primary efficacy outcomes was limited in most cases, referred to as a non‐specified 'efficacy' outcome (18.6%) or described as 'COVID‐19 cases' (32.2%). Conclusion: the primary outcomes of clinical trials on COVID‐19 vaccines are poorly described, and the registers provide insufficient information about them. The registry was retrospectively fulfilled for many trials, which may lead to bias and research waste. Outcomes were generically described and did not provide transparent information for replication in practice, further trials or meta‐analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neuroplasticity induced by mandibular advancement appliance (MAD) in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is poorly documented. Objective: This randomised placebo‐controlled crossover mechanistic study assessed the effects of short‐term use of a MAD on corticomotor excitability of the masseter and tongue in patients with OSA. Methods: Adults (n = 28) with mild or moderate OSA were randomly allocated to sleep with a MAD for 2‐weeks with 40% of the maximal protrusion (MAD active position) and without any jaw protrusion (MAD placebo position). The outcomes were assessed at baseline, and after 2 and 6 weeks, with a 2‐week washout period. The primary outcome was the amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP) assessed on the right masseter, right side of tongue and right first dorsal interosseous with transcranial magnetic stimulation. Corticomotor map volume of the same muscles was also assessed. Repeated‐measures ANOVAs followed by Tukey test were applied to the data (p <.050). Results: There was a significant increase in the MEP amplitude of the masseter and tongue following the MAD active position compared with the baseline and MAD placebo (Tukey: p <.001). There were no significant MEP amplitude differences between the baseline and placebo positions (p >.050). Moreover, there was a significant increase in corticomotor map volume for the masseter and tongue muscles following the MAD active position compared with baseline and MAD placebo (Tukey: p <.003). Conclusion: Excitability of the masseter and tongue motor pathways is, at least transiently, increased in patients with OSA following a short‐term use of MAD. This novel finding of MAD‐induced neuroplasticity in corticomotor pathways may contribute to a further understanding of the mechanisms of oral appliances for treating OSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to compare the symptom networks of long‐COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in conjunction with other theoretically relevant diagnoses in order to provide insight into the etiology of medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). This was a cross‐sectional comparison of questionnaire items between six groups identified by clinical diagnosis. All participants completed a 65‐item psychological and somatic symptom questionnaire (GSQ065). Diagnostically labelled groups were long‐COVID (N = 107), CFS (N = 254), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS, N = 369), fibromyalgia (N = 1,127), severe asthma (N = 100) and healthy group (N = 207). The 22 symptoms that best discriminated between the six groups were selected for network analysis. Connectivity, fragmentation and number of symptom clusters (statistically related symptoms) were assessed. Compared to long‐COVID, the symptom networks of CFS, IBS and fibromyalgia had significantly lower connectivity, greater fragmentation and more symptom clusters. The number of clusters varied between 9 for CFS and 3 for severe asthma, and the content of clusters varied across all groups. Of the 33 symptom clusters identified over the six groups 30 clusters were unique. Although the symptom networks of long‐COVID and CFS differ, the variation of cluster content across the six groups is inconsistent with a modular causal structure but consistent with a connectionist (network, parallel distributed processing) biological basis of MUS. A connectionist structure would explain why symptoms overlap and merge between different functional somatic syndromes, the failure to discover a biological diagnostic test and how psychological and behavioral interventions are therapeutic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the estimation of the conditional tail moment at extreme levels for the class of Weibull‐type distributions. A two‐step procedure is introduced where in the first stage one estimates the conditional tail moment at an intermediate level, followed by an extrapolation in the second stage. The asymptotic properties of the estimators introduced in the two stages are derived under suitable assumptions. The finite sample properties of the proposed estimator are examined with a simulation experiment. We conclude with two applications on real life data: wind speed measurements collected at an offshore wind farm and PM2.5 air pollution data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Shear wave (SW) elastography is used to evaluate metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) pathophysiology. Increased elasticity due to fibrosis and increased viscosity due to necrosis and inflammation affect SW. Assessing fibrosis, the most prognostically relevant pathology, is critical. Viscosity is evaluated using the dispersion slope (DS); however, cut‐off values that affect SW values are unclear. We compared the ultrasound imaging parameters (SW for viscoelasticity; DS for viscosity) with pathological findings. Methods: Patients (n = 159) who underwent liver biopsy and SW and DS assessments at our hospital were included. Fibrosis stage and inflammation grade cut‐off values were calculated from SW, DS, and liver biopsy results using receiver operating characteristic curves. Cases in which liver biopsy results were inconsistent with SW results were used to determine the effect of viscosity on SW values. DS was examined in the Correct and Incorrect Diagnosis groups, which were categorized based on the concordance between SW and liver biopsy results. Dispersion slope cut‐off values between the two groups were calculated. Results: Fibrosis stage cut‐off values by SW (m/s) were: ≥F2, 1.62; ≥F3, 1.74; and F4, 1.97. Inflammation grade cut‐off values by DS (m/s/kHz) were: ≥A1, 11.6; ≥A2, 14.5; and A3, 16.1. The Correct/Incorrect Diagnosis groups had 25/70 patients. The DS cut‐off value for both groups was 13.2 m/s/kHz. Conclusions: Shear wave and DS are useful for evaluating liver fibrosis and inflammation in MASLD. For DS > 13.2 m/s/kHz, SW may be affected by the increased viscosity owing to inflammation. In such patients, caution should be used when determining/interpreting values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Osimertinib is a third‐generation, irreversible, central nervous system‐active, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with efficacy in EGFR‐mutated non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We assessed the relationship between plasma osimertinib levels and its efficacy and safety events. Methods: Comprehensive pharmacokinetics exposure–response (E–R) modelling was performed utilizing steady state area under the curve (AUCss) data from first‐line, ≥second‐line and adjuvant studies from the osimertinib clinical development programme (20–240 mg once‐daily dosing; N = 1689 patients). Analyses were conducted for survival using a proportional hazard model; for interstitial lung disease (ILD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) events using a penalized logistic regression model and graphical analysis of potential confounding factors; and for rash and diarrhoea events using descriptive analysis. Results: E–R modelling analyses indicated no clear trend of increasing efficacy with increasing osimertinib AUCss; efficacy in all exposure quartiles was significantly better than the control arm (comparator EGFR‐TKI, chemotherapy or placebo) irrespective of treatment line. Model‐based analysis suggested a potential relationship between increased osimertinib exposure and increased probability of ILD events, predominantly in Japanese patients. Additionally, there were increased probabilities of rash or diarrhoea with increasing osimertinib exposure. The probability of LVEF events showed overlapping confidence intervals for osimertinib ≤80 mg and control. Conclusions: E–R modelling in patients with EGFR‐mutated NSCLC demonstrated that increased osimertinib exposure was unlikely to increase efficacy but may increase occurrence of certain adverse events. Hence, long‐term treatment with doses ≥80 mg was not expected to provide additional benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: This study was undertaken to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the 2010 European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society (EFNS/PNS) diagnostic criteria for multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) with those of the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AAEM). Methods: Sensitivity and specificity of the two sets of criteria were retrospectively evaluated in 53 patients with MMN and 280 controls with axonal peripheral neuropathy, inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Comparison of the utility of nerve conduction studies with different numbers of nerves examined was also assessed. Results: The 2010 EFNS/PNS criteria had a sensitivity of 47% for definite MMN and 57% for probable/definite MMN, whereas the AAEM criteria had a sensitivity of 28% for definite MMN and 53% for probable/definite MMN. The sensitivity of the AAEM criteria was higher when utilizing area compared to amplitude reduction to define conduction block. Using supportive criteria, the sensitivity of the 2010 EFNS/PNS criteria for probable/definite MMN increased to 64%, and an additional 36% patients fulfilled the criteria (possible MMN). Specificity values for definite and probable/definite MMN were slightly higher with the AAEM criteria (100%) compared to the EFNS/PNS criteria (98.5% and 97%). Extended nerve conduction studies yielded slightly increased diagnostic sensitivity for both sets of criteria without significantly affecting specificity. Conclusions: In our patient populations, the 2010 EFNS/PNS criteria demonstrated higher sensitivity but slightly lower specificity compared to the AAEM criteria. Extended nerve conduction studies are advised to achieve slightly higher sensitivity while maintaining very high specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing membership categorization analysis and conversation analysis, we uncover how students performing classroom discussion tasks for language learning locally ascribe themselves and others to various identity categories within single discussion activities. Data consist of 126 hours of video‐recorded small‐group discussions for second language learning collected in Japanese universities. Analysis unveiled the members' methods by which students themselves construct their identities in invoking various membership categories. In addition to sequential identities that are relevant at any point during the discussions, participants overwhelmingly oriented to hypothetical identities set up by the tasks. These identities were layered over the omnirelevant identities of Japanese language speakers, second language speakers, and students. Through publicly observable orientations to membership categories, these interactants manifested their collective understanding of the aims and motivations of the educational activities and institutional environment. The findings show how learners orient to their own and co‐participants' multiple identities as they accomplish language‐learning tasks and how these varied layers of identity contributed to language‐learning affordances in different and unique ways. We then suggest some implications for task‐based language learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: A fourth heart sound (S4) was reported to be almost never present in patients with amyloid light‐chain cardiomyopathy. There have been no reports on S4 in patients with wild‐type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTRwt‐CM). This study aimed to clarify the clinical implications of S4 in patients with ATTRwt‐CM. Methods and results: Seventy‐six patients with ATTRwt‐CM (mean age: 80.4 ± 5.4 years, 68 males) who had undergone phonocardiography (PCG) were retrospectively assessed. We measured S4 amplitude on digitally recorded PCG. S4 was considered to be present when its amplitude was 1.0 mm or greater on the PCG. Distinct S4 was defined as S4 with an amplitude of 2.0 mm or greater, which is usually recognizable by auscultation. According to the rhythm and presence or absence of S4, the patients were divided into three groups, namely, sinus rhythm (SR) with S4, SR without S4, and non‐SR. Non‐SR consisted of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and atrial tachycardia. Thirty‐six patients were in SR and the remaining 40 patients were in non‐SR. In the 36 patients in SR, S4 was shown by PCG to be present in 17 patients (47%), and distinct S4 was recognized in 7 patients (19%) by auscultation. In patients who were in SR, those with S4 had higher systolic blood pressure (124 ± 15 vs. 99 ± 8 mmHg, P < 0.001), lower level of plasma B‐type natriuretic peptide (308 [interquartile range (IQR): 165, 354] vs. 508 [389, 765] pg/mL, P = 0.034) and lower level of high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T (0.068 [0.046, 0.089] vs. 0.109 [0.063, 0.148] ng/mL, P = 0.042) than those without S4. There was no significant difference in left atrium (LA) volume index or LA reservoir strain between patients with S4 and without S4. Patients with S4 had more preserved LA systolic function than those without S4 (peak atrial filling velocity: 53 ± 25 vs. 34 ± 9 cm/s, P = 0.033; LA contractile strain: 4.1 ± 2.1 vs. 1.6 ± 2.0%, P = 0.012). Patients in SR without S4 had worse short‐term prognosis compared with the other two groups (generalized Wilcoxon test, P = 0.033). Conclusions: S4 was present in 47% of the patients in SR with ATTRwt‐CM. Patients in SR without S4 had more impaired LA systolic function than those in SR with S4. The absence of S4 portends a poor short‐term prognosis in patients with ATTRwt‐CM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the association between mortality and masticatory function in older adults living in long‐term care facilities (LTCFs), controlling for demographic and health covariates. Background: Poor oral health has been associated with mortality; however, no previous study investigated whether objective and self‐reported poor masticatory function is a predictor of early mortality in LTCFs. Materials and Methods: Baseline characteristics of 295 participants were collected, including age, sex, polypharmacy, mobility, activities of daily living, frailty, nutritional status, and objective (masticatory performance – chewing gum) and self‐reported masticatory function. The participants were followed‐up with for 4 years to record the mortality data. Cox regression models were run to analyse the data (α =.05). Results: During the 4‐year follow‐up, 124 (42.0%) participants died. Older adults with poor masticatory performance (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.59, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.07–2.36) and those who self‐reported masticatory dysfunction (HR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.01–2.16) were at higher risk of early death than those with good mastication. However, in a multivariate model including both objective and self‐reported masticatory function, only the objective measurement remained associated with early death (HR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.02–2.27). Conclusion: Poor masticatory performance seems to be associated with early death in older adults living in LTCFs, but they may have shared risk factors accumulated throughout life that were not covered by the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co‐infections with human papillomavirus (HPV) of multiple genotypes mainly occur due to increased sexual activity. To address the prevalence and trend of HPV co‐infections in Japan, HPV‐type‐specific data from Japanese women (n = 8128) aged < 40 years and newly diagnosed with cervical abnormalities at 24 hospitals between 2012 and 2023 were analyzed. These included cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1/2 (CIN1/2, n = 2745), CIN3/adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) (n = 3953), and invasive cervical cancer (ICC, n = 1430). For women enrolled in this study since 2019, information on sexual behaviors was collected via a self‐administered questionnaire. Time‐trend analyses by disease category showed significant declines in the prevalence of multiple HPV infections in CIN1/2 (49.1%−38.3%, ptrend = 0.0004), CIN3/AIS (44.7%–31.5%, ptrend = 0.0002), and ICC (26.7%–10.5%, ptrend < 0.0001) during the last decade. When these data were analyzed separately for women aged 20–29 and 30–39 years, similar declining trends were observed in each disease category. Using data from 2111 women for whom information on sexual history was available, the number of sexual partners was strongly associated with increased multiple HPV infections (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, the declining prevalence of HPV co‐infections in cervical cancer and its precursors may reflect a decrease in sexual activity among Japanese women of reproductive age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developmental science has a long history of studying skills that children need to thrive. However, there has been a primary focus on academic skills, with little attention to the breadth and diversity of other skills that young children need to thrive. Furthermore, little is known about the extent to which community experts involved in early childhood care and education (ECCE) value different early developmental skills. This qualitative study examined how community experts (parents, preschool educators, clinicians, and ECCE leaders) defined and conceptualized six foundations of learning and development (FOLD) skills of child development (curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, self‐regulation and executive function, perspective taking, and internal representations of self). We conducted 60 virtual in‐depth interviews with a socioeconomically, racially, and geographically diverse sample of parents (n = 26), educators (n = 17), clinicians (n = 11), and ECCE leaders (n = 6) living in rural and urban areas across the United States. Participants universally acknowledged the importance of FOLD skills as central to development and well‐being in the early childhood period, while also recognizing their interrelatedness with one another. Most participants highlighted self‐regulation and executive function as a core skill. Findings affirm the value of these FOLD skills and highlight the importance of including them as target outcomes of ECCE interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how inventory slack at first‐ and second‐tier suppliers influences buyer performance following an upstream disruption event. We analyze secondary data from buyer, first‐tier, and second‐tier triads impacted at their upper end by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. By matching buyers in affected triads with similar, largely unaffected firms, we assess post‐event performance in relation to triad inventory slack. Results show: (a) inventory slack at the first and second tiers supports buyer performance after the disruption; (b) first‐tier inventory slack has a greater impact; (c) buyers with less inventory slack can extract more value from their chains' inventories compared to those with more slack; and (d) first‐tier suppliers occupy a pivotal role in bridging the second‐tier inventories to the buyer. When competition for the first‐tier intensifies, the benefits of having first‐ and second‐tier inventory slack diminish for the buyer. A central contribution of this study is to highlight the importance of resources controlled by chain members with indirect links to the buyer and the bridging role of first‐tier suppliers. These insights suggest that for effective risk management, both direct and indirect supply chain resources and their interactions need consideration. Practically, these findings should guide supplier selection, risk management, and investments in supply chain visibility. Highlights: A buyer's financial performance significantly improves after an upstream disruption event when inventory is held not only by first‐tier but also by second‐tier suppliers.Inventories at both first and second‐tier suppliers are particularly crucial for those buyers who maintain low inventories themselves.Second‐tier inventory becomes especially relevant when the first‐tier supplier serves only a few buyers, highlighting the bridging role of the first‐tier supplier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Previous studies on decision‐making of living kidney donors have indicated issues regarding donors' autonomy is inherent in decision‐making to donate their kidney. Establishing effective decision‐making support that guarantees autonomy of living kidney donor candidates is important. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the difficulties in the decision‐making support when clinical transplant coordinators advocating for the autonomy of donor candidates of living donor kidney transplantation and to identify the methods to deal with these difficulties. Design: A qualitative descriptive study. Participants: Ten clinical transplant coordinators supporting living kidney donors. Approach: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted using an interview guide. The modified grounded theory approach was utilised to analyse. Results: Three categories related to difficulties were as follows: issues inherent to the interaction between coordinators, donor candidates and their families; issues regarding the environment and institutional background in which coordinators operate; and emotional labour undertaken by coordinators in the decision‐making support process. Additionally, five categories related to methods were as follows: assessing the autonomy of donor candidates based on the coordinators nursing experience; interventions for the donor candidates and their family members based on the coordinators nursing experience; smooth coordination with medical staff; clarifying and asserting their views as coordinators; and readiness to protect the donor candidates. Conclusion: The involvement of highly experienced coordinators with excellent and assertive communication skills as well as the ability to reflect on their own practices is essential. Moreover, we may need to fundamentally review the transplant community, where power domination is inherent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the ageing population has increasingly grown. This process carries a range of pathophysiological changes involving alterations in the skeletal muscle, vascular endothelium and brain function, becoming an important risk factor for developing cognitive disorders and cardiovascular diseases. With ageing, there is a decrease in muscle mass and muscle strength, and a relationship between muscle strength decrease and cognitive decline has been shown. Lower handgrip strength has been linked to memory impairment, lower global cognitive function, decreased attention and reduced visuospatial abilities in the elderly, but understanding of the underlying mechanisms that explain the link between altered skeletal muscle function and structure, endothelial dysfunction, and the role of endothelial dysfunction in the onset of cognitive disorders has been scarcely explored. This review aims to detail the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which the progressive changes associated with ageing can alter healthy skeletal muscle and endothelial function, creating an environment of oxidative stress, inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. These changes can lead to reduced muscle strength, and the secretion of detrimental endothelial factors, resulting in endothelial dysfunction, blood–brain barrier disruption, and damage to neurons and microglia, ultimately accelerating the onset of cognitive disorders in the elderly. In addition, we aimed to describe the mechanisms that potentially explain how preserving muscular function with resistance training could prevent brain function deterioration, including the production of different factors that allow an improved endothelial function, haemodynamic parameters and brain plasticity, ultimately delaying the onset of cognitive impairment and chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reidemeister numbers of group automorphisms encode the number of twisted conjugacy classes of groups and might yield information about self‐maps of spaces related to the given objects. Here, we address a question posed by Gonçalves and Wong in the mid‐2000s: we construct an infinite series of compact connected solvmanifolds (that are not nilmanifolds) of strictly increasing dimensions and all of whose self‐homotopy equivalences have vanishing Nielsen number. To this end, we establish a sufficient condition for a prominent (infinite) family of soluble linear groups to have the so‐called property R∞$R_\infty$. In particular, we generalize or complement earlier results due to Dekimpe, Gonçalves, Kochloukova, Nasybullov, Taback, Tertooy, Van den Bussche, and Wong, showing that many soluble S$S$‐arithmetic groups have R∞$R_\infty$ and suggesting a conjecture in this direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron ore pellets are reduced in a 50%H2–50%N2 1 atm gas mixture at 750, 800, 850, 900, and 950 °C while simultaneously documenting swelling (change in pellet radius) and weight change. Swelling increases with increasing temperature, with catastrophic swelling (>20% of reduction swelling index) observed at 850, 900, and 950 °C. As the pellet is reduced, the pellet radius increases until 40–50% reduction is achieved, followed by a decrease in diameter beyond 40–50% reduction at 750 and 850 °C. At 950 °C, the pellet radius continues to increase with additional pellet reduction without any subsequent decrease in diameter. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows that the neighboring grains inside the pellet sinter together at 750 and 850 °C, whereas the individual grains sinter internally at 950 °C. SEM analysis and observations suggest that the reduction process at 750 and 850 °C can be approximated as a topochemical reaction process, while the reduction process at 950 °C can no longer be approximated as a topochemical reaction process. An empirical equation for the radius of the pellet is derived with fitting parameters dependent on temperature and the degree of reduction of the pellet undergoing reduction based on the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulation of DNA methylation is associated with human disease, particularly cancer, and the assessment of aberrant methylation patterns holds great promise for clinical diagnostics. However, DNA polymerases do not effectively discriminate between processing 5‐methylcytosine (5 mC) and unmethylated cytosine, resulting in the silencing of methylation information during amplification or sequencing. As a result, current detection methods require multi‐step DNA conversion treatments or careful analysis of sequencing data to decipher individual 5 mC bases. To overcome these challenges, we propose a novel DNA polymerase‐mediated 5 mC detection approach. Here, we describe the engineering of a thermostable DNA polymerase variant derived from Thermus aquaticus with altered fidelity towards 5 mC. Using a screening‐based evolutionary approach, we have identified a DNA polymerase that exhibits increased misincorporation towards 5 mC during DNA synthesis. This DNA polymerase generates mutation signatures at methylated CpG sites, allowing direct detection of 5 mC by reading an increased error rate after sequencing without prior treatment of the sample DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Angewandte Chemie is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Snow is particularly impacted by climate change and therefore there is an urgent need to understand the temporal and spatial variability of depth of snowfall (HN) trends. However, the analysis of historical HN observations on large‐scale areas is often impeded by lack of continuous long‐term time series availability. This study investigates HN trends using observed time series spanning the period 1920–2020 from 46 sites in the Alps at different elevations. To discern patterns and variations in HN over the years, our analysis focuses also on key parameters such as precipitation (P), mean air temperature (TMEAN), and large‐scale synoptic descriptors, that is, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Arctic Oscillation (AO) and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) indices. Our findings reveal that in the last 100 years and below 2000 m a.s.l., despite a slight increase in winter precipitation, there was a decrease in HN over the Alps, especially for southern and low‐elevation sites. The South‐West and South‐East regions experienced an average loss of 4.9 and 3.8%/decade, respectively. A smaller relative loss was found in the Northern region (2.3%/decade). The negative HN trends can be mainly explained by an increase of TMEAN by 0.15°C/decade. Most of the decrease in HN occurred mainly between 1980 and 2020, as a result of a more pronounced increase in TMEAN. This is also confirmed by the change of the running correlation between HN and TMEAN, NAO, AO over time, which until 1980 were not correlated at all, while the correlation increased in later years. This suggests that in more recent years favourable combinations of temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric pattern have become more crucial for snowfall to occur. On the other hand, no correlation was found with the AMO index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We describe the clinical findings in a Japanese patient with unilateral traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) who underwent steroid pulse therapy followed by optic canal decompression surgery. The optic nerve function was assessed longitudinally and quantitatively by Goldmann visual fields (GVFs). This was accomplished by measuring the area of each isopter and scotoma, and the findings were compared with the visual acuities recorded during the course of the resolution of the TON. Case Presentation: A 70‐year‐old man suffered from TON in his left eye after falling from a 3 m cliff. On examination at the Saitama Medical University Hospital, his decimal best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in his left eye was 0.2. Computed tomography revealed a fracture of the lateral wall of the left orbit, but no obvious optic canal fracture was observed. Steroid pulse therapy was started, and optic nerve decompression surgery was performed. After steroid administration, there was a slight improvement in the visual acuity, and a response in the I/3e isopter was present (area 17.76 deg2). However, the V/4e area decreased from 539.35 to 359.36 deg2. Three days after the optic canal decompression surgery, the decimal visual acuity improved to 0.6, and the V/4e area and I/3e area increased to 1122.52 and 46.88 deg2, respectively. Postoperatively, there was a marked improvement in the size of the GVFs that corresponded to the improved visual acuity. The visual acuity of the left eye was 0.8 after 6 months, and the GVF was still not completely normal. Conclusions: Our findings showed the course of recovery of the visual acuity and visual field in an eye with TON. The quantification of GVF was helpful in assessing the course of recovery after the treatments. The new quantitative index of the GVFs may be helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for optic nerve disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environment‐benign ZnSeTe quantum dots (QDs) are regarded promising blue electroluminescent (EL) emitters alternative to Cd‐based ones for the next‐generation QD‐display platform. Herein, the core/shell heterostructural variation of blue‐emitting ternary ZnSeTe QDs by manipulating ZnSeTe core size (small versus large) and ZnSe inner shell thickness (thin versus thick), while ZnS outer shell thickness remains unaltered, is explored. EL outcomes of the resulting core/shell QDs having photoluminescence quantum yields of 59−80% within the blue color regime (454−463 nm) are found to be dependent on their heterostructural dimension, exhibiting the highest performances of 31709 cd m−2 in luminance and 11.4% in external quantum efficiency (EQE) from large‐ZnSeTe/thick‐ZnSe/ZnS QDs. Furthermore, to address the chronic issues of excessive electron injection and exciton quenching at emitting layer/electron transport layer (ETL) interface, the surface of ZnMgO (ZMO) nanoparticle (NP) is modified by bicarbonate functional species. Bicarbonate passivation not only leads to the effective reduction of defective sites on the ZMO NP surface toward the suppression of exciton quenching but induces the upshift of ETL band alignment in favor of charge balance. As a result, the optimized blue device incorporated with bicarbonate‐functionalized ZMO NPs delivers a peak luminance of 39739 cd m−2 and a maximum EQE of 17.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report the synthesis of a new type of chiral crystalline organic porous salt CF2 derived from the ionic reaction between tetrakis(4‐sulfophenyl)methane (TSPM) and the tetra‐(S)‐prolylamide of tetrakis(4‐aminophenyl)methane, (S)‐TPPM, and its ability to stabilize 2 nm palladium nanoparticles to give a novel, nonpyrophoric, chiral, catalytic material Pd@CF2. The preparation of the catalyst was very simple and conducted in water. The heterogeneous catalytic performance of Pd@CF2 was tested in hydrogen reductions of olefins and substituted nitroaromatic compounds using Pd/C as a comparison to determine the specific features of the novel catalyst. Although both types of catalysts exhibited similar catalytic activity in case of reductions of diphenylacetylene and nitrobenzene, Pd@CF2 predominantly promoted the reduction of p‐nitrobenzaldehyde to p‐aminobenzyl alcohol whereas Pd/C gave p‐toluidine. The reduction of p‐dinitrobenzene led to predominant formation of p‐nitrophenylhydroxylamine if promoted by the novel catalyst and to a mixture of products if promoted by Pd/C. In addition, the introduction of p‐alkoxy groups onto nitrobenzenes slowed down the reduction with Pd@CF2 but had no influence on Pd/C activity. A hypothesis ascribing these observations to dissimilar equilibrium distributions of nitro and polar groups within the organic framework and the palladium metal surface is proposed to rationalize the selectivity of the novel catalytic material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual response polyurethane nanocapsules consisting of a hydrophilic core are synthesized via interfacial polyaddition of the diisocyanate monomers and different diols (VA‐060 and glycols) in inverse miniemulsion process. The presence of the water‐soluble NIR dye in the core and azo‐bonds in the polymer shell allows the selective release of encapsulated material triggered by temperature or NIR light. The capsules are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The capsule degradation under external stimuli, like temperature and NIR light, is confirmed microscopically by TEM. Macroscopic evidence of the capsule cleavage was achieved by the incorporation of the chemical into the capsule core, and subsequent treatment of the capsules with NIR laser in the presence of the suitable reagent outside the capsules. A color‐forming chemical reaction occurred after the shell opening. The reactions were easily detected by visual observation of a color change and by UV–Vis spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a case report detailing a hard lobulated submucosal nodule found in the lower lip of a 47-year-old man. Topics include the clinical presentation and examination findings of the nodule, the diagnostic process leading to the identification of oral sarcoidosis, and the significance of oral manifestations as potential indicators of this systemic condition.

Brittle deformation in the upper crust is thought to occur primarily via faulting. The fault length‐frequency distribution determines how much deformation is accommodated by numerous small faults versus a few large ones. To evaluate the amount of deformation due to small faults, we analyze the fault length distribution using high‐quality fault maps spanning a wide range of spatial scales from a laboratory sample to an outcrop to a tectonic domain. We find that the cumulative fault length distribution is well approximated by a power law with a negative exponent close to 2. This is in agreement with the earthquake magnitude‐frequency distribution (the Gutenberg‐Richter law with b‐value of 1), at least for faults smaller than the thickness of the seismogenic zone. It follows that faulting is a self‐similar process, and a substantial fraction of tectonic strain can be accommodated by faults that don't cut through the entire seismogenic zone, consistent with inferences of "hidden strain" from natural and laboratory observations. A continued accumulation of tectonic strain may eventually result in a transition from distributed fault networks to localized mature faults. Plain Language Summary: The Earth's crust is pervasively damaged, and contains faults, fractures, and joints of various sizes and orientations. We use mapped fault traces from multiple data sets spanning a wide range of scales to investigate how much deformation is accommodated by small versus large faults. The fault length distribution is often assumed to be fractal, that is, following a power law. The power‐law exponent α $\alpha $ quantifies the relative contributions of many small faults relative to a few large ones. For α≤1 $\alpha \le 1$, the contribution of small faults is negligible, while for α≥2 $\alpha \ge 2$, strains accommodated by small faults become significant. We find that the cumulative fault length distribution approximately follows a power law with an exponent α≥2 $\alpha \ge 2$. This implies that small faults in developing shear zones can accommodate a substantial fraction of tectonic strain. Key Points: We analyze the fault length‐frequency distribution in developing (structurally immature) fault systemsThe cumulative frequency distribution follows a power law over a range of fault length spanning 8 orders of magnitude, with a negative exponent of ∼2, consistent with the Gutenberg‐Richter lawSmall faults within the brittle upper crust can accommodate a substantial (>30%) fraction of tectonic strain [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kidneys are essential for glucose homeostasis, as they perform gluconeogenesis, utilize glucose, and reabsorb glucose. Reabsorption is performed by SGLT2, which is responsible for about 90%. However, little is known about how renal glucose handling is altered in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). SGLT2 inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy in suppressing CKD progression in clinical trials, but their mechanisms are not fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate how each uninephrectomy (UNx) and SGLT2 inhibitor affects blood glucose concentrations and SGLTs dynamics in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Male rats were divided into four treatment groups: sham + placebo, sham + dapagliflozin, UNx + placebo, and UNx + dapagliflozin. There were few group differences in food intake or body weight, but blood glucose concentrations continued to rise in the sham + placebo, whereas this rise was delayed for several weeks in the UNx + placebo, and largely suppressed by dapagliflozin. SGLT2 mRNA expression was significantly lower in the UNx group, but SGLT1 mRNA expression did not significantly differ. Dapagliflozin did not alter SGLT1 or SGLT2 mRNA expression. In animal models of diabetes, renal glucose reabsorption appears likely to be a major contributor to the development of hyperglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lorentz invariance belongs to the fundamental symmetries of nature. It is basic for the successful Standard Model of Particle Physics. Nevertheless, within the last decades, Lorentz invariance has been repeatedly questioned. In fact, there exist different research programs addressing this problem. It is argued that a most adequate understanding of a possible violation of Lorentz invariance is achieved in the framework of the gauge‐theoretic approach to gravity: a non‐vanishing nonmetricity of a metric‐affine geometry of spacetime heralds the violation of the Lorentz symmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work offers a new prospective on asymptotic perturbation theory for varying self‐adjoint extensions of symmetric operators. Employing symplectic formulation of self‐adjointness, we use a version of resolvent difference identity for two arbitrary self‐adjoint extensions that facilitates asymptotic analysis of resolvent operators via first‐order expansion for the family of Lagrangian planes associated with perturbed operators. Specifically, we derive a Riccati‐type differential equation and the first‐order asymptotic expansion for resolvents of self‐adjoint extensions determined by smooth one‐parameter families of Lagrangian planes. This asymptotic perturbation theory yields a symplectic version of the abstract Kato selection theorem and Hadamard–Rellich‐type variational formula for slopes of multiple eigenvalue curves bifurcating from an eigenvalue of the unperturbed operator. The latter, in turn, gives a general infinitesimal version of the celebrated formula equating the spectral flow of a path of self‐adjoint extensions and the Maslov index of the corresponding path of Lagrangian planes. Applications are given to quantum graphs, periodic Kronig–Penney model, elliptic second‐order partial differential operators with Robin boundary conditions, and physically relevant heat equations with thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jikei Academic Nursing Practice Center for the Community developed a community nursing practice that matched community health problems and concerns in Chofu and Komae cities, suburban areas of the Tokyo Metropolis. This study aimed to identify health problems and high‐risk populations via an understanding of the practice of health behaviors, health literacy, and quality of life. This was an online, cross‐sectional study conducted in September 2023. In total, 1520 (Chofu: n = 1170; Komae: n = 350) participants were enrolled. Participants' demographic characteristics, health literacy, health behaviors, and quality of life scores were obtained. Sleep quality was poor compared with national data. Younger participants had higher poor health literacy, did not practice health behaviors, and had a lower quality of life. In addition, parenting and informal nursing care for family members were associated with unhealthy eating, smoking, drinking, and poor quality of life. This study found that health problems and concerns before planning were significant in increasing the salience of interventions for community residents. Based on the findings of this study, an action plan for community‐wide nursing practice was created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Maintaining mitochondrial quality is attracting attention as a new strategy to treat diabetes and diabetic complications. We previously reported that mitochondrial hyperfission by forming a protein complex between dynamin‐related protein (Drp) 1 and filamin, mediates chronic heart failure and cilnidipine, initially developed as an L/N‐type Ca2+ channel blocker, improves heart failure by inhibiting Drp1‐filamin protein complex. We investigated whether cilnidipine improves hyperglycaemia of various diabetic mice models. Experimental Approach: Retrospective analysis focusing on haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was performed in hypertensive and hyperglycaemic patients taking cilnidipine and amlodipine. After developing diabetic mice by streptozotocin (STZ) treatment, an osmotic pump including drug was implanted intraperitoneally, followed by weekly measurements of blood glucose levels. Mitochondrial morphology was analysed by electron microscopy. A Ca2+ channel‐insensitive cilnidipine derivative (1,4‐dihydropyridine [DHP]) was synthesized and its pharmacological effect was evaluated using obese (ob/ob) mice fed with high‐fat diet (HFD). Key Results: In patients, cilnidipine was superior to amlodipine in HbA1c lowering effect. Cilnidipine treatment improved systemic hyperglycaemia and mitochondrial morphological abnormalities in STZ‐exposed mice, without lowering blood pressure. Cilnidipine failed to improve hyperglycaemia of ob/ob mice, with suppressing insulin secretion. 1,4‐DHP improved hyperglycaemia and mitochondria abnormality in ob/ob mice fed HFD. 1,4‐DHP and cilnidipine improved basal oxygen consumption rate of HepG2 cells cultured under 25 mM glucose. Conclusion and implications: Inhibition of Drp1‐filamin protein complex formation becomes a new strategy for type 2 diabetes treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]