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This research was carried out to evaluate the presence and nature of governance structure in soybean value chain in Niger state of Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used for this study. Firstly, purposive sampling was used in the selection of six Local Government Areas (LGAs) out of the 25 LGAs in Niger State. The LGAs are Lapai, Paiko, Mariga, Mashegu, Mokwa and Shiroro. The second stage involved selection of three communities randomly from each Local Government selected for the study. This brings about a total of 18 communities for the study. The communities are; Samunaka, Takalafia, Zolegi, Beri, Kampani Bobi, Mariga, Kaboji, Baban Rami, Karmi Rami, Muregi, Tatabo, Nwogi, Paiko, Pago, Dagonagbe, Gunu, Kope and Nakomi. The third stage involved the determination of sample size from the sample frame using the formula cited by Robert V., Krejcie and Daryle W. Morgan (1963) stated as S= X2NP(1-P) ÷ d2(N-1) + X2P(1-P). Primary data was obtained through the use of structured questionnaires. The study used descriptive statistics and Tobit regression model for relevant analyses. The results show the presence of market governance. The production and processing segments of the nods analysed are found to be porous with minimal entry and exit conditions.

Yoshiteru Takekita,1 Sachie Inoue,2 Kenji Baba,3 Tadashi Nosaka3 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan; 2CRECON Medical Assessment Inc, Tokyo, Japan; 3Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co, Ltd, Tokyo, JapanCorrespondence: Yoshiteru TakekitaDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Kansai Medical University, 10-15 Fumizono-Cho, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-8506, JapanTel +81-6-6992-1001Fax +81-6-6992-4846Email takekity@takii.kmu.ac.jpPurpose: The aim of this study was to examine whether there is a difference in the risk of rehospitalization when antipsychotics are classified into two groups treated using drugs with a higher or lower affinity to H1 or α 1 receptors than to D2 receptors (histamine H1 receptors, adrenaline α 1 receptors [HA] high- and HA low-affinity drug group, respectively) based on affinity to receptors related to sedation using a nationwide insurance claims database in Japan.Patients and Methods: We identified eligible patients by the following two criteria: (i) hospitalization due to schizophrenia (International Classification of Disease [ICD]-10 code: F20 or F25) in psychiatric wards between January 1st, 2005 and August 31st, 2017, and (ii) administration of HA high- or HA low-affinity drugs in the next month after discharge from the earliest hospitalization due to schizophrenia (index month). The primary endpoint was rehospitalization due to schizophrenia. The secondary endpoints were (i) involuntary rehospitalization, (ii) concomitant use of anxiolytics/hypnotics, mood stabilizers, and antiparkinsonian drugs, (iii) all-cause death, and (iv) medication discontinuation. Propensity score (PS) matching analysis was applied, and the hazard ratio (HR) of the event rate in the HA high-affinity drug group relative to the HA low-affinity drug group was calculated using Cox’s proportional hazards model.Results: Two thousand nine hundred and forty patients were identified as eligible patients. Among PS-matched patients (819 in each group), the HR in the HA high-affinity drug group compared with the HA low-affinity drug group was 1.018 (0.822– 1.260, P = 0.870). Other outcomes did not differ significantly between the two groups.Conclusion: No significant difference was observed in the rehospitalization risk due to schizophrenia associated with HA high-affinity antipsychotic drugs. Although this study was a retrospective PS-matched cohort study, the possibility of masking of the rehospitalization risk cannot be excluded because more than 80% of the patients were administered an anxiolytic/hypnotic at the time of admission.Keywords: schizophrenia, antipsychotics, sedative effect, rehospitalization, claim database, propensity score matching

Hironobu Koseki,1 Masato Tomita,2 Akihiko Yonekura,2 Takashi Higuchi,1 Sinya Sunagawa,2 Koumei Baba,3,4 Makoto Osaki2 1Department of Locomotive Rehabilitation Science, Unit of Rehabilitation Sciences, 2Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan; 3Industrial Technology Center of Nagasaki, Ikeda, Omura, Nagasaki, Japan; 4Affiliated Division, Nagasaki University School of Engineering, Bunkyo, Nagasaki, Japan Abstract: Metal-on-metal (MoM) bearings have become popular due to a major advantage over metal-on-polymer bearings for total hip arthroplasty in that the larger femoral head and hydrodynamic lubrication of the former reduce the rate of wear. However, concerns remain regarding adverse reactions to metal debris including metallosis caused by metal wear generated at the taper-head interface and another modular junction. Our group has hypothesized that carbon ion implantation (CII) may improve metal wear properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the wear properties and friction coefficients of CII surfaces with an aim to ultimately apply these surfaces to MoM bearings in artificial joints. CII was applied to cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (Co-Cr-Mo) alloy substrates by plasma source ion implantation. The substrates were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and a 3D measuring laser microscope. Sliding contact tests were performed with a simple geometry pin-on-plate wear tester at a load of 2.5 N, a calculated contact pressure of 38.5 MPa (max: 57.8 MPa), a reciprocating velocity of 30 mm/s, a stroke length of 60 mm, and a reciprocating cycle count of 172,800 cycles. The surfaces of the CII substrates were generally featureless with a smooth surface topography at the same level as untreated Co-Cr-Mo alloy. Compared to the untreated Co-Cr-Mo alloy, the CII-treated bearings had lower friction coefficients, higher resistance to catastrophic damage, and prevented the adhesion of wear debris. The results of this study suggest that the CII surface stabilizes the wear status due to the low friction coefficient and low infiltration of partner materials, and these properties also prevent the adhesion of wear debris and inhibit excessive wear. Carbon is considered to be biologically inert; therefore, CII is anticipated to be applicable to the bearing surfaces of MoM prostheses. Keywords: total hip arthroplasty, metal-on-metal, carbon ion implantation

Akikazu Sakudo,1 Koichi Baba,2 Kazuyoshi Ikuta1,31Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan; 2Baba Pediatric Clinic, Kadoma, Osaka, Japan; 3Kanonji Institute, The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University, Kanonji, Kagawa, JapanAbstract: We recently demonstrated how various enveloped viruses can be efficiently concentrated using magnetic beads coated with an anionic polymer, poly(methyl vinyl ether-maleic anhydrate). However, the exact mechanism of interaction between the virus particles and anionic beads remains unclear. To further investigate whether these magnetic anionic beads specifically bind to the viral envelope, we examined their potential interaction with a nonenveloped virus (adenovirus). The beads were incubated with either adenovirus-infected cell culture medium or nasal aspirates from adenovirus-infected individuals and then separated from the supernatant by applying a magnetic field. After thoroughly washing the beads, adsorption of adenovirus was confirmed by a variety of techniques, including immunochromatography, polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and cell culture infection assays. These detection methods positively identified the hexon and penton capsid proteins of adenovirus along with the viral genome on the magnetic beads. Furthermore, various types of adenovirus including Types 5, 6, 11, 19, and 41 were captured using the magnetic bead procedure. Our bead capture method was also found to increase the sensitivity of viral detection. Adenovirus below the detectable limit for immunochromatography was efficiently concentrated using the magnetic bead procedure, allowing the virus to be successfully detected using this methodology. Moreover, these findings clearly demonstrate that a viral envelope is not required for binding to the anionic magnetic beads. Taken together, our results show that this capture procedure increases the sensitivity of detection of adenovirus and would, therefore, be a valuable tool for analyzing both clinical and experimental samples.Keywords: anionic polymer, virus concentration, adenovirus, capture, magnetic beads, poly(methyl vinyl ether-maleic anhydrate)

Hironobu Koseki,1 Tomohiko Asahara,1 Takayuki Shida,1 Itaru Yoda,1 Hidehiko Horiuchi,1 Koumei Baba,2 Makoto Osaki11Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagasaki University, 2Industrial Technology Center of Nagasaki, Nagasaki, JapanBackground: Pin site infection is the most common and significant complication of external fixation. In this work, the efficacy of pins coated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) for inhibition of infection was compared with that of stainless steel control pins in an in vivo study.Methods: Pins contaminated with an identifiable Staphylococcus aureus strain were inserted into femoral bone in a rat model and exposed to ultraviolet A light for 30 minutes. On day 14, the animals were sacrificed and the bone and soft tissue around the pin were retrieved. The clinical findings and histological findings were evaluated in 60 samples.Results: Clinical signs of infection were present in 76.7% of untreated pins, but in only 36.7% of TiO2-coated pins. The histological bone infection score and planimetric rate of occupation for bacterial colonies and neutrophils in the TiO2-coated pin group were lower than those in the control group. The bone-implant contact ratio of the TiO2-coated pin group was significantly higher (71.4%) than in the control pin group (58.2%). The TiO2 was successful in decreasing infection both clinically and histomorphometrically.Conclusion: The photocatalytic bactericidal effect of TiO2 is thought to be useful for inhibiting pin site infection after external fixation.Keywords: titanium dioxide, external fixation, bactericidal activity, Staphylococcus aureus

Currently, many space missions that use cryogenic equipment are being planned. In particular, high resolution sensors, such as transition edge sensors, require very low operating temperatures, below 100 mK. Adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR) systems are a useful tool for producing ultra-low temperatures in space because these devices can operate independently of gravity. The magnetic material is one of the most important components with respect to effectiveness of the cooling power. Thus, we could increase the cooling power using a magnetic material that has a large entropy change over the operating temperature range. Polycrystalline Gd2O2S (GOS), which was developed by Numazawa et al, can be used as such as a magnetic regenerator material. Furthermore, GOS has a very large specific heat and a magnetic phase transition temperature of about 5.2 K. These features make GOS suitable for use in the high temperature stage of an ADR. In this study, we measured and evaluated the physical properties of GOS for applications to ADRs.

Objectives: The objective of the study is to evaluate plasma homocysteine level and its relation with serum estrogen in pre and postmenopausal women as a risk factor in coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among premenopausal (n = 50) and postmenopausal women (n = 50) with an estimation of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and serum estradiol (E2). Postmenopausal women based on their angiographic status were sub-grouped into A (with normal coronaries) and B (with CAD). Results: The levels of Hcy, 21.98 (20.89-24.05) μmol/L, increased significantly (P < 0.0001) and that of E2, 3.05 (2.32-3.6) pg/mL, decreased significantly (P = 0.0001) in the postmenopausal group when compared to Hcy, 6.11 (4.94-8.27) μmol/L and E2, 26.37 (25.3-29) pg/mL in premenopausal group. The levels of Hcy were elevated (24.7 ± 3.92 μmol/L) in postmenopausal Group B in comparison with postmenopausal Group A (21.37 ± 3.31 μmol/L), P = 0.002. Logistic regression analysis showed Hcy and body mass index to be independent predictors of CAD. Plasma Hcy showed an area under curve (AUC) of 1.00 with sensitivity and specificity of 100% at cutoff >12.6 μmol/L between pre and postmenopausal groups and AUC of 0.722 with 60% sensitivity and 84% specificity at cutoff >23.7 μmol/L between postmenopausal Groups A and B. Conclusion: We observed low E2 and high Hcy levels in postmenopausal women in comparison with premenopausal women. Among postmenopausal women, those with CAD had higher Hcy levels. Assessing Hcy levels routinely in postmenopausal women will help in better risk prediction of CAD and may also help in conjunction with other risk factors to decide the initiation of hormone replacement therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Iron acts as a cofactor in Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) activity, and low iron levels can impact thyroid hormone metabolism. The function of ferritin and iron has been extensively documented in various studies in patients with Overt Hypothyroidism (OH), but their role in Subclinical Hypothyroidism (SH) remains largely unexplored. Aim: To evaluate the serum ferritin and iron levels in patients who have SH. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted between March 2018 and October 2018 at the Biochemistry Department of Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. For the study, a total of 100 cases of SH were enrolled, and these patients were matched in terms of age and sex with 50 healthy controls. A fasting sample was obtained and analysed for serum ferritin, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), TT3, TT4, and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). MedCalc software was used to perform statistical analysis. Results: In the SH group, there were 32 males (32%) and 68 females (68%); in the control group, there were 21 males (42%) and 29 females (58%). The median values of TT3 (nmol/L), TT4 (µg/dL), and TSH (µIU/mL) were 1.55 (1.4-1.95), 7.8 (5.9-9.75), and 3 (1.9-3.75) for controls, and 1.4 (1.1-1.75), 6.85 (5.5-8.15), and 6.2 (4.8-8.05), respectively, for cases. In comparison to controls, the TSH level was significantly higher (p<0.0001) in cases. The median iron (µg/dL), ferritin (ng/mL), TIBC (µg/dL), and % saturation in cases were 56.5 (41.5-82), 110 (31.5-194.5), 329 (258-390), and 19 (11.25-26.75), respectively, while in controls they were 84 (68.5-96.5), 195 (121.5-338.5), 233 (188.5-294), and 25 (18-37.5). There was a significant decrease in iron level (p<0.00001), % saturation (<0.00001), and ferritin level (p<0.00001), and a significant increase in TIBC (p<0.0001) in cases when compared to controls. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study showed a significant negative correlation between SH and iron deficiency. Patients with this condition should be evaluated for ferritin and iron levels and treated appropriately to prevent hypothyroidism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]