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The Japanese black salamander, Hynobius nigrescens, is endemic to Japan and breeds in still water. Egg sacs of three colors (white, intermediate, and transparent) have been identified to date. However, the cause of this variation is not well understood. Therefore, we conducted a survey within the Ryohaku Mountains, where genetic differences are assumed to be small, and investigated egg sac color type in 10 spawning ponds. Our results confirmed that the ratio of the intermediate and transparent types increases with altitude. Regarding egg sac color type at each altitude, all egg sacs found above 740 m asl were white, whereas the transparent and intermediate types began to appear from at or above 740 m. As altitude increased, the incidence of the white type decreased and that of the transparent and intermediate types increased. In addition, a redundancy analysis was performed to determine the relationship between egg sac color and the topographical and meteorological conditions and to clarify the results for each pond. The analysis revealed that maximum snow depth was strongly correlated with an increase in the number of egg sacs of intermediate and transparent types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When industrial robots transfer objects at high speeds, residual vibrations occur at the target positions. Recently, autonomous mobile robots such as AGV and AMR have become popular. However, the vibrations of the objects to be transported occur when the robot stops moving. Waiting until the residual vibration converges is necessary during the installation and assembly of transported objects. Thus, the overall work time increases even though the robots operate and move at a high speed. If the trajectory, which is the change in the position and attitude of the output point of a robot with time, can be adjusted such that the robot can move and operate within the same operation time by suppressing the residual vibration caused in transported objects, the work time can be significantly reduced. However, suppressing vibration is not easy because it usually requires solving complex equations of motion to consider the dynamics of robots. Therefore, in this study, based on the behavior of an object to be transported, which is measured by actually operating a robot, we propose a method for determining a trajectory that can suppress residual vibration using a heuristic algorithm without performing a kinetic analysis. The trajectories determined by this method reduced the settling time by approximately 90% with only a few dozen robot operations. The proposed method can be widely applied to commercial robots because appropriate trajectories are generated using a simple program that determines the variables used in the robot language without kinetic analysis. • We proposed the method for generating the trajectory of the robots using results measured in actual operation. • The trajectories suppress the residual vibration of the carried object by the heuristic algorithm. • The proposed method is widely applied to the commercial robot because the variables in the robot language are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vapor-liquid distribution coefficients (K -values) of seven compounds contained in hops-extract were measured (total of 217 data) for high pressure CO 2 - ethanol aqueous solution systems at (313 to 353) K and (10 to 20) MPa with a continuous flow apparatus. Using all available experimental solute K -values including newly measured data and those in CO 2 + ethanol binary solvent systems (total of 322 data), a predictive distribution coefficient (pKD) model was developed based on dimensionless groups and the entropy-based solubility parameter. The pKD model allows correlation of available K -value data and provides a method for predicting K -values of non-hops extracts related solutes (salicylic acid, methyl salicylate, 4-cyano-4′-hydroxybiphenyl) in CO 2 - ethanol - water systems. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although skin permeability of an active ingredient can be severely affected by its ionization in a dose solution, most of the existing prediction models cannot predict such impacts. To provide reliable predictors, we curated a novel large dataset of in vitro human skin permeability coefficients for 322 entries comprising chemically diverse permeants whose ionization fractions can be calculated. Subsequently, we generated thousands of computational descriptors, including Log D (octanol–water distribution coefficient at a specific pH), and analyzed the dataset using nonlinear support vector regression (SVR) and Gaussian process regression (GPR) combined with greedy descriptor selection. The SVR model was slightly superior to the GPR model, with externally validated squared correlation coefficient, root mean square error, and mean absolute error values of 0.94, 0.29, and 0.21, respectively. These models indicate that Log D is effective for a comprehensive prediction of ionization effects on skin permeability. In addition, the proposed models satisfied the statistical criteria endorsed in recent model validation studies. These models can evaluate virtually generated compounds at any pH; therefore, they can be used for high-throughput evaluations of numerous active ingredients and optimization of their skin permeability with respect to permeant ionization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY This paper presents a novel type of flux-modulating synchronous machine (FMSM) in which permanent magnets (PMs) are embedded in the stator back-iron. The rotor has neither windings nor PMs. A prototype machine with an outer-rotor configuration was designed and manufactured to validate the operating principle of the FMSM. The characteristics in the motor mode of the prototype machine were also investigated with a vector control system. The results of the investigations show that, as in surface-mounted PM motors, the torque of the FMSM is predominantly generated by the PM flux and can be controlled using the armature current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the appropriate permanent magnet (PM) arrangement of novel flux-modulating synchronous machines (FMSMs) in which PMs are embedded in the stator back iron. Using finite element analysis (FEA), three types of FMSMs with different PM arrangements are designed, and their performance characteristics are compared. As a result of the investigation, it was found that the FMSM with a V-shaped PM arrangement has a higher torque capability than do other FMSMs. The accuracy of the FEA simulations was confirmed through experiments on a prototype machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We study the reactivities of and fullerenes in the framework of the density-functional theory. To quantify the reactivities of fullerenes, we calculate the total energies of the system consisting of a fullerene and a C atom as a function of the distance from each C site on the fullerene surface to the C atom, and obtain the reaction energy defined as energy gain at the minimum-energy configuration from the infinite distance configuration. Surprisingly, it is found that some of the sites have larger reaction energies than that of , although is energetically more stable than . This result sheds new light on the formation process of fullerenes and the abundance of in soot. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hyaluronan (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan that associates with various molecules to assemble a specific HA-rich extracellular matrix. Low and intermediate-molecular-weight HA induces cytokines, chemokines, and other mediators of inflammation and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Hyaluronidases are a group of enzymes that degrade HA. As a model of patients with allergic diseases, we used egg albumin to induce high levels of IgE in rats and examined changes in the expression of hyaluronidase genes (Hyal1 and Hyal2) using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of Hyal2 was not affected by the overproduction of IgE induced with egg albumin, whereas the expression of the Hyal1 gene was suppressed. High-molecular-weight HA might be degraded by Hyal2 into intermediate-molecular-weight HA, which can trigger inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strength of Earth's magnetic dipole field controls galactic cosmic ray (GCR) flux, and GCR-induced cloud formation can affect climate. Here, we provide the first evidence of the GCR-induced cloud effect on the East-Asian monsoon during the last geomagnetic reversal transition. Bicentennial-resolution monsoon records from the Chinese Loess Plateau revealed that the summer monsoon (SM) was affected by millennial-scale climate events that occurred before and after the reversal, and that the winter monsoon (WM) intensified independently of SM variations; dust accumulation rates increased, coinciding with a cooling event in Osaka Bay. The WM intensification event lasted about 5000 years across an SM peak, during which the Earth's magnetic dipole field weakened to <25% of its present strength and the GCR flux increased by more than 50%. Thus, the WM intensification likely resulted from the increased land–ocean temperature gradient originating with the strong Siberian High that resulted from the umbrella effect of increased low-cloud cover through an increase in GCR flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted diatom analyses of a core from the Pleistocene marine sequence drilled at the Chiba Section, central Japan, to reveal detailed paleoceanographic variations across the Early–Middle Pleistocene boundary. Diatom valves are most abundant at 4.5 m below the Matuyama–Brunhes magnetic polarity boundary, followed by the second highest abundance at 18.6 m above the boundary, which is consistent with the sea-level changes inferred from planktonic δ 18 O data. The highest abundance is correlated with the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 19.3 sea-level highstand, and the second-highest with the MIS 19.1 highstand. The abundance of the extinct species Actinocyclus ingens is quite low around these sea-level highstands, whereas it is greatest at the core depth with the minimum diatom total valves, which is correlated to the MIS 19.2 lowstand. Cold-water diatom species that are characteristic of the Oyashio Current are dominant but coexist with warm-water species of the Kuroshio Current below a core depth just postdating MIS 19.2. Above this depth, warm diatom species of the Kuroshio Current become dominant. The change in dominant diatoms suggests that the Kuroshio Front shifted northward just after MIS 19.2 and remained in the northern area until at least early MIS 18. This shift caused a rapid increase in sea-surface temperature by 4–5 °C within a sediment thickness of 1.3 m (representing ∼300 years). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which examines the utility of gluconate as a taste improving substance. It states that general labelled magnitude scale method was used to determine the taste intensity and quality of potassium gluconate and Calcium gluconate. It mentions the result which reveals that in human sensory tests, gluconate successfully suppressed the bitter taste.

Abstract: Acetaldehyde azine (AcAz) underwent ‘crisscross’ addition with two equivalents of phenyl isocyanate to form a one-to-two adduct in a moderate yield (63.0%). Using crisscross addition of AcAz, polymeric products were obtained from AcAz and 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate in a high yield (>80%). The polymer obtained was soluble in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol, and insoluble in many organic solvents, including n-hexane, benzene, toluene, chloroform, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, acetone, ethanol, methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, and N,N-dimethylformamide. The structure of the polymer obtained was characterized by IR and 1H NMR spectroscopies. The thermal behavior of the polymer was also investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The prevalence of myopia has been steadily increasing for several decades, and this condition can cause extensive medical and economic issues in society. Exposure to violet light (VL), a short wavelength (360–400 nm) of visible light from sunlight, has been suggested as an effective preventive and suppressive treatments for the development and progression of myopia. However, the clinical application of VL remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the preventive and suppressive effects of VL on myopia progression. Various transmittances of VL (40%, 70%, and 100%) were tested in C57BL/6J mice with lens-induced myopia (LIM). Changes in the refractive error, axial length, and choroid thickness during the 3-week LIM were measured. The myopic shift in refractive error and difference in axial length between the 0 and -30 diopter lens was lessened in a transmission-dependent manner. Choroidal thinning, which was observed in myopic conditions, was suppressed by VL exposure and affected by its transmission. The results suggest that myopia progression can be managed using VL transmittance. Therefore, these factors should be considered for the prevention and treatment of myopia. • Myopic shift in the murine myopia model is suppressed by violet light in a transmission-dependent manner • Violet light transmitting ratio affected myopia progression with the changes in axial length and choroidal thickness in a murine mouse model of lens-induced myopia. • Myopia suppressive effect of violet light weakened when the amount of transmitted violet light decreased. • The extent of myopia preventive effect could be affected by the transmittance and intensity of violet light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]