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The influence of particle size and functional group as one of the pivots for particle interaction that enhances electrorheological performance were studied by varying the particles to micron and nanometer-sized polyacrylonitrile (PAN) spheres for rheological comparability analysis. Emulsion polymerization and catalytic amination with diethylene triamine (DETA) were used to successfully synthesize ER particle samples and then dispersed in silicon oil for suspension analysis. Micron-sized particles presented a large surface electron density for high conversion of nitrile groups with DETA than in nano. Polar groups from DETA improved particle polarization which enhanced ER effect by increasing yield strength by more than 10 folds on raw PANs. However, small sized nano particle exhibited relatively reduced ER effect owing to aggregation by Brownian motion pronouncing aminated micro PAN with the best ER activity followed by the aminated nano PAN, micro PAN and nano PAN as follows.

Many industrialized areas of the world demand for the nutraceuticals due to rapidly growing health risks linked with higher consumption of processed foods. Tateishi Kazu vegetable soup or miracle soup is widely consumed around the world because of its nutraceutical properties. In the current research, the Tateishi Kazu vegetable soup was made from both organic and nonorganic sources, such as carrot, burdock root, shiitake mushroom, daikon radish, and radish leaves. We analyzed colour, antioxidant properties, cell viability, and mineral and free amino acid contents of both soups. The L∗a∗b and pH values revealed no drastic changes in the colour of the organic soup stored for 96 hours. The essential amino acids were present in higher amounts in an organic soup compared to the nonorganic soup. Similarly, the total mineral contents of the organic soup were higher than the nonorganic soup; however, potassium was the major mineral in both soups. Higher phenolic contents with elevated 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were noticed in organic soup. Moreover, both soups showed considerable reduction in cell viability of HepG2 cells tested through the MTT assay. From the present study, we concluded that the organic Tateishi Kazu vegetable soup can be of great importance to food industry due to the presence of viable nutrients and pharmacological properties.

Loss of primary cilia in cells deficient for the tumor suppressor von Hippel Lindau (VHL) arise from elevated Aurora Kinase A (AURKA) levels. VHL in its role as an E3 ubiquitin ligase targets AURKA for degradation and in the absence of VHL, high levels of AURKA result in destabilization of the primary cilium. We identified NVP-BEZ235, a dual PI3K/AKT and mTOR inhibitor, in an image-based high throughput screen, as a small molecule that restored primary cilia in VHL-deficient cells. We identified the ability of AKT to modulate AURKA expression at the transcript and protein level. Independent modulation of AKT and mTOR signaling decreased AURKA expression in cells confirming AURKA as a new signaling node downstream of the PI3K cascade. Corroborating these data, a genetic knockdown of AKT in cells deficient for VHL rescued the ability of these cells to ciliate. Finally, inhibition of AKT/mTOR using NVP-BEZ235 was efficacious in reducing tumor burden in a 786-0 xenograft model of renal cell carcinoma. These data highlight a previously unappreciated signaling node downstream of the AKT/mTOR pathway via AURKA that can be targeted in VHL-null cells to restore ciliogenesis.

In this study, the discharge characteristics through the drainage gates of the Saemangeum tidal dyke were investigated by laboratory experiments, 3D numerical modelling, and field observations. Laboratory experiments were conducted using a 1:50 scale model of the tidal dyke, drainage gate, and seabed topography and field observations were used to validate the experimental results. From the results of these experiments, we derived discharge diagrams that relate the discharge through the drainage gate to the water levels inside and outside the dyke for a range of operating conditions. The formula and discharge coefficients were suggested for free and submerged flows through hydraulic experiments. The discharge predicted from suggested formula agreed well with experimental results. Discharge coefficients of half gates open cases are slightly less than those of all gates open cases due to flow disturbance along the side of downstream. Through experiments with two drainage gates, the Sinsi and Garyok gates, it was found that the discharge coefficients were highly influenced by the terrain around the gates. Numerical simulations were also carried out using a commercial flow modelling software (FLOW-3D). The discharge and flow patterns predicted by the numerical simulations were found to be in good agreement with the measurements.

Background Primary and posttreatment resistance to BRAFV600 mutation–targeting inhibitors leads to disease relapse in a majority of melanoma patients. In many instances, this resistance is promoted by upregulation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) in melanoma cells. We recently showed that a novel electron transport chain (ETC) complex I inhibitor, IACS-010759 (IACS), abolished OxPhos and significantly inhibited tumor growth of high-OxPhos, BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi)–resistant human melanomas. However, the inhibition was not uniform across different high OxPhos melanomas, and combination with BRAFi did not improve efficacy. Methods We performed a high-throughput unbiased combinatorial drug screen of clinically relevant small molecules to identify the most potent combination agent with IACS for inhibiting the growth of high-OxPhos, BRAFi-resistant melanomas. We performed bioenergetics and carbon-13 metabolite tracing to delineate the metabolic basis of sensitization of melanomas to the combination treatment. We performed xenograft tumor growth studies and Reverse-Phase Protein Array (RPPA)–based functional proteomics analysis of tumors from mice fed with regular or high-fat diet to evaluate in vivo molecular basis of sensitization to the combination treatment. Results A combinatorial drug screen and subsequent validation studies identified Atorvastatin (STN), a hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (HMGCRi), as the most potent treatment combination with IACS to inhibit in vitro cell growth and induce tumor regression or stasis of some BRAFi-resistant melanomas. Bioenergetics analysis revealed a dependence on fatty acid metabolism in melanomas that responded to the combination treatment. RPPA analysis and carbon-13 tracing analysis in these melanoma cells showed that IACS treatment decreased metabolic fuel utilization for fatty acid metabolism, but increased substrate availability for activation of the mevalonate pathway by HMGCR, creating a dependence on this pathway. Functional proteomic analysis showed that IACS treatment inhibited MAPK but activated AKT pathway. Combination treatment with STN counteracted AKT activation. Conclusions STN and other clinically approved HMGCRi could be promising combinatorial agents for improving the efficacy of ETC inhibitors like IACS in BRAFi-resistant melanomas.

The possibility of an interelectrode oscillation behavior of dielectric dispersoids in colloidal dispersion by electric stimuli has been suggested but has not yet been reported. Here, we present a strategy for inducing the oscillation behavior based on dielectric constant (e)-matching and conductivity (σ)-mismatching techniques between the dispersoids and dispersion medium. One of the electrophoresis-based bio-microparticles, Nannochloropsis gaditana (N. gaditana, e ≈ 2.9–3.7), and olive oil, which has a similar dielectric constant (e ≈ 3.1), were selected as dispersoid and dispersion medium, respectively. The conductivity mismatch was formed by controlling the temperature of the suspension. As the temperature increased from 25 to 50, 75, and 100 °C, the conductivity mismatch increased exponentially from 0.20 to 0.57, 2.17, and 11.95 (× 10−4 μS m−1). The anaphoretic separation behavior of the dispersoids by electric stimuli, which was shown at 25 °C, changed to interelectrode oscillation behavior at 100 °C due to their high conductivity mismatch, as we expected.

Peach, an important fruit crop for its health benefits, is grown in different parts of the world. A huge amount of unripe peaches, which are obtained during fruit thinning or as natural fruit drop,...

In the context of the current climate change and increasing population scenarios, waterlogging stress in plants represents a global threat to sustainable agriculture production. Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria and biochar have been widely reported to mitigate the effects of several abiotic stresses. Hence, in the present study, we examined the effect of the rhizobacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides KE149 and biochar on soybean plants subjected to sufficient water supply and waterlogging stress conditions. Our results revealed that KE149 and biochar inoculation significantly improved plant morphological attributes, such as root length, shoot length, and fresh biomass. The biochemical analysis results showed that the two treatments determined a significant drop in the levels of endogenous phytohormones (such as abscisic acid) under normal conditions, which were considerably enhanced under waterlogging stress. However, the jasmonic acid content increased with the application of biochar and KE149 under normal conditions, and it considerably decreased under waterlogging stress. Moreover, proline, methionine, and aspartic acid were significantly increased, whereas the phenolic and flavonoid contents were reduced with the application of the two treatments under waterlogging stress. These results suggest that the application of KE149 and biochar can be a safe biological tool with which to improve the physiology and productivity of soybean plants exposed to waterlogging stress.

Lemon (Citrus limonBurm. f.) is one of the most widely produced and consumed fruits in the world. The seeds of lemon are generally discarded as waste. The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality characteristics and antioxidant potential of lemon seed oil obtained by four extraction methods (roasted-pressing at 170°C, RP-170; roasted-pressing at 100°C, RP-100; cold-pressing, CP; and supercritical fluid, SF). No significant differences in the viscosity, density, and refractive index were observed in the oil obtained from different methods. In the case of Hunter's value,L(lightness) andb(yellowness) values of SF were higher than those of the others. The oil obtained by the CP method exhibited higher levels of Ca (252.17 mg/kg), Cu (2.38 mg/kg), K (225.98 mg/kg), and Mo (0.47 mg/kg) than that of other methods. The highest contents of total phenols (165.90 mg/mL) and flavonoids (21.69 mg/mL) were significantly high in oil obtained by the SF method. Oleic and linoleic acids consisted of principal fatty acids, which were significantly higher in oil obtained by RP-170. Higher amounts of volatile flavor compounds, such as γ-terpinene, sabinene, and limonene, were observed in CP compared to those observed for the other methods. This study elucidates the effects of different methods of oil extraction on the composition of lemon seed oil and highlights potential applications of these benefits in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and/or fragrance industries.

This paper investigates distribution of wave forces along a semi-infinite breakwater considering wave diffraction using the analytical solutions derived from linear wave theory. It is foun...

Loss of primary cilia in cells deficient for the tumor suppressor von Hippel Lindau (VHL) arise from elevated Aurora Kinase A (AURKA) levels. VHL in its role as an E3 ubiquitin ligase targets AURKA for degradation and in the absence of VHL, high levels of AURKA result in destabilization of the primary cilium. We identified NVP-BEZ235, a dual PI3K/AKT and mTOR inhibitor, in an image-based high throughput screen, as a small molecule that restored primary cilia in VHL-deficient cells. We identified the ability of AKT to modulate AURKA expression at the transcript and protein level. Independent modulation of AKT and mTOR signaling decreased AURKA expression in cells confirming AURKA as a new signaling node downstream of the PI3K cascade. Corroborating these data, a genetic knockdown of AKT in cells deficient for VHL rescued the ability of these cells to ciliate. Finally, inhibition of AKT/mTOR using NVP-BEZ235 was efficacious in reducing tumor burden in a 786-0 xenograft model of renal cell carcinoma. These data highlight a previously unappreciated signaling node downstream of the AKT/mTOR pathway via AURKA that can be targeted in VHL-null cells to restore ciliogenesis.

The objective of this study was to prepare low-alcoholic takju. Low-alcohol (3.06%) and dealcoholized (0.04–0.28%) takju samples were prepared by adopting bentonite clarification, heat and reverse osmosis treatments. The dealcoholization of takju, in most cases, significantly (p

The objective of this study is to extend reliability and applicability of the advanced measuring device for bottom shear stress introduced in the previous paper (Park et al., 2016) so that it could be deployed in the field. The high-speed open-channel flume used for the previous study has been renovated to accommodate even higher flow velocity (up to 6 m s−1). Then we adapted a non-intrusive velocity field measurement technique to such challenging flow conditions of interest. The specific experimental conditions required high degree of adaptation and subsequent development of analysis technique. The experimental results are used to reliably estimate bottom shear stress which is then compared to the measured value using the shear plate. It is shown that the shear plate can be applied to wide range of flow conditions by adjusting elastic shear modulus of the restoring mechanism.

Using the recently developed bottom-tilting wave maker, run-ups of very long waves are investigated on an adjustable plane beach. Both leading-elevation waves and leading-depression waves are consi...

Pleurotus eryngii produces various functional molecules that mediate physiological functions in humans. Recently, we observed that P. eryngii produces molecules that have antidepressant functions. An ethanol extract of the fruiting body of P. eryngii was obtained, and the extract was purified by XAD-16 resin using an open column system. The ethanol eluate was separated by HPLC, and the fraction with an antidepressant function was identified. Using LC-MS, the molecular structure of the HPLC fraction with antidepressant function was identified as that of tryptamine, a functional molecule that is a tryptophan derivative. The antidepressant effect was identified from the ethanol extract, XAD-16 column eluate, and HPLC fraction by a serotonin receptor binding assay and a cell-based binding assay. Furthermore, a forced swimming test (FST) showed that the mice treated with purified fractions of P. eryngii exhibited decreased immobility time compared with nontreated mice. From these results, we suggest that the extract of P. eryngii has an antidepressant function and that it may be employed as an antidepressant health supplement.

Copper is an essential metal ion that performs many physiological functions in living organisms. Deletion of Afmac1, which is a copper-responsive transcriptional activator in A. fumigatus, results in a growth defect on aspergillus minimal medium (AMM). Interestingly, we found that zinc starvation suppressed the growth defect of the &Delta, afmac1 strain on AMM. In addition, the growth defect of the &Delta, afmac1 strain was recovered by copper supplementation or introduction of the CtrC gene into the &Delta, afmac1 strain. However, chelation of copper by addition of BCS to AMM failed to recover the growth defect of the &Delta, afmac1 strain. Through Northern blot analysis, we found that zinc starvation upregulated CtrC and CtrA2, which encode membrane copper transporters. Interestingly, we found that the conserved ZafA binding motif 5&prime, CAA(G)GGT-3&prime, was present in the upstream region of CtrC and CtrA2 and that mutation of the binding motif led to failure of ZafA binding to the upstream region of CtrC and upregulation of CtrC expression under zinc starvation. Furthermore, the binding activity of ZafA to the upstream region of CtrC was inversely proportional to the zinc concentration, and copper inhibited the binding of ZafA to the upstream region of CtrC under a low zinc concentration. Taken together, these results suggest that ZafA upregulates copper metabolism by binding to the ZafA binding motif in the CtrC promoter region under low zinc concentration, thus regulating copper homeostasis. Furthermore, we found that copper and zinc interact in cells to maintain metal homeostasis.

The answer to the letter ‘Absent regulation of iron acquisition by the copper regulator Mac1 in A. fumigatus’ has been prepared. We explained our data and showed supplementary information to answer the questions. And we respect the results of other groups first and explain the differences from our results.

Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the performance of a vortex drop inlet with a spiral intake in subcritical and supercritical flow conditions. The water surface elevation at multiple locations was measured for different flowrates by varying the extent of the guiding wall and the longitudinal and radial bottom slopes. The measurements show that a steeper longitudinal bottom slope decreases the water surface elevation at the beginning of the intake, resulting in a transcritical flow in the intake structure. However, a steeper longitudinal bottom slope also causes the maximum water surface elevation to occur within the spiral intake. For an effective vortex drop inlet design, achieving a low water surface elevation throughout the entire spiral intake structure is required. Experimental results show that the two seemingly conflicting design criteria, namely, achieving a low water surface elevation in the approach channel and reducing the maximum water surface elevation in the intake structure, can be simultaneously achieved by adding a radial bottom slope.

Although iron and copper are co-ordinately regulated in living cells, the homeostatic effects of each of these metals on the other remain unknown. Here, we show the function of AfMac1, a transcriptional activator of the copper and iron regulons of Aspergillus fumigatus, on the interaction between iron and copper. In addition to the copper-specific AfMac1-binding motif 5′-TGTGCTCA-3′ found in the promoter region of ctrC, the iron-specific AfMac1-binding motif 5′-AT(C/G)NN(A/T)T(A/C)-3′ was identified in the iron regulon but not in the copper regulon by ChIP sequence analysis. Furthermore, mutation of the AfMac1-binding motif of sit1 eliminated AfMac1-mediated sit1 up-regulation. Interestingly, the regulation of gene expression in the iron regulon by AfMac1 was not affected by copper and vice versa. AfMac1 localized to the nucleus under iron- or copper-depleted conditions, and AfMac1 was mostly detected in the cytoplasm under iron- or copper-replete conditions. Taken together, these results suggest that A. fumigatus independently regulates iron and copper homeostasis in a manner that involves AfMac1 and mutual interactions.

Purpose To evaluate the reliability of the parameters for acetabular/femoral pathomorphologies in L-spine and hip radiographs compared to pelvic radiographs. Methods A retrospective review of L-spine, hip, and pelvic radiographs from 101 patients was performed. Three radiologists independently measured five parameters (acetabular roof angle of Tonnis [Tonnis angle], center-edge-angle of Wiberg [CEA], femoral head extrusion index [FHEI], cross-over sign, pistol-grip deformity) in each radiograph. Results No significant differences were identified (p ≥ 0.07) except Tonnis angles and FHEIs from the L-spine radiographs. Inter-radiograph/inter-reader ICCs were excellent or good. Conclusion Pathomorphology-related measurements in L-spine radiographs can also be used as alternatives to those in pelvic or hip radiographs. If L-spine radiographs are already available, additional pelvic or hip radiographs may be unnecessary, thus reducing patients' overall radiation exposure.

Zinc performs diverse physiological functions, and virtually all living organisms require zinc as an essential trace element. To identify the detailed function of zinc in fungal pathogenicity, we carried out cDNA microarray analysis using the model system of Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungal pathogen. From microarray analysis, we found that the genes involved in gliotoxin biosynthesis were upregulated when zinc was depleted, and the microarray data were confirmed by northern blot analysis. In particular, zinc deficiency upregulated the expression of GliZ, which encodes a Zn2-Cys6 binuclear transcription factor that regulates the expression of the genes required for gliotoxin biosynthesis. The production of gliotoxin was decreased in a manner inversely proportional to the zinc concentration, and the same result was investigated in the absence of ZafA, which is a zinc-dependent transcription activator. Interestingly, we found two conserved ZafA-binding motifs, 5′-CAAGGT-3′, in the upstream region of GliZ on the genome and discovered that deletion of the ZafA-binding motifs resulted in loss of ZafA-binding activity; gliotoxin production was decreased dramatically, as demonstrated with a GliZ deletion mutant. Furthermore, mutation of the ZafA-binding motifs resulted in an increase in the conidial killing activity of human macrophage and neutrophil cells, and virulence was decreased in a murine model. Finally, transcriptomic analysis revealed that the expression of ZafA and GliZ was upregulated during phagocytosis by macrophages. Taken together, these results suggest that zinc plays an important role in the pathogenicity of A. fumigatus by regulating gliotoxin production during the phagocytosis pathway to overcome the host defense system.

Motivated by need to study supercritical overbank flows on floodplain, we experimentally investigate if initially supercritical flow in a rectangular flume would maintain its state throughout. Varying upstream gate opening, flow rate and angle of the slope, a total of 37 experimental cases were carried out. The experimental results are compared to two existing theories: an inviscid theory based on nonlinear shallow water equations and jump conditions and a hydraulic theory that takes friction into account. The experimental data are consistent with the two theories. Flows on downward slope were stable, while those on upward slope had unstable hydraulic jump and transformed into subcritical flow. The reported results should serve well in designing a laboratory flume with the supercritical inflow and in conducting hydraulic model experiments on overbank flows.

Total suspended matter (TSM) in coastal areas is affected by various sediment transport mechanisms. Thus, identifying systematically and robustly the regional pattern of TSM data is of great use for the management of coastal areas. The TSM sampling stations have been regionally clustered using an iterative toroidal SOM–k–means approach, which overcomes the cluster number determination and local optima problems. The iterative toroidal SOM–k–means is a two-step clustering approach that finds an optimal clustering result based on DBI by repeating the toroidal SOM and k-means clustering. Six variables (longitude, latitude, surface TSM in February and August, bottom TSM in February and August) were used as clustering variables, and cluster analyses were conducted while varying combinations of variables. All clustering results were analyzed using the sediment distribution, ocean currents, and tidal currents around South Korean coastal areas. Additionally, tidal flats around the Yeomha Channel, Hampyeong Bay, and Doam Bay, which are associated with sediment dispersion of turbid water, bay erosion, and tidal forcing, respectively, were identified during clustering analyses. This study's outcome provides the basis of regional sediment transport analysis in South Korea and an example of physical analysis based on the data-driven approach.