105 research outputs found
Integrative taxonomy reveals multiple lineages of the spider genus Cybaeus endemic to the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (Arachnida : Araneae : Cybaeidae)
The epigean spiders of the genus Cybaeus L. Koch, 1868 are known to have diversified in western North America and the Japanese Archipelago. To date, ~80 species of Cybaeus are known from Japan, but they have not previously been recorded from the Ryukyu Islands that harbour a diversity of endemic species. Here we describe eight new species of Cybaeus from the Ryukyu Islands, extending the range of Cybaeus southward to the central Ryukyus. Both sexes of each of the new species are described, and their phylogenetic relationships are estimated using nuclear and mitochondrial gene markers. Although Cybaeus okumurai, sp. nov. and C. kumadori, sp. nov. possess genital features that are common in the other Japanese congeners, the other six species (C. yakushimensis, sp. nov., C. kodama, sp. nov., C. amamiensis, sp. nov., C. aikana, sp. nov., C. tokunoshimensis, sp. nov., and C. hikidai, sp. nov.) are characterised by an elongated embolus and tubular spermathecae. These unique genital characteristics and the phylogeny recovered here suggest that these features evolved independently among the Japanese and Ryukyu Cybaeus species. Phylogenetic analyses highlight an unusual biogeographical pattern in which C. yakushimensis and C. kodama endemic to Yakushima Island in the northern Ryukyus are related to species distributed in the central Ryukyus. In contrast, our phylogeny suggests that C. okumurai from Tanegashima Island in the northern Ryukyus is sister to C. ashikitaensis (Komatsu, 1968), distributed in Kyushu of the Japanese Archipelago. The retreat constructs and sympatric distribution of Cybaeus found among the Ryukyus are also briefly discussed
Coulomb interaction between a spherical and a deformed nuclei
We present analytic expressions of the Coulomb interaction between a
spherical and a deformed nuclei which are valid for all separation distance. We
demonstrate their significant deviations from commonly used formulae in the
region inside the Coulomb radius, and show that they remove various
shortcomings of the conventional formulae.Comment: 7 pages 4 figure
Photochemical characterization of actinorhodopsin and its functional existence in the natural host
Actinorhodopsin (ActR) is a light-driven outward H+ pump. Although the genes of ActRs are widely spread among freshwater bacterioplankton, there are no prior data on their functional expression in native cell membranes. Here, we demonstrate ActR phototrophy in the native actinobacterium. Genome analysis showed that Candidatus Rhodoluna planktonica, a freshwater actinobacterium, encodes one microbial rhodopsin (RpActR) belonging to the ActR family. Reflecting the functional expression of RpActR, illumination induced the acidification of the actinobacterial cell suspension and then elevated the ATP content inside the cells. The photochemistry of RpActR was also examined using heterologously expressed RpActR in Escherichia coli membranes. The purified RpActR showed lambda(max) at 534 nm and underwent a photocycle characterized by the very fast formation of M intermediate. The subsequent intermediate, named P-620, could be assigned to the 0 intermediate in other H+ pumps. In contrast to conventional 0, the accumulation of P620 remains prominent, even at high pH. Flash-induced absorbance changes suggested that there exists only one kind of photocycle at any pH. However, above pH 7, RpActR shows heterogeneity in the H+ transfer sequences: one first captures H+ and then releases it during the formation and decay of P-650, while the other first releases H+ prior to H+ uptake during P-620 formation. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
The Type Ia supernovae rate with Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Survey
We present measurements of the rates of high-redshift Type Ia supernovae
derived from the Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Survey (SXDS). We carried out repeat
deep imaging observations with Suprime-Cam on the Subaru Telescope, and
detected 1040 variable objects over 0.918 deg in the Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep
Field. From the imaging observations, light curves in the observed -band
are constructed for all objects, and we fit the observed light curves with
template light curves. Out of the 1040 variable objects detected by the SXDS,
39 objects over the redshift range are classified as Type Ia
supernovae using the light curves. These are among the most distant SN Ia rate
measurements to date. We find that the Type Ia supernova rate increase up to and may then flatten at higher redshift. The rates can be fitted by a
simple power law, with
(stat.)(syst.), and
(stat.)(syst.).Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures, accepted to PAS
The construction of a high-density linkage map for identifying SNP markers that are tightly linked to a nuclear-recessive major gene for male sterility in Cryptomeria japonica D. Don
Oocyte collection and in vitro maturation after train transportation of human follicular fluid aspirated from resected non-stimulated ovaries of patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma
PurposeImmature human oocytes from resected ovaries can be used for research and fertility preservation, though it is unknown whether it is feasible to transport oocytes for these purposes. This study examined in vitro maturation (IVM) outcomes after the transportation of human follicular fluid (HFF) containing oocytes. MethodsFourteen patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma were enrolled. Oocytes obtained from the resected ovaries of seven patients were transported with HFF by railway (transportation group). Samples of HFF from the other seven patients were not transported, and IVM was performed promptly (non-transportation group). The results of oocyte retrieval and IVM were compared. ResultsThe average ages in the transportation and non-transportation groups were 40.12.0 and 39.6 +/- 1.8years, respectively, and the average numbers of collected oocytes were 8.1 +/- 8.4 and 5.1 +/- 5.1, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between the number of collected oocytes and age. The proportions of oocytes that reached meiosis II (maturation rate) after IVM were 38.6% and 69.2% in the transportation and non-transportation groups, respectively (P=0.013). ConclusionIn this preliminary study, the usefulness of the transportation of HFF was limited. Further studies on maintaining oocyte normality during transportation are necessary for becoming the effective method for research and clinical use
Safety of Silk-elastin Sponges in Patients with Chronic Skin Ulcers: A Phase I/II, Single-center, Open-label, Single-arm Clinical Trial
Background: Although traditional wound dressings such as collagen scaffolds promote granulation tissue formation, the efficacy of these dressings in chronic wounds is limited because of high susceptibility to bacterial growth. Biomaterials that can be applied to chronic wounds should have an anti-bacterial function. We previously reported that administering a silk-elastin solution that forms moisturizing hydrogels to wound surfaces of diabetic mice reduced bacterial growth and promoted granulation tissue formation compared with control or carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogels. We hypothesized that silk-elastin promotes wound healing in human chronic wounds by suppressing bacterial growth. Methods: An open-label, clinical case series was conducted with a prospective, single-arm design at Kyoto University Hospital in Kyoto, Japan. In this study, 6 patients with chronic skin ulcers of any origin (2 < ulcer area (cm2) < 25) on their lower extremities were included; patients with critical ischemia were excluded. Silk-elastin sponges were applied and covered with a polyurethane film without changing the dressing for 14 days. Inflammation triggered treatment discontinuation due to fear of infection. The primary study endpoint was adverse events, including inflammation and infection. Results: Poor hydrogel formation, possibly due to continuous exudation, was observed. No serious adverse events were noted. Two patients discontinued treatment on day 6 and day 7, respectively, due to inflammation, but they were not infected. The other 4 patients completed the 14-day silk-elastin sponge treatment without infection. Conclusion: Silk-elastin sponge is safe for chronic skin ulcers, and its ability to promote wound healing should be determined by confirmatory clinical trials
Exome sequencing of senescence-accelerated mice (SAM) reveals deleterious mutations in degenerative disease-causing genes
Background: Senescence-accelerated mice (SAM) are a series of mouse strains originally derived from unexpected crosses between AKR/J and unknown mice, from which phenotypically distinct senescence-prone (SAMP) and -resistant (SAMR) inbred strains were subsequently established. Although SAMP strains have been widely used for aging research focusing on their short life spans and various age-related phenotypes, such as immune dysfunction, osteoporosis, and brain atrophy, the responsible gene mutations have not yet been fully elucidated. Results: To identify mutations specific to SAMP strains, we performed whole exome sequencing of 6 SAMP and 3 SAMR strains. This analysis revealed 32,019 to 38,925 single-nucleotide variants in the coding region of each SAM strain. We detected Ogg1 p.R304W and Mbd4 p.D129N deleterious mutations in all 6 of the SAMP strains but not in the SAMR or AKR/J strains. Moreover, we extracted 31 SAMP-specific novel deleterious mutations. In all SAMP strains except SAMP8, we detected a p.R473W missense mutation in the Ldb3 gene, which has been associated with myofibrillar myopathy. In 3 SAMP strains (SAMP3, SAMP10, and SAMP11), we identified a p.R167C missense mutation in the Prx gene, in which mutations causing hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (Dejerine-Sottas syndrome) have been identified. In SAMP6 we detected a p.S540fs frame-shift mutation in the Il4ra gene, a mutation potentially causative of ulcerative colitis and osteoporosis. Conclusions: Our data indicate that different combinations of mutations in disease-causing genes may be responsible for the various phenotypes of SAMP strains.ArticleBMC GENOMICS. 14:248 (2013)journal articl
Ingroup favoritism and intergroup cooperation under indirect reciprocity based on group reputation
Indirect reciprocity in which players cooperate with unacquainted other
players having good reputations is a mechanism for cooperation in relatively
large populations subjected to social dilemma situations. When the population
has group structure, as is often found in social networks, players in
experiments are considered to show behavior that deviates from existing
theoretical models of indirect reciprocity. First, players often show ingroup
favoritism (i.e., cooperation only within the group) rather than full
cooperation (i.e., cooperation within and across groups), even though the
latter is Pareto efficient. Second, in general, humans approximate outgroup
members' personal characteristics, presumably including the reputation used for
indirect reciprocity, by a single value attached to the group. Humans use such
a stereotypic approximation, a phenomenon known as outgroup homogeneity in
social psychology. I propose a model of indirect reciprocity in populations
with group structure to examine the possibility of ingroup favoritism and full
cooperation. In accordance with outgroup homogeneity, I assume that players
approximate outgroup members' personal reputations by a single reputation value
attached to the group. I show that ingroup favoritism and full cooperation are
stable under different social norms (i.e., rules for assigning reputations)
such that they do not coexist in a single model. If players are forced to
consistently use the same social norm for assessing different types of
interactions (i.e., ingroup versus outgroup interactions), only full
cooperation survives. The discovered mechanism is distinct from any form of
group selection. The results also suggest potential methods for reducing
ingroup bias to shift the equilibrium from ingroup favoritism to full
cooperation.Comment: 3 figures, 4 table
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