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Abstract Cisplatin (CDDP)-induced nephrotoxicity is a common dose-limiting toxicity, and diuretics are often administered to prevent nephrotoxicity. However, the efficacy and optimal administration of diuretics in preventing CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity remain to be established. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combining furosemide and mannitol to prevent CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity. This was a post-hoc analysis of pooled data from a multicenter, retrospective, observational study, including 396 patients who received one or two diuretics for CDDP-based chemotherapy, compared using propensity score matching. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for nephrotoxicity. There was no significant difference in the incidence of nephrotoxicity between the two groups (22.2% vs. 28.3%, P = 0.416). Hypertension, CDDP dose ≥ 75 mg/m2, and no magnesium supplementation were identified as risk factors for nephrotoxicity, whereas the use of diuretics was not found to be a risk factor. The combination of furosemide and mannitol showed no advantage over a single diuretic in preventing CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity. The renal function of patients receiving CDDP-based chemotherapy (≥ 75 mg/m2) and that of those with hypertension should be carefully monitored. Magnesium supplementation is important for these patients.

Abstract Background Bisphosphonates may cause serious adverse events, including osteonecrosis of the jaw. This article describes a case of successful application of radiofrequency thermocoagulation for pain caused by osteonecrosis of the jaw. Case presentation An 86-year-old woman who had received alendronate sodium hydrate for osteoporosis was diagnosed with osteonecrosis of the right mandible after dental treatment. Despite repeated conservative and debridement treatments, the patient could not eat due to intractable pain; accordingly, her condition was debilitated. The patient was referred to our pain management clinic for radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the right mandibular nerve. Immediately after the procedure, her pain drastically improved and she could eat; moreover, the pain has not recurred for 3 years. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that minimally invasive radiofrequency thermocoagulation may have long-term effects in patients with chronic pain caused by osteonecrosis of the jaw that is refractory to conservative treatment.

Abstract COVID-19 mRNA vaccines induce protective adaptive immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in most individuals, but there is wide variation in levels of vaccine-induced antibody and T-cell responses. However, the mechanisms underlying this inter-individual variation remain unclear. Here, using a systems biology approach based on multi-omics analyses of human blood and stool samples, we identified several factors that are associated with COVID-19 vaccine-induced adaptive immune responses. BNT162b2-induced T cell response is positively associated with late monocyte responses and inversely associated with baseline mRNA expression of activation protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factors. Interestingly, the gut microbial fucose/rhamnose degradation pathway is positively correlated with mRNA expression of AP-1, as well as a gene encoding an enzyme producing prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which promotes AP-1 expression, and inversely correlated with BNT162b2-induced T-cell responses. These results suggest that baseline AP-1 expression, which is affected by commensal microbial activity, is a negative correlate of BNT162b2-induced T-cell responses.

Hallmark features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) include elevated accumulation of aggregated Aβ40 and Aβ42 peptides, hyperphosphorylated Tau (p-Tau), and neuroinflammation. Emerging evidence indicated that interleukin-34 (IL-34) contributes to AD and inflammatory osteolysis via the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1r). In addition, CSF-1r is also activated by macrophage colony-stimulating factor-1 (M-CSF). While the role of M-CSF in bone physiology and pathology is well addressed, it remains controversial whether IL-34-mediated signaling promotes osteolysis, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation in relation to AD. In this study, we injected 3x-Tg mice with mouse recombinant IL-34 protein over the calvaria bone every other day for 42 days. Then, behavioral changes, brain pathology, and calvaria osteolysis were evaluated using various behavioral maze and histological assays. We demonstrated that IL-34 administration dramatically elevated AD-like anxiety and memory loss, pathogenic amyloidogenesis, p-Tau, and RAGE expression in female 3x-Tg mice. Furthermore, IL-34 delivery promoted calvaria inflammatory osteolysis compared to the control group. In addition, we also compared the effects of IL-34 and M-CSF on macrophages, microglia, and RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis in relation to AD pathology in vitro. We observed that IL-34-exposed SIM-A9 microglia and 3x-Tg bone marrow-derived macrophages released significantly elevated amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, compared to M-CSF treatment in vitro. Furthermore, IL-34, but not M-CSF, elevated RANKL-primed osteoclastogenesis in the presence of Aβ40 and Aβ42 peptides in bone marrow derived macrophages isolated from female 3x-Tg mice. Collectively, our data indicated that IL-34 elevates AD-like features, including behavioral changes and neuroinflammation, as well as osteoclastogenesis in female 3x-Tg mice.

Monitoring the movement of small animals is a fundamental aspect of ecological studies as well as spatially explicit conservation and management. However, this remains a challenging task especially in mountainous terrains. Although drone-based radiotelemetry (DRT) is employed to localize animals, its application in mountainous terrains is limited by the collision risks associated with undulating terrains as well as the obstruction of signals by dense vegetation and steep slopes. We addressed these challenges by generating fine-scale three-dimensional maps and moving vertically mounted directional antennas in a double grid pattern, scanning both in longitudinal and latitudinal grids. This new DRT system was helpful in localizing four adult Japanese toads (Bufo japonicus) living in hiding places typical of mountainous terrains. All toads were located within 1–60 days of being released. Transmitter signals were detected within two consecutive flights (three flights in one case). Instances of transmitter detection were significantly biased when the drone was facing either direction of the double-grid path, indicating that the double-grid pattern had reduced detection failure. The absolute localization error (n = 48) of 22.4 ± 21.0 m (44.8 ± 42% of the transmitter-to-receiver distance) was lower than that reported in a previous study conducted in a similar mountainous terrain.

Abstract Interleukin-18 (IL18) is an inflammatory cytokine that is related to psychiatric disorders such as depression and cognitive impairment. We previously found that IL18 deficiency may cause hippocampal impairment, resulting in depression-like behavioral changes. However, the potential role of IL18 in stressful conditions remains uncertain. In the present study, we examined the effect of IL18 on neural inflammation and stress tolerance during acute stress. Littermate Il18 +/+ and Il18 −/− mice were exposed to a single restraint stress for 6 h, and all assessments were performed 18 h after the mice were released from the restraint. In Il18 −/− mice exposed to acute stress, the immobility times in both the forced swim test and tail suspension test were decreased, although no difference was observed in Il18 +/+ mice. Il1β, Il6, and Tnfα expression levels in the hippocampus of stressed Il18 −/− mice were significantly higher than those in the other groups. Moreover, the numbers of astrocytes and microglia, including those in the active form, were also increased compared with those in other groups. Regarding the molecular mechanism, the HSF5 and TTR genes were specifically expressed in stressed Il18 −/− mice. As a potential treatment, intracerebral administration of IL18 to Il18 −/− mice resulted in partial recovery of changes in behavioral assessments. Our results revealed that IL18-deficient mice were more sensitive and had a longer response to acute stress than that in normal mice. In addition, neural inflammation and augmentation of glucocorticoid signals caused by stress were more intense and remained longer in Il18 −/− mice, resulting in behavioral changes. In conclusion, IL18 might be an indispensable factor that modulates the stress response and maintains balance between neural inflammation and glucocorticoid signaling.

Interleukin 18 (IL18) was originally identified as an inflammation-induced cytokine that is secreted by immune cells. An increasing number of studies have focused on its non-immunological functions, with demonstrated functions for IL18 in energy homeostasis and neural stability. IL18 is reportedly required for lipid metabolism in the liver and brown adipose tissue. Furthermore, IL18 (Il18) deficiency in mice leads to mitochondrial dysfunction in hippocampal cells, resulting in depressive-like symptoms and cognitive impairment. Microarray analyses of Il18−/− mice have revealed a set of genes with differential expression in liver, brown adipose tissue, and brain; however, the impact of IL18 deficiency in these tissues remains uncertain. In this review article, we discuss these genes, with a focus on their relationships with the phenotypic disease traits of Il18−/− mice.

Maternal antibiotics administration (MAA) is among the widely used therapeutic approaches in pregnancy. Although published evidence demonstrates that infants exposed to antibiotics immediately after birth have altered recognition memory responses at one month of age, very little is known about in utero effects of antibiotics on the neuronal function and behavior of children after birth. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of MAA at different periods of pregnancy on memory decline and brain structural alterations in young mouse offspring after their first month of life. To study the effects of MAA on 4-week-old offspring, pregnant C57BL/6J mouse dams (2–3-month-old; n = 4/group) were exposed to a cocktail of amoxicillin (205 mg/kg/day) and azithromycin (51 mg/kg/day) in sterile drinking water (daily/1 week) during either the 2nd or 3rd week of pregnancy and stopped after delivery. A control group of pregnant dams was exposed to sterile drinking water alone during all three weeks of pregnancy. Then, the 4-week-old offspring mice were first evaluated for behavioral changes. Using the Morris water maze assay, we revealed that exposure of pregnant mice to antibiotics at the 2nd and 3rd weeks of pregnancy significantly altered spatial reference memory and learning skills in their offspring compared to those delivered from the control group of dams. In contrast, no significant difference in long-term associative memory was detected between offspring groups using the novel object recognition test. Then, we histologically evaluated brain samples from the same offspring individuals using conventional immunofluorescence and electron microscopy assays. To our knowledge, we observed a reduction in the density of the hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons and hypomyelination in the corpus callosum in groups of mice in utero exposed to antibiotics at the 2nd and 3rd weeks of gestation. In addition, offspring exposed to antibiotics at the 2nd or 3rd week of gestation demonstrated a decreased astrocyte cell surface area and astrocyte territories or depletion of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and hippocampal synaptic loss, respectively. Altogether, this study shows that MAA at different times of pregnancy can pathologically alter cognitive behavior and brain development in offspring at an early age after weaning.

Cationic liposomes, specifically 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) liposomes, serve as successful carriers for guanine-quadruplex (G4) structure-based cytosine-guanine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs). The combined benefits of CpG ODNs forming a G4 structure and a non-viral vector carrier endow the ensuing complex with promising adjuvant properties. Although G4-CpG ODN-DOTAP complexes show a higher immunostimulatory effect than naked G4-CpG ODNs, the effects of the complex composition, especially charge ratios, on the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and interferon (IFN)-α remain unclear. Here, we examined whether charge ratios drive the bifurcation of cytokine inductions in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Linear CpG ODN-DOTAP liposome complexes formed micrometer-sized positively charged agglomerates; G4-CpG ODN-DOTAP liposome complexes with low charge ratios (0.5 and 1.5) formed ~250 nm-sized negatively charged complexes. Notably, low-charge-ratio (0.5 and 1.5) complexes induced significantly higher IL-6 and IFN-α levels simultaneously than high-charge-ratio (2 and 2.5) complexes. Moreover, confocal microscopy indicated a positive correlation between the cellular uptake of the complex and amount of cytokine induced. The observed effects of charge ratios on complex size, surface charge, and affinity for factors that modify cellular-uptake, intracellular-activity, and cytokine-production efficiency highlight the importance of a rational complex design for delivering and controlling G4-CpG ODN activity.

We propose a transport system combining peristaltic motion and a negative pressure as a new method of transporting and collecting feces for space toilets. In recent years, for the development of space exploration, the need for a regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) to perform manned space exploration for long periods without resource supply has emerged. Currently, human feces is disposed of, but if it can be reused like urine, the performance of the ECLSS can be significantly improved. Existing space toilets do not reuse of feces, and the transfer of feces presents a technical problem. There is no technology that can reliably transport highly viscous solid–liquid mixtures on an intermittent basis. If such technologies are developed, they will be useful for transporting not only feces in space but also chemicals on the ground. Therefore, the authors propose a peristaltic system based on the intestinal tracts of living organisms for the transport of feces in space. Each unit of the system can be actively closed and opened by air pressure. The units are operated in turn to transport feces. The proposed driving method utilizes the pressure difference between the units of a peristaltic pump to increase the transfer rate. A prototype system consisting of three units was developed, and a simulated feces transfer experiment was conducted to validate the proposed method. In the experiment, we compared the conventional peristaltic driving method and the proposed peristaltic driving method, and the results indicated that the proposed method can carry more than twice the amount of simulated feces. Thus, the proposed method is suitable for the transfer of feces in space and can be used to transfer highly viscous solid–liquid mixed fluids under intermittent supply and with little water consumption.

Purpose: Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease after vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is rare, and the prognosis for this condition and its effect on ocular blood flow remains unclear. The purpose of this paper is to present the first case of de novo VKH disease after the second vaccination for COVID-19 with an mRNA vaccine that was successfully treated with systemic steroid therapy and monitored with laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG). Observations: A 30s-year-old Japanese woman reported bilateral decreased visual function 2 weeks after receiving a second dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/50 OD and 20/70 OS. Optical coherence tomography revealed bilateral serous retinal detachment over the swollen choroidal layer. LFSG showed decreased blood flow in the peripapillary region of both eyes. This case was diagnosed as complete VKH syndrome, and the patient underwent systemic steroid therapy. After treatment, the retinal detachment disappeared, choroidal thickness decreased, and ocular blood flow increased. Three months later, visual acuity recovered to 20/20 in both eyes. Conclusions: Caution should be exercised in cases with visual symptoms after COVID-19 vaccination, even after more than one dose and more than one week after vaccination. LSFG may be a useful way to measure the ocular blood flow response to treatment and determine the prognosis for VKH disease after COVID-19 vaccination.

Abstract Background Hyperactive dysfunction syndrome (HDS) refers to a constellation of symptoms developing from cranial nerve overactivity caused by neurovascular compression at the root entry or exit zone near the brainstem. Although the combined features of HDS are seen in the elderly, there are no reports of such cases in adolescents, to date. Case presentation A 17-year-old male was diagnosed with right glossopharyngeal neuralgia and treated with microvascular decompression. He experienced new-onset right facial pain later and was diagnosed with right trigeminal neuralgia, which required prompt radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the right mandibular nerve. Follow-up in the third post-treatment year revealed the absence of symptom recurrence. Discussion We report the treatment of a rare case of adolescent-onset combined HDS presenting as trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia. This report highlights the possibility of combined hyperactive dysfunction syndrome in younger age groups. It is crucial to establish a diagnosis early on for prompt management.

Abstract Background Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently complain of intractable pain that is resistant to conservative treatments. Here, we report the successful application of 1-kHz high-frequency spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in a patient with refractory neuropathic pain secondary to SCI. Case presentation A 69-year-old male diagnosed with SCI (C4 American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A) presented with severe at-level bilateral upper extremity neuropathic pain. Temporary improvement in his symptoms with a nerve block implied peripheral component involvement. The patient received SCS, and though the tip of the leads could not reach the cervical vertebrae, a 1-kHz frequency stimulus relieved the intractable pain. Conclusions SCI-related symptoms may include peripheral components; SCS may have a considerable effect on intractable pain. Even when the SCS electrode lead cannot be positioned in the target area, 1-kHz high-frequency SCS may still produce positive effects.

Abstract Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) causes QT interval prolongation, potentially leading to a fatal arrhythmia. We report the first case of TCM associated with licorice‐induced pseudoaldosteronism causing fatal arrhythmia in an older patient on polypharmacy including yokukansan (TJ‐54) and galantamine. Polypharmacy should be resolved to prevent unexpected adverse events in older patients.

Large water Cherenkov detectors have shaped our current knowledge of neutrino physics and nucleon decay, and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. These highly capable detectors allow for directional and topological, as well as calorimetric information to be extracted from signals on their photosensors. The current state-of-the-art approach to water Cherenkov reconstruction relies on maximum-likelihood estimation, with several simplifying assumptions employed to make the problem tractable. In this paper, we describe neural networks that produce probability density functions for the signals at each photosensor, given a set of inputs that characterizes a particle in the detector. The neural networks we propose allow for likelihood-based approaches to event reconstruction with significantly fewer assumptions compared to traditional methods, and are thus expected to improve on the current performance of water Cherenkov detectors.

Abstract We recently isolated a novel adenylyl cyclase/cAMP phosphodiesterase gene from the liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha. The protein encoded by this gene has a class III adenylyl cyclase (AC) in the C-terminal domain and class I phosphodiesterase (PDE) in the N-terminal domain; therefore, we named it CAPE (COMBINED AC with PDE). CAPE protein is likely involved in spermatogenesis and sperm motility due to its tissue-specific expression pattern in M. polymorpha and the distribution of CAPE genes in streptophytes. However, little is known about the distribution of CAPE in gymnosperms that use motile sperm for fertilization, such as cycads and ginkgo. The present study aimed to isolate CAPE genes from the cycad, Cycas revoluta, the ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba, and the hornwort, Anthoceros agerestis. Sequences with high homology to CAPE were obtained from these species. Our analyses revealed that all plant taxonomic groups reproducing via motile sperm possessed CAPE, whereas those that do not produce motile sperm did not possess CAPE, with one exception in gymnosperm Cupressales. The phylogenic distribution of CAPE almost corresponds to the evolutionary history of motile sperm production and further suggests that CAPE may be involved in sexual reproduction process using motile sperm in streptophytes.

Whether mammalian embryos develop normally under microgravity remains to be determined. However, embryos are too small to be handled by inexperienced astronauts who orbit Earth on the International Space Station (ISS). Here we describe the development of a new device that allows astronauts to thaw and culture frozen mouse 2-cell embryos on the ISS without directly contacting the embryos. First, we developed several new devices using a hollow fiber tube that allows thawing embryo without practice and observations of embryonic development. The recovery rate of embryos was over 90%, and its developmental rate to the blastocyst were over 80%. However, the general vitrification method requires liquid nitrogen, which is not available on the ISS. Therefore, we developed another new device, Embryo Thawing and Culturing unit (ETC) employing a high osmolarity vitrification method, which preserves frozen embryos at -80°C for several months. Embryos flushed out of the ETC during thawing and washing were protected using a mesh sheet. Although the recovery rate of embryos after thawing were not high (24%-78%) and embryonic development in ETC could not be observed, thawed embryos formed blastocysts after 4 days of culture (29%-100%) without direct contact. Thus, this ETC could be used for untrained astronauts to thaw and culture frozen embryos on the ISS. In addition, this ETC will be an important advance in fields such as clinical infertility and animal biotechnology when recovery rate of embryos were improved nearly 100%.

We aimed to investigate, for the first time, the spectrum of stroke risk factors specific to the population of the Republic of Moldova. The subjects were examined according to a pre-established protocol of risk factor estimation. The study involved 300 subjects, including 60% women and 40% men, with a mean age of 49.9 ± 14.5 years. The most common risk factor was abdominal obesity, identified in 75% of subjects; general obesity was detected in 48%, while 32% of subjects were overweight and 20% were normally weighted. Hypertension was observed in 44%; 8% of those examined had atrial fibrillation, and 9% had diabetes mellitus. Left myocardial hypertrophy on ECG was present in 53% of subjects, and acute ischemic changes in 2%. Laboratory observations detected that glycosylated hemoglobin increased by 7%, and >50% had dyslipidemia. Total cholesterol was significantly elevated by 58%, LDL-cholesterol was increased by 32%, and HDL-cholesterol was decreased by 9%. Homocysteine was increased in 55% and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in 28% of subjects. These results indicate the presence of modifiable risk factors and the necessity to elaborate on the primary prevention strategies aimed at minimizing the burden of stroke in the population of the Republic of Moldova.

Bacterial colonization of open wounds is common, and patients with infected wounds often report significantly elevated pain sensitivity at the wound site. Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid Type 1 (TRPV1) channels are known to play an important role in pain signaling and may be sensitized under pro-inflammatory conditions. Bacterial membrane components, such as phosphoethanolamine dihydroceramide (PEDHC), phosphoglycerol dihydroceramide (PGDHC), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), are released in the environment from the Gram-negative bacteria of the Bacteroidetes species colonizing the infected wounds. Here, we used intracellular calcium imaging and patch-clamp electrophysiology approaches to determine whether bacterially derived PEDHC, PGDHC, or LPS can modulate the activity of the TRPV1 channels heterologously expressed in HEK cells. We found that PEDHC and PGDHC can sensitize TRPV1 in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas LPS treatment does not significantly affect TRPV1 activity in HEK cells. We propose that sensitization of TRPV1 channels by Bacteroidetes-derived dihydroceramides may at least in part underlie the increased pain sensitivity associated with wound infections.

Unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanosine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) induce inflammatory cytokines and type I interferons (IFNs) to activate the immune system. To apply CpG ODNs as vaccine adjuvants, the cellular uptake and stability of phosphodiester-based, non-modified ODNs require further improvement. Previously developed new CpG ODNs forming guanine-quadruplex (G4) structures showed higher nuclease resistance and cellular uptake than linear CpG ODNs; however, the complex formation of G4-CpG ODNs with antigen proteins is necessary for their application as vaccine adjuvants. In this study, we utilized a cationic polymer, ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PLL), as a carrier for G4-CpG ODNs and antigen. The ε-PLL/G4-CpG ODN complex exhibited enhanced stability against nucleases. Cellular uptake of the ε-PLL/G4-CpG ODN complex positively correlated with the N/P ratio. In comparison to naked G4-CpG ODNs, the ε-PLL/G4-CpG ODN complex induced extremely high levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, and IFN-β. Relative immune cytokine production was successfully tuned by N/P ratio modification. Mice with the ε-PLL/G4-CpG ODN/ovalbumin (OVA) complex showed increased OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgG1, and IgG2c levels, whereas total IgE levels did not increase and weight gain rates were not affected. Therefore, ε-PLL can serve as a safe and effective phosphodiester-based, non-modified CpG ODN delivery system, and the ε-PLL/G4-CpG ODN/antigen complex is a highly promising candidate for vaccine adjuvants and can be further used in clinical research.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, no viral genome sequences of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been documented from the Republic of Moldova, a developing country geographically located in Eastern Europe between Romania and Ukraine. Here, we report the analysis of 96 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Delta and Omicron variants of the SARS-CoV-2 cases in the Republic of Moldova obtained between August and November 2021 and between January and May 2022. Comparison to global viral sequences showed that among the Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2, AY.122 (n = 25), followed by AY.4.2.3 (n = 6), AY.4 (n = 5), AY.43 (n = 3), AY.98.1 (n = 3), B.1.617.2 (n = 1), AY.125 (n = 1), AY.54 (n = 1), AY.9 (n = 1), AY.126 (n = 1), and AY.33 (n = 1) were the most frequently found lineages. Furthermore, 10 lineages of the Omicron variant, namely, BA.2 (n = 14), followed by BA.2.9 (n = 10), BA.1 (n = 5), BA.1.1 (n = 5), BA.1.18 (n = 4), BA.1.15.1 (n = 3), BA.1.17.2 (n = 2), BA.1.17 (n = 2), BA.1.15 (n = 1), and BA.2.1 (n = 1) were detected. In addition, we also identified the impact of the military crisis between Russia and Ukraine, when the COVID-19 epidemiological rules collapsed, on the distribution of Delta and Omicron variants in the Republic of Moldova. Additional studies are warranted to characterize further the impact of the war between Russia and Ukraine on the genomic epidemiology of the SARS-CoV-2 in the Republic of Moldova and Eastern Europe.

Background: More than half of the pregnant women are affected by lumbopelvic pain (LPP) in their daily lives. Physical activity (PA) contributes to LPP relief. There are several reports on exercise habits, including the recommended activity intensity (moderate) and time spent (at least three times a week); however, only a few detailed reports on household/child-rearing and occupational activity are available. Therefore, this study explored the relationships between housework/child-rearing, occupational hours, and LPP. Methods: This study included 95 pregnant females who attended an obstetrics and gynecology hospital. The participants were divided into two groups based on the results of an interview on the presence of LPP and classified by intensity or category using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ-J). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare PA between the two groups. When a significant difference was observed, we performed logistic regression analysis using body mass index (BMI) as an adjustment variable. Results: There were 16 females with LPP and 17 women without LPP in the third trimester. There were significant associations between the PPAQ scores of housework/child-rearing activities and LPP in the third trimester. No significant differences in any category of PPAQ scores were observed between the groups with and without LPP in the first and second trimester of pregnancy. Conclusions: Our study showed the association between PA and LPP in the third pregnancy. Pregnant females with LPP tended to spend more time on housework and child-rearing necessary for their lives. The duration of housework and child rearing should be reduced because of prolonged standing and the burden on the lumbar area.

Although periprosthetic osteolysis induced by wear debris particles is significantly elevated in senior (65+ years old) patients, most of the published pre-clinical studies were performed using young (less than three-month old) mice indicating the critical need to employ experimental models of particle-induced osteolysis involving mice with advanced age. Emerging evidence indicates that currently available antiresorptive bone therapies have serious age-dependent side effects. However, a resurgence of healthcare interest has occurred in glycyrrhizin (GLY), a natural extract from the licorice roots, as alternative sources of drugs for treating inflammatory bone lytic diseases and prevention of cellular senescence. This study investigated the effects of GLY on inflammatory bone loss as well as expression patterns of senescence-associated secretory phenotype and senescence-protective markers using an experimental calvarium osteolytic model induced in aged (twenty-four-month-old) mice by polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles. Our results indicate that local treatment with GLY significantly diminished the size of inflammatory osteolytic lesions in aged mice via the number of CXCR4+OCPs and Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive (TRAP+) osteoclasts. Furthermore, GLY dramatically decreased the amounts of senescence-associated secretory phenotype markers, including pro-inflammatory macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) chemokine, and cathepsins B and K in the bone lesions of aged mice. By contrast, GLY significantly elevated expression patterns of senescence-protective markers, including homeostatic stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1) chemokine, and sirtuin-1, and sirtuin-6, in the PMMA particle-induced calvarial lesions of aged mice. Collectively, these data suggest that GLY can be used for the development of novel therapies to control bone loss and tissue aging in senior patients with periprosthetic osteolysis.

Abstract Using a mass-loss method, we investigated the solubility change of gallium nitride (GaN) in supercritical ammonia with mixed mineralizers [ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) + ammonium bromide (NH4Br) and NH4Cl + ammonium iodide (NH4I)]. The solubilities were measured over the temperature range 450–550 °C, at 100 MPa. The solubility increased with NH4Cl mole fraction at 450 °C and 100 MPa. The temperature dependence of the solubility curve was then measured at an equal mole ratio of the two mineralizers. The slope of the solubility–temperature relationship in the mixed mineralizer was between those of the individual mineralizers. These results show that the temperature dependence of the solubility of GaN can be controlled by the mineralizer mixture ratio. The results of the van’t Hoff plot suggest that the solubility species were unchanged over the investigated temperature range. Our approach might pave the way to realizing large, high-quality GaN crystals for future gallium-nitride electronic devices, which are increasingly on demand in the information-based age.

Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are seagrass specialists distributed in shallow coastal waters in tropical and subtropical seas. The area and distribution of the dugongs' feeding trails, which are unvegetated winding tracks left after feeding, have been used as an indicator of their feeding ground utilization. However, current ground-based measurements of these trails require a large amount of time and effort. Here, we developed effective methods to observe the dugongs' feeding trails using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images (1) by extracting the dugong feeding trails using deep neural networks. Furthermore, we demonstrated two applications as follows; (2) extraction of the daily new feeding trails with deep neural networks and (3) estimation the direction of the feeding trails. We obtained aerial photographs from the intertidal seagrass bed at Talibong Island, Trang Province, Thailand. The F1 scores, which are a measure of binary classification model's accuracy taking false positives and false negatives into account, for the method (1) were 89.5% and 87.7% for the images with ground sampling resolutions of 1 cm/pixel and 0.5 cm/pixel, respectively, while the F1 score for the method (2) was 61.9%. The F1 score for the method (1) was high enough to perform scientific studies on the dugong. However, the method (2) should be improved, and there remains a need for manual correction. The mean area of the extracted daily new feeding trails from September 12-27, 2019, was 187.8 m2 per day (n = 9). Total 63.9% of the feeding trails was estimated to have direction within a range of 112.5° and 157.5°. These proposed new methods will reduce the time and efforts required for future feeding trail observations and contribute to future assessments of the dugongs' seagrass habitat use.

BackgroundAmong different types of sphingolipids produced by human cells, the possible engagement of ceramide species in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has attracted recent attention. While ceramides are primarily generated by de novo synthesis in mammalian cells, only a limited number of bacterial species, produce ceramides, including phosphoglycerol dihydroceramide (PGDHC) that is produced by the key periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. Emerging evidence indicates that virulence factors produced by P. gingivalis, such as lipopolysaccharide and gingipain, may be engaged in the initiation and/or progression of AD. However, the potential role of PGDHC in the pathogenesis of AD remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of PGDHC on hallmark findings in AD.Material and MethodsCHO-7WD10 and SH-SY-5Y cells were exposed to PGDHC and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from P. gingivalis. Soluble Aβ42 peptide, amyloid precursor protein (APP), phosphorylated tau and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors were quantified using ELISA and Western blot assays. ResultsOur results indicate that P. gingivalis (Pg)-derived PGDHC, but not Pg-LPS, upregulated secretion of soluble Aβ42 peptide and expression of APP in CHO-7WD10 cells. Furthermore, hyperphosphorylation of tau protein was observed in SH-SY-5Y cells in response to PGDHC lipid. In contrast, Pg-LPS had little, or no significant effect on the tau phosphorylation induced in SH-SY-5Y cells. However, both PGDHC and Pg-LPS contributed to the senescence of SH-SY5Y cells as indicated by the production of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) markers, including beta-galactosidase, cathepsin B (CtsB), and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, and IL-6. Additionally, PGDHC diminished expression of the senescence-protection marker sirtuin-1 in SH-SY-5Y cells.ConclusionsAltogether, our results indicate that P. gingivalis-derived PGDHC ceramide promotes amyloidogenesis and hyperphosphorylation, as well as the production of SASP factors. Thus, PGDHC may represent a novel class of bacterial-derived virulence factors for AD associated with periodontitis.

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a non-histone DNA-binding protein of about 30 kDa. It is released from a variety of cells into the extracellular milieu in response to inflammatory stimuli and acts on specific cell-surface receptors, such as receptors for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), Toll-like receptor (TLR)2, TLR4, with or without forming a complex with other molecules. HMGB1 mediates various mechanisms such as inflammation, cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. On the other hand, HMGB1 enhances chemotaxis acting through the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)12/C-X-C chemokine receptor (CXCR)4 axis and is involved in regeneration. In the oral cavity, high levels of HMGB1 have been detected in the gingival tissue from periodontitis and peri-implantitis patients, and it has been shown that secreted HMGB1 induces pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which prolong inflammation. In contrast, wound healing after tooth extraction or titanium dental implant osseointegration requires an initial acute inflammation, which is regulated by secreted HMGB1. This indicates that secreted HMGB1 regulates angiogenesis and bone remodeling by osteoclast and osteoblast activation and promotes bone healing in oral tissue repair. Therefore, HMGB1 can prolong inflammation in the periodontal tissue and, conversely, can regenerate or repair damaged tissues in the oral cavity. In this review, we highlight the role of HMGB1 in the oral cavity by comparing its function and regulation with its function in other diseases. We also discuss the necessity for further studies in this field to provide more specific scientific evidence for dentistry.

A series of amphiphilic biphenylylacetylene-based homo- and copolymers (PBPAs) carrying chiral and/or achiral oligo(ethylene glycol) pendants at the 4′-position of the biphenyl units were synthesized and the amplification of the macromolecular helicity through noncovalent and/or covalent chiral interactions followed by the memory of the helicity were investigated in both water and organic solvents. The macromolecular helicity was efficiently induced in the homopolymers of achiral monomers through specific encapsulation of a catalytic amount of hydrophobic chiral guests in water and their induced helicities were stably memorized in water after complete removal of the optically-active guests, while an excess helical sense was not biased at all in the homopolymers in toluene. One-handed macromolecular helicities were also efficiently induced in the chiral homopolymers through chiral information transfer from covalently linked optically-active pendants with a point chirality to biphenyl units with a dynamic axial chirality, whose helical senses were almost perfectly inverted in water and organic solvents. The achiral/chiral copolymers displayed a unique bidirectional (P and M) strong chiral amplification of the macromolecular helicity in water and toluene assisted by the solvent-induced helix-inversion, and their macromolecular helicities were further enhanced or inverted through encapsulation of a catalytic amount of enantiomeric alcohols in water, which could be further memorized in water after removing the encapsulated guests. We also demonstrated that the left- and right-handed circularly polarized lights could be generated through chirality transfer from the one-handed helical polymers with a macromolecular helicity memory, consisting entirely of achiral monomer units, to an achiral fluorescent dye in the blended films. Importantly, the resulting luminescence dissymmetry factors (ca. 2 × 10–3) were virtually the same as those of chiral homopolymers composed of the optically-pure repeating units.

IntroductionHigh heeled shoes have long been worn in society and they are known to cause biomechanical imbalances to not only the foot, but the whole musculoskeletal system. This study aims to show the detailed changes that happen to the shape of the transverse arch of the foot in high heels, using two different inclination degrees.Methods68 women participated in this study. Two custom-made high heels were made with inclinations of 15 degrees and 30 degrees (cm). A weight-bearing ultrasound was used to assess the coronal view of the transverse arch in standing. ANOVA and Tuckey tests were used to compare the results between 0 degrees, 15 degrees and 30 degrees inclinations.ResultsThe transverse arch height was slightly increased as the heel height increased (0DI-15DI: p = 0.5852 / 15DI-30DI: p = 0.395 / 0DI-30DI: p = 0.0593). The transverse arch length (0DI-15DI: p = 0.0486 / 15DI-30DI: p = 0.0004 / 0DI-30DI: p = 0.1105) and the area under the metatarsal heads (0DI-15DI: p = 0.0422 / 15DI-30DI: p = 0.0180 / 0DI-30DI: p = 0.9463) significantly decreased as the heel height increased.DiscussionThe main changes were viewed in the 30 degrees inclinations compared to 0 degrees inclination. When the toes are dorsiflexed in high heels, it stimulates the Windlass mechanism which in turn stiffens the plantar fascia and adducts the metatarsal heads, while the soft tissues shrink in response to loads.ConclusionHigh heels affected the shape of the transverse arch even in short term standing, and these effects increased as the height of the heel increased.

The electrical and physical properties of atomic layer deposition high-k (Al2O3 and HfO2) /InxGa1-xAs (x = 0.53, 0.7, and 1) MOS interfaces with (NH4)Sy, BHF, and HF pretreatment are examined. It is found that, as the In content (x) becomes higher, InxGa1-xAs MOS interfaces with BHF and HF cleaning show better C-V characteristics and lower interface state density (Dit) than with (NH4)Sy pretreatment. Also, the amounts of arsenic oxides, evaluated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, at the high In content Al2O3/InxGa1-xAs MOS interfaces are found to increase with BHF and HF cleaning than with (NH4)Sy cleaning. These results suggest that arsenic oxides can contribute to passivation of high-k/InxGa1-xAs MOS interface defects and the decrease in Dit for x = 0.7 and 1. Finally, we propose a physical model to explain the relationship between possible interface defects responsible for Dit and the pretreatment effects with the different In contents.

Objective: To develop N. dimidiatum-specific single PCR-based identification with DNA sequences of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 region primers to facilitate the rapid and accurate detection of N. dimidiatum. Methods: N. dimidiatum-specific PCR primers were designed based on the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer 1 region, which is located between 18S and 5.8S nuclear rDNA. Fungal DNA extracted from common causative species for superficial fungal infection including: 2 strains of N. dimidiatum, 9 species of dermatophyte (DMP) and 25 species of non-dermatophyte (NDM) colonies grown on culture plates were used for PCR analysis. Also, 30 clinical specimens collected from 30 patients clinically diagnosed with fungal nail and feet infection who attended Dermatology clinic Siriraj Hospital during October 2015 to November 2015 were used for PCR assay. Results: Using N. dimidiatum-specific PCR primers, the PCR product was amplified from two standard strains of N. dimidiatum, and there was no amplification from other DMP or NDM species. Regarding sensitivity as lower limit of detection, this PCR method was able to detect 10 pg of N. dimidiatum DNA with ethidium bromide staining and could detect N. dimidiatum in clinical samples. Conclusion: This newly developed N. dimidiatum-specific PCR identification system is rapid, sensitive, and specific. This diagnostic method will facilitate early and accurate diagnosis and accelerate appropriate treatment in patients with N. dimidiatum infection.

It was reported that cilostazol (CLZ) suppressed disruption of the microvasculature in ischemic areas. In this study, we have designed novel injection formulations containing CLZ nanoparticles using 0.5% methylcellulose, 0.2% docusate sodium salt, and mill methods (CLZnano dispersion; particle size 81 ± 59 nm, mean ± S.D.), and investigated their toxicity and usefulness in a cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury model (MCAO/reperfusion mice). The pharmacokinetics of injections of CLZnano dispersions is similar to that of CLZ solutions prepared with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, and no changes in the rate of hemolysis of rabbit red blood cells, a model of cell injury, were observed with CLZnano dispersions. In addition, the intravenous injection of 0.6 mg/kg CLZnano dispersions does not affect the blood pressure and blood flow, and the 0.6 mg/kg CLZnano dispersions ameliorate neurological deficits and ischemic stroke in MCAO/reperfusion mice. It is possible that the CLZnano dispersions will provide effective therapy for ischemic stroke patients, and that injection preparations of lipophilic drugs containing drug nanoparticles expand their therapeutic usage.

Ceramide and sphingosine are important interconvertible sphingolipid metabolites which govern various signaling pathways related to different aspects of cell survival and senescence. The conversion of ceramide into sphingosine is mediated by ceramidases. Altogether, five human ceramidases—named acid ceramidase, neutral ceramidase, alkaline ceramidase 1, alkaline ceramidase 2, and alkaline ceramidase 3—have been identified as having maximal activities in acidic, neutral, and alkaline environments, respectively. All five ceramidases have received increased attention for their implications in various diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and Farber disease. Furthermore, the potential anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of ceramidases in host cells exposed to pathogenic bacteria and viruses have also been demonstrated. While ceramidases have been a subject of study in recent decades, our knowledge of their pathophysiology remains limited. Thus, this review provides a critical evaluation and interpretive analysis of existing literature on the role of acid, neutral, and alkaline ceramidases in relation to human health and various diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and infectious diseases. In addition, the essential impact of ceramidases on tissue regeneration, as well as their usefulness in enzyme replacement therapy, is also discussed.

Flow experience is a subjective state experienced during holistic involvement in a certain activity, which has been reported to function as a factor promoting motivation, skill development, and better performance in the activity. To verify the positive effects of flow and develop a method to utilize it, the establishment of a reliable measurement of the flow state is essential. The present study utilized an electroencephalogram (EEG) during an experimentally evoked flow state and examined the possibility of objective measurement of immediate flow. A total of 16 participants (10 males, 6 females) participated in the experiment that employed a mental arithmetic task developed in a previous study. Post-trial self-report of the flow state and EEG during task execution were measured and compared among three conditions (Boredom, Flow, and Overload) that had different levels of task difficulty. Furthermore, the correlations between subjective flow items and EEG activity were examined. As expected, the ratings on the subjective evaluation items representing the flow state were the highest in the Flow condition. Regarding the EEG data, theta activities in the frontal areas were higher in the Flow and the Overload conditions than in the Boredom condition, and alpha activity in the frontal areas and the right central area gradually increased depending on the task difficulty. These EEG activities correlated with self-reported flow experience, especially items related to the concentration on the task and task difficulty. From the results, the flow state was characterized by increased theta activities in the frontal areas and moderate alpha activities in the frontal and central areas. The former may be related to a high level of cognitive control and immersion in task, and the latter suggests that the load on the working memory was not excessive. The findings of this study suggest the possibility of distinguishing the flow state from other states using multiple EEG activities and indicate the need for other physiological indicators corresponding to the other aspects of flow experience.

In cucumber seedlings, gravitropism interferes with hydrotropism, which results in the nearly complete inhibition of hydrotropism under stationary conditions. However, hydrotropic responses are induced when the gravitropic response in the root is nullified by clinorotation. Columella cells in the root cap sense gravity, which induces the gravitropic response. In this study, we found that removing the root tip induced hydrotropism in cucumber roots under stationary conditions. The application of auxin transport inhibitors to cucumber seedlings under stationary conditions suppressed the hydrotropic response induced by the removal of the root tip. To investigate the expression of genes related to hydrotropism in de-tipped cucumber roots, we conducted transcriptome analysis of gene expression by RNA-Seq using seedlings exhibiting hydrotropic and gravitropic responses. Of the 21 and 45 genes asymmetrically expressed during hydrotropic and gravitropic responses, respectively, five genes were identical. Gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated that the category auxin-inducible genes was significantly enriched among genes that were more highly expressed in the concave side of the root than the convex side during hydrotropic or gravitropic responses. Reverse transcription followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed that root hydrotropism induced under stationary conditions (by removing the root tip) was accompanied by the asymmetric expression of several auxin-inducible genes. However, intact roots did not exhibit the asymmetric expression patterns of auxin-inducible genes under stationary conditions, even in the presence of a moisture gradient. These results suggest that the root tip inhibits hydrotropism by suppressing the induction of asymmetric auxin distribution. Auxin transport and distribution not mediated by the root tip might play a role in hydrotropism in cucumber roots.

Background: Although statin therapy is beneficial for the prevention of initial stroke, the benefit for recurrent stroke and its subtypes remains to be determined in Asian, in whom stroke profiles are different from Caucasian. This study examined whether treatment with low-dose pravastatin prevents stroke recurrence in ischemic stroke patients. Methods: This is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint, parallel-group study of patients who experienced non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke. All patients had a total cholesterol level between 4.65 and 6.21 mmol/L at enrollment, without the use of statins. The pravastatin group patients received 10 mg of pravastatin/day; the control group patients received no statins. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA), with the onset of each stroke subtype set to be one of the secondary endpoints. Finding: Although 3000 patients were targeted, 1578 patients (491 female, age 66.2 years) were recruited and randomly assigned to pravastatin group or control group. During the follow-up of 4.9 ± 1.4 years, although total stroke and TIA similarly occurred in both groups (2.56 vs. 2.65%/year), onset of atherothrombotic infarction was less frequent in pravastatin group (0.21 vs. 0.64%/year, p = 0.0047, adjusted hazard ratio 0.33 [95%CI 0.15 to 0.74]). No significant intergroup difference was found for the onset of other stroke subtypes, and for the occurrence of adverse events. Interpretation: Although whether low-dose pravastatin prevents recurrence of total stroke or TIA still needs to be examined in Asian, this study has generated a hypothesis that it may reduce occurrence of stroke due to larger artery atherosclerosis. Funding: This study was initially supported by a grant from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. After the governmental support expired, it was conducted in collaboration between Hiroshima University and the Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation.

People use relatively low-cost signals to maintain close relationships, in which they engage in costlier exchanges of tangible support. Paying attention to a partner allows an individual to communicate his or her interest in the relationship with the partner. Previous studies have revealed that when Person A pays attention to Person B, B’s feeling of intimacy toward A increases. If social attention strengthens the bond between A and B, it is predicted that A’s attention will also increase B’s generous behavior toward A. This study tested this prediction. Participants first engaged in a collaborative task using computers. In the task, the putative partner (a computer program) either paid or did not pay attention to participants (high attention condition vs. low attention condition). In the control condition, the partner could not choose when to pay attention to participants. They then played three rounds of the dictator game with the partner. Confirming the previous finding, perceived intimacy was highest in the high attention condition, in the middle in the control condition, and lowest in the low attention condition. More importantly, participants in the high attention condition decided to give more resources to their partner than those in the low attention condition (but the difference between the high attention condition and the control condition was not significant). In addition, self-reported intimacy was positively correlated with the resource allocated to the partner. The results of this study demonstrated that social attention fosters a partner’s generosity.

We report and discuss an experiment and numerical simulation of heat transfer by natural convection inside an autoclave for the solvothermal growth of bulk crystalline GaN. The inner diameter and height of the autoclave were φ 20 and 335 mm, respectively. When the bottom heater of the autoclave is removed and the space between the top and bottom heaters is increased, the crystal growth rate increases. The axisymmetric numerical simulation showed that a rising flow from the center hole in the baffle allows a fast growth rate because the rising fluid is GaN-rich and it reaches the GaN seed crystal quickly. The direction of natural convection can be controlled by changing the vertical position of the heater or baffle.

Using ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) under different alkaline conditions, we studied the mechanisms and extents of Cr(VI) reduction and sorption and compared them to reactions with Portland cement (PC). We also investigated the effects of mixing PC/GGBS ratios on Cr(VI) dissolution after carbonating the substrates. We observed a complete sorption and reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in a GGBS-in-Ca(OH)2 solution (pH > ~12.5) after 10 h, whereas in distilled water (pH = ~11.5) GGBS exhibited only marginal sorption and reduction (20%). Cr reactions with dissolved ions in supernatants derived from GGBS indicated that the anions dissolved from GGBS act as a reducing agent for Cr(VI) in a Ca(OH)2 solution. Soft X-ray absorption microscopy identified a partial reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) on the GGBS surface. The carbonation of pure PC paste substantially increased the amount of dissolved Cr(VI) in a solution phase whereas a 5 wt % replacement of PC with GGBS significantly reduced the amount of dissolved Cr(VI). We concluded that in the mixed paste during the early curing stage GGBS reduced a significant fraction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and that the Cr(III) adsorbed in the GGBS-PC mixture’s hydration products does not readily dissolve, even under carbonation conditions.

Numerical simulation of the hydrothermal process for growing two-inch bulk single crystals of ZnO has been done. The autoclave is assumed to be axisymmetric. The heat transfer by natural convection is discussed for flat and funnel-shaped baffles. The funnel-shaped baffle leads to a significant increase in the flow rate between the raw material zone and the crystal growth zone. However, the temperature difference between the two zones does not become very small. Therefore, the funnel-shaped baffle is effective in the hydrothermal crystal growth process from the viewpoint of transport phenomena. The calculations show that the optimum baffle angle about 20°. Similar results are obtained when the raw material is considered as a porous medium.

We report the fabrication of shortened electrospun polymer fibers with a well-defined concentrated polymer brush. We first prepared electrospun nanofibers from a random copolymer of styrene and 4-vinylbenzyl 2-bromopropionate, with number-average molecular weight Mn=105 200 and weight-average molecular weight Mw=296 700 (Mw/Mn=2.82). The fibers had a diameter of 593±74 nm and contained initiating sites for surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). Then, SI-ATRP of hydrophilic styrene sodium sulfonate (SSNa) was carried out in the presence of a free initiator and the hydrophobic fibers. Gel permeation chromatography confirmed that Mn and Mw/Mn values were almost the same for free polymers and graft polymers. Mn agreed well with the theoretical prediction, and Mw/Mn was relatively low (