Kobe Gakuin University (神戸学院大学, Kōbe Gakuin Daigaku) is a private, co-educational university located on the western edge of the city of Kobe, in Hyōgo Prefecture in Japan. It was founded in 1966 and overlooks the city of Akashi, the Akashi Straits and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge - the longest suspension bridge in the world. The university has three campuses in Kobe. These are located near Akashi, near Nagata and on Port Island..
Random matrix theory (RMT) provides a powerful framework for analyzing universal features of strongly coupled physical systems. In quantum chromodynamics (QCD), cold quark matter at asymptotically high density is expected to exhibit color superconductivity (CSC), the analogue of superconductivity in condensed-matter systems. Although CSC phases have been studied within RMT primarily in the macroscopic large-N limit, where N denotes the matrix size, it has remained unclear whether an RMT exists that realizes CSC in the microscopic large-N limit. Here we answer this question in the affirmative by introducing a novel non-Hermitian chiral random matrix model. For three quark flavors, we show that the model exhibits spontaneous breaking of color SU(3) and flavor SU(3) symmetries down to the diagonal SU(3) subgroup, thereby reproducing color-flavor locking in dense QCD. For two flavors, we find that color SU(3) is spontaneously broken to SU(2) while the chiral symmetry SU(2)L & times;SU(2)R remains unbroken, consistent with the two-flavor color-superconducting phase.
The urgent need for sustainable peptide manufacturing has accelerated efforts to replace conventional N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)-based solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) with greener alternatives. Here, we present a practical SPPS protocol that uses water as the reaction medium and eliminates hazardous organic solvents. The method leverages nanoassemblies formed from Fmoc-protected amino acids, coupling reagents, and bases, which create reactive interfacial microenvironments that enhance local concentration and promote efficient peptide bond formation under aqueous conditions. These nanoassemblies are readily prepared without specialized equipment and are compatible with microwave-assisted coupling, enabling scalability and semi-automation using existing SPPS platforms. Using this approach, we synthesized various peptides, including β-endorphin (31 residues), with yields and purities comparable to those obtained using conventional DMF-based SPPS. By integrating DMF-free chemistry with nanoassembly-driven reactivity, this work introduces a reaction-field-based strategy for peptide synthesis and provides a simple and eco-friendly platform aligned with the principles of green chemistry.
The ascidian Ciona is a pivotal chordate model for illuminating the evolutionary origins of the vertebrate brain. Here, spatial transcriptomics of the adult Ciona neural complex, combined with image-based computational super-resolution mapping, resolved distinct tissue domains including the cerebral ganglion, neural gland, ciliated funnel, neural gland duct/dorsal strand, and body wall muscle. Within the cerebral ganglion, high-resolution mapping revealed clear molecular zonalization separating the cortex and medulla, alongside regional specialization within the cortex itself. The neural gland exhibited localized enrichment of genes associated with extracellular matrix and cell-cell interactions. These spatial features suggest that the neural gland functions as a homeostatic and signaling interface, reminiscent of primitive vertebrate meninges or choroid plexus. Overall, this spatially defined gene expression map provides a foundational framework for understanding functional regionalization in the tunicate brain and its evolutionary relationship to vertebrate nervous systems.
IntroductionExercise is a first-line treatment for knee osteoarthritis (KOA); however, a substantial proportion of patients show a limited response to standardized exercise programs. Pain sensitization is increasingly recognized as a contributor to poor outcomes. This study examined changes in pain, disability, and pain sensitization after a behavioral graded activity (BGA) program in people with KOA who had not responded to guideline-concordant exercise.MethodsIn this single-arm trial, the pain and activities of daily living subscales of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) were assessed after a 12-week BGA program. Secondary outcomes included pressure pain threshold (PPT), temporal summation of pain (TSP), and step count. Baseline radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to characterize structural abnormalities as potential effect modifiers.ResultsTwenty-six participants completed the intervention. Linear mixed models showed significant improvements in KOOS pain and activities of daily living, exceeding the minimal important change. PPT increased at both the knee and forearm, TSP decreased, and physical activity increased. Baseline step count was positively correlated with improvement in KOOS activities of daily living, whereas structural abnormalities and pain sensitization measures were not associated with changes in KOOS outcomes.DiscussionClinically meaningful improvements in KOOS were accompanied by concurrent changes in PPT and TSP over the 12-week BGA program in people with KOA who had not responded to guideline-concordant exercise. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether these sensory changes are attributable to BGA and to identify patient characteristics associated with treatment response.
