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A dinuclear iridium pentahydride complex bearing a diphosphine ligand with a fluorene backbone was synthesized and characterized for use as a photocatalyst for CO2 hydrogenation. The complex can be...

Pink coloration of barley seeds has caused quality loss since 2015 in some areas where barley is grown in Japan. A bacterium, isolated frequently from the affected seeds and identified as Erwinia persicina, was demonstrated to induce the coloration. Barley was judged to be a new host for E. persicina, and this new disease was named pink seed of barley.

BACKGROUND/AIM D-dopachrome tautomerase (DDT) is a macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) homolog that promotes cell growth via CD74, a MIF cell surface receptor, in some types of tumors. We previously found that DDT acts as an anti-obesity adipokine independent of MIF. To understand the intrinsic properties of these two cytokines, a comparison of their actions in various tissues is necessary. In this study, we investigated the involvement of DDT in HepG2 cell (a human hepatoma cell line) proliferation, which is known to be promoted by MIF. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cell proliferation and gene expression were evaluated in HepG2 cells expressing short hairpin RNA against the DDT gene. RESULTS Inhibition of cell proliferation and reduced expression levels of cyclin D1 were observed in DDT-knockdown HepG2 cells. The inhibited proliferation was restored by administration of recombinant DDT. CONCLUSION DDT promotes cell proliferation in HepG2 cells; therefore, its action may be similar to that of MIF.

[Purpose] Limited data are available regarding the outcomes of non-operative treatment for hip fractures. We investigated the factors associated with functional rehabilitation outcomes in patients undergoing non-operative treatment for hip fractures. [Participants and Methods] We investigated 57 patients with hip fractures who underwent non-operative treatment. We retrospectively analyzed medical or rehabilitation outcomes and functional outcomes (assessed using the Functional Independence Measure tool). We examined the association between functional outcomes and other factors and compared the medical and rehabilitation outcomes between mobile and immobile patients at the time of discharge. [Results] Of the 57 patients investigated, 15 (26.3%) were mobile at discharge. We observed a significant association between the Functional Independence Measure subscores (Motor and Cognitive) and serum albumin levels. Serum albumin levels and the Functional Independence Measure subscores (Motor and Cognitive) were significantly higher in mobile than in immobile patients. [Conclusion] We observed that functional outcomes at discharge in patients undergoing non-operative treatment for hip fractures were associated with serum albumin ratios and the Functional Independence Measure-Cognitive score.

Four new resin glycosides having macrolactone structures (jalapins), murasakimasarins I–IV, were isolated from the tubers of Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. (‘Murasakimasari’, Convolvulaceae), along with three known glycosides. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data as well as chemical evidence. Murasakimasarin III is the first representative of a resin glycoside with 10-methylundecanoic acid as the component organic acid.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether a diet in which high β-glucan barley was substituted for rice would reduce visceral fat obesity in Japanese individuals. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study was conducted with 100 Japanese individuals with waist circumference (WC) ≥85 cm for men or ≥90 cm for women and body mass index (BMI) ≥24 kg/m 2 . Participants were randomly assigned to consume a mixture of rice and either high β-glucan barley (test group, 4.4 g/d) or β-glucan–free barley (placebo group) for 12 wk. Blood samples and computed tomography scans were obtained before and after the trial. Results Both groups showed decreases in body weight and BMI, and these changes were significantly greater in the test group. WC and visceral fat area (VFA) significantly decreased in both groups (VFA: −10.7 cm 2 in the test group; −6.8 cm 2 in the placebo group). These changes did not differ significantly between the groups. However, a subgroup analysis of participants with VFA ≥100 cm 2 showed a significant decrease in the test group, and this decrease was significantly greater than in the placebo group. Conclusions The intake of high β-glucan barley led to significant and safe reductions in VFA, body weight, BMI, and WC in individuals with visceral fat obesity with VFA ≥100 cm 2 . Barley high in β-glucan may contribute to preventing visceral fat obesity.

A new series of azacalix[n]arenes were synthesized by the reaction between the benzoxazine derivatives of phenols and the phenol oligomers. The reaction should be carried out at 40–80 °C, because scrambling of the phenol units occurs at higher temperatures. The appropriate reaction conditions afforded the desired azacalixarene which was asymmetrical along the N···N′ or N···CH2 axis.

A new, two-rowed, waxy, hull-less barley cultivar, Kirari-mochi, was bred by the pedigree breeding method, and derived from a three-way cross (Shikoku-hadaka 103/Daikei HL107 (ant28.494)) F1/Shikoku-hadaka 97 (wax). Kirari-mochi is both proanthocyanidin-free (ant28.494) and amylose-free (wax), and boiled pearled barley of Kirari-mochi showed lower levels of discoloration after incubation at high temperatures than Ichibanboshi (a standard cultivar of hull-less barley). The polyphenol content of pearled Kirari-mochi is roughly half that of Ichibanboshi and the β-glucan content of Kirari-mochi pearled barley is about 1.5-times higher than that of Ichibanboshi. The broken kernel ratio of Kirari-mochi is lower than that of Ichibanboshi. Although the grain yield of Kirari-mochi is approximately 85% of that of Ichibanboshi, its tolerance to pre-harvest sprouting is lower than that of Ichibanboshi. Kirari-mochi is resistant to both barley yellow mosaic virus and powdery mildew, and is moderately resistant to scab. Kirari-mochi is well adapted to cultivation in the plains of central and western Japan, and it was released in 2010. Kirari-mochi is suitable for pearling and boiling, and has good eating quality.

Barley seed proteins, Hordoindolines, are homologues of wheat Puroindolines, which are associated with grain hardness. Barley Hordoindoline genes are known to comprise Hina and Hinb, and Hinb consists of two Hinb genes, Hinb-1 and Hinb-2. Two types of allele were found for Hina, Hinb-1 and Hinb-2 genes, respectively, among Japanese two- and six-rowed barley lines. One of the alleles of Hinb-2 (Hinb-2b) had a frame-shift mutation resulting in an in-frame stop codon. For two-rowed barley lines, grain hardness was significantly higher among lines with the Hinb-2b than those with the wild type Hinb-2 gene (Hinb-2a). Protein spots corresponding to HINa, HINb-1, and HINb-2 were identified by 2D-gel electrophoresis among barley lines with Hinb-2a. Among the lines with Hinb-2b, HINa and HINb-1 were expressed at similar levels as those in the wild type, but HINb-2 was not detected. A DNA (cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence) marker was developed to distinguish between the Hinb-2a and Hinb-2b gene sequences. Analysis of grain hardness among F(2) lines derived from a cross between a line with Hinb-2a (Shikoku hadaka 115) and a line with the Hinb-2b (Shikoku hadaka 84) showed significantly higher grain hardness in the mutant lines. From these results, the Hinb-2b frame-shift (null) mutation might play a critical role in barley grain hardness. The DNA marker will be useful in barley breeding to select lines having harder grain texture.

A new LiTaO3 electro-optic polarization modulator utilizing traveling-wave electrodes and a double periodic poling structure is proposed. Utilizing the double periodic poling structure, both quasi-phase matching between TE and TM guided-modes, and quasi-velocity matching between a lightwave and a modulation microwave are obtainable at modulation frequencies over 10GHz.

The effects of the β-glucan content and pearling of barley on abdominal obesity and the proinflammatory state were investigated in diet-induced obese mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups and fed either a high-fat diet containing high-β-glucan barley (Beau Fiber [BF]) or a high-fat diet containing β-glucan-free barley (Shikoku-hadaka 84(bgl) [BGL]) as whole grain flour or 60% pearled flour for 12 weeks. The weights of mesenteric fat, serum total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, serum insulin and fasting glucose levels, oral glucose tolerance test results, and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of proinflammatory markers in epididymal fat in both BF groups were significantly lower than those of both BGL groups. The abundance of Bacteroides in both BF groups was significantly higher than that in both BGL groups, whereas the abundance of Clostridium clusters in both BF groups was significantly lower than that in both BGL groups. No significant differences between the who...

Mesoporous silica SBA-16 thin films with highly ordered 3D cubic structures were synthesized on a Si substrate via the dip-coating method. After these films were filled with KCl aqueous solutions, the ionic current passing through the mesopores was measured by applying dc electric fields. At low ion concentrations, the measured I–V curves were nonlinear and the current increased exponentially with respect to voltage. As the ion concentration increased, the I–V curve approached linear behavior. The nonlinear behavior of I–V curves can be reasonably attributed to the electric potential barrier created in nanopores.

Dactylella leptospora and Dactylaria candida, and Arthrobotrys dactyloides (Hyphomycetes), capture nematodes by nonconstricting- and constricting-ring traps, respectively. In the formation of the constricting-ring trap of the latter fungus, the basal portion of a curved hyphal branch put forth a bud to fuse with its advancing tip to make a ring. However, in nonconstricting-ring formation in the former two fungi, the portion behind the tip of the curved branch did not develop such a bud before fusion with the tip.

Mesoporous silica SBA-16 thin films were synthesized on a Si substrate via the dip-coating method. SEM analysis revealed that these films possess highly ordered 3D cubic structure. After these films were filled with either pure water or KCl aqueous solutions, the ionic current passing through the mesopores was measured by applying electric field to find out ion transport phenomena. If the ion transport phenomena in mesoporous silica are completely elucidated, this will enhance its use in applications where it is intended to be employed as a catalyst, filter, and adsorbent. The measured I-V curves were non-linear. This document discusses the relationship between the non-linear I-V curves and the ionic flow inside the 3D cubic pore structure. The effect of the dimensions and surface properties of mesopores on the I-V curves are also discussed.

Energy density analysis (EDA), which partitions the total energy of a molecular system into atomic contributions, has been extended to periodic-boundary-condition calculations carried out by density-functional theory using plane-wave (PW) basis functions and pseudopotentials. The present analysis method, called PW-EDA, allows us to extract local-energy information by estimating atomic energy contributions. Numerical applications to an isolated molecule ${\text{H}}_{2}\text{O}$ and the adsorption of ${\text{C}}_{2}{\text{H}}_{2}$ on the $\text{Si}(001)\text{\ensuremath{-}}(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1)$ surface confirm the reliability and usefulness of PW-EDA.

Grid-based energy density analysis (grid-EDA) that decomposes the total energy into atomic energies by a space-partitioning function is proposed. The kinetic energy, nuclear attraction, and exchange-correlation functional are evaluated on grid points and are split into atomic contributions. To reduce numerical errors in the conventional scheme of numerical integration, the electronic Coulomb and HF exchange interactions are evaluated by the pseudospectral method, which was first applied to an ab initio method by Friesner [Chem. Phys. Lett. 116, 39 (1985)], and are decomposed into atomic contributions. Grid-EDA using the pseudospectral method succeeds in ensuring less than 1 kcalmol error in total energies for small molecules and providing reliable atomic energy contributions for the problematic lithium cluster, which exhibits a strong basis-set dependence for Mulliken-type EDA. Also, site-dependent atomization energies are estimated by grid-EDA for cluster models such as Li(48), C(41)H(60), and Mg(32)O(32). Grid-EDA reveals that these models imitate crystal environments reasonably because atomization energies estimated from the inner atoms of the models are close to the experimental cohesive energies.