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Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. (AES; family Araliaceae) is a medicinal plant and has been reported to have various bioactivities, including anticancer and hepatotoxicity protective activities. However, no studies have investigated the biological activities of AES or its extracts on skin. To address this, we aimed to explore the effect of AES-flower-derived absolute-type essential oil (AESFEO) on skin-related biological activities, especially skin wound healing and whitening-related responses in skin cells (human-derived keratinocytes [HaCaT cells] and melanocytes [B16BL6 cells]) and to identify the components of AESFEO. Cell biological activities were analyzed using WST and BrdU incorporation assays, ELISA, or by immunoblotting. In HaCaT cells, AESFEO promoted proliferation, type IV collagen production, and enhanced the phosphorylations of Erk1/2, p38 MAPK, JNK, and Akt. In B16BL6 cells, AESFEO reduced serum-induced proliferation, α-MSH-stimulated increases in melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity, and α-MSH-induced increases in MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 expressions. In addition, AESFEO inhibited the phosphorylation of Erk1/2, p38 MAPK, and JNK in α-MSH-stimulated B16BL6 cells. Eighteen compounds were identified in AESFEO by GC/MS. These results suggest that AESFEO has beneficial effects on keratinocyte activities related to skin wound healing and melanocyte activities related to inhibition of skin pigmentation. AESFEO may serve as a useful natural substance for developing agents that facilitate skin wound healing and inhibit melanogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface textures are indispensable to minimize optical losses in perovskite-based solar cells. However, the solution-processing of perovskite layers is often not compatible with textured substrates, and little is known about the film growth thereon. This study aims to elucidate the growth process of perovskite layers from solution on textured substrates and to identify the texture features ensuring compatibility with perovskite solution-processing. Using nanoimprint-lithography we prepared three different periodically as well as randomly textured glass substrates for spin-coated perovskite solar cells, of which one was duplicated from a commercially available texture. During the perovskite crystallization process, a time-resolved in situ photoluminescence measurement was conducted. The photoluminescence signal was not found to substantially alter using textured substrates with texture heights around 500 nm. Optical absorptance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopic imaging were applied to investigate the growth, crystal structure, and optical properties of solution-processed perovskite on top of different textures. We find that periodic textures with height around 500 nm enable homogeneous solution-processed perovskite layers with optimized optical performance. In contrast, texture heights of several micrometers lead to macroscopic holes in the perovskite film. The results of this study will help to find optimum optical textures for high-efficiency perovskite single-junction and perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells.

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are viewed as a valuable resource for useful bioactive compounds, such as chlorogenic acids and flavonoids, and we suggest an eco-friendly and efficient valorization method. A series of choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were tested as green extraction solvents for use with ultrasound-assisted extraction. Extraction efficiency was evaluated based on total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content, total chlorogenic acids, and/or anti-oxidant activity. A binary DES named HC-6, which was composed of 1,6-hexanediol:choline chloride (molar ratio 7:1) was designed to produce the highest efficiency. Experimental conditions were screened and optimized for maximized efficiency using a two-level fractional factorial design and a central composite design, respectively. As a result, the proposed method presented significantly enhanced TPC and anti-oxidant activity. In addition, phenolic compounds could be easily recovered from extracts at high recovery yields (>90%) by adsorption chromatography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinesin heavy chain isoform 5A ( KIF5A) gene, which encodes a microtubule-based motor protein, plays an important role in the transport of organelles in the nerve cells. Mutations in the KIF5A showed a wide phenotypic spectrum from hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) to axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth peripheral neuropathy type 2 (CMT2). This study identified three pathogenic KIF5A mutations in Korean CMT2 patients by whole exome sequencing. Two mutations (p.Arg204Trp and p.Arg280His) were previously reported, but p.Leu558Pro was determined to be a novel de novo mutation. All the mutations were not observed in the healthy controls and were located in highly conserved domains among vertebrate species. The p.Arg204Trp mutation was identified from a CMT2 patient with additional complex phenotypes of HSP, ataxia, fatigability and pyramidal sign, but the p.Arg280His and p.Leu588Pro mutations were identified in each axonal CMT2 patient. The p.Arg204Trp mutation was previously reported in a HSP patient with no CMT symptom. The p.Arg280His mutation was reported in a CMT2 patient, which was similarly with our case. However, it was also once reported in a HSP patient with pes cavus. As the first report in Korea, this study identified three KIF5A mutations as the underlying cause of axonal peripheral neuropathy with or without the HSP phenotype. We confirmed a wide inter- and intra-allelic phenotypic spectrum by the mutations in the KIF5A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]