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Simple Summary: Multilevel societies are the most complex social structures in animals. They are social structures with nested levels of social organization, where stable "core units" gather to form higher-level groups. Such multiple-unit groups usually become very large (usually 100–1000 individuals), making it difficult to conduct observations. Most previous studies lack numerical definitions and descriptions; thus, it is largely unknown how and why animals, including humans, form multilevel societies. Aerial observation from unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) is a powerful method of capturing the spatial structures and movements of large animal groups. Recent advances in drone technology and its application have led to new discoveries, such as the spatial structure of multiunit groups and the underlying mechanisms of collective behavior. We review how previous studies have utilized drones and how drone applications have contributed to the understanding of multilevel societies. We will further discuss the potential opportunities and challenges with regard to drone observations in future studies. Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) have recently been used in various behavioral ecology studies. However, their application has been limited to single groups, and most studies have not implemented individual identification. A multilevel society refers to a social structure in which small stable "core units" gather and make a larger, multiple-unit group. Here, we introduce recent applications of drone technology and individual identification to complex social structures involving multiple groups, such as multilevel societies. Drones made it possible to obtain the identification, accurate positioning, or movement of more than a hundred individuals in a multilevel social group. In addition, in multilevel social groups, drones facilitate the observation of heterogeneous spatial positioning patterns and mechanisms of behavioral propagation, which are different from those in a single-level group. Such findings may contribute to the quantitative definition and assessment of multilevel societies and enhance our understanding of mechanisms of multiple group aggregation. The application of drones to various species may resolve various questions related to multilevel societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: A rare missense mutation was identified as a reversion mutation using cancer genomic profiling and a suspected mechanism underlying resistance to olaparib in breast cancer. A 34‐year‐old woman with breast cancer and BRCA2: p.Gln3047Ter was treated with olaparib. After tumor progression, cancer genomic profiling testing using liquid biopsy revealed BRCA2 p.Gln3047Ter and p.Gln3047Tyr, with 48.9% and 0.37% allele frequency, respectively. These findings shed light on reversion mutation as a mechanism of resistance to olaparib in breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reconstruct the historical trend of lake productivity and trophic status in mountain lakes over the past 60 years, we examined the diatom and cladoceran zooplankton remains, fossil pigments, and organic geochemical proxies in a sediment core from Lake Yamanaka, Japan. The fluxes of fossil pigments and total diatom valves, as well as diatom assemblages, did not show any marked changes from the 1960s to the mid-1970s, suggesting that the anthropogenic nutrient input was insufficient for changing the lake trophic status, despite the increased anthropogenic activities around the lake along with the concurrent rapid economic growth in Japan. After the 1990s, the increased fluxes of fossil pigments and percentage of eutrophic diatom species were suggestive of nutrient enrichment in the lake water. After the late 1990s, the stable nitrogen isotope ratios of bulk sediment (δ15Nbulk) gradually decreased with concurrent increases in the total nitrogen (TN) flux, thereby suggesting enhanced atmospheric nutrient deposition. In addition, the reconstructed Chl-a flux considered for post-burial degradation was significantly positively correlated with the summer surface water temperature since 2006. These findings suggest that, in recent decades, not only the anthropogenic nutrient loadings, but also climate warming might have significantly affected the eutrophication in Lake Yamanaka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a rare disease, particularly among men. Herein, we present a case of GM diagnosed in a 63‐year‐old male patient who showed reduction in the tumor size during 3 months of observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yamaguchi et al. summarized pioneering studies using I Drosophila i models that linked ALS and CMT to epigenetic regulation associated with post-translational histone modifications and noncoding RNAs [[8]]. Indeed, the authors discuss that genetic approaches using I Drosophila i models identified several epigenetic regulators as important modifiers of phenotypes seen in ALS and CMT model flies. Further characterization of these factors in relation to these diseases would be an important future direction, not only for ALS and CMT research but also for studies related to other types of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. The fruit fly I Drosophila melanogaster i is a highly tractable animal model to study various human diseases [[1]]. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Aureobasidium melanigenum is a ubiquitous dematiaceous fungus that rarely causes invasive human infections. Here, we present a case of Aureobasidium melanigenum bloodstream infection in a 20-year-old man with long-term catheter use.Case Presentation: A 20-year-old man receiving home care with severe disabilities due to cerebral palsy and short bowel syndrome, resulting in long-term central venous catheter use, was referred to our hospital with a fever. After the detection of yeast-like cells in blood cultures on day 3, antifungal therapy was initiated. Two identification tests performed at a clinical microbiological laboratory showed different identification results: Aureobasidium pullulans from matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and Cryptococcus albidus from a VITEK2 system. Therefore, we changed the antifungal drug to liposomal amphotericin B. The fungus was identified as A. melanigenum by DNA sequence-based analysis. The patient recovered with antifungal therapy and long-term catheter removal.Conclusion: It is difficult to correctly identify A. melanigenum by routine microbiological testing. Clinicians must pay attention to the process of identification of yeast-like cells and retain A. melanigenum in cases of refractory fungal infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, we propose that the social dynamics of founder populations in novel and newly available environments can have critical effects in shaping species' sociality and can produce long‐lasting changes in social structure and behavior. For founder populations which expand into an underexploited niche separated from the parent population, the necessity of bond formation with strangers, lack of clear territories, and initial abundance of resources can lead to altered initial social dynamics to which subsequent generations adapt. We call this the founder sociality hypothesis. After specifying the theoretical reasoning and mechanism of effect, we focus on three particular cases where the social dynamics of founder populations may have a central role in explaining their modern behavioral ecology. In particular, we develop and review evidence for three predictions of the founder sociality hypothesis in territorial, mixed‐sex group forming species: relatively stronger social bonds in the dispersing sex with relatively weaker bonds in the nondispersing sex, reduced territoriality, and increased social tolerance. We briefly touch on the implications for human evolution given our species' evolutionary history marked by frequent expansion and adaptation to novel environments. We conclude by proposing several experiments and models with testable predictions following from the founder sociality hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to establish an external validation of the Briganti 2019 nomogram in a Japanese cohort to preoperatively evaluate the probability of lymph node invasion in patients with high-risk, clinically localized prostate cancer. Methods: The cohort consisted of 278 patients with prostate cancer diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging-targeted biopsy who underwent radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymph node dissection from 2012 to 2020. Patients were rated using the Briganti 2019 nomogram, which evaluates the probability of lymph node invasion. We used the area under curve of the receiver operating characteristic analysis to quantify the accuracy of the nomogram. Results: Nineteen (6.8%) patients had lymph node invasion. The median number of lymph nodes removed was 18. The area under the curve for the Briganti 2019 was 0.71. When the cutoff was set at 7%, 84 (30.2%) patients with extended pelvic lymph node dissection could be omitted, and only 1 (1.2%) patient with lymph node invasion would be missed. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive values at the 7% cutoff were 94.7, 32.0, and 98.8%, respectively. Conclusion: This external validation showed that the Briganti 2019 nomogram was accurate, although there may still be scope for individual adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human microbiotas are communities of microorganisms living in symbiosis with humans. They play an important role in the host immune response to respiratory viral infection. However, evidence on the human microbiome and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) relationship is insufficient. The aim of this systematic literature review was to evaluate existing evidence on the association between the microbiome and COVID-19 in humans and summarize these data in the pandemic era. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review on the association between the microbiome and COVID-19 in humans by searching PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases for articles in English published up to October 31, 2020. The results were analyzed qualitatively. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020195982). Results: Of the 543 articles identified by searching databases, 16 in line with the research objectives were eligible for qualitative review: eight sampled the microbiome using stool, four using nasopharyngeal or throat swab, three using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and one using lung tissue. Fecal microbiome dysbiosis and increased opportunistic pathogens were reported in COVID-19 patients. Several studies suggested the dysbiosis in the lung microbiome of COVID-19 patients with an abundance of opportunistic pathogens using lower respiratory tract samples. The association between COVID-19 severity and the human microbiome remains uncertain. Conclusion: The human fecal and respiratory tract microbiome changed in COVID-19 patients with opportunistic pathogen abundance. Further research to elucidate the effect of alternation of the human microbiome in disease pathogenesis is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural color colloidal sols of perovskite nanosheets were synthesized and were immobilized in a polymer hydrogel film by in situ photopolymerization, leading to a novel mechanochromic material. Visible absorption spectroscopy, polarized optical microscopy and small‐angle X‐ray scattering revealed that the nanosheets are aligned parallel to the film surface with the periodic distance of up to ca. 300 nm, giving the structural color tunable over full color range. The present structural color gel showed reversible mechanochromic response that detects weak stress of 1 kPa with the quick response time less than 1 ms as well as high mechanical toughness (compressive breaking stress of up to 3 MPa). These excellent properties are suitable for applications for mechano‐sensors and displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural color colloidal sols of perovskite nanosheets were synthesized and were immobilized in a polymer hydrogel film by in situ photopolymerization, leading to a novel mechanochromic material. Visible absorption spectroscopy, polarized optical microscopy and small‐angle X‐ray scattering revealed that the nanosheets are aligned parallel to the film surface with the periodic distance of up to ca. 300 nm, giving the structural color tunable over full color range. The present structural color gel showed reversible mechanochromic response that detects weak stress of 1 kPa with the quick response time less than 1 ms as well as high mechanical toughness (compressive breaking stress of up to 3 MPa). These excellent properties are suitable for applications for mechano‐sensors and displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious lymphocele is a rare post-operative complication of abdominal surgery, and few studies have focused on its causative organisms. The aim in this research is to clarify microbiology and appropriate empiric treatment of infective lymphocele. We performed a single center, retrospective observational study between April 2000 and March 2018 with a case review and literature search. Data were collected in a chart review. Twenty-four cases were founded in our institution. 153 cases, including 16 cases from our institution, that detected causative organisms was also analyzed. Infectious lymphocele was found to occur post gynecological/urological surgery in cancer patients. We also reported that bacteremia incidence and the mortality rate of infectious lymphocele cases were very low. The major sites of infectious lymphocele were pelvis or inguinal area. Our case series and literature review showed Gram positive cocci were the major causative organisms, with Staphylococcus aureus constituting one third of them (53/153 cases). Streptococcus species (26/153cases) and coagulase negative Staphylococci (17/153 cases) were the second and third most detected organisms. In gynecologic and urologic cancer patients, Gram positive cocci were the most common organisms causing lymphocele infection. Gram-positive coverage might be reasonable for empiric therapy in infectious lymphocele. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of severe respiratory illness worldwide, particularly in infants and older adults. Vaccines targeting the fusion glycoprotein (F protein) —one of the surface antigens of RSV— are highly effective in preventing RSV-associated severe lower respiratory tract disease. However, the efficacy of these vaccines against upper respiratory tract challenge needs improvement. Here, we aimed to examine the efficacy of F protein vaccines with or without CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN) as an adjuvant in the upper and lower respiratory tracts in mice. F + CpG ODN induced higher levels of F-specific IgG than that induced by F alone; however, levels of neutralizing antibodies did not increase compared to those induced by F alone. F + CpG ODN induced T helper 1 (Th1) cells while F alone induced T helper 2 (Th2) cells. Moreover, F + CpG ODN improved the protection against RSV challenge in the upper respiratory tract compared to F alone, which was largely dependent on CD4+ T cells. Meanwhile, both F + CpG ODN and F alone protected the lower respiratory tract. In conclusion, we demonstrated that induction of F-specific Th1 cells is an effective strategy to prevent RSV challenge in the upper respiratory tract in F protein vaccines. These data support the development of novel F protein vaccines. • F protein vaccine efficacy in the upper respiratory tract (URT) needs improvement. • We examined the potential of CpG ODN to improve F protein efficacy in mice. • F + CpG ODN increases F-specific Th1 cells but not neutralizing antibody levels. • F + CpG ODN improves protection against RSV challenge in the URT. • CD4+ T cells help protect against RSV challenge in the URT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular ATP is known to promote Th17 cell differentiation in the intestinal lamina propria by stimulating CD70+CD11clow dendritic cells (DCs) via P2X receptors (P2XRs). Recent studies have also shown that Th17 cells enhance antitumor immunity by directly promoting proliferation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). These finding led us to test a P2XR agonist, αβ-methylene ATP (αβ-ATP), as a mucosal vaccine adjuvant to promote CTL responses through Th17 induction. We demonstrated that (i) CD70+CD11clow DCs were present in the nasal lamina propria and expressed P2X1R, P2X2R and P2X4R; (ii) CD70+CD11clow DCs isolated from the nasal lamina propria enhanced Th17 cell differentiation of cocultured splenic CD4+ T cells upon stimulation with αβ-ATP; (iii) mice intranasally immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) and αβ-ATP had increased OVA-specific Th17 cells and CTLs in the nasal lamina propria and regional lymph nodes; (iv) mice intranasally immunized with OVA and αβ-ATP also had elevated resistance to E.G7-OVA tumor growth compared with those intranasally immunized with OVA alone; (v) suramin, a broad-range inhibitor of P2 receptors, suppressed the increases of OVA-specific Th17 cells and CTLs in mice intranasally immunized with OVA and αβ-ATP; and (vi) suramin also abrogated the enhanced antitumor immunity of mice intranasally immunized with OVA and αβ-ATP against E.G7-OVA. Collectively, αβ-ATP may be a promising mucosal adjuvant that promotes antigen-specific CTL responses via CD70+CD11clow DC-mediated Th17 induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research demonstrates the efficacy of behavioral skills training with a textual prompt to establish greetings and conversational skills. This study examined the efficacy of a brief intervention of textual prompts with performance feedback for increasing social niceties of adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder in a simulated workplace. Target social niceties included "Do you have a minute?" when a participant initiated an interaction and "Thank you for your time" when a participant ended the interaction. Results revealed this intervention was effective for 7 of 9 participants. This study expands upon previous studies by showing the efficacy of a resource‐efficient training on acquisition and generalization of social niceties by people with autism spectrum disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If familial hereditary tumor is suspected, diagnosis and treatment should always be performed considering the presence of familial hereditary tumors irrespective of whether genetic testing is performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a prompting procedure (using a textual script without fading) in increasing novel behavior during conversations by children with autism. Four children with autism participated in the study. Dependent variables were scripted behavior, unscripted behavior, novel behavior, and inappropriate statements in a conversation between children with autism. This study used an ABCA design, the baseline, a script procedure, a script removal, and a return to baseline phase. In the baseline, participants infrequently emitted novel behavior and emitted inappropriate statements. When the script procedure was introduced, all participants emitted novel behavior and appropriate behavior more often than during baseline with fewer inappropriate statements. These gains were maintained in the script removal and return to baseline conditions. Three out of four participants continued to emit novel behavior during follow up probes. These results indicate that the script procedure without fading was useful for increasing novel behavior and appropriate statements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notch signaling is involved in the development of almost all organ systems and is required post‐developmentally to modulate tissue homeostasis. Rare variants in Notch signaling pathway genes are found in patients with rare Mendelian disorders, while unique or recurrent somatic mutations in a similar set of genes are identified in cancer. The human genome contains four genes that encode Notch receptors, NOTCH1‐4, all of which are linked to genetic diseases and cancer. Although some mutations have been classified as clear loss‐ or gain‐of‐function alleles based on cellular or rodent based assay systems, the functional consequence of many variants/mutations in human Notch receptors remain unknown. In this review, I will first provide an overview of the domain structure of Notch receptors and discuss how each module is known to regulate Notch signaling activity in vivo using the Drosophila Notch receptor as an example. Next, I will introduce some interesting mutant alleles that have been isolated in the fly Notch gene over the past > 100 years of research and discuss how studies of these mutations have facilitated the understanding of Notch biology. By identifying unique alleles of the fly Notch gene through forward genetic screens, mapping their molecular lesions and characterizing their phenotypes in depth, one can begin to unravel new mechanistic insights into how different domains of Notch fine‐tune signaling output. Such information can be useful in deciphering the functional consequences of rare variants/mutations in human Notch receptors, which in turn can influence disease management and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavioural lateralisation is an effective way for animals to manage daily tasks by specialising behaviour to either side of the body. Many types of lateralisation are linked to the function of each brain hemisphere. Lateralisation of monitoring behaviour in mother–infant relationships occurs in a wide range of mammals, where infants frequently use their left eye to monitor their mother. However, few studies have focused on this type of spatial relationships among adults in daily life, such as during foraging. The present study focused on monitoring adult feral horse behaviour using quantitative analysis of spatial relationships, using drone technology. We found that horses form a localised spatial relationship with their nearest neighbour. Specifically, the nearest neighbour was located to the left rear of a target individual significantly more frequently than to the right rear. Furthermore, the nearest neighbour was less frequently located behind a target individual. We propose that this relationship is caused by a left‐eye preference, because information via the left eye predominantly proceeds to the right hemisphere, which is dominant for social processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant phyllodes tumors of the breast occur infrequently and are difficult to treat with chemotherapy. Here, we present an effective chemotherapy strategy for recurrent malignant breast phyllodes tumors. A 48-year-old woman was diagnosed with a malignant phyllodes tumor in her right breast and underwent total right mastectomy. One year later, the tumor recurred in the right (a 2.2 cm mass) and left (a 10 cm mass) lungs; pleural effusion was also observed in the left lung. Eight courses of doxorubicin-ifosfamide (AI) therapy were administered. After treatment, the right lung mass and pleural effusion regressed completely and the left lung mass regressed to 2 cm. In conclusion, AI therapy is useful for treating recurrent malignant breast phyllodes tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syntheses of epigallocatechin trimer, (epigallocatechin) 2 -epicatechin and (epigallocatechin) 2 -catechin were achieved. The key condensation to form the proanthocyanidin trimer derivatives was accomplished in a one-pot procedure using a dimeric epigallocatechin electrophile, which was prepared in situ by self-condensation of an epigallocatechin derivative, and an epigallocatechin, epicatechin, or catechin derivative as the nucleophile in the presence of a Lewis acid. The epigallocatechin monomer to trimer compounds containing a pyrogallol group significantly suppressed cell proliferation in PC-3 prostate cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recognition of vegetation changes induced by volcanic eruption is particularly important for paleoenvironmental studies in volcanic regions. In this study, we examined the molecular and stable carbon isotopic compositions (δ 13 C) of sedimentary leaf wax n -alkanoic acids from Lake Yamanaka at the northeastern foot of Mt. Fuji, central Japan, to distinguish volcanic effects on biomarker δ 13 C proxies from other environmental influences over the past 15,000 years. The δ 13 C values of C 30 acids showed a significant positive correlation with average chain length (ACL 24–30 ), suggesting that δ 13 C reflects plant physiological responses to changes in water availability for C 3 plants. The δ 13 C values of C 30 acids showed patterns similar to those of Holocene stalagmite δ 18 O records in Chinese caves, indicating that variations in hydroclimate at the northeastern foot of Mt. Fuji are controlled by large-scale changes in Asian monsoon activity. In contrast, the δ 13 C values of C 24 –C 28 acids increased abruptly at ca. 1750 and 1100 cal yr BP, which coincide with eruptive events at the northeastern flank of Mt. Fuji. This suggests an increase in input from C 4 plants, likely reflecting an increase in C 4 Miscanthus grass, a pioneer species on volcanic deposits, following by the devastation of forest by the eruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts to identify the genetic underpinnings of rare undiagnosed diseases increasingly involve the use of next-generation sequencing and comparative genomic hybridization methods. These efforts are limited by a lack of knowledge regarding gene function, and an inability to predict the impact of genetic variation on the encoded protein function. Diagnostic challenges posed by undiagnosed diseases have solutions in model organism research, which provides a wealth of detailed biological information. Model organism geneticists are by necessity experts in particular genes, gene families, specific organs, and biological functions. Here, we review the current state of research into undiagnosed diseases, highlighting large efforts in North America and internationally, including the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) (Supplemental Material, File S1) and UDN International (UDNI), the Centers for Mendelian Genomics (CMG), and the Canadian Rare Diseases Models and Mechanisms Network (RDMM). We discuss how merging human genetics with model organism research guides experimental studies to solve these medical mysteries, gain new insights into disease pathogenesis, and uncover new therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Japan, mowing work on ridges of farms that cultivate rice is difficult for farmers, especially in hilly and mountainous areas. Moreover, geographical information on ridges in paddy fields has not been prepared; such information includes the slope angle, the ridge area, and the ridge rate of the total paddy field area. This issue causes a level of uncertainty in management analysis in terms of labor costs, including mowing costs, particularly when farmers and agricultural corporations are starting or expanding farm businesses. Therefore, this research developed a method for creating planting area and ridge area polygons in paddy fields to measure the actual areas of both sites using slope angle information and calculating the ridge rates in paddy fields. This study adopts artificial intelligence, geographical information system (GIS), and precision digital elevation model techniques as strategy implementation tools with data prepared by an aerial laser survey of Nagano Prefecture. The model generated using the proposed machine learning tool can automatically detect the planting and ridge areas of paddy fields through aerial images of farmland with more than 96% accuracy. Then, polygons can be created for use in GIS. Furthermore, these polygons can be created for most of the understudied paddy fields, approximately 35 000 hectares throughout Nagano Prefecture, in only 2 to 3 weeks. Therefore, based on these techniques, the slope angles of ridges, the ridge areas, and the ridge rates of paddy areas can be measured through polygons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some domestic animals are thought to be skilled at social communication with humans due to the process of domestication. Horses, being in close relationship with humans, similar to dogs, might be skilled at communication with humans. Previous studies have indicated that they are sensitive to bodily signals and the attentional state of humans; however, there are few studies that investigate communication with humans and responses to the knowledge state of humans. Our first question was whether and how horses send signals to their potentially helpful but ignorant caretakers in a problem-solving situation where a food item was hidden in a bucket that was accessible only to the caretakers. We then examined whether horses alter their behaviours on the basis of the caretakers' knowledge of where the food was hidden. We found that horses communicated to their caretakers using visual and tactile signals. The signalling behaviour of the horses significantly increased in conditions where the caretakers had not seen the hiding of the food. These results suggest that horses alter their communicative behaviour towards humans in accordance with humans' knowledge state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empathy as a research topic is receiving increasing attention, although there seems some confusion on the definition of empathy across different fields. Frans de Waal (de Waal FBM. Putting the altruism back into altruism: the evolution of empathy. Annu Rev Psychol 2008, 59:279-300. doi:) used empathy as an umbrella term and proposed a comprehensive model for the evolution of empathy with some of its basic elements in nonhuman animals. In de Waal's model, empathy consists of several layers distinguished by required cognitive levels; the perception-action mechanism plays the core role for connecting ourself and others. Then, human-like empathy such as perspective-taking develops in outer layers according to cognitive sophistication, leading to prosocial acts such as targeted helping. I agree that animals demonstrate many empathy-related phenomena; however, the species differences and the level of cognitive sophistication of the phenomena might be interpreted in another way than this simple linearly developing model. Our recent studies with chimpanzees showed that their perspective-taking ability does not necessarily lead to proactive helping behavior. Herein, as a springboard for further studies, I reorganize the empathy-related phenomena by proposing a combination model instead of the linear development model. This combination model is composed of three organizing factors: matching with others, understanding of others, and prosociality. With these three factors and their combinations, most empathy-related matters can be categorized and mapped to appropriate context; this may be a good first step to discuss the evolution of empathy in relation to the neural connections in human and nonhuman animal brains. I would like to propose further comparative studies, especially from the viewpoint of Homo-Pan (chimpanzee and bonobo) comparison. WIREs Cogn Sci 2017, 8:e1431. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1431 For further resources related to this article, please visit the . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, we reorganize the concept and highlight the importance of prestige in humans and non-human animals by introducing key characteristics of dominance and prestige and related theories. Previous studies with non-human animals have mainly focused on dominance, presuming prestige as a human-unique social trait. However, to deepen our understanding of the evolution of prestige, comparative studies with non-human animals, especially our evolutionary closest relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, are essential. We propose the direction of future studies to investigate how prestige has emerged as a viable strategy for gaining social rank while diverging from dominance, which will establish a foundation for investigating the impact of prestige on propensities towards large-scale cooperation and cumulative culture which are still considered unique to humans. Such comparative viewpoints on prestige, along with some hypotheses of species differences, will provide powerful guidance for understanding the evolution of social hierarchies. • Both dominance and prestige are utilized as a viable strategy for acquiring higher social rank in human social hierarchy. • In non-human animals, only dominance, but not prestige, has been assumed as a viable strategy for attaining social rank. • Exploring prestige-like traits in non-human animals may provide insights into the evolution of human social hierarchy. • We propose hypotheses about possible differences in prestige between chimpanzees and bonobos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida lusitaniae is an uncommon cause of candidiasis in humans. Ocular manifestations of C. lusitaniae infection have not been reported. C. lusitaniae is either intrinsically resistant to amphotericin B or can acquire such resistance. We describe a case of bilateral endophthalmitis due to C. lusitaniae bloodstream infection in a liver transplant patient with rectal cancer. The patient suffered fungemia and endophthalmitis and was treated with liposomal amphotericin B. The isolate was identified as C. lusitaniae by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, the system based on biochemical tests, and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region. The minimal inhibitory concentrations were 0.06 μg/mL for amphotericin B and 2.0 μg/mL for fluconazole. Repeat blood cultures were negative and the endophthalmitis improved following treatment with liposomal amphotericin B. However, the treatment was changed to fluconazole due to nephrotoxicity. No recurrence occurred after completion of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many scientists complain that the current funding situation is dire. Indeed, there has been an overall decline in support in funding for research from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Within the Drosophila field, some of us question how long this funding crunch will last as it demotivates principal investigators and perhaps more importantly affects the long-term career choice of many young scientists. Yet numerous very interesting biological processes and avenues remain to be investigated in Drosophila, and probing questions can be answered fast and efficiently in flies to reveal new biological phenomena. Moreover, Drosophila is an excellent model organism for studies that have translational impact for genetic disease and for other medical implications such as vector-borne illnesses. We would like to promote a better collaboration between Drosophila geneticists/biologists and human geneticists/bioinformaticians/clinicians, as it would benefit both fields and significantly impact the research on human diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess the change in disease-specific health-related quality of life and to evaluate patient-perceived satisfaction after radical prostatectomy (RP) or intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for patients with high-risk prostate cancer (PCA) that has been defined by the European Association of Urology guideline. Methods Between 2006 and 2010, 150 patients with high-risk PCA who underwent either RP (n = 97) or IMRT with ADT (n = 53) were enrolled in this prospective health-related quality of life study. Disease-specific health-related quality of life at baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months and patient-perceived satisfaction at 12 and 24 months after these treatments were estimated using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite. Results Urinary bother and irritation and obstruction scores did not change significantly between both treatment groups throughout the 2-year follow-up. ADT greatly influenced sexual and hormonal functions and bothers in patients who received IMRT with ADT. The patient-perceived satisfaction at 12 months after the treatments was approximately 80% in both treatment groups, and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. At 12 months after the treatments, urinary function ( P = .001) was identified as the most significant predictor of patient-perceived satisfaction, although it was not associated with the treatment type. Conclusion The majority of patients with high-risk PCA who received RP or IMRT with ADT reported high patient-perceived satisfaction after the treatments. This study showed that improvement in urinary function might contribute to patient-perceived satisfaction after the treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was designed to compare the long-term oncological outcome of patients with clinical T3 (cT3) prostate cancer (PCA) treated with either radical prostatectomy (RP) or external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and to identify predictors of oncological outcomes. Methods: A total of 231 patients with cT3 PCA underwent either RP ( n = 112) or EBRT ( n = 119). Local progression-free (LPFS), distant metastasis-free (DMFS), cancer-specific (CSS), and overall survival curves were generated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and the differences in survival rates between the two groups were assessed with a log-rank test. Cox proportional stepwise multivariate analysis was used to assess the association of variables to the oncological outcomes. Results: The median follow-up of the RP and EBRT groups was 93 and 85 months, respectively ( p = 0.004).The 10-year LPFS, DMFS, and CSS rates were not statistically different between the two groups (90.2, 73.9, and 93.7 % in the RP group and 82.7, 88.2, and 85.1 % in the EBRT group; p = 0.25, 0.10, and 0.10, respectively). The Cox proportional multivariate analysis revealed that clinical T3b (cT3b) ( p = 0.001) and a biopsy Gleason score of 7-10 ( p = 0.043) were significant predictors of cancer-specific mortality and that cT3b was also a significant predictor of local progression and all-cause mortality. Conclusion: In cT3 PCA, both RP and EBRT provide an excellent long-term oncological outcome. cT3b was the strongest predictor of oncological outcome for the patients with locally advanced PCA who underwent the definitive therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stable carbon isotope ratio (δ 13 C) values of sedimentary long chain (> C 20 ) n -alkanoic acids from the equatorial Pacific (IODP Sites U1331–1338) were measured for historical reconstruction of C 4 plant contribution from South America over the last 40 Ma. The values for C 30 and C 32 acids ranged between −36.9‰ and −25.4‰, suggesting that they likely originated from higher plant wax associated with C 3 -dominated vegetation. The molecular distribution of alkanoic acids in the sediments showed a marked change across the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), indicating a potential contribution from the Northern Hemisphere to the sediments located at > 10°N. In contrast, the abundances of n -alkanoic acids significantly decreased in the sediments at < 10°N. The results suggest that the ITCZ may have acted as an effective barrier for the atmospheric transport of terrigenous biomarkers from the Northern Hemisphere, and the records presumably reflect the plant wax signal from the northern part of South America. The latitudinal variation in the δ 13 C values suggest that the differences in the core locations possibly caused north- and southward shifts of ca. −1.0‰/°N and ca. +0.5‰/°S from the equator, respectively. The corrected δ 13 C values of C 30 and C 32 acids did not cross the C 3 end member threshold until 1.7 Ma, despite the onset of C 4 plants in central South America at ca. 7 Ma. This implies that vegetation in the low latitudes of South America was less affected by hydrological changes induced by the uplift of the Andes during the late Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Invertebrate model systems are powerful tools for studying human disease owing to their genetic tractability and ease of screening. We conducted a mosaic genetic screen of lethal mutations on the Drosophila X chromosome to identify genes required for the development, function, and maintenance of the nervous system. We identified 165 genes, most of whose function has not been studied in vivo. In parallel, we investigated rare variant alleles in 1,929 human exomes from families with unsolved Mendelian disease. Genes that are essential in flies and have multiple human homologs were found to be likely to be associated with human diseases. Merging the human data sets with the fly genes allowed us to identify disease-associated mutations in six families and to provide insights into microcephaly associated with brain dysgenesis. This bidirectional synergism between fly genetics and human genomics facilitates the functional annotation of evolutionarily conserved genes involved in human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of clinical diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasing annually. Interestingly, the human body temperature has also been reported to gradually decrease over the decades. An imbalance in the activation of the excitatory and inhibitory neurons is assumed to be involved in the pathogenesis of ASD. Neurophysiological evidence showed that brain activity decreases as cortical temperature increases, suggesting that an increase in brain temperature enhances the inhibitory neural mechanisms. Behavioral characteristics specific to clinical ASD were observed to be moderated when people with the diagnoses had a fever. To explore the possible relationship between ASD and body temperature in the general population, we conducted a survey study using a large population-based sample (N ~ 2000, in the age groups 20s to 70s). Through two surveys, multiple regression analyses did not show significant relationships between axillary temperatures and autistic traits measured by questionnaires (Autism Spectrum (AQ) and Empathy/Systemizing Quotients), controlling for covariates of age and self-reported circadian rhythms. Conversely, we consistently observed a negative relationship between AQ and age. People with higher AQ scores tended to have stronger eveningness. Our findings contribute to the understanding of age-related malleability and the irregularity of circadian rhythms related to autistic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have shown that horses have the ability to cross-modally recognize humans by associating their voice with their physical appearance. However, it remains unclear whether horses are able to differentiate humans according to different criteria, such as the fact that they are women or men. Horses might recognize some human characteristics, such as sex, and use these characteristics to classify them into different categories. The aim of this study was to explore whether domesticated horses are able to cross-modally recognize women and men according to visual and auditory cues, using a preferential looking paradigm. We simultaneously presented two videos of women and men's faces, while playing a recording of a human voice belonging to one of these two categories through a loudspeaker. The results showed that the horses looked significantly more towards the congruent video than towards the incongruent video, suggesting that they are able to associate women's voices with women's faces and men's voices with men's faces. Further investigation is necessary to determine the mechanism underlying this recognition, as it might be interesting to determine which characteristics horses use to categorize humans. These results suggest a novel perspective that could allow us to better understand how horses perceive humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, research on domestic mammals' sociocognitive skills toward humans has been prolific, allowing us to better understand the human–animal relationship. For example, horses have been shown to distinguish human beings on the basis of photographs and voices and to have cross-modal mental representations of individual humans and human emotions. This leads to questions such as the extent to which horses can differentiate human attributes such as age. Here, we tested whether horses discriminate human adults from children. In a cross-modal paradigm, we presented 31 female horses with two simultaneous muted videos of a child and an adult saying the same neutral sentence, accompanied by the sound of an adult's or child's voice speaking the sentence. The horses looked significantly longer at the videos that were incongruent with the heard voice than at the congruent videos. We conclude that horses can match adults' and children's faces and voices cross-modally. Moreover, their heart rates increased during children's vocalizations but not during adults'. This suggests that in addition to having mental representations of adults and children, horses have a stronger emotional response to children's voices than adults' voices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) has been reported as a screening tool to assess the nutrition-related risk with mortality in older patients and those with the various diseases. However, the prognostic value of GNRI in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients receiving nivolumab therapy remains unclear. Fifty-six consecutive patients with mRCC receiving nivolumab between September 2013 and August 2020 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. The survival outcomes and prognostic factors associated with overall survival (OS) were statistically analyzed. Thirteen and forty-three patients were classified with low (GNRI < 92) and high (GNRI ≥ 92) GNRI, respectively. Patients with low GNRI demonstrated significantly shorter OS (P = 0.0002) than those with high GNRI. In multivariate analysis, GNRI at the time of nivolumab (P = 0.008) was extracted as the predictor for OS in addition to Karnofsky performance status (KPS) (P = 0.016). Integration of the GNRI into the International Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer Database Consortium (IMDC) risk classification improved the c-index from 0.761 to 0.833 (combination of GNRI with IMDC risk classification) and to 0.778 (substitution of GNRI with KPS in IMDC risk classification). GNRI was a significant prognostic biomarker in mRCC patients receiving nivolumab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The significance of the measurement of anti-p53 antibodies in serum remains undisclosed. The aim of this study was to assess anti-p53 antibodies in the serum of patients with breast cancer, and correlate these results with various clinicopathologic parameters. METHODS: We analyzed serum anti-p53 antibody levels in 124 patients with breast cancers and 7 patients with benign disease between April 2012 and March 2013, as well as levels of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen (CA) 15-3.RESULTS: Twenty-two of 124 patients with breast cancer had an increased concentration of anti-p53 antibodies. By distribution of clinical stage, in stage 0-II the positive ratio of anti-p53 antibodies was significantly higher than that of CEA (p=0.03) and CA15-3 (p=0.01). There was a significant correlation between anti-p53 antibodies and family history (p=0.03). Triple-negative cancer also showed a significant correlation with anti-p53 antibodies (p=0.007). In patients with multiple and/or bilateral breast cancer, the level of anti-p53 was significantly higher than in unilateral breast cancer (62.5% vs 14.7%, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Measurement of anti-p53 antibodies is useful for the prevention of oversight in the evaluation of multiple and/or bilateral breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterizing the relationships between the components and taste differences among soy sauces can help evaluate and improve the quality of soy sauces. Although previous studies have reported that certain taste-active dipeptides, the relationships between taste differences and dipeptides of soy sauces are unknown. Therefore, our objective in this study was to investigate the correlations between the dipeptides and the taste differences among soy sauces. To analyze the dipeptides, we constructed an analytical method using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Based on this method, we detected 237 dipeptides, the largest number ever detected in soy sauce research. Next, orthogonal projections to latent structures regressions were performed. The data matrix of components, including dipeptides and other low-molecular-weight hydrophilic components obtained from gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), served as explanatory variables (366 in total), whereas a sensory data matrix obtained using quantitative descriptive analysis served as the response variable. The accuracy of models for the sweetness and saltiness differences constructed using the LC/MS/MS and GC/MS data matrix were higher than did models constructed using only the GC/MS data matrix. As a result of investigation of the correlation between the dipeptides and taste differences among soy sauces by using variable importance in the projection (VIP) score, many dipeptides showed the high correlation with taste differences. Specifically, Ile–Gln, Pro–Lys, Ile–Glu, Thr–Phe, and Leu–Gln showed the high VIP score on sweet differences. This study is the first report that reveals the correlations between the dipeptides and taste differences among soy sauces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to assess longitudinal changes in general and disease-specific health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) indices after intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) monotherapy for patients with localized prostate cancer (PCA). Methods: Between 2006 and 2010, 91 patients with localized PCA underwent IMRT monotherapy and were enrolled into this prospective study. At baseline, and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after IMRT, the general and prostate-specific HRQOL were estimated using physical (PCS) and mental component summaries (MCS) calculated using the Medical Outcomes Study 8-Item Short Form Health Survey and Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC). Results: For 2 years, there were no significant changes in EPIC scores in all subscales of urinary domain, hormonal function, and bother. Bowel and sexual function scores decreased after IMRT and did not return to those at baseline ( p = 0.006 and < 0.001, respectively). PCS began to decrease at 3 months after IMRT and then returned to the baseline score at 24 months. In contrast, the MCS score began to significantly increase after IMRT, and thereafter the score remained constant until 24 months ( p < 0.001). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, urinary ( p = 0.003) and sexual functions ( p = 0.0005) at baseline were identified as significant predictors of EPIC urinary irritative/obstructive score and sexual function at 24 months after IMRT. Conclusion: Urinary function, including irritative/obstruction symptoms and hormonal function, was not affected by IMRT. However, bowel and sexual function decreased after IMRT. These findings will provide important information for PCA patients considering IMRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effect of the processus vaginalis transection method, which we previously developed to prevent postradical prostatectomy inguinal hernia. Methods: Our hernia prevention procedure is designed to prevent postoperative indirect hernias. The procedure is performed in the following order: (1) the spermatic cord is isolated and mobilized in the pelvis, (2) the vas deferens is isolated from the spermatic cord and ligated, and (3) the processus vaginalis is dissected free of the other spermatic cord elements, mainly spermatic vessels, ligated near the peritoneum, and transected. Between February 2006 and August 2008, 435 consecutive patients underwent the inguinal hernia prevention procedure concurrently with open radical retropubic prostatectomy. The control group comprised 433 patients who had undergone radical retropubic prostatectomy without hernia prevention immediately before the introduction of this hernia prevention procedure was introduced (between January 2001 and January 2006). Results: No significant complications associated with the hernia prevention procedure were observed, except for a few minor peritoneal injuries that were easily repaired during surgery. An inguinal hernia developed postoperatively in 109 of the 433 control patients (25.2%) during the median follow-up of 68 months. In contrast, 4 of the 435 patients (0.9%) who underwent the hernia prevention procedure developed an inguinal hernia during the median follow-up of 42 months. Conclusion: The processus vaginalis transection method is safe and effective in the long-term prevention of postradical prostatectomy inguinal hernia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Behavioural performance of tablet swallowing was evaluated with different tablet conditions in terms of size, number and surface coating. Methods Four different types of tablets were prepared: small or large, and with or without a surface coating. Fourteen normal male adults were instructed to swallow the prepared tablets with 15 ml of water. The number of tablets in one trial was changed from one to three. To evaluate swallowing and tablet transport, electromyographic activity was recorded in the left suprahyoid muscles, and videofluorographic images were examined. Key findings All tablet conditions (size, number and surface coating) affected the swallowing performance in terms of total number of swallows, electromyographic burst patterns and location of remaining tablets. Increases in the size and number of tablets increased the number of swallows and electromyographic burst area and duration. In addition, all of these parameters increased while swallowing tablets without a coating compared with tablets with a coating. Location of the remaining tablets was mainly within the mouth. Conclusions This study only clarified the normal pattern of tablet swallowing under several conditions in healthy subjects, but the results may facilitate comprehensive evaluation and treatment planning in terms of administering medication to dysphagic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A forward genetic screen in Drosophila looking for Notch signaling regulators identifies Tempura, a new and non-redundant protein prenyltransferase of Rab proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Skill makes a behavior quicker and thus increases rewards per unit time. [•] Skill consists of object skill (finding good objects) and action skill (acting on them). [•] Object skill is acquired through repeated experiences of objects with stable values. [•] Object skill allows automatic and quick choices of good objects among many. [•] Object skill compensates for the limited capacity of voluntary search. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A goal-directed action aiming at an incentive outcome, if repeated, becomes a skill that may be initiated automatically. We now report that the tail of the caudate nucleus (CDt) may serve to control a visuomotor skill. Monkeys looked at many fractal objects, half of which were always associated with a large reward (high-valued objects) and the other half with a small reward (low-valued objects). After several daily sessions, they developed a gaze bias, looking at high-valued objects even when no reward was associated. CDt neurons developed a response bias, typically showing stronger responses to high-valued objects. In contrast, their responses showed no change when object values were reversed frequently, although monkeys showed a strong gaze bias, looking at high-valued objects in a goal-directed manner. The biased activity of CDt neurons may be transmitted to the oculomotor region so that animals can choose high-valued objects auto-matically based on stable reward experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of the unidirectional dual rotary and twisting motions induced by guest encapsulation in spiroborate-based double-stranded helicate with bisporphyrin unit. Detailed structural analysis of the helicate by x-ray crystallography and two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy revealed molecular aspects of unidirectional dual motion. It suggests that the rotary motion offers potential for the development of chirality-responsive molecular machines.

The article offers the authors' insights on their study which explored the guest-induced unidirectional twisting and dual rotary motions of double-stranded helicate based on spiroborates and which contains a bisporphyrin unit. The authors mention their design and synthesis of the double-stranded spiroborate helicate. They revealed the unprecedented unidirectional twisting and rotary motions which they found to be caused by guest encapsulation in double-stranded spiroborate helicate.

Germline cyst formation is essential for the propagation of many organisms including humans and flies. The cytoplasm of germline cyst cells communicate with each other directly via large intercellular bridges called ring canals. Ring canals are often derived from arrested contractile rings during incomplete cytokinesis. However how ring canal formation, maintenance and growth are regulated remains unclear. To better understand this process, we carried out an unbiased genetic screen in Drosophila melanogaster germ cells and identified multiple alleles of flapwing (flw), a conserved serine/threonine-specific protein phosphatase. Flw had previously been reported to be unnecessary for early D. melanogaster oogenesis using a hypomorphic allele. We found that loss of Flw leads to over-constricted nascent ring canals and subsequently tiny mature ring canals, through which cytoplasmic transfer from nurse cells to the oocyte is impaired, resulting in small, non-functional eggs. Flw is expressed in germ cells undergoing incomplete cytokinesis, completely colocalized with the Drosophila myosin binding subunit of myosin phosphatase (DMYPT). This colocalization, together with genetic interaction studies, suggests that Flw functions together with DMYPT to negatively regulate myosin activity during ring canal formation. The identification of two subunits of the tripartite myosin phosphatase as the first two main players required for ring canal constriction indicates that tight regulation of myosin activity is essential for germline cyst formation and reproduction in D. melanogaster and probably other species as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolomics, the global quantitative assessment of metabolites in a biological system, has played a pivotal role in various fields of science in the post-genomic era. Metabolites are the result of the interaction of the system''s genome with its environment and are not merely the end product of gene expression, but also form part of the regulatory system in an integrated manner. Therefore, metabolomics is often considered a powerful tool to provide an instantaneous snapshot of the physiology of a cell. The power of metabolomics lies on the acquisition of analytical data in which metabolites in a cellular system are quantified, and the extraction of the most meaningful elements of the data by using various data analysis tool. In this review, we discuss the latest development of analytical techniques and data analyses methods in metabolomics study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We measured stable hydrogen isotope ratios (δD) of terrestrial biomarkers (n-alkanes and n-fatty acids) in atmospheric total suspended particles collected at Jeju Island in the East China Sea, from April 2001 to March 2002, to better understand the influence of long-range atmospheric transport on their seasonal variations. The δD values of the C27, C29 and C31 n-alkanes (δDALK) show a significant negative correlation with the CPI values of n-alkanes (r 2 =0.26, p <0.01), suggesting that the δDALK variations are partly attributed to a superimposed contribution from fossil fuel hydrocarbons. Seasonal variations in the concentrations of the C22–C28 even-carbon numbered n-fatty acids revealed relatively high concentrations in spring, autumn and winter seasons, in which the air masses are transported from northeast Asia. In contrast, the concentrations are low in summer when the air masses are transported from Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Relatively high C26/FA and low C24/FA ratios in spring, autumn and winter samples suggest that the C26 n-fatty acids are more abundantly transported from the Asian continent during these seasons. Seasonal variations in the δD of the C22–C26 even-carbon numbered n-fatty acids exhibit significant enrichment with D (by ∼40‰) in May and June to August samples, whereas the δD of the C28 n-fatty acids gradually decrease during summer. The magnitude of the δD offsets (∼45‰) between the C28 n-fatty acid and the other homologues are much larger than those observed in East Asia spanning 18°N–50°N latitude (ca. 30‰), suggesting that the decoupling is likely attributed to the mixing of distinct source vegetation with different δD ratios. Comparison of the weighted-mean δD values of n-fatty acids (δDFA) between air mass source categories revealed relatively low values (∼−170‰) in samples with trajectories from the northeastern part of the Asian continent, supporting that the δD analyses may be a powerful tool in deciphering the source regions of terrestrial biomarkers in atmospheric aerosols from the Asian continent. The results of this study provides important implications for paleoclimate studies that the δD variations of long-range transported terrestrial biomarkers in remote ocean sediments may have recorded past changes in source strengths of the biomarkers and therefore have a potential to reconstruct paleo-wind patterns and transport of terrestrial carbon over the Pacific. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]