A study of pulse columns for thorium fuel reprocessing

Pulse columns have been studied long and a great variety of experimental investigations have been carried out, using them. In this study, two 5 m pulse columns with the same cartridge geometries are installed to investigate the performances. First of all, the characteristic differences of the aqueous continuous and the organic continuous columns were investigated experimentally. Secondly, a ternary system of 30 % TBP in dodecane-acetic acid-water was adopted for the mass-transfer study. It was concluded that the overall mass-transfer coefficient K$_{x}$ was independent of whether the mass-transfer is from the dispersed to the continuous phase or from the continuous to the dispersed phase. Next, thorium nitrate was extracted and reextracted using both modes of operation for comparison. Both HETS and HTU were obtained. According to the results for the extraction, the aqueous continuous column gave much shorter HTU than the organic continuous column. On the other hand, in reextraction the organic continuous column gave shorter HTU. Finally, the Thorex-processes for uranium and thorium co-extraction, co-stripping, and partitioning were studied. As for the extraction process, both acid feed solution and acid deficiend feed solution were investigated for comparison. The concentration profiles along the column height were obtained. The data were analysed with McCabe-Thiele diagrams to evaluate HETS

Comparative interactomics analysis of different ALS-associated proteins identifies converging molecular pathways

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurological disease with no effective treatment available. An increasing number of genetic causes of ALS are being identified, but how these genetic defects lead to motor neuron degeneration and to which extent they affect common cellular pathways remains incompletely understood. To address these questions, we performed an interactomic analysis to identify binding partners of wild-type (WT) and ALS-associated mutant versions of ATXN2, C9orf72, FUS, OPTN, TDP-43 and UBQLN2 in neuronal cells. This analysis identified several known but also many novel binding partners of these proteins

Lessons from using iPads to understand young children's creativity

This paper explores how iPads can be used as part of a child-centred data collection approach to understanding young children’s creativity. Evidence is presented from a pilot study about 3- to 5-year-old children’s creative play. Researchers’ reflective accounts of children’s engagement with iPad video diaries and free to use apps were logged across two early educational settings over a three-month period. Findings suggest that iPads offer a mechanism to allow children to express their creative play and to encourage involvement in the research process. However, bespoke research software to use with early years children is required to improve this process

PLK1 Interacts and Phosphorylates Axin That Is Essential for Proper Centrosome Formation

10.1371/journal.pone.0049184PLoS ONE711

Systematic Functional Analysis of Bicaudal-D Serine Phosphorylation and Intragenic Suppression of a Female Sterile Allele of BicD

Protein phosphorylation is involved in posttranslational control of essentially all biological processes. Using mass spectrometry, recent analyses of whole phosphoproteomes led to the identification of numerous new phosphorylation sites. However, the function of most of these sites remained unknown. We chose the Drosophila Bicaudal-D protein to estimate the importance of individual phosphorylation events. Being involved in different cellular processes, BicD is required for oocyte determination, for RNA transport during oogenesis and embryogenesis, and for photoreceptor nuclei migration in the developing eye. The numerous roles of BicD and the available evidence for functional importance of BicD phosphorylation led us to identify eight phosphorylation sites of BicD, and we tested a total of 14 identified and suspected phosphoserine residues for their functional importance in vivo in flies. Surprisingly, all these serines turned out to be dispensable for providing sufficient basal BicD activity for normal growth and development. However, in a genetically sensitized background where the BicDA40V protein variant provides only partial activity, serine 103 substitutions are not neutral anymore, but show surprising differences. The S103D substitution completely inactivates the protein, whereas S103A behaves neutral, and the S103F substitution, isolated in a genetic screen, restores BicDA40V function. Our results suggest that many BicD phosphorylation events may either be fortuitous or play a modulating function as shown for Ser103. Remarkably, amongst the Drosophila serines we found phosphorylated, Ser103 is the only one that is fully conserved in mammalian BicD

Early childhood pedagogies: spaces for young children to flourish

This paper introduces the Special Issue of Early Child Development and Care focused on Early Childhood Pedagogy. It opens by considering past and present discourses concerning early childhood pedagogy, and focus is given to established philosophical underpinnings in the field and their translation to contemporary guidance, alongside research and policy. It is argued that early childhood pedagogy is a contested, complex and diverse space, yet these factors are entirely appropriate for supporting young children to flourish as valued individuals in different contexts. Building on this argument, it is posited that it may be more appropriate to discuss early childhood pedagogies rather than early childhood pedagogy. The paper goes on to critique a range of established early childhood pedagogies, before introducing 18 papers from across the world that make exciting new contributions to the discourse. It is intended that this collection will inspire new debates and fresh endeavours concerning early childhood pedagogies

Biodistribution and Pharmacokinetics of O-Palmitoyl Tilisolol, a Lipophilic Prodrug of Tilisolol, after Intravenous Administration in Rats

The purpose of this study was to modify the biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of tilisolol, a β-blocker, using the palmitoyl prodrug approach. After intravenous administration of tilisolol and O-palmitoyl tilisolol in rats, drug concentrations were determined in blood, bile, urine, and several tissues. The concentration-time profiles of tilisolol and O-palmitoyl tilisolol were analyzed pharmacokinetically. The blood concentrations of O-palmitoyl tilisolol after intravenous administration of O-palmitoyl tilisolol were about 10-fold higher than those of tilisolol after intravenous administration of tilisolol. The biliary excretion rates of O-palmitoyl tilisolol and tilisolol after intravenous administration of O-palmitoyl tilisolol were about 10- to 100-fold larger than those of tilisolol after intravenous administration of tilisolol. In addition, the hepatic uptake clearance of O-palmitoyl tilisolol after intravenous administration of O-palmitoyl tilisolol was 3.6-fold higher than that of tilisolol after the intravenous administration of tilisolol. In the in vitro experiments, it was demonstrated that the distribution ratios between blood cells and plasma (blood/plasma) of O-palmitoyl tilisolol and tilisolol was 95.7 and 55.5%, respectively. These findings suggest that O-palmitoyl tilisolol exists as a binding form with biological components, especially blood cells, in systemic circulation. In conclusion, the palmitoyl prodrug approach is useful as a drug delivery system to deliver the parent drug to the liver

Who Needs Microtubules? Myogenic Reorganization of MTOC, Golgi Complex and ER Exit Sites Persists Despite Lack of Normal Microtubule Tracks

A wave of structural reorganization involving centrosomes, microtubules, Golgi complex and ER exit sites takes place early during skeletal muscle differentiation and completely remodels the secretory pathway. The mechanism of these changes and their functional implications are still poorly understood, in large part because all changes occur seemingly simultaneously. In an effort to uncouple the reorganizations, we have used taxol, nocodazole, and the specific GSK3-β inhibitor DW12, to disrupt the dynamic microtubule network of differentiating cultures of the mouse skeletal muscle cell line C2. Despite strong effects on microtubules, cell shape and cell fusion, none of the treatments prevented early differentiation. Redistribution of centrosomal proteins, conditional on differentiation, was in fact increased by taxol and nocodazole and normal in DW12. Redistributions of Golgi complex and ER exit sites were incomplete but remained tightly linked under all circumstances, and conditional on centrosomal reorganization. We were therefore able to uncouple microtubule reorganization from the other events and to determine that centrosomal proteins lead the reorganization hierarchy. In addition, we have gained new insight into structural and functional aspects of the reorganization of microtubule nucleation during myogenesis

Development of Effective Cancer Vaccine Using Targeting System of Antigen Protein to APCs.

PURPOSE: To develop a novel cancer vaccine using the targeting system of antigen protein to antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for efficient and safe cancer therapy. METHODS: The novel delivery system was constructed with antigen protein, benzalkonium chloride (BK), and γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA), using ovalbumin (OVA) as a model antigen protein and evaluating its immune induction effects and utilities for cancer vaccine. RESULTS: BK and γ-PGA enabled encapsulation of OVA and formed stable anionic particles at nanoscale, OVA/BK/γ-PGA complex. Complex was taken up by dendritic cell line DC2.4 cells efficiently. We subcutaneously administered the complex to mice and examined induction of IgGs. The complex induced not only Th2-type immunoglobulins but also Th1-type immunoglobulins. OVA/BK/γ-PGA complex inhibited tumor growth of E.G7 cells expressing OVA regularly; administered OVA/BK/γ-PGA complex completely rejected tumor cells. CONCLUSION: The novel vaccine could be platform technology for a cancer vaccine