The structure of coasting trade in British India from 1905 to 1931

During the early 20th century, South Asia experienced its most regionally integrated period in history, and under British rule, port cities were well connected via coasting trade. This paper examines the trade structure within British India between 1905 to 1931 and shows how South Asia was regionally integrated both through quantitative measures and various maps

Improvement on Heat Release Performance of Direct-contact Heat Exchanger Using Phase Change Material for Recovery of Low Temperature Exhaust Heat

Latent heat storage using a phase change material (PCM) is a promising method for utilizing the exhaust heat from steelworks. The purpose of this study was to improve the heat release performance of a direct-contact heat exchanger using a PCM and heat transfer oil (HTO). Erythritol (with a melting point of 391 K), which is a kind of sugar alcohol, was selected as a PCM. A vertical stainless steel cylinder with an inner diameter of 200 mm and height of 1400 mm was used as the heat storage unit (HSU). A ring-shaped injector with 18 holes positioned vertically downward was placed at the bottom of the HSU. Each hole in this injector had a diameter of 2.5 mm. We investigated the effects of the height of the PCM in the HSU, the HTO flow rate, and an increase in the number of injection-nozzle holes on the temperature effectiveness and heat exchange rate as indices of the heat release performances. As results, we found that an increase in the number of nozzle holes accelerated the uniform distribution of the HTO in the liquid PCM, prevented the HTO drift flow and adverse solidification of the PCM, and improved the heat release performance under the condition of a high HTO flow rate

Immunohistochemical localization of steroidogenic enzymes in corpus luteum of wild sika deer during early mating season

We analyzed the localization of steroidogenic enzymes (P450 scc, 3βHSD, P450 arom and P450 c17) in the corpora lutea of two Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) during the early mating season. Two corpora lutea were found in each female and the timing of formation of the corpora lutea seemed different. P450 scc, and 3βHSD, positive luteal cells were found in both corpora lutea. The existence of two functional corpora lutea from the early mating season through pregnancy suggests that progesterone secreted by two or more corpora lutea is necessary for maintenance of pregnancy in sika deer

Epidermal Fatty Acid-Binding Protein: A Novel Marker in the Diagnosis of Dry Eye Disease in Sjögren Syndrome

Purpose: Sjögren syndrome (SS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the lacrimal and salivary glands. This study compared the concentrations of epidermal fatty-acid binding protein (E-FABP) in the saliva, serum, and tears of SS patients with dry eye and dry mouth, with those of healthy adults to investigate the usefulness of E-FABP as a diagnostic marker for SS. Design: Prospective, observational case series. Participants: The subjects were 11 new patients with untreated Sjogren syndrome and 12 healthy control individuals. Methods: The diagnosis of SS was in accordance with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan) Diagnostic Criteria (1999). Saliva, serum, and tear specimens were collected during internal medicine, dental, and ophthalmological examinations. The ophthalmological tests included the Dry Eye-related Quality of life Score (DEQS), tear break-up time (BUT), vital staining with fluorescein (FS) and lissamine green (LG), and the Schirmer test-1. The E-FABP concentration in the tears, saliva, and serum was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Main outcome measure: The E-FABP concentrations were compared between patients and controls. Results: There were significant differences between the patient and healthy control groups in all ophthalmological test results. There were no significant differences between the groups in the E-FABP concentrations in the saliva (p = 0.1513) or the serum (p = 0.4799), but the E-FABP concentration in the tears significantly differed between groups. The E-FABP concentration in tears tended to be significantly lower in patients with SS (mean, 323.5 ± 325.6 pg/mL) than healthy control subjects (mean, 4076 pg/mL; p = 0.0136). The E-FABP concentration in tears significantly correlated with the results of dry eye parameters. Conclusion: The E-FABP concentration in tears appears to be related to ocular surface epithelial damage and tear stability and may be a promising novel biomarker in the diagnosis of SS