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Nonalcohol-associated fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excessive hepatic accumulation of fat that can progress to steatohepatitis, and currently, therapeutic options are limited. Using a high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model of NAFLD, we determined the effects of the synthetic retinoid, AC261066, a selective retinoic acid receptor β2 (RARβ2) agonist, on the global liver transcriptomes and metabolomes of mice with dietary-induced obesity (DIO) using genome-wide RNA-seq and untargeted metabolomics. We found that AC261066 limits mRNA increases in several presumptive NAFLD driver genes, including Pklr, Fasn, Thrsp, and Chchd6. Importantly, AC261066 limits the increases in the transcript and protein levels of KHK, a key enzyme for fructose metabolism, and causes multiple changes in liver metabolites involved in fructose metabolism. In addition, in cultured mu-rine hepatocytes, where exposure to fructose and palmitate results in a profound increase in lipid accumulation, AC261066 limits this lipid accumulation. Importantly, we demonstrate that in a human hepatocyte cell line, RARβ is required for the inhibitory effects of AC261066 on palmitate-induced lipid accumulation. Finally, our data indicate that AC261066 inhibits molecular events underpinning fibrosis and exhibits anti-inflammatory effects. In conclusion, changes in the transcriptome and metabolome indicate that AC261066 affects molecular changes underlying multiple aspects of NAFLD, including steatosis and fibrosis. Therefore, we suggest that AC261066 may have potential as an effective therapy for NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hybrid dynamic mesh method combining finite macro-element with transfinite interpolation (TFI) is adopted in this paper which ensures mesh quality for large deformations and high efficiency. Besides, TFI is modified to preserve the grid orthogonality near the boundary using rotation correction and weighted approach in order to solve its orthogonal problem. The numerical simulation of oscillating airfoil is performed by solving Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with hybrid dynamic mesh method. The influences of oscillation parameters and Mach number on the hysteresis effect are investigated and the separation vortex pattern and evolution procedure are presented. Moreover, numerical results show the occurrence of lock-in zone. The effect of oscillation amplitude and frequency on it and the characteristics of vortex shedding are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of α-HgI2 crystals from physical vapor transport in a closed ampoule immerged in a simple and economical oil-bath furnace with an external heating coil imposed is discussed. The temperatures of the source side, Tsou, of the maximum value, Tmax, and of the crystal growth side, Tcry, together with dT/dx are changed for different growth conditions. The physical properties of the as-grown α-HgI2 crystals are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and I–V measurements with respect to different growth conditions. It is found that the α-HgI2 crystals grown from Tsou=125 °C, Tmax=135 °C, Tcry=114 °C, dT/dx=2.6 °C/mm, and with 5 Torr inert gas inside the growth ampoule exhibit the best qualities, such as, observable facets, transparent red color, and a low density of defects and grain boundaries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was successfully grafted onto sago starch using ceric ammonium nitrate as initiator in aqueous medium. The percentage of grafting increased with increasing concentration of GMA monomer in the range studied. A core-shell configuration had been suggested to account for the hydrophobic behavior of the starch-g-GMA. Fourier transform infrared spectral analysis provided evidence of the grafting of GMA onto the starch. The acrylic double bond participated in the grafting onto the polysaccharide backbone with the glycidyl groups remaining unaffected.The graft copolymer of starch and glycidyl methacrylate (starch-g-GMA) was incorporated into UV curable formulations using a cationic photoinitiator. In general, the addition of starch-g-GMA increased the flexibility of the cured film. The increasing of starch-g-GMA concentration in the coatings formulation increased the hardness of cured films. Gel content of the cured epoxy resin remained unimpaired by the addition of starch-g-GMA. Increasing the photoinitiator concentration in the coating formulations increased the hardness and as expected decreased the flexibility of the cured film. The gel content increased with increasing photoinitiator concentration. Further experiments are in progress to study the biodegradability of coatings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents information on a study which examined the effect of zinc on glucose transport and insulin signaling mediated by 3T3-L1-preadipocytes and -adipocytes. Materials used; Methodology; Why zinc has a greater effect on glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes than in the preadipocyte fibroblast form.

Owing to the low melting temperature and excellent mechanical properties, In is considered a potential low-temperature solder. However, the interfacial reaction between In and Cu substrates is still unclear, specifically regarding the stability of CuIn 2. Although CuIn 2 was often observed at the Cu–In thin film after long-term aging below 100 °C, it is considered as a metastable phase and has not been added into the Cu–In phase diagram yet. In this study, the stability of CuIn 2 and the peritectoid reaction Cu 11 In 9 + In → CuIn 2 were established using the Cu/In diffusion couple, Cu–In alloy phase equilibria, and decomposition investigation of CuIn 2. The peritectoid temperature was determined to be in the range of 110–105 °C. Finally, thermodynamic assessment was conducted based on the experimental data and the revised Cu–In phase diagram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innate immunity by natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages, and neutrophils cause severe rejections in xenotransplantation. Therefore, the development of strategies for suppressing macrophages has considerable potential in practical applications of xenotransplantation. Recently, we found that human CD31 on swine endothelial cells (SECs) suppresses neutrophil-mediated xenogeneic rejection through homophilic binding. Since a significant amount of CD31 is expressed not only on neutrophils but also on macrophages, we studied the function of human CD31 in macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity. SECs and hCD31-transfected SECs (SEC/hCD31) were co-cultured with macrophages and cytotoxicity by macrophages was evaluated with water-soluble tetrazolium salt, or WST-8, assay. To confirm whether or not inhibitory signals are induced by hCD31 homophilic binding, the phosphorylation of the enzyme SHP-1 was investigated with Western blotting. No suppression of cytotoxicity was induced in macrophages that had been co-cultured with SEC/CD31. However, phosphorylation of SHP-1 was induced in macrophages that had been co-cultured with SEC/hCD31. Human CD31 on SEC may induce not only inhibitory signals but also activation signals via the binding to other receptors for hCD31. • No suppression in xenogeneic macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity was induced by human CD31. • The phosphorylation of Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1 (shp-1) was induced in macrophages that had been co-cultured with swine endothelial cells and hCD31. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: By examining the nucleation and growth phenomena for HgI2 crystals in physical vapor transport ampoules with a variation of temperatures of the source powder side T sou and of the crystal growth side T cry both are near its solid–solid phase transition temperature , our experimental results reveal that under : (1) the solid (α or β) phase structure of the as-grown HgI2 crystal is surprisingly governed by T sou; (2) the temperature range of existence for the metastable β-HgI2 phase in crystal growth side is about 17°C below T c; and (3) by turning a rotating motor to act as mechanical perturbations, this temperature range of existence for β-phase now reduces to about 11°C below T c. To explain these phenomena, especially for the metastable β-phase formed at , a model based on an existence of the vaporized HgI2 clusters in vapor transport region with specific nanostructure dominated by T sou is proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective Surfactant protein D (SP-D), which is secreted mainly in the lung, is an oligometric C type lectin that promotes phagocytosis by binding to carbohydrates on microbial surfaces. SP-D can also bind SIRPα, leading to a decrease in cytokine production by monocytes/macrophages. In the present study, we examined the possibility that SP-D suppresses macrophage-mediated xenogeneic cytotoxicity, by creating a membrane-type SP-D. Methods The cDNA for the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) of human SP-D was switched to that of a membrane-type protein, collectin placenta 1 (CL-P1), with a Flag-tag. The cDNA of CD47 was prepared as a control. The suppressive function of the membrane-type protein of the hybrid molecule, CL-SP-D, to monocytes/macrophages was then studied and the results compared with that for CD47. Results The expression of Flag-tagged CL-SP-D on the transfected SECs and the SIRPα on monocyte-like cells, THP-1 cells, was confirmed by FACS using anti-Flag Ab and anti-CD172a, respectively. The molecular size of the hybrid protein was next assessed by western blot. While significant cytotoxicity against SEC was induced in differentiated THP-1 cells, CL-SP-D significantly reduced THP-1-mediated cytotoxicity. In addition, phosphorylated SHP-1 was clearly detected in SEC/CL-SP-D in western blots. Moreover, IL-10 production was upregulated and IL-1β production was suppressed in the case of THP-1 and SEC/CL-SP-D, compared with naïve SEC. Next, the cytotoxicity caused by the in vitro generated macrophage was assessed under the same conditions as were used for THP-1. CL-SP-D also showed the significant down-regulation on the macrophage. In addition, changes in IL-10 production by the macrophage confirmed the results. Conclusions These findings indicate that the membrane-type SP-D serve as an effective therapeutic strategy for inhibiting macrophage-mediated xenograft rejection in xenotransplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex and multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that is mainly caused by β-amyloid accumulation. A large number of studies have shown that elevated cholesterol levels may perform a function in AD pathology, and several cholesterol-related gene polymorphisms are associated with this disease. Although numerous studies have shown the important function of cholesterol in AD pathogenesis and development, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. To further elucidate cholesterol metabolism disorder and AD, we first, review metabolism and regulation of the cholesterol in the brain. Second, we summarize the literature stating that hypercholesterolemia is one of the risk factors of AD. Third, we discuss the main mechanisms of abnormal cholesterol metabolism that increase the risk of AD. Finally, the relationships between AD and apolipoprotein E, PCSK9, and LRP1 are discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]