Topoisomerase IIIβ Deficiency Induces Neuro-Behavioral Changes and Brain Connectivity Alterations in Mice

Topoisomerase IIIβ (Top3β), the only dual-activity topoisomerase in mammals that can change topology of both DNA and RNA, is known to be associated with neurodevelopment and mental dysfunction in humans. However, there is no report showing clear associations of Top3β with neuropsychiatric phenotypes in mice. Here, we investigated the effect of Top3β on neuro-behavior using newly generated Top3β deficient (Top3β^−/−) mice. We found that Top3β^−/− mice showed decreased anxiety and depression-like behaviors. The lack of Top3β was also associated with changes in circadian rhythm. In addition, a clear expression of Top3β was demonstrated in the central nervous system of mice. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) analysis revealed significantly altered connectivity between many brain regions in Top3β^−/− mice, including the connectivity between the olfactory bulb and the cerebellum, the connectivity between the amygdala and the olfactory bulb, and the connectivity between the globus pallidus and the optic nerve. These connectivity alterations in brain regions are known to be linked to neurodevelopmental as well as psychiatric and behavioral disorders in humans. Therefore, we conclude that Top3β is essential for normal brain function and behavior in mice and that Top3β could be an interesting target to study neuropsychiatric disorders in humans.     

Metabolite profiling of Cheonggukjang, a fermented soybean paste,during fermentation by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and principal component analysis

Metabolite profiling by applying principal component analysis (PCA) to a GC–MS data set was performed to assess changes in a select number of pre-defined metabolites during the fermentation of Cheonggukjang. A total of 20 amino acids, 12 organic acids, and nine fatty acids were found as targeted metabolites in Cheonggukjang. As fermentation proceeded, the levels of most amino acids decreased during the early stage of fermentation, but increased in the later part of fermentation. On the other hand, amounts of fatty acids increased throughout the fermentation process, while those of most organic acids, except for tartaric acid, decreased. A PCA score plot illustrated good separation of the Cheonggukjang samples according to fermentation period by combining principal component 1 (PC 1) (36.8%) with PC 2 (30.3%). Tryptophan, citric acid, β-alanine, itaconic acid, 2-hydroxyglutaric acid, γ-aminobutyric acid, leucine, malic acid, and tartaric acid were the major components that differentiated the various samples.     

Comparison of fermented soybean paste (Doenjang) prepared by different methods based on profiling of volatile compounds

Abstract: In this study, 2 different extraction methods, namely solvent‐assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE) and solid‐phase microextraction (SPME), were employed to investigate the comprehensive volatile profile of Doenjang (one of Korean fermented soybean pastes) efficiently. Quantitatively, major volatiles of Doenjang isolated by SAFE were 3‐methylbutanoic acid, butanoic acid, 3‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐4H‐pyran‐4‐one (maltol), ethyl 2‐methylbutanoate, 2‐methylpropanoic acid, tetramethylpyrazine, and 4‐ethyl‐2‐methoxyphenol, while ethanol, ethenylbenzene, ethyl benzoate, ethyl linoleate, ethyl acetate, ethyl butanoate, tetramethylpyrazine, and ethyl 2‐methylpropanoate extracted by SPME. In addition, volatile profiling that applied principal component analysis to gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry datasets allowed Doenjang samples that had been prepared using different traditional and commercial methods to be discriminated, and the volatile compounds that contributed to their discrimination were assigned. The major volatiles that were related to differentiation of traditional and commercial Doenjang samples were 2‐pentylfuran, 4‐ethylphenol, dihydro‐5‐methyl‐2(3H)‐furanone, butanoic acid, pyrazines (for example, 2‐ethyl‐5‐methylpyrazine and 2,3‐dimethylpyrazine), esters (for example, ethyl 4‐methylpentanoate and diethyl succinate), maltol, dimethyl disulfide, 2‐ and 3‐methylbutanal, hexanal, 4‐vinylphenol, and ethanol.     

Hydrogen recovery from the thermal plasma gasification of solid waste

Thermal plasma gasification has been demonstrated as one of the most effective and environmentally friendly methods for solid waste treatment and energy utilization in many of studies. Therefore, the thermal plasma process of solid waste gasification (paper mill waste, 1.2 ton/day) was applied for the recovery of high purity H(2) (>99.99%). Gases emitted from a gasification furnace equipped with a nontransferred thermal plasma torch were purified using a bag-filter and wet scrubber. Thereafter, the gases, which contained syngas (CO+H(2)), were introduced into a H(2) recovery system, consisting largely of a water gas shift (WGS) unit for the conversion of CO to H(2) and a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit for the separation and purification of H(2). It was successfully demonstrated that the thermal plasma process of solid waste gasification, combined with the WGS and PSA, produced high purity H(2) (20 N m(3)/h (400 H(2)-Nm(3)/PMW-ton), up to 99.99%) using a plasma torch with 1.6 MWh/PMW-ton of electricity. The results presented here suggest that the thermal plasma process of solid waste gasification for the production of high purity H(2) may provide a new approach as a future energy infrastructure based on H(2).     

Change in profiles of volatile compounds from two types of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagopyrum esculentum</Emphasis> (buckwheat) <Emphasis Type="Italic">soksungjang</Emphasis> during fermentation

Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat) soksungjang is one of the traditional soybean pastes in Korea. This study profiled and compared volatile compounds between traditionally manufactured (TBS) and commercially modified buckwheat soksungjang (CBS) according to their fermentation periods. More volatile compounds were generated and non-uniform increases or decreases in volatiles were more common during TBS fermentation. In addition, the changes in and differences between the volatiles from TBS and CBS during the fermentation process (after 0, 1, 2, and 5 weeks) were investigated in partial least squares-discriminant analysis models. The changes were accelerated during CBS fermentation in comparison with TBS fermentation. Several major volatile compounds, such as methyl decanoate, 3-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylpyran-4-one, and methyl heptanoate were found in the final stage of fermentation in TBS, in contrary, tridecane, (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol, furan-2-carbaldehyde, and ethyl tetradecanoate were contributed to the latest of fermentation in CBS.     

纯钛板成形极限曲线的预测（英文）

商业纯钛(CP Ti)由于其轻质,高比强度和优异的耐腐蚀性能而被广泛应用于板式换热器。然而,与汽车用钢和铝合金相比,关于CP Ti板的塑性变形特征和压制成形性的研究相对较少。本文研究与CP Ti板压制成形相关的应力-应变关系及其力学性能和硬化行为。结果表明,CP Ti板的真应力-真应变关系曲线符合Kim-Tuan硬化方程,而不是Voce和Swift模型。通过冲压试验验证CP Ti板的成形极限曲线(FLC)可作为压制成形性的标准,并可通过Hora改进的最大力准则来分析预测。通过Kim-Tuan硬化模型和合适的屈服函数预测的FLC与冲压试验的结果吻合良好。     

Development of an optical measuring system for integrated geometric errors of a three-axis miniaturized machine tool

Miniaturized machine tool (mMT) is one kind of downsized machine tool derived from conventional machines to manufacture miniature parts. However, it is extremely difficult to calibrate an mMT due to its small dimension. This paper presents a novel method that uses laser diode and optics to measure integrated geometric errors (three translation errors and three rotational errors). The squareness error between two axes is calculated by the least-square method. These seven errors are acquired simultaneously in one setup for each motion direction. The proposed measuring system consists of laser diodes, beam splitters, and 2D position sensing detectors (PSDs). The relationship between the PSD readings and the geometric errors calculated by the algorithm based on homogeneous transformation matrix is derived according to the configuration of measured mMT. Simulation is carried out to prove the validity of this algorithm. Sensitivity analysis based on the mounting errors of system components is also presented in this paper. Finally, an experiment is executed to verify the feasibility of the proposed measuring method.     

Seismic behaviour of composite concrete-filled tube column-to-beam moment connections

This paper describes the results of cyclic loading applied to seven square concrete-filled tube column-to-beam connections. Connections of all seven specimens were reinforced with T-shaped stiffeners attached to the beam flanges. The specimens are divided into three series: the TS series specimens were reinforced with T-shaped stiffeners only; those in the TSD series had RBS beams in addition to the stiffeners; and those in the TSH series had small holes in the stiffeners. The test results presented in terms of the ductility capacity of the test specimens. All the specimens developed plastic rotations in excess of 3% rad, suggesting that the ductility capacity of the specimens exceeds the requirements for special moment frame connections in the AISC seismic provisions. The tapered horizontal stiffener elements, RBS cutouts and the horizontal stiffener holes were effective in reducing the stress concentration at the tip of the horizontal element. However, some of the specimens failed by a premature fracture in the HAZ of vertical element welds, suggesting that in designing the T-stiffeners strain hardening should be considered.