The air voids present in concrete were evaluated as a 2D spatial point process. The characteristic distance between the points was defined using the nearest neighbor distance function and resulted to ...be very similar to the spacing factor, which has been used for long. This similarity was discussed by comparing the cubic lattice structure of the air voids associated to the point process model and the spacing factor. Due to the random air-void distribution within the cement paste matrix, a method to estimate the characteristic distance by simulation was also proposed. The characteristics of the random point patterns were consistent with the air-void structures assumed for the spacing factor. Hence, the characteristic distance could be used as a quality parameter instead of the spacing factor and the point process statistics was a useful evaluating method for air-void distribution in concrete.
Abstract
As part of the effort to increase the beam power of the Main Ring (MR) for fast extraction (FX) in J-PARC to 750 kW, five new septum magnets for FX (FX-septa) were installed in the MR in ...2022. The most significant goal for the magnets was to achieve an extremely low leakage field in the circulating line. To realize the low leakage field, new pure iron duct-type magnetic shields were mounted in the circulating ducts of the two high-field FX-septa in 2022. In July 2022, we verified that the impact of the leakage field of all of the FX-septa on the 3-GeV circulating beam was below 10% of that of the previous FX-septa. We also measured the leakage field in the circulating ducts of the two high-field FX-septa with new shields in October 2022, and confirmed that the quadrupole field component was reduced to ≈1% of that of the previous high-field FX-septa.
The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in eutopic and ectopic endometria in endometriosis and adenomyosis. The subjects were 35 patients with ...endometriosis diagnosed by laparoscopy, 33 patients with histologically confirmed adenomyosis and 50 female controls with normal fecundity. Expression of COX-2 was immunohistochemically investigated in tissues from eutopic endometrium and myometrium and ectopic endometrium of the wall of ovarian chocolate cysts using polyclonal antibody. Surface epithelial cells, endometrial glandular epithelial cells or stromal cells were assessed. Cells were semi-quantitatively assessed on a scale of 1 to 5 using a nomogram created from positive cell count and the degree of staining. COX-2 expression in surface and glandular epithelia of the control group varied markedly during the menstrual cycle. It was lowest in the early proliferative phase and gradually increased thereafter. It remained high throughout the secretory phase. However, in patients with endometriosis, expression of COX-2 in glandular epithelium was higher than that in the control group, though it varied throughout the menstrual cycle. On the other hand, there was no variation in expression of COX-2 in the adenomyosis group during the menstrual cycle, and it was lower than that in the endometriosis group in all phases. Pronounced COX-2 expression was observed in glandular cells from ectopic endometrial tissue of ovarian chocolate cyst walls in all cases regardless of the menstrual phase. In summary, increased COX-2 expression in eutopic and ectopic endometria was believed to be strongly correlated with pathological abnormalities in these disorders.
Summary
Secretory IgA (SIgA) is a well‐known mucosal‐surface molecule in first‐line defense against extrinsic pathogens and antigens. Its immunomodulatory and pathological roles have also been ...emphasized, but it is unclear whether it plays a pathological role in lung diseases. In the present study, we aimed to determine the distribution of IgA in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) lungs and whether IgA affects the functions of airway epithelial cells. We performed immunohistochemical analysis of lung sections from patients with IPF and found that mucus accumulated in the airspaces adjacent to the hyperplastic epithelia contained abundant SIgA. This was not true in the lungs of non‐IPF subjects. An in‐vitro assay revealed that SIgA bound to the surface of A549 cells and significantly promoted production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β and interleukin (IL)‐8, important cytokines in the pathogenesis of IPF. Among the known receptors for IgA, A549 cells expressed high levels of transferrin receptor (TfR)/CD71. Transfection experiments with siRNA targeted against TfR/CD71 followed by stimulation with SIgA suggested that TfR/CD71 may be at least partially involved in the SIgA‐induced cytokine production by A549 cells. These phenomena were specific for SIgA, distinct from IgG. SIgA may modulate the progression of IPF by enhancing synthesis of VEGF, TGF‐β and IL‐8.
Secretory IgA is a well‐known mucosal‐surface molecule in first‐line defense against extrinsic pathogens and antigens. It is unclear whether it plays a pathological role in lung diseases. In the present study, we showed that accumulated mucus in the airspaces of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lungs contained abundant SIgA in direct contact with the epithelia of remodeled tissue, and that SIgA bound to the surface of A549 cells, leading to production of profibrotic and inflammatory cytokines, VEGF, TGF‐β and IL‐8.
The carbon assimilated by photosynthesis in plants can be partitioned into starch, soluble sugars, and cell wall polymers. Higher levels of starch accumulation in leaves are usually correlated with a ...lower growth capacity. Duckweeds are fast-growing aquatic monocot plants that can accumulate high levels of starch. They are an unusual group because their cell wall has very low levels of lignin while accumulating apiogalacturonan, a pectic polysaccharide that could be involved with boron assimilation. In this work, five duckweed species from different genera (
, and
) were cultivated under two light intensities (20 and 500 μmoles of photons m
s
) to evaluate the effects of growth rate on carbohydrate metabolism. A comparative analysis was performed by measuring their relative growth rates (RGR), and their content for starch, as well as soluble and cell wall carbohydrates. We found that the faster-growing species (the Lemnoideae) accumulate lower starch and higher soluble sugars than the slower-growing species within the Wolffioideae. Interestingly, analysis of the cell wall monosaccharides revealed that the slower-growing species displayed lower content of apiose in their walls. Our results indicate that higher accumulation of apiose observed in cell walls of the Lemnoideae species, which likely correlates with a higher proportion of apiogalacturonan, may lead to higher efficiency in the assimilation of boron. This is consistent with the increased RGR observed under conditions with higher apiose in the cell wall, such as higher light intensity. Consistent with their lower growth capacity, the Wolffioideae species we studied shows higher starch accumulation in comparison with the Lemnoideae species. We suggest that apiose levels could be good biomarkers for growth capacity of duckweeds and suggest that boron uptake could be an important factor for growth control in this aquatic plant family.
The pathogenesis of renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury involves activating several signal transduction cascade systems in endothelial cells. Sphingosine 1-phospate (S1P) maintains endothelial ...cell integrity and inhibits lymphocyte egress via the specific S1P1 receptor, and may play a role in reducing ischemic renal injury. We examined the protective effects of a newly identified S1P1-selective agonist, SEW2871, on mouse renal I/R injury. Kidneys were harvested 1–4 days after I/R injury for histopathology, immunofluorescence studies, and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses to assess the change in gene expression profiles of inflammation-associated cytokines and adhesion molecules. SEW2871 improved renal function with a 40% reduction in plasma creatinine levels (P<0.01) and a significant reduction in tubular necrosis scores (I/R only: 4.3±0.2 vs I/R+SEW2871: 2.5±0.4, P<0.05) 24 h after ischemia. These changes were accompanied by 69% reduction in circulating lymphocytes, and 77 and 66% reduction in infiltrating neutrophils and macrophages in renal outer medulla, respectively (all P<0.01). The mRNA abundance of tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α), P-selectin, E-selectin, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was markedly increased by I/R injury (3.5-, 4.1-, 3.5-, and 4.8-folds, respectively, all P<0.05 vs sham). SEW2871 treatment partially reversed the upregulation of TNF-α, P-selectin, and ICAM-1 (47, 59, 54%, respectively, vs I/R control: 100%, all P<0.05). The reduction in protein expression of TNF-α, P-selectin, and ICAM-1 was further confirmed with immunofluorescence studies. These results suggest that SEW2871 ameliorates renal I/R injury by inhibiting lymphocyte egress and reducing pro-inflammatory molecules. This new class of renoprotective agent shows promise as a novel approach in preventing/treating ischemic acute renal failure.
Formation of microstructure in cement pastes and mortars were quantitatively analyzed by the SEM-BSE image analysis. Effects of water/cement ratio and of the addition of mineral admixtures on the ...contents of unhydrated cement particles and pores were discussed. The proportions of each phase obtained by the analyses were compared with proportions calculated on the Powers model. It was found from comparisons that the volume fractions of the residual cement and pores obtained by the image analysis did not contradict those estimated from the Powers model. Lower water/cement ratio pastes and those undergoing pozzolanic reaction showed less fine capillary pores. It was also found that large capillary pores still remained in the mixtures at long ages. The gel/space ratio in the Powers and Brownyard equation was calculated from the phase constituents determined by the image analysis. For mortars without mineral admixture, the gel/space ratio by the image analysis could be related to the strength.
BACKGROUND
Ovarian tissue cryopreservation by rapid cooling (vitrification) is a convenient fertility preservation option. However, the progress of vitrified ovarian tissue after transplantation is ...not well understood in primates.
METHODS
For tissues from cynomolgus monkeys, we used closed straw vitrification and open cryosupport vitrification in which tissues are immersed directly into liquid nitrogen. Following warming, ovarian cortical pieces were autotransplanted and their function was monitored by computed tomography (CT), hormone assays and oocyte recovery, ICSI and embryo transfers (ETs).
RESULTS
Hormone cycles were restored in 6 of 7 animals in a mean of 126 days with no significant difference between the two vitrification regimens. The presence of new blood vessels supplying the grafted ovarian tissue was confirmed by contrast-enhanced CT. Oocyte retrieval from two monkeys after transplantation of the ovarian cortex vitrified by cryosupport vitrification yielded a total of nine oocytes of which six fertilized after ICSI, but ETs did not lead to any pregnancies.
CONCLUSIONS
This work shows that CT can give insight into ovarian function after heterotopic transplantation, and that heterotopic autografts of vitrified ovarian cortex can give rise to long-term ovarian function and embryos in a primate model. It remains to be established how outcomes following rapid vitrification compared with outcomes following conventional slow cooling procedures.
At a high-power proton synchrotron, betatron tune shifts induced by space charge effects cause beam loss which limits the beam intensity. To achieve further high beam intensity at the main ring of ...the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex, precise control of the tune shift is indispensable. When carrying out multi-bunch measurements, we observed that the dependence of the tune shift intensity on the number of bunches follow opposite slope trends for the horizontal and vertical directions. The dependence of the bunch spacing was also observed. We report on a simplified tune shift model reconstruction for understanding the origin of these phenomena and present a correction of the tune shifts for reducing beam loss up to 30 %.
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