Understanding subcortical projections to the lateral posterior thalamic nucleus and its subregions using retrograde neural tracing.

The rat lateral posterior thalamic nucleus (LP) is composed of the rostromedial (LPrm), lateral (LPl), and caudomedial parts, with LPrm and LPl being areas involved in information processing within the visual cortex. Nevertheless, the specific differences in the subcortical projections to the LPrm and LPl remain elusive. In this study, we aimed to reveal the subcortical regions that project axon fibers to the LPl and LPrm using a retrograde neural tracer, Fluorogold (FG). After FG injection into the LPrm or LPl, the area was visualized immunohistochemically. Retrogradely labeled neurons from the LPrm were distributed in the retina and the region from the diencephalon to the medulla oblongata. Diencephalic labeling was found in the reticular thalamic nucleus (Rt), zona incerta (ZI), ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (LGv), intergeniculate leaflet (IGL), and hypothalamus. In the midbrain, prominent labeling was found in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and deep layers of the superior colliculus. Additionally, retrograde labeling was observed in the cerebellar and trigeminal nuclei. When injected into the LPl, several cell bodies were labeled in the visual-related regions, including the retina, LGv, IGL, and olivary pretectal nucleus (OPT), as well as in the Rt and anterior pretectal nucleus (APT). Less labeling was found in the cerebellum and medulla oblongata. When the number of retrogradely labeled neurons from the LPrm or LPl was compared as a percentage of total subcortical labeling, a larger percentage of subcortical inputs to the LPl included projections from the APT, OPT, and Rt, whereas a large proportion of subcortical inputs to the LPrm originated from the ZI, reticular formation, and PAG. These results suggest that LPrm not only has visual but also multiple sensory-and motor-related functions, whereas the LPl takes part in a more visual-specific role. This study enhances our understanding of subcortical neural circuits in the thalamus and may contribute to our exploration of the mechanisms and disorders related to sensory perception and sensory-motor integration.

Impact of an unprecedented marine heatwave on extremely hot summer over Northern Japan in 2023.

Possible local influence of an extreme marine heatwave is investigated on unprecedentedly hot summer around northern Japan in 2023. Sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) and subsurface ocean temperatures around northern Japan were also unprecedentedly high in the summer. This was especially the case off the east coast of Japan, where cool Oyashio water was replaced with much warmer water due to a striking poleward meander of the Kuroshio Extension persistent from the spring. Particularly amplified near-surface air temperature anomalies and even stronger warm anomalies in the subsurface ocean suggest that the marine heatwave acted to sustain the atmospheric heatwave. Anomalous upward of latent and sensible heat fluxes from the warmed sea surface are indicative of local oceanic impact. The warm SST anomalies reduced the lower-tropospheric stratification to maintain unfavourable condition for low-level cloud formation, which in turn led to increased surface insolation for further SST warming as positive feedback. The increased moisture in the warmed lower troposphere contributed to the enhanced surface downward longwave radiation. This enhanced greenhouse effect acted not only as positive feedback on the warm SST anomalies that increased evaporation but also as a contributor for the extreme warmth over northern Japan landmass.

The Unimolecular Decomposition Mechanism of Trimethyl Phosphate.

Trimethyl phosphate (TMP), an organophosphorus compound (OPC), is a promising fire-retardant candidate for lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrolytes to mitigate fire spread. This study aims to understand the mechanism of TMP unimolecular thermal decomposition to support the integration of a TMP chemical kinetic model into a LIB electrolyte surrogate model. Reactive intermediates and products of TMP thermal decomposition were experimentally detected using vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation and double imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence (i2PEPICO) spectroscopy. Phosphorus-containing intermediates such as PO, HPO and HPO2 were identified. Sampling effects could successfully be obviated thanks to photoion imaging, which also showed evidence for isomerization reactions upon wall collisions in the ionization chamber. Quantum chemical calculations performed for the unimolecular decomposition of TMP revealed for the first time that isomerization channels via hydrogen and methyl transfer (barrier heights of 65.9 and 72.6 kcal/mol, respectively) are the lowest-energy primary steps of TMP decomposition followed by CH3OH/CH3/CH2O or dimethyl ether (DME) production, respectively. We found an analogous DME production channel in the unimolecular decomposition of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), another important OPC fire-retardant additive with a similar molecular structure to TMP, which are not included in currently available chemical kinetic models.

Conformer-Specific Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Carbonic Acid: H2CO3.

Carbonic acid (H2CO3) is a fundamental species in biological, ecological, and astronomical systems. However, its spectroscopic characterization is incomplete because of its reactive nature. The photoionization (PI) and the photoion mass-selected threshold photoelectron (ms-TPE) spectra of H2CO3 were obtained by utilizing vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation and double imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy. Two carbonic acid conformers, namely, cis-cis and cis-trans, were identified. Experimental adiabatic ionization energies (AIEs) of cis-cis and cis-trans H2CO3 were determined to be 11.27 ± 0.02 and 11.18 ± 0.03 eV, and the cation enthalpies of formation could be derived as ΔfH°0K = 485 ± 2 and 482 ± 3 kJ mol-1, respectively. The cis-cis conformer shows intense peaks in the ms-TPES that are assigned to the C=O/C-OH stretching mode, while the cis-trans conformer exhibits a long progression to which two C=O/C-OH stretching modes contribute. The TPE spectra allow for the sensitive and conformer-selective detection of carbonic acid in terrestrial experiments to better understand astrochemical reactions.

Lutidyl Radical Photoelectron Spectra Reveal Additive Substituent Effects on Benzyl Derivatives' Ionization Energy.

Understanding how isomerism influences photoelectron spectra helps in the assignment and analysis of reactive mixtures, especially for heterocycles with numerous isomers. Threshold photoelectron spectra of lutidyl radical isomers, i. e., benzyl derivatives with a nitrogen heteroatom and a methyl substituent, are recorded using vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation. The radicals are produced by flash pyrolysis from aminomethyl methylpyridine precursors. Experimental ionization energies are determined to be 7.54, 7.50, and 7.45 eV for 2,4-, 2,6- and 3,5-lutidyl, respectively, in excellent agreement with composite method calculations. Franck-Condon simulations aid the TPES assignment but are also shown to exhibit artifacts if large-amplitude motions, notably the methyl internal rotation are assumed to be active in the double harmonic approximation. Based on calculated adiabatic ionization energies (AIE) of benzyl, picolyl, and xylyl radicals, the N and CH3 substituent effects are found to be additive, position-dependent and decrease in the para>ortho≳meta order in magnitude with the nitrogen heteroatom increasing and the methyl substituent decreasing the AIE. These effects are discussed in light of the charge distribution upon ionization. The additivity of the substituent effects also helps predict the influence of substituents on the binding energy of the unpaired electron in analogous radicals.

A macroscopic anatomical study of the appropriate palpation zone of the gluteus medius muscle.

[Purpose] Few previous studies have delimitated the palpation zone of the gluteus medius muscle with a focus on its fiber bundles. The purpose of this study was to clarify the morphological characteristics of the gluteus medius muscle using an anatomical approach, and to define its proper palpation zone. [Participants and Methods] In this study, we evaluated thirteen halves of the pelvic region in seven formalin-fixed cadavers. We identified the borders between the iliotibial band and gluteus medius muscle, and between the gluteus medius and gluteus maximus muscles, on the iliac crest. Furthermore, we quantified the border points of the gluteus medius' fiber bundles and observed its anatomical and morphological characteristics. [Results] We identified two fiber bundles in the gluteus medius muscle, an anterior and a posterior fiber bundle, and detected that a portion of the posterior fibers was located subcutaneously. [Conclusion] We propose that the region where the posterior fibers of the gluteus medius muscle are located subcutaneously is an appropriate zone for the palpation of this muscle.

Characteristics of colorectal neuroendocrine tumors in patients prospectively enrolled in a Japanese multicenter study: a first report from the C-NET STUDY.

BACKGROUND: This is the first report from a multicenter prospective cohort study of colorectal neuroendocrine tumor (NET), the C-NET STUDY, conducted to assess the long-term outcomes of the enrolled patients. This report aimed to elucidate the clinicopathological features of the enrolled patients and lesions. METHODS: Colorectal NET patients aged 20-74 years were consecutively enrolled and followed up at 50 institutions. The baseline characteristics and clinicopathological findings at enrollment and treatment were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 495 patients with 500 colorectal NETs were included. The median patient age was 54 years, and 85.3% were asymptomatic. The most frequent lesion location was the lower rectum (88.0%); 99.4% of the lesions were clinically diagnosed to be devoid of metastatic findings, and 95.4% were treated with endoscopic resection. Lesions < 10 mm comprised 87.0% of the total, 96.6% had not invaded the muscularis propria, and 92.6% were classified as WHO NET grade 1. Positive lymphovascular involvement was found in 29.2% of the lesions. Its prevalence was high even in small NETs with immunohistochemical/special staining for pathological assessment (26.4% and 40.9% in lesions sized < 5 mm and 5-9 mm, respectively). Among 70 patients who underwent radical surgery primarily or secondarily, 18 showed positive lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of real-world colorectal NET patients and lesions are elucidated. The high positivity of lymphovascular involvement in small NETs highlights the necessity of assessing the clinical significance of positive lymphovascular involvement based on long-term outcomes, which will be examined in later stages of the C-NET STUDY. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000025215.

Cyclonic and anticyclonic contributions to atmospheric energetics.

Migratory cyclones and anticyclones account for most of the day-to-day weather variability in the extratropics. These transient eddies act to maintain the midlatitude jet streams by systematically transporting westerly momentum and heat. Yet, little is known about the separate contributions of cyclones and anticyclones to their interaction with the westerlies. Here, using a novel methodology for identifying cyclonic and anticyclonic vortices based on curvature, we quantify their separate contributions to atmospheric energetics and their feedback on the westerly jet streams as represented in Eulerian statistics. We show that climatological westerly acceleration by cyclonic vortices acts to dominantly reinforce the wintertime eddy-driven near-surface westerlies and associated cyclonic shear. Though less baroclinic and energetic, anticyclones still play an important role in transporting westerly momentum toward midlatitudes from the upper-tropospheric thermally driven jet core and carrying eddy energy downstream. These new findings have uncovered essential characteristics of atmospheric energetics, storm track dynamics and eddy-mean flow interaction.

Construction of TUATinsecta database that integrated plant and insect database for screening phytophagous insect metabolic products with medicinal potential.

Phytophagous insect larvae feed on plants containing secondary metabolic products with biological activity against other predatory organisms. Phytophagous insects can use their specialised metabolic systems to covert these secondary metabolic products into compounds with therapeutic properties useful to mankind. Some Asians drink tea decoctions made from phytophagous insect frass which is believed to be effective against inflammatory diseases. However, insects that can convert plant-derived secondary metabolic products into useful human therapeutic agents remain poorly studied. Here, we constructed the TUATinsecta database by integrating publicly plant/insect datasets for the purpose of selecting insect species. Using TUAT-insecta we selected the Asian swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus larvae fed on several species of Rutaceous plants and examined whether the plant-derived secondary metabolites, especially those present in frass, were chemically altered or not. We extracted metabolic products from frass using three organic solvents with different polarities, and evaluated solvent fractions for their cytotoxic effects against several human cell lines. We found that chloroform frass extracts from P. xuthus larvae fed on Poncirus trifoliata leaves contained significant cytotoxic activity. Our findings demonstrate that screening of insect species using the 'TUATinsecta' database provides an important pipeline for discovering novel therapeutic agents that might be useful for mankind.

Importance of a vertically tilting structure for energizing the North Atlantic Oscillation.

The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is a prominent mode of atmospheric variability that influences weather and climate, including the occurrence of extreme events, over a large part of Europe and Northeastern America. The NAO has been considered to be maintained primarily by migratory weather disturbances and to have a deep structure with no vertical tilt. A careful inspection nonetheless reveals that the associated anomalies do exhibit a subtle vertical tilt, but its dynamical implications are still unknown. Here we show that this vertical tilt is of vital dynamical significance for the wintertime NAO. We find, using atmospheric reanalysis data, that the tilted anomalies transport heat across the pronounced thermal gradient associated with a background westerly jetstream, advecting air from the cooler North America and Greenland to the warmer Atlantic, thereby acting to reinforce NAO's thermal anomalies. The resultant conversion of potential energy from the background state is a larger energy source for maintaining the NAO than the feedback from migratory disturbances. Our findings thus uncover a fundamental mechanism of the NAO dynamics, with implications for the improvement of seasonal predictions for the Euro-Atlantic climate and the representation of the NAO variability in climate models.

Predictors of invasive cancer of large laterally spreading colorectal tumors: A multicenter study in Japan.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although colorectal laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) can be classified into four subtypes, the histopathological characteristics are known to differ among these subtypes. We therefore performed a logistic regression analysis to determine whether the risk of pathological T1 cancer of large colorectal LSTs can be predicted based on factors such as endoscopic findings in a large group of patients enrolled in a multicenter study in Japan. METHODS: In the main study, we assessed 1236 colorectal adenomas or early cancers that were classified as LSTs measuring 20 mm or more in diameter and treated endoscopically. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether factors such as the subtype of LST could be used to predict the risk of pathological T1 cancer. A validation study of 356 large colorectal LSTs was conducted to confirm the validity of the results obtained in the main study. RESULTS: The locations and tumor diameter of the LSTs in the main study were found to differ significantly according to the LST subclassification (P < 0.001). The frequency of pathological T1 cancers was the highest at 36% of LST nongranular pseudodepressed type, followed by 14% of LST nongranular flat-elevated type, 11% of LST granular nodular mixed type, and 3% of LST granular homogenous type lesions. The risk of pathological T1 cancer was significantly associated with LST subclassification and tumor diameter. The area under the curve (AUC) was high (0.743). In the validation study, the AUC was 0.573. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with large colorectal LSTs resected endoscopically, the risk of pathological T1 cancer can be predicted on the basis of the LST subclassification and tumor diameter.

Author Correction: Key Role of the Ocean Western Boundary currents in shaping the Northern Hemisphere climate.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Key Role of the Ocean Western Boundary currents in shaping the Northern Hemisphere climate.

The individual impact of North Atlantic and Pacific Ocean Western Boundary Currents (OWBCs) on the tropospheric circulation has recently been studied in depth. However, their simultaneous role in shaping the hemisphere-scale wintertime troposphere/stratosphere-coupled circulation and its variability have not been considered. Through semi-idealized Atmospheric General-Circulation-Model experiments, we show that the North Atlantic and Pacific OWBCs jointly maintain and shape the wintertime hemispheric circulation and its leading mode of variability Northern Annular Mode (NAM). The OWBCs energize baroclinic waves that reinforce quasi-annular hemispheric structure in the tropospheric eddy-driven jetstreams and NAM variability. Without the OWBCs, the wintertime NAM variability is much weaker and its impact on the continental and maritime surface climate is largely insignificant. Atmospheric energy redistribution caused by the OWBCs acts to damp the near-surface atmospheric baroclinicity and compensates the associated oceanic meridional energy transport. Furthermore, the OWBCs substantially weaken the wintertime stratospheric polar vortex by enhancing the upward planetary wave propagation, and thereby affecting both stratospheric and tropospheric NAM-annularity. Whereas the overall impact of the extra-tropical OWBCs on the stratosphere results mainly from the Pacific, the impact on the troposphere results from both the Pacific and Atlantic OWBCs.

Preferential inputs from cholecystokinin-positive neurons to the somatic compartment of parvalbumin-expressing neurons in the mouse primary somatosensory cortex.

Parvalbumin-positive (PV+) neurons in the cerebral cortex, mostly corresponding to fast-spiking basket cells, have been implicated in higher-order brain functions and psychiatric disorders. We previously demonstrated that the somatic compartment of PV+ neurons received inhibitory inputs mainly from vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)+ neurons, whereas inhibitory inputs to the dendritic compartment were derived mostly from PV+ and somatostatin (SOM)+ neurons. However, a substantial number of the axosomatic inputs have remained unidentified. Here we show preferential innervation of the somatic compartment of PV+ neurons by cholecystokinin (CCK)+ neurons in the mouse primary somatosensory cortex. CCK+ neurons, a minor population of GABAergic neurons (3.2%), displayed no colocalization with PV or SOM immunoreactivity but partial overlap with VIP immunoreactivity (27.7%). Confocal laser scanning microscopy observation of CCK+ synaptic inputs to PV+ neurons revealed that CCK+ neurons preferred the somatic compartment to the dendritic compartment of PV+ neurons and provided approximately 33% of the axosomatic inhibitory inputs to PV+ neurons. Additionally, 20.9% and 12.1% of the axosomatic inputs were derived from CCK+/VIP+ and CCK+/VIP-negative (-) neurons, presumably double bouquet and large basket cells, respectively. Furthermore, the densities of the axosomatic inputs from CCK+ and/or VIP+ neurons to PV+ neurons were not significantly different among the cortical layers. The present findings suggest that, by preferentially innervating the cell bodies of PV+ neurons, both CCK+/VIP- basket and CCK+/VIP+ double bouquet cells might efficiently interfere with action potential generation of PV+ neurons, and that the two types of CCK+ neurons might have a large impact on cortical activity through PV+ neuron inhibition.

Validation study for development of the Japan NBI Expert Team classification of colorectal lesions.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Japan narrow-band imaging (NBI) Expert Team (JNET) was organized to unify four previous magnifying NBI classifications (the Sano, Hiroshima, Showa, and Jikei classifications). The JNET working group created criteria (referred to as the NBI scale) for evaluation of vessel pattern (VP) and surface pattern (SP). We conducted a multicenter validation study of the NBI scale to develop the JNET classification of colorectal lesions. METHODS: Twenty-five expert JNET colonoscopists read 100 still NBI images with and without magnification on the web to evaluate the NBI findings and necessity of the each criterion for the final diagnosis. RESULTS: Surface pattern in magnifying NBI images was necessary for diagnosis of polyps in more than 60% of cases, whereas VP was required in around 90%. Univariate/multivariate analysis of candidate findings in the NBI scale identified three for type 2B (variable caliber of vessels, irregular distribution of vessels, and irregular or obscure surface pattern), and three for type 3 (loose vessel area, interruption of thick vessel, and amorphous areas of surface pattern). Evaluation of the diagnostic performance for these three findings in combination showed that the sensitivity for types 2B and 3 was highest (44.9% and 54.7%, respectively), and that the specificity for type 3 was acceptable (97.4%) when any one of the three findings was evident. We found that the macroscopic type (polypoid or non-polypoid) had a minor influence on the key diagnostic performance for types 2B and 3. CONCLUSION: Based on the present data, we reached a consensus for developing the JNET classification.

Protrusion on the Depressed Surface of Non-polypoid T1 Colorectal Cancer Is Associated with Venous Invasion.

AIM: The treatment strategies for T1 colorectal cancer (CRC) include both surgical and endoscopic resection. Surgical resection is indicated if lymphovascular invasion is present; however, the endoscopic prediction of lymphovascular invasion has not been reported. We aimed to correlate endoscopic morphology with pathological findings, including lymphovascular invasion, in non-polypoid T1 CRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 63 patients with non-polypoid T1 CRC surgically resected between 2008 and 2016. Four typical endoscopic findings related to deep submucosal invasion, namely protrusion from a depressed surface, fold convergence, fullness and hardness, were assessed to elucidate their association with pathological findings. RESULTS: Protrusion was the only finding significantly correlated with positive venous invasion (67.9% of the lesions with protrusion vs. 34.3% of those without protrusion, p=0.01), which was also confirmed by a multivariable analysis (odds ratio(OR)=3.72, 95% confidence interval(CI)=1.24-11.2, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: The endoscopic finding of protrusion on a depressed surface may be a sign indicating venous invasion in non-polypoid T1 CRC.

Narrow-band imaging (NBI) magnifying endoscopic classification of colorectal tumors proposed by the Japan NBI Expert Team.

Many clinical studies on narrow-band imaging (NBI) magnifying endoscopy classifications advocated so far in Japan (Sano, Hiroshima, Showa, and Jikei classifications) have reported the usefulness of NBI magnifying endoscopy for qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of colorectal lesions. However, discussions at professional meetings have raised issues such as: (i) the presence of multiple terms for the same or similar findings; (ii) the necessity of including surface patterns in magnifying endoscopic classifications; and (iii) differences in the NBI findings in elevated and superficial lesions. To resolve these problems, the Japan NBI Expert Team (JNET) was constituted with the aim of establishing a universal NBI magnifying endoscopic classification for colorectal tumors (JNET classification) in 2011. Consensus was reached on this classification using the modified Delphi method, and this classification was proposed in June 2014. The JNET classification consists of four categories of vessel and surface pattern (i.e. Types 1, 2A, 2B, and 3). Types 1, 2A, 2B, and 3 are correlated with the histopathological findings of hyperplastic polyp/sessile serrated polyp (SSP), low-grade intramucosal neoplasia, high-grade intramucosal neoplasia/shallow submucosal invasive cancer, and deep submucosal invasive cancer, respectively.

How potentially predictable are midlatitude ocean currents?

Predictability of atmospheric variability is known to be limited owing to significant uncertainty that arises from intrinsic variability generated independently of external forcing and/or boundary conditions. Observed atmospheric variability is therefore regarded as just a single realization among different dynamical states that could occur. In contrast, subject to wind, thermal and fresh-water forcing at the surface, the ocean circulation has been considered to be rather deterministic under the prescribed atmospheric forcing, and it still remains unknown how uncertain the upper-ocean circulation variability is. This study evaluates how much uncertainty the oceanic interannual variability can potentially have, through multiple simulations with an eddy-resolving ocean general circulation model driven by the observed interannually-varying atmospheric forcing under slightly different conditions. These ensemble "hindcast" experiments have revealed substantial uncertainty due to intrinsic variability in the extratropical ocean circulation that limits potential predictability of its interannual variability, especially along the strong western boundary currents (WBCs) in mid-latitudes, including the Kuroshio and its eastward extention. The intrinsic variability also greatly limits potential predictability of meso-scale oceanic eddy activity. These findings suggest that multi-member ensemble simulations are essential for understanding and predicting variability in the WBCs, which are important for weather and climate variability and marine ecosystems.