C₂H <i>N</i> = 1 − 0 and N₂H⁺<i>J</i> = 1 − 0 observations of <i>Planck</i> Galactic cold clumps

Liu, X.-C.,Wu, Y.,Zhang, C.,Liu, T.,Yuan, J.,Qin, S.-L.,Ju, B.-G.,Li, L.-X. EDP Sciences 2019 Astronomy and astrophysics Vol.622 No.-

<P>A survey of C2H <I>N</I> = 1 − 0 and N2H<SUP>+</SUP><I>J</I> = 1 − 0 toward <I>Planck</I> Galactic cold clumps (PGCCs) was performed using the Purple Mountain Observatory’s 13.7 m telescope. C2H and N2H<SUP>+</SUP> were chosen to study the chemical evolutionary states of PGCCs. Among 121 observed molecular cores associated with PGCCs, 71 and 58 are detected with C2H <I>N</I> = 1 − 0 and N2H<SUP>+</SUP><I>J</I> = 1 − 0, respectively. The detected lines of most sources can be fitted with a single component with compatible <I>V</I>LSR and line widths, which confirms that these PGCC cores are very cold (with gas temperatures 9-21 K) and quiescent while still dominanted by turbulence. The ratio between the column densities of C2H and N2H<SUP>+</SUP> (<I>N</I>(C2H)/<I>N</I>(N2H<SUP>+</SUP>)) is found to be a good tracer for the evolutionary states of PGCC cores. Gas-grain chemical model can reproduce the decreasing trend of <I>N</I>(C2H)/<I>N</I>(N2H<SUP>+</SUP>) as a function of time. The cores with the lowest abundances of N2H<SUP>+</SUP> (<I>X</I>[N2H<SUP>+</SUP>] < 10<SUP>−10</SUP>) are the youngest, and have nearly constant abundances of C2H. In evolved cores with <I>X</I>[N2H<SUP>+</SUP>] ~10<SUP>−9</SUP>, abundances of C2H drop quickly as the exhaustion of carbon atoms. Although these PGCC cores are in different evolutionary states, they are all quite young (< 5 × 10<SUP>5</SUP> yr) with <I>N</I>(C2H) > <I>N</I>(N2H<SUP>+</SUP>). Mapping observations are carried out toward 20 PGCC cores. The PGCC cores in Cepheus have lower <I>N</I>(C2H)/<I>N</I>(N2H<SUP>+</SUP>) and larger line widths compared with those in Taurus. This implies that PGCC cores in Taurus are less chemically evolved than those in Cepheus.</P>

Distribution of stress state in the Nankai subduction zone, southwest Japan and a comparison with Japan Trench

Lin, W.,Byrne, T.B.,Kinoshita, M.,McNeill, L.C.,Chang, C.,Lewis, J.C.,Yamamoto, Y.,Saffer, D.M.,Casey Moore, J.,Wu, H.Y.,Tsuji, T.,Yamada, Y.,Conin, M.,Saito, S.,Ito, T.,Tobin, H.J.,Kimura, G.,Kanagaw Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co 2016 Tectonophysics Vol.692 No.2

<P>To better understand the distribution of three dimensional stress states in the Nankai subduction zone, southwest Japan, we review various stress-related investigations carried out in the first and second stage expeditions of the Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment (NanTroSEIZE) by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) and compile the stress data. Overall, the maximum principal stress sigma(l) in the shallower levels (<similar to 1 km) is vertical from near the center of forearc basin to near the trench and; the maximum horizontal stress S-Hmax (interpreted to be the intermediate principal stress sigma(2)) is generally parallel to the plate convergence vector. The exception to this generalization occurs along the shelf edge of the Nankai margin where S-Hmax, is along strike rather than parallel to the plate convergence vector. Reorientation of the principal stresses at deeper levels (e.g., >similar to 1 km below seafloor or in underlying accretionary prism) with sigma(1) becoming horizontal is also suggested at all deeper drilling sites. We also make a comparison of the stress state in the hanging wall of the frontal plate-interface between Site C0066 in the Nankai and Site C0019 in the Japan Trench subduction zone drilled after the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake. In the Japan Trench, a comparison between stress state before and after the 2011 mega-earthquake shows that the stress changed from compression before the earthquake to extension after the earthquake. As a result of the comparison between the Nankai Trough and Japan Trench, a similar current stress state with trench parallel extension was recognized at both C0006 and C0019 sites. Hypothetically, this may indicate that in Nankai Trough it is still in an early stage of the interseismic cycle of a great earthquake which occurs on the decollement and propagates to the toe (around site C0006). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</P>

Complete nucleotide sequence of Dendrocalamus latiflorus and Bambusa oldhamii chloroplast genomes.

Wu, F-H,Kan, D-P,Lee, S-B,Daniell, H,Lee, Y-W,Lin, C-C,Lin, N-S,Lin, C-S Heron Pub 2009 Tree physiology Vol.29 No.6

<P>Although bamboo is one of the most important woody crops in Asia, information on its genome is still very limited. To investigate the relationship among Poaceae members and to understand the mechanism of albino mutant generation in vitro, the complete chloroplast genome of two economically important bamboo species, Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro and Bambusa oldhamii Munro, was determined employing a strategy that involved polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using 443 novel primers designed to amplify the chloroplast genome of these two species. The lengths of the B. oldhamii and D. latiflorus chloroplast genomes are 139,350 and 139,365 bp, respectively. The organization structure and the gene order of these two bamboos are identical to other members of Poaceae. Highly conserved chloroplast genomes of Poaceae facilitated sequencing by the PCR method. Phylogenetic analysis using both chloroplast genomes confirmed the results obtained from studies on chromosome number and reproductive organ morphology. There are 23 gaps, insertions/deletions > 100 bp, in the chloroplast genomes of 10 genera of Poaceae compared in this study. The phylogenetic distribution of these gaps corresponds to their taxonomic placement. The sequences of these two chloroplast genomes provide useful information for studying bamboo evolution, ecology and biotechnology.</P>

Real-time Tumor Oxygenation Changes After Single High-dose Radiation Therapy in Orthotopic and Subcutaneous Lung Cancer in Mice: Clinical Implication for Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Therapy Schedule Optimization

Song, C.,Hong, B.J.,Bok, S.,Lee, C.J.,Kim, Y.E.,Jeon, S.R.,Wu, H.G.,Lee, Y.S.,Cheon, G.J.,Paeng, J.C.,Carlson, D.J.,Kim, H.J.,Ahn, G.O. Pergamon Press 2016 International journal of radiation oncology, biolo Vol.95 No.3

<P>Purpose: To investigate the serial changes of tumor hypoxia in response to single high-dose irradiation by various clinical and preclinical methods to propose an optimal fractionation schedule for stereotactic ablative radiation therapy. Methods and Materials: Syngeneic Lewis lung carcinomas were grown either orthotopically or subcutaneously in C57BL/6 mice and irradiated with a single dose of 15 Gy to mimic stereotactic ablative radiation therapy used in the clinic. Serial [F-18]-misonidazole (F-MISO) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, pimonidazole fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses, hypoxia-responsive element-driven bioluminescence, and Hoechst 33342 perfusion were performed before irradiation (day -1), at 6 hours (day 0), and 2 (day 2) and 6 (day 6) days after irradiation for both subcutaneous and orthotopic lung tumors. For F-MISO, the tumor/brain ratio was analyzed. Results: Hypoxic signals were too low to quantitate for orthotopic tumors using F-MISO PET or hypoxia-responsive element-driven bioluminescence imaging. In subcutaneous tumors, the maximum tumor/brain ratio was 2.87 +/- 0.483 at day -1, 1.67 +/- 0.116 at day 0, 2.92 +/- 0.334 at day 2, and 2.13 +/- 0.385 at day 6, indicating that tumor hypoxia was decreased immediately after irradiation and had returned to the pretreatment levels at day 2, followed by a slight decrease by day 6 after radiation. Pimonidazole analysis also revealed similar patterns. Using Hoechst 33342 vascular perfusion dye, CD31, and cleaved caspase 3 coimmunostaining, we found a rapid and transient vascular collapse, which might have resulted in poor intratumor perfusion of F-MISO PET tracer or pimonidazole delivered at day 0, leading to decreased hypoxic signals at day 0 by PET or pimonidazole analyses. Conclusions: We found tumor hypoxia levels decreased immediately after delivery of a single dose of 15 Gy and had returned to the pretreatment levels 2 days after irradiation and had decreased slightly by day 6. Our results indicate that single high-dose irradiation can produce a rapid, but reversible, vascular collapse in tumors. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</P>

Structural and magnetic properties of epitaxial Co₂FeAl films grown on MgO substrates for different growth temperatures

Chun, B.S.,Kim, K.H.,Leibing, N.,Serrano-Guisan, S.,Schumacher, H.W.,Abid, M.,Chu, I.C.,Mryasov, O.N.,Kim, D.K.,Wu, H.C.,Hwang, C.,Kim, Y.K. Elsevier Science 2012 ACTA MATERIALIA Vol.60 No.19

We report the correlation between the crystalline structure, electronic structure and magnetic properties of Co<SUB>2</SUB>FeAl films as a function of growing temperature both experimentally and theoretically. The Co<SUB>2</SUB>FeAl film grown at room temperature is initially in the partially disordered B2 state, but then it gains a much higher ordered structure with increasing growing temperature due to its transition from short-range to long-range crystallographic order by surface diffusion. Electron energy loss spectroscopy measurements reveals that the increase in the I(L3)/I(L2) ratio of Co can be attributed to the enhanced ferromagnetic exchange interaction between neighboring Co atoms and the fact that the Co contribution is more dominant than the Fe contribution. As the growing temperature increases, many more unoccupied 3d states in Co are observed, hence the Gilbert damping constant increases due to a strong spin-orbit interaction. We also present the results of highly accurate quasiparticle self-consistent GW calculations and confirm that Co<SUB>2</SUB>FeAl in an ideal L2<SUB>1</SUB> structure is indeed a half-metal with a well-defined band gap in the minority spin channel.

Astaxanthin reduces hepatic lipid accumulations in high-fat-fed C57BL/6J mice via activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and inhibition of PPAR gamma and Akt

Jia, Y.,Wu, C.,Kim, J.,Kim, B.,Lee, S.J. Butterworths ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2016 The Journal of nutritional biochemistry Vol.28 No.-

<P>We have previously reported that astaxanthin (AX), a dietary carotenoid, directly interacts with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors PPAR alpha and PPAR gamma, activating PPAR alpha while inhibiting PPAR gamma, and thus reduces lipid accumulation in hepatocytes in vitro. To investigate the effects of AX in vivo, high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6J mice were orally administered AX (6 or 30 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle for 8 weeks. AX significantly reduced the levels of triglyceride both in plasma and in liver compared with the control HFD mice. AX significantly improved liver histology and thus reduced both steatosis and inflammation scores of livers with hematoxylin and eosin staining. The number of inflammatory macrophages and Kupffer cells were reduced in livers by AX administration assessed with F4/80 staining. Hepatic PPAR alpha-responsive genes involved in fatty acid uptake and beta-oxidation were upregulated, whereas inflammatory genes were downregulated by AX administration. In vitro radiolabeled assays revealed that hepatic fatty acid oxidation was induced by AX administration, whereas fatty acid synthesis was not changed in hepatocytes. In mechanism studies, AX inhibited Akt activity and thus decreased SREBP1 phosphorylation and induced Insig-2a expression, both of which delayed nuclear translocation of SREBP1 and subsequent hepatic lipogenesis. Additionally, inhibition of the Akt-mTORC1 signaling axis by AX stimulated hepatic autophagy that could promote degradation of lipid droplets. These suggest that AX lowers hepatic lipid accumulation in HFD-fed mice via multiple mechanisms. In addition to the previously reported differential regulation of PPAR alpha and PPAR gamma, inhibition of Akt activity and activation of hepatic autophagy reduced hepatic steatosis in mouse livers. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</P>

Rice mutants deficient in ω-3 fatty acid desaturase (FAD8) fail to acclimate to cold temperatures

Tovuu, A.,Zulfugarov, I.S.,Wu, G.,Kang, I.S.,Kim, C.,Moon, B.Y.,An, G.,Lee, C.H. Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam. 2016 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Vol. No.

<P>To investigate the role of omega-3 fatty acid (FA) desaturase (FAD8) during cold acclimation in higher plants, we characterized three independent T-DNA insertional knock-out mutants of OsFAD8 from rice (Oryza sativa L.). At room temperature (28 degrees C), osfad8 plants exhibited significant alterations in fatty acid (FA) unsaturation for all four investigated plastidic lipid classes. During a 5-d acclimation period at 4 degrees C, further changes in FA unsaturation in both wild-type (WT) and mutant plants varied according to the type of lipid. We also monitored the fluidity of the thylakoid membrane using a threshold temperature to represent the change in fluorescence. The values were altered significantly by both FAD8 mutation and cold acclimation, suggesting that factors other than FAD8 are involved in C18 FA unsaturation and fluctuations in membrane fluidity. Similarly, significant changes were noted for both the mutant and WT samples in terms of their FA compositions as well as activities related to photosystem (PS) I, PSII, and photoprotection. This included the development of non-photochemical quenching and increased zeaxanthin accumulation. Despite the relatively small changes in FA composition during cold acclimation, cold-inducible FAD8 knock-out mutants displayed strong differences in photoprotective activities and a further drop in membrane fluidity. The mutants were more sensitive than WT to short-term low-temperature stress that resulted in increased production of reactive oxygen species after 5 d of chilling. Taken together, our findings suggest that FA unsaturation by OsFAD8 is crucial for the acclimation of higher plants to low-temperature stress. (C) 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.</P>

Color-stable, ITO-free white organic light-emitting diodes with enhanced efficiency using solution-processed transparent electrodes and optical outcoupling layers

Chang, H. W.,Kim, Y. H.,Lee, J.,Hofmann, S.,Lussem, B.,Muller-Meskamp, L.,Gather, M. C.,Leo, K.,Wu, C. C. Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam. 2014 Organic electronics Vol.15 No.5

In this work, we demonstrate color-stable, ITO-free white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) with enhanced efficiencies by combining the high-conductivity conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS as transparent electrode and a nanoparticle-based scattering layer (NPSL) as the effective optical out-coupling layer. In addition to efficiency enhancement, the NPSL is also beneficial to the stabilization of electroluminescent spectra/colors over viewing angles. Both the PEDOT:PSS and the NPSL can be fabricated by simple, low-temperature solution processing. The integration of both solution-processable transparent electrodes and light extraction structures into OLEDs is particularly attractive for applications since they simultaneously provide manufacturing, cost and efficiency advantages. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hexacosanol reduces plasma and hepatic cholesterol by activation of AMP-activated protein kinase and suppression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 in HepG2 and C57BL/6J mice

Lee, J.H.,Jia, Y.,Thach, T.T.,Han, Y.,Kim, B.,Wu, C.,Kim, Y.,Seo, W.D.,Lee, S.J. Pergamon Press 2017 Nutrition research Vol.43 No.-

<P>Policosanols have hypocholesterolemic activity; however, the molecular mechanism of the policosanol effects is currently poorly characterized. We hypothesized that hexacosanol, a policosanol compound derived from barley sprout, may decrease cellular and plasma cholesterol levels; we thus investigated the hypocholesterolemic activity and mechanism of hexacosanol on both hepatocytes and high-fat-induced obese C57BL/6J mice. The reduction of total cholesterol, free cholesterol, and cholesteryl ester concentrations was confirmed in hexacosanol-stimulated hepatocytes (-38%, -33%, and -53%, respectively). Plasma, hepatic cholesterol concentrations, and hepatic steatosis were significantly reduced in high-fat-fed mice orally administered with hexacosanol (0.7 mg/kg body weight a day) for 8 weeks compared with those of vehicle-fed control mice (-15% and -40%, respectively). Hexacosanol in fact bound to the allosteric regulation site of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-beta subunit and thus activated AMPK that inhibited the activity of 3-hydroxy-3methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase by inhibitory phosphorylation. In addition, activation of AMPK by hexacosanol induced hepatic autophagy activity, which could further reduce hepatic lipid accumulation. Alternatively, hexacosanol suppressed the nuclear translocation and activation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2), a key transcription factor in cholesterol biosynthesis. These results collectively suggest that hexacosanol is a major hypocholesterolemic compound in barley sprouts with regulation of AMPK activation and SREBP-2 suppression. These suppress 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutarylcoenzyme A reductase at both mRNA expression and protein activity levels. In conclusion, hexacosanol activates AMPK and hepatic autophagy and inhibits SREBP2, resulting in hypocholesterolemic activities and improvement of hepatic steatosis. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Inc.</P>

Improvement of lower hybrid current drive systems for high-power and long-pulse operation on EAST

Wang M.,Liu L.,Zhao L.M.,Li M.H.,Ma W.D.,Hu H.C.,Wu Z.G.,Feng J.Q.,Yang Y.,Zhu L.,Chen M.,Zhou T.A.,Jia H.,Zhang J.,Cao L.,Zhang L.,Liang R.R.,Ding B.J.,Zhang X.J.,Shan J.F.,Liu F.K.,Ekedahl A.,Gonich 한국원자력학회 2022 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.54 No.11

Aiming at high-power and long-pulse operation up to 1000 s, some improvements have been made for both 2.45 GHz and 4.6 GHz lower hybrid (LH) systems during the recent 5 years. At first, the guard limiters of the LH antennas with graphite tiles were upgraded to tungsten, the most promising material for plasma facing components in nuclear fusion devices. These new guard limiters can operate at a peak power density of 12.9 MW/m2 . Strong hot spots were usually observed on the old graphite limiters when 4.6 GHz system operated with power >2.0 MW [B. N. Wan et al., Nucl. Fusion 57 (2017) 102019], leading to a reduction of the maximum power capability. With the new limiters, 4.6 GHz LH system, the main current drive (CD) and electron heating tool for EAST, can be operated with power >2.5 MW routinely. Long-pulse operation up to 100 s with 4.6 GHz LH power of 2.4 MW was achieved in 2021 and the maximal temperature on the guard limiters measured by an infrared (IR) camera was about 540 C, much below the permissible value of tungsten material (~1200 C). A discharge with a duration of 1056 s was achieved and the 4.6 GHz LH energy injected into the plasma was up to 1.05 GJ. Secondly, the fully-activemultijunction (FAM) launcher of 2.45 GHz system was upgraded to a passive-active-multijunction (PAM), for which the density of optimum coupling was relatively low (below the cut-off value). Good coupling with reflection coefficient ~3% has been achieved with plasma-antenna distance up to 11 cm for the new PAM. Finally, in order to eliminate the effect of ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) wave on 4.6 GHz LH wave coupling, the location of the ICRF launcher was changed to a port that is located 157.5 toroidally from the 4.6 GHz LH system and is not magnetically connected