Meiji (Japan)

Abstract Prolonged esports play induces cognitive fatigue that is not fully captured by subjective awareness, motivating practical, non-stimulant nutritional strategies supported by objective physiological markers. We here tested whether acute milk protein intake attenuates fatigue-related physiological responses during prolonged esports play and supports subjective state, executive control, and in-game performance. In a randomized, single-blind (assessor-blind), energy-matched controlled crossover study, 15 healthy young adults with esports experience completed two sessions in which they consumed either a milk protein drink or an energy-matched apple juice control before a 3-h virtual soccer task. Physiological measures included pupillometry during gameplay, salivary cortisol, continuous interstitial glucose monitoring, and heart rate. Subjective ratings (VAS) and executive function (flanker task) were assessed across post-ingestion time points, and in-game performance metrics were aggregated within hourly gameplay blocks. Milk protein intake was associated with a coherent pattern of physiological advantages, including larger pupil diameter during gameplay, smoother interstitial glucose dynamics, and lower salivary cortisol, while heart rate showed time-dependent changes without a clear condition effect. These physiological changes co-occurred with higher enjoyment and lower hunger, improved flanker performance, and condition-dependent improvements in in-game performance, most notably higher shot success rate. Additionally, pupil diameter during gameplay was associated with inhibitory-control efficiency on the flanker task. These findings suggest that acute milk protein intake may serve as a practical, non-stimulant nutritional strategy to sustain physiological state and cognitive–behavioral performance during prolonged esports (virtual soccer) play. Highlights – Prolonged esports play models modern digital cognitive activity and cognitive fatigue. – Acute milk protein intake increases pupil diameter during prolonged esports play. – Interstitial glucose dynamics are smoother and salivary cortisol is lower with milk protein. – Enjoyment increases and hunger decreases during 3 h of virtual soccer play. – Executive function and in-game performance improve, most notably shot success rate.

Background/Objectives: Oral microbial homeostasis is crucial for overall health. Nonetheless, the relationship between probiotics and the oral environment remains unclear. This study investigated the association between continuous consumption of yogurt containing Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus OLL1073R-1 (LbR1 yogurt), salivary antimicrobial proteins (AMPs), tongue-coating microbiota, and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) frequency. Methods: This observational study was conducted on 53 nursing home care workers, categorized into a group who consumed LbR1 yogurt daily for over 1 year (n = 40, yogurt group) and a non-intake group (n = 13, non-yogurt group). Salivary and tongue-coating samples were collected. Results: The yearly URTI frequency was lower in the yogurt group than in the non-yogurt group (p = 0.003). The salivary β-defensin-2 (HBD2) and β-defensin-3 (HBD3) flow rates were higher in the yogurt group than in the non-yogurt group (p = 0.02 and p = 0.0009, respectively). Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) ssp. animalis abundance was lower in the yogurt group than in the non-yogurt group (p = 0.04). Bayesian network analysis indicated an association between yogurt consumption and the yearly URTI frequency and salivary HBD2 and HBD3 flow rates. Conclusions: Continuous consumption of LbR1 yogurt was associated with elevated salivary HBD2 and HBD3, reduced abundance of F. nucleatum ssp. animalis, and decreased URTI frequency. Thus, LbR1 yogurt intake is associated with modulated oral immunity and microbiota, suggesting a potential link to reduced URTIs. However, as an observational pilot study, its results should be interpreted with caution.

We conducted a study to identify the production area of “Ainu Lacquered Katakuchi (No. 7636 and No. 7649)” from the collection of the Shinhidaka City Museum in Hokkaido, Japan. Lacquer films from the Ainu Katakuchi lacquerware in the museum’s collection were analyzed using pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), cross-section analysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis, micro-IR spectroscopy, and C14 dating to identify the lacquer materials and determine coating structures. On the other hand, a previous study of purchase records related to the distribution of Ainu lacquerware reported that Ainu lacquered Katakuchi were produced in the Nambu region and distributed across various parts of Hokkaido, Japan. The ‘Nambu region’ is presumed to refer to the southern part of Iwate Prefecture, Japan, where Joboji is a lacquerware production area renowned for its lacquer work. Therefore, we conducted a survey of Joboji lacquerware Katakuchi at the Joboji City Museum of History and Folklore, a lacquerware production site in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Using various scientific analytical methods, we have analyzed the lacquer materials and coating techniques of historical Katakuchi lacquer films from the Joboji Museum collection. Based on these findings, we compared the analysis results of the Ainu Katakuchi lacquerware (No. 7636 and No. 7649) in the collection of the Shinhidaka City Museum to study the identification of the production area of the lacquerware, and the results are discussed.

Pigs have been utilized as the donor animal for xenotransplantation, a promising solution to the continued shortage of organ donor. However, porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV), a gamma retrovirus present in all pig genomes, remains a major concern for the microbiological safety of donor pigs. Therefore, accurately assessing the risk of PERV infection is essential for the clinical application of xenotransplantation. To improve the evaluation of PERV infectivity, here we developed a new in vitro co-culture method for porcine and human cells, applying flowcytometric cell sorter for specific isolation of human cells. This method allows direct contact between porcine and human cells without special treatment that would affect PERV replication, which is better simulating the situation observed in in vivo xenotransplantation. Using this method, we identified several possible factors affecting PERV infectivity, including the period during which porcine and human cells are in contact, the number of porcine cells used, and the levels of PERV mRNA expression in porcine cells. Notably, we found that the PERV infection of human cells can occur within the first 24 h of contact if porcine cells are of a high-risk type for PERV infection, which is not confirmed by any types of conventional co-culture methods. Our result emphasized the importance of selecting appropriate donor pigs with lower risk of PERV infection. Our newly developed method may help the testing and selection of pigs with lower risk of PERV infection.

The imprinted gene ZDBF2 is regulated through a unique mechanism involving a transient paternal transcript in early embryos, rather than persistent gametic DNA methylation. In humans and mice, this transcript-CMKLR2-AS (also known as GPR1-AS) or the long isoform of Zdbf2 (Liz/Zdbf2linc/Platr12)-arises from the unmethylated paternal allele and initiates secondary epigenetic marks that maintain ZDBF2 expression. Here, we investigate the evolutionary origin of this mechanism, and show that the first exon of human GPR1-AS overlaps with a MER21C long terminal repeat (LTR), a retrotransposon subfamily specific to Boreoeutherian mammals. Comparative analyses revealed that this MER21C insertion occurred in the common ancestor of Euarchontoglires, including primates, rodents, and rabbits. Although not annotated, the first exon of mouse Liz displays conserved features with the MER21C-overlapping exon in humans. In rabbit and nonhuman primate placentas, GPR1-AS orthologs with LTR-embedded first exons were also identified. In contrast, in non-Euarchontoglire mammals such as cow and tammar wallaby, ZDBF2 is biallelically expressed, suggesting absence of imprinting. These findings suggest that ZDBF2 imprinting emerged in Euarchontoglires via MER21C insertion. Together with our prior work on LTR-driven imprinting in oocytes, our findings demonstrate that post-fertilization activation of retrotransposons can also drive lineage-specific acquisition of imprinting.

Abstract In electrochemical CO2 reduction reactors, the polymer electrolyte membrane type reactor, known as a zero-gap cell, achieves excellent CO2 reduction performance and high current density, but the short reactor lifetime due to flooding and salt precipitation at the cathode are serious problems. It is known that flooding and salt precipitation vary greatly depending on the cell operating conditions, but the mechanisms behind these changes are not well understood. We focused on the anion exchange membrane in the reactor and proposed a qualitative model for mass transfer across the membrane in a zero-gap cell. The data for the amounts of metal cations and water molecules passing through the membrane is measured using a homemade H-type cell. We qualitatively explained the conditions for the excess transportation of water molecules and cations from the anode to the cathode of the membrane using these data. We also proposed the conditions expecting to stop these transports.

Abstract To reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, a great deal of research has been carried out into electrochemical CO2 reduction technology. The electrochemical CO2 reduction process has the problem of the insufficient selectivity of the reduced products. Cu catalyst is identified as a potential material of industrially useful substances, including C2H4 and CH4. However, the majority of these studies are the products generated during the initial stages of the electrochemical reaction. Accordingly, we used our homemade H-shaped cell and Cu electrodes to conduct electrochemical CO2 reduction over 500 h, with evaluating products. An anodized Cu electrode was also evaluated over 500 h. The surface structure of the electrode and the products changed significantly over time. Consequently, it is believed that the efficacy of electrochemical CO2 reduction should be evaluated not only in the short term but also over extended periods.

This study examines the moderated mediation relationships among promotion focus, minimalism, voluntary simplicity, and cultural factors in shaping collaborative consumption (CC) consciousness. Minimalism emphasizes curating consumption mindfully, reducing excess possessions, and prioritizing personal values and esthetics, whereas voluntary simplicity is driven by ethical and ecological concerns, advocating anti-consumerism. Using data from Australia and Japan, we find that while promotion focus positively influences minimalism and CC, the relationships between these factors are multifaceted. Voluntary simplicity moderates these relationships with cultural differences amplifying or mitigating their influence. This study extends regulatory focus theory, offering theoretical and practical insights to promote sustainable consumption.

ABSTRACT Research on career calling has highlighted its many positive outcomes. Yet, approaching work as a calling can sometimes lead to increased workaholism and organisational exploitation. This study seeks to identify the situations in which calling has negative outcomes and investigates whether the proposed theoretical model on the “dark side” of calling is invariant across one western (Italy, N = 245) and one eastern (Japan, N = 151) culture. In a cross-sectional study, we found initial support for the model and interesting cross-cultural variations. In exploitative working conditions, Italian workers with a high calling were more likely to consider leaving their organisations, whereas Japanese workers with a high calling were less likely to consider leaving. These results provide initial evidence on the conditions in which calling can be dangerous, highlighting the importance of considering cultural norms and values to predict whether calling could be harmful or beneficial for the individuals.