High-capacity/high-rate hybrid column for high-performance ion exchange.

Herein, a fixed-bed high-capacity/high-rate (HC/HR) hybrid column was developed using commercial ion-exchange beads (IEBs) and ion-exchange fibers (IEFs). The as-fabricated HC/HR hybrid column exhibited excellent breakthrough bed volume (BV) and utilization efficiency of capacity (UEC) at a high service flow rate (SFR) for the adsorption of Cd(II). The IEBs displayed a high adsorption capacity of 235.

Epigenetic regulation of Kcna3-encoding Kv1.3 potassium channel by cereblon contributes to regulation of CD4+ T-cell activation.

The role of cereblon (CRBN) in T cells is not well understood. We generated mice with a deletion in Crbn and found cereblon to be an important antagonist of T-cell activation. In mice lacking CRBN, CD4(+) T cells show increased activation and IL-2 production on T-cell receptor stimulation, ultimately resulting in increased potassium flux and calcium-mediated signaling.

Supratentorial extraventricular anaplastic ependymoma presenting with repeated intratumoral hemorrhage.

Supratentorial extraventricular anaplastic ependymomas are extremely rare. We report the case of a 23-year-old male with a supratentorial extraventricular anaplastic ependymoma that presented with repeated intratumoral hemorrhage. The patient was diagnosed with an intracerebral hematoma in the left occipital lobe and underwent operation.

Risk factors and incidence for peripheral arterial disease in patients with typical lumbar spinal stenosis.

Objective: Intermittent claudication (IC) is a typical symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). In order to prevent misdiagnosis of vascular disease, it is important to know the incidence of and risk factors for PAD in patients with LSS. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence of and risk factors for PAD in patients with typical and severe LSS who underwent spinal surgical treatment.

Peroxisome-localized hepatitis Bx protein increases the invasion property of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

HBx acts as a multifunctional regulator that modulates various cellular responses, which can lead to development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we show that the HBx protein is also localized to peroxisomes, and this increases cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) to levels that are higher than when HBx is localized to other organelles. The elevated ROS strongly activated nuclear factor (NF)-κB.

Pretreatment solution recycling and high-concentration output for economical production of bioethanol.

The purpose of this study was to enhance the economic efficiency of producing bioethanol. Pretreatment solution recycling is expected to increase economic efficiency by reducing the cost of pretreatment and the amount of wastewater. In addition, the production of high-concentration bioethanol could increase economic efficiency by reducing the energy cost of distillation.

Enhanced enzymatic saccharification of barley straw pretreated by ethanosolv technology.

The fermentable sugars in lignocellulosic biomass are derived from cellulose and hemicellulose, which are not readily accessible to enzymatic saccharification because of their recalcitrance. An ethanosolv pretreatment method was applied for the enzymatic saccharification of barley straw with an inorganic acid. The effects of four process variables (temperature, time, catalyst dose, and ethanol concentration) on the barley straw pretreatment were analyzed over a broad range using a small composite design and a response surface methodology.