Inhibitory effects of cashew Anacardium occidentale L. kernel, apple, and shell extracts on lipid accumulation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Obesity, a major risk factor for various metabolic diseases, often results in dysfunctional white adipose tissue and altered adipogenesis leading to ectopic fat accumulation, inflammation, and insulin resistance. On the other hand, cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut worldwide consumption and production is increasing steadily, which augments the mass of byproducts to be discarded.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering on Size-Classified Silver Nanoparticles Generated by Laser Ablation.

This study delved into the complex interplay between the nanostructural characteristics of nanoparticles and their efficacy in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for sensitive detection of trace chemical substances. Silver nanoparticles were prepared for the SERS substrate by combining laser ablation, postannealing processes (up to 500 °C), and electrostatic mobility classification, allowing high-purity silver nanoparticles with controlling their sizes (40-100 nm) and aggregate structures. These nanoparticles were then inertially deposited on the substrates to create SERS-active surfaces, employing Rhodamine B as a probe to assess the impact of particle size, shape, and deposition density on SERS effectiveness.

Novel preventive effect of isorhamnetin on electrical and structural remodeling in atrial fibrillation.

Isorhamnetin, a natural flavonoid, has strong antioxidant and antifibrotic effects, and a regulatory effect against Ca2+-handling. Atrial remodeling due to fibrosis and abnormal intracellular Ca2+ activities contributes to initiation and persistence of atrial fibrillation (AF). The present study investigated the effect of isorhamnetin on angiotensin II (AngII)-induced AF in mice.

Metabolomic Evaluation of the Central Metabolic Pathways of Mannosylerythritol Lipid Biosynthesis in Moesziomyces antarcticus T-34.

Moesziomyces antarcticus is a basidiomycetous yeast that produces mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), which have potential applications as bio-based functional materials in various oleochemical industries, the cosmetics, toiletry, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries. To better understand the MEL producer, we characterized the central metabolic pathways of M. antarcticus strain T-34 grown on glucose or olive oil via metabolomics.

Nanostructured liquid-crystalline Li-ion conductors with high oxidation resistance: molecular design strategy towards safe and high-voltage-operation Li-ion batteries.

Nanostructured, uncharged liquid-crystalline (LC) electrolyte molecules having bicyclohexyl and cyclic carbonate moieties have been developed for application in Li-ion batteries as quasi-solid electrolytes, which suppress leakage and combustion. Towards the development of safe and high performance Li-ion batteries, we have designed Li-ion conductive LC materials with high oxidation resistance using density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The DFT calculation suggests that a mesogen with a bicyclohexyl moiety is suitable for the high-oxidation-resistance LC electrolytes compared to a mesogen containing phenylene moieties.

Comparative assessments of the biodistribution and toxicity of oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes dispersed with two different reagents after intravenous injection.

The present study compared the effects of two commonly-used dispersants, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), on the biodistribution and toxicity of oxidized super-growth single-wall carbon nanotubes (oxSG) injected intravenously into mice over 3 months. About 1-2% of the injected dose (ID) of oxSG dispersed in BSA (oxSG-BSA) was present in the lungs at all time points. By contrast, about 15% of the ID of oxSG dispersed in PEG (oxSG-PEG) was present in the lungs at 1 day (D1), with accumulation decreasing to about 5% of the ID at 90 days (D90).

Finding the direct optimal RNA barrier energy and improving pathways with an arbitrary energy model.

Motivation: RNA folding kinetics plays an important role in the biological functions of RNA molecules. An important goal in the investigation of the kinetic behavior of RNAs is to find the folding pathway with the lowest energy barrier. For this purpose, most of the existing methods use heuristics because the number of possible pathways is huge even if only the shortest (direct) folding pathways are considered.

Utilization of Lignocellulosic Biomass via Novel Sustainable Process.

In this review, we show novel methods for utilizing lignocellulosic biomass, polysaccharides, and lignin. Firstly, the simultaneous enzymatic saccharification and comminution (SESC) of plant materials is described as an extraction method for lignocellulosic biomass that does not require toxic reagents or organic solvents. Secondly, we demonstrate the material utilization of non-deteriorated lignocellulosic biomass extracted by SESC, such as for sugar and ethanol synthesis, and as a heatproof filler.

Overexpression of a virus-like particle influenza vaccine in Eri silkworm pupae, using Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus and host-range expansion.

Ecological investigations of silkworms have revealed that Eri silkworms (Samia cynthia ricini) possess useful morphological and ecological characteristics for virus-like particle (VLP) production, namely non-seasonal breeding, longer lengths, and heavier weights than Bombyx mori silkworms. Furthermore, when vector DNA from Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV), which is unable to replicate in Sf9 cells from Eri silkworms, was replaced with the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) vector, three improved AcNPV influenza virus recombinants capable of replication in Sf9 cells were obtained. Although VLP antigens produced previously in silkworms were not evaluated individually, the present recombinant Fukushima (FkH5) and Anhui (AnH7) VLP antigens were detected in tissue fluids and fat bodies of Eri silkworms.

Effects of Kamikihito and Unkei-to on Sleep Behavior of Wild Type and Parkinson Model in .

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, and it is associated with sleep behavior disorders. In disease model, human α-synuclein A30P overexpressing flies (A30P PD model) have been shown for levy body aggregation and movement disorders. We measured sleep rhythms in the A30P PD model flies using the Activity Monitoring system and found that they develop sleep defects at 20 days after eclosion.

Development of a Japanese encephalitis virus-like particle vaccine in silkworms using codon-optimised prM and envelope genes.

We have successfully prepared a Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) - Nakayama virus like particle (NVLP) vaccine using synthetic codon-optimized prM and E genes. The expression of the recombinant JEV Nakayama-BmNPV (JEV-NNPV) virus was determined in infected silkworm Bm-N cells by fluorescence and Western blot analysis. The recombinant was inoculated into silkworm pupae and the yield of Nakayama VLP (NVLP) reached a peak in the homogenates after 3 days.

Quantitative analysis of the yield of avian H7 influenza virus haemagglutinin protein produced in silkworm pupae with the use of the codon-optimized DNA: A possible oral vaccine.

In this study, we aimed to quantitatively compare the increased production of three H7 influenza virus-like particle (VLP) haemagglutinin (HA) with the use of a codon-optimized single HA gene in silkworm pupae. Recombinant baculovirus (Korea H7-BmNPV) could produce 0.40 million HA units per pupa, corresponding to 1832μg protein.

Selective Crystallization of Phosphoester Coordination Polymer for the Separation of Neodymium and Dysprosium: A Thermodynamic Approach.

Thermodynamics of the formation of coordination polymers (CPs) or metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has not been focused on, whereas many CPs or MOFs have been synthesized in a solution. With a view of separating Nd and Dy in an aqueous solution, we demonstrate that crystallization of the CPs of Nd and Dy based on dibutyl phosphoric acid (Hdbp) can be thermodynamically described; crystallization yields of [Ln(dbp)] (Ln = Nd or Dy) complex are predicted well using a simple calculation, which takes the apparent solubility products (K) for [Ln(dbp)] and the acid dissociation constant of Hdbp into account. The K values of [Nd(dbp)] and [Dy(dbp)] are experimentally determined to be (1.

Effect of purification method of β-chitin from squid pen on the properties of β-chitin nanofibers.

The relationship between purification methods of β-chitin from squid pen and the physicochemical properties of β-chitin nanofibers (NFs) were investigated. Two types of β-chitin were prepared, with β-chitin (a→b) subjected to acid treatment for decalcification and then base treatment for deproteinization, while β-chitin (b→a) was treated in the opposite order. These β-chitins were disintegrated into NFs using wet pulverization.

Preparation and Characterization of Newly Discovered Fibrous Aggregates of Single-Walled Carbon Nanohorns.

Fibrous aggregates composed of radially assembled graphene-based single-walled nanotubules are prepared, named here as fibrous aggregates of single-walled carbon nanohorns (fib-CNHs), whose structure resembles that of chenille stems. The newly discovered fib-CNHs are 30-100 nm in diameter and 1-10 μm in length. The fib-CNHs show high dispersibility and conductivity.

The large-scale production of an artificial influenza virus-like particle vaccine in silkworm pupae.

We successfully established a mass production system for an influenza virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine using a synthetic H5 hemagglutinin (HA) gene codon-optimized for the silkworm. A recombinant baculovirus containing the synthetic gene was inoculated into silkworm pupae. Four days after inoculation, the hemagglutination titer in homogenates from infected pupae reached a mean value of 0.

[Temporal and spatial representations of tactile sensation].

How does the brain encode "when" and "where" events that have occurred during tactile sensory processing? The simplest protocol to address this question would be asking participants to judge the temporal order of tactile stimuli delivered to both hands while varying their spatial relationship. In this review, I will focus on the illusion that the subjective temporal order of two tactile stimuli (one delivered to each hand) is reversed when the arms are crossed. By introducing recent findings related to this illusion, I will discuss how the temporal and spatial representations of tactile sensation interact with each other, and propose neural mechanisms potentially underlying this interaction.

The circadian binding of CLOCK protein to the promoter of C/ebpα gene in mouse cells.

C/EBPα plays important roles in metabolism as well as in the maintenance of energy homeostasis. Here we describe loss of the circadian oscillation of C/ebpα expression in liver of Clock mutant mice. Reporter assays indicate Clock and Bmal significantly induced C/ebpα gene expression whereas Cry suppressed.

Brefeldin A is an estrogenic, Erk1/2-activating component in the extract of Agaricus blazei mycelia.

We purified an Erk1/2-activating component in Agaricus blazei and identified it as brefeldin A (BFA). The extract of A. blazei mycelia (ABE) previously showed an estrogenic gene-expression profile and positive effects in patients with cardiovascular symptoms.

Evaluation of dermal and eye irritation and skin sensitization due to carbon nanotubes.

The present paper summarizes the results of our studies on dermal and eye irritation and skin sensitization due to carbon nanotubes (CNTs), whose potential applications and uses are wide and varied, including CNT-enhanced plastics, electromagnetic interference/radio-frequency (EMI/RFI) shielding, antistatic material, flexible fibers and advanced polymers, medical and health applications, and scanning probe microscopy. Skin and eyes have the highest risk of exposure to nanomaterials, because deposition of nanomaterials to the surficial organs has the potential to be a major route of exposure during the manufacturing, use, and disposal of nanomaterials. Two products composed of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and two products composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were tested regarding acute dermal and acute eye irritation using rabbits, and skin sensitization using guinea pigs.

Reproductive and developmental toxicity studies of manufactured nanomaterials.

This paper reviews studies in vivo and in vitro on the reproductive and developmental toxicity of manufactured nanomaterials including metallic and metal oxide-based particles, fullerenes (C(60)), carbon black (CB), and luminescent particles. Studies in vivo showed increased allergic susceptibility in offspring of mouse dams intranasally insufflated with respirable-size titanium dioxide (TiO(2)), adverse effects on spermatogenesis and histopathological changes in the testes and changes in gene expression in the brain of mouse offspring after maternal subcutaneous injection of TiO(2) nanoparticles, transfer to rat fetuses of radiolabeled gold nanoparticles and C(60) after maternal intravenous injection, death and morphological abnormalities in mouse embryos after maternal intraperitoneal injection of C(60), and adverse effects on spermatogenesis in mouse offspring after maternal intratracheal instillation of CB nanoparticles. Studies in vitro revealed that TiO(2) and CB nanoparticles affected the viability of mouse Leydig cells, that gold nanoparticles reduced the motility of human sperm, that silver, aluminum, and molybdenum trioxide were toxic to mouse spermatogonia stem cells, that silica nanoparticles and C(60) inhibited the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells and midbrain cells, respectively, and that cadmium selenium-core quantum dots inhibited pre- and postimplantation development of mouse embryos.