Time-series multispectral imaging in soybean for improving biomass and genomic prediction accuracy.

Multispectral (MS) imaging enables the measurement of characteristics important for increasing the prediction accuracy of genotypic and phenotypic values for yield-related traits. In this study, we evaluated the potential application of temporal MS imaging for the prediction of aboveground biomass (AGB) in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.

Estimation of the fractions of luminescence of water at higher energy than Cerenkov-light threshold for various types of radiation.

Although the luminescence of water at a lower energy than the Cerenkov-light (CL) threshold has been found for various types of radiation, the fractions of the luminescence of water to the total produced light have not been obvious for radiations at a higher energy than the CL threshold because it is difficult to separate these two types of light. Thus, we used a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the fractions of the luminescence of water for various types of radiation at a higher energy than the CL threshold to confirm the major component of the produced light. After we confirmed that the estimated light production of the luminescence of water could adequately simulate the experimental results, we calculated the produced light photons of this luminescence and the CL from water for protons (170 MeV), carbon ions (330 MeV/n), high-energy x-ray (6 MV) from a linear accelerator (LINAC), high-energy electrons (9 MeV) from LINAC, positrons (F-18, C-11, O-15, and N-13), and high-energy gamma photon radionuclides (Co-60).

Ultrabright continuously tunable terahertz-wave generation at room temperature.

The hottest frequency region in terms of research currently lies in the 'frequency gap' region between microwaves and infrared: terahertz waves. Although new methods for generating terahertz radiation have been developed, most sources cannot generate high-brightness terahertz beams. Here we demonstrate the generation of ultrabright terahertz waves (brightness ~0.

Anti-C5a complementary peptide ameliorates acute peritoneal injury induced by neutralization of Crry and CD59.

In peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy, physical stresses such as exposure to peritoneal dialysate, catheter trauma, and peritonitis may induce peritoneal injury that can prevent continued long-term PD therapy. Therefore, protection of the peritoneum is an important target to enable long-term PD therapy in patients with end-stage renal disease. We previously showed that neutralization of the membrane complement regulators (CRegs) Crry and CD59 in rat peritoneum provokes development of acute peritoneal injury due to uncontrolled complement activation.

Differential modulation of surfactant protein D under acute and persistent hypoxia in acute lung injury.

Hypoxia contributes to the development of fibrosis with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via stimulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and de novo twist expression. Although hypoxemia is associated with increasing levels of surfactant protein D (SP-D) in acute lung injury (ALI), the longitudinal effects of hypoxia on SP-D expression in lung tissue injury/fibrosis have not been fully evaluated. Here, the involvement of hypoxia and SP-D modulation was evaluated in a model of bleomycin-induced lung injury.

Membrane complement regulators protect against fibrin exudation increases in a severe peritoneal inflammation model in rats.

Peritonitis and the rare sequela of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) are serious problems in patients on peritoneal dialysis therapy. Chronic and persistent peritoneal injuries may be a risk factor of EPS. We previously reported that a chronic, proliferative peritonitis developed when zymosan was administered intraperitoneally following scraping injury of rat peritoneum (Mizuno M, Ito Y, Hepburn N, Mizuno T, Noda Y, Yuzawa Y, Harris CL, Morgan BP, Matsuo S.

Dual modification of a triple-stranded β-helix nanotube with Ru and Re metal complexes to promote photocatalytic reduction of CO2.

We have constructed a robust β-helical nanotube from the component proteins of bacteriophage T4 and modified this nanotube with Ru(II)(bpy)(3) and Re(I)(bpy)(CO)(3)Cl complexes. The photocatalytic system arranged on the tube catalyzes the reduction of CO(2) with higher reactivity than that of the mixture of the monomeric forms.

15-deoxy-delta 12,14-prostaglandin J2 prevents inflammatory response and endothelial cell damage in rats with acute obstructive cholangitis.

Acute obstructive cholangitis is a common disease with a high mortality rate. Ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma), such as 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15D-PGJ(2)), have been proposed as a new class of anti-inflammatory compounds. This study investigated the effect of 15D-PGJ(2) treatment on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute obstructive cholangitis.

Erythromycin-induced CXCR4 expression on microvascular endothelial cells.

Although stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) via its cognate receptor CXCR4 is assumed to play a critical role in migration of endothelial cells during new vessel formation after tissue injury, CXCR4 expression on endothelial cells is strictly regulated. Erythromycin (EM), a 14-membered ring macrolide, has an anti-inflammatory effect that may account for its clinical benefit in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. However, the effects of EM on endothelial cells and especially their expression of CXCR4 have not been fully evaluated.

[Carpal tunnel syndrome & cubital tunnel syndrome].

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and cubital tunnel syndrome (Cub.TS) are the two most common entrapment syndromes. Development of several validated outcome assessments have allowed conducting large scale epidemiological studies worldwide for the last decade regarding CTS, which have been providing reliable basic information.

A new method for identifying rigid link models of lower limbs.

A new method for identifying rigid link models of human lower limbs has been proposed in this paper. The method was motivated by necessity of simulating human body movements for rehabilitation or for design of assistive devices. The method is based on combination of random search and least squares estimation techniques.

Real three-dimensional microfabrication for biodegradable polymers: demonstration of high-resolution and biocompatibility for implantable microdevices.

We have developed a novel three-dimensional (3D) microfabrication method for biodegradable polymers. Unlike conventional processes, our process satisfies high-resolution and high-speed requirements. The system design allows us the processing of microlevel forms by stacking up melted polymers from the nozzle.

Human behavior and egocentric spatial perception contingent with gravity cue.

Gravity modifies us without our knowing it. Possible functional disabilities of eye, head and body movements were investigated under 1G and microgravity environments to evaluate the gravity cue for human behavior. The system for visual stability might be explained from the viewpoint of coordination between eye and head under microgravity.

Does estrogen contribute to the hepatic regeneration following portal branch ligation in rats?

The aim of this study was to determine whether estrogen plays any role in the hepatic regeneration of nonligated lobe following portal branch ligation (PBL). Male rats were subjected to PBL on the left and middle lobes. Two and 7 days after PBL, the rats were killed and blood and liver samples were analyzed.

Bidirectional Ca2+ coupling of mitochondria with the endoplasmic reticulum and regulation of multimodal Ca2+ entries in rat brown adipocytes.

How the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria communicate with each other and how they regulate plasmalemmal Ca(2+) entry were studied in cultured rat brown adipocytes. Cytoplasmic Ca(2+) or Mg(2+) and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured by fluorometry. The sustained component of rises in cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) produced by thapsigargin was abolished by removing extracellular Ca(2+), depressed by depleting extracellular Na(+), and enhanced by raising extracellular pH.

Mechanisms of destabilization and early termination of spiral wave reentry in the ventricle by a class III antiarrhythmic agent, nifekalant.

Nifekalant (NF) is a novel class III antiarrhythmic agent that is effective in preventing life-threatening ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF). We investigated mechanisms of destabilization and early termination of spiral-type reentrant VT by NF in a two-dimensional subepicardial myocardial layer of Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts (n = 21) using a high-resolution optical action potential mapping system. During basic stimulation, NF (0.

Effect of Slc26a6 deletion on apical Cl-/HCO3- exchanger activity and cAMP-stimulated bicarbonate secretion in pancreatic duct.

The role of Slc26a6 (PAT1) on apical Cl-/HCO3- exchange and bicarbonate secretion in pancreatic duct cells was investigated using Slc26a6 null and wild-type (WT) mice. Apical Cl-/HCO3- exchange activity was measured with the pH-sensitive dye BCECF in microperfused interlobular ducts. The HCO3(-)-influx mode of apical [Cl-]i/[HCO3-]o exchange (where brackets denote concentration and subscripts i and o denote intra- and extracellular, respectively) was dramatically upregulated in Slc26a6 null mice (P < 0.

Vasopressin gene transcription increases in response to decreases in plasma volume, but not to increases in plasma osmolality, in chronically dehydrated rats.

The synthesis of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the magnocellular neurons of the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) is physiologically regulated by plasma osmolality and volume. To clarify how the regulation of AVP gene transcription is affected by chronic dehydration, we examined changes in the transcriptional activities of AVP gene by plasma osmolality and volume in both euhydrated and dehydrated conditions. Euhydrated rats had free access to water, whereas dehydrated rats had been deprived of water for 3 days before experiments.

Mechanotransduction by integrin is essential for IL-6 secretion from endothelial cells in response to uniaxial continuous stretch.

We previously reported that uniaxial continuous stretch in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion via IkappaB kinase (IKK)/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation. The aim of the present study was to clarify the upstream signaling mechanism responsible for this phenomenon. Stretch-induced IKK activation and IL-6 secretion were inhibited by application of alpha(5)beta(1) integrin-inhibitory peptide (GRGDNP), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor (LY-294002), phospholipase C-gamma inhibitor (U-73122), or protein kinase C inhibitor (H7).