Effect of wearing masks on odor detection and recognition.

Background: The effect of wearing masks on olfaction remains unclear.

Objectives: This study aimed to clarify the differences between the effects of no masks, surgical masks, and N95 respirator masks by conducting both identification and threshold olfaction tests.

Methods: Young, healthy volunteers aged ≥ 18 years and < 30 years without awareness of apparent olfactory disorder were included.

Phosphatidylserine synthesis controls oncogenic B cell receptor signaling in B cell lymphoma.

Cancer cells harness lipid metabolism to promote their own survival. We screened 47 cancer cell lines for survival dependency on phosphatidylserine (PS) synthesis using a PS synthase 1 (PTDSS1) inhibitor and found that B cell lymphoma is highly dependent on PS. Inhibition of PTDSS1 in B cell lymphoma cells caused a reduction of PS and phosphatidylethanolamine levels and an increase of phosphoinositide levels.

Potent and Selective PTDSS1 Inhibitors Induce Collateral Lethality in Cancers with PTDSS2 Deletion.

This study identifies a specific dependency on PTDSS1 for phosphatidylserine synthesis following PTDSS2 deletion and introduces novel PTDSS1 inhibitors as a therapeutic option to induce collateral lethality in cancer with PTDSS2 loss.

A new species of the subterranean millipede genus Antrokoreana Verhoeff, 1938 from the Nanatsuoguchi Mine, central Honshu, Japan, and insights into the phylogenetic position of Antrokoreana (Diplopoda, Julida, Nemasomatidae).

A new species of the subterranean millipede genus Antrokoreana Verhoeff, 1938, A. asuwaensis sp. nov.

Eosinophils promote corneal wound healing via the 12/15-lipoxygenase pathway.

Lipid mediators play important roles in regulating inflammatory responses and tissue homeostasis. Since 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX)-derived lipid mediators such as lipoxin A (LXA ) and protectin D1 (PD1) protect against corneal epithelial cell damage, the major cell types that express 12/15-LOX and contribute to the corneal wound healing process are of particular interest. Here, we found that eosinophils were the major cell type expressing 12/15-LOX during the corneal wound healing process.

Development of an externally controllable sealed isotope generator.

An externally controllable sealed isotope generator has been proposed for radiation education activities. Column (Ge-Ga and Cs-Ba) and solvent extraction (Ge-Ga)-based isotope generators were applied as radioactive sources. These generators showed high milking efficiencies and low breakthrough after repeated uses, and are expected to promote the use of isotope generators without radioactive contamination or the emission of radioactive waste.

Emerging roles of eosinophils and eosinophil-derived lipid mediators in the resolution of inflammation.

Acute inflammation and its resolution are essential processes for tissue protection and homeostasis. Once thought to be a passive process, the resolution of inflammation is now shown to involve active biochemical programs that enable inflamed tissues to return to homeostasis. The mechanisms by which acute inflammation is resolved are of interest, and research in recent years has uncovered new endogenous anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediators (i.