Serum Creatinine-Cystatin C Based Screening of Sarcopenia in Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the discriminative capabilities for the manifestation of sarcopenia or physical frailty between serum creatinine- and cystatin C-derived indices among community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary Care and Community. PARTICIPANTS: We utilized a subset of data from the Frail Elderly in the Sasayama-Tamba Area (FESTA) study, which was initiated in 2015 to gather comprehensive information on various health-related parameters among community-dwelling older individuals (age ≥65 years). MEASUREMENTS: Five serum creatinine-cystatin C based indices including the Sarcopenia Index, the serum creatinine/cystatin C ratio, the disparity between serum cystatin-C-based and creatinine-based estimated GFR, the total body muscle mass index (TBMM), and the prediction equation for skeletal muscle mass index (pSMI) were employed. Sarcopenia and physical frailty were identified based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria and the revised Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the discriminative abilities of these tools. RESULTS: In the analysis of 954 participants, 52 (5.5%) were identified with sarcopenia and 35 (3.7%) with physical frailty. Regarding sarcopenia discrimination, TBMM and pSMI both exhibited area under the curve (AUC) values exceeding 0.8 for both men and women. Concerning the identification of physical frailty, AUC values ranged from 0.61 to 0.77 for males and 0.50 to 0.69 for females. In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, only TBMM and pSMI consistently displayed associations with sarcopenia, irrespective of sex (P<0.001, respectively). On the other hand, no consistent associations were observed between the indices and physical frailty. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a robust association of a serum creatinine- and cystatin C-derived indices, especially TBMM and pSMI, with sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults. Conversely, the application of these indices for the screening of physical frailty has its constraints, necessitating further investigation.

Formate-producing capacity provided by reducing ability of Streptococcus thermophilus nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase determines yogurt acidification rate.

Yogurt is made by fermenting milk with 2 lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. To comprehensively understand the protocooperation mechanism between S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus in yogurt fermentation, we examined 24 combinations of cocultures comprising 7 fast- or slow-acidifying S. thermophilus strains with 6 fast- or slow-acidifying L. bulgaricus strains. Furthermore, 3 NADH oxidase (Nox)-deficient mutants (Δnox) and one pyruvate formate-lyase deficient mutant (ΔpflB) of S. thermophilus were used to evaluate the factor that determines the acidification rate of S. thermophilus. The results revealed that the acidification rate of S. thermophilus monoculture determined the yogurt fermentation rates, despite the coexistence of L. bulgaricus, whose acidification rate was either fast or slow. Significant correlation was found between the acidification rate of S. thermophilus monoculture and the amount of formate production. Result using ΔpflB showed that the formate was indispensable for the acidification of S. thermophilus. Moreover, results of the Δnox experiments revealed that formate production required Nox activity, which not only regulated dissolved oxygen, but also the redox potential. The Nox provided the large decrease in redox potential required by pyruvate formate-lyase to produce formate. A highly significant correlation was found between formate accumulation and Nox activity in S. thermophilus. In conclusion, the formate production ability provided by the action of Nox activity determines the acidification rate of S. thermophilus, and consequently, regulates yogurt coculture fermentation.

Improvement of human error prediction accuracy in single-trial analysis of electroencephalogram.

The prevention of human error is an important task that has already been researched. Previous studies have shown that EEG signals can predict the occurrence of human errors. However, high accuracy has not yet been achieved in a single-trial analysis. This study is aimed to improve the accuracy of single-trial analysis, and propose a method for anomaly detection with auto encoder(AE). In the experiment, we conducted "Press the button(Go)" or "Do nothing(No-Go)" according to the visual stimulus and analyzed the EEG signal from -1000 ms to 0 ms when the stimulus was displayed. We prepared two types of inputs, time series data and frequency spectrum, and an AE was trained to reconstruct the inputs. We then calculated the difference between the reconstructed data and input data and predicted human error by its largeness. In the prediction using Support Vector Machine (SVM) based on the frequency spectrum, some over-fitting occurred and the average accuracy was 43 %. In the prediction using anomaly detection with frequency spectrum was 53 % and could not be classified. The time series data was 63 % which improved the accuracy. A previous study has shown frequency-dependent features such as -band activity and rhythm, as precursors of human error. However, in single-trial analysis, we obtained a higher accuracy by time series data than when by using the frequency spectrum. However, there was no noticeable difference between SVM and anomaly detection methods other than over-fitting. Therefore, in this case, the improvement in accuracy by the anomaly detection method could not be confirmed. However, the result suggests that it is more effective to use the frequency spectrum than the time series data in the single-trial analysis in the future.

Attenuated relationship between salivary oxytocin levels and attention to social information in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Previous research studies have assessed the relationship between attention to social information and peripheral (e.g., plasma and salivary) oxytocin (OT) levels in typically developing (TD) children and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A relationship between them was observed in TD children, but not in children with ASD. However, this relationship remains unexamined in other age groups. To clarify whether this lack of association is maintained throughout development in individuals with ASD, we aimed to assess the relationship between salivary OT levels and attention to social information in adolescents and adults with and without ASD. METHODS: We recruited male adolescents and adults with ASD (n = 17) and TD participants (n = 24). Using the all-in-one eye-tracking system Gazefinder, we measured the percentage fixation time allocated to social information. We also measured the salivary OT levels and Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) of participants. Subsequently, we confirmed group differences and conducted a correlation analysis to investigate the relationships between these three measures. RESULTS: Salivary OT levels did not show any significant difference between the ASD and TD groups and were negatively correlated with the AQ in the whole-group analysis, but not in within-group analysis. Individuals with ASD had significantly lower percentage fixation times than did TD individuals for eye regions in human faces with/without mouth motion, for upright biological motion, and for people regions in the people and geometry movies. The percentage of fixation for geometric shapes in the people and geometry movies was significantly higher in the ASD than in the TD group. In the TD group, salivary OT levels were positively correlated with percentage fixation times for upright biological motion and people and negatively correlated with inverted biological motion and geometry. However, no significant correlations were found in the ASD group. CONCLUSIONS: Our exploratory results suggest that salivary OT levels in adolescents and adults with ASD are less indicative of attention to social stimuli than they are in TD adolescents and adults. It is suggested that their association is slightly weaker in adolescents and adults with ASD and that this attenuated relationship appears to be maintained throughout development.

Effects of Rice Wine Lees on Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Physically Active Older Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Rice wine lees (RWL), a Japanese traditional fermented product, is a rich source of one-carbon metabolism-related nutrients, which may have beneficial effects on cognitive function. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine the effect of the RWL on cognitive function in community-dwelling physically active older adults. DESIGN: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study (clinical trial number: UMIN 000027158). SETTING: Community-based intervention including assessments conducted at the University of Hyogo and a public liberal arts school in Himeji City, Japan. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 35 community-dwelling older adults (68-80 years) who performed mild exercise before and during the trial were assigned to either the RWL (n=17) or the placebo group (n=18). INTERVENTION: Daily consumption of 50 g RWL powder, which contained one-carbon metabolism-related nutrients, or the placebo powder (made from soy protein and dextrin) for 12 weeks. Both supplements included equivalent amounts of energy and protein. MEASUREMENTS: Montreal Cognitive Assessment, computerized cognitive function test, and measurements of serum predictive biomarkers (transthyretin, apolipoprotein A1, and complement C3) were conducted at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: Visual selective attention and serum transthyretin significantly improved in the RWL group, whereas there was no significant change in the placebo group. No significant group difference was observed in the remaining cognitive performance tests. CONCLUSIONS: RWL supplements seem to have a few effects on cognitive function in community-dwelling physically active older adults. However, the impact was limited; therefore, further studies with sufficient sample size are warranted to elucidate this issue.

Importance and vulnerability of the world's water towers.

Mountains are the water towers of the world, supplying a substantial part of both natural and anthropogenic water demands1,2. They are highly sensitive and prone to climate change3,4, yet their importance and vulnerability have not been quantified at the global scale. Here we present a global water tower index (WTI), which ranks all water towers in terms of their water-supplying role and the downstream dependence of ecosystems and society. For each water tower, we assess its vulnerability related to water stress, governance, hydropolitical tension and future climatic and socio-economic changes. We conclude that the most important (highest WTI) water towers are also among the most vulnerable, and that climatic and socio-economic changes will affect them profoundly. This could negatively impact 1.9 billion people living in (0.3 billion) or directly downstream of (1.6 billion) mountainous areas. Immediate action is required to safeguard the future of the world's most important and vulnerable water towers.

Downward Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flash Observed in a Winter Thunderstorm.

During a winter thunderstorm on 24 November 2017, a strong burst of gamma rays with energies up to ∼10 MeV was detected coincident with a lightning discharge, by scintillation detectors installed at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station at sea level in Japan. The burst had a subsecond duration, which is suggestive of photoneutron production. The leading part of the burst was resolved into four intense gamma-ray bunches, each coincident with a low-frequency radio pulse. These bunches were separated by 0.7-1.5 ms, with a duration of ≪1 ms each. Thus, the present burst may be considered as a "downward" terrestrial gamma-ray flash (TGF), which is analogous to upgoing TGFs observed from space. Although the scintillation detectors were heavily saturated by these bunches, the total dose associated with them was successfully measured by ionization chambers, employed by nine monitoring posts surrounding the power plant. From this information and Monte Carlo simulations, the present downward TGF is suggested to have taken place at an altitude of 2500±500 m, involving 8_{-4}^{+8}×10^{18} avalanche electrons with energies above 1 MeV. This number is comparable to those in upgoing TGFs.

In situ Raman monitoring of dielectric-heating-enhanced freeze-drying under different electromagnetic wave frequencies.

We studied the effect of dielectric heating on the enhancement of freeze-drying by electromagnetic waves (EMWs) under different frequencies: 2.45 GHz microwaves (MWs), and 27 and 200 MHz radio frequencies (RFs). The irradiation with RFs, particularly at 27 MHz, reduced the duration of freeze-drying by 67%. We further analysed the water structure by in situ Raman spectroscopy during freeze-drying under EMWs. The phase transition from ice to water occurred soon after starting irradiation by MWs at 2.45 GHz, while the ice phase was almost maintained at an RF of 27 MHz.

First isolation of West Nile virus in Zambia from mosquitoes.

Mosquito surveillance studies to identify mosquito-borne flaviviruses have identified West Nile Virus (WNV) for the first time in Zambia. The Zambian WNV isolate from Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes collected in the Western Province was closely related genetically to WNV lineage 2 South African strains which have been previously shown to be highly neuroinvasive. These data provide the first evidence of the circulation of WNV in Zambia and suggest there should be an increased awareness of possible associated human and animal diseases in that country.

QIL1-dependent assembly of MICOS complex-lethal mutation in C19ORF70 resulting in liver disease and severe neurological retardation.

Seven subunits of the mitochondrial contact site and cristae junction (CJ) organizing system (MICOS) in humans have been recently described in function and structure. QIL1 (also named MIC13) is a small complex that is crucial for the maintenance and assembling of MICOS. A novel mutation of an essential splice site in the C19orf70 gene encoding QIL1 induces severe mitochondrial encephalopathy, hepatopathy and lactate acidosis consistent with psychomotor retardation. In addition, bilateral kidney stones were observed. Disassembly of MICOS complex subunits displays lack of MIC10-MIC26-MIC27-QIL1 subcomplex, resulting in aberrant cristae structure and a loss of cristae junctions and contact sites. In liver and muscle tissue, the activity of the respiratory chain complexes (OXPHOS) was severely impaired. Defects in MICOS complex do not only affect mitochondrial architecture, but also mitochondrial fusion, metabolic signalling, lipid trafficking and cellular electric homeostasis.

Total hip arthroplasty after a previous pelvic osteotomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There are several reports regarding total hip arthroplasty (THA) after a previous pelvic osteotomy (PO). However, to our knowledge, until now there has been no formal systematic review and meta-analysis published to summarize the clinical results of THA after a previous PO. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of results of THA after a previous PO. We focus on these questions as follows: does a previous PO affect the results of subsequent THA, such as clinical outcomes, operative time, operative blood loss, and radiological parameters. METHODS: Using PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, we searched for relevant original papers. The pooling of data was performed using RevMan software (version 5.3, Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). A p-value<0.05 was judged as significant. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated for continuous data with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed based on I2 using standard χ2 test. When I2>50%, significant heterogeneity was assumed and a random-effects model was applied for the meta-analysis. A fixed-effects model was applied in the absence of significant heterogeneity. RESULTS: Eleven studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results indicated that there was no significant difference in postoperative Merle D'Aubigne-Postel score (I2=0%, SMD=-0.15, 95% CI: -0.36 to 0.06, p=0.17), postoperative Harris hip score (I2=60%, SMD=-0.23, 95% CI: -0.50 to 0.05, p=0.10), operative time (I2=86%, SMD=0.37, 95% CI: -0.09 to 0.82, p=0.11), operative blood loss (I2=82%, SMD=0.23, 95% CI: -0.17 to 0.63, p=0.25), and cup abduction angle (I2=43%, SMD=-0.08, 95% CI: -0.25 to 0.09, p=0.38) between THA with and without a previous PO. However, cup anteversion angle of THA with a previous PO was significantly smaller than that of without a previous PO (I2=77%, SMD=-0.63, 95% CI: -1.13 to -0.13, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Systematic review and meta-analysis of results of THA after a previous PO was performed. A previous PO did not affect the results of subsequent THA, except for cup anteversion. Because of the low quality evidence currently available, high-quality randomized controlled trials are required. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, meta-analysis of case-control studies.

Raman imaging of carrier distribution in the channel of an ionic liquid-gated transistor fabricated with regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene).

Raman images of carriers (positive polarons) at the channel of an ionic liquid-gated transistor (ILGT) fabricated with regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) have been measured with excitation at 785 nm. The observed spectra indicate that carriers generated are positive polarons. The intensities of the 1415 cm-1 band attributed to polarons in the P3HT channel were plotted as Raman images; they showed the carrier density distribution. When the source-drain voltage VD is lower than the source-gate voltage VG (linear region), the carrier density was uniform. When VD is nearly equal to VG (saturation region), a negative carrier density gradient from the source electrode towards the drain electrode was observed. This carrier density distribution is associated with the observed current-voltage characteristics, which is not consistent with the "pinch-off" theory of inorganic semiconductor transistors.

Physical water scarcity metrics for monitoring progress towards SDG target 6.4: An evaluation of indicator 6.4.2 "Level of water stress".

Target 6.4 of the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deals with the reduction of water scarcity. To monitor progress towards this target, two indicators are used: Indicator 6.4.1 measuring water use efficiency and 6.4.2 measuring the level of water stress (WS). This paper aims to identify whether the currently proposed indicator 6.4.2 considers the different elements that need to be accounted for in a WS indicator. WS indicators compare water use with water availability. We identify seven essential elements: 1) both gross and net water abstraction (or withdrawal) provide important information to understand WS; 2) WS indicators need to incorporate environmental flow requirements (EFR); 3) temporal and 4) spatial disaggregation is required in a WS assessment; 5) both renewable surface water and groundwater resources, including their interaction, need to be accounted for as renewable water availability; 6) alternative available water resources need to be accounted for as well, like fossil groundwater and desalinated water; 7) WS indicators need to account for water storage in reservoirs, water recycling and managed aquifer recharge. Indicator 6.4.2 considers many of these elements, but there is need for improvement. It is recommended that WS is measured based on net abstraction as well, in addition to currently only measuring WS based on gross abstraction. It does incorporate EFR. Temporal and spatial disaggregation is indeed defined as a goal in more advanced monitoring levels, in which it is also called for a differentiation between surface and groundwater resources. However, regarding element 6 and 7 there are some shortcomings for which we provide recommendations. In addition, indicator 6.4.2 is only one indicator, which monitors blue WS, but does not give information on green or green-blue water scarcity or on water quality. Within the SDG indicator framework, some of these topics are covered with other indicators.

Characterization of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who meet the diagnostic criteria for TAFRO syndrome.

Purpose TAFRO syndrome is a novel disorder manifesting as fever, anasarca, thrombocytopenia, renal insufficiency and organomegaly, and its etiology has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to elucidate similarities and differences between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and TAFRO syndrome. Methods We examined 46 consecutive patients diagnosed with SLE and determined whether they meet the proposed diagnostic criteria for TAFRO syndrome (2015 version). Results Of the 46 patients with SLE, four (8.7%) also met the TAFRO syndrome criteria (TAFRO-like group). All patients in the TAFRO-like group were males, and their mean age was significantly higher than that of the non-TAFRO group (67.5 ± 8.7 vs. 39.3 ± 18.1 years, p = 0.004). C-reactive protein and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels were significantly higher, and frequencies of anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm antibodies were significantly lower in the TAFRO-like than non-TAFRO group. Elder cases (onset age ≥ 50 years) met significantly more categories of the diagnostic criteria for TAFRO syndrome than did those with younger cases. Conclusions Several patients with SLE, especially elder cases, showed features similar to those of TAFRO syndrome. Although exclusion of SLE is needed in the diagnostic criteria for TAFRO syndrome, TAFRO syndrome-like SLE should be considered.

Time-series oligonucleotide count to assign antiviral siRNAs with long utility fit in the big data era.

Oligonucleotides are key elements of nucleic acid therapeutics such as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Influenza and Ebolaviruses are zoonotic RNA viruses mutating very rapidly, and their sequence changes must be characterized intensively to design therapeutic oligonucleotides with long utility. Focusing on a total of 182 experimentally validated siRNAs for influenza A, B and Ebolaviruses compiled by the siRNA database, we conducted time-series analyses of occurrences of siRNA targets in these viral genomes. Reflecting their high mutation rates, occurrences of target oligonucleotides evidently fluctuate in viral populations and often disappear. Time-series analysis of the one-base changed sequences derived from each original target identified the oligonucleotide that shows a compensatory increase and will potentially become the 'awaiting-type oligonucleotide'; the combined use of this oligonucleotide with the original can provide therapeutics with long utility. This strategy is also useful for assigning diagnostic reverse transcription-PCR primers with long utility.

Electron transport properties in dye-sensitized solar cells with {001} facet-dominant TiO2 nanoparticles.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with reactive {001} facet-dominant TiO2 have attracted a great deal of attention owing to their high solar cell performance, despite the origin and the variation of the results being controversial. Here, we report the characteristic charge transport properties of DSSCs composed of {001} and {101} facet-dominant TiO2 nanoparticles in order to explain the origin of solar cell performance. Based on transient photocurrent and photovoltage measurements and transient absorption spectroscopy, the energetics of TiO2 semiconductors and dye sensitizers are utilized to understand the electron diffusion, recombination, and injection kinetics to determine solar cell performance. Novel strategies to improve DSSC performance by utilizing the characteristics of {001} facet-dominant TiO2 nanoparticles are proposed, which are (1) enhancement of electron injection and (2) reduction of carrier recombination for JSC and VOC improvement, despite the drawback of slower electron diffusion in the mesoporous network of {001} facet-dominant TiO2.

Urban growth and water access in sub-Saharan Africa: Progress, challenges, and emerging research directions.

For the next decade, the global water crisis remains the risk of highest concern, and ranks ahead of climate change, extreme weather events, food crises and social instability. Across the globe, nearly one in ten people is without access to an improved drinking water source. Least Developed Countries (LDCs) especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are the most affected, having disproportionately more of the global population without access to clean water than other major regions. Population growth, changing lifestyles, increasing pollution and accelerating urbanization will continue to widen the gap between the demand for water and available supply especially in urban areas, and disproportionately affect informal settlements, where the majority of SSA's urban population resides. Distribution and allocation of water will be affected by climate-induced water stresses, poor institutions, ineffective governance, and weak political will to address scarcity and mediate uncertainties in future supply. While attempts have been made by many scientists to examine different dimensions of water scarcity and urban population dynamics, there are few comprehensive reviews, especially focused on the particular situation in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper contributes to interdisciplinary understanding of urban water supply by distilling and integrating relevant empirical knowledge on urban dynamics and water issues in SSA, focusing on progress made and associated challenges. It then points out future research directions including the need to understand how alternatives to centralized water policies may help deliver sustainable water supply to cities and informal settlements in the region.