Anti-Kir4.1 Antibodies in Multiple Sclerosis: Specificity and Pathogenicity

The glial cells in the central nervous system express diverse inward rectifying potassium channels (Kir). They express multiple Kir channel subtypes that are likely to have distinct functional roles related to their differences in conductance, and sensitivity to intracellular and extracellular factors. Dysfunction in a major astrocyte potassium channel, Kir4.1, appears as an early pathological event underlying neuronal phenotypes in several neurological diseases. The autoimmune effects on the potassium channel have not yet been fully described in the literature. However, several research groups have reported that the potassium channels are an immune target in patients with various neurological disorders. In 2012, Srivastava et al. reported about Kir4.1, a new immune target for autoantibodies in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Follow-up studies have been conducted by several research groups, but no clear conclusion has been reached. Most follow-up studies, including ours, have reported that the prevalence of Kir4.1-seropositive patients with MS was lower than that in the initial study. Therefore, we extensively review studies on the method of antibody testing, seroprevalence of MS, and other neurological diseases in patients with MS. Finally, based on the role of Kir4.1 in MS, we consider whether it could be an immune target in this disease.     

Life cycle emissions assessment of transition to low-carbon vehicles in Japan: combined effects of banning fossil-fueled vehicles and enhancing green hydrogen and electricity

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - This paper examines the impact on the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction when fossil-fueled ICE gasoline, diesel and natural gas...     

Effect of sugarcane bagasse addition on physical,chemical, and sensory properties of oat flour and banana cake

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of sugarcane bagasse (SB) addition on chemical, physical, and sensory properties of the oat flour and banana cakes. The SB was added in the amount of 3 g and 6 g/100 g solids (BC3 and BC6) to obtain cakes considered “source of fiber” and “high in fiber content,” respectively. The addition of SB did not alter the chemical composition of the cakes except the dietary fiber which was higher in the BC6. The firmness of the cake increased with SB concentration, but this fact did not interfere in the sensorial acceptance of the product. The production of oat flour and banana cakes containing “high fiber content” with good sensorial acceptance was possible and demonstrated the reuse of an agro-industrial residue widely available the sugar and alcohol industry.     

High‐Mobility p‐Type and n‐Type Copper Nitride Semiconductors by Direct Nitriding Synthesis and In Silico Doping Design

Thin‐film photovoltaics (PV) have emerged as a technology that can meet the growing demands for efficient and low‐cost large‐scale cells. However, the photoabsorbers currently in use contain expensive or toxic elements, and the difficulty in bipolar doping, particularly in a device structure, requires elaborate optimization of the heterostructures for improving the efficiency. This study shows that bipolar doping with high hole and electron mobilities in copper nitride (Cu₃N), composed solely of earth‐abundant and environmentally benign elements, is readily available through a novel gaseous direct nitriding reaction applicable to uniform and large‐area deposition. A high‐quality undoped Cu₃N film is essentially an n‐type semiconductor, while p‐type conductivity is realized by interstitial fluorine doping, as predicted using density functional theory calculations and directly proven by atomically resolved imaging. The synthetic methodology for high‐quality p‐type and n‐type films paves the way for the application of Cu₃N as an alternative absorber in thin‐film PV.     

Verification of effect of damper windings on the transient condition of synchronous generator

This paper describes the results of an experimental investigation on the effects of the damper winding of a four‐pole synchronous generator at a synchronous generator transient. It is known from simulations that the damper winding acts effectively under synchronous generator transient conditions. However, experimental proof has not been obtained yet. Thus, experiments on damper effects were conducted using a laboratory‐scale power system. The damper winding of the tested generator consisted of five damper bars for each pole; the number of working damper bars could be changed manually. The damper currents at each bar were measured by a Rogowski coil. FFT analysis was applied to both the damper currents and armature currents under different operating conditions. The relationships between damper currents in the rotor and armature currents in the stator were made clearer than before. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 180(2): 33–42, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.21278     

Clinical evaluation of posterior embryotoxon in one institution

Plagiarism is one of those ethical issues no one wants to talk about. This article sets the stage for educating readers, authors, and researchers in the fundamentals of scholarship. Legal ramifications for professional theft, deception, and misconduct provide information regarding the perpetration, constituents, and aftermath of the act of plagiarism. The article then communicates a shift in thinking about the deviation from ethical standards and strategies for the prevention of the ethical issue. Plagiarism can be prevented.     

Catabolism of lipoprotein-X induced by infusion of 10% fat emulsion

A rare case of malignant schwannoma is described. The patient's main presentation was that of pain. The patient had no other symptom, particularly that related to the space-occupying lesion in the skull base that also was filling the pterygoid space. A 5-year cure was achieved by combined therapy of radiation and radical surgery. The rarity of these cases makes it impossible to do a comparative analysis including randomized clinical trials for outcome studies to find the optimal treatment for each patient.     

A subset of CD4+ T cells expressing early activation antigen CD69 in murine lupus: possible abnormal regulatory role for cytokine imbalance

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which spontaneously develops in (NZB (New Zealand Black) x NZW (New Zealand White)) F1 mice, is strictly dependent on CD4+ T cells. We found that in these mice with overt SLE, CD4+ T cells expressing CD69 molecules, an early activation Ag, are dramatically increased in peripheral lymphoid tissues and inflammatory infiltrates in the kidney and lung, but not in peripheral blood, while CD8+ and NK1.1+ T cells were virtually CD69-. Various adhesion molecules, including LFA-1, ICAM-1, CD43, CD44, P-selectin, and E-selectin, were up-regulated. Analysis of the TCR repertoire showed no skewed TCR Vbeta usage. Studies on in vitro cytokine production of spleen cells on TCR cross-linking indicated that compared with findings in young mice, the aged mice showed severely impaired production of IL-2, IL-3, and IL-4, whereas the levels of IL-10 and IFN-gamma remained relatively intact. FACS-sorted CD69-CD4+ T cells from aged mice produced substantial amounts of these cytokines, including IL-2, IL-3, and IL-4, whereas CD69+CD4+ T cells were poor producers. Intriguingly, when cocultured, CD69+CD4+ T cells significantly inhibited the production of IL-2 by CD69-CD4+ T cells. IL-2 production by spleen cells from young mice was also markedly inhibited in the presence of CD69+CD4+ T cells obtained from aged mice. We propose that CD69+CD4+ T cells that are continuously activated by self peptides bound to MHC class II molecules in (NZB x NZW)F1 mice may be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE through abnormal regulatory effects on cytokine balance.     

An endoscopic follow-up study of the development of diffuse antral vascular ectasia

AIMS: Chromogranin-A (CG), a cytoplasmic glycoprotein, is one of the markers most frequently used to identify the presence of neuroendocrine cells in the human gastrointestinal tract. Several authors have identified a subgroup of colorectal cancer patients with a sever prognosis whose tumors contained neuroendocrine CG-positive cells. In the present study, CG expression in 100 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma treated from January 1983 to December 1988 with potentially curative surgery was analyzed and correlated with other prognostic factors and 5-year survival rate. METHODS: Samples tested immunohistochemically for CG were divided into three groups: I) negative; II) less than 1 CG-positive cell/mm2; III) more than 1 CG-positive cell/mm2. RESULTS: Of 100 patients with primary colorectal adenocarcinoma, 79% had tumors comprised of CG-negative cells, 17% had rare CG-positive cells, and 4% of cases could be classified in group III. No significant relation between CG expression and location of primary tumor, bowel wall infiltration, stage of disease or tumor grade according to Broders and Jass was observed. The 5-year survival was 53% and 52% for CG-positive and CG-negative lesions, respectively. Survival of patients with Dukes-Kirklin stage C and D was comparable in patients with CG-positive (33.3%) and CG-negative (30%) tumors. CONCLUSIONS: CG expression cannot, at present, be recommended as a marker to identify prognostic subgroups in colorectal cancer patients.     

Chemical Fixation of Carbon Dioxide to Propylene Carbonate Using Smectite Catalysts with High Activity and Selectivity

The reaction of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide to propylene carbonate was carried out using Mg-, Ni- and Mg-Ni-containing smectite catalysts which contain different amounts of alkali atoms such as sodium, potassium and lithium. These catalysts are highly active and selective for this reaction. The catalytic activity strongly depends on the elemental composition of the catalyst used. Particularly the amount of alkali atoms incorporated in the catalyst is the most important factor governing the catalytic performance. The most active catalyst among those prepared in the present study shows a turnover number of 105 mmol/g for the propylene carbonate formation, which is the highest turnover number compared with those reported so far (10 mmol/g) for the title reaction.