Freeze-Drying of Copper-Oxide-Based Porous Bulk Catalysts for Diesel Soot Combustion

Porous copper oxide particles were prepared by freeze-drying to serve as bulk catalysts for diesel soot combustion. Frozen particles of aqueous copper sulfate solution mixed with other metal sulfate solutions were dried in a vacuum chamber, and the dried particles were calcined into metal oxide particles. The open porosity induced by sublimation of ice crystals in the freeze-dried particles was retained during calcination and subsequent sintering. These porous Particles were directly utilized as bulk catalyst packed in a diesel soot trap. TG-DTA thermal analysis was employed to evaluate the catalyst activity in oxidation of diesel soot. In order to achieve intimate contact between catalyst dnd soot, the oxide particles were impregnated with metal chlorides, which are expected to form liquid phase during soot combustion. Among the prepared catalysts, CuO/Co_3O_4 with KC1/LiCl exhibited noticeable activity and durability, ex-hibiting an ignition temperature of 300℃ in soot combustion

Causal relationship between eWOM topics and profit of rural tourism at Japanese Roadside Stations "MICHINOEKI"

Affected by urbanization, centralization and the decrease of overall population, Japan has been making efforts to revitalize the rural areas across the country. One particular effort is to increase tourism to these rural areas via regional branding, using local farm products as tourist attractions across Japan. Particularly, a program subsidized by the government called Michinoeki, which stands for 'roadside station', was created 20 years ago and it strives to provide a safe and comfortable space for cultural interaction between road travelers and the local community, as well as offering refreshment, and relevant information to travelers. However, despite its importance in the revitalization of the Japanese economy, studies with newer technologies and methodologies are lacking. Using sales data from establishments in the Kyushu area of Japan, we used Support Vector to classify content from Twitter into relevant topics and studied their causal relationship to the sales for each establishment using LiNGAM, a linear non-gaussian acyclic model built for causal structure analysis, to perform an improved market analysis considering more than just correlation. Under the hypotheses stated by the LiNGAM model, we discovered a positive causal relationship between the number of tweets mentioning those establishments, specially mentioning deserts, a need for better access and traf^ic options, and a potentially untapped customer base in motorcycle biker groups

Molecular cloning and characterization of the human p19INK4d gene promoter

Abstractp19INK4d, a member of the INK4 family of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors, negatively regulates the cyclin D–CDK4/6 complexes, which promote G1/S transition by phosphorylating the retinoblastoma tumor-suppressor gene product. To investigate the mechanism of transcriptional regulation of the p19INK4d gene, we characterized the 5′-flanking region of the human p19INK4d gene. The cap-site hunting method revealed that the transcription starts at −16 nucleotide (nt) upstream of the initiation codon. The 5′-flanking region of the human p19INK4d gene was ligated to a luciferase reporter gene and possessed functional promoter activity. Luciferase assay with a series of truncated 5′-flanking regions indicated that the region from −81 to −2 nt could drive the transcription of the p19INK4d gene. Several Sp1 and activating protein 2 binding sites are located within the region from −81 to −2 nt. Mutation of the second Sp1 binding site from −33 to −25 nt decreased the promoter activity. Collectively, it was demonstrated that the human p19INK4d gene is under the control of TATA-less promoter and the Sp1 binding site is involved in the transcription

Prospective Study on the Incidence of Bone Metastasis (BM) and Skeletal-Related Events (SREs) in Patients (pts) with Stage IIIB and IV Lung Cancer—CSP-HOR 13

Background:Bone metastasis (BM) is a frequent complication in patients with advanced lung cancer and it causes skeletal-related events (SREs). Our study aim is to prospectively investigate the incidence of BM, incidence and types of SRE, and predictive factors of BM and SREs.Methods:Newly diagnosed, advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients were enrolled into the study. Patients were followed up every 4 weeks to monitor the development of SREs. Treatment for lung cancer was performed at the discretion of the investigator.Results:Two hundred seventy-four patients were enrolled in this study between April 2007 and December 2009 from 12 institutions. Patients included 77 cases of SCLC and 197 of NSCLC (stage IIIB/IV = 73/124). Median follow-up time was 13.8 months. The incidence of BM at initial diagnosis was 48% in stage IV NSCLC and 40% in extensive stage (ED)-SCLC. Forty-five percent of patients who developed BM had SREs consisting of pathologic fracture (4.7%), radiation to bone (15.3%), spinal cord compression (1.1%), and hypercalcemia (2.2%). Multivariate analysis revealed that factors predicting BM are stage IV, performance status 1 or greater and higher bone alkaline phosphatase in NSCLC patients, higher lactate dehydrogenase, and lower parathyroid hormone–related peptide in SCLC patients. Factors predicting SREs were stage IV, age 64 or younger, and lower albumin in NSCLC patients. Multivariate analysis of SRE was not performed for SCLC because of the small number of events.Conclusion:Predictive factors should be taken into consideration in future randomized studies evaluating BM and SREs

Research Trends and Issues Related to Prevention of Infectious Diseases in Early Childhood

本論は，幼児期の健康教育の中でも感染症予防に焦点を当て，近年の研究の動向について，「保育施設における取組みに関する研究」「幼児が実践する感染予防に関する研究」「感染症予防に関する保育者の意識に関する研究」「保育施設と関係機関との連携に関する研究」「保育者養成校における感染症予防教育に関する研究」に分類し考察したものである。幼児を対象とした感染症予防に関する研究成果は，小児保健分野における研究成果が多く，保育実践を対象とした研究は，手洗いに関する論考が散見されるものの，具体的な教育内容や指導法等の実践に直結した研究は未だ進んでいない。感染症対策が強く求められる中で，今後，保育現場の実情に即した様々な観点からの研究の推進が望まれる。In this study, we focused on prevention of infectious diseases (PID) in health education of early childhood, classified into following five researches and discussed recent trends: Research related to 1) approaches in childcare facilities, 2) infection preventive measures undertaken by young children, 3) childcare workers’ consciousness on PID, 4) cooperation between childcare facilities and related institutions, and 5) education for PID in childcare training schools. Many research results in child health have been reported on PID for young children. However, in researches for childcare practice, while handwashing is often discussed, few attempts have been made at a study connected with practices such as concrete educational contents or methods. Because of strong demand for PID, it’s necessary to research from various viewpoints based on the actual circumstances in childcare

Two siblings with vitamin B6-nonresponsive cystathionine β-synthase deficiency and differing blood methionine levels during the neonatal period

We present two siblings with vitamin B6-nonresponsive homocystinuria due to a deficiency of cystathionine β-synthase who had different levels of methionine in the blood during the neonatal period, even though they had the same genetic defect. One of them was missed in the screening of newborns for homocystinuria. Special care should be taken in screening neonates for homocystinuria using the blood level of methionine

Development of UPS-SMES as a protection from momentary voltage drop

We have been developing the UPS-SMES as a protection from momentary voltage drop and power failure. The superconducting system is suitable as electric power storage for large energy extraction in a short time. The most important feature of superconducting coil system for the UPS-SMES is easy handling and maintenance-free operation. We have selected low temperature superconducting (LTS) coils instead of high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils from the viewpoint of cost and performance. However, it is difficult for the conventional LTS coils to fulfill maintenance-free operation since the cooling methods are either pool boiling with liquid helium or forced flow of supercritical helium. Thus, a conduction cooled LTS pulse coil has been designed as a key component of the UPS-SMES. The development program of 1 MW, 1 sec UPS-SMES is explained

CD4+ T Responses Other Than Th1 Type Are Preferentially Induced by Latency-Associated Antigens in the State of Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) produces a diverse range of antigenic proteins in its dormant phase. The cytokine profiles of CD4+ T cell responses, especially subsets other than Th1 type (non-Th1 type), against these latency-associated M. tuberculosis antigens such as α-crystallin (Acr), heparin-binding hemagglutinin (HBHA), and mycobacterial DNA-binding protein 1 (MDP-1) remain elusive in relation to the clinical stage of M. tuberculosis infection. In the present study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from different stages of M. tuberculosis-infected cases and control PBMCs were stimulated with these antigens and ESAT-6/CFP-10. Cytokine profiles of CD4+ T cells were evaluated by intracellular cytokine staining using multicolor flow cytometry. Our results demonstrate that Th1 cytokine responses were predominant after TB onset independent of the type of antigen stimulation. On the contrary, non-Th1 cytokine responses were preferentially induced by latency-associated M. tuberculosis antigens, specifically IL-10 response against Acr in latent M. tuberculosis infection. From these results, we surmise a shift in the CD4+ T cell response from mixed non-Th1 to Th1 dominant type during TB progression

Development of 1 MJ Conduction-Cooled LTS Pulse Coil for UPS-SMES

A 1 MW, 1 s UPS-SMES is being developed for a protection from a momentary voltage drop and an instant power failure. As a key technology of the UPS-SMES, we developed a prototype LTS pulse coil with a stored energy of 100 kJ and conducted cooling and excitation tests in 2005. The operation test of the prototype UPS-SMES using this 100 kJ coil with power converters have been performed in 2006. A 1 MJ coil was designed before the fabrication of the 100 kJ prototype coil. The superconductor, the electric insulation technique, the winding method, and the cooling structure used for the 100 kJ coil were based upon the 1 MJ coil design. The successful performance test results of the prototype 100 kJ coil validated the design concept and fabrication technique of the 1 MJ coil. According to the achievement of the prototype 100 kJ UPS-SMES, the 1 MJ conduction-cooled LTS pulse coil has been fabricated successfully. The successful experimental results of the 100 kJ prototype coil with power converters and the fabrication procedure of the 1 MJ full size coil are described

The Satb1 Protein Directs Hematopoietic Stem Cell Differentiation toward Lymphoid Lineages

SummaryHow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) produce particular lineages is insufficiently understood. We searched for key factors that direct HSC to lymphopoiesis. Comparing gene expression profiles for HSCs and early lymphoid progenitors revealed that Satb1, a global chromatin regulator, was markedly induced with lymphoid lineage specification. HSCs from Satb1-deficient mice were defective in lymphopoietic activity in culture and failed to reconstitute T lymphopoiesis in wild-type recipients. Furthermore, Satb1 transduction of HSCs and embryonic stem cells robustly promoted their differentiation toward lymphocytes. Whereas genes that encode Ikaros, E2A, and Notch1 were unaffected, many genes involved in lineage decisions were regulated by Satb1. Satb1 expression was reduced in aged HSCs with compromised lymphopoietic potential, but forced Satb1 expression partly restored that potential. Thus, Satb1 governs the initiating process central to the replenishing of lymphoid lineages. Such activity in lymphoid cell generation may be of clinical importance and useful to overcome immunosenescence