Hokkaido University

About: Hokkaido University is a education organization based out in Sapporo, Hokkaidô, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 53925 authors who have published 115403 publications receiving 2651647 citations. The organization is also known as: Hokudai & Hokkaidō daigaku.

Formate, an active intermediate for direct oxidation of methanol on pt electrode.

Abstract: The electro-oxidation of methanol on a Pt thin film electrode in acidic solution has been investigated by in situ surface-enhanced IR absorption spectroscopy. A new IR peak is observed at around 1320 cm-1 when the electrode potential is more positive than 0.5 V, where the bulk oxidation of MeOH occurs. This peak has been assigned to the symmetric stretching of formate species adsorbed on the Pt electrode surface. It is the first observation of formate adsorption during the electro-oxidation of methanol on a Pt surface. A near proportional relationship between the intensity of the IR band of the formate species and MeOH electro-oxidation current is observed. A new reaction scheme via non-CO pathway with formate as the active intermediate is proposed for the methanol electro-oxidation process.

Visible-light sensitization of TiO2 photocatalysts by wet-method N doping

Abstract: Titanium dioxide powders prepared by a wet method, i.e., the hydrolysis of titanium tetra-isopropoxide or titanium tetrachloride with an aqueous ammonia solution, followed by calcination at temperatures above 330 °C, exhibit photocatalytic activity in the visible-light region owing to N doping. The maximum absorption of visible light by the N-doped TiO 2 was about 50% at around 440 nm. Thermal analysis revealed that N doping occurs upon the oxidation of ammonia included in titanium hydroxide with lattice oxygen in TiO 2 . XPS analysis showed that the N doped in TiO 2 is less than 1.3 at.% and is not bound directly to Ti. The oxidation state of doped N was found close to that of NO. Quantum yield for the CO photooxidation on the N-doped TiO 2 in the visible region was less than that in UV region. These results show that the N doping by the wet method is similar to impurity doping such as metal ion doping.

Clinical significance of macrophage heterogeneity in human malignant tumors

Abstract: The fact that various immune cells, including macrophages, can be found in tumor tissue has long been known. With the recent introduction of the novel concept of macrophage differentiation into a classically activated phenotype (M1) and an alternatively activated phenotype (M2), the role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is gradually beginning to be elucidated. Specifically, in human malignant tumors, TAMs that have differentiated into M2 macrophages act as “protumoral macrophages” and contribute to the progression of disease. Based on recent basic and preclinical research, TAMs that have differentiated into protumoral or M2 macrophages are believed to be intimately involved in the angiogenesis, immunosuppression, and activation of tumor cells. In this paper, we specifically discuss both the role of TAMs in human malignant tumors and the cell–cell interactions between TAMs and tumor cells.

Maturation of Human Dendritic Cells by Cell Wall Skeleton of Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin: Involvement of Toll-Like Receptors

Abstract: The constituents of mycobacteria are an effective immune adjuvant, as observed with complete Freund's adjuvant. In this study, we demonstrated that the cell wall skeleton of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG-CWS), a purified noninfectious material consisting of peptidoglycan, arabinogalactan, and mycolic acids, induces maturation of human dendritic cells (DC). Surface expression of CD40, CD80, CD83, and CD86 was increased by BCG-CWS on human immature DC, and the effect was similar to those of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), heat-killed BCG, and viable BCG. BCG-CWS induced the secretion of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-12 p40. CD83 expression was increased by a soluble factor secreted from BCG-CWS-treated DC and was completely inhibited by monoclonal antibodies against TNF-alpha. BCG-CWS-treated DC stimulated extensive allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions. The level of TNF-alpha secreted through BCG-CWS was partially suppressed in murine macrophages with no Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR 2) or TLR4 and was completely lost in TLR2 and TLR4 double-deficient macrophages. These results suggest that the BCG-CWS induces TNF-alpha secretion from DC via TLR2 and TLR4 and that the secreted TNF-alpha induces the maturation of DC per se.