Genetic diversity of blue-spotted mudskipper (Boleophthalmus boddarti) populations in Gulf of Thailand

Environmental changes and the reduction of habitat can threaten populations of mudskippers, which have a distinct life cycle compared with other fish species. Genetic diversity and structure are crucial information for the conservation plan of this species. The genetic diversity was investigated on the blue-spotted mudskipper, Boleophtalmus boddarti, in the Gulf of Thailand. In total, 178 fish were collected from six locations in the Gulf. Based on the 320 bp sequences of the mitochondrial control region of the 55 haplotypes observed, the most common was in 88 fish from all locations. Total haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity values (mean ± SD) were h = 0.751 ± 0.036 and π = 0.0069 ± 0.0001, respectively. There was a significant (p = 0.011) difference in π between inner and outer Gulf samples. Although the analysis of molecular variance suggested the absence of genetic structuring within the Gulf, two clear groups of haplotypes were evident in the medianjoining network of haplotypes. Group I included haplotypes from all locations and group II was identified by haplotypes with an additional adenine at the 16078th position based on the mitochondrial genome sequence of B. boddarti (Accession no. KF87427). The results of the nonmetric multidimensional scaling and Bayesian assignment test were indicative of genetic divergence between the inner and outer Gulf, suggesting that despite the high potential for dispersal of planktonic larvae, water currents may act as a physical barrier to gene flow in the study area. The observed signals of population divergence between B. boddarti from the inner and outer Gulf of Thailand may account for the presence of this oceanographical barrier. Mismatch distributions, based on the observed number of differences among haplotype pairs, produced a unimodal distribution with a peak close to the y-axis, suggesting recent demographic expansion. The results could augment future study with baseline information on the maternal genetic variation and structure of the bluespotted mudskipper, B. boddarti, populations in the Gulf of Thailand

Improved sensitivity of magnetic measurements under high pressure in miniature ceramic anvil cell for a commercial SQUID magnetometer

Two modifications have been made to a miniature ceramic anvil high pressure cell (mCAC) designed for magnetic measurements at pressures up to 12.6 GPa in a commercial superconducting quantum interference (SQUID) magnetometer [N. Tateiwa et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 82, 053906 (2011)., ibid. 83, 053906 (2012)]. Replacing the Cu-Be piston in the former mCAC with a composite piston composed of the Cu-Be and ceramic cylinders reduces the background magnetization significantly smaller at low temperatures, enabling more precise magnetic measurements at low temperatures. A second modification to the mCAC is the utilization of a ceramic anvil with a hollow in the center of the culet surface. High pressures up to 5 GPa were generated with the "cupped ceramic anvil" with the culet size of 1.0 mm.Comment: Rev. Sci. Instrum. 84, 046105 (2013

Itinerant U 5f band states in the layered compound UFeGa5 observed by soft X-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

We have performed angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) experiments on paramagnetic UFeGa5 using soft X-ray synchrotron radiation (hn=500eV) and derived the bulk- and U 5f-sensitive electronic structure of UFeGa5. Although the agreement between the experimental band structure and the LDA calculation treating U 5f electrons as being itinerant is qualitative, the morphology of the Fermi surface is well explained by the calculation, suggesting that the U 5f states can be essentially understood within the itinerant-electron model.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figur

Development and tests of a flexible superconducting bus-line for the Large Helical Device

A flexible superconducting bus-line is proposed as an electrical feeder between the superconducting coils of the Large Helical Device (LHD) and the device\u27s power supplies. The bus-line consists of superconducting cables and a cryogenic flexible transfer-line. A specially developed aluminum stabilized NbTi/Cu compacted strand cable satisfies requirements for large current capacity, high stability, high reliability and flexibility. A full-scale model with a length of 20 m was designed and constructed to investigate the feasibility and performance of the superconducting bus-line. Its fabrication, transportation, installation, cooling and excitation tests were successfully carried out. The bus-line was very stable and could be excited up to 40 kA (rated current is 30 kA) without a quench. The stability, current distribution and heat load were also measure

Competency of Education for Interntional Understanding: By analyzing Dircke Geography: For Bilingual Classes in Germany

This paper aims to clarify the characteristics of learning units on Education for International Understanding (EIU) and their structure, appropriate geographical teaching materials on EIU, streategies for competence acquisition, and perspectives of ESD within learning units on EIU by analyzing two learning units “Globalisation” and “Global Disparities” in the geography textbook for bilingual lesson ”Diercke Geography: For Bilingual Classes”. The results of the analysis showed that 1)“Globalisation” focuses on the theories of globalisation and “Global Disparities” aims to learn not only theories but also regionl images; 2) Competency is repeatedly acquired through different learning activities ; 3) “Global Disparities” is designed from the viewpoint of “think globally, act locally”

Direct observation of quasi-particle band in CeIrIn5_5: Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study

We have performed a high-resolution angle resolved Ce 4$d-4f$ resonant photoemission experiment on the heavy fermion superconductor CeIrIn$_5$. We have observed a quasi-particle band which has an energy dispersion of $\sim 30$ meV in the Ce 4$f$ on-resonance spectra. The result suggests that although the 4$f$ spectra are dominated by the localized/correlated character, the small itinerant component is responsible for the superconductivity in this compound.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Ligilactobacillus salivarius strains isolated rrom the porcine gut modulate innate immune responses in epithelial cells and improve protection against intestinal viral-bacterial superinfection

Previously, we constructed a library of Ligilactobacillus salivarius strains from the intestine of wakame-fed pigs and reported a strain-dependent capacity to modulate IFN-β expression in porcine intestinal epithelial (PIE) cells. In this work, we further characterized the immunomodulatory activities of L. salivarius strains from wakame-fed pigs by evaluating their ability to modulate TLR3- and TLR4-mediated innate immune responses in PIE cells. Two strains with a remarkable immunomodulatory potential were selected: L. salivarius FFIG35 and FFIG58. Both strains improved IFN-β, IFN-λ and antiviral factors expression in PIE cells after TLR3 activation, which correlated with an enhanced resistance to rotavirus infection. Moreover, a model of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)/rotavirus superinfection in PIE cells was developed. Cells were more susceptible to rotavirus infection when the challenge occurred in conjunction with ETEC compared to the virus alone. However, L. salivarius FFIG35 and FFIG58 maintained their ability to enhance IFN-β, IFN-λ and antiviral factors expression in PIE cells, and to reduce rotavirus replication in the context of superinfection. We also demonstrated that FFIG35 and FFIG58 strains regulated the immune response of PIE cells to rotavirus challenge or ETEC/rotavirus superinfection through the modulation of negative regulators of the TLR signaling pathway. In vivo studies performed in mice models confirmed the ability of L. salivarius FFIG58 to beneficially modulate the innate immune response and protect against ETEC infection. The results of this work contribute to the understanding of beneficial lactobacilli interactions with epithelial cells and allow us to hypothesize that the FFIG35 or FFIG58 strains could be used for the development of highly efficient functional feed to improve immune health status and reduce the severity of intestinal infections and superinfections in weaned piglets.Fil: Indo, Yuhki. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Kitahara, Shugo. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Tomokiyo, Mikado. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Araki, Shota. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Islam, Md Aminul. Tohoku University; Japón. Bangladesh Agricultural University; BangladeshFil: Zhou, Binghui. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Albarracín, Leonardo Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Miyazaki, Ayako. National Institute of Animal Health; JapónFil: Ikeda Ohtsubo, Wakako. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Nochi, Tomonori. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Takenouchi, Takato. National Agriculture And Food Research Organization; JapónFil: Uenishi, Hirohide. National Agriculture and Food Research Organization; JapónFil: Aso, Hisashi. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Takahashi, Hideki. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Kurata, Shoichiro. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Villena, Julio Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Kitazawa, Haruki. Tohoku University; Japó