The HNH endonuclease domain of the giant virus MutS7 specifically binds to branched DNA structures with single-stranded regions.

Most giant viruses including Mimiviridae family build large viral factories within the host cytoplasms. These giant viruses are presumed to possess specific genes that enable the rapid and massive replication of their large double-stranded DNA genomes within viral factories. It has been revealed that a functionally uncharacterized protein, MutS7, is expressed during the operational phase of the viral factory.

Enhanced fluoride extraction from contaminated soil combining chelator and surfactant: Insights into adsorptive controlment of soil surface charge.

Biodegradable chelators and surfactants are promising alternatives to conventional washing agents for remediating soil contaminated with toxic elements, owing to their excellent extractability and environmental compatibility. Most previous studies have primarily aimed at maximizing removal efficiency. However, understanding their underlying extraction mechanism is essential to expand the application potential of chelator- or surfactant-assisted washing systems.

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Three Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Ulcerative Colitis: A Real-World Multicentre Study in Japan.

Background: Three Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are approved for ulcerative colitis (UC) in Japan.

Aim: To compare the real-world efficacy and safety of these three JAK inhibitors in UC.

Methods: This was a multicentre, retrospective study of patients with UC started on JAK inhibitors.

Poor Joint Work in the Lower Limbs during a Tennis Forehand Groundstroke after a Cross-Over Step Inhibits an Increase in the Racket Speed.

A forward run-up and stepping are used to accelerate hitting tools or throwing objects in sports. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a forward cross-over step on the speed of a hitting tool by analyzing the joint work and mechanical energy of the whole body and the hitting tool using inverse dynamics. Thirteen advanced tennis players performed forehand groundstrokes at maximum effort with and without a forward cross-over step.

Influence of the rotation of the diverting loop ileostomy in rectal cancer surgery on small-bowel obstruction: A multicenter prospective study conducted by the Clinical Study Group of Osaka University, Colorectal Group.

Aims: Whether rotation of a diverting loop ileostomy during rectal cancer surgery, for reducing the catastrophic effect of an anastomotic leakage, affects the incidence of small-bowel obstruction has not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study is to explore whether technical maneuvers in diverting loop ileostomy creation, including its rotation, are associated with increased incidence of small-bowel obstruction in rectal tumor surgery.

Methods: This multicenter prospective study was conducted by the Clinical Study Group of Osaka University, which comprises 24 major institutions.

Phase II trial evaluating the long-term efficacy and peripheral sensory neuropathy of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) as adjuvant therapy in Japanese patients with operated stage III colon cancer.

Adjuvant oxaliplatin plus capecitabine (XELOX) therapy is recommended for patients with curatively resected colon cancer. However, prospective data on its practical application in Japanese patients are limited. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a long-term clinical evaluation of the efficacy and safety of adjuvant XELOX in patients with curatively resected stage III colon cancer (MCSCO-1024).

Tolerability and Safety Assessment of Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy with S-1 after Limited Surgery for T1 or T2 Lower Rectal Cancer.

Background: The short-term outcomes of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with S-1 (a combination of tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil) following limited surgery for patients with T1 or T2 lower rectal cancer have shown encouraging results.

Objectives: This study was designed to delve deeper into the long-term outcomes of CRT with S-1 after limited surgery, with the goal of evaluating both the long-term efficacy and potential risks associated with this treatment approach in patients diagnosed with T1 or T2 lower rectal cancer.

Methods: This was conducted as a multicenter, single-arm, prospective phase II trial.

Enhancing lead extraction efficiency from contaminated soil: A synergistic approach combining biodegradable chelators and surfactants.

Lead (Pb), a persistent and bio-accumulative contaminant, poses threats to the environment and human health. The effective removal of Pb from contaminated soil proves challenging due to its tendency to form stable complexes with soil components. Chelators have been extensively studied for their ability to extract metal contaminants, including Pb, from soil environment.

Cu-Atom Locations in Rocksalt SnTe Thermoelectric Alloy.

The development of functional thermoelectric materials requires direct evidence of dopants' locations to rationally design the electronic and phononic structure of the host matrix. In this study, Cs-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy is employed at the atomic scale to identify Cu atoms' locations in a Cu-doped SnTe thermoelectric alloy. It is revealed that Cu atoms in the rocksalt SnTe form solid solutions at both Sn and Te sites, contrary to their electronegativity order and the intentional Cu doping at Sn sites.

Remediation of fluoride-contaminated wastes: Chelator-assisted washing and subsequent immobilization using CaO and HPO.

Fluoride (F) contamination in industrial waste is a significant challenge for sustainable materials recycling. Existing techniques for mitigating F contamination focus on immobilization, converting F compounds to insoluble forms while leaving the total F content untreated. Chelator-assisted washing is considered a promising alternative remediation strategy that can indirectly release F by entrapping and dissolving F-bearing minerals.

Development of an Ultrasonic Nebulization System for an Inverse Low Temperature Plasma Ionization Source.

An effective nebulization and evaporation of a liquid sample, like in liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry (LC-MS) couplings, is an essential requirement for the ionization of analyte molecules in the gas phase by, for example, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) or the novel low temperature plasma (LTP)-based ion source. These LTP-based ion sources have recently gained interest in the field of atmospheric pressure ion sources, as they can cover a wide range of polarity and molecular mass. They can be used in combination with separation techniques like liquid chromatography or used as an ambient ion source.

Atomic-Scale Behavior of Perovskite-Supported Ir-Pd-Ru Nanoparticles under Redox Atmospheres.

An advanced materials solution utilizing the concept of "smart catalysts" could be a game changer for today's automotive emission control technology, enabling the efficient use of precious metals via their two-way switching between metallic nanoparticle forms and ionic states in the host perovskite lattice as a result of the cyclical oxidizing/reducing atmospheres. However, direct evidence for such processes remains scarce; therefore, the underlying mechanism has been an unsettled debate. Here, we use advanced scanning transmission electron microscopy to reveal the atomic-scale behaviors for a LaFePdO-supported Ir-Pd-Ru nanocatalyst under fluctuating redox conditions, thereby proving the reversible dissolution/exsolution for Ir and Ru but with a limited occurrence for Pd.

Case of new-onset fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus accompanied by autoimmune thyroid disease after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

There is growing evidence suggesting an association between severe acute respiratory coronavirus syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and various extrapulmonary diseases since the advent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, case reports of fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (FT1D) following SARS-CoV-2 infection are limited. We encountered a 44-year-old Japanese woman who developed FT1D accompanied by subclinical thyrotoxicosis caused by autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) approximately one week after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Mechanisms of speed-accuracy trade-off in tennis topspin forehand of college players.

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the speed-accuracy relationship in a tennis topspin single-handed forehand groundstroke. Groundstrokes at three different speeds by nine college players were captured, with the variability of the ball landing position evaluated as indices of accuracy. Variabilities of ball launch variables (speed, launch angle, spin, etc.

Circularly Polarized Luminescence Chirality Inversion and Dual Anticounterfeiting Labels Based on Fluorescent Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Particles.

The development of materials with circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) properties is a promising but challenging frontier in advanced materials science. Modulating the chiral properties of chiral polymers has also been a focus of research. Studies have been conducted to control the ground-state chirality of chiral polymers by adjusting the concentration of the chiral dopant.

Mechanism of charge accumulation in potassium poly(heptazine imide).

Dark photocatalysis is the ability of a photocatalyst to accumulate photocarriers during light irradiation and consume them for redox reactions under dark conditions. This phenomenon of photocatalysts storing photocarriers is known as charge accumulation. Dark photocatalysts can mitigate fluctuations in photocatalytic reaction efficiency in response to fluctuating solar irradiation.

Transferability of Effective Consultation Skills for Decision-Making Support in the Voluntary Surrender of Older Adult Drivers' Licences in Super-Aged Japan.

Introduction: Previously, we identified eight effective consultation skills to support decision-making in the voluntary surrender of older adult drivers' licences in super-aged Japan. This study aimed to clarify the transferability of these skills.

Methods: We collected text data by interviewing 11 safe-driving counsellors (four police officers, four clerical staff and three nurses) in the License Division of the National Police Agency from February to March 2022.

The interaction between the import carrier Hikeshi and HSP70 is modulated by heat, facilitating the nuclear import of HSP70 under heat stress conditions.

Heat stress strongly triggers the nuclear localization of the molecular chaperone HSP70. Hikeshi functions as a unique nuclear import carrier of HSP70. However, how the nuclear import of HSP70 is activated in response to heat stress remains unclear.

Tubulointerstitial nephritis with IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration and tertiary lymphoid tissue in a patient with cryoglobulinemic vasculitis: a case report.

Tertiary lymphoid tissue (TLT) develops at sites of chronic immune stimulation, including infection, autoimmune disease, transplant rejection, and cancer. Recently, TLT has been focused on an indicator for poor renal prognosis in various kidney diseases. In cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV), specific glomerular and vascular lesions are seen; however, tubulointerstitial lesions are usually nonspecific.

Inhibition of RNA Phosphodiester Backbone Cleavage in the Presence of Organic Cations of Different Sizes.

Living cells contain various types of organic cations that may interact with nucleic acids. In order to understand the nucleic acid-binding properties of organic cations of different sizes, we investigated the ability of simple organic cations to inhibit the RNA phosphodiester bond cleavage promoted by Mg, Pb, and RNA-cleaving serum proteins. Kinetic analysis using chimeric DNA-RNA oligonucleotides showed that the cleavage at ribonucleotide sites was inhibited in the presence of monovalent cations comprising alkyl chains or benzene rings.

Robotic transabdominal preperitoneal repair for recurrent inguinal hernia after Kugel hernioplasty: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: The laparoscopic posterior approach adapts the advantages of Kugel hernioplasty, making it possible to perform it at the new layer even if the inguinal hernia is recurrent following the anterior approach, producing a high level of completion. However, in laparoscopic surgery for recurrent inguinal hernia using posterior approaches, dissecting the extraperitoneal space is difficult. Robotic surgery may enable precise dissection, even if the space is severely adhered.