Effects of equivalent composition on superconducting properties of high-entropy REOBiS2_2 (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd) single crystals

Superconductors are influenced by high-entropy alloys (HEAs); these have been investigated in various functional materials. REOBiS$_2$ (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Gd in different combinations) single crystals with HEAs at the RE-site were successfully grown using the flux method. The obtained crystals were plate-shaped (1 mm$^2$) with a well-developed c-plane. Ce was present in both trivalent (Ce$^{3+}$) and tetravalent (Ce$^{4+}$) electronic configurations; the concentration of Ce$^{4+}$ at the RE-site was approximately 10 at% in all single crystals. The single crystals showed superconducting transition temperature with zero resistivity within 1.2-4.2 K. The superconducting transition temperature, superconducting anisotropy, electronic specific heat coefficient, and Debye temperature of the crystals were not correlated with the mixed entropy at the RE-site. Except for the electronic specific heat coefficient, the variation of these parameters as a function of mixed entropy showed different trends for equivalent and non-equivalent RE element compositions. Thus, the configuration of RE elements influences the superconducting properties of REOBiS$_2$ single crystals, alluding to a method of modulating transition temperatures

分子内結合が調節するJRABのLIMドメインによるアクチン細胞骨格の再編成

JRAB/MICAL-L2 is an effector protein of Rab13, a member of the Rab family of small GTPase. JRAB/MICAL-L2 consists of a calponin homology domain, a LIM domain, and a coiled-coil domain. JRAB/MICAL-L2 engages in intramolecular interaction between the N-terminal LIM domain and the C-terminal coiled-coil domain, and changes its conformation from closed to open under the effect of Rab13. Open-form JRAB/MICAL-L2 induces the formation of peripheral ruffles via an interaction between its calponin homology domain and filamin. Here, we report that the LIM domain, independent of the C-terminus, is also necessary for the function of open-form JRAB/MICAL-L2. In mechanistic terms, two zinc finger domains within the LIM domain bind the first and second molecules of actin at the minus end, potentially inhibiting the depolymerization of actin filaments (F-actin). The first zinc finger domain also contributes to the intramolecular interaction of JRAB/MICAL-L2. Moreover, the residues of the first zinc finger domain that are responsible for the intramolecular interaction are also involved in the association with F-actin. Together, our findings show that the function of open-form JRAB/MICAL-L2 mediated by the LIM domain is fine-tuned by the intramolecular interaction between the first zinc finger domain and the C-terminal domain

A prospective compound screening contest identified broader inhibitors for Sirtuin 1

Potential inhibitors of a target biomolecule, NAD-dependent deacetylase Sirtuin 1, were identified by a contest-based approach, in which participants were asked to propose a prioritized list of 400 compounds from a designated compound library containing 2.5 million compounds using in silico methods and scoring. Our aim was to identify target enzyme inhibitors and to benchmark computer-aided drug discovery methods under the same experimental conditions. Collecting compound lists derived from various methods is advantageous for aggregating compounds with structurally diversified properties compared with the use of a single method. The inhibitory action on Sirtuin 1 of approximately half of the proposed compounds was experimentally accessed. Ultimately, seven structurally diverse compounds were identified

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome : Insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 ≥ 0.60 during hyperoxemia). Results: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). Conclusions: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. Trial registration: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073publishersversionPeer reviewe

北極圏に生息する氷上繁殖型アザラシ3種の水中音声レパートリーとその機能

京都大学0048新制・課程博士博士(理学)甲第19547号理博第4207号新制||理||1603(附属図書館)32583京都大学大学院理学研究科生物科学専攻(主査)教授 幸島 司郎, 教授 伊谷 原一, 教授 村山 美穂学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of ScienceKyoto UniversityDFA

Scapulohumeral Joint Luxation in a Thoroughbred Racehorse during Recovery from General Anesthesia

Scapulohumeral joint luxation in horses is rare. This report describes the case of a 3-year-old thoroughbred racehorse with scapulohumeral luxation that occurred during recovery from general anesthesia. Closed reduction using a hoist under general anesthesia was performed soon after the injury had occurred, and successful reduction was achieved; however, radiographic evidence of bony injury was observed. A conservative postoperative treatment was chosen, and a long-term successful outcome was achieved. Prompt reduction can hasten postoperative healing in the present case and can be imperative in dealing with scapulohumeral joint luxation

Distinguish the Severity of Illness Associated with Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection via Sustained Vowel Speech Features

The authors are currently conducting research on methods to estimate psychiatric and neurological disorders from a voice by focusing on the features of speech. It is empirically known that numerous psychosomatic symptoms appear in voice biomarkers; in this study, we examined the effectiveness of distinguishing changes in the symptoms associated with novel coronavirus infection using speech features. Multiple speech features were extracted from the voice recordings, and, as a countermeasure against overfitting, we selected features using statistical analysis and feature selection methods utilizing pseudo data and built and verified machine learning algorithm models using LightGBM. Applying 5-fold cross-validation, and using three types of sustained vowel sounds of /Ah/, /Eh/, and /Uh/, we achieved a high performance (accuracy and AUC) of over 88% in distinguishing “asymptomatic or mild illness (symptoms)” and “moderate illness 1 (symptoms)”. Accordingly, the results suggest that the proposed index using voice (speech features) can likely be used in distinguishing the symptoms associated with novel coronavirus infection

Seasonal variations in the call presence of bearded seals in relation to sea ice in the southern Chukchi Sea

The seasonal habitat use of bearded seals is important information in terms of conservation of this species. However, their distribution outside the breeding season has not been well documented. We investigated seasonal variations in the call occurrence of bearded seals by using passive acoustic monitoring in the southern Chukchi Sea, which has some of the greatest benthic biomass in the Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean. Underwater sounds were recorded between 2012 and 2015. Calls of bearded seals were detected from mid-September or early October to the end of each recording period (mid-May 2013, early March 2014, and mid-June 2015). Two peaks in call occurrence were noted; the first peak occurred during the open-water periods in November, and the second peak occurred during ice-covered periods. This suggest that bearded seals utilize the southern Chukchi Sea not only for the breeding site but also for the autumn foraging site. We could complement the information about the southward autumn migration pattern of bearded seals, and the southern Chukchi Sea was suggested as the south limit of bearded seals' autumn distribution. Additionally, their vocal activity during autumn in this site was suggested to have some role in social interaction. Our results indicated that the southern Chukchi Sea would be an important monitoring site for understanding the habitat use and the vocal activity of bearded seals, especially outside the breeding season

Marine debris observed in the North Pacific during Oshoro-maru cruise in 2012

The distribution and abundance of marine debris were investigated by visual survey and a neuston net in the North Pacific and Bering Sea during the T/S Oshoro Maru cruise from June to August 2012. The observed debris included pieces of plastic, plastic and glass bottles, metallic objects, glass, and fishing gear. The concentrations of plastic sampled by a neuston net were higher in the Transition Zone than those in the Subarctic North Pacific and Bering Sea. The abundance and weight of these small plastic pieces collected by a neuston net did not significantly increase from 1980s. Long-term monitoring and information sharing are important in concert with related countries and organizations