Evaluation of Matrix Effects in SIMS Using Gaussian Process Regression: The Case of Olivine Mg Isotope Microanalysis.

Rationale: Matrix effects by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) are empirically corrected by calibration using matrix-matched reference materials. However, conventional parametric regression cannot estimate the prediction uncertainty to account for the difference in compositions of new data and reference materials. Applying Gaussian process regression (GPR), a nonparametric probabilistic method, enables the correction for matrix effect while providing quantitative prediction uncertainty.

Association Between Changes in Heart Rate and Adverse Events in Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Post Hoc Analysis of the J-RHYTHM Registry.

Background: We previously reported that the heart rate (HR) at the time closest to an event or at the last visit during the follow-up period (HR-end) was more closely associated with adverse events (AEs) than baseline HR in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, it remains uncertain whether changes in HR during the follow-up period or absolute HR values would be more closely associated with AEs. Thus, we performed post hoc analyses using data from the J-RHYTHM Registry.

Efficacy and Safety of Phosphate-Lowering Agents for Adult Patients with CKD Requiring Dialysis: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Key Points: Sevelamer was associated with lower all-cause mortality compared with calcium-based agents. Sucroferric oxyhydroxide and tenapanor were estimated to rank high in lowering all-cause mortality compared with other phosphate-lowering agents. Sucroferric oxyhydroxide and lanthanum were associated with slower progression of coronary artery calcium score compared with calcium-based agents.

Effectiveness of an Instructional Design-Based Self-Management Program for Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background: In recent years, various psychological interventions have garnered attention as effective support methods to promote self-management and comprehensively understand those with physical and psychological problems associated with knee pain. The purpose of this study was to implement an instructional design (ID) based self-management program for outpatients diagnosed with KOA and to verify the effectiveness of the program.

Methods: In this single-arm uncontrolled before‒after comparative intervention study, 41 subjects diagnosed with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis participated in an intervention program.

Postural Sway Characteristics Distinguish Types of Dementia.

Objectives: The increasing number of patients with dementia necessitates the development of rapid and convenient tools to assist with dementia diagnosis. We previously demonstrated the difference in the postural control characteristics during static standing among Alzheimer disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and vascular dementia (VaD). In this study, we evaluated the classification accuracy of the postural sway test to assess its capacity to distinguish between types of dementia.

Introduction risk of fire ants through container cargo in ports: Data integration approach considering a logistic network.

Invasive alien species introduced to ports through cargo containers have destroyed the biodiversity worldwide. The introduction risk at ports must be estimated to control the early stages of invasion. However, limited data are available for this estimation in the introduction stage.

Ability of pulse oximetry-derived indices to predict hypotension after spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cesarean deliveries are often performed under spinal anesthesia because of the reduced risk of complications compared with that of general anesthesia. However, hypotension frequently occurs and adversely affects both the mother and fetus. Indices, such as the perfusion index (PI) and pleth variability index (PVI), which are derived from pulse oximetry have been used in numerous studies to predict hypotension after spinal anesthesia.

Renoprotective effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation in patients with chronic kidney disease: a protocol for a systematic review.

Introduction: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble vitamin-like quinone. The plasma levels of CoQ10 are reduced in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CoQ10 supplementation can improve mitochondrial function and decrease oxidative stress in these patients.

Differences in phenotypes, treatments, and outcomes of ANCA-associated vasculitis across Europe, Japan and the USA in 2020.

Objectives: To clarify the differences in clinical phenotypes, therapeutic patterns, and outcomes of patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) across geographic regions using a multinational cohort.

Methods: Data were collected from patients with newly diagnosed or relapsing GPA or MPA in Europe, Japan and the USA from January to July 2020. The composite outcome of kidney failure and/or death within 52 weeks after treatment was evaluated, and the hazard ratios across the regions were estimated using the Cox proportional hazard model.

Long-term changes in carotid intima-media thickness according to baseline blood pressure level: J-STARS Echo study.

Background And Aims: We aimed to investigate long-term changes in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) based on baseline blood pressure (BP) levels in non-cardioembolic stroke patients.

Methods: Patients aged 45-80 years with dyslipidemia who were not on statins before enrollment and had experienced a non-cardioembolic stroke were assigned to either the pravastatin group or the control group in a randomized trial. Patients were classified into three groups according to BP levels: normal BP (N-group: systolic BP [sBP] <140 mmHg and diastolic BP [dBP] <90 mmHg), highly elevated BP (G2 group: sBP ≥160 mmHg or dBP ≥100 mmHg), and mildly elevated BP (G1 group: the remaining patients).

Estimation of tsunami direction and horizontal velocity field from tsunami magnetic field.

During tsunamis, the interaction between moving seawater and the Earth's magnetic field generates a magnetic field detectable by electromagnetic sensors located on land or on the seafloor. In this study, we introduce new methods for estimating tsunami propagation direction and horizontal velocity fields using tsunami magnetic field data. We derive a transfer function that establishes a relationship between the tsunami magnetic field and the velocity field, emphasizing the alignment between the horizontal magnetic field and the tsunami's propagation direction.

Comprehensive experimental datasets of quasicrystals and their approximants.

Quasicrystals are solid-state materials that typically exhibit unique symmetries, such as icosahedral or decagonal diffraction symmetry. They were first discovered in 1984. Over the past four decades of quasicrystal research, around 100 stable quasicrystals have been discovered.

The impact of maternal prenatal psychological distress on the development of epilepsy in offspring: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

The relationship between maternal prenatal psychological distress and epilepsy development in offspring has not yet been clarified. Herein, we used a dataset obtained from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a nationwide birth cohort study, to evaluate the association between six-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) scores and epilepsy among 1-3 years old. The data of 97,484 children were retrospectively analyzed.

Comparative effects of behaviour change techniques using eHealth and mHealth in promoting dietary behaviour: protocol for a systematic review and component network meta-analysis.

Introduction: Globally, it is estimated that dietary habits contribute to 22% of adult deaths and 15% of disability-adjusted life years, highlighting the critical role of dietary behaviour in public health. Despite the known benefits of healthy eating, many individuals find it challenging to change their diet for disease prevention. eHealth and mHealth interventions using behaviour change techniques (BCTs) have emerged as promising strategies to address this issue.

Rational partitioning of spectral feature space for effective clustering of massive spectral image data.

We have successfully proposed and demonstrated a clustering method that overcomes the "needle-in-a-haystack problem" (finding minuscule important regions from massive spectral image data sets). The needle-in-a-haystack problem is of central importance in the characterization of materials since in bulk materials, the properties of a very tiny region often dominate the entire function. To solve this problem, we propose that rational partitioning of the spectral feature space in which spectra are distributed, or defining of the decision boundaries for clustering, can be performed by focusing on the discrimination limit defined by the measurement noise and partitioning the space at intervals of this limit.

Antiplatelets for Cardiovascular Disease in Non-valvular AF with Rivaroxaban: A Subanalysis of the EXPAND Study.

Aim: In this subanalysis of the EXPAND study, we evaluated the risks and benefits of rivaroxaban plus antiplatelet therapy (APT) for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) complicated by stable coronary artery disease (CAD), ischemic stroke, or peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Methods: From the EXPAND study population (n=7,141), patients with NVAF complicated by stable CAD (n=886), ischemic stroke (n=1,231), or PAD (n=160) were included. Patients complicated by any of them were set as ALL (n=2,030).

Long-Term Effects of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Depression Prevention Among University Students: Randomized Controlled Factorial Trial.

Background: Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) shows promise in the prevention of depression. However, the specific iCBT components that contribute to its effectiveness remain unclear.

Objective: We aim to evaluate the effects of iCBT components in preventing depression among university students.

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents for preventing acute kidney injury.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterised by a rapid decline in kidney function and is caused by a variety of clinical conditions. The incidence of AKI in hospitalised adults is high. In animal studies, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) have been shown to act as a novel nephroprotective agent against ischaemic, toxic, and septic AKI by inhibiting apoptosis, promoting cell proliferation, and inducing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses.

Anti-epileptic drug use and subsequent degenerative dementia occurrence.

Introduction: The use of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) in degenerative dementia (DD) remains uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the association of early AED administration with subsequent DD occurrence.

Methods: Using a large nationwide database, we enrolled patients newly diagnosed with epilepsy from 2014 to 2019 ( = 104,225), and using propensity score matching, we divided them into treatment (those prescribed AEDs in 2014) and control groups.

Unsupervised decomposition of natural monkey behavior into a sequence of motion motifs.

Nonhuman primates (NHPs) exhibit complex and diverse behavior that typifies advanced cognitive function and social communication, but quantitative and systematical measure of this natural nonverbal processing has been a technical challenge. Specifically, a method is required to automatically segment time series of behavior into elemental motion motifs, much like finding meaningful words in character strings. Here, we propose a solution called SyntacticMotionParser (SMP), a general-purpose unsupervised behavior parsing algorithm using a nonparametric Bayesian model.

Distinct roles of monkey OFC-subcortical pathways in adaptive behavior.

Primates must adapt to changing environments by optimizing their behavior to make beneficial choices. At the core of adaptive behavior is the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) of the brain, which updates choice value through direct experience or knowledge-based inference. Here, we identify distinct neural circuitry underlying these two separate abilities.

SoDCoD: a comprehensive database of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase conformational diversity caused by ALS-linked gene mutations and other perturbations.

A structural alteration in copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is one of the common features caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-linked mutations. Although a large number of SOD1 variants have been reported in ALS patients, the detailed structural properties of each variant are not well summarized. We present SoDCoD, a database of superoxide dismutase conformational diversity, collecting our comprehensive biochemical analyses of the structural changes in SOD1 caused by ALS-linked gene mutations and other perturbations.

A large-scale, observational study to investigate the current status of diabetes complication and their prevention in Japan: incidence/risk factors for malignancies during follow-up-JDCP study 11 (English version).

In the large-scale, prospective, observational JDCP study, a total of 5944 people with type 2 diabetes (mean age at baseline, 61.4 years old; women, 39.9%; and duration of diabetes, 10.