The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated that issues related to scientific advice in crises have not been adequately examined. Frameworks for discussion on scientific advice in general have also been ...put into question. Five major themes now seem to need reexamination: relationships between scientists and the government, relationships between scientific advice and society, integration of scientific expertise based on diverse disciplines and approaches, importance of the local, decentralized mode of scientific advice, and international cooperation on scientific advice. Overall, the future of scientific advice might be increasingly founded on formation of the science-policy ecosystem embracing local, informal interaction of diversified actors.
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•Asymmetric electrocatalytic hydrogenation was carried out in a PEM reactor.•Supporting electrolyte was not required in this reaction system.•The current density was crucial to ...achieve better results.•CD was found to be the best chiral modifier among all tested cinchona alkaloids.
We have developed an electrocatalytic asymmetric hydrogenation reaction using a proton-exchange membrane (PEM) reactor that employs a polymer electrolyte fuel cell and industrial electrolysis technologies. Reasonable enantioselectivities and excellent current efficiencies were obtained in the asymmetric hydrogenation of α-phenylcinnamic acid under mild conditions without adding a supporting electrolyte. The current density was crucial to achieving the improved results observed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Although pancreatic cancer often invades peripancreatic adipose tissue, little information is known about cancer‐adipocyte interaction. We first investigated the ability of adipocytes to ...de‐differentiate to cancer‐associated adipocytes (CAAs) by co‐culturing with pancreatic cancer cells. We then examined the effects of CAA‐conditioned medium (CAA‐CM) on the malignant characteristics of cancer cells, the mechanism underlying those effects, and their clinical relevance in pancreatic cancer. When 3T3‐L1 adipocytes were co‐cultured with pancreatic cancer cells (PANC‐1) using the Transwell system, adipocytes lost their lipid droplets and changed morphologically to fibroblast‐like cells (CAA). Adipocyte‐specific marker mRNA levels significantly decreased but those of fibroblast‐specific markers appeared, characteristic findings of CAA, as revealed by real‐time PCR. When PANC‐1 cells were cultured with CAA‐CM, significantly higher migration/invasion capability, chemoresistance, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) properties were observed compared with control cells. To investigate the mechanism underlying these effects, we performed microarray analysis of PANC‐1 cells cultured with CAA‐CM and found a 78.5‐fold higher expression of SAA1 compared with control cells. When the SAA1 gene in PANC‐1 cells was knocked down with SAA1 siRNA, migration/invasion capability, chemoresistance, and EMT properties were significantly attenuated compared with control cells. Immunohistochemical analysis on human pancreatic cancer tissues revealed positive SAA1 expression in 46/61 (75.4%). Overall survival in the SAA1‐positive group was significantly shorter than in the SAA1‐negative group (P = .013). In conclusion, we demonstrated that pancreatic cancer cells induced de‐differentiation in adipocytes toward CAA, and that CAA promoted malignant characteristics of pancreatic cancer via SAA1 expression, suggesting that SAA1 is a novel therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.
Cancer‐associated adipocyte (CAA) promotes migration/invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. CAA also induced pancreatic cancer cells drug resistance, epithelial‐mesenchymal transition.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
We report a new dicalcium silicate phosphor, Ca2−xEuxSiO4, which emits red light in response to blue‐light excitation. When excited at 450 nm, deep‐red emission at 650 nm was clearly observed in ...Ca1.2Eu0.8SiO4, the external and internal quantum efficiencies of which were 44 % and 50 %, respectively. The red emission from Ca2−xEuxSiO4 was strongly related to the peculiar coordination environments of Eu2+ in two types of Ca sites. The red‐emitting Ca2SiO4:Eu2+ phosphors are promising materials for next‐generation, white‐light‐emitting diode applications.
A dicalcium silicate phosphor, Ca2−xEuxSiO4, emits red light in response to blue‐light excitation. When excited at 450 nm, deep‐red emission at 650 nm was clearly observed in Ca1.2Eu0.8SiO4. The picture shows a photograph of the corresponding Ca1.20Eu0.80SiO4 phosphor upon excitation with blue LEDs. The external and internal quantum efficiencies were 44 % and 50 %, respectively.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Generally, the thickness of tubular tissues formed from silicone rods through encapsulation of the foreign–body reaction is less than approximately 0.2 mm. On the other hand, it is unclear how hollow ...cylindrical molds can provide thick tubular tissues, known as Biotubes, with a thickness exceeding 1 mm, during in-body tissue architecture (iBTA) using encapsulation. In this study, histological and structural analyses were performed to understand the reason for the formation of thick mold-based Biotubes. Molds were assembled with a gap between a silicone rod and a stainless-steel cylinder and were embedded into the dorsal subcutaneous pouches of beagles for 2 or 4 weeks. Thick Biotubes were obtained from the harvested mold. The histological analysis showed that the lumen side of the thick Biotubes consisted primarily of type I collagen fibers and α-smooth muscle actin-positive cells, similar to the original rod-based thin Biotubes formed only from silicone rods. Interestingly, the outer region of the thick Biotubes was an immature connective tissue consisting of type III collagen, including primitive somatic stem cells expressing CD90 and SSEA4. These stem cells may have contributed to the formation of the thick-walled Biotubes by differentiating into other cell types and through growth factor production. Because of the potential tissue-repair ability of these stem cells, iBTA could be useful for elucidating the regeneration process, remodeling the physiology/pathology of tissue defects/damage, and cell acquisition. This technology can provide autologous stem cells without in vitro cell culture. Moreover, thick-walled Biotubes may be useful as an alternative stem cell-containing material in regenerative medicine.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Efficient activation of CO2 at low temperature was achieved by reverse water–gas shift via chemical looping (RWGS-CL) by virtue of fast oxygen ion migration in a Cu–In structured oxide, even at lower ...temperatures. Results show that a novel Cu–In2O3 structured oxide can show a remarkably higher CO2 splitting rate than ever reported. Various analyses revealed that RWGS-CL on Cu–In2O3 is derived from redox between Cu–In2O3 and Cu–In alloy. Key factors for high CO2 splitting rate were fast migration of oxide ions in the alloy and the preferential oxidation of the interface of alloy–In2O3 in the bulk of the particles. The findings reported herein can open up new avenues to achieve effective CO2 conversion at lower temperatures.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, UL, UM, UPUK
The electrocatalytic hydrogenation of alkynes was performed in a proton-exchange membrane reactor. Product selectivity for the hydrogenation could be controlled by the catalyst material and the ...cathode potential. The use of a Pd catalyst gave Z-alkenes selectively with excellent current efficiencies at relatively low electrolysis potentials. The present system can provide hydrogenated products without hydrogen gas, which is safe and compact compared to conventional hydrogenation systems.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
The electrochemical reduction of liquid toluene to methylcyclohexane (MCH) was investigated using a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and high active-area catalysts commonly used in proton exchange ...membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The current density on Pt/C was higher than on PtRu/C, which was comparable to that of alkaline water electrolysis. The potential of hydrogen evolution was shifted negatively by the presence of toluene and MCH. Therefore, the toluene reduction reaction was almost perfectly separated from the hydrogen evolution reaction. Toluene was perfectly reduced to MCH at around 0 V vs. RHE on PtRu/C and no by-products were detected in the solutions after electrolysis. MCH was produced at a Faradaic efficiency of more than 96% by carefully keeping the potential above −30 mV vs. RHE. Through this electrolytic process, we were able to reduce the concentration of toluene from 100% to 7.6%.
•Fuel cell catalysts were used to investigate the reduction of toluene.•High current density was obtained by using fuel cell technologies.•Toluene and methylcyclohexane increased the hydrogen evolution overpotential.•High methylcyclohexane yield was achieved by controlling the potential.•The cut-off potential is critical to achieving high Faradaic efficiency.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Ensuring the effectiveness and integrity of science-based policy-making is a high-priority task in Japan.
Until recently, there was little recognition within Japan's science policy circle of the need ...to discuss the role of science in government policy-making. A rather innocent notion that the established knowledge and wisdom of scientists would ensure proper decision-making was prevalent.
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BFBNIB, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
There are currently no approved antifibrotic therapies for liver cirrhosis. We used vitamin A-coupled liposomes to deliver small interfering RNA (siRNA) against gp46, the rat homolog of human heat ...shock protein 47, to hepatic stellate cells. Our approach exploits the key roles of these cells in both fibrogenesis as well as uptake and storage of vitamin A. Five treatments with the siRNA-bearing vitamin A-coupled liposomes almost completely resolved liver fibrosis and prolonged survival in rats with otherwise lethal dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver cirrhosis in a dose- and duration-dependent manner. Rescue was not related to off-target effects or associated with recruitment of innate immunity. Receptor-specific siRNA delivery was similarly effective in suppressing collagen secretion and treating fibrosis induced by CCl(4) or bile duct ligation. The efficacy of the approach using both acute and chronic models of liver fibrosis suggests its therapeutic potential for reversing human liver cirrhosis.
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DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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