Search

Titanium dioxide was coated by hydrothermal reaction on the surface of CaAl2O4:Eu2+,Nd3+long-lasting phosphor beads on which a silver noble metal was impregnated to enhance photocatalytic reactivity. The phosphor composite as a TiO2supporter was fabricated in the form of beads for convenient applications. Silver was impregnated on the CaAl2O4:Eu2+,Nd3+long-lasting phosphor using a silver nitrate aqueous solution prior to TiO2coating process. The morphological and compositional characteristics of the TiO2coated phosphor composite materials were measured using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). The photocatalytic properties of the TiO2coated phosphor composite materials were analyzed through decompositions of both methylene blue dye solution and toluene gas under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation. Through measuring the variation of photocatalytic reaction with different Ag concentrations, 0.035 M Ag-impregnated TiO2/CaAl2O4:Eu2+,Nd3+phosphor composite showed the best photocatalysis efficiency under UV and visible light illumination.

Objectives: To assess whether a deep learning-based system (DLS) with black-blood imaging for brain metastasis (BM) improves the diagnostic workflow in a multi-center setting. Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, a DLS was developed in 101 patients and validated on 264 consecutive patients (with lung cancer) having newly developed BM from two tertiary university hospitals, which performed black-blood imaging between January 2020 and April 2021. Four neuroradiologists independently evaluated BM either with segmented masks and BM counts provided (with DLS) or not provided (without DLS) on a clinical trial imaging management system (CTIMS). To assess reading reproducibility, BM count agreement between the readers and the reference standard were calculated using limits of agreement (LoA). Readers’ workload was assessed with reading time, which was automatically measured on CTIMS, and were compared between with and without DLS using linear mixed models considering the imaging center. Results: In the validation cohort, the detection sensitivity and positive predictive value of the DLS were 90.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 88.1–92.2) and 88.2% (95% CI: 85.7–90.4), respectively. The difference between the readers and the reference counts was larger without DLS (LoA: −0.281, 95% CI: −2.888, 2.325) than with DLS (LoA: −0.163, 95% CI: −2.692, 2.367). The reading time was reduced from mean 66.9 s (interquartile range: 43.2–90.6) to 57.3 s (interquartile range: 33.6–81.0) (P<.001) in the with DLS group, regardless of the imaging center. Conclusion: Deep learning-based BM detection and counting with black-blood imaging improved reproducibility and reduced reading time, on multi-center validation.

ABSTRACTLipotoxicity, induced by saturated fatty acid (SFA)-mediated cell death, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The KEAP1 (kelch like ECH associated protein 1)-NFE2L2/NRF2 (nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2) pathway is a pivotal defense mechanism against lipotoxicity. We previously reported that SQSTM1/p62 has a cytoprotective role against lipotoxicity through activation of the noncanonical KEAP1- NFE2L2 pathway in hepatocytes. However, the underlying mechanisms and physiological relevance of this pathway have not been clearly defined. Here, we demonstrate that NFE2L2-mediated induction of SQSTM1 activates the noncanonical KEAP1-NFE2L2 pathway under lipotoxic conditions. Furthermore, we identified that SQSTM1 induces ULK1 (unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1) phosphorylation by facilitating the interaction between AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) and ULK1, leading to macroautophagy/autophagy induction, followed by KEAP1 degradation and NFE2L2 activation. Accordingly, the activity of this SQSTM1-mediated noncanonical KEAP1-NFE2L2 pathway conferred hepatoprotection against lipotoxicity in the livers of conventional sqstm1- and liver-specific sqstm1-knockout mice. Moreover, this pathway activity was evident in the livers of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver. This axis could thus represent a novel target for NAFLD treatment.Abbreviations:ACACA: acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha; ACTB: actin beta; BafA1: bafilomycin A1; CM-H2DCFDA:5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2ʹ,7ʹ-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate; CQ: chloroquine; CUL3: cullin 3; DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide; FASN: fatty acid synthase; GSTA1: glutathione S-transferase A1; HA: hemagglutinin; Hepa1c1c7: mouse hepatoma cells; HMOX1/HO-1: heme oxygenase 1; KEAP1: kelch like ECH associated protein 1; MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; MEF: mouse embryonic fibroblast; MTORC1: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase complex 1; MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; NAC: N-acetyl-L-cysteine; NAFLD: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; NASH: nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; NFE2L2/NRF2: nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2; NQO1: NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1; PA: palmitic acid; PARP: poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1; PRKAA1/2: protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunits alpha1/2; RBX1: ring-box 1; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SESN2: sestrin 2; SFA: saturated fatty acid; siRNA: small interfering RNA; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; SREBF1: sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1; TBK1: TANK binding kinase 1; TUNEL: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling; ULK1: unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase.

ABSTRACTSaturated fatty acid (SFA)-induced lipotoxicity is caused by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is associated with damaged mitochondria. Moreover, lipotoxicity is crucial for the progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Autophagy is required for the clearance of protein aggregates or damaged mitochondria to maintain cellular metabolic homeostasis. The NFE2L2/NRF2 (nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2)-KEAP1 (kelch like ECH associated protein 1) pathway is essential for the elimination of ROS. ULK1 (unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1; yeast Atg1) is involved in the initiation of autophagy; however, its role in lipotoxicity-induced cell death in hepatocytes and mouse liver has not been elucidated. We now show that ULK1 potentiates the interaction between KEAP1 and the autophagy adaptor protein SQSTM1/p62, thereby mediating NFE2L2 activation in a manner requiring SQSTM1-dependent autophagic KEAP1 degradation. Furthermore, ULK1 is required for the autophagic removal of damaged mitochondria and to enhance binding between SQSTM1 and PINK1 (PTEN induced kinase 1). This study demonstrates the molecular mechanisms underlying the cytoprotective role of ULK1 against lipotoxicity. Thus, ULK1 could represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of NASH.Abbreviations: ACTB: actin beta; CM-H2DCFDA:5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2ʹ,7ʹ-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate; CQ: chloroquine; CUL3: cullin 3; DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide; GSTA1: glutathione S-transferase A1; HA: hemagglutinin; Hepa1c1c7: mouse hepatoma cells; HMOX1/HO-1: heme oxygenase 1; KEAP1: kelch like ECH associated protein 1; LPS: lipopolysaccharides; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; MAPK8/JNK: mitogen-activated protein kinase 8; MEF: mouse embryonic fibroblast; MFN1: mitofusin 1; MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; NASH: nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; NFE2L2/NRF2: nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2; NQO1: NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1; PA: palmitic acid; PARP: poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1; PINK1: PTEN induced kinase 1; PRKAA1/2: protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunits alpha1/2; PRKN/PARK2: parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase; PRKC/PKC: protein kinase C; RBX1: ring-box 1; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SFA: saturated fatty acid; siRNA: small interfering RNA; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; TOMM20: translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20; TUBA: tubulin alpha; TUNEL: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling; ULK1: unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1

AbstractIn the present study was surveyed the flora, vegetation structure, growing environment, and soil characteristics in the wild habitats of Vaccinium oldhamiiand offered basic information for habitat conservation and restoration.Most of the wild habitats of V. oldhamiiwere located at altitudes between 5 and 1095 m with inclinations of 2–33°, Dense populations were found around the climbing routes of the north-facing mountain slopes and dry rocky areas along mountain ridges. Vascular plants identified in the surveyed V. oldhamiihabitats (28 quadrats in 12 habitat areas) included 129 taxa (50 families, 94 genera, 115 species, 9 varieties, 2 subspecies and 3 forms), of which woody plants accounted for 31.1%. The flora identified in the habitat areas were classified into four community types: Community I (Pinus densiflora– Quercus mongolica), Community II (Pinus thunbergii), Community III (Pinus rigida), and Community IV (Castanea crenata). The differences among communities within V. oldhamiihabitats were more dependent on the occurrence of species with high importance percentages than on the population sizes of the species observed. The soil characteristics of V. oldhamiihabitats were as follows: mostly silty loams; well-drained; shallow available-soil depth; high acidity (pH 3.93–5.07, mean = 4.63, lower than mean Korean forest soil pH of 5.5); and mean available phosphate (=9.485 mg/kg, lower than the mean Korean forest soil available phosphate of 26 mg/kg). Mean species diversity, evenness and dominance were calculated as 1.216, 0.954 and 0.046, respectively.

In the case of a satellite camera designed to execute an Earth observation mission, even after a pre-launch precision alignment process has been carried out, misalignment will occur due to external factors during the launch and in the operating environment. In particular, for high-resolution satellite cameras, which require submicron accuracy for alignment between optical components, misalignment is a major cause of image quality degradation. To compensate for this, most high-resolution satellite cameras undergo a precise realignment process called refocusing before and during the operation process. However, conventional Earth observation satellites only execute refocusing upon de-space. Thus, in this paper, an online tilt estimation and compensation algorithm that can be utilized after de-space correction is executed. Although the sensitivity of the optical performance degradation due to the misalignment is highest in de-space, the MTF can be additionally increased by correcting tilt after refocusing. The algorithm proposed in this research can be used to estimate the amount of tilt that occurs by taking star images, and it can also be used to carry out automatic tilt corrections by employing a compensation mechanism that gives angular motion to the secondary mirror. Crucially, this algorithm is developed using an online processing system so that it can operate without communication with the ground.