Management for the temperature increase of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EV) is required for safety and energy efficiency. As a cooling medium for lithium-ion batteries, one suitable ...candidate is trimethylolethane (TME) hydrate, which may be utilized as a phase change material (PCM). This hydrate has a large dissociation heat and will form/dissociate at approximately 30 °C under atmospheric pressure conditions. A cooling system which uses TME hydrate can have a high performance with regards to the efficiency and the stability of heat transfer process. However, in previous studies, the equilibrium temperature and the dissociation heat of TME hydrate have been reported only for a TME mass fraction of 0.625. Since TME hydrate forms in an aqueous solution, it is necessary to know how these thermophysical properties change for a range of TME mass fractions. Therefore, in this study, the equilibrium temperatures and the dissociation heats were measured respectively by the visual observation method and differential scanning calorimetry measurements for TME mass fraction range from 0.20 to 0.80. The highest equilibrium temperature was 29.6 °C at the mass fraction of 0.60. For the cooling system, the largest dissociation heat was 190.1 kJ kg−1, also at the mass fraction of 0.60.
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•Proposed new hydrate-based technology of cooling Li-ion battery for electric vehicle.•Investigated thermophysical properties of TME hydrate as phase change material.•Revealed the relationship between the mass fraction and TME thermophysical properties.•Observed the saturation of TME aqueous solution over the mass fraction range of 0.65.•The optional mass fraction of TME hydrate for stably cooling Li-ion battery was 0.60.
•First investigated thermophysical properties of TBPAc hydrate as the thermal energy storage medium.•Showed the relationship between the mass fraction and the thermophysical properties of TBPAc ...hydrate.•TBPAc hydrate with the highest equilibrium temperature, 14.4 °C, was suitable for the general or air conditioning systems.•The dissociation heat of TBPAc hydrate, 210.4 kJ kg−1, was the greatest in the sustainable and eco-friendly TBP hydrates.•Revealed a new significance tendency on the thermophysical properties of TBP + carboxylate hydrates.
The hydrate-based thermal energy storage system is one of the most effective supplemental technologies to stabilize the energy supply for renewable energies. The system is expected to solve the global energy-management issues related to energy-demand increase and energy supply chain. In fact, this eco-friendly technology requires prospective hydrate candidates for the thermal energy storage media, followed by the extensive investigation of the thermophysical properties of the selected hydrates. In this study, to satisfy these requirements, the equilibrium temperature and the dissociation heat of tetrabutylphosphonium acrylate (TBPAc) ionic semi-clathrate hydrate were studied. It was found that the highest equilibrium temperature was 14.4 °C at the mass fractions from 0.37 to 0.40. It was also found that the largest dissociation heat was (210.4 ± 5.3) kJ kg−1 at the mass fraction 0.39. These values indicate that TBPAc hydrate could be a new promising thermal-storage medium for the general or data-centre air-conditioning systems. The experimental results of this study also revealed an underlying tendency between the thermophysical properties of the tetrabutylphosphonium (TBP) + carboxylate salt hydrates and the molar mass of the guest anion in salt.
•Thermophysical properties of tetrabutylphosphonium sulfate ((TBP)2SO4) hydrate with bivalent anion.•The relationship between the mass fraction and the thermophysical properties.•The highest phase ...equilibrium temperature of (TBP)2SO4 hydrate was 6.5 °C.•The largest dissociation heat of (TBP)2SO4 hydrate was 168.8 kJ·kg−1.
To develop the “hydrate thermal energy storage technology”, it is desired to reveal the mechanism of the thermophysical property manifestation on ionic semiclathrate hydrate. The influence of valence on thermophysical properties has not been investigated so far. In the present study, the phase equilibrium temperatures and the dissociation heats of tetrabutylphosphonium sulfate ((TBP)2SO4) ionic semiclathrate hydrate were experimentally studied. (TBP)2SO4 hydrate consists of the bivalent anion, SO42−. The highest phase equilibrium temperature was 6.5 °C at the mass fraction range from 0.363 to 0.384. The largest dissociation heat was (168.8 ± 2.4) kJ·kg−1 at the mass fraction 0.374. These values of the phase equilibrium temperature and the dissociation heat were respectively lower and smaller than those of the ionic semiclathrate hydrates with the monovalent anion. As a new choice for thermal energy storage medium, (TBP)2SO4 hydrate would be suitable to the automotive air conditioner and the cold chain for blood or perishable foods.
Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive forms of cancers and has a poor prognosis. Genomewide analyses have revealed that a set of core signaling pathways, the p53, RB, and RTK pathways, are ...commonly deregulated in glioblastomas. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the tumorigenicity of glioblastoma are not fully understood. Here, we show that the lysine deacetylase SIRT2 is required for the proliferation and tumorigenicity of glioblastoma cells, including glioblastoma stem cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SIRT2 regulates p73 transcriptional activity by deacetylation of its C‐terminal lysine residues. Our results suggest that SIRT2‐mediated inactivation of p73 is critical for the proliferation and tumorigenicity of glioblastoma cells and that SIRT2 may be a promising molecular target for the therapy of glioblastoma.
Synopsis
SIRT2 targets the tumor suppressor p73, thereby deacetylating its C‐terminus and suppressing its transcriptional activity. SIRT2‐mediated inactivation of p73 is crucial for the tumorigenicity of glioblastoma cells.
The lysine deacetylase SIRT2 is required for the proliferation and tumorigenicity of glioblastoma cells.
SIRT2 targets and regulates the transcriptional activity of the tumor suppressor p73.
SIRT2‐mediated inactivation of p73 is critical for the proliferation and tumorigenicity of glioblastoma cells.
SIRT2 targets the tumor suppressor p73, thereby deacetylating its C‐terminus and suppressing its transcriptional activity. SIRT2‐mediated inactivation of p73 is crucial for the tumorigenicity of glioblastoma cells.
•Final PFS data and second pre-planned interim analysis of OS and safety from J-ALEX.•Sustained improvement in IRF-assessed PFS demonstrated with alectinib.•Superiority of alectinib to crizotinib not ...concluded at second interim OS analysis.•Fewer alectinib-treated patients experienced grade ≥3 adverse events.•Alectinib continued to demonstrate superiority in IRF-assessed PFS vs crizotinib.
The J-ALEX study compared the efficacy and safety of alectinib with crizotinib in Japanese patients with advanced ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Superiority in independent review facility (IRF)-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) was demonstrated for alectinib at the second pre-planned interim PFS analysis (data cutoff: December 3, 2015; hazard ratio HR 0.34, 99.7 % confidence interval CI: 0.17–0.71, P < 0.0001). We report final PFS data and the second pre-planned interim analysis of overall survival (OS) and safety (data cutoff: June 30, 2018).
Patients aged ≥20 years who were ALK inhibitor-naïve and chemotherapy-naïve, or had received one prior chemotherapy regimen, were randomized to receive alectinib 300 mg (n = 103) or crizotinib 250 mg (n = 104) twice daily. The primary end point was IRF-assessed PFS. Secondary end points included OS and safety. All patients entered survival follow-up in July 2018.
Median follow-up was 42.4 months for alectinib and 42.2 months for crizotinib. Sustained improvement in IRF-assessed PFS with alectinib was shown (HR 0.37, 95 % CI: 0.26–0.52; median PFS 34.1 months vs 10.2 months crizotinib). At the second interim OS analysis, superiority of alectinib to crizotinib could not be concluded (stratified HR 0.80, 99.8799 % CI: 0.35–1.82, stratified log-rank P = 0.3860; median OS not reached alectinib vs 43.7 months crizotinib). Fewer alectinib-treated patients experienced grade ≥3 adverse events (36.9 % vs 60.6 % crizotinib).
At the final PFS analysis, alectinib continued to demonstrate superiority in IRF-assessed PFS versus crizotinib in ALK-inhibitor-naïve ALK-positive NSCLC, with a favorable safety profile. OS follow-up continues.
The development of the eco-friendly technology generating energy will be a gradual requirement all over the world to replace thermal power releasing CO2 and nuclear power for which the wastes are ...disposed of with great difficultly. The hydrate-heat engine is a new cycle obtaining mechanical work from temperature differences that normally cannot generate energy, for example, heat differences between the top and bottom seawater. Although the hydrate cycle is a more sustainable power generation system than typically used Rankine cycle from the aspect of using environmental harmless working media, this new cycle has an issue as the low thermal efficiency. To increase the thermal efficiency, the performance of the hydrate-based heat engine utilizing structure II and H hydrates is theoretically evaluated for various models of low-grade heat sources. The results showed that the structure II and H hydrates formed by adding large guest molecule compounds to a second small guest gas system were effective in improving thermal efficiency. Especially, the double hydrate with Kr and cyclopentane enable the hydrate cycle to perform as efficiently as Rankine cycle, having the thermal efficiency around 3.0%, for the ocean thermal energy conversion in the temperature range from 282 K to 293 K.
•First theoretically analyzed a hydrate-based heat engine using double hydrates.•Calculated thermal efficiencies of the heat engine for several low-grade heat sources.•Evaluated the efficiency of the heat engine comparable to that of the Rankine cycle.•Revealed new dominant factors related to the thermal efficiency of the heat engine.•Showed the usefulness of the heat engine with usually unused temperature differences.
Isodehydrodigallic acid, which is an important component of several ellagitannin compounds, was easily synthesized using a classical Ullmann condensation reaction.
Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are innate‐like CD1d‐restricted T cells that express the invariant T cell receptor (TCR) composed of Vα24 and Vβ11 in humans. iNKT cells specifically recognize ...glycolipid antigens such as α‐galactosylceramide (αGalCer) presented by CD1d. iNKT cells show direct cytotoxicity toward CD1d‐positive tumor cells, especially when CD1d presents glycolipid antigens. However, iNKT cell recognition of CD1d‐negative tumor cells is unknown, and direct cytotoxicity of iNKT cells toward CD1d‐negative tumor cells remains controversial. Here, we demonstrate that activated iNKT cells recognize leukemia cells in a CD1d‐independent manner, however still in a TCR‐mediated way. iNKT cells degranulated and released Th1 cytokines toward CD1d‐negative leukemia cells (K562, HL‐60, REH) as well as αGalCer‐loaded CD1d‐positive Jurkat cells. The CD1d‐independent cytotoxicity was enhanced by natural killer cell‐activating receptors such as NKG2D, 2B4, DNAM‐1, LFA‐1 and CD2, but iNKT cells did not depend on these receptors for the recognition of CD1d‐negative leukemia cells. In contrast, TCR was essential for CD1d‐independent recognition and cytotoxicity. iNKT cells degranulated toward patient‐derived leukemia cells independently of CD1d expression. iNKT cells targeted myeloid malignancies more than acute lymphoblastic leukemia. These findings reveal a novel anti–tumor mechanism of iNKT cells in targeting CD1d‐negative tumor cells and indicate the potential of iNKT cells for clinical application to treat leukemia independently of CD1d.
Activated human iNKT cells directly recognize leukemia cells, especially myeloid malignancies, in a CD1d‐independent manner. The CD1d‐independent cytotoxicity of iNKT cells depends on Vα24Vβ11‐T cell receptor and is enhanced by NK cell‐activating receptors.
A bronchobiliary fistula (BBF) is an uncommon but severe complication after radiofrequency ablation (RFA). However, the definitive salvage methods are controversial. We herein report a patient with ...hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatic abscess and BBF following RFA. We also review previous reports of BBF after RFA. The patient was a man in his 70s who underwent RFA for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in the subphrenic area. Despite percutaneous transhepatic abscess drainage, bilioptysis persisted. Finally, the BBF was occluded with an endobronchial Watanabe spigot under fiber-optic bronchoscopy. Placing an endobronchial Watanabe spigot should be considered as a salvage therapy for refractory BBF following RFA.
Various infection control measures implemented during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have reduced the number of respiratory infections, which are the most common cause of chronic ...obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. Here, we investigated whether infectious disease prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced COPD exacerbations and the characteristics of patients exhibiting exacerbations before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We included outpatients and inpatients with moderate or severe COPD exacerbations who required systemic steroids between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2022. Their medical records were retrospectively compared and analyzed in 2-year intervals (before and during the COVID-19 pandemic). During the 4-year observation period, 70,847 outpatients and 2,772 inpatients were enrolled; 55 COPD exacerbations were recorded. The number of COPD exacerbations decreased from 36 before to 19 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding the characteristics of patients with exacerbations, the % forced expiratory volume in one second (52.3% vs. 38.6%, P = 0.0224) and body mass index (BMI) (22.5 vs. 19.3, P = 0.0127) were significantly lower during the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic. The number of COPD exacerbations during the pandemic decreased. Additionally, the tendency for a reduction in COPD exacerbation was greatest in patients with preserved lung function or above-standard BMI patients.
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