The golden orchid
Cephalanthera falcata
is on the verge of extinction from Japan due to foraging by the agromyzid fly
Japanagromyza tokunagai
and the decline of pollinator bees. Artificial ...pollination and bagging treatments that exclude foraging flies are promising conservation measures. I examined the rates of fruit set and ripe seed production resulting from the artificial pollination and bagging of
C
.
falcata
at one field site in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. I tested 13 individuals over 3 years from 2021 to 2023, classified into three treatment groups: (1) no artificial pollination + no bagging (8 individuals), (2) artificial pollination + no bagging (3 individuals), and (3) artificial pollination + bagging (2 individuals). Artificial pollination resulted in an average of 4 fruits per individual (range: 1–6 fruits), while untreated plants produced 2.1 fruits on average (range: 1–6 fruits; Wilcoxon’s rank sum test,
p
= 0.151). Additionally, the mean damage rate per individual, which was calculated as the proportion of fruits damaged by
J
.
tokunagai
out of all fruits, was 0% in the bagged group and 100% in the untreated group (Wilcoxon’s rank sum test,
p
< 0.001). Thus, the bagging of
C
.
falcata
produced statistically significant improvements in ripe seed production. However, artificial pollination of
C
.
falcata
did not produce statistically significant improvements in fruit set production. My results suggest that fruit set production is not affected by artificial pollination for
C
.
falcata
. The damage of
C
.
falcata
by
J
.
tokunagai
is quite noticeable, with serious implications for the species’ ongoing reproduction and survival.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Online advertisements have become one of today’s most widely used tools for enhancing businesses partly because of their compatibility with A/B testing. A/B testing allows sellers to find effective ...advertisement strategie,s such as ad creatives or segmentations. Even though several studies propose a technique to maximize the effect of an advertisement, there is insufficient comprehension of the customers’ offline shopping behavior invited by the online advertisements. Herein, we study the difference in offline behavior between customers who received online advertisements and regular customers (i.e., the customers visits the target shop voluntary), and the duration of this difference. We analyze approximately three thousand users’ offline behavior with their 23.5 million location records through 31 A/B testings. We first demonstrate the externality that customers with advertisements traverse larger areas than those without advertisements, and this spatial difference lasts several days after their shopping day. We then find a long-run effect of this externality of advertising that a certain portion of the customers invited to the offline shops revisit these shops. Finally, based on this revisit effect findings, we utilize a causal machine learning model to propose a marketing strategy to maximize the revisit ratio. Our results suggest that advertisements draw customers who have different behavior traits from regular customers. This study demonstrates that a simple analysis may underrate the effects of advertisements on businesses, and an analysis considering externality can attract potentially valuable customers.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) has been reported to be associated with chronic inflammation of the gastric epithelium caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. Autoimmune ...gastritis (AIG) is also believed to increase the risk of carcinogenesis. We herein report a case of multiple EBVaGCs that arose in a patient with AIG, highlighting the potential for multiplicity of this entity. In this case, a total of four metachronous EBVaGCs were found after initial Endoscopic submucosal dissection for EBVaGC, all of which were treated endoscopically. This case demonstrates that patients with AIG should be monitored closely for development of EBVaGC.
Objective To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a stool color card used for a mass screening of biliary atresia conducted over 19 years. In addition, the age at Kasai procedure and the ...long-term probabilities of native liver survival were investigated. Study design From 1994 to 2011, the stool color card was distributed to all pregnant women in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Before or during the postnatal 1-month health checkup, the mothers returned the completed stool color card to the attending pediatrician or obstetrician. All suspected cases of biliary atresia were referred for further examination. Diagnosis was confirmed by laparotomy or operative cholangiography for high-risk cases before the Kasai procedure. Patients with biliary atresia were followed from the date of their Kasai procedure until liver transplantation, death, or October 31, 2013, whichever comes sooner. Results A total of 313 230 live born infants were screened; 34 patients with biliary atresia were diagnosed. The sensitivity and specificity of stool color card screening at the 1-month check-up was 76.5% (95% CI 62.2-90.7) and 99.9% (95% CI 99.9-100.0), respectively. Mean age at the time of Kasai procedure was 59.7 days. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, the native liver survival probability at 5, 10, and 15 years was 87.6%, 76.9%, and 48.5%, respectively. Conclusions The sensitivity and specificity of the stool color card have been demonstrated by our 19-year cohort study. We found that the timing of Kasai procedure and long-term native liver survival probabilities were improved, suggesting the beneficial effect of stool color card screening.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Discharge and water quality were measured during times of normal flow and flooding for eleven years, from 2006-2016 in Kochi River, Wakasa Town, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. Results revealed that both ...inorganic matter （soil particles） and organic matter （phytoplankton, nitrogen compounds and phosphorus compounds） flowed down in large amounts during flooding compared to normal flow. Organic and inorganic matters generally flow down the upper, middle and lower stream areas and are finally supplied to Obama Bay, an area of enclosed coastal seas. To investigate the influence of the Kochigawa Damon the downstream river and Obama Bay, future challenges include: (1) carrying out adischarge observation and water quality analysis before and after the dam; and (2)monitoring the sediment load to the dam.
Objective Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric cancer in the remnant stomach poses some specific technical difficulties due to severe fibrosis and the presence of surgical staples. ...Therefore, we clarified the feasibility and safety of removing staples. Methods We retrospectively analyzed ESD outcomes of cases of gastric cancer in the remnant stomach. Patients and Materials This study reviewed 227 patients who underwent ESD for gastric cancer in the remnant stomach or gastric conduit. Patients were divided into those in whom resection extended to the anastomotic site or suture line (AS group; n=90) and those without such extension (non-AS group; n=137). The AS group was further divided into cases in which staples were removed (staple group; n=22) and those in which they were not (control group; n=68). Results The rates of specimen damage and curative resection and the duration and speed of the procedure were significantly worse in the AS group than the non-AS group. There were no significant differences between the staple group and the control group in the curative or complete resection rates, and no complications occurred in the staple group. In a propensity score-matched analysis, the rate of specimen damage was significantly lower in the staple group than in the control group (p=0.002), and the procedure speed tended to be faster (p=0.077). Conclusions Staple removal may improve the outcomes of ESD in patients with gastric cancer in the remnant stomach or gastric conduit by reducing the risk of specimen damage and increasing the procedure speed without complications.
Due to a postwar forestry expansion policy in Japan, upstream catchment areas are currently forested, and flow conditions are being homogenized by dam construction and river improvement. To document ...any adverse effects of this policy as well as hydraulic and water-utilization policies, it is important to monitor systems over the long term, such as the most recent 30 years of the postwar period. This report focuses on the Minami River, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. I estimate how changes in the river environment have affected the number of fish in the long term and propose crucial river development plans. Using the results of a national census along rivers, temporal changes in the fish communities of rivers with abundant fish fauna and populations were statistically analyzed. The biomass of Rhinogobius flumineus has increased, while those of Tribolodon hakonensis and Liobagrus reinii have significantly decreased in the Minami River. I hypothesize that an increase in the abundance of river runs led to the increase in Rhinogobius flumineus, whereas the reduced abundance of rapids and pools caused the decreases in Tribolodon hakonensis and Liobagrus reinii. A future river development plan is proposed to create additional rapids and pools in the Minami River.
Esophageal stricture caused by complete circumferential endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of extensive esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a major concern and can result in a low ...quality of life. Normal mucosa may remain within a complete circumferential lesion of ESCC in some cases. We herein report a case of ESCC in which a complete circumferential lesion was treated with ESD while leaving an island of normal mucosa within it. This case demonstrates that preserving areas of normal mucosa within lesions during complete circumferential ESD is not technically difficult and may be an effective measure for preventing esophageal stricture.
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