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Image-based cell phenotyping is fundamental in both cell biology and medicine. As cells are dynamic systems, phenotyping based on static data is complemented by dynamic data extracted from time-dependent cell characteristics. We developed a label-free automatic tracking method for phase contrast images. We examined the possibility of using cell motility-based discrimination to identify different types of mesenchymal migration in invasive malignant cancer and non-cancer cells. These cells were cultured in plastic tissue culture vessels, using motility parameters from cell trajectories extracted with label-free tracking. Correlation analysis with these motility parameters identified characteristic parameters for cancer HT1080 fibrosarcoma and non-cancer 3T3-Swiss fibroblast cell lines. The parameter “sum of turn angles,” combined with the “frequency of turns” at shallow angles and “migration speed,” proved effective in highlighting the migration characteristics of these cells. It revealed differences in their mechanisms for generating effective propulsive forces. The requirements to characterize these differences included the spatiotemporal resolution of segmentation and tracking, capable of detecting polarity changes associated with cell morphological alterations and cell body displacement. With the segmentation and tracking method proposed here, a discrimination curve computed using quadratic discrimination analysis from the “sum of turn angles” and “frequency of turns below 30°” gave the best performance with a 94% sensitivity. Cell migration is a process related not only to cancer but also to tissue healing and growth. The proposed methodology is easy to use, enabling anyone without professional skills in image analysis, large training datasets, or special devices. It has the potential for application not only in cancer cell discrimination but also in a broad range of applications and basic research. Validating the expandability of this method to characterize cell migration, including the scheme of propulsive force generation, is an important consideration for future study.

Ferroelectricity in fluid materials, which allows free rotation of molecules, is an unusual phenomenon raising cutting‐edge questions in science. Conventional ferroelectric liquid crystals have been found in phases with low symmetry that permit the presence of spontaneous polarization. Recently, the discovery of ferroelectricity with high symmetry in the nematic phase has attracted considerable attention. However, the physical mechanism and molecular origin of ferroelectricity are poorly understood and a large domain of macroscopically oriented spontaneous polarization is difficult to fabricate in the ferroelectric nematic phase. This study reports new fluid layered ferroelectrics with the C∞v symmetry in which nearly complete orientation of the spontaneous polarization remains stable under zero electric field without any orientation treatment. These ferroelectrics are obtained by simplifying the molecular structure of a compound with a known ferroelectric nematic phase, although the simplification reduced the dipole moment. The results provide useful insights into the mechanism of ferroelectricity due to dipole–dipole interactions in molecular assemblies. The new ferroelectric materials are promising for a wide range of applications as soft ferroelectrics. Novel fluid layered ferroelectrics with the C∞v symmetry, ferroelectric smectic A phases, are developed by simplifying the molecular structure of a compound which is known to exhibit a ferroelectric nematic phase. Nearly complete orientation of the spontaneous polarization remains stable under zero electric field without any orientation treatment in the ferroelectric smectic A phases.

PurposeTo evaluate the accuracy of needle placement using a three-dimensional (3D) augmented reality (AR) protractor on smartphones (AR Puncture).Materials and MethodsAn AR protractor that can be rotated in three directions against the CT plane with angle guidance lines for smartphones was developed. The protractor center can be adjusted to an entry point by manually moving the smartphone with the protractor center fixed at the center of the screen (Fix-On-Screen) or by image tracking with a printed QR code placed at an entry point (QR-Tracking). Needle placement was performed by viewing a target line in the tangent direction with the Bull’s eye method. The needle placement errors placed by four operators in six out-of-plane directions in a phantom using a smartphone (iPhone XR, Apple, Cupertino, CA, USA) were compared with two registration methods.ResultsNo significant difference in the average needle placement error was observed between the Fix-On-Screen and QR-Tracking methods (5.6 ± 1.7 mm vs. 6.1 ± 2.9 mm, p = 0.475). The average procedural time of the Fix-On-Screen method was shorter than that of the QR-Tracking method (71.0 ± 23.9 s vs. 98.4 ± 59.5 s, p = 0.042).ConclusionThe accuracies of out-of-plane needle placements using the 3D AR protractor with the two registration methods were equally high, with short procedure times. In clinical use, the Fix-On-Screen registration method would be more convenient because no additional markers are required.

Abstract The new recommendation of the International Commission on Radiological Protection for occupational eye dose is an equivalent dose limit to the eye of 20 mSv year–1, averaged over a 5-year period. This recommendation is a drastic reduction from the previous limit of 150 mSv year–1. Hence, it is important to protect physicians’ eyes from X-ray radiation. Particularly in interventional radiology (IVR) procedures, many physicians use protective lead (Pb) glasses to reduce their occupational exposure. This study assessed the shielding effects of novel 0.07 mm Pb glasses. The novel glasses (XR-700) have Pb–acrylic lens molded in three dimensions. We studied the novel type of 0.07 mm Pb glasses over a period of seven consecutive months. The eye dose occupational radiation exposure of seven IVR physicians was evaluated during various procedures. All IVR physicians wore eye dosimeters (DOSIRIS™) close to the left side of the left eye. To calculate the shielding effects of the glasses, this same type of eye dosimeter was worn both inside and outside of the Pb lenses. The average shielding effect of the novel glasses across the seven physicians was 61.4%. Our results suggest an improved shielding effect for IVR physicians that use these glasses. No physician complained that the new glasses were uncomfortable; therefore comfort is not a problem. The lightweight glasses were acceptable to IVR physicians, who often must perform long procedures. Thus, the novel glasses are comfortable and reasonably protective. Based on the results of this study, we recommend that IVR physicians use these novel 0.07 mm Pb glasses to reduce their exposure.

This paper proposes a cluster-based flight path construction method for automated drone-assisted pear pollination systems in orchard environments. The approach uses RGB-D (Red-Green-Blue-Depth) sensing through an observation drone equipped with RGB and depth cameras to detect blooming pear flowers. Flower detection is performed using a YOLO (You Only Look Once)-based object detection algorithm, and three-dimensional flower positions are estimated by integrating depth information with the drone’s positional and orientation data in the east-north-up coordinate system. To enhance pollination efficiency, the method applies the OPTICS (Ordering Points To Identify the Clustering Structure) algorithm to group detected flowers based on spatial proximity that correspond to branch-level distributions. The cluster centroids then construct a collision-free flight path, with offset vectors ensuring safe navigation and appropriate nozzle orientation for effective pollen spraying. Field experiments conducted using RTK-GNSS-based flight control confirmed the accuracy and stability of generated flight trajectories. The drone hovered in front of each flower cluster and performed uniform spraying along the planned path. The method achieved a fruit set rate of 62.1%, exceeding natural pollination at 53.6% and compared to the 61.9% of manual pollination. These results demonstrate the effectiveness and practicability of the method for real-world deployment in pear orchards.

Stable pear cultivation relies on cross-pollination, which typically depends on insects or wind. However, natural pollination is often inconsistent due to environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. To ensure reliable fruit set, artificial pollination methods such as wind-powered pollen sprayers are widely used. While effective, these methods require significant labor and operational costs, highlighting the need for a more efficient alternative. To address this issue, this study aims to develop a fully automated drone-based pollination system that integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The system is designed to perform artificial pollination while maintaining conventional pear cultivation practices. Demonstration experiments were conducted to evaluate the system’s effectiveness. Results showed that drone pollination achieved a fruit set rate comparable to conventional methods, confirming its feasibility as a labor-saving alternative. This study establishes a practical drone pollination system that eliminates the need for wind, insects, or human labor. By maintaining traditional cultivation practices while improving efficiency, this technology offers a promising solution for sustainable pear production.

Abstract Background The pre-ejection period (PEP) and left ventricular ejection time (LVET) are easily measured by impedance cardiography (ICG). We hypothesized that the PEP/LVET measured by ICG would correlate with that measured by echocardiography, and that PEP/LVET measured by ICG would be useful for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) optimization. Methods Newly CRT implanted patients were optimized by echocardiography. The PEP/LVET was measured by echocardiography and ICG in two different settings: optimized setting and right ventricle (RV)-only pacing. Results The PEP/LVET was significantly decreased in the optimized setting compared with that in RV-only pacing (0.62±0.13 vs 0.75±0.16, p <0.05). The PEP/LVET values calculated by ICG and echocardiography were positively correlated ( r =0.553, p =0.003). Conclusion ICG was useful for the optimization of CRT.

Both postprandial hyperlipidemia and hyperinsulinemia have been thought to play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis, and to be a potent risk factor for cardiovascular event. To examine effects of glycemic state on postprandial hyperlipidemia and hyperinsulinemia in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), a total of 112 consecutive male pati ents with angiographically confirmed CAD were loaded with a high-fat and high-glucose test meal. CAD patients were divided into three groups as “non-diabetic”, “prediabetic”, and “diabetic” CAD groups. The serum triglyceride (TG) and remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C) levels at the 6th hour in diabetic CAD group showed significantly higher than non-diabetic CAD group, and the incremental area under the curves ( i AUCs) of these levels in diabetic CAD group were significantly greater than non-diabetic CAD group (TG, P  = 0.0194; RLP-C, P  = 0.0219). There were no significant differences in the i AUCs of TG or RLP-C between prediabetic and non-diabetic CAD group. The AUCs of plasma insulin levels or insulin resistance index (IRI): (AUCs of insulin) × (AUCs of glucose) as the insulin resistance marker were greater in diabetic CAD group than non-diabetic CAD group (insulin, P  = 0.0373; IRI, P  = 0.0228). The AUCs of serum TG or RLP-C levels showed a correlation with the AUCs of plasma insulin (AUC-TG, r  = 0.5437, P  < 0.0001; AUC-RLP-C, r  = 0.6847, P  < 0.0001), and they correlated well with the insulin resistance index (AUC-TG, r  = 0.7724, P  < 0.0001; AUC-RLP-C, r  = 0.7645, P  < 0.0001). We found that the insulin resistance showed a close relationship with postprandial hyperlipidemia in CAD patients. Diabetic, but not prediabetic state, may be a risk for postprandial impaired lipid metabolism in CAD patients.

Detailed information of the effects of age and long-term HIV infection on various neurocognitive function have not been fully evaluated yet. In a prospective Japanese nationwide multicenter study of 17 facilities (J-HAND study), 728 HIV-infected individuals completed 14 neuropsychological (NP) tests; Verbal Fluency (VF; category and letter), Digit Span (DS; forward and backward), Trail Making Test (TMT) A-B, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCFT; copy, immediate and delayed recall), Story Memory Test (SMT; immediate and delayed recall), Digit Symbol Subset (DSS), and the Grooved Pegboard (GP; dominant and non-dominant). Multivariate analysis identified older age (≥ 50 years) to be associated with lower scores in all three ROCFT and GP dominant [odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] 1.801 (1.217–2.664), 2402 (1.366–3.055), 2.691 (1.720–4.211), and 2.302 (1.145–4.628), respectively], whereas longer time since diagnosis was associated with a lower score in ROCFT (delayed recall) (OR 1.224, 95%CI 1.045–1.434). In VF letter, older age and longer time since diagnosis were associated with a better score [OR (95%CI) 0.449 (0.234–0.861) and 0.831 (0.692–0.997)]. In DSS and TMT-A, longer time since diagnosis was associated with a better score [OR (95%CI): 0.808 (0.670–0.973) and 0.795 (0.665–0.949), respectively]. Older patients in later years since diagnosis are at higher risk of visuospatial and motor impairments despite ART, whereas they are less likely to develop verbal impairment, suggesting that verbal function is relatively resistant to aging and long history of HIV infection under ART. These findings suggest that customtailored supports should be established based on the individual background.