Osaka University Research Articles

Plasma Proteomics Profile-Based Comparison of Torso Versus Brain Injury: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Trauma-related deaths and post-traumatic sequelae are a global health concern, necessitating a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology to advance trauma therapy. Proteomics offers insights into identifying and analyzing plasma proteins associated with trauma and inflammatory conditions; however, current proteomic methods have limitations in accurately measuring low-abundance plasma proteins. This study compared plasma proteomics profiles of patients from different acute trauma subgroups to identify new therapeutic targets and devise better strategies for personalized medicine. This prospective observational single-center cohort study was conducted between August 2020 and September 2021 in the intensive care unit of Osaka University Hospital in Japan. Enrolling 59 consecutive patients with blunt trauma, we meticulously analyzed plasma proteomics profiles in participants with torso or head trauma, comparing them with those of controls (mild trauma). Using the Olink Explore 3072® instrument, we identified five endotypes (α-ε) via unsupervised hierarchical clustering. The median time from injury to blood collection was 47 minutes [interquartile range: 36-64 minutes]. The torso trauma subgroup exhibited 26 unique proteins with significantly altered expression, while the head trauma subgroup showed 68 unique proteins with no overlap between the two. The identified endotypes included α (torso trauma, n = 8), β (young patients with brain injury, n = 5), γ (severe brain injury post-surgery, n = 8), δ (torso or brain trauma with mild hyperfibrinolysis, n = 18), and ε (minor trauma, n = 20). Patients with torso trauma showed changes in blood pressure, smooth muscle adaptation, hypermetabolism, and hypoxemia. Patients with traumatic brain injury had dysregulated blood coagulation and altered nerves regeneration and differentiation. This study identified unique plasma protein expression patterns in patients with torso trauma and traumatic brain injury, helping categorize five distinct endotypes. Our findings may offer new insights for clinicians, highlighting potential strategies for personalized medicine and improved trauma-related care. Prospective Cohort Study, Level III.

Clostridium butyricum Bacteremia Associated with Probiotic Use, Japan.

Clostridium butyricum, a probiotic commonly prescribed in Asia, most notably as MIYA-BM (Miyarisan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; https://www.miyarisan.com), occasionally leads to bacteremia. The prevalence and characteristics of C. butyricum bacteremia and its bacteriologic and genetic underpinnings remain unknown. We retrospectively investigated patients admitted to Osaka University Hospital during September 2011-February 2023. Whole-genome sequencing revealed 5 (0.08%) cases of C. butyricum bacteremia among 6,576 case-patients who had blood cultures positive for any bacteria. Four patients consumed MIYA-BM, and 1 patient consumed a different C. butyricum-containing probiotic. Most patients had compromised immune systems, and common symptoms included fever and abdominal distress. One patient died of nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia. Sequencing results confirmed that all identified C. butyricum bacteremia strains were probiotic derivatives. Our findings underscore the risk for bacteremia resulting from probiotic use, especially in hospitalized patients, necessitating judicious prescription practices.

Comparison of natural language processing algorithms in assessing the importance of head computed tomography reports written in Japanese.

To propose a five-point scale for radiology report importance called Report Importance Category (RIC) and to compare the performance of natural language processing (NLP) algorithms in assessing RIC using head computed tomography (CT) reports written in Japanese. 3728 Japanese head CT reports performed at Osaka University Hospital in 2020 were included. RIC (category 0: no findings, category 1: minor findings, category 2: routine follow-up, category 3: careful follow-up, and category 4: examination or therapy) was established based not only on patient severity but also on the novelty of the information. The manual assessment of RIC for the reports was performed under the consensus of two out of four neuroradiologists. The performance of four NLP models for classifying RIC was compared using fivefold cross-validation: logistic regression, bidirectional long-short-term memory (BiLSTM), general bidirectional encoder representations of transformers (general BERT), and domain-specific BERT (BERT for medical domain). The proportion of each RIC in the whole data set was 15.0%, 26.7%, 44.2%, 7.7%, and 6.4%, respectively. Domain-specific BERT showed the highest accuracy (0.8434 ± 0.0063) in assessing RIC and significantly higher AUC in categories 1 (0.9813 ± 0.0011), 2 (0.9492 ± 0.0045), 3 (0.9637 ± 0.0050), and 4 (0.9548 ± 0.0074) than the other models (p < .05). Analysis using layer-integrated gradients showed that the domain-specific BERT model could detect important words, such as disease names in reports. Domain-specific BERT has superiority over the other models in assessing our newly proposed criteria called RIC of head CT radiology reports. The accumulation of similar and further studies of has a potential to contribute to medical safety by preventing missed important findings by clinicians.

A hybrid numerical framework of potential and viscous flows for simulations of free running surface ship maneuvering in waves

This study presents a hybrid numerical framework for the accurate and efficient simulation of free-running surface ship maneuvering in waves. The proposed hybrid framework combines the MOUM (Modified Osaka University Method) body-force method to model the propeller and a hybrid approach of potential and viscous flows for wave-ship interactions. The MOUM body-force method, based on BEMT (Blade Element Momentum Theory), considers the three-dimensional viscous effects of propellers. The hybrid approach of potential and viscous flows decomposes the total physical field into the incident field and the complementary field, where the incident wave is solved by the potential flow theory to ensure the accuracy of wave propagation with coarse grids, and viscous and nonlinear effects are incorporated through the adapted URANS (Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes) with refined grids. The 6DOF (Degrees of Freedom) motion equations of the rigid body and the dynamic structured grid with the overset technology are adopted to simulate the 6DOF motions of ship maneuvering in waves. Firstly, the applicability of the computational domain, domain-moving strategy, and ship motion-solving method for effectively simulating ship maneuvering in wave conditions are thoroughly examined. Then the reliability of present hybrid approach is validated using turning benchmark model tests of KCS model in regular waves. Simulations of turning circle and zig-zag maneuvers in regular waves are carried out by the traditional viscous CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) based on the boundary wave-generation approach and the proposed hybrid framework. The trajectories, motions and forces of ship maneuvering in waves predicted by both methods, as well as the computational efficiency, are compared. Numerical results indicated that the proposed method offers high accuracy and efficiency for predicting ship maneuvering in waves and could serve as a highly credible alternative to existing methods.

Abstract 2716: The O-glycan epitope targeting anti-human carcinoma monoclonal antibody (mAb) NEO-201 can also target human regulatory T cells (Tregs)

Abstract Introduction:NEO-201 is a humanized IgG1 mAb that targets Core 1 and/or extended Core 1 O-glycans expressed by several human solid and blood tumors, as well as neutrophils, but it does not bind to most normal tissues and human immune cell subsets (B cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells, monocytes). Functional analysis revealed that NEO-201 mediates the killing of its target cells through ADCC and CDC. Previous study has shown that approximately 4.6% of CD4+ T cells express NEO-201 target antigen and that those CD4+ T cells have Tregs phenotype. In addition, in a recent published phase 1 study we observed that NEO-201 binds to CD4+/CD25+/, CD127−/, Foxp3+/, CD15s+ cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cancer patients with solid tumors. The purpose of this study was to further characterize the phenotype of the specific subset of CD4+ T cells expressing the NEO-201 target antigen. Experimental Design: Human PBMCs were obtained from 7 healthy donors (HD) collected at Osaka University and 6 cancer patients from our ongoing phase II clinical trial (Clinical Trial NCT03476681) evaluating the efficiency of the combination of NEO-201 with pembrolizumab in adults with solid tumors resistant to checkpoint inhibitors. Phenotypic analysis was performed by flow cytometry using NEO-201 and antibodies CD3, CD4, CD25, CD45RA, FoxP3, and CD15s. The same gating strategy was applied for both normal donors and patients to evaluate which fraction of CD4+ T cells is recognized by NEO-201. Fraction (Fr) 1 is naïve Treg, Fr ll is effector Treg, Fr lll is non-Treg, Fr lV is effector CD4 T cells and Fr V is naïve CD4 T cells. Results: Flow cytometry analysis of PBMCs revealed that NEO-201 recognizes naïve Tregs (nTregs: CD3+/CD4+/CD45RA+/Foxp3low cells) while it does not bind to effector Tregs (eTregs: CD3+/CD4+/CD45RA−/Foxp3high cells) in both HD and cancer patients. The % of nTregs in cancer patients was higher than HD. Preliminary results from the ongoing Phase II clinical trial showed that subjects with durable SD had a reduction of circulating nTregs after treatment with NEO-201 compared to baseline levels. Conclusions: NEO-201 binds to human Tregs with significantly higher % of binding to Fr l and a greater % of Tregs expressing NEO-201 target antigen in cancer patients compared to HD. It is conceivable that naïve Tregs in cancer patients express high levels of Core 1 O-glycans. Furthermore, when subjected to TCR stimulation, naïve Tregs undergo proliferation and differentiate into eTregs. eTregs can then infiltrate into tumor microenvironment (TME). These data suggest that depletion of circulating nTregs in cancer patients after NEO-201 treatment may prevent the differentiation of nTregs into eTregs and their accumulation in the TME. This study suggests the potential use of NEO-201 to reduce the Treg-mediated suppression of anticancer immunity. Citation Format: Atsushi Tanaka, Massimo Fantini, Philip M. Arlen, Christina M. Annunziata, Kwong Y. Tsang, Shimon Sakaguchi. The O-glycan epitope targeting anti-human carcinoma monoclonal antibody (mAb) NEO-201 can also target human regulatory T cells (Tregs) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2716.

Abstract 5329: Ovarian cancer predisposes neutrophils to form neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)

Abstract Objective: Neutrophil extracellular trap (NETs) are neutrophil-derived extracellular DNA released in response to inflammation. In contrast to their primary host-defensive role, NETs have been recently reported to promote cancer progression. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of NETs in ovarian cancer progression. Method: The clinical data of ovarian cancer patients who underwent primary surgery at Osaka University Medical Hospital were retrospectively reviewed (n=340). The relationship between neutrophilia, peritoneal dissemination and prognosis were analyzed. Prior to initial treatment, peripheral blood was obtained from newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients and examined for CBC and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) concentration by ELISA. To evaluate NETs formation capacity, isolated neutrophils were stimulated with G-CSF and incubated in vitro to monitor NETs formation. The ascites was collected at the initial surgery and assessed for G-CSF concentration and for neutrophils population using flow cytometry. The omental tissues were pathologically examined for NETs using H&amp;E-staining and immunostaining with anti-Citrullinated Histon3 (CitH3) antibody. To test NETs induction capacity, we treated human peripheral blood neutrophils with the conditioned media from 20 ovarian cancer cell lines and the serum from ovarian cancer patients. Then human ovarian cancer OVCAR8 cells were co-cultured with NETs to evaluate the effect of NETs on cancer cell adhesion. Results: Neutrophilia (neutrophils&amp;gt;7000/µl) was found in 39 patients (39/340,11.5%). Patients with neutrophilia were associated with advanced disease accompanied by peritoneal dissemination and compromised survival compared to patients without neutrophilia (5-year PFS 40.0 vs 59.9 %, p 0.0027). In these patients, serum G-CSF was upregulated. Neutrophils from ovarian cancer patients formed NETs significantly earlier than those from benign tumor patients. Ovarian cancer patients with neutrophilia showed elevated G-CSF concentration and increased neutrophils proportion in their ascites. Omental tissues from patients with neutrophilia showed NETs foci close to the disseminated lesions. G-CSF strongly induced neutrophils to form NETs in vitro, which was observed in some conditioned media from ovarian cancer cell lines and serum from ovarian cancer patients as well. The adhesion of ovarian cancer cell was increased by co-incubation with NETs. Conclusion: Neutrophilia is associated with peritoneal dissemination and poor prognosis in ovarian cancer. One of the underlying mechanism of neutrophilia is upregulated G-CSF, which stimulate neutrophils to form NETs. NETs may have a causative effect on ovarian cancer dissemination. Citation Format: Gaku Yamamoto, Mahiru Kawano, Michiko Bun, Koutaro Shimura, Aska Toda, Koji Nakamura, Yasuto Kinose, Michiko Kodama, Kae Hashimoto, Kenjiro Sawada, Tadashi Kimura. Ovarian cancer predisposes neutrophils to form neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5329.

Investigation of hydrodynamic characteristics of Li jet flowing along concave flow channel using LES for A-FNS

Liquid lithium (Li) jet is planned as a beam target in fusion neutron sources (FNSs), such as IFMIF in Japan and EU, A-FNS in Japan and IFMIF-DONES in EU. We have been studying the high-speed Li jet experimentally and numerically, and Li Loop of Osaka University (LLOU) and EVEDA Li Test Loop (ELTL) have been used. For the safety and the efficiency of such actual FNSs, it is significant to understand the detailed flow structure inside the Li jet for removing heat load due to deuteron beam. At this time, ELTL was already dismantled and thus experiments using LLOU become more important for the development of A-FNS. However, LLOU has the different configuration from A-FNS. Therefore, it is important to clarify the difference of the hydrodynamic characteristics of the Li jet between LLOU and A-FNS. In this study, two types of simulation were conducted; one was the Li flow simulation inside the nozzle of ELTL and another one was the Li jet simulation of ELTL. The former results were compared with that of LLOU and the later results were verified by comparing it to the experimental results in ELTL. Then, heat transfer inside the Li jet in beam-on-target was predicted.

Validation of the Japanese version of the Social Functioning in Dementia scale and COVID-19 pandemic's impact on social function in mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia.

We aimed to psychometrically evaluate and validate a Japanese version of the Social Functioning in Dementia scale (SF-DEM-J) and investigate changes in social function in people with dementia during the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. We interviewed people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia and their caregivers during June 2020-March 2021 to validate patient- and caregiver-rated SF-DEM-J and compared their scores at baseline (April 2020 to May 2020) and at 6-8 months (January 2021 to March 2021) during a time of tighter COVID-19 restrictions. The neuropsychology clinic in the Department of Psychiatry at Osaka University Hospital and outpatient clinic in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Daini Osaka Police Hospital, Japan. 103 dyads of patients and caregivers. SF-DEM-J, Mini-Mental State Examination, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Apathy Evaluation Scale. The scale's interrater reliability was excellent and test-retest reliability was substantial. Content validity was confirmed for the caregiver-rated SF-DEM-J, and convergent validity was moderate. Caregiver-rated SF-DEM-J was associated with apathy, irritability, loneliness, and cognitive impairment. The total score of caregiver-rated SF-DEM-J and the score of Section 2, "communication with others," significantly improved at 6-8 months of follow-up. The SF-DEM-J is acceptable as a measure of social function in MCI and mild dementia. Our results show that the social functioning of people with dementia, especially communicating with others, improved during the COVID-19 pandemic, probably as a result of adaptation to the restrictive life.

Development of a Time-Gated Epithermal Neutron Spectrometer for Resonance Absorption Measurements Driven by a High-Intensity Laser

The advance of laser-driven neutron sources (LDNSs) has enabled neutron resonance spectroscopy to be performed with a single shot of a laser. In this study, we describe a detection system of epithermal (∼eV) neutrons especially designed for neutron resonance spectroscopy. A time-gated photomultiplier tube (PMT) with a high cut-off ratio was introduced for epithermal neutron detection in a high-power laser experiment at the Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University. We successfully reduced the PMT response to the intense hard X-ray generated as a result of the interaction between laser light and the target material. A time-gated circuit was designed to turn off the response of the PMT during the laser pulse and resume recording the signal when neutrons arrive. The time-gated PMT was coupled with a 6Li glass scintillator, serving as a time-of-flight (TOF) detector to measure the neutron resonance absorption values of 182W and 109Ag in a laser-driven epithermal neutron generation experiment. The neutron resonance peaks at 4.15 eV of 182W and 5.19 eV of 109Ag were detected after a single pulse of laser at a distance of 1.07 m.

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Standard and Biweekly Trifluridine/Tipiracil Regimen in Patients With Colorectal Cancer.

Trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) is used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Since the standard regimen of FTD/TPI features a complex dosing schedule and frequently results in severe hematological toxicities, a simplified regimen has emerged, in which FTD/TPI is orally administered biweekly. However, the survival benefits and potential adverse events associated with the biweekly FTD/TPI regimen have not been fully evaluated in previous reports. Therefore, in this study, the differences in efficacy and safety between the standard and biweekly FTD/TPI regimens were retrospectively investigated in patients with mCRC. Data from 90 patients who received FTD/TPI for mCRC were extracted from the electronic medical records at the Osaka University Hospital. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 85 of the 90 patients were enrolled in the study. We compared patient characteristics, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse events between the standard (n=56) and biweekly groups (n=29). The biweekly group exhibited prolonged OS and PFS compared to patients in the standard group. Multivariate analysis for OS and PFS demonstrated that the biweekly regimen was the only significant factor that affected OS, and not PFS (HR=0.561, p=0.049). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that neutropenia (grade ≥3) in the biweekly group was significantly prolonged compared to the standard group (p=0.012). However, there were no significant differences in adverse events between the two groups (p>0.999). The biweekly FTD/TPI regimen, compared to the standard regimen, should enhance both OS and PFS in patients with mCRC without escalating any adverse event.

Automated volumetry of meningiomas in contrast-enhanced T1-Weighted MRI using deep learning

Background: Meningiomas are among the most common intracranial tumors. In these tumors, volumetric assessment is not only important for planning therapeutic intervention but also for follow-up examination.However, a highly accurate automated volumetric method for meningiomas using single-modality magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not yet been reported. Here, we aimed to develop a deep learning-based automated volumetry method for meningiomas in MRI and investigate its accuracy and potential clinical applications. Methods: For deep learning, we used MRI images of patients with meningioma who were referred to Osaka University Hospital between January 2007 and October 2020. Imaging data of eligible patients were divided into three non-overlapping groups: training, validation, and testing. The model was trained and tested using the leave-oneout cross-validation method. Dice index (DI) and root mean squared percentage error (RMSPE) were measured to evaluate the model accuracy. Result: A total of 178 patients (64.6 ± 12.3 years [standard deviation]; 147 women) were evaluated. Comparison of the deep learning model and manual segmentation revealed a mean DI of 0.923 ± 0.051 for tumor lesions. For total tumor volume, RMSPE was 9.5 ± 1.2%, and Mann–Whitney U test did not show a significant difference between manual and algorithm-based measurement of the tumor volume (p = 0.96). Conclusion: The automatic tumor volumetry algorithm developed in this study provides a potential volume-based imaging biomarker for tumor evaluation in the field of neuroradiological imaging, which will contribute to the optimization and personalization of treatment for central nervous system tumors in the near future

Infusion-Related Reactions Subsequent to Avelumab, Durvalumab, and Atezolizumab Administration: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Avelumab, durvalumab, and atezolizumab are anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibodies approved for clinical application in Japan. Despite targeting the same molecule, avelumab elicits a different frequency of infusion-related reactions (IRRs) compared with durvalumab and atezolizumab, leading to differences in premedication recommendations. This study aimed to collect information to verify the relationship during IRRs and the characteristics of antibody molecules, by investigating the frequency of IRRs caused by three types of antibodies and the actual status of prophylactic measures. This single-center, retrospective observational study collected the medical records of 73 patients who received avelumab, durvalumab, or atezolizumab at Osaka University Hospital. The frequency of IRRs was 50.0% (12/24) for avelumab, 31.0% (8/27) for durvalumab, and 18.2% (4/22) for atezolizumab. The IRRs were grade 2 in seven patients and grade 1 in five patients treated with avelumab, grade 2 in six patients and grade 1 in two patients treated with durvalumab, and grade 1 in all patients treated with atezolizumab. Among patients in whom symptoms were observed during the first administration, measures were taken to prevent IRRs for the second administration, but cases were confirmed in which symptoms reappeared, especially in patients who received durvalumab. Our findings indicate that the frequency of IRRs due to anti-PD-L1 antibodies is higher than that previously reported in clinical trials and different modifications in antibody molecules may affect the difference in IRR frequency.

Exploratory prospective, randomized phaseII study of neoadjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus surgery versus surgery alone for large hepatocellular carcinoma (CSGO-HBP-005): Clinical Study Group of Osaka University, Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Group.

Neoadjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for large tumors is controversial, especially in the minimally invasive surgery era. The aim of this study was to compare features between groups treated with neoadjuvant TACE followed by surgery (TACE+surgery) or upfront surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma >5cm. In this exploratory, multicenter, randomized phaseI study, the primary measure was 2-year disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary measures were resection rate, necrosis rate by TACE, 2-year overall survival, and site of recurrence. A total of 30 patients were randomly allocated to each arm. The two arms did not differ in patient characteristics. The median time to surgery from randomization was 48days for TACE+surgery and 29 for surgery only (p<0.001). Postoperative morbidities did not differ between arms. The 2-year DFS, overall survival, and resection rates were 56.7%, 80.0%, and 93.3%, respectively, in the TACE+surgery arm, and 56.1%, 89.9%, and 90.0% in the upfront surgery arm. Minimally invasive surgery was carried out in 35.7% in the TACE+surgery arm and in 29.6% in the upfront surgery arm. The median necrosis rate by TACE was 90.0%. In resected specimens, invasion to the hepatic vein was less with TACE+surgery (3.6% vs. 22.2%, p=0.0380). In cases of 100% necrosis with TACE, 2-year DFS was 100%. Site of recurrence did not differ between groups. Neoadjuvant TACE did not improve 2-year DFS, and neoadjuvant TACE allowed delay of surgical treatment without increased morbidity and cancer progress. UMIN: 000005241.

Business and human rights in Japan: Progress and challenges of the Japanese government

Business and human rights in Japan: Progress and challenges of the Japanese government Professor Emi Sugawara from Osaka University of Economics and Law, Faculty of International Studies, discusses government’s efforts to respect human rights in the supply chain. If the ultimate goal of the business and human rights movement is to realise a sustainable society in which no one’s human rights are left behind, then the role of the state, along with businesses, is important. According to UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), states have a duty to protect human rights by creating an environment that enables businesses to respect human rights, and this environment can be created through a smart mix of policies that are consistent from the perspectives of business and human rights. Noted, so what about Japan?

Diversity and Inclusion in STEM Fields at Osaka University

Diversity and Inclusion in STEM Fields at Osaka University

(Invited) Correlation of Exciton and Charge Carrier Dynamics with the Performance of Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells have been recognized as a newly emerging solar cell with the potential of achieving high efficiency with a low cost fabrication process. In particular, facile solution processed cell fabrication facilitated rapid development of optimum cell structure and composition. Over the last few years, the cell efficiency has exceeded 25%.Highly efficient charge transfer reactions in addition to high charge separation efficiency and swift charge transport with minimum charge recombination are required to improve solar cell performance. Intensive studies have been focused on monitoring photo-induced exciton formation and charge dissociation, charge transport and interfacial charge transfer dynamics including interfacial charge recombination in perovskite solar cells.[1-5] Several parameters have been identified to influence these charge carrier dynamics, and therefore the solar cell performance.[1-5] Clarifying these parameters is extremely important to understand the charge transfer mechanisms to further improve solar cell performance.In this presentation, we will present parameters controlling charge dissociation in metal halide perovskites and their charge separation and recombination dynamics at the perovskite interfaces employing a series of transient absorption and emission spectroscopies. Correlation of the key parameters controlling the exciton and charge carrier dynamics with the solar cell performance will be discussed [1-5].This work was partly supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant (19H02813) and (22H02182), and the Collaborative Research Program of Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University (grant number 2023-45 and 2022-99), Japan. We would like to acknowledge supports from the Australia-Japan Foundation for the international collaborative project. We also acknowledge supports from ARC LIEF fund (LE200100051 and LE170100235), Australia and School of Engineering in RMIT University, and Forefront Research Center, Faculty of Science at Osaka University.

Photo-Generated Charge Carrier Dynamics in Metal Oxide Photocatalysts

Solar water splitting is one of the most attractive energy carrier generation processes to utilize solar energy. Light generated hydrogen is a clean energy carrier, since their consumption for energy generation produces only water. Moreover, generated hydrogen can be stored and used whenever required. Hydrogen is mostly used as a feedstock in the chemical and petrochemical industries, e.g. production of ammonia, methanol and fertilisers.[1]The photocatalytic solar water splitting process has been studied extensively over the last half century. However, despite the efforts, no ideal photocatalyst has yet been identified to meet three main requirements for commercialisation: (1) low cost, (2) high solar to hydrogen (STH) efficiency and (3) durability. Over the last two decades, considerable efforts have focused on developing visible light active photocatalysts, and some promising photocatalysts with relatively high water splitting efficiency were discovered.[2] In contrast to search of appropriate photocatalyst (nano)materials, mechanisms of photocatalytic water splitting reactions, in particular charge carrier dynamics of photocatalysts, were little studied. Understanding charge carrier dynamics in photocatalysts will certainly provide an opportunity to design high efficiency photocatalysts.In this presentation, we will show dynamics of photo-generated charge carries in metal oxide photocatalyst by employing a series of transient absorption spectroscopies covering from 150 fs to 100 s over UV-VIS-NIR wavelength ranges.[2] Correlation of the charge carrier dynamics with photocatalysis reactions will be discussed.This work was partly supported by ARC DP fund (DP180103815) and ARC LIEF funds (LE170100235 and LE200100051), Australia, and the Collaborative Research Program of Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University (grant number 2023-45 and 2022-99), Japan. We also acknowledge supports from School of Engineering, RMIT University, and Forefront Research Center, Faculty of Science, Osaka University.

Nikolai Nevsky, Ishihama Juntarō, and the Lost “Extended Manual” of Tangut Characters with Tibetan Phonetic Glosses

Shortly before his return from Japan to Russia in 1929, the prominent Russian Orientalist and Tangutologist Nikolai (Nicolas) Aleksandrovich Nevsky (1892–1937), best known for his successful decipherment of the extinct Tangut language and script, prepared and left in Japan some kind of a glossary, an extended manual of Tibetan phonetic glosses for more than 500 Tangut characters, which was planned to be sent to the Tōyō Bunko for publication. However, this work was not published, and the manual was lost for decades and literally forgotten by scholars. This article is an investigation into the fate of this lost work prepared by Nevsky and a report on its re-discovery. Based on the study of his academic activities in Japan, it presents four photographic copies of Tangut fragments with Tibetan phonetic glosses and seven non-inventoried Nevsky’s notebooks from the Ishihama Collection of the Osaka University Library. Our careful examination and preliminary study of these notebooks reveals that three of them are most likely the complete lost manuscript of the extended manual and the four photographs are its integral part.

Comprehensive analyses of neurodevelopmental outcomes and quality of life of children with biliary atresia.

To holistically evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes and quality of life (QOL) of Japanese patients with biliary atresia (BA) and to investigate the factors associated with the outcomes. This study enrolled patients with BA aged 5-18 years who visited Osaka University Hospital in 2021. Neurodevelopmental assessments were performed to evaluate intellectual ability, cognitive functions and adaptive skill levels. Furthermore, emotional and behavioral issues, characteristics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and QOL were concomitantly assessed in the same cohort. Biochemical and social factors associated with the results were examined. Fifty-three patients, with a median age of 11.2 years were included in the analyses. Patients with BA had a significantly lower Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient or developmental quotient (FSIQ/DQ) score and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS) composite score than the general Japanese population. Household education level and short stature were associated with low and borderline FSIQ/DQ and VABS composite scores, respectively. Among patients with low and borderline FSIQ/DQ scores, those with average or high VABS composite scores received significantly less neuroeducational care than those with low and borderline VABS composite scores. Despite the low FSIQ/DQ and VABS composite scores, the total QOL scores were higher than those of the general population. Patients with BA had intellectual and behavioral impairments. Notably, patients with intellectual impairments are overlooked and not followed up, especially if adaptive skills are maintained.

In Memoriam, Prof. Dr. Hideo Tamura at Osaka University

In Memoriam, Prof. Dr. Hideo Tamura at Osaka University