Complete Genome Sequencing of a Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ψUSA300 Strain JICS127, a Uniquely Evolved USA300 Lineage in Japan

A ψUSA300 clone of MRSA, a derivative of USA300, is uniquely found in Japan and has 12-bp deletion on ccrB2 in type IVa staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec element. We hereby present the complete genome of ψUSA300 strain JICS127

Quantitative Analysis of Isolated Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes with Their Molar Absorbance Coefficients

The molar absorbance coefficients of metallic, semiconducting, and (6,5) chirality enriched single-wall carbon nanotubes were evaluated by a spray technique combined with atomic force microscopy. Single-wall carbon nanotubes with isolated and a single predominant electronic type were obtained by using the density-gradient ultracentrifugation technique. In the visible region, all coefficients had similar values around 2–5 × 109/mL mol−1 cm−1, independent of their diameter distribution and the electronic types of single-wall carbon nanotubes, and the εS22/εM11  and εS11/εM11 were estimated to be 1.0 and 4.0, respectively. The coefficient strongly depends on the length of single-wall carbon nanotubes, independent of their electronic types and chirality

Development of the Japanese version of the health‐related quality of life questionnaire for bladder cancer patients using the Bladder Cancer Index: A pilot study

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151958/1/iju14073.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151958/2/iju14073_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151958/3/iju14073-sup-0003-app2.pd

La5Ti2Cu1-xAgxS5O7 photocathodes operating at positive potentials during photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution under irradiation of up to 710 nm

A photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell based on a series-connected photocathode and photoanode made of particulate semiconductors is a potentially scalable and inexpensive device for renewable solar hydrogen production via PEC water splitting without any external power supply. The realisation of such PEC devices hinges on the development of photoelectrodes that operate at a small applied voltage. In this study, solid solutions of La5Ti2CuS5O7 (LTC) and La5Ti2AgS5O7 (LTA) were synthesised, and their physical, optical, and PEC properties in the water splitting reaction were discussed. LTC and LTA formed a La5Ti2Cu1-xAgxS5O7 solid solution (LTC(1-x)A(x)) over the whole compositional range. The indirect bandgap energy of LTC(1-x)A(x) changed nonlinearly with respect to composition, attaining its minimum value (ca. 1.8 eV) at a composition of x approximate to 0.16. Photoelectrodes of Al-doped LTC(1-x)A(x) solid solution powder fabricated using the particle transfer method exhibited a photocathodic response regardless of the Ag content. 1% Al-LTC(0.9)A(0.1) photocathodes exhibited the best PEC properties in the hydrogen evolution reaction and yielded a hypothetical half-cell solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 0.25% at +0.6 V vs. RHE, three times higher than the previously reported 1% Sc-LTC. In addition, 1% Al-LTC(0.9)A(0.1) photocathodes were fairly stable at + 0.7 V vs. RHE without any protective modifications. Owing to the positive operational electrode potential of 1% Al-LTC(0.9)A(0.1), unassisted PEC water splitting was accomplished using series-connected photoelectrodes made of 1% Al-LTC(0.9)A(0.1) and BaTaO2N, particulate semiconductors with absorption edge wavelengths of 710 and 660 nm, respectively, at a Faradaic efficiency of unity and a solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of approximately 0.1%.ArticleEnergy & Environmental Science.8(11):3354-3362(2015)journal articl

Comparison of cortical activation during Mahjong game play in a video game setting and a real-life setting

The purpose of this study was to compare the hemodynamic changes that occur during Mahjong game play in virtual and real-life settings. Fourteen healthy right-handed men (average age ± standard deviation; 36.7 ± 14.9 years) played: 1) a Mahjong solitaire game on a video console against virtual rivals; 2) a Mahjong game against human opponents without conversation; and 3) a Mahjong game against human opponents with conversation. We measured oxygenated hemoglobin concentration at 44 locations over both hemispheres during Mahjong game play in each setting using near-infrared spectroscopy. The increase in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration at several locations, including Broca’s area, the somatosensory cortex, the somatosensory association cortex, the supramarginal gyrus part of Wernicke’s area, the primary and auditory association cortex, the angular gyrus part of Wernicke’s area, and the associative visual cortex was greater during game play in the real-life settings than during game play in the video game setting. There were no significant differences during game play in real-life settings without and with conversation. Each cortical area correlated with broad or specific areas. The common correlation areas were found at Angular gyrus part of Wernicke’s area of left hemisphere during real-life settings without and with conversation, but not during game play in a video game setting. These results suggest that the brain responds differently to game play in real world and virtual world settings, and indicate that comparison of games played in the virtual world and the real world may be an effective model to enhance understanding of the effects of video game on the brain.ArticleBiochemistry & Analytical Biochemistry.4(2):164(2015)journal articl