Structural transition of various-sized sphere-platelet mixtures.

Monte Carlo simulations on the structural change of hard sphere-platelet mixtures were performed to investigate the effect of particle size. We quantitatively analyzed local equilibrium structures of sphere-platelet mixtures with varying size ratios under various sphere and platelet density conditions. Based on the simulation results, we investigated the structural transitions such as isotropic to anisotropic, clustering, and so on.

Abundance of the benthic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum and the diversity, distribution, and diarrhetic shellfish toxin production of Prorocentrum lima complex and P. caipirignum in Japan.

In the present study, the abundance of Prorocentrum and the molecular phylogeny, distribution, and DST production of P. lima complex and P. caipirignum in Japan were investigated.

Examination of prezygotic and postzygotic isolating barriers in tropical Ulva (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta): evidence for ongoing speciation.

Phylogenetic clades based on DNA sequences such as the chloroplast rbcL gene and the nuclear ITS region are frequently used to delimit algal species. However, these molecular markers cannot accurately delimit boundaries among some Ulva species. Although Ulva reticulata and Ulva ohnoi occasionally bloom in tropical to warm-temperate regions and are clearly distinguishable by their reticulate or plain blade morphology, they have few or no sequence divergences in these molecular markers and form a monophyletic clade.

Suppression of Th17 response by Streptococcus thermophilus ST28 through induction of IFN-γ.

The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-17 plays important roles in various inflammatory diseases, and IL-17-producing T helper 17 cells (Th17) have received much attention. For therapy of Th17-mediated diseases, some reports have indicated the clinical efficacy of lactic acid bacteria, including Streptococcus thermophilus. In this study, we examined the mechanism for the suppressive effects of S.