Kōchi University

About: Kōchi University is a education organization based out in Kochi, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Zircon. The organization has 5314 authors who have published 10056 publications receiving 204869 citations. The organization is also known as: Kōchi Daigaku.

High Pseudocapacitance in FeOOH/rGO Composites with Superior Performance for High Rate Anode in Li-Ion Battery.

Abstract: Capacitive storage has been considered as one type of Li-ion storage with fast faradaic surface redox reactions to offer high power density for electrochemical applications. However, it is often limited by low extent of energy contribution during the charge/discharge process, providing insufficient influences to total capacity of Li-ion storage in electrodes. In this work, we demonstrate a pseudocapacitance predominated storage (contributes 82% of the total capacity) from an in-situ pulverization process of FeOOH rods on rGO (reduced graphene oxide) sheets for the first time. Such high extent of pseudocapacitive storage in the FeOOH/rGO electrode achieves high energy density with superior cycling performance over 200 cycles at different current densities (1135 mAh/g at 1 A/g and 783 mAh/g at 5 A/g). It is further revealed that the in-situ pulverization process is essential for the high pseudocapacitance in this electrode, because it not only produces a porous structure for high exposure of tiny FeOOH crys...

Induction of a small heat shock protein and its functional roles in Nicotiana plants in the defense response against Ralstonia solanacearum.

Abstract: In tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), Ralstonia solanacearum OE1-1 (RsOE1-1) is pathogenic, whereas R. solanacearum 8107 (Rs8107) is nonpathogenic and induces the hypersensitive response (HR). To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of plant-R. solanacearum interactions, we used differential display to isolate a cDNA fragment, A6, regulated in tobacco by inoculation with RsOE1-1. The deduced amino acid sequence predicted from full-length A6-cDNA showed similarity to small heat shock proteins from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana; hypothetical protein), Medicago truncatula, and Cucumis melo; we therefore designated A6 to correspond to Ntshsp17 (for tobacco small heat shock protein 17). Recombinant Ntshsp17 overproduced in Escherichia coli exhibited molecular chaperone function. Expression of Ntshsp17 was increased in tobacco leaves inoculated with both RsOE1-1 and Rs8107. Expression was induced by heat treatment and by treatment with aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid, hydrogen peroxide, methyl jasmonate, and salicylic acid. Ntshsp17 expression was induced by inoculation with a HR and pathogenicity gene mutant of Rs8107 that does not induce the HR, but not by Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression of INF1, an HR elicitor. In Nbshsp17-silenced plants (an Ntshsp17 ortholog in Nicotiana benthamiana), expression of ETHYLENE-RESPONSE ELEMENT-BINDING PROTEIN, PATHOGENESIS-RELATED1a (PR1a), and PR4 genes was compromised, but expression of ELONGATION FACTOR1α was scarcely affected. Appearance of the HR was not affected in the silenced plants. In the silenced plants, growth of Rs8107 was accelerated. Bacterial growth and wilt symptoms elicited by RsOE1-1 were also accelerated in the silenced plants. These results indicate that this small heat shock protein might have a role in HR-independent defenses in Nicotiana plants.

Causes of maternal mortality in Japan.

Abstract: ContextJapan's maternal mortality rate is higher than that of other developed countries.ObjectivesTo identify causes of maternal mortality in Japan, examine attributes of treating facilities associated with maternal mortality, and assess the preventability of such deaths.Design and SettingCross-sectional study of maternal deaths occurring in Japan between January 1, 1991, and December 31, 1992.SubjectsOf 230 women who died while pregnant or within 42 days of being pregnant, 197 died in a hospital and had medical records available, 22 died outside of a medical facility, and 11 did not have records available.Main Outcome MeasuresMaternal mortality rates per 100,000 live births by cause (identified by death certificate review and information from treating physicians or coroners); resources and staffing patterns of facilities where deaths occurred; and preventability of death, as determined by a 42-member panel of medical specialists.ResultsOverall maternal mortality was 9.5 per 100,000 births. Hemorrhage was the most common cause of death, occurring in 86 (39%) of 219 women. Seventy-two (37%) of 197 deaths occurring in facilities were deemed preventable and another 32 (16%) possibly preventable. Among deaths that occurred in a medical facility with an obstetrician on duty, the highest rate of preventable deaths (4.09/100,000 live births) occurred in facilities with 1 obstetrician. Among the 72 preventable deaths, 49 were attributed to 1 physician functioning as the obstetrician and anesthetist. While the unpreventable maternal death rate was highest in referral facilities, the preventable maternal death rate was 14 times lower in referral facilities than in transferring facilities.ConclusionsInadequate obstetric services are associated with maternal mortality in Japan. Reducing single-obstetrician only delivery patterns and establishing regional 24-hour inpatient obstetrics facilities for high-risk cases may reduce maternal mortality in Japan.

Artificial Expression of Aquaporin-3 Improves the Survival of Mouse Oocytes after Cryopreservation

Abstract: Successful cryopreservation of mammalian cells requires rapid transport of water and cryoprotective solutes across the plasma membrane. Aquaporin-3 is known as a water/solute channel that can transport water and neutral solutes such as glycerol. In this study we examined whether artificial expression of aquaporin-3 in mouse oocytes can improve water and glycerol permeability and oocyte survival after cryopreservation. Immature mouse oocytes were injected with aquaporin-3 cRNA and were cultured for 12 h. Then the hydraulic conductivity (LP) and glycerol permeability (PGLY) of matured oocytes were determined from the relative volume changes in 10% glycerol in PB1 medium at 258C. Mean 6 SD values of LP and PGLY of cRNA-injected oocytes (3.09 6 1.22 mm min 21 atm 21 and 3.69 6 1.47 3 10 23 cm/min, respectively; numbers of oocytes 5 25) were significantly higher than those of noninjected oocytes (0.83 6 0.02 mm min 21 atm 21 and 0.07 6 0.02 3 10 23 cm/min, respectively; n 5 13) and water-injected oocytes (0.87 6 0.10 mm min 21