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A new experimental method to search for the double Gamow–Teller giant resonance using the double charge exchange (⁠|$^{12}$| C, |$^{12}$| Be(0 |$^{+}_{2}$|⁠)) reaction is proposed and applied, for the first time, to a |${}^{48}$| Ca target at 250 MeV/nucleon using a |$^{12}$| C primary beam at the RIKEN RI Beam Factory. The events with double isospin- and spin-flip in |${}^{48}$| Ca were selected by measuring decay |$\gamma$| -rays from |${}^{12}$| Be(0 |$^{+}_{2}$|⁠). A forward-peaking component in the measured double-differential cross sections was observed with an integrated |$0^\circ$| cross section of |$1.33 \pm 0.12$| μ b/sr in the excitation energy region below 34 MeV in |${}^{48}$| Ti. Reaction analyses based on distorted-wave Born approximation calculations and the multipole decomposition based thereon indicate that |$\sim$| 40% of the forward-peaking component originates from the double Gamow–Teller transitions. The transition strength of the double Gamow–Teller transition is evaluated from the extracted forward-peaking cross section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shinsuke Kitazawa, Ashoka Indranatha Wijesinghe, Naoki Maki, Takahiro Yanagihara, Yusuke Saeki, Naohiro Kobayashi, Shinji Kikuchi, Yukinobu Goto, Hideo Ichimura, Yukio Sato Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, JapanCorrespondence: Yukio SatoDepartment of General Thoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, JapanTel +81 29 853 3210Fax +81 29 853 7991Email ysato@md.tsukuba.ac.jpPurpose: In performing surgery for lung cancer, emphysema is a risk factor related to postoperative respiratory complications (PRC). However, few studies have addressed the risk of radiological emphysematous volume affecting PRC. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between emphysematous volume as measured on 3-dimensional computed tomography and PRC.Patients and Methods: We reviewed 342 lung cancer patients undergoing lobectomy between 2013 and 2018. The percentage of low attenuation area (LAA%) was defined as the percentage of the lung area showing attenuation of − 950 Hounsfield units or lower. Preoperative factors including age, sex, body mass index, smoking index, respiratory function, tumour histology, and LAA% were evaluated. PRC included pneumonia, atelectasis, prolonged air leakage, empyema, hypoxia, ischemic bronchitis, bronchopleural fistula, and exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia. Uni- and multivariable analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between independent clinical variables and postoperative adverse events.Results: Median LAA% was 5.0% (range, 0– 40%) and PRC was observed in 50 patients (14.6%). Patients who presented with PRC showed significantly high LAA% compared to those without complications (median: 8.1% vs 3.8%; p < 0.001). Based on univariable analysis, age, sex, smoking index, percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0%), histology, and LAA% were significant predictors for PRC. Multivariable analysis revealed higher LAA% as a significant risk factor for PRC (odds ratio = 1.040; 95% confidence interval, 1.001– 1.080; p = 0.046).Conclusion: In addition to respiratory function with spirometry, LAA% can be used as a predictor of PRC.Keywords: lung cancer, emphysema, radiology and other imaging, respiratory function tests, thoracic surgery

Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae that breed in the western North Pacific (WNP) are listed as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act. Previous research in the WNP concluded that the full extent of humpback whale breeding areas is unknown. Recovering this endangered population requires identifying all associated breeding grounds and potential threats in those locations. Prior to 2015, humpback whales were known to occur in the Mariana Archipelago (within the WNP), but their population identity and habitat use there were unknown. To determine the population identity of humpback whales in the Mariana Archipelago and whether the area serves as a breeding ground for these whales, small-boat photo-identification and biopsy sampling surveys were conducted in the southern portion of the archipelago during February and March 2015-2018. A total of 14 mother-calf pairs and 27 other non-calf whales were encountered. Seven non-calves were re-sighted in multiple years, including 4 females associated with calves in one or more years. Competitive behavior was observed in multiple years. Comparisons with other North Pacific humpback whale catalogs resulted in matches to breeding (Japan and Philippines) and feeding (Russia) grounds in the WNP. DNA profiling of 28 biopsy samples identified 24 individuals (14 females, 10 males) representing 7 mitochondrial DNA haplotypes. The haplotype frequencies from the Mariana Archipelago showed the greatest identity with the Ogasawara breeding ground and Commander Islands feeding ground in the WNP. This study establishes the Mariana Archipelago as a breeding area for endangered WNP humpback whales, which should be considered in ongoing research and conservation efforts.

Newly-developed spectrographs with increased resolving powers, particularly those covering the near-IR range, allow the characterization of more and more absorption lines in stellar spectra. This includes the identification and confirmation of absorption lines and the calibration of oscillator strengths. In this study, we provide empirical values of |${{\rm log} gf}$| based on the abundances of classical Cepheids obtained with optical spectra to establish the consistency between optical and infrared abundance results. Using time series spectra of classical Cepheids obtained with WINERED spectrograph (0.97–1.35  |$\mu$| m, R |$\sim$| 28000), we demonstrate that we can determine the stellar parameters of the observed Cepheids, including effective temperature (⁠|${T_\mathrm{eff}}$|⁠), surface gravity (⁠|${{\rm log} g}$|⁠), microturbulence (⁠|$\xi$|⁠), and metallicity (⁠|${\rm {[{\mathrm{ M}}/\mathrm{ H}]}}$|⁠). With the newly calibrated relations of line-depth ratios, we can achieve accuracy and precision comparable to optical studies, with uncertainties of |$\sim$| 90 K and 0.108 dex for |${T_\mathrm{eff}}$|⁠ , and |${{\rm log} g}$|⁠ , respectively. Finally, we created a new atlas of absorption lines, featuring precise abundance measurements of various elements found in the atmosphere of Cepheids, including neutron-capture elements whose |${{\rm log} gf}$| values have been astrophysically calibrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hirofumi Nagayama,1 Norikazu Kobayashi,2 Yu Ishibashi,2 Ryuji Kobayashi,2 Chika Murai,3 Keita Yamauchi4 1Department of Occupational Therapy, Kanagawa University of Human Services, Yokosuka, Japan; 2Division of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Arakawa, Japan; 3Department of Occupational Therapy, Ishikawa Prefectural Takamatsu Hospital, Kahoku, Japan; 4Graduate School of Health Management, Keio University, Fujisawa, Japan Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effectiveness and costs of the occupation-based practice for community dwelling frail elderly. Design: Pilot pre-post design without a control group. Setting: A care management center involving 37 local elderly. Subject: The final analysis included 26 frail elderly in a community dwelling center. Intervention: The intervention was occupation-based practice involving setting of client-centered goals, observation of real living situations, and provision of advice on the individual problem of real occupation. Outcome: The outcome was the Frenchay Activities Index (FAI), which is used to evaluate the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Additionally, the frequency, duration, and cost of the intervention were calculated. Results: Regarding the FAI score before and after the interventions, there were significant improvements in all items except work (P