Phytochemical-Based Nanoantioxidants Stabilized with Polyvinylpyrrolidone for Enhanced Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities.

Despite the inhibitory effect of phytoncide (Pht) on food-borne pathogenic bacterial growth, the hydrophobic nature and susceptibility to biodegradation under physiological conditions limits its applications. Here, we developed Pht-loaded polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) micelles (Pht@PVP MC) via micelle packing. Pht was solubilized using different types of PVP as micellar vehicles.

The Effect of Block Ratio and Structure on the Thermosensitivity of Double and Triple Betaine Block Copolymers.

AB-type and BAB-type betaine block copolymers composed of a carboxybetaine methacrylate and a sulfobetaine methacrylate, PGLBT--PSPE and PSPE--PGLBT--PSPE, respectively, were synthesized by one-pot RAFT polymerization. By optimizing the concentration of the monomer, initiator, and chain transfer agent, block extension with precise ratio control was enabled and a full conversion (~99%) of betaine monomers was achieved at each step. Two sets (total degree of polymerization: ~300 and ~600) of diblock copolymers having four different PGLBT:PSPE ratios were prepared to compare the influence of block ratio and molecular weight on the temperature-responsive behavior in aqueous solution.

Mathematical Modeling of mRNA Poly(A) Tail Shortening Process.

A sequence of deadenylation events, or the shortening of the poly(A) tail, is a highly regulated process during the life cycle of mRNAs. Advances in biochemistry have enabled the study of deadenylation events at single-nucleotide resolution. Here we describe mathematical models and their applications to estimate the kinetics of a single deadenylation event in vitro.

Heterologous overexpression of the cyanobacterial alcohol dehydrogenase confers cold tolerance to the oleaginous alga .

Temperature is an important regulator of growth in algae and other photosynthetic organisms. Temperatures above or below the optimal growth temperature could cause oxidative stress to algae through accumulation of oxidizing compounds such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, algal temperature stress tolerance could be attained by enhancing oxidative stress resistance.

Determination and Verification of GISSMO Fracture Properties of Bolts Used in Radioactive Waste Transport Containers.

Transport containers for radioactive materials should withstand drop tests according to the regulations. In order to prevent a loss or dispersal of the internal radioactive materials in the drop tests, a tightening of the lid of the transport container should be maintained. The opening of the lid, due to the drop impact, might cause the dispersion of internal contents or a loss of shielding performance.

Fabrication of AlO/ZnO and AlO/Cu Reinforced Silicone Rubber Composite Pads for Thermal Interface Materials.

Thermal interface materials (also known as thermal pads) are widely used as a crucial part to dissipate heat generated in miniaturized and integrated electronic components. Here, we systematically investigated the effects of small ceramic and metallic powders in rubbery thermal composite pads with a high content of aluminum oxide filler on the thermal conductivity of the composite pads. We optimized the compositions of aluminum oxide fillers with two different sizes in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix for rubbery composite pads with a high thermal conductivity.

Tart Cherry (Fruit of ) Concentrated Powder (TCcp) Ameliorates Glucocorticoid-Induced Muscular Atrophy in Mice.

: The present study investigated the beneficial effects of tart cherry (fruit of ) concentrated powder (TCcp) on glucocorticoid (GLU)-induced catabolic muscular atrophy in the skeletal muscle of mice. Furthermore, its potential mechanism was also studied. : Changes in calf thickness, calf muscle weight, calf muscle strength, body weight, gastrocnemius muscle histology, immunohistochemistry, serum creatinine, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and antioxidant defense systems were measured.

Potential Antioxidant and Wound Healing Effect of Nano-Liposol with High Loading Amount of Astaxanthin.

Background: Astaxanthin (ASTA), a carotenoid, is a strong antioxidant. However, its application in functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics remains limited due to its low aqueous solubility and stability. Several different encapsulating materials have been used to improve the stability and bioavailability of ASTA; however, the currently investigated nano-carriers for ASTA require additional improvements with regard to their loading capacity and stability.

The NanDeSyn database for Nannochloropsis systems and synthetic biology.

Nannochloropsis species, unicellular industrial oleaginous microalgae, are model organisms for microalgal systems and synthetic biology. To facilitate community-based annotation and mining of the rapidly accumulating functional genomics resources, we have initiated an international consortium and present a comprehensive multi-omics resource database named Nannochloropsis Design and Synthesis (NanDeSyn; http://nandesyn.single-cell.

Effects of Halide Anions on the Solution Behavior of Double Hydrophilic Carboxy-Sulfobetaine Block Copolymers.

The solution behavior of the double polybetaine block copolymer poly(2-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)dimethylammonio)acetate)--poly(3-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate (PGLBT--PSPE) in sodium halide aqueous solutions was investigated. In the presence of salt ions, the unimer-to-micelle transition of PGLBT--PSPE that originated by Coulombic attraction between PSPE motifs was suppressed and shifted to much lower temperatures. The transition was hindered more by increases in the salt concentration because of additional counterion binding on the ionized site of PGLBT--PSPE chains, which screens the dipole-dipole attractions.

Effects of pH on the Stimuli-Responsive Characteristics of Double Betaine Hydrophilic Block Copolymer PGLBT--PSPE.

We investigated the pH-responsive behavior of the carboxybetaine-sulfobetaine diblock copolymer poly(2-(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)dimethylammonio)acetate--3-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate (PGLBT--PSPE) in aqueous solution under varying temperatures. Alongside the temperature-responsive PSPE block which induces self-assembly of polymer micelles under the upper critical solution temperature, the PGLBT motifs having protonation sites caused additional changes in the phase behaviors. In acidic conditions where the pH is lower than the p of PGLBT--PSPE, the transmittance of polymer solutions more abruptly dropped and became cloudy at higher temperatures compared to the case of salt-free solutions.

Fabrication of Spherical Titania Inverse Opal Structures Using Electro-Hydrodynamic Atomization.

Spherical PS/HEMA opal structure and spherical titania inverse opal structure were fabricated by self-assembly of colloidal nanoparticles in uniform aerosol droplets generated with electro-hydrodynamic atomization method. When a solution of PS/HEMA nanoparticles with uniform size distribution was used, PS/HEMA nanoparticles self-assembled into a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure by capillary force with the evaporation of the solvent in aerosol droplet, resulting in a spherical opal structure. When PS/HEMA nanoparticles and anatase titania nanoparticles were dispersed simultaneously into the solution, titania nanoparticles with relatively smaller size were assembled at the interstitial site of PS/HEMA nanoparticles packed in the FCC structure, resulting in a spherical opal composite structure.

Highly stretchable superhydrophobic surface by silica nanoparticle embedded electrospun fibrous mat.

Hypothesis: Obtaining simultaneous stretchability and superhydrophobicity remains a great challenge in stretchable electronics, and wearable devices. Inspired by natural surfaces, such as lotus leaf, surface roughness and coating materials are the fundamental requirements to achieve superhydrophobicity.

Experiments: We prepared an elastic fibrous mat by electrospinning of a composite solution made of thermoplastic elastomer as an organic polymer matrix, and silica nanoparticles as inorganic additives to support surface roughness.

Synergistic antioxidant activity of size controllable chitosan-templated Prussian blue nanoparticle.

Prussian blue nanoparticles (PB NPs) have been reported as excellent antioxidant agents owing to their ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species. However, their poor stability limits their use in biomedical applications. In this study, we developed chitosan-templated PB NPs using water-soluble chitosan samples with molecular weights ranging from 3 to 100 kDa, which stabilized the PB NPs and improved their antioxidant activity.

Laxative effects of triple fermented barley extracts (FBe) on loperamide (LP)-induced constipation in rats.

Background: Constipation, a common health problem, causes discomfort and affects the quality of life. This study intended to evaluate the potential laxative effect of triple fermented barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) extract (FBe), produced by saccharification, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Weissella cibaria, on loperamide (LP)-induced constipation in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, a well-established animal model of spastic constipation.

Protective effects of triple fermented barley extract (FBe) on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal damage in rats.

Background: Hordeum vulgare L (barley) contains numerous phenolic substances with proven anticancer, antioxidant and gastroprotective activities. Saccharification increases the functionality and bioavailability of these compounds thus can aid in the development of a natural product based medicine. This study aimed to investigate the possible gastroprotective effects of saccharification on the indomethacin (IND)-induced gastric ulcers in rats using Weissella cibaria- and Saccharomyces cerevisiae-triple fermented H.

Temperature-Responsive Behavior of Double Hydrophilic Carboxy-Sulfobetaine Block Copolymers and Their Self-Assemblies in Water.

The block copolymer poly(2-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)dimethylammonio)acetate)- b-poly(3-( N-(2-metharyloylethyl)- N, N-dimethylammonio)propanesulfonate) (PGLBT- b-PSPE) was synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) technique under precise control. The PGLBT- b-PSPE block copolymers showed upper critical solution temperature (UCST) behavior originating from PSPE moieties. Unlike PSPE homopolymers, the transmittance change with temperature was gradual, and unexpected retardation or slight changes in a reverse direction were found at the intermediate stage.

Isokinetic knee strength and proprioception before and after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A comparison between home-based and supervised rehabilitation.

Background: Rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction focuses on restoring knee deficiencies and function. However, the extent of the clinician's direct supervision that is required to recover knee function is unknown.

Objective: To investigate differences in isokinetic knee strength improvement, endurance, and proprioception between home-based (HBR) and supervised rehabilitation (SR).

Protective effects of a triple-fermented barley extract (FBe) against HCl/EtOH-induced gastric mucosa damage in mice.

This study was designed to observe the possible protective effects of a triple-fermented barley ( L.) extract (FBe) obtained by saccharification and using and in alleviating gastric damage induced by a hydrochloric acid (HCl) and ethanol (EtOH) mixture in mice. After oral administration of FBe (300, 200, and 100 mg/kg) followed by 1 hr before and after the single treatment of HCl/EtOH (H/E) mixture, the hemorrhagic lesion scores, histopathology of the stomach, gastric nitrate/nitrite content, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant defense systems including catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were observed.

Drug loading augmentation in polymeric nanoparticles using a coaxial turbulent jet mixer: Yong investigator perspective.

Hypothesis: In conventional 'bulk' nanoprecipitation, the capacity to load hydrophobic drugs into the polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) is limited to about 1%. The size distribution of the resulting NPs becomes polydisperse when higher precursor concentration is used to increase the drug loading. Hence, it should be possible to enhance the hydrophobic drug loading in polymeric NPs while maintaining the uniform NP size distribution by optimizing the nanoprecipitation process and purification process.

Ingestion of Exopolymers from Reduces the Duration of Cold and Flu Symptoms: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Intervention Study.

Aim: The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of exopolymers from (EAP) on the incidence of colds and flu in healthy adults.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study at the onset of the influenza season. A total of 76 subjects (30-70 years of age) were recruited from the general population.

Elevated Inorganic Carbon Concentrating Mechanism Confers Tolerance to High Light in an Arctic sp. ArM0029B.

Microalgae and higher plants employ an inorganic carbon (Ci) concentrating mechanism (CCM) to increase CO availability to Rubisco. Operation of the CCM should enhance the activity of the Calvin cycle, which could act as an electron sink for electrons generated by photosynthesis, and lower the redox status of photosynthetic electron transport chains. In this study, a hypothesis that microalgal cells with fully operating CCM are less likely to be photodamaged was tested by comparing a mutant with its wild type (WT).

A novel alendronate functionalized nanoprobe for simple colorimetric detection of cancer-associated hypercalcemia.

The calcium (Ca2+) ion concentration in the blood serum is tightly regulated, and any abnormalities in the level of serum calcium ions are associated with many potentially dangerous diseases. Thus, monitoring of the Ca2+ ion concentration in the blood serum is of fundamental importance. Gold nanoparticle (GNP)-based colorimetric biosensors have enormous potential in clinical diagnostic applications due to their simplicity, versatility, and unique optical properties.