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Background Humeral stem loosening has gained attention as it has been identified as a cause of revision surgery in reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). In RSA, humeral stem revision is very difficult if there is humeral bone loss because of stress shielding. Some studies of humeral bone resorption after anatomic shoulder arthroplasty have been published, but there are few detailed reports of humeral bone resorption after RSA. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of humeral bone resorption after RSA procedures and to evaluate the risk factors for bone resorption. Methods This study included 48 shoulders that underwent RSA with an uncemented humeral stem from July 2014 to May 2017 and were followed up for more than 1 year. The prevalence of humeral bone resorption and risk factors were investigated. Logistic, multiple logistic, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the data. Results Grade 0 bone resorption, the most advanced grade, occurred in 8 shoulders (16.7%); grade 1, in 0 (0%); grade 2, in 17 (35.4%); grade 3, in 14 (29.2%); and grade 4, in 9 (18.8%). A high occurrence of bone absorption was observed in zones 1, 2, and 7. Grade 4 bone resorption did not occur in zones 3, 5, and 6. Female sex and an onlay-type stem were significant independent risk factors for grade 4 bone resorption. Conclusions Bone resorption was frequently observed in the greater tuberosity, lateral diaphysis, and calcar region. Significant risk factors included female sex and an onlay-type stem.

A series of dynamic helical homo- and copolymers of chiral and/or achiral biphenylylacetylenes (PBPAs) bearing achiral methoxymethoxy or acetyloxy groups at the 2,2′-positions along with a chiral o...

Background: Distal radius fracture surgery is performed under general (GA) or regional anesthesia with brachial plexus block (NB). Whether anesthesia type affects patient outcomes is unclear. This study retrospectively compared patient satisfaction between GA and NB after surgery. Methods: This was a historical cohort study of 80 (34 GA and 46 NB) patients who underwent volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures. Propensity score analysis was used to generate a set of matched cases (NB) and controls (GA), yielding 14 matched patient-pairs. The simplified patient satisfaction scale was compared for primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes were anesthesia and surgery duration, hospital stay length, adverse events, postoperative analgesic requirement, and wrist range of motion (ROM) 2 weeks and 3 months postoperatively. Results: After propensity score matching, patients in almost all cases in both groups were “Satisfied” (effect size: 0.1, p = 0.572), indicating little significant difference. Significant differences in adverse events and postoperative analgesic use observed before matching disappeared after matching. Anesthesia duration and hospital stay length were significantly shorter in the NB group (effect size: -1.27 and -0.77, p = 0.00074 and p = 0.0388, respectively), as was surgery duration (effect size: -0.84, p = 0.0122) after matching. Similar to before matching, wrist ROM significantly improved in the NB group (effect size: 1.11, p = 0.0279) in the early postoperative period, but the difference disappeared at 3 months postoperatively. Conclusions: Patient satisfaction between distal radius fracture surgery under GA and NB was similar. Nerve block could help shorten hospital stay length and surgery duration and improve postoperative functional recovery.

Mandibular micrognathia is one of the characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of bimaxillary surgery without maxillary advancement on the upper airway using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results of comparing pre- and post-operative finite element model. Seven female patients with jaw deformity, who underwent two-jaw surgery (Le Fort1 osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy; BSSRO) were enrolled. Maxillary was moved for correcting occlusal plane and mandibular was moved to advancement. Pharyngeal airway space and breathing during sleep were evaluated, comparing the periods of 2 days before and 6 months after the operation. The cross-sectional area of the level of the hard palate (HP) and the level of the tip of the uvula (TU), and airway volume of total, HP-TU, and TP- the level of the base of the epiglottis (BE) were increased. AI and AHI in 2 days before and 6 months after were decreased. As the result of nasal ventilation condition, velocity of HP and TU in 2 days before and 6 months after were decreased. We think that it was revealed that movement of the maxilla without advancement did not affect to the morphology and function of airway.

The objective of this paper is to evaluate effects of stratified porous formation on solute dispersion using two-dimensional laboratory tracer tests. An image analysis technique was used to analyze the solute dispersion processes and quantify the dispersivity and behaviors of forward and backward tails of solute plumes. Longitudinal dispersivity estimates for the stratified porous media increased with travel distance and are in reasonable agreement with previous work. Moreover, in all of the stratified cases the transverse dispersivity exhibited a similar trend which decayed with travel distance. The summary of dispersivities estimated from this study and previous studies suggests that if both degree of heterogeneity and scale for stratified and randomly heterogeneous porous media are similar, the longitudinal dispersivity is larger in stratified media than in randomly heterogeneous media. In order to quantify behaviors of forward and backward tails, we defined the travel distances x05 and x95 corresponding to the 5th and 95th percentiles, respectively, of the cumulative concentrations in the longitudinal direction, and found that the distance between x05 and x95 spread out linearly in the stratified cases.

Background The acromioclavicular (AC) and coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments are important stabilizers of the AC joint. We hypothesized that AC and trapezoid ligament injuries induce AC joint instability and that the clavicle can override the acromion on cross-body adduction view even in the absence of conoid ligament injury. Accordingly, we investigated how sectioning the AC and CC ligaments contribute to AC joint instability in the cross-body adduction position. Methods Six fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were used in this study, comprising five male and one female specimen, with a mean age of 68.7 (range, 51–87) years. The left side of the trunk and upper limb, and the cervical and thoracic vertebrae and sternum were firmly fixed with an external fixator. The displacement of the distal end of the clavicle relative to the acromion was measured using an electromagnetic tracking device. We simulated AC joint dislocation by the sequential resection of the AC ligament, AC joint capsule, and CC ligaments in the following order of stages. Stage 0: Intact AC and CC ligaments and acromioclavicular joint capsule; stage 1: Completely sectioned AC ligament, capsule and joint disc; stage 2: Sectioned trapezoid ligament; and stage 3: Sectioned conoid ligament. The superior clavicle displacement related to the acromion was measured in the horizontal adduction position, and clavicle overriding on the acromion was assessed radiologically at each stage. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance and post-hoc tests. Results Superior displacement was 0.3 mm at stage 1, 6.5 mm at stage 2, and 10.7 mm at stage 3. On the cross-body adduction view, there was no distal clavicle overriding at stages 0 and 1, and distal clavicle overriding was observed in five cases (5/6: 83%) at stage 2 and in six cases (6/6: 100%) at stage 3. Conclusion We found that AC and trapezoid ligament sectioning induced AC joint instability and that the clavicle could override the acromion on cross-body adduction view regardless of conoid ligament sectioning. The traumatic sections of the AC and trapezoid ligament may lead to high grade AC joint instability, and the distal clavicle may subsequently override the acromion.

Background Recently, the gut microbiota has been shown to play an important role in the response and resistance to chemotherapy. Although there is much knowledge about chemotherapy-induced changes in the gut microbiota, chemotherapy-associated changes in the oral microbiota remain unclear. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the changes in oral microbiota associated with the initiation of chemotherapy in patients with malignant hematopoietic tumors. Methods Oral samples were collected before and 8–20 days after the start of chemotherapy from 50 patients with malignant hematopoietic tumors who were starting chemotherapy for the first time. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of bacterial DNA extracted from oral samples was performed to compare the oral microbiota before and after the initiation of chemotherapy. Results The richness or evenness of diversity in the ‘after start of chemotherapy’ group decreased significantly, compared with the ‘before start of chemotherapy’ group (alpha-diversity; observed operational taxonomic units (OTUs) index, p p p = 0.001; and weighted UniFrac distances, p = 0.003). Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis demonstrated an increased abundance of species of certain genera, such as Staphylococcus, and decreased abundance of species of some genera, such as Streptococcus and Neisseria, in the ‘after-chemotherapy’ group, compared with those in the ‘before-chemotherapy’ group. The amounts and trends of change in the oral microbiota before and after the start of chemotherapy differed among the subjects. Of the 25 bacterial genera whose prevalence changed significantly before and after the start of chemotherapy, the proportion of oral commensals such as Streptococcus and Neisseria decreased in many subjects. In contrast, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas were detected only in a few subjects, but their relative abundance increased significantly after the start of chemotherapy. Conclusions The oral microbiota of patients with hematopoietic tumors changed markedly after the initiation of chemotherapy. Our findings are expected to aid the elucidation of the pathogenesis of oral mucositis, which is an adverse event of chemotherapy, and the development of treatment methods for this condition.

Despite ozone precursor emission reduction efforts in most polluted areas worldwide, photochemical ozone remains among the most concerning air pollutants in some regions, possibly because of spatial heterogeneity of ozone sensitivity to individual precursors. However, regional differences in ozone sensitivity to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a major precursor, have not been quantitatively shown. Therefore, this study estimated the spatial variations in the efficacy of VOC emission reductions to mitigate photochemical ozone concentrations and population exposure (as related to ozone-related health problems) over Japan, and to inform policy makers pursuing effective ozone reduction strategies in polluted regions. Using air quality simulations, we found that the abovementioned efficacy differed substantially, up to 10-fold, among 20 × 20-km areas in which VOCs had been reduced. Using the above-calculated spatial distribution of the efficacy and data on emission source locations of several industries, upstream industries (e.g., petroleum and coal products) showed greater reduction efficacies than downstream industries (e.g., plastic products). By comparing the calculated ozone sensitivity to VOCs with the ozone–NOx–VOC sensitivity derived from space-based observations of the HCHO/NO2 column ratio from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument, the general spatial trends in ozone sensitivity to VOC emission reductions were verified qualitatively. Thus, regional countermeasures should be considered rather than the existing uniform nationwide measures in Japan. Moreover, to prioritize VOC emission reductions by industry, considering the reactivity or ozone formation potential of each emitted VOC exclusively, as is currently done, is insufficient, the emission locations of each industry should also be considered.

We have encountered a rare case in which the subject underwent maxillary sinus floor elevation at another hospital, and a screw to fix the grafted bone substitute was forced into the maxillary sinus and intruded into the bone. Various different foreign bodies have been reported as being forced into the maxillary sinus due to dental treatment, and these foreign bodies are often retained on the maxillary sinus mucous membrane. However, no reports have described a screw forced in and intruded into the peculiar position in the bone, as seen in the present case, which we report here with additional discussion.

The gaze of another modulates and shifts an observer's spatial attention toward this gaze direction. This phenomenon is termed joint attention. Although previous studies found joint attention was induced during a spatial working memory task, it remains an open question whether spatial working memory interferes with joint attention. To address this question, we conducted a dual task paradigm consisting of gaze cuing and spatial working memory tasks. The gaze cuing task requires that participants respond to the location of an abrupt onset of a target while ignoring the gaze of a facial image located at the center of the display. In the spatial working memory task, participants memorized two or three locations of small dots and judged whether these locations changed in the probe screen. In the dual task condition, while participants were maintaining spatial information of the spatial working memory task, they performed the gaze cuing task. In Experiment 1, maintaining spatial information did not impair the magnitude of joint attention. In Experiment 2, we increased load of spatial working memory task, and still observed results similar to Experiment 1. In Experiment 3, we replicated the findings in Experiment 1 when an identification task was conducted. In addition, we measured electrooculographic signals to investigate eye movements of participants during the task. The study provides that joint attention is intact even if spatial working memory is occupied.

Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) is consumed by more than half of the world’s population. Despite its global importance, the process of early rice domestication remains unclear. During domestication, wild rice (O. rufipogon Griff.) acquired non-seed-shattering behaviour, allowing humans to increase grain yield. Previous studies argued that the sh4 mutation triggered a reduction in seed shattering during rice domestication; but our experiments using wild introgression lines of O. rufipogon show that the domesticated sh4 allele alone is insufficient for shattering loss. Here, we identified the interaction between three key mutations associated with the interruption of abscission layer formation and panicle architecture that were causal in early rice domestication. An interruption of abscission layer formation requires both sh4 and qSH3 mutations, presenting an apparent barrier to the selection of shattering loss. We identified a causal single-nucleotide polymorphism at qSH3 within the seed-shattering gene OsSh1, which is conserved in indica and japonica subspecies but absent in the circum-aus group of rice. Through harvest experiments, we demonstrated that seed shattering alone did not significantly impact yield; rather yield increases were observed with closed panicle formation controlled by SPR3, which is further augmented by the integration of sh4 and qSH3 alleles. Complementary manipulation of seed shattering and panicle shape result in a mechanically stable panicle structure. We propose a stepwise route for the earliest phase of rice domestication, wherein selection of visible SPR3-controlled closed panicle morphology was instrumental in the sequential recruitment of sh4 and qSH3, which led to the loss of shattering.Significance StatementRice is one of the most important crops worldwide. Loss of seed shattering in domesticated rice, previously attributed to single mutations such as those in sh4, is considered the principal genetic change which resulted in yield increases. However, we show that sh4 alone is insufficient and other genes, such as qSH3, are required to cause abscission layer disruption. The evolution of non-seed-shattering therefore required multiple mutations. Furthermore, shattering loss in genetic backgrounds of wild rice does not correspondingly increase yields. We have identified an interaction in which a second trait, closed panicle formation controlled by SPR3, that both increases the yield and facilitates recruitment of sh4 and qSH3, which synergistically augment yield, leading to a stepwise model for rice domestication.

BackgroundPachinko and pachislot are popular types of gambling activities in Japan. Prior studies in Japan have reported a concerning prevalence of problem gambling among adult players. While these studies have identified various gambling-related harms, Japanese research on harm-minimization strategies is scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of low-investment pachinko and pachislot as a harm-reduction strategy. MethodsWe considered gamblers who played games that cost the typical amount of money to be “normal-pachi players.” Those who played low-investment games were categorized as “half-pachi players” and “quarter-pachi players,” reflecting those who played games at half or one quarter the cost of a typical machine, respectively. To assess the harm-reduction effect, a one-way ANCOVA was conducted to compare the impact of the groups (normal-pachi players [n= 101], half-pachi players [n= 104], and quarter-pachi players [n= 100]) on dependent variables, namely the number of days players had gambled during the prior month; total time and amount of money spent on gambling; debts caused by gambling; gambling severity; cognitive distortion; depressive symptoms; and problems in work, family, and social life. ResultsWe demonstrated that the amount of money spent by quarter-pachi players on gambling during the past month was lower than that of normal-pachi players. However, we did not find significant differences with respect to any other gambling-related harms among normal-, half-, and quarter-pachi players. ConclusionLow-investment pachinko and pachislot can reduce the amount of money spent on gambling. It can thus partly act as a harm-minimization strategy. Moreover, the results of the present study indicate that the problems at work affect various outcomes for gamblers. Given that 90% of the participants in this study were employed, the results of this study may have important implications for employed gamblers.

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a promising technology capable of producing individual characteristics with a high degree of surface roughness for implants. These surfaces can be modified so as to increase their osseointegration, bone generation and biocompatibility, features which are critical to their clinical success. In this study, we evaluated the effects on preosteoblast proliferation and differentiation of titanium metal (Ti) with a high degree of roughness (Ra = 5.4266 ± 1.282 µm) prepared by SLM (SLM-Ti) that was also subjected to surface bioactive treatment by mixed acid and heat (MAH). The results showed that the MAH treatment further increased the surface roughness, wettability and apatite formation capacity of SLM-Ti, features which are useful for cell attachment and bone bonding. Quantitative measurement of osteogenic-related gene expression by RT-PCR indicated that the MC3T3-E1 cells on the SLM-Ti MAH surface presented a stronger tendency towards osteogenic differentiation at the genetic level through significantly increased expression of Alp, Ocn, Runx2 and Opn. We conclude that bio-activated SLM-Ti enhanced preosteoblast differentiation. These findings suggest that the mixed acid and heat treatment on SLM-Ti is promising method for preparing the next generation of orthopedic and dental implants because of its apatite formation and cell differentiation capability.

In this paper, we propose a radio propagation prediction method using machine learning and building occupancy estimation. There have been learning-based researches using aerial photographs and building occupancy images as spatial information. However, the availability of building occupancy images is often limited to urban areas. We assume the situation that only the aerial photographs are available and aim to improve radio propagation prediction accuracy by estimating building occupancy images from the given aerial photographs.

Biodegradable resin concrete is made of biodegradable resin and aggregate. The experiments on this new concrete were started in 2012, and six papers were published. The strength degradation of biodegradable resin concrete was evaluated using the results of the three-point bending and compression tests, and the surface degradation was evaluated using the binarized photo data. The results showed that the decomposition of the biodegradable resin by microorganisms and the bond strength reduction between the biodegradable resin and aggregate by hydrolysis caused the degradation mechanism. Moreover, to estimate the fatigue life and clarify the strength retention period of biodegradable resin concrete, the statistical deterioration prediction formulas were introduced using the Weibull distribution. This provided the appropriate estimates associated with the strength retention period of biodegradable resin concrete. This paper summarizes the experimental results on biodegradable resin concrete and describes future tasks.

The additive manufacturing (AM) technique has attracted attention as one of the fully customizable medical material technologies. In addition, the development of new surface treatments has been investigated to improve the osteogenic ability of the AM titanium (Ti) plate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the osteogenic activity of the AM Ti with mixed-acid and heat (MAH) treatment. Fully customized AM Ti plates were created with a curvature suitable for rat calvarial bone, and they were examined in a group implanted with the MAH-treated Ti in comparison with the untreated (UN) group. The AM Ti plates were fixed to the surface of rat calvarial bone, followed by extraction of the calvarial bone 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after implantation. The bonding between the bone and Ti was evaluated mechanically. In addition, AM Ti plates removed from the bone were examined histologically by electron microscopy and Villanueva&ndash, Goldner stain. The mechanical evaluation showed significantly stronger bone-bonding in the MAH group than in the UN group. In addition, active bone formation was seen histologically in the MAH group. Therefore, these findings indicate that MAH resulted in rapid and strong bonding between cortical bone and Ti.

Objectives and Design. Epiphyseal separation of the coracoid process (CP) rarely occurs in adolescents. In this retrospective case series, we reviewed the data of nine patients treated at our center and those of 28 patients reported in the literature. This injury can be classified into three types according to the injured area: Type I, base including the area above the glenoid; Type II, center including the coracoclavicular ligament (CCL); and Type III, tip with the short head of the biceps and coracobrachialis, as well as the pectoralis minor. Patients/Participants. A total of 37 patients were included in the analysis. Data on sex, age, cause and mechanism of injury, separation type, concomitant injury around the shoulder girdle, treatment, and functional outcomes were obtained. Main Outcome Measurements and Results. Type I is the most common type. The cause of injury and associated injury around the shoulder girdle were significantly different between Type I, II, and III fractures. The associated acromioclavicular (AC) dislocation and treatment were significantly different between Type I and III fractures. Our new classification system reflects the clinical features, imaging findings, and surgical management of epiphyseal separation of the CP. Type I and II fractures are mostly associated with AC dislocation and have an associated injury around the shoulder girdle. Type III fractures are typically caused by forceful resisted flexion of the arm and elbow. Although the latter are best managed surgically, whether conservative or surgical management is optimal for Type I and II fractures remains controversial. Conclusions. We noted some differences in the clinical characteristics depending on the location of injury; therefore, we aimed to examine these differences to develop a new system for classifying epiphyseal separation of the CP. This would increase the clinicians’ awareness regarding this injury and lead to the development of an appropriate treatment.

This study aimed to examine late radiological changes after proton beam therapy (PBT) for early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to clarify correlations between mass-like radiological changes and patient characteristics. CT scans of patients who underwent passive scattering PBT for T1-2N0M0 NSCLC were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were considered eligible if follow-up CT was performed for at least 2 years, with no definite evidence of local recurrence. The following five periods were defined: (i) 6–12 months, (ii) 12–24 months, (iii) 24–36 months, (iv) 36–48 months and (v) 48–60 months after PBT. Late (≥6 months) radiological changes were scored by consensus of three radiation oncologists according to classifications set forth by Koenig (Radiation injury of the lung after three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2002;178:1383–8.). CT scans of 113 patients (median follow-up, 36 months; range, 24–137 months) were evaluated. Late radiological changes during Periods (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) included modified conventional pattern (80%, 79%, 72%, 58% and 56%, respectively), mass-like changes (8%, 9%, 14%, 22% and 18%, respectively), scar-like changes (4%, 9%, 11%, 17% and 24%, respectively) and no increased density (8%, 3%, 3%, 2% and 2%, respectively). Mass-like changes were observed in 23 patients (20%). Among patients who developed mass-like changes, the median interval between the initiation of PBT and the onset of mass-like changes was 19 months (range, 6–62 months). In multivariate analysis, a peripheral location was found to be a significant factor (P = 0.035; odds ratio: 4.44; 95% confidence interval: 1.12–21.28). In conclusion, mass-like changes were observed in 20% of patients who underwent PBT. Patients with peripheral tumors showed a higher incidence of mass-like changes.

Purpose We carried out guided bone regeneration of cranial bone defects in rats using the bovine bone substitute Bio-Oss and a collagen membrane and performed histological observations of the bone repair process. Materials and methods Bone defects were created in the cranial bones of 30 15-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats. We made 3 groups. A is unfilled, B is Bio-Oss, and C is Bio-Oss plus a collagen membrane. At 4 or 8 weeks postoperatively, tissue samples were taken. The Kawamoto technique was used for histological evaluation. Results There was no new bone formation in group A. In groups B and C, new bone formation was evident around the Bio-Oss. In group C, new bone formation was evident in the centers of the bone defects, detached from the cut edge of the cranial bone. Conclusion Our results suggested that the Bio-Oss acts as a scaffold for bone repair, and the use of a collagen membrane may anchor the Bio-Oss closely to the cranial bone and assist the bone repair response.

Study DesignCase–control study.PurposeThe aim of the present study was to identify physical findings useful for differentiating between cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA) and rotator cuff tears to prevent the misdiagnosis of CSA as a rotator cuff tear.Overview of LiteratureCSA and rotator cuff tears are often confused among patients presenting with difficulty in shoulder elevation.MethodsTwenty-five patients with CSA and 27 with rotator cuff tears were enrolled. We included five physical findings specific to CSA that were observed in both CSA and rotator cuff tear patients. The findings were as follows: (1) weakness of the deltoid muscle, (2) weakness of the biceps muscle, (3) atrophy of the deltoid muscle, (4) atrophy of the biceps muscle, and (5) swallow-tail sign (assessment of the posterior fibers of the deltoid).ResultsAmong 25 CSA patients, 10 (40.0%) were misdiagnosed with a rotator cuff tear on initial diagnosis. The sensitivity and specificity of each physical finding were as follows: (1) deltoid weakness (sensitivity, 92.0%; specificity, 55.6%), (2) biceps weakness (sensitivity, 80.0%; specificity, 100%), (3) deltoid atrophy (sensitivity, 96.0%; specificity, 77.8%), (4) biceps atrophy (sensitivity, 88.8%; specificity, 92.6%), and (5) swallow-tail sign (sensitivity, 56.0%; specificity, 74.1%). There were statistically significant differences in each physical finding.ConclusionsCSA is likely to be misdiagnosed as a rotator cuff tear; however, weakness and atrophy of the biceps are useful findings for differentiating between CSA and rotator cuff tears to prevent misdiagnosis.

The formation of tropospheric ozone is influenced by emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOX), and different regimes of sensitivity to the ozone formation have been identified depending on the concentrations of both groups of compounds. We studied the ozone formation sensitivity in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) using the formaldehyde to nitrogen dioxide ratio (FNR) as a proxy for the VOCs and NOX concentrations, with data retrieved from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). To determine the different sensitivity regimes, we compared two previously established threshold values of FNR, which differ from each other in the range of ratios on which the regime transition occurs. The evaluation from 2006 to 2016 showed that the FNR gradually changed, causing variations in the ozone formation sensitivity. While in 2006, more regions were under NOX-limited/transitional regimes, in 2016, the VOC-limited conditions prevailed in most of the city. The analysis disclosed that this change is due to increasing NOX emissions in some regions of MCMA and decreasing VOC emissions in other areas. The observed trend is different from that in major cities in other parts of the world, such as the United States, where ozone formation sensitivity has moved towards NOX-limited conditions. Therefore, reducing VOC emissions would be a suitable approach for decreasing tropospheric ozone concentrations in the MCMA.

Atmospheric deposition of reactive nitrogen compounds (Nrs) has been recognized as a threat to plant diversity in terrestrial ecosystems. As a first attempt to investigate the relationship between Nrs deposition and plant diversity loss in Japan, we collected and analyzed the available long-term nationwide monitoring data on annual Nrs deposition and plant (tree) species, and evaluated the relationship between Nrs deposition and plant species loss at corresponding sites. Analyses of the available data showed that the amount of Nrs deposited annually tended to decrease at two monitoring sites (Yusuhara, Hedomisaki) and increase at six monitoring sites across Japan (Rishiri, Sadoseki, Tokyo, Aichi, Oki, and Ogasawara) during the late 1980s to 2011, especially at Aichi (11.8–21.6 kgN·ha−1·yr−1), Tokyo (10.0–23.5 kgN·ha−1·yr−1), Oki (6.63–14.1 kgN·ha−1·yr−1), and Rishiri (4.52–7.82 kgN·ha−1·yr−1). Another long-term study, the Monitoring Sites 1000 Project, investigated the growth of tree species at 20 core sites across Japan during 2004–2012. The sites with higher potential plant diversity loss were close to those sites where Nrs deposition had markedly increased over the 20 years, such as Tokyo, Aichi, and Oki. Analyses of long-term monitoring data for tree species in the Tokyo University Forest in Aichi revealed that 22 of the 273 tree species (8.05%) disappeared during the period of 1990–2010, and twelve out of the 22 lost species were shrub species less than 5 m tall. Although our study obviously has some limitations in quantitatively presenting the relationship between the loss of plant diversity and increased atmospheric Nrs deposition in Japan, our findings provide evidence for this relationship based on analyses of historical nationwide monitoring data. These findings will be useful for establishing N critical loads for Japanese forests.

Background Bone resorption around the femoral stem after total hip arthroplasty is a well-known phenomenon. However, only a few studies have evaluated bone resorption after shoulder arthroplasty. This study investigated the prevalence of humeral bone resorption after different shoulder arthroplasty procedures. Methods The study included 147 shoulders that underwent total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) or humeral head replacement (HHR) with an uncemented humeral stem from November 2008 to May 2015 and were monitored for more than 1 year. The prevalence of humeral bone resorption and risk factors were investigated. Results The most advanced grade of bone resorption, grade 0, occurred in 21 shoulders (14.3%). Grade 1 bone resorption occurred in 10 (6.8%), grade 2 in 28 (19.0%), grade 3 in 61 (41.5%), and grade 4 in 27 (18.4%). High occurrence of bone absorption was observed in zones 1, 2, and 7. Grade 4 bone resorption did not occur in zones 3 and 5. HHR, on-growth type stem coating, and occupation ratio were significant independent risk factors for grade ≥3 bone resorption, whereas female sex and HHR were significant independent risk factors for grade 4. Conclusion Bone resorption was observed in 126 shoulders (85.7%), and full-thickness cortical bone resorption occurred in 27 shoulders (18.4%). Bone resorption was frequently observed at the greater tuberosity, lateral diaphysis, and calcar region (zones 1, 2, and 7). Significant risk factors included female sex, HHR with rotator cuff reconstruction, on-growth type stem coating, and high occupation ratio of the implant.

Jaw reconstruction using an additive-manufacturing titanium artificial bone (AMTAB) has recently attracted considerable attention. The synthesis of a titanium artificial bone is based on three-dimensional computed tomography images acquired before surgery. A histological evaluation of porous AMTAB (pAMTAB) embedded in rat calvarial bone defects was conducted. This study examined three groups: rats implanted with mixed-acid and heat-treated pAMTAB, rats implanted with untreated pAMTAB, and rats with no implant. In both pAMTAB groups, bone defects were created in rat calvarial bones using a 5-mm trephine bar, followed by pAMTAB implantation. The pAMTAB was fixed to the defect using the fitting force of the surrounding bones. The rats were sacrificed at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after implantation, and the skull was dissected. Undecalcified ground slides were prepared and stained with Villanueva Goldner. Compared with the no implant control group, both pAMTAB groups exhibited new bone formation inside the defect, with greater bone formation in the mixed-acid and heat-treated pAMTAB group than in the untreated pAMTAB group, but the difference was not significant. These data suggest that pAMTAB induces bone formation after implantation in bone defects. Bone formation appears to be enhanced by prior mixed-acid and heat-treated pAMTAB.

Mere exposure effect refers to a phenomenon in which repeated stimuli are evaluated more positively than novel stimuli. We investigated whether this effect occurs for internally generated visual representations (i.e., visual images). In an exposure phase, a 5 × 5 dot array was presented, and a pair of dots corresponding to the neighboring vertices of an invisible polygon was sequentially flashed (in red), creating an invisible polygon. In Experiments 1, 2, and 4, participants visualized and memorized the shapes of invisible polygons based on different sequences of flashed dots, whereas in Experiment 3, participants only memorized positions of these dots. In a subsequent rating phase, participants visualized the shape of the invisible polygon from allocations of numerical characters on its vertices, and then rated their preference for invisible polygons (Experiments 1, 2, and 3). In contrast, in Experiment 4, participants rated the preference for visible polygons. Results showed that the mere exposure effect appeared only when participants visualized the shape of invisible polygons in both the exposure and rating phases (Experiments 1 and 2), suggesting that the mere exposure effect occurred for internalized visual images. This implies that the sensory inputs from repeated stimuli play a minor role in the mere exposure effect. Absence of the mere exposure effect in Experiment 4 suggests that the consistency of processing between exposure and rating phases plays an important role in the mere exposure effect.

Idiopathic scoliosis is an orthopaedic disease of childhood, with onset and progress occurring until adolescence. Here, the relationship between lateral displacement of the mandible and scoliosis was analysed quantitatively. Seventy-nine non-syndromic Japanese patients (18 men, 61 women), who were diagnosed with jaw deformities and underwent surgical orthognathic treatment at Kyushu University Hospital from January 2011 to August 2014, were enrolled. Their mean age at the time of radiography was 25.3 ± 8.7 years. Postero-anterior cephalometric radiographs and chest radiographs were examined. In postero-anterior cephalometric radiographs, a horizontal baseline (X-axis) was drawn as a straight line that intersects both the zygomatic bases, and a vertical line (Y-axis) was marked perpendicular to the X-axis, with an intersection at the anterior nasal spine (ANS). Point A was defined as the intersection of the X- and Y-axes, and line A was defined as the line connecting point A to the menton. The angle made by the X-axis and line A (i.e., lateral displacement of the mandible) was measured. We designated an absolute value even if the mandibular menton was located on the right or left side. In chest radiographs, Cobb’s method was used to measure scoliosis curves; the direction of the curve was designated similarly. Nine (11.4%) individuals had a Cobb angle >10°. There was a positive correlation between the Cobb angle and the degree of mandibular deviation (p

Recently, a homologous modeling method was developed to simulate 3D human body forms, which can visualize principal component analysis (PCA) results and facilitate its detailed comparison with results of previous method. Herein, we aimed to construct a homologous model of the face to identify differences between a straight face and a posed smile. Thirty-eight volunteers (19 males and 19 females, 38 straight faces and 38 posed smiles) with no medical history associated with a posed smile were enrolled. Three-dimensional images were constructed using the Homologous Body Modeling software and the HBM-Rugle; 9 landmarks were identified on the 3D-model surfaces. The template model automatically fitted into an individually scanned point cloud of the face by minimizing external and internal energy functions. Faces were analyzed using PCA; differences between straight faces and posed smiles were analyzed using paired t tests. Contribution of the most important principal component was 23.8%; 8 principal components explained >75% of the total variance. A significant difference between a straight face and a posed smile was observed in the second and the fourth principal components. The second principal component images revealed differences between a straight face and a posed smile and changes around the chin area with regard to length, shape, and anteroposterior position. Such changes were inclusive of individual differences. However, the fourth principal component image only revealed differences between a straight face and a posed smile; observed differences included simultaneous shortening of upper and lower eyelid length, evaluation of the nasal ala ase, swelling of the cheek area, and elevation of the mouth angle. Although these results were clinically apparent, we believe that this article is the first to statistically verify the same.Consequently, the homologous model technique and PCA are useful for evaluation of the facial soft-tissue changes.

Recently, the oral microbiome has been found to be associated with oral and general health status. Although various oral sample collection protocols are available, the potential differences between the results yielded by these protocols remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of different time points and methods of oral sample collection on the outcomes of microbiome analysis. Oral samples were collected from eight healthy individuals at four different time points: 2 h after eating, immediately after teeth brushing, immediately after waking up, and 2 h after eating on the subsequent day. Four methods of saliva collection were evaluated: spitting, gum chewing, cotton swab, and oral rinse. Oral microbiomes of these samples were compared by analyzing the bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequence data. The oral microbial composition at the genus level was similar among all sample collection time points and methods. Alpha diversity was not significantly different among the groups, whereas beta diversity was different between the spitting and cotton swab methods. Compared with the between-subject variations, the weighted UniFrac distances between the groups were not minor. Although the oral microbiome profiles obtained at different collection time points and using different methods were similar, some differences were detected. The results of the present study suggest that although all the described protocols are useful, comparisons among microbiomes of samples collected by different methods are not appropriate. Researchers must be aware of the issues regarding the impact of saliva collection methods.

Background: Acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation is evaluated using the radiologically based Rockwood classification. The relationship between ligamentous injury and radiological assessment is still controversial. Purpose/Hypothesis: To investigate how the AC ligament and trapezoid ligament biomechanically contribute to the stability of the AC joint using cadaveric specimens. The hypothesis was that isolated sectioning of the AC ligament would result in increased instability in the superior direction and that displacement >50% of the AC joint would occur. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Six shoulders from 6 fresh-frozen cadavers were used in this study. Both the scapula and sternum were solidly fixed on a customized wooden jig with an external fixator. We simulated distal clavicular dislocation with sequential sectioning of the AC and coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments. Sectioning stages were defined as follows: stage 0, the AC ligament, CC ligament, and AC joint capsule were left intact; stage 1, the anteroinferior bundle of the AC ligament, joint capsule, and disk were sectioned; stage 2, the superoposterior bundle of the AC ligament was sectioned; and stage 3, the trapezoid ligament was sectioned. The distal clavicle was loaded with 70 N in the superior and posterior directions, and the magnitudes of displacement were measured. Results: The amounts of superior displacement averaged 3.7 mm (stage 0), 3.8 mm (stage 1), 8.3 mm (stage 2), and 9.5 mm (stage 3). Superior displacement >50% of the AC joint was observed in stage 2 (4/6; 67%) and stage 3 (6/6; 100%). The magnitudes of posterior displacement were 3.7 mm (stage 0), 3.7 mm (stage 1), 5.6 mm (stage 2), and 9.8 mm (stage 3). Posterior displacement >50% of the AC joint was observed in stage 3 (1/6; 17%). Conclusion: We found that the AC ligaments contribute significantly to AC joint stability, and superior displacement >50% of the AC joint can occur with AC ligament tears alone. Clinical Relevance: The AC ligament plays an important role not only in horizontal stability but also in vertical stability of the AC joint.

The amplitude of event-related brain potentials (ERPs) elicited by task-irrelevant auditory probes decreases when more attentional resources are allocated to a visual task. This task-irrelevant probe technique is considered to be useful in assessing the degree of interest in a visual task, as well as task difficulty. The present study examined the amplitude of the N1 and P2 components elicited by task-irrelevant auditory probes during a driving task in a simulated environment. The analysis of ERPs showed that the N1 amplitude decreased when participants drove on the road course that had more frequent and sharper curves, whereas the P2 amplitude decreased when the road contained sharper curves, irrespective of curve frequency. Subjective ratings of driving pleasure and difficulty showed the same variation patterns as the N1 and P2 amplitudes, respectively. These results suggest that use of the task-irrelevant probe technique can assess the degree of driving pleasure and difficulty separately.

It is not an exaggeration to say that, without nuclear accidents or the analysis of radiation therapy, there is no way in which we are able to quantify radiation effects on humans. Therefore, the livestock abandoned in the ex-evacuation zone and euthanized due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) accident are extremely valuable for analyzing the environmental pollution, its biodistribution, the metabolism of radionuclides, dose evaluation and the influence of internal exposure. We, therefore, sought to establish an archive system and to open it to researchers for increasing our understanding of radiation biology and improving protection against radiation. The sample bank of animals affected by the FNPP accident consists of frozen tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens, dose of radionuclides deposited, etc., with individual sampling data.