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Degradation of toluene gas by ozone catalytic oxidation (OZCO) by using a MnO2-based ozone decomposition catalyst (ODC) was investigated to clarify the reactive site of ODC material with O3. An optimum structure for the ODC to remove O3 and toluene were proposed. For honeycomb ODC, toluene degradation by OZCO occurred only around the entrance of the honeycomb ODC, and we expected that a thinner ODC would increase the toluene degradation efficiency. A nonwoven fabric on which ODC was immobilized was developed to decompose O3 and volatile organic compounds simultaneously. The toluene degradation ratio and the mineralization of toluene to CO2 were determined to evaluate the performance of the fabric. Furthermore, the effects of relative humidity and O3 concentration on the decomposition and mineralization ratios were also investigated with or without 254 nm UV irradiation (UV254). The fabric decomposed and mineralized toluene to CO2, even at low O3 concentrations. Although high humidity reduced the degradation ratio of toluene, UV254 irradiation improved the recovery of the degradation ratio and increased the mineralization ratio.

Hypoxia sensors are essential for regulating local oxygen (O

Previous studies have shown that people with autistic traits have difficulties in motion perception, such as human gait as depicted on a point-light display. A recent study reported that adults with autism spectrum disorders showed atypical visual event-related evoked potentials (ERPs) in response to radial optic flow. To determine the correlation between gait perception and autistic traits in the general population, the present study recorded ERPs time-locked to the onset of approaching and receding point-light walkers. ERPs were measured using an 8-channel system in 19 adults and the correlation between the ERP components and the Subthreshold Autism Trait Questionnaire (SATQ) score were assessed to quantitatively measure autistic traits in the general population. The results showed that the higher SATQ score was, the longer the latency of the ERP component for an approaching walker was. In conclusion, people with autistic traits have trouble perceiving the approach of other people.

Summary Hypoxia sensors are essential for regulating local oxygen (O2) homeostasis within the body. This is especially pertinent within the CNS, which is particularly vulnerable to O2 deprivation due to high energetic demand. Here, we reveal hypoxia-monitoring function exerted by astrocytes through an O2-regulated protein trafficking mechanism within the CNS. Strikingly, cultured mouse astrocytes isolated from the parafacial respiratory group (pFRG) and retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) region are capable of rapidly responding to moderate hypoxia via the sensor cation channel transient receptor potential (TRP) A1 but, unlike multimodal sensory neurons, are inert to hyperoxia and other TRPA1 activators (carbon dioxide, electrophiles, and oxidants) in normoxia. Mechanistically, O2 suppresses TRPA1 channel activity by protein internalization via O2-dependent proline hydroxylation and subsequent ubiquitination by an E3 ubiquitin ligase, NEDD4-1 (neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 4). Hypoxia inhibits this process and instantly accumulates TRPA1 proteins at the plasma membrane, inducing TRPA1-mediated Ca2+ influx that triggers ATP release from pFRG/RTN astrocytes, potentiating respiratory center activity. Furthermore, astrocyte-specific Trpa1 disruption in a mouse brainstem-spinal cord preparation impedes the amplitude augmentation of the central autonomic respiratory output during hypoxia. Thus, reversible coupling of the TRPA1 channels with O2-dependent protein translocation allows astrocytes to act as acute hypoxia sensors in the medullary respiratory center.

Seizures are induced when subjects are exposed to severe hypoxia. It is followed by ventilatory fall-off and eventual respiratory arrest, which may underlie the pathophysiology of death in patients with epilepsy and severe respiratory disorders. However, the mechanisms of hypoxia-induced seizures have not been fully understood. Because astrocytes are involved in various neurological disorders, we aimed to investigate whether astrocytes are operational in seizure generation and respiratory arrest in a severe hypoxic condition. We examined the effects of astrocytic activation blockade on responses of EEG and ventilation to severe hypoxia. Adult mice were divided into two groups; in one group (n = 24) only vehicle was injected, and in the other group (n = 24) arundic acid, an inhibitory modulator of astrocytic activation, was administered before initiation of recording. After recording EEG and ventilation by whole body plethysmography in room air, the gas in the recording chamber was switched to 5% oxygen (nitrogen balanced) until a seizure and ventilatory depression occurred, followed by prompt switch back to room air. Severe hypoxia initially increased ventilation, followed by a seizure and ventilatory suppression in all mice examined. Fourteen mice without arundic acid showed respiratory arrest during loading of hypoxia. However, 22 mice pretreated with arundic acid did not suffer from respiratory arrest. Time from the onset of hypoxia to the occurrence of seizures was significantly longer in the group with arundic acid than that in the group without arundic acid. We suggest that blockade of astrocytic activation delays the occurrence of seizures and prevents respiratory arrest.

Polycarbonate is used in various fields because it exhibits high-impact resistance and light-weight properties. Products requiring high flatness are made using an end mill. When the cutting edge of an end mill becomes dull, the surface quality worsens. This is a serious problem. In this experiment, sharp and worn tools were prepared to investigate the effects of an edge’s sharpness on the cutting characteristics of polycarbonate. The cutting force was measured, and the finished surface was observed. When the sharpness of the cutting edge was changed from 1 to 12 μm, the cutting force increased 20 % and the quality of the finished surface greatly worsens. In conclusion, small wear of a cutting edge, e.g. within 11 μm, degrades a surface’s finish and transparency.

The fruit thinning effect of Jasmonic acid derivative, n-propyl dihydrojasmonate (PDJ) on Japanese pear ‘Hosui’ was investigated. During the 1996 season, PDJ at 500, 1000, or 2000 ppm was applied to flower clusters at 17 or 12 days before full bloom (DBFB), at full bloom (FB), or at 7 days after full bloom (DAFB). During the 1998 season, PDJ at 500 or 750 ppm was applied to the whole tree at 18 or 14 DBFB. All PDJ treatments before full bloom induced fruit abscission and resulted in a thinning effect. The best results were obtained with 500 to 750 ppm PDJ applied at 17 or 18 DBFB. In these treatments, the proportion of clusters that had two or fewer fruits was about 64%, compared to the control which was 16%. In addition, the position of dropped fruit on the inflorescence axis in a cluster differed among treatments. In PDJ treatment, from the 1st to 3rd fruits from the base of the floral axis in the cluster tended to abscise easily. Abscission of the 1st and 2nd basal fruits was observed in about 90% of the clusters. There were no significant differences in fruit weight, flesh firmness, brix, and titratable acidity at harvest. PDJ did not inhibit pollen tube growth in the style of the pistil, but in flowers treated with PDJ there were many abnormal ovules at FB. These findings indicate that an application of PDJ at 500 or 750 ppm, 17–18 DBFB budbreak has a consistently good thinning effect. Histological examinations revealed that PDJ causes fruit thinning by preventing fertilization and/or causing seed abortion.

Objective: The aim of this study was to show the usefulness of examining HER2 status on fluorescence in situ hybridization using cytological samples taken from recurrent/metastatic tumors. Methods: One hundred freshly aspirated or scraped cytological samples were obtained from locoregional recurrences or distant metastases. Fluorescence in situ hybridization assay for HER2 amplification was performed on both these samples and the formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded tissues of the paired primary tumors of breast cancer, and the relationships between various clinico-pathological factors and HER2 amplification of both tumors were examined. Results: A change in HER2 status was observed in nine cases (9%): six cases (6%) underwent a positive-to-negative conversion in HER2 status and three cases (3%) underwent a negative-to-positive conversion in HER2 status. A positive-to-negative conversion of HER2 status was noted in 4 (36%) of 11 ‘luminal-B’ cases. The change in HER2 status in recurrent or metastatic tumor was noted in more cases treated with drug therapy than in those with no drug therapy (P , 0.05; Fisher’s exact probability). Although the time to relapse was 3 years or more in three cases showing a negative-to-positive conversion in HER2 status, the time to relapse was less than 3 years in six cases showing a positive-to-negative conversion (P , 0.05; Fisher’s exact probability). Conclusions: HER2 examination on fluorescence in situ hybridization using fine-needle aspiration cytology samples of tumors in recurrent/metastatic sites or disseminated tumor cells in effusion is beneficial, particularly when the primary tumor is not suitable for the testing of HER2 status or negative for HER2 amplification, because aspiration using a needle is technically feasible and not as traumatic as biopsy.

The aim of this study was to compare the results of immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays evaluated by human examiners with the results evaluated by computerized image analysis, and to compare the computerized image analysis results among three automated IHC assays, namely the BioGenex, Dako and Ventana assays. All slides were semiquantitatively evaluated according to the Allred score and J-score by human examiners. The images were analyzed using MacSCOPE version 2.6 for Macintosh according to the H-score and the percentage of positive-stained nuclei per area of carcinoma cells (PP) irrespective of the intensity of the stained nuclei. The H-score for the estrogen receptor (ER) was significantly correlated with the Allred score (P

A case of mandibular myofibroma in a 11-month-old boy is described. Forty-six patients with maxillofacial myofibroma, including our case, have been reported since 1981. Among 42 patients, excluding 4 patients for whom age was not stated, 67% of the tumors occurred in those younger than 16 years old. We classified the patients into a pediatric patient group and an adult patient group, divided at 16 years old. Tumors arose in bone, including the mandible and temporal bone, in 71% of the pediatric patients, but in none of the adult patients. The mean tumor size in the pediatric patients was greater than that in the adult patients. Immunohistochemical staining was useful for establishing the diagnosis. Of the 32 cases for whom immunohistochemical findings were described, all were positive for α-smooth-muscle-actin and vimentin. However, all cases were negative for desmin and S-100 protein. No recurrence was reported among 20 patients for whom the outcome was described.

2022