{"title":"Copolymerization of ethylene with non-vinyl polar monomers","authors":"K. Nozaki","doi":"10.2183/pjab.98.014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.98.014","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction of functional groups on polyethylene endows it with a higher surface property and thus various catalysts have been developed for the copolymerization of ethylene with polar vinyl monomers. Aside from vinyl monomers, however, other classes of polar monomers have not found application in the copolymerization with ethylene. Here, in this short review article, our latest studies on catalyst development aiming at the use of non-vinyl polar monomers and the properties of the resulting copolymers are summarized.","PeriodicalId":20707,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences","volume":"98 1","pages":"222 - 226"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2022-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45787685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sulfonium-aided coupling of aromatic rings via sigmatropic rearrangement","authors":"H. Yorimitsu, G. Perry","doi":"10.2183/pjab.98.012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.98.012","url":null,"abstract":"Biaryl synthesis continues to occupy a central role in chemical synthesis. From blockbuster drug molecules to organic electronics, biaryls present numerous possibilities and new applications continue to emerge. Transition-metal-catalyzed coupling reactions represent the gold standard for biaryl synthesis and the mechanistic steps, such as reductive elimination, are well established. Developing routes that exploit alternative mechanistic scenarios could give unprecedented biaryl structures and expand the portfolio of biaryl applications. We have developed metal-free C–H/C–H couplings of aryl sulfoxides with phenols to afford 2-hydroxy-2′-sulfanylbiaryls. This cascade strategy consists of an interrupted Pummerer reaction and [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement. Our method enables the synthesis of intriguing aromatic molecules, including oligoarenes, enantioenriched dihetero[8]helicenes, and polyfluorobiaryls. From our successes in aryl sulfoxide/phenol couplings and a deeper understanding of sigmatropic rearrangements for biaryl synthesis, we have established related methods, such as aryl sulfoxide/aniline and aryl iodane/phenol couplings. Overall, our fundamental interests in underexplored reaction mechanisms have led to various methods for accessing important biaryl architectures.","PeriodicalId":20707,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences","volume":"98 1","pages":"190 - 205"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49095010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"High-voltage SiC power devices for improved energy efficiency","authors":"T. Kimoto","doi":"10.2183/pjab.98.011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.98.011","url":null,"abstract":"Silicon carbide (SiC) power devices significantly outperform the well-established silicon (Si) devices in terms of high breakdown voltage, low power loss, and fast switching. This review briefly introduces the major features of SiC power devices and then presents research works on breakdown phenomena in SiC pn junctions and related discussion which takes into account the energy band structure. Next, recent progress in SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors, which are the most important unipolar devices, is described with an emphasis on the improvement of channel mobility at the SiO2/SiC interface. The development of SiC bipolar devices such as pin diodes and insulated gate bipolar transistors, which are promising for ultrahigh-voltage (>10 kV) applications, are introduced and the effect of carrier lifetime enhancement is demonstrated. The current status of mass production and how SiC power devices can contribute to energy saving are also described.","PeriodicalId":20707,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences","volume":"98 1","pages":"161 - 189"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44109039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Quantum simulation of quantum many-body systems with ultracold two-electron atoms in an optical lattice","authors":"Y. Takahashi","doi":"10.2183/pjab.98.010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.98.010","url":null,"abstract":"Ultracold atoms in an optical lattice provide a unique approach to study quantum many-body systems, previously only possible by using condensed-matter experimental systems. This new approach, often called quantum simulation, becomes possible because of the high controllability of the system parameters and the inherent cleanness without lattice defects and impurities. In this article, we review recent developments in this rapidly growing field of ultracold atoms in an optical lattice, with special focus on quantum simulations using our newly created quantum many-body system of two-electron atoms of ytterbium. In addition, we also mention other interesting possibilities offered by this novel experimental platform, such as applications to precision measurements for studying fundamental physics and a Rydberg atom quantum computation.","PeriodicalId":20707,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences","volume":"98 1","pages":"141 - 160"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43858346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Operating principles of the cerebral cortex as a six-layered network in primates: beyond the classic canonical circuit model","authors":"Y. Miyashita","doi":"10.2183/pjab.98.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.98.007","url":null,"abstract":"The cerebral cortex performs its computations with many six-layered fundamental units, collectively spreading along the cortical sheet. What is the local network structure and the operating dynamics of such a fundamental unit? Previous investigations of primary sensory areas revealed a classic “canonical” circuit model, leading to an expectation of similar circuit organization and dynamics throughout the cortex. This review clarifies the different circuit dynamics at play in the higher association cortex of primates that implements computation for high-level cognition such as memory and attention. Instead of feedforward processing of response selectivity through Layers 4 to 2/3 that the classic canonical circuit stipulates, memory recall in primates occurs in Layer 5/6 with local backward projection to Layer 2/3, after which the retrieved information is sent back from Layer 6 to lower-level cortical areas for further retrieval of nested associations of target attributes. In this review, a novel “dynamic multimode module (D3M)” in the primate association cortex is proposed, as a new “canonical” circuit model performing this operation.","PeriodicalId":20707,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences","volume":"98 1","pages":"93 - 111"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2022-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43041997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"RET receptor signaling: Function in development, metabolic disease, and cancer","authors":"M. Takahashi","doi":"10.2183/pjab.98.008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.98.008","url":null,"abstract":"The RET proto-oncogene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase whose alterations are responsible for various human cancers and developmental disorders, including thyroid cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, and Hirschsprung’s disease. RET receptors are physiologically activated by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family ligands that bind to the coreceptor GDNF family receptor α (GFRα). Signaling via the GDNF/GFRα1/RET ternary complex plays crucial roles in the development of the enteric nervous system, kidneys, and urinary tract, as well as in the self-renewal of spermatogonial stem cells. In addition, another ligand, growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15), has been shown to bind to GFRα-like and activate RET, regulating body weight. GDF15 is a stress response cytokine, and its elevated serum levels affect metabolism and anorexia-cachexia syndrome. Moreover, recent development of RET-specific kinase inhibitors contributed significantly to progress in the treatment of patients with RET-altered cancer. This review focuses on the broad roles of RET in development, metabolic diseases, and cancer.","PeriodicalId":20707,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences","volume":"98 1","pages":"112 - 125"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2022-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43165127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Clinical epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology studies with real-world databases.","authors":"Satomi Yoshida, Masato Takeuchi, Sachiko Tanaka-Mizuno, Kayoko Mizuno, Masayuki Nakashima, Toshiki Fukasawa, Koji Kawakami","doi":"10.2183/pjab.98.026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.98.026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hospital-based registry data, including patients' information collected by academic societies or government based research groups, were previously used for clinical research in Japan. Now, real-world data routinely obtained in healthcare settings are being used in clinical epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology. Real-world data include a database of claims originating from health insurance associations for reimbursement of medical fees, diagnosis procedure combinations databases for acute inpatient care in hospitals, a drug prescription database, and electronic medical records, including patients' medical information obtained by doctors, derived from electronic records of hospitals. In the past ten years, much evidence of clinical epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology studies using real-world data has been accumulated. The purpose of this review was to introduce clinical epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology approaches and studies using real-world data in Japan.</p>","PeriodicalId":20707,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences","volume":"98 10","pages":"517-528"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/7c/b2/pjab-98-517.PMC9751262.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10478409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of liquid crystal displays and related improvements to their performances.","authors":"Shunsuke Kobayashi, Tomohiro Miyama, Hidenari Akiyama, Atsushi Ikemura, Michio Kitamura","doi":"10.2183/pjab.98.025","DOIUrl":"10.2183/pjab.98.025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This review article comprises three contents: 1) a general introduction of liquid crystals (LCs) and their chronological developments until their current status, 2) the descriptions of the achievements of defect-free and optically high-quality LC displays (LCDs), and 3) the description of the new and alternative methods for improving existing LCD technologies in terms of high-speed response, viewing angles, and power consumption through nanoparticle doping and optical compensation on a laboratory level. When these technologies are successfully developed, they will be used in the industry, where the fabrication process will be performed in a large-clean room using automated robotics.</p>","PeriodicalId":20707,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences","volume":"98 9","pages":"493-516"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/df/62/pjab-98-493.PMC9722359.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40473809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Implications of glutathione-S transferase P1 in MAPK signaling as a CRAF chaperone: In memory of Dr. Irving Listowsky.","authors":"Yoshiro Niitsu, Yasushi Sato, Tetsuji Takayama","doi":"10.2183/pjab.98.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.98.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Glutathione-S transferase P1 (GSTP1) is one of the glutathione-S transferase isozymes that belong to a family of phase II metabolic isozymes. The unique feature of GSTP1 compared with other GST isozymes is its relatively high expression in malignant tissues. Thus, clinically, GSTP1 serves as a tumor marker and as a refractory factor against certain types of anticancer drugs through its primary function as a detoxifying enzyme. Additionally, recent studies have identified a chaperone activity of GSTP1 involved in the regulation the function of various intracellular proteins, including factors of the growth signaling pathway. In this review, we will first describe the function of GSTP1 and then extend the details onto its role in the mitogen-activated protein kinase signal pathway, referring to the results of our recent study that proposed a novel autocrine signal loop formed by the CRAF/GSTP1 complex in mutated KRAS and BRAF cancers. Finally, the possibilities of new therapeutic approaches for these cancers by targeting this complex will be discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":20707,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences","volume":"98 2","pages":"72-86"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/ed/a8/pjab-98-072.PMC8890996.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39790221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Molecular physiology regulating cold tolerance and acclimation of Caenorhabditis elegans.","authors":"Misaki Okahata, Haruka Motomura, Akane Ohta, Atsushi Kuhara","doi":"10.2183/pjab.98.009","DOIUrl":"10.2183/pjab.98.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many organisms can survive and proliferate in changing environmental temperatures. Here, we introduce a molecular physiological mechanism for cold tolerance and acclimation of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans on the basis of previous reports and a new result. Three types of thermosensory neurons located in the head, ASJ, ASG, and ADL, regulate cold tolerance and acclimation. In ASJ, components of the light-signaling pathway are involved in thermosensation. In ASG, mechanoreceptor DEG-1 acts as thermoreceptor. In ADL, transient receptor potential channels are thermoreceptors; however, the presence of an additional unidentified thermoreceptor is also speculated. ADL thermoresponsivity is modulated by oxygen sensory signaling from URX oxygen sensory neurons via hub interneurons. ASJ releases insulin and steroid hormones that are received by the intestine, which results in lipid composition changing with cold tolerance. Additionally, the intestinal transcriptional alteration affects sperm functions, which in turn affects the thermosensitivity of ASJ; thus, the neuron-intestine-sperm-neuron tissue circuit is essential for cold tolerance.</p>","PeriodicalId":20707,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences","volume":"98 1","pages":"126-139"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8948419/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46889968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}