Nomad, a naval message understanding system

We are building systems to automatically analyze Navy messages. Such messages typically are terse and use many abbreviations and Navy jargon. As a result, they are more difficult to understand than everyday English.The NOMAD system interacts with a message sender to ensure that only unambiguous and reasonably correct messages are generated. The VOX system will allow a human tutor to interactively extend the knowledge base of NOMAD

Mixed alkali-ion transport and storage in atomic-disordered honeycomb layered NaKNi2TeO6

Honeycomb layered oxides constitute an emerging class of materials that show interesting physicochemical and electrochemical properties. However, the development of these materials is still limited. Here, we report the combined use of alkali atoms (Na and K) to produce a mixed-alkali honeycomb layered oxide material, namely, NaKNi2TeO6. Via transmission electron microscopy measurements, we reveal the local atomic structural disorders characterised by aperiodic stacking and incoherency in the alternating arrangement of Na and K atoms. We also investigate the possibility of mixed electrochemical transport and storage of Na+ and K+ ions in NaKNi2TeO6. In particular, we report an average discharge cell voltage of about 4 V and a specific capacity of around 80 mAh g–1 at low specific currents (i.e., < 10 mA g–1) when a NaKNi2TeO6-based positive electrode is combined with a room-temperature NaK liquid alloy negative electrode using an ionic liquid-based electrolyte solution. These results represent a step towards the use of tailored cathode active materials for “dendrite-free” electrochemical energy storage systems exploiting room-temperature liquid alkali metal alloy materials

Chemogenetic Control of Protein Anchoring to Endomembranes in Living Cells with Lipid-Tethered Small Molecules

The Self-localizing Ligand-Induced Protein Translocation(SLIPT) system is an emerging platform that controls protein localization in living cells using synthetic self-localizing ligands (SLs). Here, we report a chemogenetic SLIPT system for inducing protein translocation from the cytoplasm to the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi membranes, referred to as endomembranes.By screening a series of lipid-trimethoprim (TMP) conjugates, we found oleic acid-tethered TMP (oleTMP) to be the optimal SL that efficiently relocated and anchored Escherichiacoli dihydrofolate reductase (eDHFR)-fusion proteins toendomembranes. We showed that oleTMP mediated protein anchoring to endomembranes within minutes and could be reversed by the addition of free TMP. We also applied the endomembrane SLIPT system to artificially activate endomembrane Ras and inhibit the active nuclear transport of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), demonstrating its applicability for manipulating biological processes in living cells. We envision that the present oleTMP-based SLIPT system, which affords rapid and reversible control of protein anchoring to endomembranes, will offer a new unique tool for the study and control of spatiotemporally regulated cell signaling processes

Epidemiological survey of tick-borne encephalitis virus infection in wild animals on Hokkaido and Honshu islands, Japan

The first human case of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Japan was recorded in southern Hokkaido in 1993 and was followed by four further cases in southern, central, and northern Hokkaido during 2016-2018. However, the distribution of TBE virus (TBEV) foci in Japan is unclear. Therefore, here, we serologically examined raccoons (Procyon lotor), sika deer (Cervus nippon), and wild boars (Sus scrofa) as sentinels of TBEV infection in Hokkaido and in Fukushima and Tochigi Prefectures in Honshu. A total of 1,649 serum samples collected between 2003 and 2018 were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using subviral particles and confirmed using the virus neutralization test. In raccoons, the seroprevalence of TBEV was 5.9% (39/662 samples) in central Hokkaido in 2003-2005 and 0.8% (3/368 samples) in eastern Hokkaido in 2010-2018, revealing the presence of TBEV foci in these areas. In addition, 0.5% (2/414) of deer sampled in eastern Hokkaido in 2010-2017 and 2.4% (1/42) of deer sampled in Tochigi Prefecture in 2016-2018 were seropositive. On Honshu, seropositive rodents have previously been detected only in Shimane Prefecture. Therefore, the detection of seropositive animals in Tochigi Prefecture may indicate the widespread distribution of TBEV foci throughout Japan. TBEV and viral genes were not detected in 507 ticks collected in the same area of eastern Hokkaido where seropositive animals were found, reemphasizing the value of using serological examination of wild animals as a tool for revealing unknown TBE risk areas. Our findings also indicate that raccoons may be particularly useful sentinels

Subserosal Layer and/or Pancreatic Invasion Based on Anatomical Features as a Novel Prognostic Indicator in Patients with Distal Cholangiocarcinoma

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition T-staging system for distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC) proposes classification according to the depth of invasion (DOI); nevertheless, DOI measurement is complex and irreproducible. This study focused on the fibromuscular layer and evaluated whether the presence or absence of penetrating fibromuscular invasion of DCC contributes to recurrence and prognosis. In total, 55 patients pathologically diagnosed with DCC who underwent surgical resection from 2002 to 2022 were clinicopathologically examined. Subserosal layer and/or pancreatic (SS/Panc) invasion, defined as penetration of the fibromuscular layer and invasion of the subserosal layer or pancreas by the cancer, was assessed with other clinicopathological prognostic factors to investigate recurrence and prognostic factors. According to the AJCC 8th edition, there were 11 T1, 28 T2, and 16 T3 cases, with 44 (80%) cases of SS/Panc invasion. The DOI was not significantly different for both recurrence and prognostic factors. In the multivariate analysis, only SS/Panc was identified as an independent factor for prognosis (hazard ratio: 16.1; 95% confidence interval: 2.1–118.8, p = 0.006). In conclusion, while the determination of DOI in DCC does not accurately reflect recurrence and prognosis, the presence of SS/Panc invasion may contribute to the T-staging system

Stacking Disorders in MixedAlkali Honeycomb Layered Oxide NaKNi2TeO6 and Feasibility for Mixed-Cation Transport

We demonstrate the feasibility of using a combination of alkali atoms (Na and K) to develop a robust mixed-alkali honeycomb layered oxide NaKNi2TeO6. Through a series of atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy in multiple zone axes, we reveal for the first time the local atomic structural disorders characterised by aperiodic stackings and incoherency in the alternating arrangement of Na and K atoms. Our findings indicate great structural versatility that renders NaKNi2TeO6 an ideal platform for investigating other fascinating properties such as mixed ionic transport and intriguing electromagnetic and quantum phenomena amongst honeycomb layered oxides. Finally, we unveil the possibility of inducing mixed Na- and K-ion transport electrochemistry of NaKNi2TeO6 at high voltages (~ 4V), thus epitomising it as a competent cathode candidate for the emerging dendrite-free batteries based on NaK liquid metal alloy as anodes. The results not only betoken a new avenue for developing functional materials with fascinating crystal versatility, but also prefigure a new age of ‘dendrite-free’ energy storage system designs that rely on mixed-cation electrochemistry.</b