Effects of catalpalactone on dopamine biosynthesis and L-DOPA-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells

Huang, H.S.,Han, X.H.,Hwang, B.Y.,Park, J.I.,Yoo, S.K.,Lee, H.J.,Lim, S.C.,Lee, M.K. Elsevier Science B.V 2008 Environmental toxicology and pharmacology Vol.26 No.1

The effects of catalpalactone on dopamine biosynthesis and L-DOPA-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells were investigated. Catalpalactone at 5-30μM decreased intracellular dopamine content with the IC<SUB>50</SUB> value of 22.1μM. Catalpalactone at 5-20μM, but not 30μM, did not alter cell viability. Catalpalactone at 20μM inhibited tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and aromatic-l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) activities. Catalpalactone also decreased cyclic AMP levels and inhibited TH phosphorylation. In addition, catalpalactone at 20μM reduced the increases in dopamine levels induced by L-DOPA (20-50μM). Catalpalactone (5-30μM) associated with L-DOPA (50-100μM) enhanced L-DOPA-induced cytotoxicity at 48h, which was prevented by N-acetyl-l-cysteine. These results suggest that catalpalactone inhibited dopamine biosynthesis by reducing TH and AADC activities and enhanced L-DOPA-induced cytotoxiciy in PC12 cells.

Graphene/M_xWO₃ (M=Na, K) nanohybrids with excellent electrical properties

Liu, B.,Yin, S.,Wu, X.,Wang, Y.,Huang, Y.,Wu, J.,Sekino, T.,Matsushita, J.,Lee, S.W.,Kobayashi, M.,Kakihana, M.,Sato, T. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2015 Carbon Vol.94 No.-

Graphene/M<SUB>x</SUB>WO<SUB>3</SUB> (M=Na, K) nanocomposites with different weight ratios were successfully synthesized using MBH<SUB>4</SUB> as a reducing agent in aqueous solution, followed by crystallization of amorphous precursors under calcination in H<SUB>2</SUB> (5vol.%)/N<SUB>2</SUB> atmosphere at 600<SUP>o</SUP>C. The coupled samples showed good shielding properties in NIR wavelength range together with certain visible lights transparency. The as-prepared tungsten bronze nanoparticles are homogeneously anchored on graphene sheets, and the graphene/tungsten bronze nanocomposite showed an enhanced electrical conductivity with good shielding properties in the NIR range together with certain visible lights transparency. With the increment of graphene amount in the composites, the contact between the graphene sheets was enhanced, and the M<SUB>x</SUB>WO<SUB>3</SUB> might enhance the charge transport properties of graphene by generating the short conductive path for electrons over the remained oxygenated functional groups. The synergistic effects could be observed in the composites. When 5wt.% or more graphene were composed into M<SUB>x</SUB>WO<SUB>3</SUB>, the hybrid composite showed the higher electrical conductivity than those of uncoupled graphene and tungsten bronze alone.

New self-activated eulytite-type compounds of M₇Zr(PO₄)₆ (M=Ca, Sr, Ba)

Qin, L.,Wei, D.,Huang, Y.,Kim, S.I.,Yu, Y.M.,Seo, H.J. Elsevier Sequoia 2013 Journal of alloys and compounds Vol.574 No.-

Eulytite-type orthophosphates M<SUB>7</SUB>Zr(PO<SUB>4</SUB>)<SUB>6</SUB> (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) were prepared by conventional high temperature solid-state reaction. Sr<SUB>7</SUB>Zr(PO<SUB>4</SUB>)<SUB>6</SUB> and Ba<SUB>7</SUB>Zr(PO<SUB>4</SUB>)<SUB>6</SUB> crystallize in the pure eulytite-type phase with cubic space group (I4@?3d). The impurity phase β-Ca<SUB>3</SUB>(PO<SUB>4</SUB>)<SUB>2</SUB> was inevitably coexisted with the Ca<SUB>7</SUB>Zr(PO<SUB>4</SUB>)<SUB>6</SUB> phase. The luminescence properties are investigated by UV-VUV excitation and emission spectroscopy and X-ray-excited luminescence (XEL) spectroscopy. The broad excitation and emission bands are observed due to the charge transfer transition from Zr<SUP>4+</SUP> to O<SUP>2-</SUP> in M<SUB>7</SUB>Zr(PO<SUB>4</SUB>)<SUB>6</SUB> (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) eulytite. The characteristics of the phosphors including the luminescence mechanism are explained by Stokes shift, decay curves, and CIE color coordinates. The Sr<SUB>7</SUB>Zr(PO<SUB>4</SUB>)<SUB>3</SUB> and Ba<SUB>7</SUB>Zr(PO<SUB>4</SUB>)<SUB>3</SUB> phosphors exhibit unusual spectral features with the emission bands at 470 and 480nm, respectively. The weak luminescence centered at 495nm is observed in the Ca<SUB>7</SUB>Zr(PO<SUB>4</SUB>)<SUB>6</SUB> eulytite with lifetime of 4.67μs. The unusual self-activated luminescence is discussed on the base of the crystal structure of eulytite.

New teleomorph combinations in the entomopathogenic genus <i>Metacordyceps</i>

Kepler, R.M.,Sung, G.-H.,Ban, S.,Nakagiri, A.,Chen, M.-J.,Huang, B.,Li, Z.,Spatafora, J.W. Informa UK (TaylorFrancis) 2012 Mycologia Vol.104 No.1

<P>The genus Metacordyceps contains arthropod pathogens in Clavicipitaceae (Hypocreales) that formerly were classified in Cordyceps sensu Kobayasi et Mains. Of the current arthropod pathogenic genera of Hypocreales, the genus Metacordyceps remains one of the most poorly understood and contains a number of teleomorphic morphologies convergent with species of Cordyceps s.s. (Cordycipitaceae) and Ophiocordyceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae). Of note, the anamorph genera Metarhizium and Pochonia were found to be associated only with Metacordyceps and demonstrated to be phylogenetically informative for the clade. Several species of Cordyceps considered to have uncertain placements (incertae sedis) in the current taxonomic framework of clavicipitoid fungi were collected during field expeditions mostly in eastern Asia. Species reclassified here in Metacordyceps include Cordyceps atrovirens Kobayasi & Shimizu, Cordyceps indigotica Kobayasi & Shimizu, Cordyceps khaoyaiensis Hywel-Jones, Cordyceps kusanagiensis Kobayasi & Shimizu, Cordyceps martialis Speg., Ophiocordyceps owariensis Kobayasi, Cordyceps pseudoatrovirens Kobayasi & Shimizu and Ophicordyceps owariensis f. viridescens (Uchiy. & Udagawa) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora. Incorporation of these species in a multigene phylogenetic framework of the major clades of clavicipitoid fungi more than doubled the number of species in Metacordyceps and allowed for refinement of morphological concepts for the genus consistent with the phylogenetic structure. Based on these findings we then discuss evolution of this genus, subgeneric relationships, anamorph connections, and suggest additional species that should be confirmed for possible inclusion in Metacordyceps.</P>

SEQUENCE ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON OF BOVINE α_S1-CASEIN GENOMIC DNA

Lin, C.S.,Huang, M.C.,Choo, K.B.,Tseng, Y.H. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1993 Animal Bioscience Vol.6 No.4

A phage clone containing the partial ${\alpha}_{S1}$-casein gene was isolated from a bovine genomic library by using mixed probes of ovine ${\alpha}_{S1}$-, ${\beta}$- and ${\kappa}$-casein cDNAs. Restriction enzyme mapping analysis for 14.6 kb revealed that the map was in conflict with the report of Meade et al. (1990), especially in the 3'-end fragment. Sequence analysis of 12.6 kb revealed a high AT/GC ratio (1.64); we have identified eight exon sequences according to the bovine ${\alpha}_{S1}$-casein cDNA sequence. The same exon/intron splice junction sequence was observed between these exons. We suggest that the bovine ${\alpha}_{S1}$-casein gene night contain a minimum of 18 exons and the full length is approximately 18-19 kb.

Preparation and Application of an s-Triazine-Based Novel N-Halamine Biocide for Antimicrobial Fibers

Lee, Jae-Woong,Broughton, Royall M.,Akdag, Akin,Worley, S.D.,Huang, Tung S. The Korean Fiber Society 2007 Fibers and polymers Vol.8 No.2

N-halamines serve as important antimicrobial agents. Development of this class of compounds has been shown to provide benefits especially from a biocidal point of view. A novel s-triazine-based N-heterocycle, dichloro-m-aminophenylhydantoinyl-s-triazine (DAPHT), which could be rendered antimicrobial through exposure to diluted chlorine bleach; was synthesized and characterized by $^1H\;NMR$, $^{13}C$ NMR, and FT-IR. A finishing method was used to apply the N-halamine precursor onto cotton fabric, and the optimum conditions for finishing were investigated. The DAPHT-treated cotton fabric had durable antimicrobial properties up to 50 standard washing cycles and was rechargeable under normal laundry/bleaching conditions. The antimicrobial efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was demonstrated.

Response of plasma rotation to resonant magnetic perturbations in J-TEXT tokamak

Yan, W,Chen, Z Y,Huang, D W,Hu, Q M,Shi, Y J,Ding, Y H,Cheng, Z F,Yang, Z J,Pan, X M,Lee, S G,Tong, R H,Wei, Y N,Dong, Y B IOP 2018 Plasma physics and controlled fusion Vol.60 No.3

<P>The response of plasma toroidal rotation to the external resonant magnetic perturbations (RMP) has been investigated in Joint Texas Experimental Tokamak (J-TEXT) ohmic heating plasmas. For the J-TEXT’s plasmas without the application of RMP, the core toroidal rotation is in the counter-current direction while the edge rotation is near zero or slightly in the co-current direction. Both static RMP experiments and rotating RMP experiments have been applied to investigate the plasma toroidal rotation. The core toroidal rotation decreases to lower level with static RMP. At the same time, the edge rotation can spin to more than 20 km s<SUP>−1</SUP> in co-current direction. On the other hand, the core plasma rotation can be slowed down or be accelerated with the rotating RMP. When the rotating RMP frequency is higher than mode frequency, the plasma rotation can be accelerated to the rotating RMP frequency. The plasma confinement is improved with high frequency rotating RMP. The plasma rotation is decelerated to the rotating RMP frequency when the rotating RMP frequency is lower than the mode frequency. The plasma confinement also degrades with low frequency rotating RMP.</P>

SEARCH FOR PULSED γ-RAY EMISSION FROM GLOBULAR CLUSTER M28

Wu, J. H. K.,Hui, C. Y.,Wu, E. M. H.,Kong, A. K. H.,Huang, R. H. H.,Tam, P. H. T.,Takata, J.,Cheng, K. S. IOP Publishing 2013 ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS - Vol.765 No.2

<P>Using the data from the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, we have searched for gamma-ray pulsations from the direction of the globular cluster M28 (NGC 6626). We report the discovery of a signal with a frequency consistent with that of the energetic millisecond pulsar (MSP) PSR B1821-24 in M28. A weighted H-test test statistic of 28.8 is attained, which corresponds to a chance probability of similar to 10(-5) (4.3 sigma detection). With a phase-resolved analysis, the pulsed component is found to contribute similar to 25% of the total observed gamma-ray emission from the cluster. However, the unpulsed level provides a constraint for the underlying MSP population and the fundamental plane relations for the scenario of inverse Compton scattering. Follow-up timing observations in radio/X-ray are encouraged to further investigate this periodic signal candidate.</P>

OGLE-2016-BLG-1190Lb: The First<i>Spitzer</i>Bulge Planet Lies Near the Planet/Brown-dwarf Boundary

Ryu, Y.-H.,Yee, J. C.,Udalski, A.,Bond, I. A.,Shvartzvald, Y.,Zang, W.,Jaimes, R. Figuera,Jørgensen, U. G.,Zhu, W.,Huang, C. X.,Jung, Y. K.,Albrow, M. D.,Chung, S.-J.,Gould, A.,Han, C.,Hwang, K.-H.,Sh American Astronomical Society 2018 The Astronomical journal Vol.155 No.1

<P>We report the discovery of OGLE-2016-BLG-1190Lb, which is likely to be the first Spitzer microlensing planet in the Galactic bulge/ bar, an assignation that can be confirmed by two epochs of high-resolution imaging of the combined source-lens baseline object. The planet's mass, M-p = 13.4 +/- 0.9 M-J, places it right at the deuteriumburning limit, i. e., the conventional boundary between 'planets' and 'brown dwarfs.' Its existence raises the question of whether such objects are really ' planets' (formed within the disks of their hosts) or 'failed stars' (lowmass objects formed by gas fragmentation). This question may ultimately be addressed by comparing disk and bulge/bar planets, which is a goal of the Spitzer microlens program. The host is a G dwarf, M-host = 0.89. +/- 0.07 M-circle dot, and the planet has a semimajor axis a similar to 2.0 au. We use Kepler K2 Campaign 9 microlensing data to break the lens-mass degeneracy that generically impacts parallax solutions from Earth-Spitzer observations alone, which is the first successful application of this approach. The microlensing data, derived primarily from near-continuous, ultradense survey observations from OGLE, MOA, and three KMTNet telescopes, contain more orbital information than for any previous microlensing planet, but not quite enough to accurately specify the full orbit. However, these data do permit the first rigorous test of microlensing orbital-motion measurements, which are typically derived from data taken over < 1% of an orbital period.</P>

IL-17 stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells: implications for bone remodeling

Huang, H,Kim, H J,Chang, E-J,Lee, Z H,Hwang, S J,Kim, H-M,Lee, Y,Kim, H-H Macmillan Publishers Limited 2009 CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION Vol.16 No.10

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a cytokine secreted primarily by T<SUB>H</SUB>-17 cells. Although IL-17 is primarily associated with the induction of tissue inflammation, the other biological roles of IL-17, including non-immune functions, have yet to be thoroughly explored. Here, we report that T-cell-produced IL-17 can induce proliferation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in a manner dependent on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Rac1 GTPase and NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1) are activated by IL-17 to produce ROS, which in turn stimulates hMSC proliferation. The activation of the MEK-ERK pathway is also crucial for IL-17-dependent hMSC proliferation. TRAF6 and Act1 are required to activate Nox 1 and to phosphorylate MEK on IL-17 stimulation. Interestingly, IL-17 not only accelerates the proliferation of hMSCs, but also induces their migration, motility, and osteoblastic differentiation. Furthermore, IL-17 induces the expression of M-CSF and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) on hMSCs, thereby supporting osteoclastogenesis both in vivo and in vitro. On the basis of these results, we suggest that IL-17 can function as a signal to induce extensive bone turnover by regulating hMSC recruitment, proliferation, motility, and differentiation.