Draft Genome Sequences of Two Antimicrobial Compound-Producing Strains of Species, TM-R and SY1-1.

Two antimicrobial compound-producing strains of species, namely, TM-R and SY1-1, have been identified previously. In this study, we report the draft genome sequences of these strains and demonstrate the presence of 12 and 14 gene clusters for secondary metabolite biosynthesis in TM-R and SY1-1, respectively.

[A Preliminary Study of Optimal Imaging Acquisition Parameters for Fiducial Markers in Liver Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy].

In liver stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) using fiducial markers, the accuracy of automatic image recognition of fiducial markers is important, and the imaging dose cannot be neglected in image-guided radiotherapy. Optimal imaging parameters of fiducial markers were investigated for automatic image recognition and imaging dose. We investigated automatic recognition with fiducial markers of different shapes and sizes.

Optimization of injection dose in F-FDG PET/CT based on the 2020 national diagnostic reference levels for nuclear medicine in Japan.

Objective: Recently, the national diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in Japan were revised as the DRLs 2020, wherein the body weight-based injection dose optimization in positron emission tomography/computed tomography using F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (F-FDG PET/CT) was first proposed. We retrospectively investigated the usefulness of this optimization method in improving image quality and reducing radiation dose.

Methods: A total of 1,231 patients were enrolled in this study.

Temporal trends in PCB concentrations in mussels collected from areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

In the Great East Japan Earthquake of 11 March 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and accompanying tsunami struck the Tohoku region of Japan. The tsunami washed away old equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) stored in the region's factories, and these PCBs may have leaked out of their casings into the marine environment.

Antifungal spectrum characterization and identification of strong volatile organic compounds produced by TM-R.

To obtain biocontrol agents for suppression of food-deteriorating fungi during storage of agricultural products, bacteria producing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with strong antifungal activity were screened and isolated from various environmental samples. Among 136 bacterial isolates, strain TM-R showed the strongest and broadest antifungal activity. Based on physiological and genetical characterization, the bacterium was identified as .

Development of a novel scheme for rapid screening for environmental micropollutants in emergency situations (REPE) and its application for comprehensive analysis of tsunami sediments deposited by the great east Japan earthquake.

The tsunami triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011, the strongest quake ever recorded in Japan, deposited tsunami sediments along the coastline of the affected area. Because the sediments contained a wide variety of hazardous chemicals, including organic micropollutants, a method for rapidly evaluating the environmental and human health risks of such chemicals is necessary. For this purpose, we propose a novel three-step scheme designated "rapid screening for environmental micropollutants in emergency situations (REPE)".

Variability and reliability of POP concentrations in multiple breast milk samples collected from the same mothers.

Risk assessment of infant using a realistic persistent organic pollutant (POP) exposure through breast milk is essential to devise future regulation of POPs. However, recent investigations have demonstrated that POP levels in breast milk collected from the same mother showed a wide range of variation daily and monthly. To estimate the appropriate sample size of breast milk from the same mother to obtain reliable POP concentrations, breast milk samples were collected from five mothers living in Japan from 2006 to 2012.

Femtosecond to picosecond transient effects in WSe observed by pump-probe angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.

Time-dependent responses of materials to an ultrashort optical pulse carry valuable information about the electronic and lattice dynamics; this research area has been widely studied on novel two-dimensional materials such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and topological insulators (TIs). We report herein a time-resolved and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (TRARPES) study of WSe, a layered semiconductor of interest for valley electronics. The results for below-gap optical pumping reveal energy-gain and -loss Floquet replica valence bands that appear instantaneously in concert with the pump pulse.

Optically detecting the edge-state of a three-dimensional topological insulator under ambient conditions by ultrafast infrared photoluminescence spectroscopy.

Ultrafast infrared photoluminescence spectroscopy was applied to a three-dimensional topological insulator TlBiSe2 under ambient conditions. The dynamics of the luminescence exhibited bulk-insulating and gapless characteristics bounded by the bulk band gap energy. The existence of the topologically protected surface state and the picosecond-order relaxation time of the surface carriers, which was distinguishable from the bulk response, were observed.

Exposure assessment of organophosphorus and organobromine flame retardants via indoor dust from elementary schools and domestic houses.

To assess the exposure of flame retardants (FRs) for school-children, organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers (PFRs) and organobromine flame retardants (BFRs) were determined in the indoor dust samples collected from elementary schools and domestic houses in Japan in 2009 and 2010. PFRs were detected in all the dust samples analyzed and the highest concentration of total PFRs was thousand-fold higher than that of BFRs. Among the PFRs, tris(butoxyethyl)phosphate (TBOEP) showed the highest concentration with a median (med.

Double-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for the detection of Bacillus anthracis spores in environmental samples with a novel permeabilization protocol.

For anti-bioterrorism measures against the use of Bacillus anthracis, a double-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is proposed, for the rapid and specific detection of B. anthracis. The probes were designed based on the differences in 16S and 23S rRNA genes of B.

Visualization and direct counting of individual denitrifying bacterial cells in soil by nirK-targeted direct in situ PCR.

The abundance of denitrifying bacteria in soil has been determined primarily by the conventional most probable number (MPN) method. We have developed a single-cell identification technique that is culture-independent, direct in situ PCR, to enumerate denitrifying bacteria in soils. The specificity of this method was evaluated with six species of denitrifying bacteria using nirK as the target gene; Escherichia coli was used as a negative control.

CIELAB color variables as indicators of compost stability.

The composting process of different organic wastes both in laboratory and on a large-scale was characterized using CIELAB color variables to evaluate compost stability for the better application in agriculture. The time courses of the CIELAB variables of composting materials were determined directly from the bottom of a glass petri dish filled with dried and ground samples using a Minolta Color Reader (CR-13) calibrated with clean empty petri dishes placed on a white tile. To compare the proposed method with conventional methods, the same materials were also evaluated using commonly used compost stability evaluation indices.

Direct viable count combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (DVC-FISH) for specific enumeration of viable escherichia coli in cow manure.

A direct viable count procedure combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (DVC-FISH) was developed for the specific detection and enumeration of viable Escherichia coli in cow manure. The DVC method was performed by trapping bacterial cells, extracted from cow manure samples, onto Nucleopore filters followed by incubation on a DVC medium containing yeast extract and four gyrase inhibitors. E.

Is Histoplasma capsulatum a native inhabitant of Japan?

Histoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by inhaling spores of the fungal pathogen H. capsulatum and in Japan is considered an imported mycosis. However, some patients in Japan with histoplasmosis have no history of traveling overseas nor of risk of occupational exposure to Histoplasma.

Inhibitory effect of branched-chain amino acid granules on progression of compensated liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus.

Background: A phase II randomized controlled trial was conducted in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis to investigate the inhibitory effect of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) granules for oral use (TK-98) on disease progression.

Methods: Patients who had compensated liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus with baseline serum albumin levels between 3.6 and 4.

Rapid and automated enumeration of viable bacteria in compost using a micro-colony auto counting system.

The micro-colony method was used to enumerate viable bacteria in composts. Cells were vacuum-filtered onto polycarbonate filters and incubated for 18 h on LB medium at 37 degrees C. Bacteria on the filters were stained with SYBR Green II, and enumerated using a newly developed micro-colony auto counting system which can automatically count micro-colonies on half the area of the filter within 90 s.

Factors associated with the virological response of lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus during combination therapy with adefovir dipivoxil plus lamivudine.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the response of lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) during combination therapy with adefovir dipivoxil plus lamivudine.

Methods: Sixty-three patients with breakthrough hepatitis received a 10-mg once-daily dose of oral adefovir dipivoxil.

Results: The rates of undetectable serum HBV-DNA were 49.

Interferon lowers tumor recurrence rate after surgical resection or ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: a pilot study of patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) often recurs after surgical or medical treatment.

Methods: Eighty consecutive patients with HBV-positive cirrhosis and HCC who underwent potentially curative ablation for HCC were analyzed. Eleven patients received long-term interferon (IFN) therapy.

Long-term presence of HBV in the sera of chronic hepatitis B patients with HBsAg seroclearance.

Objects: The aim of this study was to elucidate the presence of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA at a prolonged time after seroclearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).

Methods: Seventy Japanese patients who had been observed for >5 years after HBsAg seroclearance were included in this study. Anti-HBs, anti-HBe and anti-HBc antibodies were measured 0, 5 and 10 years after HBsAg seroclearance.

Long-term outcome after interferon therapy in elderly patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the long-term outcome after interferon (IFN) therapy in chronic hepatitis C elderly patients.

Methods: We studied the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and survival probability after the initiation of IFN therapy in 500 Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients >60 years. The mean age of initiation of IFN was 63 years and the mean follow-up period was 7.

Long-term outcome of HBV carriers with negative HBe antigen and normal aminotransferase.

Purposes: To elucidate the incidence of hepatitis activation and hepatocellular carcinogenesis in patients with negative HBe antigen and normal aminotransferase, long-term observation was performed in a retrospective cohort.

Methods: Among 116 consecutive patients with normal aminotransferase and negative HBe antigen at the time of liver biopsy, sequential frozen sera for initial 5 years were available for 95 patients. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA assay (sensitivity >400 copy/mL) and aminotransferase were annually examined in the initial 5 years after biopsy.

Long-term follow-up of HBeAg-positive young adult Japanese patients treated with corticosteroid withdrawal therapy for chronic hepatitis B.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term effects of corticosteroid withdrawal therapy (CSWT) in young adult Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis B (CH-B) virus infection.

Methods: The subjects were 106 patients with CH-B who received CSWT, were less than 35 years of age and had been followed for more 10 years after CSWT.

Results: Retreatment was not required in 41 patients (38.