Transmission control protocol (TCP) and Ethernet have been widely used in readout systems. These protocols are de facto standards and have been implemented on standard operating systems. However, ...some small devices, e.g., front-end devices and detectors, are not capable of employing these protocols because of hardware size limitations. This paper describes a TCP processor for gigabit Ethernet with a circuit size suitable for implementing on a single field programmable gate array. The only peripheral device required is a single Ethernet physical layer device. The hardware was implemented and its TCP throughput was measured. The throughputs in both directions simultaneously were at the upper limits of gigabit Ethernet. A mechanism for slow control over user datagram protocol (UDP) is also provided. The processor described here allows adoption of TCP/Ethernet in small devices that have hardware size limitations.
The forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) transcription factor is a key regulator of autophagy. In chondrocytes, reduced FOXO1 expression with aging causes osteoarthritis due to dysfunction of autophagy, but the ...mechanisms underlying regulation of FOXO1 expression and the reduction in expression with aging remain unclear. We investigated the mechanism by which transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) signaling regulates the FOXO1–autophagy axis.
Expression of FOXO1 was measured in chondrocytes after TGFβ1 treatment. Immunohistochemistry was performed to estimate the levels of activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) and FOXO1 in the knee joints of young, middle-aged and old mice. The effects of the ALK5 inhibitor and SMAD3 or SMAD2 knockdown on FOXO1 expression were evaluated. The role of TGFβ1 in autophagy after hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment was analyzed. The protective effect of TGFβ1 against H2O2 treatment was assessed by cell viability assay and TUNEL assay.
TGFβ1 promoted the expression of FOXO1 mRNA and protein. Both ALK5 and FOXO1 expression decreased with aging. ALK5 inhibition and SMAD3 knockdown suppressed induction of FOXO1 expression by TGFβ1, whereas SMAD2 knockdown increased it. TGFβ1 promoted the expression of microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3)-I protein via the SMAD3–FOXO1 pathway. Furthermore, under H2O2 treatment, TGFβ1 promoted expression of LC3-II. TGFβ1 pretreatment suppressed cell death of chondrocytes following H2O2 treatment, but this protective effect was abolished by FOXO1 knockdown.
TGFβ1 protects chondrocytes against oxidative stress via the FOXO1–autophagy axis, and a reduction in ALK5 expression might cause reduced FOXO1 expression with aging.
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•The stimulus response via synaptic connections is suppressed at Xe pressures above 0.3 MPa.•Xe induced suppression of the response rate is less sensitive than that of the synchronous ...burst.•Hill-equation fitting to the Xe pressure dependence of the stimulus response rate shows multiple suppression points.•The signal transduction on the axons is also depressed, only in response rate at Xe pressures above 0.3 MPa.
Neurons cultured on a multi-electrode array show not only spontaneous firing, but also network-specific burst firing, the latter of which develops into synchronous bursting. Such synchronous bursting can be suppressed by exposure to xenon (Xe) gas. To better understand such suppression of bursting by Xe, we investigate here whether signal transmission between neurons is also suppressed under these conditions. In these experiments, we apply a pulse electrical-stimulus to one electrode and observe the response signals within 10 ms at other active electrodes. When put under a sufficient Xe pressure, some response signals become delayed or vanish after disappearance of synchronous-bursts, particularly signals passing through multiple synaptic bonds. Such bonds have a high probability of having delayed or vanishing signals when the Xe pressure is above 0.3 MPa. The pressure dependence of the response ratio to the stimulus suggests that Xe suppresses multiple points of action simultaneously when suppressing synaptic signal transduction, as observed in the suppression of the synchronized bursting. In addition, we find that the signal that transmits not via synaptic bonding (axon conduction) is also suppressed under Xe gas pressures over 0.3 MPa. Therefore, we conclude that Xe-induced suppression of synchronized bursting is caused mainly by a decrease in the apparent number of active neurons that contribute to the neuronal network, a decrease due to inhibition of signal transmission via synaptic connections.
Objective
Synthetic glucocorticoids cause various psychiatric symptoms. Prescription of psychotropic drugs could be considered to be a proxy for manifestation of psychiatric symptoms. The aim of this ...study was to investigate the prescriptions of psychotropics in outpatients receiving synthetic glucocorticoids.
Methods
We used the claims sampling data during January 2015 from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan made by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare in Japan. We compared the prescription rates of psychotropics between outpatients receiving oral synthetic glucocorticoids and age‐ and sex‐matched controls and the prescription rates of psychotropics among the eight dosage groups of synthetic glucocorticoids by chi‐squared test, and chlorpromazine/imipramine/diazepam equivalent doses (or daily defined doses) of respective psychotropics among these groups using Welch's t‐test.
Results
Synthetic glucocorticoids were prescribed to 3.1% (n = 18 122) of 581 990 patients. The prescription rates of psychotropics were significantly higher among the synthetic glucocorticoid recipients than among the non‐recipients: antipsychotics, 1.8% (n = 321) vs. 1.1% (n = 201) (P = 1.4 × 10−7); antidepressants, 4.0% (n = 724) vs. 2.0% (n = 359) (P = 8.7 × 10−30); anxiolytics/hypnotics, 16.7% (n = 3029) vs. 10.2% (n = 1841) (P = 2.7 × 10−75); and mood stabilizers, 1.3% (n = 238) vs. 0.7% (n = 120) (P = 3.6 × 10−10) respectively. There was no significant difference in the prescription rates of any psychotropic drugs, other than anxiolytics/hypnotics, among the eight synthetic glucocorticoid dosage groups.
Conclusion
Prescriptions of oral synthetic glucocorticoids were found to be associated with the use of any of the types of psychotropic drugs, other than anxiolytics/hypnotics, although a causal relationship could not be confirmed due to the retrospective and cross‐sectional nature of this study.
A flexible paper-structured catalyst (PSC) that can be applied to the anode of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) was examined for its potential to enable direct internal reforming (DIR) operation. The ...catalytic activity of three types of Ni-loaded PSCs: (a) without the dispersion of support oxide particles in the fiber network (PSC-A), (b) with the dispersion of (Mg,Al)O derived from hydrotalcite (PSCB), and (c) with the dispersion of (Ce,Zr)O2-δ (PSCC), for dry reforming of CH4 was evaluated at operating temperatures of 650–800 °C. Among the PSCs, PSC-C exhibited the highest CH4 conversion with the lowest degradation rate. The electrochemical performance of an electrolyte-supported cell (ESC) was evaluated under the flow of simulated biogas at 750 °C for cases without and with the PSCs on the anode. The application of the PSCs improved the cell performance. In particular, PSC-C had a remarkably positive effect on stabilizing DIRSOFC operation fueled by biogas.
•Direct internal reforming (DIR) SOFC fueled by biogas has been investigated.•Paper-structured catalyst (PSC) was examined for the application to DIRSOFC.•Coking-tolerant PSC for dry reforming was developed by the dispersion of (Ce,Zr)O2-δ.•On-paper synthesis of (Ce,Zr)O2δ contributed to its higher dispersion.•Performance of DIRSOFC was stabilized by applying the developed PSC on anode.
Summary
Recombinant thrombomodulin (rTM) has pleiotrophic properties, including anti‐coagulation and anti‐inflammation; however, its effectiveness as a treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) has not ...been evaluated fully. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and proinflammatory cytokines, working as inflammatory mediators, are reportedly involved in the inflammatory pathogenesis of MS. The aim of this study was to determine whether rTM can be a potential therapeutic agent for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). EAE mice received rTM treatment (1 mg or 0·1 mg/kg/day) from days 11 to 15 after immunization. The clinical variables, plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines and HMGB1 and pathological findings in EAE were evaluated. rTM administration ameliorated the clinical and pathological severity of EAE. An immunohistochemical study of the spinal cord showed weaker cytoplasmic HMGB1 staining in the rTM‐treated EAE mice than in the untreated EAE mice. Plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines and HMGB1 were suppressed by rTM treatment. In conclusion, rTM down‐regulated inflammatory mediators in the peripheral circulation and prevented HMGB1 release from nuclei in the central nervous system, suppressing EAE‐related inflammation. rTM could have a novel therapeutic potential for patients with MS.
Recombinant thrombomodulin down‐regulated inflammatory mediators in the peripheral circulation and prevented HMGB1 release from nuclei in the central nervous system, suppressing EAE‐related inflammation. Recombinant thrombomodulin could have a novel therapeutic potential for patients with multiple sclerosis.
Fermented shrimp sausages are prepared spontaneously with Litopenaeus vannamei as raw material. Shrimp is one of the marine sources with rich chitosan as bioactive compounds, antioxidants, vitamin E, ...and probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) produced by fermentation processes. This study aimed to analyze the variations in antioxidant activity, vitamin E content, total LAB, total pathogenic bacteria, pH, and acceptability of shrimp sausage produced at different fermentation times. A completely randomized experimental design study was performed using four levels of exposure time, including control (0 days), 1, 2, and 3 days. The treatment was conducted spontaneously with 1.2% salt concentration, a drying temperature of 50°C for 3 h, and fermentation at 35°C. The evaluated parameters included the antioxidant activity measured with the radical 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) method, vitamin E levels by high-performance liquid chromatography, total LAB with total plate count, and Escherichia coli bacteria by the most probable number method. Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus aureus were estimated by the identification method. A pH meter was used to assess acidity, and hedonic organoleptic testing was performed for taste, aroma, color, and texture. The results show significant differences in antioxidant activity, vitamin E, and shrimp sausage acceptability at varied fermentation times p≤0.05. However, the best formulation was obtained with the first-day fermented shrimp sausage, as shown by its bioactive content and the level of acceptability.
Peroxiredoxin 5 and peroxiredoxin 6 may play a role in the pathogeneses of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica
Summary
Peroxiredoxins (PRXs) are intracellular anti‐oxidative enzymes but work ...as inflammatory amplifiers under the extracellular condition. To date, the function of PRXs in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PRXs play a role in the pathogenesis of MS and NMOSD. We analyzed levels of PRXs (PRX1, PRX5 and PRX6) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 16 patients with MS, 16 patients with NMOSD and 15 patients with other neurological disorders (ONDs). We identified potential correlations between significantly elevated PRXs levels and the clinical variables in patients with MS and NMOSD. Additionally, pathological analyses of PRXs (PRX1‐6) in the central nervous system (CNS) were performed using the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), animal model of MS. We found that serum levels of PRX5 and PRX6 in patients with MS and NMOSD were higher compared with those in patients with ONDs (P < 0·05). Furthermore, high levels of PRX5 and PRX6 were partly associated with blood–brain barrier dysfunction and disease duration in NMOSD patients. No significant elevation was found in CSF PRXs levels of MS and NMOSD. Spinal cords from EAE mice showed remarkable PRX5 staining, especially in CD45+ infiltrating cells. In conclusion, PRX5 and PRX6 may play a role in the pathogeneses of MS and NMOSD.
Mesopic photometry can be applied to road lighting practice to enhance peripheral visual performance and to reduce light levels. However, mesopic photometry characterizes peripheral vision, whereas ...photopic photometry characterizes foveal vision at all light levels. Higher scotopic / photopic (S/P) ratio light sources which enhance peripheral visual performance may have a negative influence on foveal vision. In addition, light level reductions, as realized in British Standard 5489-1: 2013, may impair foveal visual performance. To investigate the above-described concern, we conducted two experiments. First, we investigated whether Landolt ring targets detected by peripheral vision can be recognized correctly after moving the line of sight to fixate on the targets in foveal vision. Then, we found that subjects could recognize in foveal vision almost all targets that peripheral vision detected. The S/P ratio of the background lighting did not influence this tendency. Second, we investigated luminance contrast thresholds for foveal vision to compare them with those for peripheral vision, obtained from the first experiment. We found that threshold contrasts of targets recognized by foveal vision were lower than those detected by peripheral vision. These results lead to the conclusion that the use of higher S/P ratio light sources has no negative influence for foveal vision when implementing mesopic photometry.
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