Presenteeism and sleep duration on workdays and days off

BACKGROUND

Presenteeism refers to being present at work but experiencing reduced productivity due to health problems, and has been known to be related to sleep loss. Workers commonly sleep longer on days off than on workdays, and presenteeism may be reduced with extended sleep on days off.

AIMS

This study aimed to determine the association between sleep duration both on workdays and days off and presenteeism.

METHODS

The participants were 1967 workers who engaged in work for 5 days and rested for 2 days weekly. Sleep duration was classified into less than 6 hours (short; S), 6-8 hours (medium; M), and 9 hours or longer (long; L), for workdays and days off, respectively. Presenteeism was assessed using the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire.

RESULTS

On both workdays and days off, compared to medium sleep duration, short sleep duration was significantly associated with increased odds of presenteeism. The odds of presenteeism were significantly increased for S-S (odds ratio [OR] 2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]1.40-3.37), S-M (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.14-2.22), S-L (OR 2.71, 95% CI 1.05-7.00), and M-S (OR 6.82, 95% CI 2.71-17.17) combined sleep duration for workdays and days off, respectively, compared to an M-M (reference).

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep loss on workdays cannot be compensated for with longer sleep on days off. This study suggests that sufficient sleep duration on both workdays and days off is important for reducing presenteeism.

Painful Experiences in Social Contexts Facilitate Sensitivity to Emotional Signals of Pain from Conspecifics in Laboratory Rats

Previous studies demonstrated that laboratory rats could visually receive emotional pain signals from conspecifics through pictorial stimuli. The present study examined whether a prior painful emotional experience of the receiver influenced the sensitivity of emotional expression recognition in laboratory rats. The experiment comprised four phases: the baseline preference test, pain manipulation test, post-manipulation preference test, and state anxiety test. In the baseline phase, the rats explored an apparatus comprising two boxes to which pictures of pain or neutral expressions of other conspecifics were attached. In the pain manipulation phase, each rat was allocated to one of three conditions: foot shock alone (pained-alone; PA), foot shock with other unfamiliar conspecifics (pained-with-other; PWO), or no foot shock (control). In the post-manipulation phase, the animals explored the apparatus in the same manner as they did in the baseline phase. Finally, an open-field test was used to measure state anxiety. These findings indicate that rats in the PWO group stayed longer per entry in a box with photographs depicting a neutral disposition than in a box with photographs depicting pain after manipulation. The results of the open-field test showed no significant differences between the groups, suggesting that the increased sensitivity to pain expression in other individuals due to pain experiences in social settings was not due to increased primary state anxiety. Furthermore, the results indicate that rats may use a combination of self-painful experiences and the states of other conspecifics to process the emotional signal of pain from other conspecifics. In addition, changes in the responses of rats to facial expressions in accordance with social experience suggest that the expression function of rats is not only used for emotional expressions but also for communication.

Developmental changes in neonatal hemodynamics during tactile stimulation using whole-head functional near-infrared spectroscopy

Neural-activity-associated hemodynamic changes have been used to noninvasively measure brain function in the early developmental stages. However, the temporal changes in their hemodynamics are not always consistent with adults. Studies have not evaluated developmental changes for a long period using the same stimuli; therefore, this study examined the normalized relative changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (Δ[oxy-Hb]) in full-term infants and compared them with neonates up to 10 months of age during the administration of tactile vibration stimuli to their limbs using whole-head functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The time to peak of normalized Δ[oxy-Hb] was not affected by age. The amplitude of normalized Δ[oxy-Hb] showed an effect of age in broader areas, including sensorimotor-related but excluding supplementary motor area; the amplitude of normalized Δ[oxy-Hb] decreased the most in the 1-2-month-old group and later increased with development. We hypothesized that these results may reflect developmental changes in neural activity, vasculature, and blood oxygenation.

Cultural differences in recognizing emotions of masked faces

In the wake of the global pandemic, interacting with others while wearing masks has emerged as a global challenge. A growing body of literature has reported that face masks hinder emotion recognition in Western populations. Given that diagnostic facial features for recognizing specific emotions (e.g., happiness) differ between Western and Eastern cultures, there may be cultural differences in the effects of face masks on emotion recognition. Relying on the previous findings showing cultural differences in emotion recognition, we conducted a preregistered study where 203 American and 209 Japanese participants judged the emotional expressions of faces (happy, fearful, angry, sad, disgust, and neutral) with and without masks. The results showed cultural differences in emotion recognition of faces with and without masks. Specifically, face masks decreased the accuracy of happy emotion recognition in the Americans but not in the Japanese. The results suggest that the effect of wearing masks on emotion recognition depends on the types of emotions and culture and supports previous findings indicating cultural differences in the decoding strategy for facial expressions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Tohoku Medical Megabank Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study: Rationale, Design, and Background

The Tohoku Medical Megabank Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study (TMM Brain MRI Study) was established to collect multimodal information through neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessments to evaluate the cognitive function and mental health of residents who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and associated tsunami. The study also aimed to promote advances in personalized healthcare and medicine related to mental health and cognitive function among the general population. We recruited participants for the first (baseline) survey starting in July 2014, enrolling individuals who were participating in either the TMM Community-Based Cohort Study (TMM CommCohort Study) or the TMM Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study (TMM BirThree Cohort Study). We collected multiple magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences, including 3D T1-weighted sequences, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL), and three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences. To assess neuropsychological status, we used both questionnaire- and interview-based rating scales. The former assessments included the Tri-axial Coping Scale, Impact of Event Scale in Japanese, Profile of Mood States, and 15-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, whereas the latter assessments included the Mini-Mental State Examination, Japanese version. A total of 12,164 individuals were recruited for the first (baseline) survey, including those unable to complete all assessments. In parallel, we returned the MRI results to the participants and subsequently shared the MRI data through the TMM Biobank. At present, the second (first follow-up) survey of the study started in October 2019 is underway. In this study, we established a large and comprehensive database that included robust neuroimaging data as well as psychological and cognitive assessment data. In combination with genomic and omics data already contained in the TMM Biobank database, these data could provide new insights into the relationships of pathological processes with neuropsychological disorders, including age-related cognitive impairment.

Imagine distant-future outcome: Mental simulation of COVID-19 vaccinations

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health crisis. Although it has been expected that the vaccination of COVID-19 mitigates the crisis, some people are reluctant to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Based on the theory of mental simulation and affective forecasting, we investigated how mental simulations influence COVID-19 vaccination intention. Three preregistered experiments were conducted (total n = 970). Experiment 1 tested for whether outcome (vs. process) simulation would increase COVID-19 vaccination intention. Experiment 2 explored whether temporal proximity of simulations (distant-future outcome, near-future outcome, process) modulate the effects of mental simulation on expected emotion and COVID-19 vaccination intention. Experiment 3 examined the role of the number of sensory modalities (multisensory, unisensory) in mental simulations. The result of Experiment 1 (n = 271) demonstrated that outcome (vs. process) simulation of the COVID-19 vaccination led to greater COVID-19 vaccination intention. The result of Experiment 2 (n = 227) revealed that distant-future outcome simulation (vs. near-future outcome simulation, process simulation) increased expected positivity and then enhanced COVID-19 vaccination intention. The result of Experiment 3 (n = 472) also demonstrated that distant-future outcome simulation (vs. near-future outcome simulation, process simulation) increased expected positivity and then enhanced COVID-19 vaccination intention regardless of the number of sensory modalities to be simulated. Our findings reveal how mental simulations influence COVID-19 vaccination intention and provide practical implications for effective health communication strategies for the COVID-19 vaccination intention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Recognition of pathogen-derived sphingolipids in Arabidopsis

In plants, many invading microbial pathogens are recognized by cell-surface pattern recognition receptors, which induce defense responses. Here, we show that the ceramide Phytophthora infestans-ceramide D (Pi-Cer D) from the plant pathogenic oomycete P. infestans triggers defense responses in Arabidopsis. Pi-Cer D is cleaved by an Arabidopsis apoplastic ceramidase, NEUTRAL CERAMIDASE 2 (NCER2), and the resulting 9-methyl-branched sphingoid base is recognized by a plasma membrane lectin receptor-like kinase, RESISTANT TO DFPM-INHIBITION OF ABSCISIC ACID SIGNALING 2 (RDA2). 9-Methyl-branched sphingoid base is specific to microbes and induces plant immune responses by physically interacting with RDA2. Loss of RDA2 or NCER2 function compromised Arabidopsis resistance against an oomycete pathogen. Thus, we elucidated the recognition mechanisms of pathogen-derived lipid molecules in plants.

Higher-resolution quantification of white matter hypointensities by large-scale transfer learning from 2D images on the JPSC-AD cohort

White matter lesions (WML) commonly occur in older brains and are quantifiable on MRI, often used as a biomarker in Aging research. Although algorithms are regularly proposed that identify these lesions from T2‐fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences, none so far can estimate lesions directly from T1‐weighted images with acceptable accuracy. Since 3D T1 is a polyvalent and higher‐resolution sequence, it could be beneficial to obtain the distribution of WML directly from it. However a serious difficulty, both for algorithms and human, can be found in the ambiguities of brain signal intensity in T1 images. This manuscript shows that a cross‐domain ConvNet (Convolutional Neural Network) approach can help solve this problem. Still, this is non‐trivial, as it would appear to require a large and varied dataset (for robustness) labelled at the same high resolution (for spatial accuracy). Instead, our model was taught from two‐dimensional FLAIR images with a loss function designed to handle the super‐resolution need. And crucially, we leveraged a very large training set for this task, the recently assembled, multi‐sites Japan Prospective Studies Collaboration for Aging and Dementia (JPSC‐AD) cohort. We describe the two‐step procedure that we followed to handle such a large number of imperfectly labeled samples. A large‐scale accuracy evaluation conducted against FreeSurfer 7, and a further visual expert rating revealed that WML segmentation from our ConvNet was consistently better. Finally, we made a directly usable software program based on that trained ConvNet model, available at https://github.com/bthyreau/deep-T1-WMH.

Altruistic Social Activity, Depressive Symptoms, and Brain Regional Gray Matter Volume: Voxel-Based Morphometry Analysis from 8695 Old Adults

Altruistic social activity, such as giving support to others, has shown protective benefits on dementia risk and cognitive decline. However, the pathological mechanism is unclear. In the present study, we investigated the association between altruistic social activity and brain regional gray matter. Furthermore, to explore the psychological interplay in altruistic social activity, we tested mediating effect of depressive symptoms on brain regional gray matter. We performed a cross-sectional Voxel-Based Morphology (VBM) analysis including 8695 old adults (72.9±6.1 years) from Japan Prospective Studies Collaboration for Aging and Dementia (JPSC-AD) Cohort. We measured altruistic social activities by self-report questionnaire, depressive symptoms by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)-short version. We employed the whole-brain VBM method to detect relevant structural properties related to altruistic social activity. We then performed multiple regression models to detect the mediating effect of depressive symptoms on particular brain regional gray matter volume while adjusting possible physical and social lifestyle covariables. We found that altruistic social activity is associated with larger gray matter volume in posterior insula, middle cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, thalamus, superior temporal gyrus, anterior orbital gyrus, and middle occipital gyrus. Depressive symptoms mediated over 10% on altruistic social activity and hippocampus volume, over 20% on altruistic social activity and cingulate gyrus volume. Our results indicated that altruistic social activity might preserve brain regional gray matter where are sensitive to aging and cognitive decline. Meanwhile, this association may be explained by indirect effect on depressive symptoms, suggesting that altruistic social activity may mitigate the neuropathology of dementia.

Pebbles and sand on asteroid (162173) Ryugu: In situ observation and particles returned to Earth

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft investigated the C-type (carbonaceous) asteroid (162173) Ryugu. The mission performed two landing operations to collect samples of surface and subsurface material, the latter exposed by an artificial impact. We present images of the second touchdown site, finding that ejecta from the impact crater was present at the sample location. Surface pebbles at both landing sites show morphological variations ranging from rugged to smooth, similar to Ryugu's boulders, and shapes from quasi-spherical to flattened. The samples were returned to Earth on 6 December 2020. We describe the morphology of >5 grams of returned pebbles and sand. Their diverse color, shape, and structure are consistent with the observed materials of Ryugu; we conclude that they are a representative sample of the asteroid.

The Role of Temperature in Moral Decision-Making: Limited Reproducibility

Temperature is one of the major environmental factors that people are exposed to on a daily basis, often in conditions that do not afford control. It is known that heat and cold can influence a person’s productivity and performance in simple tasks. With respect to social cognition, it has also been suggested that temperature impacts on relatively high-level forms of decision-making. For instance, previous research demonstrated that cold temperature promotes utilitarian judgment in a moral dilemma task. This effect could be due to psychological processing, when a cool temperature primes a set of internal representations (associated with “coldness”). Alternatively, the promotion of utilitarian judgment in cold conditions could be due to physiological interference from temperature, impeding on social cognition. Refuting both explanations of psychological or physiological processing, however, it has been suggested that there may be problems of reproducibility in the literature on temperature modulating complex or abstract information processing. To examine the role of temperature in moral decision-making, we conducted a series of experiments using ambient and haptic temperature with careful manipulation checks and modified task methodology. Experiment 1 manipulated room temperature with cool (21°C), control (24°C) and hot (27°C) conditions and found only a cool temperature effect, promoting utilitarian judgment as in the previous study. Experiment 2 manipulated the intensity of haptic temperature but failed to obtain the cool temperature effect. Experiments 3 and 4 examined the generalizability of the cool ambient temperature effect with another moral judgment task and with manipulation of exposure duration. However, again there were no cool temperature effects, suggesting a lack of reproducibility. Despite successful manipulations of temperature in all four experiments, as measured in body temperature and the participants’ self-reported perception, we found no systematic influence of temperature on moral decision-making. A Bayesian meta-analysis of the four experiments showed that the overall data tended to provide strong support in favor of the null hypothesis. We propose that, at least in the range of temperatures from 21 to 27°C, the cool temperature effect in moral decision-making is not a robust phenomenon.

Effects of Natural Reduced Water on Cognitive Function, Body Composition, and Psychological Function in Older Adults: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Natural reduced water is natural water that contains active hydrogen and reduces oxidation. It is rare in the world, and in Japan, it is produced in the Hita area of Oita Prefecture (Hita Tenryosui water). Previous studies in humans have examined the effects of natural reduced water on diabetes, which is one of the known risks for dementia. Animal studies of natural reduced water have revealed anti-obesity and anti-anxiety effects. However, the effects of natural reduced water on cognitive function, body composition, and psychological function in humans are unknown. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between these items in elderly people who continuously consume natural reduced water. In this study, we recruited participants aged between 65 and 74 years. The participants were randomly and blindly assigned to a natural reduced water (Hita Tenryosui water) group or a control (tap water) group and drank 1 L of water daily for 6 months. Cognitive function, body composition, and psychological function were measured before and after the 6-month intervention period.

Dataset of reaching behavior for reward in social situations in mice

The data presented in this article is from a paper entitled “An experimental task to examine the mirror neuron system in mice: Laboratory mice understand the movement intentions of other mice based on their own experience” (Ukezono and Takano, 2021). This article contains individual data on reaching behavior for reward in social situations in mice. In the reaching room, the mice first learned how to acquire food by reaching their limbs. The mice that had learned reaching were placed in an observation room where they could observe the reaching activity of another mouse in the reaching room. The data includes all animals’ properties and conditions, the pairing state of another mouse (cage mate or non-cage mate), and a set of behavioral analyses. Our data have the potential to be reused for analyzing interaction behaviors of mice placed in front of rewards and developing experiments for behavioral neuroscience research on the mirror neuron system in mice.

An experimental task to examine the mirror neuron system in mice: Laboratory mice understand the movement intentions of other mice based on their own experience

We developed a behavioral experiment to elucidate the neural mechanisms of intention understanding in mice. In this experiment, the mouse is first trained to acquire food by reaching with its forelimb. The mice that learnt this were placed in an experimental box wherein they can observe the reaching activity of another mouse. We found that trained mice tend to observe the reaching activity of other mice; mice that did not receive any prior training displayed a lower tendency towards observing another mouse's reaching behavior. In experiment 2, in order to rule out that observing the behaviors of other mice is solely due to interest in the feeding table or the social stimulus itself, we compared exploratory approach behaviors when the box with the feeding table was empty, when the untrained mouse did not reach it, and when another learnt mouse was reaching for the food. The results showed that exploratory approach behaviors to trained mice lasted significantly longer than the exploratory approach behavior to the empty box and untrained individuals. These results suggest that the learning of individuals' exploration of other reaching individuals may be motivated not only by interest in the presence of the feeding table and other individuals themselves, but also by an associated intentional movement. The tasks developed in our study could be used in the research of the mirror system in behavioral neuroscience to elucidate the mechanism underlying the ability of mice to understand the intent of other mice via motor learning.

Ethnicity-Dependent Effects of Schizophrenia Risk Variants of the OLIG2 Gene on OLIG2 Transcription and White Matter Integrity

Previous studies have indicated associations between several OLIG2 gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and susceptibility to schizophrenia among Caucasians. Consistent with these findings, postmortem brain and diffusion tensor imaging studies have indicated that the schizophrenia-risk-associated allele (A) in the OLIG2 SNP rs1059004 predicts lower OLIG2 gene expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of schizophrenia patients and reduced white matter (WM) integrity of the corona radiata in normal brains among Caucasians. In an effort to replicate the association between this variant and WM integrity among healthy Japanese, we found that the number of A alleles was positively correlated with WM integrity in some fiber tracts, including the right posterior limb of the internal capsule, and with mean blood flow in a widespread area, including the inferior frontal operculum, orbital area, and triangular gyrus. Because the A allele affected WM integrity in opposite directions in Japanese and Caucasians, we investigated a possible association between the OLIG2 gene SNPs and the expression level of OLIG2 transcripts in postmortem DLPFCs. We evaluated rs1059004 and additional SNPs in the 5' upstream and 3' downstream regions of rs1059004 to cover the broader region of the OLIG2 gene. The 2 SNPs (rs1059004 and rs9653711) had opposite effects on OLIG2 gene expression in the DLPFC in Japanese and Caucasians. These findings suggest ethnicity-dependent opposite effects of OLIG2 gene SNPs on WM integrity and OLIG2 gene expression in the brain, which may partially explain the failures in replicating associations between genetic variants and psychiatric phenotypes among ethnicities.

Object Categorization Processing Differs According to Category Level: Comparing Visual Information Between the Basic and Superordinate Levels

Object category levels comprise a crucial concept in the field of object recognition. Specifically, categorization performance differs according to the category level of the target object. This study involved experiments with two types of stimulus sequences (i.e., forward condition: presenting the target name before the line-drawing stimulus; and reverse condition: presenting the target name after the line-drawing stimulus) for both basic- and superordinate-level categorizations. Adult participants were assigned to each level and asked to judge whether briefly presented stimuli included the same object and target name. Here, we investigated how the category level altered the categorization process. We conducted path analyses using a multivariate multiple regression model, and set our variables to investigate whether the predictors affected the categorization process between two types of stimulus sequence. Dependent variables included the measures of performance (i.e., reaction time, accuracy) for each categorization task. The predictors included dimensions and shapes of the line-drawings, such as primary and local shape information, shape complexity, subject estimation, and other shape variables related to object recognition. Results showed that the categorization process differed according to shape properties between conditions only for basic-level categorizations. For the forward condition, the bottom-up processing of primary visual information depended on matches with stored representations for the basic-level category. For the reverse condition at the basic-level category, decisions depended on subjective ratings in terms of object-representation accessibility. Finally, superordinate-level decisions depended on higher levels of visual information in terms of complexity, regardless of the condition. Thus, the given category level altered the processing of visual information for object recognition in relation to shape properties. This indicates that decision processing for object recognition is flexible depending on the criteria of the processed objects (e.g., category levels).

The gaze bias effect in toddlers: Preliminary evidence for the developmental study of visual decision-making

Several studies have investigated the interactive relationship between attention and decision‐making, which is known as the gaze bias effect. Although the generalizability of the gaze bias effect has recently been observed among young and older adults, it remains unknown in which developmental period individuals start to exhibit this relationship. This question was addressed in the current study by recruiting 58 toddlers aged 2–4 years. Participants were asked to do a two‐alternative forced‐choice task in which they chose one of two soft toys they preferred while their eye movements were recorded. Results demonstrated that toddlers exhibited gaze bias regardless of age. We also found that the number of gaze shifts during the task increased according to age. These results suggest that the interactive relationship between attention and decision is acquired by the age of two. The implications of the increased number of gaze shifts for visual decision‐making are discussed.

Colletotrichum shisoi sp. nov., an anthracnose pathogen of Perilla frutescens in Japan: molecular phylogenetic, morphological and genomic evidence

Species of the fungal genus Colletotrichum are among the most devastating pathogens of agricultural crops in the world. Based on DNA sequence data (ITS, GAPDH, CHS-1, ACT, TUB2) and morphology, we revealed Colletotrichum isolates infecting the oil crop Perilla frutescens, commonly known as shiso, to represent a previously unknown species of the C. destructivum species complex and described it as C. shisoi. We found that C. shisoi appears to be able to adopt a hemibiotrophic lifestyle, characterised by the formation of biotrophic hyphae followed by severe necrotic lesions on P. frutescens, but is less virulent on Arabidopsis, compared to its close relative C. higginsianum which also belongs to the C. destructivum species complex. The genome of C. shisoi was sequenced, annotated and its predicted proteome compared with four other Colletotrichum species. The predicted proteomes of C. shisoi and C. higginsianum, share many candidate effectors, which are small, secreted proteins that may contribute to infection. Interestingly, C. destructivum species complex-specific secreted proteins showed evidence of increased diversifying selection which may be related to their host specificities.

Genome Sequence Resources for Four Phytopathogenic Fungi from the Colletotrichum orbiculare Species Complex

Colletotrichum orbiculare species complex fungi are hemibiotrophic plant pathogens that cause anthracnose of field crops and weeds. Members of this group have genomes that are remarkably expanded relative to other Colletotrichum fungi and compartmentalized into AT-rich, gene-poor and GC-rich, gene-rich regions. Here, we present an updated version of the C. orbiculare genome, as well as draft genomes of three other members from the C. orbiculare species complex: the alfalfa pathogen C. trifolii, the prickly mallow pathogen C. sidae, and the burweed pathogen C. spinosum. The data reported here will be important for comparative genomics analyses to identify factors that play a role in the evolution and maintenance of the expanded, compartmentalized genomes of these fungi, which may contribute to their pathogenicity.

Nosocomial infection by human bocavirus and human rhinovirus among paediatric patients with respiratory risks

BACKGROUND

Nosocomial infections by respiratory viruses undetected by rapid tests are not often diagnosed. For paediatric patients with background diseases, nosocomial infection could be fatal.

AIM

To determine the relationship between developing symptoms by respiratory viruses undetectable by rapid tests and respiratory risks and to improve the management of infection control.

METHODS

Two episodes of nosocomial infection by human bocavirus (HBoV) and human rhinovirus (HRV) were retrospectively investigated in a tertiary hospital paediatric ward in Japan. Viruses were identified by polymerase chain reaction to determine infection control management. When viruses of the same species were detected from different patients, the virus homology was investigated. The relationship between respiratory risks and developing symptoms was statistically investigated.

FINDINGS

Three and four patients with respiratory risks in the HBoV and HRV outbreaks, respectively, developed respiratory symptoms. The nucleotide sequences of two patients in the HBoV outbreak and all four patients in the HRV outbreak were phylogenetically close. In both outbreaks, the patients with respiratory risks developed significantly more symptoms than those without any risk (P = 0.035 and 0.018, respectively). After the patients with respiratory infection were separated from those with respiratory risks, no additional nosocomial infection occurred.

CONCLUSION

Patients with respiratory risks easily develop respiratory symptoms and acquire severe symptoms of nosocomial infection by those viruses. In a paediatric ward, we should adopt not only standard precautions but also isolation management of the patients with respiratory symptoms, even if they have negative results in rapid tests.

Successful Treatment of Stricture of Duct-to-Duct Biliary Anastomosis After Living-Donor Liver Transplantation of the Left Lobe: A Case Report

Biliary complications, such as stricture or obstruction, after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) remain major problems to be solved. Magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) is a minimally invasive method of biliary anastomosis without surgery in patients with biliary stricture or obstruction. A 66-year-old woman had undergone LDLT for end-stage liver disease for primary biliary cholangitis 20 months previously at another hospital. Computerized tomography showed dilation of the intrahepatic bile duct (B2). Because B2 was invisible with the use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) was performed for treatment of cholangitis. The rendezvous technique failed because a guidewire could not pass through the biliary stricture. Therefore, we decided to perform MCA. A parent magnet was endoscopically placed distally in the common bile duct of the stricture, and a daughter magnet attached to a guidewire was inserted proximally through the fistula tract of the PTBD. Both magnets were positioned across the stricture, and the 2 magnets were pulled to each other by magnetic power, to sandwich the stricture. By 14 days after MCA, a fistula between B2 and the common bile duct was created. At 28 days after MCA, the magnets were removed distally and a 16-French tube was placed across the fistula. At 7 months after MCA, that tube was removed. In conclusion, when a conventional endoscopic or percutaneous approach including the rendezvous technique fails, MCA is a good technique for biliary stricture after LDLT.

Evaluation of ozonated water using ASTM E1174 for standardized testing of handwash formulations for healthcare personnel

Removal of bacteria by handwashing with ozonated water was evaluated using the ASTM E1174 standard test method. Thirty healthy volunteers were assigned randomly to three groups: ozonated water, antimicrobial soap and water, and non-antimicrobial soap and water. A 3 log₁₀ cfu reduction was achieved by washing hands with ozonated water or antimicrobial soap and water. However, ozonated water was not significantly superior to non-antimicrobial soap and water. Ozonated water may remove bacteria from the hands to at least a similar extent as that by non-antimicrobial soap and water in the absence of visible dirt or body fluid contamination.

Effect of temperature on diapause termination and post-diapause development in Eotetranychus smithi (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Previous studies on the spider mite Eotetranychus smithi Pritchard & Baker have shown that diapause in eggs is induced by low temperature alone and that females developed at ≤ 17.5 °C laid diapause eggs, regardless of the photoperiod. In this study, diapause eggs were kept at 5 °C and a photoperiod of 16L:8D for 0-120 days and then maintained at 25 °C to know the effect of chilling on diapause termination. Diapause eggs mostly hatched when they were maintained at 25 °C after chilling for 30-90 days at 5 °C, which suggests that diapause termination is favored by low temperatures. To clarify the hatching conditions after diapause termination, diapause eggs kept at 5 °C for 45 days were subsequently maintained at various constant temperatures (from 15 to 25 °C) under a long-day photoperiod (16L:8D). The hatchability at all temperatures tested was high (> 90%) and did not significantly differ among the high temperatures. Duration of embryonic development was shorter with increasing warming temperature after chilling. The lower thermal threshold (t) and thermal constant (k) for post-diapause egg development were 10.5 °C and 76.9 degree-days, respectively. Females, which developed from diapause eggs that were chilled at 5 °C for 45 days and then maintained at 15 °C, laid only non-diapause eggs, which indicates that they were prevented from re-entering diapause even under diapause-inducing conditions (15 °C). Thus, temperature is the main factor to control diapause termination and post-diapause development, which has also been found for other spider mites that enter diapause at the egg stage.

Learning of efficient behaviour in spatial exploration through observation of behaviour of conspecific in laboratory rats

Recent studies have suggested that rodent behaviour is influenced by the behaviour of surrounding conspecifics (e.g. emotional contagion and prosocial behaviour). However, little is known about deferred imitation and complex observational learning in rats. The purpose of this study was to reveal whether rats can learn from another rat's experiences. In a maze, observer rats watched the foraging behaviour of other rats (demonstrators) and then foraged in turn. The results showed that demonstrators explored inefficiently, but observers explored more efficiently after observing inefficient exploration by the demonstrators. This observational learning probably involved the acquisition of an efficient strategy through spatial exploration.

Stim1 Regulates Enamel Mineralization and Ameloblast Modulation

Loss-of-function mutations in the Ca²⁺ release-activated Ca²⁺ channel genes ORAI1 and STIM1 abolish store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) and result in ectodermal dysplasia with amelogenesis imperfecta. However, because of the limited availability of patient tissue, analyses of enamel mineralization or possible changes in ameloblast function or morphology have not been possible. Here, we generated mice with ectodermal tissue-specific deletion of Stim1 ( Stim1 cKO [conditional knockout]), Stim2 ( Stim2 cKO), and Stim1 and Stim2 ( Stim1/2 cKO) and analyzed their enamel phenotypes as compared with those of control ( Stim1/2^fl/fl) animals. Ablation of Stim1 and Stim1/2 but not Stim2 expression resulted in chalky enamel and severe attrition at the incisor tips and molar cusps. Stim1 and Stim1/2 cKO, but not Stim2 cKO, demonstrated inferior enamel mineralization with impaired structural integrity, whereas the shape of the teeth and enamel thickness appeared to be normal in all animals. The gene expression levels of the enamel matrix proteins Amelx and Ambn and the enamel matrix proteases Mmp20 and Klk4 were not altered by the abrogation of SOCE in Stim1/2 cKO mice. The morphology of ameloblasts during the secretory and maturation stages was not significantly altered in either the incisors or molars of the cKO animals. However, in Stim1 and Stim1/2 cKO incisors, the alternating modulation of maturation-stage ameloblasts between the smooth- and ruffle-ended cell types continued beyond the regular cycle and extended to the areas corresponding to the zone of postmodulation ameloblasts in the teeth of control animals. These results indicate that SOCE is essential for proper enamel mineralization, in which Stim1 plays a critical role during the maturation process.

Impact of constant versus fluctuating temperatures on the development and life history parameters of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The impact of daily temperature fluctuations on arthropod life history parameters is inadequately studied compared with the ample amount of research that has been conducted on the effects of constant temperatures. Fluctuating temperatures are likely to be more realistic, as they are ecologically more similar to what these arthropods experience in nature. Here, we compared the impact of 11 constant temperatures that ranged from 10 to 35 °C with fluctuating temperatures with the same corresponding mean temperature and an amplitude of 10 °C between high (12 h) and low (12 h) temperatures on the development and life history parameters of Tetranychus urticae under continuous light conditions. No eggs hatched at constant 10 °C, whereas 81.5% of eggs successfully completed development at fluctuating 10 °C (15/5 °C). Egg-to-female adult development was faster under fluctuating temperatures from 12.5 to 27.5 °C than under constant temperatures, whereas the opposite trend was observed at >30 °C. The lower thermal thresholds (T) were 11.63 and 8.63 °C, and thermal constants (K) were 127.81 and 150.69 degree-days for egg-to-female adults at constant and fluctuating temperatures, respectively. The numbers of oviposition days were significantly higher at fluctuating 15 °C than at the corresponding constant temperature, whereas the opposite trend was observed from 20 to 30 °C. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was higher at fluctuating than at constant 15 °C. The net reproductive rate (R ₀) was also higher at fluctuating than at constant 15 and 35 °C, but showed an opposite trend at 20 and 25 °C. We conclude that fluctuating temperatures should be considered to accurately predict spider mite population dynamics in nature.

Significance of Portal Venous Velocity in Short-term Graft Function in Living Donor Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Graft regeneration and functional recovery after reperfusion of transplanted graft are very important for successful living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of postoperative portal venous velocity (PVV) in short-term recovery of graft function in LDLT.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From February 2007 through December 2015, we performed 17 primary LDLTs, which were included in the present study. The patients ranged in age from 12 to 65 years (mean: 50 years), and 11 were female patients. Postoperatively, Doppler ultrasonography was performed daily to measure PVV (cm/s), and liver function parameters were measured daily. The change in PVV (ΔPVV) was defined as follows: ΔPVV = PVV on postoperative day (POD) 1 - PVV on POD 7. Maximal value of serum aspartate aminotransferase (ASTmax) and maximal value of serum alanine transaminase (ALTmax) at 24 hours after graft reperfusion were used as parameters of reperfusion injury. Correlation analyses were performed as follows: (1) correlation of ΔPVV and PVV on POD 1 (PVV-POD 1) with the values such as ASTmax, ALTmax, other liver function parameters on POD 7 and graft regeneration rate; (2) correlation of ASTmax and ALTmax with other liver function parameters on POD 7.

RESULTS

ΔPVV significantly correlated with the values of serum total bilirubin (P < .01), prothrombin time (P < .01), and platelet count (P < .05), and PVV-POD 1 significantly correlated with the values of serum total bilirubin (P < .05) and prothrombin time (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

ΔPVV and PVV-POD 1 may be useful parameters of short-term functional recovery of the transplant liver in LDLT.

Draft Genome Assembly of Colletotrichum chlorophyti, a Pathogen of Herbaceous Plants

Colletotrichum chlorophyti is a fungal pathogen that infects various herbaceous plants, including crops such as legumes, tomato, and soybean. Here, we present the genome of C. chlorophyti NTL11, isolated from tomato. Analysis of this genome will allow a clearer understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying fungal host range and pathogenicity.

Proposal of a new mechanism for the directional propagation of the action potential using a mimicking system

A nerve conduction model is constructed by using some liquid-membrane cells that mimic the function of the K⁺ and Na⁺ channels. By imitating two types of Na⁺ channels (ligand-gated Na⁺ channels and voltage-gated Na⁺ channels), a new mechanism for the directional propagation of the action potential along the axon toward the axon terminal is proposed. When the nerve cell is excited by an external (outer) stimulus, it can be presumed that the ligand-gated channels work as power sources at the synapse to propagate the change in the membrane potential, and then the voltage-gated channels locally assist the propagation at each site of the axon (nodes of Ranvier).

Note: Novel diamond anvil cell for electrical measurements using boron-doped metallic diamond electrodes

A novel diamond anvil cell suitable for electrical transport measurements under high pressure has been developed. A boron-doped metallic diamond film was deposited as an electrode on a nano-polycrystalline diamond anvil using a microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition technique combined with electron beam lithography. The maximum pressure that can be achieved by this assembly is above 30 GPa. We report electrical transport measurements of Pb up to 8 GPa. The boron-doped metallic diamond electrodes showed no signs of degradation after repeated compression.

A novel and selective sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, tofogliflozin, improves glycaemic control and lowers body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM

To assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of different doses of tofogliflozin, a novel, highly selective sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

In a 12-week, multicentre, multinational, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study, patients with inadequate glycaemic control from diet and exercise alone, or from diet and exercise plus a stable dose of metformin, were randomized to one of five doses of tofogliflozin (2.5, 5, 10, 20, or 40 mg) or placebo. The primary efficacy endpoint was absolute change at week 12 from baseline in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), minus the change in the placebo group.

RESULTS

Statistically significant dose-dependent reductions in HbA1c were shown in all treated groups except the 2.5-mg dose group, with a maximum reduction of 0.56% (placebo-subtracted) at the 40-mg dose, along with increased urinary glucose excretion. Metformin treatment had no substantial influence on tofogliflozin efficacy. Dose-dependent reductions in fasting plasma glucose and body weight were observed, and glucose intolerance was improved, with a trend towards blood pressure reduction. Slight increases were observed for mean ketone bodies with no abnormal change in ketone body ratio. No deaths or treatment-related serious adverse events were reported. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the placebo (37.9%) to that in the tofogliflozin group (35.9-46.3%). Withdrawal because of adverse events was rare (≤2 patients per treatment group), with similar rates of withdrawal in the placebo and tofogliflozin groups.

CONCLUSIONS

A once-daily dose of tofogliflozin for 12 weeks was an effective, safe and well-tolerated treatment for T2DM.

DEEP BIOSPHERE. Exploring deep microbial life in coal-bearing sediment down to ~2.5 km below the ocean floor

Microbial life inhabits deeply buried marine sediments, but the extent of this vast ecosystem remains poorly constrained. Here we provide evidence for the existence of microbial communities in ~40° to 60°C sediment associated with lignite coal beds at ~1.5 to 2.5 km below the seafloor in the Pacific Ocean off Japan. Microbial methanogenesis was indicated by the isotopic compositions of methane and carbon dioxide, biomarkers, cultivation data, and gas compositions. Concentrations of indigenous microbial cells below 1.5 km ranged from <10 to ~10(4) cells cm(-3). Peak concentrations occurred in lignite layers, where communities differed markedly from shallower subseafloor communities and instead resembled organotrophic communities in forest soils. This suggests that terrigenous sediments retain indigenous community members tens of millions of years after burial in the seabed.

A Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Drug-Drug Interaction Study of Tofogliflozin (a New SGLT2 Inhibitor) and Selected Anti-Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Drugs

OBJECTIVE

Tofogliflozin is an oral hypoglycemic agent with a novel mechanism of action that reduces blood glucose levels by promoting glucose excretion in urine, achieved by selectively inhibiting sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2). We evaluated the effects of several selected anti-type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) drugs-glimepiride, metformin, sitagliptin, pioglitazone, miglitol, nateglinide, and voglibose-on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of tofogliflozin, and the effects of tofogliflozin on the pharmacokinetics of these anti-T2DM drugs in healthy male volunteers.

METHODS

A single dose of either tofogliflozin alone, one of the anti-T2DM drugs alone, or co-administration of tofogliflozin and the anti-T2DM drug was administered to 108 healthy men. Cmax, AUCinf, and cumulative urine glucose excretion after co-administration of tofogliflozin and each of the anti-T2DM drugs was evaluated relative to the values of those parameters after administration of each drug alone.

RESULTS

None of the anti-T2DM drugs had any effect on tofogliflozin exposure. Tofogliflozin had no or little effect on the exposure of any anti-T2DM drug. No anti-T2DM drug had any major effect on the cumulative urine glucose excretion induced by tofogliflozin. There were no safety concerns evident after administration of any drug alone or in co-administration.

CONCLUSIONS

Neither the pharmacokinetics nor the pharmacodynamics of tofogliflozin was affected by any of the anti-T2DM drugs evaluated in this study, nor was the pharmacokinetics of any of the anti-T2DM drugs affected by tofogliflozin in healthy male volunteers.

Exosomal microRNA in serum is a novel biomarker of recurrence in human colorectal cancer

Background:

Functional microRNAs (miRNAs) in exosomes have been recognised as potential stable biomarkers in cancers. The aim of this study is to identify specific miRNAs in exosome as serum biomarkers for the early detection of recurrence in human colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods:

Serum samples were sequentially obtained from six patients with and without recurrent CRC. The miRNAs were purified from exosomes, and miRNA microarray analysis was performed. The miRNA expression profiles and copy number aberrations were explored using microarray and array CGH analyses in 124 CRC tissues. Then, we validated exosomal miRNAs in 2 serum sample sets (90 and 209 CRC patients) by quantitative real-time RT–PCR.

Results:

Exosomal miR-17-92a cluster expression level in serum was correlated with the recurrence of CRC. Exosomal miR-19a expression levels in serum were significantly increased in patients with CRC as compared with healthy individuals with gene amplification. The CRC patients with high exosomal miR-19a expression showed poorer prognoses than the low expression group (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

Abundant expression of exosomal miR-19a in serum was identified as a prognostic biomarker for recurrence in CRC patients.

The combination of perception of other individuals and exogenous manipulation of arousal enhances social facilitation as an aftereffect: re-examination of Zajonc's drive theory

Zajonc’s drive theory postulates that arousal enhanced through the perception of the presence of other individuals plays a crucial role in social facilitation (Zajonc, 1965). Here, we conducted two experiments to examine whether the elevation of arousal through a stepping exercise performed in front of others as an exogenous factor causes social facilitation of a cognitive task in a condition where the presence of others does not elevate the arousal level. In the main experiment, as an “aftereffect of social stimulus,” we manipulated the presence or absence of others and arousal enhancement before participants conducted the primary cognitive task. The results showed that the strongest social facilitation was induced by the combination of the perception of others and arousal enhancement. In a supplementary experiment, we manipulated these factors by adding the presence of another person during the task. The results showed that the effect of the presence of the other during the primary task is enough on its own to produce facilitation of task performance regardless of the arousal enhancement as an aftereffect of social stimulus. Our study therefore extends the framework of Zajonc’s drive theory in that the combination of the perception of others and enhanced arousal as an “aftereffect” was found to induce social facilitation especially when participants did not experience the presence of others while conducting the primary task.

Oxytocin's neurochemical effects in the medial prefrontal cortex underlie recovery of task-specific brain activity in autism: a randomized controlled trial

The neuropeptide oxytocin may be an effective therapeutic strategy for the currently untreatable social and communication deficits associated with autism. Our recent paper reported that oxytocin mitigated autistic behavioral deficits through the restoration of activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), as demonstrated with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a socio-communication task. However, it is unknown whether oxytocin exhibited effects at the neuronal level, which was outside of the specific task examined. In the same randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject cross-over clinical trial in which a single dose of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) was administered to 40 men with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (UMIN000002241/000004393), we measured N-acetylaspartate (NAA) levels, a marker for neuronal energy demand, in the vmPFC using (1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS). The differences in the NAA levels between the oxytocin and placebo sessions were associated with oxytocin-induced fMRI signal changes in the vmPFC. The oxytocin-induced increases in the fMRI signal could be predicted by the NAA differences between the oxytocin and placebo sessions (P=0.002), an effect that remained after controlling for variability in the time between the fMRI and (1)H-MRS scans (P=0.006) and the order of administration of oxytocin and placebo (P=0.001). Furthermore, path analysis showed that the NAA differences in the vmPFC triggered increases in the task-dependent fMRI signals in the vmPFC, which consequently led to improvements in the socio-communication difficulties associated with autism. The present study suggests that the beneficial effects of oxytocin are not limited to the autistic behavior elicited by our psychological task, but may generalize to other autistic behavioral problems associated with the vmPFC.

Receiving of emotional signal of pain from conspecifics in laboratory rats

Though recent studies have shown that rodents express emotions with their face, whether emotional expression in rodents has a communicative function between conspecifics is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate the ability of visual recognition of emotional expressions in laboratory rats. We found that Long-Evans rats avoid images of pain expressions of conspecifics but not those of neutral expressions. The results indicate that rats use visual emotional signals from conspecifics to adjust their behaviour in an environment to avoid a potentially dangerous place. Therefore, emotional expression in rodents, rather than just a mere 'expression' of emotional states, might have a communicative function.

Field-induced quantum criticality and universal temperature dependence of the magnetization of a spin-1/2 heisenberg chain

High-precision dc magnetization measurements have been made on Cu(C4H4N2) (NO3)2 in magnetic fields up to 14.7 T, slightly above the saturation field Hs=13.97  T, in the temperature range from 0.08 to 15 K. The magnetization curve and differential susceptibility at the lowest temperature show excellent agreement with exact theoretical results for the spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet in one dimension. A broad peak is observed in magnetization measured as a function of temperature, signaling a crossover to a low-temperature Tomonaga-Luttinger-liquid regime. With an increasing field, the peak moves gradually to lower temperatures, compressing the regime, and, at Hs, the magnetization exhibits a strong upturn. This quantum critical behavior of the magnetization and that of the specific heat withstand quantitative tests against theory, demonstrating that the material is a practically perfect one-dimensional spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet.

Amelogenins as potential buffers during secretory-stage amelogenesis

Amelogenins are the most abundant protein species in forming dental enamel, taken to regulate crystal shape and crystal growth. Unprotonated amelogenins can bind protons, suggesting that amelogenins could regulate the pH in enamel in situ. We hypothesized that without amelogenins the enamel would acidify unless ameloblasts were buffered by alternative ways. To investigate this, we measured the mineral and chloride content in incisor enamel of amelogenin-knockout (AmelX(-/-)) mice and determined the pH of enamel by staining with methyl-red. Ameloblasts were immunostained for anion exchanger-2 (Ae2), a transmembrane pH regulator sensitive for acid that secretes bicarbonate in exchange for chloride. The enamel of AmelX(-/-) mice was 10-fold thinner, mineralized in the secretory stage 1.8-fold more than wild-type enamel and containing less chloride (suggesting more bicarbonate secretion). Enamel of AmelX(-/-) mice stained with methyl-red contained no acidic bands in the maturation stage as seen in wild-type enamel. Secretory ameloblasts of AmelX(-/-) mice, but not wild-type mice, were immunopositive for Ae2, and stained more intensely in the maturation stage compared with wild-type mice. Exposure of AmelX(-/-) mice to fluoride enhanced the mineral content in the secretory stage, lowered chloride, and intensified Ae2 immunostaining in the enamel organ in comparison with non-fluorotic mutant teeth. The results suggest that unprotonated amelogenins may regulate the pH of forming enamel in situ. Without amelogenins, Ae2 could compensate for the pH drop associated with crystal formation.

Determination of local atomic displacements in CeO(1-x)F(x)BiS2 system

We have used Bi and Ce L3-edges extended x-ray absorption fine structure measurements to study local structure of CeO(1-x)F(x)BiS2 system as a function of F-substitution. The local structure of both BiS2 active layer and CeO1-xFx spacer layer changes systematically. The in-plane Bi-S1 distance decreases (ΔRmax ∼ 0.08 Å) and the out-of-plane Bi-S2 distance increases (ΔRmax ∼ 0.12 Å) with increasing F-content. On the other hand, the Ce-O/F distance increases (ΔRmax ∼ 0.2 Å) with a concomitant decrease of the Ce-S2 distance (ΔRmax ∼ 0.15 Å). Interestingly, the Bi-S1 distance is characterized by a large disorder that increases with F-content. The results provide useful information on the local atomic displacements in CeO(1-x)F(x)BiS2, that should be important for the understanding of the coexistence of superconductivity and low temperature ferromagnetism in this system.

An experimental task to examine the mirror system in rats

The mirror system in the brain is considered to be a neural basis of sociality, but previous studies have been limited to primates. Here we report an experimental task to examine the mirror system in rats. We show that a rat could reach to a pellet and grasp and eat it in front of another rat that was observing the reaching, which indicates that the task will enable us to start exploring the rat mirror system.

Faces in the dark: interactive effects of darkness and anxiety on the memory for threatening faces

In the current research, we extend past work on the effects of ambient darkness and threat to the domain of memory for expressive faces. In one study, we examined the effects of ambient darkness and individual differences in state anxiety on memory of unfamiliar expressive faces. Here, participants were seated in either a dark or light room and encoded a set of unfamiliar faces with angry, happy, and neutral facial expressions. A subsequent recognition task revealed an interactive effect of ambient darkness, anxiety, and target expression. Highly anxious participants in ambient darkness had worse memory for angry faces than did low-anxiety participants. On the other hand, the recognition performance for happy faces was affected neither by the darkness nor state anxiety. The results suggest not only that ambient darkness has its strongest effect on anxious perceivers, but also that person × situation effects should be considered in face recognition research.

Pressure-dependent magnetization and magnetoresistivity studies on tetragonal FeS (mackinawite): revealing its intrinsic metallic character

The transport and magnetic properties of the tetragonal Fe[Formula: see text]S were investigated using magnetoresistivity and magnetization within [Formula: see text] K, [Formula: see text] 70 kOe and [Formula: see text] 3.0 GPa. In addition, room-temperature x-ray diffraction and photoelectron spectroscopy were also applied. In contrast to previously reported nonmetallic character, Fe[Formula: see text]S is intrinsically metallic but due to a presence of a weak localization such metallic character is not exhibited below room temperature. An applied pressure reduces strongly this additional resistive contribution and as such enhances the temperature range of the metallic character which, for ∼3 GPa, is evident down to 75 K. The absence of superconductivity as well as the mechanism behind the weak localization will be discussed.