Microdischarge‐Based Direct Current Triboelectric Nanogenerator via Accumulation of Triboelectric Charge in Atmospheric Condition

Direct conversion of mechanical energy into direct current (DC) by triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is one of the desired features in terms of energy conversion efficiency. Although promising applications have been reported using the triboelectric effect, effective DC generating TENGs must be developed for practical purposes. Here, it is reported that continuous DC generation within a TENG itself, without any circuitry, can be achieved by triggering air breakdown via triboelectrification. It is demonstrated that DC generation occurs in combination with i) charge accumulation to generate air breakdown, ii) incident discharge (microdischarge), and iii) conveyance of charges to make the device sustainable. 10.5 mA m^?2 of output current and 10.6 W m^?2 of output power at 33 MΩ load resistance are achieved. Compared to the best DC generating TENGs ever reported, the TENG in this present study generates about 20 times larger root‐mean square current density.     

Receptor activation of G proteins

G proteins are a highly conserved family of membrane-associated proteins composed of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits. The alpha subunit, which is unique for each G protein, binds GDP or GTP. Receptors such as those for beta- and alpha-adrenergic catecholamines, muscarinic agonists, and the retinal photoreceptor rhodopsin, catalyze the exchange of GDP for GTP binding to the alpha subunit of a specific G protein. G alpha.GTP regulates appropriate effector enzymes such as adenylyl cyclase or the cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase. The beta gamma-subunit complex of G proteins is required for efficient receptor-catalyzed alpha subunit guanine nucleotide exchange and also functions as an attenuator of alpha subunit activation of effector enzymes. Recent elucidation of both receptor and G protein primary sequence has allowed structural predictions and new experimental approaches to study the mechanism of receptor-catalyzed G protein regulation of specific effector systems and the control of cell function including metabolism, secretion, and growth.     

Early detection of colon cancer: new tests on the horizon

This year, the American Cancer Society reported that the rate of decline in both the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer has increased over the last two decades. This success is felt to be attributable to the early detection and treatment of colonic adenomas and early-stage colorectal cancers. However, the current recommended 'menu of options' for screening is limited by poor patient acceptance, low sensitivity, and both high cost and poor accessibility for application to a large general screening population (colonoscopy). Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance colonography offer an alternative method for the identification of polyps and early lesions in certain patients, but have cost, access, and acceptance limitations that are similar to those of colonoscopy; thus, they present similar barriers to their use in broad population screening. These limitations provide a strong rationale for the development of early colorectal cancer detection biomarkers that are simple to use and are cost effective. A successful biomarker or biomarker panel, coupled with the colonoscopic follow-up of only those patients with positive results, would reduce the burden and morbidity associated with the screening of colonoscopy. This would most likely result in enhanced adherence to colorectal screening, as well as a dramatic reduction in the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer. In this paper, we review recent advances in the discovery of potential colorectal cancer biomarkers. Their applicability to clinical population screening will require large prospective validation.     

Multiple interactions of rad23 suggest a mechanism for ubiquitylated substrate delivery important in proteolysis

The mechanism underlying the delivery of ubiquitylated substrates to the proteasome is poorly understood. Rad23 is a putative adaptor molecule for this process because it interacts with ubiquitin chains through its ubiquitin-associated motifs (UBA) and with the proteasome through a ubiquitin-like element (UBL). Here, we demonstrate that the UBL motif of Rad23 also binds Ufd2, an E4 enzyme essential for ubiquitin chain assembly onto its substrates. Mutations in the UBL of Rad23 alter its interactions with Ufd2 and the proteasome, and impair its function in the UFD proteolytic pathway. Furthermore, Ufd2 and the proteasome subunit Rpn1 compete for the binding of Rad23, suggesting that Rad23 forms separate complexes with them. Importantly, we also find that the ability of other UBL/UBA proteins to associate with Ufd2 correlates with their differential involvement in the UFD pathway, suggesting that UBL-mediated interactions may contribute to the substrate specificity of these adaptors. We propose that the UBL motif, a protein-protein interaction module, may be used to facilitate coupling between substrate ubiquitylation and delivery, and to ensure the orderly handoff of the substrate from the ubiquitylation machinery to the proteasome.     

Modified oligosaccharides as potential dental plaque control materials

Metabolic acids produced by oral pathogens demineralize tooth surfaces, leading to dental caries. Glucosyltransferases are the key factor in this process. We synthesized various modified oligosaccharides and tested them for their inhibitory effects on glucosyltransferase activity. Oligosaccharides were produced using a mixed-culture fermentation of Lipomyces starkeyi and Leuconostoc mesenteroides and then further modified as iron- and sulfate-oligosaccharides. Iron- and sulfate-oligosaccharides reduced glucosyltransferase activity of Streptococci from 17% to 43% and prevented the formation of insoluble biomass on the surface of glass vials or stainless steel wires in the presence of sucrose. They also reduced the growth and acid productions of oral pathogens including S. mutans, S. sobrinus, Eikenella corrodens, Prevotella intermedia, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcmitans.     

Antioxidant activity of phenylpropanoid esters isolated and identified from Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC

Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae) is used as a traditional oriental medicine and also as a food in Korea. Here we investigated its antioxidant activity, and isolated and identified its active compounds. Petroleum ether extracts from the whole root of P. grandiflorum were fractionated by silica gel column chromatography using a solvent gradient (petroleum ether:diethyl ether, v/v; 9:1-5:5). The 8:2 fraction showed a higher radical scavenging activity than the other fractions, and active compounds were purified from this fraction by reversed-phased HPLC. Two active compounds were identified as coniferyl alcohol esters of palmitic and oleic acids by FAB-MS, UV, IR and NMR spectroscopy. The antioxidant activities of these two compounds, which were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide and nitric oxide radical scavenging capacity, were found to be as high as those of BHT or BHA.     

Association between polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP-11) and Kawasaki disease in the Korean population

AimsThis study was conducted to investigate the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Kawasaki disease (KD) in the Korean population.Main methodsA total 0f 101 KD patients and 306 healthy controls were examined. MMP7 (rs10502001, G/A, Arg77His), MMP11 (rs738792, T/C, Ala38Val), MMP12 (rs652438, A/G, Ile357Val) and MMP26 (rs2499953, A/G, Lys43Glu) genes were genotyped from the genomic DNA using direct sequencing. The results were then analyzed using logistic regression models, adjusting for gender as covariates.Key findingsThe four SNPs were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Only the MMP11 polymorphism (rs738792) was associated with KD. The SNP (rs738792) showed a statistically significant association with KD in the codominant (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.11–2.34, P = 0.011) and dominant (OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.21–3.06, P = 0.006) models. However, there was no association between polymorphisms of other MMP genes and KD.SignificanceOverall, the results of this study indicate that MMP11 polymorphism may be associated with KD in the Korean population.     

Nigella sativa thymoquinone-rich fraction greatly improves plasma antioxidant capacity and expression of antioxidant genes in hypercholesterolemic rats

The antioxidant activities of the thymoquinone-rich fraction (TQRF) extracted from Nigella sativa and its bioactive compound, thymoquinone (TQ), in rats with induced hypercholesterolemia were investigated. Rats were fed a semipurified diet supplemented with 1% (w/w) cholesterol and were treated with TQRF and TQ at dosages ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 g/kg and 20 to 100 mg/kg body wt, respectively, for 8 weeks. The hydroxyl radical (OH^·)-scavenging activity of plasma samples collected from experimental rats was measured by electron spin resonance. The GenomeLab Genetic Analysis System was used to study the molecular mechanism that mediates the antioxidative properties of TQRF and TQ. Plasma total cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly decreased in the TQRF- and TQ-treated rats compared to untreated rats. Feeding rats a 1% cholesterol diet for 8 weeks resulted in a significant decrease in plasma antioxidant capacity, as measured by the capacity to scavenge hydroxyl radicals. However, rats treated with TQRF and TQ at various doses showed significant inhibitory activity toward the formation of OH^· compared to untreated rats. Upon examination of liver RNA expression levels, treatment with TQRF and TQ caused the up-regulation of the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX) genes compared to untreated rats (P < 0.05). In support of this, liver antioxidant enzyme levels, including SOD1 and GPX, were also apparently increased in the TQRF- and TQ-treated rats compared to untreated rats (P < 0.05). In conclusion, TQRF and TQ effectively improved the plasma and liver antioxidant capacity and enhanced the expression of liver antioxidant genes of hypercholesterolemic rats.