Novel elucidation and treatment of pancreatic chronic graft-versus-host disease in mice

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a severe complication of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. There is a growing understanding of cGVHD, and several effective therapies for cGVHD have been reported. However, pancreatic cGVHD is a potentially untapped study field. Our thought-provoking study using a mouse model of cGVHD suggested that the pancreas could be impaired by cGVHD-induced inflammation and fibrosis and that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was augmented in the pancreas affected by cGVHD. These findings urged us to treat pancreatic cGVHD through reduction of ER stress, and we used 4-phenylbutyric acid (PBA) as an ER stress reducer. A series of experiments have indicated that PBA can suppress cGVHD-elicited ER stress in the pancreas and accordingly alleviate pancreatic cGVHD. Furthermore, we focused on a correlation between epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibrosis in the cGVHD-affected pancreas, because EMT was conceivably implicated in various fibrosis-associated diseases. Our investigation has suggested that the expression of EMT markers was increased in the cGVHD-disordered pancreas and that it could be reduced by PBA. Taken together, we have provided a clue to elucidate the pathogenic process of pancreatic cGVHD and created a potentially effective treatment of this disease using the ER stress alleviator PBA

Measurements of Gamma-Ray Production Cross Sections of Nb and Cu for 15-MeV Neutrons

Gamma-ray production cross sections of Nb and Cu are measured for 14.9 -MeV neutrons. The accuracy of the experimental results is confirmed by comparing those with other experipental data obtained by similar energy neutrons. Hence, the data given in this paper are useful in the evaluation of secondary gamma-ray production data for fusion use. Based on the measured data, some comments are given to the evaluated data in the ENDF/B-Ⅳ file : (1) the gamma-ray spectrum of Cu data is not adequate, (2) the gamma-ray yield data of the file for Nb is overestimated

Computer Studies of D⁺-Ion Induced Atomic Displacement Rate and Deuterium Reemission Rate of Nickel with Absorbed Deuteriums

The D ⁺ ion induced atomic displacement rate and reemission of energetic deuterons were analyzed by BCA-model calculations for nickel metal having absorbed deuterons on its surface, or containing absorbed deuterons in the bulk (NiD mixture). The results were compared with those for the pure nickel metal and the nickel oxide. The NiD mixture showed a large change in the D ⁺ projected range and the Ni atom displacement rate because of the influence of contained deuterons. The displacement rate of D atoms in the NiD was very large. The number of emitted D atoms from the D adsorbate layer on the Ni metal surface was about 30% at maximum of the total number of reflected D atoms

Measurements of Fission Neutron Spectra Transmitted through Iron, Heavy Concrete, Polyethylene and Graphite Slabs

Measurements of transmitted neutron spectra through slabs of iron, heavy concrete, polyethylene and graphite are shown. The experiments are done using collimated fission neutrons from a ²⁵²Cf source. To verify the results, multigroup Monte Carlo calculations are done. Fairly good agreement is shown between spectra obtained by experiments and calculations. Some discrepancies shown between them are thought to come from inaccuracies in the cross section data used in the calculations

Grazing Use of Native Pastures by Beef Cattle in Japan : Recent Researches on Plant-animal Interactions in Native Pastures

Understandings of plant-animal interactions are vital for adequate control of vegetation and animal conditions and sustainable use of the natural resources in grazing systems. In this paper, studies of plant-animal interactions that were carried out in native pastures at the Kawatabi Field Science Center (KFSC) in Tohoku University were reviewed. 1. Although forage quality of native grasses is known to lower than that of grasses in sown temperate pastures, fresh and masticated native grasses have higher ruminal degradability than dried and ground ones, indicating the importance of using fresh samples when estimating the nutritive value and ruminal digestibility. Native pastures are also suggested to supply more copper to animals than sown pastures. 2. The indigenous vegetation of the KFSC is composed of 61-80 plant species, of which cattle graze upon 44-75 species. Among these species, Miscanthus sinensis, Zoysia japonica and Sasa palmata are especially valuable for cattle grazing in Japanese native pastures. A new technique using plant opal phytoliths as markers is effective to obtain information on intake of individual plant species. 3. Studies of grazing impacts of cattle on plant succession are also essential to the grazing system in a native pasture. In the KFSC, shrubs such as Weigela hortensis have been increasing in M. sinensis pastures by cattle grazing, due to a decline in aboveground biomass and seed production of M. sinensis, and the removal of litter on the ground. Seed dispersal by grazing animals also exerts significant effects on vegetational change. 4. Beyond these studies, estimating environmental impacts of grazing on such ecosystems will require long-term investigations and quantification of nutrient flow in native pastures, including soil and soil microorganisms as variables

Analysis of Errors in Albedo Monte Carlo Calculation due to Errors in Albedo Data

The error analysis method, which enables one to make an estimation of errors in the streaming neutron flux due to errors in the albedo data in the albedo Monte Carlo calculation, is described. The proposed method is based on a perturbation model which follows the same neutron path as in the unperturbed case, and estimates the flux error as a deviation in the neutron weight each time a neutron has a collision. As an example of the application of the proposed method, neutron duct streaming problems in 2-m long concrete ducts are analyzed. The importance of neutron scattering in each energy group to the streaming neutron flux is quantitatively described by the method