Nagano University

The concept of the ecological niche, defined as the basic habitat requirements for a species, is central to understanding species geographic distributions and predicting their responses to environmental change. However, identifying the essential niche for large regional communities remains a challenge because niche axes can be "hidden" by the complexity of the underlying ecological processes. Here, applying advanced species distribution modelling to nationwide environmental DNA survey data, we identified hidden niche axes of the Japanese coastal fish community and investigated the response diversity to these axes. Our survey detected 1,220 coastal fish species. The hidden niche axes collectively explained most of the variation in fish biodiversity and revealed five biogeographic boundaries for the regional community. These niches of the Japanese fish community may primarily relate to several processes due to ocean currents, such as environmental filters, transport from source areas and dispersal barriers. We also found that the response diversity to niche axes was positively correlated with species richness, although local communities with particularly high response diversity were geographically biased. A better understanding of the niche axes of the regional ecological community should help to mitigate the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services caused by ongoing environmental change.

Background/Objective: Hip fractures in older adults are a major public health concern due to their high rates of morbidity, mortality, and long-term disability. Although surgical and postoperative care have improved, recovery outcomes remain highly variable. Identifying early functional recovery patterns could support individualized rehabilitation and discharge planning. This study aimed to identify distinct early recovery trajectories of motor function within 30 days after hip fracture surgery using growth mixture modeling (GMM) and to examine patient- and hospital-level factors associated with these patterns. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Nagano Hip Fracture Database, including 2423 patients aged ≥65 years across 17 acute care hospitals in Japan (2019-2024). Functional recovery was measured using the motor subscale of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM-motor) at 0, 7, and 28 days post-admission. Latent trajectory model was used to identify distinct recovery patterns. Multinomial logistic regression analyzed predictors of class membership. Results: Three recovery trajectories were identified: high/rapid improvement (26.7%), intermediate (32.6%), and poor/flat recovery (40.7%). Older age, cognitive impairment, and lower baseline mobility were strongly associated with membership in the poor-recovery class. Early trajectory classes significantly predicted discharge outcomes, including FIM-motor scores and discharge destination. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of findings, with minimal impact from hospital-level clustering. Conclusions: Distinct early recovery trajectories exist after hip fracture surgery and are strongly influenced by baseline cognitive and functional status. Early identification of recovery patterns can enhance personalized rehabilitation and inform discharge planning, offering valuable insights for clinical practice.

<p>The concept of sustainability changes the concept that was in antagonism with the economic system, it goes beyond the interests of profit, and as such is focused on the dimensions of sustainability. Sustainability becomes the basis of all political decisions and becomes a guide to the preservation of global resources. A lot of time has passed since the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, which made sustainable development a global principle, and it is therefore necessary to urgently work on ensuring sustainable operations, especially in the areas of working conditions, preventing pollution and securing desired economic goals. Financial accounting, which ensures efficient financial management and monitoring progress in business, as well as non-financial reporting, which provides answers to requirements related to sustainability and securing future values, have been defined as tools for measuring achievements. In this context, the paper explores the requirements facing those obliged to compile and publish non-financial information, such as information on diversity and sustainability, starting in the reporting year 2027. The paper explores legal requirements, which are in the process of being specified in terms of design and frameworks to be used, as well as open questions about guidelines, frameworks and standards for the preparation and adaptation of non-financial reports in terms of growing stakeholder demands</p>

In this study, we propose a method for calculating defuzzified <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$v$</tex> alues o f m embership f unctions t ransformed into polar coordinates. Specifically, the d efuzzified an gle, wh ich corresponds to the defuzzified <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\mathbf{v}$</tex> alue in <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\mathbf{C}$</tex> artesian c oordinates, is obtained from the graph of the function expressed in polar coordinates. Two new calculation methods based on weighted averages are introduced. As numerical examples, defuzzified values are computed for several concrete functions and compared with the results obtained using a previously proposed method.

Extensive reading has become an integral part of language learning curricula, with digital platforms offering accessible ways to promote reading fluency among students. However, the existing systems often suffer from limitations such as high costs, limited text variety, and gamified features that may detract from authentic reading engagement. This study explores an alternative approach using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to create an extensive reading library tailored to students’ interests and language proficiency. Second-year university students (N = 109) were surveyed on their reading preferences, and AI tools (ChatGPT and DALL-E) were employed to generate custom e-books. The results showed that 41% of students were unaware that the materials were AI-generated, and 47% expressed a desire to continue reading AI-generated books. This paper discusses the potential of AI in enhancing reading fluency and promoting language learning.

Engaging in meaningful occupations at high levels of performance is associated with self-related health. However, there is a dearth of studies examining the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and meaningful occupations among community-dwelling older adults. Clarifying the relationship between good HRQOL and the characteristics of meaningful occupations would provide new insights into occupational therapy strategies for healthy ageing in community-dwelling older adults. This study aimed to determine the categories of meaningful occupations and the relationship between performance and satisfaction with HRQOL in older adults living in rural areas. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 1600 older adults in a rural Japanese community. Participants responded to demographic questions, the Japanese version of the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L), categories of meaningful occupations, and levels of performance and satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the association between meaningful occupations and HRQOL. The results of multiple regression analysis adjusted for covariates showed that performance and satisfaction with meaningful occupations were significantly associated with HRQOL as measured by the EQ-5D-5L (performance: β = 0.117, p < 0.001; satisfaction: β = 0.142, p < 0.001). It is suggested that performance and satisfaction with meaningful occupations should be considered in occupational therapy strategies for HRQOL in older adults.

The rising power demands of AI technologies highlight the need for energy‐efficient solutions. While efforts to maximize performance per watt have driven the development of high‐density chip integration, traditional organic substrates are reaching their mechanical and electrical limitations. As a groundbreaking solution, glass substrates have garnered increasing attention for their superior properties. However, challenges such as processing issues associated with Through‐Glass Via (TGV) manufacturing and susceptibility to breakage must be addressed to enable their practical application. This paper introduces a novel multilayer glass structure as a comprehensive solution by sharing these innovative concepts, exploring the technical challenges in glass substrate applications, and discussing their potential impact on advancing packaging and substrate technologies.

Identifying the metabolic and genetic changes that confer evolutionary novelty is essential for understanding the factors facilitating or constraining the occurrence of traits. We show that dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), a volatile compound that attracts saprophilous pollinators, is produced by a disulfide synthase (DSS) in the plant genus Asarum (Aristolochiaceae). DSS is derived from methanethiol oxidase (MTOX), an enzyme conserved among animals and plants, and similar DSS enzymes have independently evolved in two other plant genera. Three amino acid changes shared among the DSSs of independent origins were sufficient to cause a functional switch between MTOX and DSS. The small number of amino acid changes and the co-option of a highly conserved enzyme may explain why DMDS-emitting flowers are widespread among floral mimics.