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Taste buds are localized in fungiform (FF), foliate (FL), and circumvallate (CV) papillae on the tongue, and taste buds also occur on the soft palate (SP). Mature elongate cells within taste buds are constantly renewed from stem cells and classified into three cell types, Types I, II, and III. These cell types are generally assumed to reside in respective taste buds in a particular ratio corresponding to taste regions. A variety of cell-type markers were used to analyze taste bud cells. NCAM is the first established marker for Type III cells and is still often used. However, NCAM was examined mainly in the CV, but not sufficiently in other regions. Furthermore, our previous data suggested that NCAM may be transiently expressed in the immature stage of Type II cells. To precisely assess NCAM expression as a Type III cell marker, we first examined Type II and III cell-type markers, IP3R3 and CA4, respectively, and then compared NCAM with them using whole-mount immunohistochemistry. IP3R3 and CA4 were segregated from each other, supporting the reliability of these markers. The ratio between Type II and III cells varied widely among taste buds in the respective regions (Pearson’s r = 0.442 [CV], 0.279 [SP], and − 0.011 [FF]), indicating that Type II and III cells are contained rather independently in respective taste buds. NCAM immunohistochemistry showed that a subset of taste bud cells were NCAM(+)CA4(−). While NCAM(+)CA4(−) cells were IP3R3(−) in the CV, the majority of them were IP3R3(+) in the SP and FF.

Fossil fuel dependency in developed countries is worrisome due to the lack of energy security that traditional energy generation provides. In order to prevent future energy problems and to maintain a sustainable society, some countries are starting to develop renewable energy sources. In this research, biomass energy is introduced as a solution not only to reduce fossil fuel dependency, but also to improve municipal solid waste management. The purpose of this report is to construct a distributed power generation system combining the superheated steam gasification of solid waste and photovoltaic panels, and to verify the feasibility of generating power at the consumption site. It also focuses on optimizing the current waste superheated steam gasification system and compares the superheated steam gasification technology with other waste to energy technologies, such as downdraft air gasification and solid waste direct combustion. Finally, the report analyzes the economic, environmental and energetic viability of the above mentioned distributed generation system, which is located in a medium size mall surrounded by a community of 20,000 inhabitants. As a result, it was found that a distributed generation system composed by waste superheated steam gasification and photovoltaic panels is perfectly feasible, since its long term economic performance shows high profitability.

The authors proposed for new fuel between blending of jatropha methyl ester and n-tridecane. Biodiesel has an advantage in reducing emissions. Nevertheless, it has high viscosity and density and has poor spray characteristics compared to diesel fuel. The blending between n-tridecane would overcome the unwanted fuel properties. The n-tridecane and jatropha methyl ester were blended under three condition; JME25% (Jatropha Methyl Ester 25% and n-tridecane 75%), JME50% (Jatropha Methyl Ester 50% and n-tridecane 50%), and JME75% (Jatropha Methyl Ester 75% and n-tridecane 25%). The fuel properties were analyzed under biodiesel standardization from JIS K and ASTM D. FTIR analyzed also showed the characteristics of carbonyl peak that indicates as methyl ester. In the results, JME50% had met the requirements for fuel properties from biodiesel standardization.

In the urea SCR system, urea solution is injected by injector installed in the front stage of the SCR catalyst, and NOx can be purified on the SCR catalyst by using NH3 generated by the chemical reaction of urea. NH3 is produced by thermolysis of urea and hydrolysis of isocyanic acid after evaporation of water in the urea solution. But, biuret and cyanuric acid which may cause deposit are sometimes generated by the chemical reactions without generating NH3. Spray behavior and chemical reaction of urea solution injected into the tail-pipe are complicated. The purpose of this study is to reveal the spray behavior and NH3 generation process in the tail-pipe, and to construct the model capable of predicting those accurately. In this report, the impingement spray behavior is clarified by scattered light method in high temperature flow field. Liquid film adhering to the wall and deposit generated after evaporation of water from the liquid film are photographed by the digital camera. NH3 concentration is measured at 13 points of the cross section of the tail-pipe by FTIR, and NH3 concentration distribution is calculated. From the experiment, the influences of gas temperature on droplets scattering after wall impingement and impingement conditions on NH3 concentration distribution are clarified. It is suggested that the deposit after evaporation of liquid film may be an intermediate product such as biuret or cyanuric acid. Also, by comparing and verifying the results of calculation using CFD software FIRE v2014.2 and the experimental results, the phenomenon influencing the prediction accuracy of the NH3 concentration distribution is clarified. Factors influencing the prediction accuracy of calculation are atomization characteristics after wall impingement for NH3 concentration, gas flow in the tail-pipe for NH3 concentration distribution and liquid film generation due to the decrease of the plate temperature for NH3 generation process.

The tamoxifen-inducible Cre-loxP system is an indispensable experimental tool in life sciences for inducing spatiotemporally controlled genetic recombination in the target tissues of living animals. The use of this technology is expected to increase in taste research. However, the direct effects of tamoxifen on taste buds remain largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that tamoxifen reduces cell supply to the taste buds in a dose-dependent manner. RNA sequencing of the circumvallate epithelium revealed that tamoxifen induced a transcriptional shift from proliferation to differentiation. The genes regulating the cell cycle were downregulated, whereas genes promoting the differentiation of epithelial cells and keratinocytes were upregulated. Within taste buds, Shh was downregulated in immature precursor cells, whereas cell type-specific genes were broadly upregulated in mature taste bud cells. Notably, transcription factors driving taste cell type differentiation, such as Pou2f3, Ascl1, and Nkx2-2, were induced, suggesting that tamoxifen activates transcription to promote the differentiation of all cell types in taste buds, rather than activating particular signaling pathways in specific cell types. These findings indicate that tamoxifen rapidly triggers a transcriptional switch from proliferation to differentiation in the circumvallate taste epithelium, highlighting a potential confounding effect in taste research that employs tamoxifen administration.

Research on alternative fuels is necessary to reduce CO2 emissions. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) of light fuel physically improves spray and combustion characteristics. Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) is an oxygenated fuel and its combustion characteristics are chemically improved, although its spray characteristics such as penetration and atomization are deteriorated. The purpose of this study is to understand the effects of blending HVO, which has carbon neutral (CN) characteristics, with FAME, which also has CN characteristics, on spray and combustion characteristics, and to further improve emission such as THC and Smoke. This report presents the effect of the combination of improved spray characteristics and oxygenated fuel on emissions. Spray characteristics such as penetration, spray angle and spray volume were investigated by shadowgraph photography. Also, combustion characteristics such as heat release rate and emission were investigated using a single-cylinder diesel engine. As a result, with blending of HVO and FAME, by increasing the percentage of HVO, lower the fuel density and kinematic viscosity, forming a low penetration and high dispersion spray. In addition, entrainment is promoted and the spray volume tends to increase. The emission performance was found to be significantly affected by chemical effects. Furthermore, blended fuel can reduce THC and Smoke emissions compared to gas oil, while keeping the same NOx levels. Therefore, blended fuel can improve emission performance without affecting the environmental impact, and is a promising alternative fuel to gas oil.

In the direct injection spark ignition gasoline engine (D-4), thin fan-shaped high-dispersion, high-penetration and high-atomization spray formed by the slit nozzle generates a stratified mixture cloud without depending on a strong intake air motion, subsequently realizing stable stratified charge combustion. To improve fuel economy further in actual traffic, the region of stratified charge combustion in torque-engine speed map must be expanded by improving spray characteristics. Since the fuel flow inside the nozzle has a large effect on the spray characteristics, it was clarified this effect by visual analysis of the fuel flow inside the nozzle using an enlarged acrylic slit nozzle of 10 magnifications. Consequently, it was found that vortices are generated frequently within a sac even in the case of steady state conditions. The effect on the spray characteristics is corresponding to the vortex scale. Stratified charge combustion was improved by reducing the vortex scale, subsequently improving the spray characteristics.

We analyzed clinical cutoffs for defining computed tomography (CT) methods for sarcopenia and examined the prognostic value of CT for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCST) outcomes of patients with myeloid malignancy. One hundred twenty-five adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome who underwent first allo-HSCT between 2000 and 2017 were included. Sarcopenia was assessed using CT-based skeletal muscle index (SMI) and mean muscle attenuation at L3. A statistical difference in SMI was confirmed between sarcopenia (n = 52) and nonsarcopenia (n = 73) patients. There were no significant correlations of muscularity with age, performance status, or other characteristics of HSCT. After 2 years, overall survival (OS) was 43.5% and 70.1%, disease-free survival was 52.9% and 68.6%, nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was 20.8% and 8.4%, incidence of acute GVHD (≥ grade 2) was 38.8% and 39.1%, that of chronic GVHD was 53.2% and 37.3%, and median duration of hospitalization was 88 days and 74 days (P = 0.026), respectively, in the sarcopenia and nonsarcopenia groups. Multivariate analysis showed that presence of sarcopenia is a novel adverse factor for high NRM and poor OS. Pretransplant CT-defined sarcopenia is correlated with decreased OS, increased NRM, and prolonged hospitalization.

For cell therapy to treat heart failure, therapeutic cells should possess the abilities to promote vascularization, remodel tissues, and reduce inflammation. Previously we clarified that CD14 + -derived myeloid angiogenic cells (MACs) possessed an angiogenic ability. In this paper, we induced strong high anti-inflammatory and tissue-remodeling properties in CD14 + cells by adding both M-CSF and interleukin-4 to the endothelial medium. This culture condition produced a higher number of adherent cells than MACs and exhibited greater angiogenic capability; we named these cells ‘MIL4-MACs’. Through analysis of cytokine production, gene expression, and membrane markers, MIL4-MACs were characterized as anti-inflammatory cells, with lower expression of HLA-Class Ⅱ and higher expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 compared to MACs. Mixed lymphocyte reaction analysis showed that T cells did not attack MIL4-MACs. Moreover, MIL4-MACs expressed active-matrix metalloproteinase-9 on their surface and had high collagen-degrading activity. Administration of MIL4-MACs improved angiotensin Ⅱ‒induced severe cardiac failure and attenuated cardiac fibrosis in mice. These data indicate that the anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and remodeling properties of MIL4-MACs may represent a novel candidate for cell therapy in heart failure.

Accumulating evidence indicates that purinergic P2X4 receptors (P2X4R: cation channels activated by extracellular ATP) expressed in spinal microglia are crucial for pathological chronic pain caused by nerve damage, suggesting a potential target for drug discovery. We identified NP-1815-PX (5-[3-(5-thioxo- 4H -[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)phenyl]- 1H -naphtho[1, 2-b][1,4]diazepine-2,4( 3H , 5H )-dione) as a novel antagonist selective for P2X4R with high potency and selectivity compared with other P2XR subtypes. In in vivo assay for acute and chronic pain, intrathecal administration of NP-1815-PX produced an anti-allodynic effect in mice with traumatic nerve damage without affecting acute nociceptive pain and motor function (although its oral administration did not produce the effect). Furthermore, in a mouse model of herpetic pain, P2X4R upregulation in the spinal cord exclusively occurred in microglia and intrathecal NP-1815-PX suppressed induction of mechanical allodynia. This model also showed K + /Cl − cotransporter 2 (KCC2) downregulation, which is implicated in dorsal horn neuron hyperexcitability; this downregulation was restored by intrathecal treatment with NP-1815-PX or by interfering with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, a P2X4R-activated microglial factor implicated in KCC2 downregulation. Taken together, the newly developed P2X4R antagonist NP-1815-PX produces anti-allodynic effects in chronic pain models without altering acute pain sensitivity, suggesting that microglial P2X4R could be an attractive target for treating chronic pain.