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The interaction between histones and DNA is important for eukaryotic gene expression. A loose interaction caused, for example, by the neutralization of a positive charge on the histone surface by acetylation, induces a less compact chromatin structure, resulting in feasible accessibility of RNA polymerase and increased gene expression. In contrast, the formation of a tight chromatin structure due to the deacetylation of histone lysine residues on the surface by histone deacetylases enforces the interaction between the histones and DNA, which minimizes the chance of RNA polymerases contacting DNA, resulting in decreased gene expression. Therefore, the balance of the acetylation of histones mediated by histone acetylases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) is an issue of transcription that has long been studied in relation to posttranslational modification. In this review, current knowledge of HDACs is briefly described with an emphasis on recent progress in research on HDACs, especially on class IIa HDACs., Cancer: Loosening DNA–Protein interactions Targeting specific structural and functional features of enzymes involved in regulating the interactions between DNA and the histone proteins associated with it could lead to the development of more effective cancer therapeutics. Histone deacetylases (HDACs), enzymes which remove acetyl groups from histones, make the histones wrap more tightly around the DNA so that it becomes inaccessible to the initial steps in gene expression. Drugs that target these enzymes have shown limited efficacy due to lack of specificity and off-target toxicity. Jeong-Sun Kim at Chonnam National University, Gwangju, and Suk-Youl Park at Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea, review the latest knowledge about class II HDACs. They suggest that their unique structural features and low enzymatic activity are important features to consider when designing new, more selective HDAC inhibitors.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing, with its capability for producing arbitrary shapes, has been extensively studied for tissue engineering applications. However, clinical applications, especially for soft tissues, have been limited due to mechanical mismatch between the 3D-printed artificial tissues and the native tissues. Here, we suggest an integrative method of 3D printing, dip coating, and salt leaching for the fabrication of soft 3D freeform porous tubes, which are expected to be applied to the engineering of vascular tissues. Owing to their porous morphology and controlled wall thickness, the processed tubular constructs had flexible properties comparable to those of native soft tissues with a modulus range of several MPa. When thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was used as the dip-coating material, the porous tube exhibited a low tensile modulus from 1.47 to 2.47 MPa and a high elongation limit of over 400%. These flexible properties, which were clearly differentiated from the stiffness of 3D-printed samples with moduli of tens or hundreds of MPa, were confirmed to mimic the mechanical properties of native tissues. Furthermore, by varying the material composition in the dip-coating process, the flexibility of the tube could be modulated when stiffer polycaprolactone (PCL) layers were combined. In addition, such a combination using biocompatible materials could be expected to provide safer interaction at surgical interfaces. Synergistically with the mechanical flexibility, since the proposed method was based on a 3D-printed template, the resulting construct would have extensive applicability in patient-specific tissue engineering.

Peptidoglycan comprises repeating units of N-acetylmuramic acid, N-acetylglucosamine and short cross-linking peptides. After the conversion of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UNAG) to UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid (UNAM) by the MurA and MurB enzymes, an amino acid is added to UNAM by UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid L-alanine ligase (MurC). As peptidoglycan is an essential component of the bacterial cell wall, the enzymes involved in its biosynthesis represent promising targets for the development of novel antibacterial drugs. Here, the crystal structure of Mycobacterium bovis MurC (MbMurC) is reported, which exhibits a three-domain architecture for the binding of UNAM, ATP and an amino acid as substrates, with a nickel ion at the domain interface. The ATP-binding loop adopts a conformation that is not seen in other MurCs. In the UNAG-bound structure of MbMurC, the substrate mimic interacts with the UDP-binding domain of MbMurC, which does not invoke rearrangement of the three domains. Interestingly, the glycine-rich loop of the UDP-binding domain of MbMurC interacts through hydrogen bonds with the glucose moiety of the ligand, but not with the pyrophosphate moiety. These findings suggest that UNAG analogs might serve as potential candidates for neutralizing the catalytic activity of bacterial MurC.

The success of anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteroid injections in controlling chronic lateral epicondylitis symptoms suggests an underlying inflammatory pathology that is also causative of the pain experienced by patients; however, evidence regarding inflammatory mediators and cells remains inconclusive.We conducted a case-control study that included a total of 24 participants (10 patients and 14 controls). Extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon samples were obtained from patients, and flexor carpi radialis tendon samples were obtained from control subjects. We then performed immunohistochemical assessment to determine the expression levels of neuropeptides (substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide), glutamate receptors (N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor type 1 and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5), inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1α and tumor necrosis factor α), and inflammatory cells (M1 macrophages [CD68], M2 macrophages [CD163 and CD206], T-lymphocytes [CD3], and B-lymphocytes [CD20]).Patients' sampled extensor carpi radialis brevis tendons showed significantly elevated expression levels of neuropeptides, glutamate receptors, and inflammatory cytokines, along with a number of macrophages, compared with controls (P.001 or P.0001); however, there were no differences in the number of T- and B-lymphocytes between the 2 groups.The findings of this study showed that inflammation is involved in the pathology of chronic lateral epicondylitis.

2-Keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate (KDPG) aldolase, which catalyzes aldol cleavage and condensation reactions, has two distinct substrate-binding sites. The substrate-binding mode at the catalytic site and Schiff-base formation have been well studied. However, structural information on the phosphate-binding loop (P-loop) is limited. Zymomonas mobilis KDPG aldolase is one of the aldolases with a wide substrate spectrum. Its structure in complex with the substrate-mimicking 3-phosphoglycerate (3PG) shows that the phosphate moiety of 3PG interacts with the P-loop and a nearby conserved serine residue. 3PG-binding to the P-loop replaces water molecules aligned from the P-loop to the catalytic site, as observed in the apo-structure. The extra electron density near the P-loop and comparison with other aldolases suggest the diversity and flexibility of the serine-containing loop among KDPG aldolases. These structural data may help to understand the substrate-binding mode and the broad substrate specificity of the Zymomonas KDPG aldolase.

The opportunistic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been recognized as an important pathogen of clinical relevance and is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. The presence of a glycolytic enzyme in Pseudomonas, which is known to be inhibited by trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) in other organisms, suggests that these bacteria may be vulnerable to the detrimental effects of intracellular T6P accumulation. In the present study, we explored the structural and functional properties of trehalose 6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) in P. aeruginosa in support of future target-based drug discovery. A survey of genomes revealed the existence of 2 TPP genes with either chromosomal or extrachromosomal location. Both TPPs were produced as recombinant proteins, and characterization of their enzymatic properties confirmed specific, magnesium-dependent catalytic hydrolysis of T6P. The 3-dimensional crystal structure of the chromosomal TPP revealed a protein dimer arising through β-sheet expansion of the individual monomers, which possess the overall fold of halo-acid dehydrogenases.-Cross, M., Biberacher, S., Park, S.-Y., Rajan, S., Korhonen, P., Gasser, R. B., Kim, J.-S., Coster, M. J., Hofmann, A. Trehalose 6-phosphate phosphatases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Fused deposition modeling (FDM), one of the archetypal 3D printing processes, typically requires support structures matched to printed model parts that principally have undercut or overhung features. Thus, the support removal is an essential postprocessing step after the FDM process. Here, we present an efficient and rapid method to remove the support part of an FDM-manufactured product using the phenomenon of oxidative degradation of hydrogen peroxide. This mechanism was significantly effective on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which has been widely used as a support material in the FDM process. Compared to water, hydrogen peroxide provided a two times faster dissolution rate of the PVA material. This could be increased another two times by applying ultrasonication to the solvent. In addition to the rapidness, we confirmed that amount of the support residues removed was enhanced, which was essentially caused by the surface roughness of the FDM-fabricated part. Furthermore, we demonstrated that there was no deterioration with respect to the mechanical properties or shape geometries of the obtained 3D printed parts. Taken together, these results are expected to help enhance the productivity of FDM by reducing the postprocessing time and to allow the removal of complicated and fine support structures, thereby improving the design capability of the FDM technique.

A novel In–Sn–Bi solder with a low electrical resistivity of 14.3 × 10–6 Ω cm and a melting temperature of 99.3 °C was produced for use in adhesive joining on a flexible poly(ethylene terephthalate...

Polyanilines (pANIs), loaded with phosphotungstic acid (PTA), are pyrolyzed to get WO3 or W2 N (≈6 and ≈7 nm, respectively), which is well-dispersed on pANI-derived porous carbons (pDCs). Depending on the pyrolysis temperature, WO3 /pDC, W2 N/pDC, or W2 N-W/pDCs could be obtained selectively. pANI acts as both the precursor of pDC and the nitrogen source for the nitridation of WO3 into W2 N during the pyrolysis. Importantly, W2 N could be obtained from the pyrolysis without ammonia feeding. The obtained W2 N/pDC is applied as a heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of liquid fuel for the first time, and the results are compared with WO3 /pDC and WO3 /ZrO2 . The W2 N/pDC is very efficient in ODS with remarkable performance compared with WO3 /pDC or WO3 /ZrO2 , which is applied as a representative ODS catalyst. For example, W2 N/pDC shows around 3.4 and 2.7 times of kinetic constant and turnover frequency (based on 5 min of reaction), respectively, compared to that of WO3 /ZrO2 . Moreover, the catalysts could be regenerated in a facile way. Therefore, W2 N/pDC could be produced facilely from pyrolysis (without ammonia feeding) of PTA/pANI, and W2 N, well-dispersed on pDC, can be suggested as a very efficient oxidation catalyst for the desulfurization of liquid fuel.

An artificial blood vessel with a tubular structure was additively manufactured via fused deposition modeling (FDM) starting from a single strand of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) filament coated with a specific thickness of biocompatible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), followed by removal of the inner core via hydrogen peroxide leaching under sonication. In particular, we examined the relationship between the extruded deposition diameter and the filament migration speed/nozzle control speed (referred to as the filament/nozzle transition ratio), which is almost independent of the extruded deposition flow rate due to the weak die-swelling and memory effects of the extruded PVA arising from its intrinsically low viscoelasticity. The chemical stability of the PDMS during sonication in the hydrogen peroxide solution was then determined by spectroscopic techniques. The PDMS displayed no mechanical degradation in the hydrogen peroxide solution, resulting in similar fracture elongation and yield strength to those of the pristine specimen without the leaching treatment. As a further advantage, the inside surface of the PDMS was smooth regardless of the hydrogen peroxide leaching under sonication. The potential application of the as-developed scaffold in soft tissue engineering (particularly that involving vascular tissue regeneration) was demonstrated by the successful transplantation of the artificial blood vessel in a right-hand surgical replica used in a clinical simulation.

We report the electrical and optical characteristics of indium-tin-oxide (ITO)/GaAs Schottky barrier solar cells (SBSCs) with embedded InAs quantum dots (QDs). Twenty layers of self-assembled InAs QDs are inserted into the SBSCs so as to increase the potential barrier height at the ITO/GaAs junctions and to create additional photo-generated electrons in the quantum confined states of the QDs. After analyzing the current density–voltage characteristics, the photoluminescence, and the external quantum efficiency of the fabricated SBSCs, it was found that the incorporation of InAs QDs into the ITO/GaAs SBSCs results in an increase of both of the open-circuit voltage and the short-circuit current density compared to SBSCs without InAs QDs.

Little consensus exists regarding which decellularization technique best removes the cellular components while maintaining structural integrity. We aimed to identify the most efficient and safest decellularization method by combining previously established chemical (detergent based) and biological (nuclease based) methods in a systematic manner. Sixty sciatic nerves were harvested from Sprague-Dawley rats and prepared in 120 nerve fragments with 1-cm length. Nerve fragments were randomly divided into six groups and decellularized with six different methods: A, nonionic detergent + amphoteric detergent; B, nonionic detergent + anionic detergent; C, anionic detergent + amphoteric detergent; D, nonionic detergent + nuclease; E, amphoteric detergent + nuclease; and F, anionic detergent + nuclease. The remaining cellular components were evaluated with H&E, DAPI, and S-100 immunohistochemical staining, and DNA content was measured in each sample. The remaining extracellular matrix (ECM) integrity was evaluated with H&E, Masson's trichrome, periodic acid-Schiff, Luxol fast blue, and laminin immunohistochemical staining, and collagen content was measured in each sample. The amphoteric detergent + nuclease method was the best protocol for both cell removal and ECM preservation. In the in vivo study, the nerve allograft that was decellularized with amphoteric detergent + nuclease showed an inferior recovery rate based on the tibialis anterior muscle weight to autograft, but considerable recovery was observed. In conclusion, among the possible systematic combinations of detergent- and nuclease-based methods, the combination of amphoteric detergent and nuclease is currently the most suitable for nerve decellularization in terms of adequate cell removal and sufficient preservation of the ECM.

This study investigated the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity of unripe fruit peel solvent fractions of the native jeju citrus 'Hongkyool' (Citrus tachibana Tanaka) and 'Pyunkyool' (C. tangerina Hort. ex Tanaka). The total polyphenol content and total flavonoid content were highest in the butanol fraction of both 'Hongkyool' (534.4 mg/g, 431.8 mg/g) and 'Pyunkyool' (342.9 mg/g, 415.7 mg/g). In both cultivars, the butanol fraction showed the strong antio xidant activity by DPPH radical scav- enging and ABTS radical scavenging. The DPPH radical scavenging of the butanol fraction from 'Hongkyool' and 'Pyunkyool' was 89% and 64% at a concentration of 1 mg/ml, respectively. The ABTS radical scavenging of the butanol fraction from 'Hongkyool' and 'Pyunkyool' was 94% and 85% at a concentration of 1 mg/ml, respectively. We investigated the effect of the anti-inflammatory activ- ity of the ethyl acetate fraction from 'Hongkyool' and 'Pyunkyool' on LPS-induced NO production, IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2 protein expression in Raw 264.7 cells. At concentrations of 50 and 100 μg/ml of the 'Hongkyool' ethyl acetate fraction, the anti-inflammator y effect was excellent. These results sug- gest that ethyl acetate and butanol fractions from 'Hongkyool' and 'Pyunkyool' could be useful func- tional materials, with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

We report a novel high-performance electroactive polymer actuator based on poly (vinylidene fluoride) (i.e., PVDF) and graphene. The PVDF-graphene composite membranes were fabricated through electrospinning method. The electrospun composite membrane has a three-dimensional network structure, high porosity, and large ionic liquid solution uptake which are a prerequisite for high performance dry-type electroactive soft actuators. The conductive poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) layers were deposited on the surfaces of the composite membrane through dipping-drying method. The electroactive PVDF-graphene actuators under both harmonic and step electrical inputs show larger bending deformation and faster response time than the pure PVDF actuator. X-ray diffusion (XRD) and ionic conductivity testing results for the PVDF-graphene membrane were compared with those of pristine PVDF. Most important, the PVDF-graphene actuator shows much larger bending deformation under low input voltage, and this could be due to the synergistic effects of the higher ionic conductivity of PVDF-graphene membrane and the electrochemical doping processes of the PEDOT:PSS electrode layers.

Recently, several health benefits of rice wine, makgeolli, were known due to the interest on the traditional Korean liquor and the researches on the rice wine are increasing. Organic acids produced during the process of rice wine fermentation play important roles in the taste and flavor. In this study, we have examined the optimal conditions for lactic acid production in rice koji as a carbon source. Skim milk was also used as a supplementary ingredient for the optimization of lactic acid fermentation. Bacterial growth of Lactobacillus sakei was monitored under this condition. The pH, acidity of the culture and the ethanol tolerance of this bacterium were also tested. Through these experiments, we were able to optimize the growth condition of lactic acid bacteria by the addition of skim milk. This was also able to affect the change of pH, acidity, sugar concentration and alcohol tolerance, which might contribute to the improvement of the quality of rice wine. The optimal condition for the growth was 2 days with 10% (w/v) of skim milk concentration. With these results, it was confirmed that rice koji was an effective carbon source for the growth of lactic acid bacteria.

*Citrus Research Station, NIHHS, RDA, Jeju 699-943, Korea.**Planning and Coordination Division, NIHHS, RDA, Suwon 440-706, Korea.ABSTRACT : The major objective of this study was to investigate the usability as cultivar for processing of new Citrushybrid ‘Hamilgam’. We investigated various antioxidant activities, such as DPPH radical, ABTS radical, Hydroxyl radicaland Superoxide anion radical effect, along with total polyphenol content and total flavonoid content of Citrus hybrid ‘Hamil-gam’, C. unshiu, C. natsudaidai. The total polyphenol content and total flavonoid content were the highest in the Hamilgam.The major flavonoids of Hamilgam and Natsudaidai were naringin and neohesperidin, and those of Unshu were narirutinand hesperidin, as determined by HPLC. Especially, the neohesperidin content of Hamilgam showed much higher (100times over) than that of Unshu. However, the aglycone form was not found. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activitieswere the highest in Hamilgam peels. Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was high in the order of Unshu, Hamilgam andNatsudaidai. Superoxide anion radical scavenging of 3 cultivars peels displayed low activities compared to DPPH and ABTSradical scavenging. Based on these results, Hamilgam peel extracts possess antioxidant activities and may thus serve aspotential sources of functional food, cosmetic products, etc.Key Words : Citrus, Hamilgam, Polyphenol, Antioxidant Activities, Functional Food

We present a novel approach for assembling 3D tissue by layer-by-layer stacking of cell sheets formed on aligned nanofiber mesh. A rigid frame was used to repeatedly collect aligned electrospun PCL (polycaprolactone) nanofiber to form a mesh structure with average distance between fibers 6.4 µm. When human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), human foreskin dermal fibroblasts, and skeletal muscle cells (C2C12) were cultured on the nanofiber mesh, they formed confluent monolayers and could be handled as continuous cell sheets with areas 3 × 3 cm2 or larger. Thicker 3D tissues have been formed by stacking multiple cell sheets collected on frames that can be nested (i.e. Matryoshka dolls) without any special tools. When cultured on the nanofiber mesh, skeletal muscle, C2C12 cells oriented along the direction of the nanofibers and differentiated into uniaxially aligned multinucleated myotube. Myotube cell sheets were stacked (upto 3 layers) in alternating or aligned directions to form thicker tissue with ~50 µm thickness. Sandwiching HUVEC cell sheets with two dermal fibroblast cell sheets resulted in vascularized 3D tissue. HUVECs formed extensive networks and expressed CD31, a marker of endothelial cells. Cell sheets formed on nanofiber mesh have a number of advantages, including manipulation and stacking of multiple cell sheets for constructing 3D tissue and may find applications in a variety of tissue engineering applications.

Binding of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) polo-box domains (PBDs) to phosphothreonine (pThr)/phosphoserine (pSer)-containing sequences is critical for the proper function of Plk1. Although high-affinity synthetic pThr-containing peptides provide starting points for developing PBD-directed inhibitors, to date the efficacy of such peptides in whole cell assays has been poor. This potentially reflects limited cell membrane permeability arising, in part, from the di-anionic nature of the phosphoryl group or its mimetics. In our current article we report the unanticipated on-resin N(τ)-alkylation of histidine residues already bearing a N(π)- alkyl group. This resulted in cationic imidazolium-containing pThr peptides, several of which exhibit single-digit nanomolar PBD-binding affinities in extracellular assays and improved antimitotic efficacies in intact cells. We enhanced the cellular efficacies of these peptides further by applying bio-reversible pivaloyloxymethyl (POM) phosphoryl protection. New structural insights presented in our current study, including the potential utility of intramolecular charge masking, may be useful for the further development of PBD-binding peptides and peptide mimetics.

Citrus, yield of which is the highest among fruits produced in Korea, is extensively consumed for processed food items. The amount of by-products of citrus produced from the processing within a short period after the harvest is tremendous. These by-products are mostly dumped into land or neglected because of cost involved in processing them. The aim of the present study was to explore the usefulness of the by-products as a new material by examining the anti-inflammatory activity of fermented extracts of citrus peels. The peels of `unshu` (Citrus unshiu) was fermented with Aspergillus niger and their extracts before or after fermentation were analyzed using HPLC. The analysis showed that neohesperidin level considerably increased and the two new compounds were synthesized after fermentation. The anti-inflammatory activity of the fermented extracts was examined on RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Fermented unshu extracts significantly enhanced the decrease of nitric oxide (NO) production, iNOS and COX-2 expression, comparing with those of unfermented extracts. Also TNF- and IL-6 production, both of which are pro-inflammatory cytokine, were more inhibited in fermented extracts. These results showed that the fermentation and promotion of the function of the by-products of citrus peels will help find a new application.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the jujube hot-water extraction and antioxidant. After extraction of hot-water jujube, general composition analysis and functional tests were performed. The results of general composition analysis showed 22.33% of moisture content, 0.71% of crude lipid, 5.21% of crude protein, and 3.87% of ash. From DPPH test results, in concentrations of 1,000 μg/mL of jujube extracts, electron donating ability was shown with 68.24%. The SOD ability in concentrations of 1,000 μg/mL was 13.12%. The nitrite scavenging ability of jujube extracts was 11.79% at 1,000 μg/mL. The yogurt with 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4% of jujube extracts was made, and the general composition analysis and the functional tests were performed. The results of the general composition analysis of jujube yogurt, showed 74.71~76.56% of moisture contents, 1.31~3.38% of crude lipid, 2.13~3.40% of crude protein, and 1.18~1.28% of ash. The DPPH test results showed 46.33% for 1% added jujube extract, 53.78% for 2% added jujube extract, 90.87% for 3% added jujube extract, and 89.58% for 4% added jujube extract. The SOD ability showed 4.93% for 1% added jujube extract, 7.28% for 2% added jujube extract, 11.38% for 3% added jujube extract, and 11.50% for 4% added jujube extract. Key words: jujube, jujube extract, antioxidant activity, curd yogurt, functional food

Independently of the restriction (HsdR) subunit, the specificity (HsdS) and methylation (HsdM) subunits interact with each other, and function as a methyltransferase in type I restriction–modification systems. A single gene that combines the HsdS and HsdM subunits inVibrio vulnificusYJ016 was expressed and purified. A crystal suitable for X-ray diffraction was obtained from 25%(w/v) polyethylene glycol monomethylether 5000, 0.1 MHEPES pH 8.0, 0.2 Mammonium sulfate at 291 K by hanging-drop vapour diffusion. Diffraction data were collected to a resolution of 2.31 Å using synchrotron radiation. The crystal belonged to the primitive monoclinic space groupP21, with unit-cell parametersa= 93.25,b= 133.04,c= 121.49 Å, β = 109.7°. With four molecules in the asymmetric unit, the crystal volume per unit protein weight was 2.61 Å3 Da−1, corresponding to a solvent content of 53%.

This study was designed to analyze the chemical composition of essential oil in 'Shiranuhi' immature fruit and to test their biological activities. 'Shiranuhi' immature essential oils (SIEO) were obtained by steam distillation from fruits collected from Jeju Island and were analyzed using gas chromatograph (GC)-flame ionization detectors (FID) and GC-MS. Fourteen components were identified in the essential oil. Limonene (75.21%) and terpineol (8.68%) were the major components in SIEO. Since acne vulgaris is the combined result of a bacterial infection and the inflammatory response to that infection, we examined whether SIEO possessed antibacterial against skin pathogens. As a result, SIEO showed excel- lent antibacterial activities against drug-susceptible and -resistant Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, which are acne-causing bacteria. In this study, SIEO was examined on DPPH radical scavenging activities, which showed moderate antioxidant activity (SC50, 15.36 µL/mL). In order to determined whether SIEO can be safely applied to human skin, the cytotoxicity effects of SIEO were determined by colorimetric MTT assays in normal human fibroblasts and kerati- nocyte HaCaT cells. They exhibited low cytotoxicity at 0.5 µL/mL in both celllines. Based on these results, we suggest the possibility that essential oil of 'Shiranuhi' maybe considered as an antibacterial and antioxidant agent.

As polyethylene has unique physical characteristics such as low surface energy, low crystallization temperature, lack of polar groups, complicated lamellar structures, susceptibility to thermal degradation, and so on, most conventional coating techniques are not suitable for it. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has many benefits over conventional coating techniques, and it can be a good candidate as a coating technique for polyethylene. In this study, a low-temperature ALD technique for depositing layers of Al2O3 on blown, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) films was investigated. The effect of plasma surface modification on the effectiveness of the ALD technique in Al2O3 layer formation was also studied.

A new green technology was developed using citrus peel waste to produce hydroxymethylfurfual (HMF). FT-IR analysis of the waste showed 4 characteristic vibration modes (C H, C O, C OH, and C O/COO−), contributing to sugars. XRD and FESEM elucidated that the waste and its hydrolysate consist of highly amorphous clusters. HCl increased HMF yield by 1.4-fold. CrF3 increased its yield by 1.7-fold. At 0.2 of the stoichiometric ratio value, HMF yield was highest. The highest HMF yield was achieved in the reaction mixture of 4 g [OMIM]Cl, 1 mL ethyl acetate, 0.1 g CrF3, 5 mL 0.3 M HCl, and 0.5 g biomass.

Phloroglucinol (PG) is a phenolic compound isolated from Ecklonia cava, a brown algae abundant on Jeju island, Korea. Previous reports have suggested that PG exerts antioxidative and cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress. In this study, we confirmed that PG protected against small intestinal damage caused by ionizing radiation, and we investigated its protective mechanism in detail. Regeneration of intestinal crypts in the PG-treated irradiated group was significantly promoted compared with that in irradiated controls. The expression level of proapoptotic molecules such as p53, Bax, and Bak in the small intestine was downregulated and that of antiapoptotic molecules such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-XS/L was augmented in the PG-treated group. On histological observation of the small intestine, PG inhibited the immunoreactivity of p53, Bax, and Bak and increased that of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XS/L. These results demonstrate the protective mechanisms of PG in mice against intestinal damage from ionizing radiation, providing the benefit of raising the apoptosis threshold of jejunal crypt cells.

In multifunctional type I restriction enzymes, active methyltransferases (MTases) are constituted of methylation (HsdM) and specificity (HsdS) subunits. In this study, the crystal structure of a putative HsdM subunit fromVibrio vulnificusYJ016 (vvHsdM) was elucidated at a resolution of 1.80 Å. A cofactor-binding site forS-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM, a methyl-group donor) is formed within the C-terminal domain of an α/β-fold, in which a number of residues are conserved, including the GxGG and (N/D)PP(F/Y) motifs, which are likely to interact with several functional moieties of the SAM methyl-group donor. Comparison with the N6 DNA MTase ofThermus aquaticusand other HsdM structures suggests that two aromatic rings (Phe199 and Phe312) in the motifs that are conserved among the HsdMs may sandwich both sides of the adenine ring of the recognition sequence so that a conserved Asn residue (Asn309) can interact with the N6 atom of the target adenine base (a methyl-group acceptor) and locate the target adenine base close to the transferred SAM methyl group.

A simple production process of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) was developed by examining its reaction conditions in an ionic liquid, 3-methylimidazolium chloride ([OMIM]Cl). For this, effects of five parameters; extraction time, reaction time, HCl concentration, chromium dichloride (CrCl 2 ) catalyst, and raw plant biomass sources (girasol as a source of inulin and potato tubers as a source of starch); on the yield of HMF were scrutinized. The results showed that HMF yield was significantly affected by each parameter or their combination. The best extraction time and reaction time were identified at 2 h and 60 min, respectively. HCl concentration optima were determined at 0.3 M for girasol biomass and 0.5 M for potato tuber. The presence of CrCl 2 in the reaction mixture prepared from potato tuber biomass exhibited approximately a 2-fold increase in the yield of HMF (54.4% ± 5.1% dwt). In contrast, in girasol reaction mixture, its catalytic effect was not detected. The highest HMF yield (58.2 ± 5.8% dwt) was achieved in the reaction mixture of 4g [OMIM]Cl, 1 ml ethyl acetate, and 5 ml girasol extract (prepared at 2 h extraction in 0.3 M HCl) without CrCl 2 catalyst by undergoing the reaction at 120 °C for 60 min.

Sweet Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) is rich in minerals, vitamins, and dietary fibers and has less fat. It is thus effective for dieting and for preventing constipation. Sweet Pumpkin contains vitamin A, particularly beta-carotene, which is turned into retinol in the body and helps protect the vision. It is currently on the spotlight as a vision care, anticancer, and diet food, among others, but because it is hard to find yogurt made of Sweet Pumpkin, in this study, Sweet Pumpkin powder was added to yogurt for promotion as a new health food. Yogurt was made with 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3% Sweet Pumpkin powder, and the color properties (brightness, redness, and yellowness), viscosity, pH, and acidity were measured through a sensory test (color, flavor, taste, overall acceptability). The storage stability at five-day intervals for one day, five days, ten days, 15 days, etc. was also experimented on. For the color properties, the greater the amount of Sweet Pumpkin powder added, the greater the decrease in the lightness (L) value, but the redness (a) and yellowness (b) values increased (p2%.3%>0%>0.5%. The study results indicate that the addition of 1% Sweet Pumpkin powder is most suitable for manufacturing Sweet Pumpkin yogurt.

In light of tissue engineering, development of a functional and controllable scaffold which can promote cell proliferation and differentiation is crucial. In this study, we introduce a controllable collection method of the electrospinning process for regularly-distributed and uniaxially oriented nanofiber scaffold and evaluate the effects of aligned nanofiber density on adhesion of dermal fibroblasts. The suggested spinning collector features an inclined void gap, which allows easy transfer of uniformly aligned fibers onto other surfaces. By undergoing multiple transfers, the density of the nanofibers can be quantitatively controlled. The resultant polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers had well-defined nanotopography in a 400–600 nm range. Human dermal fibroblasts were seeded on aligned nanofiber scaffolds of different densities achieved by varying the number of transfers. Cell morphology and actin stress fiber formation was accessed after seven days. The experimental results indicate that the contact guidance of the cells along the fiber alignment can be more activated with more than one guidance feature on a cell; that is, the high density of fiber is attained in so much that fiber spacing gets below the cell size.

A high-performance of uniaxial alignment of electrospun nanofibers was realized by introducing an inclined gap into dual collectors that consisted of two conductive strips. Because the two strips that were configured horizontally and vertically had a height difference from the inclined gap, the electrospun nanofibers were sequentially suspended across the edges of strips in a well-aligned and regularly distributed form. Some parameters, such as concentration of solution, applied voltage, and spinning distance were considered for the successful suspension and formation of the aligned electrospun fibers. The method could improve the properties of nanofiber alignment and allow for easy transfer onto other solid substrates or devices. The alignment technique used polycaprolactone, which resulted in continuous and well-aligned nanofibers with diameters ranging from 500 to 700 nm. Furthermore, it is suggested that repetitive transfer be used to achieve a higher density of aligned nanofiber arrays. This would enlarge the applicability of nanofibers, especially for the tissue engineering field. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011

The quality of fruits and vegetables is mainly dependant on the sweetness determined by the level of soluble sugars such as glucose, fructose and sucrose. Other fruit quality parameters include Brix content, acidity, aroma, color, size and shape. Total sugar content in fruits and vegetables is a function of genetic, nutritional, environmental and developmental factors. Understanding the factors controlling sweetness is important to design strategies for enhancing quality of fruits and vegetables. Modifying the activity of enzymes in carbohydrate metabolism such as sucrose synthase (SuSy), acid invertase, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and sucrose transporters were found to influence carbohydrate partitioning and sucrose accumulation in sink tissues of several food crops. Plant based taste-modifying sweet proteins such as brazzein, cucurmin, mabinlin, monellin, miraculin, neoculin and thaumatin have potential application for developing transgenic plants to improve the sweetness and quality of fruits and vegetables. The present review envisages various cultural, breeding and molecular approaches used for enhancing sugar content and sweetness in fruits and vegetables.

Composite multicellular spheroids composed of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and synthetic biodegradable nanofilaments are fabricated. Extracellular-matrix-mimicking nanofilaments, prepared from transverse fragmentation of semicrystalline poly(L-lactic acid) nanofibers and subsequent surface modification with cell adhesive peptides, are used to form composite multicellular spheroids with MSCs by cellular self-assembly. The size of the composite spheroids could be readily controlled with the integrated amount of the nanofilaments. The composite spheroids show enhanced adipogenic potential compared to homotypic spheroids. The resultant spheroids are used as building blocks for 3D biohybrid construction with the assistance of a microstructured scaffold fabricated by a direct polymer melt deposition process. An angiogenic growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, is also locally delivered in a sustained fashion from the heparinized scaffold surface for facile neovascularization of adipogenic tissue. The produced multiscaled and multifunctional hybrid MSC construct enable the successful formation of vascularized adipose tissue in vivo.

The networked silica having pre-fabricated networks among silica particles is a new concept for the reinforcement of rubber compounds. The networked silica was designed to improve the fuel efficiency of tires while eliminating the disadvantages such as precure and ethanol production that arise in the conventional reinforcing system using coupling reagents. The networked silica was prepared using bis(triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide (TESPT) as a connecting chemical at various loading levels. The styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) compounds reinforced with the networked silica exhibited low filler–filler interaction and high rubber–filler interaction due to the entanglements between the rubber molecules and the connecting chains of the networked silica. The increased physical interaction improved the elastic properties and wear resistance, while lowering the rolling resistance of the rubber compounds, resulting in long tire service life and high automobile fuel efficiency. The enhanced physical properties of the SBR compounds reinforced with the networked silica supported their promising potential as reinforcing fillers for tire manufacture. The networked silica can readily replace the conventional silica-reinforced system, without requiring major modification of the processing conditions.

Keratin is an important protein used in wound healing and tissue recovery. In this study, keratin was modified chemically with iodoacetic acid (IAA) to enhance its solubility in organic solvent. Poly(hydroxybutylate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and modified keratin were dissolved in hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and electrospun to produce nanofibrous mats. The resulting mats were surface-characterized by ATR-FTIR, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). The purem-keratin mat was cross-linked with glutaraldehyde vapor to make it insoluble in water. The biodegradation testin vitro showed that the mats could be biodegraded by PHB depolymerase and trypsin aqueous solution. The results of the cell adhesion experiment showed that the NIH 3T3 cells adhered more to the PHBV/m-keratin nanofibrous mats than the PHBV film. The BrdU assay showed that the keratin and PHBV/m-keratin nanofibrous mats could accelerate the proliferation of fibroblast cells compared to the PHBV nanofibrous mats.

Nylon 6 nanofibers containing silver nanoparticles (nylon 6/silver) were successfully prepared by electrospinning. The structure and properties of the electrospun fibers were studied with the aid of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The structural analysis indicated that the fibers electrospun at maximum conditions were straight and that silver nanoparticles were distributed in the fibers. Finally, the antibacterial activities of the nylon 6/silver nanofiber mats were investigated in a broth dilution test against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Gram-negative) bacteria. It was revealed that nylon 6/silver possessed excellent antibacterial properties and an inhibitory effect on the growth of S. aureus and K. pneumoniae. On the contrary, nylon 6 fibers without silver nanoparticles did not show any such antibacterial activity. Therefore, electrospun nylon 6/silver nanocomposites could be used in water filters, wound dressings, or antiadhesion membranes. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009

Gamma-rays are a form of ionizing radiation and produce serious cellular damage to nuclei and organelles. Gamma irradiation induces the expressions of genes involved in DNA repair. Clonorchis sinensis resides in and provokes pathophysiologic changes in the bile ducts of mammals. The C. sinensis metacercariae are unsusceptible or resistant to gamma irradiation with LD50 of 16.5 Gy. Using the annealing control primer-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, 19 genes were found to be up-regulated in C. sinensis metacercariae exposed to gamma rays. Contigs of up-regulated genes (URGs) were retrieved in a C. sinensis expressed sequence tag pool and extended by DNA-walking. Of the 13 URGs annotated putatively as functional genes, five URGs were associated with energy metabolism, six with protein processing, and the other two with DNA repair protein RAD23 and inhibitor of apoptosis protein. Four URGs were confirmed up-regulated by gamma irradiation by quantitative real-time PCR. One unknown gene, which was up-regulated to the greatest extent, might contribute to early recovery from gamma-irradiation-induced damage. The up-regulations of genes encoding DNA repair, protein processing, and energy metabolism proteins suggests that increases in gene products orchestrate DNA lesion repair and recover cellular functions in gamma-irradiated C. sinensis metacercariae.

The dominant off gases from publicly owned treatment works include hydrogen sulfide, benzene, and toluene. In this research, hydrogen sulfide oxidized byBacillus cereus, and benzene with toluene were removed by VOC-degrading microbial consortium. The optimum operating condition of the fluidized bed bioreactor including both microorganisms was 30 ‡C, pH 6–8, and 150 cm of liquid bed height. The critical loading rate of hydrogen sulfide, benzene and toluene in the bioreactor was about 15 g/m3h, 10 g/m3h and 12 g/m3h, respectively. The fluidized bed bioreactor showed an excellent elimination capacity for 580 hours of continuous operation, and maintained stable removal efficiency at sudden inlet concentration changes.

Organic solvents are widely used in biotransformation systems. There are many efforts to reduce the consumption of organic solvents because of their toxicity to the environment and human health. In recent years, several groups have started to explore novel organic solvents called room temperature ionic liquids in order to substitute conventional organic solvents. In this work, lipase-catalyzed transesterification in several uni-and bi-phasic systems was studied. Two representative hydrophobic ionic liquids based on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolum coupled with hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF6]) and bis[(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide] ([BMIM] [Tf2N]) were employed as reaction media for the transesterification ofn-butanol. The commercial lipase, Novozym 435, was used for the transesterification reaction with vinyl acetate as an acyl donor, The conversion yield was increased around 10% in a water/[BMIM][Tf2N], bi-phasic system compared with that in a water/hexane system. A higher distribution of substrates into the water phase is believed to enhance the conversion yield in a water/[BMIM][Tf2N] system. Partion coefficients of the substrates in the water/[BMIM][Tf2N] bi-phasic system were higher than three times that found in the water/hexane system, while n-butyl acetate showed a similar distribution in both systems. Thus, RTILs appear to be a promising substitute of organic solvents in some biotransformation systems.

We developed a skin-conformal flexible sensor in which three-dimensional (3D) free-form elastomeric sheets were harmoniously integrated with a piezoelectric nanofiber mat. The elastomeric sheets were produced by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molding via using a 3D printed mold assembly, which was adaptively designed from 3D scanned skin surface geometry. The mold assembly, fabricated using a multi-material 3D printer, was composed of a pair of upper/lower mold parts and an interconnecting hinge, with material properties are characterized by different flexibilities. As a result of appropriate deformabilites of the upper mold part and hinge, the skin-conformal PDMS structures were successfully sandwich molded and demolded with good repeatability. An electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene) nanofiber mat was prepared as the piezoelectric active layer and integrated with the 3D elastomeric parts. We confirmed that the highly responsive sensing performances of the 3D integrated sensor were identical to those of a flat sensor in terms of sensitivity and the linearity of the input–output relationship. The close 3D conformal skin contact of the flexible sensor enabled discernable perception of various scales of physical stimuli, such as tactile force and even minute skin deformation caused by the tester's pulse. Collectively from the 3D scanning design to the practical application, our achievements can potentially meet the needs of tailored human interfaces in the field of wearable devices and human-like robots.

The human activating signal cointegrator 1 (ASC-1) homology (ASCH) domain is frequently observed in many organisms, although its function has not yet been clearly defined. In Zymomonas mobilis ZM4, the ZMO0922 gene encodes a polypeptide that includes an ASCH domain (zmASCH). To provide a better structural background for the probable role of ASCH domain-containing proteins, the ZMO0922 gene was cloned and expressed. The purified protein was crystallized from 30%(w/v) polyethylene glycol 400, 0.1 M cacodylic acid pH 6.5 and 0.2 M lithium sulfate. Diffraction data were collected to 2.1 A resolution using synchrotron radiation. The crystal belonged to the primitive trigonal space group P3121 or P3221, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 51.67, c = 207.30 A, α = β = 90, γ = 120°. Assuming the presence of one molecule in the asymmetric unit gave a Matthews coefficient of 4.69 A3 Da−1, corresponding to a solvent content of 73.7%.

Aptamers are composed of single-stranded oilgonucleotides that can selectively bind desired molecules. It has been reported that RNA or DNA could act as not only a genetic messenger but also a catalyst in metabolic pathways. RNA aptamers (average sizes 40-50 bp) are smaller than antibodies and have strong binding capacities to target molecules, similar to antigen-antibody interactions. Once an aptamer was selected, it can be readily produced in large quantities at low cost. The objectives of this study are to screen and develop aptamers specific to oral pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Streptococcus mutans. The bacterial cell pellet was fixed with formaldehyde as a target molecule for the screening of aptamers. The SELEX method was used for the screening of aptamers and a modified western blot analysis was used to verify their specificities. Through SELEX, 40 kinds of aptamers were selected and the specificity of the aptamers to the bacterial cells was confirmed by modified western blot analysis. Through the SELEX method, 40 aptamers that specifically bind to oral pathogens were screened and isolated. The aptamers showed possibility as effective candidates for the detection agents of oral infections.

Though many essential oils from citrus peels are claimed to have several medicinal functions, the chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oils of Citrus flowers have not been well described. Therefore, this study intended to investigate the chemical composition and anti-inflammatory potential of essential oils from C. unshiu flower (CEO) to support its purported beneficial health effects. The chemical constituents of the CEO, analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), included γ-terpinene (24.7%), 2-β-pinene (16.6%), 1-methyl-2-isopropylbenzene (11.5%), L-limonene (5.7%), β-ocimene (5.6%), and α-pinene (4.7%). The effects of the CEO on nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages were also examined. The results indicate that the CEO is an effective inhibitor of LPS-induced NO and PGE2 production in RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, CEO was shown to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-6. Based on these results, CEO may be considered a potential anti-inflammatory candidate with human health benefits.

Adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) has long been cultivated in oriental countries as a cereal and medicinal crop. In this study, eight adlay varieties, most commonly cultivated in South Korea were selected and their seed phytonutrient contents were evaluated. The average total vitamin E content was 37.38 mg kg-1. Two major components of vitamin E were γ-tocopherol (14.76 mg kg-1) and γ-tocotrienol (14.18 mg kg-1), corresponding to 39.5 and 37.9% of the total vitamin E content, respectively. Tested varieties exhibited squalene content ranging from 31.23 to 55.00 mg kg-1, with an average of 41.24 mg kg-1. The contents of the phytosterols: Campesterol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol were 80.43, 131.1, and 313.38 mg kg-1, respectively. Of the six detected fatty acids, the major fatty acids were oleic (46.3%) and linoleic acids (37.4%). Seed squalene content exhibited high correlationship with phytosterols, but not with tocopherols. Among the tested varieties, variety Yulmu 1 showed a relatively higher proportion of phytonutrients, suggesting its potential as a gene source for further breeding.Key words: Adlay, vitamin E, phytosterols, squalene, fatty acids.

Type I restriction enzymes are multimeric proteins that consist of three subunits. The HsdS and HsdM subunits form a complex protein that shows methyltransferase activity, while the HsdR subunit functions as an endonuclease as well as as a translocase. Of these three subunits, no structural information on the HsdR subunit is yet available. The putative HsdR gene from Vibrio vulnificus YJ016 (HsdR_Vv) was cloned and expressed and the expressed protein HsdR_Vv was purified. HsdR_Vv was crystallized from 8%(w/v) polyethylene glycol 3350, 0.15 M ammonium chloride, 0.1 M HEPES pH 7.5 and 2 mM beta-mercaptoethanol. Diffraction data were collected to 2.60 A resolution using synchrotron radiation. The crystal belongs to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 71.01, b = 89.04, c = 113.66 A. With one HsdR_Vv molecule in the asymmetric unit, the Matthews coefficient was 2.14 A(3) Da(-1) and the solvent content was 42%.

Electrospun nanofibers have been developed into a variety of forms for tissue engineering scaffolds to regulate the cellular functions guided by nanotopographical cues. Here, we have successfully fabricated nanofiber-based scaffold complexes of rod and sheet type by combining the three microfabrication techniques of electrospinning, spin coating, and polymer melt deposition. It was demonstrated that this hybrid fabrication could produce uniaxially aligned nanofiber scaffolds supported by a thin film, allowing for a mechanically enforced substrate for cell culture as well as facile scaffold manipulation. The results of cell analysis indicated that nanofibers on spin-coated films could provide contact guidance effects on cells and retain them even after manipulation. As an application of the cell-laden nanofiber film, we built a rod-type structure by rolling up the film around a mechanically supporting core microfiber, which was incorporated by polymer melt deposition. A biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, polycaprolactone, was used throughout the processes and thus could be used as a directly implantable substitute in tissue regeneration.

Although vitamin A deficiency has been linked with higher mortality and increased mother-to-child transmission of HIV, specific immune abnormalities in HIV-infected adults with vitamin A deficiency are unknown. We measured plasma vitamin A levels and selected T-cell subpopulations in 104 adults with HIV infection. 15.4% had plasma vitamin A levels consistent with vitamin A deficiency (

This study reports the effect of an O2 plasma pretreatment of polycarbonate (PC) films for the enhanced integration of Al2O3 films prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on the PC substrate. It is revealed that the plasma treatment produces functional groups on the PC surface, which are essential for the ALD of Al2O3. Specifically, it is revealed that a significant amount of carbonyl groups, essential for the chemisorption of the precursors and covalent binding with the Al2O3 surface protection layer, are present in the plasma-treated PC surface. To evaluate the chemical resistivity of the PC-ALD alumina film, an acetone immersion test is conducted. As a result, a severe degradation occurs in the plasma-untreated PCs, even with a sufficiently thick ALD alumina protection layer. In contrast, the PCs that are plasma-treated and coated with the ALD alumina exhibit a significantly improved stability against acetone etching. Light transmittance and surface morphology analysis support this improvement.

We evaluated the performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with a 50 nm thin silver (Ag) cathode surface treated with cerium oxide (CeO(x)) by atomic layer deposition (ALD). The performances of bare and ALD-treated Ag cathodes were evaluated on gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) electrolyte supporting cells with a platinum (Pt) anode over 300 °C-450 °C. Our work confirms that ALD CeO(x) treatment enhances cathodic performance and thermal stability of the Ag cathode. The performance difference between cells using a Ag cathode optimally treated with an ALD CeO(x) surface and a reference Pt cathode is about 50% at 450 °C in terms of fuel cell power output in our experiment. The bare Ag cathode completely agglomerated into islands during fuel cell operation at 450 °C, while the ALD CeO(x) treatment effectively protects the porosity of the cathode. We also discuss the long-term stability of ALD CeO(x)-treated Ag cathodes related to the microstructure of the layers.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text, Several recipient biomarkers are reported to predict graft dysfunction, but these are not useful in decision making for the acceptance or allocation of deceased donor kidneys; thus, it is necessary to develop donor biomarkers predictive of graft dysfunction. To address this issue, we prospectively enrolled 94 deceased donors and their 109 recipients who underwent transplantation between 2010 and 2013 at 4 Korean transplantation centers. We investigated the predictive values of donor urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and L-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) for reduced graft function (RGF). We also developed a prediction model of RGF using these donor biomarkers. RGF was defined as delayed or slow graft function. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to generate a prediction model, which was internally validated using a bootstrapping method. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the association of biomarkers with 1-year graft function. Notably, donor urinary NGAL levels were associated with donor AKI (P = 0.014), and donor urinary NGAL and L-FABP were predictive for RGF, with area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves (AUROC) of 0.758 and 0.704 for NGAL and L-FABP, respectively. The best-fit model including donor urinary NGAL, L-FABP, and serum creatinine conveyed a better predictive value for RGF than donor serum creatinine alone (P = 0.02). In addition, we generated a scoring method to predict RGF based on donor urinary NGAL, L-FABP, and serum creatinine levels. Diagnostic performance of the RGF prediction score (AUROC 0.808) was significantly better than that of the DGF calculator (AUROC 0.627) and the kidney donor profile index (AUROC 0.606). Donor urinary L-FABP levels were also predictive of 1-year graft function (P = 0.005). Collectively, these findings suggest donor urinary NGAL and L-FABP to be useful biomarkers for RGF, and support the use of a new scoring system based on donor biomarkers to facilitate decision-making in acceptance and allocation of deceased donor kidneys and contribute to maximal organ utilization.