Divergent mechanisms of reduced growth performance in Betula ermanii saplings from high-altitude and low-latitude range edges.

The reduced growth performance of individuals from range edges is a common phenomenon in various taxa, and considered to be an evolutionary factor that limits the species' range. However, most studies did not distinguish between two mechanisms that can lead to this reduction: genetic load and adaptive selection to harsh conditions. To address this lack of understanding, we investigated the climatic and genetic factors underlying the growth performance of Betula ermanii saplings transplanted from 11 populations including high-altitude edge and low-latitude edge population. We estimated the climatic position of the populations within the overall B. ermanii's distribution, and the genetic composition and diversity using restriction-site associated DNA sequencing, and measured survival, growth rates and individual size of the saplings. The high-altitude edge population (APW) was located below the 95% significance interval for the mean annual temperature range, but did not show any distinctive genetic characteristics. In contrast, the low-latitude edge population (SHK) exhibited a high level of linkage disequilibrium, low genetic diversity, a distinct genetic composition from the other populations, and a high relatedness coefficient. Both APW and SHK saplings displayed lower survival rates, heights and diameters, while SHK saplings also exhibited lower growth rates than the other populations' saplings. The low heights and diameters of APW saplings was likely the result of adaptive selection to harsh conditions, while the low survival and growth rates of SHK saplings was likely the result of genetic load. Our findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying the reduced growth performance of range-edge populations.

Effects of temperature and humidity on cerebrovascular disease hospitalization in a super-aging society.

Weather conditions influence the incidence of cardiovascular disease. However, few studies have investigated the association between weather temperature and humidity and cerebrovascular disease hospitalizations in a super-aging society. We included 606,807 consecutive patients with cerebrovascular disease admitted to Japanese acute-care hospitals between 2015 and 2019. The primary outcome was the number of cerebrovascular disease hospitalizations per day. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models were used to estimate the association of mean temperature and humidity, 1 day before hospital admission, with cerebrovascular disease hospitalizations, after adjusting for air pollution, hospital, and patient demographics. Lower mean temperatures and humidity < 70% or humidity ≧ 70% are associated with an increased incidence of cerebrovascular disease hospitalization (coefficient, - 1.442 [- 1.473 to - 1.411] per °C, p < 0.001, coefficient, - 0.084 [- 0.112 to - 0.056] per%, p < 0.001, and coefficient, 0.136 [0.103 to 0.168] per %, p < 0.001, respectively). Lower mean temperatures and extremely lower or higher humidity are associated with an increased incidence of cerebrovascular disease hospitalization in a super-aging society.

Computed tomography findings in acute decompensated heart failure: periportal collar sign and lymphedema in the hepatoduodenal ligament and retroperitoneal space.

We report two cases that were diagnosed with either acute exacerbation of chronic heart failure or acute decompensated heart failure due to acute myocardial infarction; both cases exhibited computed tomography (CT) findings of the periportal collar sign in the liver and lymphedema in the hepatoduodenal ligament and retroperitoneal space. Both of these signs, particularly lymphedema in the hepatoduodenal ligament and anterior pararenal space, are considered very important CT findings when diagnosing acute decompensated heart failure.

A wearable ECG-HR detector and its application to automatic assist-mode selection of an electrically assisted bicycle.

Recently, an electrically assisted bicycle has been widely used in daily life and becomes very popular. The user selects the stepwise assist-mode to determine the assistive torque for pleasurable running. From the viewpoint of improvement of health by exercise, the electrically assisted bicycle can be an exercise machine like a treadmill. The heart rate (HR) is regarded as an indication of exercise load. This paper presents an automatic assist-mode selection system based on the HR of the bicycle user. The HR is obtained from the R-waves measured by the proposed wearable electrocardiograph on the user. The mode-selection system is simply implemented by a personal computer, USB-connected interface, and some electronic switching circuits. The running experiments confirm that the proposed assist-mode selection method has practicability.

[An autopsy case of microscopic polyangiitis associated with bacterial endocarditis].

The patient was an 87-year-old man whose initial symptom was general fatigue and inappetence. His laboratory data revealed a rise in C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC), and CT scan showed suspicious pneumonia. Antibiotics were given to the patient, but his fever and laboratory data were sustained. Follow up examination revealed a high titer (107 U/ml) of myeloperoxidase specific anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (MPO-ANCA). He was diagnosed with MPO-ANCA associated vasculitis. Steroid pulse therapy was started. The patient's clinical symptoms and laboratory data thereafter significantly improved, but after one week the patient's symptom was aggravated and he died. An autopsy was performed, and necrotizing arteritis of the interlobular arteries were found in the kidneys. We found bacterial infective vegetation attached to the aortic valve. Infected thromboembolus and microabscesses were also found in many organs. We report a case of subacute microscopic polyangiitis associated with bacterial endocarditis.

Fluoride antireflection coatings for deep ultraviolet optics deposited by ion-beam sputtering.

Optically high quality coatings of fluoride materials are required in deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography. We have applied ion-beam sputtering (IBS) to obtain fluoride films with smooth surfaces. The extinction coefficients were of the order of 10(-4) at the wavelength of 193 nm due to the reduction of their absorption loss. The transmittance of the MgF2/GdF3 antireflection coating was as high as 99.7% at the wavelength of 193 nm. The surfaces of the IBS deposited films were so smooth that the surface roughness of the A1F3/GdF3 film was comparable with that of the CaF2 substrate. The MgF2/GdF3 coating fulfilled the temperature and humidity requirements of military specification. Thus, the IBS deposited fluoride films are promising candidate for use in the DUV lithography optics.