Oscillations and accelerations of ice crystal growth rates in microgravity in presence of antifreeze glycoprotein impurity in supercooled water

The free growth of ice crystals in supercooled bulk water containing an impurity of glycoprotein, a bio-macromolecule that functions as 'antifreeze' in living organisms in a subzero environment, was observed under microgravity conditions on the International Space Station. We observed the acceleration and oscillation of the normal growth rates as a result of the interfacial adsorption of these protein molecules, which is a newly discovered impurity effect for crystal growth. As the convection caused by gravity may mitigate or modify this effect, secure observations of this effect were first made possible by continuous measurements of normal growth rates under long-term microgravity condition realized only in the spacecraft. Our findings will lead to a better understanding of a novel kinetic process for growth oscillation in relation to growth promotion due to the adsorption of protein molecules and will shed light on the role that crystal growth kinetics has in the onset of the mysterious antifreeze effect in living organisms, namely, how this protein may prevent fish freezing

Mitochondrial division occurs concurrently with autophagosome formation but independently of Drp1 during mitophagy

El presente trabajo de investigación nace de la motivación que generó en los investigadores el documento del doctor Jorge Túa Pereda titulado “La Docencia de la Contabilidad”, en donde señalaba su preocupación por la falta de enseñanza de la teoría contable en las universidades que formaban a Contadores Públicos. Esta falencia podría llevar a un retroceso y hasta a la desaparición de la ciencia Contable. Ante tal situación, los investigadores pretendieron conocer la realidad de la enseñanza y para ello tomaron cuatro programas estudios de los primeros cursos de sendas universidades y sendas carreras de Contador Públicos de cuatro países, Argentina, Chile, Colombia y México, que fueron elegidos en forma aleatoria. Lo primero que se procedió fue a realizar una revisión de literatura que permitió establecer una definición de teoría contable y una caracterización de ella, distinguiendo algunas teorías o escuelas (no todas necesariamente, siendo posible que existan otras no consideradas) que podrían ilustrar el cuerpo de conocimiento que involucraba. Posteriormente se procedió a realizar una investigación exploratoria del tipo cualitativa, analizando las unidades temáticas de cada programa que se consiguió de esas carreras, poniendo atención en cómo se abordaban los temas y esperando que hubiera alguna mención a las escuelas o teorías que fueron formalizadas. El resultado de esta investigación evidenció que no hay una referencia expresa a las teorías que señala este estudio inicial que los investigadores efectuaron, y que existe una exacerbación de la enseñanza de la normativa contable por sobre la teoría, especialmente en las universidades chilenas y mexicanas, en donde hay mayor énfasis en el registro que en el desarrollo de teorías.This research stems from the motivation generated by researcher’s document Dr. Jorge Túa Pereda entitled "The Teaching of Accounting" where stated its concern about the lack of accounting theory teaching in universities which were to CPAs. This short coming could lead to a decline and even the disappearance of Accounting Science. In this situation, the researchers sought to understand the reality of teaching and it took studies of the first courses of separate universities and paths racing Public Accountant four countries, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico four programs that were chosen in the form random. The first thing we proceeded was to conduct a literature review could establish a definition of accounting theory and characterization of it, distinguishing some theories or schools (no tall necessarily be possible that there are other not considered) that could illustrate the body knowledge involved. He then proceeded to conduct an exploratory investigation of qualitative nature, analyzing the thematic units of each program was achieved in those races, paying attention to how the issues were ad dressed and hoping there was some mention of school so theories that were formalized. The result of this research showed that there is no express reference to theories pointing this initial study there searchers made, and that there is an exacerbation of teaching accounting standards by the theory, especially in the Chilean and Mexican universities, where there is greater emphasis on record that in the development of theories.Facultad de Ciencias Económica

Mitophagy reporter mouse analysis reveals increased mitophagy activity in disuse-induced muscle atrophy

Muscle disuse induces atrophy through increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) released from damaged mitochondria. Mitophagy, the autophagic degradation of mitochondria, is associated with increased ROS production. However, the mitophagy activity status during disuse-induced muscle atrophy has been a subject of debate. Here, we developed a new mitophagy reporter mouse line to examine how disuse affected mitophagy activity in skeletal muscles. Mice expressing tandem mCherry-EGFP proteins on mitochondria were then used to monitor the dynamics of mitophagy activity. The reporter mice demonstrated enhanced mitophagy activity and increased ROS production in atrophic soleus muscles following a 14-day hindlimb immobilization. Results also showed an increased expression of multiple mitophagy genes, including Bnip3, Bnip3l, and Park2. Our findings thus conclude that disuse enhances mitophagy activity and ROS production in atrophic skeletal muscles and suggests that mitophagy is a potential therapeutic target for disuse-induced muscle atrophy

Efficient Operation of Heat Source using High-temperature Chilled Water in an Advanced Office Building

In recent years, energy conservation has become a major focus in the industrial sector. Many office buildings in Japan achieve energy savings by introducing highly efficient equipment and systems, such as high-temperature cooling water (14 °C), which increases heat source efficiency. However, such equipment requires adjustments to increase operational efficiency. In this case study, the efficiency of equipment using high-temperature cooling water was further improved through operation control optimization. The energy efficiency before and after the improvement was compared. The target building has chilled and hot water supplied to each floor from district heating and high-temperature chilled water supplied from cooling chillers on the rooftop. The energy consumption of two floors was evaluated: a subjective floor with equipment using high-temperature cooling water installed, and a common floor with a conventional system. After on-site verification, changes were made to the operation control of the cooling towers, condenser pumps, primary pumps, secondary pumps, and air handling units. As a result, the coefficient of performance of the water-cooled chiller and the whole system improved by 0.40 and 0.45, respectively. The flow rate of the air conditioning equipment using high-temperature cooling water decreased while maintaining an equivalent amount of heat extraction. In conclusion, the efficiency of the equipment was further improved by operation control optimization