• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2023

Background: Massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are complicated by muscle atrophy, fibrosis, and intramuscular fatty degeneration, which are associated with postoperative tendon-to-bone healing failure and poor clinical outcomes. We evaluated muscle and enthesis changes in large tears with or without suprascapular nerve (SN) injury in a rat model. Methods: Sixty-two adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into SN injury (+) and SN injury (-) groups (n=31 each), comprising tendon (supraspinatus [SSP]/infraspinatus [ISP]) and nerve resection and tendon resection only cases, respectively. Muscle weight measurement, histological evaluation, and biomechanical testing were performed 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Ultrastructural analysis with block face imaging was performed 8 weeks postoperatively. Results: SSP/ISP muscles in the SN injury (+) group appeared atrophic, with increased fatty tissue and decreased muscle weight, compared to those in the control and SN injury (-) groups. Immunoreactivity was only positive in the SN injury (+) group. Myofibril arrangement irregularity and mitochondrial swelling severity, along with number of fatty cells, were higher in the SN injury (+) group than in the SN injury (-) group. The bone-tendon junction enthesis was firm in the SN injury (-) group; this was atrophic and thinner in the SN injury (+) group, with decreased cell density and immature fibrocartilage. Mechanically, the tendon-bone insertion was significantly weaker in the SN injury (+) group than in the control and SN injury (+) groups. Conclusions: In clinical settings, SN injury may cause severe fatty changes and inhibition of postoperative tendon healing in large RCTs. Level of evidence: Level Basic research, controlled laboratory study.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.139-147
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• 2023

Aspergillus sojae has long been considered a domesticated strain of Aspergillus parasiticus. This study delineated relationships among the two species and an Aspergillus PWE36 isolate. Of 25 examined clustered aflatoxin genes of PWE36, 20 gene sequences were identical to those of A. sojae, but all had variations to those of A. parasiticus. Additionally, PWE36 developmental genes of conidiation and sclerotial formation, overall, shared higher degrees of nucleotide sequence identity with A. sojae genes than with A. parasiticus genes. Examination of defective cyclopiazonic acid gene clusters revealed that the PWE36 deletion pattern was identical only to those of A. sojae. Using A. sojae SMF134 genome sequence as a reference, visualization of locally collinear blocks indicated that PWE36 shared higher genome sequence homologies with A. sojae than with A. parasiticus. Phylogenetic inference based on genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and total SNP counts showed that A. sojae strains formed a monophyletic clade and were clonal. Two (Argentinian and Ugandan) A. parasiticus isolates but not including an Ethiopian isolate formed a monophyletic clade, which showed that A. parasiticus population is genetically diverse and distant to A. sojae. PWE36 and A. sojae shared a most recent common ancestor (MRCA). The estimated divergence time for PWE36 and A. sojae was about 0.4 mya. Unlike Aspergillus oryzae, another koji mold that includes genetically diverse populations, the findings that current A. sojae strains formed a monophyletic group and shared the MRCA with PWE36 allow A. sojae to be continuously treated as a species for food safety reasons.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2020.12a
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• pp.425-432
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• 2020

In order to improve the sustainability and smart construction, it is discussed arguably that developing and applying consistent "standard model" to plan business, design, construct and operate a building is considered to be one of the effective and efficient approach. The scope of this article is to examine, from the international developer's perspective, the "standard model" approach of a hotel brand to building projects in the UK, and also to explore potential role of project team to mitigate any local difference at the project level. These projects are developed by the same developer adopting the same business plan, design and operation to each project. In order to clarify the actual and likely difference in construction results, reference is also made to those building projects located in other geographical markets including Japan, Germany and USA, and focus is given on the analysis of its programme and cost. Principle findings are that there exists geographical difference especially in environmental and planning system, and that major local difference is found at least in the programme at the design stage. In contrast, the difference in the building cost itself may not be necessarily considered major if currency exchange rate being taken into account appropriately. It is also observed that there were cases where any difference in the programme was mitigated by taking different approach to procuring and defining roles of management and professional team at the project level. In conclusion, from the international developer's perspective, the geographical difference of the "construction system" surrounding building projects can typically lead to major prolongation of programme, however, these different construction results could be mitigated at least to a certain extent by introducing appropriate changes to the role of project team.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2022.06a
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• pp.331-332
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• 2022

After the Great East Japan Earthquake, reports and books that compiled the testimonies of the victims were published and the situation of the evacuation at that time became known. However, there is very little information on the evacuation situation of children among these data, and it is not fully known what actions the children took and how they evacuated due to an earthquake or tsunami. The purpose of this study is to analyze and examine children's evacuation behavior in the Great East Japan Earthquake, and to predict children's evacuation behavior for future disasters.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.512-522
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• 2023

Purpose: Dental floss clip (DFC) traction-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely performed owing to its simplicity. This study aimed to clarify the appropriate indications for the DFC traction method in early gastric cancer when ESD is performed by less-experienced endoscopists. Methods and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 1,014 consecutive patients who had undergone gastric ESD performed by less-experienced endoscopists between January 2015 and December 2020. Gastric ESD was performed without DFC in all cases before December 2017 [DFC (-) group, 376 cases], and ESD was performed with DFC in all cases after January 2018 [DFC (+) group, 436 cases]. The procedure time and rates of en bloc resection, complete resection, and adverse events of the groups were compared. Results: The procedure time did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. However, when comparing lesions >20 mm, the procedure time in the DFC (+) group was significantly shorter than that in the DFC (-) group (95±46 vs. 75±31, P<0.01). The procedure time for lesions located in the greater curvature of the upper or middle stomach and lesions >20 mm located in the lesser curvature side of the stomach in the DFC (+) group was significantly shorter than that in the DFC (-) group. Conclusions: The indications for DFC during gastric ESD by less-experienced endoscopists include lesions located in the greater curvature of the upper or middle stomach, and lesions >20 mm located in the lesser curvature of the stomach.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.187-191
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• 2024

Background: Effective near-miss management is important in preventing workplace accidents. A company's inadequate response to near-miss reports can lead workers to feel insecure and dissatisfied with the company. We investigated the relationship between companies' responses to near-miss reports and turnover intentions of workers. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using online self-administered questionnaire survey to workers aged ≥20 years in Japan in March 2022. The analysis included 5,071 participants who had nearmiss experiences and reported them to their companies. The independent variable was companies' responses to near-miss reports, classified into three categories: adequate response group, inadequate response group, and no response group. The dependent variable was turnover intentions. We calculated the odds ratio and 95% confidential interval (CI) using multilevel logistic regression analyses nested for industries and adjusted for covariates. Results: Of the 5,071 participants, 3,058 (60.3%) were adequate response group, 1,484 (29.3%) were inadequate response group, and 529 (10.4%) were no response group. In multivariable adjusted model, compared with adequate response group, the odds ratio of inadequate response group and no response group were 1.80 (95% CI: 1.56-2.08) and 2.63 (95% CI: 2.15-3.22), respectively. Conclusion: Our results suggested that there was a relationship between companies' responses to the near-miss reports and turnover intentions of workers. It is important not only to collect near-misses but also to respond appropriately to the reports and provide feedback to workers.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.270-278
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• 2022

Background/Aims: Endoscopic evaluation of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) is useful in determining whether the lesions are benign or malignant. This study aimed to examine the usefulness of peroral pancreatoscopy (POPS) in determining the prognosis of IPMNs. Methods: POPS with videoscopy was performed using the mother-baby scope technique. After surgery, computed tomography/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography or ultrasonography and blood tests were performed every 6 months during the follow-up. Results: A total of 39 patients with main pancreatic duct (MPD)-type IPMNs underwent POPS using a videoscope, and the protrusions in the MPD were observed in 36 patients. The sensitivity and specificity of cytology/biopsy performed at the time of POPS were 85% and 87.5%, respectively. Of 19 patients who underwent surgery, 18 (95%) patients had negative surgical margins and 1 (5%) patient had a positive margin. Conclusions: In IPMNs with dilatation of the MPD, POPS is considered effective if the lesions can be directly observed. The diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions is possible depending on the degree of lesion elevation. However, in some cases, slightly elevated lesions may increase in size during the follow-up or multiple lesions may be simultaneously present; therefore, careful follow-up is necessary.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.85-96
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• 2024

Objective: Congenital intracranial pial arteriovenous fistula (PAVF) is a rare cerebral vascular pathology characterized by a direct shunt between one or more pial feeding arteries and a cortical draining vein. Transarterial endovascular embolization (TAE) is widely considered first line therapy. Curative TAE may not be achievable in the multi-hole variant due to the potential to harbor innumerable small feeding arteries. Transvenous embolization (TVE) may be considered to target the final common outlet of the lesion. Here, we present a series of four patients with complex multi-hole congenital PAVF treated with staged TAE followed by TVE. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent treatment for congenital, multi-hole PAVFs treated by a combined TAE/TVE approach at our institution since 2013. Results: We identified four patients with multi-hole PAVF treated by a combined TAE/TVE. Median age was 5.2 (0-14.7) years. Median follow-up of 8 (1-15) months by catheter angiography and 38 (23-53) months by MRI/MRA was obtained. TVE achieved complete occlusion in three patients that proved durable on radiographic follow-up and demonstrated excellent clinical outcomes with a modified Rankin Score (mRS) of 0 or 1. Complete occlusion of the draining vein was not achieved by TVE in one case. This patient is graded as pediatric mRS=5 three years post-procedure. Conclusions: With thorough technical considerations, our series indicates that TVE of multi-hole PAVF that are refractory to TAE is feasible and effective in arresting the consequences of chronic, high-flow AV shunting produced by this pathology.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.324-332
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• 1985

Aspergillus niger B-15 with strong Endo-polygalacturonase (Endo-PG) activities was selected out from a total of 1,573 fungal strains isolated from various testing materials. A mutant strain, U-46, was obtained from the Aspergillus niger B-15 by repeated irradition of ultra-violet light. The objectives of the study were to investigate the fungal properties of the parental and mutant strains obtained and to study the condition of enzyme production and reaction. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The size of conidial head of the U-46 mutant was smaller than that of the parental strains, B-15 and the length of the conidiophore was also shorter than that of the parental strains. 2. The optimum conditions for the Endo-PG production of the parental B-15 strain in the wheat bran Koji were obtained when 40% of water was added to the wheat bran and the temperature was 30 to $35^{\circ}C$. However, the best condition for the mutant U-46 strain was attained when 60 to 70% of water was added and the temperature was $35^{\circ}C$. The optimum growing periods were two to three days for both parental and mutant strains. 3. Under the optimum producing conditions of each strains, the enzymatic activity of the mutant U-46 was 20 times higher than the Endo-PG of the parental strain, B-15. 4. When both strains were cultured in the wheat bran Koji containing 60% of water at $35^{\circ}C$ for three days, the mutant strain. U-46, was about 46 times higher in the Endo-PG activity and about 18 times greater in Exo-PG activity than the parental strain, B-15. The activities of cellulase, $\alpha$-amylase, and glucoamylase were also highly increased in the mutant strain. 5. The mutant strain, U-46, increased its Endo-PG activity up to 20% over that of ordinary case when 1.2 to 1.5% of ammonium sulphate was added to the wheat bran. 6. The optimum condition for Endo-PG activity of crude enzyme of the mutant strain, U-46, was attained when pH of reaction solution was 4.0 to 4.5 and the temperature was $50^{\circ}C$.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.866-877
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to develop a new functional traditional fermented soybean food using Cudrania tricuspidata fruits and fermentation microbes isolated from traditional fermented food. Aspergillus oryzae koji, Lactobacillus sp., and Bacillus sp. were used for the selection of a suitable microbe for the fermentation of Cudrania tricuspidata fruits, and as a result, Bacillus licheniformis SCDB 1234 was selected. SCDB 1234 enhanced the concentration of kaempferol in the Cudrania tricuspidata fruits from 9.54 to $217.04{\mu}g/g$ (about 22 times). The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the fermented materials was similar to that of BHA and BHT (92~99 ppm). The tyrosinase inhibitory activity was high with arbutin (95 ppm) and kojic acid (90 ppm). Doenjang-added fermentation materials of the Cudrania tricuspidata fruits were developed, and the organic acid, reducing sugar, and free amino acid of the developed Doenjang were analyzed. The pancreatic lipase inhibitory (PLI) activity and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory (AGI) activity of the fermentation materials of the Cudrania tricuspidata fruits and the developed Doenjang were investigated, and it was found that after fermentation, the PLI and AGI activities of the fermentation materials of the Cudrania tricuspidata fruits were higher than those before fermentation, and that the AGI activity of the developed Doenjang after aging ($91.25{\pm}0.04%$) was higher than that before aging ($84.89{\pm}0.08%$).