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SnO 2 /ZnS nanocomposites of SnO 2 quantum dots (QDs)-deposited ZnS nanorods having highly enhanced photocatalytic activity and photostability have been fabricated via a facile two-step hydrazine-assisted hydrothermal process without involving any surface treatments. The photocatalytic activity of SnO 2 /ZnS nanocomposites with a Sn-to-Zn molar ratio (R Sn/Zn ) of 0.1 is 3 times higher than that of pristine ZnS nanorods and 17 times higher than that of commercial ZnS. The incorporation of SnO 2 QDs increases the photocatalytic efficiency of ZnS nanorods due to the following reasons: photogenerated charge carriers are readily separated owing to type II band configuration and direct contact at interfaces without having any linker molecules; active surface sites are increased to adsorb more dye molecules; the light absorption range is extended to the visible region, generating more charge carriers on the surfaces of heterojunction structures. The decay time, as well as the intensity, of the band-edge emission of SnO 2 /ZnS nanocomposites at 325 nm decreases progressively and rapidly with the increase of R Sn/Zn , indicating that fast electron transfer takes place from photoexcited ZnS nanorods to SnO 2 QDs. Thus, the higher photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of SnO 2 /ZnS nanocomposites are considered to result mainly from the increased separation rates of photogenerated charges. The photostability of SnO 2 /ZnS nanocomposites is also improved due to the protection and charge-separation effects of decorating SnO 2 QDs. Our prepared SnO 2 /ZnS nanocomposites are suggested to have great potential for photodegradation nanocatalysts in the field of waste-water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A level-set (LS) method is presented for computation of ultrasound-driven bubble motion including the effect of liquid and vapor compressibility as well as the effect of liquid–vapor phase change. The semi-implicit pressure correction formulation is implemented into the LS method to avoid the serous time-step restriction in low Mach number (or near incompressible) flows. The numerical results for one-dimensional compressible flows and spherical bubble motion in a periodic acoustic field show good agreement with the analytical solutions. The effects of phase change and ambient temperature on the ultrasound-driven bubble motion are quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Social work curriculum that offers an optimistic perspective on aging has the potential to help social work students go on to practice in a nondiscriminatory way with older adults. This study introduces social work students to the productive aging concept, an optimistic view to social potential in later life, in lecture format and assesses postlecture changes in their perceptions of older adults. Seventy-two students (16 BSW; 56 MSW) were recruited from a large university in the southeast United States to participate in a lecture on productive aging. A one-group pretest–posttest design was used, and a paired samplesttest (n= 72) was used to analyze changes in social work students’ perceptions toward older adults. Negative attitudes toward older adults decreased and positive attitudes toward older adults increased among students following their participation in the lecture on productive aging. This finding suggests the productive aging concept may favorably influence student perceptions of older adults. Future research should aim to investigate ways in which these changes in perception at the college level can translate and self-sustain in social work practice for social work students postgraduation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Various industrial activities generate highly acidic wastewaters, posing a particular concern due to their large volume, environmental impact, and limited disposal options. Nanofiltration (NF) has the potential to provide energy-, cost-, and space-effective solutions for wastewater treatment at industrial sites. However, conventional thin-film composite NF membranes degrade under acid exposures, largely limiting their applications in industrial wastewater treatment. Development of chemically robust NF membranes that are stable during operation with highly acidic feed streams has been a subject of active research and industrial interest. In this critical review, we first provide a comprehensive survey for the broad spectrum of industrial processes that yield acidic wastewaters. We then conduct in-depth analyses for short- and long-term rejection performances and stabilities of commercial NF membranes, especially under low solution pH conditions. Several key mechanisms responsible for the degradation of semi-aromatic polyamide networks by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis are discussed to highlight the limitation of commercially available NF membranes. Finally, we describe a wide variety of technical strategies to fabricate acid-resistant NF membranes, focusing on the key mechanism to enhance acid stability. We conclude by providing useful insights to guide the future directions for academic studies as well as industrial applications of acid-resistant NF membranes. [Display omitted] • Performances of NF/RO membranes under acidic conditions were analyzed. • Fundamental mechanisms of acid-catalyzed degradation were described. • Recent fabrication strategies for acid-resistance NF membranes were discussed. • Future directions for acid-resistance NF membrane applications were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Closed-form load distribution solutions for calculation of the loads exerted by the rolling elements on the outer raceway in cylindrical and spherical roller bearings under radial loading are proposed. The analytical solutions are derived from the non-conforming contact solution of Hertz and the conforming contact solution of Persson. The maximum pressures due to the maximum loads of the rolling elements calculated from the analytical solutions are within a few percents of the results from the corresponding two-dimensional and three-dimensional finite element analyses. A simple method to estimate the fatigue lives of bearings based on the analytical solutions is also presented for engineers to compare the fatigue performance of bearings with different designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel hollow fiber nanofiltration (HFNF) was investigated for treating real Cijengkol river water in Indonesia. Ultrafiltration (UF) pretreatment was performed to evaluate the effect of UF on the HFNF performance. The water quality of the raw water and permeate of the UF, HFNF, and UF-HFNF hybrid was first characterized. UF could remove only solids, while both nanofiltration (NF) and the UF-NF hybrid achieved a high removal efficiency for impurities in river water, meeting the standards for drinking water quality. However, severe organic fouling occurred in the HFNF membranes. To effectively control organic fouling, various cleaning methods were investigated, and then the analyses of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and fluorescence excitation emission matrix (FEEM) were conducted on backwashing wastewater to identify the cleaning mechanism. First, hydraulic flushing and backwashing were evaluated, and both methods achieved higher than 90% efficiency particularly for high-molecular-weight organic foulants (>1000 Da). However, the cleaning efficiency decreased during long-term operation because of the low removal efficiency of low-molecular-weight (LMW) organics. Hence, chemically enhanced backwashing (CEBW) (i.e., 5 ppm and 10 ppm NaOCl) was employed to enhance the cleaning efficiency. The results showed that membrane fouling was easily controlled by CEBW with 95% removal efficiency. To reduce the usage of chemicals, CO 2 scouring, and CO 2 nucleation backwashing were also examined. CO 2 nucleation backwashing exhibited a better efficiency than CO 2 scouring because of the additional effect of CO 2 nucleation on the HFNF membrane surface. Interestingly, a relatively high removal efficiency for fulvic acid-like organic fouling was observed in both CEBW and CO 2 nucleation backwashing, whereas tryptophan and tyrosine-like proteins, soluble microbial products (SMPs), and humic-like organics were hardly removed by acidic condition (pH < 6.5) or high shear force, leading to a low cleaning efficiency of CO 2 nucleation backwashing. [Display omitted] • Indonesia river water was treated by novel hollow fiber nanofiltration membrane. • The dominant membrane fouling was due to low molecular weight organic fouling. • Periodical hydraulic backwashing and CO 2 scouring can replace pretreatment. • Hydraulic backwashing removes only high molecular weight organic foulants. • Chemical and CO 2 backwashing can remove low molecular weight organic fouling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) often needs to be conducted under extreme conditions in the chemical and food industries. In this work, we fabricated polybenzimidazole (PBI)-based OSN membranes that possess excellent stability under strongly basic conditions at pH 13. Two crosslinked PBI membranes were prepared by treating pristine PBI membranes with two epoxy-containing crosslinkers. Various permeation and characterization tests were performed to investigate the resistance of the membranes to solvents and basic environments. Both crosslinked membranes displayed reasonable permeance in pure solvents at room temperature under 10 bar operating pressure, along with a sharp molecular discrimination performance in ethanol environments. The crosslinked PBI membranes were found to be stable and did not completely lose their separation properties at high pH, although the effective pore size of the membranes increased presumably due to swelling. The separation performance of the membranes was found to be reversible between filtrations of neutral and basic aqueous solutions. Therefore, our crosslinked PBI membranes, which display exceptional stability, hold great potential for applications in OSN under basic conditions. [Display omitted] • Polybenzimidazole (PBI) OSN membranes were fabricated using crosslinkers containing epoxy groups at both ends. • The OSN performance of PBI membrane was found to be controlled by the structures of the crosslinkers. • The crosslinked PBI membranes exhibited a sharp molecular separation performance in organic solvents. • The crosslinked PBI membranes showed an outstanding chemical resistance under strongly basic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power-to-methane (PtM) coupled with renewables requires an energy buffer to ensure a steady and flexible operation. Liquid CO 2 energy storage (LCES) is an emerging energy storage concept with considerable round-trip efficiency (53.5%) and energy density (47.6 kWh/m3) and can be used as both an energy and material (i.e., CO 2) buffer in the PtM process. Integration of LCES with the PtM process realizes co-production of methane and electricity, supports peak shaving of the power grid, and enhances profitability via the sale of electricity at peak hours. This study aims to design, optimize, and comprehensively evaluate the techno-economic performance of the PtM-LCES process using a renewable power mix of solar and wind. A process scheduling model is formulated to understand the impacts of storage sizing and power allocation on the process performance. Then, artificial neural network-based surrogate optimization was performed to establish a cost-optimal design. Investigation at Kramer Junction, California, found that the production cost of methane was 161.6 €/MWh with an efficiency of 76.2% and a renewables penetration of 78.7%. This cost could be reduced by improving LCES's performance and considering electricity price arbitrage in areas with high electricity prices. The electricity price arbitrage and improvement of LCES's performance could lower the cost to 83.8 and ∼60 €/MWh, respectively. Moreover, zero or negative carbon emissions can be achieved if the renewables penetration can be increased to 91.5%. Results indicate that the PtM-LCES process is both energy efficient and economically viable, through which renewable methane can be cost-competitive with fossil natural gas. • Power-to-Methane coupled with renewables via liquid CO 2 energy storage. • Process flexible operation achieved by a bidirectional connection with the grid. • Energy- and cost-efficient production of methane in a continuous manner. • Costs of methane in different scenarios range from 60 to 161.6 €/MWh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • On-site hydrogen refueling stations require efficient catalysts/reactors. • Intrinsic kinetics of Ru catalysts were estimated using a parametric estimation. • New multistage (two- and three-stage) reactor designs were proposed. • Multistage reactors showed less temperature drop (better reactor stability). • Three-stage reactor can improve hydrogen production and conversion. In recent years, interest in the development of a hydrogen economy has increased, and the steam methane reforming (SMR) reaction, which yields so-called "gray" hydrogen, is expected to play a key role in hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) in the interim before "green" hydrogen process is developed. For this purpose, compact and economical designs for small- to medium-scale SMR processes for HRSs are required. Herein, we investigated the intrinsic kinetics of a Ru-based catalyst using catalyst experiments and parametric estimation. In addition, reactor modelling was performed using a kinetic model with a special focus on multistage reactor configurations. The proposed reactor design showed an increase in the reactor energy supplied rate from 6.98 to 7.55 kW compared to the base case (single-stage reactor), and the conversion increased from 86.2% to 91.2%. Further, the drastic temperature drop owing to the strongly endothermic nature of the SMR reaction was reduced, and, thus, reactor stability was improved. The proposed novel design of a multistage reactor using a Ru-based catalyst will advance the development of the hydrogen economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propiconazole (PRO) is a triazole fungicide that is frequently detected in the water. In this study, we investigated the kinetics and degradation mechanism of PRO during the UV photolysis and UV/H 2 O 2 processes. PRO was removed by the pseudo-first-order kinetics in both processes. The removal of PRO was enhanced by increasing H 2 O 2 concentration in the UV/H 2 O 2 process. The highest removal under neutral conditions, and lower removal of PRO were observed in acidic and alkaline pHs in the UV/H 2 O 2 process. The presence of natural water ingredients such as Cl−, NO 3 −, humic acid acted as radical scavengers, but HCO 3 − ion acted as both radical promoter and scavenger in the UV/H 2 O 2 process. The transformation products (TPs) of PRO during both processes were identified using LC-QTOF/MS. Four TPs ([M+H]+ = 238, 256, 306, and 324) were identified during UV photolysis, and six TPs ([M+H]+ = 238, 256, 306, 324, 356, and 358) were identified in the UV/H 2 O 2 process. Among the identified TPs, TP with [M+H]+ values of 356 and 358 were newly identified in the UV/H 2 O 2 process. In addition, ionic byproducts, such as Cl−, NO 3 −, formate (HCOO−), and acetate (CH 3 COO−), were newly identified, indicating that significant mineralization was achieved in the UV/H 2 O 2 process. Based on the identified TPs and ionic byproducts, the degradation mechanisms of PRO during two processes were proposed. The major reactions in both processes were ring cleavage and cyclization, and hydroxylation by OH radicals. The Microtox test with Vibrio fischeri showed that, while the toxicity of the reaction solution increased first, then gradually decreased during UV photolysis, the UV/H 2 O 2 process initially increased toxicity at 10 min due to the production of TPs, but toxicity was completely removed as the reaction progressed. The results obtained in this study imply that the UV/H 2 O 2 process is an effective treatment for eliminating PRO, its TPs, and the resulting toxicity in water. [Display omitted] • Degradation of propiconazole (PRO) in UV photolysis and UV/H 2 O 2 were examined. • The water components mostly acted as radical scavengers in the UV/H 2 O 2 reaction. • Six transformation products (TPs) of PRO during both processes were identified. • Ionic byproducts as mineralization were identified in the UV/H 2 O 2 process. • The degradation mechanisms of PRO during two processes were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ∙ Researchers should pay more attention to single mother-headed households who may be at higher risk of the intergenerational transmission of inequity. • ∙ A new framework is necessary to understand intergenerational economic mobility between single mothers and their young adult children. • ∙ It is imperative to consider the role of educational attainment when examining intergenerational economic mobility between single mothers and their young adult children. This study examines the underlying pathway of intergenerational economic mobility within single mother-headed families by considering the mediating role of young adult children's educational attainment. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 79 for Children and Young Adults (NLSY79 CY) were used to pair data from single mothers and their young adult children. A total of 3,139 single mother and young adult children pairs were chosen for analysis. Ordinary least squares and logistic regression analysis were employed to examine the mediation model. Single mothers' poverty status was negatively associated with both their young adult children's educational attainment and income. The young adult children's educational attainment was positively related to their income. Results showed a full mediation of the relationship between single mothers' poverty status and their young adult children's income via their young adult children's educational attainment. Researchers should pay more attention to single mother-headed households who may be at higher risk of the intergenerational transmission of inequity. A new framework is necessary to understand intergenerational economic mobility between single mothers and their young adult children. It is imperative to consider the role of educational attainment when examining intergenerational economic mobility between single mothers and their young adult children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stationary contact line formation and particle deposition in the evaporation regime of dip coating is investigated numerically by solving the conservation equations of mass, momentum, energy, vapor mass fraction, and particle concentration. A sharp-interface level-set method for tracking the liquid–gas interface is extended to include the effect of phase change and to treat the particle deposition as well as the liquid–gas–solid contact line on a moving substrate. The computations demonstrate that the particle deposition occurs spontaneously near the stationary contact line and the deposition thickness depends on the deposition rate constant and the substrate withdrawal velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical simulation is performed for stick-slip contact line motion and particle line formation in dip coating. The liquid–gas interface as well as the liquid–gas–solid contact line is tracked by a sharp-interface level-set method, which is extended to include the effect of phase change, to implement the contact angle model for the stick-slip contact line motion, and to treat the particle deposition on a moving substrate. The computations demonstrate that the particle line formation is directly related to the stick-slip contact line motion. The effects of initial particle concentration, substrate withdrawal velocity, substrate temperature and contact angle on the particle line formation in dip coating are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methyl-functionalized mesoporous silica SBA-15, synthesized from tetraethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS) and methyltriethoxysilane (MTES), were employed as additives for the enhancement of volumetric mass transfer coefficient ( k L a ) of methane in aqueous solution. The surface functional group, highly ordered structure, and exceptionally high surface area exerted great influence on mass transfer rate of methane in aqueous solution. Especially, the fraction of surface functional groups controlled by adjusting the ratio of TEOS to MTES was found to be a crucial factor. Mesoporous characteristics of synthesized materials were investigated via BET surface area analysis, small angle X-ray diffraction, and FT-IR spectroscopy. At an optimal molar ratio (20:1) of TEOS and MTES, an 88% enhancement of k L a for methane in water was observed at 30 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical simulation is performed for liquid film formation and evaporation on a moving vertical plate, which occurs in dip coating. The liquid–gas interface is tracked by a sharp-interface level-set (LS) method, which is modified to include the effect of phase change at the interface. Numerical techniques for the liquid–gas–solid contact line on a moving plate and the conservation of particle concentration are incorporated into the LS method. The flow and thermal characteristics associated with the dip coating are investigated by solving the conservation equations of mass, momentum, energy, vapor mass fraction, and particle concentration. The effects of plate velocity and temperature on the dip coating process are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) is a plastic material that can be mass produced from naturally abundant carbon dioxide. This polymer is also known to decompose back to CO 2 when heated above about 200 °C. Here we report that the CO 2 -generation temperature of PPC can be reduced down to the 40–80 °C range in aqueous environment by using a photoacid generator (PAG) as the catalyst for activating the random scission reaction of PPC. We also investigated the thermal degradation of a PPC-based amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate)-poly(propylene carbonate)-poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (PPEGMA-PPC-PPEGMA). These triblock copolymers form stable small-sized (<200 nm) micelles in water. We found evidence that with the aid of added PAG these micelles can degrade under mild heating conditions (<80 °C), similarly to what is expected from PPC homopolymer experiments. The combined results suggest that PPC-based amphiphilic block copolymers might be of interest for applications in ultrasound contrast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theta-phase gamma-amplitude coupling (TGC) between slow and fast oscillations is considered to represent cortico-subcortical interactions. The purpose of this electroencephalographic (EEG) study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of TGC by comparing the power spectra and TGC at rest between ADHD and control children. Nineteen-channel EEGs were recorded from 97 volunteers (including 53 subjects with ADHD attending a camp for hyperactive children). The EEG power spectra and TGC data were analyzed. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted on the quantitative EEG results between the groups to adjust for sex. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to examine the discriminating ability of each parameter for ADHD diagnosis. The ADHD group exhibited significantly decreased TGC in multiple areas, including frontal (Fp1, F3, F7, F6), temporal (T3), and occipital (O2) areas, compared with the control group. The ROC analysis performed on the TGC data generated the most accurate result among the EEG measures, with an overall classification accuracy of 71.7%. TGC, which reflects the degree of neuronal interactions between functional systems, provides information about an individual's attentional network. Therefore, resting-state TGC is a promising neurophysiological marker of ADHD in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroanalytical and optical techniques are widely used in the development of nanomaterials-based sensor platforms. These techniques have a quick response, high sensitivity, and selectivity. Electroanalytical and optical techniques are widely used in the development of nanomaterial-based sensor platforms. These sensors must be able to detect biomarkers, pathogens, toxins, and pharmaceuticals in biological matrices associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Considering these pathophysiologies, numerous investigations have been undertaken to develop sensors for early diagnosis and treatment, utilizing nanomaterials such as quantum dots. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which are ideally nanometer-sized graphene fragments, have recently received increased attention due to their excellent physicochemical properties such as fast electron mobility, photostability, water solubility, biocompatibility, high specific surface area, and nontoxicity. Apart from the properties mentioned above, GQDs provide π–π interactions, electrostatic, and covalent interactions with an analyte, and ease of synthesis as well as the ability to combine with other nanomaterials, which have enabled their use in various sensing platforms. This review summarizes recent advances in GQDs-based nanocomposites for sensor applications, with a focus on electroanalytical and optical techniques, as well as current challenges and future prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern chemical engineering, various derivative-free optimization (DFO) studies have been conducted to identify operating conditions that maximize energy efficiency for efficient operation of processes. Although DFO algorithm selection is an essential task that leads to successful designs, it is a nonintuitive task because of the uncertain performance of the algorithms. In particular, when the system evaluation cost or computational load is high (e.g., density functional theory and computational fluid dynamics), selecting an algorithm that quickly converges to the near-global optimum at the early stage of optimization is more important. In this study, we compare the optimization performance in the early stage of 12 algorithms. The performance of deterministic global search algorithms, global model-based search algorithms, metaheuristic algorithms, and Bayesian optimization is compared by applying benchmark problems and analyzed based on the problem types and number of variables. Furthermore, we apply all algorithms to the energy process optimization that maximizes the thermal efficiency of the steam methane reforming (SMR) process for hydrogen production. In this application, we have identified a hidden constraint based on real-world operations, and we are addressing it by using a penalty function. Bayesian optimizations explore the design space most efficiently by training infeasible regions. As a result, we have observed a substantial improvement in thermal efficiency of 12.9% compared to the base case and 7% improvement when compared to the lowest performing algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, hydrogen is produced primarily through steam methane reforming, a gray hydrogen production process that generates CO 2 as a by-product. Thus, it is crucial to optimize the process thermal efficiency with minimizing CO 2 generation in a hydrogen production process. This study focuses on the multi-objective optimization of low-carbon hydrogen production process, considering both process thermal efficiency maximization and CO 2 emission minimization. To this end, a hybrid deep neural network model is developed to increase the robustness of the multi-objective optimization. The developed hybrid deep neural network model is incorporated into a proposed multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm that performs Pareto dominance-based multi-objective optimization. In experiments conducted, Pareto-optimal solutions with thermal efficiency distribution between 77.5 and 87.0% and CO 2 emissions between 577.9 and 597.6 t/y were obtained. Furthermore, the Pareto-optimal front was analyzed to provide various representative solutions to assist decision-makers. The findings of this study can enable efficient and flexible process operations according to various requirements. [Display omitted] • Low-carbon hydrogen production from an on-site steam methane reforming process. • Multi-objective optimization of thermal efficiency and CO 2 emission simultaneously. • Multi-objective particle swarm optimization for Pareto dominance-based optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceria slurries are used in the oxide chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process due to their high polishing performance and selectivity characteristics. However, it takes great effort to remove small ceria particles that remain on the wafer surface during the post-CMP cleaning process. Therefore, we applied tangential flow filtration (TFF) systems, which can be used to separate small ceria particles before CMP process. In a previous study, we improved the post-CMP cleaning efficiency of the ceria slurry with a circulation-type TFF system. Herein, the correlations between the separation rate of ceria particles and parameters affecting the TFF system, such as membrane pore size, flow rate, and transmembrane pressure (TMP), were evaluated to improve buff cleaning efficiency. Finally, we also fabricated a single-pass TFF system to reduce the process time and loss of active ceria particles. With the single-pass TFF system, the basic properties and polishing performance of the ceria slurry did not change. In addition, the buff cleaning efficiency improved by up to 18.1%. [Display omitted] • The TFF system was applied to improve buff cleaning by separating the small ceria particles (<50 nm) in the slurry. • The correlation between the separation rate and TFF system parameters was investigated. • The single-pass type TFF system was fabricated to shorten the process time and minimize the loss of active ceria particles. • With the single-pass type TFF system, the buff cleaning efficiency was improved and showed similar performance to SC-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical simulation is performed for subcooled flow boiling in a channel, which is applicable to thermal control for high-power devices. The bubble shape is tracked by a sharp-interface level-set method, which is modified to include the effect of phase change. The flow and thermal characteristics associated with bubble growth and collapse are investigated by solving the conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy in fluid region and the conduction equation in the solid region. The boiling heat transfer is quantified by varying the liquid subcooling and inlet velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer cells use glucose and glutamine to facilitate cell growth and proliferation, a process coined “metabolic reprograming” – an emerging hallmark of cancer. Inside the cell, these nutrients synergize to produce metabolic building blocks, such as nucleic acids, lipids and proteins, as well as energy (ATP), glutathione and reducing equivalents (NADPH), required for survival, growth and proliferation. Intense research aimed at understanding the underlying cause of the metabolic rewiring has revealed that established oncogenes and tumor suppressors involved in signaling alter cellular metabolism to contribute to the transition from a normal quiescent cell to a rapidly proliferating cancer cell. Likewise,bona fidemetabolic sensors are emerging as regulators of tumorigenesis. This review will focus on one such family of sensors, sirtuins, which utilize NAD+as a cofactor to catalyze deacetylation, deacylation and ADP-ribosylation of their protein substrates. In this review, we will enumerate how cancer cell metabolism is different from a normal quiescent cell and highlight the emerging role of mitochondrial sirtuin signaling in the regulation of tumor metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Long-lived “memory-like” NK cells have been identified in individuals infected by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), but little is known about how the memory-like NK cell pool is formed. Here, we have shown that HCMV-infected individuals have several distinct subsets of memory-like NK cells that are often deficient for multiple transcription factors and signaling proteins, including tyrosine kinase SYK, for which the reduced expression was stable over time and correlated with epigenetic modification of the gene promoter. Deficient expression of these proteins was largely confined to the recently discovered FcRγ-deficient NK cells that display enhanced antibody-dependent functional activity. Importantly, FcRγ-deficient NK cells exhibited robust preferential expansion in response to virus-infected cells (both HCMV and influenza) in an antibody-dependent manner. These findings suggest that the memory-like NK cell pool is shaped and maintained by a mechanism that involves both epigenetic modification of gene expression and antibody-dependent expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Continuous Performance Test (CPT) is a valuable tool for assessing behavior in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) is a promising tool for the diagnosis of ADHD. Recently, theta-phase gamma-amplitude coupling (TGC) measurement has received attention because it is a feasible method of assessing brain function. We investigated the relationship between CPT performance and EEG measures such as TGC and theta and gamma activity. EEGs were recorded from 68 volunteers from a camp for hyperactive children using a 19-electrode system. Their TGC, theta and 40 Hz gamma activity were estimated and compared with results obtained on the Korean ADHD Rating Scale (KARS) and the Intermediate Visual and Auditory (IVA) CPT. The results demonstrated significant negative partial correlations between TGC and the IVA CPT, such as the Response Control Quotient (RCQ) and Attention Quotient (AQ). TGC successfully identified the level of dysfunctional interaction of the attention/arousal system at a multi-scale large network level. It is thought that as the TGC increases, the efficacy of the system is very low or dysfunctional. Compensatory hyper-arousal patterns of the dysfunctional attention/arousal system may account for this effect. TGC is a promising neurophysiological marker for ADHD behavior in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sharp-interface level-set (LS) method is presented for computing particle motion in an evaporating microdroplet. The LS formulation for incompressible two-phase flow is extended to include the effects of evaporation, mass transfer, heat transfer, and dynamic contact angles. A numerical technique for the conservation of particle concentration is incorporated into the LS method, and calculation procedures are also developed and tested for reducing the numerical errors caused in the computation of interface curvature and liquid–gas velocity jump. The improved LS method is applied to the simulation of particle distribution in microdroplet evaporation on a solid surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precious metal-free electrocatalysts are essential for green hydrogen using low-cost electrolysis technology for future power supply systems. In this regard, anion-exchange membrane (AEM) electrolysis is the technology of best choice due to its compactness and high efficiency. Here, we proposed a low cost electrocatalyst composed of cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles decorated in a Cobalt-based metal-organic framework (CdS/ZIF-67), synthesized using a simple coprecipitation method. Compared with pristine Cobalt-based metal-organic framework (ZIF-67), 5 wt%CdS/ZIF-67 has excellent electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction activity, low overpotential (294 mV), low Tafel-slope (100 mV dec−1), higher mass activity (25.8 mA mg−1), and better stability. The AEM electrolyzer with the 5 wt%CdS/ZIF-67 anode can attain a potential of 1.85 V at a current-density of 1 A cm−2, which is lower than that of bare Cobalt-based metal-organic framework electrolyzers. Thus, these catalysts are not only very active but also scalable, making them a promising electrolyzer for application in commercial power market. [Display omitted] • CdS nanoparticle embedded in Cobalt-based metal-organic framework nanostructures. • The electrocatalytic OER activity of ZIF-67 was enhanced by CdS (5 wt%) nanoparticles. • 5 wt%CdS/ZIF-67 electrocatalysts showed a superior activity in AEM electrolyzer. • This noble metal-free nanocomposite has more efficiency and stability towards OER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of four polymers containing benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (BDT) and 5,6-difluoro-4,7-diiodobenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (2FBT), PBDT2FBT, PBDT2FBT-O, PBDT2FBT-T, and PBDT2FBT-T-O, are synthesized with their four different side chains, alkyl-, alkoxy-, alkylthienyl-, and alkoxythienyl. Experimental results and theoretical calculations show that the molecular tuning of the side chains simultaneously influences the solubilities, energy levels, light absorption, surface tension, and intermolecular packing of the resulting polymers by altering their molecular coplanarity and electron affinity. The polymer solar cell (PSC) based on a blend of PBDT2FBT-T/[6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) exhibits the best photovoltaic performance of the four PBDT2FBT derivatives, with a high open-circuit voltage of 0.98 V and a power conversion efficiency of 6.37%, without any processing additives, post-treatments, or optical spacers. Furthermore, PBDT2FBT-T-O, which has a novel side chain alkoxythienyl, showed promising properties with the most red-shifted absorption and strong intermolecular packing property in solid state. This study provides insight into molecular design and fabrication strategies via structural tuning of the side chains of conjugated polymers for achieving highly efficient PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Mesoporous SiO2-coated gold nanorods have been irradiated by a Xe lamp for 2h. [•] Irradiated nanocatalysts exhibit superior catalytic performances and reusability. [•] Improved catalytic activity is due to surface atom restructuring by light treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: Many researchers have reported a relationship between Internet addiction and depression. In the present study, we compared the resting-state quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) activity of treatment-seeking patients with comorbid Internet addiction and depression with those of treatment-seeking patients with Internet addiction without depression, and healthy controls to investigate the neurobiological markers that differentiate pure Internet addiction from Internet addiction with comorbid depression. Method: Thirty-five patients diagnosed with Internet addiction and 34 age-, sex-, and IQ-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Patients with Internet addiction were divided into two groups according to the presence (N =18) or absence (N =17) of depression. Resting-state, eye-closed QEEG was recorded, and the absolute and relative power of the brain were analyzed. Results: The Internet addiction group without depression had decreased absolute delta and beta powers in all brain regions, whereas the Internet addiction group with depression had increased relative theta and decreased relative alpha power in all regions. These neurophysiological changes were not related to clinical variables. Conclusion: The current findings reflect differential resting-state QEEG patterns between both groups of participants with Internet addiction and healthy controls and also suggest that decreased absolute delta and beta powers are neurobiological markers of Internet addiction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background The electrophysiological inhibitory mechanism of cognitive control for alcohol remains largely unknown. The purpose of the study was to compare electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectra and cross-frequency phase-amplitude coupling ( CFPAC) at rest and during a simple subtraction task after acute alcohol ingestion. Methods Twenty-one healthy subjects participated in this study. Two experiments were performed 1 week apart, and the order of the experiments was randomly assigned to each subject. During the experiments, each subject was provided with orange juice containing alcohol or orange juice only. We recorded EEG activity and analyzed power spectra and CFPAC data. Results The results showed prominent theta-phase gamma-amplitude coupling at the frontal and parietal electrodes at rest. This effect was significantly reduced after alcohol ingestion. Conclusions Our findings suggest that theta-phase gamma-amplitude coupling is deficiently synchronized at rest after alcohol ingestion. Therefore, cross-frequency coupling could be a useful tool for studying the effects of alcohol on the brain and investigating alcohol addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] SiO2-coated Ag/Au nanoboxes were synthesized via galvanic replacement. [•] The nanoboxes catalyze the degradation of 4-nitrophenol efficiently. [•] The catalytic reaction occurs on the inner and the outer surfaces of the nanoboxes. [•] Catalytic performances were sustained after being recycled repeatedly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The cross-frequency phase–amplitude coupling may be successfully adapted to the scalp resting EEG. [•] There are significant correlations between cross-frequency phase–amplitude couplings and the measures of risk-taking propensity. [•] It is suggested that the cross-frequency phase–amplitude coupling could be a promising indicator for diagnosing the tendency to take risks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

During chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) for a dielectric layer, Ce3+, which is the active site on the surface of ceria, has a significant effect on the material removal rate (MRR). Ceria nanoparticles were synthesized using a hydrothermal method with different dopant concentrations of lanthanide elements (La and Nd) to increase the concentration of Ce3+. An oxygen vacancy was formed in the ceria doped with the trivalent lanthanide ions, which reduced the surrounding Ce4+ to Ce3+. The concentration of Ce3+ increased up to 32.57% when the amounts of dopants were increased and Nd was doped. The improved reactivities of the particles by doping were verified by measuring the reduction of the work function of the doped ceria nanoparticles and the increase in the adhesion force with SiO 2. The polishing performance of Nd-doped ceria at high concentrations achieved an MRR up to 3.62 times higher than those of the comparison groups. [Display omitted] • Via facile hydrothermal method, lanthanide-doped ceria was massively synthesized. • The number of Ce3+ was increased by the formation of oxygen vacancies through doping. • The electrical potential of ceria was enhanced with an increase in the concentration of Ce3+. • The effect of Ce3+ on oxide polishing was discovered from their adhesive interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of carbon capture and storage, deep underground injection of CO induces the geomechanical changes within and around the injection zone and their impact on CO storage security should be evaluated. In this study, we conduct coupled multiphase fluid flow and geomechanical modeling to investigate such geomechanical changes, focusing on probabilistic analysis of injection-induced fracture reactivation (such as shear slip) that could lead to enhanced permeability and CO migration across otherwise low-permeability caprock formations. Fracture reactivation in terms of shear slip was analyzed by implicitly considering the fracture orientations generated using the Latin hypercube sampling method, in one case using published fracture statistics from a CO storage site. The analysis was conducted by a coupled multiphase fluid flow and geomechanical simulation to first calculate the three-dimensional stress evolution during a hypothetical CO injection operation and then evaluate the probability of shear slip considering the statistical fracture distribution and a Coulomb failure analysis. We evaluate the probability of shear slip at different points within the injection zone and in the caprock just above the injection zone and relate this to the potential for opening of new flow paths through the caprock. Our analysis showed that a reverse faulting stress field would be most favorable for avoiding fracture shear reactivation, but site-specific analyses will be required because of strong dependency of the local stress field and fracture orientations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper addresses thermally-induced shear slip, i.e., thermoshearing, and changes in permeability of a deep geological repository in large scale. We present a systematic examination of the thermal stress expected to be generated in the far-field around the repository. The main mechanisms for generation of thermal stress that can affect permeability are; comparatively high horizontal compressive thermal stress at the repository level, vertical tensile thermal stress right above the repository and horizontal tensile stress near the surface, and shear stress at the corners of the repository. Based on thermal loading history, probabilistic shear slip analysis was conducted to investigate the possibility of thermoshearing. Higher probability of shear slip is expected with higher differential thermal stress, and this was highly affected by fracture orientations. Stress paths obtained from the thermo-mechanical analysis were used as stress boundary conditions for Discrete Fracture Network-Discrete Element Method (DFN-DEM) Analysis to investigate the effect of stress changes on permeability. In four out of the six DFN models, normal deformation dominated the closure and opening of fractures, with shear dilation being the dominant factor in the other two models. Changes in permeability caused by shear dilation were not reversed after the repository cooled, which is explained by the irreversible fracture shear deformation after shear slip. This study was conducted on data from the Forsmark site in Sweden, and this analysis has implications for sites that have comparatively large horizontal in-situ stresses and relatively few fractures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Droplet breakup and merging in a microfluidic channel, which are applied to lab-on-a-chip devices for biomedical testing and synthesis, are simulated numerically by solving the conservation equations of mass and momentum. The droplet surface is computed using the volume-of-fluid method of the commercial code FLUENT. The numerical simulation demonstrates that the variation of obstacle geometry in a microchannel determines the droplet breakup pattern and the volume fraction of split droplets. The computation also shows that droplet merging depends on the channel-chamber width ratio. The effect of microchannel and obstacle configuration on the droplet motion is investigated to find the optimal conditions for droplet breakup and merging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the major leading causes of death in humans globally. Recently, increased levels of recruited macrophages and AGE-albumin were observed in the hearts of humans and animals with acute myocardial infarction. Thus, the purposes of this study were to investigate whether the elevated levels of AGE-albumin from activated macrophage cells are implicated in ischemia-induced cardiomyocyte death and to develop therapeutic strategies for AMI based on its underlying molecular mechanisms with respect to AGEs. The present study demonstrated that activated macrophages and AGE-albumin were observed in heart tissues obtained from humans and rats with AMI incidences. In the cellular model of AMI, it was found that increased expression of AGE-albumin was shown to be co-localized with macrophages, and the presence of AGE-albumin led to increased expression of RAGE through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. After revealing cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by toxicity of the AGE-RAGE system, sRAGE-secreting MSCs were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 platform to investigate the therapeutic effects of sRAGE-MSCs in an AMI rat model. Gene-edited sRAGE-MSCs showed greater therapeutic effects against AMI pathogenesis in rat models compared to mock MSCs, and promising results of the functional improvement of stem cells could result in significant improvements in the clinical management of cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It is important that the proportion of true null hypotheses be estimated accurately in a multiple hypothesis context. Current estimation methods, however, are not suitable for high-dimensional data such as microarray data. First, they do not consider the (strong) dependence between hypotheses (or genes), thereby resulting in inaccurate estimation. Second, the unknown distribution of false null hypotheses cannot be estimated properly by these methods. Third, the estimation is affected strongly by outliers. In this paper, we find out the optimal procedure for estimating the proportion of true null hypotheses under a (strong) dependence based on the Dirichlet process prior. In addition, by using the minimum Hellinger distance, the estimation should be robust to any model misspecification as well as to any outliers while maintaining efficiency. The results are confirmed by a simulation study, and the newly developed methodology is illustrated by a real microarray data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Calorie restriction (CR) is a dietary intervention that extends lifespan and healthspan in a variety of organisms. CR improves mitochondrial energy production, fuel oxidation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging in skeletal muscle and other tissues, and these processes are thought to be critical to the benefits of CR. PGC-1α is a transcriptional coactivator that regulates mitochondrial function and is induced by CR. Consequently, many of the mitochondrial and metabolic benefits of CR are attributed to increased PGC-1α activity. To test this model, we examined the metabolic and mitochondrial response to CR in mice lacking skeletal muscle PGC-1α (MKO). Surprisingly, MKO mice demonstrated a normal improvement in glucose homeostasis in response to CR, indicating that skeletal muscle PGC-1α is dispensable for the whole-body benefits of CR. In contrast, gene expression profiling and electron microscopy (EM) demonstrated that PGC-1α is required for the full CR-induced increases in mitochondrial gene expression and mitochondrial density in skeletal muscle. These results demonstrate that PGC-1α is a major regulator of the mitochondrial response to CR in skeletal muscle, but surprisingly show that neither PGC-1α nor mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle are required for the whole-body metabolic benefits of CR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Alpha event-related desynchronization (ERD) and synchronization are known to reflect brain activation and inhibition, respectively. Alpha phase locking seems to reflect the timing in the cortical process. In a previous study, lower alpha ERD was related to working memory in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients than in controls during the retention and retrival phases, but not in the encoding phase. However, memory deficits in OCD patients are known to be related to executive failure during the encoding phase. Thus, focusing on the encoding phase, we tested the level of alpha amplitude and phase locking in OCD patients according to memory load. The EEGs of fifteen OCD patients and fifteen controls were recorded during a Sternberg working memory task. The behavioral performance of the OCD patients was normal. However, the OCD group yielded significantly lower ERD and stronger phase locking. As memory load rose, ERD and phase locking significantly increased in both groups. A difference in event-related alpha oscillation was observed in the encoding phase. Lower alpha modulation in the OCD patient simplied abnormality of the excitatory/inhibitory process in the brain, and increased phase locking might reflect excessive attentional excitability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We used two-wave panel data based on a sample of 137 employees from a small Korean manufacturing company to examine first the discriminant validity of, and then the interaction between perceived organizational support (POS) and perceptions of organizational politics (POP). We focused on the relationships between POS, POP, and three employee work-related outcomes, affective organizational commitment, intention to stay, and individually oriented organizational citizenship behaviour (OCBI). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that POS and POP were distinct constructs. Moreover, time-lagged LISREL estimates showed that POS and POP were differentially related to the three outcomes in a theoretically predictable way. POP did not moderate the relationship between POS and either affective commitment or intention to stay. POS, however, significantly moderated the POP-OCBI relationship. The implications of the results for POS and POP theory and research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in-mold labeling (IML) process has become a popular choice for the exterior decoration of many mobile devices due to its capability of rich color representation with a relatively easy manufacturing procedure. A molten polymer is injected into a cavity where pre-decorated film has been initially inserted. A heterogeneous characteristic of involved material coupled with various processing parameters can induce defects of the final product such as film delamination, wash-out, and flow-mark. In this study, major controlling parameters for the deformation of the final product have been identified with the design of experiment (DOE) method using several nondimensional quantities of temperature, material property, and thickness ratio. MOLDFLOW and ABAQUS software has been simultaneously used to simulate the injection process and thermal impact process, respectively. We found that the thickness ratio is a critical factor on final deformation, and the material property ratio has a relatively minor effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult neural stem cells in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus are negatively and positively regulated by a broad range of environmental stimuli that include aging, stress, social interaction, physical activity, and dietary modulation. Interestingly, dietary regulation has a distinct outcome, such that reduced dietary intake enhances neurogenesis, whereas excess calorie intake by a high-fat diet has a negative effect. As a type of metabolic stress, dietary restriction (DR) is also known to extend life span and increase resistance to age-related neurodegenerative diseases. However, the potential application of DR as a 'neurogenic enhancer' in humans remains problematic because of the severity of restriction and the protracted duration of the treatment required. Therefore, the authors consider that an understanding of the neurogenic mechanisms of DR would provide a basis for the identification of the pharmacological and nutraceutical interventions that mimic the beneficial effects of DR without limiting caloric intake. The current review describes the regulatory effect of DR on hippocampal neurogenesis and presents a possible neurogenic mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we propose an estimation procedure to estimate parameters of joint model when there exists a relationship between cluster size and clustered failure times of subunits within a cluster. We use a joint random effect model of clustered failure times and cluster size. To investigate the possible association, two submodels are connected by a common latent variable. The EM algorithm is applied for the estimation of parameters in the models. Simulation studies are performed to assess the finite sample properties of the estimators. Also, sensitivity tests show the influence of the misspecification of random effect distributions. The methods are applied to a lymphatic filariasis study for adult worm nests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: GaN-based light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) on (111) Si substrates with internal quantum efficiency (IQE) exceeding 50% have been successfully grown by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). 3.5μm thick crack-free GaN epitaxial layers were grown on the Si substrates by the re-growth method on patterned templates. Series of step-graded Al x Ga1−x N epitaxial layers were used as the buffer layers to compensate thermal tensile stresses produced during the post-growth cooling process as well as to reduce the density of threading dislocations (TDs) generated due to the lattice mismatches between III-nitride layers and the silicon substrates. The light-emitting region consisted of 1.8μm thick n-GaN, 3 periods of InGaN/GaN superlattice, InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) designed for a peak wavelength of about 455nm, an electron blocking layer (EBL), and p-GaN. The full-widths at half-maximum (FWHM) of (0002) and (10−12) ω-rocking curves of the GaN epitaxial layers were 410 and 560arcsec, respectively. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation revealed that the propagation of the threading dislocations was mostly limited to the interface between the last Al x Ga1−x N buffer and n-GaN layers. The density of the threading dislocations induced pits of n-GaN, as estimated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), was about 5.5×108 cm−2. Temperature dependent photoluminescence (PL) measurements with a relative intensity integration method were carried out to estimate the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of the light-emitting structures grown on Si, which reached up to 55%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Failure mode of laser welds in lap-shear specimens of high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel sheets is investigated in this paper. The experiments for laser welds in lap-shear specimens under quasi-static loading conditions are briefly reviewed first. The experimental results showed that the laser welds failed in a ductile necking/shear failure mode and the ductile failure was initiated at a distance away from the crack tip near the boundary of the base metal and heat affected zone. In order to understand the failure mode of these welds, finite element analyses under plane strain conditions were conducted to identify the effects of the different plastic behaviors of the base metal, heat affected zone, and weld zone as well as the weld geometry on the ductile failure. The results of the reference finite element analysis based on the homogenous material model show that the failure mode is most likely to be a middle surface shear failure mode in the weld. The results of the finite element analysis based on the multi-zone non-homogeneous material models show that the higher effective stress–plastic strain curves of the weld and heat affected zones and the geometry of the weld protrusion result in the necking/shear failure mode in the load carrying sheet. The results of another finite element analysis based on the non-homogeneous material model and the Gurson yield function for porous materials indicate that the consideration of void nucleation and growth is necessary to identify the ductile failure initiation site that matches well with the experimental observations. Finally, the results of this investigation indicate that the failure mode of the welds should be examined carefully and the necking/shear failure mode needs to be considered for development of failure or separation criteria for welds under more complex loading conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are a promising new class of anticancer agents that act by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. Although apicidin acts as a potent HDAC inhibitor, the precise mechanism for its anti-tumor activity in human endometrial cancer cells is not completely understood. This study examined the anti-tumor effects of apicidin in Ishikawa cancer cells. The level of cell proliferation, the stage of the cell cycle, and apoptosis were measured after the apicidin treatment. Apicidin significantly inhibited the proliferation of Ishikawa cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, apicidin markedly up-regulated the p21WAF1 and down-regulated the expression of cyclins (A, B1, D1, or E), and CDKs (2 or 4), which leading to cell cycle arrest. Cell cycle analysis showed that the apicidin treatment increased the proportion of cells in the G1 phase, and decreased the ratio of cells in the S phase in a dose-dependent manner. Apicidin significantly increased the sub-G1 population and the number of TUNEL positive apoptotic cells compared with the untreated control. These results were confirmed by poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), an 85-kDa fragment resulting from PARP cleavage, where apicidin increased the level of PARP cleavage and caspase-3 activity in 1.0μM apicidin-treated cells. Apicidin-induced apoptosis through caspase-3 activation was confirmed by the increase in the release of cytochrome c and the decrease in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These results suggest that apicidin has anti-tumor properties on endometrial cancer cells by inducing selectively the genes related to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]