Nihon University

Comparing Genetic Algorithms and LLMs for Research-Hypothesis Generation: Mainstream Convergence of LLMs, Wider Hypothesis Exploration by Combinatorial Search, and the Limits of Literature-Distance Novelty Metrics

Large language model (LLM)-based creative AI systems tend to produce plausible rather than novel research ideas. This study compares two ways of generating research hypotheses: a genetic algorithm (GA) that recombines Method, Problem, and Goal elements under a fitness function re...

Screening strategies for the early detection of non-cardia gastric cancer in low- to moderate-prevalence regions: Asia-Pacific gastroesophageal cancer congress consensus 2026

Abstract Background Gastric cancer (GC) remains a major global health burden, and early detection is essential for improving patient outcomes. Although GC screening has been widely implemented in East Asian countries with a high disease burden, the optimal screening strategy for...

Adsorption of Chiral Ir(III) Complexes on Clay Nanosheets: Optical-Purity-Dependent Packing and Amplified Circularly Polarized Luminescence

Abstract Controlling the spatial distribution of photoluminescent molecules within constrained microenvironments remains a fundamental challenge in enhancing their photophysical properties. Herein, we demonstrate that the differential adsorption behavior of enantiopure and racemi...

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...

The Futuristic Imagination Sprawl: Charting Concepts vs. Social Realities

This introductory article provides the theoretical framing for the Japanese Studies special issue, ‘Japanese Technofutures – Imaginaries, Narratives, Social Realities’. The contributions focus on Japan as a primary site for technofuturistic imaginations, driven by both external t...

Comparative Short-Term Clinical Events Associated with Molnupiravir and Ensitrelvir for COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Community Pharmacy Records in Japan

Molnupiravir and ensitrelvir are widely used for outpatient coronavirus disease 2019 treatment; however, real-world safety comparisons remain limited. This retrospective cohort study evaluated acute clinical event risks over a 29-day follow-up using community pharmacy records fro...

Effect of a corticotropin-releasing factor 1 receptor antagonist on head withdrawal thresholds in mice with chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve

Objectives Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-1 receptors are involved in acute stress responses, pain enhancement under stressful conditions, activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system, and induction of anxiety and fear. In this study, the aim was to clarify the i...

A Reproducible Typesetting Solution for Zsigmondy–Palmer Dental Notation

Zsigmondy–Palmer dental notation, still used in dentistry and dental education, has a two-dimensional, quadrant-based structure that is difficult to reproduce consistently in modern digital documents. Earlier digital approaches enabled symbol entry or rendering through specialize...

Mechanical Model for Memory Effects of Crack Patterns and Self-Organized Clustering

We propose a mechanical model that incorporates both viscous friction and Amonton–Coulomb-type friction to demonstrate the memory effect of initial conditions. We study coupled equations of motion for particles on the rectangular lattice under the fixed boundary conditions to sho...

ROC ‐Derived Age Threshold, Injury Mechanisms, and Fracture Patterns Associated With Severe Head and Neck Injury in Patients With Maxillofacial Fractures

BACKGROUND: Early identification of patients at risk of severe head and neck injury following maxillofacial fractures is essential for clinical management. However, chronological age alone may not reflect injury severity or physiological vulnerability. This study aimed to identif...

Staged caval occlusion enabling en bloc right divisional hepatectomy in two dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To describe staged pre-renal caudal vena cava (CVC) occlusion before en bloc right divisional hepatectomy with segmental caval resection in two dogs with right divisional hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) involving the CVC. ANIMALS: Two client-owned, 11-year-old neutered...

Direct Visualization of a Hydroperoxy Intermediate in Fluorescent Protein Chromophore Maturation in PAmCherry1

Abstract Despite the widespread use of fluorescent proteins in bioimaging, the mechanism of oxidative chromophore maturation to form the tyrosine Cα═Cβ double bond remains unclear. In the photoactivatable fluorescent protein PAmCherry1, this double bond has not yet been formed pr...

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for Moisture Content Measurement of Newly Fallen Deciduous Leaves: A Comparison of Partial Least Squares Regression and Random Forest with Wavelength Importance

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was applied to measure the moisture content (MC) of newly fallen deciduous leaves from four broadleaf tree species, namely Zelkova serrata (Keyaki), Quercus serrata (Konara), Quercus acutissima (Kunugi), and Fagus crenata (Buna), collected in 201...

Prognosis and risk factors by histologic type of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors in Japan: a JSOG gynecologic tumor registry-based study

Objective: This study evaluated prognosis and risk factors for overall survival (OS) in malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs) using data from the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology tumor registry.Methods: Data from 1,538 MOGCT patients (2004MOGCT patients ( -2019) )...

Application of sodium chloride improves quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) growth and cesium accumulation under cesium stress

Abstract Quinoa contains epidermal bladder cells (leaf EBCs) on its surface that increase salt tolerance and facilitate the accumulation of unwanted substances. Additionally, cesium levels in the leaf EBCs are higher than in the leaf cells. Therefore, leaf EBCs are considered key...

Pressure-Induced Interplay between Heavy-Fermion and Mn-Derived Magnetic States in CeMnSi

We investigated pressure effects on the nontrivial heavy-fermion antiferromagnet CeMnSi by means of electrical resistivity (ρ) and powder X-ray diffraction. With increasing pressure, the antiferromagnetic order of Mn (T N ∼ 240 K at ambient pressure) is rapidly suppressed and dis...

Annual dialysis data report 2023, Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy (JSDT) Renal Data Registry

Abstract The annual survey of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy Renal Data Registry (JRDR) was conducted with 4529 dialysis facilities at the end of 2023, of which 4470 facilities (98.7%) responded to the facility survey and 4284 facilities (94.6%) responded to the patien...

Evaluation of the UK Myeloma Research Alliance risk profile in transplant‐ineligible multiple myeloma patients treated with novel agents

Summary The heterogeneity of multiple myeloma (MM) significantly impacts treatment outcomes. Myeloma risk profile (MRP), introduced by the UK Myeloma Research Alliance, is a novel prognostic model for patients with transplant‐ineligible newly diagnosed MM (TIE‐NDMM) utilizing eas...

Three-body problems involving the mother, fetus, and microorganisms

Pregnancy is a unique immunological state in which the maternal immune system tolerates a semi-allogeneic fetus. Traditionally, this relationship has been viewed as a dyadic interaction between the mother and the fetoplacental unit. However, accumulating evidence suggests that th...

Long-Term Survival Outcomes of Modified-FOLFOXIRI Plus Cetuximab Versus Bevacizumab in RAS / BRAF Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Final Analysis of the DEEPER Trial

The randomized phase II DEEPER trial (jRCTs061180022) previously reported superior depth of response with modified 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin and irinotecan (m-FOLFOXIRI) plus cetuximab versus bevacizumab in patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (m...