Effect of acid suppressant medications on the laxative action of magnesium preparations in patients with opioid-induced constipation: A pharmacovigilance analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System

Objective: Magnesium oxide is widely used for treating opioid-induced constipation, a serious analgesic-associated problem. Opioid analgesic users are often prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are sometimes combined with acid suppressants to prevent gastrointestinal adverse events. Magnesium preparations combined with acid suppressants may diminish magnesium preparations' laxative effect. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of magnesium preparations combined with acid suppressants on the incidence of opioid-induced constipation by using the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System. Methods: Adverse events were defined per the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities; the term 'constipation (preferred term code: 10010774)' was used for analysis. After adjusting for patient background factors using propensity score matching, acid suppressants' effect on constipation incidence was evaluated in opioid users prescribed magnesium preparations alone as laxatives by using a test for independence. Key Findings: The Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System contains 14,475,614 reports for January 2004 to December 2021. Significantly increased constipation incidence was related to magnesium preparations combined with acid suppressants, especially proton pump inhibitors (P < 0.0001, McNemar's test). Conclusion: Magnesium preparations combined with acid suppressants may diminish magnesium preparations' laxative effect; healthcare professionals should pay attention to this issue.

New evidence for the Ontong Java Nui hypothesis

The formation of the Ontong Java Nui super oceanic plateau (OJN), which is based on the model that the submarine Ontong Java Plateau (OJP), Manihiki Plateau (MP), and Hikurangi Plateau (HP) were once its contiguous fragments, could have been the largest globally consequential volcanic event in Earth's history. This OJN hypothesis has been debated given the paucity of evidence, for example, the differences in crustal thickness, the compositional gap between MP and OJP basalts and the apparent older age of both plateaus relative to HP remain unresolved. Here we investigate the geochemical and ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar ages of dredged rocks recovered from the OJP's eastern margin. Volcanic rocks having compositions that match the low-Ti MP basalts are reported for the first time on the OJP and new ~ 96-116 Ma and 67-68 Ma ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar age data bridge the temporal gap between OJP and HP. These results provide new evidence for the Ontong Java Nui hypothesis and a framework for an integrated tectonomagmatic evolution of the OJP, MP, and HP. The isotopic data imply four mantle components in the source of OJN that are also expressed in present-day Pacific hotspots sources, indicating origin from (and longevity of) the Pacific Large Low Shear-wave Velocity Province.

Association of Plasma Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein Concentration with Dietary Factors, Gut Microbiota, and Health Status in the Japanese General Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

The influx of intestinal bacteria-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the blood has attracted attention as a cause of diseases. The aim of this study is investigating the associations between the influx of LPS, dietary factors, gut microbiota, and health status in the general adult population. Food/nutrient intake, gut microbiota, health status and plasma LPS-binding protein (LBP; LPS exposure indicator) were measured in 896 residents (58.1% female, mean age 54.7 years) of the rural Iwaki district of Japan, and each correlation was analyzed. As the results, plasma LBP concentration correlated with physical (right/left arms' muscle mass [β = -0.02, -0.03]), renal (plasma renin activity [β = 0.27], urine albumin creatinine ratio [β = 0.50]), adrenal cortical (cortisol [β = 0.14]), and thyroid function (free thyroxine [β = 0.05]), iron metabolism (serum iron [β = -0.14]), and markers of lifestyle-related diseases (all Qs < 0.20). Plasma LBP concentration were mainly negatively correlated with vegetables/their nutrients intake (all βs ≤ -0.004, Qs < 0.20). Plasma LBP concentration was positively correlated with the proportion of Prevotella (β = 0.32), Megamonas (β = 0.56), and Streptococcus (β = 0.65); and negatively correlated with Roseburia (β = -0.57) (all Qs < 0.20). Dietary factors correlated with plasma LBP concentration correlated with positively (all βs ≥ 0.07) or negatively (all βs ≤ -0.07) the proportion of these bacteria (all Qs < 0.20). Our results suggested that plasma LBP concentration in the Japanese general adult population was associated with various health issues, and that dietary habit was associated with plasma LBP concentration in relation to the intestinal bacteria.

Effects of broccoli sprout supplements enriched in glucoraphanin on liver functions in healthy middle-aged adults with high-normal serum hepatic biomarkers: A randomized controlled trial

Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate derived from glucoraphanin, has antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects that may be beneficial for improving liver function. However, few studies regarding the effects of glucoraphanin on the biological markers related to liver function, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GTP) in healthy individuals have been reported. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel- group trial was conducted from April 22 to December 25, 2021 and compared the effects of broccoli sprout supplements enriched in glucoraphanin (glucoraphanin supplements) (n = 35) with those of placebo supplements (n = 35). This trial was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry (UMIN-CTR; ID number UMIN000044005) https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view. cgi?recptno=R000050252. Glucoraphanin significantly improved serum ALT levels at 24 weeks compared to placebo supplements. However, no significant difference in serum glutathione levels, one of the major antioxidants synthesized in the liver, was observed between the two groups. In conclusion, daily intake of the glucoraphanin supplements is beneficial for maintaining liver health in healthy, middle-aged adults with high-normal serum hepatic biomarkers, although further studies focusing on other antioxidant markers are needed to understand how glucoraphanin improves liver function.

Longitudinal changes in life-space mobility and the factors influencing it among chronic community-dwelling post-stroke patients

PURPOSE

To identify longitudinal changes in life-space mobility and the factors influencing it among chronic, stable post-stroke patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective study included Japanese post-stroke patients who received day-care rehabilitation services and could undergo three life-space mobility assessments (at baseline, 12, and 24 months) for over 2 years, using the Life-Space Assessment (LSA) tool. Physical function, cognitive function, and activities of daily living were assessed by self-selected comfortable gait speed, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Functional Independence Measure Motor subscale (FIM motor) scores, respectively, in addition to age, sex, time from onset, stroke type, and comorbidities. A multivariable linear mixed-effects model was used to examine the longitudinal changes in LSA scores and associated factors.

RESULTS

A total of 89 participants were enrolled. At baseline, the median age was 74 years, 33% were women, and median time from onset was 75 months. The LSA scores significantly declined over the two-year period. In the multivariate linear mixed-effects model adjusted for clinical characteristics, comfortable gait speed and age were significantly associated with changes in the LSA score, independent of FIM motor scores and MMSE scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Life-space mobility may persistently decline, and gait function may be a determinant influencing these changes in community-dwelling chronic post-stroke patients.Implications for RehabilitationLimited life-space mobility leads to less frequent participation in social activities and an increased risk of adverse health outcomes such as hospitalization.Changes in life-space mobility should be considered in the rehabilitation care plan for chronic post-stroke patients.Life-space mobility may decline persistently in stable post-stroke patients, even if they have periodically received day-care rehabilitation services.Since gait speed is a predominant factor affecting life-space mobility, regular assessment of gait function and appropriate strategies are needed to prevent deterioration of gait speed in chronic post-stroke patients.

Sulforaphane Increase Mitochondrial Biogenesis-Related Gene Expression in the Hippocampus and Suppresses Age-Related Cognitive Decline in Mice

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a potent activator of the transcriptional factor, Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-Related factor 2 (NRF2). SFN and its precursor, glucoraphanin (sulforaphane glucosinolate, SGS), have been shown to ameliorate cognitive function in clinical trials and in vivo studies. However, the effects of SGS on age-related cognitive decline in Senescence-Accelerated Mouse Prone 8 (SAMP8) is unknown. In this study, we determined the preventive potential of SGS on age-related cognitive decline. One-month old SAMP8 mice or control SAM resistance 1 (SAMR1) mice were fed an ad libitum diet with or without SGS-containing broccoli sprout powder (0.3% w/w SGS in diet) until 13 months of age. SGS significantly improved long-term memory in SAMP8 at 12 months of age. Interestingly, SGS increased hippocampal mRNA and protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC1α) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), which are master regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis, both in SAMR1 and SAMP8 at 13 months of age. Furthermore, mRNAs for nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) and mitochondrial DNA-encoded respiratory complex enzymes, but not mitochondrial DNA itself, were increased by SGS in SAMP8 mice. These results suggest that SGS prevents age-related cognitive decline by maintaining mitochondrial function in senescence-accelerated mice.

Electrical mapping of thermoelectric power factor in WO3 thin film

With growing environmental awareness and considerable research investment in energy saving, the concept of energy harvesting has become a central topic in the field of materials science. The thermoelectric energy conversion, which is a classic physical phenomenon, has emerged as an indispensable thermal management technology. In addition to conventional experimental investigations of thermoelectric materials, seeking promising materials or structures using computer-based approaches such as machine learning has been considered to accelerate research in recent years. However, the tremendous experimental efforts required to evaluate materials may hinder us from reaping the benefits of the fast-developing computer technology. In this study, an electrical mapping of the thermoelectric power factor is performed in a wide temperature-carrier density regime. An ionic gating technique is applied to an oxide semiconductor WO3, systematically controlling the carrier density to induce a transition from an insulating to a metallic state. Upon electrically scanning the thermoelectric properties, it is demonstrated that the thermoelectric performance of WO3 is optimized at a highly degenerate metallic state. This approach is convenient and applicable to a variety of materials, thus prompting the development of novel functional materials with desirable thermoelectric properties.

Longitudinal Flow Decorrelations in Xe+Xe Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.44 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

The first measurement of longitudinal decorrelations of harmonic flow amplitudes v_{n} for n=2-4 in Xe+Xe collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.44  TeV is obtained using 3  μb^{-1} of data with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The decorrelation signal for v_{3} and v_{4} is found to be nearly independent of collision centrality and transverse momentum (p_{T}) requirements on final-state particles, but for v_{2} a strong centrality and p_{T} dependence is seen. When compared with the results from Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV, the longitudinal decorrelation signal in midcentral Xe+Xe collisions is found to be larger for v_{2}, but smaller for v_{3}. Current hydrodynamic models reproduce the ratios of the v_{n} measured in Xe+Xe collisions to those in Pb+Pb collisions but fail to describe the magnitudes and trends of the ratios of longitudinal flow decorrelations between Xe+Xe and Pb+Pb. The results on the system-size dependence provide new insights and an important lever arm to separate effects of the longitudinal structure of the initial state from other early and late time effects in heavy-ion collisions.

Association between Serum Concentration of Carotenoid and Visceral Fat

Consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids has been widely reported to prevent cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between serum carotenoid concentrations and visceral fat area (VFA), which is considered a better predictor of cardiovascular diseases than the body-mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, remains unclear. Therefore, we examined the relationship in healthy individuals in their 20s or older, stratified by sex and age, to compare the relationship between serum carotenoid concentrations and VFA and BMI. The study was conducted on 805 people, the residents in Hirosaki city, Aomori prefecture, who underwent a health checkup. An inverse relationship between serum carotenoid concentrations and VFA and BMI was observed only in women. In addition, the results were independent of the intake of dietary fiber, which is mainly supplied from vegetables as well as carotenoids. This suggests that consumption of a diet rich in carotenoids (especially lutein and beta-carotene) is associated with lower VFA, which is a good predictor of cardiovascular disease, especially in women. This study is the first to comprehensively evaluate the association between serum carotenoid levels and VFA in healthy individuals.

Search for Higgs Boson Decays into a Z Boson and a Light Hadronically Decaying Resonance Using 13 TeV pp Collision Data from the ATLAS Detector

A search for Higgs boson decays into a Z boson and a light resonance in two-lepton plus jet events is performed, using a pp collision dataset with an integrated luminosity of 139  fb^{-1} collected at sqrt[s]=13  TeV by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN LHC. The resonance considered is a light boson with a mass below 4 GeV from a possible extended scalar sector or a charmonium state. Multivariate discriminants are used for the event selection and for evaluating the mass of the light resonance. No excess of events above the expected background is found. Observed (expected) 95% confidence-level upper limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section times branching fraction to a Z boson and the signal resonance, with values in the range 17-340 pb (16_{-5}^{+6}-320_{-90}^{+130}  pb) for the different light spin-0 boson mass and branching fraction hypotheses, and with values of 110 and 100 pb (100_{-30}^{+40} and 100_{-30}^{+40}  pb) for the η_{c} and J/ψ hypotheses, respectively.

A New Genus and Two New Species of the Subfamily Nesomesochorinae Ashmead (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Nesomesochorinae is a rather small subfamily of Darwin wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), only with three described genera. We recognize a fourth nesomesochorine genus from Perú and describe it as a new genus, Bina Shimizu & Alvarado gen. nov. The new genus is distinguished from previously described genera of Nesomesochorinae by the following combination of character states: mandible parallel-sided proximally and abruptly strongly narrowed ventroapically so that its lower apical tooth is much smaller and sharper than upper tooth; propodeum with lateromedian longitudinal carinae between anterior and posterior transverse carinae developed on more than posterior 0.9 so that the area superomedia is more or less enclosed; thyridium of 2nd metasomal tergite sometimes very large; 1st metasomal tergite stout and arched; body highly shiny. Bina gen. nov. comprises two species also described as new to science: B. huayrurae Shimizu & Alvarado sp. nov. (type species of Bina gen. nov.) and B. nigra Shimizu & Alvarado sp. nov. Identification keys to genera of Nesomesochorinae and to species of Bina gen. nov. are provided.

Effect of therapeutic plasma exchange on phenytoin plasma concentration in patients receiving intravenous fosphenytoin therapy

We report for patients with encephalitis treated with plasma exchange (PE) and fosphenytoin. In patient 1, phenytoin levels decreased on the maintenance dose, and the phenytoin concentration was <10 μg/mL on day 12 of administration. In patient 2, the phenytoin levels was <10 μg/mL on day 4. Increasing the fosphenytoin dose pushed the phenytoin level into therapeutic range. There were no differences between the areas under the concentration-time curve of phenytoin with and without PE. We previously reported a decline in phenytoin levels after prolonged use of fosphenytoin. Therefore, dose adjustment of fosphenytoin in patients undergoing PE may be unnecessary.

Dijet Resonance Search with Weak Supervision Using sqrt[s]=13 TeV pp Collisions in the ATLAS Detector

This Letter describes a search for narrowly resonant new physics using a machine-learning anomaly detection procedure that does not rely on signal simulations for developing the analysis selection. Weakly supervised learning is used to train classifiers directly on data to enhance potential signals. The targeted topology is dijet events and the features used for machine learning are the masses of the two jets. The resulting analysis is essentially a three-dimensional search A→BC, for m_{A}∼O(TeV), m_{B},m_{C}∼O(100  GeV) and B, C are reconstructed as large-radius jets, without paying a penalty associated with a large trials factor in the scan of the masses of the two jets. The full run 2 sqrt[s]=13  TeV pp collision dataset of 139  fb^{-1} recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider is used for the search. There is no significant evidence of a localized excess in the dijet invariant mass spectrum between 1.8 and 8.2 TeV. Cross-section limits for narrow-width A, B, and C particles vary with m_{A}, m_{B}, and m_{C}. For example, when m_{A}=3  TeV and m_{B}≳200  GeV, a production cross section between 1 and 5 fb is excluded at 95% confidence level, depending on m_{C}. For certain masses, these limits are up to 10 times more sensitive than those obtained by the inclusive dijet search. These results are complementary to the dedicated searches for the case that B and C are standard model bosons.

Effects of royal jelly on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women: a randomized, controlled study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of royal jelly (RJ) supplementation on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women.

METHODS

This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Seventy-two healthy postmenopausal women aged 45-60 years within 5 years after menopause were randomized into two groups: women in the RJ group (n = 36) received capsules containing dried RJ (equivalent to 3000 mg of fresh RJ); and women in the placebo group (n = 36) received placebo daily for 6 months. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and left proximal femur, hip structural analysis (HSA) of the left hip, and bone turnover markers were measured.

RESULTS

Although women in the placebo group experienced a significant loss of BMD and deterioration in HSA parameters of the femur, no significant differences were found in these parameters in women in the RJ group. The levels of total procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase decreased significantly in the placebo group; however, the total P1NP level, a marker of bone formation, was not significantly different in the RJ group at postintervention compared with baseline.

CONCLUSION

RJ consumption may ameliorate decreases in femoral BMD and strength in postmenopausal women.

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the NRF2 promoter with vascular stiffness with aging

Purpose

Pulse wave velocity (PWV), an indicator of vascular stiffness, increases with age and is increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although many mechanical and chemical factors underlie the stiffness of the elastic artery, genetic risk factors related to age-dependent increases in PWV in apparently healthy people are largely unknown. The transcription factor nuclear factor E2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which is activated by unidirectional vascular pulsatile shear stress or oxidative stress, regulates vascular redox homeostasis. Previous reports have shown that a SNP in the NRF2 gene regulatory region (−617C>A; hereafter called SNP−617) affects NRF2 gene expression such that the minor A allele confers lower gene expression compared to the C allele, and it is associated with various diseases, including CVD. We aimed to investigate whether SNP−617 affects vascular stiffness with aging in apparently healthy people.

Methods

Analyzing wide-ranging data obtained from a public health survey performed in Japan, we evaluated whether SNP−617 affected brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) in never-smoking healthy subjects (n = 642). We also evaluated the effects of SNP−617 on other cardiovascular and blood test measurements.

Results

We have shown that not only AA carriers (n = 55) but also CA carriers (n = 247) show arterial stiffness compared to CC carriers (n = 340). Furthermore, SNP−617 also affected blood pressure indexes such as systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure but not the ankle brachial pressure index, an indicator of atherosclerosis. Multivariate analysis showed that SNP−617 accelerates the incremental ratio of baPWV with age.

Conclusions

This study is the first to show that SNP−617 affects the age-dependent increase in vascular stiffness. Our results indicate that low NRF2 activity induces premature vascular aging and could be targeted for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases associated with aging.

CP Properties of Higgs Boson Interactions with Top Quarks in the tt[over ¯]H and tH Processes Using H→γγ with the ATLAS Detector

A study of the charge conjugation and parity (CP) properties of the interaction between the Higgs boson and top quarks is presented. Higgs bosons are identified via the diphoton decay channel (H→γγ), and their production in association with a top quark pair (tt[over ¯]H) or single top quark (tH) is studied. The analysis uses 139  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13  TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Assuming a CP-even coupling, the tt[over ¯]H process is observed with a significance of 5.2 standard deviations. The measured cross section times H→γγ branching ratio is 1.64_{-0.36}^{+0.38}(stat)_{-0.14}^{+0.17}(sys)  fb, and the measured rate for tt[over ¯]H is 1.43_{-0.31}^{+0.33}(stat)_{-0.15}^{+0.21}(sys) times the Standard Model expectation. The tH production process is not observed and an upper limit on its rate of 12 times the Standard Model expectation is set. A CP-mixing angle greater (less) than 43 (-43)° is excluded at 95% confidence level.

Search for Heavy Higgs Bosons Decaying into Two Tau Leptons with the ATLAS Detector Using pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

A search for heavy neutral Higgs bosons is performed using the LHC Run 2 data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector. The search for heavy resonances is performed over the mass range 0.2-2.5 TeV for the τ^{+}τ^{-} decay with at least one τ-lepton decaying into final states with hadrons. The data are in good agreement with the background prediction of the standard model. In the M_{h}^{125} scenario of the minimal supersymmetric standard model, values of tanβ>8 and tanβ>21 are excluded at the 95% confidence level for neutral Higgs boson masses of 1.0 and 1.5 TeV, respectively, where tanβ is the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the two Higgs doublets.

Skin Carotenoid Level as an Alternative Marker of Serum Total Carotenoid Concentration and Vegetable Intake Correlates with Biomarkers of Circulatory Diseases and Metabolic Syndrome

To confirm the usefulness of noninvasive measurements of skin carotenoids to indicate vegetable intake and to elucidate relationships between skin carotenoid levels and biomarkers of circulatory diseases and metabolic syndrome, we conducted a cross-sectional study on a resident-based health checkup (n = 811; 58% women; 49.5 ± 15.1 years). Skin and serum carotenoid levels were measured via reflectance spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Vegetable intake was estimated using a dietary questionnaire. Levels of 9 biomarkers (body mass index [BMI], brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity [baPWV], systolic and diastolic blood pressure [SBP and DBP], homeostasis model assessment as an index of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR], blood insulin, fasting blood glucose [FBG], triglycerides [TGs], and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]) were determined. Skin carotenoid levels were significantly positively correlated with serum total carotenoids and vegetable intake (r = 0.678 and 0.210, respectively). In women, higher skin carotenoid levels were significantly associated with lower BMI, SBP, DBP, HOMA-IR, blood insulin, and TGs levels and higher HDL-C levels. In men, it was also significantly correlated with BMI and blood insulin levels. In conclusion, dermal carotenoid level may indicate vegetable intake, and the higher level of dermal carotenoids are associated with a lower risk of circulatory diseases and metabolic syndrome.

Measurement of the Lund Jet Plane Using Charged Particles in 13 TeV Proton-Proton Collisions with the ATLAS Detector

The prevalence of hadronic jets at the LHC requires that a deep understanding of jet formation and structure is achieved in order to reach the highest levels of experimental and theoretical precision. There have been many measurements of jet substructure at the LHC and previous colliders, but the targeted observables mix physical effects from various origins. Based on a recent proposal to factorize physical effects, this Letter presents a double-differential cross-section measurement of the Lund jet plane using 139  fb^{-1} of sqrt[s]=13  TeV proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector using jets with transverse momentum above 675 GeV. The measurement uses charged particles to achieve a fine angular resolution and is corrected for acceptance and detector effects. Several parton shower Monte Carlo models are compared with the data. No single model is found to be in agreement with the measured data across the entire plane.

Anisotropic Quantum Transport through a Single Spin Channel in the Magnetic Semiconductor EuTiO3

Magnetic semiconductors are a vital component in the understanding of quantum transport phenomena. To explore such delicate, yet fundamentally important, effects, it is crucial to maintain a high carrier mobility in the presence of magnetic moments. In practice, however, magnetization often diminishes the carrier mobility. Here, it is shown that EuTiO₃ is a rare example of a magnetic semiconductor that can be desirably grown using the molecular beam epitaxy to possess a high carrier mobility exceeding 3000 cm² V^-1 s^-1 at 2 K, while intrinsically hosting a large magnetization value, 7 μ_B per formula unit. This is demonstrated by measuring the Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations in the ferromagnetic state of EuTiO₃ films with various carrier densities. Using first-principles calculations, it is shown that the observed SdH oscillations originate genuinely from Ti 3d-t_2g states which are fully spin-polarized due to their energetical proximity to the in-gap Eu 4f bands. Such an exchange coupling is further shown to have a profound effect on the effective mass and fermiology of the Ti 3d-t_2g electrons, manifested by a directional anisotropy in the SdH oscillations. These findings suggest that EuTiO₃ film is an ideal magnetic semiconductor, offering a fertile field to explore quantum phenomena suitable for spintronic applications.

Nonreciprocal transport in gate-induced polar superconductor SrTiO3

Polar conductors/superconductors with Rashba-type spin-orbit interaction are potential material platforms for quantum transport and spintronic functionalities. One of their inherent properties is the nonreciprocal transport, where the rightward and leftward currents become inequivalent, reflecting spatial inversion/time-reversal symmetry breaking. Such a rectification effect originating from the polar symmetry has been recently observed at interfaces or bulk Rashba semiconductors, while its mechanism in a polar superconductor remains elusive. Here, we report the nonreciprocal transport in gate-induced two-dimensional superconductor SrTiO₃, which is a Rashba superconductor candidate. In addition to the gigantic enhancement of nonreciprocal signals in the superconducting fluctuation region, we found kink and sharp peak structures around critical temperatures, which reflect the crossover behavior from the paraconductivity origin to the vortex origin, based on a microscopic theory. The present result proves that the nonreciprocal transport is a powerful tool for investigating the interfacial/polar superconductors without inversion symmetry, where rich exotic features are theoretically prognosticated.

Measurement of Azimuthal Anisotropy of Muons from Charm and Bottom Hadrons in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

The elliptic flow of muons from the decay of charm and bottom hadrons is measured in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV using a data sample with an integrated luminosity of 150  pb^{-1} recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The muons from heavy-flavor decay are separated from light-hadron decay muons using momentum imbalance between the tracking and muon spectrometers. The heavy-flavor decay muons are further separated into those from charm decay and those from bottom decay using the distance-of-closest-approach to the collision vertex. The measurement is performed for muons in the transverse momentum range 4-7 GeV and pseudorapidity range |η|<2.4. A significant nonzero elliptic anisotropy coefficient v_{2} is observed for muons from charm decays, while the v_{2} value for muons from bottom decays is consistent with zero within uncertainties.

Regulation of Nrf2 by Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species in Physiology and Pathology

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are byproducts of aerobic respiration and signaling molecules that control various cellular functions. Nrf2 governs the gene expression of endogenous antioxidant synthesis and ROS-eliminating enzymes in response to various electrophilic compounds that inactivate the negative regulator Keap1. Accumulating evidence has shown that mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) activate Nrf2, often mediated by certain protein kinases, and induce the expression of antioxidant genes and genes involved in mitochondrial quality/quantity control. Mild physiological stress, such as caloric restriction and exercise, elicits beneficial effects through a process known as “mitohormesis”. Exercise induces NOX4 expression in the heart, which activates Nrf2 and increases endurance capacity. Mice transiently depleted of SOD2 or overexpressing skeletal muscle-specific UCP1 exhibit Nrf2-mediated antioxidant gene expression and PGC1α-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis. ATF4 activation may induce a transcriptional program that enhances NADPH synthesis in the mitochondria and might cooperate with the Nrf2 antioxidant system. In response to severe oxidative stress, Nrf2 induces Klf9 expression, which represses mtROS-eliminating enzymes to enhance cell death. Nrf2 is inactivated in certain pathological conditions, such as diabetes, but Keap1 down-regulation or mtROS elimination rescues Nrf2 expression and improves the pathology. These reports aid us in understanding the roles of Nrf2 in pathophysiological alterations involving mtROS.

Morphological features of the posterior oblique ligament of the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow joint

PURPOSE

The purpose of this basic research study was to clarify the morphological characteristics of the posterior oblique fibers (POL) of the ulnar collateral ligament using a large number of specimens.

METHODS

This study examined 50 arms from 25 Japanese cadavers. Type classification was performed by focusing on the positional relationship between POL morphology and the joint capsule. The morphological features measured were fiber bundle length, width, and thickness.

RESULTS

The POL was classified as follows: Type I, the POL's anterior and posterior edges are located on the surface of the joint capsule and can be separated as a single fiber bundle; Type II-a, the POL anterior edge can be separated, but the posterior edge cannot be separated; Type II-b, the POL posterior edge can be separated, but the anterior edge cannot be separated; and Type III, the POL cannot be separated from the joint capsule. Type I was seen in 23 elbows (46%), Type II-a in 6 elbows (12%), Type II-b in 7 elbows (14%), and Type III in 14 elbows (28%).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggested that the POL could be classified into an independent type and an unclear type, and the presence of the unclear type was one of the factors that caused morphological variation.

Search for Magnetic Monopoles and Stable High-Electric-Charge Objects in 13 Tev Proton-Proton Collisions with the ATLAS Detector

A search for magnetic monopoles and high-electric-charge objects is presented using 34.4  fb^{-1} of 13 TeV pp collision data collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC during 2015 and 2016. The considered signature is based upon high ionization in the transition radiation tracker of the inner detector associated with a pencil-shape energy deposit in the electromagnetic calorimeter. The data were collected by a dedicated trigger based on the tracker high-threshold hit capability. The results are interpreted in models of Drell-Yan pair production of stable particles with two spin hypotheses (0 and 1/2) and masses ranging from 200 to 4000 GeV. The search improves by approximately a factor of 5 the constraints on the direct production of magnetic monopoles carrying one or two Dirac magnetic charges and stable objects with electric charge in the range 20≤|z|≤60 and extends the charge range to 60<|z|≤100.

Observation of Electroweak Production of a Same-Sign W Boson Pair in Association with Two Jets in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter presents the observation and measurement of electroweak production of a same-sign W boson pair in association with two jets using 36.1  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13  TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis is performed in the detector fiducial phase-space region, defined by the presence of two same-sign leptons, electron or muon, and at least two jets with a large invariant mass and rapidity difference. A total of 122 candidate events are observed for a background expectation of 69±7 events, corresponding to an observed signal significance of 6.5 standard deviations. The measured fiducial signal cross section is σ^{fid}=2.89_{-0.48}^{+0.51}(stat)_{-0.28}^{+0.29}(syst)  fb.