University of the Ryukyus

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...

Turbulent Kinetic Energy Spectra in Single-Sized Sediment Flows with Different Sediment Concentrations Analyzed by Interface-Resolved Large Eddy Simulations

Abstract Detailed measurements of motions, including turbulence structures, in high-concentration sediment flows are difficult, and their dynamics remain poorly understood. Interface-resolved large eddy simulation (IRLES) is a numerical simulation method that uses computational g...

Association of PTH1R Gene Polymorphisms with Three-Dimensional Mandibular Morphology Across Three Recruitment Cohorts

Parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R) regulates chondrocyte differentiation and mandibular condylar cartilage development, but its contribution to adult mandibular morphology remains unclear. We investigated associations of two PTH1R single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs724...

Reproducibility of the Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia in Tracheoesophageal Speech and Exploratory Associations with Clinical Communication Measures

Background/Objectives: The Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia (CSID) was developed for laryngeal dysphonia. We evaluated task-specific reproducibility in tracheoesophageal (TE) speech and associations with communication measures and surgical/anatomical configuration. Methods: F...

Rapid genome-wide purging following tsunami-induced hybridization in a stickleback population

Speciation is the process by which barriers to gene flow evolve between populations. As speciation approaches completion, genome-wide divergence can be maintained in the face of hybridization. Because real-time observations of genomic changes following hybridization in natural po...

Real-world perioperative systemic treatment patterns and postoperative mortality in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma undergoing radical nephroureterectomy in Japan: WAKKA-UTUC study

Abstract Background To characterize the longitudinal changes in perioperative systemic treatment patterns and postoperative mortality among Japanese patients with stage II–IV upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). Methods This retr...

Late middle Pleistocene fossil coral reef growth history in the subtropical Northwest Pacific

Abstract During the Middle and Late Pleistocene, the Earth experienced rapid millennial-scale climate and sea-level fluctuations associated with 100 kyr-glacial-interglacial cycles. However, understanding of the timing and amplitude of these changes, and their impact on coral ree...

6‐Nitrodopamine as a Novel Mediator of Prostatic Smooth Muscle Function in Mouse and Human

ABSTRACT Background Epithelium‐derived catecholamines contribute to local regulation of genitourinary smooth muscle function, but the role of the endogenous 6‐nitrodopamine (6‐ND) in the prostate remains unknown. Objectives To determine whether 6‐ND is produced by mouse and human...

Helical-to-Fan Transitions under Magnetic Fields in the Noncentrosymmetric Tetragonal Magnet EuRhGe 3

The magnetic structure of EuRhGe 3 , a noncentrosymmetric body-centered tetragonal magnet with the space group I4mm, has been investigated by resonant X-ray diffraction. Below T N = 12 K, EuRhGe 3 undergoes a helical magnetic ordering with an incommensurate propagation vector [Fo...

MIT / TFE family transcription factors, Mitf and Tfec, redundantly promote pigment cell differentiation and retinal epithelium pigmentation in teleosts

BACKGROUND: Transcription factors of the MIT/TFE family-mitfa, mitfb, and tfec-play essential roles in specifying pigment cells derived from neural crest cells in vertebrates. In teleosts, which possess multiple pigment cell types, these factors exhibit partially redundant but la...

Higher postpartum α-defensin secretion is associated with diet during pregnancy and lower intensity of negative maternal mood

Abstract Perinatal anxiety and depression are serious concerns for many mothers. However, current early-phase community-based care is not always sufficient to prevent their aggravation, necessitating self-care approaches through daily habits that lower social and psychological im...

Post-obligation physician retention among Jichi Medical University graduates in Okinawa prefecture, Japan: a descriptive comparative study of the Kyushu region

Abstract Background Global strategies to address physician maldistribution include recruiting students with rural backgrounds, community-based training, bonded service, financial incentives, and personal and professional support. However, retention after obligatory service remain...

Integrative taxonomy reveals multiple Mediterranean invasions by Indo-Pacific Dorvillea (Annelida, Dorvilleidae)

Abstract Biological invasions are a major driver of global biodiversity loss, with the Mediterranean Sea among the most heavily invaded marine regions. However, identification and monitoring of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) are hindered by taxonomic uncertainty and cryptic diversi...

Professional identity and rural workforce commitment among regional quota medical students in Japan: a qualitative study

INTRODUCTION: Many countries use rural admission pathways and bonded scholarship programs to address persistent shortages of physicians in underserved areas. In Japan, the Chiiki-Waku (regional quota) system was established to recruit and train medical students who are expected t...

Genomic resources of Ascidiella aspersa and comparative analysis across tunicates reveal class-level features and evolutionary diversification

Ascidiella aspersa is an invasive tunicate and one of the closest relatives of vertebrates. Despite its ecological nuisance, A. aspersa is anticipated to be a valuable model organism for developmental studies due to its remarkably transparent embryos. However, annotated genome as...

Two stress-responsive kinases suppress ferroptosis by activating antioxidant programs under mild oxidative stress

Cancer cells maintain chronically elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) while relying on robust antioxidant programs to preserve redox homeostasis and viability. Although therapeutic strategies that disrupt this balance to induce lethal oxidative stress and ferroptosis...