Recent studies revealed that Amblyomma or Ixodes tick bites may cause red meat allergy, in which galactose‐α‐1,3‐galactose (α‐Gal) is a major IgE‐binding epitope. The incidence of red meat allergy is ...high in Shimane Prefecture, as is tick‐transmitted Japanese spotted fever. Therefore, we speculated that tick bites may cause these meat allergies. The carbohydrate α‐Gal was detected in the salivary gland protein of Haemaphysalis longicornis (H. longicornis), the vector for Japanese spotted fever, by immunoblotting using anti‐α‐Gal antibody. H. longicornis salivary gland protein‐specific IgE was detected in the sera of 24 of 30 patients with red meat allergies. Sensitization to tick salivary gland protein containing α‐Gal is possibly a major etiology of red meat allergy; the carbohydrate plays a crucial role in its allergenicity. These results further indicate that the α‐Gal epitope is present not only in Amblyomma or Ixodes, but also in Haemaphysalis.
We developed a new emission inventory for Asia (Regional Emission inventory in ASia (REAS) Version 1.1) for the period 1980–2020. REAS is the first inventory to integrate historical, present, and ...future emissions in Asia on the basis of a consistent methodology. We present here emissions in 2000, historical emissions for 1980–2003, and projected emissions for 2010 and 2020 of SO2, NOx, CO, NMVOC, black carbon (BC), and organic carbon (OC) from fuel combustion and industrial sources. Total energy consumption in Asia more than doubled between 1980 and 2003, causing a rapid growth in Asian emissions, by 28% for BC, 30% for OC, 64% for CO, 108% for NMVOC, 119% for SO2, and 176% for NOx. In particular, Chinese NOx emissions showed a marked increase of 280% over 1980 levels, and growth in emissions since 2000 has been extremely high. These increases in China were mainly caused by increases in coal combustion in the power plants and industrial sectors. NMVOC emissions also rapidly increased because of growth in the use of automobiles, solvents, and paints. By contrast, BC, OC, and CO emissions in China showed decreasing trends from 1996 to 2000 because of a reduction in the use of biofuels and coal in the domestic and industry sectors. However, since 2000, Chinese emissions of these species have begun to increase. Thus, the emissions of air pollutants in Asian countries (especially China) showed large temporal variations from 1980–2003. Future emissions in 2010 and 2020 in Asian countries were projected by emission scenarios and from emissions in 2000. For China, we developed three emission scenarios: PSC (policy success case), REF (reference case), and PFC (policy failure case). In the 2020 REF scenario, Asian total emissions of SO2, NOx, and NMVOC were projected to increase substantially by 22%, 44%, and 99%, respectively, over 2000 levels. The 2020 REF scenario showed a modest increase in CO (12%), a lesser increase in BC (1%), and a slight decrease in OC (−5%) compared with 2000 levels. However, it should be noted that Asian total emissions are strongly influenced by the emission scenarios for China.
In a preliminary open-label trial by our group, Bifidobacterium bifidum YIT 10347 (YIT10347) relieved gastric symptoms in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Hence, in this study, we ...investigated the effects of YIT10347 on gastrointestinal symptoms in healthy adults. In this prospective double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (UMIN000024654), 100 healthy Japanese adults were randomly assigned to a YIT10347 group or placebo group and consumed 100 mL of YIT10347-fermented milk or placebo fermented milk, respectively, every day for 4 wk. Gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated by using the modified Frequency Scale for Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (m-FSSG) and Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) as primary endpoints. Mental symptoms, quality of life, salivary stress markers, and gastric emptying were evaluated as secondary endpoints. Effectiveness and safety were analyzed in a per-protocol set (YIT10347 group, n = 39; placebo group, n = 40) and full analysis set (YIT10347 group, n = 50; placebo group, n = 50), respectively. In the m-FSSG evaluation, the YIT10347 group had a significantly higher relief rate of postprandial discomfort and greater changes in postprandial epigastric pain score from baseline than the placebo group. In the GSRS evaluation, the YIT10347 group had significantly higher relief rates of overall gastrointestinal symptoms, upper gastrointestinal symptoms, flatus, and diarrhea than the placebo group. We detected no significant differences in scores or relief rates of mental symptoms and quality of life, a salivary stress marker, or gastric emptying between the 2 groups. No severe adverse events associated with test beverage consumption were observed in either group. These findings suggest that daily consumption of YIT10347-fermented milk exerts beneficial effects on gastrointestinal discomfort and symptoms such as postprandial discomfort and epigastric pain in healthy adults.
Miscanthus sinensis growing in our study mine site contained a high concentration of Al in the adventitious roots. It has a root endophyte, Phialocephala fortinii, in its adventitious roots at a high ...frequency. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of P. fortinii on Al tolerance mechanisms of M. sinensis and reveal potential underlying mechanisms. In the absence of P. fortinii, M. sinensis produced chlorogenic, citric, and malic acids that could act to alleviate Al toxicity in acidic mine soil. Up on fungal inoculation, the levels of these compounds were reduced, although the growth of seedlings and Mg concentration in the roots were increased. IAA production by the fungus may contribute to enhanced plant growth whereas an increase of Mg uptake could reduce toxicity of reactive oxygen species under Al stress. These actions of P. fortinii could promote growth and survival of M. sinensis in mine sites.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Phialocephala fortinii is a dark septate endophytic fungus associated with from the roots of Miscanthus sinensis, which is found as a dominant plant in an acidic mine site. Inoculation of M. sinensis with P. fortinii increased plant growth and tolerance to harmful metals including aluminum. These effects, which seem to relate to indole‐3‐acetic acid production by the fungus and increase of magnesium uptake in the roots, suggest a key role for P. fortinii in growth and phytostabilization by M. sinensis in mine sites.
Aerosols in the troposphere influence photolysis frequencies and hence the concentrations of chemical species. We used a three-dimensional regional chemical transport model (NAQPMS) coupled with an ...accurate radiative transfer model to examine the impacts of aerosols on summertime photochemistry in Central Eastern China (CEC)
via changing photolysis frequencies. In addition to looking at changes in concentrations as previous studies have done, we examined the changes in ozone (O
3) budgets and the uncertainties related to our estimations. The 1st–12th June 2006 was selected as the simulation period when high aerosol optical depth at 550
nm (AOD550) and O
3 were found. A comparison of measurements showed that the model was capable of reproducing the spatial and temporal variations in photolysis frequencies, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, AOD550, cloud optical depth, O
3 and other chemical constitutes in CEC. Aerosols have important impacts on atmospheric oxidation capacity in CEC. On a regional scale, aerosols decreased the average O
3→O (
1D) photolysis frequency by 53%, 37% and 21% in the lower, middle and upper troposphere in CEC. The uncertainties of these estimations were 37%, 25% and 14%, respectively. Mean OH concentrations decreased by 51%, 40% and 24% in layers below 1
km, 1–3
km and 3–10
km, with uncertainties of 39%, 28% and 9%, respectively. The changes in HO
2 concentrations were smaller but significant. In contrast, NO
x showed a significant increase at 0–1
km and 1–3
km in CEC, with magnitudes of 6% and 8%. The largest relative enhancement occurred in downwind regions below 1
km. Summertime boundary layer O
3 (below 1
km and 1–3
km) was reduced by 5% with a maximum of 9% in highly polluted regions. The reduced ozone production (P (O
3)) was responsible for this reduction below 3
km.
► A 3D chemical transport model was coupled with an accurate radiative transfer model. ► The siginificant impacts of aerosols on summertime photochemistry in Central China. ► Summertime boundary layer ozone reduced by 5% in polluted regions.
Achievements of NEDO durability projects on SOFC mode are summarized with a focus on the physicochemical mechanisms characterized by diffusion properties of cell components and chemical reactions of ...cell components with gaseous impurities. Ni sintering and depletion including impurity (P, B, S) effects have been examined in terms of the surface/interface energies of Ni/oxide cermet anodes. The conductivity degradation due to the transformation of the cubic YSZ electrolyte was found to be characterized in terms of two time constants for the reductive and the oxidative regions to be determined by the Y‐diffusivity and its enhancement on NiO internal reduction in YSZ, while observed gaps in conductivity degradation behavior between stacks and button cells were ascribed to differences in those physicochemical properties involved, namely cation diffusion and kinetics associated with NiO internal reduction. The cathode performance degradation due to sulfur poisoning exhibits a variety of dependences on the microstructure (dense or porous) of doped‐ceria interlayers, the thickness of YSZ electrolyte and the humidity in the anode atmosphere, suggesting effects of protons in the cathode vicinity and the SrO activity changes during fabrication the LSCF/GDC/YSZ multilayers. Some defect chemical considerations were made on how such defects are affected by fabrication processes.
Chromium poisoning has been considered with an emphasis on the thermodynamic stability of perovskite cathodes. Reactions of cathodes with chromium vapors are categorized mainly into (1) Cr ...substitution into perovskite B-sites, (2) SrCrO
4 formation and (3) Cr
2O
3 or spinel (CrMn
2O
4) formation. These can be characterized in terms of the valence stability of transition metal tetravalent ions, which is also crucial in determining the cathode electrochemical reaction mechanism and in cathode-YSZ electrolyte chemical interaction. Observed chromium poisoning was compared with such thermodynamic features with aid of the consideration on the oxygen potential profile and related mass transfer caused by the electrical current.
Cathode materials with highly reactive surfaces and long-term stability are required to achieve high-performance solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). In this study, a promising cathode material, ...La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF), was prepared as a nanostructured thin film using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC)-buffered YSZ single crystal substrates having (100) and (111) orientations. Characterization revealed intrinsic differences among the as-grown LSCF thin films in terms of dominant crystalline orientation and nanostructure depending on GDC preparation as well as the YSZ substrate orientation. Evaluation of the oxygen exchange properties using the isotope exchange depth profile method revealed that LSCF thin films grown on (111) GDC/YSZ exhibited higher values of the apparent surface exchange coefficient compared to LSCF thin films grown on (100) GDC/YSZ. However, when subjected to long-term annealing at high temperatures, the former exhibited a stronger tendency to surface segregation as compared to the latter. These behaviors are correlated with the intrinsic properties of LSCF thin films, including the nanostructure, the possible effects attributed to SrO activity, and the stability of perovskite surfaces which would drive surface segregation. These results have implications for tailoring the performance of cathode thin films by understanding the dependence of oxygen exchange properties and surface segregation on driving forces such as surface chemistry and nanostructure.
The surface oxygen exchange coefficient (k*) and the oxide ion diffusivity (D*) in the La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ (LSCF) related perovskite materials with various strontium (Sr) and cobalt (Co) ...compositions were determined by a combination of isotope exchange (IE) technique and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Results show that the derived values of k* and D* decrease with decreasing Sr and Co content in those LSCF samples. To corroborate the results, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was performed on porous LSCF samples with the same Sr and Co deficiency; obtained impedance spectra were analyzed by the transmission line model (TLM) to derive k* and D*. It showed that those k* and D* values obtained from the isotope exchange experiments are in good agreement with the electrochemically determined values. For further analysis, thermogravimetry was performed to evaluate the oxygen vacancy concentration (δ) for respective samples. It has been found that changes in log D* can be well correlated with the log (δ/(3-δ)) as expected from the vacancy mechanism for the oxide ion diffusion. On the other hand, changes in log k* are not correlated only with the ionic properties like log (δ/(3-δ)) but also with the electron properties; this can be seen in the h plane coordinated with log D* and log k*.
•The influence of Sr and Co deficiency on k* and D* of LSCF was examined.•The values of k* and D* decrease with decreasing Sr and Co content in the LSCF.•The k* and D* are correlated strongly with the δ than the Sr and Co deficiency.•The D* can be well correlated with the vacancy concentration (δ).•The k* are correlated with the δ and Co content in the perovskite lattices.
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