Identification of Bioactive Substances Derived from the Probiotic-Induced Bioconversion of Pers. Leaf Extract That Have Beneficial Effects on Diabetes and Obesity.

L. (Banaba) has been used as a functional food because of its diuretic, decongestant, antipyretic, anti-hyperglycemic, and anti-adipogenic activities. Triterpene acids, including corosolic acid, oleanolic acid, and asiatic acid, are the principal phytochemicals in Banaba and are potentially anti-diabetic substances, owing to their effect on blood glucose concentration.

Anti-Cancer Roles of Probiotic-Derived P8 Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cell Line DLD-1.

A novel probiotics-derived protein, P8, suppresses the growth of colorectal cancer (CRC). P8 can penetrate the cell membrane via endocytosis and cause cell cycle arrest in DLD-1 cells through down-regulation of CDK1/Cyclin B1. However, neither the protein involved in the endocytosis of P8 nor the cell cycle arrest targets of P8 are known.

Decreased Maximal Tongue Protrusion Length May Predict the Presence of Dysphagia in Stroke Patients.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between maximal tongue protrusion length (MTPL) and dysphagia in post-stroke patients.

Methods: Free tongue length (FTL) was measured using the quick tongue-tie assessment tool and MTPL was measured using a transparent plastic ruler in 47 post-stroke patients. The MTPL-to-FTL (RMF) ratio was calculated.

Toxicological Evaluation of a Probiotic-Based Delivery System for P8 Protein as an Anti-Colorectal Cancer Drug.

Purpose: This study aimed to toxicological evaluate a probiotics-based delivery system for p8 protein as an anti-colorectal cancer drug.

Introduction: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been widely ingested for many years and are regarded as very safe. Recently, a SL4 (PP) strain that secretes the probiotic-derived anti-cancer protein P8 (PP-P8) has been developed as an anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) biologic by Cell Biotech.

Field-scale investigation of nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) injection parameters for enhanced delivery of NZVI particles to groundwater.

The effects of the injection parameters on delivery of nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) to contaminated groundwater were investigated. The first two NZVI injections (gravity injection at low flow rates) resulted in NZVI being poorly mobile and gave total cumulative mass recoveries at the monitoring wells of 1.07%-2.

A synthetic probiotic engineered for colorectal cancer therapy modulates gut microbiota.

Background: Successful chemoprevention or chemotherapy is achieved through targeted delivery of prophylactic agents during initial phases of carcinogenesis or therapeutic agents to malignant tumors. Bacteria can be used as anticancer agents, but efforts to utilize attenuated pathogenic bacteria suffer from the risk of toxicity or infection. Lactic acid bacteria are safe to eat and often confer health benefits, making them ideal candidates for live vehicles engineered to deliver anticancer drugs.

Laboratory and field study on changes in water quality and increase in dissolved iron during riverbank filtration.

Changes in the water quality by the riverbank filtration (RBF) process were investigated in the field-scale demonstration sites. The overall water quality was improved by RBF, but Fe concentration significantly increased in the riverbank-filtered water more than in the river water. This result would be caused by the interaction between the iron minerals and the river water in the aquifer and the influx of the hinterland groundwater into RBF wells.

Ultrasonographic Analysis of Optimal Needle Placement for Extensor Indicis.

Objective: To determine the most optimal needle insertion point of extensor indicis (EI) using ultrasound.

Methods: A total 80 forearms of 40 healthy volunteers were recruited. We identified midpoint (MP) of EI using ultrasound and set MP as optimal needle insertion point.

Mechanisms of electro-assisted persulfate/nano-Fe oxidation process: Roles of redox mediation by dissolved Fe.

Mechanisms involved in an electrochemically assisted oxidation process using persulfate and nanosized zero-valent iron (NZVI) were elucidated. Initially, Fe acted as a source of Fe to activate the persulfate, then Fe/Fe redox mediation between cathode and persulfate played a decisive role in persulfate activation at a current density low enough not to inhibit Fe corrosion. An excessive current density which resulted in a low cathodic potential limited Fe corrosion and therefore limited the supply of dissolved Fe to activate the persulfate.

Anti-Colorectal Cancer Effects of Probiotic-Derived p8 Protein.

Recently, we reported a novel therapeutic probiotic-derived protein, p8, which has anti-colorectal cancer (anti-CRC) properties. In vitro experiments using a CRC cell line (DLD-1), anti-proliferation activity (about 20%) did not improve after increasing the dose of recombinant-p8 (r-p8) to >10 μM. Here, we show that this was due to the low penetrative efficiency of r-p8 exogenous treatment.

Carbonation/granulation of mine tailings using a MgO/ground-granule blast-furnace-slag binder.

A carbonation/granulation process for treating mine tailings using a MgO/ground-granule blast-furnace-slag (GGBS) binder was developed. The materials were mixed and granules produced using a granulator, then the granules were cured in a CO atmosphere. The optimum granulator rotation speed and retention time were 60 rpm and 7 min, respectively.

Reciprocal influences of dissolved organic matter and nanosized zero-valent iron in aqueous media.

We investigated concurrent effects between nano-sized zero-valent iron (NZVI) and dissolved organic matter (DOM). Specific UV absorbance of DOM revealed that aromatic/hydrophobic moieties of DOM were bounded to NZVI surfaces. The DOM fluorescence emission peak shifted toward lower wavelength after NZVI exposure, which indicated removal of aromatic DOM fractions.

Effect of CO concentration on strength development and carbonation of a MgO-based binder for treating fine sediment.

We previously described a MgO-based binder for treating fine sediment and simultaneously store CO. Here, we describe a study of the physical/mechanical characteristics and carbonation reactions of the MgO-based binder used to solidify/stabilize fine sediment in atmospheres containing different CO concentrations. Carbonation of the sediment treated with the MgO-based binder at the atmospheric CO concentration markedly improved the compressive strength of the product.

Activation of Persulfate by Nanosized Zero-Valent Iron (NZVI): Mechanisms and Transformation Products of NZVI.

The mechanisms involved in the activation of persulfate by nanosized zero-valent iron (NZVI) were elucidated and the NZVI transformation products identified. Two distinct reaction stages, in terms of the kinetics and radical formation mechanism, were found when phenol was oxidized by the persulfate/NZVI system. In the initial stage, lasting 10 min, Fe was consumed rapidly and sulfate radicals were produced through activation by aqueous Fe.

Superficial Temporal Artery-Sparing Mini-Pterional Approach for Cerebral Aneurysm Surgery.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to introduce a superficial temporal artery (STA)-sparing mini-pterional approach for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms and review the surgical results of this approach.

Methods: Between June 2010 and December 2015, we performed the STA-sparing mini-pterional approach for 117 patients with 141 unruptured intracranial aneurysms. We analyzed demographic, radiologic, and clinical variables including age, sex, craniotomy size, aneurysm location, height of STA bifurcation, and postoperative complications.

Effects of oxidants on in situ treatment of a DNAPL source by nanoscale zero-valent iron: A field study.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of a nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI)-based treatment process for an aquifer contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) in which TCE in dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) form was also present. The study further investigated the effects of site oxidants on the reactivity and lifetime of NZVI. The injection of 30 kg of NZVI into the site successfully removed 95.

Development of an MgO-based binder for stabilizing fine sediments and storing CO2.

An MgO-based binder was developed that could stabilize fine dredged sediments for reuse and store CO2. Initially, a binder consisting of fly ash (FA) and blast furnace slag (BFS) was developed by using alkaline activators such as KOH, NaOH, and lime. The FA0.

Synthetic lethal screen of NAA20, a catalytic subunit gene of NatB N-terminal acetylase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae NatB N-terminal acetylase contains a catalytic subunit Naa20 and an auxiliary subunit Naa25. To elucidate the cellular functions of the NatB, we utilized the Synthetic Genetic Array to screen for genes that are essential for cell growth in the absence of NAA20. The genome-wide synthetic lethal screen of NAA20 identified genes encoding for serine/threonine protein kinase Vps15, 1,3-beta-glucanosyltransferase Gas5, and a catabolic repression regulator Mig3.

Effect of anions and humic acid on the performance of nanoscale zero-valent iron particles coated with polyacrylic acid.

Effects of anions (NO3(-), HCO3(-), Cl(-), SO4(2-)) and humic acid on the reactivity and core/shell chemistries of polyacrylic acid-coated nanoscale zero-valent iron (PAA-NZVI) and inorganically modified NZVI (INORG-NZVI) particles were investigated. The reactivity tests under various ion concentrations (0.2-30mN) revealed the existence of a favorable molar ratio of anion/NZVI that increased the reactivity of NZVI particles.

Atmospherically stable nanoscale zero-valent iron particles formed under controlled air contact: characteristics and reactivity.

Atmospherically stable NZVI (nanoscale zero-valent iron) particles were produced by modifying shell layers of Fe(H2) NZVI particles (RNIP-10DS) by using a controlled air contact method. Shell-modified NZVI particles were resistant to rapid aerial oxidation and were shown to have TCE degradation rate constants that were equivalent to 78% of those of pristine NZVI particles. Fe(H2) NZVI particles that were vigorously contacted with air (rapidly oxidized) showed a substantially compromised reactivity.

Distinct functions of Nijmegen breakage syndrome in ataxia telangiectasia mutated-dependent responses to DNA damage.

Phosphorylation of NBS1, the product of the gene mutated in Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS), by ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), the product of the gene mutated in ataxia telangiectasia, is required for activation of the S phase checkpoint in response to ionizing radiation (IR). However, NBS1 is also thought to play additional roles in the cellular response to DNA damage. To clarify these additional functions of NBS1, we generated NBS cell lines stably expressing various NBS1 mutants from retroviral vectors.