Structural and functional characterization of a complex of Zn(II)-substituted pheophorbide and all-parallel G-quadruplex DNA.

Zn(II)-substituted pheophorbide (ZnPhed ), a chlorophyll derivative, exhibited strong binding affinity with all-parallel G-quadruplex DNA (d[(TTAGGG)], 6mer). Fluorescence spectroscopy, H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and computational analysis were applied to characterize the resulting ZnPhed -6mer complex. Fluorescence titration experiments revealed that the apparent binding constant () of the ZnPhed -6mer complex was (1.

Factor structure of self-reported health literacy scales: a large-scale cross-sectional study among Japanese-speaking adults.

The importance of health literacy has become widely recognized in the fields of psychology and public health over past decades, during which more than 100 health-literacy scales have been developed. These scales typically have unique targets (or subscales), leading to an enormous number of factors proposed across scales. However, conceptual overlaps and redundancy are left unresolved.

Psychological richness as a distinct dimension of well-being: Links to mental, social, and physical health.

In recent years, well-being research has expanded beyond traditional dimensions, recognizing that a fulfilling life may encompass more than happiness and meaning. We examined the unique contributions of a newly proposed dimension of well-being-psychological richness-to mental, social, and physical health outcomes alongside the established dimensions of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. We assessed well-being using validated scales that measure life satisfaction, meaning in life, and psychological richness and analyzed data from 11,041 participants.

Nature visible only digitally.

Recent progress in imaging technology has enabled paleontologists to visualize all fossils inside solid rocks. Consequently, we can now imagine the natural worlds hidden not only inside our research materials but also within the opaque solids of everyday life. Here, we introduce the unique visual-spatial worlds that emerge from inside rocks and the creativity this discovery fosters.

Classification of intrusive thought patterns based on differences in the mechanisms of occurrence and persistence.

Introduction: Intrusive thoughts occurring independently of intention are symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). However, they also appear in various other disorders, including substance use disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety disorders, as well as in healthy individuals. Despite this, the diversity of intrusive thoughts remains largely unexplored.

Pathways from eudaimonic and hedonic motives to life satisfaction via response style.

Studies have demonstrated an association between eudaimonic and hedonic motives and well-being. However, these studies have not fully quantified the mediating pathways underlying this relationship. This study investigated whether the response style mediates the relationship between these motives and life satisfaction.

Evaluation of Matrix Effects in SIMS Using Gaussian Process Regression: The Case of Olivine Mg Isotope Microanalysis.

Rationale: Matrix effects by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) are empirically corrected by calibration using matrix-matched reference materials. However, conventional parametric regression cannot estimate the prediction uncertainty to account for the difference in compositions of new data and reference materials. Applying Gaussian process regression (GPR), a nonparametric probabilistic method, enables the correction for matrix effect while providing quantitative prediction uncertainty.

Changes in Left Ventricular Function Assessed by 3D Echocardiography During Severe Central Hypovolemia in Healthy Humans.

Purpose: Central hypovolemia is considered to lead to a compensatory increase in cardiac contractility. From a physiological perspective, left ventricular (LV) twisting motion, which plays an important role in maintaining cardiac output, should be enhanced during central hypovolemia, but previous studies have shown inconsistent findings. Using 3D echocardiography, we tested the hypothesis that the LV twisting and untwisting motion would be enhanced during severe central hypovolemia.

Diminished reward circuit response underlies pain avoidance learning deficits in problem drinkers.

Individuals engaging in problem drinking show impaired proactive pain avoidance. As successful pain avoidance is intrinsically rewarding, this impairment suggests reward deficiency, as hypothesized for those with alcohol and substance misuse. Nevertheless, how reward circuit dysfunctions impact avoidance learning and contribute to drinking behavior remains poorly understood.

Neural, Motivational, and Psychological Measures of Pain Avoidance Predict Future Alcohol Use in Adult Drinkers.

Drinking as a coping method in response to pain is a complex behaviour, involving multiple neural, motivational, and psychological factors. Among these factors, pain sensitivity and pain-related drinking motive can significantly promote alcohol use. In contrast, proactive avoidance - a beneficial strategy of initiating overt actions to avoid negative outcomes - reduces harmful consumption.

Associations Between Transdiagnostic Psychological Processes and Global Symptom Severity Among Outpatients With Various Mental Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Knowledge about transdiagnostic factors associated with global symptom severity among patients diagnosed with various mental disorders remains limited. This study examined the cross-sectional associations between transdiagnostic processes including global emotion regulation and specific emotion regulation strategies (i.e.

Unelongated Stems are an Active Nitrogen-Fixing Site in Rice Stems Supported by Both Sugar and Methane Under Low Nitrogen Conditions.

Enhancing nitrogen (N) fixation in rice plants can reduce N fertilizer application and contribute to sustainable rice production, particularly under low-N conditions. However, detailed microbial and metabolic characterization of N fixation in rice stems, unlike in the well-studied roots, has not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the active N-fixing sites, their diazotroph communities, and the usability of possible carbon sources in stems compared with roots.

Functions of Smartphone Apps and Wearable Devices Promoting Physical Activity: Six-Month Longitudinal Study on Japanese-Speaking Adults.

Background: Smartphone apps and wearable activity trackers are increasingly recognized for their potential to promote physical activity (PA). While studies suggest that the use of commercial mobile health tools is associated with higher PA levels, most existing evidence is cross-sectional, leaving a gap in longitudinal data.

Objective: This study aims to identify app-use patterns that are prospectively associated with increases in and maintenance of PA.

Mechanistic Insights into Oxygen-Independent DNA Photodegradation by Pheophorbide a: Implications for Future Photodynamic Therapy Applications.

This study explores the unique properties of Pheophorbide a (Phed a) in the photodegradation of G-quadruplex DNA under anoxic conditions, emphasizing its potential for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in hypoxic tumor environments. We used electron spin resonance (ESR), circular dichroism (CD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies to assess the radical generation and DNA interaction capabilities of Phed a compared to Pyropheophorbide a (Pyro a) under both oxygenated and anoxic conditions. Our results reveal that Phed a effectively degrades G-quadruplex DNA in the absence of oxygen, whereas Pyro a does not.

Random epigenetic inactivation of the X-chromosomal HaMSter gene causes sex ratio distortion in persimmon.

In contrast to the recent progress in the genome sequencing of plant sex chromosomes, the functional contribution of the genes in sex chromosomes remains little known. They were classically thought to be related to sexual dimorphism, which is beneficial to male or female functions, including segregation ratios. Here we focused on the functional evolution of the sex ratio distortion-related locus Half Male Sterile/Inviable (HaMSter), which is located in the short sex-linked region in diploid persimmon (Diospyros lotus).

Toward defining the Anthropocene onset using a rapid increase in anthropogenic fingerprints in global geological archives.

One of the remaining issues regarding the Anthropocene is the lack of stratigraphic evidence indicating when the cumulative human pressure from the early Holocene began to fundamentally change the Earth system. Herein, we compile anthropogenic fingerprints from various high-precision-dated proxy records for 137 global sites to determine the age of the unprecedented surge in these records over the last 7700 y. The cumulative number of fingerprints revealed an unprecedented surge in diverse anthropogenic fingerprints starting in 1952 ± 3 CE, corresponding to the onset of the Great Acceleration.

Workers' experiences of improvements in the work environment and mental health problems: a web-based 1-year prospective study of Japanese employees.

Objectives: This study aimed to prospectively investigate the association between work environment improvements and multiple mental health outcomes in a large sample of Japanese employees.

Methods: A web-based longitudinal study surveyed 20 000 Japanese employees, 7970 of whom completed a follow-up after 1 year. Various types of work environment improvements experienced by workers were assessed using a 24-item checklist.

Prolonged perceived stress predicts fingernail cortisol increase: A longitudinal study.

Cortisol levels in fingernail samples are known to represent cumulative hormone levels. However, findings on the association between fingernail cortisol and perceived stress have been inconsistent. Since the effect of confounding factors cannot be excluded in cross-sectional studies, this study longitudinally examined the effects of perceived stress and negative life events on changes in fingernail cortisol levels over a period of six months.

Expanding the Genome-Editing Toolbox with Cas9 Using a Unique Protospacer Adjacent Motif Sequence.

The genome-editing efficiency of the CRISPR-Cas9 system hinges on the recognition of the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence, which is essential for Cas9 binding to DNA. The commonly used (SpyCas9) targets the 5'-NGG-3' PAM sequence, which does not cover all the potential genomic-editing sites. To expand the toolbox for genome editing, SpyCas9 has been engineered to recognize flexible PAM sequences and Cas9 orthologs have been used to recognize novel PAM sequences.

Assessment of differences in mechanical properties and thickness of temporal and occipital bones and correlation with age in Japanese forensic samples.

The mechanical properties and thickness of adult temporal and occipital bones were examined in modern Japanese forensic samples. Cranial bones were obtained from 293 Japanese corpses (179 men and 114 women). During autopsy, left temporal (LT), right temporal (RT), and occipital (O) bone samples were extracted from each skull.

Efficient production of polyhydroxybutyrate using lignocellulosic biomass derived from oil palm trunks by the inhibitor-tolerant strain Burkholderia ambifaria E5-3.

Lignocellulosic biomass is a valuable, renewable substrate for the synthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), an ecofriendly biopolymer. In this study, bacterial strain E5-3 was isolated from soil in Japan; it was identified as Burkholderia ambifaria strain E5-3 by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. The strain showed optimal growth at 37 °C with an initial pH of 9.

Dynamic symptom associations in posttraumatic stress disorder: a network approach.

The current study aimed to investigate the within-day symptom dynamics in PTSD patients, specifically focusing on symptoms that most predict changes in other symptoms. The study included a baseline diagnostic assessment, followed by an assessment using the experience sampling method (ESM) via a smartphone. Participants answered questions related to their PTSD symptoms four times per day for 15 consecutive days (compliance rate 75%).