Publications by authors named "Ayako Hashimoto"

Adenomyomectomy, a therapeutic option for women with adenomyosis who wish to preserve their fertility, has been reported to pose a risk of developing placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) and uterine rupture in future pregnancies. However, the specific clinical factors contributing to these occurrences remain elusive. This study aimed to explore the association between hysteroscopic findings after adenomyomectomy and the incidence of PAS in subsequent pregnancies.

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A simple method that improves the resolution of the phase measurement of differential phase-contrast (DPC) scanning transmission electron microscopy for closed-type environmental cell applications was developed and tested using a model sample simulating environmental cell observations. Because the top and bottom membranes of an environmental cell are typically far apart, the images from these membranes are shifted widely by tilt-series acquisition, and averaging the images after alignment can effectively eliminate undesired signals from the membranes while improving the signal from the object of interest. It was demonstrated that a phase precision of 2π/100 rad is well achievable using the proposed method for the sample in an environmental cell.

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A new restorer of fertility gene, Rfs, of Ogura cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in radish encodes a pentatricopeptide repeat protein that binds to 15 nucleotides in mRNA of the CMS gene, orf138. Nucleotide substitutions in both Rfs and orf138 determine effectiveness and specificity of restoration. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in plants caused by the expression of abnormal mitochondrial genes results from impaired pollen production.

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Article Synopsis
  • Persistent homology helps analyze complex structures, and this study emphasizes making its results interpretable by examining geometric features in persistent diagrams (PDs) from STEM images of Pt-CeO nanostructures.
  • The researchers focused on specific PD quadrants to extract five key features related to the nanostructures' patterns and used hierarchical clustering and PCA to analyze the PDs.
  • They discovered that the number of small arc-like structures in the PDs indicated the disorder level in the nanostructures, enabling the classification of 12 different Pt-CeO nanostructures based on their features.
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A syngas was generated at a near-unity H/CO ratio independent of the reactant gas composition over Rh-loaded strontium titanate in the photo-induced dry reforming of methane. Moreover, light irradiation inhibited side reactions, such as the reverse water gas shift reaction and the precipitation of the solid-state carbon. These results were not explained by thermodynamic equilibrium, but were presumably owing to the unique effect of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs.

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Carbon is a critical material for existing and emerging energy applications and there is considerable global effort in generating sustainable carbons. A particularly promising area is iron-catalyzed graphitization, which is the conversion of organic matter to graphitic carbon nanostructures by an iron catalyst. In this paper, it is reported that iron-catalyzed graphitization occurs via a new type of mechanism that is called homogeneous solid-state catalysis.

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Physical property prediction and synthesis process optimization are key targets in material informatics. In this study, we propose a machine learning approach that utilizes ridge regression to predict the oxygen permeability at fuel cell electrode surfaces and determine the optimal process temperature. These predictions are based on a persistence diagram derived from tomographic images captured using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

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Self-assembly processes are widely used in nature to form hierarchically organized structures, prompting us to investigate such processes at the macroscopic scale. We report an unprecedented approach toward the self-assembly of alkyl-fullerene (C) derivatives into a hexagonal array of hemispherical microparticles akin to the morphology of a compound eye. The method includes casting solvated alkyl-Ccompound on an air/water interface followed by controlled evaporation of the solvent under atmosphere-sealed conditions.

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Metal-oxide nanocomposites (MONs) are of pivotal importance as electrode materials, yet lack a guiding principle to tune their phase texture. Here we report that the phase texture of MONs can be tuned at the nanoscale by controlling the nanophase separation of precursor alloys. transmission electron microscopy ( TEM) has demonstrated that a MON material of platinum (Pt) and cerium oxide (CeO) is obtained through promoted nanophase separation of a PtCe precursor alloy in an atmosphere containing oxygen (O) and carbon monoxide (CO).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the relationship between alkaline phosphatase activity, serum zinc levels, and zinc-related taste disorders in patients with low zinc levels.
  • It involved two elderly Japanese women with specific zinc deficiencies, measuring both saliva and blood zinc levels before and after supplementation.
  • The findings suggest that overall alkaline phosphatase activity may provide a better indication of zinc status than serum zinc levels, warranting further research with a larger patient group.
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(Scanning) transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of samples in gas and liquid media are acquired with an environmental cell (EC) via silicon nitride membranes. The ratio of sample signal against the background is a significant factor for resolution. Depth-sectioning scanning TEM (STEM) is a promising technique that enhances the signal for a sample embedded in a matrix.

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  • Zinc's role in hepatocellular carcinoma was investigated, focusing on the expression of zinc transporter 1 (ZNT1) and its correlation to clinical outcomes in patients who had surgery for the cancer.
  • The study analyzed 65 patient cases between 2011 and 2015, measuring ZNT1 expression intensity through immunohistochemistry and assessing its relationship with various clinical parameters using statistical tests.
  • Results showed that ZNT1 expression was linked to lower blood zinc levels and shorter overall survival, highlighting ZNT1 as a potential prognostic factor alongside tumor size in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.
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Objectives: Adenomyosis is associated with unfavorable perinatal outcomes, and recent case reports show that some women with adenomyosis experience pain at the adenomyosis lesion during pregnancy and have detrimental perinatal outcomes. This study aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of this pain and perinatal outcomes associated with this phenomenon.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective analysis of pregnant women with adenomyosis.

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Aim: We aimed to investigate the associations of endometriosis and adenomyosis with pregnancy complications by using a large-scale Japanese database.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 145 590 singleton pregnancies from the Japan Perinatal Registry Network Database. Pregnant women registered as having endometriosis or adenomyosis were designated as the case group (EA), whereas the control group (non-EA) was selected using propensity-score matching adjusted for variables such as age, parity, BMI, smoking history, and the use of assisted reproductive technology.

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During the in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, the diverse functionalities of different specimen holders play a crucial role. We hereby provide a comprehensive overview of the main types of holders, associated technologies and case studies pertaining to the widely employed heating and gas heating methods, from their initial developments to the latest advancement. In addition to the conventional approaches, we also discuss the emergence of holders that incorporate a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) chip for in situ observations.

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Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) offers an unparalleled view of the membrane topography of mammalian cells by using a conventional osmium (OsO) and ethanol-based tissue preparation. However, conventional SEM methods limit optimal resolution due to ethanol and lipid interactions and interfere with visualization of fluorescent reporter proteins. Therefore, SEM correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) has been hindered by the adverse effects of ethanol and OsO on retention of fluorescence signals.

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Objectives: Although adenomyosis is reportedly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, clinical factors related to the high risk of obstetric complications are unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of adenomyosis lesions associated with the increased incidence of obstetric complications based on imaging findings.

Methods: This was a retrospective, observational cohort study conducted in a tertiary perinatal care center.

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Background: Adenomyosis is associated with unfavorable perinatal outcomes; however, the effect of an adenomyomectomy on pregnancy outcomes remains unclear. Pregnancy following an adenomyomectomy has been reported to be associated with a high risk for uterine rupture; however, the actual incidence remains unknown.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an adenomyomectomy on pregnancy outcomes by retrospectively comparing the pregnancy outcomes of women who underwent an adenomyomectomy with those of women with adenomyosis.

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Article Synopsis
  • Measuring cellular zinc levels is essential for understanding how zinc affects cell functions and maintains balance in the body.
  • ZIP transporters help cells absorb zinc from their surroundings, while ZNT1 exports excess zinc, with metallothioneins (MTs) aiding in zinc regulation.
  • The text introduces a cost-effective method to assess zinc transport using basic lab techniques, and suggests a simple way to screen foods that can enhance zinc absorption.
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A copper-zirconia composite having an evenly distributed lamellar texture, Cu#ZrO, was synthesized by promoting nanophase separation of the CuZr alloy precursor in a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and oxygen (O). High-resolution electron microscopy revealed that the material consists of interchangeable Cu and t-ZrO phases with an average thickness of 5 nm. Cu#ZrO exhibited enhanced selectivity toward the generation of formic acid (HCOOH) by electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO) in aqueous media at a Faradaic efficiency of 83.

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Mastication interventions have previously been shown to alleviate acute stress. However, the relationship between masticatory performance and stress response among individuals remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between masticatory ability and stress response in young women by measuring the autonomic nerve function and salivary α-amylase activity during psychosocial stress.

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Heterointerfaces with an epitaxial relationship, self-assembled nanocomposites of Pt(111)/CeO(111) 60°, were successfully formed by simple oxidation of PtCe alloy. Oxygen dissolution into the alloy causes spacial periodic compositional perturbation by atomic segregation, specifically, by local diffusion of Pt and Ce atoms. A striped pattern of Pt and CeO with a 4-5 nm periodicity formed through phase transformation of the Pt-rich alloy and oxidation of the Ce-rich alloy, respectively.

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The relative burden of mental health problems in children is increasing worldwide. Family meals have attracted attention as an effective modifiable factor for preventing children's mental health problems. We examined the relationship between family meals and mental health problems in Japanese elementary schoolchildren.

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The dehydrogenative coupling reaction of alkanes and benzene has attracted attention as a method of direct conversion of alkanes to raw materials for useful chemical products. Here, we report the first combined catalyst system composed of hydrotalcite-supported palladium and solid acid aluminum-exchanged montmorillonite for the direct alkylation of benzene promoted by slurry-phase interparticle hydrogen transfer at 150 °C. The combination of the two catalytic particles showed excellent activity and achieved the maximum benzene conversion of 21% and target product selectivity of 84% in the reaction of -heptane and benzene.

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