Virus infection is initiated by entry process, which is mediated by interaction of virus-encoded spike proteins with their specific receptors on target cell surface. Accumulating evidence indicates that various envelop viruses, including Ebola virus, exploit the host apoptotic clearance machinery to enhance their entry into host cells by externalizing phosphatidylserine in the viral envelope. Phosphatidylserine exhibits specific distribution in individual cell organelles, where progeny virions acquire their envelops, suggesting that viruses exploit various mechanism by which phosphatidylserine is distributed to the outer leaflet of virus envelope. This review summarizes recent progress in determining the molecular mechanism of externalization of phosphatidylserine in the envelope of virus particles. We also discuss future directions and how viral apoptotic mimicry could be targeted for therapeutics

Polymorphic control is a matter of great importance in the pharmaceutical industry. In the research and development of a new drug, all polymorphs of the target compound are investigated by the screening process, and the most suitable with the appropriate properties is selected for the commercial product. Thus, “selective crystallization” of a “high-quality” unstable phase is needed. In previous study, we have developed polymorph controlling techniques; crystallization of the metastable phase by ultrasonic irradiation or femtosecond laser irradiation, and polymer induced nucleation. In order to apply the techniques to crystallization polymorphs of various compounds, in this study we have sophisticated them using a challenging model materials, indomethacin, acetaminophen and aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). Here we will introduce the crystallization technique of metastable phase and the control technique of crystal growth mode by femtosecond laser irradiation.

Advances in science and technology drive the economic growth of a nation. In order to ensure continued economic growth, a workforce that is well-trained and highly-skilled in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is needed. For a society like Japan where the population is decreasing and ageing at a rapid rate, securing such a workforce in sufficient numbers is a critical issue. In Japan, it is anticipated that by 2030 the working-age population (15–64 years of age) will be 63% of that of 2015. Currently, the economic participation of women in Japan is 59.5% of that for men. In the field of STEM, the ratio of women among total STEM workers is 16% in 2017, which places Japan at the bottom of 23 developed countries. Further, data show that Japanese women have the talent and qualifications to pursue STEM careers that are equal to men. It seems clear that increasing the participation of women in STEM goes a long way to mitigate the anticipated workforce shortage needed to sustain Japan’s economic growth. There are a number of factors that are preventing full participation of women in STEM. These factors include both conscious and unconscious biases toward women’s ability to pursue scientific careers, and the separate roles for men and women assigned by society. These factors existed/exist in many countries, but some countries have made efforts to increase the participation of women in STEM with success. This article introduces three such efforts: US National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE Institutional Transformation; EU Horizon2020; and UK’s AthenaSWAN. It is hoped that learning best practices from these successful approaches may provide Japan a way forward to break out of the current situation before it is too late.

In this journal my research career and a short essay associated with my study are described. As a graduate student in master’s course I carried out a synthesis of Muramic acid-6-phosphate. After working as a research fellow in the United States, I returned to Japan. Then I started a purification of Lectins and their primary structural analyses. Just around this time a protein sequencer was first developed and it could be possible to perform primary structure analyses of 21 amino acids in one night. It was a breakthrough event at that time.

We analyzed the medical expenses per diabetes outpatient (annual and per visit) in one medical treatment facility specializing in diabetes in Japan and the USA. We discuss how differences in the health-care systems in the two countries affect accounting and hospital management, and issues in diabetes treatment in Japan. While time and effort spent during each visit on self-management education and consultation for each individual at the Joslin Diabetes Center is significantly longer and greater than that Yokogawa clinic in Japan, unexpectedly, it was not excessively costly. Meanwhile, the costs recovered were substantially below invoice at Joslin, resulting in an unstable income. At Yokogawa clinic, clinic stably received full refund as invoiced by clinic with remuneration system. Issues in Japan include increasing the time for advanced education of patients, and clarifying the roles of doctors, staff and management so as to coordinate an environment in which specialists can work effectively.

Present increases of the atmospheric anthropogenic carbon dioxide is now quickly causing ocean warming and ocean acidification. Decrease of seawater pH causes the decline of calcium carbonate saturation, which is expected to critically affect the coral reef ecosystem. In this study, I will review the impacts of ocean acidification on the coral reef organisms and discuss the potential future study direction. Particularly, here I will present recent results about the effect of ocean acidification on the calcification mechanisms of corals and their intra- and interspecies variation in sensitivity to ocean acidification. Additionally, effects on other reef organisms such as sea urchins and seagrass/seaweeds will be presented and potential impacts of ocean acidification on species interactions and on reef ecosystem level will be discussed.