Loosely Coupled Joint Driven by SMA Coil Actuators”,

Abstract-We introduce a robotic prototype of an arm with a loosely coupled joint, modeled on the human joint. A viscoelastic object functions as cartilage and soft actuators as muscles. First, we show that although viscoelastic object affords smooth movement owing to shift in the center of rotation, the repeat accuracy of the joint is poor under open-loop control. The repeat accuracy was much improved by visual feedback. Under P control, the prototype was shown to be highly robust against mechanical disturbance owing to its good mechanical compliance

3D Periodic-Sugoroku Game for Active Learning of the Periodic Table

The periodic table is an important set of scientific sym-bols that are not commonly used in everyday life but which may cause science phobia in youngsters. Many types of educational tools for learning the periodic table do not provide an opportunity to dis-cover the relationships between chemical elements. In this study, we propose a NEO GAME of sugoroku game involving a 3D periodic chart (i.e., periodic-sugoroku) for use as an educational tool. Sugoroku is a Japanese board game similar to Parcheesi or Monopo-ly. Using this proposed tool, students can actively learn the periodic chart while enjoying a sugoroku game

Assessment of daily step differences between youth and elders

[Purpose] The main objective of this study was to assess daily steps differences between youth and elders. [Method] Thirty-five youth and fifteen elders participated in this study. The following variables were assessed: age, body mass index, frequency of exercise,and pedometer data. The participants were asked to wear pedometer (Tanita PD-646) fortheir waist for 7 days and recorded daily steps. We assessed of daily steps differences between youth and elders. [Results] The daily steps average of youth was 5,267 steps, and that of elders was 6,711 steps. The result showed significantly fewer daily steps in youth than elders. There was no significant correlation between the weekly steps and age, BMI,frequency of moderate exercise in both youth and elders

イソプロテレノール誘導肥大心においてNHE-1阻害薬は、ラット左心室の筋スライスのCa2+トランジェントを正常化する

We previously reported that left ventricular (LV) slices from isoproterenol (ISO)-induced hypertrophied rat hearts showed an increase of energy expenditure due to remodeling of Ca2+ handling in excitation–contraction coupling, i.e., suppressed SERCA2a activity and enhanced Na+/Ca2+exchanger-1 (NCX-1) activity. Na+/H+ exchanger-1 (NHE-1) inhibitor (NHEI) has been demonstrated to exert beneficial effects in the development of cardiac remodeling. We hypothesized that a novel NHE-1 selective inhibitor, BIIB723 prevents remodeling of Ca2+ handling in LV slices of ISO-induced hypertrophied rat hearts mediated by inhibiting NCX-1 activity. The significant shortening in duration of multi-cellular Ca2+ transient in ISO group was normalized in ISO + BIIB723 group. The significant increase in amplitude of multi-cellular Ca2+ waves (CaW) generated at high [Ca2+]o of LV slices in ISO group was also normalized in ISO + BIIB723 group. However, the enhanced NCX-1 activity was not antagonized by BIIB723. We recently reported that ISO-induced down-regulation of a Ca2+ handling protein, SERCA2a, was normalized by BIIB723. Therefore, it seems likely that BIIB723 normalized shortened multi-cellular Ca2+ transient duration and increased CaW amplitude in LV slices mediated via normalization of SERCA2a activity. Furthermore, the results presented here suggest the multi-cellular Ca2+ transient duration and CaW amplitude in LV slices might be better indices reflecting SERCA2a activity than SERCA2a protein expression level.博士（医学）・甲618号・平成26年3月17

Tomato root-associated Sphingobium harbors genes for catabolizing toxic steroidal glycoalkaloids

トマト根に定着する細菌からトマトの毒を分解する酵素を発見 --土壌微生物が植物の分泌する有害成分を解毒するメカニズムの理解に貢献--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-10-02.Roots of Bloody Mary. Tomato root-associated Sphingobium harbors genes for neutralizing toxic compound. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-10-06.Plant roots exude various organic compounds, including plant specialized metabolites (PSMs), into the rhizosphere. The secreted PSMs enrich specific microbial taxa to shape the rhizosphere microbiome, which is crucial for the healthy growth of the host plants. PSMs often exhibit biological activities; in turn, some microorganisms possess the capability to either resist or detoxify them. Saponins are structurally diverse triterpene-type PSMs that are mainly produced by angiosperms. They are generally considered as plant defense compounds. We have revealed that α-tomatine, a steroid-type saponin secreted from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) roots, increases the abundance of Sphingobium bacteria. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the α-tomatine-mediated enrichment of Sphingobium, we isolated Sphingobium spp. from tomato roots and characterized their saponin-catabolizing abilities. We obtained the whole-genome sequence of Sphingobium sp. RC1, which degrades steroid-type saponins but not oleanane-type ones, and performed a gene cluster analysis together with a transcriptome analysis of α-tomatine degradation. The in vitro characterization of candidate genes identified six enzymes that hydrolyzed the different sugar moieties of steroid-type saponins at different positions. In addition, the enzymes involved in the early steps of the degradation of sapogenins (i.e., aglycones of saponins) were identified, suggesting that orthologs of the known bacterial steroid catabolic enzymes can metabolize sapogenins. Furthermore, a comparative genomic analysis revealed that the saponin-degrading enzymes were present exclusively in certain strains of Sphingobium spp., most of which were isolated from tomato roots or α-tomatine-treated soil. Taken together, these results suggest a catabolic pathway for highly bioactive steroid-type saponins in the rhizosphere

Relationship between instrumental actibities of daily living and self-rated health rehabilitation users

In general, elderly persons with limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) are fragile, due to their various health problems such as disorders, poor cognitive functions. Physical and cognitive status could be predictors for the onset of IADL limitation in elderly persons. On the other hand, self-rated health (SRH), a valid generic health measurement is used as a resource and as an outcome, also was reported as a reliable measurement because it was verified that results of SRH and mortality were correlated. Thus, it can be deemed as a resource which affecting inclusive and dynamic health behavior, and reflecting measure of health status. Therefore, our main objective was to clarify relationships between limitation of IADL levels, SRH, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) among elderly persons who use ambulatory rehabilitation. As the result, IADL limitation was related to the level of SRH, but not with MMSE scores

Prediction of Boron Concentrations in Blood from Patients on Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Background: In boron neutron capture therapy, blood boron concentration is the key factor to calculate radiation dose, however, blood sampling is difficult during neutron irradiation. Materials and Methods: The prediction of blood boron concentrations for BNCT treatment planning has been prospectively investigated using patient data obtained at first craniotomy after the infusion of a low dose of sodium undecahydroclosododecaborate. Results: The boron biodistribution data showed a biexponential pharmacokinetic profile. If the final boron concentration at 6 or 9 hours after the end of the infusion is within the 95% confidence interval of the prediction, direct prediction from biexponential fit will reduce the error of blood boron concentrations during irradiation to around 6%. Conclusion: Actual boron concentrations during BNCT were reasonably and accurately predictable from the test data

Different Crystal Chemistries of the 117Cd→117In and 111mCd→111Cd Probes in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 Studied by Time-Differential Perturbed-Angular-Correlation Technique

金沢大学理学部The temperature dependences of the nuclear-electric-quadrupole frequency vQ of 117In doped in LiTaO3 (TC5938 K) and Li12xInx/3TaO3 with x50.2 (TC5818 K) show that the order-disorder of the Li ions is not the driving mechanism for the ferroelectric instability in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 systems, and imply that the oxygen order-disorder is the driving mechanism. The significantly different temperature dependences of vQ of 111Cd in these materials compared, to those of 117In, demonstrate that this order-disorder is of dynamic character

Alternative mRNA Splicing in Three Venom Families Underlying a Possible Production of Divergent Venom Proteins of the Habu Snake, Protobothrops flavoviridis

Snake venoms are complex mixtures of toxic proteins encoded by various gene families that function synergistically to incapacitate prey. A huge repertoire of snake venom genes and proteins have been reported, and alternative splicing is suggested to be involved in the production of divergent gene transcripts. However, a genome-wide survey of the transcript repertoire and the extent of alternative splicing still remains to be determined. In this study, the comprehensive analysis of transcriptomes in the venom gland was achieved by using PacBio sequencing. Extensive alternative splicing was observed in three venom protein gene families, metalloproteinase (MP), serine protease (SP), and vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF). Eleven MP and SP genes and a VEGF gene are expressed as a total of 81, 61, and 8 transcript variants, respectively. In the MP gene family, individual genes are transcribed into different classes of MPs by alternative splicing. We also observed trans-splicing among the clustered SP genes. No other venom genes as well as non-venom counterpart genes exhibited alternative splicing. Our results thus indicate a potential contribution of mRNA alternative and trans-splicing in the production of highly variable transcripts of venom genes in the habu snake