Immune evasion of the CD1d/NKT cell axis

Many reviews on the CD1d/NKT cell axis focus on the ability of CD1d-restricted NKT cells to serve as effector cells in a variety of disorders, be they infectious diseases, cancer or autoimmunity. In contrast, here, we discuss the ways that viruses, bacteria and tumor cells can evade the CD1d/NKT cell axis. As a result, these disease states have a better chance to establish a foothold and potentially cause problems for the subsequent adaptive immune response, as the host tries to rid itself of infections or tumors

A Potent CD1d-binding Glycolipid for iNKT-Cell-based Therapy Against Human Breast Cancer

Background/Aim: Invariant natural killer T-cells (iNKT) stimulated by CD1d-binding glycolipids have been shown to exert antitumor effects by a number of studies in a mouse model. Breast cancer is a devastating disease, with different types of breast cancer recurring locally or distant as metastatic/advanced disease following initial treatment. The aim of this study was to examine the tumoricidal effect of a CD1d-binding glycolipid, called 7DW8-5, against a highly invasive human breast cancer cell line both in vitro and in vivo. Materials and Methods: Parental MDA-MB-231 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells transduced with human CD1d were labeled with carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE), followed by loading with glycolipids. After co-culturing with human iNKT cells, the cells were permeabilized and stained with Alexa Flour 647-conjugated antibody to active caspase-3, and analyzed using a BD LSR II. For the in vivo tumoricidal effect, MDA-MB-231 cells transduced with human CD1d and luciferase genes were injected into the mammary fat pad of female NOD/SCID/IL2rγnull (NSG) mice, followed by the injection of human iNKT cells with or without 7DW8-5, and the levels of luminescence were analyzed with whole-body imaging. Results: Human iNKT cells could kill CD1d-expressing human breast cancer cells in vitro in the presence of 7DW8-5, but not α-GalCer. As for in vivo, the adoptive transfer of human iNKT cells into tumor-challenged NSG mice significantly inhibited the growth of CD1d+ MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells in the presence of 7DW8-5. Conclusion: CD1d-binding, glycolipid-based iNKT-cell therapy is suggested as a potent and effective treatment against breast cancer in humans

The Best Textbook of Japanese-language Teaching in the Late Ch'ing Era; Japanese-language textbook by GUO Zupei & XIONG Jinshou

1899年春,東本願寺が中国の華中方面にいくつかの東文学堂を設立した｡金陵東文学堂はそのなかでもっとも成功した一例である｡本稿は,金陵東文学堂の卒業生により作成された『日語独習書』(1903)を掘り起こし,その著者と成立刊行の経過,作成原則,構成,内容.特徴などを考察し,同時期の植民地台湾の日本語教科書との関連性を検討した｡そして,本書の活末中国の日本語教育における重要な位置と意義を明らかにし,日本語教育史研究における活末東文学堂の口語指導用の教材史料の不十分による研究の空自を埋める

Effects of carbonation degree of semi-dry carbonated converter steel slag on the performance of blended cement mortar:Reactivity, hydration, and strength

Converter steel slag is the main by-product of steel making process. Around 150–250 million tons of steel slag can be produced in worldwide annually. The high-end application of converter steel slag in cement-based building materials is still facing the challenge due to its poor reactivity. In this study, semi-dry carbonation treatment of converter steel slag powder was investigated to improve the reactivity of slag powder and to sequestrate CO2. The properties of semi-dry carbonated converter steel slags were characterized and the performance of blended cement mortars were evaluated. The results exhibited that the semi-dry carbonation process of converter steel slag was slow, the carbonation degree of it reached 58.95% after 72 h’ treatment. In the pozzolanic reactivity test, the highest calcium hydroxide consumption ratio of carbonated converter steel slag achieved 30% compared to the reference (quartz) with a carbonation degree of 58.95%. However, the pozzolanic reactivity of carbonated converter steel slag cannot reflect the reactivity in blended cement systems. A retardation effect on the hydration process was observed in blended cement pastes with medium (43.76%) and high (58.95%) carbonated converter steel slag powder due to the presence of the high amount of vanadium leached from carbonated converter steel slag particles (10.653 mg/L and 18.831 mg/L). A medium carbonation degree (43.76%) of converter steel slag was observed to induce the largest amount of calcium silicate hydrates and highest compressive strength of cement blends compared to slag powder with low (33.35%) and high (58.95%) carbonation degree.</p

SL(2,Z) modular forms and Witten genus in odd dimensions

By some SL(2, Z) modular forms introduced in [4] and [10], we construct some modular forms over SL2(Z) and some modular forms over {\Gamma}^0(2) and {\Gamma}_0(2) in odd dimensions. In parallel, we obtain some new cancellation formulas for odd dimensional spin manifolds and odd dimensional spin^c manifolds respectively. As corollaries, we get some divisibility results of index of the Toeplitz operators on spin manifolds and spin^c manifolds

Recycling and valorization of hydrated cement blends in mortars via semi-dry carbonation:The role of waste glass, granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash

The recycling technology of demolished concrete wastes in building materials manufacture provides a possibility of achieving sustainable constructions. Carbonation pre-treatment helps to enhance the performance of recycled concrete fines effectively. To investigate the effects of semi-dry carbonation on the utilization of recycled concrete fines containing supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in new concrete production, recycled blended cement paste powder (RBCPs) containing granulated blast furnace slag (GBS), fly ash (FA), or recycled glass powder (RGP) were prepared in the lab. The performance of mortars produced by carbonated recycled blended cement paste powder (C-RBCPs) and RBCPs blended cement were evaluated. C-RBCPs exhibited superior performance in workability and mechanical properties of prepared mortars compared to carbonated OPC powder. The results indicated that the RBCPs exhibited a lower carbonation degree (less than 53.4%) and CO2 uptake compared to OPC samples due to the lack of available Ca in the originally blended cement after incorporation of GBS, FA and RGP. As the main carbonation products, calcite, aragonite, and vaterite were all observed in C-RBCPs, the category of SCMs exhibited visible influences on the crystal format of calcium carbonate, as well as the reactivity of C-RBCPs in blended cement mortars. Overall, the semi-dry carbonation can promote the reactivity of C-RBCPs efficiently. The effects of the SCMs category should be considered in the recycling processes of cement wastes. The application of GBS, FA, and RGP in blended cement can help to achieve excellent sustainability of C-RBCPs blended mortars after semi-dry carbonation pre-treatment.</p

Surgical Treatment for Unstable Distal Clavicle Fracture with Micromovable and Anatomical Acromioclavicular Plate

Between 2006 and 2009, 18 patients of distal clavicle fracture were treated with micro-movable and anatomical acromioclavicular plate (MAAP) in our department. According to the Neer's classification, all cases were unstable with type IIA (12 cases) and type IIB (6 cases). Functional outcome was evaluated using the Karlsson's criteria. The mean follow-up was 18 months (range, 12-36months). No postoperative plate screws complication was observed. Osseous union could be achieved at a mean time of 12 weeks after operation in 18 patients (range, 8 -16 weeks). According to Karlsson's criteria, radiographic appearances and postoperative shoulder functional recovery revealed a good and excellent rate in these cases. We conclude that surgical treatment using MAAP seems to be a good option for unstable type II fractures of the distal clavicle. This technique allows for reliable fixation with early functional exercises and functional recovery