Multiscale Structures Aggregated by Imprinted Nanofibers for Functional Surfaces.

Multiscale surface structures have attracted increasing interest owing to several potential applications in surface devices. However, an existing challenge in the field is the fabrication of hybrid micro-nano structures using a facile, cost-effective, and high-throughput method. To overcome these challenges, this paper proposes a protocol to fabricate multiscale structures using only an imprint process with an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) filter and an evaporative self-aggregation process of nanofibers. Unlike previous attempts that have aimed to straighten nanofibers, we demonstrate a unique fabrication method for multiscale aggregated nanofibers with high aspect ratios. Furthermore, the surface morphology and wettability of these structures on various liquids were investigated to facilitate their use in multifunctional surfaces.

Effects of Aster scaber Seed Oil Containing trans-Δ3 Fatty Acids on Lipid Profiles of Hamsters and Rats.

The effects of Aster scaber seed oil (ASO) on lipid profiles were studied in rats and hamsters. ASO contained considerable amounts of Δ3t-16:1 (11.4%), Δ3t, 9c-18:2 (4.6%), and Δ3t, 9c, 12c-18:3 (11.3%). Young rats and hamsters were fed diets containing ASO, soybean oil (SBO), or olive oil (OLO) as fat sources for 4 weeks in separate experiments with or without cholesterol. In the rat study, there were no significant differences in the concentrations of serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, and triacylglycerol among the groups. The serum but not liver malondialdehyde (MDA) level was significantly lower in the ASO-fed group than it was in the other groups. The biochemical and growth parameters revealed no significant biological damages in the ASO-fed animals. In the hamster study, dietary cholesterol-dependent effects were evident in the serum lipids profiles, whereas the fat-induced effect was only observed in the ratio of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-/HDL-cholesterol. Furthermore, fat- and cholesterol-induced effects were evident in the ratio of serum LDL-/HDL-cholesterol. Significant interactions between dietary fat and cholesterol were observed as evident from the concentration of serum cholesterol and triacylglycerol, as well as the activity of serum cholesterol ester transfer protein. These results suggest that dietary ASO containing trans-Δ3 fatty acids appeared to improve the serum LDL-/HDL-cholesterol ratio more than the SBO did, especially when hamsters were simultaneously fed cholesterol-supplemented diet.

Kinetic study for the optimization of ginsenoside Rg3 production by heat treatment of ginsenoside Rb1.

BACKGROUND: Ginsenoside Rg3 is a promising anticancer agent. It is usually produced by heat treatment of ginseng, in which ginsenoside Rb1 is the major ginsenoside. A kinetic study was conducted to optimize ginsenoside Rg3 production by the heat treatment of ginsenoside Rb1. METHODS: Ginsenoside Rb1 was heated using an isothermal machine at 80°C and 100°C and analyzed using HPLC. The kinetic parameters were calculated from the experimental results. The activation energy was estimated and used to simulate the process. The optimized parameters of ginsenoside Rg3 production are suggested based on the simulation. RESULTS: The rate constants were 0.013 h(-1) and 0.073 h(-1) for the degradation of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 at 80°C, respectively. The corresponding rate constants at 100°C were 0.045 h(-1) and 0.155 h(-1). The estimated activation energies of degradation of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 were 69.2 kJ/mol and 40.9 kJ/mol, respectively. The rate constants at different temperatures were evaluated using the estimated activation energies, and the kinetic profiles of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 at each temperature were simulated based on the proposed kinetic model of consecutive reaction. The optimum strategies for producing ginsenoside Rg3 from ginsenoside Rb1 are suggested based on the simulation. With increased temperature, a high concentration of ginsenoside Rg3 is formed rapidly. However, the concentration decreases quickly after the reaching the maximal concentration value. CONCLUSION: The optimum temperature for producing ginsenoside Rg3 should be the highest temperature technically feasible below 180°C, in consideration of the cooling time. The optimum reaction time for heat treatment is 30 min.

Developmental expression of Pitx2c in Xenopus trigeminal and profundal placodes.

Cranial placodes are thickenings of the embryonic head ectoderm that contribute to the paired sense organs and to the cephalic peripheral nervous system. Here we report the spatiotemporal expression pattern of transcription factor Pitx2c during Xenopus laevis cranial placode formation, focusing more specifically on key stages of trigeminal and profundal placode development. We also compare its expression to five genes that have been associated with development of these sensory placodes, namely Foxi1c, Islet1, NeuroD, Pax3, and Six1. We show that while initially expressed in both the trigeminal and profundal placodes, Pitx2c is later restricted to the prospective profundal ganglion, where it is co-expressed with Islet1, NeuroD and Pax3. This combination of factors defines a molecular signature for the characterization of the profundal versus trigeminal ganglia in Xenopus.

Enhancing phage display of antibody fragments using gIII-amber suppression.

The effect of utilizing Ex12 helper phage, a mutant M13K07 helper having two amber codons at the gIII (gIII-amber), in combination with Escherichia coli host strains belonging to the supE genotype on improving the phage display of antibody fragments was investigated. Because of an inefficient read-through of the UAG codons, Ex12 helper phage produced approximately 10% of the intracellular wt pIII in the supE host cells compared to M13K07. The phage progenies rescued from the supE XL-1 Blue MRF' strain carrying the recombinant phagemid, pCMTG-SP112, by Ex12 helper phage displayed both antibody-DeltapIII fusion and wt pIII at a ratio of 1:1.5, and achieved a 50-fold greater display of the antibody-DeltapIII compared to those obtained by a conventional phage rescue using M13K07. Additionally observed were a 100-fold increase in antigen-binding functionality and a drastic improvement on antigen-specific panning efficiency by the phage progenies. Our approach permits the display of at least one antibody fragment as well as more than one copy of wt pIII on the surface of recombinant phages, and this would make the phagemid-based phage display technology more practical and reliable.