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Importance of introgression on intra-specific genetic differentiation and...

The origin of alpine plants in Japan can be traced back to migration from northern regions such the northern Pacific and Arctic during the Pleistocene glacial period. In contrast to this biogeographic...

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Metformin confers anti-tumor immunity by reactivating exhausted CD8T lymphocytes

Anti-cancer effect of tumor infiltrating CD8+T lymphocyte (CD8TIL) is suppressed by interaction between immune-checkpoint molecules such as PD-1 and CTLA-4 expressed on CD8TIL and their ligands...

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An interesting twist on supercooled liquid water

Water is known to have various anomalous properties, and they are especially prominent below room temperature. For example, liquid water exhibits expansion when it is cooled below 4°C, and it keeps...

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Creation of virus-resistant plants with artificial DNA-binding proteins

In order to resolve global food crisis, it is important to prevent plant viruses from spreading infections as they infect a wide variety of agricultural crops and significantly reduce yields. For...

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Study links signalling protein to osteoarthritis

Researchers show that the protein CCN4 positively regulates the generation of cartilage matrix, which are depleted in osteoarthritis.

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Lack of enzyme promotes fatty liver disease in thin patients

Researchers observe protection against obesity and insulin resistance but at the cost of prominent fatty liver disease in mice lacking the PEMT enzyme and patients with low levels of PEMT.

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Medical supportive device for hemodialysis catheter puncture

Medical doctors at Okayama University Medical School and Shigei Medical Research Hospital in Okayama City, in collaboration with K.Techno Inc. develop a medical supportive device for hemodialysis...

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Development of low cost oral inactivated vaccines for dysentery

Okayama University researchers, in collaboration with colleagues in India, have developed inactivated vaccines, a promising candidate for the production and commercialization of a low-cost oral...

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Sticky molecules to tackle obesity and diabetes

Okayama University researchers report that the over-expression of an adhesion molecule found on the surface of fat cells appears to protect mice from developing obesity and diabetes. The findings,...

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Self-administered aroma foot massage may reduce symptoms of anxiety

Researchers at Okayama University conduct the first community-based study on the effects of self-administered aromatherapy foot massage on stress and anxiety symptoms. The results suggest aromatherapy...

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Keeping cells in shape to fight sepsis

Boosting levels of a protein that controls the shape and activity of a crucial group of white blood cells improves survival and recovery chances during sepsis.

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Photoreactive compound allows protein synthesis control with light

Okayama University researchers control the timing and location of protein synthesis using a photoresponsive compound that is an inactive key molecule until it is activated by brief irradiation.

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Barley dormancy mutation suggests beer motivated early farmers

Okayama University have identified the gene mutation and the enzyme it encodes to determine whether the dormancy of barley is long (better for food crops) or short (better for beer-making).

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Molecular 'sands of time' identified for fruitfly development

Okayama University have identified genes and processes responsible for pupation timing in the development of fruit fly larvae into adult insects.

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Mate-guarding behaviour favours a familiar face

Okayama University researchers confirm the role of mate-guarding in males for blocking the female's visual familiarity with rival males to improve mating success in a medaka fish model.

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Prevention of RNA virus replication

Researchers at Okayama University have successfully cleaved influenza viral RNA to prevent its replication using novel artificial RNA restriction enzymes in laboratory cell cultures. While further...

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Links discovered between plant complex type N-glycans and hay fever

Okayama University researchers identify plants expressing substantial amounts of a nitrogen-linked polysaccharide – plant complex type N-glycans – which is linked to allergic responses in mammals, and...

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Potential cause of Lafora disease revealed

Researchers at Okayama University report in the journal Matters, a potential third factor in the pathogenesis of Lafora disease. In addition to gene mutations, chemical modification of the enzyme...

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Inorganic biomaterials for soft-tissue adhesion

Researchers at Okayama University describe in Acta Biomaterialia a new type of biocompatible adhesive material. The adhesive, made from nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite, glues both synthetic hydrogels...

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Potential drug for treating chronic pain with few side effects

Researchers at Okayama University describe in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the effect of clodronate on the regulation of adenosine triphosphate release and its potential as a...

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Mechanism of photosynthetic water-splitting revealed by an X-ray free...

Photosystem II (PSII) is a huge membrane-protein complex that catalyzes light-induced water-splitting, leading to the generation of protons and molecular oxygen. This reaction converts light-energy...

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Innovative carbon nanotube photocatalytic materials for efficient solar...

The unique properties of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNTs) offer significant advantages over organic molecules, semiconducting polymers, and solid-state semiconductors for wide...

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Reassessing nomenclature for 'horned turban' snail

The 'horned turban' is well known to people mainly in Japan, Korea, and China as an edible marine snail. The species of Japan and Korea was known as Turbo cornutus Lightfoot, 1786 (Sazae in Japanese;...

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Nanostructured metamaterials identify the chemical nature of tiny molecules

Infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy plays a central role in materials and life sciences and security detection for the direct analysis of molecular fingerprints, including molecular structures,...

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Link between biological-clock disturbance and brain dysfunction found

Researchers at Okayama University report in the Journal of Neuroscience that a certain protein known to play a major role in circadian rhythmicity—humans' intrinsic 24-hour biological cycle—is also key...

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Aberrant hyphae triggered by host immune responses to plant pathogenic fungus

Ascochyta (Mycosphaerella) pea blight, caused by Mycosphaerella pinodes, is one of the most important diseases of grain legumes worldwide. Despite the economic impact and numerous studies on this...

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The function of NIMA-related kinase 6 in the straight growth of plant cells

Plants continuously generate various kinds of organs such as roots, leaves and flowers. The growth morphology of each organ is achieved by the directional growth of plant cells. Prior to cell growth,...

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Wolbachia bacterium density changes seasonally in butterflies

The survival rate of Wolbachia—a common bacterium—decreases under high temperature in incubators. However, few studies have examined the density of Wolbachia in hosts in the field.

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Medaka fish use faces to identify different individuals

For many animals including humans, the ability to identify different individuals among their own kind is an essential ability for everyday living. Faces are the most important body part for individual...

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New method for suppressing lung cancer oncogene

Researchers at Okayama University describe in Oncotarget an approach for suppressing the expression of the SOX2 protein, an oncogene associated with both lung and esophageal cancer. The procedure,...

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