Solidification characteristics of solid biofuel densified by two-step torrefaction process.

Coal coke, which is used widely in industrial furnaces, emits large amounts of CO. To utilize solid biofuels as alternatives to coal coke, the fuel ratio of the biofuels must be improved to generate functions, such as deoxidization, permeability, and carbon pickup. In this study, an innovative densification molding method is proposed; it uses a two-step torrefaction process with a high CO reduction effect.

In vivo fate analysis reveals the multipotent and self-renewal capacities of Sox2+ neural stem cells in the adult hippocampus.

To characterize the properties of adult neural stem cells (NSCs), we generated and analyzed Sox2-GFP transgenic mice. Sox2-GFP cells in the subgranular zone (SGZ) express markers specific for progenitors, but they represent two morphologically distinct populations that differ in proliferation levels. Lentivirus- and retrovirus-mediated fate-tracing studies showed that Sox2+ cells in the SGZ have potential to give rise to neurons and astrocytes, revealing their multipotency at the population as well as at a single-cell level.

Chronic intracerebroventricular administration of relaxin-3 increases body weight in rats.

Bolus-administered intracerebroventricular (ICV) relaxin-3 has been reported to increase feeding. In this study, to examine the role of relaxin-3 signaling in energy homeostasis, we studied the effects of chronically administered ICV relaxin-3 on body weight gain and locomotor activity in rats. Two groups of animals received vehicle or relaxin-3 at 600 pmol/head/day, delivered with Alzet osmotic minipumps.

Orexin-A (hypocretin-1) is possibly involved in generation of anxiety-like behavior.

Orexins (hypocretins) are neuropeptides expressed specifically in neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area and are known to be involved in the regulation of vigilance and feeding behavior. However, the relationship between orexin and emotional behaviors like anxiety is still poorly understood. Therefore, in this report we evaluated the effect of intracerebroventricular injection of orexin-A in two major anxiety tests, the light-dark exploration test (mouse) and the elevated plus-maze test (mouse, rat).