Enhanced silk production and pupal weight in Bombyx mori through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated circadian Clock gene disruption.

The domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, is crucial for global silk production, which is a significant economic activity supporting millions of livelihoods worldwide. Beyond traditional silk production, the growing demand for insect larvae in cosmetics, biomedical products, and animal feed underscores the need to enhance B. mori productivity.

Stereoselective Sequential Diels-Alder Reactions on a Cyclic Furan Trimer for the Construction of an Asymmetric Scaffold.

Multiple Diels-Alder reactions are a powerful method to construct large asymmetric scaffolds, but these reactions often produce numerous isomers. We now report a triple Diels-Alder reaction between a cyclic furan trimer and -substituted maleimides, achieving selective synthesis of a single asymmetric tris-adduct. The stereoselectivity of cycloaddition to π-extended furan derivatives was clarified by the experimental analysis of intermediates and theoretical calculations.

An evolutionary game theory analysis on the environmental impact of discharging Fukushima's nuclear wastewater: International stakeholders and strategic dynamics.

On August 24, 2023, Japan controversially decided to discharge nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, initiating intense domestic and global debates. This study employs a mixed-method approach, integrating quantitative evolutionary game theory and qualitative data analysis to explore the strategic dynamics among Japan, other nations, and the Japan Fisheries Association regarding this decision. The data includes international environmental reports and economic statistics, served as the basis for simulating decision-making processes under various legal, economic, and environmental pressures.

Insight into Charge Transport Behaviors in Hematite Photoanodes via Potential-Dependent Impedance Spectroscopy and Machine Learning.

We employed machine learning (ML) techniques combined with potential-dependent photoelectrochemical impedance spectroscopy (pot-PEIS) to gain deeper insights into the charge transport mechanisms of hematite (α-FeO) photoanodes. By the Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis from the ML model constructed from a small data set (dozens of samples) of electrical parameters obtained from pot-PEIS and the PEC performance, we identified the dominant factors influencing the electron transport to the back contact in the bulk and hole transfer to a solution at the hematite/electrolyte interface. The results revealed that shallow defect states significantly enhance electron transport, while deep defect states impede it, and also one of the surface states enhances the hole transfer to the electrolyte solution.

Strength and size relationships of toe flexor muscles in three different functional force production tasks.

: Toe flexor strength (TFS) has been determined to evaluate the toe flexor muscle function. However, it is unclear how strength and size relationships of toe flexor muscles vary depending on the toes intended for force production. We aimed to clarify this by examining the relationship between TFS and toe flexor muscle size, and hypothesized TFS produced by all toes (TFS-All), the great toe (TFS-Great) and lesser toes (TFS-Lesser) would be specifically associated with the size of the muscles specialized in each corresponding toe flexion.

Exploring the development of safety culture among physicians with text mining of patient safety reports: a retrospective study.

Background: Safety culture development is essential for patient safety in healthcare institution. Perceptions of patient safety and cultural changes are reflected in patient safety reports; however, they were rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of physicians and to explore the development of safety culture using quantitative content analysis for patient safety reports.

Photochromic Color Tuning of Copper-doped Zinc Sulfide Nanocrystals by Control of Local Dopant Environments.

Inorganic photochromic materials offer several advantages over organic compounds, including relatively inexpensive and higher thermal stability. However, tuning their color with the same component has remained a significant challenge. In this study, we demonstrate that the photochromic color of Cu-doped ZnS nanocrystals (NCs), which is initially pale yellow before light irradiation, can be tuned from gray to brown by adjusting the surface stoichiometry of Zn and S, which is controlled through the use of thiol and non-thiol ligands.

The Arabidopsis Basic-Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor LRL1 Activates Cell Wall-Related Genes during Root Hair Development.

Lotus japonicus-ROOT HAIR LESS1-LIKE1 (LRL1) of Arabidopsis thaliana encodes a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor (TF) involved in root hair development. Root hair development is regulated by an elaborate transcriptional network, in which GLABRA2 (GL2), a key negative regulator, directly represses bHLH TF genes, including LRL1 and ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE6 (RHD6). Although RHD6 and its paralogous TFs have been shown to connect downstream to genes involved in cell morphological events such as endomembrane and cell wall modification, the network downstream of LRL1 remains elusive.

Neuro-reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity of 1-bromopropane - studies for evidence-based preventive medicine (EBPM).

Bromopropane was introduced commercially as an alternative to ozone-depleting and global warming solvents. The identification of 1-bromopropane neurotoxicity in animal experiments was followed by reports of human cases of 1-bromopropane toxicity. In humans, the most common clinical features of 1-bromopropane neurotoxicity are decreased sensation, weakness in extremities, and walking difficulties.

Effect of Ozoralizumab Administration with or without Methotrexate in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Post-Hoc Analysis.

Introduction: Ozoralizumab (OZR) is a novel tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor that was launched in Japan for treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to existing therapies. This post-hoc analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of OZR administered without methotrexate (MTX) with placebo or OZR administration in combination with MTX.

Methods: We analyzed the OZR group (30 mg) in the NATSUZORA trial (non-MTX, open trial) (OZR group; n = 94) and the placebo group (MTX group; n = 75) and the 30-mg OZR group (OZR + MTX group; n = 152) in the OHZORA trial (combined MTX, double-blind trial), and the covariates were adjusted by propensity score matching.

Understanding the reproductive ecology of Macrognathus aculeatus in wetland (Gajner beel) ecosystem: insights into eco-climatic influences in northwestern Bangladesh.

The lesser spiny eel, Macrognathus aculeatus (Bloch, 1786), holds substantial economic importance as a food fish in South Asia, due to its exceptional nutritional value. This study was conducted to investigate the reproductive ecology of M. aculeatus within the Gajner beel wetland ecosystem in northwestern Bangladesh, with a specific focus on size at sexual maturity, spawning season, and fecundity in relation to eco-climatic variables.

Acute decompensated right heart failure potentially triggered by multiple factors including pulmonary vasodilator removal during plasma exchange: a case report.

Background: Plasma exchange (PE) removes high-molecular-weight substances and is sometimes used for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) with alveolar hemorrhage. Hypotension during PE is rare, except in allergic cases. We report a case of shock likely caused by increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) during PE.

Gut microbes associated with functional cure of chronic hepatitis B.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is prevalent worldwide and is difficult to eradicate. Current treatment strategies for chronic hepatitis B ultimately seek to achieve functional cure (FC); however, the factors contributing to FC remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the gut microbiota profiles of patients with chronic hepatitis B who achieved FC.

Association of Circulating Basophil Count with Gastric Cancer Prognosis.

Purpose: Basophils play a crucial role in immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic reactions and parasitic infections. Recently, a low basophil count was reported to be a poor prognostic indicator in patients with malignant tumors. This study aimed to investigate the cut-off value to evaluate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of the basophil count in patients with gastric cancer.

Genomic and phenotypic characterisation of Leeuwenhoekiella obamensis sp. nov., a novel marine bacterium isolated from the surface water of a Japanese fishing port.

A novel aerobic marine bacterium, FRT2, isolated from surface water of a fishing port in Fukui, Japan, was characterised based on phylogenomic and phylogenetic analyses combined with classical phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterisations. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain FRT2 clustered with genus Leeuwenhoekiella. Closest relatives of FRT2 were Leeuwenhoekiella palythoae KMM 6264 and Leeuwenhoekiella nanhaiensis G18 with 16S rRNA gene sequence identities of 95.

MFGE8 Acts as a Cell Adhesion Factor for Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Embryology.

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) have been widely used as feeder cells in embryonic stem cell cultures because they can mimic the embryonic microenvironment. Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (MFGE8) is expressed during mouse gonadal development, 10.5-13.

Horizontal Gaze Tolerance and Its Effects on Visual Sensitivity in Glaucoma.

Purpose: This study evaluates the effect of 6° horizontal gaze tolerance on visual field mean sensitivity (MS) in patients with glaucoma using a binocular head-mounted automated perimeter, following findings of structural changes in the posterior globe from magnetic resonance imaging and optical coherence tomography.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 161 eyes (85 primary open-angle glaucoma [POAG] and 76 healthy) from 117 participants were included. Logistic regression and 1:1 matched analysis assessed the propensity score for glaucoma and healthy eyes, considering age, sex, and axial length as confounders.

THG-1/TSC22D4 promotes interleukin-1 signaling through stabilization of TRAF6 in squamous cell carcinoma.

Malignant neoplasms arise within a region of chronic inflammation caused by tissue injuries. Inflammation is a key factor involved in all aspects of tumorigenesis including initiation, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays critical functions in tumor development with influencing the tumor microenvironment and promoting cancer progression.

Pacing and Ablation Technique Using Microelectrode for Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using a Local Impedance-Guided Catheter.

Background: The IntellaNav MiFi OI catheter (MiFi) is equipped with a sensor for local impedance (LI) monitoring and three mini-electrodes. In this study, we investigated the target LI values for a successful pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) under the pacing and ablation technique using the MiFi catheter.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients underwent PVI using the MiFi catheter under mini electrode pacing from the MiFi catheter.

Discovery and Theoretical Studies of Nonenzymatic Polyketide Dimerizations of Chaetophenols.

Nonenzymatic reactions sometimes construct complex structures observed in natural products, showing us unique chemical reactions. In our exploration of natural products, we identified a novel type of isochromene-derived polyketide dimer with a 6/6/6/6/6 five-ring system from along with several new related polyketides. We demonstrated that isochromene and its oxidized derivative undergo nonenzymatic dimerization under acidic conditions to give .

Hotspots and global trends in research of host immune response in periodontitis: A bibliometric analysis.

Background: The host immune response plays a major role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. A bibliometric study can be crucial to understanding the different processes involved in this area; however, to our knowledge, it has not been published until now. Therefore, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to assess research hotspots and global trends in scientific articles about the immune response in periodontitis published between 1952 and 2023.

In Vivo Tissue Temperature Characteristics of Contact Force Catheter With a Mesh-Shaped Irrigation Tip: A Porcine Study.

Background: Neither the actual in vivo tissue temperatures reached with a novel contact force sensing catheter with a mesh-shaped irrigation tip (TactiFlex SE, Abbott) nor the safety profile has been elucidated.

Methods: In a porcine model (n = 8), thermocouples were implanted epicardially in the superior vena cava, right pulmonary vein, and esophagus close to the inferior vena cava following a right thoracotomy. After chest closure, endocardial ablation was conducted near the thermocouples under fluoroscopic guidance.

Spontaneous Transformation from Lung Adenocarcinoma to MYC-amplified Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma.

Recent studies suggest that lung adenocarcinoma cells are closely associated with the tumorigenesis of large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma via cellular transformation. However, morphological evidence, along with genetic abnormalities before, during, and after transformation, is quite limited. We present here a case of combined large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma exhibiting acinar and solid patterns.