Role of Interleukin-10 in Malaria: Focusing on Coinfection with Lethal and Nonlethal Murine Malaria Parasites

Interleukin- (IL-) 10, anti-inflammatory cytokine, is known to inhibit the protective immune responses against malaria parasites and to be involved in exacerbating parasitemia during Plasmodium infection. In contrast, IL-10 is regarded as necessary for suppressing severe pathology during Plasmodium infection. Here, we summarize the role of IL-10 during murine malaria infection, focusing especially on coinfection with lethal and nonlethal strains of malaria parasites. Recent studies have demonstrated that the major sources of IL-10 are subpopulations of CD4+ T cells in humans and mice infected with Plasmodium. We also discuss the influence of innate immunity on the induction of CD4+ T cells during murine malaria coinfection

One-dimensional Compression Tests of Sludge Cake from Dredged Sludge

One-dimensional compression tests were performed to investigate compression characteristics of sludge cake used as a construction material. The sludge cake is dewatering product of dredged sludge from the bottom of a lake. The test results show following compression characteristics. (1) For the undisturbed samples, e-log p curves show compressibility of overconsolidated clay ordinatily observed. (2) For the disturbed samples, there observed compressibility close to that of ordinary normally consolidated clay. (3) For the recompressed samples, there observed two turning points on e-log p curve. The compression presures(p(c1) and p(c2)) at those points for the unsubmerged tests have a linear correlation with the recompression pressure(p(s)). The submerged tests give very small values of p(c1) and p(c2) compared with the case of unsubmerged test. (4) For the recompressed samples, the first compression index(C(c1)) after p(c) has a linear correlation with the initial void ratio(e(0)), and the second compression index(C(c2)) shows almost constant value

Superstrate CuInSe2-Printed Solar Cells on In2S3/TiO2/FTO/Glass Plates

CuInSe2 powders synthesized by ball milling were printed on In2S3/TiO2/FTO/glass substrates, resulting in superstrate solar cells.  Although particle structure of CuInSe2 in the layer remained after heating at 600 °C under N2 gas, photovoltaic effects were observed; the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current density were 0.45 V and 5.6 mA/cm2, respectively.  The effects of annealing time on the structural, optical and photovoltaic properties of CuInSe2 were studied by scanning electron micrograph (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and UV-Vis reflectance absorption spectroscopy.  The CuInSe2 solar cells were printed in air ambient without vacuum processing and without toxic and explosive chemicals (e.g., hydrazine, H2Se and H2S), which can offer a promising strategy for future research and industrial investigation into cost-effective photovoltaic systems.Key words: Photovoltaic system; Photovoltaic effects; CuInSe2 solar cell

THE EFFECTS OF LIFTING THE ROTATIONAL AXIS ON SWING SPEED OF THE INSTEP

This study was conducted to investigate the hypothesis that expert soccer players lifted the trochanter major rotational axis of the swing leg faster before impact to increase the speed of the swing leg. This movement pattern is referred to as "lifting the rotational axis of the swing leg". To examine this hypothesis, an experiment and computer simulation was carried out. The results were as follows: (1) Experts were found to lift the rotational axis of the swing leg to a greater degree than novices. (2) Computer simulations of the swing leg, developed by combining data of torque patterns data of the thigh and the leg from the novices with kinematic data of the trochanter major from the expert group, resulted in a slight increase in swing speed. When the kinematic data from the most accomplished expert alone was used, a remarkable increase in swing speed was seen. These results suggest the movement pattern such as lifting the rotational axis of the swing leg was useful in increasing the swing speed

International Competition on Graph Counting Algorithms 2023

This paper reports on the details of the International Competition on Graph Counting Algorithms (ICGCA) held in 2023. The graph counting problem is to count the subgraphs satisfying specified constraints on a given graph. The problem belongs to #P-complete, a computationally tough class. Since many essential systems in modern society, e.g., infrastructure networks, are often represented as graphs, graph counting algorithms are a key technology to efficiently scan all the subgraphs representing the feasible states of the system. In the ICGCA, contestants were asked to count the paths on a graph under a length constraint. The benchmark set included 150 challenging instances, emphasizing graphs resembling infrastructure networks. Eleven solvers were submitted and ranked by the number of benchmarks correctly solved within a time limit. The winning solver, TLDC, was designed based on three fundamental approaches: backtracking search, dynamic programming, and model counting or #SAT (a counting version of Boolean satisfiability). Detailed analyses show that each approach has its own strengths, and one approach is unlikely to dominate the others. The codes and papers of the participating solvers are available: https://afsa.jp/icgca/.Comment: https://afsa.jp/icgca

Formation of an incombustible oxide film on a molten Mg-Al-Ca alloy

A nonflammable Mg-10Al-5Ca (at.%) alloy that can be melted in air without a cover gas or flux is developed. The alloy immediately forms a protective oxide film consisting of three layers, a fine CaO outer layer, a fine MgO intermediate layer, and a coarse MgO innermost layer. The anionic volume ratio of the CaO/MgO interface is 1.48. This interface ratio is sufficiently large to suggest the generation of a strong compressive force in the CaO layer. The dense, uniform fine CaO layer may act as a protective layer preventing the diffusion of oxygen