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Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by vascular endothelial dysfunction and skin fibrosis. Recently, the presence and pathogenic role of immune complexes (ICs) of SSc patients were reported. However, the identities of antigens in these ICs are unknown. Therefore, we examined ICs in the serum of SSc patients to elucidate SSc pathogenesis. In this study, IC concentrations in serum samples from SSc and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients were measured by C1q enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays; immune complex analysis was used for comprehensive identification and comparison of antigens incorporated into ICs (IC-antigens). The expression patterns of SSc-specific IC-antigens in skin sections were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Compared with SLE patients who developed disease because of IC deposition, SSc patients had a greater number of IC-antigens and a smaller difference in IC concentrations, suggesting that SSc pathogenesis is affected by the proteins present in ICs. In contrast, the IC concentration and number of IC-antigens did not significantly differ according to the clinical phenotype of SSc. We identified 478 IC-antigens in SSc patients, including multiple RNAP II-associated proteins that were targeted by antibodies previously associated with SSc pathogenesis. The most frequently detected RNAP II-associated protein, RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 30 (MED30), was strongly expressed at lesion sites and reportedly regulates endothelial differentiation. Therefore, increased expression of MED30 in lesions may have an antigenic effect, and MED30 function may be impaired or inhibited by IC formation. RNAP II-associated proteins may SSc pathogenesis through mechanisms such as the MED30 pathway., Journal of Autoimmunity, 134, art. no. 102954; 2022

© 2020, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals. In areas where traffic demand is high and intersections are closely spaced, the drivers’ desire for quick discharge is demotivated by negative downstream conditions, such as long queues and poorly coordinated traffic signals, which may lead to lower saturation flow rate (SFR) for upstream lane groups. However, existing models do not consider this phenomenon. This paper proposes an improved intelligent driver model for reproducing the impacts of downstream traffic conditions on the discharging behavior of vehicles and the estimated SFR. A micro-simulation platform for two closely spaced signalized intersections is built to test the improved car-following model and to simulate the influenced SFR. Results from the sensitivity analysis and the comparison with empirical data show that the developed model could rationally and reliably reproduce the SFR reduction under different downstream conditions. As the queue in the downstream segment becomes longer and the offset becomes larger due to poor coordination, the SFR at the upstream intersection deteriorates. The developed model can be applied in traffic simulations to provide more realistic discharging behavior considering the downstream conditions.

Additional file 1: Fig. S1. Changes in the serum levels of OPG over the 6-month abatacept treatment period. Serum OPG was significantly elevated at 6 months after the introduction of abatacept (Wilcoxon signed ranks test). Horizontal bar, median; boxes, 25th and 75th percentiles; bars, 5th and 95th percentiles. OPG: osteoprotegerin. Fig. S2. Comparison of the changes in the SDAI and total PD score between the patients with a low Dkk-1 (n = 30) and those with a high Dkk-1 (n = 29). Wilcoxon signed ranks test. Horizontal bar, median; boxes, 25th and 75th percentiles; bars, 5th and 95th percentiles. PD: power Doppler, SDAI: Simple Disease Activity Index. Fig. S3. Comparison of the changes in the SDAI and total PD score between the patients with a low SOST (n = 30) and those with a high SOST (n = 29). Wilcoxon signed ranks test. Horizontal bar, median; boxes, 25th and 75th percentiles; bars, 5th and 95th percentiles.

Additional file 1: Supplementary Table S1. Comparison of baseline characteristics in patients with different backgrounds.

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-imr-10.1177_03000605211002083 for Tocilizumab has no direct effect on cell lines infected with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 by Yushiro Endo, Shoichi Fukui, Tomohiro Koga, Daisuke Sasaki, Hiroo Hasegawa, Katsunori Yanagihara, Akihiko Okayama, Tatsufumi Nakamura, Atsushi Kawakami and Hideki Nakamura in Journal of International Medical Research

Additional file 2: Table S1. Baseline characteristics of the patients. Table S2. Causes of death.

Additional file 1: Figure S1. The attainment of a complete renal response (CR) after 6 and 12 months of induction therapy in the early- and late-onset LN groups. *p

Table S1. Association between growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and organ involvements. Table S2. Changes of serum biomarkers and immunoglobulin G4-related disease responder index (IgG4-RD RI) score after glucocorticoid treatment in 13 patients. (DOCX 18 kb)

Table S1. Association between growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and organ involvements. Table S2. Changes of serum biomarkers and immunoglobulin G4-related disease responder index (IgG4-RD RI) score after glucocorticoid treatment in 13 patients. (DOCX 18 kb)

We discovered novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ agonists with a characteristic benzisoxazole ring. Compound 5 exhibited potent human PPARδ transactivation activity. Furthermore, it stimulated the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in vitro. This indicates that this potential drug may be effective for the treatment of demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

Removal of SO2 from flue gas by the absorbent prepared from coal fly ash, calcium oxide, and calcium sulfate was studied under different reaction conditions to elucidate the effects of the reaction temperature, water vapor pressure, and coexistence of NO in a flue gas. The SO2 removal activity increased with an increase in NO concentration up to 500 ppm at 130 °C. The SO2 removal activity increased as the water vapor pressure increased until a monolayer coverage with water molecule is achieved. As the adsorbed water exceeded the monolayer coverage, the SO2 removal activity suddenly decreased and calcium sulfite became the main product instead of calcium sulfate. The NO removal activity increased with an increase in SO2 concentration up to 2000 ppm at 130 °C. The NO removal also increased with an increase in water vapor pressure. The NO removal markedly decreased as the adsorbed water exceeded the monolayer coverage.

The absorbents for SO2 and NO from flue gas were prepared from calcium hydroxide, calcium sulfate, silicic acid, and aluminum hydroxide. The effects of the composition of the absorbent are studied on the activity for the absorption of SO2 and NO and on the structure of the absorbent. The activity for the absorption of SO2 and NO markedly increased with the content of silica in the absorbent up to 40%. The formation of calcium silicate is suggested to be predominant in a high concentration of silica, while the formation of ettringite was observed by the XRD only for the absorbent containing silica below 30%. The distribution of the sulfur and nitrogen compounds in the absorbent revealed by XPS suggests that adsorbed nitrogen compounds are gradually replaced by sulfur compounds as the reaction proceeds.

We successfully synthesized a novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)δ selective agonist, namely, compound 20, with a characteristic benzisoxazole ring. Compound 20 exhibited potent human PPARδ transactivation activity and high δ selectivity. Further, it stimulated differentiation of primary oligodendrocyte precursor cells in vitro, indicating that it may be an effective drug in the treatment of demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

This paper considers endogenous technological changes of inputs from labor to capital in operations of a production process, i.e., a kind of mechanization of the production process. While retaining the property of decreasing returns in capital, we can show that because of complementary relationships between the accumulation of capital and the mechanization of the production process, long-run growth is possible through the accumulation of capital only. It involves no growth of total factor productivity. Furthermore, our model can partly present a micro-foundation of constant-elasticity-of-substitution production function. Investigating our model empirically, we confirm both technological progress and our technological change.

We define a Rohlin property for actions of $Z^{2}$ on UHF algebras and show a noncommutative Rohlin type theorem. Among those actions with the Rohlin property, we classify product type actions up to outer conjugacy. In particular we present two classes of UHF algebras. For UHF algebras in one class, which includes the CAR algebra, there is one and only one outer conjugacy class of product type actions and for UHF algebras in the other class, contrary to the case of actions of $Z$, there are infinitely many outer conjugacy classesof product type actions., Comment: 35 pages, no figure, LaTex. Changes suggested by the referee are made. To appear in Journal of the Mathematical Society of Japan