Subsurface structure identification at the blind prediction site of ESG6 based on the earthquake-to-microtremor ratio method and diffuse field concept for earthquakes

We participated in the blind prediction exercise organized by the committee of the blind prediction experiment during the 6th International Symposium on Effects of Surface Geology on Seismic Motion (CBP-ESG6). In response to the committee's request, we identified the ground velocity structure from microtremors observed at a target site as the first step of the exercise. First, we calculated the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio of microtremors (MHVR) at the target site from the distributed microtremor data collected in the vicinity of the target site in Kumamoto Prefecture. Then, we converted the MHVR into a pseudo horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio of earthquake (pEHVR) using the previously proposed and validated earthquake-to-microtremor ratio (EMR) method, where an empirically obtained EMR is used to convert MHVR into pEHVR. Next, we inverted the S-wave and P-wave velocity structures based on the pEHVR and the diffuse field concept for earthquakes. The theoretical EHVR calculated from the identified velocity structure reproduced the pEHVR quite well in the frequency range of 0.1-22 Hz. After the collection of the blind prediction results by all the participants, the CBP-ESG6 released the observed earthquake records, a preferred model based on the P-S logging data from the in-situ borehole measurement combined with the generic deeper structure, and the average of all the predicted structures by the participants. Notably, our inverted structure was found to be close to the preferred model and the averaged one of all the blind prediction participants, despite some minor differences in the horizontal site amplification factor around the maximum peak frequency at 0.8-1 Hz

C‐Glycosyltransferases catalyzing the formation of di‐C‐glucosyl flavonoids in citrus plants

Citrus plants accumulate many kinds of flavonoids, including di‐C‐glucosyl flavonoids, which have attracted considerable attention due to their health benefits. However, the biosynthesis of di‐C‐glucosyl flavonoids has not been elucidated at the molecular level. Here, we identified the C‐glycosyltransferases (CGTs) FcCGT (UGT708G1) and CuCGT (UGT708G2) as the primary enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of di‐C‐glucosyl flavonoids in the citrus plants kumquat (Fortunella crassifolia) and satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu), respectively. The amino acid sequences of these CGTs were 98% identical, indicating that CGT genes are highly conserved in the citrus family. The recombinant enzymes FcCGT and CuCGT utilized 2‐hydroxyflavanones, dihydrochalcone, and their mono‐C‐glucosides as sugar acceptors and produced corresponding di‐C‐glucosides. The Km and kcat values of FcCGT toward phloretin were <0.5 μm and 12.0 sec−1, and those toward nothofagin (3ʹ‐C‐glucosylphloretin) were 14.4 μm and 5.3 sec−1, respectively; these values are comparable with those of other glycosyltransferases reported to date. Transcripts of both CGT genes were found to concentrate in various plant organs, and particularly in leaves. Our results suggest that di‐C‐glucosyl flavonoid biosynthesis proceeds via a single enzyme using either 2‐hydroxyflavanones or phloretin as a substrate in citrus plants. In addition, Escherichia coli cells expressing CGT genes were found to be capable of producing di‐C‐glucosyl flavonoids, which is promising for commercial production of these valuable compounds.ArticlePlant Journal.91(2):187-198(2017)journal articl

Overexpression of the human MNB/DYRK1A gene induces formation of multinucleate cells through overduplication of the centrosome

BACKGROUND: Previously we cloned the human MNB/DYRK1A gene from the "Down syndrome critical region" on chromosome 21. This gene encodes a dual specificity protein kinase that catalyzes its autophosphorylation on serine/threonine and tyrosine residues. But, the functions of the MNB/DYRK1A gene in cellular processes are unknown. RESULTS: In this study, we examined HeLa cells transfected with cDNA encoding a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-MNB/DYRK1A fusion protein and found 2 patterns of expression: In one group of transfected cells, GFP-MNB/DYRK1A was localized as dots within the nucleus; and in the other group, it was overexpressed and had accumulated all over the nucleus. In the cells overexpressing GFP-MNB/DYRK1A, multinucleation was clearly observed; whereas in those with the nuclear dots, such aberrant nuclei were not found. Furthermore, in the latter cells, essential processes such as mitosis and cytokinesis occurred normally. Multinucleation was dependent on the kinase activity of MNB/DYRK1A, because it was not observed in cells overexpressing kinase activity-negative mutants, GFP-MNB/DYRK1A (K179R) and GFP-MNB/DYRK1A (Y310F/Y312F). Immunostaining of GFP-MNB/DYRK1A-overexpressing cells with specific antibodies against α- and γ-tubulin revealed that multiple copies of centrosomes and aberrant multipolar spindles were generated in these cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that overexpression of MNB/DYRK1A induces multinucleation in HeLa cells through overduplication of the centrosome during interphase and production of aberrant spindles and missegregation of chromosomes during mitosis

Comparative analysis of two glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases from a thermoacidophilic archaeon, Sulfolobus tokodaii

AbstractSulfolobus tokodaii, a thermoacidophilic archaeon, possesses two structurally and functionally different enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GAP): non-phosphorylating GAP dehydrogenase (St-GAPN) and phosphorylating GAP dehydrogenase (St-GAPDH). In contrast to previously characterized GAPN from Sulfolobus solfataricus, which exhibits V-type allosterism, St-GAPN showed K-type allosterism in which the positive cooperativity was abolished with concomitant activation by glucose 1-phosphate (G1P). St-GAPDH catalyzed the reversible oxidation of GAP to 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate (1,3-BPG) with high gluconeogenic activity, which was specific for NADPH, while both NAD+ and NADP+ were utilized in the glycolytic direction.Structured summary of protein interactionsGAPDH and GAPDH bind by molecular sieving (View interaction) GAPN and GAPN bind by 2.2molecular sieving (View interaction)

Isolating along-strike variations in the depth extent of shallow creep and fault locking on the northern Great Sumatran Fault

The Great Sumatran Fault system in Indonesia is a major right-lateral trench-parallel system that can be divided into several segments, most of which have ruptured within the last century. This study focuses on the northern portion of the fault system which contains a 200-km-long segment that has not experienced a major earthquake in at least 170 years. In 2005, we established the Aceh GPS Network for the Sumatran Fault System (AGNeSS) across this segment. AGNeSS observes large displacements which include significant postseismic deformation from recent large megathrust earthquakes as well as interseismic deformation due to continued elastic loading of both the megathrust and the strike slip system. We parameterize the displacements due to afterslip on the megathrust using a model based on a rate- and state-dependent friction formalism. Using this approach, we are able to separate afterslip from other contributions. We remove predicted deformation due to afterslip from the observations, and use these corrected time series to infer the depth of shallow aseismic creep and deeper locked segments for the Great Sumatran Fault. In the northern portion of this fault segment, we infer aseismic creep down to 7.3 ± 4.8 km depth at a rate of 2.0 ± 0.6 cm/year. In the southwestern portion of the segment, we estimate a locking depth of 14.8 ± 3.4 km with a downdip slip rate of 1.6 ± 0.6 cm/year. This portion of the fault is capable of producing a magnitude 7.0 earthquake

臨時休校中のメディア接触増加要因 ―新型コロナ禍の中でのメディア接触実態調査の分析を通して―

Schools across Japan have been temporarily closed since March 2, 2020 in order to control the spread of the COVID-19 infection. Amid concerns about the prolonged use of the Internet and smartphones, we conducted a survey of media contact among parents of elementary school children in the midst of the epidemic. The purpose of this study is to pursue the factors that led to the increase in media contact among children. As a result, “spending time alone at home” increases media contact the most, but it also increases when children were with their parents or grandparents. There is no statistically significant relationship between the new device used and the increase or decrease in media contact. In addition, the factor that suppresses media contact is “physical activity in parks and other outdoor places.” It is suggested that even during special periods such as temporary school closures, media contact may be suppressed by performing non-media contact activities as usual

Flame retardance-donated lignocellulose nanofibers (LCNFs) by the Mannich reaction with (amino-1,3,5-triazinyl)phosphoramidates and their properties

Nitrogen/phosphorus-containing melamines (NPCM), a durable flame-retardant, were prepared by the successive treatment of ArOH (Ar = BrnC6H5−n, n = 0, 1, 2, and 3) with POCl3 and melamine monomer. The prepared flame-retardants were grafted through the CH2 unit to lignocellulose nanofibers (LCNFs) by the Mannich reaction. The resulting three-component products were characterized using FT-IR (ATR) and EA. The thermal behavior of the NPCM-treated LCNF fabric samples was determined using TGA and DSC analyses, and their flammability resistances were evaluated by measuring their Limited Oxygen Index (LOI) and the UL-94V test. A multitude of flame retardant elements in the fabric samples increased the LOI values as much as 45 from 20 of the untreated LCNFs. Moreover, the morphology of both the NPCM-treated LCNFs and their burnt fabrics was studied with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The heat release lowering effect of the LCNF fabric against the water-based paint was observed with a cone calorimeter. Furthermore, the mechanical properties represented as the tensile strength of the NPCM-treated LCNF fabrics revealed that the increase of the NPCM content in the PP-composites led to an increased bending strength with enhancing the flame-retardance