Effect of Mortalin on Scar Formation in Human Dermal Fibroblasts and a Rat Incisional Scar Model

Wound healing is a complicated cascading process; disequilibrium among reparative processes leads to the formation of pathologic scars. Herein, we explored the role of mortalin in scar formation and its association with the interleukin-1α receptor using in vitro and in vivo models. To investigate the effects of mortalin, we performed an MTT cell viability assay, qRT-PCR, and Western blot analyses, in addition to immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation studies using cultured fibroblasts. A rat incisional wound model was used to evaluate the effect of a mortalin-specific shRNA (dE1-RGD/GFP/shMot) Ad vector in scar tissue. In vitro, the mortalin-treated human dermal fibroblast displayed a significant increase in proliferation of type I collagen, α-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor-β, phospho-Smad2/3-complex, and NF-κB levels. Immunofluorescence staining revealed markedly increased mortalin and interleukin-1α receptor protein in keloid tissue compared to those in normal tissue, suggesting that the association between mortalin and IL-1α receptor was responsible for the fibrogenic effect. In vivo, mortalin-specific shRNA-expressing Ad vectors significantly decreased the scar size and type-I-collagen, α-SMA, and phospho-Smad2/3-complex expression in rat incisional scar tissue. Thus, dE1-RGD/GEP/shMot can inhibit the TGF-β/α-SMA axis and NF-κB signal pathways in scar formation, and blocking endogenous mortalin could be a potential therapeutic target for keloids.     

Evolution of microstructures in Al-Mn-Mg alloys during homogenization

0　ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＡｌ Ｍｎｓｅｒｉｅｓａｌｌｏｙｓａｓｃｏｍｍｅｒｃｉａｌｏｎｅｓｈａｖｅｌｏｎｇｈｉｓ ｔｏｒｙ .Ｔｈｅｆｉｒｓｔｃｏｍｍｅｒｃｉａｌ 3ＸＸＸａｌｌｏｙｗａｓｄｅｖｅｌｏｐｅｄｉｎ190 6ａｎｄｔｈｅｍａｉｎａｌｌｏｙｉｎｇｅｌｅｍｅｎｔｓｏｆｔｈｉｓａｌｌｏｙａｒｅ 1.2 5ｗ (Ｂ) %Ｍｎａｎｄ 0 .13ｗ (Ｂ) %Ｃｕ .Ｉｎ 192 9,30 0 4ａｌｌｏｙｗｉｔｈ 1ｗ (Ｂ) %Ｍｇｅｌｅｍｅｎｔｃａｍｅｉｎｔｏｉｎｄｕｓｔｒｉａｌｕｓｅ .Ｏｖｅｒｐａｓｔｔｗｅｎｔｙ ｙｅａｒｓ ,3ＸＸＸｓｅｒ…     

Characterization of Ni/Ce Co-Doped BST Thin Film Grown on LSCO/Pt Electrodes Prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition

Perovskite (Ba_0.6Sr_0.4)TiO₃ (BST) thin films doped with Ni, Ce and Ni/Ce codopants were prepared on LSCO/Pt/SiO₂/Si substrates by pulsed laser deposition method. In this study, La_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃ (LSCO) bottom electrodes were used to improve the crystallinity and dielectric properties of BST films. Single ion doped(1 mol%Ni doped,1 mol%Ce doped) BST films showed more improved crystallinity, smoother surface, and smaller grain size than that with 1 mol%Ni/1 mol%Ce. The dielectric constant and loss of Ni/Ce co-doped BST films were about 298 and 1.8%, respectively. In addition, tunability and figure of merit of co-doped BST films showed minimum values of approximately 9.3% and 5, respectively. With 1% Ni-doped BST thin films, results gave a tunability of 54.2% and a loss tangent of 1.8% while a figure of merit was 30. Correlation of the material properties with dielectric and tunable properties suggests the 1 mol%Ni-doped BST films are effective potential candidate for tunable device applications.     

Distributed stream join query processing with semijoins

This paper addresses the distributed stream processing of window-based multi-way join queries considering the semijoin as a key join operator. In distributed stream processing, data streams arriving at remote sites need to be shipped to the processing site for query execution. This typically introduces high communication overhead. Our observation is that semijoin, effective in reducing communication overhead in distributed database query processing, can be also effective in distributed stream query processing. The challenge, however, lies in the streaming nature of the tuples, as it requires continuous and incremental processing of an unbounded sequence of tuples instead of one-time processing of a set of stored tuples. This paper describes our comprehensive work done to address the challenge. Specifically, we first propose a distributed stream join processing model that handles the issue of network delays introduced from the shipment of data streams, and allows for efficient batch processing. Then, based on the model, we propose join algorithms in a multi-way join case: first, one-way join algorithms for different combinations of join placement and join method and, then, multi-way join algorithms assuming linear join ordering. Regarding the join method, two distributed join methods are introduced: (1) simple join, in which full tuples are forwarded to the query processing site and (2) semijoin-based join, in which partial tuples are forwarded. A semijoin-based join can be executed with different possible semijoin strategies which incur different communication overheads. We present a complete set of join algorithms considering all possible semijoin strategies, and propose an optimization algorithm. The join algorithms are executed continuously in an incremental manner as tuples arrive, and never ship tuples redundantly. The optimization algorithm constructs an efficient multi-way join plan by using a greedy heuristic which adds to the plan one stream with the minimum join execution cost in each step. Through extensive experiments, we conduct comparative studies of the performance among the proposed one-way join algorithms and the efficiency of the generated plan between the optimization algorithm based on the greedy heuristic and the exhaustive search, respectively.     

Acupuncture Alleviates Anxiety and 22-kHz Ultrasonic Vocalizations in Rats Subjected to Repeated Alcohol Administration by Modulating the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Signaling Pathway

The Shenmen point (acupuncture point heart 7: HT7), located in the heart meridian, is frequently used to treat mental disorders, including drug addiction, anxiety, and depression. This study aimed to determine how HT7 regulates anxiety and negative emotions caused by repeated alcohol administration, focusing on the amygdala and paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Repeated administration of alcohol (ETOH; 2 g/kg, i.p. injection, 16% v/v) for 14 days increased the corticosterone (CORT) levels, and HT7 stimulation reduced the plasma CORT levels. HT7 stimulation mitigated anxiety-like behaviors and reduced 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in rats receiving repeated ETOH injections. HT7 stimulation increased the amygdala expression of mature brain-derived neurotropic factor (mBDNF) and phosphorylated tropomyosin receptor kinase B (pTrkB) and decreased the PVN corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) expression. Amygdala microinjections of the TrkB antagonist ANA-12 (0.1 pmol/1 μL) reversed the increase in PVN CRH levels. The reduced PVN CRH levels were regulated by CRH-expressing neurons in the amygdala, and the increased amygdala CRH levels were affected by the HT7-stimulation induced increases in mBDNF. HT7 stimulation alleviates increased stress hormone levels and mitigates anxiety and negative emotions caused by repeated ETOH administration. These results provide scientific support for the clinical use of acupuncture to treat various alcoholism-induced diseases.     

The Role of Estrogen Receptors and Their Signaling across Psychiatric Disorders

Increasing evidence suggests estrogen and estrogen signaling pathway disturbances across psychiatric disorders. Estrogens are not only crucial in sexual maturation and reproduction but are also highly involved in a wide range of brain functions, such as cognition, memory, neurodevelopment, and neuroplasticity. To add more, the recent findings of its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects have grown interested in investigating its potential therapeutic use to psychiatric disorders. In this review, we analyze the emerging literature on estrogen receptors and psychiatric disorders in cellular, preclinical, and clinical studies. Specifically, we discuss the contribution of estrogen receptor and estrogen signaling to cognition and neuroprotection via mediating multiple neural systems, such as dopaminergic, serotonergic, and glutamatergic systems. Then, we assess their disruptions and their potential implications for pathophysiologies in psychiatric disorders. Further, in this review, current treatment strategies involving estrogen and estrogen signaling are evaluated to suggest a future direction in identifying novel treatment strategies in psychiatric disorders.     

Polyimide nanohybrid films with electrochemically functionalized graphene

Graphite was functionalized electrochemically in a potassium fluoride solution and used to prepare polyimide (PI)/graphene nanohybrid films. The as‐made electrochemically fluorinated graphene (EFG) was used to prepare nanohybrid films with colorless PI, which was synthesized from 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride and bis(trifluoromethyl) benzidine by in situ polymerization. The surface functionalization of graphite was characterized by powder XRD, TEM with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy elemental mapping, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and TGA. The microstructure of the films was characterized by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, XRD and SEM. The film properties were measured using a universal testing machine, TGA, dynamic mechanical analysis, four‐point probe, UV–visible spectroscopy and water contact angle analysis. EFG improved the tensile strength and modulus of the nanohybrid films by 20% and 50%, respectively. The glass transition temperature and electrical conductivity of the nanohybrid films were 12 °C and nine orders of magnitude higher than those of the neat PI film, respectively. The nanohybrid film maintained 80% optical transmittance even after the addition of 0.1 wt% EFG. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry