Sequence Diversity at Cytochrome Oxidase 1 (Co-1) Gene among Sculpins (Scorpaeniformes, Cottidae) and some other Scorpionfish of Russia Far East with Phylogenetic and Taxonomic Insights

Yuri Ph. Kartavtsev,Svetlana N. Sharina,Tadasuke Goto,Andrey A. Balanov,Naoto Hanzawa 한국유전학회 2009 Genes & Genomics Vol.31 No.2

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) at Co-1 gene region was sequenced for 7 scorpion fish species (in total, 16 sequences of at least 552 bp) from the Far East of Russia and compared with 15 other sequences of Scorpaeniformes comprising altogether 29 scorpion-like fish sequences and two outgroup sequences (Cypriniformes). The analysis of the protein-coding Co-1 gene revealed statistically substantiated bias in the (T+C): (A+G) content, proving basic findings. The average scores of p-distances for different scales of the evolutionary history at Co-1 gene revealed a clear pattern of increased nucleotide diversity at four different levels: (1) intraspecies, (2) intragenus, (3) intrafamily, and (4) intraorder. The scores of average p-distances for the compared fish groups were: (1) 1.00±0.20%, (2) 3.80±0.20%, (3) 12.40±1.20%, and (4) 18.00±0.38%, respectively (mean±SE). These data support the concept that speciation in the order Scorpaeniformes, in most cases, follows a geographic mode through accumulation of numerous small genetic changes over a long period of time. However, intraspecies diversity was surprisingly high among scorpionfish. Phylogenetic trees for 29 sequences of scorpionfish and 2 other fishes belonging to ray-finned fishes (Actinopterigii) were developed using Co-1 gene and four different analytical approaches: Bayesian (BA), maximum likelihood (ML), neighbour-joining (NJ), and maximum parsimony (MP). The analysis revealed a monophyletic origin for the representatives of Cottidae, which is the principal scorpionfish family investigated (100, 96, 98% support level in our BA, MP, and NJ analyses). Similarly, the monophyletic origin of up to the three compared scorpion-like fish genera was supported by molecular phylogenetic data. Species identification on individual basis (barcoding tagging) was high. A few taxonomic complications arose during the analysis and they are discussed here in.

The hepatokine FGF21 is crucial for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α agonist-induced amelioration of metabolic disorders in obese mice

Goto, Tsuyoshi,Hirata, Mariko,Aoki, Yumeko,Iwase, Mari,Takahashi, Haruya,Kim, Minji,Li, Yongjia,Jheng, Huei-Fen,Nomura, Wataru,Takahashi, Nobuyuki,Kim, Chu-Sook,Yu, Rina,Seno, Shigeto,Matsuda, Hideo,A American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Bi 2017 The Journal of biological chemistry Vol.292 No.22

<P>Obesity causes excess fat accumulation in white adipose tissues (WAT) and also in other insulin-responsive organs such as the skeletal muscle, increasing the risk for insulin resistance, which can lead to obesity-related metabolic disorders. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR alpha) is a master regulator of fatty acid oxidation whose activator is known to improve hyperlipidemia. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying PPAR alpha activator-mediated reduction in adiposity and improvement of metabolic disorders are largely unknown. In this study we investigated the effects of PPAR alpha agonist (fenofibrate) on glucose metabolism dysfunction in obese mice. Fenofibrate treatment reduced adiposity and attenuated obesity-induced dysfunctions of glucose metabolism in obese mice fed a high-fat diet. However, fenofibrate treatment did not improve glucose metabolism in lipodystrophic A-Zip/F1 mice, suggesting that adipose tissue is important for the fenofibrate-mediated amelioration of glucose metabolism, although skeletal muscle actions could not be completely excluded. Moreover, we investigated the role of the hepatokine fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), which regulates energy metabolism in adipose tissue. In WAT of WT mice, but not of FGF21-deficient mice, fenofibrate enhanced the expression of genes related to brown adipocyte functions, such as Ucp1, Pgc1a, and Cpt1b. Fenofibrate increased energy expenditure and attenuated obesity, whole body insulin resistance, and adipocyte dysfunctions in WAT in high-fat-diet-fed WT mice but not in FGF21-defi-the fenofibrate-mediated improvement of whole body glucose metabolism in obese mice via the amelioration of WAT dysfunctions.</P>

The bursts of high energy events observed by the telescope array surface detector

Abbasi, R.U.,Abe, M.,Abu-Zayyad, T.,Allen, M.,Anderson, R.,Azuma, R.,Barcikowski, E.,Belz, J.W.,Bergman, D.R.,Blake, S.A.,Cady, R.,Cheon, B.G.,Chiba, J.,Chikawa, M.,Fujii, T.,Fukushima, M.,Goto, T.,Ha North-Holland 2017 Physics letters. Section A. Vol.381 No.32

The Telescope Array (TA) experiment is designed to detect air showers induced by ultra high energy cosmic rays. The TA ground Surface particle Detector (TASD) observed several short-time bursts of air shower like events. These bursts are not likely due to chance coincidence between single shower events. The expectation of chance coincidence is less than 10<SUP>-4</SUP> for five-year's observation. We checked the correlation between these bursts of events and lightning data, and found evidence for correlations in timing and position. Some features of the burst events are similar to those of a normal cosmic ray air shower, and some are not. On this paper, we report the observed bursts of air shower like events and their correlation with lightning.

Simulation of a Polarimeter for a Spin - Polarized Positron Beam

J. H. Kim,F. Saito,N. Suzuki,L. Wei,Y. Nagashima,T. Kurihara,A. Goto,Y. Itoh,Y. S. Lee,T. Hyodo 한국진공학회(ASCT) 2002 Journal of Korean Vacuum Science & Technology Vol.6 No.3

A performance of a new positron polarimeter is investigated by simulation using a charged-particle trajectory program. The results of the ray tracing are presented along with the details of the design parameters and projected system performance. A ray tracing analysis indicates that this design is capable of effectively transmitting positrons at beam energies varying from 0.1 to 30 keV within the beam diameter of 2-6 ㎜. However, the observed reflection of the positrons(1ower than 2 keV) at 12 kGauss indicated that further refinement of beam design is needed to produce a better positron polarimeter.

Irreversible field-induced magnetic phase transitions and properties of Ho₃Co

Baranov, N V,Goto, T,Hilscher, G,Markin, P E,Michor, H,Mushnikov, N V,Park, J-G,Yermakov, A A IOP Pub 2005 Journal of physics, an Institute of Physics journa Vol.17 No.21

<P>The results of magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, electrical resistivity and specific heat measurements performed on Ho<SUB>3</SUB>Co single crystals show that this compound exhibits two different antiferromagnetic structures: AF<SUB>II</SUB> at 8 K<<I>T</I>< 22 K and AF<SUB>I</SUB> below <I>T</I><SUB>t</SUB>≈8 K. Below the Néel temperature <I>T</I><SUB>N</SUB> = 22 K the application of a magnetic field along the main crystallographic directions induces magnetic phase transitions which are accompanied by giant magnetoresistance. At <I>T</I><<I>T</I><SUB>t</SUB> the field-induced phase transitions along the <B><I>c</I></B>- and <B><I>b</I></B>-axes are found to be irreversible, and a small ferromagnetic component is observed along the <B><I>a</I></B>-axis. These peculiarities are associated with the non-Kramers character of the Ho ion and with the presence of a complex incommensurate magnetic structure of Ho<SUB>3</SUB>Co below <I>T</I><SUB>N</SUB>. The temperature coefficient of the electrical resistivity for Ho<SUB>3</SUB>Co above <I>T</I><SUB>N</SUB> over a wide temperature range is found to differ from that observed for other R<SUB>3</SUB>Co compounds. Such a behaviour is attributed to the presence of an additional contribution to the conduction electron scattering by spin fluctuations induced by f–d exchange in the itinerant d-electron subsystem. The value of this extra contribution and its temperature range is suggested to depend on the spin value of the R ion. The excess of the effective magnetic moment per R ion, which is observed in Ho<SUB>3</SUB>Co and in other R<SUB>3</SUB>M type compounds, is also attributed to spin fluctuations induced by f–d exchange.</P>

Multi-Quasiparticle States in Odd-Odd 118I

C.-B. Moon,이춘식,M. Oshima,Y. Toh,J. Goto,Y. Hatsukawa,A. Kimura,M. Koizumi,A. Osa,T. Komatsubara,K. Miyakawa 한국물리학회 2008 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.53 No.4

The excited states of the doubly odd nucleus 118I have been studied by using in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy with the 110Cd(12C, p3n) reaction at Elab = 80 MeV. We have established several multi-quasiparticle states associated with different proton and neutron quasiparticle configurations. A I* = 14- level at 2561 keV was newly observed and found to be associated with the πh11/2υd5/2 configuration coupled to a pair of protons in the g7/2 orbital. TRS calculations for the 14- level indicated a favored oblate state based on the fully aligned four-quasiparticle π[h11=2(g7/2)2]23/2-υ[d5/2]5/2+ configuration. Another energetically favored state I* = 24- at 6216 keV could be interpreted as a noncollective oblate state from the fully aligned six-quasiparicle π[h11/2(g7/2)2]23/2-υ[d5/2(h11/2)2]25/2+ configuration. No Δ = 1 side band of the same parity as the πh11/2υh11/2 band was observed while a side band built on the πg9/2υh11/2 configuration was considered to be caused by the γ vibration coupling.

CLEAVAGE OF MOUSE OOCYTES AFTER THE INJECTION OF IMMOBILIZED, KILLED SPERMATOZOA

Goto, K.,Kinoshita, A.,Kuroda, A.,Nakanishi, Y.,Ogawa, K. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1991 Animal Bioscience Vol.4 No.3

Immobilized (killed) mouse spermatozoa or sperm head were microinjected into mouse oocytes matured in vivo and cultured for 72h in vitro. When non-capacitated spermatozoon was injected, oocytes that developed to $${\geq_-}$$ 2-cell and $${\geq_-}$$ 4-cell was 27.8 (15/54) and 3.7% (2/54), respectively. When non-capacitated sperm head was injected. development to $${\geq_-}$$ 2-cell and $${\geq_-}$$ 4-cell was 21.3 (16/75) and 8.0% (6/75), respectively. When capacitated spermatozoon was injected, development to $${\geq_-}$$ 2-cell and $${\geq_-}$$ 4-cell was 21.4 (15/70) and 4.3% (3/70), respectively. When capacitated sperm head was injected, development to $${\geq_-}$$ 2-cell and $${\geq_-}$$ 4-cell was 29.9 (35/117) and 10.3% (12/117), respectively. In contrast, none developed beyond 4-cell in the sham-operated group. The results of this study demonstrated that mouse oocytes matured in vivo can undergo normal appearing cleavage to 4-cell stage by dead-sperm injection. Sperm treatment prior to injection did not affect the ability of mouse oocytes to cleave in vitro.

Dopamine-dependent social information processing in non-human primates

Lee, Young-A,Lionnet, Sarah,Kato, Akemi,Goto, Yukiori Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2018 Psychophamacology Vol.235 No.4

<P><B>Rationale</B></P><P>Dopamine (DA) is a neurotransmitter whose roles have been suggested in various aspects of brain functions. Recent studies in rodents have reported its roles in social function. However, how DA is involved in social information processing in primates has largely remained unclear.</P><P><B>Objectives</B></P><P>We investigated prefrontal cortical (PFC) activities associated with social vs. nonsocial visual stimulus processing.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was applied to Japanese macaques, along with pharmacological manipulations of DA transmission, while they were gazing at social and nonsocial visual stimuli.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>Oxygenated (oxy-Hb) and deoxygenated (deoxy-Hb) hemoglobin changes as well as functional connectivity based on such Hb changes within the PFC network which were distinct between social and nonsocial stimuli were observed. Administration of both D1 and D2 receptor antagonists affected the Hb changes associated with social stimuli, whereas D1, but not D2, receptor antagonist affected the Hb changes associated with nonsocial stimuli.</P><P><B>Conclusions</B></P><P>These results suggest that mesocortical DA transmission in the PFC plays significant roles in social information processing, which involves both D1 and D2 receptor activation, in nonhuman primates. However, D1 and D2 receptor signaling in the PFC mediates different aspects of social vs. nonsocial information processing.</P><P><B>Electronic supplementary material</B></P><P>The online version of this article (10.1007/s00213-018-4831-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.</P>

The Efficacy of an Endoscopic Grasp-and-Traction Device for Gastric Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection: An Ex Vivo Comparative Study (with Video)

Dirk W. Schölvinck,Osamu Goto,Jacques J. G. H. M. Bergman,Naohisa Yahagi,Bas L. A. M. Weusten 대한소화기내시경학회 2015 Clinical Endoscopy Vol.48 No.3

Background/Aims: To investigate whether the EndoLifter (Olympus), a counter-traction device facilitating submucosal dissection, can accelerate endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Methods: Two endoscopists (novice/expert in ESD) performed 64 ESDs (artificial 3-cm lesions) in 16 ex vivo pig stomachs: per stomach, two at the posterior wall (forward approach) and two at the lesser curvature (retroflex approach). Per approach, one lesion was dissected with (EL+) and one without (EL–) the EndoLifter. The submucosal dissection time (SDT), corrected for specimen size, and the influence of ESD experience on EndoLifter usefulness were assessed. Results: En bloc resection rate was 98.4%. In the forward approach, the median SDT was shorter with the EndoLifter (0.56 min/cm2 vs. 0.91 min/cm2), although not significantly (p=0.09). The ESD-experienced endoscopist benefitted more from the EndoLifter (0.45 [EL+] min/cm2 vs. 0.68 [EL–] min/cm2, p=0.07) than the ESD-inexperienced endoscopist (0.77 [EL+] min/cm2 vs. 1.01 [EL–] min/cm2, p=0.48). In the retroflex approach, the median SDTs were 1.06 (EL+) and 0.48 (EL–) min/cm2 (p=0.16). The EndoLifter did not shorten the SDT for the ESD-experienced endoscopist (0.68 [EL+] min/cm2 vs. 0.68 [EL–] min/cm2, p=0.78), whereas the ESD-inexperienced endoscopist seemed hindered (1.65 [EL+] min/cm2 vs. 0.38 [EL–] min/cm2, p=0.03). Conclusions: In gastric ESD, the EndoLifter, in trend, shortens SDTs in the forward, but not in the retroflex approach. Given the low numbers in this study, a type II error cannot be excluded.

Graphene exfoliation with supercritical fluids

Rodolfo Morales Ibarra,Motonobu Goto,Juan Garc?a‑Serna,Saida Mayela Garc?a Montes 한국탄소학회 2021 Carbon Letters Vol.31 No.1

Graphene is an unconventional material with a two-dimensional hexagonal crystalline array of elemental carbon atoms and outstanding properties; accordingly, a desirable objective in the line of research of graphene is the development of novel and more productive methods of synthesis, validating its properties and applications. In our exploratory research, we have effectively exfoliated graphene from graphite using supercritical fluids (water, ethanol and carbon dioxide). The exfoliated graphene was properly characterized; via scanning electron microscopy, the morphology of graphene was observed; Raman spectra confirmed the exfoliation of graphene depicting the characteristic shift towards smaller Raman number in the 2D band (2676 cm?1) compared to that of graphite (? 2700 cm?1); COMMIT; transmission electron microscopy analysis exhibited the crystalline structure of graphene attesting also the expected transparency of exfoliated layers. Graphene exfoliation from graphite by supercritical fluids promises to be a simple large-scale method for graphene production.