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Basilar artery (BA) fenestration and its occlusion are relatively rare conditions. Mechanical thrombectomy for fenestrated BA occlusion has a high risk of complications. One limb occlusion or partial occlusion of fenestration mimics arterial stenosis or dissection. We present the case of a 75-year-old woman who presented with slight dysarthria, which subsequently worsened. Magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, and basi-parallel anatomical scanning (BPAS) revealed BA fenestration and occlusion of the larger limb of the fenestrated BA, for which we performed thrombectomy with aspiration and achieved Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction Grade 3 flow restoration without procedure-related complications. If BA occlusion occurs at a site where a thrombus does not normally occur, confirming the anatomy of the BA before thrombectomy is desirable. As we obtained information on BA fenestration and occluded limb diameter using preoperative BPAS, we were able to safely achieve effective recanalization by guiding a relatively large-diameter aspiration catheter to the thrombus coaxially with a micro-guidewire and microcatheter.

The monotypic polynoid genus Arctonoella Buzhinskaja, 1967 comprises solely the type species A. sinagawaensis (Izuka, 1912), which was originally described from Tokyo Bay (central Japan), and subsequently recorded from China and the Russian Far East. The six specimens we collected together with the burrowing filter-feeding spoon worm Urechis unicinctus (Drasche, 1880) from three intertidal-flat sites in the Seto Inland Sea represent a new report for the western Japan, and the second for the country. Our morphological observations reveal that the shape of the cephalic peaks in the frontal prostomial margin is variable even within a local population, although this character has been considered as diagnostic for Arctonoella. This genus is closely related with Hesperonoe Chamberlin, 1919, both morphologically and phylogenetically. Hesperonoe urechis Marin and Antokhina, 2020, collected inside a burrow of U. unicinctus in the Russian Far East, is hereby deemed a junior synonym of A. sinagawaensis. This species morphologically resembles Hesperonoe adventor (Skogsberg in Fisher and MacGinitie, 1928), which inhabits spoon worm (Urechis caupo Fisher and MacGinitie, 1928 and Echiurus echiurus alaskanus Fisher, 1946) burrows along the northeastern Pacific coast of America. Therefore, we conclude that the Arctonoella-Hesperonoe species complex requires to be reviewed to determine the proper generic arrangement. Additionally, we revise the available data on the symbiotic fauna living inside the burrows of U. unicinctus and U. caupo.

An updated comprehensive checklist of polychaete species, which have been recorded from Malaysian waters, is provided, with their geographic distributions and the research history for them. A total of 57 species belonging to 30 families have been reported since the early 1870s, with Nereididae as the most dominant family with ten species; however, more than half of the total are questionable species in the country. Despite the increased efforts of polychaete studies in the past decade, the taxonomic endeavour of discovering and describing species in the country could be higher. Malaysian polychaetes were mostly recorded from Peninsular Malaysia, whereas very few were from Borneo Island. Most previously recorded species were associated with intertidal and estuarine habitats and a few were found in the subtidal and freshwater environments. We stress the need for urgent research on this biologically, ecologically and culturally relevant taxonomic group as the species accumulation curve grows exponentially in this megadiverse country.The current checklist has been updated since the previous one in 2013. Many species previously listed were judged as doubtful and not taxonomically reliable.

Abstract Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related HCC is associated with oxidative stress. However, the mechanisms underlying the development of NASH-related HCC is unclear. MUTYH is one of the enzymes that is involved in repair of oxidative DNA damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between MUTYH and NASH-related hepatocarcinogenesis. MUTYH wild-type (Mutyh +/+), heterozygous (Mutyh +/−), and MUTYH-null (Mutyh −/−) mice were fed a high-fat high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet or HFHC + high iron diet (20 mice per group) for 9 months. Five of 20 Mutyh −/− mice fed an HFHC + high iron diet developed liver tumors, and they developed more liver tumors than other groups (especially vs. Mutyh+/+ fed an HFHC diet, P = 0.0168). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed significantly higher accumulation of oxidative stress markers in mice fed an HFHC + high iron diet. The gene expression profiles in the non-tumorous hepatic tissues were compared between wild-type mice that developed no liver tumors and MUTYH-null mice that developed liver tumors. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis identified the involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and increased expression of c-Myc in MUTYH-null liver. These findings suggest that MUTYH deficiency is associated with hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with NASH with hepatic iron accumulation.

The reproductive and developmental characteristics of the nereidid polychaete, Neanthes glandicincta Southern, 1921, commonly recorded in tropical estuaries in the Indo-West Pacific, were examined from Malaysia (the mangrove area of Kuala Ibai, Terengganu) and Thailand (the Lower Songkhla Lagoon) on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula. Epitokous metamorphosis of fully mature males and females and their reproductive swimming behaviour were recorded based on ten Malaysian epitokous specimens, which were collected at night during spring tides in a period of January 2018 to March 2019. Six Thailand epitokes were obtained in February and March 2006 by the laboratory rearing of immature worms. Epitokous metamorphosis is characterised by the enlargement of eyes in both sexes, division of the body into three parts and modification of parapodia with additional lobes in the mid-body of males, and replacement of atokous chaetae in the mid-body by epitokous natatory chaetae, completely in males and incompletely in females. The diameter of coelomic unfertilised eggs in females was 100–140 µm. After fertilisation, each egg formed a jelly layer, inside which embryonic development progressed. Trochophores hatched out of the jelly layer, entering a short free-swimming larval phase followed by demersal life at the early stage of 3-chaetiger nectochaeta one day after fertilisation. Then, the larvae entered benthic life as juveniles, crawling on the bottom, at the late stage of 3-chaetiger nectochaeta two days after fertilisation. The results indicate that N. glandicincta has an annual life cycle, which is usually completed within an estuary with limited larval dispersal ability.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) has demonstrated that in vitro, lung cancer has higher lactate and choline signals than those of normal tissues. The detection of these metabolites in lung cancer in vivo by 1H-MRS would be useful for clinical diagnoses of lung cancer. We report the in vivo detection of lactate and choline in lung cancer by 1H-MRS in a 41-year-old Asian man who was diagnosed with pT4N0M0 ⅢA stage, right upper lobe lung adenocarcinoma. A lactate-lipid peak was observed near 1.33 ppm in the spectrum of lung cancer in vivo at TE = 30 ms, and it was inverted at TE = 135 ms, indicating that a lactate signal is contained in the lactate-lipid peak. A choline peak was also observed near 3.2 ppm in the spectrum with fat suppression at TE = 135 ms. An accumulation of similar cases will help determine the appropriate applications of 1H-MRS for lung cancer.

Abstract Background Technical factors leading to hernia recurrence after transabdominal preperitoneal repair include insufficient dissection, inadequate prosthetic overlap and prosthetic size, improper fixation and folding, or crinkling of the prosthesis. However, determining intraoperatively if a case will develop recurrent hernias due to these factors remains unclear. Methods Five surgeons blind-reviewed operation videos of primary laparoscopic hernioplasty in 13 lesions that went on to develop recurrent hernias (i.e., future recurrence), as well as 28 control lesions, to assess twelve items of surgical techniques. Since we changed a surgical policy of covering myopectineal orifice (MPO) in April 2003, we analyzed the data for the earlier and later periods. The data was analyzed with hierarchical clustering to obtain a gross grouping. The differences of the ratings between the future recurrent and control lesions were then analyzed and the association of the techniques with the hernia recurrence rate, the size of the prosthesis, and the hernia type across hernia recurrence were explored. Results The lesions were grouped based on the time series, and its boundary was approximated when we changed our surgical policy. This policy change caused ratings to progress from 34% satisfactory, to 79% satisfactory. The recurrence rate decreased to 0.7% (5/678), compared with 6.2% (10/161) before the policy was implemented (p

An estuarine species of Nereididae (Annelida), Neanthes glandicincta (Southern, 1921) has been newly recorded on the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia located in the South China Sea based on 23 specimens collected from three estuaries (Tumpat, Kelantan Delta, Kelantan; Setiu Lagoon, Terengganu; Kuala Ibai, Terengganu). The morphological characteristics of the Malaysian specimens agree well with those of the previous original description and the redescription of N. glandicincta based on Indian, Myanmar and Singapore specimens. The number of paragnaths in all groups on the proboscis of our Malaysian specimens is within the range of the intraspecific variation of N. glandicincta as shown in the previous descriptions. An identification key to species of the Neanthes glandicincta species complex, which includes two morphologically similar species, is provided.

A 62-year-old Japanese female was referred to our hospital with gastrointestinal bleeding. Although small-bowel bleeding was suspected, no bleeding source was identified by enhanced computed tomography (CT), video capsule endoscopy (VCE), and double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE). Five years later, the patient had recurrent intermittent bloody stools with a significant decrease in hemoglobin levels. Although no active bleeding was observed on antegrade DBE, we detected a pulsatile submucosal uplift accompanied by a small red patch on the top of the uplift in the jejunum. Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) was suspected as the cause of small-bowel bleeding. Multiple-phase CT showed a number of small vascular ectasias during the arterial phase in the jejunum, and we confirmed the presence of multiple AVMs in the jejunum by selective angiography. To identify the location of the lesions and determine the minimal surgical margins, we performed intraoperative selective angiography with indocyanine green (ICG) injection. This technique allowed us to clearly observe the region and perform segmental small-bowel resection with minimal surgical margin. The patient reported that she has had no gastrointestinal bleeding at the two years follow-up visit.

Introduction: Tissue-engineered skeletal muscle constructs should be designed to generate contractile force with directional movement. Because electrical impulses from a somatic nervous system are crucial for in vivo skeletal muscle development, electrical pulse stimulation (EPS) culture as an artificial exercise is essential to fabricate functional skeletal muscle tissues in vitro. To further improve muscle functions, the activation of cell-signaling pathways from myogenic growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, is also important. Because tissue-engineered skeletal muscle constructs should maintain a high cell-dense structure, the expression of an anti-apoptotic factor, such as B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), could be effective in preventing cell death. Methods: In the present study, myoblasts were genetically modified with inducible expression units of IGF-I and Bcl-2 genes, and the tissue-engineered skeletal muscle constructs fabricated from the myoblasts were cultured under continuous EPS. Results: Overexpression of IGF-I gene induced muscular hypertrophy in the muscle tissue constructs, and Bcl-2-overexpressing myoblasts formed significantly cell-dense and viable muscle tissue constructs. Furthermore, the combination of IGF-I and Bcl-2 gene transfer with EPS culture highly improved the force generation of the tissue-engineered skeletal muscle constructs. Conclusions: This approach has the potential to yield functional skeletal muscle substitutes with high force generation ability.

Hepatic iron accumulation is generally increased in the chronic hepatitis C (CHC) liver; however, the precise mechanism of such accumulation remains unclear. We evaluated iron absorption from the gastrointestinal tract of patients with CHC and control participants. We measured the expression of a panel of molecules associated with duodenal iron absorption and serum hepcidin levels to determine the mechanism of iron accumulation in the CHC liver. We enrolled 24 patients with CHC and 9 patients with chronic gastritis without Helicobacter pylori infection or an iron metabolism disorder as control participants. An oral iron absorption test (OIAT) was administered which involved a dosage of 100 mg of sodium ferrous citrate. Serum level of hepcidin-25 was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Ferroportin 1 (FPN) mRNA was measured by RT-PCR and FPN protein was analyzed by western blot. Samples were obtained from duodenum biopsy tissue from each CHC patient and control participant. Caco-2/TC7 cells were incubated in Costar transwells (0.4 μm pores). The OIAT showed significantly greater iron absorption in CHC patients than control participants. Serum hepcidin-25 in the CHC group was significantly lower than in the control group. Compared with control participants, duodenal FPN mRNA expression in CHC patients was significantly upregulated. The FPN mRNA levels and protein levels increased significantly in Caco-2/TC7 cell monolayers cultured in transwells with hepcidin. Lower serum hepcidin-25 levels might upregulate not only FPN protein expression but also mRNA expression in the duodenum and cause iron accumulation in patients with CHC.

Abstract Electrical impulses are necessary for proper in vivo skeletal muscle development. To fabricate functional skeletal muscle tissues in vitro, recapitulation of the in vivo niche, including physical stimuli, is crucial. Here, we report a technique to engineer skeletal muscle tissues in vitro by electrical pulse stimulation (EPS). Electrically excitable tissue-engineered skeletal muscle constructs were stimulated with continuous electrical pulses of 0.3 V/mm amplitude, 4 ms width and 1 Hz frequency, resulting in a 4.5-fold increase in force at day 14. In myogenic differentiation culture, the percentage of peak twitch force (%Pt) was determined as the load on the tissue constructs during the artificial exercise induced by continuous EPS. We optimized the stimulation protocol, wherein the tissues were first subjected to 24.5%Pt, which was increased to 50–60%Pt as the tissues developed. This technique may be a useful approach to fabricate tissue-engineered functional skeletal muscle constructs.

In regenerative medicine, evaluation of bone mineral density using a microfocus X-ray generator could eventually be used to determine the degree of bone tissue regeneration. To evaluate bone mineral density against regenerated bone material, two low-energy X-rays are necessary. Herein, the acquisition of quasi-monochromatic, dual-energy soft X-ray and the subsequent medical application were examined using the K-absorption edges of two types of metal filters (i.e., zirconium and tin) in a microfocus X-ray generator. Investigation of the optimal tube voltage and filter thickness to form a quasi-monochromatic energy spectrum with a single filter revealed that a filter thickness of 0.3 mm results in an optimal monochromatization state. When a dual filter was used, the required filter thickness was 0.3 mm for tin and 0.2 mm for zirconium at a tube voltage of 35 kV. For the medical application, we measured quasi-monochromatic, dual-energy X-rays to evaluate the measurement accuracy of bone mineral density. Using aluminum as a simulated bone sample, a relative error of ≤5% was consistent within the aluminum thickness range of 1–3 mm. These data suggest that a bone mineral density indicator of recycled bone material can be easily obtained with the quasi-monochromatic X-ray technique using a microfocus X-ray generator.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate scatter radiation dose to the subject surface during X-ray computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy using the integrated dose ratio (IDR) of an X-ray dose profile derived from an optically stimulated luminescent (OSL) dosimeter. We aimed to obtain quantitative evidence supporting the radiation protection methods used during previous CT fluoroscopy. A multislice CT scanner was used to perform this study. OSL dosimeters were placed on the top and the lateral side of the chest phantom so that the longitudinal direction of dosimeters was parallel to the orthogonal axis-to-slice plane for measurement of dose profiles in CT fluoroscopy. Measurement of fluoroscopic conditions was performed at 120 kVp and 80 kVp. Scatter radiation dose was evaluated by calculating the integrated dose determined by OSL dosimetry. The overall percent difference of the integrated doses between OSL dosimeters and ionization chamber was 5.92%. The ratio of the integrated dose of a 100-mm length area to its tails (-50 to -6 mm, 50 to 6 mm) was the lowest on the lateral side at 80 kVp and the highest on the top at 120 kVp. The IDRs for different measurement positions were larger at 120 kVp than at 80 kVp. Similarly, the IDRs for the tube voltage between the primary X-ray beam and scatter radiation was larger on the lateral side than on the top of the phantom. IDR evaluation suggested that the scatter radiation dose has a high dependence on the position and a low dependence on tube voltage relative to the primary X-ray beam for constant dose rate fluoroscopic conditions. These results provided quantitative evidence supporting the radiation protection methods used during CT fluoroscopy in previous studies.

We assessed vaccine effectiveness (VE) against medically attended, laboratory-confirmed influenza in children 6 months to 15 years of age in 22 hospitals in Japan during the 2013-14 season. Our study was conducted according to a test-negative case-control design based on influenza rapid diagnostic test (IRDT) results. Outpatients who came to our clinics with a fever of 38 °C or over and had undergone an IRDT were enrolled in this study. Patients with positive IRDT results were recorded as cases, and patients with negative results were recorded as controls. Between November 2013 and March 2014, a total of 4727 pediatric patients (6 months to 15 years of age) were enrolled: 876 were positive for influenza A, 66 for A(H1N1)pdm09 and in the other 810 the subtype was unknown; 1405 were positive for influenza B; and 2445 were negative for influenza. Overall VE was 46% (95% confidence interval [CI], 39-52). Adjusted VE against influenza A, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, and influenza B was 63% (95% CI, 56-69), 77% (95% CI, 59-87), and 26% (95% CI, 14-36), respectively. Influenza vaccine was not effective against either influenza A or influenza B in infants 6 to 11 months of age. Two doses of influenza vaccine provided better protection against influenza A infection than a single dose did. VE against hospitalization influenza A infection was 76%. Influenza vaccine was effective against influenza A, especially against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, but was much less effective against influenza B.

Intersigmoid hernia is a rare form of internal hernia. Here, we report a case of intersigmoid hernia and provide a brief review of the 62 cases involving the mesosigmoid reported in Japan from 2000 to 2013. In the current case, a 26-year-old man with no previous history of abdominal surgery presented with abdominal pain and vomiting. Abdominal computed tomography revealed an extensively dilated small bowel and a closed loop of small bowel in the mesosigmoid. The patient was diagnosed with an intestinal obstruction due to an incarcerated internal hernia involving the mesosigmoid. There was no blood flow obstruction at the incarcerated bowel. An elective single-incision laparoscopic surgery was performed after decompression of the bowel using ileus tube. As the ileum herniated into the intersigmoid fossa, the patient was diagnosed with an intersigmoid hernia. The incarcerated small bowel was reduced in order to make it viable, and the hernial defect was closed with interrupted sutures. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged on postoperative day five.

The monotypic polynoid genus Arctonoella Buzhinskaja, 1967 comprises solely the type species A. sinagawaensis (Izuka, 1912), which was originally described from Tokyo Bay (central Japan), and subsequently recorded from China and the Russian Far East. The six specimens we collected together with the burrowing filter-feeding spoon worm Urechis unicinctus (Drasche, 1880) from three intertidal-flat sites in the Seto Inland Sea represent a new report for the western Japan, and the second for the country. Our morphological observations reveal that the shape of the cephalic peaks in the frontal prostomial margin is variable even within a local population, although this character has been considered as diagnostic for Arctonoella. This genus is closely related with Hesperonoe Chamberlin, 1919, both morphologically and phylogenetically. Hesperonoe urechis Marin and Antokhina, 2020, collected inside a burrow of U. unicinctus in the Russian Far East, is hereby deemed a junior synonym of A. sinagawaensis. This species morphologically resembles Hesperonoe adventor (Skogsberg in Fisher and MacGinitie, 1928), which inhabits spoon worm (Urechis caupo Fisher and MacGinitie, 1928 and Echiurus echiurus alaskanus Fisher, 1946) burrows along the northeastern Pacific coast of America. Therefore, we conclude that the Arctonoella-Hesperonoe species complex requires to be reviewed to determine the proper generic arrangement. Additionally, we revise the available data on the symbiotic fauna living inside the burrows of U. unicinctus and U. caupo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to design a simple, new and accurate method for identification of the morphologically similar four species (forms A and B of P. shikueii, P. mictodonta, and P. wilsoni) of the Perinereis nuntia species complex by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) patterns of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Restriction digestion analysis in the following two steps generated a specific restriction pattern for each species: (1) by the first digestion of amplified ITS fragments with AluI, we can distinguish the two forms of P. shikueii from P. mictodonta and P. wilsoni; (2) by the subsequent digestion of ITS fragments with Cfr10I, we can distinguish between the forms A and B of P. shikueii, and by that with HinfI, we can distinguish P. mictodonta from P. wilsoni. Our result indicates that this method enable easy and accurate identification of these taxa. We additionally examined the distributions of the two forms of P. shikueii in Japan, Korea and Taiwan using this new method. The form B was distributed in a wide range in western Japan and Korea, whereas the form A was distributed in few limited sites in the inner parts of the Seto Inland Sea and the Ariake Sea in Japan, the western and southern coasts of Korea, and the western coast of Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essence of Newtonian mechanics is entanglement, which was inherited by quantum mechanics. Entanglement is a classical phenomenon based on the conservation of angular momentum and does not relate to quantization. Entanglement and propagation are the two wheels of physics. In this report, we show black hole mergers prove gravity entanglement. If we assume that gravity has a finite velocity, black holes are pulled slightly forward in the direction of travel, and gravity acts to accelerate the black holes; therefore, simulation conditions cannot be set, and we find that the assumption that gravity has a finite velocity is incorrect. This is because we cannot use the condition that the sum of kinetic and potential energies is constant. Gravity entanglement shows that entanglement continues permanently. Furthermore, Newtonian mechanics involves entanglement, ether, and equivalence principle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a common complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) and has the potential to induce shunt infection. Especially in infants and children, these are serious complications. DuraGen is a collagen matrix dural substitute used to reduce the risk of CSF leakage in various neurosurgeries. We report our VPS procedure with DuraGen for preventing postoperative CSF leakage in patients aged <1 year. Methods: We used DuraGen to prevent postoperative CSF leakage in six VPS surgeries. Antibiotic-impregnated shunt catheters and programmable valves with anti-siphon devices were also used in all cases. DuraGen was placed inside and atop the burr hole. All cases had an initial shunt pressure of 5 cmH2O. Fibrin glue was not used. Results: The patients underwent follow-up for a year after VPS surgery. There was no postoperative subcutaneous CSF collection or leakage after all six VPS surgeries. Furthermore, no postoperative shunt infections or DuraGeninduced adverse events were noted. Conclusion: We speculate that DuraGen has a preventive effect on postoperative CSF leakage in VPS cases aged <1 year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In current accelerators, numerous parameters and monitored values are to be adjusted and evaluated, respectively. In addition, fine adjustments are required to achieve the target performance. Therefore, the conventional accelerator-operation method, in which experts manually adjust the parameters, is reaching its limits. We are currently investigating the use of machine learning for accelerator tuning as an alternative to expert-based tuning. In recent years, machine-learning algorithms have progressed significantly in terms of speed, sensitivity, and application range. In addition, various libraries are available from different vendors and are relatively easy to use. Herein, we report the results of electron-beam tuning experiments using Bayesian optimization, a tree-structured Parzen estimator, and a covariance matrix-adaptation evolution strategy. Beam-tuning experiments are performed at the KEK e^{-}/e^{+} injector Linac to maximize the electron-beam charge and reduce the energy-dispersion function. In each case, the performance achieved is comparable to that of a skilled expert.

Accuracy of the adsorption energy on a quasicrystal surface calculated with the density functional theory and cluster models were discussed. Two types of cluster models of various sizes were tested to represent a fivefold surface of the AgInYb quasicrystal. Some cylindrical clusters caused unnaturally rippled potential energy surfaces regardless of the cluster thickness. However, it was confirmed that the ripples are disappeared with a cluster radius of 1.4nm or larger. A similar trend was observed even in the hemispherical clusters, and also confirmed in their root mean square errors. It was concluded that both cluster models with a certain size are expected to give relative adsorption energy within an error of 0.15 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reproductive and developmental characteristics of the nereidid polychaete, Neanthes glandicincta Southern, 1921, commonly recorded in tropical estuaries in the Indo-West Pacific, were examined from Malaysia (the mangrove area of Kuala Ibai, Terengganu) and Thailand (the Lower Songkhla Lagoon) on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula. Epitokous metamorphosis of fully mature males and females and their reproductive swimming behaviour were recorded based on ten Malaysian epitokous specimens, which were collected at night during spring tides in a period of January 2018 to March 2019. Six Thailand epitokes were obtained in February and March 2006 by the laboratory rearing of immature worms. Epitokous metamorphosis is characterised by the enlargement of eyes in both sexes, division of the body into three parts and modification of parapodia with additional lobes in the mid-body of males, and replacement of atokous chaetae in the mid-body by epitokous natatory chaetae, completely in males and incompletely in females. The diameter of coelomic unfertilised eggs in females was 100-140 µm. After fertilisation, each egg formed a jelly layer, inside which embryonic development progressed. Trochophores hatched out of the jelly layer, entering a short free-swimming larval phase followed by demersal life at the early stage of 3-chaetiger nectochaeta one day after fertilisation. Then, the larvae entered benthic life as juveniles, crawling on the bottom, at the late stage of 3-chaetiger nectochaeta two days after fertilisation. The results indicate that N. glandicincta has an annual life cycle, which is usually completed within an estuary with limited larval dispersal ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the survey on the nereidid fauna in small estuaries in creeks in the Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan, two species of Composetia Hartmann-Schröder, 1985, C. kumensis Sato, 2020 (type locality: Kume-jima island, the Ryukyu Islands) and C. tokashikiensis Sato, 2020 (type locality: Tokashiki-jima island, the Ryukyu Islands) have been newly collected from 10 sites on 5 islands, and from 20 sites on 6 islands, respectively. In 26 of a total of 28 sites, one of the two species occurred exclusively, but both of them coexisted in two sites in Oura Bay on Okinawa-jima island. Morphological variations and genetic differentiations among the local populations of the two species were examined. Molecular analyses based on the partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene supported that the morphologically similar two species are certainly distinct species. In C. kumensis, marked genetic differentiation was detected among populations in the following three regions in the middle Ryukyu Islands: (1) northern Kume-jima, (2) southern Kume-jima, and (3) Okinawa-jima and Kikai-jima islands. In contrast, no marked genetic differentiation was detected among any populations of C. tokashikiensis in a wide range of the middle and southern Ryukyu Islands. A single specimen of C. tokashikiensis was also collected from an euryhaline area of the lower reaches of Songkhla Lagoon, southern Thailand. A morphological description of this specimen is provided here as a new record of this species from Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species Composetia kumensis and C. tokashikiensis (Nereididae) are described based on specimens collected from subtropical small estuaries in the Kume-jima and Tokashiki-jima islands in the middle Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan, respectively. Both species have the following diagnostic characteristics of Composetia Hartmann-Schröder, 1985: (1) having conical paragnaths in the maxillary ring of the proboscis and lacking paragnaths or papillae in the oral ring, (2) prostomium with entire anterior margin, (3) the absence of falcigers among notochaetae, and (4) the absence of simple chaetae among upper neurochaetae. These new species share the following diagnostic characters: (1) presence of notoacicula on chaetigers 1 and 2, (2) absence of notopodial prechaetal lobe throughout body, (3) presence of neuropodial postchaetal lobe only in anterior body, (4) neuropodial falcigers all heterogomph, and (5) oral ring greatly enlarged in full-everted proboscis. However, C. tokashikiensis sp. nov. is distinguishable from C. kumensis sp. nov. by the presence of heterogomph spinigers among the upper neurochaetae around chaetiger 5. A list of all of 34 species currently belonging to Composetia and a key to Japanese species of Composetia are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recruitment process of planktic larvae of the nereidid polychaete Hediste diadroma, which has a catadromous life cycle, was examined in an estuary in Kagoshima Bay, Southern Japan. Our laboratory experiments showed that the phototaxis of the planktic larvae changed drastically from positive to negative during the 3-chaetiger nectochaeta, 3.5-4.0 days after fertilization. During this stage, the prostomial antennae, first peristomial cirri, and anal cirri appeared and the ciliary bands used for swimming were reduced; these results suggest that larvae shifted from pelagic to demersal stage at approximately 4.0 days after fertilization. Field sampling took place in the estuary, where reproductive swarming of mature adults was observed in late February to April; planktic larvae of, mainly, 5- to 8-chaetiger stages were collected in evening high tides during the spring tides of April and May 1989, 2013, and 2015. During the same period, 5- or higher chaetiger benthic juveniles were collected at low tide from intertidal flats from a wide area of the estuary where adults inhabited. The morphology of benthic juveniles of 5- and 6-chaetiger stages differed from that of planktic larvae of the same stages in the following characteristics: (1) the long larva-specific spinigers were lost; (2) the second peristomial cirri, originating from the parapodial lobes of chaetiger 1 of the planktic larvae, appeared; and (3) the anal cirri were elongated. Our results indicate that 5- to 8-chaetiger nectochaeta are critical phases for the successful settlement of planktic larvae, which come back into an estuary with rising tides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomic reexamination of Japanese populations of the Perinereis nuntia species group, which constitutes a major polychaete component in intertidal benthic communities, was carried out by analyzing the mitochondrial 16S rDNA and the nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences of 80 specimens, newly collected from 27 sites in Japan, together with 18 museum-preserved specimens collected from southern neighboring countries outside Japan. The Japanese populations of the Perinereis nuntia species group could be divided into four genetically different groups, which corresponded morphologically to four nominal species (P. mictodonta, P. wilsoni, P. shikueii, and P. nuntia), with some exceptions. Perinereis nuntia and P. shikueii were recorded as new to the Japanese fauna, with their distributions restricted to southern Japan. The clade containing P. shikueii was subdivided into two sister clades (forms A and B), indicating that cryptic speciation has occurred within this clade. Our results revealed a remarkable variability in the number of bars in area VI of the proboscis in form B of P. shikueii, which appeared to be caused by breakage of the long bar into short bars during growth from a juvenile to an adult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reproductive season and life span of the common estuarine polychaete Simplisetia erythraeensis (Annelida: Nereididae) was investigated by monthly sampling during the years 2015 and 2016 in two tidal flats at two different regions in southern Japan: Shigetomi in Kagoshima Bay, Kyusyu Island, a warm-temperate region and Ichi on Amami-Oshima Island, Ryukyu Islands, a maritime subtropical region. At both sites, one or two cohorts were distinguished simultaneously using monthly body-width histograms. Recruitment of new cohorts occurred from August in Kagoshima Bay and from July on Amami-Oshima Island. Ovigerous females were observed from March to August in the former area and from April to July in the latter area, with the highest female maturity rate (number of females with oocytes/total number of adults larger than the smallest mature size) in July in both areas. The maximum value of the mean oocyte size of each female increased with increasing female maturity rates. The density of each cohort decreased from May onward because of the death of adults after reproduction, which resulted in the complete disappearance of the cohort in early October. Our results showed that the life span of S. erythraeensis was one year, and the reproductive period occurred in summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an alternative interpretation of the accelerating universe theory using experimental redshift data. At low-z (< 0.1), there is no light curve width slowing. At high-z (>0.1), light curve width slowing appears. There is a sparse period of supernovae density around z=0.1, which appears to be a point where the inclination of light curve width changes. Supernovae fluctuations may show a recycling universe, that is, from supernova remnant to star formation and back to supernova. We also propose Zwicky's tired light mechanism based on gravitational redshift for a blurring-less, and frequency-independent dispersion-less redshift mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2004, Uchida published a partial revision of the family Hesionidae in Japan, where four new genera were proposed and 13 species newly described. However, both the holotype fixations and their depository numbers were omitted in the original article, rendering the names unavailable after Article 16.4 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. In this work, the names are made available by clarifying the depository of the types. We provide diagnoses for the four new genera (Synsyllidia Uchida, Uncopodarke Uchida, Parahesiocaeca Uchida, and Ichthyohesione Uchida) and 13 new species (Synsyllidia alternata Uchida, Oxydromus brevipodius Uchida, O. bunbuku Uchida, O. constrictus Uchida, O. fauveli Uchida, O. longifundus Uchida, O. okudai Uchida, O. parapallidus Uchida, Heteropodarke kiiensis Uchida, Uncopodarke intermedia Uchida, Microphthalmus itoi Uchida, Parahesiocaeca japonica Uchida, and Ichthyohesione gorgasiae Uchida). A key to species of Hesionidae recorded to date from Japan is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gravity is an entanglement, not a propagating force. Gravity entanglement is caused by the conservation of angular momentum among gravitationally connected objects, for example, the Sun and Jupiter. According to Newton’s idea that the gradient of the ether density ρΕ causes the gravitation of action at a distance as g ∝ ∂ρE/∂r, we discuss gravity entanglement, where the ether density ρΕ is proportional to the permittivity ε0 and permeability μ0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ubiquitin-like 3 (UBL3) is a well-conserved ubiquitin-like protein (UBL) in eukaryotes and regulates the ubiquitin cascade, but the significant roles of UBL3 in cellular processes remained unknown. Recently, UBL3 was elucidated to be a post-translational modification factor that promotes protein sorting to small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). Proteins sorted into sEVs have been studied as etiologies of sEV-related diseases. Also, there have been attempts to construct drug delivery systems (DDSs) by loading proteins into sEVs. In this review, we introduce the new concept that UBL3 has a critical role in the protein-sorting system and compare structure conservation between UBL3 and other UBLs from an evolutionary perspective. We conclude with future perspectives for the utility of UBL3 in sEV-related diseases and DDS. Key words: UBL3, small extracellular vesicles, protein sorting, ubiquitin-like protein, post-translational modification

The difference between de Broglie waves and the Schrodinger equation is the rest mass. The dispersion relation of de Broglie waves includes the rest mass, but the Schrodinger equation does not. Synchrotron radiation is when de Broglie waves shake off virtual photons and emit real photons. It also shows that synchrotron radiation is not compatible with relativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a comment on an article by Thomas E. Phipps, Jr., that has appeared in this journal [Phys. Essays 27, 591 (2014)]. He reconfirmed that Maxwell equations are Galilean invariant. The global positioning system (GPS) uses the collective time (GPS clock). Phipps refuted Lorentz length contraction, and noted that covariance has been consistently banished in favor of invariance; furthermore, he concluded that spacetime symmetry is invalidated. Phipps did not accept the existence of an ether. On this point, we do not agree with him and assume the ether as a preferred reference frame. We recommend that Phipps's invariant physics should be studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Currently, no standardized method for measuring intrahepatic fat density via conventional computed tomography (CT) exists. OBJECTIVE: We aim to quantify intrahepatic fat density via material decomposition analysis using rapid kilovolt peak-switching dual-energy (RSDE) CT. METHODS: Homogenized porcine liver and fat (lard) were mixed in various ratios to produce phantoms for fat density verification. The actual fat density was measured on the basis of the phantom volume and weight, and these measurements were used as reference densities. The fat and liver mass attenuation coefficients, which were used as the material basis pairs, were employed in the material decomposition analysis. Then, the measured fat density of each phantom was compared with the reference densities. RESULTS: For fat content differences exceeding 2%, the measured fat density for the phantoms became statistically significant (p < 0.01). The correlation between the reference densities and RSDE-measured fat densities was reasonably high (R > 0.9997); this indicates the validity of this analysis method. CONCLUSIONS: Intrahepatic fat density can be measured using the mass attenuation coefficients of fat and liver in a material decomposition analysis. Given the knowledge of the accuracy and the limitations found in this study, our method can quantitatively evaluate fat density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entanglement that is represented by the conservation law is instantaneous and permanent. Entanglement is not uniquely quantum mechanical, although it looks conspicuous in quantum mechanics. Newtonian mechanics are in the lines of entanglement. Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR)- type sequential experiments can be performed using an entangled photon beam and two pairs of linear polarization analyzers setting at. cross-Nicol condition (i.e., setting at orthogonal to each other). In this experiment, we predict that the "continuity of quantum entanglement" under a pure Hamiltonian evolution is detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Earth-centered locally inertial coordinate system, the Principle of Relativity is not satisfied when using the experimental data of the global positioning system (GPS). The clocks in the GPS satellites tick off time more slowly by the velocity vG=4 km/s after elimination of the gravitational effects. Between two local gravity fields, the Principle of Relativity is satisfied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate a method to reduce the thermal conductivity of fully dense (above the rigidity percolation threshold) amorphous thin films below the minimum limit by systematically changing the coordination number through hydrogenation. Studying a-SiO:H, a-SiC:H, and a-Si:H thin films, we measure the thermal properties using time-domain thermoreflectance to show that thermal conductivity can be reduced below the amorphous limit by a factor of up to two. By experimentally investigating the thermophysical parameters that determine thermal conductivity, we show that sound speed, atomic density, and heat capacity cannot explain the measured reduction in thermal conductivity, revealing that the coordination number can significantly alter the scattering length scale of heat carriers. Reformulating the minimum limit to consider the propensity for energy to transfer through the non-hydrogen network of atoms, we observe greatly improved agreement with experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New bis(ene-1,2-dithiolato)-oxido-alcoholato molybdenum(VI) and -oxido-thiolato molybdenum(VI) anionic complexes, denoted as [MoVIO(ER)L2]- (E = O, S; L = dimethoxycarboxylate-1,2-ethylenedithiolate), were obtained from the reaction of the corresponding dioxido-molybdenum(VI) precursor complex with either an alcohol or a thiol in the presence of an organic acid (e.g., 10-camphorsulfonic acid) at low temperature. The [MoVIO(ER)L2]- complexes were isolated and characterized, and the structure of [MoVIO(OEt)L2]- was determined by X-ray crystallography. The Mo(VI) center in [MoVIO(OEt)L2]- exhibits a distorted octahedral geometry with the two ene-1,2-dithiolate ligands being symmetry inequivalent. The computed structure of [MoVIO(SR)L2]- is essentially identical to that of [MoVIO(OR)L2]-. The electronic structures of the resulting molybdenum(VI) complexes were evaluated using electronic absorption spectroscopy and bonding calculations. The nature of the distorted Oh geometry in these [MoVIO(EEt)L2]- complexes results in a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital wave function that possesses strong π* interactions between the Mo(dxy) orbital and the cis S(pz) orbital localized on one sulfur donor from a single ene-1,2-dithiolate ligand. The presence of a covalent Mo-Sdithiolene bonding interaction in these monooxido Mo(VI) compounds contributes to their low-energy ligand-to-metal charge transfer transitions. A second important d-p π bonding interaction derives from the ∼180° Ooxo-Mo-E-C dihedral angle involving the alcoholate and thiolate donors, and this contributes to ancillary ligand contributions to the electronic structure of these species. The formation of [MoVIO(OEt)L2]- and [MoVIO(SEt)L2]- from the dioxidomolybdenum(VI) precursor may be regarded as a model for the active-site formation process that occurs in the dimethyl sulfoxide reductase family of pyranopterin molybdenum enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The speed of light is observed differently depending on the observer's velocity. Therefore, the Lorentz contraction cannot be derived; the length contraction is unnecessary in physics. Time dilation has been experimentally confirmed. Using Einstein and Feynman light clock, we show that the Lorentz time dilation is derived in Fresnel's ether. The Galilean transformation with Lorentz time dilation is introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study demonstrated that luminal membrane mesothelin expression is a reliable prognostic factor in gastric cancer. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) often exhibit a spectrum of dysplasia, ranging between adenoma and carcinoma. Therefore, an immunohistochemical analysis of mesothelin expression in IPMN was performed in the present study, focusing on the localization of mesothelin. IPMNs were classified into two groups, IPMNs associated with invasive carcinoma and low-high (L-H) grade dysplasias. The tumors were classified as mesothelin-positive or -negative and in the mesothelin-positive cases, the localization of mesothelin was evaluated as luminal membrane- or cytoplasmic-positive. Among the 37 IPMNs, mesothelin expression was observed in 21 samples (56.8%), including 46.2% (12 out of 26) of the L-H dysplasia and 81.8% (9 out of 11) of the invasive carcinoma samples (P=0.071). Luminal membrane localization was observed in 10 samples (27%), including 15.4% (4/26) of the L-H dysplasia samples and 54.5% (6 out of 11) of the invasive carcinoma samples (P=0.022). Six patients experienced post-operative recurrence, with five of the recurrent tumors exhibiting mesothelin expression and all six exhibiting luminal membrane localization. It was concluded that immunohistochemical examinations for mesothelin expression and localization are clinically useful for prognostic assessments and decision making regarding further treatment subsequent to surgical procedures in patients with IPMN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equivalence of inertial and gravitational masses is discussed. The resistance (i.e., the impedance) from accelerated motion in the ether is considered to be inertia. Mass is an eddy-making resistance generated by the accelerated motion of a massive particle in the ether, in which the eddy is de Broglie wave, that is, adhered photon. The resistance in the ether is isotropic; thus, the inertial mass is equivalent to the gravitational mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size of dark spots on the body surface was evaluated quantitatively as a diagnostic character to distinguish two species of varunid crabs of similar morphology: Hemigrapsus penicillatus and H. takanoi, common estuarine species in eastern Asia. From 37 Japanese localities, 171 H. penicillatus (106 males, 65 females) and 185 H. takanoi (113 males, 72 females) were collected and identified to species level by a molecular method. Spot size (the longest diameter of the largest dark spot) on the ventral face of the cephalothorax and on the outer faces of chelae were measured, with carapace width as an index of body size. Although the spot sizes at both loci increased with increases in carapace width, the spot sizes were significantly larger in H. penicillatus than H. takanoi. In both sexes, the ranges of variation in spot size partially overlapped between the species but the extent of such interspecific overlap was smaller for spot sizes on the ventral face of the cephalothorax in both sexes. Based on the spot size on the ventral face of the cephalothorax and carapace width, 92% and 82% of males and females were identified correctly into species via quadratic discriminant analyses. The spot size measured from the ventral face of the cephalothorax was therefore judged to be a useful diagnostic character to distinguish H. penicillatus and H. takanoi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is already known that the infrared spectroscopy is one of the most useful method for the identification of cultural properties, especially for organic materials. However usual analytical procedure, such as Transmission (TR) or Attenuated Total Reflection measurement (ATR), requires preliminary treatment of sampling, and sometimes give damages to valuable samples by mixing or pressing. Contrary to this, Photoacaustic Spectroscopy (PAS) uses totally non-destructive procedures. To clarify the advantage of PAS compared with other procedures, some kinds of natural fibers (processed silk, hemp and ramie) were investigated in this study using PAS, TR or ATR. As a results, we confirmed that PA spectra of these samples were almost identical with that of other procedures (TR or ATR), and PAS could measure using very small amount of samples. We are further continuing the PAS study using various kind of organic cultural properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ether, which was considered undetectable in 1905, can be detected in the global positioning system (GPS) experiments of the 1980s. If the existence of ether is not assumed, we cannot explain the experimental data of the GPS. In this paper, we use the Lagrangian description of the wave equation, which makes wave equation Galilean invariant. Thereafter, the stellar aberration experiment with a water-filled telescope by Airy can be explained by Stokes' ether drag-ging hypothesis. The GPS experimental results indicate that the ether hypothesis is more suitable than both the principle of relativity and the principle of invariant light speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise identification of bast fibers such as ramie and hemp found at several archaeological sites is a very difficult problem because organic materials are usually heavily degraded during the long term preservation at underground or mound. Both excavated ramie and hemp usually show very similar degraded FT-IR spectra (glober light source). The authors are continuing to study the identification of several kinds of archaeological silk and vast fibers using BL43IR beam line (FT-IR micro-spectroscopy) at SPring-8. It has already known that excavated ramie and hemp show the possibility of distinguish ramie from hemp under polarized light source. In this report, various modern ramie fibers are analyzed by detailed IR polarization measurement. As a result of the measurement, the absorption band of 1160 cm-1 disappeared at 45° (angle of polarizer) irrespective of sample history. In the next measurement, the disappearance angle of specific peak of modern hemp (several origins) will be confirmed. The determination of specific disappearance of certain peak for ramie or hemp will be effective for the identification of each fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The almost degraded silk fibers show deformed infrared spectra compared with that of reference silk fibers. In this report, the polarized micro infrared spectroscopy was used to clarify the reason for the deformation of spectrum. Since the polarized light is sensitive to the change in the secondary structure of fibroin molecules, the change in the crystallinity and the peak intensity ratio of spectrum of degraded silk fibers were evaluated. At first, the axis of single silk fiber was set parallel to the polarized light of 90°, and the spectra was measured successively by changing the angle of diamond cell until the final position of 0°, namely perpendicular to the axis of single silk fiber. As a result of the experiments, it was found that the crystallinity increases with progress in degradation. Furthermore, the crystallinity is higher in the direction for 90° compared with that for 0°. Furthermore, the peak intensity ratio, Amide I / Amide II, was adopted as the measure of degradation. The measured value was generally higher compared with that of reference silk fibers. The correlation between the crystallinity and Amide I / Amide II ratio was also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excavated organic materials such as textile fabrics are usually heavily degraded and hence their scientific identification is rather difficult. The authors are continuing the analysis of degraded natural textile fibers using FT-IR microscopy to clarify their general characteristics at molecular level. In this report, the infrared spectra of silk fibers found at the Fujinoki tumulus were analyzed in detail. The most remarkable change of spectral patterns in degraded silk fibers compared with those of modern silk fibers was the broad superposed appearance of amide I and II absorption peaks. As a result of the investigation of the secondary structure of fibroin molecules, the main reason for the spectral deformation was found to be the increase in crystallinity associated with degradations. In this research, the FT-IR microscope at JASRI was used. It requires only very minute samples due to the bright IR light source using synchrotron radiation. This makes it convenient for the study of cultural properties. The identification of silk fibers in degraded state undoubtedly contributes to the understanding of historical features of the remains at a particular tumulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silk fibroin/nylon 66 blended nanofiber webs were made by the electrospinning process and investigate the effect of blend ratio on the structure and surface properties of electrospun nanofiber assemblies. Tg of silk fibroin and nylon 66 blends in DSC curves shifted to that of nylon when the nylon content increased. With the increase of silk blend ratio, the decrease of the fiber diameter was observed. The mean coefficient of friction (MIU) was measured by KES surface tester. The obvious effect of fiber diameter on MIU was not found in the fiber diameter range of 50 to 270nm. Maximum values of MIU were observed for the silk/nylon blend ratio of 50/50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]