A Theoretical Study of the Insertion of Atoms and Ions into Titanosilsequioxane (Ti-POSS) in Comparison with POSS

The insertion reaction of various guest species, such as rare gases (He, Ne, and Ar), cations of group 1 (Li+, Na+, and K+), and anions of group 17 (F− and Cl−) elements, into the Ti analogues of POSS (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes), Ti-POSS, [HTiO1.5]n ( and 10), has been investigated by ab initio molecular orbital and density functional methods. For each case, the properties of the exohedral and endohedral complexes and transition-state structure connecting them on the potential energy surface and energetics are discussed in comparison with the case of POSS. Furthermore, in order to understand the origin of the stability of these structures, the binding energy () and the energy barrier of the encapsulation are analyzed by an energy decomposition method. As a result, some similarities and differences between Ti-POSS and POSS were explored

Expression of a fungal laccase fused with a bacterial cellulose-binding module improves the enzymatic saccharification efficiency of lignocellulose biomass in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

Delignification is effective for improving the saccharification efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass materials. We previously identified that the expression of a fungal laccase (Lac) fused with a bacterial cellulose-binding module domain (CBD) improved the enzymatic saccharification efficiency of rice plants. In this work, to evaluate the ability of the Lac-CBD fused chimeric enzyme to improve saccharification efficiency in a dicot plant, we introduced the chimeric gene into a dicot model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Transgenic plants expressing the Lac-CBD chimeric gene showed normal morphology and growth, and showed a significant increase of enzymatic saccharification efficiency compared to control plants. The transgenic plants with the largest improvement of enzymatic saccharification efficiency also showed an increase of crystalline cellulose in their cell wall fractions. These results indicated that expression of the Lac-CBD chimeric protein in dicotyledonous plants improved the enzymatic saccharification of plant biomass by increasing the crystallinity of cellulose in the cell wall

Young-Onset Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Young-onset (< 65 years) dementia is a challenging clinical problem. A 61-year-old man visited our clinic because of a 2-year history of mild cognitive impairment of the executive disorder type. He was initially suspected of having young-onset Alzheimer’s disease due to the lack of motor signs or hippocampal atrophy by conventional brain MRI. However, he proved to have anosmia, erectile dysfunction, hypersexuality, constipation, REM sleep behavior disorder, and emotional lability; imaging findings included positive brain perfusion SPECT, nigrosome MRI, DAT scan, and MIBG myocardial scintigraphy. All these clinical imaging features led to the correct diagnosis of young-onset dementia with Lewy bodies (YOD-DLB). It is hoped that this case report will help facilitate a future prospective study to diagnose and follow YOD-DLB patients with the aim of determining appropriate management and care