CFD-PBM coupled simulation of a nanobubble generator with honeycomb structure

In recent years, nanobubble technologies have drawn great attention due to their wide applications in many fields of science and technology. The nitrogen nanobubble water circulation can be used to slow the progressions of oxidation and spoilage for the seafood long- term storage. From previous studies, a kind of honeycomb structure for high-efficiency nanobubble generation has been proposed. In this paper, the bubbly flow in the honeycomb structure was studied. The numerical simulations of honeycomb structure were performed by using a computational fluid dynamics–population balance model (CFD-PBM) coupled model. The numerical model was based on the Eulerian multiphase model and the population balance model (PBM) was used to calculate the gas bubble size distribution. The bubble coalescence and breakage were included. Considering the effect of bubble diameter on the fluid flow, the phase interactions were coupled with the PBM. The bubble size distributions in the honeycomb structure under different work conditions were predicted. The experimental results were compared with the simulation predictions.2018 International Conference on Material Strength and Applied Mechanics (MSAM 2018) 10–13 April 2018, Kitakyushu City, Japa

Impulsivity and the 5-HTTLPR Polymorphism in a Non-Clinical Sample

BACKGROUND: Impulsivity has been associated with serotonergic system functions. However, few researchers have investigated the relationship between a polymorphism in the promoter of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and the different components of impulsivity in a non-clinical population. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and the different components of impulsivity in a non-clinical population. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We administered two neuropsychological tests, the Continuous Performance Task and the Iowa Gambling Task, to 127 healthy participants to measure their levels of motor, attentional and non-planning impulsivity. Then, these participants were grouped by genotype and gender, and their scores on impulsivity measures were compared. There were no significant differences between group scores on attentional, motor and non-planning impulsivity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that 5-HTTLPR genotype is not significantly associated with subsets of impulsive behavior in a non-clinical sample when measured by neuropsychological tests. These findings are discussed in terms of the sensitivity of neuropsychological tests to detect impulsivity in a non-clinical population and the role of gender and race in the relationship between the 5-HTTLPR and impulsivity

The Shortest Isoform of Dystrophin (Dp40) Interacts with a Group of Presynaptic Proteins to Form a Presumptive Novel Complex in the Mouse Brain

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) causes cognitive impairment in one third of the patients, although the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Recent studies showed that mutations in the distal part of the dystrophin gene correlate well with the cognitive impairment in DMD patients, which is attributed to Dp71. The study on the expression of the shortest isoform, Dp40, has not been possible due to the lack of an isoform specific antibody. Dp40 has the same promoter as that found in Dp71 and lacks the normal C-terminal end of Dp427. In the present study, we have raised polyclonal antibody against the N-terminal sequence common to short isoforms of dystrophin, including Dp40, and investigated the expression pattern of Dp40 in the mouse brain. Affinity chromatography with this antibody and the consecutive LC-MS/MS analysis on the interacting proteins revealed that Dp40 was abundantly expressed in synaptic vesicles and interacted with a group of presynaptic proteins, including syntaxin1A and SNAP25, which are involved in exocytosis of synaptic vesicles in neurons. We thus suggest that Dp40 may form a novel protein complex and play a crucial role in presynaptic function. Further studies on these aspects of Dp40 function might provide more insight into the molecular mechanisms of cognitive impairment found in patients with DMD

糯稲の類型化に関する考察(農学部門)

糯稲品種が, その胚乳澱粉粘度と玄米の緑化時水分含量を指標とする「糯性程度」(grade of glutinous nature)の差によつて分類されることを提案した。内・外国産26品種をこの方法によつて5つの類型に大別した。「糯性程度」の高い品種程, 一般に多蘗性で籾藁比率も高い。また「糯性程度」の最も高い品種は草丈や穂長が短く, 逆に最も低い品種は長稈, 長穂の傾向を示した。中間には, これらの形質について雑多な品種が混在している。日本及び朝鮮産品種あるいはA型品種群は, 比較的「糯性程度」の高いIII, IV, V型に属するものが多く, これに対して外国産あるいはB, C型品種は「糯性程度」と早晩性との間には明瞭な関係はないが, I型品種は例外なく晩生種である。糯稲にみられるこのような性質の相違は, 各種の生態的条件や民族の嗜好性による選抜の結果として分化したものと考えられる。(1) The authors tried to classify glutinous rice plants by their "grade of glutinous nature", using 26 varieties, 13 of Japan, 5 of China, 2 of Korea, 5 of Southeast Asia, 1 of Italy and 1 of South America (Table 1). Five grades such as I∿V were proposed by combining both starch viscosity of endosperm and water contents of grain at the time Ryokka happend, of which the most important properties in glutinous rice plant. From grade I to V, viscosity and water contents of grain became higher in each value as presented in Table 2 & Fig. 1. (2) Number of ears and ratio of grain to straw, in general, went hand in hand with the grade, showing larger values. Both culm and ear of varieties belonged the highest grade were shorter in length and vice versa in the case of varieties belonged the lowest one (Fig. 2). (3) Majority of varieties native to Japan and Korea, or A type grouped by MATSUO (1952), belonged to grade III, IV and V, while varieties distributed in Southeast Asia, or B and C types included large number of grade I and II. The correlation between the grade and date of heading was never recognizable, but it was found that varieties belonged grade I headed later with no exception (Fig. 3). (4) The differentiation of "grade of glutinous nature" in rice varieties as pointed above was thought to had been caused by selection of different environment and different taste of people

The influence of psychiatric screening in healthy populations selection: a new study and meta-analysis of functional 5-HTTLPR and rs25531 polymorphisms and anxiety-related personality traits

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A genetic liability for anxiety-related personality traits in healthy subjects has been associated with the functional serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR), although the data are somewhat conflicting. Moreover, only one study has investigated the functional significance of the 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 haplotypes in relation to anxiety traits in healthy subjects. We tested whether the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and the 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 haplotypes are linked to Harm Avoidance (HA) using an association study (STUDY I) and a meta-analytic approach (STUDY II).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>STUDY I: A total of 287 unrelated Italian volunteers were screened for DSM-IV Axis I disorders and genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR and rs25531 (A/G) polymorphisms. Different functional haplotype combinations were also analyzed. STUDY II: A total of 44 studies were chosen for a meta-analysis of the putative association between 5-HTTLPR and anxiety-related personality traits.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>STUDY I: In the whole sample of 287 volunteers, we found that the SS genotype and S'S' haplotypes were associated with higher scores on HA. However, because the screening assessed by Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) showed the presence of 55 volunteers affected by depression or anxiety disorders, we analyzed the two groups ("disordered" and "healthy") separately. The data obtained did indeed confirm that in the "healthy" group, the significant effects of the SS genotype and S'S' haplotypes were lost, but they remained in the "disordered" group. STUDY II: The results of the 5-HTTLPR meta-analysis with anxiety-related traits in the whole sample confirmed the association of the SS genotype with higher anxiety-related traits scores in Caucasoids; however, when we analyzed only those studies that used structured psychiatric screening, no association was found.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study demonstrates the relevance to perform analyses on personality traits only in DSM-IV axis I disorder-free subjects. Furthermore, we did not find an association between functional serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and anxiety traits in healthy subjects screened through a structured psychiatric interview.</p