Conodonts with conical elements that closely resemble Paleozoic species reappeared in the Early Triassic. The phylogeny, evolution, and paleoecology of these conodonts are poorly known. In this study, we describe a new species of Neostrachanognathus, N. koikei n. sp., one of the conical conodonts, and reconstruct the conodont apparatus of this species according to natural assemblages from the “Toishi-type” siliceous claystone of Japan. The apparatus of N. koikei consists of 15 elements, including two pairs of P, one pair of M, and four pairs of S elements, and a single S0 element. Notable features include conical P1 and P2 elements and nine S elements that are similar in morphology to each other. The S elements of N. koikei are identified as belonging to the form species “Neohindeodella aequiramosa” Kozur and Mostler, 1970, specifically to the morphology occurring from the Spathian to the Anisian. Furthermore, S elements of the type species of Neostrachanognathus, N. tahoensis Koike, 1998, appear to correspond to “Neohindeodella benderi” (Kozur and Mostler, 1970). Therefore, from these S-element morphologies, we conclude that Neostrachanognathus belongs to the family Ellisoniidae. These conodonts with simplified elements flourished and were widely distributed throughout the world, from continental shelves to the open ocean, during the Early Triassic to the early Middle Triassic.

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A specific type of buried defect in lamellar phase diblock copolymer was studied by experiments and simulations using self-consistent field theory (SCFT). The defects had 3-dimensional structures and created hexagonally arranged holes. They existed not only on the substrate with the guide structures but in fingerprints. The simulation results suggested that one of the causes of the defects is mismatch of the surface affinity of the neutral layer.

This paper introduces a fabrication method to achieve sub-15 nm line-and-space (L/S) patterns by combining grapho- and chemo-epitaxy using poly(styrene-block-methyl methacrylate) copolymer (PS-b-PMMA). The fabrication method is simple, since it eliminates photoresist stripping and also does not require any special materials to form pinning patterns. In this process, the ridges formed on spin-on-glass (SOG) surface work as physical guides and the photoresists on them are utilized as a pinning layer. Fine PS-b-PMMA L/S patterns were obtained in sufficient critical dimension (CD) range of the guide patterns that corresponded to the 15% dose margin using ArF immersion lithography. 3-dimensional grid defects were found to be the origin of the short defects. The half-pitch (hp) 15 nm L/S patterns were transferred successfully to SOG/spin-on-carbon (SOC) stacked substrate.

We also describe fabrication of sub-10 nm L/S patterns using a high-chi block copolymer (BCP).

Oral intake of Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 (b240) has been shown to enhance the secretion of salivary secretory IgA in elderly adults. However, its clinical benefits remain to be determined. We tested the hypothesis that b240 exerts a protective effect against the common cold in elderly adults. The design of the present study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) with parallel three-group comparison. For this purpose, 300 eligible elderly adults were randomly allocated to one of three groups, namely a placebo, low-dose or high-dose b240 group. Participants in the low-dose and high-dose b240 groups were given tablets containing 2 × 109 or 2 × 1010 cells, respectively, of heat-killed b240, while those in the placebo group were given tablets without b240. Each group consumed their respective tablets once daily for 20 weeks. The common cold was assessed on the basis of a diary. Change in quality of life was evaluated using the SF-36®. Of the total participants, 280 completed the 20-week RCT. The accumulated incidence rate of the common cold was 47·3, 34·8 and 29·0 % for the placebo, low-dose b240 and high-dose b240 groups, respectively (P for trend = 0·012). Lower incidence rates were consistently observed throughout the experimental period in the b240 groups (log-rank test, P= 0·034). General health perception, as determined by the SF-36®, dose-dependently increased in the b240 groups (P for trend = 0·016). In conclusion, oral intake of b240 significantly reduced the incidence rate of the common cold in elderly adults, indicating that b240 might be useful in improving resistance against infection through mucosal immunity.