Discriminant Validity of the Standardized On-Road Assessment for Drivers (SOAD) Among Stroke Patients in Japan.

Introduction: On-road tests are considered the gold standard for evaluating real-world driving skills. However, their reliability and validity remain inadequately established, particularly under varying legal and road conditions across countries.

Aim: This study investigates the discriminant validity of the closed-course version of the Standardized On-Road Assessment for Drivers (SOAD) in Japan.

Development of decision-aid of goal-setting for patients with distal radius fracture: Aid for decision-making in occupation choice for distal radius fracture.

Background: Patients with distal radius fractures (DRFs) encounter significant difficulties and challenges in their daily lives due to their medical condition and a lack of strategies for modifying activities. Occupation-based interventions have emerged as promising strategies to improve occupational performance and participation outcomes, addressing these challenges.

Purpose: This study aims to develop the aid for decision-making in occupation choice for distal radius fracture (ADOC-DRF), a novel decision-aid tool designed to facilitate patient-centered and occupation-based goal-setting by offering illustrations tailored to the postsurgical recovery period and prescribed activity loads.

The Transverse Humeral Ligament: An Anatomical Narrative Review.

Shoulder pain often involves the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii (LHBT) and the transverse humeral ligament (THL). Traditionally, the THL is considered a ligament that prevents the LHBT from dislocating, but recent studies suggest that it may be part of the subscapularis tendon. This review evaluates the nature of the THL and its overlying structures.

An optical BOD biosensor based on intracellular ATP measurements in genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A biosensor for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) was developed based on intracellular 5'-adenosine triphosphate (ATP) measurements in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Intracellular ATP was measured using an engineered protein named ATeam, comprising a bacterial FF-ATP synthase ε subunit sandwiched between cyan fluorescent protein and mVenus, a modified yellow fluorescent protein. Because the binding of ATP to ATeam induces changes in the fluorescence spectra owing to Fӧrster resonance energy transfer, S.

Hyperactivation of human acidic chitinase (Chia) for potential medical use.

Accumulation of environmental chitin in the lungs can lead to pulmonary fibrosis, characterized by inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis in acidic chitinase (Chia)-deficient mice. Transgenic expression of Chia in these mice ameliorated the symptoms, indicating the potential of enzyme supplementation as a promising therapeutic strategy for related lung diseases. This study focuses on utilizing hyperactivated human Chia, which exhibits low activity.

Comparison of muscle synergies in walking and pedaling: the influence of rotation direction and speed.

Background: Understanding the muscle synergies shared between pedaling and walking is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms of human motor control and establishing highly individualized rehabilitation strategies. This study investigated how pedaling direction and speed influence the recruitment of walking-like muscle synergies.

Methods: Twelve healthy male participants pedaled at three speeds (60 RPM, 30 RPM, and 80 RPM) in two rotational directions (forward and backward).

Biofluorometric Acetone Gas Sensor of Sub-ppbv Level Sensitivity.

Acetone gas in exhaled breath and skin gas is produced when fatty acids are used as an energy source in the body. The selective and sensitive continuous measurement of acetone gas would be useful for the early screening of diabetes mellitus, a condition characterized by increased fatty acid metabolism. In particular, there is a growing need for acetone gas sensors that enable the wearable measurement of trace concentrations of acetone gas emitted through the skin.

Tandem Imaging of Breath Ethanol and Acetaldehyde Based on Multiwavelength Enzymatic Biofluorometry.

Highly sensitive and selective imaging of human-borne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) enables an intuitive understanding of their concentrations and release sites. While multi-VOC imaging methods have the potential to facilitate step-by-step metabolic tracking and improve disease screening accuracy, no such system currently exists. In this study, we achieved simultaneous imaging of ethanol (EtOH) and acetaldehyde (AcH), the starting molecule and an intermediate metabolite of alcohol metabolism, using a multiwavelength VOC imaging system.

Association between adequate protein intake and quadriceps quantity and quality during rehabilitation in people with subacute stroke.

Background We aimed to investigate the association between protein intake and quadriceps quantity and quality on the paretic and non-paretic sides during rehabilitation in people with subacute stroke. Method Eighty-six people with stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation ward. We measured quadriceps muscle quantity and quality on the paretic and non-paretic sides using ultrasonography at admission and after 4weeks.

Re-evaluation of the orbicularis oculi muscle as revealed by the analysis of isolated muscle specimens.

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the origin, insertion, and subdivision of the orbicularis oculi in detail with in situ specimens, as well as with isolated muscle specimens from the superficial and deep aspects.

Methods: The periorbital muscles in fifteen cadavers fixed with formalin were examined in situ and/or in isolated muscle specimens, and evaluate their actions.

Results: The orbicularis oculi arose via the nasoglabellar aponeurosis, which was observable in the deep aspect of isolated specimens as a rigid sheet of connective tissue in the middle of both orbits and adhered to the dorsum nasi in situ (100%).

Vascular bundle cell-specific expression of a phosphate transporter improves phosphate use efficiency of transgenic Arabidopsis without detrimental effects.

Constitutive overexpression of phosphate (Pi) transporter family 1 often results in the accumulation of toxic levels of Pi, which causes growth retardation in plants. In contrast, we had previously reported that root epidermis-specific overexpression of the phosphate transporter TaPT2 in Arabidopsis leads to improved growth and Pi use efficiency. In the present study, we used promoters AtHKT1;1 and SKOR, which are predominantly expressed in the vascular bundle tissues, to overexpress TaPT2.

New Method for Tomato Disease Detection Based on Image Segmentation and Cycle-GAN Enhancement.

A major concern in data-driven deep learning (DL) is how to maximize the capability of a model for limited datasets. The lack of high-performance datasets limits intelligent agriculture development. Recent studies have shown that image enhancement techniques can alleviate the limitations of datasets on model performance.

Histopathological analysis of filament formation of Nocardia farcinica in a silkworm infection model.

The silkworm Nocardia infection model has been established as a useful animal model for screening the pathogenicity of Nocardia and evaluating the therapeutic effects of antimicrobial agents against Nocardia infection. No histopathological analysis of silkworms infected with Nocardia farcinica has yet been performed. In this study, we performed histological analyses on organs of silkworms infected with N.

Monitoring of Fatty Acid Derivatives and Vegetable Oils by the Quartz Crystal Microbalance.

This study investigated the characterization of fatty acid derivatives and vegetable oils by the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Resonant frequency and resistance were monitored for fatty acid derivatives and vegetable oils by a QCM sensor at 35℃ and 55℃. The resonant resistance depended on varieties of fatty acid derivatives, although the resonant frequency was similar for them.

Preparation and Catalytic Properties of Gold Single-Atom and Cluster Catalysts Utilizing Nanoparticulate Mg-Al Layered Double Hydroxides.

Au single atoms and clusters were stabilized on Mg-Al layered double hydroxide nanoparticles (LDH NPs), and the obtained Au@LDH NPs were supported on SiO and CeO. After hydrogen reduction, Au single atoms were found together with Au clusters on LDH/SiO. In contrast to Au single-atom catalysts which are deposited in metal vacancies of oxide supports, the LDH NPs stabilize very small Au species despite the absence of metal vacancies.

Alkoxyhydrosilane-facilitated cross-etherification reaction of secondary benzyl alcohol with aliphatic alcohol: synthesis of unsymmetrical dialkyl ethers.

Alkoxyhydorosilane is found to be an effective mediator for the cross-etherification reaction between two distinct alcohols, namely, a secondary benzyl alcohol and an aliphatic alcohol, providing the unsymmetrical dialkyl ethers in good-to-high yields. The reaction is also successfully applied to the lignin model compound, which is an important renewable non-fossil organic carbon source. Initial mechanistic studies indicated that the carbocation derived from benzyl alcohol was formed under the present reaction conditions.

Resveratrol is converted to the ring portion of coenzyme Q10 and raises intracellular coenzyme Q10 levels in HepG2 cell.

Coenzyme Q10 is an essential lipid in the mitochondrial electron transport system and an important antioxidant. It declines with age and in various diseases, there is a need for a method to compensate for the decrease in coenzyme Q10. Resveratrol, a well-known anti-aging compound, has been shown to undergo metabolism to coenzyme Q10's benzene ring moiety in cells.

Transport mechanisms between the endocytic, recycling, and biosynthetic pathways via endosomes and the -Golgi network.

After the endocytic and biosynthetic pathway converge, they partially share the route to the lysosome/vacuole. Similarly, the endocytic recycling and secretory pathways also partially share the route to the plasma membrane. The interaction of these transport pathways is mediated by endosomes and the -Golgi network (TGN), which act as sorting stations in endocytic and biosynthesis pathway, and endosomes has a bidirectional transport to and from the TGN.

Developing a Scale for Home-Visit Nurses to Start End-of-life Discussions with Cancer Patients.

Context: Home-visit nurses find it challenging to determine the appropriate time to initiate end-of-life discussions with cancer patients.

Objective: This study aimed to develop the Timing of End-of-Life Discussions (T-EOLD) scale to help home-visit nurses determine the appropriate time to initiate end-of-life discussions with cancer patients and to test its reliability and validity.

Methods: The scale items were developed based on qualitative data extracted from interviews, literature reviews, and expert panel discussions.

Validity and reliability of the Checklist for Habitual Physical Activity for people 75 years and older in Japan.

Background: Despite health benefits, many older adults struggle to meet physical activity guidelines, leading to stagnant activity levels. While integrating physical activity into daily routines has been proposed as a promising strategy for older adults, fit-for-purpose measurement tools to assess such routines are lacking. The Checklist for Habitual Physical Activity (CHaPA) was developed based on the positive deviance approach and socio-ecological model to assess daily behaviours encouraging physical activity among adults aged 75 and older.

The impact of changes in physical activity on functional recovery for older inpatients in post-acute rehabilitation units.

Purpose: The effect of increased physical activity duration on functional recovery in older inpatients in subacute settings is not well established. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity and functional recovery in older patients receiving post-acute and subacute care.

Methods: We analyzed cohort data of hospitalized older patients (age ≥ 65 years) in the post-acute rehabilitation units.

18-β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Promotes Hair Growth by Stimulating the Proliferation of Dermal Papilla Cells and Outer Root Sheath Cells, and Extends the Anagen Phase by Inhibiting 5α-Reductase.

18-β-Glycyrrhetinic acid, a major component of licorice, stimulated the proliferation of both dermal papilla cells and outer root sheath cells isolated from human hair follicles. Thus, suggesting that this compound promotes hair growth. Furthermore, this compound inhibited the activity of testosterone 5α-reductase, an enzyme responsible for converting androgen to dihydroandrogen, with an IC of 137.