Metallic phase in the metal-intercalated higher fullerene Rb8.8(7)C84

A new material of higher fullerene, RbxC84, was synthesized by intercalating Rb metal into C-84 crystals. The RbxC(84) crystals showed a simple cubic (sc) structure with lattice constant, a, of 16.82 (2) angstrom at 6.5 K, and 16.87 (2) angstrom at 295 K. The Rietveld refinements were achieved with the space group, Pa (3) over bar, based on a model that the C-2 axis of D2d-C84 aligned along [111]. The sample composition was determined to be Rb-8.8(7) C-84. The ESR spectrum at 303 K was composed of a broad peak with peak-to-peak linewidth Delta H-pp of 220 G, and a narrow peak with Delta H-pp of 24 G. Temperature dependence of the broad peak clearly showed a metallic behavior. The metallic behavior was discussed based on a theoretical calculation. This finding of new metallic phase in a higher fullerene is the first step for a development of new types of fullerene materials with novel physical properties such as superconductivity.</p

Qualitative Analysis of the Psychosocial Adaptation Process in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease : Toward Effective Support During Transition from Childhood to Adulthood

【Background】 Pediatric chronic renal disease only shows abnormal values in a urinalysis in the initial stage, and subjective signs and symptoms are rare. If adolescents with chronic renal disease face a disease crisis combined with the usual developmental crisis, this may cause psychosocial maladaptation. We analyzed psychosocial adaptation in Japanese children with chronic renal disease in order to identify factors influencing healthy adaptation. 【Methods】 Ten children and adult patients with chronic kidney disease attending Tottori University Hospital, Japan in 2016 participated in a semi-structured interview (a modified version of the grounded theory approach) comprising questions about episodes since disease onset and thoughts/feelings at onset. 【Results】 Twenty-four concepts extracted from the data were sorted into 5 categories. These concepts and categories were expanded on an orthogonal axis with time and self-esteem in order to establish an adaptation model for children with chronic kidney disease. Category names are as follows. (Cat. 1: Emotional impact on being informed of disease, Cat. 2: Social challenges of treatment and resulting identity diffusion, Cat. 3: Emotional conflict on school return, Cat. 4: Resilience and related factors, Cat. 5: Re-establishment of identity). 【Conclusion】 Since pediatric chronic renal disease has few manifestations, it is difficult for patients to accept. Children facing a chronic disease crisis plus adolescent developmental crisis may show identity diffusion. In order for children to re-establish their identity and adapt to society, factors supporting resilience are important. Key factors include school life, interactions with friends, counseling by adult mentors and family acceptance. Healthcare professionals need to provide age-appropriate information on renal disease and support patients

Assessment of a self-assembling peptide gel, SPG-178, in providing a clear operative field for trabeculectomy surgery for glaucoma in an animal model

The presence of blood during ophthalmic surgery is problematic, as it can obstruct a surgeon’s view of the operative field. This is particularly true when performing trabeculectomy surgery to enhance ocular fluid outflow and reduce intraocular pressure as a treatment for glaucoma, one of the most common vision loss conditions worldwide. In this study, we investigated the performance of a transparent, self-assembling peptide gel (SPG-178) and its ability to maintain visibility during trabeculectomy surgery. Unlike the hyaluronic acid gel commonly used in ophthalmic surgery, SPG-178 did not permit the ingress of blood into the gel itself. Rather, it forced blood to flow peripherally to the gel. Moreover, if bleeding occurred under the SPG-178 gel, perfusion with saline was able to effectively flush the blood away along the interface between the SPG-178 and the ocular tissue (in this case scleral) to clear the surgical field of view. In experimental trabeculectomy surgeries with mitomycin C used as an adjuvant, there were no differences in the postoperative recovery of intraocular pressure or bleb morphology with or without the use of SPG-178. SPG-178, therefore, when used in a gel formulation, represents a new material for use in intraocular surgery to ensure a clear operative field with likely beneficial treatment outcomes

Development of Music Classes on Gagaku in Elementary and Junior High School

The purpose of this study is to develop music classes using Etenraku, which is one of the oldest existing music in Japan called Gagaku (traditional Japanese court music), as a material in elementary and junior high school. The main points of view on developing music classes are as follows: (1) to pursue the musical substance, (2) to center a proactive and action-oriented learning of students, and (3) to promote and enhance language activity. The music class in elementary school has two goals. One is that students develop an understanding for a mechanism of producing sounds with double reed through the activity to make hand-made musical instrument. The other is that students understand the role of hichiriki (a kind of flute) in Gagaku ensemble, discovering sound aspects of hichiriki, and expressing the sound aspects with their own words. The music class in junior high school has two goals. One is that students understand the musical style of Gagaku through creating rhythm patterns of percussion section for the melody of Etenraku. When creating, students write musical note using composition software. The other is that students engage in entire learning process with language activity, for example, talking together about what they want to express in their work, describing their intention put into their work, or expressing what they feel when they listen other's work

Biodiversity-productivity relationships are key to nature-based climate solutions

The global impacts of biodiversity loss and climate change are interlinked, but the feedbacks between them are rarely assessed. Areas with greater tree diversity tend to be more productive, providing a greater carbon sink, and biodiversity loss could reduce these natural carbon sinks. Here, we quantify how tree and shrub species richness could affect biomass production on biome, national and regional scales. We find that GHG mitigation could help maintain tree diversity and thereby avoid a 9–39% reduction in terrestrial primary productivity across different biomes, which could otherwise occur over the next 50 years. Countries that will incur the greatest economic damages from climate change stand to benefit the most from conservation of tree diversity and primary productivity, which contribute to climate change mitigation. Our results emphasize an opportunity for a triple win for climate, biodiversity and society, and highlight that these co-benefits should be the focus of reforestation programmes

Christopher Simpson The Division-Viol, or The Art of PLAYING Ex tempore upon a GROUND. EDITIO SECVNDA Part III "The Method of ordering Division to a Ground" (3)

本訳稿はChristopher Simpson (1605頃－1669) 著 The Division-Viol, or, The Art of PLAYING Ex tempore upon a GROUND. DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS. EDITIO SECVNDA, London, 1665 のPart III "The Method of ordering Division to a Ground" より§13～§16(pp.57-61)の全訳である

Gene Targeting and Subsequent Site-Specific Transgenesis at the beta-actin (ACTB) Locus in Common Marmoset Embryonic Stem Cells

Nonhuman primate embryonic stem (ES) cells have vast promise for preclinical studies. Genetic modification in nonhuman primate ES cells is an essential technique for maximizing the potential of these cells. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a nonhuman primate, is expected to be a useful transgenic model for preclinical studies. However, genetic modification in common marmoset ES (cmES) cells has not yet been adequately developed. To establish efficient and stable genetic modifications in cmES cells, we inserted the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene with heterotypic lox sites into the beta-actin (ACTB) locus of the cmES cells using gene targeting. The resulting knock-in ES cells expressed EGFP ubiquitously under the control of the endogenous ACTB promoter. Using inserted heterotypic lox sites, we demonstrated Cre recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) and successfully established a monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP) knock-in cmES cell line. Further, a herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) knock-in cmES cell line was established using RMCE. The growth of tumor cells originating from the cell line was significantly suppressed by the administration of ganciclovir. Therefore, the HSV-tk/ganciclovir system is promising as a safeguard for stem cell therapy. The stable and ubiquitous expression of EGFP before RMCE enables cell fate to be tracked when the cells are transplanted into an animal. Moreover, the creation of a transgene acceptor locus for site-specific transgenesis will be a powerful tool, similar to the ROSA26 locus in mice

Nitrogen oxide cycle regulates nitric oxide levels and bacterial cell signaling

Nitric oxide (NO) signaling controls various metabolic pathways in bacteria and higher eukaryotes. Cellular enzymes synthesize and detoxify NO; however, a mechanism that controls its cellular homeostasis has not been identified. Here, we found a nitrogen oxide cycle involving nitrate reductase (Nar) and the NO dioxygenase flavohemoglobin (Fhb), that facilitate inter-conversion of nitrate, nitrite, and NO in the actinobacterium Streptomyces coelicolor. This cycle regulates cellular NO levels, bacterial antibiotic production, and morphological differentiation. NO down-regulates Nar and up-regulates Fhb gene expression via the NO-dependent transcriptional factors DevSR and NsrR, respectively, which are involved in the auto-regulation mechanism of intracellular NO levels. Nitrite generated by the NO cycles induces gene expression in neighboring cells, indicating an additional role of the cycle as a producer of a transmittable inter-cellular communication molecule