Role of Palatine Tonsil and Epipharyngeal Lymphoid Tissue in the Development of Glomerular Active Lesions (Glomerular vasculitis) in Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy

Hematuria is an essential symptom of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). Although the etiology of hematuria in IgAN has not been fully elucidated, it is thought that the rupture of the glomerular basement membranes caused by intra-capillary leukocyte influx, so-called glomerular vasculitis, is the pathological condition responsible for severe hematuria. Glomerular vasculitis are active lesions that exist in the glomeruli of acute phase IgAN and it is important because it is suspected to make the transition to segmental glomerular sclerosis (SGS) as a repair scar lesion in the chronic phase, and the progression of SGS would eventually lead to glomerular obsolescence. Worsening of hematuria concomitant with acute pharyngitis is common in patients with IgAN; therefore, elucidating the relationship between the immune system of Waldeyer’s ring, including the palatine tonsil and epipharyngeal lymphoid tissue, and the glomerular vasculitis may lead to understanding the nature of IgAN. The epipharynx is an immunologically activated site even under normal conditions, and enhanced activation of innate immunity is likely to occur in response to airborne infection. Hyperactivation of innate immunity via upregulation of Toll-like receptors in the interfollicular area of the palatine tonsil and epipharyngeal lymphoid tissue, followed by enhanced fractalkine/CX3CR1 interactions, appears to play an important role in the development of glomerular vasculitis in IgAN. As latent but significant epipharyngitis is present in most patients with IgAN, it is plausible that acute upper respiratory infection may contribute as a trigger for the innate epipharyngeal immune system, which is already upregulated in a chronically inflamed environment. Given that epipharyngitis and its effects on IgAN are not fully understood, we propose that the so-called “epipharynx–kidney axis” may provide an important focus for future research.     

Methanogenic communities on the electrodes of bioelectrochemical reactors without membranes

Methane fermentation was successfully carried out in bioelectrochemical reactors without membranes under a working potential of − 0.6 or − 0.8 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and neutral pH conditions. The hydrogenotrophic methanogens that dominated on the anodic and cathodic electrodes differed from those found on the electrodes in the control reactors without electrochemical reactions.     

High-performance solid-electrolyte SOx sensor using MgO-stabilized zirconia tube and Li2SO4---CaSO4---SiO2 auxiliary phase

Solid-electrolyte-based electrochemical SO_x sensors fabricated with MgO-stabilized zirconia and Li₂SO₄---CaSO₄---SiO₂ (4:4:2 in molar ratio) exhibit fairly good sensing characteristics for 2–200 ppm SO₂ in air at 600–750 °C, with the e.m.f. responses following the Nernst equation for the two-electron reduction of SO₂. The 90% response and 90% recovery times to 20 ppm SO₂ are 10 s and 7 min at 650 °C, and 10 s and 3 min at 700 °C, respectively. It is further found that the sensor exhibits excellent selectivity to SO_x in the coexistence of CO₂ and NO_x, and good long-term stability. The sensor is simple in structure, easy to prepare, and quite tough chemically and mechanically. These features should ensure practical use for this SO_x sensor.     

Surface plasmon resonance immunosensor using Au nanoparticle for detection of TNT

In order to develop the fully integrated portable surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system for detection of explosives, the amplification strategy of SPR signal was investigated. Indirect competitive inhibition method allowed the middle-sized SPR sensor to detect trinitrotoluene (TNT) at ppt level. However, this enhanced SPR signal was not high enough to detect TNT at ppt level by a miniaturized SPR sensor. Therefore, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect using Au nanoparticle as further signal amplification approach was used. The amplification method of indirect competitive inhibition and LSPR were combined together for fabrication of the immunosurface using Au nanoparticle. TNT detectable range of this immunosurface was from 10 ppt (10 pg/ml) to 100 ppb (100 ng/ml), which was almost comparable to that without Au nanoparticle. The observed resonance angle change due to binding monoclonal TNT antibody (M-TNT Ab) with the immunosurface modified with Au nanoparticle was amplified to four times higher than that in absence of Au nanoparticle.     

Phonon Raman scattering of R2CuO4 (R = Pr,Nd, Sm,and Gd)

For Gd₂CuO₄, a new symmetry-forbidden phonon for the tetragonal T′ structure is observed. This implies that oxygen in the CuO₂ plane is locally distorted along the CuO₂ plane. Such distortion has never been observed for other T′-type superconductors, which show superconductivity by Ce doping. The disappearance of superconductivity for Gd can be correlated with the appearance of the distortion due to oxygen in the CuO₂ plane.     

A mathematical model to minimize the inventory and transportation costs in the logistics systems

In this paper we consider a logistics system for parts manufacturer distribution center(depot) to supply the parts to the parent company. And we formulate the mathematical model to minimize the sum of inventory holding costs at the depot, and the transportation and inventory costs at parts manufacturer.

We apply the model to an actual automobile parts manufacturer to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model.     

Voltage-induction type electrostatic film motor driven by two- to four-phase ac voltage and electrostatic induction

This paper describes a voltage-induction type electrostatic film motor that operates by feeding electric power to the slider by electrostatic induction. In the electrostatic motor, applying voltages to both of its stator and slider contributes to its fine positioning resolution and better controllability. However, in some cases such as relatively small motors, the electric wires connected to the slider could cause mechanical disturbances to the motor motion. In the new electrostatic motor, electric wires are connected only to the stator, thus the slider motion is not disturbed. The power to the slider is transferred by electrostatic induction between induction electrodes fabricated in both of the stator and the slider. The proposed motor has a two- to four-phase driving-electrode configuration, which consists of a two-phase driving electrode in the slider and a four-phase driving electrode in the stator. The paper first analyzes the thrust force characteristics of the driving-electrode configuration, and then analyzes the characteristics of voltage-induction configuration, both based on capacitance-network analysis. Experimental results showed good agreements with the analyses, confirming the feasibility of the voltage-induction type electrostatic motor.     

An operation analysis of movable rack type AS/RS by use of system simulator

We perform the operation analyses of movable rack type AS/RS which is built in among manufacturing resources. Processing time and processing cost to handle each pallet are investigated. We employ the system simulator approach for the analyses. It is clarified that, if the operation conditions such as the speed of the stacker crane and/or rack are properly adjusted, the processing time of each pallet is not so increased in comparison with that in the fixed rack type case. Further, under our assumed conditions concerning the investment, we found that the cost performance of the movable rack type AS/RS accompanied with medium speed stacker crane is comparable with that of the fixed rack type AS/RS equipped with high speed stacker crane.     

The Hijiori Hot Dry Rock test site, Japan: Evaluation and optimization of heat extraction from a two-layered reservoir

The Hijiori hot dry rock (HDR) system, Japan, consists of a shallow and a deep reservoir, both in fractured granitic rocks. During a long-term circulation test (LTCT) lasting approximately 18 months and which tested different fluid production scenarios, large changes were observed in output fluid temperatures, pressures, and flow rates. A multi-reservoir, numerical model of the Hijiori HDR system was developed using the finite element heat and mass (FEHM) transfer code and applied to simulations of the LTCT. The model reproduced the pressure, temperature, and flow data observed during the test. Based on the modeling study, it was concluded that most of the produced fluid came from the shallow reservoir, that the permeability of the deep reservoir changed during the initial part of the LTCT, and that the redistribution of injected water between the two reservoirs had little impact on the relative amounts of deep and shallow fluid production. After validating the model on the LTCT, it was used to optimize injection rates in both reservoirs. The model was also used in simulations of reservoir performance where an additional heat transfer surface area has been created in the subsurface through hydraulic fracturing.     

Inductive Synthesis of Recursive Processes from Logical Properties

This paper proposes an inductive synthesis algorithm for a recursive process. To synthesize a process, facts, which must be satisfied by the target process, are given to the algorithm one by one since such facts are infinitely many in general. When n facts are input to the algorithm, it outputs a process which satisfies the given n facts. And this generating process is repeated infinitely many times. To represent facts of a process, we adopt a subcalculus of μ-calculus. First, we introduce a new preorder _d on recursive processes based on the subcalculus to discuss its properties. p_d q means that pf implies qf, for all formulae f in the subcalculus. Then, its discriminative power and relationship with other preorders are also discussed. Finally, we present the synthesis algorithm. The correctness of the algorithm can be stated that the output sequence of processes by the algorithm converges to a process, which cannot be distinguished from the intended one (if we could know it) by a given enumeration of facts, in the limit. A prototype system based on the algorithm is stated as well.