The United States reasserts trade rule-making through USMCA and challenges CPTPP

For more about the East-West Center, see http://www.eastwestcenter.org/Takemasa Sekine Associate Professor at Nagoya University of Commerce & Business, explains that "Most countries have shifted their interest and resources to negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs) directly with trade partners, trying to introduce new trade rules that have not materialized under the WTO.

Detection of Transgenes in Gene Delivery Model Mice by Adenoviral Vector Using ddPCR

With the rapid progress of genetic engineering and gene therapy, the World Anti-Doping Agency has been alerted to gene doping and prohibited its use in sports. However, there is no standard method available yet for the detection of transgenes delivered by recombinant adenoviral (rAdV) vectors. Here, we aim to develop a detection method for transgenes delivered by rAdV vectors in a mouse model that mimics gene doping. These rAdV vectors containing the mCherry gene was delivered in mice through intravenous injection or local muscular injection. After five days, stool and whole blood samples were collected, and total DNA was extracted. As additional experiments, whole blood was also collected from the mouse tail tip until 15 days from injection of the rAdv vector. Transgene fragments from different DNA samples were analyzed using semi-quantitative PCR (sqPCR), quantitative PCR (qPCR), and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). In the results, transgene fragments could be directly detected from blood cell fraction DNA, plasma cell-free DNA, and stool DNA by qPCR and ddPCR, depending on specimen type and injection methods. We observed that a combination of blood cell fraction DNA and ddPCR was more sensitive than other combinations used in this model. These results could accelerate the development of detection methods for gene doping

Measurement of PM2.5 and Water-Soluble Ions at Central Tokyo, Japan and Source Apportionment

Air pollution by fine particulate matter, PM2.5 has been inviting considerable concerns in East Asia. This study then aimed to characterize PM2.5 and its water-soluble ions collected at Shibuya, central Tokyo, Japan from July 2013 to May 2015, in order to better understand the air pollution mechanism and potential sources of PM2.5 of the city. Analytical results showed the PM2.5 was a mixture of aggregates of formless particles and its concentration ranged from 5.4 to 39μg/m3, with a mean of 14 ± 6.7μg/m3 (n=46). SO42- and NH4+ were abundant in PM2.5 and their presence mostly determined the variation of PM2.5 level. High concentration episodes were found in the season when air masses came from Asian continent, and a long-range transport of urban aerosols and soil-derived particles was suggested by changes in the chemical compositions

Measurement of PM2.5 and Water-Soluble Ions at Central Tokyo, Japan and Source Apportionment

Air pollution by fine particulate matter, PM2.5 has been inviting considerable concerns in East Asia. This study then aimed to characterize PM2.5 and its water-soluble ions collected at Shibuya, central Tokyo, Japan from July 2013 to May 2015, in order to better understand the air pollution mechanism and potential sources of PM2.5 of the city. Analytical results showed the PM2.5 was a mixture of aggregates of formless particles and its concentration ranged from 5.4 to 39μg/m3, with a mean of 14 ± 6.7μg/m3 (n=46). SO42- and NH4+ were abundant in PM2.5 and their presence mostly determined the variation of PM2.5 level. High concentration episodes were found in the season when air masses came from Asian continent, and a long-range transport of urban aerosols and soil-derived particles was suggested by changes in the chemical compositions