A general swimming response in exhausted obligate swimming fish.

Marine organisms normally swim at elevated speeds relative to cruising speeds only during strenuous activity, such as predation or escape. We measured swimming speeds of 29 ram ventilating sharks from 10 species and of three Atlantic bluefin tunas immediately after exhaustive exercise (fighting a capture by hook-and-line) and unexpectedly found all individuals exhibited a uniform mechanical response, with swimming speed initially two times higher than the cruising speeds reached approximately 6 h later. We hypothesized that elevated swimming behaviour is a means to increase energetic demand and drive the removal of lactate accumulated during capture via oxidation. To explore this hypothesis, we estimated the mechanical work that must have been spent by an animal to elevate its swim speed and then showed that the amount of lactate that could have been oxidized to fuel it comprises a significant portion of the amount of lactate normally observed in fishes after exhaustive exercise. An estimate for the full energetic cost of the catch-and-release event ensued.

Unwillingness to cooperate with COVID-19 contact tracing in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: Contact tracing for COVID-19 relies heavily on the cooperation of individuals with authorities to provide information of contact persons. However, few studies have clarified willingness to cooperate and motivation to provide information for contact tracing. This study sought to describe willingness to cooperate and motivation to report contact persons for COVID-19 contact tracing among citizens in Japan, and to assess any associated sociodemographic factors. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: This was an online-based survey using quota sampling. Participants were asked about their willingness to cooperate in reporting contacts for COVID-19 contact tracing if they tested positive. Participants also responded to questions regarding their reasons for cooperating or not cooperating and provided sociodemographic data. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to clarify associations between sociodemographic factors and willingness to cooperate. RESULTS: This study included 2844 participants. The proportion of participants who were not willing to cooperate in reporting contacts was 27.6%, with their main reasons being concerns about causing trouble for the other person and being criticised for revealing their names. Willingness to cooperate was lower among men, young adults and those with an educational level less than a university degree. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the effectiveness of contact tracing, educational campaigns, such as reducing the fear and stigma associated with COVID-19, may be important. Furthermore, it is essential to understand that individuals may have contacts whom they do not wish to disclose to others and to be considerate when handling such situations.

Precise Measurement of Differential Cross Sections of the Σ

The differential cross sections of the Σ^{-}p→Λn reaction were measured accurately for the Σ^{-} momentum (p_{Σ}) ranging from 470 to 650 MeV/c at the J-PARC Hadron Experimental Facility. Precise angular information about the Σ^{-}p→Λn reaction was obtained for the first time by detecting approximately 100 reaction events at each angular step of Δcosθ=0.1. The obtained differential cross sections show a slightly forward-peaking structure in the measured momentum regions. The cross sections integrated for -0.7≤cosθ≤1.0 were obtained as 22.5±0.68 [statistical error(stat.)] ±0.65 [systematic error(syst.)] mb and 15.8±0.83(stat)±0.52(syst) mb for 470

Transmission of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae associated with sinks in a surgical hospital ward, confirmed by single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although sink- and drain-related carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales transmission has been reported previously, there is limited research regarding the transmission of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales. AIM: To investigate nosocomial ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae transmission via patient sinks and drains on a general surgical hospital ward. METHODS: ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae transmission on a surgical ward at Tokyo Medical University Hospital (built in July 2019) from July 2019 to February 2020 was investigated. Information regarding the relatedness of the isolates from the patients and the environment was provided by whole-genome sequence analysis. FINDINGS: Four clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae (TUM19831, TUM19832, TUM19833 and TUM19834) were detected during the study. TUM19831 was identified prior to moving to the new building and was detected again in the new building. TUM19832 and TUM19833 were detected in July 2019, and TUM19834 was detected in December 2019. TUM19835 and TUM19836 were detected in two different sinks and drains in July 2019, while a further two sinks and drains tested positive for TUM19837 and TUM19838 in February 2020. Whole-genome analysis revealed that all strains were ST307 and CTXM15 sequence types, and the isolates were indistinguishable by genetic analysis. Due to inadequate removal of the slime biofilm coating, the sinks needed to be cleaned again before TUM19837 and TUM19838 could be detected. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the transmission of indistinguishable ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae strains from sinks and drains in the patient area of a general surgical hospital ward. There is a need to recognize this risk and develop optimal management strategies for plumbing systems in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

Thin film growth of CaAgAs by molecular beam epitaxy.

We have grown thin films of CaAgAs by molecular beam epitaxy, which was theoretically proposed to be a topological insulator. The temperature dependence of resistivity and the carrier concentration at 4 K were similar to the reported results of bulk samples. However, the magnetoresistance exhibited a steep increase at low magnetic fields, a behavior not observed for bulk samples. This steep increase of resistivity is ascribable to the weak antilocalization effect and provides clues to the nature of the topological surface state of CaAgAs.

Revisional Notes on the Cloud Forest Butterfly Genus Oxeoschistus Butler in Central America (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae).

So far, six species of Oxeoschistus Butler, including its junior synonym Dioriste Thieme, were listed from Central America, with five of them from Costa Rica alone, which appears to represent the highest regional diversity of this Neotropical montane butterfly genus. Our research based on field work, morphological studies and barcode analysis proved that one record is a misunderstanding perpetuated in scientific literature for over a century: Oxeoschistus cothonides Grose-Smith is identified here as an individual form of the female of O. cothon Salvin. The presence of Oxeoschistus tauropolis (Westwood) in Costa Rica, subject to some controversy, is confirmed, and a new local subspecies is described from Costa Rica, O. tauropolis mitsuko Pyrcz & Nakamura n. ssp. Specific status of O. euriphyle Butler is reinstated based on morphological and molecular data. A new subspecies O. hilara lempira Pyrcz n. ssp. is described from Honduras. O. puerta submaculatus Butler is reported for the first time from the Darién region on the Panama-Colombia border. Species relationships are preliminarily evaluated based on COI data concluding, among others, that O. hilara and O. euriphyle are less closely related than previously assumed. Altitudinal and distributional data are revised, and ecological and behavioural information of all the species of Central American Oxeoschistus is provided.

Selective mass enhancement close to the quantum critical point in BaFe2(As1-x P x )2.

A quantum critical point (QCP) is currently being conjectured for the BaFe2(As1-x P x )2 system at the critical value x c ≈ 0.3. In the proximity of a QCP, all thermodynamic and transport properties are expected to scale with a single characteristic energy, given by the quantum fluctuations. Such a universal behavior has not, however, been found in the superconducting upper critical field H c2. Here we report H c2 data for epitaxial thin films extracted from the electrical resistance measured in very high magnetic fields up to 67 Tesla. Using a multi-band analysis we find that H c2 is sensitive to the QCP, implying a significant charge carrier effective mass enhancement at the doping-induced QCP that is essentially band-dependent. Our results point to two qualitatively different groups of electrons in BaFe2(As1-x P x )2. The first one (possibly associated to hot spots or whole Fermi sheets) has a strong mass enhancement at the QCP, and the second one is insensitive to the QCP. The observed duality could also be present in many other quantum critical systems.

Reflecting microscope system with a 0.99 numerical aperture designed for three-dimensional fluorescence imaging of individual molecules at cryogenic temperatures.

We have developed a cryogenic fluorescence microscope system, the core of which is a reflecting objective that consists of spherical and aspherical mirrors. The use of an aspherical mirror allows the reflecting objective to have a numerical aperture (NA) of up to 0.99, which is close to the maximum possible NA of 1.03 in superfluid helium. The performance of the system at a temperature of 1.7 K was tested by recording a three-dimensional fluorescence image of individual quantum dots using excitation wavelengths (λex) of 532 nm and 635 nm. At 1.7 K, the microscope worked with achromatic and nearly diffraction-limited performance. The 1/e(2) radius (Γ) of the point spread function of the reflecting objective in the lateral (xy) direction was 0.212 ± 0.008 µm at λex = 532 nm and was less than 1.2 times the simulated value for a perfectly polished objective. The radius Γ in the axial (z) direction was 0.91 ± 0.04 µm at λex = 532 nm and was less than 1.4 times the simulated value of Γ. The chromatic aberrations between the two wavelengths were one order of magnitude smaller than Γ in each direction.

New options of antibiotic combination therapy for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Several antibiotic combinations have demonstrated increased activity against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRP) in vitro compared with a single antibiotic. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity against MDRP of some aminoglycosides in combination with monobactam, piperacillin (PIPC), and carbapenem. Clinical isolates of MDRP were collected between November 2010 and October 2012 from patients in Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Tokyo (1,015 beds). Our new method was designed to evaluate three concentrations around the breakpoint of each drug using the Checkerboard method. The aminoglycosides tested were amikacin (AMK), tobramycin (TOB), and arbekacin (ABK). Ciprofloxacin, PIPC, and biapenem (BIPM), which have been reported to demonstrate combination effects, were also tested. Sixty-six MDRP strains were identified from the 2,417 P. aeruginosa strains. Of the 66, 27 tested positive for metallo-ß-lactamase (MBL). Aztreonam (AZT) with AMK or ABK was the most effective against MDRP. PIPC with AMK or ABK were somewhat effective. AZT with AMK or ABK were more effective against MBL-positive strains than MBL-negative strains. However, PIPC with AMK or ABK were more effective against MBL-negative strains than MBL-positive strains. Combination activities showed differences between MBL-positive and MBL-negative strains.

Preclinical anticancer effects and toxicologic assessment of hepatic artery infusion of fine-powder cisplatin with lipiodol in vivo.

We conducted an in vivo study to evaluate the anticancer effect and toxicity of fine-powder cisplatin suspended in lipiodol (fCDDP/LPD suspension) after a single administration of three different doses to rats via the intrahepatic artery after transplantation of rat ascites hepatoma cells. The toxicity of the fCDDP/LPD suspension was also assessed in the same protocol in noncancer-bearing rats and the observed toxicologic changes were compared among groups administered saline (Sal), an aqueous solution of fCDDP (fCDDP/Sal solution), and LPD alone. In parallel with the toxicity test, plasma CDDP concentrations were compared between the fCDDP/LPD suspension and fCDDP/Sal solution. The mean weight of the tumors in the fCDDP/LPD suspension groups was significantly less than in the LPD-alone group. The pathologic changes in the liver observed in the fCDDP/LPD suspension group increased with dose, were more marked compared with those in the fCDDP/Sal solution and LPD-alone groups, and were reversible. No other toxicologic effects were observed. The concentration of CDDP in the plasma in the fCDDP/LPD suspension group was slightly lower than that in the fCDDP/Sal solution group. In conclusion, the results indicate that the fCDDP/LPD suspension has sufficient anticancer efficacy and tolerability for use in the clinical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Characteristics of inspiratory and expiratory reactance in interstitial lung disease.

BACKGROUND: Forced oscillometry is a non-invasive method to measure respiratory resistance and reactance. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of measurements obtained with an impulse oscillation system (IOS) for patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). METHOD: IOS and spirometry were performed in 64 ILD patients, 54 asthma patients, 49 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, and 29 controls. Respiratory resistance and reactance were assessed as measurements averaged over several tidal breaths (whole-breath analysis) and as measurements separately averaged during inspiration and expiration (inspiratory-expiratory analysis). RESULTS: Whole-breath IOS analyses for ILD patients showed increased resistance at 5 Hz and decreased reactance at 5 Hz (X5) compared with controls, although these features were also found in asthma and COPD patients. Inspiratory-expiratory analysis demonstrated that the changes in X5 and reactance area (AX) between inspiration and expiration (ΔX5 and ΔAX, respectively) were significantly different from those in asthma patients, COPD patients, and controls. However, multiple linear regression analysis showed that the presence of ILD was independently associated with ΔX5, but not with ΔAX. Furthermore, ΔX5 was inversely correlated with vital capacity and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide in ILD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ΔX5 is a characteristic feature of IOS measurements in ILD patients, which is clearly different from those in asthma and COPD patients. This within-breath X5 change in ILD might be associated with its severity and physiological abnormality, although further studies are needed to investigate its cause.

Prevention of tumor growth by needle-free jet injection of anti-C7orf24 siRNA.

Chromosome 7 open reading frame 24 (C7orf24), which was identified by proteome analysis, is upregulated in various types of cancer and is associated with cellular proliferation. However, in vivo antitumor effect by knockdown of C7orf24 has not been clarified. In this study, we investigated that the antitumor effect of anti-C7orf24 small interfering RNA (siRNA) administered by needle-free jet injection (JI) on lung cancer-bearing mice. Transfection of anti-C7orf24 siRNA induced cytotoxicity in cultured human lung cancer cells through specific knockdown of C7orf24. Furthermore, JI could effectively deliver anti-C7orf24 siRNA to tumor tissues, and as a result tumor growth was significantly inhibited. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that C7orf24 levels were significantly reduced within tumor tissues collected from anti-C7orf24 siRNA-administered mice, indicating that the knockdown of C7orf24 induced cytotoxicity in tumor tissue. In conclusion, these data show for the first time that knockdown of C7orf24 prevents tumor growth in vivo following JI-mediated the siRNA delivery.

Febrile period and maximum body temperature in patients with measles over 15 years old.

The medical records of Japanese patients with measles, age 15 to 39 years old, were analyzed for febrile period in 200 patients and maximum body temperature in 211 patients. The febrile periods by age group were as follows: 7.7 +/- 1.4 days, 7.8 +/- 1.7 days, 8.1 +/- 1.7 days, 8.1 +/- 2.4 days and 7.5 +/- 1.4 days in 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34 and 35-39 year-olds, respectively. No significant differences in febrile periods were identified among the different age groups. A maximum body temperature over 40 degrees C was seen in 61, 58, 59, 50 and 33% of the 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34 and 35-39 year-olds, respectively. The results of our study indicate age is not a determining factor for febrile period, but maximum body temperature may be lower in older than in younger patients with measles.

Changes in mRNAs encoding steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, steroidogenic enzymes and receptors for gonadotropins during spermatogenesis in rainbow trout testes.

In vertebrates, sperm development and maturation are directly regulated by gonadal steroid hormone secretion. The relationships among the expression of genes encoding steroidogenic proteins and receptors for gonadotropins, and testicular steroid production have not yet been comprehensively determined in male teleosts. In this study, the changes in levels of mRNAs encoding follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor, luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage, 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta5-4-isomerase, cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase, cytochrome P450 11beta-hydroxylase, 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 20beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were determined by real-time, quantitative PCR assays and related to changes in serum steroid levels throughout the reproductive cycle in male rainbow trout. Serum 11-ketotestosterone and 17alpha,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one levels were measured by RIA. Although the pattern of change in the mRNA levels for the enzymes was variable, the increases in steroidogenic enzyme mRNAs started prior to a significant increase of serum steroid levels. The patterns of transcript levels of FSH and LH receptors suggest that changes in StAR and steroidogenic enzyme transcripts are largely mediated by the FSH receptor during early and mid-spermatogenesis and by the LH receptor during late spermatogenesis and spermiation. Levels of StAR (10-fold) and P450 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (sevenfold) transcripts changed with the greatest magnitude and were closely related to the changes in serum steroids, suggesting that changes in StAR and P450 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase abundance are likely to be the major influences on overall steroidogenic output during the reproductive cycle in male rainbow trout.

Signal transduction pathways of calcitonin/calcitonin receptor regulating cytoskeletal organization and bone-resorbing activity of osteoclasts.

Calcitonin is a calcium-regulating peptide hormone that acts directly on osteoclasts and suppresses their function. In this review we will focus on the downstream signaling pathways of calcitonin receptor regulating cytoskeletal organization of osteoclasts. We will also introduce the clinical application of the hormone for metabolic bone diseases.

NK105, a paclitaxel-incorporating micellar nanoparticle formulation, can extend in vivo antitumour activity and reduce the neurotoxicity of paclitaxel.

Paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the most effective anticancer agents. In clinical practice, however, high incidences of adverse reactions of the drug, for example, neurotoxicity, myelosuppression, and allergic reactions, have been reported. NK105, a micellar nanoparticle formulation, was developed to overcome these problems and to enhance the antitumour activity of PTX. Via the self-association process, PTX was incorporated into the inner core of the micelle system by physical entrapment through hydrophobic interactions between the drug and the well-designed block copolymers for PTX. NK105 was compared with free PTX with respect to their in vitro cytotoxicity, in vivo antitumour activity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and neurotoxicity. Consequently, the plasma area under the curve (AUC) values were approximately 90-fold higher for NK105 than for free PTX because the leakage of PTX from normal blood vessels was minimal and its capture by the reticuloendothelial system minimised. Thus, the tumour AUC value was 25-fold higher for NK105 than for free PTX. NK105 showed significantly potent antitumour activity on a human colorectal cancer cell line HT-29 xenograft as compared with PTX (P<0.001) because the enhanced accumulation of the drug in the tumour has occurred, probably followed by its effective and sustained release from micellar nanoparticles. Neurotoxicity was significantly weaker with NK105 than with free PTX. The neurotoxicity of PTX was attenuated by NK105, which was demonstrated by both histopathological (P<0.001) and physiological (P<0.05) methods for the first time. The present study suggests that NK105 warrants a clinical trial for patients with metastatic solid tumours.

Suppression of inferior alveolar nerve-induced vasoconstrictor response by ongoing cervical sympathetic nerve activity in cat.

We examined the effects of ongoing cervical sympathetic trunk (CST) stimulation on the vasoconstrictor responses in the lower lip elicited by electrical stimulation (ES) of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) or CST in anaesthetised cats to determine whether (i) the previously reported suppressive effect of ongoing CST activity on IAN-induced vasoconstriction occurs during not only ipsilateral, but also contralateral CST stimulation; and (ii) a vasoconstriction can be elicited by brief CST stimulation during ongoing stimulation of the contralateral CST. The central lower lip blood vessels are innervated by both left and right CST. The fall in central lip blood flow (LBF) elicited by IAN stimulation alone was reduced in a frequency-dependent manner during concurrent CST stimulation at 0.2-2 Hz, and at the high end of this frequency range was transformed to a rise regardless of whether the CST stimulation was ipsilateral or contralateral to the IAN stimulation. The fall in central LBF elicited by stimulation of one CST was not transformed to a rise by ongoing stimulation of the contralateral CST. Possibly, IAN-evoked orofacial vasoconstriction does not occur under physiological conditions (unlike IAN-evoked vasodilatation) because it is suppressed by the spontaneous sympathetic discharge in CST.