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A transporter of the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) family, Nicotiana tabacum MATE2 (NtMATE2), is located in the vacuole membrane of the tobacco plant root and is involved in the transportation of nicotine, a secondary or specialized metabolic compound in Solanaceae. Here, we report the crystal structures of NtMATE2 in its outward-facing forms. The overall structure has a bilobate V-shape with pseudo-symmetrical assembly of the N- and C-lobes. In one crystal structure, the C-lobe cavity of NtMATE2 interacts with an unidentified molecule that may partially mimic a substrate. In addition, NtMATE2-specific conformational transitions imply that an unprecedented movement of the transmembrane α-helix 7 is related to the release of the substrate into the vacuolar lumen.

Diarrhea is largely caused by dysbiosis accompanying the hyperproliferation of Escherichia coli (E. coli). While current treatments can resolve the symptoms, they cannot suppress the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine. Probiotics have numerous beneficial effects on host health, including restoring the balance of the intestinal microbiota. This study investigated the effect of the probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 (BBG9-1), which is active in intestinal dysbiosis, in the incidence of diarrhea, in the composition of the intestinal microbiota, and in the intestinal tissue of a rat model of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced diarrhea. The rats were treated with PHA, with and without BBG9-1, and the microbiota composition throughout the intestine and stool was examined using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing. In line with previous reports, PHA administration caused diarrhea as well as dysbiosis due to E. coli hyperproliferation. Histological findings indicated that the jejunal villus length was shortened. Rats that received BBG9-1 showed clear improvements in dysbiosis, diarrhea symptoms, and jejunal villus length. Principal coordinates analysis demonstrated the microbiota profile to be more similar between the BBG9-1 and normal groups than between the PHA and normal groups. These results indicated that BBG9-1 suppresses the hyperproliferation of E. coli and restores the jejunal villus length, thereby improving dysbiosis, and in turn, alleviating the symptoms of diarrhea.

Molecular studies have led to postulation of a relationship between gut microbiota and certain diseases. However, because studies of hitherto uncultured species in vivo are essential for characterizing the biology and pathogenic properties of gut bacteria, techniques for culturing and isolating such bacteria must be developed. Here, a technique is described that partially overcomes the obstacles that prevent detection of interbacterial communication in vitro and are thus responsible for the failure to culture certain bacterial species. For this purpose, a ring with a membrane filter at the bottom was designed and a relatively simple nutrient medium was used instead of conventional media. Gut bacteria were cocultivated in soft agar separated by the membrane filter to simulate interbacterial communication in vitro. Use of this soft agar coculture technique led to the successful isolation of hitherto uncultured bacteria and the demonstration of multistage interbacterial communication among gut bacteria in vitro. Cultivation and isolation of single colonies of bacteria that require other bacteria for growth will enhance efforts to better understand the physiological and pathogenic roles of gut microbiota.

Sorbitol was effectively converted to isosorbide by treatment with [TMPA][NTf2 ] in the presence of catalytic amounts of TsOH under microwave heating at 180 °C. The reaction completed within 10 min and isosorbide was isolated to about 60%. Ionic liquids were readily recovered by an extraction treatment and reused several times.

The paper describes a novel transflective LCD with in-plane switching and an ECB (electrically controlled birefringence) reflective area (TIE). The TIE has excellent transmissive and reflective characteristics and is suitable for mobile devices.

We propose a novel fast-switching LCD panel for color field sequential projection. This panel employs a layer of OCB (optical compensated bend) mode liquid crystal that is maintained at an elevated temperature by a built-in ITO (indium tin oxide) heater and a thermal sensor. We call this method heated-OCB. The heated-OCB realizes a response time of less than 0.4 msec, and provides color field sequential projection with 2 or 3 times driving and small color break-up.

A 73-year-old woman with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) had an elevated serum CA19-9 level, but not KL-6. Her condition worsened and she subsequently died and this was associated with a rise in the serum KL-6 level. At autopsy, the lung showed a honeycomb appearance macroscopically and, microscopically, hyaline membrane formation was seen. Immunohistochemical staining revealed partial colocalization of KL-6 and CA19-9 to dilated bronchiolar cells. These features suggest that the mechanisms that cause the synthesis and release of CA19-9 and KL-6 from damaged lung tissue in IPF are likely to differ from those in diffuse alveolar damage. In addition, serum KL-6 levels may reflect the severity of disease more sensitively than CA19-9 levels.

(±)-Napyradiomycin A1 has been stereoselectively synthesized through a tandem Michael-Dieckmann type reaction and the introduction of a side chain and two chlorine atoms onto the pyranonaphthoquinone core.

— A novel front-light system that uses an organic light-emitting-diode (OLED) light source patterned with a fine pitch has been developed. The front-light system has the following characteristics: (1) excellent uniformity within the light-emitting area; (2) emittance that is consistent at all viewing angles; (3) no light leakage at any viewing angle from the side of the observer. This system can be adopted for reflective LCDs, electrophoretic displays (EPDs), microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and other applications.

A novel double display screen was developed by the polarized light directivity control method. Because the separation of the image doesn't depend on pixel pitch, it is possible to adopt it for high resolution panel. In addition, the switch to 2D and 3D display mode is also possible.

We propose a novel transflective-type of vertical alignment liquid crystal display (VA-LCD) that adopts a new direction control method and an RGB multi-gap structure. The shape of the pixel electrodes and the direction control projections are optimized to decrease disclination lines with fixation, and higher transmittance and reflectance are obtained. In addition, the RGB multi-gap structure results in excellent voltage-chromaticity characteristics at a low driving voltage. We also propose a process for producing this LCD.

Ion capturing films “TOP COAT TA606B20” (C &C, IND. CO.) are installed beneath the polyimide orientation films over the ITO electrode films in a polymer-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal display exhibiting V-shaped switching. The ion capturing films are shown to play the following two roles: one is to remove zigzag-defects owing to their planarizing function, and the other is to remove mobile ions. The latter effect gives rise to reduce operation voltage and to increase voltage holding ratio owing to the removal of the depolization field.