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Recent studies revealed behaviorally defined sleep is conserved across broad species from insect to human. For evolutional analysis, it is critical to determine how homologous genes regulate the homologous function among species. Drosophila melanogaster shares numerous sleep related genes with mammals including Sik3, salt-inducible kinase 3, whose mutation caused long sleep both in mouse and fruit fly. The Drosophila rdgB (retinal degeneration B) encodes a membrane-associated phosphatidylinositol transfer protein and its mutation caused light-induced degeneration of photoreceptor cells. rdgB mutation also impaired phototransduction and olfactory behavior, indicating rdgB is involved in the normal neural transmission. Mammalian rdgB homologue, Pitpnm2 (phosphatidylinositol transfer protein membrane-associated 2) was discovered as one of SNIPPs (sleep-need index phosphoproteins), suggesting its role in sleep. Here, we show that rdgB is involved in sleep regulation in Drosophila. Pan-neuronal and mushroom body (MB) specific rdgB knockdown decreased nocturnal sleep. MB neurons play a dominant role, since the rescue of rdgB expression only in MB neurons in pan-neuronal knockdown reversed the sleep reducing effect of rdgB knockdown. These results revealed the sleep-related function of rdgB in Drosophila which may be conserved across species.

Virtual reality self-counseling (VR-SC) is considered effective in addressing mental health problems. Previous studies have shown the effectiveness of VR-SC using Sigmund Freud’s avatar. However, considering the characteristics of virtual reality (VR) of perspective-taking of another person, VR-SC with the avatar of a person who cares about us (intimate person) is considered effective because it is assumed that warm behavior toward ourselves is exhibited. In this study, 60 undergraduate and graduate students were classified into VR-SC with intimate persons, VR-SC with Freud, and control groups, and the intervention effects were compared. Results showed that VR-SC with an intimate person was most effective in improving anxiety symptoms. These results may be attributed to accepting and affirming oneself from the perspective of the intimate person’s avatar and counseling with oneself. Our study showed that the same VR-SC method could have different effects depending on the avatar of the counseling partner.

Young, Sutherland, and McCoy indicated that a Go/No-Go Task (GNG) becomes more difficult as the inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs) becomes shorter. However, is the number of commission errors under extremely short ISIs a useful metric for assessing response inhibition? This study challenges the assumption that a shorter ISI in the GNG enables better assessment of response inhibition. University students (N = 213) completed the GNG, the Conners Continuous Performance Test 3rd Edition (CCPT), and the Modified Stroop Task. The GNG comprised four blocks of 400, 600, 800, and 1000 ms ISIs, whereas the stimulus presentation was fixed at 250 ms. Consistent with Young et al., shorter ISIs in the GNG resulted in more commission errors. In the block with the shortest ISI, participants also failed more frequently in responses in go trials than in the other blocks, which appears to increase in error variance of commission errors. Consistent with this interpretation, the association between the number of commission errors in the block with 400 ms ISI and CCPT performance was weaker than those between the number of commission errors in other blocks and CCPT performance. It is concluded that using the number of commission errors in the condition with extremely short ISIs in the GNG might be inappropriate for assessing response inhibition.

Previous findings on relationships between inhibition that is a core executive function, and trait rumination have been inconsistent. This inconsistency could be overcome by investigating the association between rumination and the two subcomponents of inhibition: response inhibition and attentional inhibition. This study examined whether and how response inhibition and attentional inhibition were related to rumination as well as worry. University students in Japan (N = 213) conducted the Go/No-Go Task and the Modified Stroop Task. They also completed self-report measures of depression, trait rumination, trait worry, stressors, and aggressive behaviors. Results indicated that response inhibition deficits were positively associated with trait rumination, and this association was mediated by increases in aggressive behaviors and interpersonal stressors. The associations between these variables remained significant even after controlling for depression level. There were no significant direct or indirect associations between attentional inhibition deficits and rumination. These results suggest that response inhibition deficits, among the subcomponents of inhibition, have an indirect positive association with rumination through interpersonal processes. Results also showed nonsignificant differences between rumination and worry in the magnitude of correlation coefficients with the two subcomponents of inhibition. Therefore, it remains unclear whether the positive association with response inhibition is unique to rumination.

The liverwort Marchantia polymorpha possesses oil bodies in idioblastic oil body cells scattered in its thallus. Oil bodies are subcellular organelles in which specific sesquiterpenes and bisbibenzyls are accumulated. Therefore, a specialized system for the biosynthesis and accumulation of these defense compounds specifically in oil bodies has been implied. A recent study on M. polymorpha genome sequencing revealed 10 genes that shared high similarities with fungal-type terpene synthases (TPSs). Eight of these fungal-type TPS-like genes in M. polymorpha (MpFTPSL1-6, -9 and -10) are located within a 376-kb stretch on chromosome 6 and share similarities of over 94% at the nucleotide level. Therefore, these genes have likely originated from recent gene duplication events. The expression of a subset of MpFTPSLs was induced under non-axenic growth on vermiculite, which increased the amounts of sesquiterpenes and number of oil bodies. The tdTomato fluorescent protein-based in-fusion reporter assay with MpFTPSL2 promoter revealed fluorescent signals specifically in oil body cells of the thallus, indicating that MpFTPSL2 functions in oil body cells. Recombinant MpFTPSL2 expression in Escherichia coli led to sesquiterpene synthesis from farnesyl pyrophosphate. Moreover, suppression of a subset of MpFTPSLs through RNA interference reduced sesquiterpene accumulation in thalli grown on vermiculite. Taken together, these results suggest that at least a subset of MpFTPSLs is involved in sesquiterpene synthesis in oil body cells.

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Therefore, management of aGVHD is important for successful transplantation. Mucosal damage and alteration of the gut microbiota after allo-HSCT are key factors in the development of aGVHD. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the ability of prebiotics, which can alleviate mucosal damage and manipulate the gut microbiota, to mitigate posttransplantation complications, including aGVHD. Resistant starch (RS) and a commercially available prebiotics mixture, GFO, were administered to allo-HSCT recipients from pretransplantation conditioning to day 28 after allo-HSCT. Prebiotic intake mitigated mucosal injury and reduced the incidence of all aGVHD grades combined and of aGVHD grades 2 to 4. The cumulative incidence of skin aGVHD was markedly decreased by prebiotics intake. Furthermore, the gut microbial diversity was well maintained and butyrate-producing bacterial population were preserved by prebiotics intake. In addition, the posttransplantation fecal butyrate concentration was maintained or increased more frequently in the prebiotics group. These observations indicate that prebiotic intake may be an effective strategy for preventing aGVHD in allo-HSCT, thereby improving treatment outcomes and the clinical utility of stem cell transplantation approaches. This study was registered on the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) clinical trials registry (https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm) as #UMIN000027563.

Public speaking is an essential skill in a large variety of professions and also in everyday life. However, it can be difficult to master. This paper focuses on the automatic assessment of nonverbal facial behavior during public speaking and proposes simple and efficient methods of head pose estimation and motion analysis. The authors collected nine and six speech videos from a recitation and oration contest, respectively, conducted at a Japanese high school and applied the proposed method to evaluate the contestants' performance. For the estimation of head pose from speech videos, their method produced results with an acceptable level of accuracy. The proposed motion analysis method can be used for calculating frequencies and moving ranges of head motion. The authors found that the proposed parameters and the eye-contact score are strongly correlated and that the proposed frequency and moving range parameters are suitable for evaluating public speaking. Thus, on the basis of these features, a teacher can provide accurate feedback to help a speaker improve.

This study examines connections between the semantic structure and speech units, and characteristics of facial movements in EFL learners’ public speech. The data were obtained from a multimodal corpus of English public speaking constructed from digital audio and video data of an official English speech contest held in a Japanese high school. Evaluation data of contest judges were also included. For the audio data, speech pauses were extracted with an acoustic analysis software, and the spoken content (text) of each speech unit embedded between two pauses was then annotated. The semantic structures of the speech units were analysed based on segmental chunks of clauses. Motion capturing was applied on video data; forty-two tracking points were set on each speaker's eyes, nose, mouths and face lines. The results indicated: (1) Speakers with higher evaluations showed a similar semantic structure pattern in their speech units. It was also confirmed as similar to that for NSE samples. (2) Horizontal facial movements and the angles of face rotations were extracted from motion capturing. The result is expected to be useful for defining a facial movement model that effectively describes good eye contacts in public speaking.

Objective We examined effective exercise adherence support methods for persons experienced in the Medical Fitness (MF) program to clarify the relation of personality traits with exercise adherence and the factors that improve exercise adherence.Methods Subjects were 283 adults who had registered as members in the MF program at an affiliate of Hospital A. We implemented an anonymous self-administered questionnaire by postal mail. Using the Japanese version of the Ten Item Personality Inventory (which contains 10 items that measure the Big Five personality traits), we evaluated the following characteristics: "Extraversion", "Agreeableness", "Conscientiousness", "Neuroticism", and "Openness". The subjects who reported exercising regularly at the time of survey were considered persons with subjective exercise adherence.Results In persons with subjective exercise adherence, "Conscientiousness" was significantly lower (P=0.003) among men and "Neuroticism" was significantly higher (P=0.018) among women when compared to persons with subjective exercise adherence. There was no correlation between the things that emphasize exercise adherence and "Conscientiousness" among men. There was a negative correlation between "can achieve goal" and "Neuroticism" among women.Conclusions It is essential to consider personality and gender differences when devising exercise adherence support measures for the MF program. Our results suggest that women with high neuroticism do not need "can achieve goal" to maintain their exercise habits; therefore, it is necessary to examine teaching methods that do not focus on only goal achievement as part of exercise adherence support for MF.

To elucidate the genetic population structure of two coastal weevils

In this paper, the author proposes a research viewpoint which comprehends the customer co–creation process as collective action, by examining the case of Elephant Design, the developer of the Design-to-Order (DTO) business model. DTO is unique in that co-creation includes not only the idea-generation process but also the process of commercialization. A far-reaching scale of customer involvement is required to meet the production quota. The author applies the concept of collective consumption to the co-creation theory in order to analyze the role of heterogeneous voting clusters. In keeping with this year’s conference theme, “The Customer is Not Always Right,” the paper focuses on marketing’s new role in bridging heterogeneous customer clusters, which otherwise remain disconnected.

To elucidate the genetic population structure of two coastal weevils, Scepticus griseus and S. tigrinus, we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) region (1308 bp) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COII) region (584 bp). A total of 650 individuals (S. griseus, 444 individuals; S. tigrinus, 206 individuals) were obtained from 64 sites. The haplotype networks of both species showed three major lineages with roughly regional distribution. However, the two species show quite different genetic structures; S. griseus has a complicated structure while that of S. tigrinus is simple. We hypothesize that the genetic structure of each of these two weevil species reflects climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene, and the differences in genetic structure between S. griseus and S. tigrinus may represent a unique evolutionary history scenario in each species.

This study aimed to pharmacologically identify and characterize α2-adrenoceptors and imidazoline (I) receptors (I1- and I2-subtype) on canine, feline, bovine, equine, murine, and leporine platelet membranes. Saturation binding studies with both (3)H-yohimbine and (3)H-clonidine showed that α2-adrenoceptors were expressed on canine, leporine, feline, and murine platelets but not on bovine and equine platelets. In competition studies, the rank order of affinity of 6 compounds for canine platelet α2-adrenoceptors was similar to that of potency at α2A-subtype reported in human platelets. Saturation binding studies in the presence of norepinephrine showed that canine, feline, bovine, and equine platelets had I1-receptors defined by (3)H-clonidine binding, but neither murine nor leporine platelets had I1-receptors; whereas, platelets of all species had I2-receptors defined by (3)H-idazoxan binding. In competition studies, more potent compounds displayed biphasic competition curves with (3)H-clonidine. The rank orders of affinity of I1 compounds for high-affinity components of I1-receptors of canine, feline, bovine, and equine platelets and I2-receptors of all species platelets were similar to those of compounds for high-affinity components reported in human I1- and I2-receptors, respectively. Guanine nucleotides inhibited the high-affinity component of naphazoline binding to canine I1-receptors, but not to I2-receptors. Furthermore, guanine nucleotides dose-dependently inhibited (3)H-clonidine binding to I1-receptors; whereas, they did not interfere with (3)H-idazoxan binding to I2-receptors, supporting the notion that Il-receptors may belong to a G protein-coupled receptor superfamily in canine platelets. Interspecific variations of platelet α2-adrenoceptor and imidazoline receptor expressions may explain different platelet responses to catecholamines and imidazoline α-adrenergic agents.

Plants produce jasmonic acid (JA) and its amino acid conjugate, jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile) as major defense signals in response to wounding and herbivory. In rice (Oryza sativa), JA and JA-Ile rapidly increased after mechanical damage, and this increase was further amplified when the wounds were treated with oral secretions from generalist herbivore larvae, lawn armyworms (Spodoptera mauritia), revealing for the first time active perception mechanisms of herbivore-associated elicitor(s) in rice. In the rice genome, two OsJAR genes can conjugate JA and Ile and form JA-Ile in vitro; however, their function in herbivory-induced accumulation of JA-Ile has not been investigated. By functional characterization of TOS17 retrotransposon-tagged Osjar1 plants and their response to simulated herbivory, we show that OsJAR1 is essential for JA-Ile production in herbivore-attacked, field-grown plants. In addition, OsJAR1 was required for normal seed development in rice under field conditions. Our results suggest that OsJAR1 possesses at least two major functions in rice defense and development that cannot be complemented by the additional OsJAR2 gene function, although this gene previously showed overlapping enzyme activity in vitro.

Highly fluorescent naphthacene derivatives and their photoconvertible precursors were synthesized for irreversibly photo-responsive fluorescent molecules. The fluorescence quantum yields (Φf) of the precursors were less than 0.02, and the precursors can be converted to the highly fluorescent naphthacene derivatives (Φf = 0.67–0.70) quantitatively by photo-irradiation.

This paper contributes to the literature on management of foreign subsidiaries and inter-organizational relationships. Especially, this paper focuses on the problem of managing foreign subsidiaries in multinational corporations (MNCs). With the recent development of emerging markets, the importance of managing foreign subsidiaries is increasing for many multinational corporations (MNCs). The characteristics of these markets differ significantly from those of developed countries such as North America and Europe.

The awn, an apical extension from the lemma of the spikelet, plays important roles in seed dispersal, burial, and photosynthesis. Barley typically has long awns, but short-awn variants exist. The short awn 2 (lks2) gene, which produces awns about 50% shorter than normal, is a natural variant that is restricted to Eastern Asia. Positional cloning revealed that Lks2 encodes a SHI-family transcription factor. Allelism tests showed that lks2 is allelic to unbranched style 4 (ubs4) and breviaristatum-d (ari-d), for which the phenotypes are very short awn and sparse stigma hairs. The gene identity was validated by 25 mutant alleles with lesions in the Lks2 gene. Of these, 17 affected either or both conserved regions: the zinc-binding RING-finger motif and the IGGH domain. Lks2 is highly expressed in awns and pistils. Histological observations of longitudinal awn sections showed that the lks2 short-awn phenotype resulted from reduced cell number. Natural variants of lks2 were classified into three types, but all shared a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that causes a proline-to-leucine change at position 245 in the IGGH domain. All three lks2 natural variants were regarded as weak alleles because their awn and pistil phenotypes are mild compared with those of the 25 mutant alleles. Natural variants of lks2 found in the east of China and the Himalayas had considerably different sequences in the regions flanking the critical SNP, suggesting independent origins. The available results suggest that the lks2 allele might have a selective advantage in the adaptation of barley to high-precipitation areas of Eastern Asia.

A number of anthocyanin- and proanthocyanidin-free mutants (ant mutants) in barley were induced and selected because of breeding interest to reduce proanthocyanidins, which could cause haze and degrade the quality of beer. Ant loci, known as anthocyanin or proanthocyanidin synthesis genes, are classified into Ant1 to Ant30 through allelism tests. However, only the Ant18 gene has been molecularly shown to encode dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), which is involved in both anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin synthesis. In this study, an R2R3 MYB gene of barley was isolated by PCR and named Hvmyb10 due to its similarity to Tamyb10 of wheat, which is a candidate for the R-1 gene grain color regulator. The predicted amino acid sequences of Hvmyb10 showed high similarity not only to Tamyb10 but also to TT2, the proanthocyanidin regulator of Arabidopsis. Non-synonymous nucleotide substitutions in the Hvmyb10 gene were found in all six ant28 mutants tested. Mapping showed that a polymorphism in Hvmyb10 perfectly cosegregated with the ant 28 phenotype on the distal region of the long arm of chromosome 3H. These results demonstrate that ant28 encodes Hvmyb10, the R2R3 MYB domain protein that regulates proanthocyanidin accumulation in developing grains. The reduced grain dormancy of ant28 mutants compared with those of the respective wild types indicates that Hvmyb10 is a key factor in grain dormancy in barley.

This study empirically examines that marketing planning and sales autonomy both invigorate sales activities to achieve better business performance. Here an organization has effective remedies for the marketing myopathy that may afflict it when its salespeople cannot vigorously engage in on-the-spot activities. The study reveals a dilemma: sales autonomy encourages sales activities, but it also results in negative business performance. The authors examined the contribution of marketing planning in attaining better performance. Marketing planning guides salespeople in a right direction without inviting any negative aspects.

A diketone precursor of air-stable bis-2-thienyl-2,6-anthracene was prepared and quantitatively converted to the target acene by photoirradiation of the n–π ∗ absorption both in solution and as a film, in air.

We investigated the effects of a de novo designed peptide, WLFLLKKK (peptide-1) and La3+, which can bind with the electrically neutral lipid membrane interface, on the stability of the phosphatidylcholine (PC) membrane in the Lα phase and that of the liquid-ordered (lo) phase membranes. The results of spacing of the multilamellar vesicle and shape changes of the giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) indicate that the peptide-1 can be partitioned into the membrane interface in the Lα phase but not into that in the lo phase. La3+ induced shape changes of GUVs of the lo phase membrane, which are the same as those of GUVs in the Lα phase. This indicates that the binding of La3+ induced an increase in the lateral compression pressure of the membrane, which decreased the surface area of the membrane in the lo phase. The difference of the membrane interface between the Lα phase and the lo phase is discussed.

The extract of the sea hare, Aplysia kurodai, showed neurotrophic activity toward rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells. Bioassay-guided purification afforded two active compounds, which were subsequently identified to be parguerol and isoparguerol by spectroscopic analysis. It was found that both parguerol and isoparguerol induced neurite outgrowth in PC-12 cells at concentrations of 25 and 50 μM, respectively.

Elucidation of the mechanism of transitions between the cubic phase and the liquid-crystalline (L α ) phase and between different cubic phases is essential for an understanding of the dynamics of biomembranes and the development of new crystallization techniques. Recently, we found that electrostatic interactions due to the surface charges of lipid membranes induce transitions between the cubic phase and L α phase and between different cubic phases (Aota-Nakano, Y.; Li, S. J.; Yamazaki, M. Biochim. Biophys. Acts 1999, 1461, 96; Li, S. J.; Yamashita, Y.; Yamazaki, M. Biophys. J. 2001, 81, 983). In the present study, we used small-angle X-ray scattering to investigate the effects of a de novo designed peptide (WLFLLKKK, peptide-1, which has positive charges and a site that is partitioned in electrically neutral lipid-membrane interfaces) on the stability of the cubic phase of the monoolein (MO) membrane. As the peptide-1 concentration increased, a transition from the Q 2 2 4 to the Q 2 2 9 phase in the MO membrane at a 30 wt % lipid concentration occurred at R = 0.0090 (R is the molar ratio of peptide to MO), and at R ≥ 0.040, the MO/peptide-1 membranes were in the L α phase. As the NaCl concentration in the bulk phase increased, for the MO/ peptide-1 membranes in the Q 2 2 9 phase in excess water, a Q 2 2 9 phase to Q 2 2 4 phase transition occurred at low concentrations of NaCl. Similarly, for the MO/peptide-1 membranes (R = 0.080) in excess water, at low NaCl concentrations, they were in the La phase, but at ≥ 0.40 M NaCl, they were in the Q224 phase. These results indicate that peptide-1 was partitioned in the membrane interface of the MO membrane, electrostatic interactions due to peptide-1 in the membrane interface make the Q229 phase more stable than the Q 2 2 4 phase, and with larger electrostatic interactions, the L α phase is more stable than these cubic phases. Increased peptide-1 concentration reduced the absolute value of spontaneous curvature of the MO/peptide-1 monolayer membrane. On the basis of these results, we discuss the mechanism of the effect of peptide-1 on the phase stability of the MO membranes.

The aim of the present study was to examine the applicability of liquid chromatography (LC) with photodiode array detection (PAD) and mass spectrometry (MS) for the determination of natural food colorants such as safflower yellow in foods. The main coloring constituents in safflower yellow as investigated by LC/PAD, were safflomin A (SF‐A) and safflomin B (SF‐B). The development of an accurate, sensitive, and selective analytical method was attempted by using LC/MS with an electrospray ionization interface. In addition, food prepared by solid‐phase extraction (SPE) was evaluated. Cartridges with only the reversed‐phase mode (C18, C8, and OASIS‐HLB) and the mixed‐phase mode (reversed phase and anion exchange: Bond Elut Certify 2) were examined in terms of recovery. The recoveries of SF‐A and ‐B were above 70% when the mixed‐phase mode cartridge was used. Therefore, the mixed‐phase mode phase was found to be more suitable for food sample recovery than the other modes. The detection levels of SF‐A a...

We have designed and synthesized a peptide, WLFLLKKK (peptide-1), which has positive charges and a segment partitioned into the electrically neutral lipid membrane interface, and investigated its effect on the stability of the phosphatidylcholine (PC) membrane. Spacing of multilamellar vesicles of palmitoyloleoyl-PC increased greatly with an increase in peptide-1 concentration. The addition of 5 μM peptide-1 through a micropipet near the giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine induced several kinds of shape changes; for example, a discocyte was changed to two spheres connected by a neck, and small vesicles were budded into the outside of the spherical GUV. These results indicate that the de novo designed peptide-1 can be partitioned into the PC membrane interface and have a large effect on its structure and properties.

The terminal phosphide complex of tungsten Cp(CO) 3 W{PN(Me)CH 2 CH 2 PNMe} ( 3 ) prepared from Cp(Sn n Bu 3 )(CO) 2 W{PN(Me)CH 2 CH 2 NMe(OMe)}, BF 3 ·;OEt 2 , and NaBPh 4 in situ reacts with PhCH 2 Cl to give cis -Cp(CO 2 )ClW{PN(Me)CH 2 CH 2 NMe(CH 2 Ph)} ( cis-4 ). During the reaction, C--Cl bond addition takes place toward a tungsten-phosphorus double bond. In contrast, isolated 3 does not react with PhCH 2 Cl. Isolated 3 , however, reacts with PhCH 2 Cl in the presence of BPh 3 and BF 3 to give trans-4 and cis-4 , respectively.

We investigated effect of electrostatic interactions due to surfacecharges on structures and stability of cubic phases of monoolein (MO)membrane using the small-angle X-ray scattering method. Firstly, wechanged the surface charge density of the membrane by usingdioleoylphosphatidic acid (DOPA). As increasing DOPA concentration in themembrane at 30 wt % lipid concentration, a Q224 to Q229 phasetransition occurred at 0.6 mol % DOPA, and at and above 25 mol %, DOPA/MOmembranes were in the Lα phase. NaCl in the bulk phase reduced theeffect of DOPA. These results indicate that as the electrostaticinteractions increase, the most stable phase changes as follows: Q224⇒ Q229 ⇒ Lα. The increase in DOPAconcentration reduced the absolute value of spontaneous curvature of themembrane, | H0 |. Secondly, we changed the surface charge of themembrane by adding a de novo designed peptide, which has netpositive charges and a binding site on the electrically neutral membraneinterface. The peptide-1 (WLFLLKKK) induced a Q224 to Q229phase transition in the MO membrane at low peptide concentration. As NaClconcentration increases, the MO/peptide-1 membrane changed from Q229to Q224 phase. The increase in peptide-1 concentration reduced |H0 |. Based on these results, the stability of the cubic phases and themechanism of phase transition between cubic phase and Lα phase arediscussed.

The objectives of this research are twofold. First, we intend to clarify how market orientation is affected by the credibility of marketing information. Second, we wish to reach a deeper understanding of the interplay between a marketing unit’s influence, credibility, and market orientation. We also examine the effects of those factors on firm performance. Toward these objectives, we engaged in empirical research on large-scale Japanese firms in various industries. Before conducting a questionnaire survey, we held in-depth interviews with top management, marketing managers, and marketing professionals to identify factors which hinder market orientation in the Japanese business environment. An extensive questionnaire survey of Japanese firms was then conducted, in which we collected data on market orientation, the credibility of marketing information, the influence of marketing units within a firm, and the firm’s performance.

To elucidate effects of electrostatic interactions resulting from surface charges on structures and phase stability of cubic phases of lipid membranes, membranes of 1-monoolein (MO) and dioleoylphosphatidic acid (DOPA) (DOPA/MO membrane) mixtures have been investigated by small-angle x-ray scattering method. As increasing DOPA concentration in the DOPA/MO membrane at 30 wt% lipid concentration, a phase transition from Q(224) to Q(229) phase occurred at 0.6 mol% DOPA, and at and above 25 mol% DOPA, DOPA/MO membranes were in the L(alpha) phase. As NaCl concentration in the bulk phase increased, for 10% DOPA/90% MO membrane in excess water, a Q(229) to Q(224) phase transition occurred at 60 mM NaCl, and then a Q(224) to H(II) phase transition occurred at 1.2 M NaCl. Similarly, for 30% DOPA/70% MO membrane in excess water, at low NaCl concentrations it was in the L(alpha) phase, but at and above 0.50 M NaCl it was in the Q(224) phase, and then at 0.65 M NaCl a Q(224) to H(II) phase transition occurred. These results indicate that the electrostatic interactions in the membrane interface make the Q(229) phase more stable than the Q(224) phase, and that, at larger electrostatic interactions, the L(alpha) phase is more stable than the cubic phases (Q(224) and Q(229)). We have found that the addition of tetradecane to the MO membrane induced a Q(224)-to-H(II) phase transition and also that to the 30% DOPA/70% MO membrane induced an L(alpha)-to-H(II) phase transition. By using these membranes, the effect of the electrostatic interactions resulting from the membrane surface charge (DOPA) on the spontaneous curvature of the monolayer membrane has been investigated. The increase in DOPA concentration in the DOPA/MO membrane reduced the absolute value of spontaneous curvature of the membrane. In the 30% DOPA/70% MO membrane, the absolute value of spontaneous curvature of the membrane increased with an increase in NaCl concentration. On the basis of these new results, the phase stability of DOPA/MO membranes can be reasonably explained by the spontaneous curvature of the monolayer membrane and a curvature elastic energy of the membrane.

We have investigated effects of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on the phase stability of multilamellar vesicles of the ether-linked 1,2-dihexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DHPC-MLV), which is known to be in the interdigitated gel (LbetaI) phase in excess water at 20 degrees C. The results of X-ray diffraction experiments indicate that the DHPC membrane was in the Lbeta, phase at X> or =0.12 (X=mole fraction of DMSO in DMSO/water mixture). The result of differential scanning calorimetry indicate that the gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition temperature increased, but the LbetaI to Pbeta, phase transition temperature decreased with an increase in DMSO concentration. These results show that DMSO stabilizes the bilayer gel phase rather than the LbetaI phase at its low concentration. The solubility of phosphorylcholine, which is the same structure as the headgroup of DHPC, decreased with an increase in DMSO concentration, indicating that the interaction free energy of the hydrophilic segments of the membrane with solvents increases with an increase in DMSO concentration. On the basis of the thermodynamic analysis, the mechanism of the stabilization of the bilayer gel phase of DHPC-MLV by DMSO is discussed. The decrease in the repulsive interaction between the headgroups of the phospholipid induced by the low concentrations of DMSO in water plays an important role in this stabilization.

Hydrogenation of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide (CO/H 2 =CO 2 /H 2 =1/3) on Raney ruthenium catalysts was carried out under pressures of 1.1 and 2.1 MPa using an autoclave in the presence of water at 353 and 433 K. Hydrocarbons, whose distribution followed the Schulz–Flory pattern, were produced from CO–H 2 , together with a trace amount of methanol. The activities for their production have been much improved under high pressure, but the selectivity of methanol production decreased, probably due to the poisoning of active sites by water. The activity for methane production from CO 2 –H 2 at 433 K under 1.1 MPa was much higher than that under atmospheric pressure. The rate of methane synthesis was 3.0 mmol g −1 h −1 and the selectivity for methane formation was 98% at 353 K, suggesting the practical use of this catalyst. The activity and selectivity of CO and CO 2 hydrogenation are discussed from mechanistic standpoints.

Phenethyl ketone oximes are converted to quinolines by the treatment with tetrabutylammonium perrhenate, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, and chloranil in refluxing 1,2-dichloroethane. Azaspirotrienones can be synthesized from p-hydroxyphenethyl or 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)propyl ketone oximes by applying the above method. Thus prepared azaspirotrienones are converted to quinolines by acid treatment.

6,13-Dihydro-6,13-ethanopentacene-15,16-dione gave pentacene efficiently both in solid and in solution by irradiation of light.

The extract of licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis FISHER, Leguminosae) showed CYP3A4 inhibitory activity with the IC50 value of 0.022 mg/ml. Bioassay-guided purification afforded nine compounds, 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (1), isoliquiritigenin (2), (3R)-vestitol (3), licopyranocoumarin (4), 4-hydroxyguaiacol apioglucoside (5), liquiritin (6), liquiritigenin 7,4'-diglucoside (7), liquiritin apioside (8), and glucoliquiritin apioside (9). Among these compounds, 3, 7, and 5 showed potent CYP3A4 inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 3.6, 17, and 20 microM, respectively. Glycyrrhizin (10), a main constituent of licorice, however, was inactive for CYP3A4 inhibition.

Plants produce jasmonic acid (JA) and its amino acid conjugate, jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile) as major defense signals in response to wounding and herbivory. In rice (Oryza sativa), JA and JA-Ile rapidly increased after mechanical damage, and this increase was further amplified when the wounds were treated with oral secretions from generalist herbivore larvae, lawn armyworms (Spodoptera mauritia), revealing for the first time active perception mechanisms of herbivore-associated elicitor(s) in rice. In the rice genome, two OsJAR genes can conjugate JA and Ile and form JA-Ile in vitro; however, their function in herbivory-induced accumulation of JA-Ile has not been investigated. By functional characterization of TOS17 retrotransposon-tagged Osjar1 plants and their response to simulated herbivory, we show that OsJAR1 is essential for JA-Ile production in herbivore-attacked, field-grown plants. In addition, OsJAR1 was required for normal seed development in rice under field conditions. Our results suggest that OsJAR1 possesses at least two major functions in rice defense and development that cannot be complemented by the additional OsJAR2 gene function, although this gene previously showed overlapping enzyme activity in vitro.