Macroalgae influence local and global biogeochemical cycles through their production of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Yet, data remain scarce and annualized estimates are typically based on high growth periods without considering seasonal variability. Although the mechanisms of active exudation and passive leakage need clarifying, ecophysiological stress is known to enhance DOC release.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMechanical exfoliation methods of two-dimensional materials have been an essential process for advanced devices and fundamental sciences. However, the exfoliation method usually generates various thick flakes, and a bunch of thick bulk flakes usually covers an entire substrate. Here, we developed a method to selectively isolate mono- to quadlayers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) by sonication in organic solvents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe previously found that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-deficient (PACAP) mice exhibit dendritic spine morphology impairment and neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD)-like behaviors such as hyperactivity, increased novelty-seeking behavior, and deficient pre-pulse inhibition. Recent studies have indicated that rodent models of NDDs (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF,-Dimethylformamide (DMF) is an essential solvent in industries and pharmaceutics. Its market size range was estimated to be 2 billion U.S.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndividual taste sensitivity influences food preferences, nutritional control, and health, and differs greatly between individuals. The purpose of this study was to establish a method of measuring and quantifying an individual's taste sensitivity and to evaluate the relationship between taste variation and genetic polymorphisms in humans using agonist specificities of the bitter taste receptor gene, , with the bitter compound 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP). We precisely detected the threshold of PROP bitter perception by conducting the modified two-alternative forced-choice (2AFC) procedure with the Bayesian staircase procedure of the QUEST method and examined genetic variation in in a Japanese population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrimary cilia transduce signals via transmembrane and membrane-associated proteins localized to the ciliary membrane in vertebrate cells. In humans, transmembrane protein 67 (TMEM67), a component of the multiprotein complex functioning as a gatekeeper at the transition zone (TZ) of primary cilia, is mutated in patients suffering from cilia-related pleiotropic diseases, collectively referred to as ciliopathies. The requirement of TMEM67 for the gating function of the TZ that delivers membrane proteins into the ciliary compartment has not been determined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe interface between conventional semiconductors and aqueous ionic solutions is an important target in chemistry and materials science. Recently, a wide variety of research has been done on transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) for use as 2D layered semiconductors, and their optoelectronic properties have been widely explored. One representative TMDC, monolayer (1L) MoS, is known to show a photoluminescence (PL) signal of a direct band gap nature, and the PL intensity is dependent on the carrier concentration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe nodes of Ranvier are unmyelinated gaps in the axon, important for the efficient transmission of action potentials. Despite the identification of several glycoproteins involved in node formation and maintenance, glycans' structure and formation in the node remain unclear. Previously, we developed a recombinant lectin from the Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin complex, specific to the galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine terminal epitopes (Gg).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe proteasome is essential for cellular responses to various physiological stressors. However, how proteasome function impacts the stress resilience of regenerative damaged motor neurons remains unclear. Here, we develop a unique mouse model using a regulatory element of the activating transcription factor (Atf3) gene to label mitochondria in a damage-induced manner while simultaneously genetically disrupting the proteasome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe axon initial segment (AIS) is a structural neuronal compartment of the proximal axon that plays key roles in sodium channel clustering, action potential initiation, and signal propagation of neuronal outputs. Mutations in constitutive genes of the AIS, such as ANK3, have been identified in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders. Nevertheless, morphological changes in the AIS in neurodevelopmental disorders have not been characterized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study was conducted with the aim of presenting cases in which high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) was used to investigate changes in the bone microstructure due to once-weekly/twice-weekly administration of teriparatide (TPTD). Of osteoporosis patients who participated in a non-inferiority trial (TWICE study: once-weekly vs twice-weekly TPTD) with lumbar bone mineral density as the primary endpoint, five cases scanned by HR-pQCT before TPTD administration were analysed. Two cases were given once-weekly TPTD, three were given twice-weekly TPD, and HR-pQCT was repeated after 48 weeks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDue to the direct band gap nature, extensive studies have been conducted to improve the optical behavior in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with a formula of MX (M = Mo, W; X = S, Se, Te). One of the strongest modulating agents of optical behavior is a molecular superacid treatment; however, the chemical event has not been unveiled. Also, the engineering protocol for keeping the treatment is immature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To assess differences in efficacy of a 28.2-μg teriparatide formulation for twice-weekly use (2/W-TPTD) by patient characteristics.
Methods: A analysis was performed using data from a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, non-inferiority trial (TWICE study) conducted in Japan comparing the efficacies of once-weekly and twice-weekly injections of teriparatide (TPTD).
Osteoclastic bone resorption and osteoblastic bone formation/replenishment are closely coupled in bone metabolism. Anabolic parathyroid hormone (PTH), which is commonly used for treating osteoporosis, shifts the balance from osteoclastic to osteoblastic, although it is unclear how these cells are coordinately regulated by PTH. Here, we identify a serine protease inhibitor, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), as a critical mediator that is involved in the PTH-mediated shift to the osteoblastic phase.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: There have been no reports of the effects of baseline lumbar spine bone mineral density (LS-BMD) and bone turnover marker levels on the therapeutic effect of a 28.2-μg teriparatide formulation for twice-weekly use (2/W-TPTD).
Materials And Methods: An analysis was performed using data from a double-blind, randomized, non-inferiority trial (TWICE study) conducted with patients who received 2/W-TPTD or a 56.
Detection of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is beneficial for prolonging patient survival. However, the serum markers currently used show limited ability to identify early-stage HCC. In this study, we explored human serum -glycans as sensitive markers to diagnose HCC in patients with cirrhosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control
May 2021
To evaluate the characteristics of Pb(Zr,Ti)O (PZT) thin films (about [Formula: see text] thick) with three different sputtering configurations-single-layer (SL) deposition, multilayer (ML) deposition with internal electrodes, and multistep (MS) deposition-were prepared. The SL films exhibited poorer dielectric characteristics than the ML and MS films. The reliability and piezoelectric characteristics were especially high in the MS film, with an [Formula: see text] constant of -9.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo advance the development of atomically thin optoelectronics using two-dimensional (2D) materials, engineering strong luminescence with a physicochemical basis is crucial. Semiconducting monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are candidates for this, but their quantum yield (QY) is known to be poor. Recently, a molecular superacid treatment of bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (TFSI) generated unambiguously bright monolayer TMDCs and a high QY.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArginine methylation is a common posttranslational modification that modulates protein function. SCY1-like pseudokinase 1 (SCYL1) is crucial for neuronal functions and interacts with γ-COP to form coat protein complex I (COPI) vesicles that regulate Golgi morphology. However, the molecular mechanism by which SCYL1 is regulated remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: On July 20, 2012, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) provided a recommendation that limits the long-term use of calcitonin. Based on this recommendation, we investigate the presence or absence of a cancer diagnosis in subjects who participated in the ongoing clinical trial of elcatonin.
Methods: When the EMA gave this recommendation, we were conducting "a 3-year placebo-controlled clinical study for elcatonin" (hereinafter, referred to as "the original study").
Polarisation domain structure is a microstructure specific to ferroelectrics and plays a role in their various fascinating characteristics. The piezoelectric properties of ferroelectrics are influenced by the domain wall contribution. This study provides a direct observation of the contribution of domain walls to the direct piezoelectric response of bismuth ferrite (BiFeO) films, which have been widely studied as lead-free piezoelectrics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlternative splicing is a powerful mechanism for molecular and functional diversification. In neurons, alternative splicing extensively controls various developmental steps as well as the plasticity and remodeling of neuronal activity in the adult brain. The axon initial segment (AIS) is the specialized compartment of proximal axons that initiates action potential (AP).
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