Tokyo Institute of Technology

About: Tokyo Institute of Technology is a education organization based out in Tokyo, Tôkyô, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Thin film. The organization has 46775 authors who have published 101656 publications receiving 2357893 citations. The organization is also known as: Tokyo Tech & Tokodai.

Monitoring of methyl jasmonate-responsive genes in Arabidopsis by cDNA macroarray: self-activation of jasmonic acid biosynthesis and crosstalk with other phytohormone signaling pathways.

Abstract: Jasmonates mediate various physiological events in plant cells such as defense responses, flowering, and senescence through intracellular and intercellular signaling pathways, and the expression of a large number of genes appears to be regulated by jasmonates. In order to obtain information on the regulatory network of jasmonate-responsive genes (JRGs) in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), we screened 2880 cDNA clones for jasmonate responsiveness by a cDNA macroarray procedure. Since many of the JRGs reported so far have been identified in leaf tissues, the cDNA clones used were chosen from a non-redundant EST library that was prepared from above-ground organs. Hybridization to the filters was achieved using α- 33 P-labeled single-strand DNAs synthesized from mRNAs obtained from methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-treated and untreated Arabidopsis seedlings. Data analysis identified 41 JRGs whose mRNA levels were changed by more than three fold in response to MeJA. This was confirmed by Northern blot analysis by using eight representatives. Among the 41 JRGs identified, 5 genes were JA biosynthesis genes and 3 genes were involved in other signaling pathways (ethylene, auxin, and salicylic acid). These results suggest the existence of a positive feedback regulatory system for JA biosynthesis and the possibility of crosstalk between JA signaling and other signaling pathways.

Failure of Pareto-based MOEAs: does non-dominated really mean near to optimal?

Abstract: Many multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) have been proposed over the years. The main part of the most successful algorithms such as PESA, or NSGA-II, are the Pareto based selection strategy that decide survivors using dominance among individuals. However, does the Pareto based selection strategy always succeed in finding the Pareto optimal solutions? This paper shows a very simple example that can cause serious trouble for the Pareto based MOEAs. In such an instance, various solutions, which are apart from the true Pareto-optimums, are left as hardly-dominated solutions. We define such solutions as dominance resistant solutions (DRSs), and show a class of problems which produces DRSs easily. To cope with this difficulty we propose the /spl alpha/-domination strategy that relaxes the domination introducing a weak trade-off among objectives. With the /spl alpha/-domination strategy, the DRSs are effectively purged from the population.

Anti-tumor, -viral, and -bacterial activities of polyoxometalates for realizing an inorganic drug

Abstract: Polyoxometalates (PMs) as discrete metal-oxide cluster anions comprise a versatile class of inorganic, anionic clusters that have a wide variety of structures, sizes, and a combination of metals, high solubility in water, and electrochemical activity. Recent investigation of anti-tumor, -viral, and -bacterial activities of PMs shows induced cell-apoptosis, inhibition of binding of virus to receptor, and the enhancement of β-lactam antibiotics as well as the inhibition of bacterial growth, respectively. PMs exemplified for each biological activity are discussed from the chemotherapeutic point of view for the establishment of a novel inorganic drug based on PMs.

The 2020 plasma catalysis roadmap

Abstract: Plasma catalysis is gaining increasing interest for various gas conversion applications, such as CO2 conversion into value-added chemicals and fuels, CH4 activation into hydrogen, higher hydrocarbons or oxygenates, and NH3 synthesis Other applications are already more established, such as for air pollution control, eg volatile organic compound remediation, particulate matter and NOx removal In addition, plasma is also very promising for catalyst synthesis and treatment Plasma catalysis clearly has benefits over 'conventional' catalysis, as outlined in the Introduction However, a better insight into the underlying physical and chemical processes is crucial This can be obtained by experiments applying diagnostics, studying both the chemical processes at the catalyst surface and the physicochemical mechanisms of plasma-catalyst interactions, as well as by computer modeling The key challenge is to design cost-effective, highly active and stable catalysts tailored to the plasma environment Therefore, insight from thermal catalysis as well as electro- and photocatalysis is crucial All these aspects are covered in this Roadmap paper, written by specialists in their field, presenting the state-of-the-art, the current and future challenges, as well as the advances in science and technology needed to meet these challenges

Composition and State of the Core

Abstract: The composition and state of Earth's core, located deeper than 2,900 km from the surface, remain largely uncertain. Recent static experiments on iron and alloys performed up to inner core pressure and temperature conditions have revealed phase relations and properties of core materials. These mineral physics constraints, combined with theoretical calculations, continue to improve our understanding of the core, in particular the crystal structure of the inner core and the chemical composition, thermal structure and evolution, and possible stratification of the outer core.