Superficial Thoracic Artery Perforator Flap for Volume Replacement Oncoplastic Breast-conserving Surgery.

Lateral chest wall perforator flaps, such as the lateral intercostal artery perforator flap, lateral thoracic artery perforator flap, and thoracodorsal artery perforator flap, have been used for volume replacement oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (VR-OPBCS) in the lateral and central breast. However, there are cases in which these perforators are missing or too thin, making it difficult to raise a flap for partial breast reconstruction. A 58-year-old woman underwent VR-OPBCS for breast cancer in the lower quadrant of the right breast. Preoperative imaging studies did not identify lateral thoracic artery perforator or thoracodorsal artery perforator but identified a well-developed superficial thoracic artery perforator (STAP). A flap based on the STAP was dissected, and partial breast reconstruction was performed. The flap survived with no complications. No deformity of the lower breast or displacement of the nipple-areola complex was observed 8 months after the completion of postoperative radiotherapy. The STAP flap can be used as an alternative to VR-OPBCS when other lateral chest wall perforator flaps are unavailable.

Morphological reconstruction during cell regeneration in the ciliate Spirostomum ambiguum.

When the ciliate Spirostomum ambiguum is transected into two pieces, both fragments regenerate and proliferate. In the anterior fragments, which have lost their contractile vacuoles due to transection, new contractile vacuoles were formed at their posterior ends in a few minutes. When the cells were cut into three pieces, new contractile vacuoles were formed in the anterior and middle fragments, both at their posterior ends. Thus, the anterior-posterior axis of S. ambiguum was maintained after transection. Morphological repair, including the formation of the contractile vacuole, was also observed when only the anteriormost portion was transected to cut out a small fragment that did not contain part of the macronucleus. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to observe changes in the shape of the cleavage surface of S. ambiguum during the wound healing process. Within minutes after cutting, the cut surface was covered with a cilia-free membrane, preventing leakage of cytoplasmic contents. The surface of the cut area then rounded with time and was covered with cilia, completing the repair of the cut area in about one day.

Spectral Analysis and Information Entropy Approaches to Data of VLF Disturbances in the Waveguide Earth-Ionosphere.

Very low frequency (VLF) signals are considered as an important tool to study ionosphere disturbances. We have studied variations in signal amplitude of the Japanese JJI transmitter received by a network of eight Japan stations. The distinctions between characteristics of daytime and nighttime disturbances are considered. Signal processing based on spectral analysis is used to evaluate typical periodicities in the VLF signals in the time range from minutes to hours. In particular, we have retrieved quasi-wave oscillations of the received signal with periods of 4-10 and 20-25 min, which can be associated with atmospheric gravity waves excited by the solar terminator, earthquakes or other reasons. In addition, oscillations at periods of 3-4 h are observed, probably, caused by long-period gravity waves. We also calculate the information entropy to identify main details in daily VLF variations and influence of solar flares. It is shown that the information entropy increases near sunrise and sunset with seasonal variation, and that solar flares also lead to the growth in information entropy. A theoretical interpretation is given to the typical features of ultra-low frequency modulation of VLF electronagnetic wave spectra in Waveguide Earth-Ionosphere, found by processing the experimental data.

A New Electric Field Mill Network to Estimate Temporal Variation of Simplified Charge Model in an Isolated Thundercloud.

The gross charge distribution in an electrified cloud has already been estimated by polarity distribution of the electrostatic field on the ground surface. While either a dipole or a tripole charge structure is commonly accepted, the increase-decrease and motion of each point charge in those models are both still unclear. This paper presents a new network of electric field mills for multipoint electrostatic measurement to evaluate the temporal variations of a simple cloud charge model with second-scale resolution. Details of our newly developed equipment are described, with an emphasis on its advantages. This network was deployed in the north Kanto area of Japan and operated during the summer season in 2020. In order to simplify the relationship between cloud charge positions and the horizontal distribution of the measured electrostatic field, an isolated thundercloud is focused on. As an initial analysis, a negative point charge model is applied to an isolated cloud observed on 27 August 2020. The quantity and height of the point charge were estimated as being approximately -20 C and 7 km, respectively. The calculated charge location is generally coincident with the C-band radar echo regions. Significant correspondence is demonstrated between the intensity distribution of the electrostatic fields measured at seven sites and that calculated with estimated point charge. This result indicates the possibility to determine the amounts and positions of cloud charges inside the dipole charge structure based on multipoint measurement of the electrostatic field.

Statistical and Criticality Analysis of the Lower Ionosphere Prior to the 30 October 2020 Samos (Greece) Earthquake (M6.9), Based on VLF Electromagnetic Propagation Data as Recorded by a New VLF/LF Receiver Installed in Athens (Greece).

In this work we present the statistical and criticality analysis of the very low frequency (VLF) sub-ionospheric propagation data recorded by a VLF/LF radio receiver which has recently been established at the University of West Attica in Athens (Greece). We investigate a very recent, strong (M6.9), and shallow earthquake (EQ) that occurred on 30 October 2020, very close to the northern coast of the island of Samos (Greece). We focus on the reception data from two VLF transmitters, located in Turkey and Israel, on the basis that the EQ's epicenter was located within or very close to the 5th Fresnel zone, respectively, of the corresponding sub-ionospheric propagation path. Firstly, we employed in our study the conventional analyses known as the nighttime fluctuation method (NFM) and the terminator time method (TTM), aiming to reveal any statistical anomalies prior to the EQ's occurrence. These analyses revealed statistical anomalies in the studied sub-ionospheric propagation paths within ~2 weeks and a few days before the EQ's occurrence. Secondly, we performed criticality analysis using two well-established complex systems' time series analysis methods-the natural time (NT) analysis method, and the method of critical fluctuations (MCF). The NT analysis method was applied to the VLF propagation quantities of the NFM, revealing criticality indications over a period of ~2 weeks prior to the Samos EQ, whereas MCF was applied to the raw receiver amplitude data, uncovering the time excerpts of the analyzed time series that present criticality which were closest before the Samos EQ. Interestingly, power-law indications were also found shortly after the EQ's occurrence. However, it is shown that these do not correspond to criticality related to EQ preparation processes. Finally, it is noted that no other complex space-sourced or geophysical phenomenon that could disturb the lower ionosphere did occur during the studied time period or close after, corroborating the view that our results prior to the Samos EQ are likely related to this mainshock.

Unusual Surface Latent Heat Flux Variations and Their Critical Dynamics Revealed before Strong Earthquakes.

We focus on the possible thermal channel of the well-known Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) mechanism to identify the behavior of thermal anomalies during and prior to strong seismic events. For this, we investigate the variation of Surface Latent Heat Flux (SLHF) as resulting from satellite observables. We demonstrate a spatio-temporal variation in the SLHF before and after a set of strong seismic events occurred in Kathmandu, Nepal, and Kumamoto, Japan, having magnitudes of 7.8, 7.3, and 7.0, respectively. Before the studied earthquake cases, significant enhancements in the SLHF were identified near the epicenters. Additionally, in order to check whether critical dynamics, as the signature of a complex phenomenon such as earthquake preparation, are reflected in the SLHF data, we performed a criticality analysis using the natural time analysis method. The approach to criticality was detected within one week before each mainshock.

Gravity Wave Activity in the Stratosphere before the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake as the Mechanism of Lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere Coupling.

The precursory atmospheric gravity wave (AGW) activity in the stratosphere has been investigated in our previous paper by studying an inland Kumamoto earthquake (EQ). We are interested in whether the same phenomenon occurs or not before another major EQ, especially an oceanic EQ. In this study, we have examined the stratospheric AGW activity before the oceanic 2011 Tohoku EQ (Mw 9.0), while using the temperature profiles that were retrieved from ERA5. The potential energy (EP) of AGW has enhanced from 3 to 7 March, 4-8 days before the EQ. The active region of the precursory AGW first appeared around the EQ epicenter, and then expanded omnidirectionally, but mainly toward the east, covering a wide area of 2500 km (in longitude) by 1500 km (in latitude). We also found the influence of the present AGW activity on some stratospheric parameters. The stratopause was heated and descended; the ozone concentration was also reduced and the zonal wind was reversed at the stratopause altitude before the EQ. These abnormalities of the stratospheric AGW and physical/chemical parameters are most significant on 5-6 March, which are found to be consistent in time and spatial distribution with the lower ionospheric perturbation, as detected by our VLF network observations. We have excluded the other probabilities by the processes of elimination and finally concluded that the abnormal phenomena observed in the present study are EQ precursors, although several potential sources can generate AGW activities and chemical variations in the stratosphere. The present paper shows that the abnormal stratospheric AGW activity has also been detected even before an oceanic EQ, and the AGW activity has obliquely propagated upward and further disturbed the lower ionosphere. This case study has provided further support to the AGW hypothesis of the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling process.

Natural Time Analysis of Global Navigation Satellite System Surface Deformation: The Case of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes.

In order to have further evidence of the atmospheric oscillation channel of the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling (LAIC), we have studied criticality in global navigation satellite system (GNSS) surface deformation as a possible agent for exciting atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) in the atmosphere and GNSS fluctuations in the frequency range of AGWs with the use of the natural time (NT) method. The target earthquake (EQ) is the 2016 Kumamoto EQ with its main shock on 15 April 2016 (M = 7.3, universal time). As the result of the application of the NT method to GNSS data, we found that for the one-day sampled GNSS deformation data and its fluctuations in two AGW bands of 20-100 and 100-300 min, we could detect a criticality in the period of 1-14 April, which was one day to two weeks before the EQ. These dates of criticalities are likely to overlap with the time periods of previous results on clear AGW activity in the stratosphere and on the lower ionospheric perturbation. Hence, we suggest that the surface deformation could be a possible candidate for exciting those AGWs in the stratosphere, leading to the lower ionospheric perturbation, which lends further support to the AGW hypothesis of the LAIC process.

Hadronic Light-by-Light Scattering Contribution to the Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment from Lattice QCD.

We report the first result for the hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment with all errors systematically controlled. Several ensembles using 2+1 flavors of physical mass Möbius domain-wall fermions, generated by the RBC and UKQCD collaborations, are employed to take the continuum and infinite volume limits of finite volume lattice QED+QCD. We find a_{µ}^{HLbL}=7.87(3.06)_{stat}(1.77)_{sys}×10^{-10}. Our value is consistent with previous model results and leaves little room for this notoriously difficult hadronic contribution to explain the difference between the standard model and the BNL experiment.

Pediludiella daitoensis gen. et sp. nov. (Scenedesmaceae, Chlorophyceae), a large coccoid green alga isolated from a Loxodes ciliate.

Freshwater protists often harbor unicellular green algae within their cells. In ciliates, possibly because of large host cell sizes and the small size of algal coccoids, a single host cell typically contains more than a hundred algal cells. While surveying such algae-bearing protists on Minami Daito Jima Island in Japan, we found a green Loxodes ciliate (Loxodida, Karyorelictea) that contained one or two dozens of very large coccoid algae. We isolated one of these algae and analyzed its characteristics in detail. A small subunit (SSU) rDNA phylogeny indicated Pseudodidymocystis species (Scenedesmaceae, Chlorophyceae) to be the taxon closest to the alga, although it was clearly separated from this by 39 or more different sites (inclusive of gaps). SSU rRNA structure analyses indicated that these displacements included eight compensatory base changes (CBCs) and seven hemi-CBCs. We therefore concluded that this alga belongs to a separate genus, and described it as Pediludiella daitoensis gen. et sp. nov. The shape of the isolated and cultured P. daitoensis was nearly spherical and reached up to 30 µm in diameter. Chloroplasts were arranged peripherally and often split and elongated. Cells were often vacuolated and possessed a net-like cytoplasm that resembled a football (soccer ball) in appearance, which was reflected in the genus name.

On Possible Electromagnetic Precursors to a Significant Earthquake (Mw = 6.3) Occurred in Lesvos (Greece) on 12 June 2017.

This paper reports an attempt to use ultra-low-frequency (ULF) magnetic field data from a space weather monitoring magnetometer array in the study of earthquake (EQ) precursors in Greece. The data from four magnetometer stations of the HellENIc GeoMagnetic Array (ENIGMA) have been analyzed in the search for possible precursors to a strong EQ that occurred south of Lesvos Island on 12 June 2017, with magnitude Mw = 6.3 and focal depth = 12 km. The analysis includes conventional statistical methods, as well as criticality analysis, using two independent methods, the natural time (NT) method and the method of critical fluctuations (MCF). In terms of conventional statistical methods, it is found that the most convincing ULF precursor was observed in the data of ULF (20-30 mHz) depression (depression of the horizontal component of the magnetic field), which is indicative of lower ionospheric perturbation just 1 day before the EQ. Additionally, there are indications of a precursor in the direct ULF emission from the lithosphere 4 days to 1 day before the EQ. Further study in terms of NT analysis identifies criticality characteristics from 8 to 2 days before the EQ both for lithospheric ULF emission and ULF depression, while MCF reveals indications of criticality in all recorded magnetic field components, extending from 10 to 3 days before the EQ. Beyond the recordings of the geomagnetic stations of ENIGMA, the recordings of the fracto-electromagnetic emission stations of the HELlenic Seismo-ElectroMagnetics Network (ELSEM-Net) in Greece have been analyzed. The MHz recordings at the station that is located on Lesvos Island presented criticality characteristics (by means of both NT analysis and MCF) 11 days before the EQ, while a few days later (7-6 days before the EQ), the kHz recordings of the same station presented tricritical behavior. It is noted that the magnetosphere was quiet for a period of two weeks before the EQ and including its occurrence.

Criticality Analysis of the Lower Ionosphere Perturbations Prior to the 2016 Kumamoto (Japan) Earthquakes as Based on VLF Electromagnetic Wave Propagation Data Observed at Multiple Stations.

The perturbations of the ionosphere which are observed prior to significant earthquakes (EQs) have long been investigated and could be considered promising for short-term EQ prediction. One way to monitor ionospheric perturbations is by studying VLF/LF electromagnetic wave propagation through the lower ionosphere between specific transmitters and receivers. For this purpose, a network of eight receivers has been deployed throughout Japan which receive subionospheric signals from different transmitters located both in the same and other countries. In this study we analyze, in terms of the recently proposed natural time analysis, the data recorded by the above-mentioned network prior to the catastrophic 2016 Kumamoto fault-type EQs, which were as huge as the former 1995 Kobe EQ. These EQs occurred within a two-day period (14 April: M W = 6.2 and M W = 6.0 , 15 April: M W = 7.0 ) at shallow depths (~10 km), while their epicenters were adjacent. Our results show that lower ionospheric perturbations present critical dynamics from two weeks up to two days before the main shock occurrence. The results are compared to those by the conventional nighttime fluctuation method obtained for the same dataset and exhibit consistency. Finally, the temporal evolutions of criticality in ionospheric parameters and those in the lithosphere as seen from the ULF electromagnetic emissions are discussed in the context of the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling.

The Behavior of VLF/LF Variations Associated with Geomagnetic Activity, Earthquakes, and the Quiet Condition Using a Neural Network Approach.

The neural network approach is proposed for studying very-low- and low-frequency (VLF and LF) subionospheric radio wave variations in the time vicinities of magnetic storms and earthquakes, with the purpose of recognizing anomalies of different types. We also examined the days with quiet geomagnetic conditions in the absence of seismic activity, in order to distinguish between the disturbed signals and the quiet ones. To this end, we trained the neural network (NN) on the examples of the representative database. The database included both the VLF/LF data that was measured during four-year monitoring at the station in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, and the parameters of seismicity in the Kuril-Kamchatka and Japan regions. It was shown that the neural network can distinguish between the disturbed and undisturbed signals. Furthermore, the prognostic behavior of the VLF/LF variations indicative of magnetic and seismic activity has a different appearance in the time vicinity of the earthquakes and magnetic storms.

The NADPH Oxidase Inhibitor Apocynin Suppresses Preneoplastic Liver Foci of Rats.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been revealed to be important factors for carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Therefore, we focused on an ROS-generating protein, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, and evaluated whether its inhibitor, apocynin, could suppress hepatocarcinogenesis in a medium-term rat liver bioassay. The number and size of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci were significantly reduced by apocynin in a dose-dependent manner. The reduction of ROS generation by apocynin was confirmed by dihydroethidium staining. Apocynin treatment also significantly reduced Ki-67 positivity, downregulated cyclooxygenase 2, and suppressed the activation of the c-Myc pathway. Meanwhile, ROS generation was not different between GST-P-positive foci and surrounding GST-P-negative areas of the liver. In conclusion, the present data suggest that apocynin possesses a potential antihepatocarcinogenic property.

Statistical Evaluations of Variations in Dairy Cows' Milk Yields as a Precursor of Earthquakes.

Previous studies have provided quantitative data regarding unusual animal behavior prior to earthquakes; however, few studies include long-term, observational data. Our previous study revealed that the milk yields of dairy cows decreased prior to an extremely large earthquake. To clarify whether the milk yields decrease prior to earthquakes, we examined the relationship between earthquakes of various magnitudes and daily milk yields. The observation period was one year. In the results, cross-correlation analyses revealed a significant negative correlation between earthquake occurrence and milk yields approximately three weeks beforehand. Approximately a week and a half beforehand, a positive correlation was revealed, and the correlation gradually receded to zero as the day of the earthquake approached. Future studies that use data from a longer observation period are needed because this study only considered ten earthquakes and therefore does not have strong statistical power. Additionally, we compared the milk yields with the subionospheric very low frequency/low frequency (VLF/LF) propagation data indicating ionospheric perturbations. The results showed that anomalies of VLF/LF propagation data emerged prior to all of the earthquakes following decreases in milk yields; the milk yields decreased earlier than propagation anomalies. We mention how ultralow frequency magnetic fields are a stimulus that could reduce milk yields. This study suggests that dairy cow milk yields decrease prior to earthquakes, and that they might respond to stimuli emerging earlier than ionospheric perturbations.

Connected and Leading Disconnected Hadronic Light-by-Light Contribution to the Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment with a Physical Pion Mass.

We report a lattice QCD calculation of the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment at a physical pion mass. The calculation includes the connected diagrams and the leading, quark-line-disconnected diagrams. We incorporate algorithmic improvements developed in our previous work. The calculation was performed on the 48^{3}×96 ensemble generated with a physical pion mass and a 5.5 fm spatial extent by the RBC and UKQCD Collaborations using the chiral, domain wall fermion formulation. We find a_{µ}^{HLbL}=5.35(1.35)×10^{-10}, where the error is statistical only. The finite-volume and finite lattice-spacing errors could be quite large and are the subject of ongoing research. The omitted disconnected graphs, while expected to give a correction of order 10%, also need to be computed.

Vertical profile of atmospheric conductivity that matches Schumann resonance observations.

We introduce the vertical profile of atmospheric conductivity in the range from 2 to 98 km. The propagation constant of extremely low frequency (ELF) radio waves was computed for this profile by using the full wave solution. A high correspondence is demonstrated of the data thus obtained to the conventional standard heuristic model of ELF propagation constant derived from the Schumann resonance records performed all over the world. We also suggest the conductivity profiles for the ambient day and ambient night conditions. The full wave solution technique was applied for obtaining the corresponding frequency dependence of propagation constant relevant to these profiles. By using these propagation constants, we computed the power spectra of Schumann resonance in the vertical electric field component for the uniform global distribution of thunderstorms and demonstrate their close similarity in all the models. We also demonstrate a strong correspondence between the wave attenuation rate obtained for these conductivity profiles and the measured ones by using the ELF radio transmissions.

Criticality features in ULF magnetic fields prior to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake.

The criticality of ULF (Ultra-low-frequency) magnetic variations is investigated for the 2011 March 11 Tohoku earthquake (EQ) by natural time analysis. For this attempt, some ULF parameters were considered: (1) Fh (horizontal magnetic field), (2) Fz (vertical magnetic field), and (3) Dh (inverse of horizontal magnetic field). The first two parameters refer to the ULF radiation, while the last parameter refers to another ULF effect of ionospheric signature. Nighttime (L.T. = 3 am ± 2 hours) data at Kakioka (KAK) were used, and the power of each quantity at a particular frequency band of 0.03-0.05 Hz was averaged for nighttime hours. The analysis results indicate that Fh fulfilled all criticality conditions on March 3-5, 2011, and that the additional parameter, Dh reached also a criticality on March 6 or 7. In conclusion, criticality has reached in the pre-EQ fracture region a few days to one week before the main shock of the Tohoku EQ.

Hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment from lattice QCD.

The most compelling possibility for a new law of nature beyond the four fundamental forces comprising the standard model of high-energy physics is the discrepancy between measurements and calculations of the muon anomalous magnetic moment. Until now a key part of the calculation, the hadronic light-by-light contribution, has only been accessible from models of QCD, the quantum description of the strong force, whose accuracy at the required level may be questioned. A first principles calculation with systematically improvable errors is needed, along with the upcoming experiments, to decisively settle the matter. For the first time, the form factor that yields the light-by-light scattering contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment is computed in such a framework, lattice QCD+QED and QED. A nonperturbative treatment of QED is used and checked against perturbation theory. The hadronic contribution is calculated for unphysical quark and muon masses, and only the diagram with a single quark loop is computed for which statistically significant signals are obtained. Initial results are promising, and the prospect for a complete calculation with physical masses and controlled errors is discussed.

Possible Electromagnetic Effects on Abnormal Animal Behavior Before an Earthquake.

The former statistical properties summarized by Rikitake (1998) on unusual animal behavior before an earthquake (EQ) have first been presented by using two parameters (epicentral distance (D) of an anomaly and its precursor (or lead) time (T)). Three plots are utilized to characterize the unusual animal behavior; (i) EQ magnitude (M) versus D, (ii) log T versus M, and (iii) occurrence histogram of log T. These plots are compared with the corresponding plots for different seismo-electromagnetic effects (radio emissions in different frequency ranges, seismo-atmospheric and -ionospheric perturbations) extensively obtained during the last 15-20 years. From the results of comparisons in terms of three plots, it is likely that lower frequency (ULF (ultra-low-frequency, f ≤ 1 Hz) and ELF (extremely-low-frequency, f ≤ a few hundreds Hz)) electromagnetic emissions exhibit a very similar temporal evolution with that of abnormal animal behavior. It is also suggested that a quantity of field intensity multiplied by the persistent time (or duration) of noise would play the primary role in abnormal animal behavior before an EQ.