American Geophysical Union (AGU) Acta Medica Okayama 2169-9097 131 4 2026 Investigating the Detectability of Body Wave Phases From Tidal Ice Cracking Events on Titan With the Dragonfly Short-Period Seismometer e2025JE009432 EN L. Delaroque Université Paris Cité, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS T. Kawamura Université Paris Cité, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS A. Lucas Université Paris Cité, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS S. Rodriguez Université Paris Cité, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS K. Onodera Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University H. Shiraishi Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency R. Yamada The University of Aizu S. Tanaka Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency M. P. Panning Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology R. D. Lorenz The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Detecting seismic activity on Saturn's icy moon Titan during the Dragonfly mission could provide crucial information on its internal structure. The geological complexity of the moon's surface suggests significant cyclic tidal deformation, likely leading to the fracturing of the ice shell. Considering realistic source locations and fault geometries, we assess whether a vertical short-period seismometer can detect body waves from a Mw 4.0 icequake. Signal-to-noise ratios are evaluated by comparing the high-frequency content with the expected background noise and instrument capabilities for several ice attenuation scenarios and 1D interior models. Our results indicate that the high-frequency content (≥1Hz) of Mw≤4.0 tidal-induced icequakes is likely undetectable under the most unfavorable attenuation scenarios and atmospheric conditions. However, seismic signals in the 0.5–1 Hz band―where P wave reflections dominate―may still be observable for events occurring in potential seismically active regions at ∼800–1,000 km from the Dragonfly's landing site. These signals could provide constraints on the thickness of Titan's outer ice shell, provided that intrinsic attenuation is low and environmental conditions are favorable. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

The Company of Biologists Acta Medica Okayama 2046-6390 15 2 2026 Gap junction-mediated signaling coordinates Rhodopsin coupling for Drosophila color vision bio062463 EN Xuanshuo Zhang Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Ryoki Shinjo Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Manabu Kitamata Division of Health Science, Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University Shinichi Otsune Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hideki Nakagoshi Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University The Drosophila compound eye is composed of approximately 800 ommatidia, and every ommatidium contains eight photoreceptor cells, six outer cells (R1-R6) and two inner cells (R7 and R8), and accessory cells (cone and pigment cells). The expression of rhodopsin genes in R7 and R8 is highly coordinated through an instructive signal from R7 to R8. The activity of the homeodomain protein Defective proventriculus in R1 is also required to transmit this instructive signal, suggesting that cell–cell communication between R7, R1, and R8 is important to generate the pattern of Rh expression in R7/R8 (Rhodopsin coupling). As cell junctions play crucial roles in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of tissues, we tested whether cell junction proteins are involved in the interactions between photoreceptor cells. Here, we demonstrate that gap junction proteins innexin 2 and innexin 7 in accessory cells are necessary for transmitting signals from R7 to R8. In addition, Notch-mediated accessory cell development and Rhodopsin coupling in R7/R8 are highly correlated. Our results provide evidence that functional coupling of two different neurons, R7 and R8, is established through gap junction-mediated signaling from adjacent accessory cells. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0040-4039 179 2026 Visible-light-induced photocatalytic intermolecular cyclization for synthesis of 2,2-diarylchromanes 156034 EN Sakura Kodaki Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Momo Kondo Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science Junta Minato Laboratory of Cellular Drug Discovery and Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science Shoko Itakura Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science Hiroyoshi Takamura Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Makiya Nishikawa Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science Isao Kadota Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kosuke Kusamori Laboratory of Cellular Drug Discovery and Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science Kenta Tanaka Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University The photocatalytic cyclization of salicylaldehydes with 1,1-diarylalkenes for the synthesis of 2,2-diarylchromanes has been developed. The catalytic amount of Ir photocatalyst proceeds the cyclization to give the various 2,2-diaryl chromanes under irradiation with blue LEDs. The obtained 2,2-diarylchromanes exhibit noticeable free-radical-scavenging activities, which have been largely unexplored. Notably, the chromane can convert to 2,2-diaryl-2H-naphtho[1,2-b]pyran bearing strong electron withdrawing groups, which are found in various photochromic materials. Thus, the present reaction constitutes a promising tool for the synthesis of functional materials and biologically active compounds. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Informa UK Limited Acta Medica Okayama 0020-739X 2026 Triangulation in teaching probability: teaching materials for the theoretical foundations of probability in real-world applications EN Yusuke Uegatani Hiroshima University High School Ippo Ishibashi Faculty of Education, Okayama University Aya Sakota Hiroshima University High School This paper proposes using the concept of triangulation with probabilistic models as a means to enhance theoretical inversion for deepening students’ understanding of the nature of probability in real-world contexts. Triangulation refers to the combined application of multiple methodologies to investigate the same phenomenon, particularly in the social sciences. Theoretical inversion refers to a shift in focus from surprising outcomes to the theoretical foundations of probability. The paper introduces three types of problem-solving tasks designed to enhance one of four types of triangulations: theory triangulation. Theoretical inversion is expected to emerge through engaging in these tasks. The characteristics of the problems are as follows. Problem 1 promotes students to compare different probabilistic models of events under similar procedures. Problem 2 provides students with an opportunity to simplify an experiment by omitting steps that add no new information. Problem 3 enhances students’ ability to recognise how subtle differences in the experimental setup can affect the resulting probability. These tasks are designed to encourage students to view probabilistic reasoning as a form of modelling and to appreciate the importance of assumptions, definitions of elementary events, and clarity in procedural descriptions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Pharmaceutical Society of Japan Acta Medica Okayama 0918-6158 49 2 2026 Functional Transport Properties of Human Zinc Transporter 1: Kinetics and pH-Dependency 364 370 EN Yuma Yoshioka Department of Molecular Membrane Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takaaki Miyaji Department of Molecular Membrane Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Intracellular zinc (Zn2+) homeostasis is essential for physiological and pathological processes and is strictly regulated by Zn2+ transporters. Zinc transporter 1 (ZnT1) is a ubiquitously expressed plasma membrane-localized Zn transporter that exports Zn2+ from the cytoplasm to the extracellular space. However, the functional transport properties regarding kinetics and driving forces of ZnT1 remain debatable. In this study, we established a cell-free proteoliposome assay system and demonstrated that ZnT1 transports Zn2+ with high affinity in pH-dependent and pH-independent manners. The Km and Vmax of pH-dependent Zn2+ transport were 0.40 μM and 15.13 nmol/min/mg protein, and those of pH-independent Zn2+ transport were 0.52 μM and 8.88 nmol/min/mg protein (low concentrations of Zn2+), 3.02 μM and 17.59 nmol/min/mg protein (high concentrations of Zn2+), respectively, suggesting biphasic kinetic components of Zn2+ transport. Even without pH gradient formation, ZnT1 exhibits potent Zn2+ transport activity. In pH dependency, Zn2+ transport activity was higher at an inside pH of 6.0 than at 6.5–7.5 for proteoliposomes, despite the same ΔpH of 0.5–1.5. The Zn2+ transport activity decreased at an outside pH of 8.0, despite an increase in ΔpH. Although previous studies have proposed that ZnT1-mediated Zn2+ transport activity is driven by a calcium (Ca2+) gradient and not by a pH gradient, Ca2+ does not enhance Zn2+ transport activity in the presence or absence of a pH gradient. These results strongly suggest that ZnT1 protein transports Zn2+ optimally at a specific pH and exports excess intracellular Zn2+ even without ΔpH. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2073-4360 18 7 2026 Effect of Universal Adhesives on Resin Cement–Fiber Post–Core Materials 810 EN Masao Irie Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Masahiro Okada Department of Dental Biomaterials, Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University Yukinori Maruo Department of Prosthodontics, Okayama University Kenraro Akiyama Department of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kumiko Yoshihara Health Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Akimasa Tsujimoto Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Aichi Gakuin University Takuya Matsumoto Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University This study evaluated eleven resin cements used as core build-up materials by examining the following properties: (a) push-out force between root dentin and the fiber post; (b) pull-out force between the fiber post and the core build-up material; (c) shear bond strength of the resin cement to root dentin; (d) flexural strength of the resin cement; and (e) flexural modulus of elasticity of the resin cement. The purpose of this investigation was to clarify the relationships between recently available universal adhesives, core build-up materials, resin cements, and fiber posts. All experiments were performed at two evaluation periods: after 1 day of water storage (Base) and after 20,000 thermocycles (TC 20k). For the push-out test, simulated post spaces were prepared in single-rooted human premolars. The specimens were sectioned perpendicular to the long axis into 2 mm-thick slices and then subjected to push-out testing to assess the bond strength of the dentin–resin cement–fiber post complex. No significant differences in bonding performance were found between Base and TC 20k. These findings suggest that universal adhesives used for pretreatment of multiple substrates in fiber post cementation can provide not only strong but also durable adhesion over time. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2211-7156 25 2026 Peptide nanomicelles for NIR light-dependent siRNA delivery 103265 EN Taufik Fatwa Nur Hakim Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Mizuki Kitamatsu Department of Applied Chemistry, Kindai University Shoumu Fujimoto Department of Applied Chemistry, Kindai University Kazunori Watanabe Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Takashi Ohtsuki Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University The peptide amphiphile PA8, derived from the GAVILRR peptide, was developed as a carrier for small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery; however, its RNA interference (RNAi) efficacy was limited owing to predominant endocytotic uptake. In this study, the RNAi efficiency of PA8 nanomicelle/siRNA complexes was enhanced by modifying the nanomicelles with the photosensitizer DY750 and the tumor-homing peptide iRGD. The conjugation of DY750 to the nanomicelles facilitated endosomal escape of the nanomicelle/siRNA complexes, enabling the cytosolic release of siRNA. Additionally, the incorporation of iRGD improved RNAi delivery efficiency in the AsPC-1 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line. PA8-DY750-iRGD nanomicelle complexes loaded with siRNA against polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) achieved an 80% reduction in PLK1 mRNA levels in AsPC-1 cells and a moderate 28% knockdown in NCI-N87 gastric cancer cells. Notably, no RNAi effect was observed in noncancerous 1C3D3 pancreatic cells or HEK293T kidney cells, underscoring the selectivity of this system for AsPC-1 cells. These findings highlight the potential of PA8-DY750-iRGD nanomicelle complexes as a targeted therapeutic platform for specific cancers, particularly pancreatic cancer. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2045-2322 16 1 2026 Liquid–liquid phase separation by caged coacervating peptides 10464 EN Akinari Bando Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Mizuki Kitamatsu Department of Applied Chemistry, Kindai University Yuuki Kanazaki Department of Applied Chemistry, Kindai University Rika Tojo Department of Applied Chemistry, Kindai University Kazunori Watanabe Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Takashi Ohtsuki Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Liquid–liquid phase separation is an important biomolecular process in the formation of membraneless intracellular organelles that has inspired the development of artificial droplet systems. We developed caged coacervating peptides (CCPs) based on a histidine-rich squid beak protein sequence. The peptides were caged with a photodeprotectable (7-diethylaminocoumarin-4-yl)methoxycarbonyl group. The CCPs formed coacervates in the caged state and were partially dispersed upon blue-light irradiation. Photo-uncaging occurred rapidly, inducing coacervate dispersion. A mutant CCP with reduced π–π interactions exhibited efficient photo-dependent disassembly and enabled the encapsulation and release of a fluorescently labeled adenosine 5′-triphosphate (Bodipy-ATP) upon irradiation. These CCPs offer an efficient light-controlled approach for biomolecular encapsulation within coacervates and targeted drug delivery. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 1472-6831 26 1 2026 Evaluation of contact-active antibacterial properties of cetylpyridinium chloride–graphene oxide coatings on dental restorative and titanium surfaces: an in vitro study 558 EN Keisuke Okubo Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, Field of Medical Development, Okayama University Gen Kano Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Masato Komoda Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Hideyuki Kamata Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Shin Nakamura Department of Pathophysiology - Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yuki Shinoda-Ito Department of Pathophysiology - Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kazuhiro Omori Department of Pathophysiology - Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yuta Nishina Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Shogo Takashiba Department of Pathophysiology - Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Objective Biofilm formation on dental restorative materials and implant surfaces plays a central role in the development of dental caries, periodontal disease, and peri-implantitis. Durable antimicrobial surface treatments that inhibit bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation remain a significant unmet need in restorative and implant dentistry. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a composite coating combining cetylpyridinium chloride and graphene oxide, and to evaluate its durable antibacterial surface modification under in vitro conditions.<br> Methods A composite coating consisting of cetylpyridinium chloride and graphene oxide was prepared and applied to composite resin and titanium surfaces. Antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis was evaluated using adenosine triphosphate assays and fluorescence-based live/dead staining. Coating retention after washing and air-drying was assessed by optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy.<br> Results Cetylpyridinium chloride-graphene oxide-coated surfaces showed a significant reduction in bacterial viability compared with phosphate-buffered saline, ethanol, and cetylpyridinium chloride-only controls. Antibacterial effects were maintained after rinsing and air-drying on both composite resin and titanium surfaces. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the persistence of characteristic graphene oxide bands after washing, indicating stable retention of the coating on the material surfaces.<br> Conclusions Cetylpyridinium chloride–graphene oxide coatings demonstrate sustained surface-associated antibacterial activity against key cariogenic and periodontal pathogens and remain stably adhered to common dental restorative and implant materials after washing. These findings suggest that cetylpyridinium chloride–graphene oxide coatings may serve as a durable contact-active surface modification strategy to reduce biofilm formation associated with dental caries and peri-implantitis. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 1470-1626 171 2 2026 Rho kinase and RND3 regulate the direct effect of estradiol-17β on oviductal tonus xaag004 EN Sayaka Kubota Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Risa Okawara School of Agriculture, Okayama University Kohei Kawano Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Koji Kimura Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Ensuring the timely transport of gametes and embryos within the oviduct is essential for the successful establishment of pregnancy. This study investigated the direct effect of estradiol-17β (E2) on bovine oviductal contractility and the differences in responsiveness to E2 during the estrous cycle. Bovine isthmic tissues from four estrous stages were analyzed using the Magnus method to assess contractile responses to E2 and related reagents. Protein expression of G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) and components of the RhoA/Rho kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway were also evaluated. E2 and a GPER1 agonist significantly increased oviductal tonus at 1–4 days after ovulation. This effect was significantly suppressed by treatment with a GPER1 antagonist and a ROCK inhibitor. At 1–4 days after ovulation, both ROCK II expression and ROCK activity were elevated. E2 also enhanced phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) and myosin light chain (MLC), key downstream targets of ROCK. Before ovulation, when endogenous E2 levels peak, the expression of RND3―a ROCK inhibitor―was upregulated. The application of an RND inhibitor restored E2 responsiveness in oviductal tonus, ROCK activity, and the phosphorylation of MYPT1 and MLC in oviductal tissues before ovulation. These findings suggest that E2 directly increases oviductal tonus via GPER1 and ROCK/MYPT1/MLC activation at 1–4 days after ovulation. Differences in oviductal responsiveness to E2 during the estrous cycle appear to be mediated by the expression of ROCK and RND3. This mechanism can enable sperm transport within the oviduct at an appropriate time. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Acta Medica Okayama 2169-3536 14 2026 A Self-Adaptive Framework for Deploying Machine Learning Systems Without Ground-Truth Data at Runtime 30309 30326 EN Kento Furukawa Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University Hiroyuki Nakagawa Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tatsuhiro Tsuchiya Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University In recent years, the practical application of machine learning technology has rapidly progressed, accelerating its adoption across various fields. In this context, studies into the effective operation of machine learning systems in real-world environments have become essential. In actual operational settings, the distribution of input data often changes over time, leading to a significant decline in the predictive performance of models. Additionally, the lack of ground-truth data for test data during operation can sometimes make adaptation through retraining difficult. This study proposes a framework that autonomously adapts to changes in input data distribution, even in environments where ground-truth data for test data is unavailable during operation. This framework analyzes the distribution of input data and selects the appropriate predictive model based on the state of the distribution. To ensure optimal model selection, the framework employs two complementary approaches: 1) dynamically switching between multiple pre-trained models with different feature sets according to environmental changes and 2) building ensemble models based on the distribution of the test data. These approaches enable the framework to autonomously adapt to shifts in data distribution, even in operational settings where ground-truth data is unavailable. Evaluation experiments using both simulated and real-world data assessed the predictive performance of the proposed method through metrics such as R2, RMSE, and MAE. Compared to conventional single model predictions, the proposed method consistently demonstrated higher accuracy. These results indicate that the proposed approach effectively adapts to data distribution shifts in operational environments where ground-truth data is unavailable. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2238-7854 42 2026 An electric field temporarily strengthens zirconia ceramics 1806 1810 EN Akira Kishimoto Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Takahiro Shimizu Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Mitsuru Nishiyama Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Shinya Kondo Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Takashi Teranishi Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University By applying an electric field to yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) equipped with an inert electrode, oxide ions are localized near the positive electrode, causing it to expand. When polarization was performed under different conditions, it was possible to strengthen the material to 1.5 times that of an untreated sample. The lattice constant of the positive electrode surface after polarization was larger than before polarization. When the Vickers hardness of the positive electrode surface was measured by changing the test load, the smaller the load, the higher the hardness value. Polarization caused oxide ions to move near the positive electrode, filling in the defects and generating an expanded layer with a large lattice constant. It is believed that this was subjected to compressive stress from the bulk layer, which had not changed in volume, resulting in an increase in strength. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学教育推進機構 教師教育開発センター Acta Medica Okayama 2186-1323 16 2026 大学院共通科目『リーダーシップとSDGs』の教育モデル構築と成果分析 理論学習・ピアレビュー・省察活動によるリーダーシップ教育の新展開 221 235 EN Mamoru ISHIDA Faculty of General Education and Global Studies, Okayama University Shinichi OTSUNE Graduate student, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Takuya NAKAZAWA Graduate student, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University 10.18926/CTED/70371 　岡山大学大学院では、博士課程人材のリーダーシップ育成に向け、共通科目『リーダーシップとSDGs』を設計・実践している。本科目はSDGsに貢献するリーダー育成に主眼を置き、理論学習・ピアレビュー・省察・グループディスカッション等の手法を組み合わせ、学生同士の学び合い・自己成長の促進を目的としている。本稿では、学部・研究科ごとに学習成果を分析し、理論に基づく省察的学びと協働的な批評活動がリーダーシップ理解や成長に有用であることを明らかにした。本研究は、学術的理論と実践的活動を織り交ぜたモデル構築と、その継続的改善の意義を示している。 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

一般社団法人粉体粉末冶金協会 Acta Medica Okayama 0532-8799 73 3 2026 熱間静水圧加圧法を用いたイットリア安定化ジルコニア緻密層の低温形成 55 59 EN Kyohei MANABE Osaka Gas Co. Ltd. Mitsuaki ECHIGO Osaka Gas Co. Ltd. Akira KISHIMOTO Institute of Academic and Research, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University The sintering conditions using hot isostatic press (HIP) of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) were investigated to obtain a dense YSZ layer at low sintering temperature such as 1000°C for an electrolyte of metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell. It was found that a dense YSZ pellet with relative density of 93% could be obtained under a sintering condition of 1000°C-10 hours with HIP in 195 MPa. On the other hand, in X-ray diffraction analysis of the dense YSZ pellet, peaks of the monoclinic phase were slightly detected in addition to peaks of the cubic phase. From energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, a small amount of boron was detected in the dense YSZ pellet. It is considered that the YSZ crystalline phase transformation of cubic to monoclinic phase was occurred by the boron diffusion from the diffusion barrier coating of metal foil capsule used for the HIP. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Acta Medica Okayama 1043-1802 37 3 2026 A Cysteine-Specific Cationization Strategy for Versatile Antibody Production against Intrinsically Disordered Proteins 580 589 EN Ryui Sakaguchi Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Ai Miyamoto Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Rikako Kutsuma Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Takeru Mori Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Daichi Nakashima Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Mirei Masui Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Tomoko Honjo Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Midori Futami Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Life Science, Okayama University of Science Mariko Morii Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Toshiyuki Oshiki Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Junichiro Futami Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Several autoantigens relevant to the immune system, especially those targeted by autoantibodies induced by antitumor responses, tend to be rich in disordered regions and are prone to aggregation. This inherent instability presents significant challenges for the production, purification, and analysis of autoantigens in laboratory settings. Cysteine-specific cationization can effectively solubilize and purify these challenging proteins, allowing the isolation of full-length water-soluble antigens in their denatured state. The purified antigens enable accurate multiplex autoantibody assays using a suspension Luminex bead array platform. However, well-validated positive control antibodies are essential to ensuring precise clinical diagnosis. In this study, we prepared and characterized a panel of control antibodies by immunizing rabbits with cysteine-specific S-cationized antigens. The resulting antibodies predominantly recognized linear epitopes and were highly effective as quality control reagents in autoantibody array assays. Additionally, these antibodies maintained their ability to bind to their native, unmodified intracellular counterparts, highlighting the usefulness of this approach for producing antibodies against intrinsically disordered proteins. Although a modest immune response against the S-cationized modification site was observed, it remained minimal and did not affect the usefulness of the antibodies for assay validation. We propose this versatile cysteine-specific cationization platform for managing unstable proteins rich in disordered regions, supporting antigen production for diagnostics, and antibody development for research and validation purposes. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 1467-5463 27 1 2026 SGCRNA: spectral clustering-guided co-expression network analysis without scale-free constraints for multi-omic data bbag021 EN Tatsunori Osone Department of Regenerative Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tomoka Takao Department of Regenerative Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Shigeo Otake Department of Regenerative Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takeshi Takarada Department of Regenerative Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) is among the most widely employed methods in bioinformatics. WGCNA enables the identification of gene clusters (modules) exhibiting correlated expression patterns, the association of these modules with traits, and the exploration of candidate biomarker genes by focusing on hub genes within the modules. WGCNA has been successfully applied in diverse biological contexts. However, conventional algorithms manifest three principal limitations: the assumption of scale-free topology, the requirement for parameter tuning, and the neglect of regression line slopes. These limitations are addressed by SGCRNA. SGCRNA provides Julia functions for the analysis of co-expression networks derived from various types of biological data, such as gene expression data. The Julia packages and their source code are freely available at https://github.com/C37H41N2O6/SGCRNAs.jl. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2410-387X 9 4 2025 Role-Based Efficient Proactive Secret Sharing with User Revocation 80 EN Yixuan He Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuta Kodera Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yasuyuki Nogami Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Samsul Huda Interdisciplinary Education and Research Field, Okayama University Proactive secret sharing (PSS), an extension of secret-sharing schemes, safeguards sensitive data in dynamic distributed networks by periodically refreshing shares to counter adversarial attacks. In our previous work, we constructed a non-interactive proactive secret scheme by integrating threshold homomorphic encryption (ThHE) while reducing the communication complexity to 𝑂(𝑛). Not only is refreshing shares important but revoking the shares of users who have left the system is also essential in practical dynamic membership scenarios. However, the previous work was insufficient for supporting explicit user revocation. This study strengthens the description of roles for authorized users and proposes a scheme to achieve non-interactive share refresh and dynamic user management. In each epoch, authorized users are classified into three roles: retain, newly join, and rejoin, and they receive a broadcast of the compact ciphertext encoding both the refresh information and the revocation instructions from the trusted center (dealer). Authorized users independently derive new shares through homomorphic computations, whereas revoked users are unable to generate new shares. Hash functions are used to bind revocation parameters to the cryptographic hashes of valid users in order to guarantee integrity during revocation, allowing for effective verification without compromising non-interactivity. Our new scheme not only extends the revocation structure but also preserves the 𝑂(𝑛) communication complexity. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 1424-8220 25 21 2025 Integrated Authentication Server Design for Efficient Kerberos–Blockchain VANET Authentication 6651 EN Maya Rahayu Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Md. Biplob Hossain Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Samsul Huda Interdisciplinary Education and Research Field, Okayama University Yasuyuki Nogami Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET) is a fundamental component of the intelligent transportation systems (ITS), providing critical road information to users. However, the volatility of VANETs creates significant vulnerabilities from malicious actors. Thus, verifying joining entities is crucial to maintaining the VANET’s communication security. Authentication delays must stay below 100 ms to meet VANET requirements, posing a major challenge for security. Our previous research introduced a Kerberos–Blockchain (KBC) authentication system that contains two main components separately: Authentication Server (AS) and Ticket Granting Server (TGS). However, this KBC architecture required an additional server to accommodate increasing vehicle volumes in urban environments, leading to higher infrastructure costs. This paper presents an integrated authentication server that merges AS and TGS into a Combined Server (CBS) while retaining blockchain security. We evaluate it using OMNeT++ with SUMO for traffic simulation and Ganache for blockchain implementation. Results show that CBS removes the need for an extra server while keeping authentication delays under 100 ms. It also improves throughput by 104% and reduces signaling overhead by 45% compared to KBC. By optimizing authentication without compromising security, the integrated server greatly enhances the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of VANET systems. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

BON VIEW PUBLISHING PTE Acta Medica Okayama 2810-9503 5 1 2025 A Study on Zeek IDS Effectiveness for Cybersecurity in Agricultural IoT Networks 133 142 EN Samsul Huda Interdisciplinary Education and Research Field, Okayama University Muhammad Bisri Musthafa Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University S. M. Shamim Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yasuyuki Nogami Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University As agriculture moves toward Agriculture 4.0, which uses Internet of Things (IoT) devices to collect data in real time and monitor things from a distance, these networks are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. A common method used to protect against these kinds of threats is the use of intrusion detection systems (IDS). However, the agricultural environment is often changing and has limited resources, which makes cybersecurity challenging. Several available IDS tools are not designed to work properly in places with few resources, intermittent access, and unpredictable network conditions. This paper investigates the performance of Zeek, an open-source IDS, in identifying potential threats in agricultural IoT networks. We performed both offline and real-time experiments: offline analysis used pcap files from the Stratosphere Laboratory dataset, and real-time evaluation involved simulated live attack scenarios, focusing on unauthorized access attempts and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Zeek's performance was assessed based on CPU and memory utilization, as well as quality of service (QoS) metrics. From the experimental results, we found that Zeek was quite effective in protecting agricultural IoT networks against typical threats. Memory usage remained stable around 5% during offline analysis and under 20% during active attacks. However, CPU usage was more volatile, peaking at 120% during DDoS events. In terms of QoS, the system maintained a good throughput (1,375 kbits/s) with minimal packet loss (0.000186%). Among the attack types that we tested, brute force attacks, which represent attempts at unauthorized access, had the strongest effect on network performance, increasing delay to 2.159 ms and jitter to 0.793 ms. It seems clear that a heavier traffic load during such attacks can interfere with QoS. On the basis of our observation, we recommend practical deployment strategies for agricultural IoT systems that take these limitations into consideration, aiming to keep networks both secure and efficient under pressure. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学大学院ヘルスシステム統合科学研究科 Acta Medica Okayama 2436-3227 6 2026 HIV 検査技術と日本における HIV 検査体制の変遷 27 37 EN Decheng WANG Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University 10.18926/interdisciplinary/70328 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学大学院ヘルスシステム統合科学研究科 Acta Medica Okayama 2436-3227 6 2026 介護技術論試論―高齢者介護を事例として― 7 16 EN Yasuyuki YOSHIBA Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University 10.18926/interdisciplinary/70326 In the first part of this paper, it was confirmed that the term “kaigo” (nursing care) was coined and its meaning defined during discussions on enacting social welfare legislation accompanying societal aging, as the care aspect was being “differentiated” from the “family’s health and welfare functions.” The paper also examined how the term “kaigo gijutsu”(nursing care technique) has been defined and used. In the latter part, based on the author’s own definition of “kaigo gijutsu”(nursing care technology), an attempt was made to analyze examples of technology utilization in nursing care settings, focusing on papers published in specialized welfare and nursing care technology journals. Through this preliminary study, it was shown that the author’s definition of “nursing care technology” clearly distinguishes between the means for care activities―such as welfare equipment―and the care recipients and caregivers who make use of them, and that this definition is useful for grasping the essence of challenges in nursing care settings. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2045-2322 16 1 2026 Tribolium castaneum with longer duration of tonic immobility have more variations corresponding to the human Parkinson’s disease genomic region 8840 EN Keisuke Tanaka NODAI Genome Research Center, Tokyo University of Agriculture Ken Sasaki Graduate School of Agriculture, Tamagawa University Shunsuke Yajima NODAI Genome Research Center, Tokyo University of Agriculture Takahisa Miyatake Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and is also a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by dopamine deficiency. We established strains artificially selected for longer and shorter durations of tonic immobility, an antipredator behavior that has received much attention recently, in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, a model insect species for molecular analyses different from Drosophila melanogaster. Previous studies have shown that the long strains (L-strain) have significantly lower levels of dopamine expression in the brain than the short strains (S-strain) and that they have an abnormal pattern of locomotor activity. Furthermore, previous studies have shown that administering dopamine to L-strain beetles reduces the duration of tonic immobility. Transcriptome analysis of brain and thorax of the L- and S-strains also showed differences in mRNA expression of genes involved in dopamine synthesis and tyrosine metabolism. These results indicate that the phenotype and molecular basis of the L-strain are similar to those of Parkinson’s syndrome symptoms. In order to establish a link between T. castaneum and PD, we compared the DNA sequences of the L- and S-strains to human genes affecting dopaminergic pathways. The DNA comparison revealed many mutated regions in these genes in the L-strain. We discuss the relationship between dopaminergic pathway genes and PD-like phenotypes across humans, Drosophila, and the red flour beetle. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Asian Agricultural and Biological Engineering Association Acta Medica Okayama 1881-8366 19 1 2026 Biosensing method of growth diagnosis in the forced culture of strawberries ―Development of crop-identification algorithms― 42 50 EN Shogo TSUBOTA Institute of Agricultural Machinery, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization Kazuhiko NAMBA Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Shota KASEI Institute of Agricultural Machinery, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization Tokihiro FUKATSU Institute of Agricultural Machinery, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization An image-processing algorithm for identifying individual crops is developed for labor-savings and time-series biological information collection. Information including the leaf development frequency are diagnostic indicators of strawberry growth. The algorithm is designed for drones in greenhouses that cannot acquire location information using the global navigation satellite system (GNSS). Drones fly over crop rows and sequentially assign identification numbers (IDs) to crops. Object-detection artificial intelligence (AI) is used to estimate the crop zone, and the ID is based on the crops number difference between frames. The previous misdetection rate was 1.06 %, failing to identify crops, which decreases to 0.31 % using the proposed algorithm. Furthermore, because there are no failures in consecutive frames, IDs are assigned to all crops correctly. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0923-1811 119 1 2025 Big data-driven target identification by machine learning: DRD2 as a therapeutic target for psoriasis 9 17 EN Takashi Sakai Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University Ryusuke Sawada Department of Pharmacology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Otoha Ichinose Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology Takeshi Terabayashi Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University Yutaka Hatano Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University Yoshihiro Yamanishi Department of Complex Systems Science, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University Toshimasa Ishizaki Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University Background: The development of medical treatments has traditionally relied on researchers leveraging scientific knowledge to hypothesize disease mechanisms and identify therapeutic agents. However, the depletion of novel therapeutic targets has become a significant challenge, resulting in stagnation within pharmaceutical research.<br> Objective: To address the scarcity of therapeutic targets, we developed a machine learning (ML)-based system capable of predicting therapeutic target molecules for diseases. To validate its utility, we applied this system to psoriasis, aiming to identify novel treatment strategies.<br> Methods: Our approach utilized a large clinical database to calculate reporting odds ratios for all drugs associated with the prevention of diseases of interest. We identified target proteins by analyzing large chemical structure databases to discover proteins commonly associated with preventive drug candidates. Experimental validation was conducted by administering a predicted therapeutic candidate in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model.<br> Results: The ML-based predictions identified drugs for Parkinson’s disease as potential preventive candidates for psoriasis. Further analysis highlighted dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) as a therapeutic target. Administration of a DRD2 agonist alleviated psoriasis symptoms in mice, evidenced by the downregulation of mRNA expression in the IL-17 pathway and reduced serum tumor necrosis factor-α levels.<br> Conclusion: This study demonstrates the utility of a novel ML-based system for identifying therapeutic targets, as shown by its successful application in uncovering the role of DRD2 in psoriasis. Beyond psoriasis, this system offers significant potential for exploring pathological mechanisms and discovering therapeutic targets across various diseases. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Acta Medica Okayama 1880-5558 20 1 2025 Numerical analysis validating the standard k-epsilon model for the kinetic energy of turbulence subjected to weak but long-lasting wind tunnel blockage acceleration JFST0004 EN Akira ONO Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hiroki SUZUKI Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Toshinori KOUCHI Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kento TANAKA Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of weak but prolonged mean flow accelerations, such as those observed in wind tunnel blockage acceleration, on free-stream turbulence. Specifically, this research aims to validate a model previously developed based on the k-epsilon model. To test this model, the study focuses on scenarios where the turbulence under acceleration is steady and isotropic, since the model suggests that this type of acceleration has no effect on the turbulent kinetic energy. To examine this suggestion, the turbulence within a periodic box was analyzed using large-eddy simulation (LES) based on the conventional Smagorinsky model framework. The numerical analysis is based on a method that conserves velocity fluctuation intensities. The results show that while high rate of acceleration deviates turbulent kinetic energy, low rate acceleration has hardly any effect on turbulent kinetic energy, enstrophy, pressure fluctuation, relative pressure fluctuation intensity, and higher-order statistics of a velocity fluctuation. These results validate the accuracy of the model proposed in the previous studies. These results were obtained by focusing on differences in Reynolds numbers and the spatial scale of the forcing. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2211-7156 18 2025 Development of FTase inhibitors inspired by the structures of andrastins 102828 EN Fumino Kitamura Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama Masaru Tanioka Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama Ayano Kosaka Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama Nao Matsuzawa Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama Takayuki Obita Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama Yuko Sakajiri Tomokazu Shibata Department of Complex Systems Science, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University Ryusuke Sawada Department of Pharmacology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takeshi Yokoyama Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama Aki Kohyama Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama Tsuyoshi Yamada Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama Yoshihiro Yamanishi Department of Complex Systems Science, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University Mineyuki Mizuguchi Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama Yuji Matsuya Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama We designed and synthesized structurally simple farnesyl transferase (FTase) inhibitors (1a–1d) by leveraging andrastin, a natural product with FTase inhibitory activity. 1a–1d possess a cyclopentane-1,3-dione core, which is critical for FTase recognition; a farnesyl moiety, which is a simplified motif of A to C rings of andrastin; and a carboxylic acid or methoxycarbonyl group, which enables multipoint hydrogen bonding interactions with FTase. Competitive inhibition experiments revealed that 1d has the most potent FTase inhibitory activity. Docking simulation analysis of 1a–1d with FTase suggested that the multipoint hydrogen bonding interactions between the cyclopentane-1,3-dione moiety and the carboxyl group play an important role in FTase recognition. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 1424-8220 26 5 2026 A Proposal of Secure and Automated Over-the-Air Firmware Update Mechanism for IoT Devices Using Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery 1535 EN Noprianto Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Nobuo Funabiki Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Htoo Htoo Sandi Kyaw Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Komang Candra Brata Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University I Nyoman Darma Kotama Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University The Internet of Things (IoT) technology has grown rapidly over the past decade, resulting in deployments of thousands of IoT devices around the world. Then, managing firmware updates for these numerous devices poses significant challenges. Firmware updates face issues such as version rollback, modified firmware files, and potential man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, highlighting the need for a secure over-the-air (OTA) firmware update mechanism. In this paper, we propose an automated OTA firmware update mechanism, integrated with continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) to ensure trusted sources for firmware origins. It offers security, error handling during firmware updates, and monitoring of the update process. For evaluations, we implemented the proposal with the SEMAR IoT application server that has been implemented in our previous studies. Then, we verified the integrity and authentication, measured the performance and resource utilization, and performed benchmarking tests to assess the efficiency. The results demonstrate that the proposal is sufficiently reliable and efficient. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学理学部地球科学科 Acta Medica Okayama 1340-7414 32 1 2026 岡山平野児島湾岸部での微動アレイ探査 1 7 EN Nobuyuki YAMADA Faculty of Science and Technology, Kochi University Hiroshi TAKENAKA Department of Earth Sciences, Okayama University 10.18926/ESR/70294 　This report describes microtremor array observations conducted at two sites for deep exploration and three sites for shallow exploration around Kojima Bay area in the southern Okayama Plain. Based on these records, the ground velocity structures were estimated. The results yielded solutions indicating the depth of the top of the seismic base layer (equivalent to 3 km/s layer) ranges from 140 to 300 m, while the depth of the top of the engineering basement layer (equivalent to 0.6 km/s layer) is approximately about 13–14 m. The shallow exploration results also suggested the possible presence of an inversion layer. These estimated velocity structure models provided a reasonable explanation for the observed phase velocities. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学大学院社会文化科学研究科 Acta Medica Okayama 1881-1671 61 2026 写真技術のイノベーションが創出する経済価値 85 99 EN Satoru MIYAZAKI 10.18926/70279 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2397-4648 11 1 2026 Band-selective plasmonic polaron in thermoelectric semimetal Ta2PdSe6 with ultra-high power factor 23 EN Daiki Ootsuki Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Akitoshi Nakano Present address: Department of Applied Physics, Nagoya University Urara Maruoka Present address: Department of Applied Physics, Nagoya University Takumi Hasegawa Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University Masashi Arita Research Institute for Synchrotron Radiation Science, Hiroshima University Miho Kitamura Present address: NanoTerasu Center, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) Koji Horiba Present address: NanoTerasu Center, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) Teppei Yoshida Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University Ichiro Terasaki Present address: Department of Applied Physics, Nagoya University We report the electronic structure of the thermoelectric semimetal Ta2PdSe6 with a large thermoelectric power factor and giant Peltier conductivity by means of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). The ARPES spectra reveal the coexistence of a sharp hole band with a light electron mass and a broad electron band with a relatively heavy electron mass, which originate from different quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) chains in Ta2PdSe6. Moreover, the electron band around the Brillouin-zone (BZ) boundary shows a replica structure with respect to the energy originating from plasmonic polarons due to electron-plasmon interactions. The different scattering effects and interactions in each atomic chain lead to asymmetric transport lifetimes of carriers: a large Seebeck coefficient can be realized even in a semimetal. Our findings pave the way for exploring the thermoelectric materials in previously overlooked semimetals and provide a new platform for low-temperature thermoelectric physics, which has been challenging with semiconductors. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japanese Society for Medical and Biological Engineering Acta Medica Okayama 2187-5219 15 2026 Verification of a Skin Electrical Impedance Model for Evaluating Indicators of Skin Barrier Function of Older Adults 160 164 EN Osamu UEHARA Medical Engineering Laboratory, ALCARE Co., Ltd. Yuya FUNAKI Medical Engineering Laboratory, ALCARE Co., Ltd. Takao NAKAMURA Department of Radiological Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University Skin barrier function has been quantitatively evaluated through trans-epidermal water loss, which has been difficult to measure in clinical settings owing to environmental factors and the measurement time. The thickness and surface water content of the stratum corneum are important indicators of skin barrier function, and current methods for measuring these two indicators are also difficult to implement in clinical settings. Therefore, we developed a model based on skin electrical impedance to estimate the thickness and water content of the stratum corneum, enabling measurement and estimation of these two indicators in a short time. In this study, we verified this model implemented in a portable skin electrical impedance measurement device for estimating the thickness and surface water content of the stratum corneum of the skin in older adults. Thirty-four older individuals were studied. The measurement electrodes were placed in contact with the forearm skin, and an alternating signal of two frequencies was applied to measure the impedance, from which the thickness and surface water content of the stratum corneum were estimated in approximately 5 s. The correlation coefficients between the estimated and measured thickness and between the estimated and measured surface water content were 0.732 and 0.604, respectively. Furthermore, the root mean square errors of the residuals for the thickness and surface water content were 1.66 µm and 3.50 points, respectively, indicating that the model accurately estimated the thickness and surface water content of the stratum corneum, even in the skin of older adults. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 1547-5271 22 9 2025 Aging of the tricuspid valve annulus detected by photon-counting detector computed tomography: Importance of aortic root compression on occurrence of arrhythmias e772 e780 EN Hiroshi Morita Department of Cardiovascular Therapeutics, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Koji Nakagawa Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry Satoshi Nagase Department of General Internal Medicine 3, Kawasaki Medical School General Medical Center Yoshihisa Morimoto Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fukuyama City Hospital Takuro Masuda Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry Akira Ueoka Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry Saori Asada Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry Masakazu Miyamoto Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry Norihisa Toh Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry Toru Miyoshi Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry Nobuhiro Nishii Department of Cardiovascular Therapeutics, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Shinsuke Yuasa Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry Background The aortic root compresses the heart in elderly patients, potentially influencing the conduction system and causing atrial tachyarrhythmias. However, actual anatomic alterations in the right side of the heart because of aortic root compression have not yet been fully evaluated.<br> Objective This study aimed to elucidate the alterations in the tricuspid valve annulus (TVA) caused by aortic root compression using a 3-dimensional endoscopic view of the heart constructed by photon-counting detector computed tomography, an emerging medical technology.<br> Methods We analyzed 147 consecutive patients who underwent photon-counting detector computed tomography at our institute after excluding those with diseases that directly influenced the right side of the heart.<br> Results Aortic root compression caused significant TVA deformation. We defined severe TVA compression as the length of the TVA compressed by the aortic root ≥80% of the major axis of the TVA. Severe compression was more prevalent in elderly patients (age ≥75 years [44%]; P < .01). The distance between the membranous septum and ostium of the coronary sinus was shortened, whereas the cavotricuspid isthmus was elongated in older patients. The regression analysis identified aging as a significant contributor to TVA compression. The short minor and long major axes of the TVA, incidence of atrial tachyarrhythmias (74% vs 45%; P < .01), and atrioventricular conduction disturbances (35% vs 15%; P < .01) were more frequently observed in patients with severe compression.<br> Conclusion Aortic root compression deforms the TVA and alters the anatomic relationship between the atrioventricular conduction system and the cavotricuspid isthmus. Therefore, aortic root compression may contribute to the occurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias and conduction disturbances in older patients. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 1478-811X 24 1 2026 MMP-3 cleavage of Lamin A induces pro-migratory nuclear deformity, nucleophagy, and their autophagic secretion with extracellular vesicles in metastatic cancer 146 EN Takanori Eguchi Department of Dental Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Eman A. Taha Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University Keisuke Nakano Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Vikas Tiwari Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Toxicological Research Katsuki Takebe Department of Dental Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tomohiro Inoue Department of Dental Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Lizi Xing Department of Dental Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Chiharu Sogawa Department of Food and Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Hiroshima Institute of Technology Kuniaki Okamoto Department of Dental Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Stuart K. Calderwood Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent proteinases that cleave a plethora of substrates, including components of the extracellular matrix and cell-surface-associated proteins, as well as intracellular targets. MMPs have also been found in extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes. MMP-3 promotes tumor growth, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, genome instability, migration, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells, and nuclear MMP-3 controls gene transcription. Intranuclear proteolysis by MMPs may significantly alter cancer progression. However, the nuclear substrates of MMP-3 have not been well investigated. In this study, we performed proteomic analyses to identify the nuclear substrates and EV proteins regulated by MMP-3. While rabidly metastatic colon cancer (LuM1) three-dimensionally cultured tumoroids secreted EVs containing 30 protein types, including Lamin A (LMNA), MMP-3, fibronectin (FN1), HSPA8 (Hsc70), β-actin (ACTB), and vimentin (VIM), CRISPR/Cas9-based knockout of MMP-3 reduced the secretion of these proteins in EVs. Notably, EV-bound cleaved Lamin secretion was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy. Also, MMP-3 formed proteolytic dimers via its hemopexin-like repeat domains in nuclei. Many nuclear MMP-3-binding proteins, including Lamin A/C, histones, topoisomerases, and hnRNPs, were screened by co-immunoprecipitation followed by proteomics. Proteolytic MMP-3 overexpression generated a C-terminal 30-kDa fragment of Lamin A, whose cleavage site was defined via structural analysis. MMP-3 digestion of Lamin A induced nuclear deformity (atypia) required for cell migration in confined space. The cleaved Lamin A and MMP-3 were transported with autophagosomes (LC3B+), nucleophagosomes, and amphisomes (CD63 + LC3B+) and co-secreted with EVs. Proteolytic MMP-3 also induced nuclear speckles of Lamin A, suggesting their roles in transcription and splicing. Clinical analysis revealed that high expressions of MMP3 and LMNA were significantly seen in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) than in the other 16 cancer types, and predicted poor prognosis of patients suffering from HNSC, pancreatic, rectum and lung adenocarcinomas at specific stages. Immunohistochemistry revealed that nuclear MMP-3 and cleaved Lamin were significantly higher expressed in stage IV metastatic HNSC cases than in stage I non-metastatic cases. Taken together, MMP3-cleavage of Lamin A induces nuclear deformity, nucleophagy, and their autophagic co-secretion with EVs in metastatic cancer. Also, high expression of MMP-3 and secretion of Lamin A can predict poor prognosis in multiple cancer types at specific stages. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2076-3417 16 5 2026 Concentration-Dependent Synergistic Interfacial Interactions Between Multifunctional Acrylate and Silane Coupling Agents in an Organic–Inorganic Nanohybrid Material 2339 EN Yukinori Maruo Department of Prosthodontics, Okayama University Kumiko Yoshihara Health Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Masao Irie Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Noriyuki Nagaoka Advanced Research Center for Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Dental School, Okayama University Naoki Kodama Department of Prosthodontics, Okayama University Mai Yoshizane Department of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kentaro Akiyama Department of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Synergistic effects of a multifunctional acrylate and a long-chain silane coupling agent were investigated in an organic–inorganic nanohybrid material. We tested the bond strength of nanohybrid composites treated with experimental primers containing silane coupling agents―3-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (γ-MPTS) or 8-methacryloxyoctyl trimethoxysilane (8-MOTS)―with or without multifunctional acrylates―trimethylolpropane triacrylate (A-TMPT) or dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (A-DPH). Shear bond strength was evaluated after 24 h of water storage at 37 °C. Untreated control and silane-only groups exhibited low shear bond strengths (e.g., control: 2.4 ± 2.0 MPa) and failed exclusively at the adhesive interface. While addition of A-TMPT did not significantly improve bond strength, addition of A-DPH produced significantly higher shear bond strengths. Highest strength was achieved with 30% 8-MOTS and A-DPH (22.4 ± 6.1 MPa), followed by 20% γ-MPTS and A-DPH (19.0 ± 7.0 MPa), and A-DPH groups produced cohesive failures. Regardless of the silane used (γ-MPTS or 8-MOTS), incorporating A-DPH in the primer consistently yielded superior bond strengths, indicating a promising strategy for improved adhesion for such nanohybrid systems. These findings provide new insights into optimizing resin–filler interfacial interactions and may contribute to the development of restorative materials with improved long-term clinical durability. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Acta Medica Okayama 0022-2623 69 5 2026 Discovery of Thermal Sensitizers That Inhibit Heat-Induced SAFB Granule Formation 5944 5955 EN Yuji Furutani Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Natsuki Shimasaki Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Riko Yamada Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Takashi Ohtsuki Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Kazunori Watanabe Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Hyperthermia is a minimally invasive cancer treatment based on heat stress-induced apoptosis. Its therapeutic efficacy, however, is often limited by tumor heterogeneity and acquired thermotolerance. Therefore, combination strategies involving hyperthermia and chemotherapy have been developed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy. Previously, we showed that SB366791 enhanced heat-induced apoptosis by inhibiting heat stress-induced scaffold attachment factor B (SAFB) granule formation, although its proapoptotic activity was insufficient. Therefore, we screened to identify novel compounds that enhance heat-induced apoptosis by suppressing SAFB granule formation. We identified four hit compounds that inhibited SAFB granule formation, all exhibiting thermal enhancement ratios > 1.0─that significantly enhanced heat-induced apoptosis efficiency. Additionally, the tumor volume in mice treated with a combination of Z19024498 and hyperthermia was significantly smaller than that in mice treated with hyperthermia or Z19024498. These results indicate that the identified compounds, specifically Z19024498, have potential as thermal sensitizers for hyperthermia therapy. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0145-305X 165 2025 Local immune response induced by intra-fin antigen injection in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) is a useful model for immunological studies 105344 EN Tsukasa Ryu Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Laboratory of Marine Biochemistry, Kyushu University Mizuki Yoshino Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Laboratory of Marine Biology, Kyushu University William Ka Fai Tse Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Laboratory of Developmental Disorders and Toxicology, Kyushu University Satoshi Ansai Ushimado Marine Institute, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Taisen Iguchi Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University Anu Kumar Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, CSIRO Environment Tomonori Somamoto Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Laboratory of Marine Biochemistry, Kyushu University Miki Nakao Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Laboratory of Marine Biochemistry, Kyushu University Yukiko Ogino Center for Promotion of International Education and Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University Teleost fishes play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of immune system evolution because they retain the ancient characteristics of vertebrate immunity, encompassing both innate and adaptive immune systems. Among these, innate immunity plays a critical role in fish as the first line of defense, coordinating rapid responses to pathogen infections. However, the lack of fish-specific immunological methodologies has limited progress in elucidating fish immune mechanisms. To better understand how the innate immune response develops and resolves in fish, detailed observation and integrative analysis of leukocytes at multiple time points is necessary. In the present study, an intra-fin injection method for observing local immune responses in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) was tested and optimized to analyze the progression of zymosan-induced innate immune responses. Zymosan-injected medaka showed a rapid immune response characterized by leukocyte recruitment and phagocytosis. Using TG(FmpxP:mCherry) transgenic medaka with mCherry fluorescence driven by myeloperoxidase (mpx) promoter, granulocyte chemotaxis towards the site of zymosan entry was successfully visualized. The rapid increase in tumor necrosis factor α (tnfa), interleukin-1β (il1b), interleukin-6 (il6), and CXC motif chemokine ligand 8 (cxcl8) expressions in zymosan-injected anal fins provided a molecular basis for the visualized tissue-specific cellular response. Our study underscores the dynamic orchestration of immune components during the innate immune response in Japanese medaka and highlights their potential as a promising model for immunological research. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Society for Clinical Investigation Acta Medica Okayama 2379-3708 11 3 2025 Collagen-binding C-type natriuretic peptide enhances chondrogenesis and osteogenesis e198959 EN Kenta Hirai Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kenta Sawamura Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Ryusaku Esaki Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Ryusuke Sawada Department of Pharmacology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuka Okusha Department of Pharmacology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Eriko Aoyama Advanced Research Center for Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Okayama University Dental School Hiroki Saito Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine Kentaro Uchida Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine Takehiko Mima Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ehime Prefectural University of Health Sciences Satoshi Kubota Department of Biochemistry and Molecular DentistryBacteriology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hirokazu Tsukahara Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Shiro Imagama Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Masaki Matsushita Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Osamu Matsushita Department of Bacteriology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yasuyuki Hosono Department of Pharmacology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is known to promote chondrocyte proliferation and bone formation; however, CNP’s extremely short half-life necessitates continuous intravascular administration to achieve bone-lengthening effects. Vosoritide, a CNP analog designed for resistance to neutral endopeptidase, allows for once-daily administration. Nonetheless, it distributes systemically rather than localizing to target tissues, which may result in adverse effects such as hypotension. To enhance local drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy, we developed a potentially novel synthetic protein by fusing a collagen-binding domain (CBD) to CNP, termed CBD-CNP. This fusion protein exhibited stability under heat conditions and retained the collagen-binding ability and bioactivity as CNP. CBD-CNP localized to articular cartilage in fetal murine tibiae and promoted bone elongation. Spatial transcriptomic analysis revealed that the upregulation of chondromodulin expression may contribute to its therapeutic effects. Treatment of CBD-CNP mixed with collagen powder to a fracture site of a mouse model increased bone mineral content and bone volume compared with CNP-22. Intraarticular injection of CBD-CNP to a mouse model of knee osteoarthritis suppressed subchondral bone thickening. By addressing the limitations of CNP’s rapid degeneration, CBD-CNP leverages its collagen-binding capacity to achieve targeted, sustained delivery in collagen-rich tissues, offering a promising strategy for enhancing chondrogenesis and osteogenesis. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd Acta Medica Okayama 2050-084X 13 2025 Stimulatory and inhibitory G-protein signaling relays drive cAMP accumulation for timely metamorphosis in the chordate Ciona RP99825 EN Akiko Hozumi Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba Nozomu M Totsuka Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University Arata Onodera Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba Yanbin Wang Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba Mayuko Hamada Ushimado Marine Institute, Okayama University Akira Shiraishi Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences Honoo Satake Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences Takeo Horie Laboratory for Single-cell Neurobiology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University Kohji Hotta Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University Yasunori Sasakura Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba Larvae of the ascidian Ciona initiate metamorphosis tens of minutes after adhesion to a substratum via their adhesive organ. The gap between adhesion and metamorphosis initiation is suggested to ensure the rigidity of adhesion, allowing Ciona to maintain settlement after losing locomotive activity through metamorphosis. The mechanism producing the gap is unknown. Here, by combining gene functional analyses, pharmacological analyses, and live imaging, we propose that the gap represents the time required for sufficient cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation to trigger metamorphosis. Not only the Gs pathway but also the Gi and Gq pathways are involved in the initiation of metamorphosis in the downstream signaling cascade of the neurotransmitter GABA, the known initiator of Ciona metamorphosis. The mutual crosstalk of stimulatory and inhibitory G-proteins functions as the accelerator and brake for cAMP production, ensuring the faithful initiation of metamorphosis at an appropriate time and in the right situation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1613-6810 21 50 2025 Collagen Signaling via DDR1 Exacerbates Barriers to Macromolecular Drug Delivery in a 3D Model of Pancreatic Cancer Fibrosis e06926 EN Mayu Ohira Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Moe Kitamura Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiroyo Iwasaki Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Haruko Ohta‐Okano Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiyori Tsujii Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Reika Nakamura Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takuya Nakazawa Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Akihiro Nishiguchi Biomaterials Field, Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, National Institute for Materials Science Masaya Yamamoto Department of Materials Processing, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University Kensuke Osada Department of Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, National Institutes for Quantum Sciences and Technology (QST) Shinichi Toyooka Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Horacio Cabral Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo Atsushi Masamune Division of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University Mitsunobu R. Kano Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Hiroyoshi Y. Tanaka Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Fibrosis is a significant barrier to drug delivery in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and contributes to its dismal prognosis. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) drive fibrosis by excessively secreting extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen I. Collagen I is thought to physically obstruct the delivery of macromolecules, such as albumin, antibodies, and nanomedicines. Apart from its structural role, collagen signals through dedicated cell surface receptors, such as the discoidin domain receptors (DDR) 1/2. However, whether and how collagen signaling contributes to fibrotic barrier generation remains uncharacterized. Here, a 3D culture model of PDAC fibrosis constructed from patient PSCs is used to assess the contribution of DDR1/2-mediated collagen signaling. DDR1/2 inhibition diminishes collagen I expression in PSCs to enhance macromolecular delivery. Moreover, MEK inhibitors exacerbate the fibrotic barrier by up-regulating collagen I, an effect reversed by inhibiting DDR1/2. Through isoform-specific targeting, inhibiting DDR1, but not DDR2, is shown to be effective. Downstream of DDR, the involvement of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is demonstrated, particularly alternative mTOR complexes involving MEAK7 and GIT1. Altogether, the results show in vitro that DDR1-mediated collagen signaling exacerbates the fibrotic barrier and may be targeted to enhance macromolecular drug delivery in PDAC. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Acta Medica Okayama 2187-9745 12 5 2025 Examining OpenFOAM-based LES analysis in terms of inviscid energy conservation and viscous turbulence decay 25-00095 EN Hiroki SUZUKI Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kento TANAKA Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Toshinori KOUCHI Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University The present study examines an OpenFOAM-based LES analysis from the viewpoints of inviscid energy conservation and viscous turbulence decay. The Smagorinsky model is employed as the sub-grid scale (SGS) model, and a two-dimensional periodic analytical solution and a three-dimensional periodic Taylor-Green vortex (TGV) are employed to represent inviscid flows. The analytical relationship for the kinetic energy K, dK/dt = 0, with t as the dimensionless time, is utilized to validate the OpenFOAM results. For the viscous flow case, the TGV flow in a three-dimensional periodic cubic domain is adopted, and its turbulence kinetic energy distribution is compared with that obtained by a spectral method to examine the analysis. The OpenFOAM-based analysis exhibits energy conservation error in flows that should ideally conserve energy. For the two-dimensional flow, this error decreases with increasing grid resolution N. However, in the three-dimensional flow, the error does not improve even with higher N. In the three-dimensional TGV flow, the turbulence kinetic energy predicted by OpenFOAM exhibits a strong agreement with that from the spectral method when a standard constant value of the Smagorinsky model is employed and the mesh is sufficiently refined. Conversely, for a condition of relatively coarse mesh, the decay characteristics of turbulent kinetic energy deviate from those of the spectral method, and a higher constant value of the Smagorinsky model than the default value becomes necessary to reproduce comparable results. These results suggests that even in LES simulations where highly accurate conservation laws are not satisfied, adjusting the model constants so that the predicted values match experimental or numerical reference data can improve the apparent reliability of the turbulent kinetic energy in the decaying turbulence. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

The Carbon Society of Japan Acta Medica Okayama 2436-5831 4 3 2025 Synthesis and applications of porous carbonaceous materials with inherited molecular structural features from the precursor molecules 179 187 EN Koki Chida Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University Takeharu Yoshi Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University Yuta Nishina Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Kazuhide Kamiya Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka Ryota Sakamoto Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University Fumito Tani Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University Tomoki Ogoshi Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University Hirotomo Nishihara Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University The carbonization of organic crystalline materials, such as metal organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks, has emerged as a promising approach for producing functional porous carbonaceous materials. However, both the chemically defined long-term ordered structures and the local chemical structures derived from these precursor materials are generally lost, resulting in amorphous carbons. As a result, controlling the molecular-level structure of nanoporous carbons remains a significant challenge. We report a new bottom-up synthesis approach for porous carbons with a molecular-level design, involving the carbonization of well-designed precursor molecules by thermal polymerization. Among the resulting carbons, ordered carbonaceous frameworks, which contain a high-density of regularly aligned single-atomic metal species, have been identified as promising platforms for single-atom catalysts. This approach also enables the synthesis of various three-dimensional porous carbons that reflect the structural features of their precursor molecules. Recent progress in the synthesis and applications of porous carbons derived from molecular precursors is summarized, highlighting their potential for the development of functional materials. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 1345-2630 2026 Tabtoxin biosynthetic gene cluster in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci 6605 genomic island 1 (GI-1Pta6605) is required for severe disease symptoms EN Kotomi Kunishi The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Norika Fujisawa The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hidenori Matsui The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Nanami Sakata The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yoshiteru Noutoshi The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kazuhiro Toyoda The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuki Ichinose The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University One of the genomic islands in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci 6605 (GI-1Pta6605) has been identified as a pathogenicity island required for virulence because the deletion almost completely eliminated disease symptoms in inoculation tests at 4 × 105 CFU/ml. GI-1Pta6605 contains four cargo regions (CRs) named CR-1 to CR-4. The ∆CR-4 mutant did not produce tabtoxin like ∆GI-1 and disease symptoms did not develop in tobacco. However, it grew, although to a lesser extent than the wild-type strain. These results indicate that the tabtoxin biosynthetic gene cluster in GI-1 is required for virulence but not for establishment of compatibility. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0956-7135 183 2026 Monitoring postharvest water loss in eggplants (Solanum melongena L.) using UV-induced fluorescence imaging and multivariate analysis 111902 EN Vincent Rotich Laboratory of Biosensing Engineering, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Tianqi Gao Laboratory of Biosensing Engineering, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Panintorn Prempree Laboratory of Biosensing Engineering, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Takahiro Hayashi Laboratory of Biosensing Engineering, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Kazuhiko Namba Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Mitsuji Monta Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Motomi Nishimoto Technology and Innovation Center, Daikin Industries, Ltd. Naoshi Kondo Laboratory of Biosensing Engineering, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is susceptible to significant postharvest losses primarily due to water loss during storage, which affects market quality by causing texture and glossiness degradation. We investigated whether UV-induced fluorescence imaging and EEM (Excitation-Emission Matrix) fluorescence spectroscopy can non-destructively monitor WL under four storage regimes (10 °C/95 % RH, 20 °C/95 % RH, 20 °C/75 % RH, 10 °C/75 % RH). EEMs exhibited three regions; a 365/420 nm blue emission increased most under warm, low-humidity storage and is consistent with phenolic/lignin-related fluorescence. Side-view fluorescence (FL) images showed progressive blue-white emission and surface textural changes that tracked gravimetric water loss (WL). A PLSR model using combined color and texture features from FL and reflectance (CL) images achieved R2CV = 0.88 (RMSECV = 3.47 %) with only six features. To test a minimal predictor, we fit an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) using Day-1 FL MeanBlue as a covariate and storage category as a factor with Leave One Out Cross-validation (LOOCV); this forecasted cumulative WL with R2LOOCV = 0.92 and MAE = 1.88 %. Importantly, this ANCOVA model using Day-1 blue-band fluorescence as a covariate was predictive only under 20 °C/75 % RH; under the other conditions, its contribution was weak. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) models achieved accuracies of 94.4 % and 85.2 %, respectively, in differentiating storage conditions. These results support low-cost FL imaging as a practical tool to monitor WL and storage stress. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 0969-0239 32 16 2025 Development of sulfation for cellulose pulp to change its fiber morphology and appearance to transparent in water 9663 9677 EN Ayato Nishimura Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tetsuya Uchida Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Cellulose pulp (CP) is composed mainly of cellulose which is one of the most useful and sustainable natural polymers. Cellulose-based materials, such as completely dispersed nanofibers and water-soluble cellulose, are transparent in water. Additionally, chemical modification of CP has been employed as a pretreatment for the preparation of nanofibers and to impart absorption properties derived from anionic functional groups. However, little is known about chemically modified CPs comprising micron-scale fibers that are transparent in water.In this study, we synthesized transparent sulfated cellulose pulp (TSCP) that exhibits good dispersion stability, high transparency in water, and highly swollen fiber structures. The sulfation method involved heating sulfamic acid and urea supported on CP. TSCP synthesized using a sulfamic acid amount relative to CP (Q) of 18.5, a molar ratio of urea to sulfamic acid (R) of 0.80, and a reaction temperature of 140 °C exhibited the highest total light transmittance (94.7%) in water, a degree of polymerization (535), and amount of sulfate groups (1.73 mmol/g). Polarization microscopy confirmed that most TSCP fibers swelled in water along the fiber width direction. The structure of hydrous-state TSCP was further confirmed using low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy. The maximum fiber width of the swollen TSCP reached 122 μm, which was approximately six times than that of CP. The crystallinity was equivalent to that of the original CP with a Cellulose I-type crystalline structure. This transparent, hydrous-state TSCP, comprising predominantly swollen CP fibers, demonstrates potential for applications as a transparent material. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japanese Society for Horticultural Science Acta Medica Okayama 2189-0102 94 4 2025 Effects of Intermittent Low-temperature Storage Duration and Cycle on the Bolting and Flowering of Delphinium elatum in Summer 522 529 EN Mika Kawai Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Miwa Fukuyasu Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yoshiyuki Tanaka Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Yoshikuni Kitamura Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Ken-ichiro Yasuba Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuichi Yoshida Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tanjuro Goto Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Early-bolting in summer is a major problem when growing delphinium seedlings in summer to produce cut flowers that will be shipped in autumn and winter. In this study, an intermittent low-temperature storage (ILTS) treatment that induces flower bud differentiation in strawberry and prevents rosette formation in Eustoma significantly increased the Delphinium elatum cut flower length. Moreover, ILTS was as effective as growing seedlings under cool conditions at preventing early-bolting. We analyzed the effects of six ILTS treatments that differed regarding the treatment temperature (5 and 10°C) and treatment cycle (3 days/3 days, 6 days/6 days, and 12 days/12 days; ambient conditions/cool and dark). Cut flowers were significantly longer with the 6 days/6 days treatment at 10°C than for the control treatment. Furthermore, repeating the ILTS treatment cycle (6 days ambient conditions/6 days at 10°C) a total of four times produced high-quality cut flowers regardless of the cultivar. Therefore, this ILTS treatment may be ideal for preventing early-bolting in D. elatum. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 1746-6148 22 1 2026 Genetic and phenotypic identities of Staphylococcus coagulans isolated from pustules of dogs with superficial bacterial folliculitis 98 EN Takafumi Osumi Animal Medical Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Yuuki Shinomiya Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Thamonwan Wanganuttara Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Ichiro Imanishi Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Yotaro Shimazaki Animal Medical Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Keita Iyori 1sec Co. Ltd. Yoichi Toyoda 1sec Co. Ltd. Kaori Ide Animal Medical Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Jumpei Uchiyama Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Koji Nishifuji Animal Medical Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Background Staphylococcus coagulans, formerly called Staphylococcus schleiferi subsp. coagulans is the second most common isolate from skin lesions of dogs with superficial bacterial folliculitis (SBF). However, the clinical significance of S. coagulans in pustules of canine SBF remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genotypic and phenotypic diversity of S. coagulans isolated from pustules in two dogs with SBF.<br> Results Two dogs with SBF were included in this study. S. schleiferi/coagulans was isolated as the sole organism from three pustules in case #1, whereas it coexisted with S. pseudintermedius in two of seven pustules in case #2. S. pseudintermedius was the sole organism in the remaining five pustules in case #2. Whole genome sequences revealed that all isolates tested were annotated as S. coagulans. The isolates from the same pustules exhibited identical genotypic and phenotypic profiles, indicating clonal multiplication. S. coagulans isolated from different pustules exhibited similar yet distinct genotypic and phenotypic profiles.<br> Conclusions S. coagulans with identical genetic and phenotypic profiles can be identified as the sole pathogen or coexist with S. pseudintermedius in the pustules of the same dogs with SBF. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 1999-4923 18 1 2026 Streamlined Radiosynthesis of [18F]Fluproxadine (AF78): An Unprotected Guanidine Precursor Enables Efficient One-Step, Automation-Ready Labeling for Clinical Use 123 EN Xinyu Chen Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg Kaito Ohta Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiroyuki Kimura Agency for Health, Safety and Environment, Kyoto University Yusuke Yagi Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takanori Sasaki Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Naoko Nose Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Masaru Akehi Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tomohiko Yamane Department of Molecular Imaging Research, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital Rudolf A. Werner Department of Nuclear Medicine, LMU Hospital, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich Takahiro Higuchi Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Background/Objectives: [18F]Fluproxadine (formerly [18F]AF78) is a PET radiotracer targeting the norepinephrine transporter (NET) with potential applications in cardiac, neurological, and oncological imaging. Its guanidine moiety, while essential for NET binding, presents major radiosynthetic challenges due to high basicity and the harsh deprotection conditions required for protected precursors. Previous methods relied on multistep procedures, strong acids, and complex purification, limiting clinical translation. This study aimed to develop a practical one-step radiosynthesis suitable for routine and automated production. Methods: A direct SN2-type nucleophilic [18F]fluorination was performed using an unprotected guanidine precursor to eliminate deprotection steps. Reaction parameters, including the base system, solvent composition, precursor concentration, and temperature, were optimized under conventional and microwave heating. Radiochemical conversion (RCC) and operational robustness were evaluated, and purification strategies were assessed for automation compatibility. Results: Direct [18F]fluorination using the unprotected precursor reduced the total synthesis time to 60–70 min. Optimal conditions employed a tert-butanol/acetonitrile (4:1) solvent system with K2CO3/Kryptofix222, affording RCC up to 33% under conventional heating. Microwave irradiation further improved efficiency, achieving RCC of up to 64% within 1.5 min at 140 °C. The method showed broad tolerance to variations in the base molar ratio and precursor concentration and enabled isocratic HPLC purification. Conclusions: This one-step radiosynthesis overcomes longstanding challenges in [18F]fluproxadine production by eliminating harsh deprotection and enabling high-yield, automation-ready synthesis, thereby improving clinical feasibility. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 1422-0067 27 5 2026 Fgf10 Gene Dosage from a Single Allele Is Insufficient for Forming Multilayered Epithelial Cells in the Murine Lacrimal Gland 2113 EN Shiori Ikeda Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Keita Sato Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yuki Tajika Department of Radiological Technology, Gumma Prefectural College of Health Sciences Hirofumi Fujita Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tetsuya Bando Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tsutomu Nohno Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Satoru Miyaishi Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hideyo Ohuchi Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Mutations in the fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) gene in humans cause aplasia of the lacrimal and salivary glands (ALSG). In patients with ALSG, heterozygous loss-of-function mutations are found, and FGF10 haploinsufficiency results in the absence of these secretory organs. Lacrimal glands (LGs) are formed through epithelial thickening, budding, and branching morphogenesis. To compare the variable phenotypes of the Fgf10+/− Harderian glands (HGs) previously reported, we examined the development of LGs in wild-type (WT), Fgf10+/−, and Fgf10-null mice. Pax6 immunostaining was performed to visualize the LG primordia from embryonic day 15.5 (E15.5) onwards. In situ hybridization of the genes encoding the epithelial receptor of FGF10, FGFR2b, and its other ligands was performed to determine their potential involvement in LG development. LG primordia were not observed in Fgf10+/− mice bilaterally at E16.5 or later stages. At E15.5, budding from the developing conjunctival epithelium (CE) was observed in a small fraction of the Fgf10+/− LG primordia. In contrast, the Fgf10-null CE failed to promote budding. Among Fgf1, Fgf3, Fgf7, Fgf10, and Fgf22, Fgf10 was expressed in the mesenchyme surrounding developing LG epithelial cells, whereas Fgf1 was expressed in the LG epithelium of WT mice. Fgf7 was initially expressed in the mesenchyme surrounding the nascent LG epithelium, but its expression subsequently became diffused. Thus, we conclude that among the FGFR2b ligands, initial LG formation is dependent on the mesenchymal factors FGF10 and FGF7, and FGF1 is likely to function as an epithelial factor in the LG primordia. A single allele of Fgf10 was found to be insufficient to support the budding process during LG morphogenesis. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Acta Medica Okayama 2169-3536 14 2026 FEM-Based Design and Characterization of a Millimeter-Scale Piezoelectric Resonance Force Sensor 17960 17970 EN Aoto Yamazaki Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology Takuma Akiduki Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology Atsuo Honna Riccoh Company Ltd. Michiteru Kitazaki Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology Tomoaki Mashimo Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University This paper presents a millimeter-scale piezoelectric effect-based force sensor that uses the change in its resonant frequency as the detection principle for high sensitivity and a wide measurement range. Such characteristics are suited for robot hand applications that not only detect small forces but also handle large payloads. We develop a methodology to estimate the relationship between applied force and resonant frequency shift by combining classical contact theory and finite element method (FEM) analysis. Although this relationship is non-linear, the designability of sensitivity and measurement range is demonstrated by the simulation. The simulation results based on the method are verified, showing good agreement with the experimental results. The static characteristics, including sensitivity, standard deviation, and resolution, are evaluated using prototype sensors with characteristic lengths ranging from 1 mm to 4 mm. The 4-mm model has a measurement range of 77 mN to 300 N, and the smallest model, which is one of the smallest force sensors suitable for practical implementation, has a measurement range of 9 mN to 20 N. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Frontiers Media SA Acta Medica Okayama 1664-462X 16 2025 Structural analysis of PSI-ACPI and PSII-ACPII supercomplexes from a cryptophyte alga Rhodomonas sp. NIES-2332 1716939 EN Wenyue Zhang Advanced Research Field, Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Nozomi Yonehara Advanced Research Field, Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Mizuki Ishii Advanced Research Field, Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Haowei Jiang Advanced Research Field, Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Romain La Rocca Advanced Research Field, Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Pi-Cheng Tsai Advanced Research Field, Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hongjie Li Advanced Research Field, Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Koji Kato Advanced Research Field, Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Fusamichi Akita Advanced Research Field, Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Jian-Ren Shen Advanced Research Field, Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Light energy is converted to chemical energy by two photosystems (PSI and PSII) in complex with their light-harvesting complex proteins (LHCI and LHCII) in photosynthesis. Rhodomonas is a member of cryptophyte alga whose LHCs contain unique chlorophyll a/c proteins (ACPs) and phycobiliproteins. We purified PSI-ACPI and PSII-ACPII supercomplexes from a cryptophyte Rhodomonas sp. NIES-2332 and analyzed their structures at high resolutions of 2.08 Å and 2.17 Å, respectively, using cryo-electron microscopy. These structures are largely similar to those reported previously from two other species of cryptophytes, but exhibited some differences in both the pigment locations and subunit structures. A part of the antenna subunits of both photosystems is shifted compared with the previously reported structures from other species of cryptophytes, suggesting some differences in the energy transfer rates from the antenna to the PSI and PSII cores. Newly identified lipids are found to occupy the interfaces between the antennae and cores, which may be important for assembly and stabilization of the supercomplexes. Water molecules surrounding three iron-sulfur clusters of the PSI core are found in our high-resolution structure, some of which are conserved from cyanobacteria to higher plants but some are different. In addition, our structure of PSII-ACPII lacks the subunits of oxygen-evolving complex as well as the Mn4CaO5 cluster, suggesting that the cells are in the S-growth phase, yet the PSI-ACPI structure showed the binding of PsaQ, suggesting that it is in an L-phase. These results suggest that the S-phase and L-phase can co-exist in the cryptophytic cells. The high-resolution structures of both PSI-ACPIs and PSII-ACPIIs solved in this study provide a more solid structural basis for elucidating the energy transfer and quenching mechanisms in this group of the organisms. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Acta Medica Okayama 2041-6520 17 9 2026 Gaseous CO2 electrolysis: latest advances in electrode and electrolyzer technologies toward abating CO2 emissions 4363 EN Kazuhide Kamiya Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka Sora Nakasone Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka Ryo Kurihara Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka Asato Inoue Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka Hazuki Irie Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka Shoko Nakahata Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka Yuta Nishina Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Satoshi Taniguchi Research Institute for Chemical Process Technology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5 Thuy T. H. Nguyen Research Institute for Chemical Process Technology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5 Sho Kataoka Research Institute for Chemical Process Technology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5 The conversion of CO2 into multicarbon (C2+) products via electrochemical reduction is considered a key technology for the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals. The performance of high-rate gaseous CO2 electrolysis is governed by interrelated factors such as the electrocatalysts, electrodes, electrolytes, and cell architectures. Despite the intensive focus on catalyst research, systematic studies addressing the other components remain scarce, leaving critical gaps in our understanding toward achieving higher performance in CO2 electrolysis systems. The nanoscale design of catalyst surface electronic structures and the macroscale design of electrodes and electrolyzer architectures both influence the overall activity of the electrochemical system. In designing macroscale components, it is necessary to establish benchmarks based on a comprehensive evaluation of CO2 emissions for the entire electrolysis process, because these parameters are directly linked to output metrics such as current density and cell voltage under practical operating conditions. This review summarizes recent advances in electrodes and electrolyzers, and through life-cycle assessment (LCA), evaluates key performance indicators (KPIs) for achieving negative emissions and assesses the current technology readiness of CO2 electrolysis. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2589-0042 28 9 2025 Extensive urine production in euryhaline red stingray for adaptation to hypoosmotic environments 113274 EN Naotaka Aburatani Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Wataru Takagi Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Marty Kwok-Shing Wong Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Nobuhiro Ogawa Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Shigehiro Kuraku Department of Genomics and Evolutionary Biology, National Institute of Genetics Mana Sato Department of Genomics and Evolutionary Biology, National Institute of Genetics Kazuhiro Saito Ushimado Marine Institute, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Waichiro Godo Ushimado Marine Institute, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Tatsuya Sakamoto Ushimado Marine Institute, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Susumu Hyodo Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Maintaining water balance is a prerequisite for all organisms. Euryhaline elasmobranchs face the severest water-influx potential in fresh water (FW), as they retain high concentrations of urea even in hypotonic environments. To elucidate how they overcome this osmotic challenge, we assessed urine output in conscious euryhaline red stingrays (Hemitrygon akajei). Following acclimation to 5% diluted seawater, the stingrays increased urinary output by 87-fold―the greatest change observed in vertebrates―partly due to 6.8-fold increase in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In the nephron, expressions of Aquaporin-1 (Aqp1), Aqp3, and Aqp15 were strongly downregulated in FW, indicating that tubular diuresis bridges the gap between GFR and final urine volume. Meanwhile, FW-acclimation upregulated Aqp1 and Aqp4 in the distinct bundle structure, which promotes urea reabsorption. Euryhaline elasmobranchs resolve the huge osmotic challenge of FW by excreting massive amounts of water and retaining osmolytes including urea through coordinated regulation of GFR and Aqp expressions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Geophysical Union (AGU) Acta Medica Okayama 0094-8276 53 5 2026 Electrical Conductivity of Amorphous and Molten CaCO3 at High Pressures and Its Implications for Mantle Conductivity Anomalies e2025GL119568 EN Bin Zhao Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University Takashi Yoshino Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University Qi Chen Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago Tony Yu Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago Dongzhou Zhang Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago Bin Chen School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa Yanbin Wang Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago Impedance spectrometry experiments have been conducted on CaCO3 up to 15 GPa and 2,100 K to identify its state under high pressure. The melting temperature of CaCO3 was also determined by the falling of a Re sphere observed via X-ray radiography. The phase transition from aragonite to the amorphous phase does not cause a leap in the Electrical conductivity (EC), while a drastic increase in the EC, by 1.5–2.0 log units, only occurs with the onset of melting. The EC of amorphous CaCO3 is comparable to other hydrous mantle minerals at similar pressure and temperature conditions. The required fraction of amorphous CaCO3 implies that it can be excluded from the potential origins responsible for the observed high EC anomalies in the upper mantle. If the conductivity anomalies are induced by the presence of carbonate, a low-degree melting of carbonate-bearing peridotite is anticipated. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Acta Medica Okayama 2644-1349 6 2026 Ultrafast Time-Compressive CMOS Image Sensors Based on Multitap Charge Modulators for Filming Light-In Flight 47 60 EN Keiichiro Kagawa Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University Daisuke Hayashi Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University Arashi Takakura Faculty of Engineering, Shizuoka University Yuto Umeki Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University Michitaka Yoshida Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Keita Yasutomi Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University Shoji Kawahito Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University Youngcheol Chae Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University Hajime Nagahara D3 Center, The University of Osaka Ultrafast time-compressive CMOS image sensors based on multitap charge modulators can capture light-in flight using coded exposure masks on the focal plane. Transient images can then be reconstructed using iterative methods or deep learning models. Although the image sensor is based on indirect time-of-flight (ToF) image sensors, the reconstructed images are equivalent to those captured by direct ToF (D-ToF) image sensors. Important design parameters of the image sensor include the pixel block size and the number of taps of the charge modulator. Several constraints regarding the charge transfer of the multitap charge modulator, the hamming distance between exposure codes at adjacent timings, and the minimal time window duration must be considered when designing exposure codes. The influence of these factors on the fidelity of the reconstructed images is analyzed numerically. The results show that a pixel block size of 4×4 is optimal and that four or more taps are required for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications when 32 transient images of light-in flight are reconstructed. To demonstrate LiDAR in a scene with multipath interference, two objects were observed through a weakly diffusive sheet. The temporal resolution, as defined by the clock period of the exposure codes, was 1.65 ns. Multiple reflections were reconstructed using an iterative method (TVAL3) and a deep learning model (ADMM-Net). Although the waveforms of optical pulses reconstructed by TVAL3 are distorted, the amplitudes are more accurate. Conversely, although ADMM-Net reconstructs sharper optical pulses, the amplitudes are inaccurate. To achieve the shorter temporal resolution required for time-resolved diffuse optical tomography (DOT) and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm), the feasibility of heterodyne compression was demonstrated through simulation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) Acta Medica Okayama 2210-2612 133 2025 Robotic pancreatoduodenectomy for a giant duodenal leiomyoma: A case report and literature review 111546 EN Susumu Doita Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kosei Takagi Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Motohiko Yamada Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kazuya Yasui Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tomokazu Fuji Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Toshiyoshi Fujiwara Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Introduction: Duodenal leiomyomas are rare mesenchymal tumors. To date, several studies have reported on the safety and feasibility of surgical intervention for duodenal leiomyomas. However, minimally invasive surgery has rarely been performed in cases with duodenal leiomyomas. Herein, we present a case of a giant duodenal leiomyoma successfully treated with robotic pancreatoduodenectomy (RPD).<br> Presentation of case: A 74-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a 6.5 cm duodenal tumor accompanied by gastrointestinal bleeding. The tumor was located in the second portion of the duodenum. Considering the tumor size and location, RPD was performed. Using the mesenteric Kocker maneuver, the posterior side of the duodenum was safely dissected, and the tumor was resected. The operative time was 373 min, with an estimated blood loss of 10 mL. The patient was followed up for 7 months with no recurrence.<br> Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first to highlight the clinicopathological findings of a patient with duodenal leiomyoma undergoing RPD. To date, there have been 19 cases, including our case, reporting surgically treated duodenal leiomyoma. Treatment strategies should be decided depending on tumor characteristics, including the size, location, and histology of the tumor.<br> Conclusion: We present a rare case of a giant duodenal leiomyoma that was successfully treated with RPD. Minimally invasive surgery can be safe and an alternative for the treatment of large duodenal tumors. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

IOP Publishing Acta Medica Okayama 1742-6588 3027 1 2025 LES analysis to investigate a random-phase forcing scheme for steadying anisotropic turbulence fields 012009 EN Koki Minami Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hiroki Suzuki Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Toshinori Kouchi Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kento Tanaka Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of phase randomization on forcing mechanisms that stabilize localized turbulence. A trigonometric forcing based on vector potential is combined with uniform random numbers to create a spatially homogeneous forcing field. The analysis is performed using large-eddy simulation (LES) with the Smagorinsky model as the subgrid scale model. The results demonstrate that steady flows are generated regardless of the presence of phase randomization, successfully forming isotropic turbulence. In contrast, for anisotropic turbulent fields, the addition of phase randomization reduces the degree of anisotropy, indicating a smoothing effect on the anisotropy of the flow. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

IOP Publishing Acta Medica Okayama 1742-6588 3027 1 2025 Fundamental examination of coherent structure model prediction using vortex cores in a two-dimensional Taylor’s analytical solution 012008 EN Xuanyou Gong Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hiroki Suzuki Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Toshinori Kouchi Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kento Tanaka Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University This study focuses on the possibility that flow around vortex tubes in turbulence may resemble laminar flow, and aims to describe the characteristics of turbulent fields using analytical solutions to the governing equations. In the two-dimensional analytical Taylor solution, the velocity and pressure fields are expressed by trigonometric functions, and a structure in which counter-rotating vortices are arranged in a grid pattern is demonstrated. This solution is used to verify the accuracy of numerical analyses and is expected to contribute to a simple yet unambiguous description of turbulent fields based on vortex structures. Predictions of sub-grid scale components and validation of a coherent structure model using invariants of the velocity gradient tensor are also performed. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2590-1230 27 2025 Inscribed-type spherical speed reducer with uniform reduction ratio in all directions 106742 EN Seiya Naramura Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Koichi Tonegawa Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University So Shimooka Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tomoaki Yano Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Akio Gofuku Okayama Prefectural University Nagayoshi Kasashima National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Tetsushi Kamegawa Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University A spherical motor is an actuator that can generate rotational motion about all three orthogonal axes. However, it is difficult to obtain high output torque from most electromagnetic spherical motors, primarily due to limitations inherent in electromagnetic actuators, such as restricted magnetic force and thermal constraints. Since its torque cannot be increased using planar gears, spherical speed reducers that transmit rotational torque along three orthogonal axes through sphere-to-sphere contact are required. One major limitation of conventional spherical speed reducers is that their size increases significantly as the reduction ratio becomes higher. To address this issue, we propose a novel inscribed-type spherical speed reducer, in which the deceleration mechanism is integrated within the output sphere. This configuration enables a more compact design, reducing the overall size to approximately half that of conventional designs. To predict the angular velocity and transmitted torque, theoretical models for the rotation and torque transmission of the speed reducer were developed. According to the proposed model, the reduction ratio of the spherical speed reducer is 1/3. To verify the validity of these models, experiments were conducted to measure angular velocity and torque. The theoretical results agreed well with the experimental results. In addition, the theoretical torque exhibited an average relative error of 1.63 % compared to the experimental result. Therefore, it was confirmed that the rotation and torque transmission models were valid. These results demonstrate that a reduction ratio can be obtained in all directions of the 3-DOF of the spherical speed reducer, unlike conventional 1-DOF reducers. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 2050-3911 2026 2 2026 Feedback-Controlled Beam Pattern Measurement Method Using a Power-Variable Calibration Source for Cosmic Microwave Background Telescopes 023F01 EN Haruaki Hirose Department of Physics, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Yokohama National University Masaya Hasegawa Institute of Particle and Nuclear Studies (IPNS), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) Daisuke Kaneko International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (WPI-QUP), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) Taketo Nagasaki Accelerator Laboratory (ACCL), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) Ryota Takaku Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tijmen de Haan Institute of Particle and Nuclear Studies (IPNS), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) Satoru Takakura Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, The University of Tokyo Takuro Fujino International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (WPI-QUP), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) We demonstrate a novel beam pattern measurement method for the side lobe characterization of cosmic microwave background telescopes. The method employs a power-variable artificial microwave source under feedback control from the detector under test on the telescope. It enables us to extend the dynamic range of the beam pattern measurement without introducing nonlinearity effects from the detector. We conducted a laboratory-based proof-of-concept experiment, measuring the H-plane beam pattern of a horn antenna coupled to a diode detector at 81 GHz. We gained an additional dynamic range of 60.3 dB attributed to the feedback control. In addition, we verified the measurement by comparing it with other reference measurements obtained using conventional methods. The method is also applicable to general optical measurements requiring a high dynamic range to detect subtle nonidealities in the characteristics of optical devices. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) Acta Medica Okayama 2639-8028 8 2 2026 Association Between Positive End-Expiratory Pressure at Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Initiation and Liberation Outcomes in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Multicenter Retrospective Study e1375 EN Takashi Hongo Department of Emergency, Critical Care, and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yoshinori Kosaki Department of Emergency, Critical Care, and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tetsuya Yumoto Department of Emergency, Critical Care, and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Mitsuaki Nishikimi Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Shinichiro Ohshimo Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Nobuaki Shime Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Atsunori Nakao Department of Emergency, Critical Care, and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiromichi Naito Department of Emergency, Critical Care, and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University IMPORTANCE: The optimal level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains uncertain.<br> OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the association between initial PEEP settings at ECMO initiation and the rate of successful ECMO liberation in patients with severe ARDS.<br> DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We conducted a post hoc analysis of the multicenter Japan Chest CT for ARDS Requiring Venovenous ECMO (J-CARVE) registry. Adult patients with severe ARDS treated with venovenous ECMO between 2012 and 2022 at 24 institutions were included. Participants were categorized into three groups according to PEEP at ECMO initiation: low (< 8 cm H2O), middle (8–10 cm H2O), and high (> 10 cm H2O).<br> MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was successful liberation from ECMO within 30 days. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate associations. Secondary outcomes included 60-day mortality, duration of ECMO support, and duration of mechanical ventilation.<br> RESULTS: Among 683 patients analyzed, the overall ECMO liberation rate at 30 days was 69.2%. Liberation rates were 57.8% (103/178), 73.5% (259/352), and 72.5% (111/153) in the low, middle, and high PEEP groups, respectively. After adjustment, the low group had a significantly lower likelihood of successful ECMO liberation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.56; 95% CI, 0.39–0.81) compared with the middle group. No significant difference was observed between the high and middle groups (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.58–1.10). The low group had longer ECMO duration; however, 60-day mortality and hospital length of stay did not differ significantly among groups.<br> CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Lower PEEP levels at ECMO initiation were associated with reduced likelihood of successful ECMO liberation compared with moderate PEEP, whereas estimates for high vs. moderate PEEP were not statistically significant. These findings support avoiding insufficiently low PEEP and underscore the need for prospective studies to refine optimal PEEP strategies in patients with severe ARDS. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) Acta Medica Okayama 2169-7574 14 2 2026 A Technique for Repositioning the Posteriorly Displaced Premaxilla Following Prior Repair of Complete Bilateral Cleft Lip e7467 EN Yuki Arimura Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Seiji Iida Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Aiko Hyodo Advanced Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Center, Okayama University Hospital Ayaka Mikami Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Satoru Hayano Advanced Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Center, Okayama University Hospital Fumiko Takemoto Advanced Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Center, Okayama University Hospital Hiroshi Kamioka Advanced Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Center, Okayama University Hospital It is well known that osteotomy of the premaxilla is an effective surgical procedure for the correction of a displaced premaxilla in patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate. In cases with a posteriorly displaced premaxilla, it is not easy to move the premaxilla forward because of scarring of the palatal mucosal attachment, narrowing of the adjacent maxillary segments, and the stable fixation of this bone segment after its movement. This fixation is also important in cases without secondary bone grafting. We propose a new method that combines osteotomy and a method such as bone distraction for cases with significant premaxilla displacement that are difficult to repair by osteotomy alone. A conventional orthodontic palatal expander was used as the distractor. The anterior arms were bent at the posterior part of the lingual side of the anterior teeth, and a resin base was attached to the arm parts. The posterior arms were bent and waxed onto the bands of both first molars. Supportive stainless steel wire arms, which are attached to the rest of the deciduous molars, stabilize the distractor. After the osteotomy of the premaxilla, distraction was performed at a rate of 1.0 mm per day, starting the day after surgery. Because the premaxilla of patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate has undergone multiple surgical interventions, the soft tissue is not mobile, making it impossible to guide the premaxilla to an ideal position in a single stage. However, this procedure, using this semirigid distractor, makes it possible to move the osteotomized premaxilla to the planned position with firm stability. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2073-445X 15 2 2026 A Study on the Development of an Image Classification System for Urban Sprawl Areas in Japan 275 EN Ryota Hemmi Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Takehito Ujihara Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Ryosuke Ando National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure Transport and Tourism Seiji Hashimoto Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University In Japan, unlike in many other countries, urbanization has progressed while original rural road structures have been retained, leading to distinctive urban sprawl areas with intermingling residential lots and farmland. Currently, much of Japan’s urban areas consist of urban sprawl areas, posing considerable challenges for infrastructure development. However, for such urban sprawl areas in Japan, it is difficult to say that methods have been established to identify their spatial distribution based on quantitative evaluation. Therefore, for this study, we used machine learning to investigate a system that extracts sprawling urban areas from aerial photographs divided into meshes. In the system’s design, we prioritized precision to ensure the reliable detection of urban sprawl areas. Consequently, the accuracy of identifying sprawl areas achieved precision of 0.81, recall of 0.63, and an F-score of 0.71. Examination of the classification results of sprawl areas revealed that most misclassifications occurred near class boundaries. By contrast, areas with particularly high levels of urban sprawl showed few misclassifications. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Cambridge University Press (CUP) Acta Medica Okayama 1460-3969 25 2026 Effects of sagging correction calibration error on radiation therapy equipment using image analysis e5 EN Yasushi Fujii Department of Radiology, Chugoku Central Hospital of the Mutual Aid Association of Public School Teachers Takahiro Nakayama Department of Radiology, Chugoku Central Hospital of the Mutual Aid Association of Public School Teachers Junki Oshita Department of Radiology, Chugoku Central Hospital of the Mutual Aid Association of Public School Teachers Ayaka Tsunoda Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University Yusuke Saeki Department of Radiological Technology, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital Yoshinori Tanabe Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University Purpose: This study investigates the effect of sagging correction errors on image quality and geometric coordinate accuracy.<br> Methods: This study utilised the Elekta radiotherapy system, ball bearing (BB), Catphan phantom and MultiMet-WL phantom. Ten distinct flex maps (FMs) were acquired by positioning the BB at the accuracy isocentre and introducing shifts of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mm in the left, table and up directions, respectively. Cone-beam computed tomography images of the Catphan phantom were acquired using 10 FMs. The images were analysed for modulation transfer function (MTF) values and geometric coordinates. Additionally, the Winston–Lutz (W-L) test was conducted under reference couch positions and with a 0.3 mm couch shift.<br> Results: For the Catphan phantom analysis, the standard deviations of MTF10% across FMs were 0.19. The centre-of-gravity coordinates of the insert exhibited shifts of approximately 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mm when comparing reference images to those acquired with the shifted FMs. The results of the W-L test with a 0.3 mm couch shift showed radiation isocentre deviations exceeding 1 mm compared to the reference couch positions.<br> Conclusions: Minor sagging correction calibration errors did not remarkably impact image quality; however, they altered the geometric coordinates of the image isocentre. These calibration errors decreased the accuracy of off-isocentre positioning. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) Acta Medica Okayama 1743-9159 112 2 2025 Total thymectomy is oncologically superior to partial thymectomy in patients with thymic carcinoma: insights from a multicenter real-world data analysis 2301 2310 EN Tatsuya Hayashi Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Mikio Okazaki Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Toshiharu Mitsuhashi Center of Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hidetaka Yamamoto Department of Pathology and Oncology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tomohiro Habu Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Kazuhiko Shien Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Ken Suzawa Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hiromasa Yamamoto Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Tomoaki Otsuka Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Mototsugu Watanabe Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Takeshi Kurosaki Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Eiji Yamada Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Eisuke Matsuda Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Tatsurou Hayashi Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Toshiya Fujiwara Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Makio Hayama Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Hiroyuki Tao Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Masaomi Yamane Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Hidetoshi Inokawa Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Yuji Hirami Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Kazuhiro Washio Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Takahiko Misao Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Motohiro Yamashita Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Yoshifumi Sano Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Masao Nakata Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Osamu Kawamata Okayama University Thoracic Surgery Study Group (OUTSSG) Shinichi Toyooka Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Background: Although total thymectomy has been the standard surgical approach for thymic epithelial tumors, an increasing number of recent reports suggest that partial thymectomy for early-stage thymomas may yield outcomes comparable to those of total thymectomy. However, whether partial thymectomy is a viable alternative for thymic carcinoma remains unclear.<br> Materials and methods: A total of 106 patients with thymic carcinoma underwent curative intended resection at 19 institutions between January 2010 and December 2021. Excluding 14 patients with incomplete resection, 92 patients with thymic carcinoma who underwent total (n = 73) or partial thymectomy (n = 19) were compared. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models. Overlap weighting was applied to adjust for potential confounding factors.<br> Results: Among patients with clinical stage I disease, 79.3% were upstaged to stage II or higher postoperatively. Unadjusted analyses revealed no statistically significant differences in OS and RFS between the total and partial thymectomy groups, although a trend toward poorer outcomes in the partial thymectomy group was observed. After overlap weighting, partial thymectomy was associated with significantly poorer OS (P = 0.0027) and higher recurrence risk (P < 0.0001). Early postoperative recurrence occurred more frequently in the partial thymectomy group.<br> Conclusion: Partial thymectomy was associated with significantly worse survival and recurrence outcomes in thymic carcinoma. Given the limitations of preoperative diagnosis, total thymectomy should remain the preferred surgical approach for undiagnosed thymic epithelial tumors to achieve optimal oncologic control and minimize the risk of recurrence. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 0007-1188 2026 Induction of IL-9-producing CD8+ T cells by ascochlorin derivatives EN Natsumi Imano Department of Immunology, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Mikako Nishida Department of Metabolic Immune Regulation, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Miho Tokumasu Department of Immunology, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Weiyang Zhao Department of Immunology, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nahoko Yamashita Department of Metabolic Immune Regulation, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Heiichiro Udono Department of Metabolic Immune Regulation, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Background and Purpose: Ascochlorin (ASC) is an antiviral antibiotic from the fermented broth of Ascochyta viciae which exerts an inhibitory effect to cancers. Its impact on immune cells has not been examined. In this study, we obtained ASC derivatives with less cytotoxicity and determined whether they affected T cells, indicating possible immune-mediated antitumour effects.<br> Experimental Approach: Newly synthesised ASC derivatives were screened for inhibitory effects on T-cell antigen receptor (TCR)-stimulated proliferative responses using murine CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Two compounds were identified that exhibited >10-fold less toxicity compared with ASC. N184, the less toxic of the two, was analysed for its in vivo antitumour effects, and in vitro effects on CD8+ T-cell proliferation, survival, cytokine production and exhaustion, using microscopy, qPCR and flow cytometry.<br> Key Results: N184 induced limited IL-9 production in CD8+ T cells following TCR stimulation, thereby improving cell survival. It also enhanced cytokine production in the late phase of proliferation and suppressed the induction of exhaustion. N184 suppressed tumour growth in mice in a CD8+ T cell-dependent manner. The effect was partially prevented by an IL-9-neutralising antibody.<br> Conclusion and Implications: N184 induces differentiation of IL-9-producing CD8+ T cells in vitro and elicits antitumour immunity in an IL-9-dependent manner. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 1424-8220 26 4 2026 A Generative AI–Based Technical Data Extraction Tool for IoT Application Systems 1081 EN Dezheng Kong Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Nobuo Funabiki Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Htoo Htoo Sandi Kyaw Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University I Nyoman Darma Kotama Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Zihao Zhu Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Alfiandi Aulia Rahmadani Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Nowadays, Internet of Things (IoT) application systems play an essential role in smart cities, industry, healthcare, agriculture, and smart homes. For non-expert users, designing and implementing IoT application systems remains challenging, especially when configuring sensors, edge devices, and server platforms. To support configuration tasks of IoT application systems, we have developed an AI-based setup assistance tool. However, AI models still fail to reliably support newly released or previously unseen devices, sometimes producing incomplete or erroneous outputs that may lead to configuration failures. Incorporating their technical-document information into Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is an effective way to supplement AI knowledge and improve reliability. In this paper, we propose a generative AI-based technical data extraction tool to address the challenges. It extracts essential technical information using the schema-based extraction from given PDF or HTML datasheets and converts it into a structured format suitable for AI-supported configurations. A local vector database is used to enable semantic similarity retrieval and provide document-grounded evidence for RAG-based answering, ensuring consistent support for previously unseen IoT devices. For evaluations, we applied the proposal to several sensor and device datasheets and compared extracted specifications with ground-truth values to measure accuracy and completeness. Then, we compared end-to-end configuration QA reliability against a commercial baseline (ChatPDF) using the golden benchmark. The results show that the proposed tool reliably acquires key specifications and significantly improves end-to-end configuration QA reliability. Across 960 golden QA pairs, the proposed method improves Recall from 0.636 to 0.926 and Accuracy from 0.595 to 0.807 compared with ChatPDF. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 1999-4893 19 2 2026 A Slide Annotation System with Multimodal Analysis for Video Presentation Review 110 EN Amma Liesvarastranta Haz Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Komang Candra Brata Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Nobuo Funabiki Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Htoo Htoo Sandi Kyaw Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Evianita Dewi Fajrianti Human Centric Multimedia Research Laboratory, Department of Informatic and Computer Engineering, Politeknik Elektronika Negeri Surabaya Sritrusta Sukaridhoto Human Centric Multimedia Research Laboratory, Department of Informatic and Computer Engineering, Politeknik Elektronika Negeri Surabaya With the rapid growth of online presentations, there has been an increasing need for efficient review of recorded materials. In typical presentations, speakers verbally elaborate on each slide, providing details not captured in the slides themselves. Automatically extracting and embedding these verbal explanations at their corresponding slide locations can greatly enhance the review process for audiences. This paper presents a Slide Annotation System that employs a robust hybrid two-stage detector to identify slide boundaries, extracts slide text through Optical Character Recognition (OCR), transcribes narration, and employs a multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) to generate concise, context-aware annotations that are added to their corresponding slide locations. For evaluations, the technical performance was validated on five recorded presentations, while the user experience was assessed by 37 participants. The results showed that the system achieved a macro-average 𝐹1 score of 0.879 (𝑆𝐷=0.024, 95% 𝐶𝐼[0.849,0.909]) for slide segmentation and 90.0% accuracy (95% 𝐶𝐼[74.4%,96.5%]) for annotation alignment. Subjective evaluations revealed high annotation validity and usefulness as rated by presenters, and a high System Usability Scale (SUS) score of 80.5 (𝑆𝐷=6.7, 95% 𝐶𝐼[78.3,82.7]). Qualitative feedback further confirmed that the system effectively streamlined the review process, enabling users to locate key information more efficiently than standard video playback. These findings demonstrate the strong potential of the proposed system as an effective automated annotation system. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2078-2489 17 1 2026 An SQL Query Description Problem with AI Assistance for an SQL Programming Learning Assistant System 65 EN Ni Wayan Wardani Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Nobuo Funabiki Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Htoo Htoo Sandi Kyaw Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Zihao Zhu Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University I Nyoman Darma Kotama Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Putu Sugiartawan Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University I Nyoman Agus Suarya Putra Faculty of Business and Creative Design, Indonesian Institute of Business and Technology Today, relational databases are widely used in information systems. SQL (structured query language) is taught extensively in universities and professional schools across the globe as a programming language for its data management and accesses. Previously, we have studied a web-based programming learning assistant system (PLAS) to help novice students learn popular programming languages by themselves through solving various types of exercises. For SQL programming, we have implemented the grammar-concept understanding problem (GUP) and the comment insertion problem (CIP) for its initial studies. In this paper, we propose an SQL Query Description Problem (SDP) as a new exercise type for describing the SQL query to a specified request in a MySQL database system. To reduce teachers’ preparation workloads, we integrate a generative AI-assisted SQL query generator to automatically generate a new SDP instance with a given dataset. An SDP instance consists of a table, a set of questions and corresponding queries. Answer correctness is determined by enhanced string matching against an answer module that includes multiple semantically equivalent canonical queries. For evaluation, we generated 11 SDP instances on basic topics using the generator, where we found that Gemini 3.0 Pro exhibited higher pedagogical consistency compared to ChatGPT-5.0, achieving perfect scores in Sensibleness, Topicality, and Readiness metrics. Then, we assigned the generated instances to 32 undergraduate students at the Indonesian Institute of Business and Technology (INSTIKI). The results showed an average correct answer rate of 95.2% and a mean SUS score of 78, which demonstrates strong initial student performance and system acceptance. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2813-2203 5 1 2025 A Threshold Selection Method in Code Plagiarism Checking Function for Code Writing Problem in Java Programming Learning Assistant System Considering AI-Generated Codes 2 EN Perwira Annissa Dyah Permatasari Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Mustika Mentari Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Safira Adine Kinari Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Soe Thandar Aung Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Nobuo Funabiki Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Htoo Htoo Sandi Kyaw Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Khaing Hsu Wai Graduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University To support novice learners, the Java programming learning assistant system (JPLAS) has been developed with various features. Among them, code writing problem (CWP) assigns writing an answer code that passes a given test code. The correctness of an answer code is validated by running it on JUnit. In previous works, we implemented a code plagiarism checking function that calculates the similarity score for each pair of answer codes based on the Levenshtein distance. When the score is higher than a given threshold, this pair is regarded as plagiarism. However, a method for finding the proper threshold has not been studied. In addition, AI-generated codes have become threats in plagiarism, as AI has grown in popularity, which should be investigated. In this paper, we propose a threshold selection method based on Tukey’s IQR fences. It uses a custom upper threshold derived from the statistical distribution of similarity scores for each assignment. To better accommodate skewed similarity distributions, the method introduces a simple percentile-based adjustment for determining the upper threshold. We also design prompts to generate answer codes using generative AI and apply them to four AI models. For evaluation, we used a total of 745 source codes of two datasets. The first dataset consists of 420 answer codes across 12 CWP instances from 35 first-year undergraduate students in the State Polytechnic of Malang, Indonesia (POLINEMA). The second dataset includes 325 answer codes across five CWP assignments from 65 third-year undergraduate students at Okayama University, Japan. The applications of our proposals found the following: (1) any pair of student codes whose score is higher than the selected threshold has some evidence of plagiarism, (2) some student codes have a higher similarity than the threshold with AI-generated codes, indicating the use of generative AI, and (3) multiple AI models can generate code that resembles student-written code, despite adopting different implementations. The validity of our proposal is confirmed. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2079-9292 14 24 2025 An AI-Driven System for Learning MQTT Communication Protocols with Python Programming 4967 EN Zihao Zhu Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Nobuo Funabiki Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Htoo Htoo Sandi Kyaw Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University I Nyoman Darma Kotama Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Anak Agung Surya Pradhana Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Alfiandi Aulia Rahmadani Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Noprianto Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University With rapid developments of wireless communication and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, an increasing number of devices and sensors are interconnected, generating massive amounts of data in real time. Among the underlying protocols, Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) has become a widely adopted lightweight publish–subscribe standard due to its simplicity, minimal overhead, and scalability. Then, understanding such protocols is essential for students and engineers engaging in IoT application system designs. However, teaching and learning MQTT remains challenging for them. Its asynchronous architecture, hierarchical topic structure, and constituting concepts such as retained messages, Quality of Service (QoS) levels, and wildcard subscriptions are often difficult for beginners. Moreover, traditional learning resources emphasize theory and provide limited hands-on guidance, leading to a steep learning curve. To address these challenges, we propose an AI-assisted, exercise-based learning platform for MQTT. This platform provides interactive exercises with intelligent feedback to bridge the gap between theory and practice. To lower the barrier for learners, all code examples for executing MQTT communication are implemented in Python for readability, and Docker is used to ensure portable deployments of the MQTT broker and AI assistant. For evaluations, we conducted a usability study using two groups. The first group, who has no prior experience, focused on fundamental concepts with AI-guided exercises. The second group, who has relevant background, engaged in advanced projects to apply and reinforce their knowledge. The results show that the proposed platform supports learners at different levels, reduces frustrations, and improves both engagement and efficiency. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 80 1 2026 Development of a Stroke Discharge Support Evaluation Scale for Ward Nurses in Acute Care Hospitals 17 30 EN Hideki Yano Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Health Sciences, Niimi University Yoko Takahata Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University Takeshi Yamaguchi Faculty of Nursing, Shikoku University Shinya Saito Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University Original Article 10.18926/AMO/70069 This study aimed to develop a scale enabling nurses to objectively evaluate their own stroke discharge support, as a basis for enhancing its overall effectiveness. A draft scale was created based on a literature review, and consisted of a 51-item, 5-point Likert-type questionnaire administered to ward nurses engaged in stroke discharge support at acute care hospitals. Factor analysis was performed to refine the scale. Construct validity was assessed using the known-groups method, and reliability was evaluated through internal consistency analysis. The resulting Stroke Discharge Support Evaluation Scale comprises 29 items across 5 factors, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Analysis of the data collected from 237 valid responses demonstrated good internal consistency and supported the scale’s construct validity. The Stroke Discharge Support Evaluation Scale is a reliable and valid tool enabling ward nurses in acute care hospitals to evaluate their own stroke discharge support. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 1996-1944 19 3 2026 Effect of Surface Morphology Formed by Additive Manufacturing on the Adhesion of Dental Cements to Zirconia 563 EN Kumiko Yoshihara National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Health and Medical Research Institute Noriyuki Nagaoka Advanced Research Center for Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Okayama University Dental School Sungho Lee National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Yukinori Maruo Department of Prosthodontics, Okayama University Fiona Spirrett Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University Soshu Kirihara Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University Yasuhiro Yoshida Department of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University Bart Van Meerbeek Department of Oral Health Sciences, BIOMAT, KU Leuven Background: Durable bonding to zirconia remains difficult because its chemically inert surface resists acid etching. Additive manufacturing (AM) enables controlled surface morphology, which may enhance micromechanical retention without additional treatments. Methods: Zirconia specimens with three AM-derived surface designs―(1) concave–convex hemispherical patterns, (2) concave hemispherical patterns, and (3) as-printed surfaces―were fabricated using a slurry-based 3D printing system and sintered at 1500 °C. Zirconia specimens fabricated by subtractive manufacturing using CAD/CAM systems, polished with 15 µm diamond lapping film and with or without subsequent alumina sandblasting, served as controls. Surface morphology was analyzed by FE-SEM, and shear bond strength (SBS) was tested after cementation with a resin-based luting agent. Results: SEM revealed regular layered textures and designed hemispherical structures (~300 µm) in AM specimens, along with step-like irregularities (~40 µm) at layer boundaries. The concave–convex AM group showed significantly higher SBS than both sandblasted and polished subtractive-manufactured zirconia (p < 0.05). Vertically printed specimens demonstrated greater bonding strength than those printed parallel to the bonding surface, indicating that build orientation affects resin infiltration and interlocking. Conclusion: AM-derived zirconia surfaces can provide superior and reproducible micromechanical retention compared with conventional treatments. Further optimization of printing parameters and evaluation of long-term durability are needed for clinical application. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd Acta Medica Okayama 2050-084X 14 2026 Dorsoventral-mediated Shh induction is required for axolotl limb regeneration RP106917 EN Sakiya Yamamoto Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology Saya Furukawa Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology Ayaka Ohashi Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology Mayuko Hamada Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology Akira Satoh Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) exhibit a remarkable ability to regenerate limbs. Classical experiments have suggested that contact between cells derived from distinct orientations―dorsal, ventral, anterior, and posterior―within the regenerating blastema is necessary for accurate limb pattern formation. However, the molecular basis for this requirement has remained largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that both dorsal and ventral tissues are required for limb formation via induction of Shh expression, which plays a crucial role in limb patterning. Using the accessory limb model, we induced position-specific blastemas lacking cells derived from a single orientation (anterior, posterior, dorsal, or ventral). Limb patterning occurred only in blastemas containing both dorsal- and ventral-derived cells. We further observed that Shh expression requires dorsoventral contact within a blastema, highlighting the necessity of dorsoventral contact for inducing Shh expression. Additionally, we identified WNT10B and FGF2 as dorsal- and ventral-mediated signals, respectively, that create the inductive environment for Shh expression. Our findings clarify the role of dorsal and ventral cells in inducing Shh, a mechanism that has rarely been studied in the context of limb regeneration and pattern formation. This model provides new insights into how cells with different positional identities drive the regeneration process. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 1422-0067 26 12 2025 Specific Heat-Killed Lactic Acid Bacteria Enhance Mucosal Aminopeptidase N Activity in the Small Intestine of Aged Mice 5742 EN Takeshi Tsuruta Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Mami Wakisaka Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Takumi Watanabe Bio-Lab Co., Ltd. Aoi Nishijima Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Akihito Ikeda Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Mao Teraoka Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tianyang Wang Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kuiyi Chen Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Naoki Nishino Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Aminopeptidase N (APN), an enzyme expressed in the small intestinal mucosa, is involved in dietary protein digestion. Previous studies have shown that oral administration of fermented milk containing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) enhances mucosal APN activity in young mice. This study aimed to investigate whether LAB strains stimulate mucosal APN activity in aged mice and to evaluate its relevance to age-related changes in body composition. The underlying molecular mechanisms were also explored in vitro. Experiment 1: Aged C57BL/6J mice were fed diets supplemented with heat-killed LAB strains―Enterococcus faecalis OU-23 (EF), Leuconostoc mesenteroides OU-03 (LM), or Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SNK12 (LP). Compared to the aged Control group, the ileal APN activity was significantly higher in the LP group. LP administration also elevated serum Gla-osteocalcin levels and decreased serum CTX-1 levels. Experiment 2: IEC-6 cells were co-cultured with LP that had been treated with RNase, DNase, or lysozyme. APN activity was significantly lower in cells co-cultured with DNase- or lysozyme-treated LP compared to those co-cultured with untreated LP. A specific LAB strain may enhance mucosal APN activity in the aged intestine, potentially contributing to improved bone metabolism. This effect may be mediated by bacterial DNA and peptidoglycan. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Acta Medica Okayama 0027-8424 123 6 2026 A nuclear CobW/WW-domain factor represses the CO2-concentrating mechanism in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii e2518136123 EN Daisuke Shimamura Graduate School of Biostudies, Division of Integrated Life Science, Kyoto University Junko Yasuda Graduate School of Biostudies, Division of Integrated Life Science, Kyoto University Yosuke Yamahara Graduate School of Biostudies, Division of Integrated Life Science, Kyoto University Hirobumi Nakano Graduate School of Biostudies, Division of Integrated Life Science, Kyoto University Shin-Ichiro Ozawa Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Ryutaro Tokutsu Graduate School of Science, Division of Biological Sciences, Kyoto University Ayumi Yamagami Graduate School of Biostudies, Division of Integrated Life Science, Kyoto University Tomonao Matsushita Graduate School of Science, Division of Biological Sciences, Kyoto University Yuichiro Takahashi Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Takeshi Nakano Graduate School of Biostudies, Division of Integrated Life Science, Kyoto University Hideya Fukuzawa Graduate School of Biostudies, Division of Integrated Life Science, Kyoto University Takashi Yamano Graduate School of Biostudies, Division of Integrated Life Science, Kyoto University Microalgae induce a CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM) to maintain photosynthesis when CO2 is limited. Because this system consumes a substantial portion of photosynthetically generated ATP, its suppression when CO2 levels rise is critical for energy balance, yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we identify a nuclear repressor of the CCM in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. A pull-down screen for interacting partners of the master activator CCM1/CIA5 revealed an uncharacterized protein that tightly associates with CCM1. This protein, CCM1-binding protein 1 (CBP1), combines a CobW/CobW_C GTP-binding metallochaperone module with a WW-domain characteristic of protein–protein interactions. CBP1 colocalizes and interacts with CCM1 in the nucleus regardless of CO2 conditions. Disruption of CBP1 does not affect growth or CCM induction under CO2 limitation but derepresses 27 of 41 CCM1-dependent low-CO2 inducible genes under high-CO2 conditions. These include the periplasmic and intracellular carbonic anhydrases (CAH1 and LCIB) and inorganic carbon transporters/channels (LCIA, LCI1, BST1, and BST3). Consistently, cbp1 mutants accumulate CAH1 and LCIB proteins and exhibit 40% higher inorganic carbon affinity under high-CO2 conditions; this phenotype is rescued by CBP1 complementation or by acetazolamide treatment. Crucially, cbp1 mutants exhibit significant growth delays under high-CO2 conditions, especially when light is limiting, providing direct evidence that CBP1-mediated repression is essential for energy conservation. Thus, CBP1 prevents unnecessary CCM activity when CO2 is abundant, acting upstream of both transporter/channel and carbonic anhydrase modules. Our findings suggest a regulatory mechanism potentially linking zinc-dependent protein chemistry to CCM gene repression, providing insights into energy-efficient CO2 sensing in aquatic photosynthetic organisms. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japanese Society of Tribologists Acta Medica Okayama 1881-2198 20 4 2025 Tribological Properties of Amorphous-SiC-Based Coatings on Al2O3 Substrates in Normal Saline 212 219 EN Tadashi Shiota Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Daiki Taniya Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kazuma Shimazaki Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Chiyu Nakano Department of Comprehensive Technical Solutions, Okayama University Yuya Omiya Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Masahiro Fujii Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Amorphous SiC (a-SiC)-based coatings containing not only Si–C bonds but also C–Si–O, C–C, and Si–O2 bonds were deposited on Al2O3 substrates via pulsed laser deposition. Sliding tests using SiC ceramic balls in normal saline revealed that the coating exhibited a low friction coefficient of 0.05-0.06 at a shorter running-in process than SiC bulk ceramic plates. The specific wear rate of the coating was also lower than that of the SiC plate. Reactive molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the C–Si–O bonds in the coating facilitated the generation of Si–O units, which contained Si–O bonds but no Si-C bonds, through tribochemical reactions with water, resulting in superior tribological properties in normal saline compared to those of SiC plates. These findings demonstrate that a-SiC-based coatings containing C–Si–O bonds are promising as low-friction and low-wear coatings for biomedical implants such as ceramic joint prostheses. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2168-8184 17 3 2025 Prospective Evaluation of the Safety and Compression Performance of Novel Compression Denim Jeans in Healthy Volunteers and Patients With Lymphedema e80971 EN Daiki Ousaka Department of Pharmacology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kiyoshi Yamada Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Noriko Sakano Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Satoe Kirino Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kazumasa Miyake Department of Rehabilitation, Lymphedema Treatment Center, Kousei Hospital Takumi Takahashi Division of Business Management, Matsuoka Corporation Akihiro Matsuoka Division of Production Engineering, Matsuoka Corporation Shintaro Yamada Division of Sales, Kaihara Corporation Akira Shinaoka Department of Lymphatics and Edematology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Susumu Oozawa Department of Clinical Safety, Okayama University Hospital Objectives: The treatment of lower-extremity lymphedema, whether congenital or acquired, remains challenging. Long-term management aimed at reducing complications and maximizing quality of life is essential. Compression stockings are crucial in this management; however, their application is limited by patient experience (ease of wear, texture, breathability, and appearance). This highlights the need to evaluate alternative compression garments that maintain therapeutic efficacy while improving patient adherence.<br> Methods: We developed a novel compression denim product (Flow plus Jeans®) using advanced sewing technology. Its baseline performance (compression ability) was evaluated by measuring pressure gradients at three points (ankle, calf, and thigh) using a mannequin-based compression testing system and compared with those of existing stockings. Thereafter, a safety assessment was conducted on healthy volunteers to evaluate potential adverse effects, including changes in lower limb circumference, signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) via ultrasound, and skin complications. A clinical trial in patients with lymphedema was then performed to compare its efficacy with that of conventional compression stockings.<br> Results: Baseline performance testing with a mannequin revealed that Flow plus Jeans demonstrated compression levels and pressure gradients at three calf points comparable to those of standard compression stockings. A safety study involving nine healthy volunteers confirmed that Flow plus Jeans caused no significant changes in lower-limb circumferences after three days of wear, with no cases of DVT or skin complications. In a subsequent clinical trial involving nine female patients with lymphedema, the jeans showed non-inferiority to existing stockings concerning lower-limb circumference measurements at six points (pre-use vs. six months post-use), with patient-reported experiences assessed via questionnaires. Notably, patients reported enhanced satisfaction regarding the jeans' fashionability, which could serve as an incentive for long-term adherence.<br> Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Flow plus Jeans represent a promising novel option for the long-term management of lymphedema, offering an alternative that balances medical efficiency with improved patient satisfaction and demonstrates safety in healthy individuals. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2076-2615 16 3 2026 Impact of the July 2018 Heavy Rain Disaster on the Endangered Nagoya Daruma Pond Frog (Pelophylax porosus brevipodus) in Rice Fields of Mabi Town, Kurashiki City, Western Japan: Changes in Population Structure over Five Years 369 EN Ryo Nakajima Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Daisuke Azumi Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Masakazu Tada Okayama Prefectural Public Interest Incorporated Foundation for Environmental Conservation Junya Nakaichi Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Koki R. Katsuhara Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kazuyoshi Nakata Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Rice paddy fields (referred to below as rice fields) are important not only for food production, but also as habitats for various species. The Nagoya Daruma Pond Frog (Pelophylax porosus brevipodus) is an endangered frog species endemic to Japan, mainly living in and around rice field areas. In July 2018, heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in Mabi Town of Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, submerging numerous rice fields and affecting local frog populations, including P. porosus brevipodus. To clarify whether the population structure of P. porosus brevipodus changed following the flood disaster in the rice fields of Mabi Town, we conducted quantitative field surveys in a rice fallow field in mid-October before (2017) and after (2018, 2020–2022, excluding 2019) the flood. The number of frogs declined sharply after the 2018 flood, reaching only a few individuals by 2020, but showed a substantial recovery in 2021 following the resumption of rice cultivation, although numbers decreased again in 2022. This recovery, despite fluctuations, indicates that habitat restoration through rice farming played a key role in enabling the population to rebound. Our findings underscore the importance of maintaining and restoring rice field environments after natural disasters for the survival and long-term recovery of P. porosus brevipodus. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 1873-149X 33 1 2026 Bridging the Gap Between Static Histology and Dynamic Organ-on-a-Chip Models 10 EN Zheyi Wang Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Keiji Naruse Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Ken Takahashi Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University For more than a century, pathology has served as a cornerstone of modern medicine, relying primarily on static microscopic assessment of tissue morphology―such as H&E staining―which remains the “gold standard” for disease diagnosis. However, this conventional paradigm provides only a snapshot of disease states and often fails to capture their dynamic evolution and complex functional mechanisms. Moreover, animal models are constrained by marked interspecies differences, creating a persistent gap in translational research. To overcome these limitations, we propose the concept of New Pathophysiology, a research framework that transcends purely morphological descriptions and aims to resolve functional dynamics in real time. This approach integrates Organ-on-a-Chip (OOC) technology, multi-omics analyses, and artificial intelligence to reconstruct the entire course of disease initiation and to enable personalized medicine. In this review, we first outline the foundations and limitations of traditional pathology and animal models. We then systematically summarize more than one hundred existing OOC disease models across multiple organs―including the kidney, liver, and brain. Finally, we elaborate on how OOC technologies are reshaping the study of key pathological processes such as inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and fibrosis by converting them into dynamic, mechanistic disease models, and we propose future perspectives in the field. This review adopts a relatively uncommon classification strategy based on pathological mechanisms (mechanism-based), rather than organ-based categorization, allowing readers to recognize shared principles underlying different diseases. Moreover, the focus of this work is not on emphasizing iteration or replacement of existing approaches, but on preserving past achievements from a historical perspective, with an emphasis on overcoming current limitations and enabling new advances. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

BMJ Acta Medica Okayama 2044-6055 15 12 2025 Effectiveness of education programme to increase competency of health cadres in Indonesia: a cluster non-randomised controlled trial e095428 EN Dewie Sulistyorini Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University K A T M Ehsanul Huq Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Abdulfatai Olamilekan Babaita Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Sadia A Aivey Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Gao Huiying Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Kana Kazawa Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Yasuko Fukushima Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Mayumi Kako Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Michiko Moriyama Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Objectives Health cadres, who assist midwives in supporting pregnant women in community settings, need to enhance their competencies in identifying risk factors and referring high-risk pregnant women to midwives for further care. Since the capabilities of these health cadres are influenced by maternal complications, an educational programme was implemented to strengthen their skills. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the competency of health cadres by providing a researcher-developed educational programme.<br> Design An open-label, cluster non-randomised controlled trial.<br> Setting and participants Health cadres with at least 1 year of work experience were recruited at six public health centres (PHCs) in Banjarnegara Regency, Indonesia.<br> Interventions Six PHCs were selected and allocated into intervention group (IG=3 PHCs) and control group (CG=3 PHCs) groups. A total of 133 female health cadres were enrolled across the selected PHCs. At each PHC, a systematic random sampling method was used to select the participants. The researchers and health professionals provided a 3-week period of theoretical and scenario-based simulations to the IG, while the CG received no education.<br> Outcome measures Researcher-developed questionnaires and checklists were used to assess the knowledge, skills (health assessment, communication, attitude) and confidence. The primary endpoint was competency, a total score of knowledge and skills. The outcome domains were compared between the two groups, and a linear mixed-effect model was used to account for cluster-level variation.<br> Results A total of 130 (97.7%) completed the study (IG:64, CG:66). The competency score showed significant improvement at endline (CG=49.5 and IG=52.5; p=0.002). The median scores for health assessment skills (CG=12 vs IG=14; p<0.001) and communication skills (CG=7 vs IG=8; p<0.001) were increased in the IG compared with the CG. Mixed-effect model indicated that groups (β (95% CI) 2.49 (0.57 to 4.41), p=0.012), baseline knowledge (β(95% CI) 0.73 (0.54 to 0.92), p<0.001) and midline health assessment skills (β (95% CI) 0.54 (0.25 to 0.82), p<0.001) were significant positive predictors, while age was negatively associated with competency (β (95% CI) −0.20 (−0.30 to −0.10), p<0.001)).<br> Conclusion Education effectively increased the competency of health cadres. A well-structured education programme is necessary for health cadres to improve and maintain their competencies in monitoring high-risk pregnant women.<br> Trial registration number NCT06134518. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

The Japanese Society of Interventional Radiology Acta Medica Okayama 2432-0935 10 2025 Is Saline Sealing of Needle Tract Effective to Prevent Pneumothorax after Computed Tomography-guided Lung Biopsy? e2025-0068 EN Soichiro Okamoto Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital Yusuke Matsui Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Koji Tomita Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital Kazuaki Munetomo Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital Noriyuki Umakoshi Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital Toshiharu Mitsuhashi Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Medical Development Field, Okayama University Toshihiro Iguchi Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Takao Hiraki Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of needle tract sealing using normal saline instillation for decreasing the risk of pneumothorax after computed tomography-guided lung biopsy.<br> Material and Methods: This retrospective, single-institution study included 391 computed tomography-guided lung biopsies performed by 12 operators between January 2022 and October 2024. After exclusion, 298 biopsies were analyzed by comparing the saline seal (n = 138) and control (n = 160) groups. A 17/18-gauge or 19/20-gauge coaxial biopsy system was used, and tract sealing was performed by instilling 1-5 mL of normal saline during the withdrawal of the introducer needle in the saline seal group; tract sealing was not performed in the control group. After 1:1 propensity score matching was performed to balance baseline characteristics, the incidences of pneumothorax and chest tube placement were compared between the two groups using Fisher's exact test.<br> Results: After propensity score matching, 108 pairs (mean lesion size: 17 mm) were well balanced. The incidence of pneumothorax did not differ significantly between the control and saline seal groups (50.0% vs. 60.2%, respectively; p = 0.171). Similarly, the incidence of chest tube placement was not significantly different between the two groups (7.4% vs. 13.0%, respectively; p = 0.260).<br> Conclusions: According to the propensity score-matched analysis, normal saline instillation for tract sealing did not significantly reduce the incidence of pneumothorax or chest tube placement. In our cohort, which had a high prevalence of small lesions, saline sealing alone may be insufficient to reduce post-biopsy pneumothorax risk. Hence, combined strategies require further investigation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2211-1247 45 1 2026 Immunopeptidomics combined with full-length transcriptomics uncovers diverse neoantigens 116781 EN Takamasa Ishino Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tomofumi Watanabe Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Serina Tokita Division of Cancer Immunology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University Youki Ueda Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsushige Kawase Division of Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute Yuka Takano Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yin Min Thu Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuta Suzuki Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, The University of Tokyo Chie Owa Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, The University of Tokyo Takashi Inozume Department of Dermatology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine Wenhao Zhou Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Joji Nagasaki Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Vitaly Kochin Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Toshihide Ueno Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute Shinya Kojima Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute Akiko Honobe-Tabuchi Department of Dermatology, University of Yamanashi Tatsuyoshi Kawamura Department of Dermatology, University of Yamanashi Takehiro Ohnuma Department of Dermatology, Kumamoto Kenhoku Hospital Takamitsu Matsuzawa Department of Dermatology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine Yu Kawahara Department of Dermatology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine Kazuo Yamashita KOTAI Biotechnologies, Inc Jason Lin Division of Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute Jun Koseki Division of Systems Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Hiroyoshi Nishikawa Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Motoo Araki Department of Urology, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Naoya Kato Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University Teppei Shimamura Division of Systems Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Shinichi Morishita Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, The University of Tokyo Yutaka Suzuki Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo Hiroyuki Mano Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute Toshihiko Torigoe Takayuki Kanaseki Division of Cancer Immunology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University Masahito Kawazu Division of Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute Yosuke Togashi Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Neoantigens are crucial for antitumor immunity and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy by triggering strong immune responses. However, conventional methods for identifying neoantigens, such as whole-exon sequencing and short-read RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), appear to be insufficient, and the tumor mutational burden cannot sufficiently predict ICI efficacy. In this study, we employed a proteogenomic approach using long-read RNA-seq with Pacific Biosciences Single-Molecule Real-Time Sequencing technology to analyze full-length transcripts in combination with the human leukocyte antigen ligandome. As a result, many neoantigen candidates were identified, which were unregistered in a comprehensive database, including those from non-coding regions. Additionally, we validated the responses of specific T cell receptors (TCRs) to these candidates and identified several pairs of TCRs and neoantigens. These findings highlight the presence of more diverse neoantigens than expected that cannot be identified by conventional methods. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Acta Medica Okayama 2050-750X 2026 Multi-step mechanisms of early phospholipid hydrolysis and mineralisation unveiled through combined quantum chemical calculations and experimental analysis EN Keisuke Shibata Department of Materials Science, Waseda University Takahumi Shiotani Department of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Waseda University Yunhao Chen Department of Materials Science, Waseda University Reina Kurihara Department of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Waseda University Katsunori Yamaguchi Department of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Waseda University Emilio Satoshi Hara Department of Advanced International and Information Dentistry, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nílson Kunioshi Department of Materials Science, Waseda University Phospholipids play key roles in bone formation, with phosphatidylserine (PS) reportedly inducing more rapid mineralisation than phosphatidylcholine (PC); however, the underlying mechanisms remains unclear. This study investigated PS and PC mineralisation using experimental methods and computational chemistry. The stationary points in the potential energy surfaces of the reactions were preliminarily found using a neural network potential (PreFerred Potential in Matlantis) capable of predicting the interaction energies for arbitrary combinations of atoms, and then refined through density functional theory calculations (Gaussian16, at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory). When hydrolysis reactions were assumed to be the initial step in the mineralisation of phospholipids, the results were consistent with empirical analysis. PS was found to be more easily hydrolised than PC, primarily owing to the presence of a labile proton in the NH3+ group of serine that facilitates proton transfer, enhancing hydrolysis of PS at lower energy thresholds. Specifically, when a single phospholipid was considered, three distinct hydrolysis routes were identified: between serine (or choline) and phosphate, between glycerol and phosphate, and between an aliphatic carbon chain and the glycerol backbone. In particular, the initial steps of hydrolysis involved the formation of a pentavalent phosphate intermediate. When calculations were performed with two adjacent phospholipid molecules, the loosely bound proton (H+) in the NH3+ group could be readily transferred either to the P–O bond linking serine to the phosphate group; or to the P–O bond connecting the phosphate to glycerol in a neighboring PS6 molecule. These findings reveal the important roles of serine NH3+ in facilitating hydrolysis of PS, and provide insights for designing novel molecules to accelerate bone regeneration. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2590-1230 29 2026 Unified 2D polygon-based CAM framework integrating tool path generation, machinability evaluation, and cutting-force simulation 108948 EN Kazuki Kaneko Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hiroto Takayasu Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ibaraki University Atsuya Suzuki Mechanical Systems Engineering Program, Okayama University Hiroyuki Kodama Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University This study proposes a unified two-dimensional (2D) polygon-based computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) framework that enables tool path generation, machinability evaluation, material removal simulation, and cutting-force prediction within a single computational environment. The proposed method represents three-dimensional geometries as aggregates of orthogonal 2D polygon sets, obtained by slicing the model in the xy-, yz-, and zx-parallel planes and superposing the three polygonal datasets. A novel convolutional offsetting algorithm is developed to perform three-dimensional inflation and shrinkage by incorporating adjacent cross-sectional relationships, thereby achieving accurate 3D offsets independent of the slicing orientation. The inflated 2D polygons are directly utilized to generate contour and scanning tool paths, and sequential inflation–shrinkage analysis enables visualization of unmachinable regions for tool accessibility evaluation. Furthermore, the framework integrates an instantaneous cutting force model that accurately predicts the cutting force waveform by detecting intersections between the cutting edge points and 2D polygon aggregations. The system is experimentally validated via ball-end milling. The results demonstrate that tool paths can be generated in under one minute using only a CPU. Furthermore, the simulated cutting forces closely align with experimental measurements. These findings demonstrate that the proposed 2D polygon-based framework provides an efficient and extensible foundation for integrating mechanical simulation and tool-path generation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Acta Medica Okayama 1759-9954 16 47 2025 Synthesis of sterically unhindered Lewis acidic boron-doped π-conjugated polymers 5035 5039 EN Naoki Takahashi Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuta Nishina Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University We report the synthesis of sterically unhindered boron-doped π-conjugated polymers via polymerization of organo-dilithium reagents with boron trichloride. The resulting polymer exhibits Lewis acidity and catalyzes the transesterification of methyl benzoate. This performance is attributed to the electron-accepting ability, and thermally labile Lewis acid–base interactions, facilitating catalytic turnover. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Frontiers Media SA Acta Medica Okayama 1663-9812 16 2025 Regulatory considerations for developing phage therapy medicinal products for the treatment of antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections 1713471 EN Ai Fukaya-Shiba Office of Regulatory Science Coordination, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency Akiko Ogata Office of Regulatory Science Coordination, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency Ryosuke Kuribayashi Office of Cellular and Tissue-based Products, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency Akira Sakurai Office of Cellular and Tissue-based Products, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency Kanako Suzuki Office of Regulatory Science Coordination, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency Shunsuke Takadama Office of New Drug IV, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency Jihei Nishimura Office of New Drug IV, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency Jumpei Uchiyama Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiroki Ohge Department of Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University Hospital Takamasa Takeuchi Pathogen Genomics Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security Hideyuki Tamaki Biomanufacturing Process Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Tetsuya Matsumoto Department of Infectious Diseases, International University of Health and Welfare Kotaro Kiga Department of Drug Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security Hidetomo Iwano Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, Rakuno Gakuen University School of Veterinary Medicine Recently, there have been growing expectations that treatment of infections with bacteriophages (phages), viruses which specifically infect bacteria, can be used as a treatment option for antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections. In Europe and the United States, in addition to phage therapy as a form of personalized medicine, development of pre-defined phage therapy medicinal products (PTMPs) is progressing, and clinical trials are underway. From October 2024 to July 2025, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency exchanged opinions on trends and points to consider in drug development of PTMPs used for antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections with external experts. Development of PTMPs for regulatory approval requires quality control strategies, establishment of manufacturing methods, non-clinical evaluations, and clinical trial plans based on the characteristics of the phage. In this document, based on the regulatory and development trends in Europe and the United States, the current considerations on quality, non-clinical evaluation, and clinical trial planning including the Cartagena Act in the development of PTMPs in Japan are summarized. The basic concepts presented here are intended to be applied to antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections targeted by PTMPs but can be mostly applicable to bacterial infections in general. We hope that these findings will further accelerate more active development of PTMPs towards timely patient access to innovative products. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

SAGE Publications Acta Medica Okayama 0963-6897 35 2026 Addition of human platelet lysate to islet culture medium suppresses islet loss and improves transplantation outcomes EN Hirofumi Noguchi Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus Chika Miyagi-Shiohira Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus Takuya Sadahira Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masami Watanabe Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Issei Saitoh Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Asahi University School of Dentistry No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2313-433X 12 1 2025 FluoNeRF: Fluorescent Novel-View Synthesis Under Novel Light Source Colors and Spectra 16 EN Lin Shi Department of Artificial Intelligence, Kyushu Institute of Technology Kengo Matsufuji Department of Artificial Intelligence, Kyushu Institute of Technology Michitaka Yoshida Department of Computer Science, Okayama University Ryo Kawahara Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University Takahiro Okabe Department of Computer Science, Okayama University Synthesizing photo-realistic images of a scene from arbitrary viewpoints and under arbitrary lighting environments is one of the important research topics in computer vision and graphics. In this paper, we propose a method for synthesizing photo-realistic images of a scene with fluorescent objects from novel viewpoints and under novel lighting colors and spectra. In general, fluorescent materials absorb light with certain wavelengths and then emit light with longer wavelengths than the absorbed ones, in contrast to reflective materials, which preserve wavelengths of light. Therefore, we cannot reproduce the colors of fluorescent objects under arbitrary lighting colors by combining conventional view synthesis techniques with the white balance adjustment of the RGB channels. Accordingly, we extend the novel-view synthesis based on the neural radiance fields by incorporating the superposition principle of light; our proposed method captures a sparse set of images of a scene from varying viewpoints and under varying lighting colors or spectra with active lighting systems such as a color display or a multi-spectral light stage and then synthesizes photo-realistic images of the scene without explicitly modeling its geometric and photometric models. We conducted a number of experiments using real images captured with an LCD and confirmed that our method works better than the existing methods. Moreover, we showed that the extension of our method using more than three primary colors with a light stage enables us to reproduce the colors of fluorescent objects under common light sources. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) Acta Medica Okayama 2056-9890 82 2 2026 Crystal structure of tris[4-(3,4-dimethoxythiophen-2-yl)phenyl]amine E82 EN Masafumi Yano Kansai University Yukiyasu Kashiwagi Osaka Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology Koki Oishi Kansai University Minori Yano Kansai University Koichi Mitsudo Okayama University In the title compound tris­[4-(3,4-di­meth­oxy­thio­phen-2-yl)phen­yl]amine (DMOT-TPA), C36H33NO6S3, the central nitro­gen atom shows no pyramidalization, with the three para-phenyl­ene rings arranged in a propeller-like geometry. Each thio­phene ring is twisted by about 25–29° relative to the adjacent phenyl­ene ring, giving a distorted π-conjugated framework. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked through multiple C―H⋯π inter­actions into two-dimensional sheets, which extend into a three-dimensional network. A Cambridge Structural Database survey revealed no prior examples of tri­phenyl­amines bearing 3,4-di­meth­oxy­thio­phen units at the para positions. This unique structure provides new insights into the design of redox-active organic materials. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Acta Medica Okayama 2375-2548 11 44 2025 Structural insights into the divergent evolution of a photosystem I supercomplex in Euglena gracilis eaea6241 EN Koji Kato Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Advanced Research Field, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yoshiki Nakajima Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Advanced Research Field, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Runa Sakamoto Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Advanced Research Field, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Minoru Kumazawa Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University Kentaro Ifuku Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Takahiro Ishikawa Institute of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Academic Assembly, Shimane University Jian-Ren Shen Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Advanced Research Field, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Atsushi Takabayashi Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University Ryo Nagao Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University Photosystem I (PSI) forms supercomplexes with light-harvesting complexes (LHCs) to perform oxygenic photosynthesis. Here, we report a 2.82-angstrom cryo–electron microscopy structure of the PSI-LHCI supercomplex from Euglena gracilis, a eukaryotic alga with secondary green alga-derived plastids. The structure reveals a PSI monomer core with eight subunits and 13 asymmetrically arranged LHCI proteins. Euglena LHCIs bind diadinoxanthin, which is one of the carotenoids typically associated with red-lineage LHCs and is not present in the canonical LHCI belt found in green-lineage PSI-LHCI structures. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the Euglena LHCIs originated from LHCII-related clades rather than from the green-lineage LHCI group and that the nuclear-encoded PSI subunit PsaD likely originated from cyanobacteria via horizontal gene transfer. These observations indicate a mosaic origin of the Euglena PSI-LHCI. Our findings uncover a noncanonical light-harvesting architecture and highlight the structural and evolutionary plasticity of photosynthetic systems, illustrating how endosymbiotic acquisition and lineage-specific adaptation shape divergent light-harvesting strategies. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

BMJ Acta Medica Okayama 0143-005X 80 2 2025 Exposure-induced mediator–outcome confounders in causal mediation: implications and visualisation 129 130 EN Etsuji Suzuki Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tomohiro Shinozaki Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, the University of Tokyo Eiji Yamamoto Okayama University of Science No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Acta Medica Okayama 2694-2445 5 6 2025 Electronic Structure of the S1 State Manganese Cluster in Photosystem II Investigated Using Q-Band Selective Hole-Burning 660 671 EN Shinya Kosaki Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Naohiko Nakamura Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Yoshiki Nakajima Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Advanced Research Field, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Jian-Ren Shen Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Advanced Research Field, and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hiroyuki Mino Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University The electronic structure of the S1 state of photosystem II (PSII) was investigated using selective hole burning of Q-band pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance. The free induction decay and spin–echo signals of the tyrosine radical YD• in the plant PSII oscillated because of the magnetic dipole–dipole interaction with the S1 state Mn cluster. The initial period was 410 ns (2.44 MHz) and was assigned to the S = 1 spin state. Based on the oscillation analysis, both Mn1 and Mn4 and both Mn2 and Mn3 were assigned as Mn(III) and Mn(IV), respectively, which is consistent with the quantum chemical calculations. The 410 ns period was accounted for in the simplified model using the isotropic spin density distribution ratio [1.6:–1.1:–1.1:1.6] for Mn1–4 ions. This oscillation was identical with that observed in the presence of methanol. The oscillation decreased in PsbP/Q- and PsbO/P/Q-depleted PSII. In Thermosynechococcus vulcanus, two periods, 390 ns (2.56 MHz) and 630 ns (1.59 MHz), were detected, indicating that the cyanobacterial S1 state includes two isomers, S = 1 and S ≥ 2 spins. The S ≥ 2 spin was not detected in PsbO/U/V-depleted PSII without polyethylene glycol. The S ≥ 2 state was consistent with the reported quantum chemical calculation using S = 3. A simplified model accounted for the S = 1 state as the spin density distribution [1.8:–1.3:–1.3:1.8] and for the S ≥ 2 state as the isotropic spin density distribution [−0.5:0.5:0.5:0.5] for Mn1–4 ions. In combination with quantum chemical calculations, the most probable protonated structure is W1 = H2O, W2 = H2O, O4 = O2–, and O5 = O2– for the S1 state. These results demonstrate that the selective hole burning method is a powerful tool to complement X-ray studies to determine the valence and protonation structure of manganese clusters, not only in the S1 state but also in higher S-states and general metal clusters, which would provide important insights into the water oxidation mechanism. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Spandidos Publications Acta Medica Okayama 2049-9450 23 5 2025 Prolonged exposure to axitinib alters the molecular profile of Caki‑2 renal cell carcinoma cells 101 EN Yuko Nakayama Department of Clinical Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Himeji Dokkyo University Aya Ino Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hyogo Medical University Kazuhiro Yamamoto Department of Integrated Clinical and Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kohji Takara Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hyogo Medical University Axitinib, an oral second‑generation multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is used as a second‑line treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, patients often develop resistance after initial responsiveness, necessitating the elucidation of the underlying resistance mechanisms. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying axitinib resistance using the Caki‑2 human papillary RCC model cells. Cells tolerating 0.1 µM axitinib were designated as Caki/AX cells. Cell viability was assessed using the water‑soluble tetrazolium salt assay. Notably, the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of axitinib and sunitinib were significantly higher in Caki/AX cells than those in Caki‑2 cells, indicating 2.83‑ and 1.2‑fold resistance, respectively. By contrast, the IC50 values of sorafenib and erlotinib were decreased in Caki/AX cells. Moreover, Caki/AX cells showed resistance to everolimus, temsirolimus and rapamycin, and decreased sensitivity to vinblastine, vincristine, paclitaxel, doxorubicin and SN‑38 compared with Caki‑2 cells. Notably, etoposide, 5‑fluorouracil, cisplatin and carboplatin sensitivities were comparable in both cell types. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed that the mRNA levels of the ATP‑binding cassette subfamily B member 1 and subfamily G member 2 were significantly higher in Caki/AX cells than those in Caki‑2 cells. A PCR array related to vascular endothelial growth factor signalling showed that the mRNA levels of FIGF (also known as vascular endothelial growth factor D) and sphingosine kinase 1 were upregulated, whereas those of Rac family small GTPase 2 were downregulated in Caki/AX cells. Overall, these findings suggested that the upregulation of the ATP‑binding cassette subfamily B member 1, FIGF and sphingosine kinase 1 mRNA levels, and downregulation of the Rac family small GTPase 2 mRNA levels may contribute to acquired resistance in Caki/AX cells. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0732-8893 113 4 2025 Time to positivity for differentiating blood culture contamination: A 20-hour cutoff for major contaminants 117030 EN Yohei Manabe Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Hideharu Hagiya Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital Shinnosuke Fukushima Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital Kenta Nakamoto Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital Kohei Oguni Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital Hidemasa Akazawa Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital Yasushi Fujita Department of Nursing, Okayama University Hospital Takashi Kiguchi Department of Nursing, Okayama University Hospital Koji Iio Microbiology Division, Clinical Laboratory, Okayama University Hospital Background: Blood culture remains the gold standard for diagnosing bacteremia; however, contamination inevitably occurs in 2-3% of cases, requiring differentiation between true bacteremia and contamination. Although time to positivity (TTP) aids in this clinical decision, with detection after 24 hours generally indicating contamination, technological advances in blood culture systems may have shortened this threshold interval.<br> Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed blood culture data in our hospital from April 2023 to January 2025 to determine the optimal TTP cutoff. Patients with positive blood cultures for major contaminating bacteria were included. Cases were classified as true bacteremia or contamination based on a comprehensive chart review conducted by the antimicrobial stewardship audit, and TTP was compared between the groups. Sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index at various TTP cutoffs were utilized to determine the optimal threshold using the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.<br> Results: Seventy-one patients were enrolled, with 34 cases classified as true bacteremia and 37 as contamination. Identified bacteria included coagulase-negative staphylococci (70.4%), viridans group streptococci (18.3%), and others (11.3%). The median TTP was significantly shorter in the true bacteremia group compared with the contamination group (18.6 vs.25.8 hours, p < 0.001). In the contamination group, 43.2% of the cases demonstrated positive growth within 24 hours. Based on sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index, the optimal threshold was estimated to be 20 hours. A subgroup analysis of the CNS-only cohort yielded concordant results.<br> Conclusion: This study suggests that a 20-hour TTP threshold could help effectively differentiate true bacteremia from contamination in current clinical settings. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 1083-7159 30 7 2025 Pharmacovigilance study for the identification of mogamulizumab-induced immune-related adverse events using a real-world database oyaf201 EN Koji Miyata Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Yuki Izawa-Ishizawa Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Takahiro Niimura Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Toshihiko Yoshioka Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Mizusa Hyodo Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Shuto Itokazu Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Tatsumi Miyata Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Fuka Aizawa Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Kenta Yagi Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Kei Kawada Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Hirofumi Hamano Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Yoshito Zamami Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Mitsuhiro Goda Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Keisuke Ishizawa Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Background: Mogamulizumab is a humanized anti-CCR4 monoclonal antibody used for relapsed/refractory adult T-cell leukemia, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and/or Sézary syndrome. Reports of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in these patients are increasing, and the association between irAEs and mogamulizumab remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between mogamulizumab and immune-related adverse events (irAEs), as well as to characterize the irAEs associated with mogamulizumab using data from a large-scale spontaneous reporting system.<br> Methods: We performed an exploratory hypothesis-generating analysis of patients from 1967 to September 2023 using VigiBase, a World Health Organization spontaneous adverse event reporting system database. We performed a disproportionality analysis and determined the reporting odds ratios and information components between the drugs of interest and each irAE.<br> Results: Mogamulizumab was associated with some irAEs, including myocarditis, severe cutaneous adverse reactions, hepatitis, and myositis. Mogamulizumab exhibited significantly higher reporting rates of these 4 irAEs compared to the anticancer agents other than mogamulizumab. Conversely, the reporting rate of other irAEs, including endocrine autoimmune diseases induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors, was not significant in patients who received mogamulizumab.<br> Conclusions: Mogamulizumab is associated with irAEs, including myocarditis, severe cutaneous adverse reactions, hepatitis, and myositis. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2077-0383 15 1 2026 Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Self-Reported Oral Health Status Are Associated with Change in Self-Reported Depression Status: A Cohort Study 376 EN Noriko Takeuchi Department of Preventive Dentistry, Division of Dentistry, Medical Development Field, Okayama University Takayuki Maruyama Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Naoki Toyama Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yuzuki Katsube Dental School, Okayama University Takahiro Tabuchi Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Daisuke Ekuni Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Background/Objectives: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) may influence mental health outcomes, yet longitudinal evidence on its association with depression remains limited. This study aimed to examine whether oral health status and OHRQoL are associated with a change in self-reported depression status among adults in Japan. Methods: We analyzed data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS), conducted in 2022 and 2023. A total of 15,068 participants aged ≥20 years without depression at baseline were included. Depression status was identified by self-reported measures between the two survey waves. Logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for change in self-reported depression status in relation to OHRQoL and oral health status, adjusting for sociodemographic and behavioral factors. Results: During follow-up, 218 participants (1.45%) reported a change in self-reported depression status. Poorer OHRQoL was significantly associated with a change in self-reported depression status (OR: 1.018; 95% CI: 1.001–1.036; p = 0.039). Additional risk factors included younger age (OR: 0.974; 95% CI: 0.964–0.985), participation in hobbies and cultural activities (OR: 2.224; 95% CI: 1.498–3.302), habitual use of sleeping pills or anxiolytics (current use OR: 3.512; 95% CI: 2.267–5.442), increased loneliness (OR: 1.217; 95% CI: 1.140–1.299), lower life satisfaction (OR: 0.900; 95% CI: 0.836–0.969), and poor self-rated health (OR: 2.921; 95% CI: 1.810–4.715). Conclusions: Impaired OHRQoL was associated with a change in self-reported depression status, potentially through psychosocial mechanisms. These findings suggest that oral health and OHRQoL may be relevant factors to consider in integrated oral and mental health approaches in clinical practice. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2079-6374 16 1 2026 Magnetic Detection of Cancer Cells Using Tumor-Homing Peptide-Modified Magnetic Nanoparticles 45 EN Shengli Zhou Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Yuji Furutani Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Kei Yamashita Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Sakuya Kako Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Kazunori Watanabe Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Toshihiko Kiwa Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Takashi Ohtsuki Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) provide a platform for target detection because of their magnetic responsiveness to alternating magnetic fields (AMFs). We developed a detection method using MNPs modified with tumor-homing peptides (THPs), PL1 and PL3, which selectively bind to protein components enriched in malignant tissues. THP-MNPs were synthesized using maleimide-PEG-NHS linkers and characterized using transmission electron microscopy. Human glioblastoma cancer U87MG and normal tissue-derived HEK293 cells were incubated with THP-MNPs, and the magnetic signals were measured using a high-temperature superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer under an AMF (1.06 kHz). Dark-field microscopy confirmed the preferential binding of THP-MNPs to U87MG cells. In the absence of cells, THP-MNPs exhibited AMF-dependent signal enhancement, which correlated with particle size reduction due to THP release. This increase was completely suppressed in the presence of U87MG cells, indicating a strong THP-mediated interaction. PL3-MNPs exhibited superior discrimination between malignant and non-malignant cells. These results demonstrate that SQUID-based magnetic measurements using THP-MNPs enable rapid and label-free cancer cell detection. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 2575-6265 6 5 2025 Seaweed Extracts Improve Salinity Tolerance in Cereal Crops―A Meta‐Analysis e70094 EN Md. Nuruzzaman Department of Plant Resources, College of Industrial Sciences, Kongju National University Md. Tahjib‐Ul‐Arif Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh Agricultural University Md. Abdul Hannan Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh Agricultural University Yoshiyuki Murata Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University M. Afzal Hossain Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh Agricultural University Seaweeds are considered an essential component of the blue economy. Because seaweed extracts are rich in bioactive compounds that enhance plant stress resilience, exploiting this resource could offer a sustainable solution for crop production. Salinity is a major abiotic challenge that significantly impacts crop yield and food security. Through meta-analysis, we explored whether the exogenous application of seaweed extracts improves the salt tolerance of cereal crops. All the studies chosen for this study utilized aqueous seaweed extracts as foliar sprays. A multi-level meta-analysis with a mixed effects model was performed to determine the effect size. This meta-analysis demonstrated that applying aqueous seaweed extracts enhanced the shoot and root biomass under normal and salinity stress conditions, suggesting that seaweed extract can help improve crop stress tolerance. The seaweeds studied belonged to three classes: Phaeophyceae, Rhodophyta, and Chlorophyta, with extracts from Chlorophyta and Phaeophyceae significantly enhancing biomass production under salinity conditions. Applying aqueous seaweed extracts effectively improved salinity tolerance at both 34.2–100 mM and 101–400 mM NaCl equivalent salinity stress. Moreover, exogenous foliar application of ≤ 25% aqueous seaweed extracts was most effective for improving salinity tolerance in cereals. The impact of seaweed extracts on cereal crop yields has not been extensively reported; therefore, further studies should focus on this aspect. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Acta Medica Okayama 0018-9456 74 2025 Small Distance Increment Method for Measuring Complex Permittivity With mmWave Radar 6009610 EN Hang Song Research Institute for Semiconductor Engineering, Hiroshima University Hyun Joon Kim Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo Mingxia Wan Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo Bo Wei Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Takamaro Kikkawa Research Institute for Semiconductor Engineering, Hiroshima University Jun-Ichi Takada Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo Measuring the complex permittivity of material is essential in many scenarios, such as quality checks in material manufacturing. Generally, measurement methods for characterizing the material are based on the use of a vector network analyzer (VNA), which is large and not easy for on-site measurement, especially in high-frequency range such as millimeter wave (mmWave). In addition, some measurement methods require the destruction of samples, which is not suitable for nondestructive inspection. In this work, a small distance increment (SDI) method is proposed to nondestructively measure the complex permittivity of a material. In SDI, the transmitter and receiver are formed as a monostatic radar, which is facing toward the material under test (MUT). During the measurement, the distance between the radar and the MUT changes with small increments, and the signals are recorded at each position. A mathematical model is formulated to depict the relationship among the complex permittivity, distance increment, and measured signals. By fitting the model, the complex permittivity of MUT is estimated. To implement and evaluate the proposed SDI method, a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) mmWave radar is utilized, and the measurement system is developed. Then, the evaluation was carried out on the acrylic plate. With the proposed method, the estimated complex permittivity of the acrylic plate shows good agreement with the literature values, demonstrating the efficacy of the SDI method for characterizing the complex permittivity of the material. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0040-8166 93 2025 Detection of the nuclear translocation of androgen receptor using quantitative and automatic cell imaging analysis 102631 EN Lanlan Bai Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Iwate University Tao Wu Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Iwate University Mizuki Fukasawa Neuro-AI Integration Science Laboratory, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Sayo Kashiwagi Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Basic Research Development Division Haruka Tate Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Iwate University Taku Ozaki Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Iwate University Eriko Sugano Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Iwate University Hiroshi Tomita Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Iwate University Tsuyoshi Ishii Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Basic Research Development Division Takuya Akashi Neuro-AI Integration Science Laboratory, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tomokazu Fukuda Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Iwate University Testosterone signaling mediates diseases such as androgenetic alopecia and prostate cancer and is controlled by the activation of the androgen receptor (AR) and nuclear translocation of the ligand-receptor complex. This study established an immortalized dermal papilla cell line that stably expresses the AR labeled with a monomeric green fluorescence marker. The cells expressed the histone H2B protein as visualized using a red fluorescence marker, enabling the Detection of nuclear translocation under live cell conditions using image analysis. The AR was observed to be translocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus of cells after stimulation with dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The signal intensity of the nuclear/cytoplasm ratio was analyzed using automatic image analysis and a newly developed algorithm. The quantitation method to detect nuclear translocation revealed that the AR nuclear signal plateaued approximately 20 min after DHT exposure. Our developed method has the potential to save human labor by the automatic process of the image. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Tech Science Press Acta Medica Okayama 1546-2226 85 2 2025 A Spectrum Allocation and Security-Sensitive Task Offloading Algorithm in MEC Using DVS 3437 3455 EN Xianwei Li School of Computer and Information Engineering, Bengbu University Bo Wei Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Xiaoying Yang School of Information Engineering, Suzhou University Amr Tolba Computer Science and Engineering Department, College of Applied Studies, King Saud University Zijian Zeng Institute of Computer Science and Digital Innovation, UCSI University Osama Alfarraj Computer Science and Engineering Department, College of Applied Studies, King Saud University With the advancements of the next-generation communication networking and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, a variety of computation-intensive applications (e.g., autonomous driving and face recognition) have emerged. The execution of these IoT applications demands a lot of computing resources. Nevertheless, terminal devices (TDs) usually do not have sufficient computing resources to process these applications. Offloading IoT applications to be processed by mobile edge computing (MEC) servers with more computing resources provides a promising way to address this issue. While a significant number of works have studied task offloading, only a few of them have considered the security issue. This study investigates the problem of spectrum allocation and security-sensitive task offloading in an MEC system. Dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) technology is applied by TDs to reduce energy consumption and computing time. To guarantee data security during task offloading, we use AES cryptographic technique. The studied problem is formulated as an optimization problem and solved by our proposed efficient offloading scheme. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme can reduce system cost while guaranteeing data security. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 第19回日本臨床検査学教育学会学術大会 149 149 EN Satoshi Hirohata Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Laser Institute of America Acta Medica Okayama 1042-346X 37 1 2025 High-quality welding of copper and aluminum by angled laser irradiation and insert metals 012041 EN Yasuhiro Okamoto Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuki Yamada Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Akira Okada Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Masaki Miyake Kataoka Corporation Takeshi Yamamura Kataoka Corporation Katsutoshi Nagasaki Kataoka Corporation Norio Nishi Kataoka Corporation Copper is an important material in order to use electricity effectively, and aluminum is also an attractive material to perform lightweight construction. Laser welding of copper and aluminum is required, and there are some reports to weld copper and aluminum firmly by laser irradiation from the aluminum side. On the other hand, laser irradiation from the copper side requires high power density to generate a keyhole, which causes the strong convection of molten aluminum into copper. Thus, brittle intermetallic compounds with rich aluminum result in the deterioration of joining strength. Angled laser irradiation enables mild heat input to the aluminum side, and the combination of angled and superposed irradiation of blue and near-infrared (NIR) lasers achieved a remarkable increase of breaking strength. However, the breaking strength is still lower than the base materials. Therefore, insert materials between copper and aluminum plates were investigated by the angled irradiation of blue and NIR lasers from the copper side. The breaking strength with insert materials showed higher values in the order of titanium mesh, nickel foil, and nickel mesh, and its value with the nickel mesh was close to the tensile strength of aluminum in a cross tensile test. Further improvement of breaking strength is possible by inserting the nickel mesh between copper and aluminum plates in the case of angled irradiation of blue and NIR lasers even from the copper side. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japanese Society of Breeding Acta Medica Okayama 1344-7610 75 3 2025 Polyphyletic domestication and inter-lineage hybridization magnified genetic diversity of cultivated melon, Cucumis melo L. 168 178 EN Katsunori Tanaka Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University Gentaro Shigita Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Tran Phuong Dung Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Phan Thi Phuong Nhi University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University Mami Takahashi Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yuki Monden Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hidetaka Nishida Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Ryuji Ishikawa Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University Kenji Kato Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Melon accessions with diverse geographical origins were classified into large and small seed-types by length of seed at the boundary of 9 mm, and into five populations based on polymorphisms in the nuclear genome. They were further divided into three maternal lineages, Ia, Ib, and Ic, by polymorphisms in the chloroplast genome. By combining these three classifications, the Europe/US subsp. melo and the East Asian subsp. agrestis were characterized as [large seed, Ib, PopA1 or A2] and [small seed, Ia, PopB1 or B2], respectively, indicating nearly perfect divergence. In South Asia, in addition to the Europe/US and East Asian types, recombinant types between the two types were detected and accounted for 34.8% of South Asian melon. The finding of such an intermixed structure of genetic variation supported the Indian origin of Ia and Ib types. As to Momordica popular in South Asia, seed length was intermediate between the large and small seed-types, and chloroplast type was a mixture of Ia and Ib, suggesting its origin from the recombinant type. In Africa, three lineages of melon were distributed allopatrically and showed distinct divergence. Subsp. agrestis of the Ic type proved to be endemic to Africa, indicating its African origin. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0009-2541 695 2025 Flash vaporization and migration of iodine in the oceanic plate subduction zone 123031 EN Noriyuki Suzuki Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University Jun Kameda Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University Miki Amo Geology and Geophysics Division, Technology Department, Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security Crustal fluids in subduction zones, such as subsurface aquifers, submarine seeps, and gas hydrate waters, are often rich in iodine (I2) and methane (CH4). Large-scale aquifers in the Kanto subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate (PAC) and the Philippine Sea Plate (PHS) are subducting, also exhibit high concentrations of I2 and CH4. However, the origin and behavior of I2 in the subduction zone are unclear, and its coexistence with CH4 remains unresolved. To investigate this, we compiled the I2 phase diagram under high-pressure and high-temperature (P–T) conditions to predict its physicochemical properties in the subduction zone. We then applied the P–T paths of subducted PAC and PHS sediments to the I2 phase diagram. Our findings reveal that I2 can exist as a liquid in the young and hot PHS subduction zone. Transient decompressions during earthquake ruptures can cause liquid iodine to flash-vaporize and be expelled from subducted sediments. Along with I2, thermogenic CH4 and hydrogen (H2) generated in the subducted sediments are also released and transported upward, likely by slab-dehydrated fluids. Additionally, H2 may enhance microbial CH4 production through hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. In subduction zones of young and hot oceanic plates such as the PHS, crustal fluids are enriched in I2 and coexist with CH4 owing to the simultaneous expulsion of I2, CH4, and H2 from the same subducted sediments and their migration via deep fluids. Large subsurface aquifers can act as traps and reservoirs for migrating I2 and CH4, forming large-scale I2 and CH4 deposits. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0007-8506 74 1 2025 Improvement of anodic oxide film characteristics of Al-Cu alloy by refinement of IMCs with large-area electron beam irradiation 263 267 EN T. Shinonaga Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science & Technology, Okayama University A. Sebe Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science & Technology, Okayama University M. Taniguchi Shimano Research Laboratories, R&D Strategy Dept., SHIMANO INC. T. Fujii Shimano Research Laboratories, R&D Strategy Dept., SHIMANO INC. A. Okada Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science & Technology, Okayama University Al-Cu alloy has been widely applied to automobile products due to its light weight and high strength, but pitting corrosion easily occurs due to intermetallic compounds (IMCs) in Al-Cu alloy. Anodizing process has been conventionally performed to improve the corrosion resistance of Al-Cu alloy surface. However, IMCs in Al-Cu alloy lead to defects in anodic oxide film. In this study, refinement of IMCs in Al-Cu alloy surface by large-area EB irradiation was proposed. Experimental results show that reflectance and corrosion resistance of anodic oxide film formed on Al-Cu alloy surface are improved by refinement of IMCs with the EB irradiation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Iron and Steel Institute of Japan Acta Medica Okayama 0915-1559 65 13 2025 Heat Transfer Enhancement by Forming Bridges among Reactive Particles in a Packed Bed Reactor of a Solid-gas Chemical Heat Storage System 2097 2104 EN Koichi Nakaso Faculty of Environmental, Life Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kenji Shimada Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yasushi Mino Faculty of Environmental, Life Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kuniaki Gotoh Faculty of Environmental, Life Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University In this study, the enhancement of the thermal output of solid-gas chemical heat storage systems was investigated. Bridges made of high-thermal conductivity materials were formed among reactive particles by drying a slurry which contained graphite powder as a thermal additive and dispersant in a packed-bed reactor. First, the effect of the volume ratio of the dispersant on effective thermal conductivity was investigated. The optimum volume ratio of dispersant to graphite powder was determined. Furthermore, repetitive bridge formation increased the effective thermal conductivity. Based on these results, we investigated the thermal response of the energy-discharge process. Consequently, the temperature distribution in the radial direction of the reactor decreased owing to the formation of bridges. In addition, the thermal energy generated by the adsorption of water vapor onto the adsorbent was effectively transferred to the reactor wall. The thermal output was estimated based on the experimental results. The thermal output was increased by the formation of bridges. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 0718-9508 2025 Suppression of Na+ Uptake Via Apoplastic Flow by Chitosan in Rice EN Maoxiang Zhao Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Md. Asadulla Al Galib Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Toshiyuki Nakamura Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshimasa Nakamura Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshihiko Hirai Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoshitaka Nakashima Shintaro Munemasa Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Izumi C. Mori Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yoshiyuki Murata Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Purpose: Chitosan enhances tolerance to salinity in rice. Apoplastic flow plays a crucial role in the accumulation of sodium (Na+) in rice under salinity. This study investigated the effects of exogenous chitosan on apoplastic flow and Na+ uptake in NaCl-treated rice seedlings. Methods: We employed an apoplastic tracer, trisodium salt of 8-hydroxy-1,3,6-pyrenetrisulphonic acid (PTS), in order to evaluate apoplastic flow in rice (Oryza sativa L., cv. Nipponbare) seedlings that were hydroponically grown in the solution containing NaCl (0 and 25 mM), and chitosan (0 mg L− 1, 10 mg L− 1, and 50 mg L− 1). Results: Application of 25 mM NaCl significantly increased PTS uptake and Na+ content in shoots but did not affect K+ content, resulting in a lower K+/Na+ ratio although 25 mM NaCl did not affect the seedling growth. The application of chitosan suppressed Na+-enhanced PTS uptake and Na+ accumulation in shoots without affecting the K+ content, which led to a higher K+/Na+ ratio. Moreover, chitosan did not affect the reducing sugar content or electrical conductivity in the solution containing NaCl. Conclusions: These results suggest that application of chitosan suppressed Na+-enhanced apoplastic flow to reduce Na+ uptake in rice seedlings. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Acta Medica Okayama 2169-3536 13 2025 Adaptive Topological Mapping With Free Area-Based Node Deletion for Autonomous Mobile Robots EN Haruka Ozaki Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuichiro Toda Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Naoki Masuyama Graduate School of Informatics, Osaka Metropolitan University Kai Fuji Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Takayuki Matsuno Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University This paper proposes an adaptive topological map building method, called Adaptive Resonance Theory-based Topological Clustering with Different Topologies (ATC-DT), for autonomous mobile robots using 3D point cloud data. ATC-DT framework integrates a novel node deletion mechanism that detects layout changes through free area detection. This allows the robot to update topological maps dynamically, removing outdated nodes caused by environmental changes. Experiments in real environments validate the ability of the method to perform global path planning, free area estimation, and adaptive navigation. The approach significantly improves navigation performance by improving map relevance and reducing redundancy of paths. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Frontiers Media SA Acta Medica Okayama 1664-042X 16 2025 Activation of the pentose phosphate pathway by microcurrent stimulation mediates antioxidant effects in inflammation-stimulated macrophages 1666999 EN Mikiko Uemura Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences Noriaki Maeshige Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences Atomu Yamaguchi Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences Xiaoqi Ma Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences Yunfei Fu Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences Taketo Inoue Assisted Reproductive Technology Center, Okayama University Mami Matsuda Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University Yuya Nishimura Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University Tomohisa Hasunuma Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University Ji Wang Department of Toxicology and Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University Hiroyo Kondo Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Shubun University Hidemi Fujino Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences Introduction: Excessive inflammatory responses in macrophages lead to increased oxidative stress, and the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes tissue damage, contributing to the development of chronic diseases and tissue deterioration. Therefore, controlling the inflammatory response and ROS production is crucial for human health. Electrical stimulation (ES) has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on macrophages. However, the key pathway underlying these effects remains unclear.<br> Methods: In this study, ES was applied to Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages, and the production of ROS and 8–hydroxy–2′–deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), inflammatory cytokine expression, and intracellular metabolites were analyzed in a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) knockdown experiment, the rate-limiting enzyme of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway(PPP).<br> Results: ES significantly increased sedoheptulose 7-phosphate (S7P), an intermediate metabolite in PPP, and reduced ROS and 8-OHdG production and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Meanwhile, ES did not exert antioxidant effects in G6PD-knockdown macrophages.<br> Discussion: These findings indicate that the antioxidant effects of ES are mediated by PPP in LPS-stimulated macrophages. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Acta Medica Okayama 1751-9659 19 1 2025 Subspace-Guided Feature Reconstruction for Unsupervised Anomaly Localization e70157 EN Katsuya Hotta Iwate University Chao Zhang University of Toyama Yoshihiro Hagihara Iwate University Takuya Akashi Okayama University Unsupervised anomaly localization aims to identify anomalous regions that deviate from normal sample patterns. Most recent methods perform feature matching or reconstruction for the target sample with pre-trained deep neural networks. However, they still struggle to address challenging anomalies because the deep embeddings stored in the memory bank can be less powerful and informative. Specifically, prior methods often overly rely on the finite resources stored in the memory bank, which leads to low robustness to unseen targets. In this paper, we propose a novel subspace-guided feature reconstruction framework to pursue adaptive feature approximation for anomaly localization. It first learns to construct low-dimensional subspaces from the given nominal samples, and then learns to reconstruct the given deep target embedding by linearly combining the subspace basis vectors using the self-expressive model. Our core is that, despite the limited resources in the memory bank, the out-of-bank features can be alternatively “mimicked” to adaptively model the target. Moreover, we propose a sampling method that leverages the sparsity of subspaces and allows the feature reconstruction to depend only on a small resource subset, contributing to less memory overhead. Extensive experiments on three benchmark datasets demonstrate that our approach generally achieves state-of-the-art anomaly localization performance. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2405-8440 11 11 2025 Suppression of defect in plated film on AMed metal products by electron beam polishing e43440 EN Togo Shinonaga Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuki Matsuda Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Akira Okada Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Additively manufactured (AMed) metal products with high shape accuracy can be produced by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). However, the AMed metal products have large surface roughness due to the arrangement of bead shape. Surface irregularities such as spatter and small cavity are also generated on the surface. Furthermore, elemental composition of AMed metal products may be changed from that of original metal powder due to oxidation of surface. On the other hand, electroless plating has been applied to improvement of surface functions. However, defect is often generated in the plated film due to surface irregularities and oxidation of base material. Therefore, surface smoothing methods are required for suppression of defect in plated film.<br> In this study, surface smoothing and surface repairing of AMed aluminum (Al) alloy were performed by electron beam (EB) polishing with large-area EB. After the EB polishing, electroless plating was conducted on the AMed Al alloy, and suppression of defect in plated film was proposed. Experimental results show that surface smoothing, surface repairing and removal of oxidization layer of AMed Al alloy can be done simultaneously by the EB polishing. Furthermore, the plated film without defect can be successfully formed on the EB polished Al alloy. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1347-9032 2025 Genomic Profiling of Pediatric Solid Tumors With a Dual DNA/RNA Panel: JCCG-TOP2 Study EN Kayoko Tao Department of Pediatrics, National Cancer Center Hospital Takako Yoshioka Department of Pathology, National Center for Child Health and Development Miho Kato Department of Childhood Cancer Data Management, National Center for Child Health and Development Kazuyuki Komatsu Department of Pediatrics, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine Shinichi Tsujimoto Department of Pediatrics, Yokohama City University Kenichi Sakamoto Department of Pediatrics, Shinshu University School of Medicine Kazuki Tanimura Department of Pediatrics, National Cancer Center Hospital Minako Sugiyama Department of Pediatrics, National Cancer Center Hospital Masahiro Sekiguchi Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo Yoshiko Nakano Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo Yoshihiro Otani Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yasushi Yatabe Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital Akihiko Yoshida Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital Hajime Okita Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine Junko Hirato Department of Pathology, Public Tomioka General Hospital Kenichi Kohashi Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University Yukichi Tanaka Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center Shinji Kohsaka Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute Takashi Kubo Department of Clinical Genomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute Kuniko Sunami Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital Makoto Hirata Department of Genetic Medicine and Services, National Cancer Center Hospital Shuichi Tsutsumi Genome Science & Medicine Division, Research Center of Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo Hiroyuki Aburatani Genome Science & Medicine Division, Research Center of Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo Katsuyoshi Koh Department of Hematology and Oncology, Saitama Children's Medical Center Masahiro Hirayama Department of Pediatrics, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine Shuhei Karakawa Department of Pediatrics, Hiroshima University Hospital Yukayo Terashita Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido University Hospital Hiroyuki Fujisaki Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Osaka City General Hospital Takeshi Yagi Okinawa Prefectural Nanbu Medical Center & Children's Medical Center Akihiro Yoneda Department of Pediatric Surgery, National Center for Child Health and Development Shinji Mochizuki Department of Pediatrics, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Japan Institute for Health Security Hiroyuki Shichino Department of Pediatrics, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Japan Institute for Health Security Tatsuya Suzuki Department of Hematology, National Cancer Center Hospital Tetsuya Takimoto Department of Childhood Cancer Data Management, National Center for Child Health and Development Koichi Ichimura Department of Pathology, Kyorin University Faculty of Medicine Chitose Ogawa Department of Pediatrics, National Cancer Center Hospital Kimikazu Matsumoto Children's Cancer Center National Center for Child Health and Development Hitoshi Ichikawa Department of Clinical Genomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute Motohiro Kato Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo To develop an optimized genomic medicine platform for pediatric cancers, a nationwide cancer genome profiling project was conducted from January 2022 to February 2023 in collaboration with the Japan Children's Cancer Group. This prospective observational study analyzed matched blood and FFPE tumor samples from patients aged 0–29 years with solid tumors. Genomic analysis used the TOP2 hybrid capture–enrichment system, targeting 737 and 455 genes in the DNA and RNA panels, along with allele-specific genome copy number alterations. A total of 210 patients from 50 institutions were enrolled across Japan (median age, 8 years; range, 0–25). Of these, 154 (77%) were enrolled at diagnosis or during/after initial treatment and 56 (27%) at disease progression or relapse. The TOP2 findings had great benefits in clarifying the diagnosis of pediatric solid tumors. Among the 204 patients with genomic results, 147 (72%) had potentially actionable findings, including diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic findings in 111 (54%), 61 (30%), and 64 (31%), respectively. Oncogenic fusions were noted in 45 (23%) patients. A copy number alteration was identified in at least one genomic region in 170 (83%) patients. Two patients exhibited a high tumor mutation burden. Seventeen (8%) patients harbored a germline pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant in cancer-predisposing genes. This study highlighted the feasibility of implementing a nationwide precision medicine platform and the clinical utility of the TOP2 system for pediatric cancers. The results support the integration of genomic data into the standard clinical care of pediatric patients with cancer, both at diagnosis and at relapse. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 0305-1048 53 22 2025 eIF2D promotes 40S ribosomal subunit recycling during intrinsic ribosome destabilization gkaf1322 EN Kazuya Ichihara Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Taichi Shiraishi Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Yuhei Chadani Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuki Kito Division of Cell Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University Chisa Shiraishi Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Mina Hirata Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Yuta Takahashi Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Akinao Kobo School of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Science Tokyo Atsushi Hatano Department of Omics and Systems Biology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University Masaki Matsumoto Department of Omics and Systems Biology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University Kodai Machida Graduate School of Engineering, University of Hyogo Hiroaki Imataka Graduate School of Engineering, University of Hyogo Atsushi Toyoda Advanced Genomics Center, National Institute of Genetics Emi Mishiro-Sato Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University Takayuki Nojima Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University Takuhiro Ito Laboratory for Translation Structural Biology, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences Hideki Taguchi School of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Science Tokyo Keiichi I Nakayama Division of Cell Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University Akinobu Matsumoto Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Although eukaryotic initiation factor 2D (eIF2D) is implicated in translation initiation, reinitiation, and ribosome recycling, its precise role remains unclear. Here, we show that eIF2D promotes 40S ribosome recycling during intrinsic ribosome destabilization (IRD), a process in which ribosomes stochastically destabilize while translating proteins with consecutive acidic amino acids at their NH2-terminus. Unrecycled 40S ribosomes accumulate in eIF2D-deficient cells, leading to 80S ribosome stalling. Selective translation complex profiling (TCP-seq) reveals that eIF2D preferentially associates with IRD-prone regions. The winged helix domain, unique to eIF2D but absent in MCTS1–DENR, enhances its binding to 40S subunits, but likely clashes with ABCE1 during stop-codon-associated recycling. Loss of eIF2D reduces the expression of IRD-inducing proteins, including splicing factors. Together, these findings define a previously unappreciated role for eIF2D in 40S recycling and clarify its mechanistic divergence from the MCTS1–DENR complex. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 1347-6947 89 6 2025 PNGase activity and free N-glycans in phloem fluid prepared from Nerium oleander (oleander tree) 872 875 EN Fuki Otaguro Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yoshinobu Kimura Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Megumi Maeda Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Free N-glycans (FNGs) occur ubiquitously in growing plants. Recently, it was reported that these FNGs interact with auxin. In this study, we investigated whether PNGase activity responsible for producing the FNGs occurs in the extracellular fluid, where auxin is present during its polar transfer. Here, we report the occurrences of PNGase activity and FNGs in the phloem fluid. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0969-806X 237 2025 Impact of different X-ray tube positions on actual dose measurements during CT examinations -An effect of patient physique- 113001 EN Hiroaki Hayashi College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University Tatsuya Maeda Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Kazuki Takegami Department of Radiological Technology, Yamaguchi University Hospital Sota Goto Faculty of Health Sciences, Kobe Tokiwa University Takashi Asahara Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Natsumi Kimoto Department of Radiological Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Junshin Gakuen University Rina Nishigami Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Daiki Kobayashi Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Yuki Kanazawa Faculty of Life Science, Kumamoto University Kazuta Yamashita Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Tokushima University Takeshi Konishi MEDITEC JAPAN Co., Ltd. Motochika Maki MEDITEC JAPAN Co., Ltd. Dose management of patients is very important during X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) examinations, but because the patient's surface dose is inhomogeneous, it is difficult to measure the most probable value using a small passive-type dosimeter, lent to the patient. To solve this problem, our research group developed a precise dose analysis procedure in which a systematic uncertainty related to the X-ray incident direction (θin) is reduced. θin information was analyzed from CT images. However, the applicability of our procedure to actual patients with various physiques has not been examined. This study aims to propose a dose analysis procedure that can be applied to patients with various physiques, and to show its impact on dose measurement. Clinical data of 198 patients with Body Mass Index (BMI) values between 15 and 40 kg/m2 (mean value: 23.1 ± 3.8 kg/m2) who underwent chest CT scans were analyzed after dividing them into three groups based on BMI values. The absorbed dose was measured with a small-type Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dosimeter. To derive correction factors related to θin, the dependence of the actually-measured dose values of various patients on θin was analyzed. The correction coefficients were determined independently for the three groups classified by BMI values. By correcting the effect of θin, the systematic uncertainty element could be reduced, resulting in 30 % reduction of the uncertainty. Furthermore, it was found that our analysis procedure makes it possible to visualize outliers. In comparison with the expected dose values based on Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI) values, most of the data fell within the range of ±1.34 mGy (=1σ). However, 7 % of the data showed large deviations larger than 2σ. In conclusion, our research group has developed a procedure for measuring patient surface doses that can be applied to patients having various physiques, in which the effects of X-ray incident direction were accurately corrected. The procedure could be one solution to the problems with actual dose measurements during CT examinations, and will be useful for dose management based on the small-type dosimeter. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japanese Society for Horticultural Science Acta Medica Okayama 2189-0102 94 3 2025 Effect of Storage Temperature and a Sugar-ester Edible Coating on Postharvest Quality and Storage Life of ‘Fuyu’ Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) 401 407 EN Maqsood Muqadas Graduate School of Environmental, Life Science, Natural Science and Technology Okayama University Oscar W. Mitalo Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba Kyohei Ohashi Graduate School of Environmental, Life Science, Natural Science and Technology Okayama University Takumi Otsuki Graduate School of Environmental, Life Science, Natural Science and Technology Okayama University Chikara Yano Graduate School of Environmental, Life Science, Natural Science and Technology Okayama University Ziaurrahman Hejazi Graduate School of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki Natsuki Hira Shiga R&amp;D Center, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation Koichiro Ushijima Graduate School of Environmental, Life Science, Natural Science and Technology Okayama University Yasutaka Kubo Graduate School of Environmental, Life Science, Natural Science and Technology Okayama University In ‘Fuyu’ persimmons (Diospyros kaki Thunb.), crunchiness is a preferred postharvest attribute among both distributors and consumers. The present study first examined softening characteristics during storage at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C. Fruit stored at 0°C remained firm for 84 d, while that stored at 5°C had a 100% softening rate within 35 d. At 10 and 15°C, over 70% of fruit softened within 49 d and 63 d, respectively. The softening rate was relatively slower at 20 and 25°C, with only 27% softened fruit after 56 d at 25°C. The potential of a newly developed sugar-ester (SE) edible coating to delay fruit softening and maintain postharvest quality was then assessed during storage at 0 and 25°C. Uncoated fruit stored at 0°C for 56 d developed chilling injury (CI) symptoms (rapid fruit softening and peel browning) within 2 d of rewarming at 20°C. These CI symptoms were notably mitigated in SE-coated fruit. At 25°C, SE coating also delayed fruit softening and peel color change in addition to reducing fruit shrinkage. In conclusion, in ‘Fuyu’ persimmons ambient temperature (20–25°C) storage in combination with an edible SE coating is recommended for the high demand Christmas and new year seasons and 0°C storage with an edible SE coating is suitable for longer storage and distribution. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0010-9452 194 2026 Increasing visual uncertainty modulates multisensory decision-making 50 62 EN Xiangfu Yang Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Weiping Yang Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Hubei University Yinghua Yu Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Yoshimichi Ejima Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Jiajia Yang Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University The brain integrates and transforms information from multiple senses to make optimal decisions, a process that is critical for navigating complex environments with perceptual uncertainty. Despite a growing consensus that individuals adapt flexibly to uncertain sensory input, whether increasing visual uncertainty influences the decision process itself or other, non-decision sensory processes during multisensory decision-making are unclear. Here, an audiovisual categorization task was used to examine the responses of human participants (N = 30) to visual and audiovisual stimuli under low-, medium-, and high-uncertainty conditions. Modeling the behavioral data using a drift‒diffusion model indicated that increased visual uncertainty in the audiovisual context decreased the evidence accumulation rate but had no effect on non-decision processes. Electrophysiological recordings confirmed and expanded upon these results: increased visual uncertainty in the audiovisual context reduced the amplitude during the late decision-making stage (300–380 msec) but had no effect on the amplitude during the early sensory encoding stage (140–220 msec). More importantly, electroencephalography analyses revealed that audiovisual integration in the early sensory encoding stage occurred robustly across all visual uncertainty conditions, whereas audiovisual integration in the late stage occurred only under medium and high visual uncertainty conditions. This study demonstrated that increased visual uncertainty modulates the decision process itself rather than early sensory encoding during multisensory decision-making. Moreover, multisensory integration strategies dynamically adapt to increasing visual uncertainty by engaging different mechanisms to maintain effective decision-making. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Microbiology Society Acta Medica Okayama 0022-1317 106 12 2025 Thorough characterization of a new curvulavirid from a Japanese strain of Cryphonectria nitschkei 002177 EN Sabitree Shahi ​Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Sakae Hisano ​Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Wasiatus Sa'diyah ​Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yoshihiro Takaki ​Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) Hideki Kondo ​Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Nobuhiro Suzuki ​Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University A new curvulavirid was isolated from a Japanese strain of the filamentous ascomycete Cryphonectria nitschkei and thoroughly characterized. The virus termed Cryphonectria nitschkei curvulavirus 1 (CnCvV1) has a bi-segmented dsRNA genome. CnCvV1 dsRNA1 encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (592 amino acids), while dsRNA2 possesses two ORFs, one that encodes a protein associated with the genomic dsRNA and the other that encodes a hypothetical protein of unknown function. CnCvV1 could be experimentally introduced into another virus-free strain of C. nitschkei and two strains of different fungal species within the genus Cryphonectria (Cryphonectria parasitica and Cryphonectria carpinicola). Based on phenotypic comparison, the virus caused asymptomatic infection in the three newly established fungal strains. However, there was a reduced colony growth rate and increased CnCvV1 accumulation in an RNA silencing-deficient mutant (Δdcl2), relative to the wt strain EP155 of a model virus host fungus (C. parasitica). These findings suggest that CnCvV1 is targeted by RNA silencing in C. parasitica. This study provides a foundation for further exploration of curvulavirids that have been biologically understudied. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Fuji Technology Press Ltd. Acta Medica Okayama 1883-8049 37 6 2025 Directed Poisoning Attacks on FRIT in Adaptive Cruise Control 1392 1399 EN Taichi Ikezaki Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kenji Sawada Graduate school of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Osaka Osamu Kaneko Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications Recent advances in connected-vehicle technologies have enabled the large-scale collection of driving data, facilitating the deployment of data-driven control schemes. Although these methods offer advantages by eliminating the need for explicit modeling, they also introduce vulnerabilities due to their reliance on stored data. This study investigates a class of targeted data poisoning attacks on fictitious reference iterative tuning, a widely used data-driven controller tuning approach. We present a method that allows an adversary to influence closed-loop dynamics by manipulating the training data so that the resulting controller behavior matches a maliciously defined reference response. This strategy differs from conventional poisoning attacks, which aim only to the degrade control performance. Instead, it enables deliberate alteration of control characteristics such as overshoot and convergence time. The proposed attack is formulated as a constrained optimization problem under bounded tampering signals. Through a numerical study involving adaptive cruise control with stop functionality, we show that minor data modifications, indistinguishable from sensor noise, can cause significant degradation in control behavior. These findings highlight the need for robust security mechanisms in data-driven control implementation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

SAGE Publications Acta Medica Okayama 1468-0874 2025 Effects of size factors and velocity of impinging diesel spray flames on wall heat transfer EN Yoshimitsu Kobashi Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Ryoga Hirai Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University Gen Shibata Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University Hideyuki Ogawa Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University To examine the effects of size and velocity of impinging diesel spray flames on wall heat transfer, this study conducted visualization of the spray flame and measurements of wall heat flux in a constant volume vessel. The impinging flame velocity was varied by adjusting the injection velocity. To vary the flame size independently of the flame velocity, the nozzle orifice diameter and the nozzle-to-wall distance were varied under similarity conditions, while maintaining a constant ratio of nozzle-to-wall distance to orifice diameter. Care was taken to minimize wall interference from the liquid phase and unburned regions of the spray flame by employing a high cetane number fuel and increasing the nozzle-to-wall distance. The experimental results showed that the wall heat flux increased as the impinging velocity increased, and the flame width decreased. The power-law correlations between the Nusselt and Reynolds numbers were determined based on the experimental results, revealing that the exponent of the Reynolds number reaches a local minimum at the impingement point. As the radial displacement from the impingement point increases, the exponent of the Reynolds number approaches approximately 0.8, which is a typical value for turbulent wall flow. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Acta Medica Okayama 1880-5566 20 2 2025 DNS analysis on the correlation between local burning velocity and flame displacement speed of turbulent premixed flames 25-00212 EN Kazuya TSUBOI Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University The local burning velocity and flame displacement speed are the major properties of premixed flames. The local burning velocity, which is the instantaneous quantity based on the local consumption rate of the unburnt mixture, is considered to be the most appropriate burning velocity in terms of the definition. The local burning velocity can be evaluated theoretically and numerically; however, it is almost impossible to obtain it experimentally using the current technology of measurement. The flame displacement speed can be evaluated more easily than the local burning velocity and compared with the flame displacement speed obtained from experiments. However, the local burning velocity and flame displacement speed have been discussed separately in turbulent premixed flames. In this study, to clarify the relation between the local burning velocity and the flame displacement speed, numerical analyses were performed using the DNS database of statistically steady and fully developed turbulent premixed flames with different density ratios of the unburnt mixture to the burnt product and with different Lewis numbers. It was found that for different density ratios, the local burning velocity was little sensitive to the flame displacement speed in any case under the unity Lewis number. This means the correlation between the local burning velocity and the flame displacement speed is little affected by the dilation of a flame. For different Lewis numbers, the correlation between the local burning velocity and the flame displacement speed was negative in Le = 0.8, and positive in Le = 1.2. This can be explained by the effect of the Lewis number on the local burning velocity, and the flame displacement speed was little affected by the Lewis number in the correlation between the local burning velocity and the flame displacement speed. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Astronomical Society Acta Medica Okayama 0004-637X 992 1 2025 Observing Supernova Neutrino Light Curves with Super-Kamiokande. VI. A Practical Data Analysis Technique Considering Realistic Experimental Backgrounds 27 EN Fumi Nakanishi Department of Physics, Okayama University Ken’ichiro Nakazato Faculty of Arts and Science, Kyushu University Masayuki Harada Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, The University of Tokyo Yusuke Koshio Department of Physics, Okayama University Ryuichiro Akaho Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University Yosuke Ashida Department of Physics, Tohoku University Akira Harada National Institute of Technology, Ibaraki College Masamitsu Mori Division of Science, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan Kohsuke Sumiyoshi National Institute of Technology, Numazu College Yudai Suwa Department of Earth Science and Astronomy, The University of Tokyo Roger A. Wendell Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI), Todai Institutes for Advanced Study, The University of Tokyo Masamichi Zaizen Department of Earth Science and Astronomy, The University of Tokyo Neutrinos from supernovae, especially those emitted during the late phase of core collapse, are essential for understanding the final stages of massive star evolution. We have been dedicated to developing methods for the analysis of neutrinos emitted during the late phase and observed at Super-Kamiokande (SK). Our previous studies have successfully demonstrated the potential of various analysis methods in extracting essential physical properties; however, the lack of background consideration has limited their practical application. In this study, we address this issue by incorporating a realistic treatment of the experimental signal and background events with the on-going SK experiment. We therefore optimize our analysis framework to reflect realistic observational conditions, including both signal and background events. Using this framework we study several long-time supernova models, simulating the late phase neutrino observation in SK and focusing in particular on the identification of the last observed event. We discuss the possibility of model discrimination methods using timing information from this last observed event. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2452-199X 57 2026 Robust adhesion between solid-state hydroxyapatite and bone tissue through surface demineralization 632 645 EN Shichao Xie Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Masahiro Okada Division of Biomaterials Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University Haruyuki Aoyagi Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Akihisa Otaka Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Xiaofeng Yang Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takayoshi Nakano Division of Materials and Manufacturing Science, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Osaka Takuya Matsumoto Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Objective: Current bone adhesives typically lack adequate mechanical strength, long-term stability, or biocompatibility. To address these limitations, we designed a new adhesion strategy using a solid-state hydroxyapatite (HAp) adhesive in combination with bone surface demineralization.<br> Methods: Solid-state HAp adhesives were synthesized via wet chemical precipitation and heat treatment. Cortical bone specimens were partially demineralized with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Shear adhesion strength of HAp to demineralized bone was measured over time. In vivo fixation was assessed in rats using micro-computed tomography and histology. Statistical analysis used Tukey-Kramer tests after normality and variance checks.<br> Results: Although the HAp adhesive failed to adhere to non-demineralized bone, effective adhesion was achieved on the surface-demineralized bone tissue. Shear adhesion strength was significantly higher in EDTA-treated samples (238.4 kPa at 10 h) compared to H3PO4-treated samples (102.9 kPa at 1 h), with performance correlating with demineralization depth. ATR-FTIR and SEM analyses revealed that EDTA preserved collagen's triple-helix structure and free water content, both enhancing adhesion. Animal experiments confirmed stable fixation of HAp adhesive to demineralized bone tissue.<br> Conclusions: Surface demineralization enabled strong adhesion of the solid-state HAp adhesive to bone by exposing collagen swollen with water. Adhesion strength was influenced by structural changes in the demineralized layer, and the adhesive provided stable in vivo fixation, supporting its potential for bone-anchored biomedical applications. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2772-3755 11 2025 Robustness of the RGB image-based estimation for rice above-ground biomass by utilizing the dataset collected across multiple locations 100998 EN Kota Nakajima Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Kazuki Saito International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Yasuhiro Tsujimoto Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences Toshiyuki Takai Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences Atsushi Mochizuki CHIBA Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry Research Center Tomoaki Yamaguchi Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University Ali Ibrahim Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), Regional Station for the Sahel Salifou Goube Mairoua Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) Bruce Haja Andrianary Laboratoire des Radioisotopes, Université d′Antananarivo Keisuke Katsura Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Yu Tanaka Graduate School of Environment, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Above-ground biomass (AGB) is a critical phenotype representing crop growth. Non-invasive evaluations of AGB, including deep-learning-based red-green-blue (RGB) image analyses, are often specific to the training data. The robustness of the estimation model across untrained conditions is essential to monitor crop productivity globally, but it has yet to be fully assessed. This study aims to assess the robustness of a convolutional neural network (CNN) model for rice AGB estimation across five locations in three countries, and to demonstrate the feasibility of robust model via a practical approach. From transplanting to heading, 1957 RGB images were captured vertically downward over the rice canopy, covering approximately 1 m2. First, a base model was established using data collected from a single location. Then, its robustness was assessed using test datasets taken from the other four locations. The CNN model showed a significant variation in estimation accuracy across the untrained four locations, indicating insufficient robustness of the base model. Subsequently, we quantitatively tested the impact of improving training data diversity on model robustness by adding data from each of the four locations to the base model's training data. Adding at most 48 data points from a location achieved practical accuracy for the added location, with R2Ad above 0.8. Interestingly, adding data from one location sometimes improved the accuracy for other untrained locations as well. These findings suggest that collecting diverse training data for RGB-based estimation, combined with evaluation of robustness paves the way for on-site and instant AGB monitoring of rice. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2076-3425 15 11 2025 Sensory Modality-Dependent Interplay Between Updating and Inhibition Under Increased Working Memory Load: An ERP Study 1178 EN Yuxi Luo Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Ao Guo Department of Psychology, Institute of Education, China West Normal University Jinglong Wu Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology Jiajia Yang Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Background/Objectives: Working memory (WM) performance relies on the coordination of updating and inhibition functions within the central executive system. However, their interaction under varying cognitive loads, particularly across sensory modalities, remains unclear. Methods: This study examined how sensory modality modulates flanker interference under increasing WM loads. Twenty-two participants performed a visual n-back task at three load levels (1-, 2-, and 3-back) while ignoring visual (within-modality) or auditory (cross-modality) flankers. Results: Behaviorally, increased WM load (2- and 3-back) led to reduced accuracy (AC) and prolonged reaction times (RTs) in both conditions. In addition, flanker interference was observed under the 2-back condition in both the visual within-modality (VM) and audiovisual cross-modality (AVM) tasks. However, performance impairment emerged at a lower load (2-back) in the VM condition, whereas in the AVM condition, it only emerged at the highest load (3-back). Significant performance impairment in the AVM condition occurred at higher WM loads, suggesting that greater WM load is required to trigger interference. Event-related potential (ERP) results showed that N200 amplitudes increased significantly for incongruent flankers under the highest WM load (3-back) in the visual within-modality condition, reflecting greater inhibitory demands. In the cross-modality condition, enhanced N200 was not observed across all loads and even reversed at low load (1-back). Moreover, the results also showed that P300 amplitude increased with load in the within-modality condition but decreased in the cross-modality condition. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that the interaction between updating and inhibition is shaped by both WM load and sensory modality, further supporting a sensory modality-specific resource allocation mechanism. The cross-modality configurations may enable more efficient distribution of cognitive resources under high load, reducing interference between concurrent executive demands. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Frontiers Media SA Acta Medica Okayama 1662-453X 19 2025 Effects of visual spatial frequency on audiovisual interaction: an event-related potential study 1599114 EN Fengxia Wu School of Artificial Intelligence, Changchun University of Science and Technology Yanna Ren Department of Psychology, College of Humanities and Management, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Tengfei Hao School of Artificial Intelligence, Changchun University of Science and Technology Jingjing Yang School of Artificial Intelligence, Changchun University of Science and Technology Qiong Wu Department of Psychology, Suzhou University of Science and Technology Jiajia Yang Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Meng Wang School of Artificial Intelligence, Changchun University of Science and Technology Spatial frequency is a fundamental characteristic of visual signals that modulates the audiovisual integration behavior, but the neural mechanisms underlying spatial frequency are not well established. In the present study, the high temporal resolution of event-related potentials was used to investigate how visual spatial frequency modulates audiovisual integration. A visual orientation discrimination task was used, and the spatial frequency of visual stimuli was manipulated under three conditions. Results showed that the influence of visual spatial frequency on audiovisual integration is a dynamic process. The earliest audiovisual integration occurred over the left temporal-occipital regions in the early sensory stage (60–90 ms) for high spatial frequency conditions but was absent for low and middle spatial frequency conditions. In addition, audiovisual integration over fronto-central regions was delayed as spatial frequency increased (from 230–260 ms to 260–320 ms). The integration effect was also observed over parietal and occipital regions at 350–380 ms, and its strength gradually decreased at higher spatial frequencies. These discrepancies in the temporal and spatial distributions of audiovisual integration imply that the role of spatial frequency varies between early sensory and late cognitive stages. The findings of this study offer the first neural demonstration that spatial frequency modulates audiovisual integration, thus providing a basis for studying complex multisensory integration, especially in semantic and emotional domains. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2772-5022 5 2 2025 Amelioration of Cd-induced bone deterioration by orally administered calcium phosphate 101482 EN Ping-chin Sung Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Ahmad Bikharudin Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Masahiro Okada Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Randa Musa Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kenta Uchida Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Akihisa Otaka Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tadaaki Matsusaka Division of Materials and Manufacturing Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University Aira Matsugaki Division of Materials and Manufacturing Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University Takayoshi Nakano Division of Materials and Manufacturing Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University Takuya Matsumoto Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that accumulates in the body, primarily through daily grain intake, and has a high affinity for bone, leading to skeletal diseases such as osteomalacia and fractures. Hydroxyapatite (HAp), a major bone mineral component, is highly pH-sensitive and is known to incorporate Cd, as observed in studies of Itai-itai disease. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that HAp could serve as an effective oral detoxification material for heavy metals. This study investigated the efficacy of orally administered HAp in inhibiting Cd-induced changes in bone physical and chemical properties, comparing its effects to those of activated charcoal (AC), a common detoxifying agent. Six-week-old male ICR mice were exposed to cadmium via drinking water containing CdCl2 and subsequently given diets containing either HAp or AC for four weeks. Three-point bending tests, micro-CT analysis, and histological observations of the femurs demonstrated that mice receiving HAp exhibited improved mechanical strength and enhanced bone quality protection compared to the control and other Cd-treated groups. Activated charcoal also contributed to bone quality improvement at low concentrations, but its effect diminished at high concentrations. These results suggest that the oral administration of HAp may be a promising therapeutic strategy for suppressing cadmium-induced osteomalacia. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0264-1275 260 2025 An entangled material made from fiber aerosol deposition method 115195 EN Hongwu Yu Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, University of Okayama Naoshi Ikeda Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, University of Okayama Masakazu Mori Ryukoku University Jun Kano Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, University of Okayama Jae-Hyuk Park School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University Jun Akedo National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology This study demonstrates the successful application of Aerosol Deposition (AD) technology to short carbon fibers (length < 1 mm), enabling the rapid, three-dimensional (3D) fabrication of objects with vertical growth rates up to 0.3 mm/s, a significant improvement over conventional additive manufacturing. Through a series of experiments using this novel Fiber Aerosol Deposition (FAD) technology, three fiber lengths (47, 85, and 111 μm) and four substrate materials (carbon, polypropylene, polyethylene, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)) were investigated. Our findings indicate that both carbon substrate entanglement and fiber length critically influence deposition efficiency. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) analyses reveal that during formation, longer fibers (>100 μm) initially create a cage-like framework, which is subsequently filled by shorter fibers. Density measurements and fiber distribution analysis confirmed that structures predominantly composed of shorter fibers exhibit higher packing densities, consistent with their role as filler material. These results collectively suggest that the FAD method’s formation mechanism relies on frictional entanglement rather than the room-temperature impact consolidation (RTIC) effect characteristic of traditional AD. This breakthrough presents a promising new technique for forming short fibers into functional 3D architectures, with potential applications extending to proteins, polymer fibers, and biomaterial fibers. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

AIP Publishing Acta Medica Okayama 0021-9606 163 22 2025 Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy of hydrogen fluoride dimers in solid parahydrogen 224312 EN Yuki Miyamoto Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Hiroki Ooe Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Susumu Kuma Department of Physics, Rikkyo University We investigate the Fourier-transform infrared spectra of hydrogen fluoride dimers in solid parahydrogen, the detailed analysis of which has remained unexplored. We propose a plausible analysis based on concentration dependence, light polarization, annealing, and time evolution. The absorption lines exhibited multiple peaks, with intensity ratios significantly altered by annealing and by time evolution at a constant temperature. The spectral patterns and isotopic effects suggest that the dimers do not rotate freely in solid parahydrogen, while multiple peaks arise from different stable structures, including single and double substitution sites. Unlike in the gas phase and helium droplets, no tunneling splitting was observed. The broad ν1 band suggests that some dimer structures may exhibit axial rotation. Spectral changes due to annealing likely result from site conversion, while observed IR-induced changes indicate preferential dissociation of dimers in double substitution sites. These findings still remain tentative, necessitating further experimental and theoretical studies. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 1120-1797 140 2025 Improvements of lateral penumbra at various depth regions in proton pencil beam scanning with a multileaf collimator: Dose verifications and plan comparisons 105684 EN Yuki Tominaga Department of Radiotherapy, Medical Co. Hakuhokai, Osaka Proton Therapy Clinic Yushi Wakisaka Department of Radiotherapy, Medical Co. Hakuhokai, Osaka Proton Therapy Clinic Takahiro Kato Department of Radiological Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Fukushima Medical University Keisuke Yasui School of Medical Sciences, Fujita Health University Ryohei Kato Department of Radiation Physics and Technology, Southern Tohoku Proton Therapy Center Masaya Ichihara Medical Physics Laboratory, Division of Health Science, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Osaka Masashi Tomida Department of Proton Beam Technology Room, Narita Memorial Proton Center Motoharu Sasaki Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Masataka Oita Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Teiji Nishio Medical Physics Laboratory, Division of Health Science, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Osaka Purpose: In scanned proton therapy, the current consensus is that the effective range of the collimator’s contribution to lateral penumbra improvement is up to approximately 150 mm depth. We characterized the penumbra variations for scanned proton beams with or without a new type of multileaf collimator (MLC) under various air gaps, depth, and with or without range shifter (RS).<br> Methods: Eighty-six uniform dose plans were created (38 RS-negative and 48 RS-positive plans) for nine box targets of 60 × 60 × 54 mm3 at 0–280 mm depths in water. They were created with or without MLC, with 50–300 mm air gaps. The penumbra and average doses of MLC-positive and MLC-negative plans at the organs at risk (OAR) region of each box plan were compared. Besides, several plan doses were validated by measurements with penumbra (with an average of 80–20 % dose point widths for both side profiles) differences and 2D gamma analysis.<br> Results: The MLC-positive plans reduced the penumbra and mean OAR doses by 1.0–5.1 mm and 3.3–13.5 %, respectively, compared to MLC-negative plans even at >150 mm depths. The penumbra differences in measurements were <±1.5 mm for all plans. The mean gamma scores at 2 %/2 mm were 97.9 ± 2.3 % and 97.4 ± 3.1 % for the MLC-negative and MLC-positive plans, respectively.<br> Conclusions: The MLC-positive beams improved the penumbra and reduced the OAR dose in every depth region and air gap. We have shown that PBS with MLCs can be useful at more than 150 mm regions, depending on the machine. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Acta Medica Okayama 1523-7060 27 35 2025 Synthesis of a Pseudocytidine Nucleoside to Form a Stable and Selective Base Pair with Iso-guanosine in RNA 9749 9752 EN Ryo Miyahara Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University Yosuke Taniguchi Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Non-natural base pair formation provides insight into new functions of nucleic acids. Therefore, various artificial base pairs have been developed in both DNA and RNA. In this work, we successfully synthesized pseudocytidine from commercially available pseudouridine to form base pairs with isoguanine, also known as 2-OH-adenine, in RNA. Measurement of the melting temperature with the base pair incorporated at the center of a 13-mer RNA showed the highest value for the ψ-rC and iso-rG (2-OH-rA) base pair. This base pair formation exhibited a high melting temperature regardless of whether it was incorporated into the pyrimidine or purine strand, indicating that it can form a stable and selective duplex RNA. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 2691-1299 5 3 2025 Synthesis of Oligodeoxynucleotide Containing Pseudo‐Deoxycytidine and Its Triphosphate Derivative e70101 EN Ryo Miyahara Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University Yosuke Taniguchi Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University This article describes a detailed synthetic protocol for the preparation of oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) containing pseudo-deoxycytidine (ψdC) and its triphosphate derivative (ψdCTP). These molecules were synthesized as novel compounds that recognize iso-2'-deoxyguanosine (iso-dG) in DNA. Iso-dG is one of the tautomers of 2-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine (2-OH-dA), which is known as an oxidatively damaged nucleobase, and its selective recognition in DNA is expected to play a very important role in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of diseases. The hydroxyl groups of the known glycal compound were protected with silyl groups, and then coupled with 5-iodouracil under Mizorogi-Heck reaction conditions, yielding ψdU after desilylation and diastereoselective reduction. The endocyclic amino group of ψdU was protected by the benzyl group. Subsequently, the carbonyl group at the 6-position of the nucleobase was activated and converted to an amino group through treatment with aqueous ammonia. The benzyl group was removed, and the exocyclic amino group was protected with a benzoyl group. On one hand, the silyl groups at the 3’ and 5’ positions were deprotected, converted into a phosphoramidite unit, and incorporated into an ODN. On the other hand, the hydroxyl group at the 5’ position was selectively deprotected and then directly converted into the triphosphate using Van Boom's reagent under acidic conditions. © 2025 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Acta Medica Okayama 2155-5435 15 14 2025 Mesoporous Oxyhalide Aggregates Exhibiting Improved Photocatalytic Activity for Visible-Light H2 Evolution and CO2 Reduction 12551 12562 EN Hiroto Ueki Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Science Tokyo Toshiya Tanaka Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Science Tokyo Shuji Anabuki Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Ryuichi Nakada Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Science Tokyo Megumi Okazaki Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Science Tokyo Kenta Aihara Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Science Tokyo Masashi Hattori Materials and Structures Laboratory, Institute of Integrated Research, Institute of Science Tokyo Fumitaka Ishiwari Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University Rie Haruki Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization Shunsuke Nozawa Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization Toshiyuki Yokoi Nanospace Catalysis Unit, Institute of Integrated Research, Institute of Science Tokyo Michikazu Hara Materials and Structures Laboratory, Institute of Integrated Research, Institute of Science Tokyo Osamu Ishitani Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University Akinori Saeki Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University Akira Yamakata Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kazuhiko Maeda Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Science Tokyo Oxyhalides are promising visible-light photocatalysts for water splitting and CO2 conversion; however, those exhibiting high activity for these reactions have rarely been reported. Here, we show that using water-soluble Ti complexes as precursors in the microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of the oxyhalide photocatalyst Pb2Ti2O5.4F1.2 (PTOF) resulted in the production of nanoparticulate PTOF. The primary particle size of the synthesized PTOF ranged from several tens of nanometers to several hundreds of nanometers. Using Ti-citric acid or Ti-tartaric acid complexes as precursors, the PTOF was formed as mesoporous aggregates, compared with a bulky analogue (0.5–1 μm) prepared using a TiCl4 precursor. The PTOF prepared from Ti-citric acid complex had a particle size of 50–100 nm and showed a one-order-of-magnitude greater activity for H2 evolution from an aqueous ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid solution with the aid of a Rh cocatalyst. An apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 15.4 ± 1.0% at 420 nm, which is the highest among the reported oxyhalide photocatalysts, was achieved under optimal conditions. Although excess particle size reduction of PTOF lowered the H2 evolution activity, the PTOF with the smallest possible primary particle size of 15–30 nm, prepared from Ti-tartaric acid complex, showed the highest activity toward the selective reduction of CO2 into formate in a nonaqueous environment when combined with a binuclear Ru(II) complex. The CO2 reduction AQY was 10.4 ± 1.8% at 420 nm, a record-high value among metal-complex/semiconductor binary hybrid photocatalysts. This study highlights the importance of morphological control of oxyhalides for realizing their full potential as photocatalysts for artificial photosynthesis. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Acta Medica Okayama 2574-0962 8 6 2025 Effects of Metal-Cation Doping on Photocatalytic H2 Evolution Activity of Layered Perovskite Oxynitride K2LaTa2O6N 3541 3552 EN Hideya Tsuchikado Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Science Tokyo Shuji Anabuki Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Ovidiu Cretu Electron Microscopy Group, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) Yuki Kinoshita Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Institute of Science Tokyo Masashi Hattori Institute of Integrated Research, Institute of Science Tokyo Yuta Shiroma Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Science Tokyo Dongxiao Fan Institute of Materials Structure Science High Energy Accelerator Research Organization Megumi Okazaki Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Science Tokyo Takuto Soma Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Institute of Science Tokyo Fumitaka Ishiwari Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University Shunsuke Nozawa Institute of Materials Structure Science High Energy Accelerator Research Organization Toshiyuki Yokoi Institute of Integrated Research, Institute of Science Tokyo Michikazu Hara Institute of Integrated Research, Institute of Science Tokyo Koji Kimoto Electron Microscopy Group, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) Akira Yamakata Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Akinori Saeki Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University Kazuhiko Maeda Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Science Tokyo Aliovalent cation doping into a heterogeneous photocatalyst affects several of its physicochemical properties, including its morphological characteristics, optical absorption behavior, and charge carrier dynamics, causing a drastic change in its photocatalytic activity. In the present work, we investigated the effects of aliovalent cation doping on the visible-light H2-evolution photocatalytic activity of the Ruddlesden–Popper layered perovskite oxynitride K2LaTa2O6N. The photocatalytic activity toward H2 evolution from an aqueous NaI solution was found to be enhanced by an increase in the specific surface area of the K2LaTa2O6N photocatalyst, which could be realized upon doping with lower-valence cations (e.g., Mg2+, Al3+, and Ga3+). Among the dopants examined at 1 mol % doping, Ga resulted in the highest activity. The activity of the Ga-doped specimen was further improved with increasing Ga concentration, where the maximal activity was obtained at 10 mol %, corresponding to an apparent quantum yield of 2.7 ± 0.4% at 420 nm from aqueous methanol. This number is the highest reported for a layered oxynitride photocatalyst. In the Ga-doped K2LaTa2O6N, a trade-off was observed between the Ga concentration and the photocatalytic activity. Although doping with Ga reduced the particle size of K2LaTa2O6N and suppressed undesirable charge recombination, it led to an enlarged bandgap, unsuitable for visible-light absorption. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 0361-5995 89 3 2025 Autoclaved lightweight aerated concrete suppressed N2O and CO2 emissions from paddy soil e70091 EN Nagoda R. R. W. S. Rathnayake Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna Morihiro Maeda Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Dewpura A. L. Leelamanie Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna Atsushi Yatagai Clion Co. Ltd Autoclaved lightweight aerated concrete (AAC), a construction waste that is utilized as a soil amendment, can influence terrestrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Still, no evidence exists regarding its impact on the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O), which has a higher global warming potential. This study examined effects of AAC on CO2 and N2O emissions from paddy soil under compacted and non-compacted conditions, under 60% and 100% water-holding capacity (WHC). Samples were incubated in glass vials (25°C) for 21 days. Emissions of CO2 and N2O were measured on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 using gas chromatography. The results revealed that AAC significantly (p < 0.05) lowered N2O emission rate during the whole period of incubation, while it suppressed CO2 emission rate only at the early stages (∼7 days) of incubation. In compacted soil, the emissions of CO2 were significantly lower, while N2O was significantly higher than that in non-compacted soil, showing the influence of soil physical conditions. The emissions of CO2 and N2O were significantly lower at 100% WHC than those at 60% WHC. AAC suppressed both CO2 and N2O emissions under both compaction and WHC levels. The results confirm that AAC supports suppressing terrestrial emission of both CO2 and N2O, indicating that AAC has a potential as a sustainable soil amendment that enhances the climate change resilience. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0883-2927 187 2025 Nitrogen distribution and nitrogen isotope fractionation in synthetic 2:1 phyllosilicates under hydrothermal conditions at 200 °C and saturated vapor pressure 106403 EN Jaeguk Jo Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Toshiro Yamanaka Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Youko Miyoshi Research Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Masaya Suzuki Research Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Yoshihiro Kuwahara Department of Environmental Changes, Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies, Kyushu University Isao Kadota Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hitoshi Chiba Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Bum Han Lee Critical Minerals Research Center, Korea Institute of Geoscience & Mineral Resources (KIGAM) This study investigates nitrogen distribution and isotope fractionation within synthetic 2:1 phyllosilicates, simulating submarine hydrothermal environments at 200 °C and saturated vapor pressure. XRD and EDS results revealed the potential coexistence of multiple cations in the interlayer of synthetic 2:1 phyllosilicate, concurrently suggesting cation substitution in the tetrahedral and/or octahedral sheets. Meanwhile, the iron-enriched 25-5 sample exhibited restricted interlayer expansibility. NH4+ absorptions were identified in the NH4-stretching (3200–2800 cm−1) and NH4-bending (1450–1400 cm−1) regions, with wavenumber shifts indicating the influence of interlayer water removal. At pH 10.56, over 95% of nitrogen was released into the gas phase, while at pH 8.88, nitrogen proportions in the liquid and gas phases were comparable (average 48–49%). Experiments with iron at pH ∼8.80 showed that the nitrogen proportion in the gas phase (average 28%) was more than twofold lower than that in the liquid phase (average 68%). Equilibrium isotope fractionation factors indicated discernible preference for heavier nitrogen isotopes in the solid phase (αsolid-liquid = 1.009–1.021 and αsolid-gas = 1.011–1.027). The αliquid-gas range for sample 25–2 was 1.001–1.008, while that for the iron-enriched composite 25–5 was 0.997–1.010. Our experimental studies have confirmed that, in the absence of exchange interactions with external substances possessing different nitrogen isotope ratios, nitrogen isotope fractionation between ammonium and ammonia, controlled by variations in temperature and pH during mineralization, plays a crucial role in the variation of nitrogen isotope ratios. Additionally, we confirmed that metal-amines influence nitrogen isotope fractionation by modulating ammonia gas emission. These findings enhance our understanding of nitrogen cycling across the gas, liquid, and solid phases in submarine hydrothermal systems. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1433-7851 64 13 2025 Conduction Band and Defect Engineering for the Prominent Visible‐Light Responsive Photocatalysts e202419624 EN Akira Yamakata Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kosaku Kato Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Takafumi Ogawa Nanostructures Research Laboratory, Japan Fine Ceramics Center Kanta Ogawa Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University Makoto Ogawa Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University Daichi Kato Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University Chengchao Zhong Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University Akihide Kuwabara Nanostructures Research Laboratory, Japan Fine Ceramics Center Ryu Abe Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University Hiroshi Kageyama Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University Controlling trap depth is crucial to improve photocatalytic activity, but designing such crystal structures has been challenging. In this study, we discovered that in 2D materials like BiOCl and Bi4NbO8Cl, composed of interleaved [Bi2O2]2+ and Cl- slabs, the trap depth can be controlled by manipulating the slab stacking structure. In BiOCl, oxygen vacancies (VO) create deep electron traps, while chlorine vacancies (VCl) produce shallow traps. The depth is determined by the coordination around anion vacancies: VO forms strong σ bonds with Bi-6p dangling bonds below the conduction band minimum (CBM), while those around Cl are parallel, forming weak π-bonding. The strong re-hybridization makes the trap depth deeper. In Bi4NbO8Cl, VCl also creates shallow traps, but VO does not produce deep traps although Bi-6p orbitals are also forming strong σ bonding. This difference is attributed to the difference of the energy level of CBM. In both cases, the CBM consists of Bi-6p orbitals extending into the Cl layers. However, these orbitals are isolated in BiOCl, but those in Bi4NbO8Cl are bonded with each other between neighboring [Bi2O2]2+ layers. This unique bonding-based CBM prevents the formation of deep electron traps, and significantly enhances H2 evolution activity by prolonging the lifetime of highly reactive free electrons. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Acta Medica Okayama 1463-9262 27 18 2025 Deoxygenative dual CO2 conversions: methylenation and switchable N-formylation/N-methylation of tryptamines 5359 5365 EN Kazuto Takaishi Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hajime Morishita Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kosuke Iwaki Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tadashi Ema Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University The unprecedented one-pot synthesis of N-formyl/N-methyltryptolines from tryptamines was achieved via phenylsilane-assisted deoxygenative dual CO2 conversions. Two CO2 molecules acted as different synthons and were converted into methylene and N-formyl/N-methyl groups. The CO2 reduction step was catalyzed by a pentanuclear zinc complex at atmospheric pressure under solvent-free conditions. The N-formyl/N-methyl products could be switched by changing the amount of phenylsilane, and the amounts of in situ generated bis(silyl)acetals and silyl formates were key to the chemoselectivity. Methylenation, N-formylation, and N-methylation proceeded via the Pictet–Spengler reaction, amine–acid condensation, and the Eschweiler–Clarke reaction, respectively. The CO2 reduction with phenylsilane could also be applied to the one-pot three-step synthesis of spiro[oxindole-pyrrolidine]s. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Acta Medica Okayama 2574-0962 2025 Enhanced Charge-Transfer Kinetics Enabled by ZrO2–Based Dielectric Layers in Lithium-Ion Batteries EN Takashi Teranishi Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yusuke Higaki Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tomonori Imamura Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Motoki Horibe Department of Advanced Ceramics, Nagoya Institute of Technology Shinya Kondo Department of Energy Engineering, Nagoya University Chinatsu Sasaoka R&D Laboratory, Nippon Denko Co., Ltd. Hikaru Hirabaru R&D Laboratory, Nippon Denko Co., Ltd. Shingo Katayama R&D Laboratory, Nippon Denko Co., Ltd. Masanobu Nakayama Department of Advanced Ceramics, Nagoya Institute of Technology Akira Kishimoto Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University The development of high-rate capability lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) requires suppression of charge-transfer resistance (RCT) at electrode–electrolyte interfaces. Here, zirconia-based dielectric oxides (MZ; M = Y, Gd, Sm, Er, etc.) were introduced onto LiCoO2 (LCO) surfaces as electronically and ionically insulating modifiers to accelerate interfacial ion transport. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that Y2O3 modified ZrO2 (YZ) decoration reduced RCT from 75.8 Ω in reference LCO to 38.3 Ω, accompanied by a 2.3-fold improvement in capacity retention at 20C. Density functional theory molecular dynamics (DFT–MD) simulations showed that solvated Li ions coordinate with surface oxygen atoms in discharging, and that adsorption energies are governed by local charge distributions determined by stabilizing cations. Optimal adsorption activity, and thus the lowest RCT, occurred when the surface charge corrugation was balanced. These findings provide design principles for dielectric interface engineering to enhance rate capability of LIBs. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2504-3129 6 4 2025 Drip Fertigation in Greenhouse Eggplant Cultivation: Reducing N2O Emissions and Nitrate Leaching 116 EN Wataru Shiraishi Kochi Prefectural Agricultural Research Center Shion Nishimura Department of Bioresource Production Science, United Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University Morihiro Maeda Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hideto Ueno Department of Bioresource Production Science, United Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University Drip fertigation (DF) is a sustainable agricultural management technique that optimizes water and nutrient usage, enhances crop productivity, and reduces environmental impact. Herein, we compared the effects of DF and conventional fertilization (CF) with a basal fertilizer on yield, soil inorganic nitrogen dynamics, N2O emissions, and nitrogen leaching during facility-grown eggplant cultivation. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse from September 2023 to May 2024, with treatments arranged in three rows and three replicates. Soil, gas, and water samples were collected and analyzed throughout the growing season. The results revealed that the DF treatment produced yields comparable to those obtained with the CF treatment while significantly reducing nitrogen and phosphorus inputs. DF effectively prevented excessive nitrogen accumulation in the soil and reduced nitrogen loss through leaching and gas emissions. N2O emissions were significantly lower by more than 60% under DF than under CF. Precise nutrient management in DF suppressed nitrification and denitrification processes, mitigating N2O emissions. DF also significantly reduced nitrogen leaching by more than 70% compared with that in CF. These findings demonstrate that DF effectively enhances agricultural sustainability by improving nutrient use efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and minimizing nitrogen leaching during the cultivation of facility-grown eggplant. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Acta Medica Okayama 2771-9316 2025 Photochemical Macrolactonization of Hydroxyaldehydes via C–H Bromination EN Sakura Kodaki Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Haru Ando Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hiroyoshi Takamura Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Isao Kadota Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kenta Tanaka Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2041-1723 16 1 2025 Efficient and stable n-type sulfide overall water splitting with separated hydrogen production 8786 EN Haolin Luo Research Center for Combustion and Environment Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Zhixi Liu Research Center for Combustion and Environment Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Haifeng Lv State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Material Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China Junie Jhon M. Vequizo Institute of Aqua Regeneration, Shinshu University Mengting Zheng College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University Feng Han Research Center for Combustion and Environment Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Zhen Ye Research Center for Combustion and Environment Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Akira Yamakata Faculty of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Wenfeng Shangguan Research Center for Combustion and Environment Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Adam F. Lee Centre for Catalysis and Clean Energy, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Xiaojun Wu State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Material Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), University of Science and Technology of China Domen Kazunari Institute of Aqua Regeneration, Shinshu University Jun Lu College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University Zhi Jiang Research Center for Combustion and Environment Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University N-type sulfide semiconductors are promising photocatalysts due to their broad visible-light absorption, facile synthesis and chemical diversity. However, photocorrosion and limited electron transport in one-step excitation and solid-state Z-scheme systems hinder efficient overall water splitting. Liquid-phase Z-schemes offer a viable alternative, but sluggish mediator kinetics and interfacial side reactions impede their construction. Here we report a stable Z-scheme system integrating n-type CdS and BiVO₄ with a [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻/[Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ mediator, achieving 10.2% apparent quantum yield at 450 nm with stoichiometric H₂/O₂ evolution. High activity reflects synergies between Pt@CrOx and Co3O4 cocatalysts on CdS, and cobalt-directed facet asymmetry in BiVO₄, resulting in matched kinetics for hydrogen and oxygen evolution in a reversible mediator solution. Stability is dramatically improved through coating CdS and BiVO4 with different oxides to inhibit Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 precipitation and deactivation by a hitherto unrecognized mechanism. Separate hydrogen and oxygen production is also demonstrated in a two-compartment reactor under visible light and ambient conditions. This work unlocks the long-sought potential of n-type sulfides for efficient, durable and safe solar-driven hydrogen production. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 1479-5876 23 1 2025 Tumor marker–guided precision BNCT for CA19-9–positive cancers: a new paradigm in molecularly targeted chemoradiation therapy 1387 EN Noriyuki Kanehira Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Fuminori Teraishi Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tomoyuki Tajima Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tatsunori Osone Department of Regenerative Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kazuyoshi Gotoh Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences Takuya Fujimoto Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yoshinori Sakurai Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University Natsuko Kondo Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University Narikazu Nagahisa Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kaoru Kamei Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Taiga Fujita Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Akira Morihara Graduate School of Environmental, Life Science, Okayama University Yutaka Takaguchi Faculty of Sustainable Design, Department of Material Design and Engineering, University of Toyama Mizuki Kitamatsu Department of Applied Chemistry, Kindai University Takeshi Takarada Department of Regenerative Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kunitoshi Shigeyasu Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Minoru Suzuki Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University Toshiyoshi Fujiwara Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hiroyuki Michiue Neutron Therapy Research Center, Okayama University Background: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a molecularly targeted chemoradiation modality that relies on boron delivery agents such as p-borophenylalanine (BPA), which require LAT1 (L-type amino acid transporter 1) for tumor uptake. However, the limited efficacy of BPA in LAT1-low tumors restricts its therapeutic scope. To address this limitation, we developed a tumor marker–guided BNCT strategy targeting cancers overexpressing the clinically validated glycan biomarker CA19-9.<br> Methods: We conducted transcriptomic analyses using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets to identify LAT1-low cancers with high CA19-9 expression. These analyses revealed elevated expression of fucosyltransferase 3 (FUT3), which underlies CA19-9 biosynthesis, in pancreatic, biliary, and ovarian malignancies. Based on this, we synthesized a novel boron compound, fucose-BSH, designed to selectively accumulate in CA19-9–positive tumors. We evaluated its physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and antitumor efficacy in cell lines and xenograft models, comparing its performance to that of BPA.<br> Results: Fucose-BSH demonstrated significantly greater boron uptake in CA19-9–positive cell lines (AsPC-1, Panc 04.03, HuCCT-1, HSKTC, OVISE) compared to CA19-9–negative PANC-1. In HuCCT-1 xenografts, boron accumulation reached 36.2 ppm with a tumor/normal tissue ratio of 2.1, outperforming BPA. Upon neutron irradiation, fucose-BSH–mediated BNCT achieved > 80% tumor growth inhibition. Notably, fucose-BSH retained therapeutic efficacy in LAT1-deficient models where BPA was ineffective, confirming LAT1-independent targeting.<br> Conclusions: This study establishes a novel precision BNCT approach by leveraging CA19-9 as a tumor-selective glycan marker for boron delivery. Fucose-BSH offers a promising platform for expanding BNCT to previously inaccessible LAT1-low malignancies, including pancreatic, biliary, and ovarian cancers. These findings provide a clinically actionable strategy for tumor marker–driven chemoradiation and lay the foundation for translational application in BNCT. This strategy has the potential to support companion diagnostic development and precision stratification in ongoing and future BNCT clinical trials.<br> Translational Relevance: Malignancies with elevated CA19-9 expression, such as pancreatic, biliary, and ovarian cancers, are associated with poor prognosis and limited response to current therapies. This study presents a tumor marker–guided strategy for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) by leveraging CA19-9 glycan biology to enable selective tumor targeting via fucose-BSH, a novel boron compound. Through transcriptomic data mining and preclinical validation, fucose-BSH demonstrated LAT1-independent boron delivery, potent BNCT-mediated cytotoxicity, and tumor-specific accumulation in CA19-9–positive models. These findings support a precision chemoradiation approach that addresses a critical gap in BNCT applicability, offering a clinically actionable pathway for patient stratification and therapeutic development in CA19-9–expressing cancers. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 2211-5463 15 10 2025 Osmotic pressure‐induced calcium response states 1714 1722 EN Zidan Gao Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Keiji Naruse Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Okayama Japan Masatoshi Morimatsu Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Okayama Japan Osmotic pressure is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis; however, the mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to acute osmotic stress remain incompletely understood. Here, we applied rapid osmotic pressure stimulation to cultured HEK293T cells and observed dynamic intracellular calcium responses. Acute hypotonic stimulation evoked calcium response patterns, whereas hypertonic and isotonic stress did not elicit similar effects. Mechanistically, these calcium signals originated from the endoplasmic reticulum via ryanodine receptor 2 and propagated to neighboring cells through Connexin 43-mediated gap junctions. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized role for calcium signaling in the acute cellular response to osmotic stress, providing new insights into the mechanisms of intercellular communication during osmotic adaptation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Ceramic Society of Japan Acta Medica Okayama 1348-6535 133 7 2025 Underwater superoleophobic NaNbO3-based photocatalyst thin films prepared on bare soda-lime glass by sol–gel process 393 399 EN Shunsuke Nishimoto Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kazuya Kageyama Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Shusuke Egusa Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yoshikazu Kameshima Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University A self-cleaning flat transparent thin photocatalyst film was prepared on a bare soda-lime glass by a simple method using niobium alkoxide solution, which is a common coating solution for the sol–gel method. The film consisted of crystalline NaNbO3 and Na2Nb2O6·H2O phases. It was suggested that NaNbO3 and Na2Nb2O6·H2O were directly formed between the soda-lime glass and the niobium alkoxide coating solution during the heat treatment. Under UV irradiation, the film surface exhibited low photocatalytic oxidation activity and excellent photo-induced hydrophilicity. The hydrophilic state of the sample was maintained for 1 month in the dark, while the hydrophilicity of TiO2 sample prepared by a sol–gel method was decreased within 5 days in the dark. Additionally, the surface demonstrated excellent underwater oil repellency toward n-hexadecane and oleic acid and the ability to remove the adsorbed oily contaminant in water. These properties were also superior to those of the TiO2 surface. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 1350-4487 191 2026 Experimental approach of internal dose map visualization during helical CT examinations: importance of X-ray incident direction analysis and central internal dose estimation 107586 EN Hiroaki Hayashi College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University Kazuki Takegami Department of Radiological Technology, Yamaguchi University Hospital Rina Nishigami Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Daiki Kobayashi Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Sota Goto Faculty of Health Sciences, Kobe Tokiwa University Takashi Asahara Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Natsumi Kimoto Department of Radiological Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Junshin Gakuen University Masaki Takemitsu Department of Radiological Technology, Yamaguchi University Hospital Rin Ishii College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University Shinichi Morimoto Meditec Japan Co., Ltd. Motochika Maki Meditec Japan Co., Ltd. During computed tomography (CT) examination, radiation exposures should be appropriately managed taking into considering the effects of bowtie filter, the heel effect and over-beaming effect. Furthermore, the analysis of an X-ray incident direction is important. The purpose of this study is to develop a procedure to obtain two-dimensional (2D) internal dose distributions based on actual measurements of surface dose distribution and central internal dose data. Experiments were conducted using a clinical CT scanner and four cylindrical polyacetal resin (POM) phantoms having diameters of 15–30 cm. The entrance surface doses and the central internal dose were measured by placing the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimeters on the surface and inner part of the phantom, respectively, during helical CT scans. The X-ray incident direction at the slice containing the dosimeter was estimated based on the noise distribution analysis of the CT image. Then, circumferential surface dose distributions were determined as a function of the X-ray incident direction. Based on these experimental data, we succeeded in visualizing the 2D dose distributions. The obtained dose distribution was inhomogeneous, clearly reflecting the influence of factors such as the heel effect. The uncertainty due to our methodology was estimated to be from 4.3 % to 7.4 %. Our methodology needs central internal dose data, and the absence of this data introduced additional systematic uncertainties of +6.9 % to −11.4 %. In conclusion, correcting for the effect of the X-ray incident directions for entrance surface dose and adding the central inner dose data can improve the reliability of the internal dose distribution. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2352-4855 90 2025 Species-specific sensitivity of marine phytoplankton to selected herbicides and antibiotics 104413 EN Shizuka Ohara Graduate School of Integrated Science for Life, Hiroshima University Toshimitsu Onduka Hatsukaichi Field Station, Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency Shoko Ueki Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Shotaro Naruse Graduate School of Integrated Science for Life, Hiroshima University Kazuhiko Koike Graduate School of Integrated Science for Life, Hiroshima University The toxicity of two herbicides (diuron and bromacil) and three antibiotics (clarithromycin, azithromycin, and clindamycin) was evaluated for on four marine phytoplankton species: two diatoms, Skeletonema costatum and Chaetoceros lorenzianus, a dinoflagellate, Prorocentrum shikokuense, and a raphidophyte, Heterosigma akashiwo. The 50 % effective concentrations (EC50-μ) for growth of the herbicides (approximately 2.3–24.3 μg L−1) were lower than those of the antibiotics, indicating their higher toxicity. The EC50-μ of diuron was close to its reported environmental concentrations. The EC50-μ values for the antibiotics substantially differed by species, ranging from 19.5 to > 1000 μg L−1, with diatoms showing higher sensitivity than flagellates. Herbicides inhibited the photosynthetic yield (φII) of all tested species at concentrations similar to or lower than those affecting growth, while antibiotics affected φII at higher concentrations. Under high-light conditions, photosynthesis in S. costatum was substantially inhibited by all chemicals except clindamycin, suggesting enhanced chemical toxicity under intense light. Overall, these findings indicate that these herbicides and antibiotics can alter phytoplankton abundance and composition in coastal areas and that environmental factors, such as increased solar radiation, can potentially enhance their toxicity. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 1350-4487 191 2026 A novel wearable dosimeter system that can analyze the incident direction of X-rays for medical dosimetry – Improvements to the detector arrangements and analysis algorithm – 107592 EN Takashi Asahara Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Rina Nishigami Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Daiki Kobayashi Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Natsumi Kimoto Department of Radiological Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Junshin Gakuen University Sota Goto Faculty of Health Science, Kobe Tokiwa University Kazuki Takegami Department of Radiological Technology, Yamaguchi University Hospital Rin Ishii College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University Mana Mitani Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital Mitsugi Honda Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital Toshihiro Iguchi Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Hiroaki Hayashi College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University When performing real-time dosimetry using an active-type dosimeter during clinical fluoroscopic procedures, angular dependence of dosimeter response should be taken into account. Our research group addressed this issue and proposed a triple-type dosimeter that can determine the incident angle of scattered X-rays. The triple-type detector consists of three active dosimeters. The two side dosimeters have slope filters to enhance the angular dependence and are intentionally tilted. The central dosimeter faces forward. The incident angle of X-rays (θin) is estimated using the signal differences between the central dosimeter and the left and/or right dosimeters. Then, the absolute dose is determined by correcting the angular dependence of the central dosimeter based on the estimated θin. In order to verify the concept of the triple-type dosimeter, we conducted a proof-of-concept experiment using clinical X-ray fluoroscopic equipment. Scattered X-rays were generated by irradiating an elliptical cylindrical water phantom. The response of the triple-type dosimeter was evaluated by rotating it to vary the incident angle of scattered X-rays generated by the water phantom. The proposed dosimetry system could estimate the θin over an angular range of ±80° (with uncertainty of 1.35°), which is 30° wider than the previous version, and successfully determined the absolute doses after correction for the angular dependence of the dosimeter. Although the active-type dosimeter had a systematic uncertainty related to the angular dependence of ±15.2 %, our system succeeded in reducing the systematic uncertainty to ±3.2 %. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 1078-8174 32 2 2026 Optimization of the reconstruction kernel for temporal bone imaging using photon-counting detector CT: A combined physical and visual evaluation 103274 EN S. Nishii Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University T. Asahara Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Y. Morimitsu Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital S. Kajisaki Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital N. Akagi Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital M. Honda Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital H. Hayashi College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University A. Sugaya Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University K. Munetomo Department of Radiology, Medical Development Field, Okayama University F. Higaki Department of Radiology, Medical Development Field, Okayama University T. Hiraki Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University T. Iguchi Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Introduction: Photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) offers superior spatial resolution and noise characteristics compared to conventional CT. However, optimal reconstruction parameters for temporal bone imaging, especially kernel selection, remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the optimal reconstruction kernel using both objective physical image quality metrics and subjective expert assessments.<br> Methods: In phantom experiments, the system performance function (SPF) based on the task-based transfer function (TTF) and noise power spectrum (NPS) was calculated across 11 reconstruction kernels (Hr60–Hr98). Based on the results of the physical evaluation and clinical considerations from clinical practice, a subset of kernels was selected for visual assessment. For clinical images, two diagnostic radiologists evaluated three fine anatomical structures (i.e., stapes footplate, incudomalleolar joint, and cochlea) and overall image quality using both a ranking method and a 5-point Likert scale.<br> Results: TTF analysis indicated that Hr96 had the highest spatial resolution, while Hr60 showed the lowest noise in the NPS. SPF analysis identified Hr72 as providing the optimal balance between resolution and noise. Visual assessment using four reconstruction kernels (Hr60, Hr72, Hr76, and Hr84) showed that Hr76 consistently received the highest preference for overall image quality and visualization of fine structures. Statistically significant differences were observed among the kernels, with Hr60 consistently rated the lowest (p < 0.05).<br> Conclusion: The kernel Hr76 was found suitable for middle and inner ear diagnoses using PCD-CT, providing a good balance between spatial resolution and image noise. This finding provides a foundation for standardized reconstruction protocols in high-resolution temporal bone imaging.<br> Implications for practice: These findings support the use of Hr76 as a standard kernel for high-resolution temporal bone imaging and may contribute to protocol optimization in clinical PCD-CT practice. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1613-6810 2025 Atomic-Level Insights into Thermal Carbonization of Ethynyl-Containing Boron Compounds e13537 EN Kentaro Ohkura Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Satoshi Hayakawa Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Naoki Takahashi Graduate School of Environment Life Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Ken Yamazaki Graduate School of Environment Life Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Jun Kano Graduate School of Environment Life Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuta Nishina Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University This study reports the design, synthesis, and characterization of boron-doped carbon (BDC) derived from a triethynylborane-pyridine complex. Triethynylborane is stabilized by coordination with pyridine, facilitating its synthesis and handling in ambient conditions. The complex is subjected to thermal treatment at various temperatures to form BDC. Powder XRD and single-crystal XRD analyses reveal that BDC prepared at 200 °C retains an ordered structure, while higher temperatures induce alkyne structural changes without significant weight or surface area alterations. Coin cells are assembled using BDC as the anode, demonstrating unique Li-ion and Na-ion storage properties distinct from graphite. These results suggest that the BDC reflects the precursor's crystal structure, enabling novel electrochemical behavior. These findings offer insight into the development of advanced BDC materials for energy storage applications. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

IEEE Acta Medica Okayama 2158-4001 2025 A Linear Search Algorithm for Resource Allocation in Frequency Domain Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access EN Satoshi Denno Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuto Ohba Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yafei Hou Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University This paper proposes a linear search algorithm for resource allocation in frequency domain non-orthogonal multiple access based on the low-density signature (LDS). Although the proposed linear search enables the non-orthogonal multiple access to achieve superior transmission performance, the proposed linear search makes the resource allocation implemented with lower and fixed computational complexity. The performance of the non-orthogonal access based on the proposed linear search is evaluated by computer simulation. The proposed linear search algorithm makes the non-orthogonal multiple access achieve a gain of about 6 dB at the BER of 10–5 when the overloading ratio is set to 2. The complexity of the non-orthogonal access based on the proposed linear search algorithm is approximately half as much as that of the conventional low complexity resource allocation when the overloading ratio is 2, if the complexity is evaluated in terms of the number of additions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

AME Publishing Company Acta Medica Okayama 2790-8852 3 2024 Airway management during sedation for dental treatment in people with intellectual disabilities: a review 28 EN Hitoshi Higuchi Department of Dental Anesthesiology, Okayama University Hospital Yukiko Nishioka Department of Dental Anesthesiology, Okayama University Hospital Saki Miyake Department of Dental Anesthesiology and Special Care Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takuya Miyawaki Department of Dental Anesthesiology and Special Care Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences The oral health of people with intellectual disabilities remains poor due to a complex combination of physical and social problems, and often requires invasive dental treatment. However, it can be difficult to obtain their cooperation for dental treatment because they may not fully understand the need for treatment or may experience high levels of anxiety due to lack of understanding and/or sensory aversions to stimuli present in the dental environment, and behavioral management is often necessary during such treatment. Sedation is a very useful patient management method for dental treatment for people with intellectual disabilities; however, the dental treatment-related sedation of people with intellectual disabilities has different characteristics to the dental treatment-related sedation of others or other procedure-related sedation. For example, deep sedation is required for behavioral management; drug interactions between the patient’s regular medications, such as antiepileptic and antipsychotic drugs, and anesthetics may make the depth of sedation deeper; and the prevalence rate of obesity is higher among people with intellectual disabilities. The fact that the patient is in the supine position with their mouth open also makes airway management during sedation for dental treatment more difficult. It is therefore imperative that airway management during dental treatment for people with intellectual disabilities be conducted with the utmost precision and vigilance. Various attempts have been made to improve airway management during such sedation, and new technologies, such as capnography, nasal high-flow systems, and acoustic respiration monitors, may help. The objective of this review is to enhance comprehension of the attributes of airway management in dental sedation for people with intellectual disabilities and to properly understand the usefulness of the techniques that have been attempted thus far to ensure safer and more secure airway management for this population. The ultimate goal is to provide them with safe and secure medical care and improve their health outcomes. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2078-2489 16 10 2025 A Comparative Study of Authoring Performances Between In-Situ Mobile and Desktop Tools for Outdoor Location-Based Augmented Reality 908 EN Komang Candra Brata Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Nobuo Funabiki Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Htoo Htoo Sandi Kyaw Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Prismahardi Aji Riyantoko Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Noprianto Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University Mustika Mentari Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University In recent years, Location-Based Augmented Reality (LAR) systems have been increasingly implemented in various applications for tourism, navigation, education, and entertainment. Unfortunately, the LAR content creation using conventional desktop-based authoring tools has become a bottleneck, as it requires time-consuming and skilled work. Previously, we proposed an in-situ mobile authoring tool as an efficient solution to this problem by offering direct authoring interactions in real-world environments using a smartphone. Currently, the evaluation through the comparison between the proposal and conventional ones is not sufficient to show superiority, particularly in terms of interaction, authoring performance, and cognitive workload, where our tool uses 6DoF device movement for spatial input, while desktop ones rely on mouse-pointing. In this paper, we present a comparative study of authoring performances between the tools across three authoring phases: (1) Point of Interest (POI) location acquisition, (2) AR object creation, and (3) AR object registration. For the conventional tool, we adopt Unity and ARCore SDK. As a real-world application, we target the LAR content creation for pedestrian landmark annotation across campus environments at Okayama University, Japan, and Brawijaya University, Indonesia, and identify task-level bottlenecks in both tools. In our experiments, we asked 20 participants aged 22 to 35 with different LAR development experiences to complete equivalent authoring tasks in an outdoor campus environment, creating various LAR contents. We measured task completion time, phase-wise contribution, and cognitive workload using NASA-TLX. The results show that our tool made faster creations with 60% lower cognitive loads, where the desktop tool required higher mental efforts with manual data input and object verifications. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2073-4344 15 2 2025 Palladium-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Nucleophilic Halogenation of Acid Anhydrides 191 EN Tian Tian Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Shuhei Uei Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Weidan Yan Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yasushi Nishihara Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science (RIIS), Okayama University In this study, we developed a palladium-catalyzed decarbonylative nucleophilic halogenation reaction using inexpensive and readily available acid anhydrides as substrates. This approach effectively circumvents the instability of acyl chlorides and the low reactivity of acyl fluorides. The Pd/Xantphos catalyst system exhibited excellent compatibility with the thermodynamically and kinetically challenging reductive elimination of C–X bonds (X = I, Br, and Cl) from Pd(II) intermediates. Notably, for electron-donating substrates, adopting an open system significantly improved the reaction efficiency. The positive effect of the open system may be due to the reversible nature of CO insertion and deinsertion, which helps direct the reaction toward the desired pathway by allowing the generated CO to exit the reaction system. Mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction proceeds through a highly reactive acyl halide intermediate, followed by a unimolecular fragment coupling (UFC) pathway via decarbonylation or an alternative pathway involving the formation of an activated anionic palladate complex in the presence of lithium halide. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 2730-6151 5 1 2025 Proliferation of a bloom-forming phytoplankton via uptake of polyphosphate-accumulating bacteria under phosphate-limiting conditions ycaf192 EN Seiya Fukuyama Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Fumiko Usami Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Ryuichi Hirota Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University Ayano Satoh Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Shizuka Ohara Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University Ken Kondo Research Institute of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries , Osaka Prefecture Yuki Gomibuchi Department of Physics and Information Technology, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology Takuo Yasunaga Department of Physics and Information Technology, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology Toshimitsu Onduka Hatsukaichi Branch, Fisheries Technology Institute , Fisheries Research and Education Agency Akio Kuroda Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University Kazuhiko Koike Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University Shoko Ueki Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Harmful algal blooms negatively impact the ecosystem and fisheries in affected areas. Eutrophication is a major factor contributing to bloom occurrence, and phosphorus is particularly important in limiting the growth of bloom-forming algae. Although algae efficiently utilize orthophosphate (Pi) as a phosphorous source over other molecular forms, Pi is often limited in the marine environment. While uptake and utilization of soluble inorganic and organic phosphorous by bloom-forming algae has been extensively studied, the details of geochemical and biological phosphorous cycling remain to be elucidated. Here, we report for the first time that the bloom-forming alga Heterosigma akashiwo can phagocytose bacteria and grow under phosphate-depleted conditions. The addition of Vibrio comitans to Pi-depleted H. akashiwo enabled the alga propagate to high cell densities, whereas other bacterial strains had only a minor effect. Importantly, V. comitans accumulates polyphosphate―a linear polymer of Pi―at high levels. The extent of algal proliferation induced by the addition of Vibrio species and polyphosphate-accumulating Escherichia coli correlated strongly with their polyphosphate content, indicating that bacterial polyphosphate served as an alternative PO43− source for H. akashiwo. The direct uptake of polyphosphate-accumulating bacteria through algal phagocytosis may represent a novel biological phosphorous-cycling pathway in marine ecosystems. The role of polyphosphate-accumulating marine bacteria as a hidden phosphorous source required for bloom formation warrants further investigation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Informa UK Limited Acta Medica Okayama 2766-0400 5 1 2025 Linking structure and process in dendritic growth using persistent homology with energy analysis 2475735 EN Misato Tone Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Shunsuke Sato Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Sotaro Kunii Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Ippei Obayashi Center for Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Data Science, Okayama University Yasuaki Hiraoka Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University Yui Ogawa NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation Hirokazu Fukidome Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University Alexandre Lira Foggiatto Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Chiharu Mitsumata Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Ryunosuke Nagaoka Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Arpita Varadwaj Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Iwao Matsuda Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo Masato Kotsugi Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science We present a material analysis method that links structure and process in dendritic growth using explainable machine learning approaches. We employed persistent homology (PH) to quantitatively characterize the morphology of dendritic microstructures. By using interpretable machine learning with energy analysis, we established a robust relationship between structural features and Gibbs free energy. Through a detailed analysis of how Gibbs free energy evolves with morphological changes in dendrites, we uncovered specific conditions that influence the branching of dendritic structures. Moreover, energy gradient analysis based on morphological feature provides a deeper understanding of the branching mechanisms and offers a pathway to optimize thin-film growth processes. Integrating topology and free energy enables the optimization of a range of materials from fundamental research to practical applications. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1616-301X 2025 A Biologically-Architected Wear and Damage-Resistant Nanoparticle Coating From the Radular Teeth of Cryptochiton stelleri e21664 EN Taifeng Wang Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Yu Chen Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, Purdue University Ezra Sarmiento Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Taige Hao Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Program, University of California Atsushi Arakaki Division of Biotechnology and Life Science, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Michiko Nemoto Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Pablo Zavattieri Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, Purdue University David Kisailus Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Nature utilizes simple building blocks to construct mechanically robust materials that demonstrate superior performance under extreme conditions. These exquisite structures result from the controlled synthesis and hierarchical assembly of nanoscale organic and mineral components that have provided critical evolutionary advantages to ensure survival. One such example is the ultrahard radular teeth found in mollusks, which are used to scrape against rock to feed on algae. Here, it is reported that the leading edges of these teeth consist of a wear-resistant coating that is comprised of densely packed ≈65 nm magnetic nanoparticles integrated within an organic matrix of chitin and protein. These mesocrystalline magnetite-based structures are assembled from smaller, highly aligned nanocrystals with inter/intracrystalline organics introduced during the crystallization process. Nanomechanical testing reveals that this multi-scale, nano-architected coating has a combination of increased hardness and a slight decrease in modulus versus geologic magnetite provides the surface of the chiton tooth with superior abrasion resistance. The mesocrystalline structures fracture at primary domain interfaces, corroborated by computational models, providing significant toughening to the tooth under extreme contact stresses. The design features revealed provide insight for the design and fabrication of next-generation advanced wear- and impact-resistant coatings for tooling, machinery, wind turbines, armor, etc. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2076-3921 14 12 2025 Roles of ROS and NO in Plant Responses to Individual and Combined Salt Stress and Waterlogging 1455 EN Taufika Islam Anee Department of Materials and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sophia University Nasser A. Sewelam Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University Nonnatus S. Bautista Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños Takashi Hirayama Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Nobuhiro Suzuki Department of Materials and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sophia University During the climate change era, plants are increasingly exposed to multiple environmental challenges occurring simultaneously or sequentially. Among these, salt stress and waterlogging are two major factors that severely constrain crop productivity worldwide and often occur together. To survive under such conditions, plants have evolved sophisticated systems to scavenge harmful levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Despite their cytotoxic potential, ROS also act as key signaling molecules that interact with nitric oxide (NO), Ca2+, protein kinases, ion homeostasis pathways, and plant hormones. These signaling and acclimatory mechanisms are closely associated with the functions of energy-regulating organelles―chloroplasts and mitochondria―which are major sources of ROS under both individual and combined stresses. While many of these responses are shared between salt stress, waterlogging and their combination, it is likely that specific signaling mechanisms are uniquely activated when both stresses occur together―mechanisms that cannot be inferred from responses to each stress alone. Such specificity may depend on precise coordination among organelle-derived signals and the tight regulation of their cross-communication. Within this network, ROS and NO likely serve as central hubs, fine-tuning the integration of multiple signaling pathways that enable plants to adapt to complex and fluctuating stress environments. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japanese Society of Radiological Technology Acta Medica Okayama 0369-4305 82 2 2026 放射線治療装置の回転座標系誤差が軸外targetの照射精度に及ぼす影響とTG142のトレランスの評価 26-1566 EN Takahiro Nakayama Department of Radiology, Public Mutual Aid Association Chugoku Central Hospital Yoshinori Tanabe Department of Radiological Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University Yasushi Fujii Department of Radiology, Public Mutual Aid Association Chugoku Central Hospital 【目的】放射線治療装置の回転座標系の誤差が軸外targetの照射精度に及ぼす影響を定量的に評価し，TG142における回転座標系誤差（±1.0°）のトレランスの妥当性を検討する．【方法】Elekta社製放射線治療装置（Elekta, Stockholm, Sweden）とMultiMet-WL QAファントム（Sun Nuclear, Melbourne, FL, USA）を用いて，6個のtargetに対してoff isocenterのWinston–Lutz test（WL test）を実施した．Baselineの測定に加え，意図的にcollimator，gantry，couchに+0.5°, +1.0°回転誤差を加えた6条件で測定を行い，照射野中心とtarget中心のベクトル距離（S値）および各方向（gantry-target: GT, left-right: LR, anterior-posterior: AP）の位置ずれを解析した．【結果】Isocenterからの距離が大きいtargetほど位置ずれが顕著であった．特にcollimator回転誤差の影響が最も大きく，isocenterから7 cm離れたtargetでは0.5°の回転誤差でもS値が最大1.24 mmに達した．次に影響が大きかったのはcouch回転であり，gantry回転はtargetの配置が回転軸に近いものが多く相対的に影響が少なかった．回転座標系の誤差は幾何学的誤差の影響が強く，位置ずれに方向依存性があった．【結語】Collimatorやcouchの影響が大きく，0.5°の誤差でも1 mm以上の位置ずれが生じることがあった．Gantryの影響はtargetの配置依存があり，相対的に小さかった．軸外targetの照射において，TG142の±1.0°のトレランスは放射線治療装置の種類にかかわらず最低限遵守するべき基準であり，targetの配置次第では臨床的に十分なマージンを保証できない可能性が示された．Target配置に応じたより厳格な基準と定期的quality assurance（QA）の重要性が示唆された． No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2168-8184 17 1 2025 Mid-term Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of the Actis Total Hip System: A Retrospective Study e77632 EN Yasutaka Masada Department of Medical Materials for Musculoskeletal Reconstruction, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tomonori Tetsunaga Department of Musculoskeletal Health Promotion, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kazuki Yamada Department of Medical Materials for Musculoskeletal Reconstruction, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takashi Koura Department of Medical Materials for Musculoskeletal Reconstruction, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tomohiro Inoue Department of Medical Materials for Musculoskeletal Reconstruction, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Ryuichiro Okuda Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tomoko Tetsunaga Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital Yusuke Yokoyama Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital Yuki Okazaki Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Toshifumi Ozaki Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Introduction<br> Implant technology for total hip arthroplasty (THA) was developed to improve hip function and patient satisfaction. Actis (DePuy Synthes, Warsaw, IN, USA) is a short fit-and-fill titanium stem, with a medial-collared and triple-taper (MCTT) geometry, that is fully coated with hydroxyapatite (HA). We evaluated the radiographic and clinical outcomes of the Actis Total Hip System during a mean follow-up of five years.<br> Patients and methods<br> We retrospectively analyzed data from 80 patients (14 male and 66 female, mean age: 65 ± 8.4 years) who underwent primary THA using Actis stems (anterolateral approach, 60 hips; posterior approach, 20 hips). Radiographs were obtained postoperatively and at the time of the final examination. Radiographic assessments included the alignment of the femoral stem, spot welds, stress shielding, cortical hypertrophy, subsidence (>2 mm), radiolucent line, pedestal formation, Dorr type, canal fill ratio (CFR), and stem fixation. Clinical evaluation included the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip-Disease Evaluation Questionnaire (JHEQ) and Harris Hip Score (HHS).<br> Results<br> The mean follow-up period was 64.0 ± 6.0 months. No significant differences were observed in the alignment of the femoral components between approaches. Of the 80 hips, 53 (66.3%) showed radiographic signs of stem osseointegration, predominantly in the mid-distal region of the stem at the final follow-up. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that younger age and a higher CFR (20 mm proximal to the lesser trochanter) were associated with the presence of spot welds. Mild stress shielding occurred in 25 hips (31.3%), and no patient experienced severe stress shielding. All stems were fixed by bone on growth. The JHEQ and HHS significantly improved at the final assessment.<br> Conclusion<br> At the five-year follow-up, patients who received the Actis Total Hip System during THA had good radiographic and clinical outcomes.<br> No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Development of a synthetic method for terpene scaffolds via stereoselective construction of quaternary carbon centers EN Naochika MATSUMARU Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Structural insights into a citrate transporter that mediates aluminum tolerance EN TRAN NGUYEN THAO Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Geochemical characterization of gaseous reservoirs in the enstatite-chondrite forming-region of the proto-solar nebula: Constraints from Li-isotope, O-isotope, and trace-element compositions in chondrule components EN TORII PHILIP DOUGLAS-SONG Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Development of a micro-organic matter identifier and its application to characterise insoluble organic matter in carbonaceous chondrite and Ryugu samples EN RAHUL KUMAR Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Synthesis of Indole Derivatives via Deoxygenative CO2 Conversions EN Sha LI Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Design and Synthesis of Cholesterol 24-Hydroxylase Inhibitors Using 1,3-Oxazole as a Heme-Iron Binding Group EN Yoshiteru ITO Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Development of a production method for biologically active globular proteins through chemical modification-based solubilization of denatured proteins EN Shuichiro KIMURA Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 サイドプランジ研削における研削温度の実験的検討とクーラント供給の最適化 EN Lingxiao Gao Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Lightweight Deep Learning-Based Intrusion Detection System for Deployment on Raspberry Pi EN MUHAMMAD BISRI MUSTHAFA Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Integrated Kerberos-Blockchain Authentication Framework for Securing Vehicular Ad-Hoc Network EN MAYA RAHAYU Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 A Blockchain-Based PGP Key Sharing Mechanism for Secure Email Communication EN MD. BIPLOB HOSSAIN Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 A Study of Indoor Navigation System Using Unity Game Engine and Smartphone EN EVIANITA DEWI FAJRIANTI Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 A Study of Reference Paper Collection System Using Web Scraping and BERT Model EN INZALI NAING Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 銅による炭素−水素結合活性化を利用したアルケンの二官能基化反応 EN Yuichi YAMAMOTO Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Coherence Generation in Atomic Cesium for Cosmic Dark Matter Detection EN JING WANG Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 The X-ray induced quenching of the thorium-229 isomer states in a CaF2 crystal host EN Ming Guan Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Functional-morphological relationships of vasopressin in the macaque neuroendocrine system EN Akito OTSUBO Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Multimodal analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans lipid molecular profile EN Sara Mandic Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 交代符号行列と数理物理モデルとの関係および組み合わせゲーム理論への応用 EN Toyokazu OMOTO Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama university No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford University Press (OUP) Acta Medica Okayama 1465-3621 55 4 2025 Current management of neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase fusion-positive sarcoma: an updated review 313 326 EN Yuta Kubota Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University Masanori Kawano Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University Tatsuya Iwasaki Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University Ichiro Itonaga Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University Nobuhiro Kaku Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University Toshifumi Ozaki Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kazuhiro Tanaka Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University In recent years, pembrolizumab has demonstrated significant efficacy in treating tumors characterized by a high tumor mutational burden and high microsatellite instability. Tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitors have shown considerable efficacy against tumors harboring neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) fusion genes, highlighting the growing importance of personalized medicine in cancer treatment. Advanced sequencing technologies enable the rapid analysis of numerous genetic abnormalities in tumors, facilitating the identification of patients with positive biomarkers. These advances have increased the likelihood of providing effective, tailored treatments. NTRK fusion genes are present in various cancer types, including sarcomas, and the TRK inhibitors larotrectinib and entrectinib have been effectively used for these malignancies. Consequently, the treatment outcomes for NTRK fusion-positive tumors have improved significantly, reflecting a shift toward more personalized therapeutic approaches. This review focuses on NTRK fusion-positive sarcomas and comprehensively evaluates their epidemiology, clinical features, and radiological and histological characteristics. We also investigated the treatment landscape, including the latest methodologies involving TRK inhibitors, and discussed the long-term efficacy of these inhibitors, and their optimal order of use. Notably, larotrectinib has demonstrated a high response rate in infantile fibrosarcoma, and its efficacy has been confirmed even in advanced cases. However, further research is warranted to optimize treatment duration and subsequent management strategies. The accumulation of clinical cases worldwide will play a pivotal role in refining the treatment approaches for tumors associated with NTRK fusion genes. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2072-6694 17 19 2025 Utility of Same-Modality, Cross-Domain Transfer Learning for Malignant Bone Tumor Detection on Radiographs: A Multi-Faceted Performance Comparison with a Scratch-Trained Model 3144 EN Joe Hasei Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Support Technology Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Ryuichi Nakahara Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yujiro Otsuka Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine Koichi Takeuchi Graduate School of Environmental, Life Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yusuke Nakamura Plusman LCC Kunihiro Ikuta Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University Shuhei Osaki Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology and Rehabilitation, National Cancer Center Hospital Hironari Tamiya Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology Service, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Shinji Miwa Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Shusa Ohshika Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine Shunji Nishimura Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kindai University Hospital Naoaki Kahara Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mizushima Central Hospital Aki Yoshida Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiroya Kondo Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tomohiro Fujiwara Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Toshiyuki Kunisada Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Toshifumi Ozaki Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Background/Objectives: Developing high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) models for rare diseases like malignant bone tumors is limited by scarce annotated data. This study evaluates same-modality cross-domain transfer learning by comparing an AI model pretrained on chest radiographs with a model trained from scratch for detecting malignant bone tumors on knee radiographs. Methods: Two YOLOv5-based detectors differed only in initialization (transfer vs. scratch). Both were trained/validated on institutional data and tested on an independent external set of 743 radiographs (268 malignant, 475 normal). The primary outcome was AUC; prespecified operating points were high-sensitivity (≥0.90), high-specificity (≥0.90), and Youden-optimal. Secondary analyses included PR/F1, calibration (Brier, slope), and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: AUC was similar (YOLO-TL 0.954 [95% CI 0.937–0.970] vs. YOLO-SC 0.961 [0.948–0.973]; DeLong p = 0.53). At the high-sensitivity point (both sensitivity = 0.903), YOLO-TL achieved higher specificity (0.903 vs. 0.867; McNemar p = 0.037) and PPV (0.840 vs. 0.793; bootstrap p = 0.030), reducing ~17 false positives among 475 negatives. At the high-specificity point (~0.902–0.903 for both), YOLO-TL showed higher sensitivity (0.798 vs. 0.764; p = 0.0077). At the Youden-optimal point, sensitivity favored YOLO-TL (0.914 vs. 0.892; p = 0.041) with a non-significant specificity difference. Conclusions: Transfer learning may not improve overall AUC but can enhance practical performance at clinically crucial thresholds. By maintaining high detection rates while reducing false positives, the transfer learning model offers superior clinical utility. Same-modality cross-domain transfer learning is an efficient strategy for developing robust AI systems for rare diseases, supporting tools more readily acceptable in real-world screening workflows. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2045-2322 14 1 2024 Association between proteinuria and mineral metabolism disorders in chronic kidney disease: the Japan chronic kidney disease database extension (J-CKD-DB-Ex) 27481 EN Sho Shimamoto Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University Takako Nakahara Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare Shunsuke Yamada Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University Hajime Nagasu Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Kawasaki Medical School Seiji Kishi Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Kawasaki Medical School Naoki Nakashima Department of Medical Informatics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyushu University Kazuhiko Tsuruya Department of Nephrology, Nara Medical University Hirokazu Okada Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University Kouichi Tamura Department of Medical Science and Cardiorenal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University Ichiei Narita Division of Clinical Nephrology and Rheumatology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Shoichi Maruyama Department of Nephrology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Yuichiro Yano Department of General Medicine, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine Takashi Yokoo Division of Kidney and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine Takashi Wada Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Kanazawa University Jun Wada Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Eiichiro Kanda Department of Health Data Science, Kawasaki Medical School Hiromi Kataoka Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare Masaomi Nangaku Division of Nephrology and Endocrinology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine Naoki Kashihara Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Kawasaki Medical School Toshiaki Nakano Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) are recognized as a systemic disease affecting the prognosis of patients with CKD. Proper management of CKD-MBD is important to improve the prognosis of patients with CKD. Although proteinuria is recognized as a poor prognostic factor in these patients, few reports have examined its association with CKD-MBD. We examined the association between proteinuria and CKD-MBD using data from the Japan Chronic Kidney Disease Database Extension (J-CKD-DB-Ex). Among the patients registered in the J-CKD-DB-Ex, 30,977 with CKD stages G2–G5 who had serum creatinine, albumin, calcium, and phosphate concentrations measured at least once and urinalysis performed were included. The patients were divided into four groups (negative, 1+, 2+, and 3+) according to the degree of proteinuria. The association between proteinuria and CKD-MBD was examined by a logistic regression analysis. In a model adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the odds ratio of the 3 + group compared with the negative group significantly increased to 2.67 (95% confidence interval, 2.29–3.13) for hyperphosphatemia, 2.68 (1.94–3.71) for hypocalcemia, and 1.56 (1.24–1.98) for hypomagnesemia. Proteinuria is associated with hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and hypomagnesemia in patients with CKD independently of eGFR. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2073-4409 14 18 2025 Effect of Oral Peritumoral Tissue on Infiltration and Differentiation of Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma 1481 EN Tianyan Piao Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kiyofumi Takabatake Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takuma Arashima Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yulu Zhao Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hotaka Kawai Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Htoo Shwe Eain Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yamin Soe Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Zin Zin Min Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Keisuke Nakano Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hitoshi Nagatsuka Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University The recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of oral squamous carcinoma (OSCC) affects significant cancer invasion; however, in the normal host tissue that is located in the cancer’s surrounding area, this is poorly investigated. In this study, we examined the impact of gingival connective tissue cells (GCTCs) and periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs), which are involved in the invasive pathway of OSCC, on oral cancer invasion via TAMs recruitment. Transwell (migration) assays were used to examine the effects of GCTCs and PDLCs on the migration of macrophages, which indicated that the interaction between GCTCs and HSC-2/HSC-3 (human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line) promoted the recruitment of macrophages, whereas the interaction between PDLCs was inhibited. An indirect co-culture was then used to examine the effects of GCTCs and PDLCs on the differentiation of macrophages, which indicated that the interaction between GCTCs enhanced their ability to transform into M2-type macrophages. Furthermore, the effects of GCTCs and PDLCs on the recruitment of CD45(+) monocytes, F4/80(+) M0 macrophages, iNOS(+) M1 macrophages, and CD163(+) M2 TAMs were assayed by immunohistochemistry. The results revealed that the interaction between GCTCs and HSC-2/HSC-3 promoted the infiltration of CD45(+) monocytes, F4/80(+) M0 macrophages, and CD163(+) M2 TAMs, whereas the PDLCs inhibited it, while their effect on iNOS(+) M1 macrophages was limited. Collectively, the GCTCs contributed to the infiltration of TAMs into the TME of OSCC cells, whereas the PDLCs exerted an inhibitory effect. These findings suggest a potential regulatory mechanism underlying the progression of OSCC. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0301-679X 214 2026 The influence of lubricant additives and surface roughness and hardness of material on the damage behavior of gears 111341 EN Takuya Ohno Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tadashi Shiota Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Masahiro Fujii Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University This study investigates the influence of lubricant additives, surface roughness, and material hardness on gear damage behavior under boundary lubrication conditions. We conducted both the Short-term Test and the Standard Test using an FZG gear test machine to evaluate how lubricant additives and gear surface roughness influence damage progression when the surface roughness exceeds the oil-film thickness. Acid phosphate ester effectively suppressed micropitting through surface smoothing but led to severe damage such as pitting and scuffing during prolonged use. In contrast, sulfurized fatty oil promoted mild wear, delaying catastrophic failures and extending gear life. Higher surface roughness accelerated wear, while increased hardness reduced deformation but it expanded damage areas. The study found that initial surface roughness and its progress during load stages strongly correlate with gear durability. Measurement of arithmetic mean roughness after sufficient running-in under actual load conditions proved useful for predicting long-term performance. These findings highlight the importance of selecting lubricant formulations tailored to specific gear operating environments and damage modes. Understanding the interplay between lubrication chemistry and material properties enables the design of more durable gear systems. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japanese Society of Tribologists Acta Medica Okayama 1881-2198 20 3 2025 Water Lubrication of Polysiloxane-Containing Polyimide Coatings on Stainless Steel Substrates 124 129 EN Yuelin Fan Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tadashi Shiota Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuya Omiya Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Masahiro Fujii Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University This study investigated the water-lubricated tribological properties of coatings made of a novel polysiloxane-containing polyimide (si-PI) material that was recently developed for the aerospace industry and can be diluted with the harmless and environmentally friendly ethanol or water. The si-PI coatings were deposited on stainless steel (JIS SUS304) substrates at curing temperatures ranging from 160°C to 275°C. Their water lubrication properties were measured by rubbing the coatings against each other in water at room temperature. The coatings exhibited lower friction than conventional polyimide materials, with a minimum friction coefficient of 0.04, which was lower than that of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) measured under the same sliding conditions. Unlike the conventional polyimide, the coatings did not exhibit any obvious wear or damage. The results demonstrate that the si-PI coating is a promising low-friction and highly durable coating for water lubrication. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2399-3669 8 1 2025 Synthesis of thienoacenes by electrochemical double C–S cyclization using a halogen mediator 366 EN Koichi Mitsudo Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Takuya Nagahara Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Nozomi Kataura Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuka Okamura Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Toki Yonezawa Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuri Tachibana Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Nolan Soulié Faculty of Science and Engineering, Sorbonne Université Keisuke Shigemori Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Eisuke Sato Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hiroki Mandai Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gifu University of Medical Science Seiji Suga Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Thienoacenes are significant compounds as organic materials. One of the most efficient ways to synthesize thienoacenes is to form multiple C–S bonds in a single step. Because unprotected S–H bonds are easily oxidized to S–S bonds, S-Me protected substrates are commonly used for the purpose. However, their reactivity is insufficient, and one-step construction of multiple C–S bonds is still challenging. We herein report the electrochemical synthesis of thienoacenes from S-methoxymethyl (MOM)-protected diarylacetylenes. In the presence of Bu4NBr as a halogen mediator, electrochemical double C–S cyclization of diarylacetylenes bearing two MOM groups proceeded to afford [1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (BTBT) derivatives. While S-Me or S-p-methoxybenzyl (PMB)-protected diarylacetylenes did not afford BTBT, BTBT was selectively obtained when a substrate protected with S-MOM groups was used. The S-MOM protection strategy is also effective for the electrochemical synthesis of a more π-expanded thienoacene such as dibenzo[d,d′]thieno[3,2-b,4,5-b′]dithiophene (DBTDT). No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2662-4729 2025 Evaluation of the small-field output factor in eclipse modeling methods using representative beam and measured data with averaged ionization chamber and diode detector measurements EN Kunio Nishioka Department of Radiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital Yuki Kunii Department of Radiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital Yoshinori Tanabe Department of Radiological Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University Yuichi Sakamoto Department of Radiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital Akira Nakamoto Department of Radiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital Shotaro Takahashi Department of Radiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital Beam modeling for radiotherapy treatment planning systems (RTPS) can be performed using representative beam data (RBD) or direct measurements. However, RBD typically excludes output factor (OPF) measurements for fields smaller than 3 × 3 cm2. The Eclipse treatment planning system addresses this limitation by incorporating measured OPF data for fields as small as 1 × 1 cm2. Although existing studies have primarily examined the accuracy of small-field OPFs for plastic scintillator detectors, studies directly comparing the OPF values obtained through RBD modeling with and without OPF measurements for small field sizes are limited. Therefore, this study proposes a novel measurement approach using data averaged from an ion chamber and diode detector for small-field dosimetry to provide critical insights into the integration of OPFs for these small field sizes in RBD-based beam modeling. We systematically evaluated the impact of small-field OPF measurements on beam modeling accuracy by comparing three distinct approaches: (1) RBD-based modeling without small-field OPF data, (2) RBD-based modeling incorporating measured small-field OPF data, and (3) modeling based solely on measured data, with and without the inclusion of 1 × 1 cm2 field sizes. In addition, we compared OPF values obtained from a W2 plastic scintillator detector with the averaged OPF values from a PinPoint 3D ion chamber and EDGE diode detector across multiple beam energies and flattening filter-free (FFF) configurations. Our analysis included field sizes ranging from 1 × 1 cm2 to 40 × 40 cm2. The results demonstrated that for square fields, OPF calculation differences between RBD modeling with and without measured data were < 1.5%, < 4.5%, and < 4.5% at 1 × 1 cm2, and < 0.5%, < 1.5%, and < 1.5% at 2  ×  2 cm2, respectively. The RBD group exhibited a trend in which the OPF difference increased with the expansion of the irradiation field size. Notably, the most significant variations between modeling approaches occurred along the upper jaw expansion direction in rectangular fields. This suggests that a thorough evaluation is necessary for modeling results with an OPF ≤  1 × 1 cm2. This study highlights the advantages and disadvantages of beam modeling using measured OPF and RBD, providing valuable insights for future facilities that rely solely on RBD for beam modeling. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1464-6722 26 11 2025 Comparative Genomic Analysis Identifies FleQ and GcbB as Virulence-Associated Factors in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci Strains e70168 EN Muhammad Taufiq Hidayat Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kei Yoshioka Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University Takafumi Nishimura Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Shuta Asai Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Sachiko Masuda Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN-TRIP Ken Shirasu Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN-TRIP Nanami Sakata Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Mikihiro Yamamoto Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yoshiteru Noutoshi Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kazuhiro Toyoda Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yuki Ichinose Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Hidenori Matsui Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci (Pta) is an important plant pathogen, which causes wildfire disease in Nicotiana species. However, the genetic basis underlying strain-level differences in virulence remains largely unresolved. To address this, we performed a comparative genomic analysis between a highly virulent strain Pta6605 and a less virulent strain Pta7375. Despite high overall genome similarity, we identified key single-nucleotide polymorphisms, including premature stop-codon mutations in seven open reading frames in Pta7375. Notably, point mutations in two regulatory genes, such as fleQ, which encodes a transcription factor essential for flagellar biogenesis and biofilm formation, and gcbB, which encodes a GGDEF domain-containing diguanylate cyclase responsible for cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) synthesis, were implicated in virulence disparity. Functional analyses using deletion and locus replacement mutants in the Pta6605 background revealed that the disruption of fleQ markedly reduced motility, flagellin production, c-di-GMP accumulation, biofilm formation and virulence level mirroring the Pta7375 phenotype. The gcbB replacement mutant showed reduced disease symptom development, although c-di-GMP levels remained comparable to the Pta6605 wild type. Locus replacement between strains confirmed that a point mutation in fleQ was the primary driver of reduced motility and flagellin expression in Pta7375. These findings indicate that the reduced virulence of Pta7375 is associated with impaired regulation of flagella-related genes and disruption of the FleQ-mediated c-di-GMP signalling, underscoring the value of comparative genomics in disentangling the complex regulatory networks that govern virulence in plant pathogens. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

The Japanese Society of Interventional Radiology Acta Medica Okayama 2432-0935 10 2025 Optimal Virtual-target Definition for Detecting Feeding Arteries of Renal Cell Carcinoma Using Automated Feeder-detection Software e2025-0034 EN Soichiro Okamoto Department of Radiology, Medical Development Field, Okayama University Yusuke Matsui Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takahiro Kawabata Department of Radiology, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital Koji Tomita Department of Radiology, Medical Development Field, Okayama University Kazuaki Munetomo Department of Radiology, Medical Development Field, Okayama University Noriyuki Umakoshi Department of Radiology, Medical Development Field, Okayama University Fumiyo Higaki Department of Radiology, Medical Development Field, Okayama University Toshihiro Iguchi Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Takao Hiraki Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Purpose: To determine the optimal virtual-target definition for detecting renal cell carcinoma feeders using transarterial computed tomography angiography with automated feeder-detection software.<br> Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 17 patients with 17 renal cell carcinomas who underwent transarterial ethiodized-oil marking before cryoablation. Tumor feeders were automatically detected on transarterial renal computed tomography angiography images using the automated feeder-detection software with three virtual-target definitions: small (ellipsoidal area maximized within the tumor contour), medium (ellipsoidal area covering the entire tumor with a minimal peripheral margin), and large (ellipsoidal area including the tumor and a 5-mm peripheral margin). The detected feeders were classified as true or false positives according to the findings of selective renal arteriography, by consensus of two interventional radiologists. Feeder-detection sensitivity and the mean number of false-positive feeders per tumor were calculated for each virtual-target definition.<br> Results: For 17 tumors, 25 feeding arteries were identified on the arteriography. The feeder-detection sensitivity of the software was 80.0% (20/25), 88.0% (22/25), and 48.0% (12/25) for small, medium, and large virtual targets, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation number of false-positive feeders per tumor was 0.82 ± 1.3, 1.41 ± 1.1, and 2.82 ± 1.6 when using small, medium, and large virtual-target definitions, respectively.<br> Conclusions: The detection rate of renal cell carcinoma feeders with the automated feeder-detection software varies according to the virtual-target definition. Using a medium virtual target, covering the entire tumor with a minimal peripheral margin, may provide the highest sensitivity and an acceptable number of false-positive feeders. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) Acta Medica Okayama 1058-2916 71 11 2025 Mechanical Subpulmonary Support in Fontan Circulation: A Juvenile Porcine Experimental Model 938 943 EN Naoya Sakoda From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital Yasuyuki Kobayashi From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital Daichi Edaki From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital Shingo Kasahara From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital Yasuhiro Kotani From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital Mechanical cavopulmonary assist (CPA) remains challenging for failing Fontan circulation. This study aimed to evaluate the hemodynamic impact of partial CPA using a juvenile porcine model. Six pigs (30 kg) underwent the Fontan procedure using a handmade Y-shaped graft. Total CPA was established by assisting both superior vena cava (SVC) and inferior vena cava (IVC) flow to the pulmonary artery, whereas partial CPA assisted only IVC flow using a centrifugal pump. Cavopulmonary assist flow was set to 100%, 50%, or 25% of pre-Fontan cardiac output (CO). Hemodynamics at baseline, after total CPA, and after partial CPA were compared using paired t-tests. Total CPA with 100% CO support increased CO and reduced SVC and IVC pressures compared to baseline (CO, 1.03 vs. 2.36 L/min; SVC pressure, 16.3 vs. 9.5 mm Hg; IVC pressure, 17.3 vs. 9.3 mm Hg, p < 0.05 for all). Partial CPA with 25% CO support increased CO and decreased IVC pressure, though SVC pressure increased (CO, 1.03 vs. 1.52 L/min; SVC pressure, 16.3 vs. 20.5 mm Hg; IVC pressure, 17.3 vs. 11.5 mm Hg, p < 0.05 for all). Although total CPA achieved optimal hemodynamics, partial CPA with 25% CO flow was effective, suggesting a feasible, noninvasive solution for patients with failing Fontan physiology. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学経済学会 Acta Medica Okayama 2433-4146 57 2 2025 The Evolution and Challenges of Consumer Behavior Models in the Age of AI Co-Existence 49 80 EN Sawut Shazadigul Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Okayama University 10.18926/OER/69553 　This study, based on a theoretical review, aims to elucidate elucidate the structural impact of changes in industrial and social systems, as well as advances in AI technologies, on consumer decision-making and purchasing behavior. It seeks to critically examine the limitations of traditional consumer behavior models that no longer adequately capture contemporary consumption patterns.<br> 　Representative models such as AIDMA, AISAS, and SIPS demonstrated explanatory power within the technological and media contexts of their respective eras. However, in the current environment, where AI and algorithms not only deliver information but also shape the structure of choice, these models―built on the assumptions of linearity and rationality, are becoming increasingly insufficient.<br> 　This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical evolution of consumer behavior models from the Mass Media Era to the Age of AI Coexistence. It highlights key limitations, including the neglect of nonlinearity; underestimation of emotional dimensions, such as empathy and resonance; and lack of theoretical responsiveness to the structural constraints imposed by algorithmic environments. Ultimately, this study serves as a theoretical starting point for a paradigm shift in consumer understanding, laying the groundwork for the future reconstruction of theory and he development of innovative marketing strategies in the age of intelligent systems. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2211-1662 2025 Performance Assessment of ChatGPT for the Board Qualification Examination of the Japanese Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology EN Yohei Takeshita Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Toshiyuki Kawazu Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Miki Hisatomi Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital Shunsuke Okada Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital Mamiko Fujikura Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital Yuri Namba Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital Suzuka Yoshida Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Saori Yoshida Preliminary Examination Room, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Yanagi Preliminary Examination Room, Okayama University Hospital Junichi Asaumi Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University The aim of this study is to assess the performance and utility of ChatGPT for the board qualification examination of the Japanese Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (JSOMR). We assessed ChatGPT responses to 149 multiple-choice questions written in Japanese for the board qualification examination of the JSOMR for the 3 years from 2020 to 2022. The questions were directly entered into ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4 models manually one by one as a prompt. The accuracy rate was calculated and classified by year, type of multiple-choice question, and level of intellectual ability, and significant differences were noted. The accuracy rate of GPT-3.5 for the 3 years was 45.0% (51.0% for 2020, 34.0% for 2021, and 50.0% for 2022), while the accuracy rate of GPT-4 was 68.5% (73.5% for 2020, 62.0% for 2021, and 70.0% for 2022) for the board qualification examination of the JSOMR. GPT-4 had a significantly higher accuracy rate than GPT-3.5 in each year. On performance classified by the type of multiple-choice questions, GPT-4 performed significantly better than GPT-3.5. However, neither model performed well with questions that required interpretation or knowledge of Japanese law. The performance of GPT-4 was significantly superior to GPT-3.5 in the board qualification examination of the JSOMR, suggesting that the use of Chat GPT, especially ChatGPT-4, would be effective as a tool for learning and preparing for the examination. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 0276-3478 2025 DSOK-0011 Potentially Regulates Circadian Misalignment and Affects Gut Microbiota Composition in Activity-Based Anorexia Model EN Hiroki Kawai Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nanami Wada Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Shinji Sakamoto Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kenji Miyazaki Sumitomo Pharma Co. Ltd Taro Kato Sumitomo Pharma Co. Ltd Yoshihiro Horiuchi Sumitomo Pharma Co. Ltd Hiroshi Kirii Department of Animal Applied Microbiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology Hoang Duy Nguyen Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kenji Hinotsu Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital Yoshio Ohya Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takahiro Asada Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Akiyoshi Yokode Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuko Okahisa Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Haruko Miyazaki Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Toshitaka Oohashi Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Manabu Takaki Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Objective: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a metabolic-psychiatric disorder characterized by severe weight loss, hypercortisolemia, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activation. In this study, we investigated the effect of inhibiting cortisol regeneration via the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) on the pathophysiology of AN.<br> Method: Female C57BL/6J mice underwent a 7-day activity-based anorexia (ABA) paradigm, involving 3 h daily feeding and free access to wheels, until 25% body weight loss or experiment completion. Mice were orally treated once daily with a potent 11β-HSD1 inhibitor, DSOK-0011, or vehicle. Body weight, food intake, and activity transitions were recorded; plasma corticosterone and cholesterol levels were measured using a fluorometric assay; gut microbiota were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing; and hippocampal glial cells were analyzed using immunohistochemistry.<br> Results: DSOK-0011-treated mice exhibited a modest but significant increase in postprandial wheel-running activity compared to baseline (4–5 p.m., p = 0.018; 5–6 p.m., p = 0.043), whereas vehicle-treated mice showed higher preprandial activity (9–10 a.m., p = 0.0229). Gut microbiota analysis revealed increased alpha diversity in ABA mice, with a specific enrichment of the Lachnospiraceae family in the DSOK-0011 group. However, DSOK-0011 did not significantly affect body weight, food intake, corticosterone, and lipid levels, or hippocampal glial cell populations.<br> Conclusion: Inhibition of 11β-HSD1 by DSOK-0011 was associated with microbiota alterations and subtle shifts in activity timing under energy-deficient conditions. These findings suggest that peripheral glucocorticoid metabolism may influence microbial and behavioral responses in the ABA model, although its metabolic impact appears limited in the acute phase. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Microbiology Society Acta Medica Okayama 0022-1317 106 7 2025 Summary of taxonomy changes ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) from the Fungal and Protist Viruses Subcommittee, 2025 002115 EN Sead Sabanadzovic Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University Chantal Abergel Information Génomique & Structurale, UMR7256, CNRS & Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, IMM, IM2B, IOM Marı́a A. Ayllón Departamento de Biotecnología-Biología Vegetal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) Leticia Botella Forest Protection and Wildlife Management Mendel University in Brno Marta Canuti Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen Yuto Chiba School of Agriculture, Meiji University Jean-Michel Claverie Information Génomique & Structurale, UMR7256, CNRS & Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, IMM, IM2B, IOM Robert H.A. Coutts School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hertfordshire Stefania Daghino Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy Livia Donaire Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura-CSIC Marco Forgia Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, CNR Ondřej Hejna Department of Genetics and Biotechnologies, University of South Bohemia Jichun Jia College of Plant Protection, Shanxi Agricultural University Daohong Jiang College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University Ioly Kotta-Loizou School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hertfordshire Mart Krupovic Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology Unit Andrew S. Lang Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland Matthieu Legendre Information Génomique & Structurale, UMR7256, CNRS & Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, IMM, IM2B, IOM Shin-Yi Lee Marzano United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Application Technology Research Unit Luca Nerva Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology Judit Pénzes Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University Anna Poimala Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) Sofia Rigou Information Génomique & Structurale, UMR7256, CNRS & Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, IMM, IM2B, IOM Yukiyo Sato Department of Biology, Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Cologne Wajeeha Shamsi Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University Nobuhiro Suzuki Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Massimo Turina Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan Syun-ichi Urayama Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba Eeva J. Vainio Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) Jiatao Xie College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University The Fungal and Protist Viruses Subcommittee (SC) of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) has received a total of eight taxonomic proposals for the 2024 annual cycle. The extent of proposed changes varied, including nomenclatural updates, creation of new taxa and reorganization of established taxa. Following the ICTV procedures, all proposals were reviewed and voted upon by the members of the Executive Committee with ratification in March 2025. As a result, a total of 52 species in the families Botourmiaviridae and Marnaviridae were renamed to comply with the mandated binomial format. A new genus has been added to the dsRNA virus family Amalgaviridae, while two new families, Splipalmiviridae (Wolframvirales) and Mycoalphaviridae (Hepelivirales), were created to classify new groups of positive-sense (+) RNA mycoviruses. The class Arfiviricetes (Cressdnaviricota) was expanded by a new order Lineavirales and a new family Oomyviridae of ssDNA viruses. Additionally, a new class Orpoviricetes was created in the kingdom Orthornavirae to classify a group of bisegmented (+)RNA viruses reported from fungi and oomycetes. Finally, the order Pimascovirales was reorganized to better depict evolutionary relationships of pithoviruses and related viruses with large dsDNA genomes. The summary of updates in the taxonomy of fungal and protist viruses presented here is limited to taxa within the remit of this Subcommittee. For information on taxonomy changes on other fungal viruses closely related to animal and/or plant viruses, please see reports from sister ICTV Subcommittees (i.e. Plant Virus SC and Animal dsRNA and ssRNA(−) Viruses SC). No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2051-5960 13 1 2025 Rotenone targets midbrain astrocytes to produce glial dysfunction-mediated dopaminergic neurodegeneration 234 EN Ikuko Miyazaki Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nami Isooka Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Ryo Kikuoka Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Fuminori Imafuku Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kaori Masai Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kana Tomimoto Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masakiyo Sakaguchi Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Chiharu Sogawa Department of Food and Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Hiroshima Institute of Technology Norio Sogawa Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yoshihisa Kitamura Department of Pharmacotherapy, School of Pharmacy, Shujitsu University Masato Asanuma Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Exposure to pesticides, such as rotenone or paraquat, is an environmental factor that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Rotenone induces PD-like pathology and is therefore used to develop parkinsonian animal models. Dopaminergic neurotoxicity caused by rotenone has been attributed to the inhibition of mitochondrial complex I, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation; however, the mechanisms underlying selective dopaminergic neurodegeneration by rotenone remain unclear. To resolve this, we focused on glial diversity and examined whether the brain region-specific glial response to rotenone could determine the vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons using primary cultured neurons, astrocytes and microglia from the midbrain and striatum of rat embryos and rotenone-injected PD model mice. Direct neuronal treatment with low-dose rotenone failed to damage dopaminergic neurons. Conversely, rotenone exposure in the presence of midbrain astrocyte and microglia or conditioned media from rotenone-treated midbrain glial cultures containing astrocytes and microglia produced dopaminergic neurotoxicity, but striatal glia did not. Surprisingly, conditioned media from rotenone-treated midbrain astrocytes or microglia monocultures did not affect neuronal survival. We also demonstrated that rotenone targeted midbrain astrocytes prior to microglia to induce dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Rotenone-treated astrocytes produced secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) extracellularly, which induced microglial proliferation, increase in IL-1β and TNF-α, and NF-κB (p65) nuclear translocation in microglia, resulting in dopaminergic neurodegeneration. In addition, rotenone exposure caused the secretion of NFAT-related inflammatory cytokines and a reduction in the level of an antioxidant metallothionein (MT)-1 from midbrain glia. Furthermore, we observed microglial proliferation and a decrease in the number of MT-positive astrocytes in the substantia nigra, but not the striatum, of low-dose rotenone-injected PD model mice. Our data highlight that rotenone targets midbrain astrocytes, leading to SPARC secretion, which promotes the neurotoxic conversion of microglia and leads to glial dysfunction-mediated dopaminergic neurodegeneration. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2041-1723 16 1 2025 A node-localized efflux transporter for loading iron to developing tissues in rice 9916 EN Jing Che Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Sheng Huang Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Yuting Qu State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences Yuma Yoshioka Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Chiyuri Tomita Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takaaki Miyaji Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Zhenyang Liu State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences Renfang Shen State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences Naoki Yamaji Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Jian Feng Ma Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development. It plays crucial roles in various organs and tissues of plants, but the molecular mechanisms governing its distribution to the above-ground parts after root uptake remain unclear. In this study, we identify OsIET1 (Oryza sativa Iron Efflux Transporter 1), a rice gene highly expressed in the nodes. OsIET1 encodes a plasma membrane-localized protein, which shows efflux transport activity for ferrous iron. It is predominantly expressed in the xylem regions of diffuse vascular bundles, and its expression is upregulated under high Fe conditions. Disruption of OsIET1 impairs Fe allocation, reducing Fe transport to developing tissues (young leaves and grains), while increasing accumulation in nodes and older leaves. This misdistribution causes chlorosis in young leaves and decreases grain yield, especially under Fe-deficient conditions. Furthermore, we detect excessive Fe deposition around the xylem of diffuse vascular bundles in the nodes. Given the pivotal role of nodes in mineral distribution, our results indicate that OsIET1 mediates inter-vascular Fe transfer by facilitating Fe loading into the xylem of diffuse vascular bundles. This process ensures preferential Fe delivery to developing tissues, thereby promoting optimal plant growth and productivity. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Acta Medica Okayama 0163-3864 2025 First Total Synthesis of the Kikai Island Polybrominated C3′–N1 Bisindole Alkaloid by a Directed Metalation Strategy EN Keisuke Tokushige Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takumi Abe Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University The first total synthesis of one out of four Kikai Island polybrominated C3′–N1 bisindole alkaloids from red alga Laurencia brongniartii is described. The key steps involve both dehydration of trans-hemiaminal and a C2′-methylthiolation of bisindole using dimethyl disulfide through directed metalation, followed by C3-methylthiolation using a N-SMe succinimide reagent. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Acta Medica Okayama 1359-7345 61 68 2025 Revisiting 3-azidoindoles: overcoming the trade-off challenges between stability and reactivity of in situ-generated azidoindoles 12801 12804 EN Shota Asai School of Pharmacy, Shujitsu University Keisuke Tokushige Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takumi Abe Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University A concise protocol based on the E2 reaction of indoline hemiaminals for accessing 3-azidoindoles is reported. In contrast to previous methods that require in situ generation by hypervalent iodine reagents, our protocol allows for the isolation of a variety of 3-azidoindoles upon a mild reaction for a short reaction time at room temperature. The obtained 3-azidoindoles are reasonably reactive, bench-stable and easy to handle. These findings could be used as a starting point for various reactions, including Huisgen reaction, [3+2] cycloaddition, phosphoramidation, and cine-substitution with the release of N2. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Copernicus GmbH Acta Medica Okayama 2194-9034 XLVIII-4/W9-2024 2024 3D MONITORING OF COASTAL EROSION CONTROL STRUCTURES USING UAV 313 320 EN N. Sakamoto Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University S. Nishiyama Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Coastal erosion has increasingly become a problem in recent years due to rising sea levels caused by global warming. To prevent further coastal erosion and damage, control structures like seawalls and breakwaters have been installed along vulnerable coastlines. However, it is crucial that these structures are regularly and thoroughly inspected for any abnormalities or deformations. At present, inspections are done manually by visual surveys which are time-consuming and inefficient. There is great potential to optimize this process using drone technology equipped with 3D laser scanners. In this study, we utilized a drone with a green laser scanner to inspect and diagnose control structures along the coast. We conducted surveys to determine the basic performance of this approach and used ICP algorithms to extract any deformations in vanishing wave blocks over two time periods. Our results showed high variability in basic performance due to the influence of waves during the surveys. However, we were still able to detect strain of around 50 cm in a submerged breakwater located 3 meters below the water's surface. Furthermore, an overall settlement of approximately 34 cm was observed in the vanishing wave blocks along with some localized movements. This demonstrates that drones can be successfully implemented for efficient inspection, diagnosis and detection of abnormalities and deformations in coastal structures that are extremely difficult to identify through visual surveys alone. The use of this advanced technology will allow for quicker identification of at-risk structures, enabling timely maintenance and prevention of further coastal erosion. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.