Human work and life support are areas that provide practical applications for robotics and mechatronics technology. There is great expectation from the industry in these fields, and research and ...development efforts have been actively undertaken with great social impact. To support human work and life accurately, we must understand the complicated sensory, nervous, and motor control systems that enable design and development of appropriate assistive devices.
Therefore, in this mini special issue, we focus on robotics and mechatronics for human sensing, modeling, and augmentation.
The editor hopes that this special issue will attract researchers’ interest and contribute to further developments in this field.
A meso‐free β‐bromodecaphyrin has been constructed by 2+3+2+3 type acid‐catalyzed cross‐condensation and subsequent oxidation. Hydrodebromination of this tetrabromodecaphyrin with NaBH4 in the ...presence of TMEDA and palladium catalyst afforded β‐unsubstituted doubly meso‐free 46decaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1) as the first example of β‐unsubstituted meso‐free regular expanded porphyrins with the number of pyrrole units larger than eight. It exhibits distinct aromaticity originating from its 46π‐conjugated electronic circuit and flexible conformational change between non‐twisted and doubly twisted forms depending on the solvent‐polarity. Their distinct conformations have been analyzed by combined experimental and theoretical investigations.
A meso‐free β‐bromodecaphyrin has been constructed by 2+3+2+3 type acid‐catalyzed cross‐condensation and subsequent oxidation. Hydrodebromination of this tetrabromodecaphyrin afforded β‐unsubstituted doubly meso‐free 46decaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1), exhibiting distinct aromaticity originating from its 46π conjugation circuit and flexible solvent‐polarity dependent conformational change between non‐twisted and doubly twisted forms.
Catecholamines stimulate epithelial proliferation, but the role of sympathetic nerve signaling in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is poorly understood. Catecholamines promoted ADRB2-dependent ...PDAC development, nerve growth factor (NGF) secretion, and pancreatic nerve density. Pancreatic Ngf overexpression accelerated tumor development in LSL-Kras+/G12D;Pdx1-Cre (KC) mice. ADRB2 blockade together with gemcitabine reduced NGF expression and nerve density, and increased survival of LSL-Kras+/G12D;LSL-Trp53+/R172H;Pdx1-Cre (KPC) mice. Therapy with a Trk inhibitor together with gemcitabine also increased survival of KPC mice. Analysis of PDAC patient cohorts revealed a correlation between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, nerve density, and increased survival of patients on nonselective β-blockers. These findings suggest that catecholamines drive a feedforward loop, whereby upregulation of neurotrophins increases sympathetic innervation and local norepinephrine accumulation.
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•Neuropsychological stress accelerates PDAC development via ADRB2-signaling•ADRB2-signaling upregulates NGF and BDNF, thereby increasing nerve density•Blockade of the ADRB2 and NGF/Trk pathways prolongs survival in KPC mice•ADRB2 and NGF-BDNF/Trk pathways may be promising targets in PDAC treatment
Renz et al. show that catecholamines promote ADRB2-dependent pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma development and secretion of neurotrophins (NT), which in turn promote tumor innervation leading to increased NE and tumor growth. Blockade of ADRB2 or NT receptors improves gemcitabine's therapeutic effect.
Within the gastrointestinal stem cell niche, nerves help to regulate both normal and neoplastic stem cell dynamics. Here, we reveal the mechanisms underlying the cancer-nerve partnership. We find ...that Dclk1+ tuft cells and nerves are the main sources of acetylcholine (ACh) within the gastric mucosa. Cholinergic stimulation of the gastric epithelium induced nerve growth factor (NGF) expression, and in turn NGF overexpression within gastric epithelium expanded enteric nerves and promoted carcinogenesis. Ablation of Dclk1+ cells or blockade of NGF/Trk signaling inhibited epithelial proliferation and tumorigenesis in an ACh muscarinic receptor-3 (M3R)-dependent manner, in part through suppression of yes-associated protein (YAP) function. This feedforward ACh-NGF axis activates the gastric cancer niche and offers a compelling target for tumor treatment and prevention.
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•NGF expression is induced in gastric cancer by ACh from nerves and tuft cells•NGF promotes innervation and proliferation in gastric epithelium•Blockade of NGF or ablation of cholinergic tuft cells inhibits tumor development•Cholinergic signaling activates YAP signaling that is essential for Wnt activation
Hayakawa et al. use a series of mouse models to show that acetylcholine from Dclk1+ tuft cells and nerves induces NGF in gastric epithelial cells, which promotes neuron expansion and tumorigenesis. YAP is activated through the cholinergic signaling, and inhibition of this pathway can block NGF-driven tumors.
5,10‐Bis(pentafluorophenyl)corrole (5) and 5,15‐bis(pentafluorophenyl)corrole (9) have been synthesized as meso‐free corroles by rational synthetic routes. Both the structures of these corroles have ...been unambiguously revealed by X‐ray diffraction analysis and their optical and electrochemical properties have been studied. Chlorination and oxidative dimerization of 5 and 9 have been explored, which revealed a marked different reactivity of the free meso‐positions in 5 and 9. 10‐Chlorinated corrole 11 was effectively prepared by the reaction of 9 with Palau‘chlor in the presence of 1 % pyridine whereas 5‐chlorinated corrole 12 was obtained in a trace amount from similar chlorination of 5. 5,5′‐Linked corrole dimer 13 was produced by reaction of 5 with AgNO2 in a good yield, whereas 10,10′‐linked corrole dimer 14 was formed in a moderate yield by the reaction of 9 with bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodobenzene. Observed large electronic interaction between the two corroles in 13 as compared with that in 14 has been ascribed mainly to conformational flexibility of the former, which allows more coplanar conformation.
5,10 and 5,15‐Diarylcorroles were prepared by acid‐catalyzed condensation reactions followed by 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐p‐benzoquinone (DDQ) oxidation (see scheme). The physical properties of these meso‐free corroles have been examined. Chlorination and oxidative dimerization were accomplished, which revealed a marked reactivity difference of the free meso‐positions.
Since the discovery of its facile synthesis in 2001, meso-aryl-substituted expanded porphyrins have been developed as a new class of azaannulenes in light of their facile redox interconversions, ...conformational flexibilities involving flipping of the constitutional pyrroles, rich metal coordination behaviors, unprecedented chemical reactivities, effective platforms to realize versatile electronic states including Möbius aromatic and antiaromatic species, and abilities to stabilize organic radicals. In this Review, the syntheses, structures, and optical, electronic, and magnetic properties of meso-aryl-substituted expanded porphyrins and their metal complexes have been updated with a particular focus on the relationship between "aromaticity and molecular twist (molecular topology)". While the importance of the interplay of these two characteristics has been long recognized from the theoretical viewpoint, meso-aryl-substituted expanded porphyrins offered solid experimental evidence to provide Möbius aromatic and antiaromatic molecules with distinct diatropic and paratropic ring currents, respectively. This attribute is not shared with β-alkylated expanded porphyrin counterparts, underlining the importance and uniqueness of meso-aryl-substituted expanded porphyrins.
Aim
On the basis of multitaxon biogeographical processes related to region‐specific geohistory and palaeoclimate, we identified a balanced and area‐effective protected area network (PAN) expansion in ...the East Asian islands, a global biodiversity hotspot.
Location
Japanese archipelago, Ryukyu archipelago and Izu‐Bonin oceanic islands.
Methods
We modelled the distributions of 6,325 species (amphibians, birds, freshwater fish, mammals, plants and reptiles) using 4,389,489 occurrence data points. We then applied the Zonation software for spatial conservation prioritization. First, we identified environmental drivers underpinning taxon‐specific biodiversity patterns. Second, we analysed each taxon individually to understand baseline priority patterns. Third, we combined all taxa into an inclusive analysis to identify the most important PAN expansions.
Results
Biodiversity patterns were well explained by geographical factors (climate, habitat stability, isolation and area), but their explanatory power differed between the taxa. There was remarkably little overlap between priority areas for the individual higher taxa. The inclusive prioritization analysis across all taxa identified priority regions, in particular in southern subtropical and mountainous areas. Expanding the PAN up to 17% would cover most of the ranges for rare and/or restricted‐range species. On average, approximately 30% of the ranges of all species could be covered by the 17% expansion identified here.
Main conclusions
Our analyses identified top candidates for the expansion of Japan's protected area network. Taxon‐specific prioritization was informative for understanding the conservation priority patterns of different taxa associated with unique biogeographical processes. For the basis of PAN expansion, we recommend multi‐taxon prioritization as an area‐efficient compromise that reflects taxon‐specific priority patterns. Spatial prioritization across multiple taxa provides a promising start for the development of conservation plans with the aim of long‐term persistence of biodiversity on the East Asian islands.
The transversus abdominis muscle is important for various human functions, including the prevention of back pain and the use of muscle activity values as an indicator for the treatment of urinary ...incontinence. Measuring muscle activity is an effective means of evaluating whether correct training has been performed. The transversus abdominis muscle stiffness sensor developed in a previous study used a method in which a belt with a sensor attached was wrapped around the lower back, which made measurement simple but also caused problems owing to the influence of phenomena other than muscle activity on the measurement data. Therefore, we propose a novel correction method to calculate the muscle activity of this sensor accurately, which can be used for simple measurements. We propose a formula to compensate for effects other than muscle activity based on a model equation that includes contact conditions and belt tension, which affect the muscle stiffness sensor value. We evaluated the validity of the correction equation from simulations and the change in similarity owing to the correction by simultaneously measuring the muscle action potentials and muscle stiffness sensor values during breathing movements with muscle activity. The proposed correction method improved the muscle stiffness data during respiration and contraction. It is possible to improve the measurement accuracy by improving the calibration method and hardware.
A reaction sequence of regioselective peripheral bromination, Suzuki–Miyaura coupling with 2‐borylated thiophene or pyrrole, and oxidative ring‐closure with FeCl3 allowed the synthesis of ...heterole‐fused earring porphyrins 4Pd and 9Pd from the parent earring porphyrin 1. Differently pyrrole‐fused porphyrins 5H and 6H and their PdII complexes 5Pd and 6Pd were also synthesized. The structures of 4Pd, 5H, 6Pd, and 8Pd have been revealed by X‐ray analysis to be slightly twisted owing to constraints imposed by heterole‐fused structures. 5Pd exhibits an intensified band at 1505 nm, while 4Pd and 9Pd display small but remarkably red‐shifted absorption bands reaching around 2200 nm.
Fancy earrings: A series of substituted and fused earring porphyrins were regioselectively synthesized from the brominated earring porphyrin 2. The structures of 4Pd, 5H, and 8Pd are slightly twisted owing to constraints imposed by doubly heterole‐fused structures. 5Pd exhibits an intensified band at 1505 nm, while 4Pd and 9Pd display small but remarkably red‐shifted absorption bands reaching around 2200 nm.
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