Recombinant Long-Acting Thioredoxin Ameliorates AKI to CKD Transition via Modulating Renal Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

An effective strategy is highly desirable for preventing acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD) transition. Thioredoxin-1 (Trx), a redox-active protein that has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, would be a candidate for this but its short half-life limits its clinical application. In this study, we examined the renoprotective effect of long-acting Trx that is comprised of human albumin and Trx (HSA-Trx) against AKI to CKD transition. AKI to CKD mice were created by renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR). From day 1 to day 14 after renal IR, the recovery of renal function was accelerated by HSA-Trx administration. On day 14, HSA-Trx reduced renal fibrosis compared with PBS treatment. At the early phase of fibrogenesis (day 7), HSA-Trx treatment suppressed renal oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokine production and macrophage infiltration, thus ameliorating tubular injury and fibrosis. In addition, HSA-Trx treatment inhibited G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in renal tubular cells. While renal Trx protein levels were decreased after renal IR, the levels were recovered by HSA-Trx treatment. Together, HSA-Trx has potential for use in the treatment of AKI to CKD transition via its effects of modulating oxidative stress and inflammation.     

Conversion kinetics of container glass batch melting

Understanding the batch-to-glass conversion process is fundamental to optimizing the performance of glass-melting furnaces and ensuring that furnace modeling can correctly predict the observed outcome when batch materials or furnace conditions change. To investigate the kinetics of silica dissolution, gas evolution, and primary foam formation and collapse, we performed X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetry, feed expansion tests, and evolved gas analysis of batch samples heated at several constant heating rates. We found that gas evolving reactions, foaming, and silica dissolution depend on the thermal history of the batch in a similar manner: the kinetic parameters of each process were linear functions of the square root of the heating rate. This kinetic similarity reflects the stronger-than-expected interdependence of these processes. On the basis of our results, we suggest that changes in furnace operating conditions, such as firing or boosting, influence the melting rate less than what one would expect without consideration of batch conversion kinetics.     

Learning subtree pattern importance for Weisfeiler-Lehman based graph kernels

Machine Learning - Graph is an usual representation of relational data, which are ubiquitous in many domains such as molecules, biological and social networks. A popular approach to learning with...     

Advanced energy saving in the reaction section of the hydro-desulfurization process with self-heat recuperation technology

The reaction section of the naphtha hydro-desulfurization (HDS) process is a heating and cooling thermal process consisting of a feed/effluent heat exchanger and a fired heater. Energy savings are fundamentally made as a result of the maximized heat recovery in the heat exchanger and the reduced heat duty of the fired heater. To achieve further energy saving in the process, “self-heat recuperation technology” (SHRT) was adopted. In this technology, a compressor was introduced. The suction side of the compressor needed a lower pressure and the feed stream evaporated much easily. The discharged side of the compressor satisfied the operating conditions of both pressure and temperature at the inlet of the reactor. And the reactor effluent stream was able to be used completely to preheat and vaporize the feed stream. All the heat in the process stream was re-circulated without using a fired heater. SHRT was applied to the naphtha HDS process of 18,000 barrel per stream day (BPSD) in the refinery and the mass and energy balance of the process was calculated using commercially available simulation software, Invensys PROII version 8.1. This process-simulation case study confirmed that despite there being no more energy saving potential in the conventional process that makes use of a fired heater, the advanced process with SHRT can reduce the energy consumption significantly by using the recuperated heat of the feed stream.     

Effect of fermented milk prepared with two probiotic strains on Japanese cedar pollinosis in a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study

There has been much interest in the potential of using probiotic bacteria for treating allergic diseases. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of Lactobacillus GG (LGG) and L. gasseri TMC0356 (TMC0356) in alleviating Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP), a seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by Japanese cedar pollen. Fermented milk prepared with the tested bacteria or placebo yoghurt was administered to 40 subjects with a clinical history of JCP for 10 weeks. Subjective symptoms, self-care measures and blood samples were compared between the two groups. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from seven patients with JCP and in vitro cytokine production by the isolated PBMCs was analysed in the presence of heat-killed lactic acid bacteria. Consumption of the fermented milk significantly decreased the mean symptom score for nasal blockage after 9 weeks (P<0.05) and mean symptom-medication scores after 9 and 10 weeks when compared with the placebo group (P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively). The tested strains of lactic acid bacteria affected cytokine production by isolated PBMCs in vitro in a strain-dependent manner. LGG significantly inhibited IL-4 and IL-5 production by PBMCs stimulated by both Cry j 1 and PHA. TMC0356 only suppressed IL-5 production stimulated by PHA. The fermented milk prepared with LGG and TMC0356 might be beneficial in JCP because of its effect on nasal blockage. The effects of LGG and TMC0356 might arise at least partly from their specific down-regulation of the human Th2 immune response.     

High-sensitivity detection of proteins using gel electrophoresis and atomic force microscopy

We have developed a method to detect specific proteins with a high sensitivity using a gel electrophoresis method and force measurement of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Biotinylated proteins were separated by electrophoresis and fixed with cross-linking chemicals on the gel, followed by direct force measurement between the biotinylated proteins on the gel and a streptavidin-modified tip of an AFM cantilever. We were able to achieve a high enough sensitivity to detect the picogram order of the biotinylated proteins by evaluating the frequency of the interaction force larger than 100 pN in the force profile, which corresponds to the rupture force of interaction between streptavidin and biotin.     

Optimization of groove dimensions in herringbone-grooved journal bearings for improved repeatable run-out characteristics

Optimization of groove dimensions in herringbone-grooved journal bearings is discussed in this paper with aims to design precision spindles with improved run-out characteristics. An evaluation index to represent the magnitude of the amplitude of repeatable run-out is firstly introduced and the groove design parameters are theoretically discussed to minimize the index value with taking the stable operation condition of the bearing into account. The comprehensive parameter research reveals a guideline for the design of the groove configuration for good run-out characteristics. Experiments with a shaft with grooves designed along the proposed guideline show that the amplitude of repeatable run-out reduces to about half of that of a bearing with currently designed groove configurations, thus confirming validity of the above guideline.     

Improving an immunoassay response to related polychlorinated biphenyl analytes by mixing antibodies

Immunoassays for detection of a class of closely related antigens, e.g., PCBs, have often been too specific (responding strongly to some members of the class and missing others) and no general method for adjusting the response has been described. In this paper, the difference in the response of a model immunoassay to different Kanechlors (Japanese commercial mixtures of PCBs, analogous to Aroclors in the United States) is reduced from 20- or 50-fold (depending on which antibody is used) to 3-fold when the antibodies are mixed at the proper ratio. A mathematical model based on competitive binding of two antibodies for up to four antigens has been developed and used to describe the assay performance and to predict optimum mix ratios for the antibodies used. The model (based on separate measurement of each antibody's effective Kd for each Kanechlor) provides an excellent fit to the measured mixed antibody assay response. The model is also successful in identifying cases where mixing monoclonal antibodies will not improve the response. It is thought the method described will have applicability in a variety of cases where the analytical goal is semiquantitative screening based on the total quantity of an unknown mixture of related compounds.     

Antimicrobial effect of spices and herbs on Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The antimicrobial effects of spices and herbs from 18 plant species were examined on a foodborne pathogen, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, with the use of combinations of temperatures and nutrient levels. Basil, clove, garlic, horseradish, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, and thyme exhibited antibacterial activities at incubation of 30 degrees C, while with the exception of horseradish, the same spices and additional 7 species exhibited the activities at 5 degrees C. The lowest MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) was 0.125% observed in clove and marjoram at 30 degrees C in a nutrient rich medium. Lowering of incubation temperature produced little effect on the MICs except for turmeric. The decreasing of the MIC in turmeric appeared to be basically attributed to the sensitivity of the bacterium to coldness. In nutrient poor medium, the lowest was 0.001 and 0.00025% in marjoram at 30 degrees C and at 5 degrees C, respectively. The sensitivity to several spices and herbs was similar among different clinical serotypes including the emerging strain O3:K6. These results suggest that the spices and herbs can be practical for protecting seafood from the risk of contamination by V. parahaemolyticus and used in hurdle technology with low temperature.