Development of high-sensitivity data collection system for time-resolved x-ray diffraction measurement at the photon factory advanced ring.

We have developed a high-sensitivity data collection and measurement system for time-resolved x-ray diffraction experiments at the Photon Factory Advanced Ring. Use of x-ray pixel array photon counting detectors provides a suitable improvement in measurement sensitivity when compared to existing systems. The system is equipped with a laser that operates with a variable repetition rate, thus making it highly suitable for synchronization with the synchrotron x-ray source and the electronic gating detectors.

Comparative genomics of two closely related Acropora coral species with different spawning seasons reveals genomic regions possibly associated with gametogenesis.

Marine invertebrates release their gametes at an optimal time to produce the next generation. In reef-building scleractinian corals, synchronous spawning is essential for reproductive success. Molecular mechanisms of scleractinian gametogenesis have been studied; however, the mechanism by which coral gametes mature at specific times has yet to be discovered.

Enhanced thermoregulation abilities of shortfin mako sharks as the key adaptive significance of regional endothermy in fishes.

Some large, wide-ranging teleosts and elasmobranchs are converged to have regional endothermy, retaining metabolic heat via vascular countercurrent heat exchangers. Yet, their adaptive significance remains debated. While previous studies proposed potential benefits of elevated body temperature, enhanced controllability of body temperature enabled by heat exchangers may also be important.

Massive extended streamers feed high-mass young stars.

Stars are born in a variety of environments that determine how they gather gas to achieve their final masses. It is generally believed that disks are ubiquitous around protostars as a result of angular momentum conservation and are natural places to grow planets. As such, they are proposed to be the last link in the inflow chain from the molecular cloud to the star.

Transcriptome sequencing reveals the evolutionary histories and gene expression evolution in two related Pagurus species.

Pagurus lanuginosus (De Haan, 1833-1850) and Pagurus maculosus (Komai and Imafuku, 1996) are two closely related species of the genus Pagurus, generally referred to as "right-handed hermit crabs". Previously thought to be color morphs of the same species, recent studies have itemized their unique features. To investigate the molecular and gene expression evolution that have followed the divergence of these two species, we performed transcriptome sequencing and de novo transcriptome assembly using cephalothorax (head) and pereopod (leg) of the two species.

Latitudinal biodiversity of surface eukaryotic plankton across oceanic fronts in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean.

The marine latitudinal diversity gradient represents a fundamental pattern of large-scale biodiversity variation extending from the poles to the tropics. However, our understanding of the biodiversity in the seasonal ice zone of the Southern Ocean remains limited. In this study, we investigated the surface eukaryotic community structure from the subtropical zone (STZ) to the summer ice-edge zone along the 110°E transect in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean.

Targeted disruption of the gene in impairs membrane integrity and host symbiont dynamics.

The obligate symbiosis between pea aphids () and represents metabolic interdependence between the host insect and its bacterial symbiont. has a highly reduced genome that has lost nearly all phospholipid synthesis genes except , encoding a cardiolipin synthase homologue. We employed antisense, cell-penetrating peptide (CPP)-conjugated synthetic peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) to knock down in .

STEMIN transcription factor drives selective chromatin remodeling for gene activation within a relaxed chromatin during reprogramming in the moss Physcomitrium patens.

Land plants exhibit remarkable cellular plasticity, readily reprogramming differentiated cells into stem cells in response to internal and external stimuli. While chromatin remodeling is crucial for cellular reprogramming, its interplay with gene expression during reprogramming into stem cells remains elusive. In the moss Physcomitrium patens, wounding induces reprogramming of leaf cells facing wounded cells to change into chloronema apical stem cells through the activation of the AP2/ERF transcription factor STEMIN.

In situ calibration of charge exchange spectroscopy and measurements of absolute density profiles in the plasma with high boron concentration.

A boron charge exchange spectroscopy system has been applied to measure the radial profiles of absolute boron density. The in situ calibration of charge exchange spectroscopy was performed using the boron pellet in a Large Helical Device. The calibration factor was derived by comparing the increment of boron density measured with a charge exchange spectroscopy system by the increment of electron density measured with a YAG Thomson scattering system.

A cytokine-based designer enzyme with an abiological multinuclear metal center exhibits intrinsic and extrinsic catalysis.

A designer enzyme consisting of an abiological molecule incorporated into a natural protein has been developed as an exceptionally chemoselective catalyst, highlighting that the internal space of proteins is highly beneficial for enhancing catalytic performance. However, other features of proteins have received less attention in designer enzymes, for e.g.

Quantification of Cyclin-CDK dissociation constants using FCCS with green and near-infrared fluorescent proteins.

The cell cycle is a highly coordinated process governed by cyclin-bound cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). While the interaction between cyclin and CDK are well-documented, the dissociation constants (Kd) between specific cyclin-CDK pairs within living cells remain poorly understood. Fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) enables the quantification of the Kd, but challenges remain in selecting an optimal pair of fluorescent molecules for FCCS in a living cell.

Irradiation Effects of As-Fabricated and Recrystallized 12Cr ODS Steel Under Dual-Ion Beam at 973 K.

The microstructure evolution and hardness variations of as-fabricated and recrystallized 12Cr oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steel after dual-ion (6.4 MeV Fe and energy-degraded 1 MeV He) irradiation at 973 K up to 10.6 displacements per atom (dpa) at peak damage and 8900 appm He are investigated.

Meioc-Piwil1 complexes regulate rRNA transcription for differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells.

Ribosome biogenesis is vital for sustaining stem cell properties, yet its regulatory mechanisms are obscure. Herein, we show unique properties of zebrafish mutants in which spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) do not differentiate or upregulate rRNAs. Meioc colocalized with Piwil1 in perinuclear germ granules, but Meioc depletion resulted in Piwil1 accumulation in nucleoli.

Pharmacological inhibition of Na/Ca exchanger alleviates colitis via modulation of macrophage activity in multiple species.

Background: Macrophages play a pivotal role in both the initiation and resolution of intestinal inflammation, positioning them as potential therapeutic target in inflammatory bowel disease. Intracellular ion such as Ca are increasingly recognized as key regulators of macrophage function and inflammatory responses. The Na/Ca exchanger is a membrane protein predominantly expressed in excitable cells, where it regulates intracellular Na and Ca concentrations.

Sharks and rays have the oldest vertebrate sex chromosome with unique sex determination mechanisms.

Sex determination has been investigated across vertebrate lineages to reveal the stepwise evolution of sex chromosomes and the diversity of responsible molecular mechanisms. However, these studies rarely include cartilaginous fishes, which diverged from the other vertebrates 450 Mya, hindering the comprehensive view of vertebrate sex determination. Here, we produced chromosome-scale genome assemblies of egg-laying shark species and comparatively investigated genome sequences and transcriptome profiles across diverse cartilaginous fishes.

Wnt-dependent mechanism of the apical constriction of roof plate cells in developing mouse spinal cord.

Apical constriction of epithelial cells usually occurs in a local portion of epithelial sheet, which results in bending of epithelial tissues. However, it is uncertain whether diffusible signal molecules, like Wnt, regulate such locally restricted events. Here, we show that Wnt ligands are required for apical constriction of Wnt1-expressing roof plate (RP) cells during development of the neural tube.

Refined CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in the pea aphid uncovers the essential roles of Laccase2 in overwintering egg adaptation.

The production of overwintering eggs is a critical adaptation for winter survival among many insects. Melanization contributes to eggshell pigmentation and hardening, consequently enhancing resistance to environmental stress. The complex life cycle of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), a model hemipteran insect with remarkable reproductive capacity, involves cyclical parthenogenesis.

Distinct roles of two thalamostriatal systems in visually triggered decision-making in common marmosets.

The cortico-basal ganglia circuitry plays important roles in the control of various higher-order functions, such as motor control, cognition, and emotion. The thalamostriatal system is involved in learning and switching of behaviors and recovery from cognitive and motor deficits in rodents. Here, we applied selective neural pathway targeting to investigate roles of two representative thalamostriatal pathways arising from the parafascicular nucleus (Pf) and centre médian nucleus (CM) in common marmosets.

Electroporation-mediated functional analysis method of genes in the giant insect Trypoxylus dichotomus.

The Japanese rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, possesses large horns on its head and thorax, features whose biological significance has been explored across various fields, including evolutionary developmental biology, behavioral ecology, and materials science. To investigate the molecular basis of these characteristics, systemic larval RNA interference (RNAi) has been employed as a primary loss-of-function genetic tool. However, gain-of-function analyses and region-specific gene function assessments remain underdeveloped, thereby limiting the comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved.

Lineage-specific head development in the coffin-headed cricket Loxoblemmus equestris links the final molt with novel trait evolution.

Background: Lineage-specific adult structures form through modifications of pre-existing juvenile body parts during postembryonic development in insects. It remains unclear how these novel traits originate from ancestral structures within the constrained body plan. In the coffin-headed cricket Loxoblemmus equestris, an ancestral rounded head shape directly transforms into a flattened derived form in a sex-specific manner.

Antisymmetry rules of response properties in certain chemical spaces.

Understanding chemical compound space (CCS), a set of molecules and materials, is crucial for the rational discovery of molecules and materials. Concepts of symmetry have recently been introduced into CCS to account for near degeneracies and differences in electronic energies between iso-electronic materials. In this work, we present approximate relationships of response properties based on a first-principles view of CCS.

Body temperature regulates glucose metabolism and torpid behavior.

Glucose is a significant energy resource for maintaining physiological activities, including body temperature homeostasis, and glucose homeostasis is tightly regulated in mammals. Although ambient temperature tunes glucose metabolism to maintain euthermia, the significance of body temperature in metabolic regulation remains unclear owing to strict thermoregulation. Activation of Qrfp neurons in the preoptic area induced a harmless hypothermic state known as Q-neuron-induced hypothermia and hypometabolism (QIH), which is suitable for studying glucose metabolism under hypothermia.

IKEA effect and empathy for robots: Can assembly strengthen human-agent relationships?

Cooperative relationships between humans and agents are becoming more important for the social coexistence of anthropomorphic agents, including virtual agents and robots. One way to improve the relationship between humans and agents is for humans to empathize with agents. Empathy can increase human acceptance.