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A 2-month-old full-term female infant developed nasal stridor, which progressed to respiratory distress and poor sucking ability. Direct pharyngoscopy showed laryngomalacia and a midline cystic mass in the lingual region. The mass pressed on the epiglottis, causing dyspnea. Computed tomography incidentally revealed extralobar pulmonary sequestration. Direct deroofing of the lingual cyst and plication of the epiglottis were performed at 3 months of age, and the patient recovered from the respiratory distress. Histopathology of the cystic mass showed a thyroglossal duct cyst. Thoracoscopic resection of the pulmonary sequestration was then done at 17 months of age. Thyroglossal duct cysts in the lingual region may cause destabilization of the epiglottis and laryngomalacia, resulting in acquired respiratory obstruction. The combination of thyroglossal duct cyst, laryngomalacia, and pulmonary sequestration is rare; therefore, reports must be accumulated in order to explore the embryological origins of such cases.

Our recent studies of microRNA (miRNA) expression signatures revealed that microRNA-29s (miR-29s; including miR-29a/b/c) were significantly downregulated in prostate cancer (PCa) and was a putative tumor-suppressive miRNA family in PCa. Herein, we aimed to investigate the functional significance of miR-29 in cancer cells and to identify novel miR-29s-mediated cancer pathways and target genes involved in PCa oncogenesis and metastasis. Restoration of miR-29s in PC3 and DU145 cell lines revealed significant inhibition of cancer cell migration and invasion. To identify miR-29s-mediated molecular pathways and targets, we used gene expression data and in silico database analysis. Our analysis demonstrated that miR-29s modulated the focal adhesion pathway. Moreover, the laminin γ1 (LAMC1) gene was a candidate target of miR-29s regulation. Luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-29s directly regulated LAMC1. Silencing of LAMC1 significantly inhibited cell migration and invasion in cancer cells, and LAMC1 was upregulated in PCa. miR-29s acted as tumor suppressors, contributing to cancer cell migration and invasion and directly targeting laminin signaling. Recognition of tumor-suppressive miRNA-mediated cancer pathways provides new insights into the potential mechanisms of PCa oncogenesis and metastasis, and suggests novel therapeutic strategies for treating this disease.

Footwear modification can beneficially alter knee loading in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This study evaluated the effect of Masai Barefoot Technology shoes on reductions in external knee moments in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Three-dimensional motion analysis was used to examine the effect of Masai Barefoot Technology versus control shoes on the knee adduction and flexion moments in 17 women (mean age, 63.6 years) with radiographically confirmed knee osteoarthritis. The lateral and anterior trunk lean values, knee flexion and adduction angles, and ground reaction force were also evaluated. The influence of the original walking pattern on the changes in knee moments with Masai Barefoot Technology shoes was evaluated. The knee flexion moment in early stance was significantly reduced while walking with the Masai Barefoot Technology shoes (0.25±0.14Nm/kgm) as compared with walking with control shoes (0.30±0.19Nm/kgm); whereas the knee adduction moment showed no changes. Masai Barefoot Technology shoes did not increase compensatory lateral and anterior trunk lean. The degree of knee flexion moment in the original walking pattern with control shoes was correlated directly with its reduction when wearing Masai Barefoot Technology shoes by multiple linear regression analysis (adjusted R(2)=0.44, P

Our recent study of the microRNA expression signature of prostate cancer (PCa) revealed that microRNA-224 (miR-224) is significantly downregulated in PCa tissues. Here, we found that restoration of miR-224 significantly inhibits PCa cell migration and invasion. Additionally, we found that oncogenic TPD52 is a direct target of miR-224 regulation. Silencing of the TPD52 gene significantly inhibits cancer cell migration and invasion. Moreover, TPD52 expression is upregulated in cancer tissues and negatively correlates with miR-224 expression. We conclude that loss of tumour-suppressive miR-224 enhances cancer cell migration and invasion in PCa through direct regulation of oncogenic TPD52.

Sorghum cultivar ‘Kazetachi’ has a unique internode length pattern, with a wavy shape that changes depending on the cultivation environment. It is regarded as a suitable material for analyzing the environmental factors affecting internode elongation. This study was conducted to clarify the relation between the final internode length at harvest and the increment of stem growth to establish a method to elucidate stem growth during the growing season. To confirm the internode elongation pattern, we sampled plants when each leaf had just expanded. The leaf number, plant length, and collar height of plants in the field were measured during the growing season. The internode elongation pattern of ‘Kazetachi’ resembled that reported in sweet sorghum, indicating that the elongation period of each internode can be estimated by recording the leaf number during the growing period. By measuring the plant length and the collar height as an index of stem growth, we can easily estimate the rapid elongation period of internode, which can be a peak or a trough in the internode length pattern during the growing period. The collar height during the growing period can be estimated by measuring the leaf number in the growth stage and recording the length of internodes and leaf sheaths at harvest. Even the plant length can be estimated by adding the leaf blade length to these traits. However, the collar height seemed to be a better index of stem growth than the plant length.

Foam separation was used to separate dissolved alkaline earth metal ions from aqueous solution. The mechanism is based on anionic surfactant adsorption onto the bubbles generated in the aqueous alkaline earth metal solution. The negatively charged bubbles rise while adsorbing the positive metal ions and change to foam at the surface. The foam in the glass tube drains excess water as it rises and is finally turned into dry foam. The foam separation method with sodium decyl sulfate (SDeS) (8 mmol L−1, below the critical micelle concentration (CMC)) was used to remove alkaline earth metal (Mg, Ca, and Sr) chlorides in the respective systems. The initial concentrations of the surfactant and alkaline earth metal chloride were 8 mmol L−1 (below the CMC) and 2.5 mmol L−1 in 250 mL of solution, respectively. The results showed that the removal rate in the one-component alkaline earth metal system increased with increasing atomic number: Mg (46%)

We documented the fluctuation of daily time budgets in Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) throughout the year using continuous day-to-day data from activity sensors integrated into global positioning system collars, during 2003–2009. We evaluated the influence of availability of food resources on daily active time of bears in conjunction with differences in sex and reproductive status of females (with or without offspring). The daily active time of bears fluctuated nonlinearly throughout the year. There were 3 turning points at which the activity level clearly changed from increasing to decreasing, or vice versa. Level of activity gradually increased in spring and reached a peak in July, then decreased and reached a trough in late August, and increased and reached a peak again in October. Males and females exhibited similar patterns of seasonal fluctuation in daily active time, although there were differences of activity levels between sexes during some periods. Dates of the 3 turning points did not differ between sexes, or among years. Seasonal variation in food availability may explain the timings of the turning points, at least in part. In addition, yearly variation in food resources, especially hard mast, may have affected the increasing and decreasing pattern of daily active time during autumn. Our results suggest that evaluating activity level based on pooled data without examining differences within a season (or month), and differences in year, sex, and reproductive status may result in misinterpretation.

PV power output mainly depends on solar irradiance, which is affected by various meteorological factors. Thus, it is required to predict solar irradiance in the future for the efficient operation of PV systems. In this paper we develop a novel approach for solar irradiance forecasting, in which we combine the black–box model (JIT modeling) with the physical model (GPV data). We investigate the predictive accuracy of solar irradiance over a wide controlled area of each electric power company by utilizing measured data from 44 observation points throughout Japan provided by JMA and 64 points around Kanto provided by NEDO. Finally, we propose an applied forecasting method of solar irradiance to deal with difficulties in compiling databases. We also consider the influence of different GPV default times on solar irradiance prediction. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 182(4): 19–28, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.22338

We report a novel approach to slow the translocation of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) by employing polyethylene oxide (PEO) filled nano-cylindrical domains as transportation channels. DNA strands were demonstrated to electrophoretically translocate through PEO filled cylindrical domains with diameters of 2 and 9 nm, which were self-assembled by amphiphilic liquid crystalline block copolymers. The average translocation rate of ssDNA strands was effectively reduced to an order of 10 μs per nucleotide, which was 1–2 orders slower than that attained by utilizing conventional solid-state nanopore devices.

The practical use of solid-state nanopores for DNA sequencing requires easy fabrication of the nanopores, reduction of the DNA movement speed and reduction of the ionic current noise. Here, we report an integrated nanopore platform with a nanobead structure that decelerates DNA movement and an insulating polyimide layer that reduces noise. To enable rapid nanopore fabrication, we introduced a controlled dielectric breakdown (CDB) process into our system. DNA translocation experiments revealed that single nanopores were created by the CDB process without sacrificing performance in reducing DNA movement speed by up to 10 μs/base or reducing noise up to 600 pArms at 1 MHz. Our platform provides the essential components for proceeding to the next step in the process of DNA sequencing.

// Yusuke Goto 1, 2 , Akira Kurozumi 1, 2 , Nijiro Nohata 3 , Satoko Kojima 4 , Ryosuke Matsushita 5 , Hirofumi Yoshino 5 , Kazuto Yamazaki 6 , Yasuo Ishida 6 , Tomohiko Ichikawa 2 , Yukio Naya 4 , Naohiko Seki 1 1 Department of Functional Genomics, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan 2 Department of Urology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan 3 Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America 4 Department of Urology, Teikyo University Chiba Medical Center, Chiba, Japan 5 Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan 6 Department of Pathology, Teikyo University Chiba Medical Center, Chiba, Japan Correspondence to: Naohiko Seki, email: naoseki@faculty.chiba-u.jp Keywords: microRNA, renal cell carcinoma, sunitinib, miR-101, UHRF1 Received: June 20, 2016 Accepted: July 19, 2016 Published: July 28, 2016 ABSTRACT Molecular targeted therapy is a standard treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Sunitinib is one of the most common molecular-targeted drugs for metastatic RCC. Molecular mechanisms of sunitinib resistance in RCC cells is still ambiguous. The microRNA (miRNA) expression signature of patients with sunitinib failure in RCC was constructed using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based array. Several miRNAs that were aberrantly expressed in RCC tissues from patients treated with sunitinib were identified in this analysis. MicroRNA-101 (miR- 101) was markedly suppressed in sunitinib treated RCC tissues. Restoration of miR-101 significantly inhibited cell migration and invasion in Caki-1 and 786-O cells. Ubiquitin-like with PHD and ring finger domains 1 ( UHRF1 ) was directly suppressed by miR-101 in RCC cells, and overexpression of UHRF1 was confirmed in sunitinib-treated RCC tissues. The pathways of nucleotide excision repair and mismatch repair were significantly suppressed by knockdown of UHRF1 . Our findings showed that antitumor miR-101 - mediated UHRF1 pathways may be suppressed by sunitinib treatment.

The G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family is the largest family of cell-surface receptors involved in signal transduction. Aberrant expression of GPCRs and G proteins are frequently associated with prevalent human diseases, including cancer. In fact, GPCRs represent the therapeutic targets of more than a quarter of the clinical drugs currently on the market. MiRNAs (miRNAs) are also aberrantly expressed in many human cancers, and they have significant roles in the initiation, development and metastasis of human malignancies. Recent studies have revealed that dysregulation of miRNAs and their target genes expression are associated with cancer progression. The emerging information suggests that miRNAs play an important role in the fine tuning of many signaling pathways, including GPCR signaling. We summarize our current knowledge of the individual functions of miRNAs regulated by GPCRs and GPCR signaling-associated molecules, and miRNAs that regulate the expression and activity of GPCRs, their endogenous ligands and their coupled heterotrimeric G proteins in human cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in men. PCa is androgen-dependent, and androgen-deprivation therapy is effective for first-line hormonal treatment, but the androgen-independent phenotype of PCa eventually develops, which is difficult to treat and has no effective cure. Recently, microRNAs have been discovered to have important roles in the initiation and progression of PCa, suggesting their use in diagnosis, predicting prognosis and development of treatment for castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). Understanding the networks of microRNAs and their target genes is necessary to ascertain their roles and importance in the development and progression of PCa. This review summarizes the current knowledge about microRNAs regulating PCa progression and elucidates the mechanism of progression to CRPC.

Advanced prostate cancer (PCa) metastasizes to bone and lymph nodes, and currently available treatments cannot prevent the progression and metastasis of the disease. Therefore, an improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the progression and metastasis of advanced PCa using current genomic approaches is needed. Our miRNA expression signature in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) revealed that microRNA-320a (miR‑320a) was significantly reduced in cancer tissues, suggesting that miR‑320a may be a promising anticancer miRNA. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional roles of miR‑320a in naive PCa and CRPC cells and to identify miR‑320a-regulated genes involved in PCa metastasis. The expression levels of miR‑320a were significantly reduced in naive PCa, CRPC specimens, and PCa cell lines. Restoration of mature miR‑320a in PCa cell lines showed that miR‑320a significantly inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion. Moreover, we found that lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) was a direct target of miR‑320a in PCa cells. Silencing of LAMP1 using siRNA significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in PCa cells. Overexpression of LAMP1 was observed in PCa and CRPC clinical specimens. Moreover, downstream pathways were identified using si-LAMP1-transfected cells. The discovery of tumor-suppressive miR‑320a-mediated pathways may provide important insights into the potential mechanisms of PCa metastasis.

// Ryosuke Matsushita 1 , Hirofumi Yoshino 1 , Hideki Enokida 1 , Yusuke Goto 2 , Kazutaka Miyamoto 1 , Masaya Yonemori 1 , Satoru Inoguchi 1 , Masayuki Nakagawa 1 , Naohiko Seki 2 1 Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan 2 Department of Functional Genomics, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan Correspondence to: Naohiko Seki, e-mail: naoseki@faculty.chiba-u.jp Keywords: miR-145-5p, miR-145-3p, tumor-suppressor, UHRF1, bladder cancer Received: February 22, 2016 Accepted: March 28, 2016 Published: April 09, 2016 ABSTRACT In microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis, the guide-strand of miRNA integrates into the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC), whereas the passenger-strand is inactivated through degradation. Analysis of our miRNA expression signature of bladder cancer (BC) by deep-sequencing revealed that microRNA ( miR ) -145-5p (guide-strand) and miR-145-3p (passenger-strand) were significantly downregulated in BC tissues. It is well known that miR-145-5p functions as a tumor suppressor in several types of cancer. However, the impact of miR-145-3p on cancer cells is still ambiguous. The aim of the present study was to investigate the functional significance of miR-145-3p and BC oncogenic pathways and targets regulated by miR-145-5p/miR-145-3p . Ectopic expression of either miR-145-5p or miR-145-3p in BC cells significantly suppressed cancer cell growth, migration and invasion and it also induced apoptosis. The gene encoding ubiquitin-like with PHD and ring finger domains 1 ( UHRF1 ) was a direct target of these miRNAs. Silencing of UHRF1 induced apoptosis and inhibited cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in BC cells. In addition, overexpressed UHRF1 was confirmed in BC clinical specimens, and the high UHRF1 expression group showed a significantly poorer cause specific survival rate in comparison with the low expression group. Taken together, our present data demonstrated that both strands of miR-145 ( miR-145-5p : guide-strand and miR-145-3p : passenger-strand) play pivotal roles in BC cells by regulating UHRF1 . The identification of the molecular target of a tumor suppressive miRNAs provides novel insights into the potential mechanisms of BC oncogenesis and suggests novel therapeutic strategies.

Cyclization of N-tethered alkyne nitriles with bromoacetates gives dihydroazepinecarboxylates with excellent functional group tolerance.

Androgen receptor(AR) has a critical role in prostate cancer(PCa) progression and targeting AR axis signaling by androgen deprivation therapy is a standard treatment for advanced PCa. Recently, the role of AR even in castration-resistant PCa(CRPC) is well recognized and emerging evidence suggests survival advantages of treatment by targeting AR in CRPC. This review outlines AR functions that contribute to PCa progression, AR structural alterations and AR activation via intracrine, co-factors, and kinase pathways in CRPC. Finally, we describe about recently reported bipolar androgen therapy as a novel treatment for CRPC targeting AR.

International audience; Ocean surface winds are an essential factor in understandingthe physical interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean.Surface winds measured by satellite scatterometers and buoyscover most of the global ocean; however, there are still spatialand temporal gaps and finer-scale variations of wind that may beoverlooked, particularly in coastal areas. Here, we show that flightpaths of soaring seabirds can be used to estimate fine-scale (every5 min, ∼5 km) ocean surface winds. Fine-scale global positioningsystem (GPS) positional data revealed that soaring seabirds flewtortuously and ground speed fluctuated presumably due to tailwinds and head winds. Taking advantage of the ground speeddifference in relation to flight direction, we reliably estimatedwind speed and direction experienced by the birds. These birdbasedwind velocities were significantly correlated with wind velocitiesestimated by satellite-borne scatterometers. Furthermore,extensive travel distances and flight duration of the seabirds enableda wide range of high-resolution wind observations, especiallyin coastal areas. Our study suggests that seabirds provide aplatform from which to measure ocean surface winds, potentiallycomplementing conventional wind measurements by covering spatialand temporal measurement gaps.

Objective The autonomic nervous system has a deep relationship with the cognitive network when performing cognitive tasks. We hypothesize that autonomic emotional responses can affect cognitive function, especially executive function. The aim of this study was to clarify the involvement of the autonomic system during an executive functional task via developmental changes assessed using pupillometry. Subjects and methods Subjects were 16 healthy children and 9 healthy adults. Children were divided into 3 groups (Group A, 7–9 years; Group B, 10–14 years; Group C, 15–17 years). Pupil diameter was recorded using an eye mark recorder during cognitive shift (CS) during the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST). The rate of pupil variations was integrated and compared within each group, focusing on performance during CS. Results Categories achieved (CA) in the behavioral results of WCST increased with age, with significant differences between Group A and other groups. The change of pupillary diameter was increased with CS and decreased at the correct answers after CS in adults. Changes of pupillary diameter with CS showed a linear increase with age, and the pattern of the pupillary response at the age of 10–14 years was comparable to adults. The integrated rate of pupil diameter with CS increased with age, and there was a significant difference between Group A and adults. In addition, the degree of mydriasis correlated with the number of CA. Conclusion These findings suggest that autonomic emotional response play an important role as a part of the process for executive function.

This paper summarizes the latest developments regarding solid-state nanopores achieved in our laboratory. For direct DNA sequencing with solid-state nanopores, a simple method has been developed to precisely fabricate nanopores with diameters of 1 to 3 nm. By measuring DNA translocation events through the fabricated nanopores, it was confirmed that single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) can pass through nanopores with diameters as small as 1.2 nm. In addition, it was discovered that the translocation speed of ssDNA is higher than that for double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) by three or four orders of magnitude. This difference in speed was explained by a difference in the forces acting on the DNA. From molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, it was found that the force of solution-DNA interactions on dsDNA is approximately 10 times larger than that on ssDNA during DNA translocation through a nanopore.

A concept of a system is proposed for counting viruses (∼100 nm) and bacteria (∼1 µm) using a sensor array with microelectrodes that are almost the same size as the target. A finite element method simulation theoretically clarified that single targets can be detected using the microelectrode as an 8 % increase in resistance in impedance spectroscopy and a 10 % decrease in redox current in amperometry. In experiments, the polystyrene beads used as model targets were successfully detected in both impedance spectroscopy and amperometry. The results showed that even a 100-nm target can be detected by optimizing measurement conditions.

We examined food habits and home-range elevations of Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) in relation to Fagaceae mast production in Toyama Prefecture. Nine bears (four males and five females) fitted with GPS collars were tracked for various periods from July to December in 2005–2007. We investigated the food habits of each bear using traces found at GPS-fix locations. Bears selectively fed on Fagus crenata mast when F. crenata and Quercus crispula mast was abundant and consumed Q. crispula and Q. serrata mast when F. crenata mast was scarce. When both F. crenata and Q. crispula mast was scarce, bears fed on multiple alternatives, such as Diospyros kaki. Home-range elevations of bears also differed among years in response to vertical distributions of available foods. Individual bears captured in the Q. serrata zone (lower elevation) and F. crenata zone (higher elevation) tended to eat Q. serrata and Q. crispula acorns, respectively, when F. crenata mast was not available. Therefore,...

Prostate-specific antigen screening has significantly increased the percentage of men who are diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer. All men undergoing retropubic radical prostatectomy for primary treatment of prostate cancer from April 2004 to September 2010 in our hospital were examined in order to determine whether active surveillance criteria could be applied to Japanese men. From pathological data of prostate biopsies, whether these men met five published criteria for active surveillance (Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance Study, University of California, San Francisco, Toronto and Kakehi criteria) was evaluated. Men who met any of the criteria had a statistically significant lower extracapsular extension rate and organ-confinement rate. From the view of the possibility of Gleason upgrading and organ-confinement rate, the Johns Hopkins Medical Institution and Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance Study criteria showed to be appropriate for Japanese patients. However, the present study had limitations of selection bias and a limited number of cases.

In sweet sorghum, which is a potential biomass crop, the diameter of internode is an important component of stem yield. However, the thickening of successive internodes is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to clarify the relationship between the thickening of successive internodes using the age indicated by the leaf number on the main stem (AL) as a time scale. Furthermore, the relationship between the elongating and thickening period of successive internodes along the stem was analyzed. Internodes were collected from AL3, when the 3rd leaf had just expanded above the 2nd leaf sheath, to AL17, and at 9 weeks after heading as final harvest. Although the internode thickening patterns based on AL could not be combined into one or a few patterns, a significant correlation (P

The biosynthetic gene cluster for bisucaberin B (1, bsb gene cluster), an N-hydroxy-N-succinyl diamine (HSD)-based siderophore, was cloned from the marine bacterium Tenacibaculum mesophilum, originated from a marine sponge. The bsb gene cluster consists of six open reading frames (ORFs), in contrast to the four ORFs typically seen in biosynthetic gene clusters of the related molecules. Heterologous expression of the key enzyme, BsbD2, which is responsible for the final biosynthetic step of 1 resulted in production of bisucaberin B (1), but not bisucaberin (2) a macrocyclic counterpart of 1. To date, numbers of related enzymes producing macrocyclic analogues have been reported, but this work represents the first example of the HSD-based siderophore biosynthetic enzyme which exclusively produces a linear molecule rather than macrocyclic counterparts.

Dysosteosclerosis is a sclerosing bone dysplasia with skeletal changes resembling those of osteopetrosis. The disorder is associated with dental anomalies and occasionally mental retardation. Because of the rarity and phenotypic diversity of dysosteosclerosis, it remains unsolved whether or not the disorder is heterogeneous. We report here on an affected boy associated with brain calcification and epilepsy with developmental delay. Prenatal ultrasound revealed ventriculomegaly, and brain CT in the neonatal period showed periventricular calcifications. At 13 mo of age, he presented with generalized convulsion with developmental delay. Metaphyseal sclerosis, metaphyseal undermodeling, and oval-shaped vertebral bodies on skeletal survey warranted a diagnosis of dysosteosclerosis. Retrospective review of radiographs as a neonate showed metaphyseal radiolucency, but not metaphyseal sclerosis. Since then, neither the bone changes nor neurological symptom has progressively worsened up to 4 yr of age. Thus, it is thought that the clinical and radiological manifestations of the sclerotic disorder become obvious during infancy. Brain calcification of prenatal onset may be an essential syndromic constituent of the disorder.

The Material Point Method (MPM), as proposed by Sulsky et al. (1994), has been developed to simulate large deformations and failure evolution involving different material phases in a single computational domain. A continuum body is divided into a finite number of subregions represented by Lagrangian material points, while the governing equations are formulated and solved with the Eulerian grid. Since this grid can be chosen arbitrarily, mesh tangling does not appear in the MPM. To design a simple but robust spatial discretization procedure, the MPM is coupled with the finite difference method (FDM) in the present study for simulating fully and partially saturated elasto-plastic soil responses based on the simplified three-phase method. Governing equations for the soil skeleton and the pore fluid are discretized by the MPM and FDM, respectively. Soil-water coupled analyses for fully saturated soils and seepage-deformation coupled analyses for unsaturated soils are performed, and the potential of the proposed method is demonstrated via numerical examples.

Reducing device capacitance is effective for decreasing current noise observed in a solid-state nanopore-based DNA sequencer. On the other hand, we have recently found that voltage stress causes pinhole-like defects in such low-capacitance devices. The origin of voltage stress, however, has not been determined. In this research, we identified that a dominant origin is static charge on the outer surface of a flow cell. Even though the outer surface was not in direct contact with electrolytes in the flow cell, the charge induces high voltage stress on a membrane according to the capacitance coupling ratio of the flow cell to the membrane.

Nanoscaled materials are normally engulfed in endosomes by energy-dependent endocytosis and fail to access the cytosolic cell machinery. Although some biomolecules may penetrate non-endocytically or fuse with plasma membranes without overt membrane disruption, to date no synthetic macromolecule of comparable size has been shown to exhibit this property. Here, we discovered mechanism of direct cell membrane penetration using synthetic phospholipid polymers. These water-soluble amphiphilic phospholipid polymers enter the cytoplasm of living mammalian cells in vitro within a few minutes without overt bilayer disruption even under conditions where energy-dependent endocytic uptakes are blocked. Furthermore, targeted cytosolic distribution to cell organelles was achieved by selecting specific fluorescent tags to the polymers. Thus, the phospholipid polymers can provide a new way of thinking about access to the cellular interior, namely direct membrane penetration.

Concentrations of sixty-four kinds of pesticides in Shinano and Agano River waters and tap waters produced in Aoyama and Shinanogawa water treatment plants (WTP) in Niigata city were monitored twice a week from April 2007 to April 2008. The maximum and average amounts of each pesticide were made clear. The presence of pesticides in the river water correlated with the time of pesticide application to the fields. The concentrations of pesticides were reduced in the process of the rapid sand filtration systems except dichlorvos (DDVP), though the extent of reduction differed in each pesticide. The concentrations of the pesticides were remarkably decreased by the combination process of the rapid sand filtration and the granular activated carbon absorption process. A study with the same intention and method with that mentioned above was carried out in our laboratory from April 1995 to April 1996. When compared with the 90′s results, both the number and the concentrations of the pesticides were found to be decreased in 2007 and 2008.

This study aimed to clarify the effects of water storage-type deep irrigation (WSDI) on the yields of various rice cultivars used in the Tohoku district of Japan. We compared a WSDI plot (DP) with a standard irrigation plot (SP) with regard to the growth, yield, and yield components of the rice cultivars grown in these plots during 4 years (2002–2005) in Sendai, Japan. In 2003, which had a cool summer, the yields in DP were considerably higher than those in SP, thus confirming that WSDI mitigated the cool summer-induced damage to rice. The yields in DP were not lower than those in SP during the other 3 years (normal climatic years), indicating that various cultivars could adapt to WSDI. Although high-yielding rice plants cultivated by well-experienced farmers under deep-water irrigation regimes have large panicles, the spikelet number per panicle and the yield in DP were not higher than those in SP. Based on the results of the comparison between the cultivation system of WSDI and that of high-yielding deep-water irrigation regimes practiced by such farmers, we speculated that to achieve a higher yield under WSDI, other cultivation techniques need to be incorporated into WSDI.

We evaluated the performance of two GPS collars as a tool for studying Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) in the Kanto region, Japan. Collars were placed at five stationary points to test the effects of GPS antenna orientation and degree of canopy closure on the fix rate and the positional error, and collars were deployed on 16 free-ranging bears to examine the fix rate and the effects of fix interval on fix rate. In the stationary tests, the proportions of no fix and of 2D fix (vs. 3D fix) increased as canopy closure increased and antenna orientation was further from vertical; at an antenna angle ≥90° from the vertical and canopy closure of 76.2–79.1%, the fix rate was

Five members of the order Carnivora in the cool-temperate deciduous forests of Japan consume the fruits of trees, and they are potential dispersers of the seeds of fleshy-fruited plants. We studied the frugivory of the Asiatic black bear, Japanese marten, badger, red fox, and raccoon dog in cool-temperate deciduous forest of central Japan. From May 2003 to April 2005, a total of 377 fecal samples of the five carnivores (bears, 91; martens, 158; badgers, 45; foxes, 36; and raccoon dogs, 47) were sampled to determine the presence and frequency of occurrence of seeds. Seeds from 17 plant species, representing about 50% of the fleshy-fruited plants occurring in the study forest, were recovered from the carnivore fecal samples. Large numbers (9–10,256) of seeds were present in those feces. Almost all the seeds of fleshy fruits retrieved from the fecal samples were undamaged whereas no intact acorns or nuts were recovered. These findings suggest that all five carnivores can act as seed dispersers for some fleshy-fruited plants in cool-temperate deciduous forest.

Novel polymer nanoparticles were prepared for the selective capture of a specific protein from a mixture with high effectiveness. The nanoparticle surface was covered with hydrophilic phosphorylcholine groups and active ester groups for easy immobilization of antibodies. Phospholipid polymers (PMBN) composed of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, n-butyl methacrylate, and p-nitrophenyloxycarbonyl polyethyleneglycol methacrylate, were synthesized for the surface modification of poly( l-lactic acid) nanoparticles. Surface analysis of the nanoparticles using laser-Doppler electrophoresis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the surface of nanoparticles was covered with PMBN. Protein adsorption was evaluated with regard to the nonspecific adsorption on the nanoparticles that was effectively suppressed by the phosphorylcholine groups. The immobilization of antibodies on nanoparticles was carried out under physiological conditions to ensure specific binding of antigens. The antibody immobilized on the nanoparticles exhibited high activity and strong affinity for the antigen similar to that exhibited by an antibody in a solution. The selective binding of a specific protein as an antigen from a protein mixture was relatively high compared to that observed with conventional antibody-immobilized polymer nanoparticles. In conclusion, nanoparticles having both phosphorylcholine and active ester groups for antibody immobilization have strong potential for use in highly selective separation based on the biological affinities between biomolecules.

近年, 公共空間において電子端末を利用した様々なサービスが人々の生活に利便性をもたらしている一方で, セキュリティ技術の開発が進んでいるにも関わらず, 情報を扱うことへの不安を拭いきることができない. 本論では, 公共空間で情報を扱う際にユーザが周囲の他者に対して電子端末の画面を覗き込まれるなどの不安を抱えていることに着目し, ユーザの周囲に設置されるパーティションの高さについて調査を行った. ユーザが安心して情報を扱うために必要とするパーティションの高さについて調べた実験1では, 扱う情報に応じてユーザが必要とするパーティションの高さは変化することが分かった. パーティションの高さに応じて他者が取る距離について調べた実験2では, 周囲からユーザの画面が見えるパーティションの高さの時, 他者はユーザが見えない場合より長い距離をとることが分かった. 以上の実験結果から, ユーザは安心して情報を扱うことができ, かつ他者がユーザに対して過剰に意識せずに行動できるノート型PC利用環境の提案を行った.

We studied the year-round cultivation of sweet sorghum, which is a raw material for the fermentation of monosodium glutamate, in East Java, Indonesia. In this savanna area, each year comprises 2 seasons-dry (April-September) and rainy (October-March). Seed crops were sown almost every month for 1 yr, and each seed cropping was followed by a ratoon cropping after the seed crop harvest. The stem-related traits of plants from different sowing or ratooning dates were studied at around 17 weeks after sowing or ratooning. For both plants derived from seed and ratoon, better crop establishment was observed when cultivation was commenced during the rainy season than during the dry season. Although sowing was undertaken each week in August and September during the most severe dry period, germination rate was very low (or zero) and even the germinated plants died within a short time. In contrast, ratoon cropping was started and plants were grown until harvest. In East Java, it is considered possible to produce sweet sorghum throughout the year, mainly by sowing, but also partially by ratooning during the most severe drought period of the dry season.

DNA sequencing with a solid-state nanopore requires a reduction of the translocation speeds of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) over 10 μs/base. In this study, we report that a nanometre-sized bead structure constructed around a nanopore can reduce the moving speed of ssDNA to 270 μs/base by adjusting the diameter of the bead and its surface chemical group. This decelerating effect originates from the strong interaction between ssDNA and the chemical group on the surface of the bead. This nanostructure was simply prepared by dip coating in which a substrate with a nanopore was immersed in a silica bead solution and then dried in an oven. As compared with conventional approaches, our novel method is less laborious, simpler to perform and more effective in reducing ssDNA translocation speed.

A protocol for the direct synthesis of azepines using a hafnium(III)-catalyzed [6 + 1] annulation of N-tethered ynenitriles with Reformatsky reagents is reported. A broad range of 3-amino-2,7-dihydro-1H-azepine-4-carboxylates 4aa-4he were obtained in high yields and with excellent functional group tolerance. The copper-mediated reactions of isolable Blaise intermediates (enamino esters 3), uniquely underwent 5-endo cyclization to afford the β-2,5-dihydropyrrolyl α,β-unsaturated esters 5aa-5fc, which exhibit anticancer activity.