Contribution of Invariant Natural Killer T Cells to the Clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Skin Wounds

Chronic infections are considered one of the most severe problems in skin wounds, and bacteria are present in over 90% of chronic wounds. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is frequently isolated from chronic wounds and is thought to be a cause of delayed wound healing. Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, unique lymphocytes with a potent regulatory ability in various inflammatory responses, accelerate the wound healing process. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of iNKT cells in the host defense against P. aeruginosa inoculation at the wound sites. We analyzed the re-epithelialization, bacterial load, accumulation of leukocytes, and production of cytokines and antimicrobial peptides. In iNKT cell–deficient (Jα18KO) mice, re-epithelialization was significantly decreased, and the number of live colonies was significantly increased, when compared with those in wild-type (WT) mice on day 7. IL-17A, and IL-22 production was significantly lower in Jα18KO mice than in WT mice on day 5. Furthermore, the administration of α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), a specific activator of iNKT cells, led to enhanced host protection, as shown by reduced bacterial load, and to increased production of IL-22, IL-23, and S100A9 compared that of with WT mice. These results suggest that iNKT cells promote P. aeruginosa clearance during skin wound healing.     

Reduced Claudin-12 Expression Predicts Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer

Background: Within the claudin (CLDN) family, CLDN12 mRNA expression is altered in various types of cancer, but its clinicopathological relevance has yet to be established due to the absence of specific antibodies (Abs) with broad applications. Methods: We generated a monoclonal Ab (mAb) against human/mouse CLDN12 and verified its specificity. By performing immunohistochemical staining and semiquantification, we evaluated the relationship between CLDN12 expression and clinicopathological parameters in tissues from 138 cases of cervical cancer. Results: Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the established mAb selectively recognized the CLDN12 protein. Twenty six of the 138 cases (18.8%) showed low CLDN12 expression, and the disease-specific survival (DSS) and recurrence-free survival rates were significantly decreased compared with those in the high CLDN12 expression group. We also demonstrated, via univariable and multivariable analyses, that the low CLDN12 expression represents a significant prognostic factor for the DSS of cervical cancer patients (HR 3.412, p = 0.002 and HR 2.615, p = 0.029, respectively). Conclusions: It can be concluded that a reduced CLDN12 expression predicts a poor outcome for cervical cancer. The novel anti-CLDN12 mAb could be a valuable tool to evaluate the biological relevance of the CLDN12 expression in diverse cancer types and other diseases.     

Abscopal Effect of Frozen Autograft Reconstruction Combined with an Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Analyzed Using a Metastatic Bone Tumor Model

We evaluated the abscopal effect of re-implantation of liquid nitrogen-treated tumor-bearing bone grafts and the synergistic effect of anti-PD-1 (programmed death-1) therapy using a bone metastasis model, created by injecting MMT-060562 cells into the bilateral tibiae of 6–8-week-old female C3H mice. After 2 weeks, the lateral tumors were treated by excision, cryotreatment using liquid nitrogen, excision with anti-PD-1 treatment, and cryotreatment with anti-PD-1 treatment. Anti-mouse PD-1 4H2 was injected on days 1, 6, 12, and 18 post-treatment. The mice were euthanized after 3 weeks; the abscopal effect was evaluated by focusing on growth inhibition of the abscopal tumor. The re-implantation of frozen autografts significantly inhibited the growth of the remaining abscopal tumors. However, a more potent abscopal effect was observed in the anti-PD-1 antibody group. The number of CD8+ T cells infiltrating the abscopal tumor and tumor-specific interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-producing spleen cells increased in the liquid nitrogen-treated group compared with those in the excision group, with no significant difference. The number was significantly higher in the anti-PD-1 antibody-treated group than in the non-treated group. Overall, re-implantation of tumor-bearing frozen autograft has an abscopal effect on abscopal tumor growth, although re-implantation of liquid nitrogen-treated bone grafts did not induce a strong T-cell response or tumor-suppressive effect.     

A method for testing the interface toughness of ceramic environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) on ceramic matrix composites (CMCs)

A simple interface fracture test for ceramic environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) on ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) was developed. A variation on the asymmetric double cantilever beam (ADCB) test was proposed so that the interface toughness could be measured in a small specimen of simple shape without applying interlaminar loading to the CMC substrate. The proposed test was applied to an EBC consisting of a mullite layer and Si bond coat on a monolithic SiC substrate. A pre-crack was introduced by pop-in cracking, and then a notch overlapping the pre-crack was machined. The pre-crack was opened by inserting a wedge into the notch. From the critical notch opening displacement the crack starts to propagate, interface toughness is calculated. The measured interface toughness was 4.1?J/m2. Finally, the application range of the test was discussed and suggestions were made for introduction of the notch and pre-crack.     

Water leakage due to the welding defect and improvement to reach 1-MW beam operation in the mercury target of J-PARC

ABSTRACT

Neutron flux per pulse reached world record at neutron source in Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). In the J-PARC, mercury target system is used as a spallation neutron source. A target vessel has a multi-walled protection system that comprises a mercury vessel enclosed with a double-walled water shroud. This is to prevent the leakage of the mercury outside the target vessel. The multi-walled structure needed to be complicated with a lot of welding lines. However, during the operation, we faced an unscheduled shutdown due to water leakage to the intermediate layer between the mercury vessel and water shroud. An investigation on the cause of the leakage was carried out. It is deduced that the leakage path was formed due to the crack propagation from welding defects that are caused by the complicated multi-walled structure. The crack propagation is attributed to the repeated stress by pressure waves generated in the mercury target. Based on the investigation results, the design was improved to remove the welding line on the complicated structure and to realize the stable operation with 1 MW proton beam, which is the final design value of the neutron source in J-PARC.     

Polarity Effect and Electromagnetic Radiation of Partial Discharge Accompanying Growth of Electrical Tree

We have investigated the characteristics of radiated electromagnetic (EM) waves from positive and negative partial discharges (PD) in epoxy resin and cross‐linked polyethylene. We found that there is a correlation among the EM level from PD, the positive PD current, and electrical trees. Therefore, the growth of an electrical tree produces a lot of positive PD. We have also investigated the characteristics of the frequency region of EM waves from PD in air, insulating oil, and liquid epoxy in addition to the above insulators. EM waves were detected in the frequency region of 40 MHz to 300 MHz from positive and negative PD in epoxy resin and cross‐linked polyethylene. EM waves were also detected in the frequency region of 40 MHz to 150 MHz from positive and negative PD in air. In the case of insulating oil and liquid epoxy, EM waves were detected in the frequency regions of 40 MHz to 150 MHz from positive PD, and 40 MHz to 250 MHz from negative PD. The frequency region differed depending on the material and the discharge polarity. Our investigation indicates that the cause is differences in electric field strength at the time of PD occurrence.     

On-off switching properties of one-dimensional photonic crystals consisting of azo-functionalized polymer liquid crystals having different methylene spacers and polyvinyl alcohol

In this paper, photoresponsive behavior of multi-bilayered films having precisely controlled layer thickness prepared by stacking an azo-functionalized polymer liquid crystal, PMAzXAc, and polyvinyl alcohol alternatively, PVA, is described. The multi-bilayered films were found to reflect a light of specific wavelength depending on the layer thickness and refractive index, and showed the reversible change in the reflection intensity by irradiation with visible and UV lights. The change in the reflection intensity was brought about by change in the molecular orientation of PMAzXAc between an out-of-plane orientation and a photo-induced isotropic state, and was strongly dependent on the number of methylene spacer of PMAzXAc linking the azobenzene side group with the acrylate polymer main chain. PMAz6Ac with hexa-methylene spacer showed the largest change in the reflection intensity, while smaller change in the reflection intensity was observed for PMAzXAc having shorter or longer methylene spacer than 6. The effect of the methylene spacers on the photochemical change in the molecular orientation of azobenzene chromophores in the multi-bilayered films will be discussed.     

Fracture Resistance Behavior of High‐Thermal‐Conductivity Silicon Nitride Ceramics

Silicon nitride ceramics were prepared from a high‐purity silicon powder doped with 2 mol% Y₂O₃ and 5 mol% MgO as sintering additives via a route of sintering of reaction‐bonded silicon nitride (SRBSN). The materials sintered at 1900°C for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h had thermal conductivities of 109, 125, 146, and 154 W/m/K, and four‐point bending strengths of 786, 676, 608, and 505 MPa, respectively. The fracture toughness values, determined by the single‐edge‐precracked‐beam (SEPB) method, were 8.4, 8.6, 9.7, and 10.7 MPa m^1/2 for the materials sintered for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, respectively, which were similar to the results measured by the chevron‐notched‐beam (CNB) test method. The materials sintered for longer times (12 and 24 h) showed stronger R‐curve behaviors over longer range of crack extension, in comparison with the materials sintered for shorter times (3 and 6 h).     

Lightning occurrence data observed with lightning location systems of electric power companies in Japan: 2009–2013

Nine electric power companies in Japan have been collecting lightning data with lightning location systems. Five years of the lightning data (2009–2013) are summarized and analyzed in this paper. The recent annual number of lightning flashes of which the current is more than 10 kA in Japan is around 1 million. The variations of lightning occurrence characteristics by areas, seasons, and so on, are clarified. Meteorological conditions that may affect lightning occurrence are also discussed. Furthermore, we show that there is a clear correlation between the number of lightning strikes and the outage rate of transmission lines. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.