High Levels of the Cleaved Form of Galectin-9 and Osteopontin in the Plasma Are Associated with Inflammatory Markers That Reflect the Severity of COVID-19 Pneumonia

Numbers of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have increased rapidly worldwide. Plasma levels of full-length galectin-9 (FL-Gal9) and osteopontin (FL-OPN) as well as their truncated forms (Tr-Gal9, Ud-OPN, respectively), are representative inflammatory biomarkers. Here, we measured FL-Gal9, FL-OPN, Tr-Gal9, and Ud-OPN in 94 plasma samples obtained from 23 COVID-19-infected patients with mild clinical symptoms (CV), 25 COVID-19 patients associated with pneumonia (CP), and 14 patients with bacterial infection (ID). The four proteins were significantly elevated in the CP group when compared with healthy individuals. ROC analysis between the CV and CP groups showed that C-reactive protein had the highest ability to differentiate, followed by Tr-Gal9 and ferritin. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that Tr-Gal9 and Ud-OPN but not FL-Gal9 and FL-OPN, had a significant association with laboratory markers for lung function, inflammation, coagulopathy, and kidney function in CP patients. CP patients treated with tocilizumab had reduced levels of FL-Gal9, Tr-Gal9, and Ud-OPN. It was suggested that OPN is cleaved by interleukin-6-dependent proteases. These findings suggest that the cleaved forms of OPN and galectin-9 can be used to monitor the severity of pathological inflammation and the therapeutic effects of tocilizumab in CP patients.     

Development of Selective TGR5 Ligands Based on the 5,6,7,8-Tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethylnaphthalene Skeleton

TGR5, a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), plays an important role in several physiological functions. TGR5 activation through bile acids induces an increase in energy expenditure. Therefore, synthetic TGR5 ligands could be useful for the treatment of obesity or dyslipidemia. In this study, we designed and synthesized a set of TGR5 ligands with a 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethylnaphthalene (TMN) skeleton, and evaluated their TGR5 agonistic activity. We also investigated the selectivity of the synthesized compounds for TGR5 relative to the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and retinoic acid receptor (RAR). Our results show that compound 4 b [N-(2-chlorophenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenecarboxamide] exhibited potent TGR5 agonist activity with an IC₅₀ value of 8.4 nM without significant cytotoxicity. In addition, compound 4 b showed only slight agonistic activity toward FXR and RAR at 1 μM treatment. These data indicate that compound 4 b is a selective TGR5 agonist, and could be a promising therapeutic agent for dyslipidemia.     

Study of melting and crystallization behavior of polyacrylonitrile using ultrafast differential scanning calorimetry

The thermal behavior of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) has been investigated using X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and ultrafast DSC. In conventional DSC, it is difficult to prevent the concurrent occurrence of the exothermic reactions of PAN with melting. However, in the ultrafast DSC curve, the exothermic peak due to these reactions disappears over the temperature range 0–400 °C at heating rates above 250 °C s⁻¹. Alternatively, the glass transition and the melting of PAN are observed over the temperature range 109–129 °C and 335–362 °C, respectively. Moreover, upon cooling from the molten state at a rate of −7500 °C s⁻¹, PAN crystallization is observed at 204 °C. These findings were observed repeatedly during heating and cooling measurements. From the extrapolation analysis, the zero-entropy-production melting temperature of PAN is found to lie in the temperature range 320–350 °C. Finally, the equilibrium melting temperature of PAN is estimated to be ca. 465 °C.     

Alignment control of liquid crystals in a 1.0‐μm‐pitch spatial light modulator by lattice‐shaped dielectric wall structure

We achieved uniform liquid crystal (LC) alignment in lattice‐shaped dielectric walls 1 μm in pitch; this is a prerequisite when driving the individual pixels of spatial light modulators, facilitating the development of practical electronic holographic displays with a wide field of view. In lattice‐shaped dielectric walls, LC alignment becomes unstable, particularly on the bottom and the walls; the LC directors tend to align parallel to the walls. To overcome this problem, we created lattice‐shaped walls featuring partition plates that allow uniform LC alignment. When the plates confine LCs to small regions exhibiting spatial anisotropy, the LC elastic effect and wall anchoring forces align the LC directors parallel to the long anisotropic axis. We found that pixels 0.5 μm × 1.0 μm in pitch formed if the partition plates were sufficiently thick to allow shielding of electric field leakage.     

Theoretical Estimation of Changes in Plane Elastic Waves due to Cylindrical Inclusions

Changes in amplitude and phase shifts in plane elastic waves were theoretically estimated when they propagated through an elastic body containing cylindrical inclusions. Based on the integral equation suggested by Lavrov et al., these changes were calculated in the case when only one cylindrical inclusion was located in the body and the propagating waves have a single frequency. These calculations were expanded to more practical case when multiple cylindrical inclusions aligned in the body and the waves have some frequency band. The changes in amplitude and phase shifts calculated were associated to the changes in apparent sonic velocity and attenuation coefficient due to a structural change in the material. This theoretical approach contributes to a quantitative damage evaluation based upon structural changes in various materials by measuring the acoustical parameters such as apparent sonic velocity and attenuation coefficient.     

Wavelength-independent operation of EA-modulator integratedwavelengthselectable microarray light sources

In this letter, we have simultaneously fabricated five wavelength-selectable microarray light sources (WSLs), each having a different wavelength range integrated with an electroabsorption (EA) modulator on a single wafer. We also introduced a novel device configuration scheme for wavelength-independent modulation. The five EA-WSLs fully covered the entire C-band and had a low uniform threshold current of 6 ± 1 mA at 25°C. Wavelength-independent extinction characteristics were obtained over a tuning wavelength range of 8 nm, and 2.5-Gb/s transmission over 600 km was successfully achieved     

Formation Mechanism and Synthesis of Apatite-Type Structure Ba2+xLa8−x(SiO4)6O2−δ

The formation process of Ba₂La₈(SiO₄)₆O₂ was clarified using thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and a high-temperature powder X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD) method. Phase changes identified from the HT-XRD data surprisingly corresponded to the weight loss and/or endothermic peaks observed in the TG-DTA curves. Raw material with the composition Ba₂La₈(SiO₄)₆O₂ was completely reacted at 1400°C and produced only an apatite-type compound without a secondary phase. Moreover, the synthesis of Ba_{2+ x} La_{8− x} (SiO₄)₆O_2−δ crystals with x = 0–2 was attempted using a solid-state reaction.     

Study on explosion characteristics of natural gas and methane in semi-open space for the HTTR hydrogen production system

It is important to grasp the explosion characteristics of object gases: natural gas and methane, in order to evaluate the influence of a gas explosion accident in the HTTR hydrogen production system on the reactor. Thus, we carried out explosion experiments of the object gases in semi-open space, and verified a numerical analysis code for the simulation of the explosion accident. It was confirmed that NG–air mixture or methane-air mixture in semi-open space did not result in DDT although 10 g of C-4 explosive was used as an ignition source, and the numerical results agreed relatively with the experimental results. As a result, we could have the prospects for predicting the influence of the explosion accident on the reactor.     

A reflective‐display QR‐LPD®

Abstract— A novel reflective display [Quick‐Response Liquid Powder Display (QR‐LPD®)], has been developed. This paper‐like display has the advantages of outstanding image stability, easy viewing, low‐power consumption, and a high‐response time. QR‐LPD® will be promoted, initially, for use as electronic price‐tag displays for merchandise. In addition, QR‐LPD® is suitable for flexible display applications because it does not require TFT arrays or a high‐temperature process while maintaining an excellent paper‐like image as well as glass‐type display compatibility.