Nagasaki University's Academic Output SITE: NAOSITE
Not a member yet
31576 research outputs found
Sort by
Shear behavior of rock joints reinforced with fully-grouted and energy-absorbing bolts subjected to shear cycles
No full textIn geotechnical engineering, rock bolts are commonly used for reinforcement, while the surrounding rock mass bears varying degrees of shear loads. The shear rate affects the stability of bolted rock joints, especially in projects susceptible to dynamic shear loads. In laboratory experiments, fully-grouted bolts and energy-absorbing bolts were used as research objects, and artificial rock specimens with rough joints were fabricated to analyze the shear characteristics and damage mechanisms of bolted rock joints under cyclic shear conditions and different shear velocities. The results showed that as the shear rate increased, the shear strength of bolted rock joint specimens decreased. Degradation of asperities resulted in no obvious peak shear stress in the specimens. Energy-absorbing bolts exhibited greater deformation capacity, with significant necking phenomena and the ability to withstand larger shear displacements. In contrast, fully-grouted bolts, which have threaded surfaces that provide higher bonding performance, exhibited a reduced capacity for plastic deformation and were prone to breaking under smaller shear displacements. Although the shear stiffness of specimens reinforced by energy-absorbing bolts was slightly lower than that of fully-grouted bolt specimens, they demonstrated greater stability under various shear rates. The absorbed shear energy showed that energy-absorbing bolts had superior coordinated deformation capabilities, thus exhibiting greater absorbed shear energy than fully-grouted bolts. Overall, fully-grouted bolts are more suitable for projects requiring higher rock shear strength and overall stiffness. In contrast, energy-absorbing bolts are more suitable for coping with dynamic or fluctuating load conditions to maintain the relative stability of jointed rock masses.Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 17(7), pp.4314-4328; 2025journal articl
残渣野菜を餌として与えたアカウニ（Pseudocentrotus depressus）の成長比較について
No full textCoastal areas of Nagasaki Prefecture are experiencing a decline in seaweed biomass and deterioration of gonad quality in sea urchins due to sea desertification. To explore effective use of local resources, a feeding trial of Pseudocentrotus depressus was conducted using waste cabbage, used kelp after soup stock preparation, and Ulva pertusa. During the rearing period, shell diameter, body weight, and gonad weight were measured, and sensory evaluations were performed. The cabbage-fed group showed growth-promoting effects and favorable results in flavor evaluation. These findings indicate that waste cabbage can be a useful feed resource and suggest the potential of resource-recycling aquaculture in sea urchin cultivation.長崎県生物学会誌, 97, pp.7-13; 2025journal articl
Drivers of microplastic pollution in soil sediments at fish landing centers in Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), South Andaman Island
No full textMicroplastic pollution poses a growing global threat to marine ecosystems, and soil sediments at fish landing centres are an often-overlooked reservoir of microplastics. Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), located in South Andaman Island, is critical for fisheries and marine biodiversity, making it an important area for studying microplastic pollution. This study aims to identify the key drivers of microplastic pollution in soil sediments at fish landing centers. The specific objectives included assessing microplastic abundance, characterizing polymer types, and identifying potential pollution sources, such as fishing gear, plastic packaging, and urban runoff. Sediment samples were collected from six fish landing centres such as Junglighat, Dignabad, Chatham, Guptapara, Wandoor and Chidiyatapu. The study revealed significant spatial variation in microplastic concentrations, with higher contamination in the northern region. Notably, the northern region (centers) had a significantly higher mean abundance of 251.4 ± 110.3 particles/kg compared to the southern region’s (centers) 105.0 ± 57.1 particles/kg. The Mann–Whitney U Test (U = 283.0, p-value = 0.00014) substantiated this significant difference. Dominant polymer types included aramid fiber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, and polyisoprene, indicating industrial and consumer waste sources. Potential sources were linked to urban runoff, fishing activities, and inadequate waste management. This study contributes to understanding microplastic pollution drivers in tropical coastal environments. The findings highlight the impact of anthropogenic activities and land use patterns on microplastic pollution in fish landing centres. This information is crucial for developing targeted mitigation strategies in similar coastal regions.PeerJ, 13, art. no. e19965; 2025journal articl
Glomerular Disease in Patients With Acute Kidney Injury After Vancomycin Treatment—Need for Kidney Biopsy
No full textKidney Medicine, 8(2), art. no. 101183; 2025journal articl
Age-specific chikungunya outbreak response immunisation strategies in Brazil: a modelling study
No full textBackground:Two chikungunya vaccines, Ixchiq and Vimkunya are licensed. In April 2025, Brazil is the first endemic country to license Ixchiq, but optimal age groups for vaccination remain unclear. Our aim is to model the public health impact of age-specific chikungunya outbreak response immunisation strategies in Brazil and infer broader implications for vaccine use case scenarios in outbreak prone regions. Methods:We developed an age-structured transmission dynamic model calibrated with state-level Brazilian surveillance data for 2022 and long-term average annual force of infections. We simulated outbreak response immunisation strategies targeting ages 1–11, 12–17, 18–59, and ≥60 years for Ixchiq and Vimkunya across 11 out of 27 states in Brazil. We assessed vaccine impact by symptomatic cases, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted and number needed to vaccinate (NNV) based on vaccine protection against disease only and against both disease and infection. Findings: Ixchiq and Vimkunya showed similar vaccine impact. Across strategies, vaccinating children 1–11 years yielded the lowest NNV for both vaccines, whereas vaccinating adults 18–59 years achieved the greatest absolute reduction in symptomatic cases, averting 62.5% (95% Uncertainty Intervals [UI]: 54.2–84.1) of total symptomatic cases with Vimkunya and 66.2% (58.2–86.0) with Ixchiq, under disease and infection blocking mechanism. Vaccinating adults 18–59 years with Ixchiq or Vimkunya yielded similar efficiency, with NNVs to avert a DALY of 339 (39–3412) and 361 (40–3777) respectively, under disease and infection-blocking mechanism. Interpretation: Under current licensure, vaccinating adolescents aged 12–17 years first, followed by 18–59 years are efficient strategies, with similar NNVs for both Ixchiq and Vimkunya. If eligibility expands to younger populations, vaccinating 1–11-year age group will have relatively higher efficiency. Funding: International Vaccine Institute and Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development.eClinicalMedicine, 90, art. no. 103690; 2025journal articl
Transmission of maternal oral pathobionts to the infant gut predisposes offspring to exacerbated enteritis
Get PDFCell Reports, 44(7), art. no. 115974; 2025journal articl
特別支援学校におけるキャリア・パスポートの作成の試み－知的障害のある児童生徒の発達段階に応じた内容の検討と実践－
Get PDF長崎大学教育学部教育実践研究紀要, 24, pp.1-10; 2025departmental bulletin pape
Elevated plasma level of PAI-1 is associated with severe COVID-19
Get PDFEvidence indicates endothelial dysfunction in severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a marker of endothelial injury and could be a prognostic marker for COVID-19-related hospitalization and outcomes. The association between PAI-1 levels and the severity of COVID-19-related outcomes was investigated in this study. This single-center retrospective chart review included 113 hospitalized adults from 6.29.2020 to 8.1.2021 with confirmed COVID-19. Plasma PAI-1 levels were measured by ELISA. The primary endpoint was the difference in PAI-1 levels between severe and non-severe COVID-19 groups. Severe COVID-19 was defined as the need for ventilator assistance and/or death. The mean age was 60.78 (22 to 103, SD ± 16.93), and 52 were female and 63 male. There was a significant positive correlation between age and PAI-1 levels. PAI-1 levels were significantly higher in patients with hyperlipidemia. PAI-1 levels in patients requiring ventilator assistance and who died versus those who did not are significantly higher. High plasma PAI-1 levels are associated with severe COVID-19, defined as requiring ventilator use and/or death. Thus, PAI-1 may be a biological marker for severe COVID-19.Scientific Reports, 15(1), art. no. 28380; 2025journal articl
ZFP36L1 and L2 as novel antiviral factors for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus via interaction with viral nucleoprotein
Get PDFCrimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) belongs to the genus Orthonairovirus and is the causative agent of viral hemorrhagic fever with a case fatality rate of 30%. Like many other viral proteins, the nucleoprotein (N) interacts with host factors during viral replication, leading to both pro- and anti-viral consequences. However, few studies have explored protein-protein interactions (PPI) between N and host proteins. In this study, we screened the PPI with 1116 human transcription factors and regulators using the AlphaScreen assay, which employs a cell-free synthesized human protein library. The host RNA-binding proteins, ZFP36L1 and L2, were identified through this screening, and further functional analyses revealed that both proteins significantly inhibited CCHFV minigenome replication. N and ZFP36 proteins interacted within cells, and the expression of N altered the intracellular localization of ZFP36 proteins. Interestingly, the RNA-binding activity of ZFP36s was not essential for the interaction and inhibition of CCHFV minigenome replication. A reporter assay using TNFA and IFNG UTRs, target RNAs of ZFP36 proteins, showed that CCHFV N activated ZFP36-mediated mRNA degradation. Further analysis revealed that the N-terminal region of ZFP36L1 was important for its interaction with CCHFV N. Deletion of the N-terminus of ZFP36L1 decreased its inhibitory effect on the minigenome, but not on the TNFA and IFNG reporters, suggesting context-dependent regulation of RNA degradation. This study demonstrated the applicability of PPI screening using protein array and AlphaScreen technology for investigating viral-host interactions. Further studies will contribute to understanding the antiviral immunity driven by host proteins and the corresponding viral countermeasures.Journal of Biological Chemistry, 301(9), art. no. 110545; 2025journal articl
Determinants of malnutrition among children under 5 years in refugee and internally displaced person populations: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDFIntroduction: Malnutrition is a critical global health issue, particularly among the vulnerable children whose socioeconomic, sociocultural and environmental characteristics are unique. Malnutrition significantly increases the risk of mortality and non-communicable diseases, impairs physical growth, hinders cognitive development and limits children’s potential. While a number of earlier studies explored the determinants of malnutrition among children under 5 years of age in refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) populations, comprehensive reviews are scarce. A systematic synthesis of existing data is essential to better understand its prevalence and associated risk factors, informing more effective interventions. Method and analysis: This systematic review protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We will conduct a comprehensive search in PubMed, Scopus and ProQuest. Additionally, relevant grey literature will be explored using Google Scholar and Google Advanced Search. We will include cross-sectional, cohort and case-control studies published in English that report the prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors among children under 5 years of age in refugee and/or IDP populations. Two reviewers will screen and extract data independently. The quality of the included studies will be assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool. Meta-analysis will estimate pooled prevalence of malnutrition, as well as the pooled OR for associated factors, using a random-effects model with 95% CIs. Heterogeneity will be assessed using the χ² test and I² value. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required. The results will be published in a peer-review journal and presented at conferences.BMJ Open, 15(8), art. no. e099950; 2025journal articl