Measurements of Vegetation Distribution Using Various Local Remote Sensing Techniques

Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchiv

High-temperature thermoelectric properties of the double-perovskite ruthenium oxide (Sr1−x_{1-x}Lax_x)2_2ErRuO6_6

We have prepared polycrystalline samples of (Sr$_{1-x}$La$_x$)$_2$ErRuO$_6$ and (Sr$_{1-x}$La$_x$)$_2$YRuO$_6$, and have measured the resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, susceptibility and x-ray absorption in order to evaluate the electronic states and thermoelectric properties of the doped double-perovskite ruthenates. We have observed a large Seebeck coefficient of -160 $\mu$V/K and a low thermal conductivity of 7 mW/cmK for $x$=0.1 at 800 K in air. These two values are suitable for efficient oxide thermoelectrics, although the resistivity is still as high as 1 $\Omega$cm. From the susceptibility and x-ray absorption measurements, we find that the doped electrons exist as Ru$^{4+}$ in the low spin state. On the basis of the measured results, the electronic states and the conduction mechanism are discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, J. Appl. Phys. (accepted

Variations in amount of TSST-1 produced by clinical methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates and allelic variation in accessory gene regulator (agr) locus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(S. aureus) is an important pathogen associated with both nosocomial and community-acquired infections and its pathogenicity is attributed to its potential to produce virulence factors. Since the amount of toxin produced is related to virulence, evaluating toxin production should be useful for controlling S. aureus infection. We previously found that some strains produce relatively large amounts of TSST-1; however, no reports have described the amount of TSST-1 produced by clinical isolates.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Amounts of TSST-1 produced by clinical methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates were measured by Western blotting. We determined their accessory gene regulator (<it>agr</it>) class by PCR and investigated whether TSST-1 production correlates with variations in the class and structure of the <it>agr</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that 75% of surveyed MRSA isolates (n = 152) possessed the <it>tst </it>gene and that 96.7% belonged to <it>agr </it>class 2. The concentrations of TSST-1 secreted into culture supernatants by 34 strains measured by Western blotting differed 170-fold. Sequencing the entire <it>agr </it>locus (n = 9) revealed that some had allelic variations regardless of the amount of TSST-1 produced whereas sequencing the <it>sar</it>, sigma factor B and the <it>tst </it>promoter region revealed no significant changes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The amounts of TSST-1 produced by clinical MRSA isolates varied. The present results suggest that TSST-1 production is not directly associated with the <it>agr </it>structure, but is instead controlled by unknown transcriptional/translational regulatory systems, or synthesized by multiple regulatory mechanisms that are interlinked in a complex manner.</p

A New Microarray System to Detect Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotypes

Streptococcus pneumoniae, one of the most common gram-positive pathogens to colonize the human upper respiratory tract, is responsible for many severe infections, including meningitis and bacteremia. A 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine is available to protect against the 23 S. pneumoniae serotypes responsible for 90% of reported bacteremic infections. Unfortunately, current S. pneumoniae serotype testing requires a large panel of expensive antisera, assay results may be subjective, and serotype cross-reactions are common. For this study, we designed an oligonucleotide-based DNA microarray to identify glycosyltransferase gene sequences specific to each vaccine-related serotype. Out of 56 isolates representing different serotypes, only one isolate, representing serotype 23A, was not detected correctly as it could not be distinguished from serotype 23F. Our data suggest that the microarray provides a more cost-effective and reliable way of monitoring pneumococcal capsular types

Flight Demonstration of Electrostatic Thruster under Micro-Gravity

Based on a new concept, a low power electrostatic thruster is being developed for its application to 50 kg class satellite, which is named “Microwave Engine”. The proto-model (PM) of the microwave engine was manufactured and the qualification test (QT) was conducted. The estimated performances are 1250 seconds in specific impulse, 0.36mN in thrust and 10% in thrust efficiency when it is operated at 26.6W. To evaluate the feasibility of its accelerating mechanism, the flight demonstration of a plasma thruster is implemented under microgravity. The demonstrated thruster has an aperture of 19 mm in diameter. The same accelerating mechanism as Microwave Engine is applied to the plasma thruster although there is a difference in the mechanism of generating plasma. The flight demonstrator utilizes the glow discharge while the microwave discharge is applied to Microwave Engine. In this study, the thrust is estimated based on the flight path of the plasma thruster under microgravity, the swing of its pendulum under 1G and the beam theory of its copper wires. These corresponding thrusts are 0.36 mN, 0.20 mN and 0.11 mN, respectively. In addition, a series of its flight images is shown in this paper. As a result, the reasonable flight performance validates the accelerating mechanism of Microwave Engine

Renoprotective Action of a Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitor in Progressive Mesangioproliferative Nephritis

Background/Aim: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play pivotal roles in extracellular matrix turnover and are involved in chronic kidney disease. The renoprotective action of a synthetic MMP inhibitor, compound A, was investigated in chronic nephritis. Methods: Nephritis was induced by a single injection of anti-Thy1.1 antibody to unilaterally nephrectomized rats. The effects of compound A on proteinuria, blood urea nitrogen, and matrix-related gene expressions were evaluated. Collagen accumulation, as assessed by periodic acid-Schiff staining and hydroxyproline content, was determined. The integrity of glomerular epithelial cells and glomerular basement membrane was evaluated with desmin immunohistochemistry and electron microscopic detection of anionic charge sites, respectively. Results: Treatment with compound A notably attenuated proteinuria, ameliorated blood urea nitrogen, and prevented glomerulosclerosis. Gene upregulation of collagen and transforming growth factor β1 in the cortex was prevented in the treated animals. Glomerular epithelial cell injury was milder, and glomerular basement membrane anionic sites were protected with the treatment. Conclusion: A novel MMP inhibitor, compound A, exerts protective effects in progressive glomerulonephritis. Compound A ameliorates various aspects of renal injuries and may have therapeutic potential toward kidney diseases

Clinical characteristics and visual outcomes of work-related open globe injuries in Japanese patients

Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics and visual outcomes of patients with work-related open globe injuries (OGIs) and compare them with patients with non-work-related OGIs. Design: Retrospective, observational, multicentre, case-control study. Methods: A total of 374 patients with work-related OGIs and 170 patients with non-work-related OGIs who presented to hospitals that belong to the Japan-Clinical Research of Study group from 2005 to 2015 were included in this study. Clinical data including age, sex, initial and final visual acuity, type of open globe injury, lens status, zone of injury, wound length, and presence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy, retinal detachment, expulsive haemorrhage, and endophthalmitis were recorded. Main Outcome Measures: Visual acuity. Results Work-related OGIs were associated with younger age, male sex, better initial and final visual acuity, more laceration, smaller wounds, presence of retinal detachment, and expulsive haemorrhage, compared with non-work-related OGIs. Multiple regression analysis revealed that final visual acuity is significantly associated with initial visual acuity, wound length, and the presence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy in work-related OGIs. Conclusions: Work-related OGIs showed better visual outcomes than other OGIs. Initial visual acuity, wound length, and the presence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy are predictors of visual outcomes in patients with work-related OGIs

Synthesis, oxygen activation, and DNA-cleaving property of a histidine-pyridine-histidine ligand

A novel metal-chelating system comprising a 4-dimethylamino-　pyridine and two histidine appendages was synthesized. The two histidines were introduced by different manners; one through an amide linkage and other via a secondary amino linkage. ESR spectrum suggested a distorted pentacoordinate configuration of the copper complex of the ligand. The iron complex of the ligand had oxygen-activating property as shown by ESR spin trapping and DNA-cleaving activity as evaluated by experiments using pUC19 DNA

The involvement of the vasa vasorum in the development of vasculitis in animal model of Kawasaki disease

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki Disease (KD) involves a diffuse and systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology that mainly affects infants and children. Although a considerable number of analyses of the clinical, histopathological and molecular biological details underlying the mechanism responsible for the development of coronary arterial lesions, it is still poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to analyze the state of angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and the distribution of blood vessels using an animal model of KD like vasculitis. We investigated the involvement of the vasa vasorum from the adventitia in the vascular involvement and the development of the disease state by performing sequential histopathology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro computed tomography (CT) studies using a murine model of vasculitis induced by the Candida albicans water-soluble fraction (CAWS). METHODS: To prepare the animal model of KD like vasculitis, CAWS was intraperitoneally injected into C57BL/6N mice for five consecutive days as reported by Ohno et al. We observed the changes of the vasa vasorum at the aorta and the orifices of the coronary arteries by SEM and micro CT, and also compared the neovascularization at the media and adventitia of the aorta by an immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: As previously reported, obvious inflammation was detected two weeks after the injection of CAWS, and also intimal thickening was observed three weeks after the injection. We found that the vasa vasorum in the adventitia of the aorta was increased in the model mice. The vasa vasorum started increasing one week after the injection of CAWS, before any obvious vasculitis was microscopically detected. CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that the vasculitis in Kawasaki disease starts as a disorder of the vasa vasorum