Microminipigs are extremely small‐sized, novel miniature pigs that were recently developed for medical research. The inbred Microminipigs with defined swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) haplotypes are ...expected to be useful for allo‐ and xenotransplantation studies and also for association analyses between SLA haplotypes and immunological traits. To establish SLA‐defined Microminipig lines, we characterized the polymorphic SLA alleles for three class I (SLA‐1, SLA‐2 and SLA‐3) and two class II (SLA‐DRB1 and SLA‐DQB1) genes of 14 parental Microminipigs using a high‐resolution nucleotide sequence‐based typing method. Eleven class I and II haplotypes, including three recombinant haplotypes, were found in the offspring of the parental Microminipigs. Two class I and class II haplotypes, Hp‐31.0 (SLA‐1*1502–SLA‐3*070102–SLA‐2*1601) and Hp‐0.37 (SLA‐DRB1*0701–SLA‐DQB1*0502), are novel and have not so far been reported in other pig breeds. Crossover regions were defined by the analysis of 22 microsatellite markers within the SLA class III region of three recombinant haplotypes. The SLA allele and haplotype information of Microminipigs in this study will be useful to establish SLA homozygous lines including three recombinants for transplantation and immunological studies.
Background: Behavioral changes among Japanese, along with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, may affect the seasonal influenza epidemic in Japan and change influenza vaccine ...effectiveness (VE). Methods: This single-center, test-negative case-control (TNCC) study estimated influenza VE in children for the first influenza season (2019/20) to overlap the COVID-19 epidemic in. Effects of prior influenza infection and vaccination in children were assessed for the 2019-2020 season. Results: Among 386 children, adjusted VE was significant for influenza A/H1N1 (45.5%; 95% confidence interval CI: 2.0-69.7) and influenza B (66.7%; 95% CI: 35.9-82.7). Among patients aged 0-6 years, adjusted VE was significant for influenza A (total: A/H1N1+A/H3N2) (65.0%; 95% CI: 22.2-84.3), influenza A/H1N1 (64.8%; 95% CI: 16.9-85.1) and influenza B (87.4%; 95% CI: 50.5-96.8). No VE was observed in patients aged 7-15 years. Administration of two vaccine doses tended to decrease incidences of influenza A (total) and influenza A/H1N1 in patients aged 0-6 years. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of influenza B infection in patients, who had influenza during the previous season, were significantly lower among all participants (0.29; 95% CI: 0.11-0.78) and patients aged 7-15 years (0.34; 95% CI: 0.12-0.94). The adjusted ORs of influenza infections were not significant in patients vaccinated during the previous season. Conclusions: TNCC-based estimates of influenza VE were consistent despite the overlapping COVID-19 epidemic.
The contact between minor amounts of SO2 and crystalline 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bromide (BMIBr) causes the almost immediate melting of the ionic liquid (mp 45 °C) as well as a dramatic decrease ...in its viscosity in comparison to the pure molten phase. The same behavior was observed for other halide ionic liquids of higher melting points (70, 135, and 220 °C). The Raman spectrum of BMIBr−SO2 clearly indicates a specific charge transfer interaction involving SO2 and the halide. The measurements of ionic conductivity and diffusion coefficients obtained for the neat BMIBr (molten phase) and for the BMIBr−SO2 strongly suggest a higher degree of ionic association in the presence of SO2. Molecular dynamic simulations indicate that although the cation−anion distance is preserved in the short range, there is a variation in the interionic distances in the second shell, leading to a less organized structure in the long range. The modulation of the structural and physical properties of ionic liquids by SO2 and the convenient choice of the ions for gas absorption are suggested.
The alternative low-spin states of Fe3+ and Fe2+ cytochrome c induced by SDS or AOT/hexane reverse micelles exhibited the heme group in a less rhombic symmetry and were characterized by electron ...paramagnetic resonance, UV-visible, CD, magnetic CD, fluorescence, and Raman resonance. Consistent with the replacement of Met80 by another strong field ligand at the sixth heme iron coordination position, Fe3+ ALSScytc exhibited 1-nm Soret band blue shift and ɛ enhancement accompanied by disappearance of the 695-nm charge transfer band. The Raman resonance, CD, and magnetic CD spectra of Fe3+ and Fe2+ ALSScytc exhibited significant changes suggestive of alterations in the heme iron microenvironment and conformation and should not be assigned to unfold because the Trp59 fluorescence remained quenched by the neighboring heme group. ALSScytc was obtained with His33 and His26 carboxyethoxylated horse cytochrome c and with tuna cytochrome c (His33 replaced by Asn) pointing out Lys79 as the probable heme iron ligand. Fe3+ ALSScytc retained the capacity to cleave tert-butylhydroperoxide and to be reduced by dithiothreitol and diphenylacetaldehyde but not by ascorbate. Compatible with a more open heme crevice, ALSScytc exhibited a redox potential ∼200mV lower than the wild-type protein (+220mV) and was more susceptible to the attack of free radicals.
Summary Objective To analyze changes in the capsule from idiopathic frozen shoulders and clarify their etiology. Materials and methods Samples (the rotator interval capsule, middle glenohumeral ...ligament (MGHL), and inferior glenohumeral ligament (IGHL)) were collected from 12 idiopathic frozen shoulders with severe stiffness and 18 shoulders with rotator cuff tears as a control. The number of cells was counted and the tissue elasticity of the samples was calculated by scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM). The amount of glycosaminoglycan content was assessed by alcian blue staining. Gene and protein expressions related to fibrosis, inflammation, and chondrogenesis were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Furthermore, the total genes of the two groups were compared by DNA microarray analysis. Results The number of cells was significantly higher and the capsular tissue was significantly stiffer in idiopathic frozen shoulders compared with shoulders with rotator cuff tears. Staining intensity of alcian blue was significantly stronger in idiopathic frozen shoulders. Gene expressions related to fibrosis, inflammation, and chondrogenesis were significantly higher in idiopathic frozen shoulders compared with shoulders with rotator cuff tears assessed by both qPCR and DNA microarray analysis. Conclusion In addition to fibrosis and inflammation, which used to be considered the main pathology of frozen shoulders, chondrogenesis is likely to have a critical role in pathogenesis of idiopathic frozen shoulders.
Understanding the processes in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries is critical to advancing this promising energy storage technology. To this end, a 3D polypyrrole-based sponge (PPY) was synthesized as a ...sulfur host for positive electrodes in (Li–S). Through optimization, the PPY:S8 composite showed interesting electrochemical performance, including a cycle lifetime of over 200 cycles and remarkable specific capacitances at 0.2 A g−1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data provided valuable insights. In addition to the unchanged solution resistance indicating a minimal shuttle effect, the capacitance of the PPY film remains robust due to its bipolaronic state and shows strong sulfur retention, especially at the LiPSs/S8 potential. Operando Raman spectroscopy revealed the stability of the bipolaronic state and the “neutralization” of the lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) by the incorporation of sulfur. Moreover, UV–vis analysis confirmed the efficient absorption of LiPS within the PPY matrix. These results highlight the potential of PPY as an effective sulfur host that minimizes the shuttle effect and improves the charge storage capability of Li–S batteries. This research contributes to the development of advanced materials for energy storage systems and highlights the importance of using positively charged materials as carriers for sulfur in Li–S batteries.
Display omitted
Hyperphagia triggers and accelerates diabetes, and prevents proper dietary control of glycemia. Inversely, the impact of hyperglycemia on hyperphagia and possible mechanistic cause common for these ...two metabolic disorders in type 2 diabetes are less defined. The present study examined the precise developmental process of hyperglycemia and hyperphagia and explored the alterations in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), the primary feeding and metabolic center, in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats with type 2 diabetes and nearly normal body weight. At mid 3 to 4 weeks of age, GK rats first exhibited hyperglycemia, and then hyperphagia and reduced mRNA expressions for anorexigenic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and glucokinase in ARC. Furthermore, Ca2+i responses to high glucose in ARC POMC neurons were impaired in GK rats at 4 weeks. Treating GK rats from early 3 to mid 6 weeks of age with an anti-diabetic medicine miglitol not only suppressed hyperglycemia but ameliorated hyperphagia and restored POMC mRNA expression in ARC. These results suggest that the early hyperglycemia occurring in weaning period may lead to impaired glucose sensing and neuronal activity of POMC neurons, and thereby induce hyperphagia in GK rats. Correction of hyperglycemia in the early period may prevent and/or ameliorate the progression of hyperphagia in type 2 diabetes.
•Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats at weaning 4 weeks develop hyperglycemia and hyperphagia.•Reduced POMC, glucokinase and glucose-induced Ca2+i rises in arcuate neurons.•Anti-diabetic miglitol ameliorates hyperglycemia and hyperphagia and restores POMC.•Early hyperglycemia induces POMC neuron dysfunction and hyperphagia in GK rats.•Correcting hyperglycemia early may decelerate POMC reduction/hyperphagia in T2DM.
The Cretaceous deep-sea record of the Santonian-Campanian transition is commonly interrupted by an extensive unconformity (representing <10 Myr of hiatus). The resultant palaeoceanographic gap can ...now be partly bridged by a recent short core of pelagic ooze from Shatsky Rise (Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Site U1348), with precise multidisciplinary age constraints developed herein. New oxygen isotope data from very well-preserved benthic foraminifera, together with accurately compiled comparable benthic data from previous Pacific deep-sea sections, exhibit a large (c. +1 per mil) early Campanian shift. We propose the Santonian-Campanian climatic transition was not gradual but was the first major cooling step after sustained mid-Cretaceous hothouse conditions.
Transport coefficients have been measured as a function of the concentration of sulfur dioxide, SO2, dissolved in 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, BMMITf2N, as well ...as in its lithium salt solution, LiTf2N. The SO2 reduces viscosity and density and increases conductivity and diffusion coefficients in both the neat BMMITf2N and the BMMITf2N–LiTf2N solution. The conductivity enhancement is not assigned to a simple viscosity effect; the weakening of ionic interactions upon SO2 addition also plays a role. Microscopic details of the SO2 effect were unraveled using Raman spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The Raman spectra suggest that the Li+–Tf2N interaction is barely affected by SO2, and the SO2–Tf2N interaction is weaker than previously observed in an investigation of an ionic liquid containing the bromide anion. Transport coefficients calculated by MD simulations show the same trend as the experimental data with respect to SO2 content. The MD simulations provide structural information on SO2 molecules around Tf2N, in particular the interaction of the sulfur atom of SO2 with oxygen and fluorine atoms of the anion. The SO2–BMMI interaction is also important because the BMMI cations with above-average mobility have a larger number of nearest-neighbor SO2 molecules.
This paper proposes a dual-polarized omnidirectional antenna for base-station antennas that are mounted on the rooftops of buildings. The antenna suppresses the degradation in the received-signal ...level due to the inclination of mobile antennas in the personal handy-phone system (PHS). The proposed polarization-diversity antenna is comprised of a dielectric-loaded slotted-cylinder antenna for horizontally polarized waves and a conventional collinear array antenna for vertically polarized waves in a height-diversity configuration. The structure of the proposed antenna and its fundamental characteristics, such as the input impedance and radiation pattern, are shown. The change in the radio zone length (RZL) due to the inclination angle of the mobile antenna is measured to estimate the improvement offered by the proposed antenna in an urban area. It is shown that the RZLs of the collinear antennas in line-of-sight (LOS) environments are decreased by 73% when the mobile antenna is inclined at 90 , whereas the proposed polarization-diversity antenna restrains the degradation to approximately 20%, regardless of the inclination angle without downtilt and from 20% to 40% for a 15 downtilt. The RZLs of the collinear tilt antennas in non-LOS (NLOS) environments are below approximately 20%, compared to those of the collinear tilt antennas for the LOS route. We show that the RZLs in the NLOS environments are short compared to those for the LOS environments in microcell systems such as PHS with a high-elevation base station, even when the polarization-diversity technique is applied to the base station.
PDF
