Analysis of T-cell receptor beta of the T-cell clones reactive to the human PDC-E2 163-176 peptide in the context of HLA-DR53 in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

T-cell-mediated autoimmune mechanisms are considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). In the previous study, we identified the immunodominant T-cell epitope on the E2 component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC-E2) in patients with PBC who have HLA-DRB4*0101. In this report, we revealed that the frequency of the T cells reactive to the human PDC-E2 163-176 peptide is significantly increased in the peripheral blood of patients with PBC as compared with healthy subjects. We also confirmed that these T cells were all restricted with HLA-DRB4*01 (DR53) by using HLA-DR-transfected L cells. These results together with the evidence that the immunodominant B-cell epitope overlaps with the human T-cell epitope of the PDC-E2 antigen indicate that the T cells reactive to this epitope are closely associated with the pathogenesis of PBC at least in patients who have HLA-DR53. Therefore, we analyzed the T-cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta sequence of the five different T-cell clones and the three T-cell clones derived from three patients with PBC and healthy subjects, respectively, which are reactive to the human PDC-E2 163-176 peptide in the context of HLA-DR53. The Vbeta- and the Jbeta-gene usages were diverse among the T-cell clones (Vbeta11-Jbeta1.4, Vbeta8-Jbeta1.2, Vbeta12-Jbeta2.1, Vbeta10-Jbeta1.5, and Vbeta20-Jbeta2.1) in patients with PBC. By contrast, in the third complementarity determining region (CDR3), G was frequently found and GXG or GXS motif was identified in all T-cell clones. Moreover, RGXG motif was found in three clones generated from two patients. In healthy subjects, the Vbeta- and the Jbeta-gene usages were also diverse, and GXG and RGXG motif were found. These results indicate that the T cells may recognize the ligand (the human PDC-E2 163-176 peptide/HLA-DR53 complex) using the limited motif in the CDR3 region and that the design of CDR3-specific immunotherapy would be possible using these motifs.     

Integration of 3-D shape construction and assembly to realize micro systems

In order to make micro 3-D structures, we are designing a table-sized factory, namely Nano Manufacturing World (NMW). In NMW, we challenged to use a new process fused by semiconductor process for preciseness and machine process for 3-dimensionality. In order to realize the new process, we designed three new mechanisms in this paper: multi-face shape making beam, co-focus rotational robot and micro mechanical tools. Through an evaluation to actually make a micro Gojunoto with the mechanisms, we confirmed their validities for functions of integration of 3-D shape construction and assembly.     

Electro-oxidation of dimethyl ether on Pt/C and PtMe/C catalysts in sulfuric acid

The electro-oxidation of dimethyl ether (DME) on PtMe/Cs (Me = Ru, Sn, Mo, Cr, Ni, Co, and W) and Pt/C electro-catalysts were investigated in an aqueous half-cell, and compared to the methanol oxidation. The addition of a second metal enhanced the tolerance of Pt to the poisonous species during the DME oxidation reaction (DOR). The PtRu/C electro-catalyst showed the best electro-catalytic activity and the highest tolerance to the poisonous species in the low over-potential range (<0.55 V, 50 °C) among the binary electro-catalysts and the Pt/C, but at the higher potential (>ca. 0.55 V, 50 °C), the Pt/C behaved better than PtRu/C. The apparent activation energy for the DOR decreased in the order: PtRu/C (57 kJ mol⁻¹) > Pt₃Sn/C (48 kJ mol⁻¹) ≈ Pt/C (46 kJ mol⁻¹). On the other hand, the activation energy for the MOR showed a different turn, decreased in the following order: Pt/C (43 kJ mol⁻¹) > Pt₃Sn/C (35 kJ mol⁻¹) ≈ PtRu/C (34 kJ mol⁻¹). The temperature dependence of the DOR was greater than that of the oxidation of methanol (MOR) on the PtRu/C.     

Package Design of Ready-to-Drink Coffee Beverages Based on Food <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kansei</Emphasis> Model—Effects of Straw and Cognition Terms on Consumer’s Pleasantness

To design a consumer-oriented package that complements the taste and aroma of ready-to-drink chilled-cup coffee beverages by using the food kansei model, the effects of the diameter and the color of drinking straws as well as the cognition terms of coffee on consumer sensory characteristics and preferences were investigated. Variance and factor analyses of the sensory scores for chilled-cup coffee with milk and sugar using straws of different diameters, as rated by consumer panelists, extracted two perceived factors (F1, contribution ratio 36.5%, and F2, 28.6%). A two-dimensional plot of the average F1 and F2 scores of 123 panelists showed that the perceived characteristics of the same taste and aroma varied according to the straw diameter. An image investigation of different straw colors and another sensory evaluation using “black,” “brown,” and “green” straws were also performed. A principal component analysis of the image data revealed that the sensory characteristics of coffee with milk and sugar were imaged from the straw color. The second evaluation suggested that the images of straw colors affected the sensory characteristics. In addition, cluster and multiple-comparison analyses of Internet research data from consumers regarding the cognition terms for coffee exhibited three clusters representing the cognitive characteristics of terms by consumers and by developers and the differences of attractiveness degree on the cognition terms due to the consumers’ personal attributes. These studies provide useful information for the development of packages of chilled-cup coffee beverages.     

Hypotensive effect of a sweetpotato protein digest in spontaneously hypertensive rats and purification of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides

We have investigated angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity in an enzyme digest of sweetpotato protein, the antihypertensive effect of the digest in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and the identification of an ACE inhibitory peptide. Protein was prepared from squeezed juice of sweetpotato by isoelectric focusing precipitation. Three kinds of proteases were selected for effective protein digestion. The digest, sweetpotato peptide (SPP), exhibited strong ACE inhibitory activity (IC₅₀: 18.2 μg/ml). SPP was orally administered by gavage to SHR at a dose of 100 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg. The systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure were measured at 0 (before administration), 2, 4, 8, and 24 h after administration. A dose-dependent decrease in systolic blood pressure in SHR was observed after oral administration of SPP. Significant differences between SPP-administered rats and control rats were observed 4 and 8 h after administration in the 500 mg/kg-administered group and 8 h after administration in the 100 mg/kg-administered group. Diastolic blood pressure also decreased in the SPP-administered groups, although the difference between SPP-administered rats and control rats was not significant. These results suggest that SPP may be useful in the prevention or treatment of hypertension. Peptides with ACE inhibitory activity were purified from SPP by absorption chromatography and preparative HPLC using an ODS column. The amino acid sequences of isolated peptides were I-T-P, I-I-P, G-Q-Y and S-T-Y-Q-T; their ACE inhibitory activities (IC₅₀) were 9.5 μM, 80.8 μM, 52.3 μM and 300.4 μM, respectively. In conclusion, I-T-P is a novel, strong ACE inhibitory peptide.     

Study of crater formation and sputtering process with large gas cluster impact by molecular dynamics simulations

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of large argon clusters impacting on silicon solid targets were performed in order to study the transient process of crater formation and sputtering. The MD simulations demonstrate that the initial momentum of incident cluster is transferred to target surface atoms through multiple collision mechanism, where the initial momentum, which is along to the surface normal before impact, is deflected to lateral direction. This momentum transfer process was analyzed by the calculation of the velocity at the crater edge (the interface between cluster and target). In the case of Ar₁₀₀₀ cluster impact on Si(1 0 0) target at low energy per atom less than 40 eV/atom, the maximum value of lateral velocity of the crater edge increases in proportional to the velocity of incident cluster atoms. On the other hand, the crater edge velocity saturates over 40 eV/atom of incident energy per atom. In this case, the whole of constituent cluster atoms are implanted into the target and expand in both lateral and reflective directions at the subsurface region of the target. These MD simulations demonstrated that this collisional process result in the high yield sputtering of the target atoms.     

Evaluating a behavioral demand response trial in Japan: evidence from the summer of 2013

This paper presents results from a behavioral demand response trial targeted to both grid and residential peak hours, in which weekly feedback via paper-based reports, real-time feedback via an in-home display, 30-minute tiered rate, and email prompts are adopted to almost 230 residential customers of a condominium in Funabashi, a city located in Greater Tokyo. Through a randomized experiment, we find that the peak saving impact during grid peak hours (1–4 pm, weekdays only) was 11.6 %, given that all the four interventions provided all at once. In addition, the results show that the variation in peak saving effects by household characteristics exists, and the variation differs among packages of peak saving interventions. Furthermore, we analyzed how much informational elements in weekly reports are considered as useful by residential customers. These results suggest that feedback-based approaches for peak saving can promote households’ energy conservation behavior.     

Preparation method for supported metal catalysts using w/o microemulsion: Study on immobilization conditions of metal particles by hydrolysis of alkoxide

It was previously found that the silica-supported rhodium catalyst prepared using water-in-oil microemulsion had rhodium particles partly, or wholly, embedded in silica. In this work, consequently, we investigated the effect of hydrolysis conditions of tetraethylorthosilicate, employed as the source of silica, on the atomic ratio of surface rhodium in contact with the gas phase, to total surface rhodium of nanoparticles. This ratio is denoted as R in this paper. R became higher when the catalyst was prepared under the following hydrolysis conditions: a shorter hydrolysis time and a smaller amount of tetraethylorthosilicate. On the other hand, R showed the minimum value when the water content in the preparation solution was 33 vol%. From these results, it is demonstrated that it was important to form silica as early as possible in hydrolysis of TEOS in order to increase R values. In addition, the effect of R on the catalytic behavior in CO hydrogenation was investigated. At R values below 30%, the turnover frequencies increased with a decrease in R.     

Influence of sputtering power on oxygen reduction reaction activity of zirconium oxides prepared by radio frequency reactive sputtering

Zirconium oxides (ZrO_2−x) have been investigated as new cathodes for direct methanol fuel cells without platinum. ZrO_2−x films were prepared using a radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering at RF powers from 75 to 175 W. The influence of the RF power on the catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and properties of the ZrO_2−x films were examined. The ORR activity of the ZrO_2−x catalyst increased with the RF power in the range we studied. The onset potential for ORR over ZrO_2−x deposited at 175 W was 0.88 V vs RHE. In addition, the relationship between the ORR activity and the composition, crystallinity, electric conductivity, as well as the ionization potential has been investigated. The zirconium oxide with an oxygen defected state and the higher electric conductivity showed the higher ORR activity, and the electrocatalytic activity for ORR increased with the decreasing in the ionization potential of the ZrO_2−x catalyst.