Although automated pollen monitoring networks using laser optics are well-established in Japan, it is thought that these methods cannot distinguish between pollen counts when evaluating various pollen taxa. However, a method for distinguishing the pollen counts of two pollen taxa was recently developed. In this study, we applied such a method to field evaluate the data of the two main allergens in Japan, Chamaecyparis obtusa and Cryptomeria japonica. We showed that the method can distinguish between the pollen counts of these two species even when they are simultaneously present in the atmosphere. This result indicates that a method for automated and simple two pollen taxa monitoring with high spatial density can be developed using the existing pollen network.

BackgroundTwo methods are used to evaluate gastritis: the updated Sydney system (USS) with pathology and Kyoto classification, a new endoscopy‐based diagnostic criterion for which evidence is accumulating. However, the consistency of their results is unclear. This study investigated the consistency of their results.MethodsPatients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and were evaluated for Helicobacter pylori infection for the first time were eligible. The association between corpus and antral USS scores (neutrophil activity, chronic inflammation, atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia) and Kyoto classification scores (atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, enlarged folds, nodularity, and diffuse redness) was assessed.ResultsSeven‐hundred‐seventeen patients (mean age, 49.2 years; female sex, 57.9%; 450 H. pylori ‐positive and 267 H. pylori ‐negative patients) were enrolled. All endoscopic gastritis cases in the Kyoto classification were associated with high corpus and antral USS scores for neutrophil activity and chronic inflammation. A subanalysis was performed for H. pylori ‐positive patients. Regarding atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, endoscopic findings were associated with USS scores. Enlarged folds, nodularity, and diffuse redness were associated with high corpus USS scores for neutrophil activity and chronic inflammation, but with low antral USS scores for atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. The Kyoto classification scores were also associated with the pathological topographic distribution of neutrophil activity and intestinal metaplasia.ConclusionsAmong H. pylori ‐positive individuals, endoscopic and pathological diagnoses were consistent with atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Enlarged folds, nodularity, and diffuse redness were associated with pathological inflammation (neutrophil activity and chronic inflammation) of the corpus; however, they were inversely associated with pathological atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. The endoscopy‐based Kyoto classification of gastritis partially reflects pathology.

<p>We show that Venus’ disk-integrated brightness at 283, 365, and 2020 nm is modulated by one or both of two periods of 3.7 and 4.6 days, as observed from the Akatsuki Venus orbiter of JAXA. Their typical amplitudes are <10%, but there are occasional events of 20–40%. We find a clear anti-correlation between UV and 2020-nm signals, implying that the cloud top altitudes (2020 nm) and the abundances of UV absorbers (283 and 365 nm) change simultaneously in the global scale. We note that the detected modulations, and their wavelength dependent signals imply the existence of an atmosphere if detected at an exoplanet. Our results should be useful in future direct imaging of terrestrial exoplanets. More details are shown in our paper (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19385-6).</p>

Here, we identify ATP1B3 and fibrillin-1 as novel BST-2-binding proteins. ATP1B3 depletion in HeLa cells (BST-2-positive cells), but not 293T cells (BST-2-negative cells), induced the restriction of HIV-1 production in a BST-2-dependent manner. In contrast, fibrillin-1 knockdown reduced HIV-1 production in 293T and HeLa cells in a BST-2-independent manner. Moreover, NF-κB activation was enhanced by siATP1B3 treatment in HIV-1- and HIV-1ΔVpu-infected HeLa cells. In addition, ATP1B3 silencing induced high level BST-2 expression on the surface of HeLa cells. These results indicate that ATP1B3 is a co-factor that accelerates BST-2 degradation and reduces BST-2-mediated restriction of HIV-1 production and NF-κB activation.

The original lifestyles in traditional Bhutanese houses are at risk of disappearance due to ongoing rapid modernization. This study aims to understand the spatial organization inside traditional Bhutanese houses through an empirical survey in Paro, Western Bhutan, on the uses of rooms and their names in local Dzongkha language. The research objects were seven traditional houses located in two communities, Chuba and Atsuo, located about seven kilometers north of the urban area of Paro, which is the second-largest city in the western part of the Kingdom of Bhutan. An on-site survey was carried out in the two villages to record the local Dzongkha name and the use of each room. In addition, the basic patterns of spatial organization and the use of each room/space were clarified and classified, and the following information on the characteristics of traditional houses in Atsuo and Chuba was ascertained. 1) The spatial arrangement of the traditional houses is different on each floor. The first floor is a non-residential space, which used to function as a barn for livestock and is now used for purposes such as storage. The living space is above this floor, and the top floor is a drying and storage space for the harvest. 2) The basic spatial organization of the main floor is, in order from the entrance, an intermediate space (Bako in Dzongkha), a living room (Youkha), and the Buddhist family chapel (Choshom) with an inner altar room (Tshamko). The main floor of three-story buildings is on the second level and that of four-story buildings is on the third level. 3) Common among the houses is the fact that the living room (Youkha) sees the most diversity in use and is regarded as the central space of life activities, while the Buddhist family chapel (Choshom) is the spiritual center of the house. The window side in the living room (Youkha) is the primary place for the view, sun and wind, and traditionally had precedence. The layout of the Buddhist family chapel, in which two rooms are joined together with the outer sanctum placed at the room entrance side and the inner sanctum placed at the far end, indicates its significance and high sanctity. 4) The ways of recognizing spaces find their expressions in local Dzongkha names, which differ from room names in English, thus reflecting the difference between cultures. Some names in Dzongkha (e.g., Bako, Youchu and Jabyong) express the placement of the space in the overall spatial organization rather than the room functions, as is the case in English. Also, Dzongkha room names for storage areas differ according to what is stored (e.g., Phung for food storage, Mithu for rice storage and Satao for fodder storage). These spaces/rooms do not have exact English translations, and it would be irrelevant to apply existing English room names to them. This should be noted for understanding the spatial organization, actual use and original characteristics of each room/space in traditional Bhutanese houses, which fostered Bhutanese people for a long time and engrave wisdoms on how to and what is to live in harmony with the environment.

The Stardust mission returned cometary, interplanetary and (probably) interstellar dust in 2006 to Earth that have been analysed in Earth laboratories worldwide. Results of this mission have changed our view and knowledge on the early solar nebula. The Rosetta mission is on its way to land on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and will investigate for the first time in great detail the comet nucleus and its environment starting in 2014. Additional astronomy and planetary space missions will further contribute to our understanding of dust generation, evolution and destruction in interstellar and interplanetary space and provide constraints on solar system formation and processes that led to the origin of life on Earth. One of these missions, SARIM-PLUS, will provide a unique perspective by measuring interplanetary and interstellar dust with high accuracy and sensitivity in our inner solar system between 1 and 2 AU. SARIM-PLUS employs latest in-situ techniques for a full characterisation of individual micrometeoroids (flux, mass, charge, trajectory, composition) and collects and returns these samples to Earth for a detailed analysis. The opportunity to visit again the target comet of the Rosetta mission 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimeenternko, and to investigate its dusty environment six years after Rosetta with complementary methods is unique and strongly enhances and supports the scientific exploration of this target and the entire Rosetta mission. Launch opportunities are in 2020 with a backup window starting early 2026. The comet encounter occurs in September 2021 and the reentry takes place in early 2024. An encounter speed of 6 km/s ensures comparable results to the Stardust mission.

Recently, it has been reported that the Notch pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. In this study, we investigated the activation of the Notch pathway in Ins2 Akita diabetic mouse (Akita mouse) and the effects of telmisartan, an angiotensin II type1 receptor blocker, on the Notch pathway. The intracellular domain of Notch1 (ICN1) is proteolytically cleaved from the cell plasma membrane in the course of Notch activation. The expression of ICN1 and its ligand, Jagged1, were increased in the glomeruli of Akita mice, especially in the podocytes. Administration of telmisartan significantly ameliorated the expression of ICN1 and Jagged1. Telmisartan inhibited the angiotensin II-induced increased expression of transforming growth factor β and vascular endothelial growth factor A which could directly activate the Notch signaling pathway in cultured podocytes. Our results indicate that the telmisartan prevents diabetic nephropathy through the inhibition of the Notch pathway.

Normal spinel ZnCr 2 O 4 undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition at T N =12.5 - 0.5 K. Dielectric constant makes a jump at T N , indicating that an abrupt change in the lattice structure is accompanied with the magnetic transition. X-ray powder diffraction shows that a probable symmetry below T N is an orthorhombic( Fddd ) or its subgroup.