Effect of Nanoencapsulated Vitamin B1 Derivative on Inhibition of Both Mycelial Growth and Spore Germination of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani

Nanoencapsulation of thiamine dilauryl sulfate (TDS), a vitamin B1 derivative, was proved to effectively inhibit the spore germination of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani (F. oxysporum), as well as mycelial growth. The average diameter of nanoparticles was measured as 136 nm by being encapsulated with an edible encapsulant, lecithin, whose encapsulation efficiency was about 55% in containing 200 ppm of TDS concentration: the 100 ppm TDS nanoparticle solution showed a mycelial growth inhibition rate of 59%. These results were about similar or even better than the cases of treating 100 ppm of dazomet, a positive antifungal control (64%). Moreover, kinetic analysis of inhibiting spore germination were estimated as 6.6% reduction of spore germination rates after 24 h treatment, which were 3.3% similar to the case of treating 100 ppm of a positive control (dazomet) for the same treatment time. It was also found that TDS itself could work as an antifungal agent by inhibiting both mycelial growth and spore germination, even though its efficacy was lower than those of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles especially played a more efficient role in limiting the spore germination, due to their easy penetration into hard cell membranes and long resident time on the surface of the spore shell walls. In this work, it was first demonstrated that the nanoparticle of TDS not a harmful chemical can control the growth of F. oxysporum by using a lower dosage than commercial herbicides, as well as the inhibiting mechanism of the TDS. However, field trials of the TDS nanoparticles encapsulated with lecithin should be further studied to be effectively used for field applications.     

Dye-sensitized solar cells based on electrospun poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) nanofibers

Poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) nanofibers were prepared by the electrospinning method and used as polymer electrolytes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The electrolyte uptake and ionic conductivity of electrospun PVDF-HFP nanofibers with different diameters changed significantly, regardless of the nanofiber thickness. The PVDF-HFP nanofibers prepared from a 15 wt% spinning solution showed high ionic conductivity (1.295 S/cm) and electrolyte uptake (947 %). DSSCs based on the 15 wt% PVDF-HFP nanofiber electrolyte showed an electron transit time of 6.34 × 10^?3 s, electronic recombination time of 5.88 × 10^?2 s, and conversion efficiency of 3.13 %. Thus, we concluded that the electrospun PVDF-HFP nanofibers can be used as polymer electrolytes in flexible DSSCs as well.     

MicroRNA-155 Mediates Augmented CD40 Expression in Bone Marrow Derived Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Symptomatic Lupus-Prone NZB/W F1 Mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multi-organ autoimmune disease characterized by hyperactivated immune responses to self-antigens and persistent systemic inflammation. Previously, we reported abnormalities in circulating and bone marrow (BM)-derived plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) from SLE patients. Here, we aim to seek for potential regulators that mediate functional aberrations of pDCs in SLE. BM-derived pDCs from NZB/W F1 mice before and after the disease onset were compared for toll-like receptor (TLR) induced responses and microRNA profile changes. While pDCs derived from symptomatic mice were phenotypically comparable to pre-symptomatic ones, functionally they exhibited hypersensitivity to TLR7 but not TLR9 stimulation, as represented by the elevated upregulation of CD40, CD86 and MHC class II molecules upon R837 stimulation. Upregulated induction of miR-155 in symptomatic pDCs following TLR7 stimulation was observed. Transfection of miR-155 mimics in pre-symptomatic pDCs induced an augmented expression of Cd40, which is consistent with the increased CD40 expression in symptomatic pDCs. Overall, our results provide evidence for miR-155-mediated regulation in pDC functional abnormalities in SLE. Findings from this study contribute to a better understanding of SLE pathogenesis and ignite future interests in evaluating the molecular regulation in autoimmunity.     

Preparation, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Properties of CaNb2O6 Nanoparticles

CaNb₂O₆ nanoparticles with a size range of 30–50 nm were synthesized by heat treatment at 600°C after a solvothermal process and their optical and photocatalytic properties were investigated. The prepared powders were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometer, field-emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fluorescence spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Compared with a powder of the same material prepared by a solid-state reaction (SS) method, the nanoparticles exhibited a higher Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, more efficient light absorption, and enhanced photocatalytic activity for producing H₂ from pure water under UV irradiation. The photoluminescence spectra revealed that a radiative recombination process is dominant in the powder prepared by the SS method (strong blue emission at 300 K) under UV light irradiation, while no obvious emission was observed in the nanoparticles. This decrease of the radiative recombination as well as the higher optical absorption ability and higher BET surface area resulting from the reduced dimensionality led to enhanced photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles.     

Reliability Enhancement of the Diverse Protection System Regarding Common Cause Failures

The issue of CCF （common cause failure） in digital I ＆ C （instrumentation and control） systems is of great interest because an increasing number of such systems are implemented in nuclear power plants. For the mitigation of ATWS （anticipated transients without scram） as well as CCF within the PPS （plant protection system） and the ESF-CCS （engineered safety feature-component control system）, the ADPS （advanced diverse protection system） has been developed by KEPCO E ＆ C （KEPCO Engineering and Construction） Company for new nuclear units in Korea. As compared to the DPS （diverse protection system） design of APR1400, the ADPS has a diverse safety injection function considering a LBLOCA （large break loss of coolant accident） concurrent with the CCF of the PPS and ESF-CCS. Besides the function of SIAS （safety injection actuation signal） initiation, several CCF avoidance features, such as the changes of software design classification, communication methods, equipment platform, and man-machine interfaces, are introduced to enhance the reliability of the ADPS. In addition, the ADPS has recently incorporated four redundant channels with 2-out-of-4 voting logics to enhance its fault tolerant capability. Therefore, it is expected that the ADPS can provide an enhanced reliability regarding possible CCFs in the safety-grade digital I ＆ C systems as well as the ADPS itself.     

Preparation of organic/inorganic composite membranes using two types of polymer matrix via a sol–gel process

Organic/inorganic composite membranes were prepared using two different polymers. BPO₄ particles were introduced into polymers via an in situ sol–gel process. Pre-/post-sulfonated polymers were used to prepare composite membranes as matrix. Pre-sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone) (SPAEK-6F) copolymer was synthesized via nucleophilic aromatic substitution. Degree of sulfonation was adjusted by the percentage of sulfonated monomer. Post-sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) was prepared using concentrated sulfuric acid as sulfonation agent. The membranes were characterized in terms of the ion-exchange capacity (IEC), proton conductivity, water uptake, AFM, SEM and their thermal properties. The SPAEK-6F plain membranes showed higher proton conductivity than that of the SPEEK plain membranes at similar water uptake or IEC due to their structural difference. SEM images of the composite membranes showed that the BPO₄ particles were homogenously dispersed in the polymer matrices and BPO₄ particle size was greatly influenced by polymer matrix. The SPAEK-6F/BPO₄ composite membranes had much smaller BPO₄ particle size than the SPEEK/BPO₄ composite membranes due to well dispersion of BPO₄ sol-like particulates in SPAEK-6F polymer solutions forming more hydrophobic/hydrophilic nanophase than SPEEK polymer solutions. The latter containing a few micrometer-scale BPO₄ particles showed higher proton conductivity than the former containing hundreds nanometer-scale BPO₄ particles at similar water uptake due to the increase in freezable water and effect of particle size.     

Characterization of white matter damage in ischemic leukoaraiosis with diffusion tensor MRI

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Information on the neuropathological changes underlying ischemic leukoaraiosis is only available postmortem, and there are limited data on histological appearances early in the disease. Diffusion tensor imaging allows determination of the directionality of diffusion, which is greater in the direction of white matter bundles. Therefore, the technique might be expected to show loss of anisotropy (directional diffusion) in leukoaraiosis. METHODS: Nine patients with ischemic leukoaraiosis (radiological leukoaraiosis and clinical lacunar stroke) and 10 age-matched controls were studied. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed, and maps of diffusion trace and fractional anisotropy were constructed. Mean values of trace and fractional anisotropy were determined in standard regions of the anterior and posterior white matter in both hemispheres. RESULTS: In all patients with ischemic leukoaraiosis, a characteristic abnormal pattern was found, with loss of anisotropy and increased trace in the white matter. For example, in the right anterior white matter mean (SD) trace/3 was 1.12 (0.33) x10(-3) mm2 s-1 in patients and 0.75 (0.11) in controls (P=0.001). In the same region, fractional anisotropy was 0.53 (0.11) in patients and 0.78 (0.09) in controls (P<0.001). Within the white matter regions, there was a strong negative correlation between mean diffusivity and anisotropy (r=-0.92, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The characteristic pattern found on diffusion tensor imaging in this patient group is consistent with axonal loss and gliosis leading to impairment to and loss of directional diffusion. The "in vivo histological" information obtained may be useful in monitoring disease progression and in investigating the pathogenesis of the cognitive impairment that may be present.     

Uterine activity patterns in uterine rupture: a case-control study

The effects of methylprednisolone therapy on the susceptibility of dystrophin-deficient myofibers to contraction-induced injury were evaluated in the mdx mouse diaphragm model of Duchenne dystrophy. Mdx myofibers were abnormally vulnerable to injury induced by high-stress eccentric contractions. However, methylprednisolone therapy did not significantly alter the degree of contraction-induced injury. These data suggest that beneficial effects of corticosteroid therapy in Duchenne dystrophy are unlikely to be related to a change in the threshold for contraction-induced myofiber damage.     

Ophthalmic findings with partial trisomy (duplication) of the long arm of chromosome 7

BACKGROUND: The sensitivity of diagnostic imaging of processes in the parotid gland has been increased by improved spatial resolution, yet specificity remains unchanged. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the low-flow color duplex technique alters the specificity of B-mode ultrasonography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients with tumors of the parotid gland were examined by color duplex echography as well as histologically. Twenty-eight of the 41 patients had benign tumors and 13 had malignant disease. In 17 of 41 patients, color duplex ultrasonography failed to detect any vascularization within the tumor. Histopathological examination showed that 3 of these 17 tumors were malignant and 14 of 17 were benign. Intranodal vascularization was detected in 24 cases. Ten of these patients were found to have malignant tumors of the parotid gland; 14 had benign parotid tumors. RESULTS: Our present findings show that marked intratumoral vascularization especially appears in malignant tumors. In contrast to lymph nodes, the location and texture of intranodal blood vessels do not provide information about the nature of the neoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: Low flow duplex ultrasonography does not increase the specificity of preoperative examination in tumors of the parotid gland.