Reduced Claudin-12 Expression Predicts Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer

Background: Within the claudin (CLDN) family, CLDN12 mRNA expression is altered in various types of cancer, but its clinicopathological relevance has yet to be established due to the absence of specific antibodies (Abs) with broad applications. Methods: We generated a monoclonal Ab (mAb) against human/mouse CLDN12 and verified its specificity. By performing immunohistochemical staining and semiquantification, we evaluated the relationship between CLDN12 expression and clinicopathological parameters in tissues from 138 cases of cervical cancer. Results: Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the established mAb selectively recognized the CLDN12 protein. Twenty six of the 138 cases (18.8%) showed low CLDN12 expression, and the disease-specific survival (DSS) and recurrence-free survival rates were significantly decreased compared with those in the high CLDN12 expression group. We also demonstrated, via univariable and multivariable analyses, that the low CLDN12 expression represents a significant prognostic factor for the DSS of cervical cancer patients (HR 3.412, p = 0.002 and HR 2.615, p = 0.029, respectively). Conclusions: It can be concluded that a reduced CLDN12 expression predicts a poor outcome for cervical cancer. The novel anti-CLDN12 mAb could be a valuable tool to evaluate the biological relevance of the CLDN12 expression in diverse cancer types and other diseases.     

Kinetic analysis of crystallization of zeolite beta synthesized by direct heating

To quantitatively investigate the initial crystallization of zeolite beta synthesized by direct heating, the extent of the reaction was precisely evaluated by X-ray diffraction measurements and Rietveld structural refinement, and a kinetic analysis of crystallization was performed using the Avrami-Erofe'ev equation. The activation energy for crystallization was lower than that for hydrothermal synthesis. Reaction and synthesis time curves revealed that the initial zeolite beta crystallization consisted of three stages. The first was an induction period with nucleation by the generation of building units and the formation of an initial coordinated structure. The second stage was crystal growth by a diffusion-controlled reaction, and the third stage involved slowing down of crystallization by the limitation of dehydrocondensation. These stages could be analyzed by calculation of the rate constant and Avrami exponent for each stage.     

Supramolecular Zn(II)-Dipicolylamine-Azobenzene-Aminocyclodextrin-ATP Complex: Design and ATP Recognition in Water

Cyclodextrins (CyDs) are water-soluble host molecules possessing a nanosized hydrophobic cavity. In the realm of molecular recognition, this cavity is used not only as a recognition site but also as a reaction medium, where a hydrophobic sensor recognizes a guest molecule. Based on the latter concept, we have designed a novel supramolecular sensing system composed of Zn(II)-dipicolylamine metal complex-based azobenzene (1-Zn) and 3A-amino-3A-deoxy-(2AS,3AS)-γ-cyclodextrin (3-NH₂-γ-CyD) for sensing adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP). 1-Zn showed redshifts in the UV-Vis spectra and induced circular dichroism (ICD) only when both ATP and 3-NH₂-γ-CyD were present. Calculations of equilibrium constants indicated that the amino group of 3-NH₂-γ-CyD was involved in the formation of supramolecular 1-Zn/3-NH₂-γ-CyD/ATP. The Job plot of the ICD spectral response revealed that the stoichiometry of 1-Zn/3-NH₂-γ-CyD/ATP was 2:1:1. The pH effect was examined and 1-Zn/3-NH₂-γ-CyD/ATP was most stable in the neutral condition. The NOESY spectrum suggested the localization of 1-Zn in the 3-NH₂-γ-CyD cavity. Based on the obtained results, the metal coordination interaction of 1-Zn and the electrostatic interaction of 3-NH₂-γ-CyD were found to take place for ATP recognition. The “reaction medium approach” enabled us to develop a supramolecular sensing system that undergoes multi-point interactions in water. This study is the first step in the design of a selective sensing system based on a good understanding of supramolecular structures.     

Characterization of anisotropic gas permeability and thermomechanical properties of highly textured porous alumina

Porous alumina with a highly textured microstructure was fabricated by pulse electric current sintering (PECS) using alumina platelets. Highly oriented porous alumina with a porosity of 3%–50% was obtained by a pressure-controlled method of PECS. The properties of the highly textured porous alumina were measured in two directions. The nitrogen gas permeance and thermal conductivity at room temperature were higher in the direction along the platelet length due to the higher continuity of pores and the connectivity of alumina platelets, respectively. The anisotropy of the thermal conductivity at room temperature was investigated and explained by the effect of grain size of platelets as well as morphology and orientation of pores. The bending strength was higher with the loading direction along the platelet thickness. The thermal shock strength was clearly different in the two directions. The difference in the thermal shock strength was investigated by the measurement of properties and thermal stress analysis.     

Robot motion design using bunraku emotional expressions – focusing on Jo-Ha-Kyū in sounds and movements*

One of the UNESCO intangible cultural heritages Bunraku puppets can play one of the most beautiful puppet motions in the world. The Bunraku puppet motions can express emotions without the so-called ‘Uncanny Valley.’ We try to convert these emotional motions into robot affective motions so that robots can interact with human beings more comfortable. In so doing, in the present paper, we present a robot motion design framework using Bunraku affective motions that are based on the so-called ‘Jo-Ha-Kyū,’ and convert a few simple Bunraku motions into a robot motions using one of deep learning methods. Our primitive experiments show that Jo-Ha-Kyū can be incorporated into robot motion design smoothly, and some simple affective robot motions can be designed using our proposed framework.     

钛与低碳钢的电阻点焊

采用电阻点焊方法对纯钛与低碳钢Q235进行焊接试验，利用扫描电子显微镜观察分析了熔核区组织特性，探讨了焊接电流对熔核尺寸和抗剪载荷的影响. 结果表明，受焦耳热的影响熔核直径随焊接电流的增加而增加，抗剪载荷则随焊接电流的增大而呈先升后降的变化趋势，焊接电流为8 kA时所得接头的抗剪载荷最大，约2.85 kN. 在钢侧熔核区观察到了靠近钢侧厚度约为30～50 μm的TiFe2+α-Fe共晶组织层和粗大TiFe柱状晶；钛侧熔核区主要由靠近钛侧约12 μm厚的TiFe+α-Ti共晶组织层和TiFe柱状晶构成，且观察到了宏观分层现象.     

Extraction of Trivalent Rare Earths and Minor Actinides from Nitric Acid with N,N,N’,N’-Tetradodecyldiglycolamide (TDdDGA) by Using Mixer-Settler Extractors in a Hot Cell

Single-stage batch experiments to reveal the extraction properties of N,N,N’,N’-tetradodecyldiglycolamide (TDdDGA) for Y, La, Eu, Nd, and Am in nitric acid were carried out. The distribution ratios of Y, Eu, Nd, and Am exceeded 10 when the nitric acid concentration was 1–2 mol/dm³ (M), and the distribution ratio of La was 5.5 when the nitric acid concentration was 2 M. A continuous counter-current experiment using 0.1 M TDdDGA diluted with n-dodecane was performed using mixer-settler extractors installed in a hot cell. Nitric acid with a concentration of 2.1 M containing minor actinides (MAs: Am and Cm), rare earths (REs: Y, La, Nd, and Eu), and other fission products (Sr, Cs, Zr, Mo, Ru, Rh, and Pd) was fed to the extractor. TDdDGA effectively extracted MAs and REs from the feed, while other fission products were barely extracted. The extracted MAs and REs were back-extracted by bringing them in contact with 0.02 M nitric acid, and they were collected as the MA–RE fraction. The results indicated that more than 98% of Am and Cm in the feed were recovered in the MA–RE fraction. The proportions of Y, La, Nd, and Eu in the MA–RE fraction were 94.0%, 99.9%, 99.9%, and 86.9%, respectively.     

EXAFS speciation and phytoavailability of Pb in a contaminated soil amended with compost and gypsum

Due to unregulated uses of lead pellets for hunting purposes in Japan, soils and sediments in some river basins and wetlands have become highly contaminated with Pb. Deterioration of natural vegetation has occurred sporadically in these areas, and therefore revegetation is needed for ecological restoration. The objectives of the present study were to assess the effects of surface applications of compost and gypsum amendments on Pb availability to a watercress plant (Nasturtium officinale W.T. Aiton) and molecular-scale speciation of Pb in soil solid phases. The compost and gypsum amendments significantly decreased dissolved Pb and Sb in pore water. The concentration of Pb in aboveground plant tissues was 190 mg kg^− 1 in the control soil and was reduced to < 20 mg kg^− 1 in the compost and gypsum-amended soils. The concentration of Sb in plants grown in the control soil was 13 mg kg^− 1, whereas that in the soils receiving compost and gypsum decreased below detectable levels. Redox potential was higher in vegetated soils (ave. 349 mV) than in the unvegetated soils (ave. 99 mV) due to oxygen introduced by plant roots. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy illustrated that Pb occurred as Pb sorbed on birnessite and/or ferrihydrite (Pb-Mn/Fe, ~ 60%) and Pb sorbed on organic matter (Pb-org, ~ 15%), and galena (PbS, ~ 10%) in the vegetated and unvegetated control soils. The compost amendment increased the proportion of Pb-org by 2-fold than in the control soils. The amended soils with plant growth decreased the proportion of Pb-Mn/Fe phases by half of that without plant growth. Galena and anglesite (PbSO₄) were not detected in compost-amended soils and even in gypsum-amended soils since a significant soil reduction to anoxic levels did not occur in the entire soil. The present study indicated that, under flooded conditions, surface applications of compost and gypsum amendments reduced plant Pb uptake from the Pb contaminated soil.