The Current Distribution in an Electrolytic Cell : Application of the Elliptic Integral to the Chemical Engineering

The state of the electrical field in an electrolytic cell cannot be explained completely by the electrostatic or electromagnetic theory, because in this field the chemical polarization always appears near the electrode surface. But we will neglect the effects of this polarization, and present the two-dimensional discussions on the forms of the electrolytic cell or field. The effects of the polarization can be introduced very easily by our previous research, so the following discussions will be directly useful from the point of view of the chemical or electrochemical engineering. In this paper, a) A Krebs Amalgam Type Chlorine Cell, b) The Graphite Anode with Many Grooves of a Horizontal Amalgam Type Chlorine Cell, and c) A Rectangular Electrolytic Cell are included

Evaluating the Raftophilicity of Rhodopsin Photoreceptor in a Patterned Model Membrane

AbstractLipid rafts in the cell membrane are believed to affect various membrane functions, including the signaling by G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, the regulatory roles of lipid rafts on GPCRs’ functions are still poorly understood, partially owing to the lack of the methods to quantitatively evaluate the affinity of membrane proteins to lipid raft (raftophilicity). Here, we describe a methodology to gauge the raftophilicity of a representative GPCR in vertebrate photoreceptor, i.e., rhodopsin (Rh), and its cognate G protein transducin (Gt) by using a patterned model membrane. We generated a substrate-supported planar lipid bilayer that has patterned regions of liquid-ordered (Lo) and liquid-disordered (Ld) membrane domains. We reconstituted Rh and Gt into the patterned membrane and observed their lateral distribution and diffusion. Mobile and functional Rh molecules could be reconstituted through the rapid dilution of solubilized Rh, by optimizing the reconstitution conditions including the chamber design, protein/detergent concentrations, and solution mixing. We determined the partition and diffusion coefficients of Rh and Gt in the Lo-rich and Ld-rich regions. Both Rh and Gt were predominantly localized in the Ld phase, suggesting their low affinity to lipid rafts. Patterned model membrane offers a robust and scalable platform for systematically and quantitatively studying the functional roles of lipid rafts in biological membranes including retinal disk membranes

Studies on the Electrolysis of Sodium Sulfate Solution

Presented at The Indianapolis Meeting of The Electrochemical Society, May 3, 1961.The electrolysis of sodium sulfate solution by the 1500 amp. vertical mercury cell was investigated. Lead alloy containing 2% Ag and 1% Te was selected as the anode, and fine porous rubber sheet or blue asbestos cloth were used as the diaphragm. The concentrations of sulfuric acid and caustic soda obtained were 200-250 g/l H₂SO₄ and 30-40% NaOH, respectively, under the condition of 30 amp/dm² of current density by continuous operation. The terminal voltage was less than 5.0 volts and the current efficiency and the consumption of the anode were 90% and 2-3 mg/AH, respectively

Detection of Minute Duodenal Follicular Lymphoma Lesions Using Magnifying Endoscopy

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed small duodenal lesions in a 56-year-old Japanese man and a 92-year-old Japanese woman with stage IV follicular lymphoma. Magnifying endoscopy examination revealed tiny white deposits in the second duodenal portion of the former patient and slightly enlarged duodenal villi in the latter. In both cases, biopsy revealed infiltration of follicular lymphoma cells and incipient formation of neoplastic follicles. Here, we discuss the usefulness of magnifying endoscopy and narrow-band imaging for the detection of small duodenal lesions in follicular lymphoma cases

Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Related Perfluorinated Compounds in Human Maternal and Cord Blood Samples: Assessment of PFOS Exposure in a Susceptible Population during Pregnancy

Fluorinated organic compounds (FOCs), such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonylamide (PFOSA), are widely used in the manufacture of plastic, electronics, textile, and construction material in the apparel, leather, and upholstery industries. FOCs have been detected in human blood samples. Studies have indicated that FOCs may be detrimental to rodent development possibly by affecting thyroid hormone levels. In the present study, we determined the concentrations of FOCs in maternal and cord blood samples. Pregnant women 17–37 years of age were enrolled as subjects. FOCs in 15 pairs of maternal and cord blood samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography–electrospray mass spectrometry coupled with online extraction. The limits of quantification of PFOS, PFOA, and PFOSA in human plasma or serum were 0.5, 0.5, and 1.0 ng/mL, respectively. The method enables the precise determination of FOCs and can be applied to the detection of FOCs in human blood samples for monitoring human exposure. PFOS concentrations in maternal samples ranged from 4.9 to 17.6 ng/mL, whereas those in fetal samples ranged from 1.6 to 5.3 ng/mL. In contrast, PFOSA was not detected in fetal or maternal samples, whereas PFOA was detected only in maternal samples (range, < 0.5 to 2.3 ng/mL, 4 of 15). Our results revealed a high correlation between PFOS concentrations in maternal and cord blood (r(2) = 0.876). However, we did not find any significant correlations between PFOS concentration in maternal and cord blood samples and age bracket, birth weight, or levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone or free thyroxine. Our study revealed that human fetuses in Japan may be exposed to relatively high levels of FOCs. Further investigation is required to determine the postnatal effects of fetal exposure to FOCs

Endoscopic Manifestations and Clinical Characteristics of Cytomegalovirus Infection in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 14 patients (9 women, 5 men, mean age: 51.6 years) with cytomegalovirus (CMV) involvement in the esophagus, stomach, and/or duodenum diagnosed at a single center, to determine their endoscopic features and clinical backgrounds. Thirteen patients (92.9%) had hematologic disease; the other had rheumatoid arthritis. Of the former, 12 patients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and 9 of these patients had graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) before undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). All 14 patients had been taking one or more immunosuppressive agents including cyclosporine (n=10), corticosteroids (n=9), mycophenolic acid (n=6), tacrolimus (n=3), and methotrexate (n=1). Tests for CMV antigenemia were positive in 11 patients (78.6%). EGD examinations revealed esophageal (n=3), gastric (n=9), and duodenal involvement (n=6). Macroscopically, esophageal lesions by CMV infection presented as redness (n=1), erosions (n=1), and ulcers (n=1). Gastric lesions manifested as redness (n=7), erosions (n=3), exfoliated mucosa (n=2), and verrucous erosions (n=1). Mucosal appearances in the duodenum varied: redness (n=2), ulcers (n=2), multiple erosions (n=2), single erosion (n=1), edema (n=1). CMV was detected even in the intact duodenal mucosa (n=1). In conclusion, physicians must recall the relevance of CMV infection when any mucosal alterations exist in the upper gastrointestinal tract of immunosuppressed patients

Total vascular resistance, augmentation index, and augmentation pressure increase in patients with peripheral artery disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is one of major vascular diseases which frequently coexists with coronary arterial disease and cerebrovascular disease. The patients with PAD have a poor prognosis when it progresses. A new blood pressure testing device enables to simultaneously measure brachial blood pressure (BP), central BP, and several vascular parameters, with easy and non-invasive, in a short time. Here, we aimed to evaluate these arterial stiffness parameters in patients with PAD. In this study, 243 consecutive patients who were suspected of having PAD and referred to our hospital from September 2016 to June 2019, were registered. Several parameters, such as brachial BP, central BP, aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), total vascular resistance (TVR), augmentation index (AI) and augmentation pressure (AP), were determined by Mobil-O-Graph. Ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) was used to define PAD (ABI <= 0.9 as PAD). The relationship between PAD and central BP, aPWV, TVR, AI, or AP were investigated. One hundred sixty-two patients (67%) were categorized as the PAD group and 81 patients (33%) as the non-PAD group. In the PAD group, the systolic brachial BP and central systolic BP were significantly higher than those in the non-PAD group (138 +/- 24 mmHg vs 131 +/- 19 mmHg, P < .05, 125 +/- 22 mmHg vs 119 +/- 18 mmHg, P < .05, respectively). TVR, AI, and AP were significantly higher in the PAD group (1785 +/- 379 dyn s/cm(5) vs 1661 +/- 317 dyn s/cm(5), P < .05, 26.2 +/- 13.0% vs 22.2 +/- 13.3%, P < .05, 13.5 +/- 9.4 mmHg vs 10.7 +/- 7.2 mmHg, P < .05, respectively). No significant differences in diastolic BP, central diastolic BP, and aPWV were found between the groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that PAD was significantly associated with TVR, AI, and AP (P < .05, respectively). TVR/AP/AI were significantly higher in the PAD group than in the non-PAD group