Development and Investigation of a Grasping Analysis System with Two-Axis Force Sensors at Each of the 16 Points on the Object Surface for a Hardware-Based FinRay-Type Soft Gripper.

The FinRay soft gripper achieves passive enveloping grasping through its functional flexible structure, adapting to the contact configuration of the object to be grasped. However, variations in beam position and thickness lead to different behaviors, making it important to research the relationship between structure and force. Conventional research using FEM simulations has tested various virtual FinRay models but replicating phenomena such as buckling and slipping has been challenging.

Optimized protocols for sperm cryopreservation and in vitro fertilization in the rat.

Laboratory rats have been used in biomedical research for over 170 years. Recently, genome editing technology has facilitated the generation of genetically modified rats worldwide. This development has increased the demand for efficient preservation and production of rat resources.

Analysis of clinical factors and reasons that influence the disposition of cryopreserved embryos in Japanese patients with infertility treated in our clinic.

Aim: To investigate the clinical factors and factors that affect the decisions regarding storage of cryopreserved embryos obtained using assisted reproductive technology.

Methods: Clinical characteristics affecting the decisions regarding cryopreserved embryos were analyzed in 5724 Japanese couples who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intra-cytoplasmic sperm insemination (ICSI) and embryo transfer over 4 years since April 2015 at our clinic. Statistical analysis was carried out using JMP software.

Hypohidrosis and metal allergy: Trigger factors for unilateral lichen planus.

Unilateral lichen planus (LP) is a rare clinical variant of LP. The etiology of unilateral LP has not been clarified, although various causes have been reported because of the characteristic distribution. We focused on the contribution of metal allergy and sweating in the development of unilateral LP in this case.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Replicative Lifespan in 4,698 Single-Gene Deletion Strains Uncovers Conserved Mechanisms of Aging.

Many genes that affect replicative lifespan (RLS) in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae also affect aging in other organisms such as C. elegans and M. musculus.

Systematic analysis of asymmetric partitioning of yeast proteome between mother and daughter cells reveals "aging factors" and mechanism of lifespan asymmetry.

Budding yeast divides asymmetrically, giving rise to a mother cell that progressively ages and a daughter cell with full lifespan. It is generally assumed that mother cells retain damaged, lifespan limiting materials ("aging factors") through asymmetric division. However, the identity of these aging factors and the mechanisms through which they limit lifespan remain poorly understood.

Proteasomes, Sir2, and Hxk2 form an interconnected aging network that impinges on the AMPK/Snf1-regulated transcriptional repressor Mig1.

Elevated proteasome activity extends lifespan in model organisms such as yeast, worms and flies. This pro-longevity effect might be mediated by improved protein homeostasis, as this protease is an integral module of the protein homeostasis network. Proteasomes also regulate cellular processes through temporal and spatial degradation of signaling pathway components.

Enhanced longevity by ibuprofen, conserved in multiple species, occurs in yeast through inhibition of tryptophan import.

The common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen has been associated with a reduced risk of some age-related pathologies. However, a general pro-longevity role for ibuprofen and its mechanistic basis remains unclear. Here we show that ibuprofen increased the lifespan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster, indicative of conserved eukaryotic longevity effects.

Prolonged exposure to hyaluronidase decreases the fertilization and development rates of fresh and cryopreserved mouse oocytes.

Hyaluronidase is generally used to remove cumulus cells from mouse oocytes before oocyte cryopreservation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection or DNA injection. In general, use of cumulus-free mouse oocytes decreases in vitro fertilizing ability compared with cumulus-surrounded oocytes. The effect of hyaluronidase exposure on the quality of mouse oocytes is not fully understood.

Inactivation of yeast Isw2 chromatin remodeling enzyme mimics longevity effect of calorie restriction via induction of genotoxic stress response.

ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling is involved in all DNA transactions and is linked to numerous human diseases. We explored functions of chromatin remodelers during cellular aging. Deletion of ISW2, or mutations inactivating the Isw2 enzyme complex, extends yeast replicative lifespan.

Rescue in vitro fertilization method for legacy stock of frozen mouse sperm.

Sperm cryopreservation has been widely adopted for maintenance of the genetically engineered mouse (GEM). The cryopreserved sperm are being exchanged among many institutes worldwide. However, the recipients are not always able to obtain high fertilization rates with the frozen sperm shipped from senders.

Investigations of motility and fertilization potential in thawed cryopreserved mouse sperm from cold-stored epididymides.

Cold transport of epididymides from genetically modified mice is an efficient alternative to the shipment of live animals between research facilities. Mouse sperm from epididymides cold-stored for short periods can maintain viability. We previously reported that cold storage of mouse epididymides in Lifor® perfusion medium prolonged sperm motility and fertilization potential and that the sperm efficiently fertilized oocytes when reduced glutathione was added to the fertilization medium.

Sirtuins in yeast: phenotypes and tools.

Originally discovered as a transcriptional silencing protein, SIR2 was later linked to yeast replicative aging and the rest was history. Sir2p is now known to be a member of a class of protein deacetylases with a unique enzymatic activity coupling the deacetylation event to NAD(+) hydrolysis. While still incompletely understood, the mechanism by which Sir2p modulates yeast aging is linked to inhibition of rDNA recombination.

Applications of cryopreserved unfertilized mouse oocytes for in vitro fertilization.

Since the first successful reports into oocyte freezing, many papers concerning the cryopreservation of mouse oocytes have been published. However, a simple and practical cryopreservation method for unfertilized C57BL/6 mouse oocytes, and an IVF system using these cryopreserved oocytes have yet to be established, in spite of the fact that C57BL/6 is the prevalent inbred strain and is used for large-scale knockout programs. In this study, unfertilized C57BL/6 mouse oocytes were cryopreserved via a simple vitrification method.

A natural polymorphism in rDNA replication origins links origin activation with calorie restriction and lifespan.

Aging and longevity are complex traits influenced by genetic and environmental factors. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that control replicative lifespan, we employed an outbred Saccharomyces cerevisiae model, generated by crossing a vineyard and a laboratory strain. The predominant QTL mapped to the rDNA, with the vineyard rDNA conferring a lifespan increase of 41%.

Vacuolar dynamics and replicative aging.

Comment on: Gebre S, et al. Cell Cycle 2012; 11:2176-88.

Establishment of a transport system for mouse epididymal sperm at refrigerated temperatures.

The exchange of genetically engineered mouse strains between research facilities requires transporting fresh mouse sperm under refrigerated temperatures. Although sperm generally maintains fertility for 48 h at cold temperatures, in vitro fertilization rates of C57BL/6 mouse sperm are low after 48-h cold storage. Furthermore, 48 h is often not sufficient for the specimens to reach their destinations.

Elevated proteasome capacity extends replicative lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Aging is characterized by the accumulation of damaged cellular macromolecules caused by declining repair and elimination pathways. An integral component employed by cells to counter toxic protein aggregates is the conserved ubiquitin/proteasome system (UPS). Previous studies have described an age-dependent decline of proteasomal function and increased longevity correlates with sustained proteasome capacity in centenarians and in naked mole rats, a long-lived rodent.

Sir2 deletion prevents lifespan extension in 32 long-lived mutants.

Activation of Sir2 orthologs is proposed to increase lifespan downstream of dietary restriction. Here, we describe an examination of the effect of 32 different lifespan-extending mutations and four methods of DR on replicative lifespan (RLS) in the short-lived sir2Δ yeast strain. In every case, deletion of SIR2 prevented RLS extension; however, RLS extension was restored when both SIR2 and FOB1 were deleted in several cases, demonstrating that SIR2 is not directly required for RLS extension.

Short-term storage and transport at cold temperatures of 2-cell mouse embryos produced by cryopreserved sperm.

At refrigerated temperatures, mouse embryos can maintain developmental ability for short periods. Previously, we succeeded in transporting vitrified and warmed 2-cell mouse embryos while maintaining developmental ability at refrigerated temperatures for 50 h. Transport of nonfrozen embryos is an easier and more useful means of exchanging genetically engineered mice between laboratories than is transport of cryopreserved embryos.

Enhancement of the aspartame precursor synthetic activity of an organic solvent-stable protease.

The PST-01 protease is highly stable and catalyzes the synthesis of the aspartame precursor with high reaction yields in the presence of organic solvents. However, the synthesis rate using the PST-01 protease was slower than that observed when thermolysin was used. Structural comparison of both enzymes showed particular amino acid differences near the active center.

Fertilization of C57BL/6 mouse sperm collected from cauda epididymides after preservation or transportation at 4 degrees C using laser-microdissected oocytes.

The C57BL/6 mouse is commonly used to produce transgenic and knockout strains for biomedical research. However, the motility and fertility of its sperm decrease markedly with freezing. Short-term preservation of sperm without freezing can avoid this.

Birth of mice from vitrified/warmed 2-cell embryos transported at a cold temperature.

Cryopreservation of 2-cell embryos is an effective technology for storage of genetically engineered mouse strains. Transport of genetically engineered mice between laboratories has frequently been performed using such cryopreserved 2-cell embryos. However, the receiving laboratory requires proficient skills and special instruments to obtain live young from cryopreserved and transported embryos.