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Two new α-pyrones, dothideopyrones E (1) and F (2), were isolated from a culture of the endolichenic fungus Dothideomycetes sp. EL003334. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis. Their absolute configurations were established by the modified Mosher’s method. Compound 2 inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production with IC50 values of 15.0 ± 2.8 μM in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 cells. Compound 2 diminished the protein expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Additionally, 2 decreased the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6.

Two new cyclic peptides, pentaminomycins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from cultures of Streptomyces sp. RK88-1441. Based on the interpretation of the NMR, UV, IR, and MS data, the planar structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated as cyclic pentapeptides with a modified amino acid residue, N5-hydroxyarginine (N5-OH-Arg). The absolute configurations of the constituent amino acid residues were determined by the advanced Marfey’s method. Localization of l- and d-amino acids in the sequence was ascertained by chiral analysis of the fragment peptide obtained from a partial hydrolysate; amino acids were identified by LC-MS. Pentaminomycin A (1) reduced α-MSH-stimulated melanin synthesis by suppressing the expression of melanogenic enzymes including tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2).

Angiogenesis plays a very important role in tumor progression through the creation of new blood vessels. Therefore, angiogenesis inhibitors could contribute to cancer treatment. Here, we show that a microbial metabolite, elaiophylin, exhibits potent antiangiogenic activity from in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis assays. Elaiophylin dramatically suppressed in vitro angiogenic characteristics such as proliferation, migration, adhesion, invasion and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at non-toxic concentrations. In addition, elaiophylin immensely inhibited in vivo angiogenesis of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) from growing chick embryos without cytotoxicity. The activation of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in HUVECs by VEGF was inhibited by elaiophylin, resulting in the suppression of VEGF-induced activation of downstream signaling molecules, Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, nuclear factor-κB (NFκB), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 which are closely associated with VEGF-induced angiogenesis. We also found that elaiophylin blocked tumor cell-induced angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Elaiophylin downregulated the expression of VEGF by inhibiting hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) accumulation in tumor cells. To our knowledge, these results for the first time demonstrate that elaiophylin effectively inhibits angiogenesis and thus may be utilized as a new class of natural antiangiogenic agent for cancer therapy.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), a biomaterial with high added value, were obtained from pure cellulose, Eucalyptus holocellulose, unbleached Kraft pulp, and sugarcane bagasse, by fibrillating these biomass substrates using wet disk milling (WDM) followed by enzymatic hydrolysis using endoglucanase/β-glucosidase. The hydrolysis experiments were conducted using the commercial enzyme OptimashBG or a blend of Pyrococcus horikoshii endoglucanase and Pyrococcus furiosus β-glucosidase. The fibrillated materials and CNCs were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and the specific surface area (SSA) was measured. WDM resulted in the formation of long and twisted microfibers of 1000-5000 nm in length and 4-35 nm in diameter, which were hydrolyzed into shorter and straighter CNCs of 500-1500 nm in length and 4-12 nm in diameter, with high cellulose crystallinity. Therefore, the CNC's aspect ratio was successfully adjusted by endoglucanases under mild reaction conditions, relative to the reported acidic hydrolysis method.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of temperature and clamping method during heat treatment on the properties of high density Okan wood. Heat treatment of sapwood and heartwood was conducted using an electric oven with a programmable controller at 160 °C, 180 °C, 200 °C, and 220 °C for 2 h. Physical and mechanical properties were compared before and after the heat treatment process. The color change (E*), weight loss, and volume shrinkage increased with increasing temperature, whereas the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) and water absorption (WA) decreased in both types of wood. The wood density was not affected by temperature, and the magnitude of E* in sapwood was the highest, while the magnitude of weight loss, volume shrinkage, EMC, and WA in heartwood was higher than in sapwood. The clamping method affected E* in heartwood only, while the weight loss, volume shrinkage, EMC, and WA was affect in both types of wood. A significant reduction in the mechanical properties occurred after heat treatment at 200 °C and 220 °C. The reduction of MOR, MOE, and shear strength in heartwood was greater than in sapwood, while the compressive strength reduction in sapwood was the highest.

Tetramic acid containing a decalin ring such as equisetin and phomasetin is one of the characteristic scaffolds found in fungal bioactive secondary metabolites. Polyketide (PKS)-nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) hybrid enzyme is responsible for the synthesis of the polyketide scaffold conjugated with an amino acid. PKS-NRPS hybrid complex programs to create structural diversity in the polyketide backbone have begun to be investigated, yet mechanism of control of the stereochemistry in a decalin formation via a Diels-Alder cycloaddition remains uncertain. Here, we demonstrate that fsa2, which showed no homology to genes encoding proteins of known function, in the fsa cluster responsible for equisetin and fusarisetin A biosynthesis in Fusarium sp. FN080326, is involved in the control of stereochemistry in decalin formation via a Diels-Alder reaction in the equisetin biosynthetic pathway.

This research focused on the natural durability of twenty one lesser known tropical wood species planted in West Java, Indonesia against subterranean termite (Coptotermes curvignathus). It was observed that both heartwood and sapwood of Kiara payung (Filicium decipiens); heartwoods of Nangka (Arthocarpus heterophyllus), Mahoni (Swietenia macrophylla) and Simpur (Dillenia grandifolia); and sapwood of Bungur (Lagerstroemia speciosa) were rated as resistant (natural durability class II) according to Indonesian standard SNI 01.7207.2006 (BSN 2006). Both heartwood and sapwood of Salam (Syzigium polyanthum), Pasang (Lithocarpus sundaicus), Bisbul (Diospyros discolor), Rukam (Flacourtia rukam) and Trembesi (Samanea saman); heartwood of Puspa (Schima walichii), Bungur, Tanjung (Mimusops elangi) and Angsana (Pterocarpus indicus) were rated as moderately resistant (natural durability class III). Both heartwood and sapwood of Sungkai (Peronema canescens), Pine (Pinus merkusii), Mangium (Acacia mangium) and Afrika (Maesopsis eminii); sapwoods of Mahoni, Puspa and Tanjung were rated as poorly resistant (natural durability class IV). Both heartwood and sapwood of Agathis (Agathis dammara), Durian (Durio zibethinus), Ki sampang (Evodia latifolia) and Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba); sapwoods of Nangka and Angsana were rated as very poorly resistant (natural durability class V). This reserach showed that woods with lower resistance against C. curvignathus attack (natural durability class IV and V) tend to have lower termite mortality values compared to woods with higher resistance against C. curvignathus attack (natural durability class II and III). Results of the study will provide some valuable information on termite resistance of twenty one lesser known tropical wood species planted in Indonesia.

Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) with different geometrical characteristics was prepared from three different cellulose sources (pure cellulose, holocellulose, and kraft pulp) using a wet disk milling (WDM) process. The dimension, specific surface area, and relative crystallinity of the MFCs varied with WDM time. The effect of WDM time on the dimensions of MFCs was investigated with atomic force microscopy, revealing that the length and diameter of MFCs decreased with increasing WDM time. The specific surface area and relative crystallinity increased and decreased with WDM time, respectively. MFC-reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposites were prepared by film casting. The tensile strength and elastic modulus of the nanocomposites increased with decreasing MFC dimension and increasing MFC content. There was no significant difference in tensile properties among the nanocomposites reinforced by three different MFCs at the same level of WDM time. The thermal stability of the PVA matrix improved with increasing MFC content. Crystallization temperature of PVA was increased by the addition of MFC, whereas crystallization enthalpy, heat of fusion, and melting temperature all decreased.

본 연구에서는 잣나무 목분의 탈리그닌 정도가 습식디스크밀을 이용한 해섬처리의 효율에 미치는 영향과 얻어진 해섬물의 성질을 조사하였다. 또한, 탈리그닌 정도가 종이의 인장강도 특성에 미치는 영향도 조사하였다. 탈리그닌의 정도는 아염소산나트륨과 초산을 사용하는 Wise법의 처리횟수를 달리함으로서 조절하였다. 탈리그닌 정도가 증가함에 따라 해섬효율은 향상되었으며, 디스크밀 처리횟수가 증가함으로서 섬유직경은 감소, 여수시간은 증가하였다. 또한 종이의 인장강도 및 탄성률도 탈리그닌 정도 및 디스크밀 처리횟수가 증가할수록 증가하였다.

본 연구에서는 고온증기 및 오존 전처리로 제조된 리그노셀룰로오스 나노섬유의 탈리그닌 처리가 나노섬유 및 나노종이의 특성에 미치는 영향을 평가하였다. 형태학적 특성 관찰 결과, 탈리그닌 처리에 의해 평균 직경 35 nm 이하의 균일한 섬유가 얻어졌다. 또한 탈리그닌 처리는 리그노셀룰로오스 나노섬유의 비표면적을 크게 향상시켰으며, 특히 오존 전처리의 경우는 탈리그닌 처리에 의해 무처리에 비하여 1.5배 증가하였다. 나노종이 제조 과정 중의 여수시간 또한 탈리그닌 처리에 의해 크게 증가하여, 고온증기 전처리의 경우는 탈리그닌 처리에 의해 무처리와 비교하여 5.4배증가하였다. 탈리그닌 처리는 나노종이의 백색도를 향상시켰으며, 고온증기 전처리의 경우는 탈리그닌 전과 비교하여 색상차가 41.9로 매우 높게 나타났다. 나노종이의 인장강도, 탄성율 및 신장율도 탈리그닌에 의하여 크게 향상되었으며, 고온증기 전처리 후의 탈리그닌에 의한 나노종이의 인장강도가 142 MPa로 가장 높게 나타났다.

The small fuel cell is being researched as an alternative power source to the Li-ion battery in mobile phone. In this paper, a direct hydrogen fuel cell system which powers a mobile phone without a supplementary battery is compactly integrated below 25 ml volume at the backside of the phone. The system consists of a small (8 ml) metal hydride hydrogen storage tank with 4 L hydrogen storage or an energy density of ∼640 W h/L, a thin air-breathing planar polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack (13.44 cm 2 × 3 mm for a volumetric power density of 335 W/L), miniature pressure regulator, and a high efficiency DC–DC voltage converting circuitry. The hydrogen storage tank is packed with the AB 5 type metal hydride alloy. The eight-cell air-breathing planar stack (8 ml) is very thin (3 mm) due to a thin flexible printed circuit board current collectors as well as a unique riveting assembly and is capable of a robust performance of 2.68 W (200 mW/cm 2 ). A miniature pressure regulator is compact with fluidic and electrical connections within 4 ml. A miniature DC–DC voltage converter operates at an overall efficiency of 90%. Consequently, the estimated energy density of a fully integrated fuel cell system is 205 W h/L (70.5 W h/kg).

The radon absorption performance was determined and compared for different types of carbonized boards to establish effective carbonized boards. Moreover, the absorption mechanism of carbonized boards was investigated by specific surface area and pore size in each of the carbonized boards. The radon absorption performance was ranked in the following order: ash (87%), medium-density fiberboard (MDF, 83%), oriented strand board (OSB, 82%), particleboard (PB, 77%), and plywood (PW, 67%). The correlation between radon absorption capacity and surface area or pore volume showed that a higher surface area or pore volume had higher radon absorption performance. However, the highest surface area and pore volume was detected on carbonized MDF, which had a radon absorption performance that was 5% less than carbonized ash board. Therefore, the surface area and pore volume as well as other factors affected the absorption performance.

The level of relative humidity is one of the key parameters in evaluating indoor air quality and comfort. In principle, humidity can be kept more uniform over time by use of materials that adsorb moisture from the air reversibly. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of loess treatment and carbonization on the hygric performance of medium-density fiberboard (MDF). The loess treatment was conducted with different sizes of loess particle prepared by a high-pressure homogenizer. After loess treatment on the surface of the MDF, it was carbonized at high temperature (600 °C). Loess is an abundant mineral high in Si content, which has high moisture absorption capacity, which remained after the carbonization process. The study also found that the loess treatment positively affected the hygric performance of carbonized MDF (c-MDF). The hygric performance of c-MDF almost doubled after the loess treatment compared with the non-treated c-MDF. However, the nano conversion of loess did not influence the hygric performance. Loess-treated carbonized MDF could be used as a humidity controller in buildings.

The primary cilium is a non-motile microtubule-based organelle that protrudes from the surface of most human cells and works as a cellular antenna to accept extracellular signals. Primary cilia assemble from the basal body during the resting stage (G0 phase) and simultaneously disassemble with cell cycle re-entry. Defective control of assembly or disassembly causes diverse human diseases including ciliopathy and cancer. To identify the effective compounds for studying primary cilium disassembly, we have screened 297 natural compounds and identified 18 and 17 primary cilium assembly and disassembly inhibitors, respectively. Among them, the application of KY-0120, identified as Brefeldin A, disturbed Dvl2-Plk1-mediated cilium disassembly via repression of the interaction of CK1ɛ-Dvl2 and the expression of Plk1 mRNA. Therefore, our study may suggest useful compounds for studying the cellular mechanism of primary cilium disassembly to prevent ciliopathy and cancer.

Two new cyclic octadepsipeptides, octaminomycins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from a microbial metabolite fraction library of Streptomyces sp. RK85-270 based on Natural Products Plot screening. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, and MS/MS experiments for sequence analysis. The absolute configurations of the constituent amino acid residues were determined by a combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Marfey’s methodology. Notably, octaminomycins A (1) and B (2) showed good in vitro antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive as well as chloroquine-resistant strains with no cytotoxicity up to 30 μM.

The anatomical characteristics of eight major wood species planted in Indonesia were investigated to provide val- uable information for their effective utilization. The growth-ring boundaries of Damar and Sumatran pine were indistinct. Resin canal was found in Sumatran pine but it was not observed in Damar. Cupressoid pit and taxodioid pit were found in Damar and window-like pit and pinoid pit were observed in Sumatran pine. Tracheid length of Damar and Sumatran pine was shorter than 3,000 µm. There were uniseriate rays in Damar and Sumatran pine and fusiform ray in Sumatran pine. All the hardwood species observed in this study were diffuse-porous. They had different vessel groups, i.e., solitary pore in Afrika and Simpur Batu, pore cluster in Angsana and mostly 2-4 rows of radial pore multiple

1. Subject and sourceThe Rhododendron genus containing over 850 species is one of the largest genera in the family Ericaceae. The genus ismostly distributed in Asia and sparsely populated in North America and Europe (Popescu and Kopp, 2013). Rhododendronbrachycarpum G. Don is an evergreen indeciduous broad-leaved shrub and utilized for alleviation of diabetes, hypertensionand rheumatoid arthritis (Jang et al., 2005). Radical climate changes have played a central role in reducing the population,leading its designation as an endangered and rare species (Lee et al., 2002; Lee and Shim, 2011). In our continuing efforts todiscoverpotentialvalue of theKoreanendangeredspecies, weherein describe theisolation and structuralcharacterization ofa new kaurane-type diterpenoid glycoside

Wood flour (WF)-reinforced cis-1,4-isoprene rubber (CIR) composite was prepared through a melting process. Maleic anhydride (MAH), dicumyl peroxide (DCP), and zinc oxide (ZnO) were added to the com- posites to enhance their tensile properties and dimensional stability. The dependence of MAH, DCP and ZnO concentration at various pressing time on tensile strength, elongation at break, Young's modulus, water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) of WF-CIR composites were examined. The tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young's modulus of the WF-CIR were greatly influenced by MAH content and pressing time. The higher the MAH cocentration and the longer time were applied, the greater improvement of tensile strength, Young's modulus, water absorption and thickness swelling parameters were obtained. However, the elongation at break was found to decrease with addition of MAH. DCP and ZnO concentration were also influenced the tensile strength, elongation at break and Young's modulus for WF-CIR composites.

The physical and mechanical characteristics of 10 Indonesian wood species were investigated. Mangium, Gandaria and Rambutan showed higher density. Mangium, Gandaria and Mangga appeared lower in shrinkage, and the ratio of tangential/radial was low in Albizia, Kupa and Mangga. The compression strength parallel to the grain and hardness

Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) loss or mutation consistently activates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt signaling pathway, which contributes to the progression and invasiveness of prostate cancer. Furthermore, the PTEN/PI3-K/Akt and Ras/MAPK pathways cooperate to promote the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis initiated from prostate stem/progenitor cells. For these reasons, the PTEN/PI3-K/Akt pathway is considered as an attractive target for both chemoprevention and chemotherapy. Herein we report that eupafolin, a natural compound found in common sage, inhibited proliferation of prostate cancer cells. Protein content analysis indicated that phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream kinases was inhibited by eupafolin treatment. Pull-down assay and in vitro kinase assay results indicated that eupafolin could bind with PI3-K and attenuate its kinase activity. Eupafolin also exhibited tumor suppressive effects in vivo in an athymic nude mouse model. Overall, these results suggested that eupafolin exerts antitumor effects by targeting PI3-K.

Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of Yellow-hearted pine and Red pine were investigated. Wood color, annual ring width and latewood percentage were observed by the naked eye. Anatomical properties as the structure of three sections and cell dimensions were examined by an optical microscopy. As a result, the color of bark in Yellow-hearted pine was Reddish-grey, and Red pine showed brown or gray. The color of heartwood and sapwood in Yellow-hearted pine was deep-yellow to brown and creamy-white. And the color of heartwood and sapwood in Red pine was light-brown and light-yellow. The annual ring width of Yellow-hearted pine was narrower than that of Red pine, and the latewood percentage of Yellow-hearted pine was a little higher than that of Red pine. There was no significant difference in the anatomical characteristics between Yellow-hearted pine and Red pine.

Mitogen- and stress-activated kinase 1 (MSK1) is a nuclear serine/threonine protein kinase that acts downstream of both extracellular signal-regulated kinases and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in response to stress or mitogenic extracellular stimuli. Increasing evidence has shown that MSK1 is closely associated with malignant transformation and cancer development. MSK1 should be an effective target for cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy. However, very few MSK1 inhibitors, especially natural compounds, have been reported. We used virtual screening of a natural products database and the active conformation of the C-terminal kinase domain of MSK1 (PDB id 3KN) as the receptor structure to identify chrysin and its derivative, compound 69407, as inhibitors of MSK1. Compared with chrysin, compound 69407 more strongly inhibited proliferation and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced neoplastic transformation of JB6 P+ cells with lower cytotoxicity. Western blot data demonstrated that compound 69407 suppressed phosphorylation of the MSK1 downstream effector histone H3 in intact cells. Knocking down the expression of MSK1 effectively reduced the sensitivity of JB6 P+ cells to compound 69407. Moreover, topical treatment with compound 69407 before TPA application significantly reduced papilloma development in terms of number and size in a two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis model. The reduction in papilloma development was accompanied by the inhibition of histone H3 phosphorylation at Ser10 in tumors extracted from mouse skin. The results indicated that compound 69407 exerts inhibitory effects on skin tumorigenesis by directly binding with MSK1 and attenuates the MSK1/histone H3 signaling pathway, which makes it an ideal chemopreventive agent against skin cancer. Cancer Prev Res; 7(1); 74–85. ©2013 AACR.

LC/MS-based chemical screening of fungal extract fraction library led to identification of three 2,3-aryl substituted furanone metabolites (1–3), including one known butenolide glycoside (1) whose stereochemistry remained unsolved and two new compounds gotjawaside and gotjawalide (2 and 3), from Auxarthron sp. KCB15F070, a fungus isolated from a soil sample of the volcanic island Jeju, Korea. Their planar structures were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic and HRESIMS spectrometric techniques, and the absolute configurations of three compounds were solved using a combination of chemical derivatizations and computational analysis of vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra.

During the course of screens to identify anti-melanogenic agents from natural resources, we found that the methanol extract of the dried flower of Inula britannica L. inhibited melanin synthesis in cultured melanoma cells stimulated with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). A bioassay-guided isolation of the chloroform fraction of the I. britannica using an in vitro melanogenesis inhibition assay led to the isolation of sesquiterpenes, 1-O-acetylbritannilactone (1), britannilactone (2) and neobritannilactone B (3). Compounds 1 and 2 significantly reduced melanin production in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 13.3 and 15.5 μM, respectively, whereas compound 3 was found to be cytotoxic. Compound 1 also inhibited the tyrosinase activity only in cell based-systems. Western blot analysis indicated that compound 1 inhibited melanogenesis by activating extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt signaling and also inhibiting cAMP related binding protein, which regulates its downstream pathway, including tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein-1 and TRP-2. These results demonstrated that compound 1, a major sesquiterpene from the flowers of I. britannica, exhibited anti-melanogenic activity by suppression of tyrosinase expression via ERK and Akt signaling. Taken together, our results suggest that these compounds may act as potent natural skin-lightening agents.

In the course of studies on bioactive metabolites from marine fungi, a new 10-membered lactone, named penicillinolide A (1) was isolated from the organic extract of Penicillium sp. SF-5292 as a potential anti-inflammatory compound. The structure of penicillinolide A (1) was mainly determined by analysis of NMR and MS data and Mosher's method. Penicillinolide A (1) inhibited the production of NO and PGE(2) due to inhibition of the expression of iNOS and COX-2. Penicillinolide A (1) also reduced TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 production, and these anti-inflammatory effects were shown to be correlated with the suppression of the phosphorylation and degradation of I kappa B-alpha, NF-kappa B nuclear translocation, and NF-kappa B DNA binding activity. In addition, using inhibitor tin protoporphyrin (SnPP), a competitive inhibitor of HO activity, it was verified that the inhibitory effects of compound 1 on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and NF-kappa B DNA binding activity were partially associated with HO-1 expression through Nrf2 nuclear translocation.

To understand transition characteristics from wood to charcoal, Quercus variabiliswood was carbonized at 200, 250, 300, 340, 540 and 740°C, respectively. Heating value, pH and surface property by FT-IR spectroscopy of the carbonized charcoal were investigated. Heating value and pH increased with increasing carbonization temperature from 4500 cal/g and 4.3 of the control wood to 8,000 cal/g and 9 of the char-coal carbonized at 740°C, respectively. From FT-IR spectroscopy, the peaks from O-H, C-H and C-O stretching disappeared during carbonization at 540 and 740°C. Aromatic skeletal vibration at near 1,506~1,593 cm -1 was repidly increased until 540°C. These results suggest that the chemical and physical characteristics of wood components in cell wall can be easily changed by increasing carbonization temper-ature and the carbonization seem to be incomplete at temperature below 540°C. Keywords : carbonization, charcoal, heating value, pH, FT-IR 1. INTRODUCTION Charcoal can be generally produced when wood is heated in the absence of oxygen. In this process, the water contained in the wood is first driven off before the wood constituents (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) begin to be thermally decomposed. Wood pyrolysis is a complex combination with the individual py-rolysis of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and extractives, each of which has its own charac-teristics (Kwon et al., 2009).Zeriouh and Belkbir (1995) reported that, in the pyrolysis process of wood constituents with heating rate of 5°C min

Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone), a natural flavonoid widely distributed in plants, reportedly has chemopreventive properties against various cancers. However, the anticancer activity of chrysin observed in in vivo studies has been disappointing. Here, we report that a chrysin derivative, referred to as compound 69407, more strongly inhibited EGF-induced neoplastic transformation of JB6 P+ cells compared with chrysin. It attenuated cell cycle progression of EGF-stimulated cells at the G1 phase and inhibited the G1/S transition. It caused loss of retinoblastoma phosphorylation at both Ser-795 and Ser-807/811, the preferred sites phosphorylated by Cdk4/6 and Cdk2, respectively. It also suppressed anchorage-dependent and -independent growth of A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells. Compound 69407 reduced tumor growth in the A431 mouse xenograft model and retinoblastoma phosphorylation at Ser-795 and Ser-807/811. Immunoprecipitation kinase assay results showed that compound 69407 attenuated endogenous Cdk4 and Cdk2 kinase activities in EGF-stimulated JB6 P+ cells. Pulldown and in vitro kinase assay results indicated that compound 69407 directly binds with Cdk2 and Cdk4 in an ATP-independent manner and inhibited their kinase activities. A binding model between compound 69407 and a crystal structure of Cdk2 predicted that compound 69407 was located inside the Cdk2 allosteric binding site. The binding was further verified by a point mutation binding assay. Overall results indicated that compound 69407 is an ATP-noncompetitive cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor with anti-tumor effects, which acts by binding inside the Cdk2 allosteric pocket. This study provides new insights for creating a general pharmacophore model to design and develop novel ATP-noncompetitive agents with chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic potency. Background: Binding to the ATP site results in poor selectivity; therefore, development of ATP-noncompetitive inhibitors is needed. Results: A modified chrysin with anticancer activity targets Cdks and binds to a Cdk2 allosteric site, not the ATP pocket. Conclusion: Modified chrysin is a novel ATP-noncompetitive inhibitor. Significance: This pharmacophore model might provide insights for the development of new ATP-noncompetitive agents.

Anatomical characteristics of White Jabon (Arthocephalus cadamba) and Red Jabon (Arthocephalus macrophyllus) were investigated by IAWA hardwood feature list. Both species were diffuse-porous, and radial multiple pore with 2~3 rows was mostly observed. Tangential diameter of vessel lumina was 100 to , and vessels per square millimeter were 5 to 20. White Jabon has more vessels than Red Jabon. The number of solitary pore per square millimeter in both species was similar, but more pore multiple was observed in White Jabon. Axial parenchyma diffuse was observed in both species, but axial parenchyma of White Jabon was hardly identified on the cross section. Rays were classified into "body ray cells procumbent with over 4 rows of upright/square marginal cells" type and partly "all ray cells upright and/or square" type on radial section. Ray width 1 to 3 cells and 1 to 2 cells observed in White Jabon and Red Jabon, respectively. Ray height of White Jabon was and Red Jabon . Fiber length was the range of 900 to in both species, and it showed a tendency to increase from pith to bark. Consequently, it is considered that pore multiple, ray width and axial parenchyma are to be suggested the keys for identification of both species.

This paper implements the standby power control system composed of a master device and slave devices. The standby power is managed by cutting power supply after controlling the relay of a slave device based on the authentication of master device`s RFID card. RFID interface and wireless communication module are embedded in a master device, and one master device is linked with many slave devices in wireless. Each slave device executes the operation needed in power control independently. We implements the function of manual power on/off system in a slave device, and the function of user ID enrollment by switch manipulation in a master device. Also this system can communicate bidirectionally in wireless and runs on TinyOS. The result of experiment shows that the user authentication is executed in a master device and this authenticated information is transmitted to a slave device in wireless, and standby power is cutted by controlling the relay of a slave device. Installing this system in a building or an office, we can expect energy saving.

Microfibrillated cellulosic fibrous product was successfully obtained from Korean white pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc.) by using two alternative pretreatments (steam and ozone treatments) followed by disk milling (DM). The steam and ozone treatments were effective in extracting some of the hemicelluloses and degrading lignin, respectively, with both types of treatment resulting in the improvement of mechanical fibrillation as a result of loosening of the cell wall structure. The obtained products showed nanoscopic fibrous morphology even though hemicelluloses and lignin components remained. The specific surface area and filtration time were increased using the DM treatment after both treatments, and the values increased further with longer periods of DM. The paper sheets of the fibrillated products after both the alternative treatments had higher tensile properties at the same DM time scale than the sheets of the products obtained without treatment. Tensile strength was further increased by increasing sheet density showing the highest tensile strength and modulus of 125 MPa and 20 GPa, respectively.

A wireless sensor network for condition monitoring and its corresponding sensor node powered by a vibration energy harvester producing about 100 μW are presented. The sensor network utilizes an asynchronous beacon-detection based duty cycle control architecture to reduce power consumption and support ID-based TDMA while avoiding the need for timing synchronization between nodes. It also provides FDMA and fixed-time slot TDMA for further network flexibility. The sensor node transceiver includes a duty-cycle timing control unit to minimize power consumption; an LO-less, TDMA-capable, addressable beacon receiver; an FDMA-capable transmitter; and a low-power, universal sensor interface. The proposed sensor node, implemented in 0.13- μm CMOS technology, achieves low power consumption and a high degree of flexibility without requiring calibration or the use of BAW or SAW filters. The sensor node is experimentally demonstrated to operate autonomously from the power provided by a piezoelectric vibration energy harvester with dimensions of 27 × 23 × 6.5 mm3 excited by 4.5-m/s2 acceleration at 40.8 Hz. The WSN condition monitoring behavior is measured with a capacitive temperature sensor, and achieves an effective temperature resolution of 0.36 °C.

Effects of treatment duration and clamping during heat treatment were evaluated relative to the color and physical and mechanical properties of okan wood. Sapwood and heartwood boards from okan wood were treated with and without clamping for 1 to 4 h at 180 °C. Changes in color were mostly due to a reduction in lightness (L*) and yellow/blue chromaticity (b*). These values decreased more for longer treatment durations. Red/green chromaticity (a*) was not affected by the treatment duration. Weight loss and volume shrinkage increased with increased treatment duration. Density only slightly decreased because of a balanced reduction in weight and volume. Clamping during treatment prevented surfaces from having direct contact with the heated air, which resulted in lower weight loss and volume shrinkage than in the samples treated without clamping. Heat-treated wood absorbed less water than the control group, as suggested by the lower equilibrium moisture content and water absorption. Furthermore, the heartwood absorbed less water than the sapwood. An evaluation of the mechanical properties showed a reduction in both the modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity after heat treatment. Clamping minimized strength reduction in both sapwood and heartwood, particularly for 1 and 2 h heat treatments.

The ethanolic extract of Trapa japonica pericarp (TJP) and its various fractions were evaluated for their antioxidant potential. The ethyl acetate fraction (EF) from TJP exhibited significant antioxidant and protective effects against tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage in vitro and in vivo. In vitro experimental results showed that the EF suppressed t-BHP-induced damage in Chang cells by inhibiting reactive oxygen species generation and regulating the mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, western blot analysis showed that the EF effectively inhibited t-BHP-induced apoptosis by suppressing caspase-3, caspase-7, caspase-8, and caspase-9. In the in vivo study, the EF significantly prevented serum increases in glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase and hepatic malondialdehyde levels caused by t-BHP. Furthermore, the EF markedly increased hepatic superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione levels. Histopathological examinations further confirmed that the EF could protect the liver from t-BHP-induced oxidative injury. These findings indicate that the EF could be developed as a therapy or to prevent hepatic injury.

Haenamindole (I) possesses benzyl-hydroxypiperazindione and phenyl-pyrimidoindole ring systems in the molecule and shows no cytotoxic activities against Hep-3B, HeLa, K562, and HL60 cell lines and no antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enteritidis.

Geldanamycin (GM) and its analogs are important anticancer agents that inhibit heat shock protein (Hsp) 90, which is a major chaperone protein in cancer cells. Accordingly, based on interest in obtaining novel natural GM derivatives, the potential of Streptomyces hygroscopicus JCM4427, a GM producer, was explored for novel natural GM derivative(s), resulting in the discovery of new GM analogs as a biosynthetic shunt product and intermediates from its fermentation broth. In this study, the fermentation, isolation, structure determination, and biological activity of the compounds, two new tetracyclic thiazinogeldanamycin (1) and 19-hydroxy-4,5-dihydrogeldanamycin (3), together with the three known 4,5-dihydrothiazinogeldanamycin (2), reblastatin (4), and 17-demethoxy-reblastatin (5), are described.

Geldanamycin (GM) is a naturally occurring anticancer agent isolated from several strains of Streptomyces hygroscopicus . However, its potential clinical utility is compromised by its severe toxicity and poor water solubility. For this reason, considerable efforts are under way to make new derivatives that have both good clinical efficacy and high water solubility. On the other hand, glycosylation is often a step that improves the water solubility and/or biological activity in many natural products of biosynthesis. Here, we report the facile production of glucose-conjugated nonbenzoquinone GM analogs using the Bacillus UDP-glycosyltransferase BL-C. Five aglycon substrates containing nonbenzoquinone aromatic rings were chosen to validate the in vitro glycosylation reaction. Putative glucoside compounds were determined through the presence of a product peak(s) and were also verified using LC/MS analyses. Further, the chemical structures of new glucoside compounds 6 and 7 were elucidated using spectroscopy data. These glucoside compounds showed a dramatic improvement in water solubility compared with that of the original aglycon, nonbenzoquinone GM.

Violaceol-I and -II were isolated from a fractionated library of marine-derived fungal metabolites. These compounds increased the calcium ion concentration inside the cell and caused F-actin aggregation in rat fibroblast 3Y1 cells within 3 h resulting in cell shape elongation. Calcium chelator BAPTA-AM (1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetrakis (acetoxymethyl ester) inhibited violaceol-I and -II induced F-actin aggregation in 3Y1 cells, and hence violaceol-I and -II act in a calcium dependent manner. Violaceol-I and -II inhibited G-actin polymerization in vitro in a dose-dependent manner and strongly associated with G-actin, at dissociation equilibrium constants of 1.44 × 10(-8) M and 2.52 × 10(-9) M respectively. Here we report the identification of a novel function of violaceol-I and -II as actin inhibitors. Violaceol-I and -II induced cell shape elongation through F-actin aggregation in 3Y1 fibroblasts. These compounds may give researchers new insights into the role of actin in tumorigenesis and lead to the development of additional anti-tumor drugs.

국내산 겨우살이의 해부학적 특성을 구명하기 위해 광학현미경과 주사전자현미경을 이용하여 겨우살이 및 기주목인 신갈나무의 목재 조직구조를 관찰하였다. 겨우살이가 착생된 부분의 가지는 직경이 그렇지 않은 부분보다 더 컸다. 겨우살이 사부는 인피섬유와 유세포로 그리고 목부는 후벽 목섬유, 방사유세포, 축방향유세포 및 도관상가도관으로 구성되어 있다. 겨우살이 방사조직의 경우 일반적인 목재 수종에 비해 방사유세포가 차지하는 비율이 매우 높고 평복세포, 직립세포 및 방형세포 모두로 이루어져 있는 이형방사조직인 것으로 밝혀졌다. 겨우살이의 도관상가도관 세포벽 내강표면에 나선비후 그리고 세포벽에 유연벽공이 발달되어 있다. 겨우살이 흡기의 삽입에 따라 숙주 도관의 형태가 일부 변형되어 있으나 도관 내 타일로시스는 관찰되지 않았다. 겨우살이 흡기의 끝 부분 형태는 비교적 뾰족하게 나타났고 흡기 삽입에 따른 기주목 세포 자체의 파괴는 관찰되지 않았다.

본 연구에서는 인도네시아의 목재자원 중 새로운 유망 목재자원을 개발하고 최근 주요 조림 수종들의 효율적 이용을 위한 기초자료를 수집하기 위해 인도네시아산 10수종의 해부학적 특성을 조사하였다. 모든 수종은 산공재로써 고립관공, 방사복합관공이 관찰되었는데, Mangium에서는 위의 특성과 더불어 접선복합관공이 관찰되었다. 접선방향의 관공 직경은 Jeunjing과 Nangka를 제외한 전 수종에서 방사방향보다 큰 값을 보였다. 특히 Nangka는 공시수종 중 가장 큰 접선방향의 관공 직경을 보였다. 단위면적( $mm^2$ )당 관공의 수는 Mangium, Gandaria와 Kupa가 다른 수종보다 많았으며, 특히 Kupa가 가장 많게 나타났다. 유세포의 접선방향 폭은 Gmelina, Mangium, Kupa와 Mangga가 목섬유의 접선방향 폭보다 크게 나타났으며, 그 중 Mangium이 가장 큰 폭을 보였다. 이 밖의 6수종은 반대로 목섬유의 접선방향 폭이 유세포의 접선방향 폭보다 크게 나타났으나 Durian과 Nangka는 그 차이가 타 수종에 비해 미미했다. Gmelina, Jeunjing과 Rambutan은 평복세포로 이루어진 동성방사조직이, Gandaria는 평복세포와 단열의 직립세포로 구성된 이성방사조직이, Mangium, Durian, Jengkol, Kupa, Mangga와 Nangka는 평복세포와 약 1~2열의 직립세포로 구성된 형태의 이성방사조직이 관찰되었다. Durian, Gandaria, Jengkol, Jeunjing, Mangga, Rambutan은 결정을, Jeunjing과 Mangga는 실리카를 함유하는 특징을 나타냈다. 【The anatomical characteristics of the ten Indonesian wood species (Gmelina, Jeunjing, Mangium, Durian, Gandaria, Jengkol, Kupa, Mangga, Nanaka and Rambutan) were investigated by optical microscopy. All the species were diffuse-porous with solitary and radial pore multiple. In Mangium, however, tangential pore multiple was observed as well. Tangential diameter of pore was larger than that of radial one except for Jeunjing and Nangka. Nangka showed the largest tangential diameter of pore among the species. Vessel number per $mm^2$ of Mangium, Gandaria and Kupa was higher than that of the other species. Especially Kupa showed highest vessel number. The tangential width of axial parenchyma cell in Gmelina, Mangium, Kupa and Mangga was larger than that of wood fiber, while the other species showed the opposite trend. Mangium was the largest in tangential width of axial parenchyma cell. Rays were homocellular composed only of procumbent cell in Gmelina, Jeunjing and Rambutan. Heterocellular rays composed of procumbent cells in the body and one row of upright and/or square in the margin are observed in Gandaria. Mangium, Durian, Jengkol, Kupa, Mangga and Nangkabody showed heterocellular rays composed of procumbent cells in the body and mostly 1~2 rows of upright and/or square cells in the margin. Crystals occurred in Durian, Gandaria, Jengkol, Jeunjing, Mangga and Rambutan and silica in Jeunjing and Mangga.】

This research has been carried out to investigate the characteristics of cellulose nanofibers

The anti-apoptotic oncogene K-RAS is hypothesized to increase the antioxidant status of cells, thereby protecting them from generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, we examined whether K-RAS overcomes hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-mediated apoptosis in the human fetal prostate epithelial cell 267B1. In this study, we found that treatment of 267B1 cells with H2O2 resulted in significant reduction of cell growth, which was associated with cytochrome-c release and caspase-3 activation. However, mutated K-RAS transformation (268B1/K-RAS) rendered 267B1 cells reduction of the resistance to H2O2-induced apoptosis through suppression of ROS generation. In addition, we analyzed profiling of gene expression in K-RAS transformation and found that gamma-glutamyltransferase 2 (GGT2) most highly expressed. Transient knockdown of K-RAS resulted in a significant downregulation of GGT gene expression. We also revealed that expression of GGT2 gene is closely regulated by the ERK signal pathway in 267B1/K-RAS cells. In addition, the anti-apoptotic effect of mutated K-RAS was attenuated by treatment with GGT2 RNA interference through inhibition of ROS generation, suggesting that mutated K-RAS mediates resistance to H2O2-induced apoptosis through GGT2 activation. These results importantly provide mechanistic insights on the anti-apoptotic activity of mutated K-RAS.

Patulin is a fungal mycotoxin of Aspergilus and Penicillium that is commonly found in rotting fruits and exerts its potential toxic effect mainly by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. However, the effect of patulin on cancer cells as well as its intracellular mechanism has been controversial and not clearly defined yet. In this study, patulin was found to induce G1/S accumulation and cell growth arrest accompanied by caspase-3 activation, PARP cleavage and ATF3 expression in human colon cancer cell line HCT116. Ser/Thr phosphorylation of a transcription factor, EGR-1, was increased while its expression did not change upon patulin treatment to the cells. Knockdown of ATF3 and EGR-1 using their respective siRNAs showed EGR-1 dependent ATF3 expression. Moreover, treatment of the cells with antioxidants N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH) revealed that patulin induced ATF3 expression and apoptosis were dependent on ROS generation. ATF3 expression was also increased by patulin in other colorectal cancer cell types, Caco2 and SW620. Collectively, our data present a new anti-cancer molecular mechanism of patulin, suggesting EGR-1 and ATF3 as critical targets for the development of anti-cancer chemotherapeutics. In this regard, patulin could be a candidate for the treatment of colorectal cancers.

Two new botcinin derivatives encountered in the studies of secondary metabolites from the marine-derived fungus Botryotinia sp. SF-5275

Development of resistance to TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in tumor cells is one of the important problems in cancer treatment. Despite the previous report demonstrating that oligomycin suppressed TNF-induced apoptosis, in our screening of small molecules enhancing cancer cell death to TRAIL, oligomycin A (OMA) was found to enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) was found to directly bind to death receptor 5 (DR5) promoter through endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER-stress) signaling and sensitize the cells to TRAIL. Among ER-stress associated proteins, OMA triggered the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) signaling pathway, leading to X-binding protein 1 (XBP1) splicing, CHOP expression and DR5 upregulation. In contrast, small-interfering RNA (siRNA) of CHOP reduced the number of apoptotic cells in response to the co-treatment of TRAIL and OMA. Collectively, our data suggest that OMA enhances apoptotic death of cervical cancer cells to TRAIL through upregulation of CHOP-mediated DR5 expression following ER-stress.

In this paper we designed and implemented a wireless communication circuit which can control the remote devices integrating RFID and ZigBee. This system unifies transmit part and receive part. And this system recognizes RFID tag data, then the recognized information is controlled by MCU, and transmitted to a remote device through the ZigBee. This is operated on TinyOS. If this system is applied to a entrance security system, it can permit/deny one's entrance as well as control the personal computer or other electronic devices.Our experiment shows the result of the recognized data transmission is very different according to a opened playground and a closed place. The data transmission time is stable in the indoor and the data transmission distance is long in the outdoor. We anticipate that our system be applied the various office oriented domains by connecting to the Wired LAN or the WLAN of IEEE 802.11x category. ■ keyword : ∣Ubiquitous∣RFID∣USN∣ZigBee∣Wireless ∣ * 이 논문은 2010년 경남과학기술대학교 기성회연구비 지원에 의하여 연구되었음.접수번호 : #110512-002접수일자 : 2011년 05월 12일 심사완료일 : 2011년 07월 26일교신저자 : 장재혁, e-mail : jhyuk@gntech.ac.kr

This study has been carried out to understand the fracture characteristics of the tension wood of Quercus mongolica under the shear and bending stress. Macroscopically, the wood fluff in the shear surface appeared more frequently in tension wood than sound wood, and more coarse wood fluffs were observed in 30% than 10% moistured shear surface. In the fractured tension wood from bending stress, more thick and long wood fiber appeared than sound wood. The observation using scanning electron microscope indicated that both sound and tension wood samples from radial shear surface showed the intrawall dominated failure and the fracture surface of the ray parenchyma cell showed the transwall dominated failure. In tangential shear surface, wood fiber surface showed the intrawall failure and short and coarse wood fiber was observed in tension wood. Ray parenchyma cell of sound and tension wood samples showed the transwall failure. The surfaces of tension wood’s ray parenchyma cell were relatively clean. The fractured tension wood from bending stress showed unsharp and flat wood fiber compared with sound wood.

We exploited the biological activity of an antibiotic agent asperlin isolated from Aspergillus nidulans against human cervical carcinoma cells. We found that asperlin dramatically increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation accompanied by a significant reduction in cell proliferation. Cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP and reduction of Bcl-2 could also be detected after asperlin treatment to the cells. An anti-oxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), however, blocked all the apoptotic effects of asperlin. The involvement of oxidative stress in asperlin induced apoptosis could be supported by the findings that ROS- and DNA damage-associated G2/M phase arrest and ATM phosphorylation were increased by asperlin. In addition, expression and phosphorylation of cell cycle proteins as well as G2/M phase arrest in response to asperlin were significantly blocked by NAC or an ATM inhibitor KU-55933 pretreatment. Collectively, our study proved for the first time that asperlin could be developed as a potential anti-cancer therapeutics through ROS generation in HeLa cells.