3-Layer Public Key Cryptosystem with Short Tandem Repeat DNA

While the digital technology spreads through the society, reliable personal authentication is becoming an urgent issue. As shown in digital taxation (e-Tax) and blockchain, etc., high reliable link between the private key of a public key and the owner who has it in card or smartphone etc. is required. This paper proposes 3 layer public key cryptosystem in which Individual Number (a.k.a. My Number ) and STR (Short Tandem Repeat) as personal identification data installed. Individual Number is a national identification number issued by government, like social security number in USA. STR is a kind of DNA data which does not contain any subtle personal information such as inherited character and has very accurate personal identification. The proposed system satisfies requirements of integrity, soundness and zero knowledge characteristics which analog biometrics such as face authentications cannot provide

Promising System for Selecting Healthy In Vitro–Fertilized Embryos in Cattle

Conventionally, in vitro–fertilized (IVF) bovine embryos are morphologically evaluated at the time of embryo transfer to select those that are likely to establish a pregnancy. This method is, however, subjective and results in unreliable selection. Here we describe a novel selection system for IVF bovine blastocysts for transfer that traces the development of individual embryos with time-lapse cinematography in our developed microwell culture dish and analyzes embryonic metabolism. The system can noninvasively identify prognostic factors that reflect not only blastocyst qualities detected with histological, cytogenetic, and molecular analysis but also viability after transfer. By assessing a combination of identified prognostic factors—(i) timing of the first cleavage; (ii) number of blastomeres at the end of the first cleavage; (iii) presence or absence of multiple fragments at the end of the first cleavage; (iv) number of blastomeres at the onset of lag-phase, which results in temporary developmental arrest during the fourth or fifth cell cycle; and (v) oxygen consumption at the blastocyst stage—pregnancy success could be accurately predicted (78.9%). The conventional method or individual prognostic factors could not accurately predict pregnancy. No newborn calves showed neonatal overgrowth or death. Our results demonstrate that these five predictors and our system could provide objective and reliable selection of healthy IVF bovine embryos

Analysis of the single nucleotide polymorphisms of mitochondrial DNA by liquid bead array technology

Abstract. Thirty single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in mitochondrial DNA were investigated in 105 unrelated Japanese by liquid bead array technology which is a detection method using microsphere and a flow cytometer. Nineteen SNPs were observed, and 50 different mt DNA types were observed, and 35 types were seen only once, and 15 types in multiple individuals. Genetic diversity was estimated as 0.943. This array system is simple and rapid, as well as suitable for highthroughput applications in a forensic investigative screening.

Effect of embryo density on in vitro development and gene expression in bovine in vitro-fertilized embryos cultured in a Microwell system

To identify embryos individually during in vitro development, we previously developed the well-of-the-well (WOW) dish, which contains 25 microwells. Here we investigated the effect of embryo density (the number of embryos per volume of medium) on in vitro development and gene expression of bovine in vitro-fertilized embryos cultured in WOW dishes. Using both conventional droplet and WOW culture formats, 5, 15, and 25 bovine embryos were cultured in 125 μl medium for 168 h. The blastocysts at Day 7 were analyzed for number of cells and expression of ten genes (CDX2, IFN-tau, PLAC8, NANOG, OCT4, SOX2, AKR1B1, ATP5A1, GLUT1 and IGF2R). In droplet culture, the rates of formation of >4-cell cleavage embryos and blastocysts were significantly lower in embryos cultured at 5 embryos per droplet than in those cultured at 15 or 25 embryos per droplet, but not in WOW culture. In both droplet and WOW culture, developmental kinetics and blastocyst cell numbers did not differ among any groups. IFN-tau expression in embryos cultured at 25 embryos per droplet was significantly higher than in those cultured at 15 embryos per droplet and in artificial insemination (AI)-derived blastocysts. Moreover, IGF2R expression was significantly lower in the 25-embryo group than in the 5-embryo group and in AI-derived blastocysts. In WOW culture, these expressions were not affected by embryo density and were similar to those in AI-derived blastocysts. These results suggest that, as compared with conventional droplet culture, in vitro development and expression of IFN-tau and IGF2R in the microwell system may be insensitive to embryo density.Satoshi Sugimura, Tomonori Akai, Yutaka Hashiyada, Yoshio Aikawa, Masaki Ohtake, Hideo Matsuda, Shuji Kobayashi, Eiji Kobayashi, Kazuyuki Konishi and Kei Ima

Clinical Significance of Probiotics for Children with Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

We previously reported that a decrease in butyrate-producing bacteria in the gut is a potential cause of regulatory T cell (Treg) abnormalities in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). Therefore, we hypothesized that administration of butyrate-producing bacteria might reduce INS relapse and the need for immunosuppressants in these patients. Twenty patients in remission from INS (median age 5.3 years, 15 boys) were enrolled in the study and assigned to receive either daily oral treatment with a preparation of 3 g Clostridium butyricum or no probiotic treatment. The number of relapses and requirement for immunosuppressive agents were compared between the two groups. In the probiotic treatment group, analyses of the gut microbiota and Treg measurements were also performed. Probiotic-treated patients experienced fewer INS relapses per year compared with non-probiotic-treated patients (p = 0.016). Further, administration of rituximab in the probiotic treatment group was significantly less frequent compared with the non-probiotic-treated group (p = 0.025). In the probiotic treatment group, analyses before and after probiotic treatment revealed the significant increases in the relative abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria (p = 0.017) and blood Treg counts (p = 0.0065). Thus, oral administration of butyrate-producing bacteria during INS remission may reduce the frequency of relapse and the need for immunosuppressive agents

Decreased butyric acid‐producing bacteria in gut microbiota of children with egg allergy

令和3年

Identification:Biometrics, or a real-time ‘who is who’

In this first chapter of the book’s second part, I argue that the best way to deal with terrorism is to nip a planned terrorist attack in the bud. One way to do so is by discerning innocent citizens who have a right to be at certain locations from those who have not, and whose intentions are dubious, via a swift and reliable but non-intrusive identification and verification process. I introduce the main biometrics that are used in this regard, first discussing physical biometrics such as facial recognition, iris scans, voice scans or fingerprints, to then move on to behavioural ones such as one’s gait. Since most of them are not (yet) fool proof, especially not as stand-alone technologies, I make the case for multimodal-based biometric systems which currently are under development.</p