Vivienda Transcultural. La arquitecta japonesa pionera Miho Hamaguchi y su último proyecto en España

Miho Hamaguchi (1915-1988) was the first woman to be a licensed architect in Japan. A pioneer in domestic design during the postwar period, she built and consulted on thousands of houses throughout her prolific career. However, she is a little-known figure both in Japan and in the international debate. Her representation in architectural historiography is limited to her influence on kitchen design, but her writings and work go far beyond. Hamaguchi's legacy is one of bold residential architecture that embodied democratic ideas in spatial configurations. She promoted the house as a fundamental tool for gender equality, leaving behind a feudal and patriarchal system. At the end of her career, she found in Costa del Sol the perfect place to carry out a residential project as a cultural exchange. "Kaiyo Club" became a set of three houses since the first design in 1974 until the subsequent extensions were completed in 1987. Throughout its different stages, the project shows a striking Spanish-Japanese transfer where different architectural languages coexist. The white-walled exterior dialogues with the vernacular, while its interior unfolds Japanese patterns with tatami-floored rooms or ofuro-style bathrooms. These dwellings present a unique hybrid materialization, displaying Hamaguchi's design from a humanistic stance, blending of locally rooted modernist spatial principles and reinterpreted traditions.Miho Hamaguchi (1915-1988) fue la primera arquitecta licenciada en Japón. Pionera en el diseño doméstico durante la posguerra, construyó y asesoró miles de casas a lo largo de su prolífica carrera. Sin embargo, es una figura poco conocida tanto en Japón como en el debate internacional. Su representación en la historiografía arquitectónica se limita a su influencia en el diseño de cocinas, pero sus escritos y su obra van mucho más allá. El legado de Hamaguchi es el de una arquitectura residencial audaz que plasmó ideas democráticas en las configuraciones espaciales. Promovió la casa como herramienta fundamental para la igualdad de género, dejando atrás un sistema feudal y patriarcal. Al final de su carrera, encontró en la Costa del Sol el lugar perfecto para llevar a cabo un proyecto residencial como intercambio cultural. "Kaiyo Club" se convirtió en un conjunto de tres casas desde el primer diseño en 1974 hasta las posteriores ampliaciones realizadas en 1987. A lo largo de sus diferentes etapas, el proyecto muestra una llamativa transferencia hispano-japonesa donde conviven diferentes lenguajes arquitectónicos. El exterior de paredes blancas dialoga con lo vernáculo, mientras que su interior despliega patrones japoneses con habitaciones de suelo de tatami o baños de estilo ofuro. Estas viviendas de Hamaguchi presentan una materialización híbrida única, mostrando su mezcla de principios espaciales modernistas enraizados en la localidad y tradiciones reinterpretadas, diseñando siempre desde una postura humanista

Effect of LPMO on the Hydrolysis of Crystalline Chitin by Chitinase A and β-<em>N</em>-Acetylglucosaminidase from <em>Paenibacillus</em> sp.

We performed cloning and expression of chitinase A (Pb-ChiA), β-GlcNAcase (Pb-GlcNAcase), and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (Pb-LPMO) genes from Paenibacillus sp. The analysis of the hydrolysis products indicated Pb-ChiA to be an exo-type chitinase with 10-fold activity toward β-chitin as compared with α-chitin. The sequence of Pb-GlcNAcase was found to be similar to that of β-N-acetylhexosaminidase from P. barengoltzii (99%, WP_016313754.1). Pb-LPMO was expressed in the Brevibacillus expression system. Pb-ChiA was found to have affinity toward crystalline chitin higher than that of Pb-LPMO. Pb-LPMO boosted the activity of Pb-ChiA toward crystalline α-chitin but not toward crystalline β-chitin. When Pb-LPMO (3 μM) was added to the reaction mixture during the hydrolysis of crystalline α-chitin by Pb-ChiA, hydrolysis products at two-fold concentration were obtained. However, the hydrolysis products decreased upon addition of more than 3 μM Pb-LPMO to the reaction mixture

RNAi-Mediated Knockdown Showing Impaired Cell Survival in Drosophila Wing Imaginal Disc

The genetically amenable organism Drosophila melanogaster has been estimated to have 14,076 protein coding genes in the genome, according to the flybase release note R5.13 (http://flybase.bio.indiana.edu/static_pages/docs/release_notes.html). Recent application of RNA interference (RNAi) to the study of developmental biology in Drosophila has enabled us to carry out a systematic investigation of genes affecting various specific phenotypes. In order to search for genes supporting cell survival, we conducted an immunohistochemical examination in which the RNAi of 2,497 genes was independently induced within the dorsal compartment of the wing imaginal disc. Under these conditions, the activities of a stress-activated protein kinase JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) and apoptosis-executing factor Caspase-3 were monitored. Approximately half of the genes displayed a strong JNK or Caspase-3 activation when their RNAi was induced. Most of the JNK activation accompanied Caspase-3 activation, while the opposite did not hold true. Interestingly, the area activating Caspase-3 was more broadly seen than that activating JNK, suggesting that JNK is crucial for induction of non-autonomous apoptosis in many cases. Furthermore, the RNAi of essential factors commonly regulating transcription and translation showed a severe and cell-autonomous apoptosis but also elicited another apoptosis at an adjacent area in a non-autonomous way. We also found that the frequency of apoptosis varies depending on the tissues

Stimulatory Effects of CO2 Laser, Er:YAG Laser and Ga-Al-As Laser on Exposed Dentinal Tubule Orifices

We investigated the effects of lasers irradiation on the exposed dentinal tubule. Human tooth specimens with exposed dentinal tubule orifices were used. Three types of lasers (CO2 laser, Er:YAG laser and Ga-Al-As laser) were employed. The parameters were 1.0 W in continuous-wave mode with an irradiation time of 30 s for the CO2 laser, 30 mJ in continuous-wave mode with an irradiation time of 60 s for the Er:YAG laser, and 1.0 W in continuous-wave mode with an irradiation time of 60 s for the Ga-Al-As laser. A non-irradiated group was used as a control. After laser irradiation, the dentinal surface of each sample was observed using SEM. Afterwards, all samples were immersed in methylene blue dye solution in order to evaluate the penetration of the dye solution and observe the change in dentinal permeability after laser irradiation. SEM observation showed that the control group had numerous exposed dentinal tubule orifices, whereas these orifices were closed in the laser-irradiated groups. There was consistent dye penetration into the pulp chamber in the control group, whereas no dye penetration was evident in the laser-irradiated groups. Therefore, laser appears to be a promising treatment for reducing permeation through exposed dentinal tubules

Stimulatory Effects of CO2 Laser, Er:YAG Laser and Ga-Al-As Laser on Exposed Dentinal Tubule Orifices

We investigated the effects of lasers irradiation on the exposed dentinal tubule. Human tooth specimens with exposed dentinal tubule orifices were used. Three types of lasers (CO2 laser, Er:YAG laser and Ga-Al-As laser) were employed. The parameters were 1.0 W in continuous-wave mode with an irradiation time of 30 s for the CO2 laser, 30 mJ in continuous-wave mode with an irradiation time of 60 s for the Er:YAG laser, and 1.0 W in continuous-wave mode with an irradiation time of 60 s for the Ga-Al-As laser. A non-irradiated group was used as a control. After laser irradiation, the dentinal surface of each sample was observed using SEM. Afterwards, all samples were immersed in methylene blue dye solution in order to evaluate the penetration of the dye solution and observe the change in dentinal permeability after laser irradiation. SEM observation showed that the control group had numerous exposed dentinal tubule orifices, whereas these orifices were closed in the laser-irradiated groups. There was consistent dye penetration into the pulp chamber in the control group, whereas no dye penetration was evident in the laser-irradiated groups. Therefore, laser appears to be a promising treatment for reducing permeation through exposed dentinal tubules

A Computational Approach To Predict Warp Of Sawn Lumber Due To Residual Growth Stress In A Log

A tree generates a complicated stress distribution inside the stem during its formation, which is called 'residual growth stress (RGS)'. The RGS often induces warp in a sawn lumber such as bow, crook, and other deformation, which causes severe losses of materials and benefits in the sawmill industry. Generally, warp becomes more serious in the lumber 'without pith' than in the lumber 'with pith'. In Japan, 50% of conifer plantations are ready to produce large-diameter logs of which diameter is more than 30 cm. The use of those logs inevitably leads to the production of the lumber 'without the pith', so we are concerned about the problems due to lumber warp in future sawmill industry using largediameter logs. Based on those practical background, this study presents a computational procedure to predict warp of the squared lumber, such as a beam, a bearer, and so forth, when those lumbers are sawn from the log and/or the thick plank. Using the derived procedure, 2-D patterns of the RGSs in the sawn lumbers and their changes during sawing processes are simulated. Simulated results will be experimentally verified by measuring the warp of the sawn lumber, as well as by measuring the RGS distributions in a log

Integration-Free iPS Cells Engineered Using Human Artificial Chromosome Vectors

Human artificial chromosomes (HACs) have unique characteristics as gene-delivery vectors, including episomal transmission and transfer of multiple, large transgenes. Here, we demonstrate the advantages of HAC vectors for reprogramming mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Two HAC vectors (iHAC1 and iHAC2) were constructed. Both carried four reprogramming factors, and iHAC2 also encoded a p53-knockdown cassette. iHAC1 partially reprogrammed MEFs, and iHAC2 efficiently reprogrammed MEFs. Global gene expression patterns showed that the iHACs, unlike other vectors, generated relatively uniform iPS cells. Under non-selecting conditions, we established iHAC-free iPS cells by isolating cells that spontaneously lost iHAC2. Analyses of pluripotent markers, teratomas and chimeras confirmed that these iHAC-free iPS cells were pluripotent. Moreover, iHAC-free iPS cells with a re-introduced HAC encoding Herpes Simplex virus thymidine kinase were eliminated by ganciclovir treatment, indicating that the HAC safeguard system functioned in iPS cells. Thus, the HAC vector could generate uniform, integration-free iPS cells with a built-in safeguard system

CO(JJ=1-0) mapping survey of 64 galaxies in the Fornax cluster with the ALMA Morita array

We conduct a $^{12}$C$^{16}$O($J$=1-0) (hereafter CO) mapping survey of 64 galaxies in the Fornax cluster using the ALMA Morita array in cycle 5. CO emission is detected from 23 out of the 64 galaxies. Our sample includes dwarf, spiral and elliptical galaxies with stellar masses of $M_{\rm star}\sim10^{6.3-11.6}$~M$_\odot$. The achieved beam size and sensitivity are $15''\times8''$ and $\sim12$~mJy~beam$^{-1}$ at the velocity resolution of $\sim10$~km~s$^{-1}$, respectively. We study the cold-gas (molecular- and atomic-gas) properties of 38 subsamples with $M_{\rm star}>10^9$~M$_\odot$ combined with literature HI data. We find that: (1) the low star-formation (SF) activity in the Fornax galaxies is caused by the decrease in the cold-gas mass fraction with respect to stellar mass (hereafter, gas fraction) rather than the decrease of the SF efficiency from the cold gas; (2) the atomic-gas fraction is more heavily reduced than the molecular-gas fraction of such galaxies with low SF activity. A comparison between the cold-gas properties of the Fornax galaxies and their environmental properties suggests that the atomic gas is stripped tidally and by the ram pressure, which leads to the molecular gas depletion with an aid of the strangulation and consequently SF quenching. Pre-processes in the group environment would also play a role in reducing cold-gas reservoirs in some Fornax galaxies.Comment: 53 pages, 41 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

The whole blood transcriptional regulation landscape in 465 COVID-19 infected samples from Japan COVID-19 Task Force

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19患者由来の血液細胞における遺伝子発現の網羅的解析 --重症度に応じた遺伝子発現の変化には、ヒトゲノム配列の個人差が影響する--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-23.Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a recently-emerged infectious disease that has caused millions of deaths, where comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms is still unestablished. In particular, studies of gene expression dynamics and regulation landscape in COVID-19 infected individuals are limited. Here, we report on a thorough analysis of whole blood RNA-seq data from 465 genotyped samples from the Japan COVID-19 Task Force, including 359 severe and 106 non-severe COVID-19 cases. We discover 1169 putative causal expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) including 34 possible colocalizations with biobank fine-mapping results of hematopoietic traits in a Japanese population, 1549 putative causal splice QTLs (sQTLs; e.g. two independent sQTLs at TOR1AIP1), as well as biologically interpretable trans-eQTL examples (e.g., REST and STING1), all fine-mapped at single variant resolution. We perform differential gene expression analysis to elucidate 198 genes with increased expression in severe COVID-19 cases and enriched for innate immune-related functions. Finally, we evaluate the limited but non-zero effect of COVID-19 phenotype on eQTL discovery, and highlight the presence of COVID-19 severity-interaction eQTLs (ieQTLs; e.g., CLEC4C and MYBL2). Our study provides a comprehensive catalog of whole blood regulatory variants in Japanese, as well as a reference for transcriptional landscapes in response to COVID-19 infection