Thrombomodulin (TM) is an endothelial anticoagulant cofactor that promotes thrombin-mediated formation of activated protein C (APC). We have found that the N-terminal lectin-like domain (D1) of TM has unique antiinflammatory properties. TM, via D1, binds high-mobility group-B1 DNA-binding protein (HMGB1), a factor closely associated with necrotic cell damage following its release from the nucleus, thereby preventing in vitro leukocyte activation, in vivo UV irradiation-induced cutaneous inflammation, and in vivo lipopolysaccharide-induced lethality. Our data also demonstrate antiinflammatory properties of a peptide spanning D1 of TM and suggest its therapeutic potential. These findings highlight a novel mechanism, i.e., sequestration of mediators, through which an endothelial cofactor, TM, suppresses inflammation quite distinctly from its anticoagulant cofactor activity, thereby preventing the interaction of these mediators with cell surface receptors on effector cells in the vasculature.

Thrombomodulin (TM) is an endothelial anticoagulant cofactor that promotes thrombin-mediated formation of activated protein C (APC). We have found that the N-terminal lectin-like domain (D1) of TM has unique antiinflammatory properties. TM, via D1, binds high-mobility group-B1 DNA-binding protein (HMGB1), a factor closely associated with necrotic cell damage following its release from the nucleus, thereby preventing in vitro leukocyte activation, in vivo UV irradiation-induced cutaneous inflammation, and in vivo lipopolysaccharide-induced lethality. Our data also demonstrate antiinflammatory properties of a peptide spanning D1 of TM and suggest its therapeutic potential. These findings highlight a novel mechanism, i.e., sequestration of mediators, through which an endothelial cofactor, TM, suppresses inflammation quite distinctly from its anticoagulant cofactor activity, thereby preventing the interaction of these mediators with cell surface receptors on effector cells in the vasculature.

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Abstract"Non-adhesion grain boundaries" are formed when low-quality coal grains do not adhere to other grains in the carbonization process because of the low dilation of coke. To better understand the effects of non-adhesion grain boundaries on coke strength, the relationship between the existence ratio of non-adhesion grain boundaries and coke strength was investigated quantitatively. The existence ratio of non-adhesion grain boundaries were measured quantitatively by observing the fracture cross-section of coke using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Coke strength was measured with a diametral-compression test and an I-shape drum index test. As a result, non-adhesion grain boundaries increased with an increase in the blending ratio of low-quality coal. In particular, non-adhesion grain boundaries increased rapidly when the blending ratio of low-quality coal was over 50%. When the ratio was less than 50%, low-quality coals adhered to other caking coal. However, not many low-quality coals adhered to other caking coals when the ratio was over 50%. The tensile strength of coke was not affected by the porosity of coke. However, the tensile strength and the drum index were affected by the existence ratio of non-adhesion grain boundaries. Tensile strength decreased rapidly even for a few non-adhesion grain boundaries because significant defects caused a fracture in the diametral-compression test. However, the I-shape drum index decreased linearly with the existence ratio of the non-adhesion grain boundaries because many fractures occurred during 600 rotations in the drum. The strength of coke containing low-quality coal is governed by the existence ratio of non-adhesion grain boundaries rather than mean values such as the porosity of coke.

These findings clearly indicate that matching of the HLA-C antigens is also required in some alloimmunized patients to obtain the effectiveness of platelet transfusions.

The relationship between the strength and the microstructure of ferro-coke with hyper-coal (HPC) addition is investigated. In particular, we focused on the adhesiveness of coal particles. The strength of ferrocoke was evaluated by a tensile strength test and coke microstructure with increasing the amount of HPC addition was observed. In the observation of the microstructure, absolute maximum length and roundness of pores were measured. The result indicated that the strength of ferro-coke increases with an increase in the amount of HPC, because voids between coal particles decrease and adhesiveness of coal particles improve. A pore roundness of less than 0.2 intends coke strength, and the index decreases with HPC addition. We found that a pore roundness of less than 0.05 is included in voids between coal particles. It is suggested that mutual adhesiveness of coal particles is one of the factors affecting coke strength, and this factor can be evaluated by pores of roundness less than 0.05.