Structural heterogeneity in the megathrust zone and mechanism of the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake (Mw 9.0)

The great 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake (Mw 9.0) and its 339 foreshocks and 5,609 aftershocks (9–27 March 2011) were relocated using a three-dimensional seismic velocity model and local P and S wave arrival times. The distribution of relocated hypocenters was compared with a tomographic image of the Northeast Japan forearc. The comparison indicates that the rupture nucleation of the largest events in the Tohoku-oki sequence, including the mainshock, was controlled by structural heterogeneities in the megathrust zone

Does loop length change after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with adjustable loop cortical suspension device?: Observation of the hamstring graft completely filling the femoral tunnel

Abstract Purpose The adjustable loop cortical suspension device (ALD) is a useful femoral fixation device in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions, but the possibility of loosening has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the elongation of an adjustable loop and the position of the hamstring graft inside the femoral socket. Methods The subjects were 33 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with a hamstring tendon. The graft was fixed using ALD and completely filled the femoral socket. Magnetic resonance images were taken one week and one year after the operation. The loop length, femoral socket length, and graft length inside the socket were measured and statistically compared with the clinical outcomes. Results The loop length one week after surgery was 18.9 ± 4.4 mm, and 1 year after surgery was 19.9 ± 4.5 mm (P < 0.001). The gap between the top of the graft and femoral socket was 0.9 ± 1.8 mm one week after surgery and 1.3 ± 1.7 mm one year after surgery (P = 0.259). At one week post‐operation, a gap was found in nine patients (27.3%). The loop length and gap did not strongly correlate with clinical findings. Conclusion ACL reconstruction using ALD showed a gap between the graft and femoral socket at the one week post‐operation mark in 27.3% of participants. One year after the surgery, there were cases where the gap increased and/or decreased, but the elongation of the loop was 1 mm on average. Our findings suggest that ALD is clinically safe to use; however, has the possibility of initial loop elongation and non‐uniform changes. Level of evidence IV

Identifying Glucose Metabolism Status in Nondiabetic Japanese Adults Using Machine Learning Model with Simple Questionnaire

We aimed to identify the glucose metabolism statuses of nondiabetic Japanese adults using a machine learning model with a questionnaire. In this cross-sectional study, Japanese adults (aged 20–64 years) from Tokyo and surrounding areas were recruited. Participants underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and completed a questionnaire regarding lifestyle and physical characteristics. They were classified into four glycometabolic categories based on the OGTT results: category 1: best glucose metabolism, category 2: low insulin sensitivity, category 3: low insulin secretion, and category 4: combined characteristics of categories 2 and 3. A total of 977 individuals were included; the ratios of participants in categories 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 46%, 21%, 14%, and 19%, respectively. Machine learning models (decision tree, support vector machine, random forest, and XGBoost) were developed for identifying the glycometabolic category using questionnaire responses. Then, the top 10 most important variables in the random forest model were selected, and another random forest model was developed using these variables. Its areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) to classify category 1 and the others, category 2 and the others, category 3 and the others, and category 4 and the others were 0.68 (95% confidence intervals: 0.62–0.75), 0.66 (0.58–0.73), 0.61 (0.51–0.70), and 0.70 (0.62–0.77). For external validation of the model, the same dataset of 452 Japanese adults in Hokkaido was obtained. The AUCs to classify categories 1, 2, 3, and 4 and the others were 0.66 (0.61–0.71), 0.57 (0.51–0.62), 0.60 (0.50–0.69), and 0.64 (0.57–0.71). In conclusion, our model could identify the glucose metabolism status using only 10 factors of lifestyle and physical characteristics. This model may help the larger general population without diabetes to understand their glucose metabolism status and encourage lifestyle improvement to prevent diabetes

Intraoperative Local Administration of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) during Neurolysis Surgery for the Treatment of Digital Nerve Crush Injury

The digital nerves are important for normal hand function. In addition to conventional therapies such as neurolysis, direct repair, and auto/allografts, new treatments administering growth factors and cells for promoting nerve regeneration exist. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous product with proven therapeutic effects for musculoskeletal disorders, is a new treatment option for peripheral nerve injury. We hypothesized that PRP could stimulate healing of digital nerve injuries. In the current case report, intraoperative local administration of PRP was performed during neurolysis surgery for a healthy 28-year-old woman with digital nerve crush injury. Five weeks postinjury, surgery was performed due to severe uncontrollable neuropathic pain and no sensory nerve action potential derivation of the index finger. Therapeutic effects were assessed by physical examination, visual analog scale for pain, and nerve conduction study. Postoperatively, early neuropathic pain relief and good functional recovery were obtained with no PRP-related adverse events. This case report demonstrates the therapeutic potential of intraoperative PRP to enhance the healing process of nerve crush injury in the acute phase and to decrease the neuropathic pain, thus enhancing healing of peripheral nerve crush injury

Introduction of the rd29A: AtDREB2A CA gene into soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) and its molecular characterization in leaves and roots during dehydration

The loss of soybean yield to Brazilian producers because of a water deficit in the 2011-2012 season was 12.9%. To reduce such losses, molecular biology techniques, including plant transformation, can be used to insert genes of interest into conventional soybean cultivars to produce lines that are more tolerant to drought. The abscisic acid (ABA)-independent Dehydration Responsive Element Binding (DREB) gene family has been used to obtain plants with increased tolerance to abiotic stresses. In the present study, the rd29A:AtDREB2A CA gene from Arabidopsis thaliana was inserted into soybean using biolistics. Seventy-eight genetically modified (GM) soybean lines containing 2-17 copies of the AtDREB2A CA gene were produced. Two GM soybean lines (P1397 and P2193) were analyzed to assess the differential expression of the AtDREB2A CA transgene in leaves and roots submitted to various dehydration treatments. Both GM lines exhibited high expression of the transgene, with the roots of P2193 showing the highest expression levels during water deficit. Physiological parameters examined during water deficit confirmed the induction of stress. This analysis of AtDREB2A CA expression in GM soybean indicated that line P2193 had the greatest stability and highest expression in roots during water deficit-induced stress