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Abstract Background Helicobacter pylori secretes cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) into the gastric epithelium, causing gastric mucosal atrophy (GMA) and gastric cancer. In contrast, host cells degrade CagA via autophagy. However, the association between polymorphisms in autophagy-related genes and GMA must be fully elucidated. Results We evaluated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in autophagy-related genes (low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1, LRP1; capping actin protein of muscle Z-line alpha subunit 1, CAPAZ1; and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1, LAMP1) and GMA in 200 H. pylori-positive individuals. The frequency of the T/T genotype at rs1800137 in LRP1 was significantly lower in the GMA group than in the non-GMA group (p = 0.018, odds ratio [OR] = 0.188). The frequencies of the G/A or A/A genotype at rs4423118 and T/A or A/A genotype at rs58618380 of CAPAZ1 in the GMA group were significantly higher than those in the non-GMA group (p = 0.029 and p = 0.027, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that C/C or C/T genotype at rs1800137, T/A or A/A genotype at rs58618380, and age were independent risk factors for GMA (p = 0.038, p = 0.023, and p = 0.006, respectively). Furthermore, individuals with the rs1800137 C/C or C/T genotype of LRP1 had a 5.3-fold higher susceptibility to GMA. These genetic tests may provide future directions for precision medicine for individuals more likely to develop GMA. Conclusion LRP1 and CAPZA1 polymorphisms may be associated with the development of GMA.

A trochanteric fracture is one type of hip fracture. Management of postoperative pain after trochanteric fracture that is caused by decreased gliding between tissues in the lateral thigh is not established. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of compression of the thigh using an elastic bandage on trochanteric fracture after surgery. Multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted in collaboration with the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Unit (sub-acute rehabilitation Unit) in two hospitals. Eligible volunteers ( n = 34) with trochanteric fractures after surgery were randomly assigned to two groups. In the treatment group, participants practiced standing and walking under compression of the thigh with an elastic bandage. The control group was blinded to the intervention and practiced standing and walking under non-compression of the thigh with an elastic bandage. Both groups underwent a standard physical therapy program 2 times a day, daily. Two-way repeated measures of ANOVA showed significant main effect between the groups for gliding between tissue ( p

Mechanical cutting provides one of the most flexible and environmentally friendly excavation methods. It has attracted numerous efforts to model the rock chipping and fragmentation process, especially using the explicit finite element method (FEM) and bonded particle model (BPM), in order to improve cutting efficiency. This study investigates the application of a general-purpose graphic-processing-unit parallelised hybrid finite-discrete element method (FDEM) which enjoys the advantages of both explicit FEM and BPM, in modelling the rock chipping and fragmentation process in the rock scratch test of mechanical rock cutting. The input parameters of FDEM are determined through a calibration procedure of modelling conventional Brazilian tensile and uniaxial compressive tests of limestone. A series of scratch tests with various cutting velocities, cutter rake angles and cutting depths is then modelled using FDEM with calibrated input parameters. A few cycles of cutter/rock interactions, including their engagement and detachment process, are modelled for each case, which is conducted for the first time to the best knowledge of the authors, thanks to the general purpose graphic processing units (GPGPU) parallelisation. The failure mechanism, cutting force, chipping morphology and effect of various factors on them are discussed on the basis of the modelled results. Finally, it is concluded that GPGPU-parallelised FDEM provides a powerful tool to further study rock cutting and improve cutting efficiencies since it can explicitly capture different fracture mechanisms contributing to the rock chipping as well as chip formation and the separation process in mechanical cutting. Moreover, it is concluded that chipping is mostly owed to the mix-mode I-II fracture in all cases although mode II cracks and mode I cracks are the dominant failures in rock cutting with shallow and deep cutting depths, respectively. The chip morphology is found to be a function of cutter velocity, cutting depth and cutter rake angle. Keywords: Numerical simulation, Finite-discrete element method (FDEM), Rock cutting, Chipping, Cracking

Helicobacter pylori infection results in gastric cancer (GC) with gastric mucosal atrophy (GMA). Some single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the prostate stem cell antigen gene (PSCA) are associated with GC and duodenal ulcers. However, the relationship of other identified SNPs in PSCA with these diseases remains unclear. Herein, the association between PSCA SNPs and GMA among 195 Japanese individuals with H. pylori infection was evaluated. The definition of GMA or non-GMA was based on serum pepsinogen levels or endoscopic findings. Five tag PSCA SNPs were analyzed using PCR high-resolution melting curve analysis with nonlabelled probes. The frequencies of alleles and the genotypes of each tag SNP were compared between the GMA and non-GMA groups. Subsequently, a genetic test was performed using associated SNPs as biomarkers to detect patients developing GMA. Two tag PSCA SNPs (rs2920280 and rs2294008) were related to GMA susceptibility. Individuals with the rs2920280 G/G genotype or the rs2294008 T/T genotype in PSCA had 3.5- and 2.1-fold susceptibility to GMA, respectively. In conclusion, SNP rs2920280 is a possible biomarker for detecting individuals developing GMA. PSCA polymorphisms may be useful biomarkers for predicting GMA linked to GC risk and a screening endoscopy strategy to detect GC related to early stage H. pylori associated GMA.

The Higashi-Shikagoe limestone quarry is an open-pit mine situated in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, that has experienced four slope failure incidents since 1996. The rock slope behaviour has been monitored since the first failure event by measuring the rock slope surface displacement using an automated polar system. Recent measurements have revealed a gradual decrease of the distance between the beam generator and mirrors over time; however, the displacements and decrease rate differs between the centre and left- and right-hand sides of the quarry. This implies that the deformation characteristics of the rock slope and factors influencing the slope deformation differ at the centre and left- and right-hand sides of the quarry. In this study, the two-dimensional finite element method was used to identify the causes of slope deformation by investigating the effects of limestone excavation at the foot of the rock slope, the deterioration of a ∼70 m-thick clay layer at the rock slope foot wall, and shear failure owing to rainfall infiltration. The numerical results show that slope deformation on the left-hand side and centre of the quarry are induced by clay deterioration, whereas the right-hand side of the quarry is deformed owing to floor excavation and/or shear sliding. The rock slope is presently stable because the magnitude of the rate of displacement decrease is small and no acceleration is observed.

Trochanteric fractures lead to severe functional deficits and gait disorders compared to femoral neck fractures. This study aims to investigate gait parameters related to gliding between tissues (gliding) after trochanteric fracture (TF) surgery. This study implemented a cross-sectional design and was conducted amongst patients who underwent TF surgery (n = 94) approximately three weeks post-trochanteric fracture surgery. The following parameters were evaluated: (1) gliding between tissues; (2) lateral femoral pain during loading; (3) maximum gait speed; (4) stride time variability and step time asymmetry as measures of gait cycle variability; (5) double stance ratio and single stance ratio for assessment of stance phase, (6) jerk; and (7) Locomotor rehabilitation index as a measure of force changes during gait. The gliding coefficient was significantly correlated with lateral femoral pain (r = 0.517), jerk root mean square (r = −0.433), and initial contact-loading response jerk (r = −0.459). The jerk of the force change value during gait was also effective in understanding the characteristics of the gait in the initial contact-loading response in patients with trochanteric fractures. Additionally, gliding is related not only to impairments such as pain but also to disabilities such as those affecting gait.

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are used as internal curing agents in cementitious materials, which reduce autogenous shrinkage in concrete as they have a low water-to-cement ratios and improve the freeze–thaw resistance. However, the compressive strength of concrete may also be reduced due to additional voids in the hydrated cement matrix. In this study, we fabricated a delayed absorption type of SAP (I-SAP) composed of cross-linked modified acrylate and studied its absorption characteristics and effect on compressive strength after 28 days. Furthermore, the effect of curing conditions on the strength of concrete and hydrated cement paste with SAP were investigated. The absorption capacity of I-SAP in the synthetic pore solution and deionised water was examined and compared with that of a conventional SAP, and the former was absorbed more by I-SAP. The results revealed that the compressive strength of concrete increased with the addition of I-SAP, particularly with the curing condition of 60% RH. Although the compressive strength of hydrated cement paste with I-SAP reduced in water or sealed curing conditions, no loss of strength in the paste cured at 60% RH was seen. The cement matrix densification due to hydration of belite around the SAP surface is the main mechanism for strength development in concrete cured at sealed and 60% RH. However, the voids formed by SAP control the compressive strength of hydrated paste.

Recent years have seen an increase in demand for the demolition of obsolete and potentially hazardous structures, including reinforced concrete (RC) structures, using blasting techniques. However, because the risk of failure is significantly higher when applying blasting to demolish RC structures than mechanical dismantling, it is critical to achieve the optimal demolition design and conditions using blasting by taking into account the major factors affecting a structure’s demolition. To this end, numerical analysis techniques have frequently been used to simulate the progressive failure resulting in the collapse of structures. In this study, the three-dimensional (3D) combined finite discrete element method (FDEM), which is accelerated by a parallel computation technique incorporating a general-purpose graphics processing unit (GPGPU), was coupled with the one-dimensional (1D) reinforcing bar (rebar) model as a numerical simulation tool for simulating the process of RC structure demolition by blasting. Three-point bending tests on the RC beams were simulated to validate the developed 3D FDEM code, including the calibration of 3D FDEM input parameters to simulate the concrete fracture in the RC beam accurately. The effect of the elements size for the concrete part on the RC beam’s fracture process was also discussed. Then, the developed 3D FDEM code was used to model the blasting demolition of a small-scale RC structure. The numerical simulation results for the progressive collapse of the RC structure were compared to the actual experimental results and found to be highly consistent.

Duodenogastric reflux (DGR) causes bile reflux gastritis (BRG) and may develop into gastric cancer. DGR is classified as primary in non-operated stomachs or secondary to surgical intervention. Primary DGR and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection are reportedly related. However, the mechanism is not fully understood. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between H. pylori infection and pyloric incompetence in a non-operated stomach. A total of 502 non-operated participants who underwent an upper intestinal endoscopy were prospectively enrolled. Endoscopic findings (EAC, endoscopic atrophy classification; nodular gastritis; xanthoma; fundic gland polyp; and incompetence of pylorus), sex, age, gastrin, pepsinogen (PG) I and PG II levels were evaluated. PG I/PG II ratio, anti-H. pylori-Ab positivity, and atrophic gastritis status were significantly different between the normal and incompetent pylori (p = 0.043, H. pylori-Ab was the only independent factor associated with the incompetence of the pylorus, with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.70 (95% CI: 1.47–4.94, p = 0.001). In conclusion, pyloric incompetence was associated with H. pylori infection and moderately correlated to the severity of atrophic gastritis in non-operated stomachs.

Small-scale underground coal gasification (UCG) model tests with a linking hole were carried out using two types of specimens made of either block coal or crushed coal to clarify their characteristics of combustion and gasification. Many similar characteristics were found between both specimens in terms of temperature change and its spatial distribution as well as concentration and heating value of each gas product as long as the crushed coal specimen was sufficiently consolidated. The shape and dimension of the cavity formed in the both specimens were also similar. Texture of the both specimens was changed after the combustion and gasification. Initiation of radial cracks from the linking hole was found in the both specimens. Within the zone with the radial cracks initiation, grains in the crushed coal were bonded whereas cleats in the block coal were healed. The grain bonding and the cleavage healing can be explained by melting and expansion of coal due to temperature increase. The radial cracks are likely initiated after the grain bonding or the cleavage healing due to tensile thermal stress induced by temperature gradient in the coal specimens. It can be concluded that the characteristics of combustion and gasification of the crushed coal and the block coal are similar because both types of coals become similar in texture through combustion and gasification. These results indicate that characteristics of combustion and gasification of coal seam can be mostly estimated from a model test with artificial coal seam made of crushed coal.

Abstract The PREDICTS project—Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/our-work/biodiversity/predicts.html)—has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversity.

This paper proposes a method that fuses two kinds of stereo measurements using a fisheye stereo camera. A stereo measurement method can be divided into two types: binocular and motion stereo. Generally, the accuracy of long range depends on the baseline of the camera. In case of the binocular stereo, the direction of the baseline is horizontal. Its size is small due to the convenience of installation conditions. By contrast, in the case of the motion stereo, the direction of the baseline changes depending on the direction of the camera motion. For example, the direction of the baseline is the optical axis when a stereo camera is mounted on a vehicle or a mobile robot that drives in the forward direction. When the speed is high such as in driving, its baseline becomes larger as it becomes the moving distance between frames. Therefore, between the two stereo measurements there are differences in the magnitude of the baseline and the uncertainty of the position in the image. In addition, the area-based approach is used for binocular stereo and the feature-based approach is used for motion stereo at the time of corresponding point search. So, robustness against false matching is different. In this paper, we try to fuse the two stereo measurements in order to realize more accurate range image generation. A method, which restricts the disparity search range using the reference disparity map and a bilateral-like filter, which is a weighted averaging are proposed for fusing the two stereo measurements. The proposed methods are verified by experiments in indoor and outdoor environments.

A persistent increase in the permeability of rock mass caused by transient stress disturbances, if present, could explain the variation in the groundwater level in far fields, increase in petroleum production caused by earthquakes or artificial vibrations in enhanced oil recovery, and induction of earthquakes by seismic waves in intermediate and far fields. However, it has not been verified whether the transient stress disturbances induce an increase or decrease in the rock permeability. In this study, the permeability values of intact and triaxially fractured Kushiro Cretaceous sandstone and Shikotsu welded tuff were measured before and after transient axial stress or pore pressure disturbances to clarify the effects of transient stress disturbances on rock permeability. According to the experimental results, the stress disturbances showed either decreasing or increasing effects on the permeability depending on the rock type and experimental conditions. However, when focusing on the fractured rocks rather than the intact ones, which would be more important in field applications, the argillaceous Kushiro Cretaceous sandstone mainly exhibited decreasing effects and the glassy Shikotsu welded tuff mainly exhibited increasing effects.

To develop affordable countermeasures against the roof falls, the accident records of Mchenga Mine were investigated as the first step. Based on the accident records, it was found that roof falls occurred most in April and May. Humidity measurements were taken both in the underground mine and at surface, and humidity peak appeared in April. The accident occurrence and the underground humidity had a positive correlation in which no roof falls could be expected under a humidity of less than a certain value. Effect of humidity on the indirect tensile strength of the rock samples collected from the mine was investigated, and it showed that the indirect tensile strength decreased with humidity. The diffusion coefficient was measured for the rock samples collected from Mchenga Mine as well as from Kaziwiziwi Mine, and the migration of water vapor into rock mass in the roof was calculated for Mchenga case. It was clarified that the weakening of tensile strength was transmitted upward at several centimeters per day from the immediate roof. This could explain the slight difference of the accident peak in April and May from the humidity peak in April. Introducing fresh and dry outside air, if possible, will not only improve the working environment but also contribute to a decrease in roof falls.

A three-dimensional combined finite-discrete element element method (FDEM), parallelized by a general-purpose graphic-processing-unit (GPGPU), was applied to identify the fracture process of rough concrete–rock joints under direct shearing. The development process of shear resistance under the complex interaction between the rough concrete–rock joint surfaces, i.e., asperity dilatation, sliding, and degradation, was numerically simulated in terms of various asperity roughness under constant normal confinement. It was found that joint roughness significantly affects the development of overall joint shear resistance. The main mechanism for the joint shear resistance was identified as asperity sliding in the case of smoother joint roughness and asperity degradation in the case of rougher joint asperity. Moreover, it was established that the bulk internal friction angle increased with asperity angle increments in the Mohr–Coulomb criterion, and these results follow Patton’s theoretical model. Finally, the friction coefficient in FDEM appears to be an important parameter for simulating the direct shear test because the friction coefficient affects the bulk shear strength as well as the bulk internal friction angle. In addition, the friction coefficient of the rock–concrete joints contributes to the variation of the internal friction angle at the smooth joint than the rough joint.

Abstract Biodiversity continues to decline in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures such as habitat destruction, exploitation, pollution and introduction of alien species. Existing global databases of species’ threat status or population time series are dominated by charismatic species. The collation of datasets with broad taxonomic and biogeographic extents, and that support computation of a range of biodiversity indicators, is necessary to enable better understanding of historical declines and to project – and avert – future declines. We describe and assess a new database of more than 1.6 million samples from 78 countries representing over 28,000 species, collated from existing spatial comparisons of local‐scale biodiversity exposed to different intensities and types of anthropogenic pressures, from terrestrial sites around the world. The database contains measurements taken in 208 (of 814) ecoregions, 13 (of 14) biomes, 25 (of 35) biodiversity hotspots and 16 (of 17) megadiverse countries. The database contains more than 1% of the total number of all species described, and more than 1% of the described species within many taxonomic groups – including flowering plants, gymnosperms, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, beetles, lepidopterans and hymenopterans. The dataset, which is still being added to, is therefore already considerably larger and more representative than those used by previous quantitative models of biodiversity trends and responses. The database is being assembled as part of the PREDICTS project (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems – https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/our-work/biodiversity/predicts.html). We make site‐level summary data available alongside this article. The full database will be publicly available in 2015.

For cementitious composites and materials, the sealing of fractures can occur in water by the precipitation of calcium compounds. In this study, the sealing behavior in a macro-fractured high-strength and ultra-low-permeability concrete (HSULPC) specimen was investigated in simulated seawater using micro-focus X-ray computed tomography (CT). In particular, the influence of fracture width (0.10 and 0.25 mm) on fracture sealing was investigated. Precipitation occurred mainly at the outermost parts of the fractured surface of the specimen for both fracture widths. While significant sealing was observed for the fracture width of 0.10 mm, sealing was not attained for the fracture width of 0.25 mm within the observation period (49 days). Examination of the sealed regions on the macro-fracture was performed using a three-dimensional image registration technique and applying image subtraction between the CT images of the HSULPC specimen before and after maintaining the specimen in simulated seawater. The temporal change of the sealing deposits for the fracture width of 0.10 mm was much larger than that for the fracture width of 0.25 mm. Therefore, it is concluded that the sealability of the fracture in the HSULPC is affected by the fracture width.

Stable suppression of gastric acid secretion is a crucial factor in Helicobacter pylori eradication. Vonoprazan is a potassium-competitive acid blocker recently approved for use in Japan. As vonoprazan has a long duration of action and causes rapid and strong inhibition of gastric acid secretion, it has gained clinical attention for treating erosive oesophagitis, peptic ulcers, and H. pylori infection. In this review, we discuss the recent knowledge regarding the safety and efficacy of vonoprazan, focusing on its use in H. pylori eradication. The latest literature and our clinical experience have shown that vonoprazan-based therapies have satisfactory eradication rates. Additionally, vonoprazan-based therapies are associated with similar rates of adverse events as standard triple therapies with conventional proton-pump inhibitors.

This study contributes to the existing literature on the travel behavioural effects of mobile phone possession and telecommuting by investigating the effects of both and looking at average trips and tours per day as well as tour complexity. In contrast to other studies, we investigate the effects of “informal telecommuting” defined as working from home on a PC. The data used in this study is taken from the London Area Travel Survey 2001, providing us with a large sample size of 87,148 trips. The results of our descriptive and multivariate regression analysis imply that mobile phone possession significantly and positively affects total trips made though not necessarily tour complexity. Our study provides good evidence that mobile phone possession is clearly associated to total tours made. Though telecommuting does decrease work trips, other trips like shopping or leisure trips are likely to increase. We provide further evidence that it is the simple home-work-home tours which decrease through telecommuting and which are replaced by other tour types, keeping the total tour numbers fairly constant. The effects are particularly pronounced for the part-time working population. Controlling for geographic characteristics, we further find that population density has an effect on leisure trips and tour complexity but not on the number of work or shopping trips.

Understanding how complex antibiotics are synthesised by their producer bacteria is essential for creation of new families of bioactive compounds. Thiomarinols, produced by marine bacteria belonging to the genus Pseudoalteromonas, are hybrids of two independently active species: the pseudomonic acid mixture, mupirocin, which is used clinically against MRSA, and the pyrrothine core of holomycin.High throughput DNA sequencing of the complete genome of the producer bacterium revealed a novel 97 kb plasmid, pTML1, consisting almost entirely of two distinct gene clusters. Targeted gene knockouts confirmed the role of these clusters in biosynthesis of the two separate components, pseudomonic acid and the pyrrothine, and identified a putative amide synthetase that joins them together. Feeding mupirocin to a mutant unable to make the endogenous pseudomonic acid created a novel hybrid with the pyrrothine via "mutasynthesis" that allows inhibition of mupirocin-resistant isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase, the mupirocin target. A mutant defective in pyrrothine biosynthesis was also able to incorporate alternative amine substrates.Plasmid pTML1 provides a paradigm for combining independent antibiotic biosynthetic pathways or using mutasynthesis to develop a new family of hybrid derivatives that may extend the effective use of mupirocin against MRSA.

In this study, FDEM (ECZM), which is the combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) based on an extrinsic cohesive zone model (ECZM), was improved by incorporating a novel algorithm that makes it easier to insert the cohesive elements than the conventional adaptive remeshing and a scheme to avoid the generation of dormant cohesive element, which is generated as a result of inserting a single cohesive element within the FDEM mesh. The improved FDEM (ECZM) was implemented in a self-developed 2-dimensional code, and it was first validated against a numerical experiment assuming a virtual rock. Subsequently, the proposed FDEM was applied to model the uniaxial compression and the Brazilian tests of siliceous mudstones under quasi-static loading. The results of the proposed FDEM simulations reasonably captured the trends of fracturing and stress-strain curves observed in the experiments well. The proposed scheme can also be extended to parallel computation based on general-purpose-graphic-processing-unit (GPGPU) and 3-dimensional FDEM (ECZM) with minimal efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]