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Type I interferons (IFN-Is) play a significant role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis. Double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) is a treatment option for SLE; however, its effect on IFN-Is remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of DFPP on IFN-Is. Plasma from patients with SLE (n = 11) who regularly underwent DFPP was analysed using a cell-based reporter system to detect the bioavailability and inducing activity of IFN-I. The concentration of plasma dsDNA was measured, and western blotting analysis was used to assess the phosphorylation of the STING pathway. A higher IFN-I bioavailability and inducing activity were observed in patients compared to healthy controls, and both parameters decreased after DFPP. The reduction in IFN-I-inducing activity was particularly prominent in patients with high disease activity. Notably, this reduction was not observed in STING-knockout reporter cells. Additionally, plasma dsDNA levels decreased after DFPP treatment, suggesting that inhibition of the STING pathway was responsible for the observed decrease in activity. Western blotting analysis revealed suppression of STING pathway phosphorylation after DFPP. DFPP reduced IFN-I bioavailability and the inducing activity of plasma. This reduction is likely attributable to the inhibition of the STING pathway through the elimination of dsDNA.

Abstract Dissipative structures often appear as an unstable counterpart of ordered structures owing to fluctuations that do not form a homogeneous phase. Even a multiphase mixture may simultaneously undergo one chemical reaction near equilibrium and another one that is far from equilibrium. Here, we observed in real time crystal seed formation and simultaneous nanocrystal aggregation proceeding from CeIV complexes to CeO2 nanoparticles in an acidic aqueous solution, and investigated the resultant hierarchical nanoarchitecture. The formed particles exhibited two very different size ranges, resulting in further pattern formation with opalescence. The hierarchically assembled structures in solutions were CeO2 colloids, viz. primary core clusters (1–3 nm) of crystalline ceria and secondary clusters (20–30 nm) assembled through surface ions. Such self-assembly is widespread in multi-component complex fluids, paradoxically moderating hierarchical reactions. Stability and instability are not only critical but also complementary for co-optimisation around the nearby free energy landscape prior to bifurcation.

This study examined the psychogenic stress (PS) effects on changes in oxidative stress and the antioxidant capacity of an organism at different growth stages. The experimental animals were male Wistar rats of five different ages from growth periods (GPs) to old age. The growth stages were randomly classified into control (C) and experimental (PS) groups. The PS was performed using restraint and water immersion once daily for 3 h for 4 weeks. Reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and the biological antioxidant potential (BAP) were measured before and after the experiment. In addition, the liver and adrenal glands were removed, and the wet weight was measured. The d-ROM and BAP of all growth stages given PS increased significantly. The d-ROM in the C group without PS increased significantly in GPs while decreased significantly in old-aged rats. In addition, the BAP of the C group in GP and early adulthood were all significantly elevated. There were significant differences in organ weights between the C and PS groups at all growth stages. Oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity differed depending on the organism's developmental status and growth stage, and PS also showed different effects. In particular, the variability in oxidative stress was remarkable, suggesting that the effect of PS was more significant in the organism's immature organs.

ABSTRACT USA300, a major Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-producing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clone associated with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), carries a type IV staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) element. Recently, a USA300 variant, ΨUSA300, with a 12-bp deletion of ccrB2 in the SCCmec element, was identified in Japan by Takadama et al. (15). To understand the current status of PVL-positive MRSA in the community, a nationwide surveillance of MRSA isolated from outpatients at dermatology departments was conducted. This study included 1,619 outpatients who visited dermatology departments at 22 healthcare facilities in 11 prefectures in Japan between 2018 and 2021; S. aureus were isolated from these outpatients. Molecular epidemiological analysis was performed using PCR, SCCmec and spa typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multilocus sequence typing, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A total of 980 S. aureus were isolated, 293 of which were identified as MRSA. Among MRSA isolates, PVL genes were detected in 18 of 63 (28.6%) in 2018, 34 of 85 (40.0%) in 2019, 29 of 65 (44.6%) in 2020, and 40 in 80 (50.0%) in 2021. Among the PVL-positive MRSA, 16 of 121 (13.2%) and 94 of 121 (77.7%) isolates were identified as USA300 and ΨUSA300, respectively. ΨUSA300 strains were collected from six prefectures in Japan: Kagawa, Osaka, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Fukushima, and Saitama. ΨUSA300 was isolated more frequently than USA300 from patients with deep-seated SSTIs (P < 0.05). Our findings showed that PVL-positive MRSA isolates were significantly increased in the Japanese community. Furthermore, the USA300 variant ΨUSA300 has emerged as the predominant PVL-positive MRSA clone across the Kanto, Kinki, and Shikoku regions of Japan, and this variant may possess a greater propensity to cause deep-seated SSTIs than in USA300. IMPORTANCE USA300 is an MRSA clone producing PVL, a toxin associated with SSTIs. ΨUSA300 is a USA300 variant recently identified in Japan by Takadama et al. (15). Here, we found that the prevalence rate of PVL-positive MRSA in S. aureus was elevated in the Japanese community, and ΨUSA300 accounted for most of them. ΨUSA300 strains have been isolated from several areas in Japan and were associated with deep-seated SSTIs. This study highlighted the emerging threat posed by ΨUSA300 in Japan.

Intracellular proteins are continuously replaced over time by chemical reaction called molecular turnover. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a powerful technique to evaluate the turnover in living cells. In short-term FRAP measurements, individual proteins involved in the turnover are transported by the Brownian motion-based diffusion. In long-term measurements, by contrast, intracellular flow can no longer be ignored, which transports proteins in specific directions within cells and accordingly shifts the spatial distribution of the local chemical equilibrium state. In addition to that, regions initially marked by photobleaching are subject to not only the spatial movement but also microscopic deformations in the presence of contractility produced by active dynamics of motor proteins. Evaluating the complex molecular turnover composed of these multiple physicochemical factors remains an open challenge. Motivated by this situation, FRAP-based novel approaches have been extensively developed to unveil unknown quantities associated with turnover. In other words, advance in FRAP method can potentially open up new ways in cell biology and related physics, in which turnover is critically involved. In this paper aiming at reviewing recent advances in FRAP analysis, we categorize the turnover-associated timescale into (i) the short-term case (~sec) composed of molecular diffusion and the long-term one (~sec–min) driven by (ii) flow-like movement or by (iii) structural deformation. In the case of (i), FRAP combined with a reaction-diffusion model and genetic engineering allows us to distinguish between the pure diffusion-related quantities and the domain-level equilibrium constant. In the case of (ii) and (iii), continuum mechanics-based FRAP (CM-FRAP) model allows for simultaneously quantifying chemical and mechanical behaviors such as the off-rate of fluorescently labeled proteins, the spatially directed movements, and the microscopic deformation. Thus, we describe these recent advances in FRAP analysis as well as conventional techniques, which have greatly contributed to deciphering the complicated intracellular turnover.

Selenium has been identified as an element of interest for the safety assessment of a deep geological repository (DGR) for used nuclear fuel. In Canada, groundwaters at DGR depths in sedimentary rocks have been observed to have a high ionic strength. This paper examines the sorption behavior of Se(-II) onto illite, MX-80 bentonite, Queenston shale, and argillaceous limestone in Na–Ca–Cl solutions of varying ionic strength (0.1–6 mol/kgw (m)) and across a pH range of 4–9. Little ionic strength dependence for Se(-II) sorption onto all solids was observed except that sorption at high ionic strength (6 m) was generally slightly lower than sorption at low ionic strength (0.1 m). Illite and MX-80 exhibited the expected results for anion sorption, while shale and limestone exhibited more constant sorption across the pH range tested. A non-electrostatic surface complexation model successfully predicted sorption of Se(-II) onto illite and MX-80 using the formation of an inner-sphere surface complex and an outer-sphere surface complex. Optimized values for the formation reactions of these surface species were proposed.

Abstract To clarify the effect of niche conservatism on evolutionary history, we focused on freshwater snails, which have different ecological and phylogenetic properties from previously tested taxa. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis using 750 lymnaeid individuals from 357 sites of eleven Radix species. Then, we estimated the ancestral distribution using the geographic coordinates and colonization routes. In addition, a statistical test of the colonization distances in the latitudinal and longitudinal directions was performed. We also conducted ecological niche modeling for two widely distributed species using climatic data. Ancestral geographic reconstruction estimated the origin of the genus to be around the Indian subcontinental region and showed that latitudinal immigration distances were shorter than longitudinal immigration distances in the diversification process. Ecological niche models suggested that the current distribution was restricted by climate, with annual mean temperature and precipitation of the driest month as particularly strong factors. Niche conservatism to the climate can affect the diversification of freshwater snails.

Soil organic matters may inhibit the pozzolanic reaction, and thus influence the strength development of soil-employed construction materials. To understand their interaction, the effect of lignosulfonate, here used as model soil organic matter, on the pozzolanic reaction was investigated through batch experiments. Lignosulfonate inhibited the pozzolanic reaction, suppressing calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) formation. The suppression did not take place in a continuous way with the addition of lignosulfonate but was triggered at a certain dosage of lignosulfonate. We propose that the inhibition was primarily due to formation of Si-(Ca)-lignosulfonate complex. Such interaction may illustrate the inhibition of the pozzolanic reaction by organic matters in soils at alkaline activation. Below the threshold, lignosulfonate allowed C-S-H formation though modified its structure, which also suggested the possibility of soil organic matters to influence the strength development of construction materials in coexistence of C-S-H formation.

ALE-1, a micro-satellite created for the demonstration of artificial shooting stars, required orbital descent before mission execution due to safety aspects in orbit. ALE-1 utilized a drag sail called SDOM (Separable De-Orbit Mechanism) for a passive de-orbit maneuver, which was successfully completed, lowering the orbit from about 500 km down to about 400 km. This paper summarizes the detailed history of satellite operation and the results of the de-orbit maneuver demonstration during the past three years. Although the SDOM sail faced difficulty in keeping the desired deployed shape of the drag sail due to mechanical troubles, by letting the sail be a drag flag instead, it could still deliver a meaningful de-orbit performance to allow the satellite to successfully lower the orbit as planned. The de-orbit effect of the drag flag was evaluated using comparisons between orbit propagation simulations and the actual orbit transition flight data provided in the form of TLE (Two-Line Element) sets. Through this study, it is demonstrated that the SDOM can provide orbit transfer capabilities for satellites. Furthermore, the de-orbit performance of the drag flag can be evaluated, which could be an important reference for the future implementation of de-orbit devices to solve space debris problems.

Measurement(s) Distribution • endemicity • species status • habitat • diet • information of molluscan prey Technology Type(s) digital curation Sample Characteristic - Organism Aves • Mollusca Sample Characteristic - Environment sea • fresh water • terrestrial biome Sample Characteristic - Location Japan Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.13296275

In this study, we clarify the classification of museum specimens of the family Viviparidae, which is composed of six species/subspecies in Japan, including three endangered species. We examined Viviparus sclateri specimens from the Tomotaro Iwakawa collection (1855-1933) in the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo. The Iwakawa's collection was catalogued in 1919 and Viviparus sclateri, labelled with Naga-tanishi, the current Japanese name for H. longispira, which was, at the time, equivalent to Viviparus sclateri, was listed in this catalogue. The catalogue noted localities of Viviparus sclateri (Naga-tanishi) from outside Lake Biwa, including occurrences in Lake Kasumigaura and Lake Suwa. However, Heterogen longispira (Naga-tanishi) is currently considered to be endemic to Lake Biwa drainage. The actual status of Viviparus sclateri in Iwakawa (1919) has not been clarified until now.Our examination revealed that Viviparus sclateri from Iwakawa’s catalogue included H. japonica, H. longispira and Sinotaia quadrata histrica, based on current taxonomy. Specimens assigned to H. longispira occurred only in Lake Biwa drainage. Heterogen japonica was confirmed to be present in all lots and some H. japonica from Lake Suwa had a distinctive morphology. Sinotaia quadrata histrica was only confirmed to occur in Lake Suwa. Furthermore, some specimens from southern Lake Biwa and the Seta River had intermediate characteristics between H. japonica and H. longispira and their populations are currently almost extinct.

Reliable identification of species is important for protecting native ecosystems against the invasion of non-native species. DNA barcoding using molecular markers, such as the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene, helps researchers distinguish species. In this study, we focused on introduced veronicellid slugs in the Ryukyu Islands and some greenhouses on mainland Japan. Some veronicellids are medium-to-high risk pest species for humans. Identifying veronicellid species by their external morphology is difficult and unreliable because there is substantial overlap between intraspecific variation and interspecific differentiation. Therefore, internal morphologies such as male genitalia have been the primary traits used to distinguish veronicellids. To identify introduced veronicellid slugs in Japan to the species level, we used morphological assessment of male genitalia and DNA barcoding of the standard COI gene fragment. We also conducted species-delimitation analyses based on the genetic data. The results showed that five evolutionarily significant units, corresponding to four nominal species inhabit the Ryukyu Islands, of which two species were also found in the greenhouses of mainland Japan, including the first record of Sarasinula plebeia in Japan. The presence of non-native slug species could increase the transmission of parasites in Japan.

Abstract Maritime ecosystems in Vietnam such as mangroves and mud flats are characterized by high biodiversity. However, elements of its biodiversity remain unclear and highly threatened. In this context, the assessment of rare species is a starting point to develop effective strategies for the conservation of entire ecosystems. In this paper, we report upon cryptic amphibolid gastropods in Vietnamese mangrove forests from the Mekong Delta. The snail fauna in the mangrove forests was previously known from published literature and three museum specimens as three amphibolid species, ‘Amphibola’ burmana, A. quadrasi, Salinator fragilis and ‘S.’ quadrasi. We investigated the identities of such snails using molecular and morphological methods. The amphibolids found in this survey were identified to belong to the genus Naranjia, new for Vietnam fauna. In addition, our phylogenetic analyses suggested that the Vietnamese amphibolids were the same species as Naranjia sp. reported from Thailand, and the amphibolids have both genetic and morphological polymorphisms within the population. These findings add to the great biodiversity of Vietnamese mangrove forests and mudflats.

Abstract Background Anthropogenic factors potentially affect observed biogeographical patterns in population genetics, but the effects of ancient human activities on the original patterns created by natural processes are unknown. Sinotaia quadrata, a widely distributed freshwater snail species in East Asia, was used to investigate this issue. It is unclear whether S. quadrata in Japan was introduced from China and how different human uses and varying geographic patterns affect the contemporary population genetics between the two regions. Thus, we investigated the demography of S. quadrata and detected its genetic structure in Japan and continental East Asia. Results Sinotaia quadrata populations first naturally migrated from continental East Asia to Japan, which is associated with the ancient period in Japanese geohistory (about 70,000 years ago). They were then artificially introduced in association with agriculture expansion by human movements in two recent periods (about 8,000 and 1,200 years ago). Populations in different parts of Japan have their own sources. Natural migration in the ancient period and artificial introduction in the recent period suggest that the population distribution is affected by both the geohistory of East Asia and the history of human expansion. In the background of the historical migration and introduction, contemporary populations in the two regions show different genetic patterns. Population divergence levels were significantly correlated with geographical patterns in Japan and significantly correlated with human interventions variables in continental East Asia, suggesting that long‐term geographical isolation is likely the major factor that shaped the contemporary population genetics in Japan, while modern human uses are likely the major factor in continental East Asia. Conclusions Our preliminary results show a complex demography and unusual genetic patterns in the contemporary populations for a common freshwater snail and are of significance to determine the historical formation and contemporary patterns of biogeography in Japan and continental East Asia.

Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a versatile technique to evaluate the intracellular molecular exchange called turnover. Mechanochemical models of FRAP typically consider the molecular diffusion and chemical reaction that simultaneously occur on a time scale of seconds to minutes. Particularly for long-term measurements, however, a mechanical advection effect can no longer be ignored, which transports the proteins in specific directions within the cells and accordingly shifts the spatial distribution of the local chemical equilibrium. Nevertheless, existing FRAP models have not considered the spatial shift, and as such, the turnover rate is often analyzed without considering the spatiotemporally updated chemical equilibrium. Here we develop a new FRAP model aimed at long-term measurements to quantitatively determine the two distinct effects of the advection and chemical reaction, i.e., the different major sources of the change in fluorescence intensity. To validate this approach, we carried out FRAP experiments on actin in stress fibers over a time period of more than 900 s, and the advection rate was shown to be comparable in magnitude to the chemical dissociation rate. We further found that the actin-myosin interaction and actin polymerization differently affect the advection and chemical dissociation. Our results suggest that the distinction between the two effects is indispensable to extract the intrinsic chemical properties of the actin cytoskeleton from the observations of complicated turnover in cells.

We examined the usefulness of five COVID-19 antibody detection tests using 114 serum samples at various time points from 34 Japanese COVID-19 patients. We examined Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 from Roche, and four immunochromatography tests from Hangzhou Laihe Biotech, Artron Laboratories, Chil, and Nadal. In the first week after onset, Elecsys had 40% positivity in Group S (severe cases) but was negative in Group M (mild-moderate cases). The immunochromatography kits showed 40-60% and 0-8% positivity in Groups S and M, respectively. In the second week, Elecsys showed 75% and 50% positivity, and the immunochromatography tests showed 5-80% and 50-75% positivity in Groups S and M, respectively. After the third week, Elecsys showed 100% positivity in both groups. The immunochromatography kits showed 100% positivity in Group S. In Group M, positivity decreased to 50% for Chil and 75-89% for Artron and Lyher. Elecsys and immunochromatography kits had 91-100% specificity. Elecsys had comparable chronological change of cut-off index values in the two groups from the second week to the sixth week. The current SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection tests do not provide meaningful interpretation of severity and infection status. Its use might be limited to short-term epidemiological studies.

Room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) are the appealing research target as electrolytes for lithium batteries. The cation and anion structure of ILs influences their physical and chemical properties. In this study, an electron-donating branched substituent was introduced into imidazolium cations to promote charge delocalization and to improve the reduction stability of ILs. The ILs with branched substituent group at the third position of imidazolium cation, 1-allyl-3-isobutylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide ([ABisoIm][FSA]) and 1-allyl-3-tert-butylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide ([ABtertIm][FSA]), exhibited lower cathodic potential (−2.54 and −2.79 V vs. Fc/Fc+, respectively). [ABisoIm][FSA] and [ABtertIm][FSA] showed sufficiently high ionic conductivity (4.85 and 3.66 mS/cm at 298 K, respectively), although the viscosity increased with the introduction of bulky branched substituent. Lithium secondary batteries composed of electrolytes using [ABisoIm][FSA] and [ABtertIm][FSA] showed stable charge-discharge behavior.

A calcium silicate insulator material was investigated for its interaction with non-radioactive cesium at room temperature by batch-type adsorption experiments. An industrial-grade calcium silicate was weighted and ground into powder with an average size of 15.4 ± 0.1 μm, which was then placed into the polypropylene (PP) tubes containing cesium chloride aqueous solution. Cesium concentrations were range between 1.3×10-6–3.5×10-3 M. Adsorption kinetics of cesium was evaluated based on pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order models, while the adsorption isotherm was modeled using the Langmuir model and modified BET model. Physicochemical properties of calcium silicate before and after the adsorption was investigated using XRD, SEM/EDS, and FT-IR. Chemisorption was found as the underlying sorption process between calcium silicate insulator material and cesium.

Abstract Background Islands have traditionally been the centre of evolutionary biological research, but the dynamics of immigration and differentiation at continental islands have not been well studied. Therefore, we focused on the Japanese archipelago, the continental islands located at the eastern end of the Eurasian continent. While the Japanese archipelago is characterised by high biodiversity and rich freshwater habitats, the origin and formation mechanisms of its freshwater organisms are not clear. In order to clarify the history of the planorbid gastropod fauna, we conducted phylogenetic analysis, divergence time estimation, ancestral state reconstruction, and lineage diversity estimations. Results Our analyses revealed the formation process of the planorbid fauna in the Japanese archipelago. Most lineages in the Japanese archipelago have closely related lineages on the continent, and the divergence within the Japanese lineages presumably occurred after the late Pliocene. In addition, each lineage is characterised by different phylogeographical patterns, suggesting that immigration routes from the continent to the Japanese archipelago differ among lineages. Furthermore, a regional lineage diversity plot showed that the present diversity in the Japanese archipelago potentially reflects the differentiation of lineages within the islands after the development of the Japanese archipelago. Conclusions Although additional taxon sampling and genetic analysis focused on each lineage are needed, our results suggest that immigration from multiple routes just prior to the development of the Japanese archipelago and subsequent diversification within the islands are major causes of the present-day diversity of the Japanese planorbid fauna.

The interaction of NpO2+ with Cl– was studied using visible–near-infrared spectroscopy in NaClCaCl2NaClO4, NaClNaClO4, and CaCl2NaClO4 solutions with ionic strength (I) of 6M. The spectra of NpO2+ around 980 nm varied with Cl– concentration in the NaClCaCl2NaClO4 and NaClNaClO4 solutions at [Cl–] ≥ 3.5M, but not in the CaCl2NaClO4 solution. Assuming the 1:1 interaction between NpO2+ and Cl–, the apparent equilibrium constants at I = 6M were evaluated. The presence of Ca2+ was found to destabilize overall interaction between NpO2+ and Cl–. The observations were consistent with the density functional theory calculation.