Measurement of longitudinal distribution of solids holdup in a three-phase fluidized bed by ultrasonic technique

A method of measurement of solids holdup in a three-phase reactor by analyzing the shape and the phase lag or lead of an ultrasonic wave has been proposed. The solids holdup in a solids-dilute three-phase fluidized bed could be measured without being affected by the presence of gas bubbles. The experimental values of solids axial dispersivity measured by the ultrasonic technique are in reasonable agreement with an empirical correlation of previous data obtained by other methods. The possibility of the application of the ultrasonic technique to the measurement of solids holdup in a three-phase fluidized bed has been suggested.     

Decreased Podocyte Vesicle Transcytosis and Albuminuria in APC C-Terminal Deficiency Mice with Puromycin-Induced Nephrotic Syndrome

In minimal change nephrotic syndrome, podocyte vesicle transport is enhanced. Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) anchors microtubules to cell membranes and plays an important role in vesicle transport. To clarify the role of APC in vesicle transport in podocytes, nephrotic syndrome was induced by puromycin amino nucleoside (PAN) injection in mice expressing APC1638T lacking the C-terminal of microtubule-binding site (APC1638T mouse); this was examined in renal tissue changes. The kidney size and glomerular area of APC1638T mice were reduced (p = 0.014); however, the number of podocytes was same between wild-type (WT) mice and APC1638T mice. The ultrastructure of podocyte foot process was normal by electron microscopy. When nephrotic syndrome was induced, the kidneys of WT+PAN mice became swollen with many hyaline casts, whereas these changes were inhibited in the kidneys of APC1638T+PAN mice. Electron microscopy showed foot process effacement in both groups; however, APC1638T+PAN mice had fewer vesicles in the basal area of podocytes than WT+PAN mice. Cytoplasmic dynein-1, a motor protein for vesicle transport, and α-tubulin were significantly reduced in APC1638T+PAN mice associated with suppressed urinary albumin excretion compared to WT+PAN mice. In conclusion, APC1638T mice showed reduced albuminuria associated with suppressed podocyte vesicle transport when minimal change nephrotic syndrome was induced.     

Regulation of Neutrophil Functions by Hv1/VSOP Voltage-Gated Proton Channels

The voltage-gated proton channel, Hv1, also termed VSOP, was discovered in 2006. It has long been suggested that proton transport through voltage-gated proton channels regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in phagocytes by counteracting the charge imbalance caused by the activation of NADPH oxidase. Discovery of Hv1/VSOP not only confirmed this process in phagocytes, but also led to the elucidation of novel functions in phagocytes. The compensation of charge by Hv1/VSOP sustains ROS production and is also crucial for promoting Ca²⁺ influx at the plasma membrane. In addition, proton extrusion into neutrophil phagosomes by Hv1/VSOP is necessary to maintain neutral phagosomal pH for the effective killing of bacteria. Contrary to the function of Hv1/VSOP as a positive regulator for ROS generation, it has been revealed that Hv1/VSOP also acts to inhibit ROS production in neutrophils. Hv1/VSOP inhibits hypochlorous acid production by regulating degranulation, leading to reduced inflammation upon fungal infection, and suppresses the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling by inhibiting ROS production. Thus, Hv1/VSOP is a two-way player regulating ROS production. Here, we review the functions of Hv1/VSOP in neutrophils and discuss future perspectives.     

Simple evaluation of aortic arch calcification by chest radiography in hemodialysis patients

Vascular calcification is associated with a poor prognosis in dialysis patients. It can be assessed with computed tomography but simple inoffice techniques may provide useful information. We compared the results obtained with a simple noninvasive technique with those obtained using multidetector computed tomography for aortic arch calcification volume (AoACV) in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. The enrolled study subjects were 63 (32 men and 31 women) maintenance HD patients. Calcification of the aortic arch was semiquantitatively estimated with a AoAC score (AoACS) on plain chest radiology. The AoACV was increased, with a mean value of 6.6 ranging from 0% to 36.5%. The coefficient of intraobserver variation was less than 2.5%. Aortic arch calcification score was highly correlated with AoACV (r=0.635, P<0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed age (F value=12.62, P<0.001) and pulse pressure (F value=4.54, P=0.037) to be significant independent determinants of AoACS. In conclusion, a simple measurement of AoACS may be useful for inoffice imaging to choose a therapeutic regimen in HD patients.     

A density-independent method for high moisture content measurement using a microstrip transmission line.

This paper describes a method to measure high moisture content in materials from 190% to 350% on a dry weight basis. The method uses a microstrip transmission line, on which the material under test is overlaid. A parameter calculated from the attenuation and phase shift of the microwave signal is proposed to measure the moisture content. The experiments were performed on samples of sawdust, and the results show that the method is able to determine high moisture content independent of density. The standard error of calibration for the moisture content determination was 12.4% in the moisture content range from 190% to 350%.     

Distribution-free checkpoint placement algorithms based on min-max principle

In this paper, we consider two kinds of sequential checkpoint placement problems with infinite/finite time horizon. For these problems, we apply approximation methods based on the variational principle and develop computation algorithms to derive the optimal checkpoint sequence approximately. Next, we focus on the situation where the knowledge on system failure is incomplete, i.e., the system failure time distribution is unknown. We develop the so-called min-max checkpoint placement methods to determine the optimal checkpoint sequence under an uncertain circumstance in terms of the system failure time distribution. In numerical examples, we investigate quantitatively the proposed distribution-free checkpoint placement methods, and refer to their potential applicability in practice.     

Development of mushrooms for thrombosis prevention by protoplast fusion

With thrombosis a major cause of death in Japan and the Western world, thrombin-inhibitory agents that constrain the formation of fibrin are sought. We screened for basidiomycetes showing anti-thrombin activity and isolated Laetiporus sulphureus. However, it was difficult to cultivate and its form was not satisfactory. We therefore used protoplast fusion between L. sulphureus and the commonly cultivated basidiomycete Hypsizygus marmoreaus to obtain cultivable basidiomycetes that produced an anti-thrombin substance. For the protoplast fusion of L. sulphureus and H. marmoreaus, the protoplast concentration, alternating electric field intensity, dielectrophoresis duration, and field pulse intensity used were of 1 x 10(7) protoplasts/ml, 100 V/cm.1 MHz, 60 s, and 8 kV/cm, respectively. The number of regenerated colonies obtained was 4961, from which 43 strains were selected for electrophoretic analysis. Four of the fusants were found to have a band from each parent in isozyme patterns obtained using their crude extract. The fruiting bodies of the fusants were very similar to those of H. marmoreaus. Crude extract from each of the fusants and from L. sulphureus showed anti-coagulative activity in terms of the thrombin clotting time. We thus obtained improved basidiomycetes that produce an anti-thrombin substance, are easily cultivated, and whose form resembles H. marmoreaus, a commonly used culinary mushroom.     

Er-doped fibre ring resonator applied to optical spectrum analyser with less than 100 kHz resolution

A fibre optic ring resonator is proposed which uses an Er-doped fibre amplifier to compensate for round-trip optical loss thereby enhancing resonator finesse. It is operated as a scanning-ring spectrum analyser and attains a resolution better than 100 kHz.<>     

CABG after patch angioplasty of the left main coronary: artery report of a case

A 57-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of restenosis of the left main coronary trunk (LMT) after patch angioplasty for the LMT lesion. PTCA was repeated four times during three years after patch angioplasty, but recent coronary angiogram still demonstrated 75% restenosis of the LMT lesion. Double-CABG was performed to LAD and LCX using the left internal thoracic artery and saphenous vein graft. Postoperative coronary angiogram revealed an excellent result. A careful consideration must be given to the indication of the patch angioplasty of the LMT lesion.