Integrative molecular network analysis of genetic risk factors to infer biomarkers and therapeutic targets for rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Understanding the interplay between genetic risk factors and molecular pathways in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is essential for developing effective treatments. This study aims to utilize genetic risk factors of RA and identify their key pathways and potential therapeutic targets through an integrated multi-omics approach.

Methods: We developed a computational pipeline to construct a knowledge graph that combines genetic risk factor molecular networks with multi-omics enrichment analysis to estimate potential therapeutic target for RA.

Chemical structure and antifouling activity of yoshioaplysins A-C isolated from red alga genus Laurencia.

Our experiments aim to find marine natural products that inhibit byssus thread formation in mussels. Three new labdane-type brominated diterpenes, yoshioaplysins A-C (1-3), were isolated from the marine red alga Laurencia sp. collected from Yoshio (Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture, Japan).

"Callus Bending Technique" Following Gradual Bone Lengthening for Functional Reconstruction in Cases of Phalangeal Loss Due to Digital Amputation: Two Case Reports.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to introduce the "Callus bending technique" following gradual bone lengthening for functional reconstruction. We report cases of segmental phalangeal loss with replanted incomplete amputation and distal finger amputation.

Methods: Herein, we report two cases to introduce the "callus bending technique": one in which the "callus bending technique" was adopted after gradual bone lengthening for amputated digital stumps, and the other, a case of incomplete digital amputation, in which defects in the replanted middle phalanges were filled by distraction lengthening of the proximal phalanx, followed by use of the callus bending technique.

Triplet pair dynamics of singlet fission in orthorhombic polycrystalline powder of rubrene as revealed by magnetoluminescence.

Singlet fission, which may increase the energy conversion efficiency of solar cells, proceeds via multiple spin levels of a triplet pair. To clarify the spin-related elementary processes of the triplet pair, we measured the magnetoluminescence effect of the fluorescence of rubrene, in the form of orthorhombic polycrystalline powder, in the range of ±300 mT at room temperature. Model simulations using the density matrix method were performed to elucidate how the features of the magnetoluminescence effect depend on the triplet pair dynamics.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Isolinearol Using Low-Valence Titanium and Evaluation of Its Inhibitory Activity against Mussel Byssal Thread Formation.

The asymmetric total synthesis of isolinearol, a -dolastane-type diterpenoid that inhibits byssal thread formation by mussels, has been achieved. In the synthesis, the key features include an intramolecular reductive nucleophilic addition using a low-valence titanium species and the direct installation of a ketone side chain. We evaluated their biological activities using the synthetic samples and found the novel inhibitory molecules with a simplified structure exhibit high inhibitory activities against byssus formation and low toxicities.

Chemical Compositions of the Marine Red Alga Laurencia composita Collected in Japan.

Marine red alga Laurencia composita was collected from seven sampling locations in Japan, and all samples were identified based on morphological studies as well as rbcL sequencing analysis. This is the first report of the isolation of (-)-8-bromo-9-hydroxy-(E)-γ-bisabolene (1) as a natural product, and bisabolene-type and β-chamigrene-type sesquiterpenes found in L. composita collected in Japan.

Modification of Antibacterial Copolymers on the Surface of PVA-Based Microfibers via Thermal Cross-Linking and Their Antibacterial Properties.

Bacterial infections on material surfaces are a serious public health concern worldwide. Although poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based materials have great potential as medical devices, they lack antibacterial properties on their surfaces and pose bacterial infection risks during implantation surgery. Copolymers containing antibacterial [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (METAC) units were used to modify the surfaces of chemically cross-linked water-insoluble PVA-based microfibers.

Morphological and Chemical Diversity within Japanese Laurencia Complex (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales, Rhodophyta).

Seaweeds of the red algal genus Laurencia are distributed worldwide in tropical, subtropical to temperate zones, growing in Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Laurencia is highly difficult to classify morphologically because of a high degree of morphological variation within individual species. Nevertheless, Laurencia investigation is favored by organic chemists as it produces uniquely structured compounds.

Effects of eyestalk ablation and seawater temperature on d-glutamate levels in the reproductive tissues of male kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus.

D-Glutamate, a novel d-amino acid found in animal tissues, exclusively exists in the male reproductive tissues of the kuruma prawn, Marsupenaeus japonicus. Herein, changes in the d-glutamate content were determined in the male reproductive tissues of M. japonicus during acclimation to breeding seawater temperatures of 18-22°C and unilateral eyestalk ablation.

Edible plant oil (EPO)-consumption activity of the isolate Fusarium keratoplasticum EN01 and other relative Fusarium species.

Edible oil is used in humans' daily lives, and the degradation of edible oil is a key process in sewage water treatment and in compost production from food wastes. In this study, a mixed microbial strain EN00, which showed high edible plant oil (EPO)-consumption activity, was obtained from soil via enrichment cultivation. A fungal strain EN01 was isolated from EN00 and relegated to Fusarium keratoplasticum, based on the nucleotide sequences of the TEF1-α gene.

Crystal structure of the GH-46 subclass III chitosanase from Bacillus circulans MH-K1 in complex with chitotetraose.

Background: Chitosanases (EC 3.2.1.

Distribution and role of d-glutamate, a novel d-amino acid identified in animals, in the reproductive tissues of male kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus.

Some aquatic invertebrates contain free d-alanine. We previously showed copious amounts of free d-glutamate, a novel d-amino acid, in the tissue of the male reproductive organs of Marsupenaeus japonicus. Herein, we clarified the distribution and potential role of d-glutamate and d-alanine in male reproductive tissues, namely the testis, vas deferens and seminal receptacle at different growth stages of M.

Five major outcomes of digitalization: relevance of a survival personality type during COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic required people to adapt rapidly to the digital transformation of society for social survival, which highlighted the divide between those who can and cannot digitalize. Previous studies investigated factors promoting adaptation to digitalization; however, outcomes from adaptation to a digitalized society have not been sorted into a parsimonious model, even though there should be several multifaceted outcomes (e.g.

A multifactorial framework of psychobehavioral determinants of coping behaviors: an online survey at the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus disease 2019 dramatically changed people's behavior because of the need to adhere to infection prevention and to overcome general adversity resulting from the implementation of infection prevention measures. However, coping behavior has not been fully distinguished from risk perception, and a comprehensive picture of demographic, risk-perception, and psychobehavioral factors that influence the major coping-behavior factors remain to be elucidated. In this study, we recruited 2,885 Japanese participants.

Antifouling Brominated Diterpenoids from Japanese Marine Red Alga Laurencia venusta Yamada.

The marine red algal genus Laurencia has abundant halogenated secondary metabolites, which exhibit novel structural types and possess various unique biological potentials, including antifouling activity. In this study, we report the isolation, structure elucidation, and antifouling activities of two novel brominated diterpenoids, aplysin-20 aldehyde (1), 13-dehydroxyisoaplysin-20 (2), and its congeners. We screened marine red alga Laurencia venusta Yamada for their antifouling activity against the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.

Diversity of Halogenated Secondary Metabolites in Okinawan Aplysia argus Including 12-Hydroxypinnaterpene C and Their Feeding Targets.

A new irieane-type diterpene, 12-hydroxypinnaterpene C (1), and 21 known compounds, angasiol acetate (2), angasiol (3), 11-deacetylpinnaterpene C (4), palisadin A (5), 12-acetoxypalisadin B (6), 12-hydroxypalisadin B (7), aplysistatin (8), luzodiol (9), 5-acetoxy-2-bromo-3-chloro-chamigra-7(14),9-dien-8-one (10), neoirietriol (11), neoirietetraol (12), (3Z)-laurenyne (13), cupalaurenol (14), cupalaurenol acetate (15), (3Z)-venustinene (16), 10-hydroxykahukuene B (17), aplysiol B (18), (3Z)-13-epipinnatifidenyne (19), 3Z,6R,7R,12S,13S-obtusenyne (20), (3Z,9Z)-7-chloro-6-hydroxy-12-oxo-pentadeca-3,9-dien-1-yne (21), and cholest-7-en-3,5,7-triol (22) were isolated from the digestive diverticula of Aplysia argus from the Ikei Island in Okinawa, Japan. The structures of these compounds were determined using spectroscopic methods such as NMR and HR-ESI-MS. These compounds were tested for their antibacterial activity against the phytopathogen Ralstonia solanacearum.

Physiological and genomic analyses of cobalamin (vitamin B)-auxotrophy of sp. nov., a methionine-auxotrophic chitinolytic bacterium isolated from chitin-treated soil.

A novel bacterium designated 5-21a, isolated from chitin-treated upland soil, exhibits methionine (Met) auxotrophy and chitinolytic activity. A physiological experiment revealed the cobalamin (synonym, vitamin B)(Cbl)-auxotrophic property of strain 5-21a. The newly determined complete genomic sequence indicated that strain 5-21a possesses only the putative gene for Cbl-dependent Met synthase (MetH) and lacks that for the Cbl-independent one (MetE), which implies the requirement of Cbl for Met-synthesis in strain 5-21a.

Radio-wave Effect on Singlet Fission in Polycrystalline Tetracene near Zero Magnetic Field.

A triplet-triplet pair is a key intermediate in singlet fission (SF), which has the potential to overcome the theoretical limit of solar cell efficiency. Here, we report a new spectroscopy to directly detect a short-lived triplet-triplet pair via the effects of radio-wave (RF) irradiation near zero magnetic field at room temperature. The fluorescence of polycrystalline powder of tetracene is reduced by RF irradiation at zero field, which is caused by a quasi-static RF field effect on spin mixing and electron-spin resonance among zero-field-splitting sublevels of the triplet-triplet pair.

Sonoluminescence intensity and ultrasonic cavitation temperature in organic solvents: Effects of generated radicals.

Ultrasonic cavitation in organic solvents remains poorly understood in contrast with aqueous systems, largely because of complexities related to solvent decomposition. In this study, we sonicated different types of organic solvents (i.e.

Oocyte Array Fluidic Device Integrated with Microelectrodes for A Compact Two-Electrode Voltage Clamping System.

We report on a compact two-electrode voltage clamping system composed of microfabricated electrodes and a fluidic device for oocytes. The device was fabricated by assembling Si-based electrode chips and acrylic frames to form fluidic channels. After the installation of oocytes into the fluidic channels, the device can be separated in order to measure changes in oocyte plasma membrane potential in each channel using an external amplifier.

Two New Eremophilane-Type Sesquiterpenoids from Japanese Liverwort Bazzania japonica.

Two new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids, fusumaols A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the stem-leafy liverwort, Bazzania japonica collected in Mori-Machi, Shizuoka, Japan. Their structures were established using extensive spectroscopic (IR, MS, and 2D NMR) data, and the absolute configuration of 1 was determined by the modified Mosher's method. This is the first time eremophilanes have been discovered in the liverwort genus Bazzania.