Vacuum Wave Functional of Pure Yang-Mills Theory and Dimensional Reduction

Working in a Hamiltonian formulation with $A_0 = 0$ gauge and also in a path integral formulation, we show that the vacuum wave functional of four-dimensional pure Yang-Mills theory has the form of the exponential of a {\it three}-dimensional Yang-Mills action. This result implies that vacuum expectation values can be calculated in Yang-Mills theory but one dimension lower. Our analysis reveals that this dimensional reduction results from a stochastic nature of the theory.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX fil

Nemertean and phoronid genomes reveal lophotrochozoan evolution and the origin of bilaterian heads

Nemerteans (ribbon worms) and phoronids (horseshoe worms) are closely related lophotrochozoans—a group of animals including leeches, snails and other invertebrates. Lophotrochozoans represent a superphylum that is crucial to our understanding of bilaterian evolution. However, given the inconsistency of molecular and morphological data for these groups, their origins have been unclear. Here, we present draft genomes of the nemertean Notospermus geniculatus and the phoronid Phoronis australis, together with transcriptomes along the adult bodies. Our genome-based phylogenetic analyses place Nemertea sister to the group containing Phoronida and Brachiopoda. We show that lophotrochozoans share many gene families with deuterostomes, suggesting that these two groups retain a core bilaterian gene repertoire that ecdysozoans (for example, flies and nematodes) and platyzoans (for example, flatworms and rotifers) do not. Comparative transcriptomics demonstrates that lophophores of phoronids and brachiopods are similar not only morphologically, but also at the molecular level. Despite dissimilar head structures, lophophores express vertebrate head and neuronal marker genes. This finding suggests a common origin of bilaterian head patterning, although different heads evolved independently in each lineage. Furthermore, we observe lineage-specific expansions of innate immunity and toxin-related genes. Together, our study reveals a dual nature of lophotrochozoans, where conserved and lineage-specific features shape their evolution

Genetic Encoding of 3-Iodo-l-Tyrosine in Escherichia coli for Single-Wavelength Anomalous Dispersion Phasing in Protein Crystallography

SummaryWe developed an Escherichia coli cell-based system to generate proteins containing 3-iodo-l-tyrosine at desired sites, and we used this system for structure determination by single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) phasing with the strong iodine signal. Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii was engineered to specifically recognize 3-iodo-l-tyrosine. The 1.7 Å crystal structure of the engineered variant, iodoTyrRS-mj, bound with 3-iodo-l-tyrosine revealed the structural basis underlying the strict specificity for this nonnatural substrate; the iodine moiety makes van der Waals contacts with 5 residues at the binding pocket. E. coli cells expressing iodoTyrRS-mj and the suppressor tRNA were used to incorporate 3-iodo-l-tyrosine site specifically into the ribosomal protein N-acetyltransferase from Thermus thermophilus. The crystal structure of this enzyme with iodotyrosine was determined at 1.8 and 2.2 Å resolutions by SAD phasing at CuKα and CrKα wavelengths, respectively. The native structure, determined by molecular replacement, revealed no significant structural distortion caused by iodotyrosine incorporation

Identification of the sex-determining factor in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha reveals unique evolution of sex chromosomes in a haploid system

半数体生物の性染色体上の性決定遺伝子を解明 --コケがもつ現生生物最古の起源の性染色体--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-11-08.Sex determination is a central process for sexual reproduction and is often regulated by a sex determinant encoded on a sex chromosome. Rules that govern the evolution of sex chromosomes via specialization and degeneration following the evolution of a sex determinant have been well studied in diploid organisms. However, distinct predictions apply to sex chromosomes in organisms where sex is determined in the haploid phase of the life cycle: both sex chromosomes, female U and male V, are expected to maintain their gene functions, even though both are non-recombining. This is in contrast to the X-Y (or Z-W) asymmetry and Y (W) chromosome degeneration in XY (ZW) systems of diploids. Here, we provide evidence that sex chromosomes diverged early during the evolution of haploid liverworts and identify the sex determinant on the Marchantia polymorpha U chromosome. This gene, Feminizer, encodes a member of the plant-specific BASIC PENTACYSTEINE transcription factor family. It triggers female differentiation via regulation of the autosomal sex-determining locus of FEMALE GAMETOPHYTE MYB and SUPPRESSOR OF FEMINIZATION. Phylogenetic analyses of Feminizer and other sex chromosome genes indicate dimorphic sex chromosomes had already been established 430 mya in the ancestral liverwort. Feminizer also plays a role in reproductive induction that is shared with its gametolog on the V chromosome, suggesting an ancestral function, distinct from sex determination, was retained by the gametologs. This implies ancestral functions can be preserved after the acquisition of a sex determination mechanism during the evolution of a dominant haploid sex chromosome system

Support for UNRWA's survival

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides life-saving humanitarian aid for 5·4 million Palestine refugees now entering their eighth decade of statelessness and conflict. About a third of Palestine refugees still live in 58 recognised camps. UNRWA operates 702 schools and 144 health centres, some of which are affected by the ongoing humanitarian disasters in Syria and the Gaza Strip. It has dramatically reduced the prevalence of infectious diseases, mortality, and illiteracy. Its social services include rebuilding infrastructure and homes that have been destroyed by conflict and providing cash assistance and micro-finance loans for Palestinians whose rights are curtailed and who are denied the right of return to their homeland

看護基礎教育における学生参画支援ソフトウェア“ECILS”の評価と携帯電話に対するイメージ

看護学科2年次生80名と専攻科 : 地域看護学専攻30名の学生の携帯電話に対するイメージや利用状況を明らかにするとともに、看護学科2年次生の講義に携帯電話を活用した参画支援ソフトウェア“ECILS”を活用し、評価した。その結果、学生全員が携帯電話を持っており、便利に活用していると思われるが、養成課程の違いにより不安の内容等に違いが見られた。また、 “ECILS”を活用した評価は、 ラベル新聞の評価が最も高かった。今後も、 “ECILS"をより使いやく改善するとともに、学生に利点や活用方法を伝えることが必要である。また、学生・教員ともに自己教育力が培われることが推祭された

看護教育に携帯電話を活用した参画支援ソフトウェア”ECILS”によるeラーニングの試案

看護教育において、株式会社エネックスが開発した携帯電話を利用した参画支援ソフトウェア“ECILS”を活用するシステムを試案した。 “ECILS”の機能は①リアルタイムアンケート集計、②メッセージコミュニケーション、③出席管理、④簡易理解度測定（小テスト）、⑤課題提出、⑥連絡網、⑦メッセージ検索である。“ECILS"をうまく活用することで、学生の学習意欲の向上が期待でき、参画力が身に付くことが推察される。携帯電話による利便性から情報管理や情報活用の広がりがあり、教員の授業支援と教育力向上に寄与するシステムでもある

看護基礎教育における無線LAN環境の構築と活用

“eポートフォリオによる自己教育力の育成 : モバイル端末を活用した参画型看護基礎教育で培うキャリア形成”が文部科学省平成20年度「質の高い大学教育推進プログラム」に選定され、キャンパス館内に無線ローカルエリアネットワーク（LAN）環境を構築した。それにより、平成21年4月から、従来の設置型パソコンを用いた有線LANに加え、モバイルパソコンを用いた無線LANの活用が可能となった。今回は、島根県立大学短期大学部・出雲キャンパスにおいて構築した無線LANの概要とその環境下における看護基礎教育における活用について紹介する

看護基礎教育における自己教育力育成に向けた“だんだんeポートフォリオシステム”の開発

“eポートフォリオによる自己教育力育成”が文部科学省平成20年度「質の高い大学教育推進プログラム」に選定された。eポートフォリオとは、パソコンを使い学習の記録や写真等、広範囲にわたる情報を電子的に取り込んだり、保管したポートフォリオで、webベースの情報管理ツール・統合データベースである。今回開発した“だんだんeポートフォリオンステム”は、主に16の機能があり、「プロフィール」「学びの蓄積」「課題提出」「その他」に分類される。この機能を、学生や教員の固有情報を基に利用者個々に対応した登録や参照ができるシステムである。この取組みを展開することで、様々な効果が期待される