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Objectives: Snoring is an important clinical feature of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and recent studies suggest that the acoustic quality of snoring sounds is markedly different in drug-induced sleep compared with natural sleep. However, considering differences in sound recording methods and analysis parameters, further studies are required. This study explored whether acoustic analysis of drug-induced sleep is useful as a screening test that reflects the characteristics of natural sleep in snoring patients.Subjects and Materials: The snoring sounds of 30 male subjects (mean age=41.8years) were recorded using a smartphone during natural and induced sleep, with the site of vibration noted during drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE); then, we compared the sound intensity (dB), formant frequencies, and spectrograms of snoring sounds.Results: Regarding the intensity of snoring sounds, there were minor differences within the retrolingual level obstruction group, but there was no significant difference between natural and induced sleep at either obstruction site. There was no significant difference in the F1 and F2 formant frequencies of snoring sounds between natural sleep and induced sleep at either obstruction site. Compared with natural sleep, induced sleep was slightly more irregular, with a stronger intensity on the spectrogram, but the spectrograms showed the same pattern at both obstruction sites.Conclusion: Although further studies are required, the spectrograms and formant frequencies of the snoring sounds of induced sleep did not differ significantly from those of natural sleep, and may be used as a screening test that reflects the characteristics of natural sleep according to the obstruction site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ionic liquid 1-allyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium chloride was investigated as an additive to an ethylmagnesium bromide Grignard solution, for use as an advanced electrolyte in rechargeable Mg batteries. Electrochemical studies showed that the addition of the ionic liquid significantly enhanced the anodic limit of the Grignard solution by about 1 V and improved the coulombic efficiency and the kinetics of Mg deposition-stripping reactions on the negative electrode. We have also demonstrated that the Grignard solution containing the ionic liquid works well as an electrolyte in a prototype cell consisting of a Mo 6 S 8 Chevrel phase cathode and a Mg metal anode, where the original Grignard electrolyte does not function properly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new algorithm for estimating the resonant frequency of adaptive notch filters used in servo systems. Notch filters and adaptive notch filters are widely used in commercial servo systems for suppressing a resonance which is a major obstacle in improving their performance. However, the conventional frequency estimation algorithm gives a dynamic behavior that is proportional to the difference between the square of the estimated frequency and the square of the actual frequency. This can cause the estimation dynamics to be too slow for low-frequency resonances, if both low- and high-frequency resonances are present and if the estimator gain is designed for a high frequency. This paper develops a new algorithm to give a dynamic behavior that is proportional to the difference in the estimated frequency and actual frequency. This allows selecting the estimation parameters independent from the value of resonant frequencies. The developed algorithm is implemented to a production servo controller and applied to a production printed-circuit-board inspection system. The experimental results show that the developed algorithm is much more effective in suppressing the resonances of both low- and high-frequencies, compared to the pervious algorithm. Furthermore, the ability to suppress vibration allows increasing the feedback gain, which in turn allows improving the tack time performance from 190 ms to 100 ms. All experiments reported in this paper were performed in an actual industrial environment using a production system, and the developed algorithms are applied to the production system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two types of patterned (wholly and selectively covered) Si film electrodes containing trench-structured Cu current collectors are proposed for use in thin-film Li-ion batteries. The proposed electrodes are fabricated using a standard laser printer and electrochemical etching. The formation of the trench structure in the Si film electrodes results in improved electrochemical performance compared to conventional continuous Si film electrodes. The wholly covered Si film (WCS) electrode exhibits an 18.5% increase in capacity compared to the continuous Si film electrode. The selectively covered Si film (SCS) electrode, which is covered by Si film only at the bottom of the trenches, exhibits better electrochemical performance than the WCS electrode. An SCS electrode with a trench width of 45 μm and trench height of 14.3 μm exhibits the best electrochemical properties in terms of efficiency (85% in the first cycle) and cycle performance (60% capacity retention after 100 cycles). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) is a general after-effect of motor vehicle collisions or sporting accidents. Acupuncture is a common intervention for pain conditions such as musculoskeletal disease. We conducted a pilot trial to determine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for patients with WAD. Methodology: Forty participants were randomly allocated to an acupuncture group or a waiting-list group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture treatment three times per week for 2 weeks. Symptoms were evaluated before random allocation and after 2 weeks. The primary outcome measure was pain intensity. Secondary outcome measures were the SF-36, cervical range of motion (ROM), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and the Cornell Medical Index (CMI). Results: The results demonstrated that the change in visual analogue scale (VAS) in the acupuncture group was −1.85 [−2.67 to −1.02], compared to −0.40 in the waiting-list group [95% CI: −1.18 to 0.38] (p =0.001). VAS significantly improved from 4.59 [3.67–5.48] at baseline to 2.74 [2.08–3.37] at the endpoint (p <0.001) in the acupuncture group. No significant changes in secondary outcomes such as SF-36, Cervical ROM, SDS and CMI within either group were observed, and the scores from baseline revealed no significant differences between the groups. There were no reports of serious adverse events related to acupuncture treatment. Conclusions: Acupuncture treatment was associated with a significant alleviation of pain. This pilot study provided preliminary data on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for WAD. A full-scale randomized controlled trial is required to provide firm evidence of the effectiveness of this intervention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is still the most common arrhythmic complication. This study evaluated whether pretreatment with atorvastatin protects against AF after off-pump CABG. Methods: One hundred twenty-four patients without a history of AF or previous statin use, who were scheduled to undergo elective off-pump CABG, were enrolled. Patients were randomized to control group (n = 62) or to atorvastatin group (n = 62) who were administered atorvastatin 20 mg/d for 3 days before the surgery. Primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative AF. Secondary outcomes were major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, persistent AF at 1 month, and identification of the markers to predict inhospital postoperative AF. Results: The incidence of AF was significantly lower in the atorvastatin group than in the control group (13% vs 27%, P = .04). The incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events and persistent AF at 1 month was similar in comparisons between the groups. Postoperative peak N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels were significantly higher in the patients with AF (P = .03). Multivariate analysis identified pretreatment with atorvastatin as an independent factor associated with a significant reduction in postoperative AF (odds ratio 0.34, P = .04). Higher postoperative peak N-terminus pro-B–type natriuretic peptide levels were associated with the development of postoperative AF (odds ratio 1.02 per 100 pg/mL, P = .03). Conclusions: Pretreatment with atorvastatin significantly reduced the occurrence of postoperative AF after off-pump CABG. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Distal protection devices are effective in preventing distal embolization during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We investigated whether balloon-based distal protection could reduce early and late infarct size and left ventricular (LV) remodeling using serial analysis of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI). Methods: Patients undergoing primary PCI for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction within 12 hours after symptom onset were randomized to a distal protection group (n = 19) or to a control group (n = 20). The primary end point was infarct size evaluated by the volume of delayed hyperenhancement on CE-MRI at 3 days. The secondary end point included infarct size on CE-MRI at 6 months and LV remodeling assessed by the change between LV end-diastolic volume on CE-MRI at 3 days (baseline) and 6 months (follow-up). Results: Percutaneous coronary intervention procedures were fully protected with balloon-based distal protection in all patients of the protection group. Infarct size was similar in the distal protection group and the control group at baseline (25.9 ± 7.8% vs 26.1 ± 8.2%; P = .93) and at follow-up (21.4 ± 9.1% vs 18.5 ± 9.1%; P = .51). The change in LV end-diastolic volume was 10.5 ± 32.2 mL in the distal protection group and 8.9 ± 40.7 mL in the control group (P = .86). There was no significant difference in the 6-month rate of major adverse cardiac events between groups (none in the distal protection group and 4 patients in the control group; P = .11). Conclusions: Serial CE-MRI showed that the balloon-based distal protection during primary PCI did not reduce early and late infarct size or prevent LV remodeling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents a boundary reaction method (BRM) for nonlinear time domain analysis of soil–structure interaction (SSI) under incident seismic waves. The BRM is a hybrid frequency–time domain method, but it removes global iterations between frequency and time domain analyses commonly required in the hybrid approach, so that it operates as a two-step uncoupled method. Specifically, the nonlinear SSI system is represented as a simple summation of two substructures as follows: (I) wave scattering substructure subjected to incident seismic waves to calculate boundary reaction forces on the fixed interface boundary between a finite nonlinear structure-soil body and an unbounded linear domain; and (II) wave radiation substructure subjected to the boundary reaction forces in which the nonlinearities can be considered. The nonlinear responses in the structure–soil body can be obtained by solving the radiation problem in the time domain using a general-purpose nonlinear finite element code that can simulate absorbing boundary conditions, while the boundary reaction forces can be easily calculated by solving the linear scattering problem by means of a standard frequency domain SSI code. The BRM is verified by comparing the numerical results obtained by the proposed BRM and the conventional frequency-domain SSI analysis for an equivalent linear SSI system. Finally, the BRM is applied to the nonlinear time-domain seismic analysis of a base-isolated nuclear power plant structure supported by a layered soil medium. The numerical results showed that the proposed method is very effective for nonlinear time-domain SSI analyses of nonlinear structure-soil system subjected to earthquake loadings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic reflection data from the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, provide extensive evidence for Plio-Quaternary mass transport deposits (MTDs). We identified 23 MTDs embedded in 7 MTD bearing seismic units (U1–U7, from oldest to youngest) and estimated their geometric characteristics and source areas. The thicknesses and volumes of these MTDs range between 25 m and 392 m, and 13 km 3 –550 km 3 , respectively. The depth of the acoustic basement below sea level varies between about 100 m in the western margins to over 5900 m in the central part of the basin and highlights eight structural highs in the central and southern parts of the basin. These structural highs had a major role in controlling the pathway and distribution of the MTDs in the basin. In general, the thickest MTD units are sourced from the southern parts of the basin and the volume of these MTDs has remained relatively constant throughout the Plio-Quaternary. The seismic reflection data also reveal about 50 m high slide/slump scars formed on the seafloor by the latest submarine landslides which mainly concentrate on the southern and western margins of the basin. High-sedimentation rates and pore pressure build-up are likely the predominant factor controlling initiation of slope failures in the southern margin. Tectonics and gas hydrates likely play a role, too. The initial water depth of submarine landslides and volume and runout of the MTDs originating from the southern margin imply significant geohazard to the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a method for measuring the capacitance of a thin layer using a Tip-on-Gate of Field-Effect Transistor (ToGoFET) probe. A ToGoFET probe with a metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) with an ion-implant channel was embedded at the end of a cantilever and a Pt tip was fabricated using micro-machining. The ToGoFET probe was used to detect an alternating electric field at the dielectric surface. A dielectric buried metal sample was prepared; a sinusoidal input signal was applied to the buried metal lines; and the ToGoFET probe detected the electric field at the tip via the dielectric. The AC signal detected by the ToGoFET probe was demodulated by a simple AC-to-DC converter. Experimentally, it was shown that an electric field could be measured at the surface of the dielectric layer above a buried metal line. This promising result shows that it is possible to measure the surface local capacitance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spent nuclear fuel generated at nuclear power plants must be safely stored during interim storage periods. A concrete storage cask to safely store spent nuclear fuel should be able to adequately emit the decay heat from the spent nuclear fuel. Moreover, the concrete storage cask must ensure that the temperatures of the spent nuclear fuel assemblies are maintained within the allowable values for normal, off-normal, and accident conditions. Therefore, the concrete storage cask must be designed to have heat removal capabilities with appropriate reliability. However, the thermal conductivity of concrete is not good and the allowable temperature of concrete is lower than that of steel. In this study, a thermal test was performed to evaluate the heat removal performance of the concrete storage cask under development by KORAD (Korea Radioactive Waste Agency), under normal and off-normal conditions. In addition, a thermal test was performed to evaluate the thermal integrity of the concrete under accident conditions. The heat transfer rate to the ambient atmosphere by convective airflow through the passive heat removal system of the concrete storage cask was found to reach 93.5% under normal conditions. Thus, it was confirmed that the passive heat removal system was well designed and worked adequately. In addition, the heat transfer rate to the ambient atmosphere by convective airflow through the passive heat removal system under off-normal conditions was estimated to reach 87.4%. Therefore, it was deduced that the half-blockage of the inlet openings has a relatively small effect on the maximum temperatures and temperature distributions. Moreover, no significant temperature differences were detected with respect to the location of the half-blockage of the inlet openings. This indicated that, the influence of the direction of the half-blockage of the inlet openings on the heat removal performance was minimal. Finally, the maximum temperature of the over-pack inner surface under accident conditions was measured as 103 °C, thus verifying that the thermal integrity of the concrete is adequately maintained under accident conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We explained the tectonic evolution of the Eastern Subbasin since the Late Cretaceous that marks the eastern margin of the Northern South Yellow Sea Basin. • The evolution of the subbasin includes not only subsidence (rapid, slow, accelerated, and gradual) but short-term uplift. • The subbasin evolved with sequential development of nested duplex structures created by dextral extension. • The NW subduction of the Pacific Plate oblique to the NE Asian margin played an important role by inducing SE extension at the margin and NE-SW transtensional dextral slip parallel to the margin. The South Yellow Sea Basin is the largest sedimentary basin in the Yellow Sea. The Gunsan Basin in the central eastern part of the Northern South Yellow Sea Basin comprises the Western, Central, and Eastern Subbasins. The Eastern Subbasin marks the eastern margin of the South Yellow Sea Basin. Interpretation of multi-channel seismic profiles and balanced cross-section restoration of depth-converted seismic profiles reveal the structural characteristics and evolution of the Eastern Subbasin. The subbasin comprises three groups of faults: NW-SE, NE-SW, and NNE-SSW trending faults. The subsidence pattern of the subbasin, derived from the cross-section restoration analysis, indicates five distinguished evolution phases: (i) rapid subsidence in the Late Cretaceous, (ii) slow subsidence from the Paleocene to the Eocene, (iii) accelerated subsidence in the Oligocene, (iv) alternation of the uplift and subsidence in the Early Miocene, and (v) gradual subsidence since the Middle Miocene. The main and moderate subsidence can be explained by the combination of extension in the SE and NE-SW directions that formed double duplex structures. We suggest that the NW oblique subduction of the Pacific Plate under the NE Asia margin induced both extension toward the trench and dextral strike-slip parallel to the margin. The extension toward the trench caused SE transtension in a local pull-apart setting, whereas the dextral strike-slip parallel to the margin caused NE-SW extension, inducing more significant subsidence. The combined processes resulted in the progressive development of nested duplex structures. The evolution of the Eastern Subbasin is not compatible with previously suggested models for the western part of the South Yellow Sea Basin including foreland basin formation and transtension induced by branch faults of the Tan-Lu Fault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torrefaction is a treatment which serves to improve the properties of biomass in relation to thermochemical processing techniques for energy generation. In this study, the torrefaction of sewage sludge, which is a non-lignocellulosic waste was investigated in a horizontal tubular reactor under nitrogen flow at temperature ranging from 150 to 400 °C, for torrefaction residence time varying from 0 to 50 min. The torrefaction kinetics of sewage sludge was studied to obtain the kinetic parameters. The torrefied sewage sludge products were characterized in terms of their elemental composition, energy yield, ash content and volatile fraction. The energy and mass yields decreased with an increase in the torrefaction temperature. From an elemental analysis, the weight percentage of carbon in the sewage sludge increased with an increase in the torrefaction temperature. On the other hand, the weight percentages of hydrogen and oxygen tended to decrease. The gaseous products from torrefaction of sewage sludge were also analyzed. From this work, it was found that the compounds with oxygen were emitted at a temperature lower than that for hydrocarbon gases and the temperatures of 300–350 °C were the optimum torrefaction temperatures for sewage sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously reported that the transient and stable expression of IbMYB1a produced anthocyanin pigmentation in tobacco leaves and transgenic Arabidopsis plants, respectively. To further determine the effects of different promoters on the expression of IbMYB1a and anthocyanin production, we generated and characterized stably transformed tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum SR1) plants expressing IbMYB1a under the control of three different promoters. We compared the differences in anthocyanin accumulation patterns and phenotypic features of the leaves of these transgenic tobacco plants during growth. Expression of IbMYB1a under the control of these three different promoters led to a remarkable variation in anthocyanin pigmentation in tobacco leaves. The anthocyanin contents of the leaves of the SPO-IbMYB1a -OX (SPO-M) line were higher than those of the SWPA2-IbMYB1a -OX (SPA-M) and 35S-IbMYB1a -OX (35S-M) lines. High levels of anthocyanin pigments negatively affected plant growth in the SPO-M lines, resulting delayed growth and, occasionally, a stunted phenotype. Furthermore, HPLC analysis revealed that transcriptional regulation of IbMYB1a led to the production of cyanidin-based anthocyanins in the tobacco plants. In addition, RT-PCR analysis revealed that IbMYB1a expression induced the up-regulation of several structural genes in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, including DFR and ANS . Differential expression levels of IbMYB1a under the control of different promoters were highly correlated with the expression levels of the structural genes, thereby affecting anthocyanin production levels. These results indicate that IbMYB1a positively controls the expression of multiple anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and anthocyanin accumulation in heterologous tobacco plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Reality evaluation (i.e., the discrimination of things existing outside of oneself and figments of others' imagination) may be impaired in patients with schizophrenia, and impairment in reality evaluation may be related to psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. In this study, we investigated the nature of impairment of reality processing and its relationship with hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia. Twenty-six patients with schizophrenia and 25 healthy controls completed the reality evaluation task, in which subjects judged whether scenes in a series of drawings were real or unreal and whether they were familiar or novel. The patient group exhibited significantly lower accuracy in reality evaluation than the control group, and lower accuracy in the patient group was related to more severe hallucinations and delusions. These findings provide preliminary evidence that impaired reality evaluation is related to the formation or maintenance of hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Di- d -psicose anhydride (DPA), derived from functional rare saccharide as d -psicose, is investigated for its strong chelating ability. Methylglyoxal (MGO), an important precursor of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), promotes obesity, and causes complications such as diabetic nephropathy. On mesangial cells, DPA can substantially reduce the negative effects of MGO. DPA effectively trapping MGO in mesangial cells. The bonding properties of the DPA–MGO adduct were discussed by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The NMR spectra of the DPA–MGO adduct provide evidence for chelation bonding. The inhibition of AGE formation and the mass spectrometry results of the DPA–MGO adduct indicate that DPA can scavenge MGO at a molar ratio of 1:1. DPA suppressed 330 % of the up-regulated receptor for an AGEs protein expression to a normal level and restored the suppressed glyoxalase 1 level to 86 % of the normal group. This research provides important evidence and theoretical basis for the development of AGE inhibitors derived from rare saccharide. [Display omitted] • Di- d -psicose anhydride (DPA) with 1,4-dioxane structure trapping methylglyoxal. • The binding of DPA-methylglyoxal adduct was determined by MS and NMR. • The cellular uptake of DPA in mesangial cells is influenced by methylglyoxal. • DPA prevents diabetic nephropathy induced by methylglyoxal in mesangial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This prospective study investigated the diagnostic sensitivity of a novel multichannel surface electrode for detecting electrophysiologic changes in symptomatic diabetic neuropathy. We recruited healthy subjects without neuropathic complaints and diabetic patients with distal symmetric sensory symptoms who had normal nerve conduction studies (NCS). Eight compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were recorded using a multichannel electrode from each subject’s abductor pollicis brevis muscle by stimulating the median nerve at the wrist. Latency- and amplitude-related variables were obtained and analyzed to compare the two groups. We used the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) algorithm to determine the cut-off values for selected predictors of diabetic neuropathy. All of the variables related to CMAP latency showed statistically significant differences between the median values for the diabetic group and the healthy control group. For example, the median value of the maximum latency and standard deviation of the eight CMAP onset latencies in diabetic patients (3.82ms and 0.15ms, respectively) were significantly larger than those in controls (3.26ms and p <0.001; 0.09ms and p <0.001, respectively). The CART analysis revealed that these variables were the most sensitive and specific variables for discriminating between patients with diabetic neuropathy and normal subjects. The multichannel surface electrode demonstrated both high sensitivity and specificity in detecting neurophysiologic abnormality of diabetic neuropathy, even when conventional NCS did not detect the abnormality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Intensive in vitro studies on the neurotoxicity of amyloid beta have been conducted for decades; however, a three-dimensional neuronal tissue model for Alzheimer''s disease has not yet been achieved. In this study, we developed size-controllable networked neurospheres comprised of cerebral cortical neuronal cells that mimics the cytoarchitecture of the cortical region of the brain. The toxicity of amyloid beta on the neurosphere model was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Decreased cell viability after amyloid beta exposure was demonstrated using MTT and live/dead assays. Neurite degeneration after amyloid beta exposure was evident in both SEM and fluorescence images. Ultrastructural features of apoptotic neurons were analyzed and quantitative analysis of synapsin II concentration and an acetylcholine assay were also performed. The three-dimensional neurospheres, produced using a concave microwell array, are a potential in vitro model for Alzheimer''s disease studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We isolated a substance from fructose–tyrosine Maillard reaction products (MRPs) and investigated its antiproliferative effect on six human cancer cell lines. The ethyl acetate fraction of fructose–tyrosine MRPs showed a strong antiproliferative effect; this fraction was isolated and purified using silica gel column chromatography, semipreparative RP-HPLC, and recycling HPLC. The structure of the purified compound was determined using spectroscopic methods. The isolated compound was identified as 2,4-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butenal (C16H14O3, HPB242). HPB242 inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner (10–80μg/ml) on the six human cancer cell lines. The IC50 values of HPB242 on the six human cancer cell lines were 17.34μg/ml (MCF-7), 29.21μg/ml (HCT-116), 34.57μg/ml (H-460), 34.87μg/ml (HepG2), 48.77μg/ml (PC-3), and 55.83μg/ml (MKN-45). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A 250-nm-thick Al2O3 film was deposited on a Si(100) by a radio-frequency magnetron sputtering and annealed at 1100°C for various periods of time in air. In the matrix composed of fine metastable-Al2O3 grains of 50–100nm in diameter, large α-Al2O3 grains of about 2–10μm in diameter appeared, interestingly aligning themselves along various directions. The compressive stress developed in the alumina films because the thermal expansion coefficient of the film was higher than that of the silicon substrate. The stress distribution in the film is expected to be inhomogeneous due to some discontinuities or defects, such as arrays of dislocation pits and steps on the surface of the Si substrate, which could be generated by intersections of the substrate surface and the slip and twin planes in the Si substrate. The enhanced phase transformation into α-Al2O3 along various directions is suggested to arise from such discontinuities or defects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A visceral excitatory neuropeptide with a molecular weight of 1563Da was isolated from the brain extracts of cloudy dogfish (Scyliorhinus torazame) discarded as a fishery by-product. Fish hindgut was employed to carry out physiological assay for its visceral excitation. During consecutive purification using C18 cartridge and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a neuropeptide (DF-2) was isolated from neuronal cell extracts of dogfish brain tissue and clearly exhibited potential to exert visceral excitatory effect on hindgut of dogfish. The primary structure of DF-2 established by ESI-Q-TOF tandem mass was LESLVYEQLWPWamide. The results of database search provided evidence for this peptide sequence to be novel. In visceral excitatory assay using myography, the threshold concentration of DF-2 required for the changes in spontaneous contraction of cloudy dogfish hindgut was found to be 10−6 M. Therefore, this study suggests that DF-2 isolated from brain of elasmobranches could be one of the sequences, which regulates spontaneous visceral contractions in dogfish digestive duct. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Basophils and mast cells express FcεRI, a high-affinity receptor for IgE, on the cell surface and act as effector cells in allergic reactions. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Ecklonia cava (EC) methanolic extract on the expression of FcεRI in human basophilic KU812F cells. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that EC extract caused a concentration-dependent reduction in the cell surface expression of FcεRI. The extract was also capable of reducing the binding between IgE or serum IgE and cell surface FcεRI. RT–PCR analysis revealed that EC extract reduced the mRNA expression of total cellular FcεRI α-chain. Moreover, data obtained by fluorescence spectrophotometry showed that the extract inhibited the FcεRI-mediated release of histamine in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that EC extract may exert its anti-allergic activity through negative-regulation of FcεRI expression and a decrease in histamine release. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Akt has emerged as a critical target for the development of anti-cancer therapies. It has been found to be amplified, overexpressed, or constitutively activated in numerous human malignancies with oncogenesis derived from the simultaneous promotion of cell survival and suppression of apoptosis. A valuable alternative to the more common ATP-mimetic based chemotherapies is a substrate-mimetic approach, which has the potential advantage of inherent specificity of the substrate-binding pocket. In this paper we present the development of high affinity non-peptidic, substrate-mimetic inhibitors based on the minimum GSK3β substrate sequence. Optimization of initial peptidic leads resulted in the development of several classes of small molecule inhibitors, which have comparable potency to the initial peptidomimetics, while eliminating the remaining amino acid residues. We have identified the first non-peptidic substrate-mimetic lead inhibitors of Akt 29a–b, which have affinities of 17 and 12μM, respectively. This strategy has potential to provide a useful set of molecular probes to assist in the validation of Akt as a potential target for anti-cancer drug design. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ecklonia cava (EC) is a brown alga that has demonstrated radical scavenging, bactericidal, tyrosinase inhibitory, and protease inhibitory activities. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory action remain unclear. In the current study, we attempted to determine whether pretreatment with EC induces a significant inhibition of anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine BV2 microglia. Our results indicate that EC inhibits LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in a concentration-dependent manner and inhibits inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in BV2 microglia without significant cytotoxicity. EC treatment significantly reduced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) translocation and DNA-binding in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia. This effect was mediated through the inhibition of the degradation of the inhibitor κB and by inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, at least in part by inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen species. Our data also indicate that EC extracts exert anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines. Collectively, these results suggest that EC suppresses the induction of cytokines by LPS, as well as iNOS and COX-2 expression, by blocking NF-κB and MAPK activation. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective actions of EC in BV2 microglia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Roots are highly sensitive organs in plants. To gain a better knowledge of the chilling stress responses of plants, it is imperative to analyze the tissue-specific proteome patterns under chilling stress. In the present study, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled with mass spectrometry, has been adopted to investigate the protein expression patterns of rice roots in response to chilling stress. Rice seedlings were subjected to 10°C and samples were collected 24 and 72h after treatment. To identify the low-abundant proteins in root tissues, samples were fractionated by 15% polyethylene glycol (PEG), separated by 2-DE, and visualized by silver or CBB staining. A total of 27 up-regulated proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry or electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) analysis. Together with the previously identified cold-stress-responsive proteins, a group of novel proteins were identified including acetyl transferase, phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase, fructokinase, PrMC3, putative alpha-soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein, and glyoxalase 1. These proteins are involved in several cellular processes, including energy production and metabolism, vesicular trafficking, and detoxification. Gene expression at the mRNA level of some selected proteins revealed that transcription levels are not always concomitant to the translational level. Thus, investigation of root proteome expression and identification of some novel proteins could be useful in better understanding the molecular basis of chilling stress responses in plants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Carbothermal process parameters such as powder mixing ratio, temperature, holding time and gas flow rate, which affect on the reasonable growth rate of SiC nanowires were investigated using a mixture of low-purity SiO2 containing iron component and carbon in this study. SiC nanowires are being grown at 1400°C for 2h in an argon flow rate of 2L/min by a vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) process, which produces a very high-purity product with about 60nm and several hundreds of micrometers in diameter and length, respectively. This is attributed to the migration of the iron out of the low-purity SiO2 material as finely divided iron-rich droplets acting in the role of catalyst for the architecture of a SiC one-dimensional structure. The growth rate of SiC nanowires increased with increasing holding time and flow gas rate, inducing the supersaturation degree to become lower. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To investigate biomedical and nutraceutical benefits of bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana Shaw) muscle protein, we examined an angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE I) inhibitory activity of various enzymatic hydrolystes of R. catesbeiana muscle protein in the present study. Among the enzymatic hydrolysates prepared using various commercial enzymes such as Alcalase, neutrase, pepsin, papain, α-chymotrypsin, and trypsin, Alcalase-proteolytic hydrolysates showed the highest ACE I inhibitory activity. During consecutive purification using a Hiprep 16/10 DEAE FF anion exchange and an octadecylsilane (ODS) C18 reversed phase liquid chromatographic techniques, a potent ACE I inhibitory peptide composed of 12 amino acids, Gly-Ala-Ala-Glu-Leu-Pro-Cys-Ser-Ala-Asp-Trp-Trp (M w: 1.3kDa) was isolated from R. catesbeiana muscle hydrolysates degraded by Alcalase. The purified peptide from R. catesbeiana muscle (RCMP-alca) has IC50 value of 0.95μM, and Lineweaver–Burk plots suggest that RCMP-alca play act as a non-competitive inhibitor against ACE I. Antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) also revealed that oral administration of RCMP-alca can decrease systolic blood pressure significantly (P <0.05). In addition, MTT assay showed no cytotoxicity on human embryonic lung fibroblasts cell line (MRC-5). The result of this study suggests that the ACE inhibitory peptide derived from R. catesbeiana muscle (RCMP-alca) could be potential candidates to develop nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copper is an essential micronutrient for plants. Present at a high concentration in soil, copper is also regarded as a major toxicant to plant cells due to its potential inhibitory effects against many physiological and biochemical processes. The interference of germination-related proteins by heavy metals has not been well documented at the proteomic level. In the current study, physiological, biochemical and proteomic changes of germinating rice seeds were investigated under copper stress. Germination rate, shoot elongation, plant biomass, and water content were decreased, whereas accumulation of copper and TBARS content in seeds were increased significantly with increasing copper concentrations from 0. 2mM to 1. 5mM followed by germination. The SDS–PAGE showed the preliminary changes in the polypeptides patterns under copper stress. Protein profiles analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) revealed that 25 protein spots were differentially expressed in copper-treated samples. Among them, 18 protein spots were up-regulated and 7 protein spots were down-regulated. These differentially displayed proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The up-regulation of some antioxidant and stress-related proteins such as glyoxalase I, peroxiredoxin, aldose reductase, and some regulatory proteins such as DnaK-type molecular chaperone, UlpI protease, and receptor-like kinase clearly indicated that excess copper generates oxidative stress that might be disruptive to other important metabolic processes. Moreover, down-regulation of key metabolic enzymes like alpha-amylase or enolase revealed that the inhibition of seed germinations after exposure to excess copper not only affects starvation in water uptake by seeds but also results in failure in the reserve mobilization processes. These results indicate a good correlation between the physiological and biochemical changes in germinating rice seeds exposed to excess copper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Extremely fine and homogeneous TiN/TiB2/Ti-silicide composite powders have been synthesized from mixtures of Ti, BN and Si3N4 powders by high-energy ball milling through a mechanically activated self-sustaining reaction. They have a microstructure consisting of TiN and TiB2 crystallites of less than 15nm embedded in amorphous TiSi2 or Ti5Si3 matrix. When these nanocomposite powders were annealed at high temperatures, the microstructure did not change significantly and TiN and TiB2 mutually suppressed the grain growth of both phases effectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) was developed to quantitatively detect Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) vitellogenin (VTG) levels. This procedure involved a sandwich ELISA using monoclonal antibodies of BVmA1 and BVmA2 against Bullfrog-VTG, and BVmA1 conjugated to horseradish peroxidase as the detection antibody. The assay range was between 9.4ng/ml and 1200ng/ml and the recovery of the VTG added to Bullfrog control male serum was 92.0–108.8%. Male Bullfrog was induced by injection 17β-estradiol (E2) for four weeks and Bullfrog-VTG levels were measured each week. Histological analysis was performed for investigating the correlation of the effect to male reproduction and Bullfrog-VTG level variation depending on E2 dose. After two weeks of E2 exposure, the induced Bullfrog-VTG level was significantly higher than Bullfrog control female (p <0.05). After four weeks of E2 exposure, the rupture and fusion of seminiferous tubule in the testes of male Bullfrog were shown and provided direct evidence that the reproduction of male Bullfrog was affected by estrogenic compounds. Bullfrog-VTG bioassay, using the sandwich ELISA, could be a sensitive and useful tool for quantification of estrogenic principles in aquatic environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We propose and demonstrate a novel single to multi-wavelength converter using a Fabry–Perot laser diode (FP-LD) and linear optical amplifier (LOA) which is based on the cross gain modulation (XGM). It can convert an input signal to many wavelengths simultaneously. Multi-modes of the FP-LD were used for probe signals and the LOA was used with the cross gain modulation medium effect. Moreover, we propose a wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network (WDM-PON) link employing multi-wavelength converter for broadcasting function. A spectrally sliced FP-LD is used as a wavelength-locking optical source and multi-wavelength converter is used for broadcasting signals. The down stream transmission of 2.5Gbps is performed over 30km. We verified feasibility of it as a WDM-PON optical source. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study compared two methods, corrected (separation of T1 and T2 effects) and uncorrected, in order to determine the suitability of the perfusion and permeability measures through ΔR2 and ΔR1 analyses. A dynamic susceptibility contrast dual gradient echo (DSC-DGE) was used to image the fixed phantoms and flow phantoms (Sephadex perfusion phantoms and dialyzer phantom for the permeability measurements). The results confirmed that the corrected relaxation rate was linearly proportional to gadolinium-diethyltriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) concentration, whereas the uncorrected relaxation rate did not in the fixed phantom and simulation experiments. For the perfusion measurements, it was found that the correction process was necessary not only for the ΔR1 time curve but also for the ΔR2 time curve analyses. Perfusion could not be measured without correcting the ΔR2 time curve. The water volume, which was expressed as the perfusion amount, was found to be closer to the theoretical value when using the corrected ΔR1 curve in the calculations. However, this may occur in the low concentration of Gd-DTPA in tissue used in this study. For the permeability measurements based on the two-compartment model, the permeability factor (kev; e = extravascular, v = vascular) from the outside to the inside of the hollow fibers was greater in the corrected ΔR1 method than in the uncorrected ΔR1 method. The differences between the corrected and the uncorrected ΔR1 values were confirmed by the simulation experiments. In conclusion, this study proposes that the correction for the relaxation rates, ΔR2 and ΔR1, is indispensable in making accurate perfusion and permeability measurements, and that DSC-DGE is a useful method for obtaining information on perfusion and permeability, simultaneously. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Al 2 O 3 thin film was deposited on Gorilla glass using an aerosol deposition method to improve the mechanical property of cover glass for mobile electronic device. The deposited Al 2 O 3 film (approximately 1 μm thick) was a polycrystalline structure and showed a high light transmittance of approximately 90% in the visible light region. The CIE color space (L*a*b) measurement also showed a characteristic corresponding to the acceptable optical range of the cover glass. Further, it was confirmed that the bending strength improved by 10 %, as compared with bare Gorilla glass (from 6970 kgf/cm2 to 7704 kgf/cm2), and the Vickers hardness increased to approximately 1700–2000 HV, as compared with that of Gorilla glass (<700 HV). Owing to the improved mechanical properties, the Al 2 O 3 thin film exhibited good anti-scratch properties and is expected to be applied to the cover glass of various display products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• cWPU/ChNF nanocomposite films are fabricated by an efficient casting method. • There exist specific hydrogen-bonding interactions between cWPU and ChNF. • The thermal stability of the nanocomposite films increased noticeably. • cWPU/ChNF films exhibit significantly enhanced mechanical performance. To attain eco-friendly polyurethane composites with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties, in this study, a series of cationic waterborne polyurethane (cWPU) nanocomposite films reinforced with 1-50 wt% chitin nanofiber (ChNF) loadings was fabricated by a facile aqueous dispersion casting. The microstructure, thermal and mechanical properties of the nanocomposite films were investigated by considering the loading content and the interfacial interaction of ChNF in the cWPU matrix. For the purpose, a hard/soft segmented cWPU with an average particle size of ∼151 nm in aqueous dispersion was synthesized by using poly(tetramethylene glycol), isophorone diisocyanate, N-methyldiethanolamine, and 1,4-butanediol. The FT-IR spectra confirmed the existence of specific hydrogen-bonding interactions between hydroxyl/acetyl amine/ammonium groups of ChNFs and urethane/protonated amine groups of cWPU hard segments. Accordingly, the thermal decomposition temperatures of cWPU/ChNF nanocomposite films increased with increasing the ChNF content. In addition, the storage moduli of cWPU/ChNF nanocomposite films increased significantly with the increment of ChNF content up to ∼7 wt%, which stems from the restricted chain mobility of cWPU backbones composed of semicrystalline soft segments and hard segments interacting with ChNFs via multiple hydrogen-bonding interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-derived polysaccharides possess potential health benefits that improve intestinal health and the immune system. Molokhia leaves have a large amount of mucilage polysaccharide; in the present study, crude polysaccharide extract was prepared from molokhia leaves. The molecular weight of molokhia leaf polysaccharide fraction (MPF) was estimated to be 51.2 × 103 Da. Polysaccharide was methylated and the structure of MPF was mainly composed of rhamnogalacturonan-I structure with side chains, such as galactans and linear glucan (starch), as shown by GC–MS analysis. To study the biofunctional effects of MPF, its prebiotic and intestinal immune-enhancing activities were assayed in vitro. MPF exhibited good prebiotic activity, as shown by its high prebiotic scores, and increased contents of total short-chain fatty acids on five probiotic strains. In addition, MPF showed immune-enhancing activity on Peyer's patches, as revealed by the high bone marrow cell proliferating activity and production of immunoglobulin A and cytokines. These results demonstrate that MPF may be a potential beneficial prebiotic and intestinal immune-enhancer, which may have wide implications in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ultimate produced methane volume increased with granular activated carbon (GAC). • Acetate utilization rate increased with GAC injection regardless of temperature. • Adding GAC increased CH 4 production and reduced lag time at low temperature (25 °C). • Syntrophobacteriales and hydrogenotrophic methanogens were stimulated by GAC. Notwithstanding many efforts to increase the efficiency of anaerobic digestion at low-temperature (winter) conditions, a cost-effective and efficient method is lacking. This study proposes a low-cost method of low-temperature (<35 °C) anaerobic digestion of wastewater, involving supplementation with granular activated carbon (GAC). Supplementation with GAC was found to reduce the lag time by 29.8% (from 15.1 to 10.6 days) and increase the maximum methane production rate by 23.4% (from 6.4 to 7.9 mL/day) at 25 °C. Network analysis demonstrated a strong co-occurrence of Syntrophobacteriales and hydrogenotrophic methanogens (Methanobacteriaceae ; WSA2 ; Methanoregulaceae). GAC supplementation can drastically reduce the time required for organic matter decomposition and methane production, thereby increase the efficiency of wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The interaction between biofilm formation and predicted functional genes were investigated. • Hydrogen performance increased with biofilm forming state. • Prevotella and Sporolactobacillus appears to contribute the increase in acetogenic activity. • Predicted enzymes showed similar levels regardless of the immobilization status. In this study, a laboratory-scale acidogenic dynamic membrane bioreactor (DMBR) was operated with or without alginate immobilization under various hydraulic retention times. The interactions between biofilm formation, metabolic flux and predicted functional genes were investigated in the DMBR. Regardless of the alginate immobilization, hydrogen yield was increased after biofilm was formed on a supporting material. Metabolic flux shifts from homoacetogenic to hydrogenic pathways along with biofilm formation was confirmed by flux balance analysis for metabolites. KEGG ortholog count prediction of functional genes from microbial consortia using bioinformatics package (PICRUSt). Predicted enzymes showed similar levels of functional gene expression regardless of the immobilization status. PICRUSt result showed strong evidence of the functional relationship among hydrogen production, biofilm formation, and metabolic pathway. Taken together, this study provides to estimate characteristics of biofilm formation changes and to better understand the microbial metabolism of DMBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• System-level key performance indicators are missing in the literature yet important. • A suite of system key performance indicators (KPIs) are defined. • The system KPIs cover four major end use systems and their eleven sub-systems. • A database of system KPIs is developed using simulation results of 16 prototype building models. • Potential applications of system KPIs include system performance benchmarking and diagnostics, code compliance, and M&V. Quantifying building energy performance through the development and use of key performance indicators (KPIs) is an essential step in achieving energy saving goals in both new and existing buildings. Current methods used to evaluate improvements, however, are not well represented at the system-level (e.g., lighting, plug-loads, HVAC, service water heating). Instead, they are typically only either measured at the whole building level (e.g., energy use intensity) or at the equipment level (e.g., chiller efficiency coefficient of performance (COP)) with limited insights for benchmarking and diagnosing deviations in performance of aggregated equipment that delivers a specific service to a building (e.g., space heating, lighting). The increasing installation of sensors and meters in buildings makes the evaluation of building performance at the system level more feasible through improved data collection. Leveraging this opportunity, this study introduces a set of system-level KPIs, which cover four major end-use systems in buildings: lighting, MELs (Miscellaneous Electric Loads, aka plug loads), HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning), and SWH (service water heating), and their eleven subsystems. The system KPIs are formulated in a new context to represent various types of performance, including energy use, peak demand, load shape, occupant thermal comfort and visual comfort, ventilation, and water use. This paper also presents a database of system KPIs using the EnergyPlus simulation results of 16 USDOE prototype commercial building models across four vintages and five climate zones. These system KPIs, although originally developed for office buildings, can be applied to other building types with some adjustment or extension. Potential applications of system KPIs for system performance benchmarking and diagnostics, code compliance, and measurement and verification are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofouling, caused by microbial biofilm formation on the membrane surface and in pores, is a major operational problem in membrane bioreactors (MBR). Many quorum quenching (QQ) bacteria have been isolated and applied to MBR to reduce biofouling. However, for more effective MBR biofouling control, novel approaches for isolating QQ bacteria and applying them in MBR are needed. Therefore, Listeria grayi (HEMM-2) was isolated using a mixture of different N -acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). HEMM-2 degraded various AHLs, regardless of the length and oxo group in the carbon chain, with quorum sensing (QS) inhibition ratios of 47–61%. This QQ activity was attributed to extracellular substances in HEMM-2 cell-free supernatant (CFS). Furthermore, the HEMM-2 CFS negatively regulated QS-related gene expression, inhibiting Pseudomonas aeruginosa and activated sludge-biofilm formation by 53–75%. Surprisingly, when the HEMM-2 CFS was directly injected into a laboratory-scale MBR system, biofouling was not significantly affected. Biofouling was only controlled by cell suspension (CS) of HEMM-2, indicating the importance of QQ bacteria in MBR. The HEMM-2 CS increased operation time to reach 0.4 bar, a threshold transmembrane pressure for complete biofouling, from 315 h to 371 h. Taken together, HEMM-2, which is effective in the degradation of various AHLs, and its applicable method to MBR may be considered a potent approach for controlling biofouling and understanding the behavior of QQ bacteria in MBR systems. [Display omitted] • A quorum quenching bacterium was isolated with acyl-homoserine lactone mixtures. • HEMM-2 degraded various acyl-homoserine lactones by extracellular substances. • Quorum quenching of P. aeruginosa occurred at transcription levels by HEMM-2. • HEMM-2 effectively inhibited bacterial and activated sludge-biofilm formation. • Direct injection of HEMM-2 to a lab-scale membrane bioreactor reduced biofouling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]