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In a year and a half after the events of March 2011, Japan excluded all their nuclear reactors, returning to fossil fuels as a basis in the energy field. The shock associated with nuclear disaster seemed to indicate an ultimate end of Japanese adventure with the atom. The situation has, however, significantly changed during the last several months, and the first nuclear reactor connected again to the electric network, is a proof of the change of the energy policy. The article aims to identify the current state of knowledge on the future of nuclear energy in the Japanese energy sector and adjustments proposed in the future energy mix. At the same time, it is an attempt to analyze the reasons that led the current Government of Prime Minister Abe to take very unpopular decisions to return to nuclear energy.

Pluripotent stem cells convert into skeletal muscle tissue during teratoma formation or chimeric animal development. Thus, they are characterized by naive myogenic potential. Numerous attempts have been made to develop protocols enabling efficient and safe conversion of pluripotent stem cells into functional myogenic cells in vitro. Despite significant progress in the field, generation of myogenic cells from pluripotent stem cells is still challenging&mdash, i.e., currently available methods require genetic modifications, animal-derived reagents, or are long lasting&mdash, and, therefore, should be further improved. In the current study, we investigated the influence of interleukin 4, a factor regulating inter alia migration and fusion of myogenic cells and necessary for proper skeletal muscle development and maintenance, on pluripotent stem cells. We assessed the impact of interleukin 4 on proliferation, selected gene expression, and ability to fuse in case of both undifferentiated and differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells. Our results revealed that interleukin 4 slightly improves fusion of pluripotent stem cells with myoblasts leading to the formation of hybrid myotubes. Moreover, it increases the level of early myogenic genes such as Mesogenin1, Pax3, and Pax7 in differentiating embryonic stem cells. Thus, interleukin 4 moderately enhances competence of mouse pluripotent stem cells for myogenic conversion.

The article is an attempt to analyze the current situation and plans for the development of the nuclear industry in the Middle East after the failure in Fukushima. Next to the southern and eastern Asian countries nuclear power becomes a choice of countries of the Middle East region. Taking into account the significant gaps in economic and scientific potential, and the unstable political situation in the countries of the region – projects to build nuclear power stations seem to be a particularly complex challenge. The article analyzes the entered and planned investments and risks, which may arise in connection with the implementation of adopted plans.