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Minocycline is a second-generation tetracycline drug, which is widely used to treat diverse infectious and inflammatory diseases such as acne vulgaris. The effects of minocycline on acne vulgaris have been mainly attributed to its anti-inflammatory effect; however, its sebum-regulating effect and the relevance to epigenetic regulation in human sebaceous glands remain uninvestigated.To identify the potential underlying epigenetic mechanism of sebum-inhibitory effects of minocycline in human SZ95 sebocytes.The quantity of lipid droplets and the expression of key lipogenic genes were analysed in minocycline-treated SZ95 sebocytes. To examine whether the sebum-inhibitory effects of minocycline are relevant to histone acetylation, we analysed the effects of minocycline on p300 HAT and total HDAC activity. To elucidate the functional implication of p300 HAT inhibition by minocycline in sebocytes, we assessed the effect of p300 knockdown, inhibition and overexpression on lipid accumulation in SZ95 sebocytes.Minocycline suppressed the insulin and liver X receptor agonist-induced lipid accumulation and the expression of the key lipogenic transcription factor sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and its downstream genes, fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase α (ACCα). Minocycline inhibited p300 HAT activity in a concentration-dependent manner, but demonstrated no effect on global HDAC activity, resulting in a significant decrease in histone acetylation. Downregulation of p300 by knockdown or inhibition significantly suppressed SREBP1 expression, histone acetylation and lipid accumulation, whereas p300 overexpression enhanced these effects. Moreover, p300 overexpression rescued minocycline-inhibited SREBP1 expression and lipid synthesis.Our findings revealed a novel sebum-regulating effect of minocycline. Moreover, as p300 HAT is a key epigenetic regulator of sebaceous lipogenesis, its inhibitors could be used for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Highlights • Code comparisons build confidence in simulators to model interdependent processes. • International hydrate reservoir simulators are compared over five complex problems. • Geomechanical processes significantly impact response of gas hydrate reservoirs. • Simulators yielded comparable results, however many differences are noted. • Equivalent constitutive models are required to achieve agreement across simulators. Geologic reservoirs containing gas hydrate occur beneath permafrost environments and within marine continental slope sediments, representing a potentially vast natural gas source. Numerical simulators provide scientists and engineers with tools for understanding how production efficiency depends on the numerous, interdependent (coupled) processes associated with potential production strategies for these gas hydrate reservoirs. Confidence in the modeling and forecasting abilities of these gas hydrate reservoir simulators (GHRSs) grows with successful comparisons against laboratory and field test results, but such results are rare, particularly in natural settings. The hydrate community recognized another approach to building confidence in the GHRS: comparing simulation results between independently developed and executed computer codes on structured problems specifically tailored to the interdependent processes relevant for gas hydrate-bearing systems. The United States Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, (DOE/NETL), sponsored the first international gas hydrate code comparison study, IGHCCS1, in the early 2000s. IGHCCS1 focused on coupled thermal and hydrologic processes associated with producing gas hydrates from geologic reservoirs via depressurization and thermal stimulation. Subsequently, GHRSs have advanced to model more complex production technologies and incorporate geomechanical processes into the existing framework of coupled thermal and hydrologic modeling. This paper contributes to the validation of these recent GHRS developments by providing results from a second GHRS code comparison study, IGHCCS2, also sponsored by DOE/NETL. IGHCCS2 includes participants from an international collection of universities, research institutes, industry, national laboratories, and national geologic surveys. Study participants developed a series of five benchmark problems principally involving gas hydrate processes with geomechanical components. The five problems range from simple geometries with analytical solutions to a representation of the world's first offshore production test of methane hydrates, which was conducted with the depressurization method off the coast of Japan. To identify strengths and limitations in the various GHRSs, study participants submitted solutions for the benchmark problems and discussed differing results via teleconferences. The GHRSs evolved over the course of IGHCCS2 as researchers modified their simulators to reflect new insights, lessons learned, and suggested performance enhancements. The five benchmark problems, final sample solutions, and lessons learned that are presented here document the study outcomes and serve as a reference guide for developing and testing gas hydrate reservoir simulators.

The Telescope Array experiment studies ultra high energy cosmic rays using a hybrid detector. Fluorescence telescopes measure the longitudinal development of the extensive air shower generated when a primary cosmic ray particle interacts with the atmosphere. Meanwhile, scintillator detectors measure the lateral distribution of secondary shower particles that hit the ground. The Middle Drum (MD) fluorescence telescope station consists of 14 telescopes from the High Resolution Fly’s Eye (HiRes) experiment, providing a direct link back to the HiRes measurements. Using the scintillator detector data in conjunction with the telescope data improves the geometrical reconstruction of the showers significantly, and hence, provides a more accurate reconstruction of the energy of the primary particle. The Middle Drum hybrid spectrum is presented and compared to that measured by the Middle Drum station in monocular mode. Further, the hybrid data establishes a link between the Middle Drum data and the surface array. A comparison between the Middle Drum hybrid energy spectrum and scintillator Surface Detector (SD) spectrum is also shown.

Aim To investigate the computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with stage IE/IIE extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) arising in the nasal cavity and to evaluate whether imaging findings revealed by CT have prognostic value. Materials and methods The CT findings of 62 patients diagnosed with IE/IIE ENKTL arising in the nasal cavity were retrospectively reviewed. Imaging findings were investigated, and evaluated imaging findings were analysed for the prognostic value of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results Of the 62 patients, 21 (34%) presented with a superficial infiltrative, 38 (61%) with a mass forming, and three (5%) with a combined pattern. Of all imaging findings, local invasiveness (n = 26, 42%), including bony destruction, erosion, or soft-tissue involvement, was the only independent prognostic factor for OS [p = 0.008; hazard ratio (HR): 3.85; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.42–10.44] and DFS (p = 0.001; HR: 4.25; 95% CI: 1.72–10.47). In a subgroup analysis of 36 cases with no local invasiveness, a superficial infiltrative pattern in one nasal cavity was a positive prognostic factor for OS (p = 0.028) and DFS (p = 0.008). Conclusion Imaging findings at CT provided clinically useful predictions for treatment outcomes. Local invasiveness revealed by CT findings was a strong prognostic factor for poor OS and DFS. In addition, in patients with no local invasiveness, a superficial infiltrative pattern in one nasal cavity predicted favourable OS and DFS.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been recognized as a promising technique for analyzing sensitive nuclear materials such as uranium, plutonium, and curium in a high-radiation environment, especially since the implementation of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards. The uranium spectra of ore samples were quantitatively analyzed prior to analyzing sensitive materials in the nuclear industry. The purpose of this experiment is to extract quantitative information about the uranium in a uranium ore using a standard addition approach. The uranium ore samples containing different concentrations of U were prepared by mixing raw ore powder with natural uranium oxide powders. Calibration sets of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 wt.% uranium concentrations within the uranium ore sample were achieved. A pulsed and Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at a wavelength of 532 nm was used as a light source. An echelle spectrometer that covers a 190–420 nm wavelength range is used to generate a calibration curve and determine the detection limit of uranium in the ore matrix. The neutral atomic-emission peak at a wavelength of 356.659 nm indicated a detection limit of ~ 158 ppm for uranium, and the uranium concentration was determined in a raw ore sample that has an unknown quantity of uranium.

The microwave dielectric properties of Ca(0.85)Nd(0.1)TiO(3) - LnAlO(3) (Ln = Sm, Gd, Dy, Er) ceramics are investigated in this paper. The structural characteristics of the specimens were evaluated by Rietveld refinement of Xray diffraction (XRD) patterns and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Solid solution limits were dependent on the ionic radius of Ln(3+) ions. With the decrease of the ionic radius of the Ln(3+) ions, the thermal stability of the resonant frequency decreases. This can be attributed to the increased level of oxygen octahedral distortion caused by the increase in the B-site bond valence in the ABO(3) perovskite structure. The dielectric constant (K) and the quality factor (Qf) of the specimens were dependent on the polarizability and grain size, respectively.

This study evaluated the influence of various enzymes on the hydrolysis of whey protein concentrate (WPC) to reduce its antigenic fractions and to quantify the peptides having iron-binding ability in its hydrolysates. Heated (for 10 min at 100 degrees C) WPC (2% protein solution) was incubated with 2% each of Alcalase, Flavourzyme, papain, and trypsin for 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 240 min at 50 degrees C. The highest hydrolysis of WPC was observed after 240 min of incubation with Alcalase (12.4%), followed by Flavourzyme (12.0%), trypsin (10.4%), and papain (8.53%). The nonprotein nitrogen contents of WPC hydrolysate followed the hydrolytic pattern of whey. The major antigenic fractions (beta-lactoglobulin) in WPC were degraded within 60 min of its incubation with Alcalase, Flavourzyme, or papain. Chromatograms of enzymatic hydrolysates of heated WPC also indicated complete degradation of beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, and BSA. The highest iron solubility was noticed in hydrolysates derived with Alcalase (95%), followed by those produced with trypsin (90%), papain (87%), and Flavourzyme (81%). Eluted fraction 1 (F-1) and fraction 2 (F-2) were the respective peaks for the 0.25 and 0.5 M NaCl chromatographic step gradient for analysis of hydrolysates. Iron-binding ability was noticeably higher in F-1 than in F-2 of all hydrolysates of WPC. The highest iron contents in F-1 were observed in WPC hydrolysates derived with Alcalase (0.2 mg/kg), followed by hydrolysates derived with Flavourzyme (0.14 mg/kg), trypsin (0.14 mg/kg), and papain (0.08 mg/kg). Iron concentrations in the F-2 fraction of all enzymatic hydrolysates of WPC were low and ranged from 0.03 to 0.05 mg/kg. Fraction 1 may describe a new class of iron chelates based on the reaction of FeSO4 x 7 H2O with a mixture of peptides obtained by the enzymatic hydrolysis of WPC. The chromatogram of Alcalase F-1 indicated numerous small peaks of shorter wavelengths, which probably indicated a variety of new peptides with greater ability to bind with iron. Alcalase F-1 had higher Ala (18.38%), Lys (17.97%), and Phe (16.58%) concentrations, whereas the presence of Pro, Gly, and Tyr was not detected. Alcalase was more effective than other enzymes at producing a hydrolysate for the separation of iron-binding peptides derived from WPC.

Surface of a stainless steel has been modified by atmospheric-pressure plasma jet method at room temperature. The impulse voltage is applied to ignite a plasma discharge using high purity (99.999%) reactive gases: N 2 and O 2 . The treated stainless steel is characterized by the activation property of the surface using a contact angle analyzer. Surface energy for the treated stainless steel is increased remarkably when compared to the untreated surface. From the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, we could confirm that the main functional groups, causing the change in hydrophilic surface were generated under the surface reactions caused by reactive etching and oxidation of ions and activated species in the plasma. In addition, the aging effect during the duration of the hydrophilic property is also studied to investigate the production cost for the industrial applications.

Investigates an equivalence circuit model for characterizing a person's electrical properties. It is not straightforward to compare skin-impedance data of various research groups because the impedance depends very sensitively on measurement conditions such as the shape, size, material, and contact pressure of the electrodes, the skin humidity due to sweat, the applied current, the shape of the wave, and even the psychological condition of the subject. With these subtleties in mind, we show the impedance data taken by various groups and our data (shown with curves). Data of other groups are scattered around our curve.

Category:Basic Sciences/BiologicsIntroduction/Purpose:In the last two decades, several multi-segmental foot models (MFMs) have been introduced for the in vivo analysis of dynamic foot kinematics. However, the literature has not yet sufficiently described normal gait patterns in normal children and adolescents. Normal range of gait pattern should be established before applying gait analysis clinically in order to assess and treat pathological gait patterns. The purpose of this study is to suggest normal foot kinematics of clinically normal children and adolescents using three dimensional multi-segment foot model (3D MFM). Using this data, we will be able to distinguish between normal and abnormal gait more precisely in pediatric population and to evaluate gait improvement by certain treatment methods.Methods:One-hundred fifteen children and adolescents without anatomical or functional abnormalities of foot were involved. Fifty-seven individuals were boys and 58 were girls. The mean age was 11.4 years (rang...

The Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) project is the major effort of the national fusion programme of the Republic of Korea. Its aim is to develop a steady state capable advanced superconducting tokamak to establish a scientific and technological basis for an attractive fusion reactor. The major parameters of the tokamak are: major radius 1.8 m, minor radius 0.5 m, toroidal field 3.5 T and plasma current 2 MA, with a strongly shaped plasma cross-section and double null divertor. The initial pulse length provided by the poloidal magnet system is 20 s, but the pulse length can be increased to 300 s through non-inductive current drive. The plasma heating and current drive system consists of neutral beams, ion cyclotron waves, lower hybrid waves and electron cyclotron waves for flexible profile control in advanced tokamak operating modes. A comprehensive set of diagnostics is planned for plasma control, performance evaluation and physics understanding. The project has completed its conceptual design and moved to the engineering design and construction phase. The target date for the first plasma is 2002.

A study of combustion synthesis of diamond films has been carried out using low-pressure, fuel-rich hydrocarbon/oxygen flames. Diamond growth results are reported for acetylene/oxygen, propylene/oxygen, and propane/oxygen flames. The best results are achieved with acetylene/oxygen flames, in which we have grown uniform, 5-cm-diameter polycrystalline films at up to 2.3 μm/h. The deposition rate in propane/oxygen is much lower (0.15 μm/h), and the diamond film quality is also lower. The experimental results are compared to the predictions of a numerical model that includes both detailed flame chemistry and simplified diamond surface chemistry. The comparison of the experimental conditions with the simulation results shows that diamond growth occurs for stoichiometries where a small amount of hydrocarbon ( The model correctly predicts the variation of film growth rate with changes in pressure, substrate temperature, and fuel type. For all flames, the absolute predicted growth rate is somewhat higher than measured, but the agreement is reasonable considering the modeling uncertainties associated with the high peak flame temperatures and incompletely understood diamond surface kinetics.

In this report we characterize the induction mechanisms of two chemokine genes, MuRantes and crg-2, the murine homologs of human RANTES and IP-10, respectively, in primary rat astrocytes and microglia by the neurotropic paramyxovirus, Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV). The time course for NDV induction of both MuRantes and crg-2 genes in astrocytes and microglia was similar, with peak mRNA expression at 10-12 h. Unlike crg-2, MuRantes mRNA was not induced by IFN-gamma. MuRantes and crg-2 are transcriptionally induced by noninfectious, UV-irradiated NDV in astrocytes and microglia, unlike TNFalpha gene transcription, which is induced only by live NDV. These data indicate that signals generated through virus-receptor interaction on the target cell surface suffice to initiate MuRantes and crg-2 gene transcription in the absence of viral replication. In astrocytes, MuRantes mRNA accumulation in response to NDV was completely blocked by tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and partially by PKC and PKA inhibitors, whereas crg-2 mRNA accumulation was significantly inhibited by PKC inhibitors, but minimally or not affected by inhibitors of tyrosine kinase or PKA activity. These kinase inhibitors also affected MuRantes and crg-2 gene transcription in similar patterns to those observed for mRNA levels, but did not reduce the mRNA stability. Therefore, the signals required for mRNA accumulation appear to operate at the level of transcription. Efficient transcription of MuRantes and crg-2 genes may require different sets of transcriptional proteins and enhancers that are regulated by different signaling pathways activated by NDV.

Diamond growth on non-diamond particles in a fluidized bed reactor by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MPECVD) is reported. Si and SiO2 powders are used as seed particles without pretreatment, and a 0.5–2.0% CH4 in H2 mixture with addition of 0–3% O2 is used as the fluidizing gas as well as the carbon source. SEM images show that good quality diamond is deposited on Si and SiO2 particles after 8 h at 9 Torr with flow rates of 160 seem of 2.0% CH4 in H2 and 3 sccm of O2.

The literature on asymmetric information has been concerned mainly with the problem of the informed party lying to the uninformed parties. However, in many cases, the informed party will stop short of lying but will seek to gain from private information by managing the disclosure of news. This article examines the pricing of a firm when there is such manipulation of news. I model this situation as a variant of the "persuasion game" of Milgrom and Roberts (1986) in which I can parameterize the notion of the degree of credence placed by the market on the disclosures of the informed party . An empirical hypothesis thrown up by the theory is that for otherwise identical firms, a low price/earnings ratio will be associated with a greater degree of positive skewness of the disclosure strategy.

We successfully developed highly scalable and cost-effective PCRAM technology based on 0.007um2 (4F2, 84nm pitch) sized novel cell scheme. The chip size and density are 33.207mm2 and 1Gb. The device functionality and reliability were clearly demonstrated through fully integrated chip, which showed a promising feasibility for productive NVM applications.

Microwave dielectric properties of Ca0.85Nd0.1TiO3- LnAlO3(Ln = Sm, Gd, Dy, Er) ceramics have been investigated. Structural characteristics of the specimens were evaluated by Retieveld refinement of XRD patterns and HRTEM. Solid solution limits were dependent on the ionic radius of Ln3+ ion. With the decrease of ionic radius of Ln3+ ions, the thermal stability of the resonant frequency (TCF) was decreased which could be attributed to the increase of oxygen octahedral distortion by the increase of B-site bond valence. The dielectric constant (K) and the quality factor (Qf) of the specimens were dependent on the polarizability and grain size.

As sewage showing low C/N ratio in Korea has a small, but considerable amount of easily biodegradable organics, it is difficult to remove nutrients effectively. Approximately 11,434 tons of daily food waste that contain a lot of organic materials has been produced. The applicability of food waste as an external carbon source was examined in a pilot-scale BNR (biological nutrients removal) process for about 180 days. As the supply of the external carbon increased, the average removal efficiencies of T-N and T-P increased from 53% and 55% to 97% and 93% respectively. VFAs (volatile fatty acids) concentration of the external carbon source strongly affects denitrification efficiency and EBPR activity. EBPR (enhanced biological phosphorus removal) activity increased when T-N removal efficiency increased from 78% to 97%. In this study, several kinds of intracellularly stored PHAs (poly-hydroxyalkanoates) were observed. These were composed of 31% of 3HB (poly-3-hydroxybutyrate), 47% of 3HV (poly-3-hydroxyvalerate), 9% of 3HH (poly-3-hydroxyhexanoate), 5% of 3HO (poly-3-hydroxyoctanoate), and 2% of 3HD (poly-3-hydroxydecanoate) in biomass.

Summary In the advanced stage of protein glycation, Amadori compounds are degraded to 2-oxoaldehydes such as 3-deoxyglucosone (3DG) and glucosone, which react as cross-linkers. In the present paper, NADPH-dependent aldo-keto reductases in porcine tissues were investigated using methylglyoxal (MG), 3DG, and acetaldehyde as substrates. Three reductases, enzyme (I), (II), and (III), were purified from porcine liver. Enzyme (I) named 2-oxoaldehyde reductase was major enzyme metabolizing 3DG, but it was inactive toward alcohols, indicating that enzyme (I) is different from alcohol dehydrogenase (aldehyde reductase). Enzyme (II), which was identified as aldose reductase, was also active toward 3DG. Although enzyme (III) was inactive toward 3DG, it was much active toward acetaldehyde and MG, and showed typical property of aldehyde reductase, EC 1.1.1.2. 2-Oxoaldehyde reductase was purified from chicken liver, and this enzyme inhibited effectively polymerization of glycated lysozyme in vitro.

A wideband annular ring slot microstrip antenna with low impedance feed line is proposed. The experimental and simulated results confirm the wideband characteristics of the antenna. The measured bandwidth of this antenna is 127.2% for the S/sub 11/

Aluminum (Al) has been widely used as an interconnecting material for integrated circuits. As the manufacturing of integrated circuits moves toward sub-quarter-micron design rules, there is a strong need for Al etching process with thin Photo Resist (PR). This leads to even more challenging with more complicated Al etching schemes and smaller width of thicker Al line (

A 110 V/600 A, highly stabilized power supply has been installed at the Korea Cancer Center Hospital (KCCH) in Seoul, to energize a water-cooled, resistive, high field research magnet for a cyclotron. The power supply achieves a long term current stability of 20 ppm over one hour period with a short term ripple and noise variation of

Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ (EOT=22.7 /spl Aring/) gate dielectric layer formed by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) process have been characterized for sub-100 nm CMOS devices. The gate leakage current was 3 orders of magnitude lower than that of SiO/sub 2/ and the hysteresis of C-V curve was not observed. However, the negative fixed charge induced the flat band voltage (Vfb) shift and degraded the channel mobility of MOS transistor. The Vfb shift was reduced and channel mobility was improved by applying P+ gate by BF/sub 2/ implantation. It is suggested that the phosphorous diffused from gate polysilicon has a role of network modifier in Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ film and formation of the Al-O- dangling bond which may be ascribed to negative fixed charge.

A large-scale underground railway construction project which is called the Second Phase of Seoul Subway consisted of 4 Lines from Line 5 to 8 was launched in Seoul in the early 1990s to share the increasing surface traffic volume. While constructing Line 5 which was the earliest planned Line in the Second Phase of Seoul Subway, 5 cave-in collapses took place in the central urban area in Seoul, which resulted in huge property losses to adjacent areas and project delay. A tunnel collapse may give rise to a potential for injury to the public or significant damage to the built environment. This paper presents and reviews the 5 cave-in collapses. Ground conditions, work environments, failure mechanisms and remedial works were analyzed and compared. Lessons from serial collapses were described in terms of both technical and non-technical aspects. It is concluded that safe and sound construction of tunnel requires well planned technical review process and management of nontechnical aspects involved are also important in ensuring safety of tunnelling. (A) This paper was presented at Safety in the underground space - Proceedings of the ITA-AITES 2006 World Tunnel Congress and the 32nd ITA General Assembly, Seoul, Korea, 22-27 April 2006. For the covering abstract see ITRD E129148. "Reprinted with permission from Elsevier".