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Background/aims As the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its complications increase rapidly, diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), which are a major diabetic complication, are expected to increase. For prevention and effective treatment, it is important to understand the clinical course of DFUs. The aim of this study was to investigate the natural course and predictors of amputation in patients with DFUs who required hospitalization. Methods A total of 209 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 30 to 85 years, who visited emergency department or needed hospitalization due to DFUs were consecutively enrolled from May 2012 to January 2016, by retrospective medical record review. The main outcome was lower extremity amputation (LEA). Results Among 192 patients who completed follow-up, 113 patients (58.9%) required LEAs. Compared to patients without amputation, baseline levels of white blood cell counts and C-reactive protein were higher in patients with amputation. In addition, bone and joint involvement was more frequently observed in patients with amputation. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that combined infection (odds ratio [OR], 11.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.55 to 50.93; p = 0.001) and bone or joint involvement (OR, 3.74; 95% CI, 1.10 to 12.70; p = 0.035) were significantly associated with an increased risk of LEA. Conclusion The depth of the wound and combined infection of DFU, rather than the extent of the wound, were significant prognostic factors of LEAs in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Wavelength-selective photodetectors responding to deep-ultraviolet (DUV) wavelengths (λ = 200–300 nm) are drawing significant interest in diverse sensing applications, ranging from micrometer biological molecules to massive military missiles. However, most DUV photodetectors developed thus far have suffered from long response times, low sensitivity, and high processing temperatures, impeding their practical use. Here, we report fast, high-responsivity, and general-substrate-compatible DUV photodetectors based on ultrathin (3–50 nm) amorphous gallium oxide (GaOX) films grown by low-temperature (∼

Cervical cancer is a prevalent disease that may lead to mortality in women. In spite of the development of common therapeutic agents to treat cancer, there are several limitations of their use owing to side effects and drug resistance, which may induce cancer recurrence. The anticancer effects of the new herbal mixture SH003 (comprising Astragalus membranaceus, Angelica gigas and Trichosanthes kirilowii Maximowicz) have been examined in various types of cancer. Thus, the present study hypothesized that SH003 may be an effective treatment for cervical cancer. SH003 treatment inhibited the growth of HeLa cells, whereas it did not affect the growth of rat intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, SH003 treatment increased the expression of apoptosis‑related proteins and promoted apoptotic cell death in HeLa cells. SH003 treatment also led to G1 phase arrest in HeLa cells. Furthermore, SH003 treatment induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, ROS production did not appear to be related to SH003‑mediated apoptosis. Results from the present study indicated that the SH003‑induced inhibition of HeLa cell growth may be mediated through G1 phase arrest and extrinsic apoptosis, suggested that SH003 may be a potential treatment for cervical cancer.

Intensive research studies have revealed that fungal decolorization of dye wastewater is a promising replacement for the current process of dye wastewater decolorization. The authors isolated an Aspergillus sp. from the effluent of a textile industry area in Korea and assessed the effects of a variety of operational parameters on the decolorization of methyl red (MR) by this strain of Aspergillus sp. This Aspergillus sp. was then immobilized by entrapment in several polymeric matrices and the effects of operational conditions on MR decolorization were investigated again. The optimal decolorization activity of this Aspergillus sp. was observed in 1% glucose at a temperature of 37 °C and pH of 6.0. Furthermore, stable decolorization efficiency was observed when fungal biomass was immobilized into alginate gel during repeated batch experiment. These results suggest that the Aspergillus sp. isolated in Korea could be used to treat industrial wastewaters containing MR dye.

A novel hypochlorous-acid-selective signaling probe based on the carbonodithioate derivative of resorufin (RT-1) was developed. Probe RT-1 showed prominent colorimetric and turn-on type fluorescence signaling behavior exclusively toward hypochlorous acid, induced by oxidative hydrolysis, to regenerate resorufin dye. Hypochlorous acid signaling was not affected by the presence of common metal ions and anions as background, except for the redox active bromide and iodide anions. The detection limit of RT-1 for hypochlorous acid was found to be 2.18 × 10-9 M (0.11 ppb), and the signaling was completed within 3 min. It was also confirmed that hypochlorous acid signaling by the carbonodithioate-based probe RT-1 was superior to that of the closely related carbonothioate derivative RT-2. This was rationalized by density functional theory calculations, which demonstrated that the C[double bond, length as m-dash]S sulfur atom of the former is more negatively charged than that of the latter. Finally, as a biological application of the probe, visualization of hypochlorous acid in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages and HeLa cells was successfully conducted to detect the cellular response to hypochlorous acid.

We investigated a simple fluorescence signaling method for the convenient analysis of a practical oxidant—chlorite—via the oxidation of 9-anthracenecarboxaldehyde to the corresponding carboxylic acid. 9-Anthracenecarboxaldehyde exhibited a marked ratiometric fluorescence signaling toward chlorite through manipulating its aggregation-induced emission property. The probe showed high chlorite-selectivity over other oxychlorine species as well as common metal ions, anions, and oxidants. Interference from a closely related oxidant, hypochlorite, was efficiently removed using DMSO as a scavenger. The proposed probe also exhibited a prominent ratiometric response through changes in UV–vis absorption behavior. Among the tested aromatic aldehydes (naphthaldehydes, anthracenecarboxaldehyde, and pyrenecarboxaldehyde), anthracene-based carboxaldehyde exhibited the most pronounced signaling contrast and the fastest signaling speed. The detection limit of chlorite determination was found to be 1.1 × 10–7 M. Exploitation of the probe for the convenient analysis of chlorite in tap water via a recovery test was conducted.

BACKGROUND We investigated an association between baseline heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval before severe hypoglycemia (SH) and prolongation of QTc interval during SH in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS Between January 2004 and June 2014, 208 patients with T2DM, who visited the emergency department because of SH and underwent standard 12-lead electrocardiography within the 6-month period before SH were consecutively enrolled. The QTc interval was analyzed during the incidence of SH, and 6 months before and after SH. QTc intervals of 450 ms or longer in men and 460 ms or longer in women were considered abnormally prolonged. RESULTS The mean age and diabetes duration were 68.1±12.1 and 14.1±10.1 years, respectively. The mean QTc intervals at baseline and SH episodes were 433±33 and 460±33 ms, respectively (P

// Youn Kyung Choi 1, * , Sung-Gook Cho 2, * , Yu-Jeong Choi 3 , Yee Jin Yun 3 , Kang Min Lee 4 , Kangwook Lee 4 , Hye-Hyun Yoo 5 , Yong Cheol Shin 6 and Seong-Gyu Ko 6 1 Jeju International Marine Science Center for Research and Education, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Jeju, 695-975, Korea 2 Department of Biotechnology, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungbuk, 368-701, Korea 3 Department of Cancer Preventive Material Development, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Korea 4 Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Korea 5 Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology and Collage of Pharmacy, Hanyang University, Gyonggi, 426-791, Korea 6 Laboratory of Clinical Biology and Pharmacogenomics, Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Korea * These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Seong-Gyu Ko, email: epiko@khu.ac.kr Keywords: SH003, breast cancer, autophagy, apoptosis, p62 Received: October 15, 2015 Accepted: July 27, 2016 Published: August 19, 2016 ABSTRACT Drug markets revisits herbal medicines, as historical usages address their therapeutic efficacies with less adverse effects. Moreover, herbal medicines save both cost and time in development. SH003, a modified version of traditional herbal medicine extracted from Astragalus membranaceus (Am), Angelica gigas (Ag), and Trichosanthes Kirilowii Maximowicz (Tk) with 1:1:1 ratio (w/w) has been revealed to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis on highly metastatic breast cancer cells, both in vivo and in vitro with no toxicity. Meanwhile, autophagy is imperative for maintenance cellular homeostasis, thereby playing critical roles in cancer progression. Inhibition of autophagy by pharmacological agents induces apoptotic cell death in cancer cells, resulting in cancer treatment. In this study, we demonstrate that SH003-induced autophagy via inhibiting STAT3 and mTOR results in an induction of lysosomal p62/SQSTM1 accumulation-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and attenuates tumor growth. SH003 induced autophagosome and autolysosome formation by inhibiting activation of STAT3- and mTOR-mediated signaling pathways. However, SH003 blocked autophagy-mediated p62/SQSTM1 degradation through reducing of lysosomal proteases, Cathepsins, resulting in accumulation of p62/SQSTM1 in the lysosome. The accumulation of p62/SQSTM1 caused the increase of ROS, which resulted in the induction of apoptotic cell death. Therefore, we conclude that SH003 suppresses breast cancer growth by inducing autophagy. In addition, SH003-induced p62/SQSTM1 could function as an important mediator for ROS generation-dependent cell death suggesting that SH003 may be useful for treating breast cancer.

Hepatic infarction is known as a rare disease entity in nontransplant patients. Although a few cases of hepatic infarction have been reported to be linked with invasive procedures, trauma, and hypercoagulability, a case of spontaneous hepatic infarction in a nontransplanted patient has hardly ever been reported. However, many clinical situations of patients with cancer, in particular biliary cancer, can predispose nontransplant patients to hepatic infarction. Besides, the clinical outcome of hepatic infarction in patients with cancer can be worse than in patients with other etiologies. As for treatment, anticoagulation treatment is usually recommended. However, because of its multifactorial etiology and combined complications, treatment of hepatic infarction is difficult and not simple. Herein, we report a case of fatal hepatic infarction that occurred spontaneously during the course of treatment in a patient with gallbladder cancer. Hepatic infarction should be considered as a possible fatal complication in patients during treatment of biliary malignancies.

Tumor growth requires a process called angiogenesis, a new blood vessel formation from pre-existing vessels, as newly formed vessels provide tumor cells with oxygen and nutrition. Danggui-Sayuk-Ga-Osuyu-Saenggang-Tang (DSGOST), one of traditional Chinese medicines, has been widely used in treatment of vessel diseases including Raynaud's syndrome in Northeast Asian countries including China, Japan and Korea. Therefore, we hypothesized that DSGOST might inhibit tumor growth by targeting newly formed vessels on the basis of its historical prescription. Here, we demonstrate that DSGOST inhibits tumor growth by inhibiting VEGF-induced angiogenesis. DSGOST inhibited VEGF-induced angiogenic abilities of endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo, which resulted from its inhibition of VEGF/VEGFR2 interaction. Furthermore, DSGOST attenuated pancreatic tumor growth in vivo by reducing angiogenic vessel numbers, while not affecting pancreatic tumor cell viability. Thus, our data conclude that DSGOST inhibits VEGF-induced tumor angiogenesis, suggesting a new indication for DSGOST in treatment of cancer.

Percarbonate is an important oxidant that is widely used in industrial applications and daily life. In this study, a simple colorimetric and fluorescence method for percarbonate determination using resorufin-based probe 1, carrying a pivaloyl protection group as a signaling switch, was developed. Probe 1 exhibited selective and sensitive signaling behavior for percarbonate via perhydrolysis of the pivaloyl group by hydrogen peroxide that was produced from percarbonate, in the presence of commonly encountered metal ions and anions. Among the esters tested as signaling switches, pivalate was optimal owing to its resistance to spontaneous hydrolysis and high signaling speed under the employed conditions. The detection limit for percarbonate was estimated to be 0.45 μM. The probe was applied to the analysis of percarbonate in domestic bleach using a scanner as a field-oriented signal-capturing device.

Malononitrile is a key starting material used in synthetic organic, medical, and industrial chemistry, but it is also a notorious cyanogenic toxicant. However, selective and sensitive analytical methods for this key chemical are rare. In this research, a novel reaction-based colorimetric signaling probe for the selective analysis of malononitrile via the SNAr-type nucleophilic substitution reaction of an NBD-based phenyl selenoether was investigated. The probe exhibited a pronounced colorimetric response, with a color change from yellow to violet due to its CH-acidity. The interference of sulfide ions and several transition metal ions was effectively circumvented with the use of copper foil as a sulfide scavenger and EDTA as a masking agent for the metal ions. The detection limit of the probe for malononitrile was found to be 264 nM. It was also demonstrated that this convenient colorimetric analysis of malononitrile in chemical and industrial applications using the probe can be conducted with an office scanner.

We report the facile synthesis of blue-colored dyes featuring a diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) spacer with dimethylamine and bis(4-dibuotxylphenyl)-phenyl-amine as donor residues (CSD-08 and CSD-09), their spectroscopic, electrochemical and colorific properties, and their application to translucent dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In the DSSCs fabricated with 5 μm-thick TiO2 photoanodes, CSD-08 and CSD-09 yield power-conversion-efficiencies of 3.43% and 3.62%, respectively, under simulated one sun illumination.

Background /Objective: The conventional models currently used to evaluate various anti-tumor therapeutic agents are not sufficient for representing human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), which has a unique tumor microenvironment. We aimed to produce an organotypic slice culture model from human PDA that resembles the in vivo situation and to evaluate the responses of PDA slices to established cytotoxic drugs. Methods PDA tissues were obtained from 10 patients who underwent pancreatic resection. The tissues were sliced by a vibratome, and the tumor slices were then cultured. The viability of tumor slices during slice culture was evaluated using H&E and immunohistochemical staining, and stromal cells were demonstrated. The effects of cytotoxic drugs on PDA cell lines and slices were analyzed. Results Tumor slices maintained their surface areas and tissue viability for at least five days during culture. Preserved proliferation and apoptosis in tumor slices were observed by the expression of Ki-67 and cleaved caspase-3. Stromal cells including macrophages (CD68+ and CD163+), T cells (CD3+, CD8+, and FOXP3+), and myeloid cells (CD11b+) were present throughout the culture period. Staurosporine, gemcitabine, and cisplatin treatment of PDA cell lines and tumor slices exerted proportional cytotoxic effects in terms of MTT viability, tumor cell number, and Ki-67 and cleaved caspase-3 expression. Conclusions Organotypic human PDA slice cultures preserved their viability and tumor microenvironment for at least five days during slice culture. PDA slice culture appears to be a feasible preclinical test model to assess the response to anti-tumor agents.

Summary In polyandrous females, sperm storage permits competition between sperm of different mates, and in some species females influence the relative fertilization success of competing sperm in favor of a preferred mate [1, 2]. In female Drosophila melanogaster , sperm competition is strongly influenced by the timing of sperm ejection from the uterus [3, 4]. Understanding how female behavior influences sperm competition requires knowledge of the neuronal mechanisms controlling sperm retention and storage, which is currently lacking. Here, we show that D. melanogaster females eject male ejaculates from the uterus 1–6 hr after mating with a stereotypic behavior regulated by a brain signaling pathway composed of diuretic hormone 44 (Dh44), a neuropeptide related to vertebrate corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and its receptor, Dh44R1. Suppression of Dh44 signals in the brain expedites sperm ejection from the uterus, resulting in marked reduction of sperm in the storage organs and decreased fecundity, whereas enhancement of Dh44 signals delays sperm expulsion. The Dh44 function was mapped to six neurons located in the pars intercerebralis of the brain together with a small subset of Dh44R1 neurons that express the sex-specific transcription factor doublesex . This study identifies a neuronal pathway by which females can control sperm retention and storage and provides new insight into how the female might exercise post-copulatory sexual selection.

An investigation of the coating structure formed on Mg–3 wt.%Al–1 wt.%Zn alloy sample subjected to plasma electrolytic oxidation was examined by field-emission transmission electron microscopy. The plasma electrolytic oxidation process was conducted in a phosphoric acid electrolyte containing K{sub 2}ZrF{sub 6} for 600 s. Microstructural observations showed that the coating consisting of MgO, MgF{sub 2}, and ZrO{sub 2} phases was divided into three distinctive parts, the barrier, intermediate, and outer layers. Nanocrystalline MgO and MgF{sub 2} compounds were observed mainly in the barrier layer of ~ 1 μm thick near to the substrate. From the intermediate to outer layers, various ZrO{sub 2} polymorphs appeared due to the effects of the plasma arcing temperature on the phase transition of ZrO{sub 2} compounds during the plasma electrolytic oxidation process. In the outer layer, MgO compound grew in the form of a dendrite-like structure surrounded by cubic ZrO{sub 2}. - Highlights: • The barrier layer containing MgO and MgF{sub 2} was observed near to the Mg substrate. • In the intermediate layer, m-, t-, and o-ZrO{sub 2} compounds were additionally detected. • The outer layer contained MgO with the dendrite-like structure surrounded by c-ZrO{sub 2}. • The grain sizes of compounds in oxidemore » layer increased from barrier to outer layer.« less

Chemotherapy frequently causes anorexia in cancer patients, which has been associated with poor disease prognosis. Several therapeutic strategies for the treatment of chemotherapy‑induced anorexia are available; however, their adverse effects limit their clinical use. Herbal medicines have a long history of use for the treatment of various diseases, including cancer, and recent research has demonstrated their safety and efficacy. In the present study, combinations of herbal medicines were designed based on traditional Korean medicine, and their effects were investigated on chemotherapy‑induced anorexia. Herbal mixtures were extracted, composed of Atractylodes japonica, Angelica gigas, Astragalus membranaceus, Lonicera japonica Thunb., Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahlstedt and Prunella vulgaris var. asiatica (Nakai) Hara. The mixtures were termed LCBP‑Anocure‑16001‑3 (LA16001, LA16002, LA16003). A cisplatin‑induced anorexic mouse model was used to evaluate the putative effects of the extracts on chemotherapy‑induced anorexia. Treatment with LA16001 was revealed to prevent body weight loss, and all three extracts were demonstrated to improve food intake. When the molecular mechanisms underlying the orexigenic effects of LA16001 were investigated, altered expression levels of ghrelin, leptin and interleukin‑6 were revealed. Furthermore, LA16001 was reported to induce phosphorylation of Janus kinase 1 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. In addition, LA16001 administration increased the number of white blood cells and neutrophils. These results suggested that the herbal formula LA16001 may be able to prevent chemotherapy‑induced anorexia and may have potential as a novel therapeutic strategy for the adjuvant treatment of patients with cancer.

Tuberatolide B (TTB, C27H34O4) is a diastereomeric meroterpenoid isolated from the Korean marine algae Sargassum macrocarpum. However, the anticancer effects of TTB remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that TTB inhibits tumor growth in breast, lung, colon, prostate, and cervical cancer cells. To examine the mechanism by which TTB suppresses cell growth, we determined the effect of TTB on apoptosis, ROS generation, DNA damage, and signal transduction. TTB induced ROS production in MDA-MB-231, A549, and HCT116 cells. Moreover, TTB enhanced DNA damage by inducing γH2AX foci formation and the phosphorylation of DNA damage-related proteins such as Chk2 and H2AX. Furthermore, TTB selectively inhibited STAT3 activation, which resulted in a reduction in cyclin D1, MMP-9, survivin, VEGF, and IL-6. In addition, TTB-induced ROS generation caused STAT3 inhibition, DNA damage, and apoptotic cell death. Therefore, TTB suppresses cancer progression by promoting ROS-mediated inhibition of STAT3 signaling, suggesting that TTB is useful for the treatment of cancer.

A study investigated the formation and microstructural features of the oxide layer formed on Mg–9 wt%Al–1 wt%Zn alloy coated by two-step plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) where an acid electrolyte with K 2 ZrF 6 was used for the second PEO coating after the initial coating was done in an alkaline electrolyte. The microstructure, chemical compositions, and constituent compounds of the oxide layers were observed using scanning electron microscopy, electron probe micro-analyzer, and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The microstructural observations showed that the micropores caused by plasma discharge were formed in the oxide layers which were comprised of three different parts, namely, inner, intermediate, and outer layers from the substrate to the surface of the sample. The outer layer contained the highest concentration of Zr element whose amount decreased toward the substrate whereas the concentration of Mg element increased in the order of outer, intermediate, and inner layers. This finding suggested that the outer oxide layer was mainly comprised of ZrO 2 compound while both ZrO 2 and Mg 2 Zr 5 O 12 compounds existed together as the main compounds in the intermediate oxide layer.

Tissue engineering requires functional polymeric membrane for adequate space for cell migration and attachment within the nanostructure. Therefore, biocompatible propolis loaded polyurethane (propolis/PU) nanofibers were successfully prepared using electrospinning of propolis/PU blend solution. Here, composite nanofibers were subjected to detailed analysis using electron microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and mechanical properties and water contact angle measurement. FE-SEM images revealed that the composite nanofibers became point-bonded with increasing amounts of propolis in the blend due to its adhesive properties. Incorporation of small amount of propolis through PU matrix could improve the hydrophilicity and mechanical strength of the fibrous membrane. In order to assay the cytocompatibility and cell behavior on the composite scaffolds, fibroblast cells were seeded on the matrix. Results suggest that the incorporation of propolis into PU fibers could increase its cell compatibility. Moreover, composite nanofibers have effective antibacterial activity. Therefore, as-synthesized nanocomposite fibrous mat has great potentiality in wound dressing and skin tissue engineering.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of particle size and other injection factors on the skin penetration of nanoparticles delivered with a needle-free injector. Experimental and simulation tests were carried out at various parameters. In addition to testing different sizes of nanoparticles, we also observed the effects of several injection pressures and syringe orifice diameters (SOD) on the dispersion pattern of the nanoparticles after injection. Our results showed that as the nanoparticle size increased from 45 nm to 452 nm, the resulting puncture opening, channel diameter, and depth of the nanoparticle dispersion decreased, but the width of the dispersion increased. Conversely, as the SOD increased, the puncture opening, channel diameter, and depth of the dispersion increased, but width of the dispersion decreased. Increasing the injection pressure also decreased the size, depth, and width of the puncture opening. These results identify how these three parameters affect nanoparticle delivery from a needle-free injector; therefore, our findings will be beneficial for optimization and further study of needle-free injectors as a mechanism for transdermal delivery of nanoparticles.

The carbon steel is one of the most widely used metals material in engineering with good properties, such as high strength, high toughness, good mechanical properties and low cost. The surface treatment of the steel is essential, however, before use it in industry due to the low corrosion resistivity of steel substrate, which is a problem to use in high humid environment. Meantime it is important to improve the wear resistance and the interfacial adhesion of the coating. Since the thick alumina coating is one of most effective anti-corrosion layer which has high corrosion resistance relatively with the metals, the alumina coating on the steel substrate is good way to improve corrosion resistance. Among the ceramic coating technique for fabrication the alumina layer, such as chemical vapor deposition, magnetron sputter and ionization-assisted beam, plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) has been investigation as a new electrochemical surface treatment. PEO process is a unique process that utilized electrochemical reactions to form an oxide layer on a metal surface. The PEO process has been reported to attractive combination of wear resistance and corrosion resistance as well as enhancing thermal property of coating layer. However this advanced coating technique has been performed only if material was valve metals, such as Mg, Al, Ti, Nb and etc. and only a few papers of PEO processed steel have been published. Although several researchers performed PEO process on the steel substrate, the specimen was pretreated by plasma spray, laser re-melting or chemical vapor deposition, therefore it was not convenience to widely use in engineering due to the very high cost and thermal shock to the substrate. The structure and morphology of coating layer formed by PEO process, on the other hand, is influenced on experiment conditions which are composition and concentration of electrolyte, current density and condition of substrate, in particular, composition of electrolyte effect on forming oxide layer. Recently, the incorporation of second oxide nanoparticles into the oxide layer generated by the PEO process in order to improve functionality has received considerable attention. Our previous work has demonstrated that incorporated ZrO2 nanoparticles into oxide layer may enhance the resistance against pitting corrosion. In this study, we conducted PEO process on A36 carbon steel without any pretreatment and successfully formed an incorporated alumina layer with 200-400 nm size of ZrO2 nanoparticles on the carbon steel and prepared comparison specimen which is unincorporated alumina coating with any others during PEO process. The microstructure and phase of coating layers were investigated and corrosion behavior was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Carbamazepine (CBZ) intoxication can be associated with severe toxicity, including neurological and cardio-respiratory abnormalities. Highly protein-bound, CBZ is not removed efficiently through conventional hemodialysis. Charcoal hemoperfusion is the most effective extracorporeal elimination therapy for CBZ intoxication. Recent reports have indicated that continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF), albumin-enhanced continuous venovenous hemodialysis, high-flux hemodialysis and plasma exchange can be as effective as charcoal hemoperfusion. In contrast to recent reports, which demonstrated the effectiveness of CVVHDF with high dialysate flow in CBZ intoxication, we observed that serum CBZ level was decreased minimally by albumin-enhanced CVVHDF with low dialysate flow. Therefore, albumin-enhanced CVVHDF with high dialysate flow should be considered in severe CBZ intoxication, if hemoperfusion is unavailable because of the lack of facilities or if it cannot be performed.

The formation of the oxide layer with Zr compounds on AZ31 Mg alloy processed by two-step plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) has been investigated. After the PEO process first in an alkaline phosphate electrolyte and second in an acid electrolyte containing K2ZrF6, the microstructure, chemical composition, and phase composition of the oxide layers were analyzed via SEM, EDS, and XRD, respectively. The electrochemical reaction and the high temperature caused by the plasma discharges in the electrolyte were the main factors leading to the fabrication of an oxide layer containing Zr compounds on AZ31 Mg alloy. The micro-pores were filled with ZrO2 formed during the PEO process. The results of a potentiodynamic polarization test clearly indicated that the corrosion properties of AZ31 Mg alloy were significantly improved by the two-step PEO process.

This study examined the surface characteristics of oxide layers formed on Mg alloy sample by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coating in phosphate electrolytes with and without ammonium metavanadate (NH 4 VO 3 ). Depending on the addition of NH 4 VO 3 to the electrolyte, the voltage behavior changed significantly with increasing coating time. This was attributed mainly to the different electrochemical reactions, which might cause the formation of V 2 O 3 and V 2 O 5 in the oxide layer. After the PEO coating for 200 s, the size and number of micro pores decreased with the addition of NH 4 VO 3 to the electrolyte. In addition, the surface color of the sample coated in the NH 4 VO 3 -containing electrolyte appeared dark due to the successful incorporation of vanadium oxides. The potentiodynamic polarization test in the 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution showed that the sample PEO-treated in the electrolyte with NH 4 VO 3 had better corrosion-protection properties than that treated without NH 4 VO 3 .

Electrospinning of a poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL)/lactic acid (LA) blend was investigated to fabricate electrospun PCL fibers with improved biodegradability and biocompatibility for biomedical applications. Simple blending of PCL solution with various amounts of LA was used for electrospinning, and the physicochemical properties of the as-fabricated mat were evaluated using various techniques. Scanning electron microscopy showed that fiber diameter decreased with increasing amount of LA. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis also revealed that LA was successfully incorporated in PCL fibers. The presence of LA can accelerate the biodegradation of PCL fibers and enhance the hydrophilicity of a membrane. The adhesion, viability and proliferation properties of osteoblast cells on the PCL/LA composite fibers were analyzed using in vitro cell compatibility tests which showed that LA can increase the cell compatibility of PCL fibers. Additionally, subsequent conversion of LA into calcium lactate by neutralization with calcium base can provide Ca2+ ions on the fiber surface to promote the nucleation of CaPO4 particles. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry

The effect of ZnO electrodeposition on the photovoltaic efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with anodized TiO 2 nanotubes followed by an annealing process was investigated. ZnO were introduced into anodized TiO 2 nanotubes on Ti foil by electrodeposition in an aqueous electrolyte containing 10 mM Zn(NO 3 ) 2 6H 2 O with different processing time, i.e. 25, 50, 100, and 200 s. The surface morphologies and the crystallinity of the ZnO-decorated TiO 2 nanotubes were inspected via scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The photovoltaic efficiencies of fabricated DSSCs were characterized by a solar cell measurement system. In addition, we evaluated the kinetics of the photoelectrochemical phenomena in DSSCs via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with a focus on exploring the electron lifetime and internal resistance of the cells in a quantitative manner based on an equivalent circuit model. It was found that the photovoltaic efficiency of DSSCs with ZnO-decorated TiO 2 nanotubes for 50 s was improved by more than 60%, compared to DSSCs with as-prepared TiO 2 nanotubes. This improvement is ascribed to increased dye loading and photocurrent density.

Large SRAMs are the practical bottleneck to achieve a low supply voltage, because they suffer from process variation-induced bit errors at a low supply voltage. In this paper, we present an error-resilient cache architecture that resolves the drawback of previous approaches, i.e., the performance degradation at a low supply voltage which is caused by cache misses in accesses to faulty resources. We utilize cache access locality and error-free resources in a cost-effective manner. First, we classify cache lines into fully and partially accessed groups and apply appropriate methods to each group. For the partially accessed group, we propose a method of matching memory access behavior and error locations with intra-cache line word-level remapping. In order to reduce the area overhead used to store the cache access information history, we present an access pattern-learning line-fill buffer (LFB). For the fully accessed group, we propose the utilization of error-free assist functions in the cache, i.e., a LFB and victim cache with no process variation-induced error at the target minimum supply voltage. We also present an error-aware prefetch method that allows us to utilize the error-free victim cache to achieve a further reduction in cache misses due to faulty resources. Experimental results show that the proposed method gives an average 32.6% reduction in cycles per instruction at an error rate of 0.2% with a small area overhead of 8.2%.

The effect of the icosahedral phase on the growth behavior of the thin oxide film coated on MgZn 12 Y 1.7 alloy sample by micro arc oxidation (MAO) was studied. During MAO coating in a phosphate electrolyte with a current density of 25 mA/cm 2 , the responding voltage of the present sample gradually increased as the coating time increased up to 80 s. The surface structure observations indicated that the thin oxide film was prone to be formed more easily on the top of the icosahedral phase than on that of the α-Mg phase matrix in the MgZn 12 Y 1.7 alloy sample. This implies that the growth rates of the thin oxide films were different and were also enhanced on the icosahedral phase, which could be explained by the low electrical conductivity of the icosahedral phase itself leading to appreciable micro arcs during MAO coating.

Intensive research studies have revealed that fungal decolorization of dye wastewater is a promising replacement for the current process of dye wastewater decolorization. The authors isolated an Aspergillus sp. from the effluent of a textile industry area in Korea and assessed the effects of a variety of operational parameters on the decolorization of methyl red (MR) by this strain of Aspergillus sp. This Aspergillus sp. was then immobilized by entrapment in several polymeric matrices and the effects of operational conditions on MR decolorization were investigated again. The optimal decolorization activity of this Aspergillus sp. was observed in 1% glucose at a temperature of 37 °C and pH of 6.0. Furthermore, stable decolorization efficiency was observed when fungal biomass was immobilized into alginate gel during repeated batch experiment. These results suggest that the Aspergillus sp. isolated in Korea could be used to treat industrial wastewaters containing MR dye.

Obesity is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic inflammation and dyslipidemia and is a strong predictor for the development of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. This study examined the antiobesity effect of an ethanol extract of Corni Fructus containing formulation (CDAP), which is a combination of four natural components: Corni Fructus, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, and Platycodonis Radix. The cellular lipid content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was assessed by Oil Red O staining. Expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ(PPAR-γ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α(C/EBP-α), and lipin-1 were determined by real-time RT-PCR. Western blot was used to determine the protein levels of PPAR-γ, C/EBP-α, and AMP-activated protein kinase-α(AMPK-α). The CDAP extract suppressed the differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes by downregulating cellular induction of PPAR-γ, C/EBP-α, and lipin-1. The CDAP extract also significantly upregulated phosphorylation of AMPK-α. Anin vivostudy showed that CDAP induced weight loss in mice with high-fat-diet-induced obesity. These results indicate that CDAP has a potent anti-obesity effect due to the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis.

Background Herbal medicines have been used in cancer treatment, with many exhibiting favorable side effect and toxicity profiles compared with conventional chemotherapeutic agents. SH003 is a novel extract from Astragalus membranaceus, Angelica gigas, and Trichosanthes Kirilowii Maximowicz combined at a 1:1:1 ratio that impairs the growth of breast cancer cells. This study investigates anti-cancer effects of SH003 in prostate cancer cells. Methods SH003 extract in 30% ethanol was used to treat the prostate cancer cell lines DU145, LNCaP, and PC-3. Cell viability was determined by MTT and BrdU incorporation assays. Next, apoptotic cell death was determined by Annexin V and 7-AAD double staining methods. Western blotting was conducted to measure protein expression levels of components of cell death and signaling pathways. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured using H2DCF-DA. Plasmid-mediated ERK2 overexpression in DU145 cells was used to examine the effect of rescuing ERK2 function. Results were analyzed using the Student’s t-test and P-values

Objective Melanin is a black or brown phenolic polymer present mainly in skin and hair. Although melanin can be degraded by some microbial species, the melanin degradation capacity of Geotrichum sp. is unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize a melanin biodegradation enzyme from Geotrichum sp. Methods In this study, we assessed the melanin degradation activity of Geotrichum sp. in comparison with the major melanin-degrading enzymes, manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP), manganese-independent peroxidase, lignin peroxidase and laccase. Furthermore, the effect of several carbohydrates on melanin degradation by Geotrichum sp. was determined. The MnP enzyme was purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation and Sephadex G-200 column chromatography, and then the conditions for optimal enzymatic activity were determined by adjusting the pH, temperature and Tween-80 concentration. Results Compared with extracellular ligninolytic enzymes of Geotrichum sp., MnP had the highest ligninolytic enzyme activity; and the highest enzymatic activity was observed in the presence of glucose. The final purified MnP enzyme exhibited 6 U mL−1 activity and had a molecular weight of 54.2 kDa. The enzymatic activity was highest at pH 4.5 and 25–35°C in the absence of Tween-80. Conclusion These results indicate the potential of MnP purified from Geotrichum sp. as a skin-lightening agent in the cosmetic industry.

We examined the protective effects ofAngelica acutilobaKitagawa (AAK) extract on a murine model of acute experimental colitis. Colitis was induced by 4% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in the drinking water of male C57BL/6 mice, for 7 consecutive days. Oral administration of AAK extract (500 mg/kg/day) significantly alleviated DSS-induced symptoms such as anorexia, weight loss, events of diarrhea or bloody stools, and colon shortening. Histological damage was also ameliorated, as evidenced by the architectural preservation and suppression of inflammatory cell infiltration in colonic samples. Treatment improved the colonic mRNA expression of different inflammatory markers: cytokines, inducible enzymes, matrix metalloproteinases, and tight junction-related proteins. In the isolated serum, IgE levels were downregulated. Collectively, these findings indicate the therapeutic potentials of AAK as an effective complementary or alternative modality for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process was used to incorporate TiO2 and ZrO2 particles into a magnesium oxide layer. Whereas incorporated ZrO2 particles were clearly observed in the PEO-treated oxide layer, TiO2 particles were scarce in the oxide layer because the temperature of the plasma was between the melting temperature of the TiO2 particles and that of the ZrO2 particles. XRD patterns, TEM images, and SAED patterns also provided strong evidence that the TiO2 particles were melted or transformed, which generated a new ternary oxide phase, MgxTiyO. Because cubic ZrO2 was not observed and could possibly exist at a temperature greater than 2643 K, which was the temperature for the phase transformation to the cubic structure, the temperature of the oxide melted by plasma was estimated to be in the range of 2116–2643 K.

The influence of the incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the coating structure of aluminum alloy processed by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) has been studied as a function of the current density. A series of PEO coatings was applied in a silicate-electrolyte containing CNTs at three current densities, such as 50, 100, and 150 mA/cm 2 . As the current density increased, the responding voltage also increased due to a gradual increment in the amount of CNTs incorporated uniformly into the coating film. In addition, a number of CNTs were observed mainly near micro-pores formed in the coating film by plasma explosive arcs, resulting in a fairly uniform coating structure with a low density of micro-pores. This phenomenon was discussed based on the electrophoretic activity of CNTs.