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Abstract Aims/Introduction History of coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease (CeVD), type 2 diabetes and their combined effect on cardiovascular disease are essential for cardiovascular risk management. We investigated the association of prior CAD, prior CeVD, type 2 diabetes and their combination with the risk of cardiovascular disease. Materials and Methods This is a historical cohort study including 342,033 participants (aged 18–72 years) followed up for ≥5 years between 2008 and 2016. Participants were classified into eight groups (with or without prior CAD, prior CeVD and type 2 diabetes). Type 2 Diabetes was defined by fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels, and antidiabetic drug prescription. Prior and subsequent CAD and CeVD were identified according to claims using International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision codes, medical procedures and questionnaires. Cox regression models were used to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular events. Results The median follow‐up period was 6.4 years. The incidence of composite cardiovascular events of CAD and CeVD in the CAD−/CeVD−, CAD+/CeVD−, CAD−/CeVD+ and CAD+/CeVD+ groups were 1.92 and 6.94, 25.14 and 31.98 per 1,000 person‐years in non‐diabetes participants, and 8.66, 18.04, 39.98 and 60.72 in type 2 diabetes patients, respectively. Hazard ratios of cardiovascular events compared with CAD−/CeVD−/non‐diabetes were 1.66 (95% confidence interval 1.55–1.78) in CAD−/CeVD−/type 2 diabetes and 1.84 (1.56–2.18) in CAD+/CeVD−/non‐diabetes. CeVD+ was linked to a 4‐7‐fold increase in the risk of cardiovascular events regardless of CAD+ or type 2 diabetes. Conclusions Type 2 diabetes increased the risk of cardiovascular disease as high as a history of CAD, whereas prior CeVD alone increased the risk of future CeVD without additional effects by type 2 diabetes.

Infrastructure facilities have been deteriorating and require a vast number of inspections conducted by skilled engineers. Inspection robots are now necessary because of a shortage of skilled engineers. To improve the inspection efficiency of outdoor infrastructure facilities, we investigated an omni-directional mobile robot that can move freely in all directions. However, it is necessary to design a vibration-isolation mechanism because the positional-inspection accuracy of underground objects is adversely affected by vibration in an outdoor environment. We constructed an experimental setup to evaluate the vibration properties of the robot’s wheel and evaluated the acceleration characteristics due to the difference between the direction of movement and speed of the wheel. Experiments using the omni-wheel as the robot’s wheel were performed. We clarified that the input vibration is transmitted to the robot body by the wheel. We also compared the experimental results and theoretical estimation and confirmed that vibration generated from the wheel could be estimated using the formula for calculating the period of vibration. In consideration of the external environment and vibration properties such as the irregularities of the road surface and the structure of wheel, we confirmed that it is possible to estimate input vibration in the upper housing of the wheel.

A nucleoside degradation pathway in halophilic archaea is identified, which converts the ribose moiety of guanosine to dihydroxyacetone phosphate and ethylene glycol.

Abstract Background To determine the impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and/or metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), which are pathophysiologically similar and include insulin resistance, on the development of new-onset cardiovascular disease with and without type 2 diabetes and according to sex. Methods This study included 570,426 individuals without a history of cardiovascular disease who were enrolled in a nationwide claims database from 2008 to 2016 and were classified by the presence or absence of MetS and/or MAFLD stratified by the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes and sex. The fatty liver index was used to determine the presence or absence of fatty liver that required a diagnosis of MAFLD. Risks of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in each category were analyzed using a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. Results During a median follow-up of 5.2 years, 2252 CAD and 3128 CVD events occurred. Without type 2 diabetes the hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) for CAD/CVD compared with neither MAFLD nor MetS was 1.32 (1.17–1.50)/1.41(1.28–1.57) for MAFLD only (without MetS), 1.78 (1.22–2.58)/1.66 (1.34–2.06) for MetS only (without MAFLD), and 2.10 (1.84–2.39)/1.73 (1.54–1.95) for MAFLD + MetS. For those with type 2 diabetes, the HR for CAD for MAFLD only (compared with neither MAFLD nor MetS) was 1.29 (1.06–1.58), for MetS only 1.34 (0.84–2.13), and for MAFLD + MetS 1.22 (1.02–1.47). For CVD, there was a significant increase in HR only in MAFLD + MetS [1.44 (1.18–1.76)]. The results of the analysis stratified by sex showed that MAFLD had a greater impact in men, and MetS had a greater impact in women regarding the development of CAD. Conclusions Distinguishing between MetS and/or MAFLD in the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes and according to sex may aid in accurately identifying patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

To understand and predict friction, it is crucial to observe sliding at the nanoscale to uncover the mechanisms at play. Here, the authors show that nano-contacts exhibit strength near the ideal limit, and find that pull-off forces predicted by continuum models are reduced by shearing.

In the fused tetracyclic system of the title compound, C29H36O9, the five-membered dioxolane ring adopts a twist conformation; the two adjacent C atoms deviate alternately from the mean plane of the other three atoms by −0.252 (6) and 0.340 (6) Å. The cyclohexane, cyclohexene and central cyclooctane rings show chair, half-chair and boat-chair forms, respectively. There are three intramolecular C—H...O interactions supporting the molecular conformation, with one S(6) and two S(7) graph-set motifs. In the crystal, intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds connect the molecules into a helical chain running along the c-axis direction, generating a C(7) graph-set motif. The chains are further linked by intermolecular C—H...O interactions to construct a three-dimensional network. There is no valid C—H...π interaction.

Abstract Background Although both a history of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and glucose abnormality are risk factors for CVD, few large studies have examined their association with subsequent CVD in the same cohort. Thus, we compared the impact of prior CVD, glucose status, and their combinations on subsequent CVD using real-world data. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study including 363,627 men aged 18–72 years followed for ≥ 3 years between 2008 and 2016. Participants were classified as normoglycemia, borderline glycemia, or diabetes defined by fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, and antidiabetic drug prescription. Prior and subsequent CVD (i.e. ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, and non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage) were identified according to claims using ICD-10 codes, medical procedures, and questionnaires. Results Participants’ mean age was 46.1 ± 9.3, and median follow up was 5.2 (4.2, 6.7) years. Cox regression analysis showed that prior CVD + conferred excess risk for CVD regardless of glucose status (normoglycemia: hazard ratio (HR), 8.77; 95% CI 6.96–11.05; borderline glycemia: HR, 7.40, 95% CI 5.97–9.17; diabetes: HR, 5.73, 95% CI 4.52–7.25). Compared with normoglycemia, borderline glycemia did not influence risk of CVD, whereas diabetes affected subsequent CVD in those with CVD- (HR, 1.50, 95% CI 1.34–1.68). In CVD-/diabetes, age, current smoking, systolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and HbA1c were associated with risk of CVD, but only systolic blood pressure was related to CVD risk in CVD + /diabetes. Conclusions Prior CVD had a greater impact on the risk of CVD than glucose tolerance and glycemic control. In participants with diabetes and prior CVD, systolic blood pressure was a stronger risk factor than HbA1c. Individualized treatment strategies should consider glucose tolerance status and prior CVD.

Odors trigger various emotional responses such as fear of predator odors, aversion to disease or cancer odors, attraction to male/female odors, and appetitive behavior to delicious food odors. Odor information processing for fine odor discrimination, however, has remained difficult to address. The olfaction and color vision share common features that G protein-coupled receptors are the remote sensors. As different orange colors can be discriminated by distinct intensity ratios of elemental colors, such as yellow and red, odors are likely perceived as multiple elemental odors hierarchically that the intensities of elemental odors are in order of dominance. For example, in a mixture of rose and fox-unique predator odors, robust rose odor alleviates the fear of mice to predator odors. Moreover, although occult blood odor is stronger than bladder cancer-characteristic odor in urine samples, sniffer mice can discriminate bladder cancer odor in occult blood-positive urine samples. In forced-choice odor discrimination tasks for pairs of enantiomers or pairs of body odors vs. cancer-induced body odor disorders, sniffer mice discriminated against learned olfactory cues in a wide range of concentrations, where correct choice rates decreased in the Fechner's law, as perceptual ambiguity increased. In this mini-review, we summarize the current knowledge of how the olfactory system encodes and hierarchically decodes multiple elemental odors to control odor-driven behaviors.

Rodents acquire more information from the sense of smell than humans because they have a nearly fourfold greater variety of olfactory receptors. They use olfactory information not only for obtaining food, but also for detecting environmental dangers. Predator-derived odor compounds provoke instinctive fear and stress reactions in animals. Inbred lines of experimental animals react in an innate stereotypical manner to predators even without prior exposure. Predator odors have also been used in models of various neuropsychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder following a life-threatening event. Although several brain regions have been reported to be involved in predator odor-induced stress responses, in this mini review, we focus on the functional role of inhibitory neural circuits, especially in the anterior piriform cortex (APC). We also discuss the changes in these neural circuits following innate reactions to odor exposure. Furthermore, based on the three types of modulation of the stress response observed by our group using the synthetic fox odorant 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline, we describe how the APC interacts with other brain regions to regulate the stress response. Finally, we discuss the potential therapeutic application of odors in the treatment of stress-related disorders. A clearer understanding of the odor–stress response is needed to allow targeted modulation of the monoaminergic system and of the intracerebral inhibitory networks. It would be improved the quality of life of those who have stress-related conditions.

Abstract Despite mounting evidence of the positive relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart failure (HF), the entire context of the magnitude of risk for HF in relation to DM remains insufficiently understood. The principal reason is because new‐onset HF (HF occurring in participants without a history of HF) and recurrent HF (HF re‐occurring in patients with a history of HF) are not discriminated. This meta‐analysis aims to comprehensively and separately assess the risk of new‐onset and recurrent HF depending on the presence or absence of DM. We systematically searched cohort studies that examined the relationship between DM and new‐onset or recurrent HF using EMBASE and MEDLINE (from 1 Jan 1950 to 28 Jul 2019). The risk ratio (RR) for HF in individuals with DM compared with those without DM was pooled with a random‐effects model. Seventy‐four and 38 eligible studies presented data on RRs for new‐onset and recurrent HF, respectively. For new‐onset HF, the pooled RR [95% confidence interval (CI)] of 69 studies that examined HF as a whole [i.e. combining HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)] was 2.14 (1.96–2.34). The large between‐study heterogeneity (I2 = 99.7%, P

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) and Knoop hardness number (KHN) of a novel experimental light-cured resin cement (HL). Eighteen flat dentin surfaces of human molars were polished using #600 SiC paper and bonded to CAD/CAM resin blocks with the respective resin cements and composites: HL, Panavia V5 (PV), and Clearfil AP-X (AP). All specimens were stored in distilled water at 37 °C for 24 h and 7 days. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) observations were performed to evaluate filler morphology and to detect the elements. The resin cements had a significant effect on the immediate µTBS (F = 22.59, p < 0.05) and after water storage µTBS (F = 22.83, p < 0.05). Significant differences (p < 0.05) in the KHN between the tested materials were observed, and HL indicated the highest KHN when compared with PV. HL showed a combination of the regular-shaped filler and spherical-shaped filler within the matrix. Silicon was detected in HL from the EDX evaluation. HL exhibited better bonding performance and polymerization, which may have contributed to the improvement of the adhesive strength.

(1) Background: Dental caries, if diagnosed at the initial stage, can be arrested and remineralized by a non-operative therapeutic approach preserving tooth structure. Accurate and reproducible diagnostic procedure is required for the successful management of incipient caries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 3D swept-source optical coherence tomography (3D SS-OCT) for enamel caries at smooth tooth surface if the lesion was with remineralization. (2) Methods: Forty-seven tooth surfaces of 24 extracted human teeth visibly with/without enamel caries (ICDAS code 0–3) were selected and used in this study. The tooth surfaces of investigation site were cleaned and visually examined by four dentists. After the visual inspection, SS-OCT scanning was performed onto the enamel surfaces to construct a 3D image. The 2D tomographic images of the investigation site were chosen from the 3D dataset and dynamically displayed in video and evaluated by the examiners. A five-rank scale was used to score the level of enamel caries according to the following; 1: Intact enamel. 2: Noncavitated lesion with remineralization. 3: Superficial noncavitated lesion without remineralization. 4: Deep nonvacitated lesion without remineralization. 5: Enamel lesion with cavitation. Sensitivity and specificity for 3D OCT image and visual inspection were calculated. Diagnostic accuracy of each diagnostic method was calculated using weighted kappa. Statistical significance was defined at p = 0.05. (3) Results: 3D SS-OCT could clearly depict enamel caries at smooth tooth surface as a bright zone, based on the increased backscattering signal. It was noted that 3D SS-OCT showed higher sensitivity for the diagnosis of remineralized lesions and deep enamel lesions without cavitation, as well as cavitated enamel lesions (p < 0.05). No significant difference of specificity was observed between the two diagnostic methods (p > 0.05). Furthermore, 3D SS-OCT showed higher diagnostic accuracy than visual inspection (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, 3D SS-OCT showed higher diagnostic capacity for smooth surface enamel caries than visual inspection and could also discriminate lesion remineralization of enamel caries.

Optimal strategies for the application of an adhesive differ between enamel and dentin because of the differences in their composition. The development of adhesive systems has mainly focused on the bonding of dentin, rather than on the enamel, by etching with phosphoric acid (PA). Dental adhesive technologies continue to rapidly advance, and various adhesive systems have been developed since the study of Buonocore in 1955. He introduced the enamel acid-etch technique. Then, the etch-and-rinse (ER) system was developed, and subsequently, the self-etch (SE) system. Universal adhesives are a new generation of one-bottle SE adhesives that can be applied with either ER mode or SE mode, or a combined system involving selective enamel etching mode. Since the combination of PA etching and the SE system differs from conventional ER systems, the enamel bonding strategy should be carefully considered. This concise review of the literature on reliable enamel bonding strategies should prove helpful to clinicians to choose an appropriate adhesive system to achieve optimal clinical outcomes.

In the title compound, C20H27NO6, the amide moiety is essentially planar, with a maximum deviation of 0.073 (3) Å, and one of the N-methyl groups shows rotational disorder. The five-membered 1,3-dioxolane ring adopts an envelope form, with the C atom bonded to the olefin side chain as the flap, which deviates from the mean plane through the other four atoms by 0.564 (7) Å. The 1,3-dioxole ring fused to the benzene ring adopts a flattened envelope form, with the C atom between the two O atoms as the flap, which deviates from the mean plane through the other four atoms by 0.215 (7) Å. The C—C=C—C olefin moiety is essentially planar and makes a dihedral angle of 87.1 (3)° with the benzene ring. An intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond supports the molecular conformation, enclosing an S(11) graph-set motif. In the crystal, intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonding links the molecules into a tape running along the b axis. Furthermore, other weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds and a C—H...π interaction connect the tapes into a sheet structure parallel to (100).

While most kinases are ATP-dependent some utilize pyrophosphate (PPi) instead. Here the authors structurally characterize a PPi-dependent kinase, identify its key recognition residues and find further PPi-dependent ribokinase family members with this signature pattern.

The title compound, C17H23NO4·H2O, is an epimer of the natural tetracyclic alkaloid isosaxorumamide which consists of a fused 5–7–5 tricyclic core and a dihydrofuranone substituent. The terminal dihydrofuran ring is essentially planar with a maximum deviation of 0.0273 (14) Å from the mean plane and oxolane, azepane and pyrrolidine rings in the tricyclic ring system adopt twist, twist-chair and envelope forms, respectively. In the crystal, the amide and water molecules are linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a tape structure running along the b-axis direction. The tapes are further connected by C—H...O interactions into a three-dimensional architecture.

In the title compound, C10H14Cl3NO5, the five-membered dioxolane ring adopts an envelope conformation with the C atom bonded to the butenoate side chain as the flap. It deviates from the mean plane of the other atoms in the ring by 0.446 (6) Å. In the crystal, molecules are connected by O—H...O hydrogen bonds into helical chains running along the b-axis direction. The chains are linked into a sheet structure parallel to (001) by an N—H...O hydrogen bond. These classical hydrogen bonds enclose an R44(24) graph-set motif in the sheet structure. Furthermore, a weak intermolecular C—H...Cl interaction expands the sheet structures into a three-dimensional network.

Archaea metabolism has unique adaptations to hostile environments. Here Makino et al. describe an unusual ADP-dependent kinase that phosphorylates free serine to O-phosphoserine and participates in an additional cysteine biosynthetic pathway in the archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis.

In the title compound, C12H19NO6, the six-membered 1,3-dioxane ring adopts a chair-like conformation. The seat of this chair, containing two O atoms, is essentially planar, with a maximum deviation of 0.0021 (12) Å. The five-membered oxolane ring cis-fused to the 1,3-dioxane ring adopts an envelope form. The bridgehead C atom at the flap, which is bonded to the tetrasubstituted C atom of the oxolane ring, deviates from the mean plane of other ring atoms by 0.539 (4) Å. In the crystal, classical O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into a sheet structure enclosing an R44(24) graph-set motif. Weak intermolecular C—H...O interactions support the sheet formation.

In the title compound, C10H14Cl3NO5, the five-membered dioxolane ring adopts an envelope conformation. The C atom at the flap, which is bonded to the hydroxymethyl substituent, deviates from the mean plane of other ring atoms by 0.357 (5) Å. There are two intramolecular hydrogen bonds (O—H...N and N—H...O) between the hydroxy and amino groups, so that O- and N-bound H atoms involved in these hydrogen bonds are each disordered with equal occupancies of 0.50. The methyl 2-methylprop-2-enoate substituent also shows a disordered structure over two sets of sites with refined occupancies of 0.482 (5) and 0.518 (5). In the crystal, molecules are connected into a dimer by an O—H...O hydrogen bond. The dimers are further linked by N—H...O, C—H...N and C—H...O interactions, extending a sheet structure parallel to (\overline{1}01).

Recent interest in topological nature in condensed matter physics has revealed the essential role of Berry curvature in the anomalous Hall effect (AHE). However, since a large Hall response originating from Berry curvature has been reported in quite limited materials, the detailed mechanism remains unclear at present. Here, we report the discovery of a large AHE triggered by a pressure-induced magnetic phase transition in elemental α-Mn. The AHE is absent in the noncollinear antiferromagnetic phase at ambient pressure, whereas a large AHE is observed in the weak ferromagnetic phase under high pressure despite the small magnetization of ≈0.02μ_{B}/Mn. Our results indicate that the emergence of the AHE in α-Mn is governed by the symmetry of the underlying magnetic structure, providing a direct evidence of a switch between a zero and nonzero contribution of the Berry curvature across the phase boundary. α-Mn can be an elemental and tunable platform to reveal the role of Berry curvature in AHE.

In the title compound, C9H16O4, the five-membered dioxolane ring adopts a twist conformation; two adjacent C atoms deviate alternately from the mean plane of other atoms by −0.297 (4) and 0.288 (4) Å. The spiro-fused cyclohexane ring shows a chair form. The hydroxy group substituted in an axial position makes an intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond with one of the O atoms in the cyclic ether, forming an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, the O—H...O hydrogen bond involving the equatorial hydroxy group connects the molecules into a zigzag chain with a C(5) motif running along the c axis.

In the title compound, C36H42O8, the dioxolane ring adopts a twist conformation; the two adjacent C atoms deviate alternately from the mean plane of other atoms by −0.287 (5) and 0.174 (5) Å. The cyclohexane, cyclohexadiene and central cyclooctane rings show chair, half-chair and boat–chair forms, respectively. As a result of the strained ring system, the tetrasubsituted olefin in the cyclohexadiene is skewed from an ideal planar structure. In the crystal, C—H...O hydrogen bonds connect the molecules into a sheet parallel to (100). The sheets are further linked by other weak C—H...O and C—H...π interactions, forming a three-dimensional network.

The title compounds, C29H38O8·0.25C5H12, (A), C29H38O8, (B), and C29H36O8, (C), are tetracyclic benzoates possessing a taxane skeleton with a fused dioxolane ring as the core structure. In the asymmetric unit of (A), there are two independent benzoate molecules (A and A′) and a half molecule of solvent pentane disordered about an inversion center. The molecular conformations of (A), (B) and (C) are similar except for the flexible methoxymethoxy group. The cyclohexane, cyclohexene and central cyclooctane rings adopt chair, half-chair and chair–chair (extended crown) forms, respectively. The dioxolane rings are essentially planar, while the dioxolane ring of A′ is slightly twisted from the mean plane. In the crystal of (A), intermolecular O—H...O, C—H...O and C—H...π interactions link the independent benzoates alternately, forming a chain structure. In the crystals of (B) and (C), molecules are linked through O—H...O and C—H...π interactions, and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, respectively, into similar chains. Further, weak intermolecular C—H...O interactions connect the chains into a three-dimensional network in (A) and a sheet in (B), whereas no other interactions are observed for (C).

In the title compound, C36H44O10·C6H6, the dioxolane ring adopts an envelope conformation with the C atom bonded to the H atom as the flap, while the cyclohexene and cyclohexane rings are in half-chair and chair conformations, respectively. In the crystal, a pair of O—H...O hydrogen bonds with an R22(26) graph-set motif connect the benzoate molecules into an inversion dimer. The dimers are linked by a weak C—H...O interaction into a tape structure along [01-1]. The benzene molecule links the tapes through C—H...O and C—H...π interactions, forming a sheet parallel to (100).

In the title compound, C19H25NO2, the pyrrolidine ring adopts an envelope form, with the spiro C atom as the flap, while the cyclohexane ring shows a chair form. A weak intramolecular C—H...O interaction supports the molecular conformation, generating an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, pairs of C—H...O interactions connect the molecules into inversion dimers with an R22(16) ring motif. The dimers are linked by a second pair of C—H...O interactions, enclosing an R42(12) ring motif, into a tape structure along the b axis.

To obtain a systematic view of the helix-8-second residue responsible for G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)–G protein initial specific interactions, 786 human GPCRs were subclassified based on the pairs of agonist groups and target G proteins and compared with their conserved second residue of helix 8. Of 314 non-olfactory and deorphanized GPCRs, 273 (87%) conserved single amino acids in the subclasses, while 93 (58%) of the 160 subclasses possessed only a single GPCR member. Class B, C, Frizzled, and trace amine-associated GPCRs demonstrated 100% conservation, whereas class I and II olfactory and vomeronasal 1 receptors demonstrated much lower rates of conservation (20–47%). These conserved residues are characteristic of GPCR classes and G protein subtypes and confer their functionally-distinct roles.

We in-situ observed the deformation of a gold single real contact point at the nanoscale during friction experiment in order to reveal the mechanism of friction. In this experiment, a special experimental setup combining between micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), called MEMS-in-TEM, was utilized for the stable visualization of the real contact point. Gold tips with electrostatic actuators were gently brought into contact and were rubbed each other at a quasi-static speed under TEM observation. Between tips, the gold single real contact point was formed and deformed in shear. During this deformation, the ends of the real contact point travelled 2.8 nm along the surface of the gold tips, although those of silicon and silver did not move. The maximum friction was 60 nN, repeating the stick-slip behavior from 35 to 60 nN. This result will be helpful to understand the mechanism of friction at the nanoscale and the lubrication mechanism of solid lubricants.

Observing the atomic-level deformation of a frictional interface in real-time is important step to elucidate the mechanism of lubrication. We have combined the nano-scale handling capabilities of MEMS technology with the unsurpassed observation ability of TEM and developed a MEMS-in-TEM experimental setup. Our MEMS device had Ag tips with two degree-of-freedom controlled by electrostatic actuators. Opposing tips were brought into contact using the actuator. After forming a contact, one tip was actuated laterally but slowly enough to maintain the contact between the tips. We succeeded in observing the nano-scale deformation of Ag junction in real time.

This paper describes a development of bird's-eye view system for teleoperation. Emergent disaster recoveries are important when natural disaters occur. Unmanned construction is used to recover from natural disasters such as landslide and pyroclastic flow. This construction method has no risk of secondary disaster because workers teleoperate construction machines at remote site. However, traditional unmanned construction is an inefficient way because captured images from a camera mounted on a construction machine usually has blind spots. We propose an easy calibration method to create bird's-eye view images which can reduce blind spots from multiple cameras. Our method helps workers understand environment easily and operate construction machines safely. We evaluate working efficiency by integrating our bird's-eye view system into actual unmanned constuction systems under actual field conditions.

In the title compound, C16H19NO3, the pyrrolidine ring is in a twist conformation. The dihedral angle between the dihydrofuran ring [maximum deviation = 0.0016 (11) Å] and the phenyl ring is 47.22 (8)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming helical chains along the b-axis direction. The chains are further linked by C—H...π interactions to constitute a three-dimensional architecture.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) transduce various extracellular signals, such as neurotransmitters, hormones, light, and odorous chemicals, into intracellular signals via G protein activation during neurological, cardiovascular, sensory and reproductive signaling. Common and unique features of interactions between GPCRs and specific G proteins are important for structure-based design of drugs in order to treat GPCR-related diseases. Atomic resolution structures of GPCR complexes with G proteins have revealed shared and extensive interactions between the conserved DRY motif and other residues in transmembrane domains 3 (TM3), 5 and 6, and the target G protein C-terminal region. However, the initial interactions formed between GPCRs and their specific G proteins remain unclear. Alanine scanning mutagenesis of the murine olfactory receptor S6 (mOR-S6) indicated that the N-terminal acidic residue of helix 8 of mOR-S6 is responsible for initial transient and specific interactions with chimeric Gα15_olf, resulting in a response that is 2.2-fold more rapid and 1.7-fold more robust than the interaction with Gα15. Our mutagenesis analysis indicates that the hydrophobic core buried between helix 8 and TM1–2 of mOR-S6 is important for the activation of both Gα15_olf and Gα15. This review focuses on the functional role of the C-terminal amphipathic helix 8 based on several recent GPCR studies.

Tetrahydrofolate is a cofactor involved in C1 metabolism including biosynthesis pathways for adenine and serine. In the classical tetrahydrofolate biosynthesis pathway, the steps removing three phosphate groups from the precursor 7,8-dihydroneopterin triphosphate (DHNTP) remain unclear in many bacteria. DHNTP pyrophosphohydrolase hydrolyzes pyrophosphate from DHNTP and produces 7,8-dihydroneopterin monophosphate. Although two structurally distinct DHNTP pyrophosphohydrolases have been identified in the intestinal bacteria Lactococcus lactis and Escherichia coli, the distribution of their homologs is limited. Here, we aimed to identify a third DHNTP pyrophosphohydrolase gene in the intestinal lactic acid bacterium Limosilactobacillus reuteri. In a gene operon including genes involved in dihydrofolate biosynthesis, we focused on the lreu_1276 gene, annotated as Ham1 family protein or XTP/dITP diphosphohydrolase, as a candidate encoding DHNTP pyrophosphohydrolase. The Lreu_1276 recombinant protein was prepared using E. coli and purified. Biochemical analyses of the reaction product revealed that the Lreu_1276 protein displays significant pyrophosphohydrolase activity toward DHNTP. The optimal reaction temperature and pH were 35°C and around 7, respectively. Substrate specificity was relatively strict among 17 tested compounds. Although previously characterized DHNTP pyrophosphohydrolases prefer Mg2+, the Lreu_1276 protein exhibited maximum activity in the presence of Mn2+, with a specific activity of 28.2 ± 2.0 µmol min-1 mg-1 in the presence of 1 mM Mn2+. The three DHNTP pyrophosphohydrolases do not share structural similarity to one another, and the distribution of their homologs does not overlap, implying that the Lreu_1276 protein represents a third structurally novel DHNTP pyrophosphohydrolase in bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The first objective was to determine if dual-curing of resin cement with reduced light could affect interfacial adaptations of zirconia restoration. The second objective was to examine whether cement type and pretreatment method of universal adhesive affected interfacial adaptation. The final objective was to compare the polymerization degree of cement under different reduced-light conditions. Materials and Methods: Inlay cavities were prepared on extracted third molars. Translucent zirconia restorations were milled using Katana UTML (Kuraray Noritake) in three groups with restoration thicknesses of 1, 2, and 3 mm, respectively. Each group had three subgroups using different cementation methods. For subgroup 1, restorations were cemented with self-adhesive cement. For subgroup 2, universal adhesive was applied and light cured. After the restoration was seated with conventional resin cement, light curing was performed. For subgroup 3, after adhesive was applied, the restoration was seated with conventional resin cement. Light curing was performed for the adhesive and cement simultaneously. After thermocycling, interfacial adaptation at the restoration-tooth interface was investigated using swept-source optical coherence tomography imaging. Finally, polymerization shrinkage of the cement was measured using a linometer and compared under the conditions of different zirconia thicknesses and light-curing durations. Results: Interfacial adaptation varied signficantly depending on the zirconia thickness, pretreatment, polymerization mode and cements used (p < 0.05). The effects of the adhesive and polymerization shrinkage differed signficantly, depending on the reduced light under the zirconia (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Lower curing-light irradiance may lead to inferior adaptation and lower polymerization of the cement. Polymerization of resin cement can differ depending on the light irradiance and exposure duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of etching mode (self-etch and etch-and-rinse) on acid-base resistant zone (ABRZ) formation at the resin cement/enamel interface and enamel etching pattern, as well as the effects of thermocycling (0, 5000, and 10,000 cycles) on the enamel microshear bond strength (µSBS) mediated by dual-cure resin cements (DCRC). Materials and Methods: Two DCRC were used in 4 groups: Panavia V5 in self-etch (V5NE) and etch-and-rinse mode (V5E); and Estecem II in self-etch (ENE) and etch-and-rinse mode (EE). For ABRZ observation, the bonded interface was subjected to a demineralizing solution. The morphological attributes of the interface and etching patterns were observed using FE-SEM. For µ-SBS, cylinders with a 0.79-mm internal diameter and 0.5-mm height were made with DCRC and tested in shear after 0, 5000, and 10,000 thermal cycles (TC) (5°C and 55°C) (n = 10). Results: The formation of an enamel ABRZ was observed in all groups with different morphological features between selfetch and etch-and-rinse groups. A funnel-shaped erosion beneath the interface was present using V5NE and ENE modes where enamel was dissolved, while ABRZ formation was confirmed and no funnel-shaped erosion was noticed using V5E and EE. No significant differences in µSBS were observed between resin cements. However, significantly lower µSBSs were recorded when the self-etching mode was used. Thermocycling resulted in a significant reduction in µSBS for all groups. Conclusion: Selective enamel etching should be recommended to improve the interfacial quality when dual-cure resin luting cements are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many organisms that utilize the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle for autotrophic growth harbor metabolic pathways to remove and/or salvage 2-phosphoglycolate, the product of the oxygenase activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco). It has been presumed that the occurrence of 2-phosphoglycolate salvage is linked to the CBB cycle, and in particular, the C2 pathway to the CBB cycle and oxygenic photosynthesis. Here, we examined 2-phosphoglycolate salvage in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis, an obligate anaerobe that harbors a Rubisco that functions in the pentose bisphosphate pathway. T. kodakarensis harbors enzymes that have the potential to convert 2-phosphoglycolate to glycine and serine, and their genes were identified by biochemical and/or genetic analyses. 2-phosphoglycolate phosphatase activity increased 1.6-fold when cells were grown under microaerobic conditions compared to anaerobic conditions. Among two candidates, TK1734 encoded a phosphatase specific for 2-phosphoglycolate, and the enzyme was responsible for 80% of the 2-phosphoglycolate phosphatase activity in T. kodakarensis cells. The TK1734 disruption strain displayed growth impairment under microaerobic conditions, which was relieved upon addition of sodium sulfide. In addition, glycolate was detected in the medium when T. kodakarensis was grown under microaerobic conditions. The results suggest that T. kodakarensis removes 2-phosphoglycolate via a phosphatase reaction followed by secretion of glycolate to the medium. As the Rubisco in T. kodakarensis functions in the pentose bisphosphate pathway and not in the CBB cycle, mechanisms to remove 2-phosphoglycolate in this archaeon emerged independent of the CBB cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effects of several etching products prior to the application of a one-step self-etch adhesive (1-SEA) or two-step self-etch adhesive (2-SEA) on enamel by microshear bond strength (μSBS) testing and observation of the adhesive-enamel interface. Materials and Methods: Ground human enamel surfaces were randomly assigned to one of eight groups according to the combination of surface treatments (either no conditioner [NC], ME [Multi Etchant], EC [Enamel Conditioner], or KE [K-etchant Gel]) and adhesive (ADU [Adhese Universal] or SE2 [Clearfil SE Bond 2]). All groups were further divided into two subgroups: 0 or 10,000 thermal cycles (TC). Then, the μSBS test was performed. The adhesive-enamel interface after acid-base challenge and the surface structure after conditioner application were also observed. Results: With 10,000 TCs, there was no statistically significant difference between ME-ADU and NC-ADU. On the other hand, the μSBS of EC-ADU or KE-ADU was significantly higher than that of NC-ADU, while that of ME-SE2 was significantly lower than NC-SE2. There was no significant difference between EC-SE2, NC-SE2, and KE-SE2. Formation of an acid-base resistance zone (ABRZ) was confirmed in all groups. However, funnel-shaped erosion, which indicates interfacial defects, was observed in the NC-ADU, ME-ADU, and ME-SE2 groups. Conclusion: For enamel bonding, application of EC or KE prior to ADU increased the bond strength and created a stable adhesive-enamel interface. On the other hand, SE2 also had stable shear bond strength and interface without the use of conditioners. However, ME decreased the bonding performance of SE2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]