Alteration of the immune environment in bone marrow from children with recurrent B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Due to the considerable success of cancer immunotherapy for leukemia, the tumor immune environment has become a focus of intense research; however, there are few reports on the dynamics of the tumor immune environment in leukemia. Here, we analyzed the tumor immune environment in pediatric B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia by analyzing serial bone marrow samples from nine patients with primary and recurrent disease by mass cytometry using 39 immunophenotype markers, and transcriptome analysis. High-dimensional single-cell mass cytometry analysis elucidated a dynamic shift of T cells from naïve to effector subsets, and clarified that, during relapse, the tumor immune environment comprised a T helper 1-polarized immune profile, together with an increased number of effector regulatory T cells. These results were confirmed in a validation cohort using conventional flow cytometry. Furthermore, RNA transcriptome analysis identified the upregulation of immune-related pathways in B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells during relapse, suggesting interaction with the surrounding environment. In conclusion, a tumor immune environment characterized by a T helper 1-polarized immune profile, with an increased number of effector regulatory T cells, could contribute to the pathophysiology of recurrent B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This information could contribute to the development of effective immunotherapeutic approaches against B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia relapse

Recent Results from LHD Experiment with Emphasis on Relation to Theory from Experimentalist’s View

he Large Helical Device (LHD) has been extending an operational regime of net-current free plasmas towardsthe fusion relevant condition with taking advantage of a net current-free heliotron concept and employing a superconducting coil system. Heating capability has exceeded 10 MW and the central ion and electron temperatureshave reached 7 and 10 keV, respectively. The maximum value of β and pulse length have been extended to 3.2% and 150 s, respectively. Many encouraging physical findings have been obtained. Topics from recent experiments, which should be emphasized from the aspect of theoretical approaches, are reviewed. Those are (1) Prominent features in the inward shifted configuration, i.e., mitigation of an ideal interchange mode in the configuration with magnetic hill, and confinement improvement due to suppression of both anomalous and neoclassical transport, (2) Demonstration ofbifurcation of radial electric field and associated formation of an internal transport barrier, and (3) Dynamics of magnetic islands and clarification of the role of separatrix

Structural Transformation of Pt–Ni Nanowires as Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts to Branched Nanostructures during Potential Cycles

We report the preparation, oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalytic activity, and structural transformation of Pt–Ni nanowires (NWs) during potential cycles in the presence and absence of Pt–Ni nanoparticles (NPs). The ORR activity of NWs increases over 25000 potential cycles in the presence of NPs, involving the structural transformation of NWs to branched nanostructures assisted by Ostwald ripening of NPs. This structural transformation is coupled with the surface electronic structural change, as confirmed by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and carbon monoxide stripping voltammetry, leading to catalytic activity improvement and Pt dissolution suppression. Although a similar structural transformation was also observed even in the absence of NPs, greater amounts of Pt were dissolved during potential cycles. These results indicate that the structural transformation is intrinsic to Pt-based NWs but the structural transformation of NWs assisted by Ostwald ripening of NPs is beneficial to suppress the Pt dissolution. The concept of the structural optimization of nanostructured catalysts assisted by Ostwald ripening of NPs under potential cycles will guide us to develop highly active and durable Pt-based electrocatalysts and phase-engineered nanomaterials

Operando Time-Resolved X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Study for Surface Events on a Pt₃Co/C Cathode Catalyst in a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell during Voltage-Operating Processes

The structural kinetics of surface events on a Pt₃Co/C cathode catalyst in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) was investigated by operando time-resolved X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) with a time resolution of 500 ms. The rate constants of electrochemical reactions, the changes in charge density on Pt, and the changes in the local coordination structures of the Pt₃Co alloy catalyst in the PEFC were successfully evaluated during fuel-cell voltage-operating processes. Significant time lags were observed between the electrochemical reactions and the structural changes in the Pt₃Co alloy catalyst. The rate constants of all the surface events on the Pt₃Co/C catalyst were significantly higher than those on the Pt/C catalyst, suggesting the advantageous behaviors (cell performance and catalyst durability) on the Pt₃Co alloy cathode catalyst

Neutral Particle Measurement in High Z Plasma in Large Helical Device

In Large Helical Device (LHD), the discharges of high Z are often used in order to obtain high ion temperature. The ion density is relatively smaller than the electron density in high Z plasma. Therefore the high ion temperature can be obtained since the input energy per ion atom is large. In the charge exchange neutral diagnostic, the ion temperature can be obtained by observing the spectra of neutral particles, which are generated by the charge exchange between the background neutral and the plasma ion, and assuming theMaxwellian distribution of the spectra. In calculation, we also consider the charge exchange between the partially ionized high Z ion and proton. The contribution of neutral particle from the charge exchange between argon and proton is small near the center but cannot be neglected near the peripheral region comparing with that of hydrogen charge exchang