Concierge: Personal Database Software for Managing Digital Research Resources

This article introduces a desktop application, named Concierge, for managing personal digital research resources. Using simple operations, it enables storage of various types of files and indexes them based on content descriptions. A key feature of the software is a high level of extensibility. By installing optional plug-ins, users can customize and extend the usability of the software based on their needs. In this paper, we also introduce a few optional plug-ins: literature management, electronic laboratory notebook, and XooNlps client plug-ins. XooNIps is a content management system developed to share digital research resources among neuroscience communities. It has been adopted as the standard database system in Japanese neuroinformatics projects. Concierge, therefore, offers comprehensive support from management of personal digital research resources to their sharing in open-access neuroinformatics databases such as XooNIps. This interaction between personal and open-access neuroinformatics databases is expected to enhance the dissemination of digital research resources. Concierge is developed as an open source project; Mac OS X and Windows XP versions have been released at the official site (http://concierge.sourceforge.jp)

Correlations Among Consistency, Computed Tomography Values, and Histopathological Subtypes of Spinal Meningioma

The consistency of spinal meningiomas is important to consider when performing tumor removal surgery. This study evaluated the correlations between spinal meningioma consistency and both preoperative computed tomography (CT) values and histopathological subtypes. Fifteen consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection of spinal meningioma at our institution were identified, and preoperative CT values and the signal intensity of T2-weighted magnetic resonance images of the tumor were determined retrospectively. The consistency of the spinal meningioma was defined based on the ultrasonic surgical aspirator output during tumor debulking. Patients were assigned to 2 groups: a soft group (n=4) and a hard group (n=11). The T2 signal intensity was significantly higher in the soft group than in the hard group (p=0.001). While the CT values were considerably higher in the hard group, the difference was not significant (p=0.19). Regarding the histopathological subtypes, psammomatous meningioma exhibited significantly higher CT values than meningothelial meningioma (p=0.019); however, there was a higher frequency of hard tumors in meningothelial meningioma cases than in psammomatous meningioma cases. Although neither robust correlations between tumor consistency and CT values nor a relationship between tumor consistency and histopathological subtype has been established, these results might help with the perioperative manegement of spinal tumors

Utility of Combined Use of Transabdominal Ultrasonography and Fecal Immunochemical Test Examinations in Ulcerative Colitis

This study examined the utility of the combined use of transabdominal ultrasonography (TUS) and fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) to detect mucosal inflammation, vis-a-vis the Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES), in ulcerative colitis (UC). Sixty-three UC patients who underwent TUS and FIT were retrospectively enrolled. For TUS, the colon was divided into five segments, and the bowel wall thickness was measured and evaluated. The accuracy of FIT (> 100 ng/ml) in detecting mucosal inflammation (MES>0) was 0.93, whereas that of TUS (BWT>2 mm) in each segment was 0.84-0.97. The combined use of TUS and FIT may be helpful in noninvasive treatment strategies

Field measurements of absolute gravity in East Antarctica

This paper reports the results of field-based absolute gravity measurements aimed at detecting gravity change and crustal displacement caused by glacial isostatic adjustment. The project was initiated within the framework of the 53rd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE53). Absolute gravity measurements, together with GPS measurements, were planned at several outcrops along the Prince Olav Coast and Sôya Coast of East Antarctica, including at Syowa Station. Since the icebreaker Shirase (AGB 5003) was unable to moor alongside Syowa Station, operations were somewhat restricted during JARE53. However, despite this setback, we were able to complete measurements at two sites: Syowa Station and Langhovde. The absolute gravity value at the Syowa Station IAGBN (A) site, observed using an FG-5 absolute gravimeter (serial number 210; FG-5 #210), was 982 524 322.7±0.1 μGal, and the gravity change rate at the beginning of 2012 was –0.26 μGal∙a-1. An absolute gravity value of 982 535 584.2±0.7 μGal was obtained using a portable A-10 absolute gravimeter (serial number 017; A-10 #017) at the newly located site AGS01 in Langhovde

The CgHaa1-regulon mediates response and tolerance to acetic acid stress in the human pathogen Candida glabrata

To thrive in the acidic vaginal tract C. glabrata has to cope with high concentrations of acetic acid. The mechanisms underlying C. glabrata tolerance to acetic acid at low pH remain largely uncharacterized. In this work it is demonstrated the essential role of the CgHaa1 transcription factor (encoded by ORF CAGL0L09339g) in the response and tolerance of C. glabrata to acetic acid. Transcriptomic analysis showed that CgHaa1 regulates, directly or indirectly, the expression of about 75% of the genes activated under acetic acid stress. CgHaa1-activated targets are involved in multiple physiological functions including membrane transport, metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids, regulation of the activity of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase and adhesion. Under acetic acid stress CgHaa1 increased the activity and the expression of the CgPma1 proton pump and contributed to increased colonization of vaginal epithelial cells by C. glabrata. CgHAA1, CgTPO3 and CgHSP30, two identified CgHaa1-activated targets, are herein demonstrated to be determinants of C. glabrata tolerance to acetic acid. The protective effect of CgTpo3 and of CgHaa1 was linked to a role of these proteins in reducing the accumulation of acetic acid inside C. glabrata cells. In response to acetic acid stress, marked differences were found in the regulons controlled by CgHaa1 and by its S. cerevisiae ScHaa1 ortholog, demonstrating a clear divergent evolution of the two regulatory networks. The results gathered in this study significantly advance the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the success of C. glabrata as a vaginal colonizer.Cristoph Schueller (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria) and Ken Haynes (University of Exeter, UK) are acknowledged for sharing strains. Funding received by the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (UID/BIO/04565/2013) and from Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa 2020 (project no. 007317)is acknowledged. FCT is also acknowledged for funding the Centre of Biological Engineering through contracts FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER020243 and PTDC/EBB-EBI/120495/2010. Science Foundation Ireland and the Wellcome Trust are acknowledged for funding G.B

Absolute Gravity Measurements and Gravity Changes at Syowa Station, Antarctica

第3回極域科学シンポジウム/第32回極域地学シンポジウム 11月29日（木） 統計数理研究所 ３階セミナー

第53次日本南極地域観測隊で新設した重力基準点

第53 次日本南極地域観測隊では，昭和基地の国際絶対重力基準点（IAGBN（A）点）およびラングホブデの露岩で絶対重力測定と相対重力測定を行った．これに伴い，昭和基地に2点，ラングホブデに5点の重力基準点を新たに設置した．本稿では，新設した各重力基準点の位置および重力値を含む詳細情報を記載する．Absolute and relative gravity measurements were carried out at International Absolute Gravity Basement Network (IAGBN (A)) site #0417 at Syowa Station and at outcrops at Langhovde during the summer operation of the 53rd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-53). Two new gravity reference sites were established at Syowa Station and five at Langhovde. We present detailed data for the new sites, including location coordinates and gravity values

Effect of Heart Failure on Long‐Term Clinical Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients With Severe Coronary Artery Disease

[Background] Heart failure might be an important determinant in choosing coronary revascularization modalities. There was no previous study evaluating the effect of heart failure on long‐term clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) relative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). [Methods and Results] Among 14 867 consecutive patients undergoing first coronary revascularization with PCI or isolated CABG between January 2011 and December 2013 in the CREDO‐Kyoto PCI/CABG registry Cohort‐3, we identified the current study population of 3380 patients with three‐vessel or left main coronary artery disease, and compared clinical outcomes between PCI and CABG stratified by the subgroup based on the status of heart failure. There were 827 patients with heart failure (PCI: N=511, and CABG: N=316), and 2553 patients without heart failure (PCI: N=1619, and CABG: N=934). In patients with heart failure, the PCI group compared with the CABG group more often had advanced age, severe frailty, acute and severe heart failure, and elevated inflammatory markers. During a median 5.9 years of follow‐up, there was a significant interaction between heart failure and the mortality risk of PCI relative to CABG (interaction P=0.009), with excess mortality risk of PCI relative to CABG in patients with heart failure (HR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.28–2.42; P<0.001) and no excess mortality risk in patients without heart failure (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.80–1.34; P=0.77). [Conclusions] There was a significant interaction between heart failure and the mortality risk of PCI relative to CABG with excess risk in patients with heart failure and neutral risk in patients without heart failure

Brief overview of the absolute gravity measurement conducted in JARE53

第3回極域科学シンポジウム/第32回極域地学シンポジウム 11月30日（金） 国立極地研究所 ３階ラウン

Absolute gravity observation at the Antarctic Continent with the portable absolute gravimeter A10

第3回極域科学シンポジウム/第32回極域地学シンポジウム 11月29日（木） 統計数理研究所 ３階セミナー