Analysis of the impact and moderating effect of high-density development on urban flooding.

Although previous studies have posited that the high-density development of urban buildings and infrastructure contributes to urban flooding, empirical analyses and in-depth investigations into the interaction factors have remained limited. This study aims to analyze the influence and moderating effect of high-density development on urban flooding. Thus far, various land-use and interaction factors related to urban development density have been explored. Subsequently, the urban watershed was selected, utilizing panel data 2002 to 2017, and employing the Tobit model for analysis. The analysis revealed that high-density development had an adverse effect on urban flooding and that the runoff characteristics of high-density development were not limited to those of impervious surfaces. The horizontal and vertical aspects of dense buildings and structures acted as sub-watersheds that increased the time to reach peak flow. Moreover, high-density development had a moderating effect in low-lying areas. The results of this study underscore the necessity of urban disaster prevention planning to consider the direct and indirect effects, as well as the runoff characteristics, of high-density development on urban flooding.

Evaluation of Garlic Juice Processing Waste Supplementation in Juvenile Black Rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) Diets on Growth Performance, Antioxidant and Digestive Enzyme Activity, Growth- and Antioxidant-Related Gene Expression, and Disease Resistance against Streptococcus iniae.

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of various dietary levels of garlic juice processing waste (GJPW) on the growth, feed utilization, digestive and antioxidant enzyme activity, growth- and antioxidant-related gene expression, and resistance to Streptococcus iniae infection of juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii). A total of 450 juvenile rockfish were randomly distributed into 30 L rectangular tanks (30 fish per tank). Five experimental diets were prepared in triplicate. The fish were fed experimental diets supplemented with GJPW at concentrations of 0 (GJPW0, control), 2.5 (GJPW2.5), 5 (GJPW5), 7.5 (GJPW7.5), and 10 g kg-1 (GJPW10) diet. All of the GJPW-supplemented treatments (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 g kg-1) significantly enhanced weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and digestive enzyme activity (amylase, trypsin, and lipase). A decreasing trend was seen in plasma aspartate aminotransferase (ALT), alanine aminotransferase (AST), and glucose (GLU) content with increasing dietary levels of GJPW. In contrast, plasma lysozyme and antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly increased with increasing dietary GJPW levels. Furthermore, GJPW administration significantly upregulated the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the liver of rockfish. A challenge test with S. iniae showed significantly higher resistance in the GJPW-supplemented treatments than in the control. In short, dietary supplementation GJPW enhanced growth performance and antioxidant response in juvenile black rockfish, with suitable effects in fish fed with 2.5 g kg-1 GJPW for 8 weeks.

Dietary Supplementation with Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Residue from Juice Extraction Improves Juvenile Black Rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) Growth Performance, Antioxidant Enzyme Activity and Resistance to Streptococcus iniae Infection.

Plant-derived feed additives provide cost effective and environmentally friendly alternatives to antibiotics for improving fish performance in aquaculture. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary ginger residue from juice extraction (GRJE) on juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) growth performance, antioxidant enzyme activities, and resistance to Streptococcus iniae infection. Juvenile rockfish (n = 450; initial weight = 2.2 ± 0.01 g) were randomly distributed into 30 L rectangular tanks (30 fish per tank). Five experimental diets with GRJE concentrations of 0% (control), 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% were prepared in triplicate. Three groups of fish were randomly assigned to each diet and fed to apparent satiation twice daily. After the feeding trial, fish were challenged with S. iniae, and cumulative survival was observed for six days. Growth parameters, feed efficiency, and the protein efficiency ratio showed a quadratic correlation with the GRJE concentration in the fish diet. Proximate composition and plasma chemistry were not significantly affected. Plasma lysozyme, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and catalase activities linearly increased with increasing GRJE supplementation levels. Moreover, survival in the S. iniae challenge test was significantly higher in fish fed diets supplemented with 0.75-1% GRJE. Our findings demonstrated that 0.75% GRJE dietary supplementation enhanced the growth performance, antioxidant activity, and disease resistance of juvenile black rockfish with no adverse effects.

Seismic Behavior of Existing Reinforced Concrete Columns with Non-Seismic Details under Low Axial Loads.

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns of old existing buildings are vulnerable to earthquakes because the hoops comprising their transverse reinforcement are widely spaced and anchored using 90° hooks. This study extensively evaluated the seismic behavior of RC columns with such non-seismic details. Experiments were conducted by applying lateral cyclic loads to five full-scale column specimens with various transverse reinforcement details subjected to low axial loads. The experimental results demonstrated that the internal transverse crosstie had a significant confinement effect in the non-seismic detailed columns with 90° hoop anchor hooks. In addition, the lateral load-drift relationships, ductilities, and energy dissipation capabilities of the columns were not significantly affected by the hoop spacing or anchor hook angle when a low axial load was applied up to a drift ratio of 3.5% before failure. The evaluation model based on ASCE/SEI 41-17 was then shown to approximate the initial stiffness, maximum strength, and post-peak strength reduction behavior of the non-seismically reinforced column. This study was based on the experimental behavior of single column members, and it needs to be extended to research on frame structures in which columns are connected to beams and slabs.

Evaluation of Appropriate Hysteresis Model for Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of Existing Reinforced Concrete Moment Frames.

Various seismic analysis methods are being used to predict the response of structures to earthquakes. Although nonlinear dynamic analysis (NDA) is considered an ideal method to represent the most realistic behavior of a structure among these various methods, correct results can be derived only when the analysis model is carefully developed by a knowledgeable person. It is particularly important to properly implement the behavior characteristics depending on the reversed cyclic load in the NDA of a building made of reinforced concrete (RC) moment frames. This study evaluated the hysteresis model suitable for NDA of existing RC moment frames, and 45 analysis models were reviewed, in which the pivot, concrete, and Takeda hysteresis models were applied differently to beams and columns. The pivot model was evaluated as the most reliable hysteresis model for each structural member by comparing and analyzing not only the responses of the entire frame but also the responses of column and beam members focusing on energy dissipation. However, this model can have practical limitations in that the parameters associated with the reinforcement detailing and applied loads need to be defined in detail. The analysis model applying Takeda to the beam, which predicted the average response at a reliable level compared to the reference model, was identified as a practical alternative when it is difficult to apply the pivot model to all frame members.

Extract of Polygala tenuifolia, Angelica tenuissima, and Dimocarpus longan Reduces Behavioral Defect and Enhances Autophagy in Experimental Models of Parkinson's Disease.

The 20% ethanol extract of Polygala tenuifolia, Angelica tenuissima, and Dimocarpus longan (WIN-1001X) was derived from a modified version of Korean traditional herbal formula 'Chungsimyeolda-tang' which has been used for the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders. The Parkinson's disease presents with impaired motor functions and loss of dopaminergic neurons. However, the treatment for Parkinson's disease is not established until now. This study aims to elucidate the therapeutic advantages of WIN-1001X on animal models of Parkinson's disease. WIN-1001X administration successfully relieved the Parkinsonism symptoms in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease mice tested by rota-rod and pole tests. The loss of tyrosine hydroxylase activities in substantia nigra and striatum was also attenuated by administration of WIN-1001X. In mice with sub-chronical MPTP injections, autophagy-related proteins, such as LC3, beclin-1, mTOR, and p62, were measured using the immunoblot assay. The results were favorable to induction of autophagy after the WIN-1001X administration. WIN-1001X treatment on 6-hydroxydopamine-injected rats also exhibited protective effects against striatal neuronal damage and loss of dopaminergic cells. Such protection is expected to be due to the positive regulation of autophagy by administration of WIN-1001X with confirmation both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, an active compound, onjisaponin B was isolated and identified from WIN-1001X. Onjisaponin B also showed significant autophagosome-inducing effect in human neuroblastoma cell line. Our study suggests that relief of Parkinsonism symptoms and rescue of tyrosine hydroxylase activity in dopaminergic neurons are affected by autophagy enhancing effect of WIN-1001X which the onjisaponin B is one of the major components of activity.

Current and New Approaches to Predict the Deflections of One-Way Flexural Members with a Focus on Composite Steel Deck Slabs Voided by Circular Tubes.

A new type of composite voided slab, the TUBEDECK (TD), which utilizes the structural function of profiled steel decks, has recently been proposed. Previous studies have confirmed that the flexural strength of TD slabs can be calculated based on the full composite contribution of the steel deck, but for long-span flexural members, the deflection serviceability requirement is often dominant. Herein, we derived a novel deflection prediction approach using the results of flexural tests on slab specimens, focusing on TD slabs. First, deflection prediction based on modifications of the current code was proposed. Results revealed that TD slabs exhibited smaller long-term deflections and at least 10% longer maximum span lengths than solid slabs, indicating their greater efficiency. Second, a novel rational method was derived for predicting deflections without computing the effective moment of inertia. The ultimate deflections predicted by the proposed method correlated closely with the deflection under maximum bending moments. To calculate immediate deflections, variation functions for the concrete strain at the extreme compression fiber and neutral axis depth were assumed with predictions in good agreement with experiments. The proposed procedure has important implications in highlighting a new perspective on the deflection prediction of reinforced concrete and composite flexural members.

Cyclic Loading Performance of Radius-Cut Double Coke-Shaped Strip Dampers.

Conventional slit dampers are widely used for the purpose of seismic retrofitting, however, the structure of these dampers is susceptible to fractures, due to stress concentration at the ends of the strips in the event of large earthquakes. To address this issue, a novel radius-cut coke-shaped strip damper featuring improved ductility is proposed herein. This damper was developed based on the moment distribution over the strip when both its ends were constrained. The height-to-width ratio of the strip was increased to induce bending rather than shear deformation, and the reduced beam section method was employed. A radius-cut section was used to intentionally focus the stress to induce the plastic hinge. This reduced the fracture fragility of the specimen, resulting in an increased inelastic deformation capacity. Cyclic loading tests were conducted to verify damping performance against earthquakes. Experiments and finite element analyses proved that the coke-shaped damper exhibits improved ductility. The final fracture occurred in the radius-cut section after sufficient energy dissipation during cyclic loading. The results also indicated further improvements in strength due to the membrane effect under cyclic loading, caused by the tensile resistance of the strip due to its constrained ends.

Actively Operable Thermoresponsive Smart Windows for Reducing Energy Consumption.

Efficient usage of finite energy resources is a core approach for preventing major blackouts caused by a severe lack of energy. Smart windows, which modulate thermal energy transferred from the incident sunlight, have attracted tremendous interest as an alternative technology for resolving the fast-approaching energy crisis by suppressing unnecessary energy usage such as air conditioning or heating inside buildings. Here, we demonstrate a set of materials and design concepts for doubly responsive smart windows, which efficiently reduce the consumption of our limited energy reserves. The proposed smart windows are based on the concept of combining the lower critical solution temperature of thermoresponsive polymer hydrogels and the electrical actuation of graphene-based flexible heaters; this combination serves to actively control the passive-type moving thermoresponsive smart window. The proposed smart windows exhibit a highly tunable transparency of above 90%, which corresponds to an almost instantaneous change from high transmission of the incident light to the complete blockage of its penetration under thermal or electrical stimulation. In particular, when the windows of a mockup house are replaced with the developed flexible smart windows, the increment rate of the indoor temperature under white light irradiation reduces drastically. This type of active light control system is expected to create a new opportunity for achieving cost savings on heating, cooling, and lighting through management of light energy transmitted into the interior of a house.

Effect of dual treatment with SDF-1 and BMP-2 on ectopic and orthotopic bone formation.

PURPOSES: The potent stem cell homing factor stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) actively recruits mesenchymal stem cells from circulation and from local bone marrow. It is well established that bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) induces ectopic and orthotopic bone formation. However, the exact synergistic effects of BMP-2 and SDF-1 in ectopic and orthotopic bone regeneration models have not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of simultaneous SDF-1 and BMP-2 treatment on bone formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Various doses of SDF-1 were loaded onto collagen sponges with or without BMP-2.These sponges were implanted into subcutaneous pockets and critical-size calvarial defects in C57BL/6 mice. The specimens were harvested 4 weeks post-surgery and the degree of bone formation in specimens was evaluated by histomorphometric and radiographic density analyses. Osteogenic potential and migration capacity of mesenchymal cells and capillary tube formation of endothelial cells following dual treatment with SDF-1 and BMP-2 were evaluated with in vitro assays. RESULTS: SDF-1-only-treated implants did not yield significant in vivo bone formation and SDF-1 treatment did not enhance BMP-2-induced ectopic and orthotopic bone regeneration. In vitro experiments showed that concomitant use of BMP-2 and SDF-1 had no additive effect on osteoblastic differentiation, cell migration or angiogenesis compared to BMP-2 or SDF-1 treatment alone. CONCLUSIONS: These findings imply that sequence-controlled application of SDF-1 and BMP-2 must be further investigated for the enhancement of robust osteogenesis in bone defects.

Performance of (18)F-FDG PET/CT as a postoperative surveillance imaging modality for asymptomatic advanced gastric cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of postoperative fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) as a surveillance modality for advanced gastric cancer patients who were asymptomatic and negative by conventional follow-up. METHODS: We retrospectively collected 46 advanced gastric cancer patients who received approximately 1-year-postoperative (18)F-FDG PET/CT surveillance following curative resection (mean age 60.6 ± 11.5 years). (18)F-FDG PET/CT was interpreted by nuclear medicine physicians who were blind to the clinical information. Final confirmation was determined by clinical follow-up using tumor markers, conventional CT scan, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and with/without subsequent histopathologic diagnosis. RESULTS: Four patients developed recurrence (8.7 %; 1 local and 3 distant recurrences). For local recurrence, (18)F-FDG PET/CT found four hypermetabolic lesions and one was local recurrence. For distant recurrence, seven hypermetabolic lesions were found in six patients and true-positive was three lesions. False-positive cases were mainly turned out to be physiologic small bowel uptake. Regardless of the recurrence site, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT were 100 % (4/4, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 39.6-100 %), 88.1 % (37/42, 95 % CI 73.6-95.5 %), 44.4 % (4/9, 95 % CI 15.3-77.3 %) and 100 % (37/37, 95 % CI 88.3-100 %), respectively in the patient-based analysis. CONCLUSION: Our study showed good specificity of postoperative surveillance (18)F-FDG PET/CT for detecting recurrence. Careful caution should be made for interpreting some false-positive hypermetabolic lesions in postoperative (18)F-FDG PET/CT, especially at the local anastomosis site.

Effects of Sun ginseng on memory enhancement and hippocampal neurogenesis.

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer has been used in traditional herb prescriptions for thousands of years. A heat-processing method has been used to increase the efficacy of ginseng, yielding what is known as red ginseng. In addition, recently, a slightly modified heat-processing method was applied to ginseng, to obtain a new type of processed ginseng with increased biological activity; this new form of ginseng is referred to as Sun ginseng (SG). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of SG on memory enhancement and neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) region. The subchronic administration of SG (for 14 days) significantly increased the latency time in the passive avoidance task relative to the administration of the vehicle control (P < 0.05). Western blotting revealed that the levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) and phosphorylated protein kinase B (pAkt) were significantly increased in hippocampal tissue after 14 days of SG administration (P < 0.05). Doublecortin and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine immunostaining revealed that SG significantly enhanced the neuronal cell proliferation and the survival of immature neurons in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal DG region. These results suggest that SG has memory-enhancing activities and that these effects are mediated, in part, by the increase in the levels of pERK and pAkt and by the increases in cell proliferation and cell survival.

Two cases of methemoglobinemia induced by the exposure to nitrobenzene and aniline.

OBJECTIVE: To report two cases of methemoglobinemia induced by inhaled nitrobenzene and dermally absorbed aniline. METHODS: We have evaluated a 37-year-old male worker exposed to nitrobenzene by inhalation while conducting maintenance job of mononitrobenzene pump and a 25-year-old male worker exposed dermally to aniline while unloading. RESULTS: The first case is a 37-year-old male exposed to nitrobenzene. His blood methemoglobin concentration level was initially 19.8%, and chest X-ray was normal. After oxygen therapy, the blood methemoglobin concentration level decreased to 2.1%, and the symptoms were alleviated. The second case is a 25-year-old male exposed dermally to aniline. His chest X-ray was normal, but blood methemoglobin concentration level reached maximally 46.8%. He was treated with methylene blue due to relatively high blood methemoglobin level. Gradually after the treatment, his methemoglobin concentration level was normalized to 0.8% and simultaneously symptoms were resolved. CONCLUSIONS: After the thorough exposure investigations and medical evaluations, we have concluded that these cases were methemoglobinemia induced by occupational exposure to nitrobenzene and aniline. We suggest that businesses which handle methemoglobinemia-causing substances control the engineering process strictly, implement periodic screening, and establish emergency patient management system.

Neuroprotective effect of sinapic acid in a mouse model of amyloid ß(1-42) protein-induced Alzheimer's disease.

Sinapic acid (SA) is a phenylpropanoid compound with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. The neuroprotective effects of SA in a mouse model of amyloid ß (Aß)(1-42) protein-induced Alzheimer's disease (AD) were investigated. Mice received a bilateral injection of Aß(1-42) protein into the hippocampus to verify the efficacy of SA. Mice were treated with SA (10mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 7days beginning immediately after Aß(1-42) protein injection, and an acquisition trial of the passive avoidance task was conducted 1h after the last administration of SA. Retention trial was conducted 24h after the acquisition trial, and mice were sacrificed for immunohistochemistry immediately after the retention trial. SA rescued neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1 region and also attenuated the increase of iNOS expression, glial cell activations and nitrotyrosine expressions induced by Aß(1-42) protein. SA significantly attenuated memory impairment in the passive avoidance task. These results suggest that SA ameliorated Aß(1-42) protein-related pathology including neuronal cell death and cognitive dysfunction via its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, and may be an efficacious treatment for AD.

The memory ameliorating effects of INM-176, an ethanolic extract of Angelica gigas, against scopolamine- or Aß(1-42)-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive impairment and cholinergic neuronal death. INM-176 is a standardized ethanolic extract of Angelica gigas Nakai that has been traditionally used in herbal medicine in China, Japan, and Korea to treat anemia or as a sedative. We investigated whether INM-176 exhibits anti-amnesic effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Memory impairment was induced by scopolamine, a cholinergic muscarinic receptor antagonist, or amyloid ß(1-42) (Aß(1-42)) protein. Anti-amnesic effects of INM-176 were measured by the passive avoidance and the Morris water maze tasks in mice. We also examined the effect of INM-176 on the acetylcholinesterase activity, as well as Aß(1-42) protein-induced astrogliosis or cholinergic neuronal loss in the brain. RESULTS: Scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction was significantly attenuated by a single or sub-chronic administration of INM-176 in the passive avoidance and the Morris water maze tasks. A single or sub-chronic administration of INM-176 also ameliorated memory impairments induced by Aß(1-42) protein. INM-176 inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in the hippocampal tissue in vitro and ex vivo. In addition, INM-176 attenuated the Aß(1-42) protein-induced astrocyte activation in the hippocampus as well as cholinergic neuronal damage in the CA3 region of the hippocampus and the nucleus basalis of Meynert. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the memory ameliorating effects of INM-176 on scopolamine- or Aß(1-42) protein-induced memory impairment are mediated, in part, via acetylcholinesterase inhibition and neuroprotective activities.

GSK-3ß activity in the hippocampus is required for memory retrieval.

Several molecules were recently found to be important for the memory retrieval process in the hippocampus; however, the mechanisms underlying the memory retrieval remain poorly understood. GSK-3ß has been implicated in the control of synaptic plasticity and memory formation. Here, we investigated the relationship between hippocampal GSK-3ß activity and memory retrieval using behavioral and Western blotting methods. We found that GSK-3ß was activated in the hippocampus after a retention session in the passive avoidance task. An intrahippocampal injection of the GSK-3ß inhibitor, SB 216763, before the retention session blocked memory retrieval (but not reconsolidation) without affecting locomotor activity. These results suggest that GSK-3ß activation would be essential for memory retrieval in the hippocampus.

Arthroscopic treatment of synovial chondromatosis of the hip.

BACKGROUND: Recently, arthroscopic loose body removal and synovectomy have been performed as treatments for synovial chondromatosis of the hip joint. However, to date, no reports have been published on the outcomes of arthroscopic treatments. HYPOTHESIS: Arthroscopic treatment is effective for synovial chondromatosis of the hip joint and has advantages such as low recurrence rates, faster return to activities of daily life, and few surgical complications. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: From June 1996 to July 2008, 24 patients with synovial chondromatosis of the hip who were followed up after arthroscopic removal of loose bodies and synovectomy were evaluated. The common arthroscopic portals were the anterior, anterolateral, and posterolateral portals. In some cases, we applied a medial portal for removal of loose bodies in the posteromedial pouch. Preoperative and postoperative assessments were made through simple radiographs, 3-dimensional computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, range of motion of the joint, Harris Hip Score, and Merle D'Aubigné and Postel score. RESULTS: Postoperative mean follow-up period was 41 months. There were no major complications. Patients were able to walk weightbearing on average 2 days after surgery and were discharged in an average of 3.5 days (range, 3-5 days) after surgery. In postoperative radiological imaging, 4 patients showed progression of joint osteoarthritis, and 1 of them underwent total hip arthroplasty. The VAS score before surgery was 8.1 ± 1.3 and after surgery was 3.1 ± 1.4. Range of motion of the hip joint before surgery was increased after surgery, except in 1 patient who required a third operation. Harris Hip Score before surgery was an average of 39 ± 6.9 and improved to an average of 82 ± 10.2 after surgery. Eighteen patients (75%) had good or excellent outcomes. Symptomatic disease recurred in 4 patients (16.7%), and 1 of these 4 patients showed a subsequent recurrence. CONCLUSION: The treatment of synovial chondromatosis of the hip using arthroscopic loose body removal and synovectomy is relatively successful, and rehabilitation of patients is fast, therefore making it an effective treatment with satisfactory postsurgical results. However, a technical limitation of arthroscopy is the difficulty in approaching the posterolateral and posteromedial areas of the peripheral compartment.

The ameliorating effects of stigmasterol on scopolamine-induced memory impairments in mice.

Stigmasterol, a kind of phytosterol, is present in small amounts in various foods. In the present study, we investigated the effects of stigmasterol on scopolamine-induced memory impairments using the passive avoidance and the Morris water maze tasks in mice. In addition, changes in memory-related molecules, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), were examined following the administration of stigmasterol. Scopolamine-induced memory impairments were significantly attenuated by the administration of stigmasterol (10mg/kg) in the passive avoidance task. In the Morris water maze task, the escape latencies were significantly decreased in the stigmasterol-treated group compared to the scopolamine-treated group during the training phase. The swimming times within the target zone during the probe trial were significantly increased as compared to scopolamine-treated mice. Furthermore, the ameliorating effect of stigmasterol on scopolamine-induced memory dysfunction was blocked by a sub-effective dose of dizocilpine (MK-801), an NMDA receptor antagonist, and tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor antagonist, in the passive avoidance task. In addition, the expression levels of phosphorylated ERK and CREB in the hippocampus were significantly increased by stigmasterol, which was blocked by tamoxifen or MK-801 with scopolamine. These results suggest that stigmasterol-induced cognitive ameliorative effects are mediated by the enhancement of cholinergic neurotransmission system via the activation of estrogen or NMDA receptors.

Optimization of medium compositions favoring butanol and 1,3-propanediol production from glycerol by Clostridium pasteurianum.

Medium compositions favoring butanol and 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) production from glycerol by Clostridium pasteurianum DSM525 were investigated using statistical experimental designs. Medium components affecting butanol and 1,3-PDO production were screened using a fractional factorial experimental design. Among the six tested variables (phosphate buffer, MnSO4·H2O, MgSO4·7H2O, FeSO4·7H2O, (NH4)2SO4, and yeast extract), FeSO4·7H2O, (NH4)2SO4, and yeast extract were found to be significant variables for further optimization of medium using a Box-Behnken design. Optimal butanol (0.98 g/L/h) and 1,3-PDO (1.19 g/L/h) productivities were predicted by the corresponding quadratic model for each product and the models were validated experimentally under optimized conditions. The optimal medium composition for butanol production was significantly different from that for 1,3-PDO production (0.06 vs. 0 g/L for FeSO4·7H2O, 7.35 vs. 0 g/L for (NH4)2SO4, and 5.08 vs. 8.0 g/L for yeast extract), suggesting that the product formation from glycerol by C. pasteurianum DSM525 can be controlled by changing medium compositions.

Counterion-induced reversibly switchable transparency in smart windows.

Smart windows that can reversibly alternate between extreme optical characteristics via clicking counteranions of different hydration energies were developed on glass substrates through the facile spray-casting of poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyltrimethylammonium chloride-co-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate]. The optical transmittance was either 90.9% or 0% over the whole spectral range when alternately immersed in solutions containing thiocyanate (SCN(-)) or bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (TFSI(-)) ions, respectively. The extreme optical transitions were attributed to formation of microporous structures via the molecular aggregation of polyelectrolyte chains bearing TFSI(-) ions in methanol. Because the smart windows were either highly transparent toward or completely blocking of incident light upon direct counterion exchange, this kind of nanotechnology may provide a new platform for efficiently conserving on energy usage in the interior of buildings.