Hyperbolic self-gravity solver for large scale hydrodynamical simulations

A new computationally efficient method has been introduced to treat self-gravity in Eulerian hydrodynamical simulations. It is applied simply by modifying the Poisson equation into an inhomogeneous wave equation. This roughly corresponds to the weak field limit of the Einstein equations in general relativity, and as long as the gravitation propagation speed is taken to be larger than the hydrodynamical characteristic speed, the results agree with solutions for the Poisson equation. The solutions almost perfectly agree if the domain is taken large enough, or appropriate boundary conditions are given. Our new method cannot only significantly reduce the computational time compared with existent methods, but is also fully compatible with massive parallel computation, nested grids, and adaptive mesh refinement techniques, all of which can accelerate the progress in computational astrophysics and cosmology

Pyoderma gangrenosum after breast cancer resection: A less-invasive and early treatment using the skin around ulcers

Surgical invasion is a risk factor of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). A total of 25% of postoperative PG cases were reported to occur after breast surgeries, including bilateral breast reduction and breast reconstruction following cancer resection. Immunosuppressive therapy and less-invasive wound therapy are necessary; however, the complete healing of ulcers takes 5.1 months on average. We herein report a case of skin grafting under a surgical concept of less-invasive and short-term treatment. An 82-year-old woman complained of a high fever and severe pain at her breast wounds after bilateral breast cancer resection. Although we performed emergency debridement surgery to remove the necrotic tissue, suspecting surgical site infection and inflammation, her high fever persisted. She was diagnosed with PG because of the physical findings of characteristic painful, sterile ulcerations, bullae and pustules, and the pathological abundance of neutrophils in the absence of infection and vasculitis. Oral administration of prednisolone 30 mg/day improved the symptoms, and we applied negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) from day 16 following debridement surgery. After the gradual reduction of oral steroid intake to 12.5 mg/day, we performed skin grafting surgery. To limit the surgical invasion, we used the surplus skin around the ulcers. Split-thickness mesh skin grafts were fixed by NPWT to avoid the use of tie-over sutures. We achieved short-term treatment of PG with a less-invasive surgical strategy using skin around the ulcers and NPWT

Estimation of catch efficiency of a small seine for larval and juvenile Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicus, in the Ohta estuary

河口域における魚類群集の主要構成者であるスズキ仔稚魚に対する小型曳き網（幅2.3m，高さ1m）の採集効率を，地曳き網（幅16m，高さ1m）による採集結果と比較することにより推定した。2008年3月21日と4月7日に太田川放水路感潮域において合計15回の曳網を行い，合計1,502個体（標準体長14.5－24.0mm）のスズキ仔稚魚を採集した。地曳き網の網目からの逸出が生じる体長16mm未満と，個体密度が著しく低下する23mm以上については解析対象とせず，地曳き網による採集効率を100％と仮定した。体長1mmごとに区分した分布密度を採集具間で比較した結果，小型曳き網による体長16mm以上18mm未満のスズキ仔稚魚採集効率は約100％と推定された。体長18mm以上23mm未満では採集効率（C, ％）が体長（L, mm）に比例して直線的に減少した（C=－17.2*L+388.8，n=11，r2=0.77，p=0.0004）。In order to estimate catch efficiency of a small seine (1.0 by 2.3 m, 2 mm mesh aperture) for larval and juvenile Japanese sea bass Lateolabrax japonicus, results from experimental hauls of the small seine were compared with those from a large seines (1.0 by 16 m, 2.5 mm mesh aperture) in the Ohta Diversion Channel on March 21 and April 7, 2008. A total of 1,502 Japanese sea bass, ranging between 14.5 and 24.0 mm in standard length were collected. Data of fish <15.9 mm was excluded from the analysis since extrusion of these fish through the mesh of the large seine was possible. Comparison of the Japanese sea bass abundance at lengths between the small and large seines revealed that the catch efficiency of the small seine for Japanese sea bass <18.0 mm was approximately 100%. The catch efficiency decreased with the increase in fish body length between 18.0 and 22.9 mm. A linear model was fitted to the relationship between the catch efficiency (C, %) and body length (L, mm): C=－17.2*L+388.8 (n=11, r2=0.77, p=0.0004). Catch efficiency was not estimated for Japanese sea bass ＞ 23 mm since their abundance was quite low in the surveyed area probably due to migration to downriver or sea areas, which are considered as habitats for the following life stages

A quantitative comparison of fish assemblage between amacroalgae bed and an adjoining sandy beach in the central Seto Inland Sea

植生の有無が魚類群集に与える影響を明らかにすることを目的として，瀬戸内海中央部の無人島（小久野島）の東岸において隣接するガラモ場と砂浜の魚類相調査を実施した。ガラモ場と砂浜に10m四方（面積100m2）の調査区画を各4ヶ所設定し，季節に1回の頻度で（2006年8月，11月，2007年2月，5月）小型巻網（目合い4mm）を用いて区画内の魚類をすべて採集した。一年間の調査により，ガラモ場で20種以上1,397個体，砂浜で17種以上902個体の魚類が採集された。個体数にもとづく優占種（上位3種）は，ガラモ場ではシロメバル，ヒメハゼ，ハオコゼ，砂浜ではヒメハゼ，ボラ，スジハゼ，湿重量にもとづく優占種は，ガラモ場ではシロメバル，ハオコゼ，キュウセン，砂浜ではヒメハゼ，シロギス，ボラであった。100m2あたりの出現種数，個体密度，バイオマスはいずれもガラモ場において大きな季節変動を示した。8月にはガラモ場における種数が砂浜よりも有意に多かった。ガラモ場においては，ホンダワラ類の繁茂期である2－5月にシロメバル仔稚魚の来遊にともなう個体密度とバイオマスの急増が認められた。Biological and physical surveys were conducted at amacloalgae bed (MB) and a sandy beach (SB) off an inhabited island in the central Seto Inland Sea, Japan, from August 2006 tomay 2007 in order to detect the effect of vegetation on fish assemblage. Fish were collected using a seine net (2m in height, 3mm in mesh aperture) at four separate locations within MB and SB during a tidal level between 70-130 cm in daytime on 4 Aug. and 16 Nov. 2006 and 19 Feb. and 2 May 2007. A total of 1,397 and 902 fish were collected at MB and SB, respectively. The numerically dominant species were Sebastes cheni, Favonigobius gymnauchen and Hypodytes rubripinnis in MB and Favonigobius gymnauchen, mugil cephalus cephalus and Acentrogobius pflaumii in SB. Weight-based dominant species were Sebastes cheni, Hypodytes rubripinnis and Halichoeres poecilopterus in MB and Favonigobius gymnauchen, Sillago japonica and Mugil cephalus cephalus. Seasonal fluctuation in number of fish species, fish abundance and biomass in MB were larger than those in SB. The number of fish species in August in MB was significantly higher than that in SB. Fish abundance and biomass in MB abruptly increased fromFebruary to May due to immigration of S. cheni larvae and juveniles

Identification and Validation of QTLs for Yield and Yield Components under Long-Term Salt Stress Using IR64 CSSLs in the Genetic Background of Koshihikari and Their Backcross Progenies

Unraveling the complex genetic bases and mechanisms underlying salt tolerance is of great importance for developing salt-tolerant varieties. In this study, we evaluated 42 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) carrying chromosome segments from IR64 on the genetic background of Koshihikari under salt stress. Two CSSLs, SL2007 and SL2038, produced higher plant dry weight and grain yield than did Koshihikari under the stress condition. These CSSLs also showed lower Na+ and Cl- accumulation in the leaf and whole plant at the full heading stage, which might be related to the higher grain yield and yield components. To understand the genetic control of its grain yield and yield components, a SL2007/Koshihikari F-2 population was generated for quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. Six QTLs for grain yield and yield-related traits were detected on chromosome 2. Using near-isogenic lines (NILs) from a SL2007/Koshihikari F-5 population, qSTGY2.2 was delimited to a 2.5 Mb region and novel qSTPN2 was delimited to a 0.6 Mb region. We also detected a novel QTL, qSTGF2, for grain filling, which was considered an important contributor to grain yield under salt stress in this CSSL. Our results provide insights into mechanisms conferring grain yield under salinity stress and new genetic resources for cloning and breeding

Population pharmacokinetic modeling of GS‐441524, the active metabolite of remdesivir, in Japanese COVID‐19 patients with renal dysfunction

腎障害患者におけるレムデシビルの薬物動態モデルを構築 --新型コロナウイルス感染症治療薬の適正使用に向けて--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-11-25.Remdesivir, a prodrug of the nucleoside analog GS-441524, plays a key role in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, owing to limited information on clinical trials and inexperienced clinical use, there is a lack of pharmacokinetic (PK) data in patients with COVID-19 with special characteristics. In this study, we aimed to measure serum GS-441524 concentrations and develop a population PK (PopPK) model. Remdesivir was administered at a 200 mg loading dose on the first day followed by 100 mg from day 2, based on the package insert, in patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) greater than or equal to 30 ml/min. In total, 190 concentrations from 37 Japanese patients were used in the analysis. The GS-441524 trough concentrations were significantly higher in the eGFR less than 60 ml/min group than in the eGFR greater than or equal to 60 ml/min group. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in four patients hardly affected the total body clearance (CL) and volume of distribution (Vd) of GS-441524. A one-compartment model described serum GS-441524 concentration data. The CL and Vd of GS-441524 were significantly affected by eGFR readjusted by individual body surface area and age, respectively. Simulations proposed a dose regimen of 200 mg on day 1 followed by 100 mg once every 2 days from day 2 in patients with an eGFR of 30 ml/min or less. In conclusion, we successfully established a PopPK model of GS-441524 using retrospectively obtained serum GS-441524 concentrations in Japanese patients with COVID-19, which would be helpful for optimal individualized therapy of remdesivir