Entrepreneurship as a Process of Self-Fulfillment: Well-Being, Affect, and Behavioral Strategies

This study unravels the underlying mechanisms that influence entrepreneurs\u27 behavior during the startup process. Theories of entrepreneurial behavior have assumed that entrepreneurs try to achieve goals--profit, sales, job satisfaction, autonomy, to name a few. Yet, past studies are silent about how entrepreneurs keep making efforts toward business startups while not achieving goals for a prolonged period of time. If goals are hard to reach and entrepreneurs are unable to assess their achievement level toward their goals, how do they manage to keep making efforts during the business startup process? What factors influence their effort level during the startup? Based on individual entrepreneurs\u27 daily records, this thesis suggests that entrepreneurs manipulate their affective states through their behavior thus are able to keep engaged in startup despite high uncertainty about their goals and achievement levels. I analyze individual entrepreneurs\u27 behavior, emotions, and perceptions as the uncertain future unfolds for them. By using research methods that avoid recollection bias, I present a model as to how entrepreneurs\u27 behavior and their affective states are interrelated, and what triggers entrepreneurs to increase or decrease their effort toward business startups. This study contributes to the further understanding of entrepreneurial behavior by suggesting alternative drivers of entrepreneurial processes: happiness and contentment

A protocol for a qualitative synthesis of research of technology-mediated task-based language teaching in Japan

Publisher PD

Membrane Incorporation, Channel Formation, and Disruption of Calcium Homeostasis by Alzheimer's β-Amyloid Protein

Oligomerization, conformational changes, and the consequent neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's β-amyloid protein (AβP) play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mounting evidence suggests that oligomeric AβPs cause the disruption of calcium homeostasis, eventually leading to neuronal death. We have demonstrated that oligomeric AβPs directly incorporate into neuronal membranes, form cation-sensitive ion channels (“amyloid channels”), and cause the disruption of calcium homeostasis via the amyloid channels. Other disease-related amyloidogenic proteins, such as prion protein in prion diseases or α-synuclein in dementia with Lewy bodies, exhibit similarities in the incorporation into membranes and the formation of calcium-permeable channels. Here, based on our experimental results and those of numerous other studies, we review the current understanding of the direct binding of AβP into membrane surfaces and the formation of calcium-permeable channels. The implication of composition of membrane lipids and the possible development of new drugs by influencing membrane properties and attenuating amyloid channels for the treatment and prevention of AD is also discussed

Bone regeneration of induced pluripotent stem cells derived from peripheral blood cells in collagen sponge scaffolds

Stem cell-based regeneration therapy offers new therapeutic options for patients with bone defects because of significant advances in stem cell research. Although bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are the ideal material for bone regeneration therapy using stem cell, they are difficult to obtain. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are now considered an attractive tool in bone tissue engineering. Recently, the efficiency of establishing iPSCs has been improved by the use of the Sendai virus vector, and it has become easier to establish iPSCs from several type of somatic cells. In our previous study, we reported a method to purify osteogenic cells from iPSCs. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the osteogenic ability of iPSCs derived from peripheral blood cells. Methodology: Mononuclear cells (MNCs) were obtained from human peripheral blood. Subsequently, T cells were selectively obtained from these MNCs and iPSCs were established using Sendai virus vectors. Established iPSCs were evaluated by the expression of undifferentiated markers and teratoma formation assays. Osteoblasts were induced from these iPSCs and evaluated by the expression of osteoblast markers. Additionally, the induced osteoblasts were transplanted into rat critical size calvaria bone defect models with collagen sponge scaffolds. Samples were evaluated by radiographical and histological assessments. Results: Induced osteoblasts expressed several osteoblast-specific markers. The results of radiographical and histological assessments revealed that the cell transplant group had bone formations superior to those of the control group. Conclusions: This study suggests that peripheral blood MNCs have the potential to differentiate into osteoblasts. Although there are some hurdles in iPSC transplantation, osteoblasts obtained from MNC-iPSCs could be applied to bone regeneration therapy in the future

Precipitant-Free Lysozyme Crystals Grown by Centrifugal Concentration Reveal Structural Changes

The three-dimensional (3D) structure of a protein molecule in its crystal need not correspond to that found in vivo in many cases, since we usually crystallize protein molecules using precipitants (salts, organic solvents, polymeric electrolytes, etc.), and the precipitants are often incorporated into crystals along with the protein molecules. Although precipitant-free crystallization methods would solve these problems, such methods had not yet been established. We have achieved a novel precipitant-free crystallization method by liquid-liquid phase separation during the centrifugal concentration of lysozyme in ultra-pure water. In the 3D structure of the precipitant-free crystal, lysozyme loses a sodium cation and changes the position of Ser 72. Deionization of the solution also appears to induce a change in the position of Asp 101 and an increase in the activity of lysozyme

Quantitative Analysis and Manipulation of Alkali Metal Cations at the Cathode Surface in Membrane Electrode Assembly Electrolyzers for CO₂ Reduction Reactions

Kato S., Ito S., Nakahata S., et al. Quantitative Analysis and Manipulation of Alkali Metal Cations at the Cathode Surface in Membrane Electrode Assembly Electrolyzers for CO₂ Reduction Reactions. ChemSusChem, (2024); https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202401013.The stable operation of the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzers is known to be hindered by the accumulation of bicarbonate salt, which are derived from alkali metal cations in anolytes, on the cathode side. In this study, we conducted a quantitative evaluation of the correlation between the CO₂RR activity and the transported alkali metal cations in MEA electrolyzers. As a result, although the presence of transported alkali metal cations on the cathode surface significantly contributes to the generation of C₂₊ compounds, the rate of K⁺ ion transport did not match the selectivity of C₂₊, suggesting that a continuous supply of high amount of K⁺ to the cathode surface is not required for C₂₊ formation. Based on these findings, we achieved a faradaic efficiency (FE) and a partial current density for C₂₊ of 77 % and 230 mA cm⁻², respectively, even after switching the anode solution from 0.1 M KHCO₃ to a dilute K⁺ solution (<7 mM). These values were almost identical to those when 0.1 M KHCO₃ was continuously supplied. Based on this insight, we successfully improved the durability of the system against salt precipitation by intermittently supplying concentrated KHCO₃, compared with the continuous supply

PARAMETRIC-PEARSON-BASED INDEPENDENT COMPONENT ANALYSIS FOR FREQUENCY-DOMAIN BLIND SPEECH SEPARATION

ABSTRACT Separation performance is improved in frequency

Hepatitis E virus in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) captured around pig farm

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) transmitted via the oral route through the consumption of contaminated water or uncooked or undercooked contaminated meat has been implicated in major outbreaks. Rats may play a critical role in HEV outbreaks, considering their negative effects on environmental hygiene and food sanitation. Although the serological evidence of HEV infection in wild rodents has been reported worldwide, the infectivity and propagation of HEV in wild rats remain unknown. To investigate if rats are a possible carrier of HEV, we studied wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) that were caught near a pig farm, where HEV was prevalent among the pigs. METHODS: We examined 56 Norway rats for HEV. RNA from internal organs was examined for RT-PCR and positive samples were sequenced. Positive tissue samples were incubated with A549 cell line to isolate HEV. Anti-HEV antibodies were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: Sixteen rats were seropositive, and the HEV RNA was detected in 10 of the 56 rats. Sequencing of the partial ORF1 gene from 7 samples resulted in partially sequenced HEV, belonging to genotype 3, which was genetically identical to the HEV prevalent in the swine from the source farm. The infectious HEVs were isolated from the Norway rats by using the human A549 cell line. CONCLUSIONS: There was a relatively high prevalence (17.9%) of the HEV genome in wild Norway rats. The virus was mainly detected in the liver and spleen. The results indicate that these animals might be possible carrier of swine HEV in endemic regions. The HEV contamination risk due to rats needs to be examined in human habitats

A new cosmic ray observation at Syowa Station in the antarctic

A set of Cosmic Ray detectors was newly installed in Syowa Station, in the Antarctic, to observe CR neutrons and muons simultaneously at the same location. The observing system has started working in February 2018 and is in stable operation with a high operation rate, >90%. We describe the new systems and show its stability