Dry incubators prevent bacterial growth and allow time-lapse imaging. However, they cause more significant osmotic pressure changes in the culture medium than in humidified incubators. Few reports have explored the effect of osmotic pressure on human embryos cultured under different conditions. This study examined how changes in osmotic pressure affect human embryos in a dry incubator. The study incubated embryos in culture mediums covered with mineral oil of varying viscosities and quantities. The osmotic pressure of the culture medium was measured daily for six-day period (Day 0–6) in four experimental groups established by varying the viscosity and volume of mineral oil: low viscosity (Light), 3.0 ml or 4.5 ml, and high viscosity (Heavy), 3.0 ml or 4.5 ml of mineral oil. The Light 3.0 ml and Heavy 4.5 ml groups, showing the greatest difference in the osmotic pressure, were used to culture of human embryos. After six days of incubation, the osmotic pressure increased the most in Light 3.0 ml group. Heavy 4.5 ml group had the smallest change. However, no significant differences were noted in the formation rates of blastocysts, good-quality blastocysts, or cell count between the two groups. The study suggests that even when the culture medium is covered with heavy mineral oil in a dry incubator, osmotic pressure increases after six days but does not significantly affect the formation of blastocysts. These findings provide valuable insights into the effects of varying osmotic pressure on embryonic development and may help in optimizing conditions for in vitro fertilization.

Although better diet quality is inversely related to the risk of geriatric disorders, the association of adherence to dietary guidelines with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is unclear. We aimed to investigate this association in older Japanese adults. This cross-sectional study included 7984 Japanese participants aged ≥ 65 years from the population-based Kyoto–Kameoka study. Dietary intake was estimated using a validated self-administered FFQ. The scores for adherence to the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top (range: 0 (worst) to 80 (best)) were calculated. These scores were stratified into quartiles (Qs). Poor OHRQoL was defined as a score ≤ 50 using a 12-item Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index. The OR and 95 % CI were calculated using multivariable logistic regression and the spline model. Higher adherence score was associated with a lower prevalence of poor OHRQoL (Q1–Q4:36·0 %, 32·1 %, 27·9 % and 25·1 %, respectively). An inverse association was found between the score for adherence to the food-based Japanese dietary guidelines and the OR of poor OHRQoL among all the participants (Q1: reference; Q2: OR, 0·87 (95 % CI: 0·75, 1·00); Q3: OR, 0·77 (95 % CI: 0·66, 0·90); Q4: OR, 0·72 (95 % CI: 0·62, 0·85); P for trend < 0·001). These relationships were similar to the results in the spline model. Higher adherence to the food-based Japanese dietary guidelines is inversely associated with the prevalence of poor OHRQoL in older adults. Our results may provide useful insights to improve and maintain oral health.

This study investigates the influence of the condensation coefficient of vapour on the collapse of a bubble composed of condensable gas (vapour) and non-condensable gas (NC gas). We simulated vapour and NC gas flow inside a bubble based on the molecular gas dynamics analysis in order to replicate the phase change (viz., evaporation and condensation) precisely, by changing the initial number density ratio of the NC gas and vapour, the initial bubble radius and the value of the condensation coefficient. The results show that the motion of the bubble is unaffected by the value of the condensation coefficient when that value is larger than approximately 0.4. We also discuss NC gas drift at the bubble wall during the final stage of the bubble collapse and its influence on the condensation coefficient. We conclude that vapour molecules can behave as NC gas molecules when the bubble collapses, owing to the large concentration of NC gas molecules at the gas–liquid interface. That is, the condensation coefficient reaches almost zero when the bubble collapses violently.

Recently, many superflares on solar-type stars were discovered as white-light flares (WLFs). A correlation between the energies (E) and durations (t) of superflares is derived as t∝E0.39, and this can be theoretically explained by magnetic reconnection (t∝E1/3). In this study, we carried out a statistical research on 50 solar WLFs with SDO/HMI to examine the t-E relation. As a result, the t-E relation on solar WLFs (t∝E0.38) is quite similar stellar superflares, but the durations of stellar superflares are much shorter than those extrapolated from solar WLFs. We present the following two interpretations; (1) in solar flares, the cooling timescale of WL emission may be longer than the reconnection one, and the decay time can be determined by the cooling timescale; (2) the distribution can be understood by applying a scaling law t∝E1/3B−5/3 derived from the magnetic reconnection theory.

We present the water column profiles (surface to 2000 m depth) for dissolved inorganic radiocarbon (14CDIC) from 2 stations in the Kuroshio region including the Kuroshio large meander (LM) of 2004–2005. Surprisingly, the Δ14CDIC value varied up to 125‰ in the intermediate layer, especially near 600 m depth. In addition, the Δ14CDIC value was approximately − 150‰ at 200 m depth at the northern station of Kuroshio in August 2005. This value is ∼100‰ less than other Δ14CDIC values for the same depth. In comparison, the Δ14CDIC water column profiles for the southern station of Kuroshio and GEOSECS station 224 decrease down to 600 m depth and were similar below 600 m depth. Our results suggest that strong upwelling associated with the Kuroshio LM has a powerful influence on the Δ14CDIC water column profiles in the study region.

Our preliminary clinical trial showed that consumption of cooked rice of a Japanese common cultivar Yukihikari improved atopic dermatitis associated with a suspected rice allergy, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesised that the ameliorating effect of Yukihikari on atopic dermatitis is associated with the gut microbiota. BALB/c mice were fed a synthetic diet supplemented with uncooked and polished white rice powder prepared from one of four different cultivars: Yukihikari, rice A (common rice), rice B (brewery rice) and rice C (waxy rice). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments showed that the composition of faecal microbiota was different between mice fed Yukihikari and those fed rice A. Analysis of the 16S rRNA clone library and species-specific real-time PCR showed that the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, a mucin degrader, tended to be lower in mice fed Yukihikari. The incidence of allergic diarrhoea induced by oral administration of ovalbumin in systemically immunised mice was lower in mice fed Yukihikari, albeit with no difference in serum antibodies specific to ovalbumin. In a separate experiment, serum antibody levels specific to orally administered ovalbumin were lower in mice fed Yukihikari. Additionally, the translocation of horseradish peroxidase in isolated segments of ileum and colon tended to be lower in mice fed Yukihikari, suggesting a reduction in gut permeability in mice fed Yukihikari. These data indicate that changes in the gut microbiota of mice fed Yukihikari could be advantageous in the prevention of food allergy.

The density of arboreal arthropods in a dry evergreen forest in Northeastern Thailand was investigated by the insecticide fogging (knockdown) method. Arthropod densities of 256.4 and 140.4 m-2 were recorded in the dry season and 195.2 and 123.1 m-2 in the rainy season. The main orders were Collembola, Thysanoptera, Hymenoptera (mainly Formicidae) and Hemiptera. Distinct differences were not found in the arthropod faunal structure and density between the dry and rainy seasons. However, this fauna is completely eliminated by the clearing and burning of forest for shifting cultivation.

The results of an experiment investigating the rate of arthropod fall after application of insecticide are presented and problems concerning the efficiency of the estimation methods used in this study are discussed.

Grain boundary character distribution-optimized (GBCD) Type 316 corresponding austenitic stainless steel and its cold-worked ones (GBCD+CW) are one of prospective nuclear materials to be considered for next generation energy systems. These steels were thermally-aged at 973 K for 1 and 100 h and were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to evaluate microstructural stability during high temperature exposure. TEM results revealed that microstructures of both specimens prior to ageing contained step-wise boundaries which is composed of coincidence site lattice (CSL) and random grain boundaries and also that the GBCD+CW specimens had dislocation cells and networks as well as deformation twins whereas as the GBCD one possessed few dislocations. After thermal ageing, the precipitates formed on not only random grain boundaries but also dislocations, contributing to prevent significant microstructural change occurring such as recrystallization and dislocation recovery.

Cu-In-S nanocrystals were developed as a low toxic fluorescent. The stoichiometric CuInS2 nanocrystals were synthesized facilely by heating a solution of metal complexes. The fluorescence would be originated from the crystal defect. We intentionally introduced the crystal defects related to Cu deficiency in nanocrystal with the prospect that the fluorescence intensity would be increased. The nanocrystals have many defects without phase separation as observed in bulk material. Consequently, the fluorescence quantum yield achieved to c.a. 6%. Moreover, the fluorescence quantum yield was increased up to 15% by the ZnS-coating.

Pretreatment of zona-free Chinese hamster (CH) oocytes with three kinds of lectin – concanavalin A (Con-A), phytohaemagglutinin-P (PHA) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) – was attempted in order to improve penetration by golden hamster (GH) spermatozoa in vitro. Con-A had no significant effect on penetration at 2 μg/ml, adequately facilitated oocyte-sperm fusion at 4 μg/ml, and caused excessive sperm binding and resultant severe polyspermy at 10 μg/ml. Neither PHA nor WGA had positive effects on sperm penetration at any concentrations (2–10 μg/ml) examined. Using the Con-A (4 μg/ml)pretreatment, high rates of interspecific fertilisation and subsequent chromosome analysis of hybrid 1-cell zygotes were achieved. Among 258 CH oocytes used, 212 (82.2%) were fertilised and 153 (72.2% of fertilised ova) developed to the first cleavage metaphase. Eventually, 132 CH-derived chromosome complements and 153 GH-derived ones were successfully karyoanalysed. Incidences of aneuploidy and structural anomaly were 3.1% and 2.3% in CH complements, and 1.4% and 6.5% in GH complements, respectively. These incidences were not significantly different from those obtained by intraspecific in vivo fertilisation, suggesting that our interspecific in vitro fertilisation system does not cause chromosome aberrations.

CuInS2 (CIS) fluorescent nanocrystals (NCs) were obtained by heating organic metal complex. The photoluminescence (PL) originated from the donor-acceptor, and the quantum yield (QY) was achieved at 6%. Furthermore, we doped some metal ions (Zn2+, Cd2+ or Ag+) by the post heat-treatment in the organic coordinating solvent in order to tune the band gap of NCs. By this post treatment, the alteration of NCs structure was suggested, such as changing into an alloying and composite structure. In Zn-doping, the PL wavelength was widely tuned from 535 to 650 nm by alloying between CIS and ZnS. Moreover, PL intensity was increased with these structure alterations. In particular, the materials doped with Zn or Cd achieved respective QY of 25% and 40%.

The current epidemic of diabetes likely reflects marked changes in environmental factors, although genetic susceptibility plays a powerful role in the occurrence of diabetes in certain populations. We investigated whether long-term sucrose-drinking causes hyperglycaemia in male Wistar-Imamichi littermates (n 32), which are not genetically susceptible to diabetes or obesity. Each litter was divided equivalently into two groups, the sucrose group and the control group. The sucrose group received 300 g/l sucrose water and the control group received regular water until 42 weeks of age. Rats were weighed every 1 or 2 weeks. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed at 28 and 36 weeks of age. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were measured. Body weights were significantly greater in the sucrose group than in the control group in 18-week-old rats (P<0·05), and the difference between the two groups reached 163 g by the end of the study (P<0·01). The 120 min post-load plasma glucose concentration in the sucrose group was 11·4 (sd 2·8) mmol/l in 28-week-old rats and 12·7 (sd 2·2) mmol/l in 36-week-old rats, while that of the control group remained approximately 7·3–7·7 mmol/l. In the sucrose group, the plasma insulin peak occurred 30 min post-load at 28 weeks of age; but the peak disappeared and hyperinsulinaemia was prolonged at 36 weeks of age. In conclusion, long-term sucrose-drinking causes increased body weight and glucose intolerance in normal male rats.