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Children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMIDs) frequently and continuously receive enteral nutrition and medications and lack adequate exercise, which may lead to dysbiosis, an imbalance in the composition of the gut microbiota. However, studies on the composition of gut microbiota in children with SMIDs are limited. Therefore, we aimed to examine the characteristics of the gut microbiota in children with SMIDs.16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed using fecal samples of 10 children with SMIDs, who received enteral nutrition through a gastric fistula or gastric tube (SMID group: median age, 10.0 years), and 19 healthy children (healthy control [HC] group: median age, 9.0 years). Microbial diversity, microbial composition, and abundance of butyric acid-producing bacteria were compared between the groups. Daily dietary fiber intake in the SMID group was evaluated using questionnaires.The Shannon and Simpson indices (alpha diversity indices) were significantly lower in the SMID group than those in the HC group. Beta diversity analysis identified different clusters. Compared with the HC group, Clostridiales and butyric acid-producing bacteria were less abundant and Bacteroidales were more abundant in the SMID group. Dietary fiber intake in the SMID group was approximately two-thirds of the estimated average requirement for healthy Japanese children.Children with SMIDs showed dysbiosis with alteration in the microbial diversity, which could partly be attributed to their low dietary fiber intake. Further studies, with the intervention of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics, are warranted to improve dysbiosis in children with SMIDs.

Background: Intravenous saline infusion is considered effective for the treatment of postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) in adults. However, few studies have assessed the efficacy of intravenous saline infusion for POTS in children and adolescents. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous saline infusion in children and adolescents with POTS.Methods: A total of 107 children with POTS (median age: 13 years, range: 10–15 years) were enrolled. Eighty-eight children were in the intravenous saline infusion group and 19 children were in the comparison group. Blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR) were recorded before and after standing. A standing test was performed early in the morning for 2 consecutive days. A volume of 1.5 L of saline was administered intravenously to each participant in the intervention group for a mean duration of 17 hours between the two standing tests.Results: The mean change in PR was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the comparison group during the second test (36.9 vs. 52.8 beats/minute, pConclusion: Intravenous saline infusion reduces the increased PR on standing in children with POTS. Intravenous saline infusion improves tachycardia in children with POTS when standing.

Butyric acid produced in the intestine by butyric acid-producing bacteria (BAPB) is known to suppress excessive inflammatory response and may prevent chronic disease development. We evaluated whether fiber-rich barley intake increases BAPB in the gut and concomitantly butyric acid in feces. Eighteen healthy adults received granola containing functional barley (BARLEYmax®) once daily for four weeks. Fecal DNA before intake, after intake, and one month after intake was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assess microbial diversity, microbial composition at the order level, and the proportion of BAPB. Fecal butyric acid concentration was also measured. There were no significant differences in diversities and microbial composition between samples. The proportion of BAPB increased significantly after the intake (from 5.9% to 8.2%). However, one month after stopping the intake, the proportion of BAPB returned to the original value (5.4%). Fecal butyric acid concentration increased significantly from 0.99 mg/g feces before intake to 1.43 mg/g after intake (p = 0.028), which decreased significantly to 0.87 mg/g after stopping intake (p = 0.008). As BAPB produce butyric acid by degrading dietary fiber, functional barley may act as a prebiotic, increasing BAPB and consequently butyric acid in the intestine.

This paper describes the synthesis and unique functionalities of protein microtube motors with an exterior surface consisting of avidin (Avi). Using wet-template synthesis with layer-by-layer (LbL)...

Slender protein microtube motors with a catalase interior surface are self-propelled in aqueous H2O2 by jetting O2 microbubbles from the open-end terminus. Immobilization of a catalase biocatalyst on the internal wall is achieved using avidin–biotin complexation. It is particularly interesting that the migration of O2 bubbles in the 1D channel and their subsequent expulsions were clearly visible because the tube walls are transparent. The microtube motor velocity reached a maximum at the optimum pH and temperature of the catalase. Furthermore, the microtubes were digested completely by proteases, showing sufficient biodegradability.

We report the synthesis, structure, and influenza A virus trapping capability of protein nanotubes with an internal wall of fetuin glycoprotein. The nanotubes were fabricated via the alternating layer-by-layer assembly of human serum albumin (HSA), poly-l-arginine (PLA), and fetuin into a track-etched polycarbonate (PC) membrane (pore size, 800 nm), followed by dissolution of the PC template. In an aqueous medium, the (PLA/HSA)5PLA/fetuin nanotubes captured influenza A virus PR8 (H1N1) efficiently, as revealed by ELISA measurements.

At wet cleaning and etching process in semiconductor manufacturing, several ppm of ultra-dilute ammonia is sometimes used. When CO2 dissolves into the ammonia solution, it changes to carbonic acid, and neutralizes ammonia solution. It means, CO2 dissolution leads to pH change and impact to process performance. In order to know the chemical condition, pH is one of the key parameters. From its principle, however, internal solution (KCl) of pH probe dissolves into sample solution and lead to contamination, so the sample needs to be drained after measurement. Schematic system of pH probe is shown in Fig.1. Measurement using pH probe requires several tens to hundreds mL sample, so waste chemical amount and cost impact is significant. In order to solve such problems, we developed a real time, in-situ use pH monitor. This monitor equips micro flow pH sensor, which samples 0.5 mL per one monitoring, minimum interval is 1 min, i.e. sample consumption is maximum 30 mL per hour, and it enables to obtain real time pH data. Using this monitor, ca. 1ppm ammonia solution was continuously monitored at every 1 minute. Test system is shown in Fig.2. From 0 to 0.9 h, sample solution was bubbled with N2, from 0.9 to 1.9 h bubbled with air, then from 1.8 to 4 h bubbled with N2. Monitor result is shown in Fig.3. [0 to 0.9 h] bubbled with N2 gas, CO2 does not dissolve to the solution, and pH is kept stable. [0.9 to 1.9 h] bubbled with air, pH drops from 9.3 to 7.0 approximately in 10 minutes, which is caused by CO2 dissolution from the air. [1.9 to 4 h] bubbled with N2 gas again, pH value recovered because CO2 is put out. In conclusion, micro-sampling pH monitoring system, it enabled to detect clear pH change of ultra-diluted ammonia solution caused by CO2 dissolution with real-time bases. Figure 1

Since the establishment of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) in the 1980s, a number of important notions on the self-renewal of pluripotent stem cells in vitro have been found. In serum containing conventional culture, an exogenous cytokine, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), is absolutely essential for the maintenance of pluripotency. In contrast, in serum-free culture with simultaneous inhibition of Map-kinase and Gsk3 (so called 2i-culture), LIF is no longer required. However, recent findings also suggest that LIF may have a role not covered by the 2i for the maintenance of naïve pluripotency. These suggest that LIF functions for the maintenance of naïve pluripotency in a context dependent manner. We summarize how LIF-signal pathway is converged to maintain the naïve state of pluripotency.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) signaling regulates transcription factors to maintain the self-renewability and pluripotency of embryonic stem (ES) cells. Recently, we have proposed a network model that consists of transcription factors such as, Klf4, Sox2, Tbx3, Nanog, and Oct3/4, which form a parallel pathway downstream from LIF signaling (Nature, 460, 2009, Niwa et al.). In this parallel pathway, the transcription factors maintain the pluripotency of ES cells through mutual balance with some degree of redundancy and compensation. While self-renewability and pluripotency are maintained well under such seemingly stringent regulation, studies of single cells revealed heterogeneity among individual ES cells. This heterogeneity may underlie the mechanism that allows ES cells to exit self-renewal and enter into differentiation to exert pluripotency. Here we focus on recent studies on the heterogeneity of ES cells and discuss their inherent metastability.

Human serum albumin (HSA) microtubes with an interior surface composed of Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) are self-propelled in aqueous H2O2 medium. They can capture cyanine dye and Escherichia coli (E. coli) efficiently. Microtubes were prepared by wet templating synthesis using a track-etched polycarbonate (PC) membrane with alternate filtrations of aqueous HSA, poly-L-arginine (PLA), and citrated-PtNP. Subsequent dissolution of the PC template yielded uniform hollow cylinders made of (PLA/HSA)8PLA/PtNP stacking layers (1.16 ± 0.02 μm outer diameter, ca. 23 μm length). In aqueous H2O2 media, the soft protein microtubes are self-propelled by jetting O2 bubbles from the open-end terminus. The effects of H2O2 and surfactant concentrations on the velocity were investigated. The swimming microtube captured cyanine dye in the HSA component of the wall. Addition of an intermediate γ-Fe3O4 layer allowed manipulation of the moving direction of the tubule using magnet-field. Because the exterior surface is positively charged, the bubble-propelled microtubes adsorbed E. coli with high efficiency. The removal ratio of E. coli by a single treatment reached 99%.

The neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene encodes merlin, a membrane/cytoskeleton protein necessary for maintenance of contact inhibition of growth in cells. Biallelic inactivation of NF2 is known to cause multiple cancers in both humans and mice. However, the mechanism through which merlin exerts its tumor suppressive function remains obscure. In this report we reveal that NF2 knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) lost contact inhibition of cell proliferation and contained significantly increased canonical Wnt signaling. Inhibition of Rac1, whose activity is inversely regulated by NF2, through the use of a dominant negative mutant, small hairpin RNA, or a small molecule inhibitor in the NF2-deficient cells, was able to suppress the elevated Wnt signals as shown by reduced activity of the T-cell factor 4 (TCF4) transcription factor. Dominant negative TCF4 or Rac1 mutant, as well as a small molecule inhibition of Wnt, were able to curb the NF2 deficiency-elicited cell proliferation at the confluent state. Thus, Rac1-mediated canonical Wnt signaling is essential for the loss of contact inhibition in NF2-deficient cells.

インパクトエコー（衝撃弾性波）法に基づいてコンクリート内部欠陥の位置を断面部の画像化により検出するSIBIE (Stack Imaging of spectral amplitude Based on Impact Echo) 法を開発中である．この手法をプレストレストコンクリート構造のグラウト未充填部検出に適用した場合の現状の問題点を検討し，改良された手法について実証的に検討した．手法の有効性はモデル試験により考察し，未充填部のシースの大きさや部分未充填部検出の可能性を明らかにした．この結果，SIBIE法の適用により断面画像としてグラウト未充填部を検出する実用的な非破壊検査手法が提案できたと考えられる．

島根大学では，大学評価情報データベースの教員情報入力システムと連携した学術機関リポジトリシステムの構築を行った。教員情報入力とリポジトリへのデータ登録が双方向で連携することにより，リポジトリへのデータ登録率の向上と入力負荷の軽減が可能となる。両システムの連携の実際を紹介し，現在の運用状況の分析から，コンテンツの持続的収集の可能性を検証する。

Growth factors induce massive actin cytoskeletal remodeling in cells. These reorganization events underlie various cellular responses such as cell migration and morphological changes. One major form of actin reorganization is the formation and disassembly of dorsal ruffles (also named waves, dorsal rings, or circular ruffles). Dorsal ruffles are involved in physiological functions including cell migration, invasion, macropinocytosis, plasma membrane recycling, and others. Growth factors initiate rapid formation (within 5 min) of circular membrane ruffles, and these ruffles move along the dorsal side of the cells, constrict, close, and eventually disassemble ( approximately 20 min). Considerable attention has been devoted to the mechanism by which growth factors induce the formation of dorsal ruffles. However, little is known of the mechanism by which these ruffles are disassembled. Here we have shown that G proteins G(12) and G(13) control the rate of disassembly of dorsal ruffles. In Galpha(12)(-/-)Galpha(13)(-/-) fibroblast cells, dorsal ruffles induced by growth factor treatment remain visible substantially longer ( approximately 60 min) than in wild-type cells, whereas the rate of formation of these ruffles was the same with or without Galpha(12) and Galpha(13). Thus, Galpha(12)/Galpha(13) critically regulate dorsal ruffle turnover.

Schwann cell–axon interaction is the hallmark feature of peripheral nerves, yet the intracellular signals underlying this interaction are unknown. Schwann cells extend processes and migrate on developing axons before differentiation, requiring coordinated regulation of the Schwann cell cytoskeleton. Small GTPases of the Rho family, including Rho, Rac, and cell division cycle 42, regulate the actin cytoskeleton. The neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) gene is commonly mutated in schwannomas, Schwann cell tumors that contain cells lacking axon interaction. NF2 is involved in suppression of Rac signaling, and cultured schwannoma cells contain elevated, GTP-bound, active Rac. Despite these previous studies, a causal relationship between Rac activation and the abnormal cellular morphology of schwannoma is unknown. We used fluorescence resonance energy transfer to follow Rac activity in normal human Schwann cells and schwannoma cells during interaction with neurons. Normal Schwann cells elongated processes along neurites under low Rac activity. Schwannoma cells showed high Rac activity at distal regions of the cells and failed to align processes with neurites. Application of a Rac-specific inhibitor, the chemical compoundNSC23766, to schwannoma cells restored neuronal interaction. The data support the significance of regulated Rac signaling in mediating Schwann cell–axon interaction and suggest that controlling Rac activity as a possible therapy for schwannomas.

文法シラバス中心の教育のみを受けた学習者には、正確に文は作れても、談話レベルにおける十分なコミュニケーションが行えず、本人の意思に反して相手に誤解を生じさせるような話し方をしてしまうことがある。このような問題を防ぎ、学習者が積極的に会話へ参加していけるようにするためには、早い段階から文法シラバス中心の教育だけでなく、談話レベルでの会話教育を行なう必要があり、そのための指導項目の整理と教師間での指導項目の共有が必要となる。そこで、本稿では、談話レベルでの会話教育に関する先行研究をその観点の違いから、(1)会話ストラテジー教育の観点から会話教育の指導項目化を試みた先行研究と、(2)談話・会話分析の観点から会話教育の指導項目化を試みた先行研究として見直し、整理する。そして、先行研究においてリスト化されてきた会話教育のための指導項目に、ビジターセッションを利用した会話授業及び演劇プロジェクトの授業での指導項目を実践研究からの成果として加え、それらを談話・会話分析的アプローチから整理し直し、談話レベルでの会話教育を行なうための談話技能の指導項目として提案する。提案する指導項目は、「A.言語的項目」、「B.非言語的項目」、「C.音声的項目」、「D.言語・非言語・音声の総合的技能項目」という4つに分類して整理した。このような指導項目リストの作成により、同じクラスを担当する教師間において会話指導とその指導項目に対する意識の共有もより容易になるものと考える。, It has been pointed out that language learners who have been instructed only through grammatical syllabuses have communication problems on the discourse level, even though they are able to produce grammatically accurate sentences. In order to avoid these problems, it is necessary to teach conversation on the discourse as well as grammatical level, starting from the elementary learning stages. Therefore, it is necessary for teachers to share their understanding of syllabuses needed for teaching conversation. However, this kind of syllabus has not been fully designed yet, due to individual differences in teachers’ understanding of the need to teach conversational items and in the ways of dealing with them. In this study, we will review two types of previous research on teaching conversation on the discourse level: 1) syllabuses based on conversation strategies, and 2) syllabuses based on discourse/conversation analysis. We will then propose a conversational syllabus based on both conversation strategies and discourse/conversation analysis, which was designed for Japanese language learners to promote their discourse skills in conversation. The syllabus consists of four categories: A) Verbal category, B) Nonverbal category, C) Prosodic category, and D) Overall category. The items in the syllabus were extracted from the syllabuses used in the Japanese language courses, including visitor sessions and a drama project, which were designed based on discourse/conversation analysis. The goals of these courses were to promote learners’ discourse abilities. This syllabus will enable teachers to teach conversational items which are not found in grammatical syllabuses, starting from the elementary level. It will also help Japanese language teachers to reach a shared conunderstanding of the syllabuses necessary for conversational instruction.

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by multiple tumors including schwannomas, meningiomas and ependymomas of the central nervous system. Although paresthesias, muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, and gait unsteadiness have been reported as clinical symptoms of spinal tumors, there are no reports of patients with NF2 who developed paralysis. A 7-year-old female consulted with our hospital because of sudden bilateral lower limb paralysis. She had not recognized the abnormalities, including paralysis, paraplegia and muscle weakness of bilateral lower limb before administration. Because of the aggravated bilateral patellar tendon reflexes, Achilles tendon reflexes, and the positive bilateral Babinski reflexes, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spinal cord was performed. MRI revealed multiple spinal tumors in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions. In particular, a 12 mm × 33 mm spinal tumor was present in the thoracic region and was pressing against the spinal cord. Surgery was urgently performed to remove the spinal tumor in the thoracic region. Histopathological examination revealed that the tumor was a schwannoma. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the head was performed to explore the intra-cranial lesions: bilateral vestibular schwannomas and tumors in the left oculomotor nerve and right glossopharyngeal nerve were also discovered. Auditory brainstem response was performed to evaluate the bilateral VSs, and the results were normal. Nine months after the surgery, MRI of the head and spinal cord showed that her tumors had not increased in size. This represents the first reported case of NF2 complicated bilateral lower limb paralysis as initial neurological symptom.

CMP slurry contains abrasive and pH adjuster, and in many cases Hydrogen Peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is added as an oxidizer. In order to stabilize the process, H 2 O 2 concentration is one of the critical factors, and Redox titration is generally used for H 2 O 2 monitoring. However, titration method requires time, labor and consumables for sampling, pretreatment and titration itself with reagent, and it is not suitable for real-time monitoring. In this paper, the results of applying near infrared (NIR) and ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectroscopy and multivariate analysis for in-line H 2 O 2 monitoring is reported.

The reaction of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) after spinal cord injury (SCI) is poorly understood. In this study, we examined oligodendroglial reactions after contusion SCI in adult rats by immunohistochemistry. OPCs were identified by staining with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) A2B5 and O4. Each of the A2B5-, O4-positive OPCs and galactocerebroside-positive oligodendrocytes dramatically increased in the lesion of the dorsal posterior funiculus. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation studies showed that most O4-positive cells in the lesion were labeled with BrdU, suggesting that these OPCs were proliferative. In contrast, the expression of myelin basic protein was decreased in the lesion compared with controls that received laminectomy only. From the injured cord, OPCs were isolated by immunopanning with mAb A2B5. We observed an increased number of OPCs from the injured spinal cords compared with those isolated from controls and unoperated animals. After several days in culture, the OPCs from the lesion expressed galactocerebroside. These results suggest that OPCs are induced and can differentiate following SCI in the adult rat. J. Neurosci. Res. 65:500–507, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The water-soluble extracellular polysaccharide produced by Asaia bogorensis, an acetic acid bacterium, was investigated. It was suggested that the water-soluble polysaccharide seemed to be a fructan as only fructose was detected as a constituent sugar when it was hydrolyzed by trifluoroacetic acid. To confirm the glycosidic linkage of the fructan, 1H NMR spectroscopy and 13C NMR spectroscopy were carried out. From these results, Asaia fructan was identified as levan, which is a β-2,6 linked fructan, similar to the polysaccharide produced by Gluconacetobacter xylinus. This β-2,6-linked levan-type fructan was produced only when sucrose was used as a carbon source.

BACKGROUND: Neuregulin1 (NRG1)-ErbB signaling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer and schizophrenia. We have previously reported that NRG1-stimulated migration of B lymphoblasts is PI3K-AKT1dependent and impaired in patients with schizophrenia and significantly linked to the catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) Val108/158Met functional polymorphism. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We have now examined AKT1 activation in NRG1-stimulated B lymphoblasts and other cell models and explored a functional relationship between COMT and AKT1. NRG1-induced AKT1 phosphorylation was significantly diminished in Val carriers compared to Met carriers in both normal subjects and in patients. Further, there was a significant epistatic interaction between a putatively functional coding SNP in AKT1 (rs1130233) and COMT Val108/158Met genotype on AKT1 phosphorylation. NRG1 induced translocation of AKT1 to the plasma membrane also was impaired in Val carriers, while PIP(3) levels were not decreased. Interestingly, the level of COMT enzyme activity was inversely correlated with the cells' ability to synthesize phosphatidylserine (PS), a factor that attracts the pleckstrin homology domain (PHD) of AKT1 to the cell membrane. Transfection of SH-SY5Y cells with a COMT Val construct increased COMT activity and significantly decreased PS levels as well as NRG1-induced AKT1 phosphorylation and migration. Administration of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) rescued all of these deficits. These data suggest that AKT1 function is influenced by COMT enzyme activity through competition with PS synthesis for SAM, which in turn dictates AKT1-dependent cellular responses to NRG1-mediated signaling. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings implicate genetic and functional interactions between COMT and AKT1 and may provide novel insights into pathogenesis of schizophrenia and other ErbB-associated human diseases such as cancer.

We have investigated the relationship between the developmental expression of sphingomyelin, a major component of myelin, and oligodendrocyte lineage. Using lysenin as a cytochemical probe for membrane sphingomyelin, we have now determined the distribution pattern of sphingomyelin on the plasma membrane of rat cultured oligodendrocytes. Although lysenin does not bind to A2B5(+)/NG2(+) bipolar oligodendrocyte progenitors, lysenin recognizes sphingomyelin on the cell bodies of multipolar A2B5(+) cells, but not on their processes. O4(+) and O1(+) immature and MBP(+) mature oligodendrocytes are strongly labeled by lysenin from cell bodies to the tips of processes. The content of sphingomyelin in immature and mature oligodendrocytes is approximately 2-fold higher than that in oligodendrocyte progenitors. These findings show that sphingomyelin increases during differentiation of cells in the oligodendrocyte lineage. In multipolar oligodendrocyte progenitors exposed to Triton X-100 at 4 degrees C, lysenin labels cell processes in addition to cell bodies. In contrast, Triton X-100 extraction does not alter the distribution of lysenin binding on O4(+), O1(+) and MBP(+) cells, although the immunocytochemical intensities of the lysenin bindings increase. Our data suggest that the alteration in sphingomyelin content and distribution in the oligodendrocyte lineage cells could have important consequences for cell recognition and downstream signaling events through sphingomyelin-rich domains.

At the premyelinating stage, the Schwann cells of peripheral nerves are able to recognize the axon, to arrange themselves along it in a nonoverlapping manner, and finally to establish a one-to-one cell-axon relationship. The mechanism that regulates these processes is not known in detail. We found the existence of a significant Schwann cell apoptosis in vivo of rat postnatal sciatic nerve, peaking around postnatal day 3. More than 50% of the neonatal Schwann cells cultured in axon-free medium undergo a rapid apoptosis. The apoptosis can be suppressed by addition of survival factors such as Neu differentiation factors or by increasing the adhesion of Schwann cells to substratum. We suggest that in neonatal nerves in vivo, Schwann cells are highly susceptible to apoptosis, but they are saved from death by contact with axons. The dramatic increase in number of Schwann cells between postnatal day 0 and 3 overcomes the number of axons available for them. Consequently the Schwann cells that fail to contact an axon undergo apoptosis. In conclusion, the number of Schwann cells in the developing nerves is regulated by the apoptosis and clearly depends on the survival signals from axons.

Summary ZSCAN4 is a DNA-binding protein that functions for telomere elongation and genomic stability. In vivo, it is specifically expressed at the two-cell stage during mouse development. In vitro, it is transiently expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), only in 5% of the population at one time. Here we attempted to elucidate when, under what circumstances, Zscan4 is activated in ESCs. Using live cell imaging, we monitored the activity of Zscan4 together with the pluripotency marker Rex1. The lengths of the cell cycles in ESCs were diverse. Longer cell cycles were accompanied by shorter telomeres and higher activation of Zscan4. Since activation of Zscan4 is involved in telomere elongation, we speculate that the extended cell cycles accompanied by Zscan4 activation reflect the time for telomere recovery. Rex1 and Zscan4 did not show any correlation. Taken together, we propose that Zscan4 is activated to recover shortened telomeres during extended cell cycles, irrespective of the pluripotent status., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • At longer cell cycles, telomeres are shorter • Zscan4 is activated when the cell cycles become long • After the activation of Zscan4, the next cell cycle becomes short • We propose Zscan4 is activated for telomere maintenance irrespective of pluripotency, Zscan4 is a rejuvenation factor that is transiently expressed in ESCs. By retrospective analyses of live imaging data, Nakai-Futatsugi and Niwa show that Zscan4 is activated when cell cycles become long, presumably sensing shortened telomeres irrespective of the pluripotent status. The results suggest that Zscan4 is activated for genomic maintenance, which is not necessarily related to the two-cell-stage-like status of ESCs.

(+)-Nerolidol was treated with 2,4,4,6-tetrabromocyclohexa-2,5-dienone to afford the brominative cyclisation products α- and β-snyderols and 3-bromocaparrapi oxide and its 8-epimer; (±)-geranyl-linalool gave the analogous tricyclic ethers.