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Akira Suda,1 Saki Hattori,1 Ikuko Kishida,1,2 Masatoshi Miyauchi,1 Yohko Shiraishi,1 Mami Fujibayashi,3 Natsuki Tsujita,4 Chie Ishii,2 Norio Ishii,2 Toshio Moritani,5 Yoshio Hirayasu1,6 1Department of Psychiatry, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, 2Department of Psychiatry, Fujisawa Hospital, Kanagawa, 3Division of Physical and Health Education, Setsunan University, Osaka, 4Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, 5Department of Health and Sports Sociology, Faculty of General Education, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, 6Department of Psychiatry, Hirayasu Hospital, Okinawa, Japan Objective: Long-acting injections (LAIs) of antipsychotics show distinct pharmacokinetic profiles from oral antipsychotics (OAPs). Although there may be differences in adverse event frequency, any differences in their effects on autonomic nervous system (ANS) remain unclear. Patients and methods: In total, 270 schizophrenic patients were recruited in this study: 241 received OAPs (risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, or aripiprazole) and 29 received LAIs (risperidone LAI, aripiprazole LAI, or paliperidone palmitate) as monotherapy. Heart rate variability was measured as an index of ANS activity, and the low-frequency (0.03–0.15 Hz) component, high-frequency (0.15–0.40 Hz) component, and total power (0.03–0.40 Hz) were calculated. Components were compared between the groups using t-tests. Results: A significant difference was detected in the low-frequency component between the OAP and LAI groups (P=0.046). No significant difference was found in total power or the high-frequency component between the two groups. Conclusion: Compared with OAPs, LAIs have fewer adverse effects on ANS activity, particularly the low-frequency component, as determined using a spectral analysis of heart rate variability. Keywords: long-acting injectable antipsychotics, autonomic nervous system, heart rate variability, adverse effect

Single crystalline ZnO thin films were heteroepitaxially grown on sapphire substrates by rf-magnetron sputtering. The outermost layer of the ZnO surface of the face contains oxygen ions, which are considered to be energetically reactive sites and responsible for the hydrophilic conversion.

Computerized tomography (CT), in association with optical emission spectroscopy (OES), is used to investigate the three-dimensional image of radio frequency inductively coupled plasma (RF-ICP) in low-pressure hydrogen in E-mode. As a series of CT studies in this paper, we demonstrate a distinct image in [H.sub.2] ICP in the E-mode, i.e., the presence of two independent plasmas in a low-pressure region. Index Terms--Computerized tomography, E-mode, hydrogen, inductively coupled plasma, optical emission spectroscopy.

We examined the interfacial charge transfer effect on photocatalysts using a patterned CuO thin film deposited on a rutile TiO2 (110) substrate. Photocatalytic activity was visualized based on the formation of metal Ag particles resulting from the photoreduction of Ag+ ions under visible-light illumination. Ag particles were selectively deposited near the edge of CuO film for several nanometer thick CuO film, indicating that interfacial excitation from the valence band maximum of TiO2 to the conduction band minimum of CuO plays a key role in efficient photocatalytic activity of CuO nanocluster-grafted TiO2 systems with visible-light sensitivity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly selective etching of SiO2 over Si is central to the manufacture of ultralarge scale integration devices; the process is generally one of reactive ion etching using polymerizing fluorocarbon chemistry. A number of species including electrons, ions, and radicals are generated by reactions in the gas phase and on the surface in the plasma process. A large number of highly reactive fluorine atoms, fluorocarbon radicals, and ions interact with the substrate and produce etch products. These etch products, primarily SiF4 and SiF2, diffuse back into the bulk plasma where they are dissociated and ionized by interactions with electrons, and the resultant products are transported and redeposited onto the substrate and/or wall surface. That is, the plasma structure may differ depending on whether the Si (or SiO2) surface has been exposed to etching or not. Hence, it is essential to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of the plasma structure during etching. In this study, measurements of plasma structure during Si or SiO2 etching in CF4/Ar radio-frequency inductively coupled plasma (rf-ICP) were performed using computerized tomography of optical emission spectroscopy to investigate plasma-surface interactions. We focused on the characteristics of etch products, their daughter products, and the etchant in the gas phase during Si and SiO2 etching in CF4/Ar rf-ICP and the disturbance of the plasma structure at high amplitudes of LF bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perceptional change of fragrance of essential oils is described in relation to type of work, i.e. mental work, physical work and hearing environmental (natural) sounds. The essential oils examined in this study were ylang ylang, orange, geranium, cypress, bergamot, spearmint and juniper. In evaluating change in perception of a given aroma, a sensory test was employed in which the perception of fragrance was assessed by 13 contrasting pairs of adjectives. Scores were recorded after inhaling a fragrance before and after each type of work., and the statistical significance of the change of score for 13 impression descriptors was examined by Student's t -test for each type of work. It was confirmed that inhalation of essential oil caused a different subjective perception of fragrance depending on the type of work. For example, inhalation of cypress after physical work produced a much more favorable impression than before work, in contrast to orange, which produced an unfavorable impression after physical work when compared with that before work. For mental work, inhalation of juniper seemed to create a favorable impression after work, whereas geranium and orange both produced an unfavorable impression then. From these studies, together with those conducted previously with lavender, rosemary, linalool, peppermint, marjoram, cardamom, sandalwood, basil and lime, we thus concluded that the sensory test described here might serve not only as a screening test for efficacy of aroma but also as a categorized table for aroma samples which can act as a reference to each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computerized tomography (CT), in association with optical emission spectroscopy (OES), is used to investigate the three-dimensional image of radio frequency inductively coupled plasma (RF-ICP) in Low-pressure hydrogen in E-mode. As a series of CT studies in this paper, we demonstrate a distinct image in H2 ICP in the E-mode, i.e., the presence of two independent plasmas in a low-pressure region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen boride (HB) nanosheets are recognized as a safe and lightweight hydrogen carrier, yet their hydrogen (H 2 ) generation technique has been limited. In the present study, nitrogen-containing organic heterocycles are mixed with HB nanosheets in acetonitrile solution for visible-light-driven H 2 generation. After exploring various nitrogen-containing heterocycles, the mixture of 1,10-phenanthroline molecules (Phens) and HB nanosheets exhibited significant H 2 generation even under visible light irradiation. The quantum efficiency for H 2 generation of the mixture of HB nanosheets and Phens is 0.6%. Based on spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, it is determined that radical species generated from Phens with electrons and protons donated by HB nanosheets are responsive to visible light for H 2 generation. The HB nanosheets/Phens mixture presented in this study can generate H 2 using renewable energy sources such as sunlight without the need for complex electrochemical systems or heating mechanisms and is expected to serve as a lightweight hydrogen storage/release system., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The analysis of cells frozen within the International Space Station (ISS) will provide crucial insights into the impact of the space environment on cellular functions and properties. The objective of this study was to develop a method for cryopreserving blood cells under the specific constraints of the ISS. In a ground experiment, mouse blood was directly mixed with a cryoprotectant and gradually frozen at -80 °C. Thawing the frozen blood sample resulted in the successful recovery of viable mononuclear cells when using a mixed solution of dimethylsulfoxide and hydroxyethyl starch as a cryoprotectant. In addition, we developed new freezing cases to minimize storage space utilization within the ISS freezer. Finally, we confirmed the recovery of major mononuclear immune cell subsets from the cryopreserved blood cells through a high dimensional analysis of flow cytometric data using 13 cell surface markers. Consequently, this ground study lays the foundation for the cryopreservation of viable blood cells on the ISS, enabling their analysis upon return to Earth. The application of this method in ISS studies will contribute to understanding the impact of space environments on human cells. Moreover, this method may find application in the cryopreservation of blood cells in situations where research facilities are inadequate., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1), a G protein-coupled receptor, is required for lymphocyte trafficking, and is a promising therapeutic target in inflammatory diseases. Here, we synthesize a competitive S1PR1 antagonist, KSI-6666, that effectively suppresses pathogenic inflammation. Metadynamics simulations suggest that the interaction of KSI-6666 with a methionine residue Met124 in the ligand-binding pocket of S1PR1 may inhibit the dissociation of KSI-6666 from S1PR1. Consistently, in vitro functional and mutational analyses reveal that KSI-6666 causes pseudoirreversible inhibition of S1PR1, dependent on the Met124 of the protein and substituents on the distal benzene ring of KSI-6666. Moreover, in vivo study suggests that this pseudoirreversible inhibition is responsible for the persistent activity of KSI-6666., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The Hippo pathway and its downstream effectors, Yes-associated protein/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (YAP/TAZ), are essential for cell growth and organ development. Emerging evidence revealed that the Hippo pathway and YAP/TAZ are frequently dysregulated by multiple genetic alterations in solid cancers including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); however, the YAP/TAZ-nuclear interactome remains unclear. RNA-binding motif protein 39 (RBM39) enhances transcriptional activity of several transcription factors and also regulates mRNA splicing. Indisulam degrading RBM39 induces alternative splicing, leading to cell death. However, clinical trials of indisulam have failed to show effectiveness. Therefore, clarifying the resistance mechanism against splicing inhibitors is urgently required. In this study, we identified RBM39 as a novel YAP/TAZ-interacting molecule by proteome analysis. RBM39 promoted YAP/TAZ transcriptional activity. We further elucidated that indisulam reduces RBM39/YAP/TAZ-mediated integrin or collagen expression, thereby inactivating focal adhesion kinase (FAK) important for cell survival. Moreover, indisulam also induced alternative splicing of cell cycle- or DNA metabolism-related genes. YAP/TAZ hyperactivation delayed indisulam-induced RBM39 degradation, which restored the integrin/collagen expression to activate FAK, and alternative splicing, thereby conferring resistance against indisulam in vitro and in vivo. Our findings may aid to develop a novel cancer therapy focusing on YAP/TAZ/RBM39 interaction., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Periodontitis has not been recognized as a modifiable risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). This prospective nonrandomized study investigated whether periodontal treatment improves the AF ablation outcome., Methods and Results: We prospectively enrolled 288 AF patients scheduled to undergo initial radiofrequency catheter ablation. Each patient underwent periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA; a quantitative index of periodontal inflammation) measurement. All eligible patients were recommended to receive periodontal treatment within the blanking period, and 97 consented. During the mean follow-up period of 507±256 days, 70 (24%) AF recurrences were documented. Patients who exhibited AF recurrences had a higher PISA than those who did not (456.8±403.5 versus 277.7±259.0 mm 2 , P =0.001). These patients were categorized into high-PISA (>615 mm 2 ) and low-PISA (<615 mm 2 ) groups according to the receiver operating characteristic analysis for AF recurrence (area under the curve, 0.611; sensitivity, 39%; specificity, 89%). A high PISA, as well as female sex, AF duration, and left atrial volume, were the statistically significant predicter for AF recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 2.308 [95% CI, 1.234-4.315]; P =0.009). In patients with a high PISA, those who underwent periodontal treatment showed significantly fewer AF recurrences ( P =0.01, log-rank test). The adjusted HR of periodontal treatment for AF recurrence was 0.393 (95% CI, 0.215-0.719; P =0.002)., Conclusions: Periodontitis may serve as a modifiable risk factor for AF. PISA is a hallmark of AF recurrence, and periodontal treatment improves the AF ablation outcome, especially for those with poor periodontal condition.

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that both SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1Ra) have protective effects in patients with diabetic kidney disease. Combination therapy with SGLT2i and GLP1Ra is commonly used in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We previously reported that in combination therapy of SGLT2i and GLP1Ra, the effect on the renal composite outcome did not differ according to the preceding drug. However, it remains unclear how the initiation of combination therapy is associated with the renal function depending on the preceding drug. In this post hoc analysis, we analyzed a total of 643 T2D patients (GLP1Ra-preceding group, n = 331; SGLT2i-preceding group, n = 312) and investigated the differences in annual eGFR decline. Multiple imputation and propensity score matching were performed to compare the annual eGFR decline. The reduction in annual eGFR decline in the SGLT2i-preceding group (pre: -3.5 ± 9.4 mL/min/1.73 m 2 /year, post: -0.4 ± 6.3 mL/min/1.73 m 2 /year, p < 0.001), was significantly smaller after the initiation of GLP1Ra, whereas the GLP1Ra-preceding group tended to slow the eGFR decline but not to a statistically significant extent (pre: -2.0 ± 10.9 mL/min/1.73 m 2 /year, post: -1.8 ± 5.4 mL/min/1.73 m 2 /year, p = 0.83) after the initiation of SGLT2i. After the addition of GLP1Ra to SGLT2i-treated patients, slower annual eGFR decline was observed. Our data raise the possibility that the renal benefits-especially annual eGFR decline-of combination therapy with SGLT2i and GLP1Ra may be affected by the preceding drug., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Muta, Kobayashi, Toyoda, Tone, Suzuki, Tsuriya, Machimura, Shimura, Takeda, Yokomizo, Takeshita, Chin, Kanasaki, Tamura, Miyauchi, Saburi, Morita, Yomota, Kimura, Hatori, Nakajima, Ito, Tsukamoto, Murata, Matsushita, Furuki, Hashimoto, Umezono, Takashi and Kawanami.)

Autophagy is primarily activated by cellular stress, such as starvation or mitochondrial damage. However, stress-independent autophagy is activated by unclear mechanisms in several cell types, such as thymic epithelial cells (TECs). Here we report that the mitochondrial protein, C15ORF48, is a critical inducer of stress-independent autophagy. Mechanistically, C15ORF48 reduces the mitochondrial membrane potential and lowers intracellular ATP levels, thereby activating AMP-activated protein kinase and its downstream Unc-51-like kinase 1. Interestingly, C15ORF48-dependent induction of autophagy upregulates intracellular glutathione levels, promoting cell survival by reducing oxidative stress. Mice deficient in C15orf48 show a reduction in stress-independent autophagy in TECs, but not in typical starvation-induced autophagy in skeletal muscles. Moreover, C15orf48 -/- mice develop autoimmunity, which is consistent with the fact that the stress-independent autophagy in TECs is crucial for the thymic self-tolerance. These results suggest that C15ORF48 induces stress-independent autophagy, thereby regulating oxidative stress and self-tolerance., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Occasionally, patients undergoing dialysis develop acute severe hypotension that requires interruption of dialysis within minutes of initiating every dialysis session. Although the underlying causes of recurrent intradialytic hypotension are evaluated extensively, including dialysis-associated allergic reactions or other possible causes, the definitive cause is sometimes missed. Dialysis is a life-sustaining procedure; therefore, prompt identification and management of the underlying cause of dialysis intolerance are crucial. Herein, we report three cases of patients undergoing dialysis who presented with hypereosinophilia-associated acute intradialytic hypotension. All three patients developed acute severe hypotension within minutes after the start of every dialysis session. The prescriptions for dialysis were changed, but episodes of intradialytic hypotension persisted. Pretreatment with methylprednisolone given intravenously before the dialysis session was also ineffective. All patients had hypereosinophilia (> 1500/μL) of different etiology. Eosinophil-lowering therapy with 0.5 mg/kg of prednisolone given orally daily was initiated, and all of them could restart dialysis without any hypotensive episodes within a few days. Our case report and literature review indicated that hypereosinophilia, regardless of its etiology, could result in severe acute hypotension shortly after the start of dialysis session. The oral administration of prednisolone daily was highly effective on hypereosinophilia-associated intradialytic hypotension, while pretreatment with intravenous corticosteroid therapy just before dialysis had no effect. Hypereosinophilia-associated acute intradialytic hypotension is an under-recognized condition; therefore, clinicians need to be aware of this clinical entity and initiate effective treatment strategies. We also provide a brief summary of previously published cases., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Japanese Society of Nephrology.)

One hallmark of some autoimmune diseases is the variability of symptoms among individuals. Organs affected by the disease differ between patients, posing a challenge in diagnosing the affected organs. Although numerous studies have investigated the correlation between T cell antigen receptor (TCR) repertoires and the development of infectious and immune diseases, the correlation between TCR repertoires and variations in disease symptoms among individuals remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the correlation of TCRα and β repertoires in blood T cells with the extent of autoimmune signs that varies among individuals. We sequenced TCRα and β of CD4 + CD44 high CD62L low T cells in the blood and stomachs of mice deficient in autoimmune regulator (Aire) (AIRE KO), a mouse model of human autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy. Data analysis revealed that the degree of similarity in TCR sequences between the blood and stomach varied among individual AIRE KO mice and reflected the extent of T cell infiltration in the stomach. We identified a set of TCR sequences whose frequencies in blood might correlate with extent of the stomach manifestations. Our results propose a potential of using TCR repertoires not only for diagnosing disease development but also for diagnosing affected organs in autoimmune diseases., (© 2023 Molecular Biology Society of Japan and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Most of previous photocatalysts contain metal species, thus exploring a metal-free photocatalyst is still challenging. A metal-free photocatalyst has an advantage for the development of economical and non-toxic artificial photosynthesis system and/or environmental purification applications. In this study, rhombohedral boron monosulfide (r-BS) was synthesized by a high-pressure solid-state reaction, and its photocatalytic properties were investigated. r-BS absorbed visible light, and its photocurrent action spectrum also exhibited visible light responsivity. The r-BS evolved hydrogen (H 2 ) from water under ultraviolet (UV) as well as under visible light irradiation, and its internal quantum efficiency reached 1.8% under UV light irradiation. In addition to the H 2 evolution reaction, the r-BS photocatalyst drove carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) reduction and dye oxidation reactions under UV irradiation. Although bare r-BS was not so stable under strong light irradiation in water, cocatalyst modification improved its stability. These results indicate that r-BS is a new class of non-metal photocatalyst applicable for H 2 production, CO 2 reduction, and environmental purification reactions., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Water adsorption isotherms are systematically summarized by using celluloses and polysaccharides as hydrophilic crystal/amorphous materials with functional groups, silicas as hydrophilic porous materials, and inorganic salts, sugar alcohols, and amino acids as hygroscopic deliquescent materials. For hydrophilic fibers such as celluloses and polysaccharides, water was adsorbed on amorphous solids, and water clusters were formed around functional groups. For porous materials such as silicas, capillary condensation occurred in the micropores of silicas. For deliquescent materials such as inorganic salts, sugar alcohols, and amino acids, water adsorption rapidly increased stepwise at a specific threshold relative humidity, accompanied with a structure transformation to a liquid state. In addition, the water activity (Aw) of materials used in packed products was able to be estimated from the water adsorption isotherms of the pure component. This indicated that the deliquescent materials have a great effect on the depression of Aw for the suppression of microbial growth at an extremely high water content. The deliquescent materials could be useful to develop new environmentally and sustainable products and technologies with the mediation of water vapor and/or hydration., Competing Interests: The author declares no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Author. Published by American Chemical Society.)

The thymus has the ability to regenerate from acute injury caused by radiation, infection, and stressors. In addition to thymocytes, thymic epithelial cells in the medulla (mTECs), which are crucial for T cell self-tolerance by ectopically expressing and presenting thousands of tissue-specific antigens (TSAs), are damaged by these insults and recover thereafter. However, given recent discoveries on the high heterogeneity of mTECs, it remains to be determined whether the frequency and properties of mTEC subsets are restored during thymic recovery from radiation damage. Here we demonstrate that acute total body irradiation with a sublethal dose induces aftereffects on heterogeneity and gene expression of mTECs. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis showed that irradiation reduces the frequency of mTECs expressing AIRE, which is a critical regulator of TSA expression, 15 days after irradiation. In contrast, transit-amplifying mTECs (TA-mTECs), which are progenitors of AIRE-expressing mTECs, and Ccl21a-expressing mTECs, were less affected. Interestingly, a detailed analysis of scRNA-seq data suggested that the proportion of a unique mTEC cluster expressing Ccl25 and a high level of TSAs was severely decreased by irradiation. In sum, we propose that the effects of acute irradiation disrupt the heterogeneity and properties of mTECs over an extended period, which potentially leads to an impairment of thymic T cell selection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Horie, Namiki, Kinoshita, Miyauchi, Ishikawa, Hayama, Maruyama, Hagiwara, Miyao, Murata, Kobayashi, Akiyama and Akiyama.)