International University of Kagoshima

We present a bar-informed kinematic-distance (BIKD) method to reconstruct face-on molecular-gas maps of the inner Milky Way from PPV data, relaxing the standard assumption of axisymmetric circular rotation that can generate severe artifacts in barred regions. BIKD replaces the rotation curve with a non-axisymmetric streaming field extracted from hydrodynamical simulations in an observationally constrained barred Galactic potential, and infers a discrete distance posterior along each sightline using a Gaussian likelihood in line-of-sight velocity. To mitigate multi-modality, we adopt posterior-weighted map making via posterior sampling. We validate the full pipeline in closed-loop tests on the simulations, showing that the recovered large-scale morphology is only weakly sensitive to simple distance priors and remains stable across plausible variations in bar angle, snapshot time, and pattern speed. We then apply BIKD to a Galactic CO survey to obtain a face-on $Σ$ map. Compared to a standard axisymmetric kinematic-distance (KD) reconstruction, BIKD strongly suppresses line-of-sight--elongated finger-of-God features and robustly recovers a bar-aligned, quadrant-asymmetric inner-Galaxy morphology under model marginalization. The model-marginalized radial profiles show an approximately exponential decline beyond $\sim4$ kpc, a pronounced deficit at $R\sim0.5$--$3.5$ kpc, and a central concentration consistent with Central Molecular Zone surface densities. Finally, we compare prominent ridge-shaped overdensities in the BIKD map with independent spiral-arm loci traced by high-mass star-forming region masers with VLBI trigonometric parallaxes and by classical Cepheids with period--luminosity distances. Several maser-parallax segments are qualitatively consistent with the dominant BIKD ridges, whereas the Cepheid loci do not coincide with them within their recommended azimuth range.

This study presents a modeling approach for rectifier that enables rapid construction across multiple average input power levels. The proposed model comprises a shared neural network of multiple LSTM units, common to all power levels, along with fully connected neural networks tailored to each specific level. The shared LSTM network is trained using input-output signal pairs from a selected subset of the target power levels. Subsequently, power-level-specific networks are trained individually using their corresponding data. By limiting the training data for the LSTM components—which typically require longer training times—the overall model can be constructed more efficiently. The proposed method maintains modeling accuracy comparable to previously reported approaches by the authors, while demonstrating increasingly significant reductions in training time as the number of target power levels increases.

BackgroundBat-derived sarbecoviruses, members of the Betacoronavirus genus, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), pose a zoonotic threat. While sarbecoviruses have been isolated from bats in eastern Japan, their distribution and diversity in southern Japan remain poorly understood. We investigated the genetic characteristics and zoonotic potential of bat-derived sarbecoviruses from Rhinolophus cornutus in the Kagoshima and Kumamoto Prefectures, Japan.MethodsWe collected 133 oral swab samples from R. cornutus between 2022 and 2025. The samples were inoculated into various Vero cell derivatives to isolate sarbecoviruses. The virus genomes were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analyses. Viral replication was assessed in vitro. Cross-species potential was evaluated in vivo through experimental infection in Syrian hamsters.ResultsSix and three sarbecoviruses from the Kagoshima and Kumamoto Prefectures, respectively, were isolated. Genetic analyses revealed substantial diversity among our isolates (95.98–99.95% nucleotide identity). Phylogenetic analyses revealed clustering of the isolates separately from those found in eastern Japan, indicating regional genetic divergence among bat populations. Our isolates exhibited deletions in the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein. These deletions attenuate the viral binding affinity to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. This suggests a limited capacity of our isolates to bind human ACE2. Our isolates exclusively replicated in Vero cells expressing R. cornutus-derived ACE2 (RcACE2). Syrian hamsters, a model for SARS-CoV-2 infection, were not susceptible to infection from our isolates, suggesting limited potential for cross-species transmission.ConclusionsWe characterized genetically diverse sarbecoviruses circulating in R. cornutus populations in southern Japan. Although the isolates appear to have a low immediate zoonotic risk, they likely represent only a small fraction of the sarbecoviruses circulating among bats. Given the potential presence of viruses with greater zoonotic capacity, continuous surveillance is critical for early detection of emerging threats and advancing our understanding of coronavirus ecology in bat populations.

We achieved the first VLBI detections of the ground vibrational state ($v=0$) $^{28}$SiO (hereafter, SiO) and $^{29}$SiO masers of the $J=1\rightarrow 0$ rotational transitions, towards the 25 \Msun ~red supergiant (RSG) star, VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa), taking advantage of the high sensitivity of the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) telescopes that coordinate with the Nobeyama 45 m telescope. In addition, we successfully detected the SiO $J=1\rightarrow 0$ transition in the $v=3$ state towards VY CMa for the first time with VLBI. The SiO $J=1\rightarrow 0$ maser spot in $v=0$ state was detected in the cross-power spectra taken with the baselines involving the Nobeyama 45-m telescope. The combination of previously reported absolute astrometry and the relative astrometry technique allowed us to derive the location of the SiO $v=0$ maser spot, {(RA, DEC) = ( 7${\rm ^h}$ 22${\rm ^m}$ 58.$^{\rm s}$32, $-$25$^{\circ}$ 46$^{\prime}$ 3.$^{\prime\prime}$4) in J2000 at an absolute positional accuracy of $\sim$100 milliarcseconds (mas). The SiO $v=0$ maser spot is offset by the amount of ($\Delta$RA, $\Delta$DEC)=($-$150, $-$300) (mas) to the southwest of the stellar position, suggesting that the $v = 0$ maser spot is associated with its outflow activity.} This observational study demonstrates that the brightest SiO $v=0$ maser spot is compact (3 mas), producing an extremely high brightness of $\sim$ 10$^7$ K. This indicates that the SiO $v=0$ maser action may originate from strong shocks in the stellar wind emanating from this extreme RSG that leads to its intense mass ejection.

The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is useful for evaluating arterial stiffness. No longitudinal studies have examined the association between multiple arterial stiffness risk factors and increased baPWV. We sought to identify factors associated with baPWV ≥1400 cm/s within 5 years and create an equation and simple risk score to predict its occurrence, using data from a large-scale Japanese health examination database. Of 10,284 participants aged 30–69 years for whom follow-up data were available over a 5-year period, 3394 men and 2710 women with baseline baPWV<1400 cm/s were analyzed. We used age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), fasting blood sugar (FBS), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), habitual exercise, habitual drinking, and smoking history as variables. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, baPWV≥1400 cm/s was associated significantly with age, BMI, SBP, DBP, HR, FBS, and TG in men and age, SBP, DBP, HR, and smoking history in women. A prediction score based on these factors yielded an area under the curve (AUC) for the 5-year incidence of baPWV≥1400 cm/s of 0.68 for men and 0.71 for women. Furthermore, a risk prediction equation for the 5-year incidence of baPWV≥1400 cm/s showed an AUC = 0.71 for men and 0.77 for women. The prediction equation and a simple prediction score are easy to implement clinically. The predictive ability of these scores and equations for arterial stiffness should be validated in prospective studies.The risk score is the sum of all points, which risk factors were significantly associated with the 5-year incidence of baPWV>1400 cm/s in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The AUC for the 5-year incidence of baPWV>1400 cm/s was 0.68 for men and 0.71 in women.

Printing display images normally proceeds well provided they comply with the SDR gamut supported by color management systems (CMS), like ICM used in Windows OS. Twilight vision, unfortunately, complicates this process, as it is quite difficult to convert images captured by UHDR systems given that their contrast ratios (CR) sometime exceeded 10^6:1 or so; SDR images have CR values of approx. 100:1. A typical example is the reproduction of lunar texture. Quite recently, we resolved this problem by employing just global tone mapping (GTM). Even with the use of GTM, emissive displays like LCD, not projection displays or printed matter, are strongly recommended to prevent image quality degradation. This study addresses the reasons why CMS fail to handle twilight vision material well and proposes enhanced GTM for printing emissive display images. The main point is the difference between the perception responses demonstrated in daytime and in twilight, even after the UHDR material is converted into SDR images. In other words, the key idea is to focus on the underutilized top and bottom margins of the reproduced SDR images. From another viewpoint, the most important result is the acquisition of super sensitivity. Our proposal enables high sensitivity even with the same sensor (increase is approx. 10 to 30 times).

The fourth heart sound (S4) is an auscultatory marker of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). Additionally, S4 correlates with atrial function, which is typically impaired in patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) but can improve with sodium–glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) therapy. This case report highlights the dynamic changes in S4 associated with modification of SGLT2i therapy. An 83-year-old male with T2D and LVDD, confirmed via echocardiography, was treated with SGLT2i therapy for 4 years for glycemic control. The therapy was discontinued in December 2023 because of increased nocturnal urination. Two months after discontinuation, the patient developed pronounced S4, accompanied by mild chest discomfort and worsening of evening leg edema. Resumption of SGLT2i therapy led to a marked reduction in S4 along with a remarkable improvement in chest discomfort and edema within 1 month. These findings were confirmed by visual phonocardiography. This case underscores the potential utility of dynamic S4 changes as a noninvasive indicator of SGLT2i therapy adjustment. These findings highlight the novel clinical application of S4 monitoring in mitigating heart failure progression in patients with T2D.

Ferroptosis is a type of programmed cell death owed to an intracellular accumulation of iron resulting in the generation reactive oxygen species, which in turn can cause peroxidation of plasma membrane lipids and ultimately result in cell death. We investigated the potential involvement of VPS13A deficiency in ferroptosis. The VPS13A gene encodes for chorein, and its deficiency is a molecular cause of chorea‐acanthocytosis (ChAc), a Huntington‐like disease with neurodegeneration in the striatum. In our previous study, we found male infertility characterized by increased malondialdehyde staining of the spermatozoa in the testes of the ChAc model mice. Thus, in this study we performed metabolome analysis of sperm extracted from the epididymis of the ChAc model mice, which revealed decreased cystine levels, suggesting an association between chorein deficiency and ferroptosis. We then investigated the role of chorein in ferroptosis using VPS13A knockdown (VPS13A‐KD) HEK293 cells. We found that VPS13A‐KD cells displayed a significantly diminished resistance to tert‐Butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)‐induced lipid peroxidation and cell death compared to control cells, which could be rescued by treatment with ferrostatin‐1. Moreover, VPS13A‐KD cells showed Fe(II) accumulation, suggesting an impaired capacity for divalent iron removal. In the cytosolic fraction of VPS13A‐KD cells, the protein level of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) was significantly reduced, suggesting that dysfunction of chorein impairs GPX4 transport, thereby facilitating ferroptosis. These results suggest that ferroptosis may contribute to neurodegeneration in ChAc caused by loss of chorein function.

Storm-built beach ridges, built by waves on sedimentary coasts, can be used as geomorphological indicators of past sea level. However, quantifying the relationship between the geomorphological elements of the ridge and the paleo sea level at the time of deposition is difficult, as a beach ridge is primarily correlated to wave energy and only secondarily to the position of sea level. In this work, we propose a methodology to quantify the upper and lower limits of a storm-built beach ridge based on remote sensing data. We test our approach on a particularly well-preserved Pleistocene storm-built beach ridge in Patagonia, Argentina. Our results show that the paleo relative sea level reconstructed using remote sensing data coincides (87.6% similarity) with that obtained from measured modern analog landforms at the same location.