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Abstract: We have developed a new ecological concrete which can achieve a CO2 emission level below zero by capturing CO2. This concrete is based on two typical features. One of the features of this concrete is using a special admixture (the γ phase of dicalcium silicate: γ-2CaO.SiO2) instead of cement. This material has a very low level of CO2 emissions and hardens the concrete by reacting with CO2. The other feature of this concrete is capturing the CO2 contained in the exhaust gas from thermal power stations. In this paper, we set forth the concepts of the development and various results of examination of the ecological concrete. This ecological concrete is named CO2-SUICOM (CO2 Storage under Infrastructure by Concrete Materials). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To identify the molecular characteristics specific to the mushroom body ( MB, a higher processing centre) neurones in the honeybee brain, we previously used proteomics to identify proteins that are preferentially expressed in these MBs. Here we continued our proteomic analysis to show that reticulocalbin, which is involved in endoplasmic reticulum ( ER) Ca2+ transport, is also preferentially expressed in the MBs in the honeybee brain. Gene expression analysis revealed that reticulocalbin is preferentially expressed in the large-type Kenyon cells, which are MB-intrinsic neurones. In addition, the gene for the ryanodine receptor, which is also involved in ER Ca2+ transport, was also preferentially expressed in the large-type Kenyon cells. In contrast, the expression of three other ER-related genes, protein disulphide isomerase, sec61 and erp60, was not enriched in the MBs. These findings further support the notion that the function of ER Ca2+-signalling, but not the mere intracellular density of ER, is specifically enhanced in the large-type Kenyon cells in the honeybee brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether cerebral perfusion from bypassed arteries can be demonstrated on regional perfusion imaging (RPI) using arterial spin labeling. We then compared cerebral perfusion on RPI and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in moyamoya patients who underwent extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery.Materials and Methods: We performed RPI using a 3-T magnetic resonance scanner and DSA studies in 11 moyamoya patients treated by bypass surgery. For RPI we placed a selective labeling slab on the bypassed external carotid artery. Two neuroradiologists determined the extent and location of the cerebral perfusion from bypass arteries in the middle cerebral artery territories on RPI and DSA. Kappa analysis was used to assess the interobserver agreement with respect to the extent and location of the cerebral perfusion and to evaluate the intermodality agreement between RPI and DSA.Results: Interobserver agreement for the extent of cerebral perfusion on RPI was very good (kappa=0.89), with excellent location (kappa=1.00). Intermodality agreement for the extent of perfusion was very good (kappa=0.89), with good location (kappa=0.74).Conclusion: RPI is useful for evaluating cerebral perfusion from bypass arteries in moyamoya patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(001)-epitaxial SrTiO3 films were grown on (La, Sr)(Al, Ta)O3 substrates for investigating the impact of biaxial strain on the antiferrodistortive (AFD) structural phase transition in SrTiO3. The films were fully constrained by the substrates, which resulted in the large in-plane compressive strain of -0.9%. The AFD transition temperature estimated using temperature controlled x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope was over 150K higher than the theoretical prediction, but rather supported the experimental results reported on SrTiO3 films on LaAlO3 substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of etiologies underlie the neurophysiological imbalance resulting in chorea. We report a 57-year-old woman with a long-history of migraine who suddenly experienced concurrent scintillating scotoma and rapid involuntary movement of her neck and right extremities. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) failed to detect any fresh ischemic and/or hemorrhagic lesions. Xenon-computed tomography (CT) disclosed gross reduction in the cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the left occipital area. With precise mapping to the brain atlas, extreme hyperperfusion in the motor thalamus was found on the left side. Asymmetrical CBF reduction of the left subthalamic nucleus was also noted. Her symptoms gradually improved and completely disappeared within 15 days. Repeated xenon-CT 1 month post-onset demonstrated normalized CBF in the affected areas. Our study suggests that vascular event underlies the migrainous aura in this case and secondarily provokes a loss of inhibitory control of the motor thalamus resulting in the manifestation of hemichorea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: HLA Class II antibodies are thought to be involved in severe transfusion reactions including transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). The activation of monocytes by HLA Class II antibody may play an important role in the etiology of TRALI. CASE REPORT: An 81-year-old man with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Clinical Stage IIIA) received a plateletpheresis unit containing at least 4 x 10[1] platelets because of thrombocytopenia and a bleeding tendency. Approximately 30 minutes after the start of transfusion, he developed chills, tachycardia, dyspnea, lumber, and abdominal pain and then a fever (40.3°C). His SaO[2] dropped to 70 percent. The transfusion was discontinued immediately. His symptoms disappeared after treatment with oxygen and the administration of corticosteroid and aminophyrine. A chest X-ray showed no sign of pulmonary edema. RESULTS: The donor serum sample had HLA-DR antibodies against multiple DR antigens including DR13, the recipient's HLA-DR type. The cross-match between the patient's lymphocytes and the donor serum was positive. The treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy subjects bearing DR13 antigen with the donor plasma caused the secretion of inflammatory cytokines (i.e., interleukin [IL]-1[beta], IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-[alpha]) and neutrophil-activating chemokines (i.e., IL-8 and CXCL1/GRO-[alpha]) in a cognate antigen-antibody relationship. In addition, the secretion of inflammatory cytokines appeared to require the involvement of CD32 and/or CD16. CONCLUSION: HLA-DR antibodies, detected in this case, had biologic functions to induce production of not only inflammatory cytokines but also neutrophil-attractant chemokines in vitro, which could contribute to the etiology of severe nonhemolytic transfusion reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffusion coefficients of Co2+ and Ni2+ in synthetic single crystal forsterite along the c-axis were determined in the temperature ranges, 700–1200 °C and 800–1300 °C, respectively. The synthesized forsterite specimens were coated with thin evaporated films of CoO and NiO on the c-surface and annealed for diffusion experiments. The short penetration distance of diffusing ions in forsterite was measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry using the depth profile method. The diffusion coefficients of Co (700–1200 °C) and Ni (800–1300 °C) are given by: and The observed diffusion coefficient values show good linear relationships in Arrhenius plots and the activation energy values obtained agree well with the previous values, although the diffusion coefficient values observed at the high temperature end of the experimental range deviate from the previous values. These results indicate that Co and Ni diffuse in olivine with a single mechanism within the temperature range observed, possibly with an extrinsic in nature as in the case of Mg tracer diffusion observed by Chakraborty et al. 1994 and of Fe-Mg interdiffusion by Chakraborty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin chain B, containing each one arginyl and lysyl residue in its peptide chain, inhibited hemagglutination by Porphyromonas gingivalis. To determine the further inhibitory profile, chain B was digested into 4 fragments by protease, which was contained in the preparation of hemagglutinin from P. gingivalis. Identification of each fragment by the amino acid analysis revealed that the chain was cleaved at the carboxyl site of arginyl and/or lysyl residues, but one fragment contained citrulline instead of arginine at its carboxyl terminal. This citrulline might have originated from arginine by an arginine deiminase-like enzyme of P. gingivalis. Only one fragment that contained the arginyl residue exhibited inhibitory activity on hemagglutination, but it was considerably weakened compared with that of the intact chain B. The difference in the inhibitory activity seemed to depend on the position of an arginyl residue in the peptide; this was also confirmed using several derivatives of bradykinin. The present result suggests that the internal arginyl residue in a peptide chain may be critical for the inhibition of the hemagglutination by P. gingivalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct cytotoxicity of black-pigmented anaerobic rods was studied on the confluent monolayer of human gingival fibroblasts in vitro. Only strains of PorphyroInonas gingivalis caused morphological alteration (cell-rounding) and notable depression of viability of fibroblasts. To determine the location of the cytotoxicity, bacterial surface components, i.e., outer membrane, lipopolysaccharide, fimbriae and outer membrane vesicles were prepared from P. gingivalis and their cytotoxicity was assessed. Among these preparations, only outer membrane vesicles are supposed to have high affinity to human gingival fibroblasts, and the cytotoxicity of outer membrane vesicles was found to be much stronger than that of the other constituents. This cytotoxic factor seemed to consist largely of protein and to be associated with the enzyme activity of outer membrane vesicles. The effects of some protease inhibitors and L-cysteine on the cytotoxicity of outer membrane vesicles suggest that the mechanism of cell-rounding is different from that of cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between work load and maximum duration of exercise was investigated on the following three types of muscular work: reciprocating flexion-and-extension of forearm, cranking by both arms and bicycle pedalling. The mechanical efficiency was higher and the endured duration at the same load was longer in the above order of work patterns. At the submaximal work load the maximum duration was closely related to the ratio of torque to the respective maximum muscle strength along with the speed of work. Regarding the physiological efficiency, some physiological responses such as the bounds of steady state and the terms of recovery in heart rate, ventilatory equivalent and oxygen debt were compared in relation to the oxygen requirement at various load levels. The load at which physiological efficiency began to decrease abruptly was significantly higher in the above order of exercises. In conclusion, the work load and the level of energy expenditure at which the physiological burden can be assessed to be equivalent among the different types of muscular work are connected with the substantial mass of working muscle groups. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]