Kobe University

ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli Bacteremia: Association Between Virulence-Factor Burden, Source of Infection, and Clinical Features

(1) Background: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli are important causes of bacteremia, but integrated genotype–virulence–outcome data from low- and middle-income settings are limited; (2) Methods: Observational study of ESBL-producing E. coli (ESBL...

Distribution based design framework for ultrasonic process intensification using effective acoustic intensity

Abstract Ultrasonic processes are widely applied for dispersion and structural transformation of layered materials. In such processes, performance is often evaluated based on total input energy. However, because the acoustic pressure field in a liquid medium is inherently spatial...

Predator-induced morphological traits determine escape performance in a larval amphibian species

Abstract Although interspecific morphological diversity in aquatic animals often reflects swimming-related functional trade-offs, whether intraspecific morphological variation, often generated by phenotypic plasticity, also reflects similar trade-offs remains unclear. We tested t...

Comparative DIA Proteomics of Neuroblastoma: Laser-Microdissected FFPE Tumors Versus Cell Lines

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor specimens are widely available and represent a valuable resource for retrospective cancer research; however, chemical cross-linking has historically limited their application in proteomic studies. In this study, we developed a proteo...

Effects of weakly bonded ultra-high-strength steel bars details on the seismic performance and resilience of shear walls

The use of ultra-high-strength steel bars (UHSB) has attracted increasing attention because it can improve the resilience and sustainability of structural components. However, UHSB may increase the risk of shear failure in structural walls. This study proposes a concealed bracing...

Modelling Terahertz Wave Generation in InAs Quantum-Dot Containing GaAs-Based Photoconductive Antenna

InAs quantum-dot-containing GaAs-based photoconductive antenna (PCA) devices are promising for terahertz (THz) generation under below-bandgap excitation by ultrafast laser pulses. This paper describes the results of rate equation analyses of these devices by assuming the two-step...

Topological data analysis of China’s stock market risks to detect early warning signals

This study examines the behaviour of the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges during the 2015 China stock market crash and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Using topological data analysis (TDA), we investigate whether topological indicators extracted from the Shanghai–Hong Kong (SHHK...

Hydration channel engineering in Tröger’s base-POP membranes for mono/multivalent cation and anion discrimination

Sustainable recovery of critical resources from complex aqueous streams is constrained by membranes that fail to combine rapid ion transport with precise mono/multivalent discrimination. Here, we report Tröger’s base-derived porous organic polymer (POP) membranes with rigid, cova...

Parkinsonism with Reduced Striatal Uptake on DAT-SPECT in a Patient Harboring a Novel KCND3 Variant

KCND3 encodes the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv4.3, and pathogenic variants in KCND3 are associated with spinocerebellar ataxia type 19/22 (SCA19/22) and related neurological phenotypes. Here, we report a Japanese patient harboring a novel KCND3 missense variant, classified...

A Bistable UV-Sensitive Opsin from a Reef Building Coral Showing a Switchable and Tunable Regulation of Gs-Signaling by Different Wavelengths of Light

Abstract Cnidarians possess a large number of opsins in their genomes for their various photoreceptive functions. In particular, they uniquely possess Gs-coupled opsins that induce intracellular cAMP accumulation in a light-dependent manner. These Gs-coupled opsins, cnidopsins, a...

Economic loss assessment of lumpy skin disease outbreak in cattle of Bangladesh

Abstract Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) poses a significant economic threat to the cattle sector in Bangladesh, with the first report dating back to 2019. This investigation assessed the financial implications of LSDV outbreaks across eight divisions, including both direct and i...

Study on the pilot fuel injection strategy for a large-scale diesel/methanol dual-direct injection engine at high methanol substitution ratio

The diesel/methanol dual-direct injection (DMDDI) engine attracts wide attention because of its high methanol substitution ratio (MSR). This study establishes and validates a 3D CFD model for a 6400 kW two-stroke diesel/methanol dual-fuel (DMDF) engine. Under a fixed direct-injec...

Complex Upper-Mantle Anisotropy Beneath the Pacific Triangle Revealed by Shear-Wave Splitting

Abstract Understanding mantle flow beneath old oceanic plates is essential for linking present-day plate motions with long-term lithospheric evolution, yet direct constraints remain sparse due to limited offshore observations. Here, we investigate upper-mantle seismic anisotropy...

Octahedral tilt relaxation decoupled from lattice parameters in epitaxial perovskite oxide films

Epitaxial strain in perovskite oxide thin films is conventionally understood through lattice parameter modulation, characterized by the c / a ratio of the pseudocubic cell. However, internal atomic arrangements such as octahedral tilting can relax independently, a phenomenon that...

Dishevelled2 Negatively Regulates Cell‐Surface Ror1 Abundance Through Lysosomal Degradation

ABSTRACT Receptor tyrosine kinase‐like orphan receptor 1 (Ror1) mediates Wnt5a‐dependent noncanonical Wnt signaling and promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression. Dishevelled (Dvl) proteins are central mediators of Wnt signaling and have also been implicated in its negative regula...

Astrocytic cathepsin D promotes α-synuclein processing and Lewy neurite-like aggregate maturation

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) and related synucleinopathies are marked by the accumulation and propagation of α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates, a process primarily studied in neurons. Whether astrocytes actively contribute to α-syn processing and intercellular transfer remains...

Consumer preferences for domestically produced ingredients in Japan’s ready-to-eat meals and dining out: a best–worst scaling analysis

Abstract As ready-to-eat (RTE) meals and dining out become increasingly popular, limited empirical evidence exists on how domestically produced ingredients are positioned relative to other food values in these contexts. Using online survey data from Japanese consumers collected i...

Renal function–adjusted initial JAK inhibitor dosing and outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis: from the ANSWER cohort study

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate clinical effectiveness and treatment persistence after renal function-guided reduced-dose initiation of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHOD: We analysed 368 adults initiating a JAKi in the ANSWER registry (2013...

Identification of Relationship Lending in Bank–Borrower Networks

ABSTRACT Relationship lending refers to lending based on close bank–borrower relationships, expected to increase credit availability and support real economic activity. This paper proposes the ST‐B filter, a novel framework identifying significant ties in temporal bipartite netwo...

Beyond the handshake: persistent confrontation in Turkish-Greek diplomatic discourse after the 2016 coup

When rival states move toward rapprochement, does the routine discourse of their foreign-policy bureaucracies actually change? This article examines that broader puzzle through a quantitative text analysis of Turkish-Greek relations based on Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs st...