Impact of surgical volume on outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for benign adrenal tumors: A Japanese nationwide database analysis.

Objective: To analyze the recent status of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for benign adrenal tumors, focusing on the relationship between the number of surgeries and complication rates per facility.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, covering surgeries performed between April 2012 and March 2020. The inclusion criteria were laparoscopic adrenalectomy for benign adrenal tumors.

Impact of adjuvant trastuzumab therapy and its discontinuation on cardiac function and mortality in patients with early-stage breast cancer: An analysis based on the Japanese Receipt Claim Database.

Standard trastuzumab therapy can reduce the risk of early recurrence of HER2-positive breast cancer. However, trastuzumab-induced cardiac dysfunction may force the discontinuation of adjuvant trastuzumab therapy. Incidentally, there are still unclear whether or not trastuzumab treatment should be continued in the setting of reduced cardiac function.

Disentangling Sources of Momentum Fluctuations in Xe+Xe and Pb+Pb Collisions with the ATLAS Detector.

High-energy nuclear collisions create a quark-gluon plasma, whose initial condition and subsequent expansion vary from event to event, impacting the distribution of the eventwise average transverse momentum [P([p_{T}])]. Disentangling the contributions from fluctuations in the nuclear overlap size (geometrical component) and other sources at a fixed size (intrinsic component) remains a challenge. This problem is addressed by measuring the mean, variance, and skewness of P([p_{T}]) in ^{208}Pb+^{208}Pb and ^{129}Xe+^{129}Xe collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.

Direct Givens rotation method based on error back-propagation algorithm for self-consistent field solution.

The self-consistent field (SCF) procedure is the standard technique for solving the Hartree-Fock and Kohn-Sham density functional theory calculations, while convergence is not theoretically guaranteed. Direct minimization methods, such as the augmented Lagrangian method (ALM) and second-order SCF (SOSCF), obtain the SCF solution by minimizing the Lagrangian with the gradient. In SOSCF, molecular orbitals are optimized by truncating the Taylor expansion of a unitary matrix represented in exponential form to ensure the orthonormality condition.

Assessment of Silver-Copper Co-Loaded Mesoporous Bioactive Glass as an Advanced Pulp-Capping Material.

Objectives: To evaluate the multifunctionality of silver-copper co-loaded mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG), with the goal of developing an advanced pulp-capping material.

Methods: The synthesis of materials was conducted using the sol-gel method, following the approach described in previous studies but with some modifications. The composition included 80 mol% SiO₂, 15 mol% CaO, and 5 mol% P₂O₅, with additional components of 5 mol% silver, 5 mol% copper, or 1 mol% silver combined with 4 mol% copper, designated as Ag5/80S, Cu5/80S, or Ag1Cu4/80S, respectively.

End-divergent architecture diversifies within-muscle mechanical action in human gluteus maximus in vivo.

A muscle's mechanical action is affected by its architecture. However, less is known about the architecture of muscles with broad attachments: "end-divergent" muscles. Potential regional variation of fascicle orientation in end-divergent muscles suggests that their mechanical action varies by region.

pH- and Saccharide-Responsive Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes with Boronic Acid Moieties Displaying a Wide Range of Phosphorescence Colors.

Single compounds displaying a wide range of luminescent colors are attractive optical materials for sensor applications. In this study, we present the beneficial combination of a cyclometalated iridium(III) complex scaffold and boronic acid units for designing stimuli-responsive luminescent materials with various emission colors. Five iridium(III) complexes bearing a diboronic acid ligand (bpyB2) were synthesized: Ir(C^N)bpyB2 (C^N = 2-phenylpyridine (1), 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (2), 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)pyridine (3), benzo[h]quinoline (4), 1-phenylisoquinoline (5)).

The role of light exposure in infant circadian rhythm establishment: A scoping review perspective.

Environmental light exposure plays a role in the entrainment of the infant circadian rhythm, which is crucial for growth and development. This scoping review aims to evaluate existing literature linking the role of light exposure in the development of the infant circadian rhythm. This scoping review is conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

Associations of socio-demographic, anthropometric and behavioural factors with phase angle in older adults: a cross-sectional study in Taiwan.

Objective: Phase angle (PhA) is a prognostic factor for predicting and monitoring geriatric syndromes. However, multiple factors associated with increased PhA values as an outcome remain unclear in the older population. This study aimed to examine the association of socio-demographic, anthropometric and behavioural factors with PhA among older Taiwanese adults.

Portions of the force-velocity relationship targeted by weightlifting exercises.

We compared the force-velocity (F-V) characteristics between jump squat (JS) and weightlifting (hang clean [HC] and HC pull [HCP]) to determine lower limb F-V portions targeted by weightlifting exercises. Ten weightlifters performed JS at 0% (body weight only) to 70% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM) for back squat, and HC and HCP at 30‒90% and 30‒110% of their 1RM for HC, respectively. Force and velocity values at each relative load were plotted to determine the F-V features of JS, HC, and HCP.

A Reflective Terahertz Point Source Meta-Sensor with Asymmetric Meta-Atoms for High-Sensitivity Bio-Sensing.

Biosensors operating in the terahertz (THz) region are gaining substantial interest in biomedical analysis due to their significant potential for high-sensitivity trace-amount solution detection. However, progress in compact, high-sensitivity chips and methods for simple, rapid and trace-level measurements is limited by the spatial resolution of THz waves and their strong absorption in polar solvents. In this work, a compact nonlinear optical crystal (NLOC)-based reflective THz biosensor with a few arrays of asymmetrical meta-atoms was developed.

Effect of low-frequency acupuncture on muscle and fascia stiffness: examination with or without intervention.

Background: Low-frequency acupuncture is used to maintain skeletal muscle flexibility and improve joint range of motion; however, its definite effects are unclear. This study aimed to determine the effects of low-frequency acupuncture on muscle and fascial stiffness and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion.

Methods: The participants included 12 randomly selected healthy adults.

Game-Based Promotion of Assertiveness to Mitigate the Effects of Bullying in High School Students: Development and Evaluation Study.

Background: For years, Mexico has reported the highest global incidence of school bullying, with approximately 19% of students going through some form of hostile peer interactions. Despite numerous interventions, these harmful conducts remain deeply entrenched in educational environments.

Objective: To address this issue, we developed Bernstein, a serious game that promotes assertiveness-an essential protective factor that reduces the negative effects of bullying.

Nuclear receptor profiling for subtype classification and as prognostic markers in 33 cancer types.

Nuclear receptors, a group of 48 transcription factors that regulate a multitude of processes within our body, have long been employed as diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets in breast cancer, prostate cancer, and acute promyelocytic leukemia. Unfortunately, no comprehensive investigation has been conducted on their significance in other cancer types. The current study aimed to explore novel diagnostic markers by classifying nuclear receptors according to their expression patterns based on transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas on 10,071 tumor samples across 33 cancer types and investigating their association with genetic mutations, histological types, and prognosis.

Conditioned serum-free culture medium accomplishes adhesion and proliferation of bovine myogenic cells on uncoated dishes.

To establish a sustainable cultured meat technology, a low-cost culture medium must be developed without expensive biological materials such as serum and coating substances. However, even adhering bovine myogenic cells to uncoated culture dishes in the serum-free medium is challenging. We found that serum-free culture medium conditioned by HepG2 and NIH/3T3 cells not only accomplished the cell adhesion on uncoated culture dishes (the serum-containing medium : the serum-free medium : the conditioned medium = 6722 ± 1500 : 2210 ± 319 : 5985 ± 1558 cells/cm), but also induced proliferation comparable to that observed in a serum-containing medium (the serum-containing medium : the serum-free medium : the conditioned medium = 10,050 ± 2814 : 2200 ± 707 : 8998 ± 3890 cells/cm).

A position and wave spectra dataset of Marginal Ice Zone dynamics collected around Svalbard in 2022 and 2023.

Sea ice is a key element of the global Earth system, with a major impact on global climate and regional weather. Unfortunately, accurate sea ice modeling is challenging due to the diversity and complexity of underlying physics happening there, and a relative lack of ground truth observations. This is especially true for the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ), which is the area where sea ice is affected by incoming ocean waves.

Association of the interaction between daily step counts and frailty with disability in older adults.

The differences in the association of objectively measured physical activity with disability between frail and non-frail older adults remain unclear. We (1) evaluated the dose-dependent relationship between daily steps and disability in older adults with and without frailty and (2) examined the interaction between steps and frailty status in relation to the risk of disability. This prospective study used data from 4065 adults aged ≥ 65 years from the Kyoto-Kameoka Study, Japan.

Efficacy of docetaxel addition to next-generation androgen receptor-axis-targeted therapies and androgen deprivation therapy in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: A tumor volume-specific analysis.

Background: The effectiveness of docetaxel in addition to next-generation androgen receptor-axis-targeted therapies and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) remains unclear. We evaluated the efficacy of this combination through tumor volume-specific analysis.

Methods: Individual patient data were reconstructed from seven clinical trials focusing mHSPC (ARASENS, PEACE-1, TITAN, ENZAMET, ARCHES, STAMPEDE, and LATITUDE) through the Shiny method.

Exploring the impact of physical activity on resilience: A longitudinal analysis in Japanese adults.

Recently, the role of physical activity in enhancing resilience has garnered increasing attention. Resilience describes the personal characteristics that influence psychological recovery and adaptation to stress. This study examined the relationships between various domains of physical activity and resilience in Japanese adults by analyzing panel data from five waves, gathered at 3-month intervals over a year.

HeatGSNs: Integrating Eigenfilters and Low-Pass Graph Heat Kernels into Graph Spectral Convolutional Networks for Brain Tumor Segmentation and Classification.

Recent studies on graph representation learning in brain tumor learning tasks have garnered significant interest by encoding and learning inherent relationships among the geometric features of tumors. There are serious class imbalance problems that occur on brain tumor MRI datasets. Impressive deep learning models like CNN- and Transformer-based can easily address this problem through their complex model architectures with large parameters.

Visualization of four-dimensional X-ray absorption fine structure data using a virtual reality system.

X-ray spectromicroscopy is extensively utilized for nondestructive mapping of chemical states in materials. However, understanding and analyzing the geometric and topological aspects of such data pose challenges due to their representation in 4D space, encompassing (x, y, z) coordinates along with the energy (E) axis and often extending to 5D space with the inclusion of time (t) or reaction degree. In this study, we addressed this challenge by developing a new approach and introducing a device named `4D-XASView', specifically designed for visualizing X-ray absorption fine structures (XAFS) data in 4D (comprising 3D space and energy), through a multi-projection system, within the virtual reality (VR) environment.

Revamping Pace Distribution: A Case Study on Elevating the Men's 400 m Track and Field Japanese National Record After 32 Years.

Chiba, Y, Sato, K, Yoshimoto, T, Ohnuma, H, Yamanaka, R, Takahashi, K, Kobayashi, K, Matsubayashi, T, and Takai, Y. Revamping pace distribution: A case study on elevating the men's 400 m track and field Japanese national record after 32 years. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-Many studies have investigated the 400-m sprint, and the optimal pacing strategy is subject to debate.

Three-Dimensional Visualization of Chiral Nano-Optical Field around Gold Nanoplates via Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy.

In this study, we examine the three-dimensional chiral optical field in the vicinity of a gold nanoplate using aperture-type scanning near-field optical microscopy. Near-field imaging indicates that the chiral optical field shows a unique spatial distribution and depends on the incident polarization. We also evaluate the modal dependence of chiral optical fields, which reveals that the plasmon mode with E symmetry contributes substantially to the chiral optical field while that with A symmetry contributes little because of the high spatial symmetry.

Moral Intuition Regarding the Possibility of Conscious Human Brain Organoids: An Experimental Ethics Study.

The moral status of human brain organoids (HBOs) has been debated in view of the future possibility that they may acquire phenomenal consciousness. This study empirically investigates the moral sensitivity in people's intuitive judgments about actions toward conscious HBOs. The results showed that the presence/absence of pain experience in HBOs affected the judgment about the moral permissibility of actions such as creating and destroying the HBOs; however, the presence/absence of visual experience in HBOs also affected the judgment.

Recent advances in low-temperature nitrogen oxide reduction: effects of electric field application.

This article presents a review of catalytic processes used at low temperatures to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO) and nitrous oxide (NO), which are exceedingly important in terms of their environmental impacts on the Earth. With conventional purification technologies, it has been difficult to remove these compounds under low-temperature conditions. By applying a catalytic process in an electric field for the three reactions of three-way catalysts (TWC), NO storage reduction catalysts (NSR), and direct decomposition of NO, we have achieved high catalytic activity even at low temperatures.