Pivotal Role of Dendritic Cell–derived CXCL10 in the Retention of T Helper Cell 1 Lymphocytes in Secondary Lymph Nodes

Various immune diseases are considered to be regulated by the balance of T helper (Th)1 and Th2 subsets. Although Th lymphocytes are believed to be generated in draining lymph nodes (LNs), in vivo Th cell behaviors during Th1/Th2 polarization are largely unexplored. Using a murine granulomatous liver disease model induced by Propionibacterium acnes, we show that retention of Th1 cells in the LNs is controlled by a chemokine, CXCL10/interferon (IFN) inducible protein 10 produced by mature dendritic cells (DCs). Hepatic LN DCs preferentially produced CXCL10 to attract 5′-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU)+CD4+ T cells and form clusters with IFN-γ–producing CD4+ T cells by day 7 after antigen challenge. Blockade of CXCL10 dramatically altered the distribution of cluster-forming BrdU+CD4+ T cells. BrdU+CD4+ T cells in the hepatic LNs were selectively diminished while those in the circulation were significantly increased by treatment with anti-CXCL10 monoclonal antibody. This was accompanied by accelerated infiltration of memory T cells into the periphery of hepatic granuloma sites, most of them were in cell cycle and further produced higher amount of IFN-γ leading to exacerbation of liver injury. Thus, mature DC-derived CXCL10 is pivotal to retain Th1 lymphocytes within T cell areas of draining LNs and optimize the Th1-mediated immune responses

Experimental Study on Use of Sound Absorption Treatment for Reduction of Environmental Sound Propagation and Reverberation in Staircases: A Case Study in Housing

In recent years, many open-plan houses have been proposed not only for comfort reasons, but also as a place to engage in family life. However, in contrast to the fact that this kind of plan makes it easy for people to interact, the daily life household sounds that occur inside the home may be perceived as noise. It is especially difficult to suppress the propagation of sound and reverberation in staircase and stairwell areas due to the absence of sound-absorbing furniture. In this study, we focused on addressing sound management within the staircase area in open-plan housing where sound absorption is particularly difficult. In order to suppress sound propagation on the upper and lower floors and the reverberation of sound, we placed a thin sound absorption panel on the wall, ceiling, and riser of the staircase. As a result, we were able to confirm that the propagation of sound on upper and lower floors can be suppressed by carrying out the sound absorption treatment on the staircase. Furthermore, we found that in stairway landing areas, the suppression effect of the propagation of sound varies depending on the position of the sound source and the positioning of the sound absorption panel, and that there is a position for placing the sound absorption panel where the sound-absorbing effect is effective

Electrical characterization of the North Anatolian Fault Zone underneath the Marmara Sea, Turkey by ocean bottom magnetotellurics

The first magnetotelluric study in the Marmara Sea, Turkey, was undertaken to resolve the structure of the crust and upper mantle in the region, and to determine the location of the westward extension of the North Anatolian Fault (NAF) in the Cinarcik area. Long-period ocean bottom magnetotelluric data were acquired at six sites along two profiles crossing the Cinarcik Basin, where a significant increase in microseismic activity was observed following the devastating 1999 Izmit and Duzce earthquakes. 2-D resistivity models indicate the existence of a conductor at a depth of similar to 10 km in the middle of both profiles along with a deeper extension into the upper mantle, implying the presence of fluid in the crust and partial melting in the upper mantle. The northern and southern boundaries of this conductor are interpreted to represent the northern and southern branches of the NAF in the Marmara Sea, respectively. These conductors have been previously identified farther to the east along the NAF, suggesting that the electrical characteristics of this fault are continuous from onland areas into the Marmara Sea. Microseismic activity in the Cinarcik area is located above the conductor documented here, and indicates a possible seismogenic role of crustal fluids present in the conductive zone. In comparison, resistive zones along the NAF may act as asperities that could eventually result in a large earthquake