Isolation and characterization of Iwanai Valley virus, a new tick-borne nairovirus from Ixodes ovatus ticks in Hokkaido, Japan.

Most members of the genus Orthonairovirus, represented by Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and Nairobi sheep disease virus, are tick-borne, and some have become a public health concern in recent years. Here, we report the isolation and genetic and biological characterization of a new orthonairovirus, designated as "Iwanai Valley virus" (IWVV), from Ixodes ovatus ticks in Hokkaido, Japan. The amino acid sequence of the viral nucleoprotein (NP) was found to be 34-45% identical to those of known orthonairoviruses.

Mosquito populations originating from nonendemic areas have the potential to transmit recently emerging Japanese encephalitis virus genotype IV.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) genotype IV (GIV) is one of the least common and most neglected genotypes worldwide, having been identified only on a few Indonesian islands until it was recently found to be the cause of outbreaks that occurred in several Australian states in early 2022. Given the limited availability of information, the vector range for JEV GIV remains unknown; thus, understanding this range could prove invaluable for future prevention efforts in new areas. Herein, we experimentally exposed four mosquito colonies originated from various countries with no previous reports of GIV to JEV GIV strain 19CxBa-83-Cv, which was isolated from Theobald collected in Bali in 2019.

Blowflies are potential vector for avian influenza virus at enzootic area in Japan.

High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) poses a significant threat to both domestic and wild birds globally. The avian influenza virus, known for environmental contamination and subsequent oral infection in birds, necessitates careful consideration of alternative introduction routes during HPAI outbreaks. This study focuses on blowflies (genus Calliphora), in particular Calliphora nigribarbis, attracted to decaying animals and feces, which migrate to lowland areas of Japan from northern or mountainous regions in early winter, coinciding with HPAI season.

Exploring the genetic diversity of the Japanese population: Insights from a large-scale whole genome sequencing analysis.

The Japanese archipelago is a terminal location for human migration, and the contemporary Japanese people represent a unique population whose genomic diversity has been shaped by multiple migrations from Eurasia. We analyzed the genomic characteristics that define the genetic makeup of the modern Japanese population from a population genetics perspective from the genomic data of 9,287 samples obtained by high-coverage whole-genome sequencing (WGS) by the National Center Biobank Network. The dataset comprised populations from the Ryukyu Islands and other parts of the Japanese archipelago (Hondo).

Discrepancy between Clinician-rated and Self-reported Depression Severity is Associated with Adverse Childhood Experience, Autistic-like Traits, and Coping Styles in Mood Disorders.

Objective: This study aimed to determine if the discrepancy between depression severity rated by clinicians and that reported by patients depends on key behavioral/psychological features in patients with mood disorders.

Methods: Participants included 100 patients with mood disorders. First, we examined correlations and regressions between scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

Influence of Varied Load Assistance with Exoskeleton-Type Robotic Device on Gait Rehabilitation in Healthy Adult Men.

This study aimed to clarify how the power-assist function of the hybrid assistive limb (HAL), an exoskeleton-type gait-assist device, affected the gait characteristics of patients who wear it, specifically focusing on the "misalignment" of the robot joints and landmarks with the corresponding body parts. Five healthy adult men were video-recorded wearing the HAL as they walked normally on a treadmill under seven conditions corresponding to the strengths and sites of robotic power assistance. For kinematic analysis, reflective markers were attached to the HAL and the wearer at key locations, and participants were recorded walking past a set of four video cameras for each condition.

Direct Detection of Free H Outgassing in Blisters Formed in AlO Atomic Layers Deposited on Si and Methods of Its Prevention.

The phenomenon of blistering, seen in atomic layer-deposited aluminum oxide layers caused by thermal treatment, represents a serious problem in the field of device fabrication. Determining its causes and controlling them have been a major task in this field. Various groups have so far confronted the challenge, with several mechanisms having been proposed, but it is still under investigation.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Inflammatory Cytokine Levels in Patients With Major Psychiatric Disorders: A Multiplex Immunoassay Study.

Accumulating evidence suggests that neural inflammation plays an important role in psychiatric disorders. We aimed to identify inflammatory cytokines involved in the pathophysiology of such disorders by quantifying them in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from a large sample of patients with major psychiatric disorders and healthy controls. The subjects included 94 patients with schizophrenia, 68 with bipolar disorder, 104 with major depressive disorder, and 118 healthy controls, matched for age, sex, and ethnicity (Japanese).

Cerebrospinal fluid neuroplasticity-associated protein levels in patients with psychiatric disorders: a multiplex immunoassay study.

To examine the role of neuroplasticity in the pathology of psychiatric disorders, we measured cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neuroplasticity-associated protein levels. Participants were 94 patients with schizophrenia, 68 with bipolar disorder (BD), 104 with major depressive disorder (MDD), and 118 healthy controls, matched for age, sex, and ethnicity (Japanese). A multiplex immunoassay (22-plex assay) was performed to measure CSF neuroplasticity-associated protein levels.

Increased apolipoprotein E and decreased TNF-α in the cerebrospinal fluid of nondemented APOE-ε4 carriers.

Aim: The ε4 allele of apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) is a well-known risk factor of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. However, little is known why this variant confers a risk for Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the APOE genotype on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein levels.

Lower cerebrospinal fluid CRH concentration in chronic schizophrenia with negative symptoms.

Some patients with schizophrenia have impaired hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function. However, there is a dearth of studies focusing on corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) levels in the brains of schizophrenia patients, which motivated us to examine whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) CRH concentrations are altered in these patients. We also examined the possible correlation of CSF CRH level with clinical variables such as schizophrenia symptoms and antipsychotic medication.

Concentric re-emission pattern from a planar waveguide with a thin uniform luminescent layer.

When a beam of light excites a single spot on a thin luminescent layer embedded in a planar waveguide, a concentric re-emission pattern is observed. An analytical expression is formulated by following the series of events in the waveguide: generation of angle-dependent photoluminescence spectra, reflection at the waveguide-air boundary, absorption by the luminescent layer, and generation of next-generation photoluminescence. The formula reproduces the peak radii observed in the experiments with some organic dyes.

Cross talk and optical efficiency of an energy-harvesting color projector utilizing ceramic phosphors.

A color projector screen was fabricated by filling three kinds of ceramic phosphor powders in the periodic hollow columns formed in a ${50}\;{{\rm mm}}\; \times \;{50}\;{{\rm mm}}\; \times \;{10}\;{{\rm mm}}$50mm×50mm×10mm acrylic waveguide. When a blue laser beam excited a single spot on the screen, a disk-shaped cross-talk pattern appeared. Its intensity was 5 orders of magnitude lower than that of the excited spot.

Altered ethanolamine plasmalogen and phosphatidylethanolamine levels in blood plasma of patients with bipolar disorder.

Aim: Ethanolamine-containing phospholipids are synthesized in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction have been implicated in bipolar disorder (BP). In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship of ethanolamine plasmalogen (PLE) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PTE) levels in blood plasma with BP.

Au-Sn Catalyzed Growth of GeSn Nanowires: Growth Direction, Crystallinity, and Sn Incorporation.

GeSn nanowires (NWs) have been a focus of research attention for their potential in realizing next-generation Si-compatible electronic and optoelectronic devices. To control the growth of NWs and increase their Sn content, the growth mechanism needs to be understood. The use of Au-Sn alloy catalysts instead of Au catalysts allows an easier understanding of GeSn NW growth, and the effects of Sn at different concentrations in catalysts on growth direction, Sn incorporation, and crystallinity of GeSn NWs can be clarified.

Cerebrospinal fluid D-serine concentrations in major depressive disorder negatively correlate with depression severity.

Background: D-serine is an endogenous co-agonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and plays an important role in glutamate neurotransmission. Several studies suggested the possible involvement of D-serine related in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders including major depression disorders (MDD). We tried to examine whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or plasma D-serine concentrations are altered in MDD and whether D-serine concentrations correlated with disease severity.

Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid G72 protein levels in schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.

G72 is a modulator of D-amino acid oxidase, the enzyme that degrades D-serine, an amino acid that plays a critical role in glutamate neurotransmission, and has been implicated in psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to examine whether plasma or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) G72 protein levels were altered in either schizophrenia or major depressive disorder (MDD) and whether any correlation between G72 levels and disease severity existed. Initially, 27 schizophrenic patients, 26 MDD patients, and 27 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and ethnicity were enrolled.