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Soil-less substrates are unable to catalyse nitrification because the addition of a high concentration of organic substances suppresses nitrification. We used a previously developed multiple parallel mineralization method, which enables the use of organic fertilizers in hydroponics, to support nitrification in soil-less substrates. In this method, microorganisms immobilized on porous substrates produced inorganic nitrate from organic substances, as in a natural soil. Phosphate and potassium ions were also released. Microorganisms produced nitrate from organic substances when immobilized on polyurethane resin, rockwool, vermiculite, oyster shell lime, and rice husk charcoal. The optimal amount of organic substance added daily to 100 mL of substrate held 6 mg of organic N. The optimal incubation temperature ranged from 25 to 42 °C. A high relative humidity (51% or higher) was more suitable than drier conditions (20%). The optimal amount of fish fertilizer added to the substrate was 6 mg organic N. The lower the C/N ratio of the organic substance, the better the result. Vegetable plants grew well on inoculated substrates but not on uninoculated substrates. These results show that soil-less substrates can be used to create artificial soils in which plants can be grown with the addition of organic fertilizer, as in a natural soil.

Aim We previously reported that oxytocin, a peptide hormone, can reverse the β‐amyloid peptide (25–35) (Aβ25–35)‐induced impairments of the murine hippocampal synaptic plasticity. In this study, we examined the effects of oxytocin on the Aβ25–35‐induced impairment of cognitive behavior in murine in order to investigate the potential of oxytocin as a clinical treatment tool for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods The Y‐maze and Morris water maze (MWM) tests were performed. Since the intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration is both invasive and impractical, we further utilized intranasal (IN) delivery to the brain. For this purpose, we prepared an oxytocin derivative containing cell‐penetrating peptides and a penetration accelerating sequence, which was subsequently used in our IN administration experiments. Results We herein showed that the ICV administration of oxytocin in mice exerted memory‐improving effects on the Aβ25–35‐induced amnesia in both the Y‐maze and MWM tests. The IN administration of the oxytocin derivative exhibited memory‐improving effects in the Y‐maze test. Moreover, we acquired evidence that the fluorescein isothiocyanate‐labeled oxytocin derivative was distributed throughout the mouse brain following its IN administration. Conclusion Our results suggest that the oxytocin derivative is effective for its IN delivery to the brain and may be particularly useful in the clinical treatment of cognitive impairment, such as that characterizing AD.

Nitride fuels have several advantages including high thermal conductivity and high metal density（like metallic fuels） and high melting point and isotropic crystal structure（like oxide fuels）. Since the late 1990 s, the partitioning and transmutation of minor actinides（MA） has been studied to decrease the long-term radio-toxicity of high-level waste and to mitigate the burden of final disposal. Japan Atomic Energy Agency（JAEA） has proposed a dedicated transmutation cycle using an accelerator-driven system（ADS） with nitride fuels containing MA. The nitride fuel cycle we have developed includes a pyrochemical process. Our focus is on the electrolysis of nitride fuels and their refabrication from the recovered actinides; other processes are similar to the technology for metal fuel treatment and have been studied elsewhere. Here, we summarize our activity on the development of the pyrochemical treatment of spent nitride fuels.

The rhizosphere microbial community in a hydroponics system with multiple parallel mineralization (MPM) can potentially suppress root‐borne diseases. This study focused on revealing the biological nature of the suppression against Fusarium wilt disease, which is caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, and describing the factors that may influence the fungal pathogen in the MPM system. We demonstrated that the rhizosphere microbiota that developed in the MPM system could suppress Fusarium wilt disease under in vitro and greenhouse conditions. The microbiological characteristics of the MPM system were able to control the population dynamics of F. oxysporum, but did not eradicate the fungal pathogen. The roles of the microbiological agents underlying the disease suppression and the magnitude of the disease suppression in the MPM system appear to depend on the microbial density. F. oxysporum that survived in the MPM system formed chlamydospores when exposed to the rhizosphere microbiota. These results suggest that the microbiota suppresses proliferation of F. oxysporum by controlling the pathogen's morphogenesis and by developing an ecosystem that permits coexistence with F. oxysporum. The rhizosphere microbial community in a hydroponics system with multiple parallel mineralization (MPM) can potentially suppress root‐borne diseases. This study focused on the suppression of Fusarium wilt disease caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Our data indicated that the microbiota suppresses the disease by controlling the pathogen's morphogenesis and by developing an ecosystem that permits coexistence with F. oxysporum.

The δ opioid receptor (DOR) inverse agonist has been demonstrated to improve learning and memory impairment in mice subjected to restraint stress. Here, we investigated the effects of SYK-623, a new DOR inverse agonist, on behavioral, immunohistochemical, and biochemical abnormalities in a mouse model of imipramine treatment-resistant depression. Male ddY mice received daily treatment of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) combined with chronic mild stress exposure (ACMS). SYK-623, imipramine, or the vehicle was administered once daily before ACMS. After three weeks, ACMS mice showed impaired learning and memory in the Y-maze test and increased immobility time in the forced swim test. SYK-623, but not imipramine, significantly suppressed behavioral abnormalities caused by ACMS. Based on the fluorescent immunohistochemical analysis of the hippocampus, ACMS induced a reduction in astrocytes and newborn neurons, similar to the reported findings observed in the postmortem brains of depressed patients. In addition, the number of parvalbumin-positive GABA neurons, which play a crucial role in neurogenesis, was reduced in the hippocampus, and western blot analysis showed decreased glutamic acid decarboxylase protein levels. These changes, except for the decrease in astrocytes, were suppressed by SYK-623. Thus, SYK-623 mitigates behavioral abnormalities and disturbed neurogenesis caused by chronic stress.

In recent years, Japan, like many other forest-dependent nations, has been facing difficult times: forest self-sufficiency is low; unplanted areas after harvesting are increasing; and forest industries and companies are losing international competitiveness in the global market. Such challenges, however, are not unique to Japan but are relevant - and all too familiar - to forest industry stakeholders around the world. This book, representing the work of distinguished Japanese scholars, is the first comprehensive English-language overview of forestry, forest management, and the forest products industry in Japan. Chapters address the biological and physical evolution of the forest, forest-dependent industries, the social impact of changes in forest utilization, current trends in the forest estate, and the relationship between urban population and rural forest land. Forestry and the Forest Industry in Japan will be welcomed by scholars, students, and policy makers in the areas of forest policy, international trade, international forestry, and forest products marketing.

There are no clinical reports of long‐term follow‐up after carbon‐ion radiotherapy (CIRT) using a dose of 51.6 Gy (relative biological effectiveness [RBE]) in 12 fractions for localized prostate cancer, or of a comparison of clinical outcomes between passive and scanning beam irradiation. A total of 256 patients with localized prostate cancer who received CIRT at a dose of 51.6 Gy (RBE) in 12 fractions using two different beam delivery techniques (passive [n = 45] and scanning [n = 211]), and who were followed for more than 1 year, were analyzed. The biochemical relapse‐free (bRF) rate was defined by the Phoenix definition, and the actuarial toxicity rates were evaluated using the Kaplan‐Meier method. Of the 256 patients, 41 (16.0%), 111 (43.4%), and 104 (40.6%) were classified as low, intermediate, and high risk, respectively, after a median follow‐up of 7.0 (range 1.1‐10.4) years. Androgen deprivation therapy was performed in 212 patients (82.8%). The 5‐year bRF rates of the low‐, intermediate‐, and high‐risk patients were 95.1%, 90.9%, and 91.1%, respectively. The 5‐year rates of grade 2 late gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities in all patients were 0.4% and 6.3%, respectively. No grade ≥3 toxicities were observed. There were no significant differences in the rates of bRF or grade 2 toxicities in patients who received passive irradiation versus scanning irradiation. Our long‐term follow‐up results showed that a CIRT regimen of 51.6 Gy (RBE) in 12 fractions for localized prostate cancer yielded a good therapeutic outcome and low toxicity rates irrespective of the beam delivery technique. A 51.6 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) carbon‐ion radiotherapy regimen in 12 fractions for localized prostate cancer with long‐term follow‐up yielded a good therapeutic outcome and low toxicity rates in both passive and scanning beam irradiation without significant difference.

Inflammation-based prognostic indicators have been developed to predict the prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, prognostic indices have not been established in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, including those without indication for chemotherapy at diagnosis. This study aimed to identify the predictors in all patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. We retrospectively analyzed data of 119 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer from June 2006 to September 2018. The following laboratory parameters were evaluated: the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), modified GPS, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), C-reactive protein albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio, and prognostic nutritional index (PNI). We performed time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis, overall survival (OS) analysis, and univariate and multivariate analyses to determine the prognostic factors in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. The cut-off value for NLR was determined to be 3.74. The 6-month OS rates in low and high NLR groups were 75.5% and 18.8% ( P  < 0.001). In the univariate analysis, advanced age ( P  = 0.003), metastatic pancreatic cancer ( P  = 0.037), no treatment ( P  < 0.001), worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) ( P  < 0.001), high GPS ( P  < 0.001), high modified GPS ( P  < 0.001), high NLR ( P  < 0.001), high PLR ( P  = 0.002), high CRP/Alb ratio ( P  < 0.001), and low PNI ( P  < 0.001) were identified as the prognostic factors. The multivariate analysis revealed that metastatic pancreatic cancer ( P  = 0.046), no treatment ( P  < 0.001), worse ECOG-PS ( P  = 0.002), and high NLR ( P  < 0.001) were independently associated with OS. We revealed that the high NLR could be an independent indicator of poor prognosis in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Dog spontaneously develop prostate cancer (PC) like humans. Because most dogs with PC have a poor prognosis, they could be used as a translational model for advanced PC in humans. Stem cell‐derived 3‐D organoid culture could recapitulate organ structures and physiology. Using patient tissues, a human PC organoid culture system was established. Recent study has shown that urine cells also possess the characteristic of stem cells. However, urine cell‐derived PC organoids have never been produced. Therefore, we generated PC organoids using the dog urine samples. Urine organoids were successfully generated from each dog with PC. Each organoid showed cystic structures and resembled the epithelial structures of original tissues. Expression of an epithelial cell marker, E‐cadherin, and a myofibloblast marker, α‐SMA, was observed in the urine organoids. The organoids also expressed a basal cell marker, CK5, and a luminal cell marker, CK8. CD49f‐sorted basal cell organoids rapidly grew compared with CD24‐sorted luminal cell organoids. The population of CD44‐positive cells was the highest in both organoids and the original urine cells. Tumors were successfully formed with the injection of the organoids into immunodeficient mice. Treatment with a microtubule inhibitor, docetaxel, but not a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, piroxicam, and an mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, decreased the cell viability of organoids. Treatment with a Hedgehog signal inhibitor, GANT61, increased the radiosensitivity in the organoids. These findings revealed that PC organoids using urine might become a useful tool for investigating the mechanisms of the pathogenesis and treatment of PC in dogs. In the present study, we for the first time generated the dog prostate cancer organoids using the urine samples. Our results suggest urine sample‐derived organoid culture system contributes to the treatment of not only dog prostate cancer but also human advanced prostate cancer.