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Mating Pheromone (Gamone 1) in Blepharisma: A Glycoprotein Responsible for Species Diversity in Unicellular Organisms (Alveolata, Ciliophora)
No full textThe genus Blepharisma (Alveolata, Ciliophora) is a unicellular organism distributed worldwide, even in extreme environments, and comprises numerous species. While usually proliferating through cell division, Blepharisma undergoes sexual reproduction (conjugation) when cells are moderately starved. Conjugation is initiated by mating pheromones (gamone 1 and gamone 2) secreted by complementary mating-type cells. Gamone 1, a glycoprotein, functions in a species-specific manner, while gamone 2, an amino acid derivative, is a common molecule across species. The specific function of gamone 1 suggests the possibility that mutations in gamone 1 might have led to reproductive isolation during the evolutionary process, triggering species diversification. In this study, by comparing the amino acid sequences of gamone 1 homologs from 15 strains (representing five species), we found that mutations resulting in distinct amino acid properties occur across species boundaries and are mainly concentrated at two specific regions within gamone 1. These mutations potentially alter the binding affinity of gamone 1 to its receptors, suggesting their effect in causing reproductive isolation. The interspecies artificial conjugation conducted previously and the molecular phylogenetic tree constructed using the gamone 1 homolog sequences in this study provide insights into the speciation process within the genus Blepharisma.journal articl
Comparison of the distribution of households with regard to worshipping the same shrines or crossings, and their correspondence to the areal extent of tol—A study on the socio‐spatial structure and urban tissue in Bhaktapur, Nepal Part 1
No full textThis paper aimed to discuss the areal extent and spatial structure of neighborhood, called tol, which possibly demarcate urban tissue with respect to worship of the deity and funerary acts. Bhaktapur is known as one of the historical cities of the World Heritage Site in Kathmandu Valley. The analysis firstly focuses on the dwelling distributions that have the common votary area of the guardian deities' temples/shrines and the use of the same crossing for funerary acts. Then, the authors compare those dwelling distribution with the areal extent of tols to find out how tol boundaries were formed. This result will be a precondition to conduct further examination on historical urban formation in the coming paper.journal articl
Al:Cu2O n-Type Semiconductors─Electrochemical Fabrication of Heterojunction and Homojunction Photovoltaic Devices
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光学顕微画像の機械学習による鋼材腐食生成物の組成解析
No full textAnalysis of the corrosion distribution and composition of corrosion products on steel surfaces using supervised machine learning of optical microscopic images was investigated. The accuracy of the artificial intelligence in evaluating the composition of iron compound reference samples was affected by the illumination intensity and surface roughness during image capture. The evaluation accuracy was high for compounds with a wide distribution of R value such as Fe_2O_3 and FeOOH, but low for compounds with a narrow distribution such as Fe_3O_4. The results of wet-dry cycling tests on weathering steel with NaCl particles on the surface showed that the transition of corrosion products during the corrosion progress can be analyzed from optical microscope images.journal articl
Association between Low Blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D and High C-Reactive Protein Levels in Community-Dwelling Japanese People Aged 40-74 Years
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アパレル製品のリアル店舗および EC サイトにおいて消費者が重要視する視覚的評価項目の調査
No full text本調査の目的は ， アパレル製品のリアル店舗および EC サイトにおいて ， 消費者が重要視する視 覚的評価項目を明らかにすることである ． 調査は ，20 代から 60 代の女性 112 名を対象に ， オンラ インアンケートとして実施した ． リアル店舗では ， その利用頻度に関わらず ， 店内の清潔感や商品 の陳列に関する視覚情報が重要視され ，EC サイトについては ， 商品の詳細に関する情報が重要視 されることが確認された ． さらにリアル店舗の項目に対する因子分析の結果 ， 店舗内レイアウト ， ブランドイメージの演出 ， 店舗の活気や流動性 ， 商品量の 4 因子が抽出された ． これらの因子は店 舗利用頻度ごとに重要度が異なり ， リアル店舗を月 2～3 回程度利用する消費者は店舗の活気や流 動性を重要視する傾向が見られた ． そのため ， リアル店舗の利用頻度が比較的低い消費者が快適に 感じる活気や流動性を探ることが ， 利用促進に寄与することが示唆された ．This survey aims to clarify the visual evaluation criteria that consumers consider important in physical stores and e-commerce sites for apparel products. We conducted an online questionnaire among 112 women in their 20s to 60s. For physical stores, regardless of the frequency of use, visual information about the cleanliness of the store and the display of products was considered important, while for EC sites, information about the details of products is important. As a result of factor analysis for real store items, the following four factors were extracted: In-store layout, Creation of brand image, Store liveliness and fluidity, and Merchandise quantity. These factors have different degrees of importance depending on the frequency of store usage and the Store liveliness and fluidity factor is important for the group that uses stores a few times a month. Therefore, it was suggested that exploring the liveliness and fluidity that consumers who use physical stores relatively infrequently feel comfortable with would contribute to promoting their use.journal articl
Influence of Primary Particle Morphology and Hydrophilicity of Carbon Matrix on Electrode Coating Quality and Performance of Practical High‐Energy‐Density Li–S Batteries
No full textLi–S batteries have attracted attention as the next-generation secondary batteries. While substantial progress is made in understanding Li–S chemistry at a fundamental level, only a limited number of studies are dedicated to achieving high energy density at the practical pouch cell level. The challenge lies in attaining high-energy-density Li–S batteries under harsh conditions, which involve a minimal amount of electrolyte and a relatively high areal S-loading cathode. This discrepancy creates a substantial gap between fundamental material research and comprehensive cell-level investigations. In this study, it is investigated how the morphology and properties of two carbon materials, namely Ketjen black (KB) and mesoporous carbon nano-dendrites (MCND), influence the composite cathode architecture and determine the performance of Li–S batteries. Unlike KB, MCND allows for a higher sulfur-loading cathode without evident cracks in the composite cathode. This achievement can be attributed to the high porosity, excellent wettability, and high conductivity exhibited during an identical electrode preparation procedure. Furthermore, large-format Li–S pouch cells incorporating MCND/S cathodes are successfully fabricated. These cells demonstrate an energy density surpassing 250 Wh kg_−1 and an initial discharge capacity of 3.7 Ah under challenging conditions (S-loading > 5 mg cm_−2 and E/S < 3.5 µL mg_−1).journal articl
Inspiring Tactics with the Improvement of Mitophagy and Redox Balance for the Development of Innovative Treatment against Polycystic Kidney Disease
No full textPolycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the most common genetic form of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and it involves the development of multiple kidney cysts. Not enough medical breakthroughs have been made against PKD, a condition which features regional hypoxia and activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway. The following pathology of CKD can severely instigate kidney damage and/or renal failure. Significant evidence verifies an imperative role for mitophagy in normal kidney physiology and the pathology of CKD and/or PKD. Mitophagy serves as important component of mitochondrial quality control by removing impaired/dysfunctional mitochondria from the cell to warrant redox homeostasis and sustain cell viability. Interestingly, treatment with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) agonist could reduce the pathology of PDK and might improve the renal function of the disease via the modulation of mitophagy, as well as the condition of gut microbiome. Suitable modulation of mitophagy might be a favorable tactic for the prevention and/or treatment of kidney diseases such as PKD and CKD.journal articl
Reversible Fluoride-Ion (De)Intercalation of CuLaO<sub>2</sub> Cathodes with Crystalline/Amorphous Phase Transition Involving Multi-Electron Reaction
No full textAll-solid-state fluoride-ion batteries (FIBs) are considered as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for next-generation energy storage devices. Intercalation-type cathode materials for FIBs have been developed in the past. However, they are limited by low theoretical capacities, which fail to meet the high energy density and high rate capability demand. This study reports the first application of the intercalation-type cathode material CuLaO2 in all-solid-state FIBs. This cathode maintains a high capacity of 184 mAh g–1 over 50 cycles. Compared to the metal/metal fluoride (M/MFx) and the intercalation-type cathode materials reported so far, CuLaO2 exhibits an outstanding rate capability with a capacity of 102 mAh g–1 even at a high current density of 200 mA g–1. Electrochemical measurements, coupled with X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction prove that the charge/discharge processes of CuLaO2 proceed via intercalation reaction with the reversible phase transition between crystalline/amorphous phases, and the charge compensation is responsible for multielectron redox of Cu+/Cu3+. We believe that this study can bring insight into all-solid-state FIBs.This work is financially supported by Grant-in-Aid forScientific Research on Innovative Areas “Mixed-anion”(JSPSKAKENHI Grant Number JP16H06441), Grant-in-Aidfor Transformative Research Areas (A) “Supra-ceramics” (JSPSKAKENHI Grant Numbers JP22H05148), and JST-MiraiProgram (Grant Number JPMJMI18E2). Synchrotron radia-tion experiments were performed at beamlines BL02B2,BL14B2, and BL27SU of SPring-8 with the approval of theJapan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI,proposal numbers 2020A1509, 2021A1286, 2021A1645,2021B1374, 2021B1508, 2021B1540, 2021B1878, and2023A1889)journal articl