Optical properties of the jellyfish surface above the waterline: microvillar array in pleustonic hydrozoans.

Background: The transparent jellyfish body is often difficult to see underwater, as its refractive index is similar to that of seawater, resulting in a low light reflectance on the body surface. Nevertheless, the outlines of jellyfish can be recognized by the slight reflection of light from their body surfaces. In some jellyfish species, the epidermis covering the body surface has an array of microvilli, nanostructures that can potentially reduce light reflection.

Summer warming in the East Antarctic interior triggered by southern Indian Ocean warming.

The effects of global warming on Antarctica's interior, which is covered by a huge ice sheet, remain uncertain. A major reason for this is the lack of long-term observations of near-surface temperatures in the interior region, compounded by significant gaps in the available dataset. Here, we present a complete temperature record from three inland stations (Mizuho, Relay Station, and Dome Fuji), where gaps have been filled with corrected reanalysis data.

Acidity-driven gas-particle partitioning of nitrate regulates its transport to Arctic through the industrial era.

Anthropogenic NO emissions have altered the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle since the Industrial Revolution, yet Arctic ice core nitrate (NO) records are inconsistent with post-1970s NO emission reductions. Here we show a NO deposition history covering 1800-2020 using an ice core from the southeastern Greenland dome with high snow accumulation. The ice core NO concentrations are particularly disconnected from NO source regions during the peak pollution period and post-1990s.

Enhancing the Functional and Emulsifying Properties of Potato Protein via Enzymatic Hydrolysis with Papain and Bromelain for Gluten-Free Cake Emulsifiers.

In recent years, plant-derived food proteins have gained increasing attention due to their economic, ecological, and health benefits. This study aimed to enhance the functional properties of potato protein isolate (PPI) through enzymatic hydrolysis with papain and bromelain, evaluating the physicochemical and emulsifying characteristics of the resulting potato protein hydrolysates (PPHs) for their potential use as plant-based emulsifiers. PPHs were prepared at various hydrolysis times (0.

Fertilization-dependent phloem end gate regulates seed size.

Seed formation is essential for plant propagation and food production. We present a novel mechanism for the regulation of seed size by a newly identified "gate" at the chalazal end of the ovule regulating nutrient transport into the developing seed. This gate is blocked by callose deposition in unfertilized mature ovules (closed state), but the callose is removed after central cell fertilization, allowing nutrient transport into the seed (open state).

Deep-learning-assisted medium optimization improves hyaluronic acid production by Streptococcus zooepidemicus.

To improve the efficiency of hyaluronic acid production by Streptococcus zooepidemicus, the growth medium was optimized with a pipeline involving a deep learning (DL) algorithm. To train the DL model, the initial training dataset (OA01-18) was designed with the L18 orthogonal array, and hyaluronic acid (HA) was produced in small-scale cultures in deepwell plates. The range of HA production was 0.

Lysophosphatidylcholine, rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, inhibits leukotriene production by mouse mast cells.

In fishery industries, large amounts of byproducts are discarded during processing; therefore, their use as a source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) is beneficial. In this study, we evaluated the potential anti-allergic effect of lysophosphatidylcholine (Lyso-PtdCho) derived from squid skin phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) by measuring the production of leukotriene (LT) B and C, which are chemical mediators produced by mast cells in immediate allergic reactions. Squid Lyso-PtdCho, with docosahexaenoic acid exclusively esterified at the sn-2 position, significantly inhibited LT production, whereas the original PtdCho obtained from squid skin showed no inhibitory activity.

Consent mechanisms and default effects in health information exchange in Japan.

Background: Health information exchange (HIE) is an information system that efficiently shares patient information across medical institutions. However, traditional consent methods, represented by opt-in and opt-out, face a trade-off between efficiency and ethical, making it difficult to fundamentally improve consent rates. To address this issue, we focused on default settings and proposed an innovative approach called the "two-step consent model," which leverages the advantages of existing models using utility theory.

Effects of Leaf Extract on Allergic Inflammation in Immune Cell Lines.

is a perennial plant belonging to the Fabaceae family that is widely distributed across northern Asia. roots have been used as a traditional medicinal herb because of their numerous health benefits. However, the physiological properties of leaves remain unknown.

Research on EV Crawler-Type Soil Sample Robot Using GNSS Information.

In Japan, the decline in the number of agricultural workers and the aging of the workforce are problems, and there is a demand for more efficient and labor-saving work. Furthermore, in order to correct the rising price of fertilizer and the increasing burden on the environment caused by fertilizer, there is a demand for more efficient fertilization. Therefore, we aim to develop an electric soil sampling robot that can run autonomously using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) information.

Hydrogen-Free Plasma Nitriding Process for Fabrication of Expanded Austenite Layer on AISI 316 Stainless Steel Surface.

The addition of hydrogen to nitrogen facilitates the formation of nitride phases in the plasma nitriding processes of stainless steels, though it also induces the deterioration of their mechanical properties. This study presents a hydrogen-free plasma nitriding process for fabricating a nitrogen-expanded austenite phase (γ) on an AISI 316 stainless steel surface. The steel substrate was nitrided in N-Ar plasma with various gas compositions discharged by radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) modes.

Investigating the salinity distribution using field measurements in the semi-arid region of southern Ethiopia.

This study investigated the distribution of salinity and sodicity in the irrigated areas of Abaya Chamo. Representative water and soil samples were collected from different soil depths (0-30 cm and 30-60 cm). Sodium absorption ratio (SAR), electrical conductivity (Ec), pH, exchange sodium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium cations, and exchange sodium percentage (ESP) of the sampled sites were analyzed for soil salinity classification and severity analysis.

Development of a Grape Cut Point Detection System Using Multi-Cameras for a Grape-Harvesting Robot.

Harvesting grapes requires a large amount of manual labor. To reduce the labor force for the harvesting job, in this study, we developed a robot harvester for the vine grapes. In this paper, we proposed an algorithm that using multi-cameras, as well as artificial intelligence (AI) object detection methods, to detect the thin stem and decide the cut point.

A Novel Strain of the Cyanobacterial Growth-promoting Bacterium, Rhodococcus sp. AF2108, Enhances the Growth of Synechococcus elongatus.

To enhance the growth of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus, the present study conducted direct screening for cyanobacterium growth-promoting bacteria (CGPB) using co-cultures. Of the 144 strains obtained, four novel CGPB strains were isolated and phylogenetically identified: Rhodococcus sp. AF2108, Ancylobacter sp.

Novel decision-level fusion strategies combined with hyperspectral imaging for the detection of soybean protein content.

Soybeans are used for human consumption or animal feed due to their abundant protein content. In this study, visible-near infrared (VNIR) hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and short-wave infrared HSI combined with three-levels data fusion methods were employed to detect the protein content of soybean seeds, including measurement-level fusion, feature-level fusion, and decision-level fusion. Additionally, three novel decision-level fusion methods were proposed, including binary linear regression, feature-based multiple linear regression (MLR), and model-based MLR.

Ascidian Larvae Discriminate Nano-Scale Difference in Surface Structures During Substrate Selection for Settlement.

Planktonic larvae of sessile metazoans select substrates for settlement based on various factors. larvae (Ascidiacea: Phlebobranchia: Ascidiidae) showed a negative preference for nano-scale nipple arrays (dense arrays of papillae-like nanostructures approximately 100 nm in height). To clarify whether ascidian larvae discriminate between nano-structure sizes for substrate selection, three different sizes of periodic nano-folds were fabricated using two-beam interference exposure, and substrate selection assays were performed on the three types of nano-folds and flat surfaces made of the same material.

Microplastics in sea ice drifted to the Shiretoko Peninsula, the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk.

Sea ice is regarded as a temporal sink and carrier of microplastics (MPs). Nevertheless, knowledge and understanding of MPs in sea ice remain sparse. This study investigated the abundance, composition, size (> 30 μm), and shape of MPs in four sea-ice cores retrieved at the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk.

Fine construction of gene coexpression network analysis using GTOM and RECODE detected a critical module of neuroblastoma stages 4 and 4S.

Background: Stage 4 neuroblastoma (NBL), a solid tumor of childhood, has a poor prognosis. Despite intensive molecular genetic studies, no targetable gene abnormalities have been identified. Stage 4S NBL has a characteristic of spontaneous regression, and elucidation of the mechanistic differences between stages 4 and 4S may improve treatment.

Marker recycling in Lentinula edodes via 5-fluoroorotic acid counter-selection.

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) contains various beneficial compounds and possesses several notable properties. However, there are few reports on its molecular breeding due to delay in development of its gene-modifying technology. Therefore, here, strain UV30 (pyrG -) was bred from the UV-irradiated protoplasts of strain M2.

Research progress on the regulation of starch-polyphenol interactions in food processing.

Starch is a fundamental material in the food industry. However, the inherent structural constraints of starch impose limitations on its physicochemical properties, including thermal instability, viscosity, and retrogradation. To address these obstacles, polyphenols are extensively employed for starch modification owing to their distinctive structural characteristics and potent antioxidant capabilities.

The regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism through the interaction of dietary polyphenols and polysaccharides the gut microbiota pathway.

The interaction of polyphenols-polysaccharides-gut microbiota to promote health benefits has become a hotspot and direction for precise dietary intervention strategies and foundational research in biomedicine. Both dietary polyphenols and polysaccharides possess biological activities that regulate body health. Single components, due to their inherent structure and physicochemical properties, have a low bioavailability, thus are unable to exert their optimal effects.

Strategic exploration of whole grain cereals in modulating the glycaemic response.

In the current context, diabetes presents itself as a widespread and complex global health issue. This study explores the significant influence of food microstructure and food matrix components interaction (protein, lipid, polyphenols, etc.) on the starch digestibility and the glycaemic response of post-prandial glycemia, focusing on the potential effectiveness of incorporating bioactive components from whole grain cereals into dietary strategies for the management and potential prevention of diabetes.

A mature liquid fertilizer derived from cattle urine promotes Arabidopsis thaliana growth via hormone-like responses.

To understand the fertilization effects of liquid fertilizer (LF) produced by aerobic microbial processing of cattle urine, we investigated the influence of LF on growth and shoot genetic responses of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. LF significantly enhanced both shoot and root growth under aseptic conditions. Although filtrate from ultrafiltration (molecular weight cutoff: 10 000) also promoted shoot growth and root elongation, the concentrate only promoted root growth.