Attenuation of guanine oxidation via DNA-mediated electron transfer in a crowded environment using small cosolutes

Guanine oxidation induced by photoirradiation on a pyrene-modified oligonucleotide was investigated under molecular crowding using small cosolutes such as glycerol. The efficiency of guanine photooxidation was suppressed in accordance with the increase in the concentration of glycerol. The results of photooxidation experiments using fully matched and mismatched DNA showed that guanine decomposition was mainly caused by DNA-mediated electron transfer (ET) in glycerol mixed solutions, as well as in diluted aqueous buffer solutions. Multiple factors can contribute to the suppression of guanine oxidation in crowded environments. However, our experimental results indicated that the attenuation of the DNA-mediated ET process suppressed guanine oxidation. On the other hand, experiments using ethylene glycol showed that guanine decomposition efficiency varies depending on the surrounding solvent. These results suggested that changes in the characteristics of the surrounding medium affect the DNA fluctuation, dominating DNA-mediated ET

Light Higgs boson scenario in the SUSY seesaw model

It is demonstrated that the light Higgs boson scenario, which the lightest Higgs mass is less than the LEP bound, mh > 114.4 GeV, is consistent with the SUSY seesaw model. With the assumptions of the universal right-handed neutrino mass and the hierarchical mass spectrum of the ordinary neutrinos, the bounds for the right-handed neutrino mass is investigated in terms of lepton flavor violating charged lepton decays. We also discuss the effect of the modification of renormalization group equations by the right-handed neutrinos on the b to s gamma process and the relic abundance of dark matter in the light Higgs boson scenario.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figure

Charge–Discharge Performance of Copper Metal Positive Electrodes in Fluorohydrogenate Ionic Liquids for Fluoride-Shuttle Batteries

In search of room-temperature electrolytes for fluoride-shuttle batteries, fluorohydrogenate ionic liquids (FHILs) have emerged, showing high ionic conductivities and better operational practicality. To enhance the performance of these electrolytes, the charge–discharge behavior of copper metal as positive electrodes in FHILs was investigated in this study. In the [C₂C₁im][(FH)₂.₃F] (C₂C₁im = 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium) FHIL electrolyte, although the 1st discharge capacity of 599 mAh (g-Cu)⁻¹ included the reductive reaction of surface oxide films, the 2nd discharge capacity of 444 mAh (g-Cu)⁻¹ that corresponds to 53% of the theoretical capacity was achieved. However, the capacity declines to 167 mAh (g-Cu)⁻¹ at the 20th cycle, indicating low capacity retention. In contrast, the adoption of [C₂C₁pyrr][(FH)₂.₃F] (C₂C₁pyrr = N-ethyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium) electrolyte confers improved cycleability across the cycles with a higher discharge capacity of 210 mAh (g-Cu)⁻¹ at the 20th cycle. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy performed on the electrode surfaces confirm reduced electrode degradation characterized by suppressed aggregation of copper particles in [C₂C₁pyrr][(FH)₂.₃F] due to its low CuF₂ solubility compared with [C₂C₁im][(FH)₂.₃F]. Herein, we demonstrate the use of FHILs with low CuF₂ solubilities as a strategy for improving the charge–discharge performance of copper metal positive electrodes in fluoride-shuttle batteries

Comparison of Sustained Hemodiafiltration with Acetate-Free Dialysate and Continuous Venovenous Hemodiafiltration for the Treatment of Critically Ill Patients with Acute Kidney Injury

We conducted a prospective, randomized study to compare conventional continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) with sustained hemodiafiltration (SHDF) using an acetate-free dialysate. Fifty critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) who required renal replacement therapy were treated with either CVVHDF or SHDF. CVVDHF was performed using a conventional dialysate with an effluent rate of 25 mL·kg−1 · h−1, and SHDF was performed using an acetate-free dialysate with a flow rate of 300−500 mL/min. The primary study outcome, 30 d survival rate was 76.0% in the CVVHDF arm and 88.0% in the SHDF arm (NS). Both the number of patients who showed renal recovery (40.0% and 68.0%, CVVHDF and SHDF, resp.; P < .05), and the hospital stay length (42.3 days and 33.7 days, CVVHDF and SHDF, resp.; P < .05), significantly differed between the two treatments. Although the total convective volumes did not significantly differ, the dialysate flow rate was higher and mean duration of daily treatment was shorter in the SHDF treatment arm. Our results suggest that compared with conventional CVVHDF, more intensive renal support in the form of post-dilution SHDF with acetate-free dialysate may accelerate renal recovery in critically ill patients with AKI