The Expression of Active CD11b Monocytes in Blood and Disease Progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Monocytes expressing the inflammation suppressing active CD11b, a beta2 integrin, may regulate neuroinflammation and modify clinical outcomes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this single site, retrospective study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 38 individuals living with ALS and 20 non-neurological controls (NNC) were investigated using flow cytometry to study active CD11b integrin classical (CM), intermediate (IM) and non-classical (NCM) monocytes during ALS progression. Seventeen ALS participants were sampled at the baseline (V1) and at two additional time points (V2 and V3) for longitudinal analysis. Active CD11b+ CM frequencies increased steeply between the baseline and V3 (ANOVA repeated measurement, p < 0.001), and the V2/V1 ratio negatively correlated with the disease progression rate, similar to higher frequencies of active CD11b+ NCM at the baseline (R = −0.6567; p = 0.0031 and R = 0.3862; p = 0.0168, respectively). CD11b NCM, clinical covariates and neurofilament light-chain plasma concentration at the baseline predicted shorter survival in a multivariable and univariate analysis (CD11b NCM—HR: 1.05, CI: 1.01–1.11, p = 0.013. Log rank: above median: 43 months and below median: 21.22 months; p = 0.0022). Blood samples with the highest frequencies of active CD11b+ IM and NCM contained the lowest concentrations of soluble CD11b. Our preliminary data suggest that the levels of active CD11b+ monocytes and NCM in the blood predict different clinical outcomes in ALS.     

A low-carbon scenario creation method for a local-scale economy and its application in Kyoto city

On May 2008, Kyoto city government set up a low-carbon target of a 50% GHG reduction by 2030 compared to the 1990 level. To contribute to these discussions, we developed a local (city-scale) low-carbon scenario creation method. An estimation model was developed to show a quantitative and consistent future snapshot. The model can explicitly treat the uncertainty of future socio-economic situations, which originate from the openness of local economy. The method was applied to Kyoto city, and countermeasures to achieve the low-carbon target were identified. Without countermeasures, emissions would increase 12% from 2000. Among the measures, the reduction potential of energy efficiency improvements to residential and commercial sectors was found to be relatively large (15% and 18% of total reductions, respectively). The reduction potential of the passenger transport sector, in which the city government's policy is especially important, was 17% of the total amount. A sensitivity analysis showed that a 10% increase in exports leads to an 8.5% increase in CO₂ emissions, and a 20% increase in the share of the commuters from outside the city leads to a 3.5% decrease of CO₂ emissions because of the smaller number of residents in the city.     

Feasibility of zeolites in converting butyric acid into propylene for biorefineries

The biorefinery has been recognized as a new industry to produce both energy and chemical materials such as olefins and BTX from renewable resources. In this context the conversion of butyric acid over zeolites was investigated for establishing a new production route of propylene. Propylene was mainly generated by decarbonylation and dehydration of butyric acid. Our study proved that H-ZSM-5 (750) and silicalite were the best industrial catalyst among the tested ones. For H-ZSM-5 (750), the selectivity of propylene reached 64.2 C% and the ratio of the yield for propylene to theoretical yield (75 C%) became 85.6%.     

A comparison between fission gas release data and FEMAXI-IV code calculations

The FEMAXI-IV code is an extension of the earlier version FEMAXI-III. The primary improvement in the new version is the provision for treating the fuel rod behavior during an operational transient. For this purpose, the time-dependent models are used for heat conduction, fission gas release, and mixing of the released gas with the plenum gas.In FEMAXI-IV, the fission gas release model was thoroughly revised from the previous version. It is based on the fission gas release model presented by White and Tucker. The model takes into account the following mechanisms:

&#x02022; - diffusion of gas atoms to the grain boundary;

&#x02022; - sweeping of gas atoms by grain growth;

&#x02022; - precipitation of gas atoms into intragranular gas bubbles;

&#x02022; - resolution of gas atoms from intragranular and grain boundary gas bubbles;

&#x02022; - fission gas release due to bubble interconnection.

The model was incorporated into FEMAXI-IV and code calculations were compared with the fission gas release data obtained in the Inter-Ramp and Over-Ramp experiments.This paper describes the fission gas release model involved and results of calculations.     

Re-evaluation of the phase relationship between plutonium and zirconium dioxides

The phase relationship between ZrO₂ and PuO₂ was examined in a low PuO₂ content region, from 3.1 to 11.2 mol% PuO₂, at temperatures between 1273 K and 1473 K, by high temperature X-ray diffractometry. The measurements were carried out in air. At 1273 K, the samples in this composition range consisted of two phases, monoclinic and cubic. Another phase, tetragonal, was observed at 1373 K. The low temperature monoclinic phase disappeared at 1473 K. It was confirmed that the monoclinic phase disappears around 1463 K; the disappearance temperature does not depend on the composition of the sample. It was, thus, inferred that there should be a eutectoid line in the phase diagram. Though the eutectoid point is not clear, the PuO₂ content at the point should be less than 3.1 mol%.     

Effects of water-soluble soybean polysaccharide on rheological properties,stability and lipid digestibility of oil-in-water emulsion during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

Water-soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) is a naturally occurring emulsifier. SSPS was used as the sole emulsifier to stabilize an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion. The effects were investigated of different SSPS concentrations (3–20% (w/w)) on the lipid digestibility, rheological properties and stability of O/W emulsions during in vitro digestion model. The droplet size of the emulsions tended to increase during the oral phase because the emulsions were unstable and droplets coalesced, except with a SSPS concentration of 20% (w/w). The presence of SSPS markedly reduced the free fatty acid (FFA) content after its stabilized O/W emulsion passed through in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The amount of FFA significantly decreased as the concentration of SSPS increased due to SSPS stabilization film on oil droplet surface and high viscous system. SSPS may be an attractive alternative ingredient to control the lipid digestibility of emulsions for various food products.     

Design of a photocatalyst for bromate decomposition: surface modification of TiO2 by pseudo-boehmite

The rate of BrO3- reduction by a commercial TiO2 photocatalyst under UV illumination in an aqueous solution was increased by lowering the pH from 7 to 5. The effect is attributable to an enhancement of the electrical interaction between BrO3- and the positively charged surfaces of the TiO2 photocatalyst. The surface charge can be controlled by a surface modification of the TiO2 photocatalyst without controlling the pH of the water. In fact, the isoelectric point of surface-modified TiO2 was higher than that of the unloaded TiO2 photocatalyst, resulting in an increase in the rate of the photocatalytic reduction of BrO3- at a neutral pH. This increase is explained by an increase in the amount of adsorbed BrO3- on the photocatalyst surface.