Previously, we have reported that ginsenoside Rg3 has typical activities for neuroprotection and Aβ42 clearance by modulating microglia. In this study, we determined the pivotal role of ginsenoside ...Rg3 in microglia and neuronal cells. In human microglia, Rg3 and its stereoisomers significantly restored inflammatory M1 to normal M0 state and promoted M2 activation by up-regulating acute cytokines such as interleukin-10 and Arginase 1. Moreover, scavenger receptor type A (SRA) was significantly elevated in the presence of ginsenoside Rg3 and 20(S)-Rg3. This indicated that ginsenoside Rg3 could play a crucial role in Aβ uptake and clearance under activated M2 state. We also observed that soluble amyloid precursor protein-alpha (sAPPα) and ADAM10 levels were increased in APP swe-transfected Nuro-2a neuronal cells, whereas sAPPβ was not processed, suggesting that ginsenoside Rg3 was involved in non-amyloidogenic processing. In immunocytochemistry, SRA and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (desintegrin and metalloproteinase-containing protein 10, ADAM10) were coincidently upregulated in the presence of ginsenoside Rg3 and its stereoisomers compared to those in normal control. Taken together, these results suggested that ginsenoside Rg3 could boost acute activation of microglia, promote Aβ uptake, and elevate the sAPPα processing under activated M2 state. Although in vivo studies need to be performed, it is certain that ginsenoside Rg3 is highly involved in ameliorating the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration and can be a promising candidate for treating Alzheimer's disease as a new therapeutic intervention.
In this study, a suitable method to simulate pipe-manufacturing processes (i.e., bending, unbending, and flattening) was developed to reproduce the process and the mechanical properties of the pipe. ...To verify the reliability of the strain distribution and plastic deformation behavior predicted by the proposed method, experimentally-derived strain by digital image correlation (DIC) and finite element analyses were employed. Hardness and tensile tests were performed on bent-flattened specimens. The finite element method confirmed that the proposed method can predict the yield strength of pipes.
High velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) spray coating of micron (m) and nano (n) WC–Co powders has been studied for the improvement of durability of sliding machine components (SMC). In this work, optimal ...coating process (OCP) is obtained from the best surface properties of coating prepared by the Taguchi program. Hardness of coating is strongly dependent on powder size and spray parameters (SP) because of their strong influence on in-flight parameters. Hardness of n WC–Co is lower than that of m WC–Co since the degree of hard WC decomposition to less hard W2C, W and graphite is larger due to the larger specific surface area. Coating is porous since the decomposed graphite forms carbon oxide gasses by reaction with excess oxygen, and the gas evolution from coating makes porous coating. Porosity of n WC–Co coating is larger than that of m WC–Co because of larger evolution of carbon oxide gasses through n WC–Co coating. Friction coefficient (FC) is strongly dependent on the coating process (CP) since hardness and porosity of coating are dependent on the CP. FC of n WC–Co is lower than that of m WC–Co both at 25 °C and 500 °C, because of the more decomposition of n WC–Co. FC increases with increasing coating temperature (CT) from 25 °C to 500 °C both at m and n WC–Co because of the increase of adhesion by increasing surface temperature. WC–Co coating is very protective for the machine component since hardness of the coating is 2–3 times higher than those of machine component materials. Stick friction on WC–Co coating surface occurs easily at higher temperature due to the higher FC at the higher temperature.
A major amendment in recent models of hierarchical galaxy formation is the inclusion of so-called active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback. The energy input from an active central massive black hole is ...invoked to suppress star formation in early-type galaxies at later epochs. A major problem is that this process is poorly understood, and compelling observational evidence for its mere existence is still missing. In search for signatures of AGN feedback, we have compiled a sample of 16 000 early-type galaxies in the redshift range 0.05 < z < 0.1 from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data base (MOSES: Morphologically Selected Ellipticals in SDSS). Key in our approach is the use of a purely morphological selection criterion through visual inspection which produces a sample that is not biased against recent star formation and nuclear activity. Based on the nebular emission-line characteristics we separate between star formation activity, black hole activity, the composite of the two and quiescence. We find that emission is mostly LINER (low ionization nuclear emission line region) like in high-mass galaxies (σ > 200 km s−1) and roughly evenly distributed between star formation and AGN at intermediate and low (σ < 100 km s−1) masses. The objects with emission (∼20 per cent) are offset from the red sequence and form a well-defined pattern in the colour–mass diagram. Star-forming early-types inhabit the blue cloud, while early-types with AGN are located considerably closer to and almost on the red sequence. Star formation–AGN composites are found right between these two extremes. We further derive galaxy star formation histories using a novel method that combines multiwavelength photometry from near-ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (IR) and stellar absorption indices. We find that in those objects deviating from the red sequence star formation occurred several 100 Myr in the past involving 1–10 per cent of the total stellar mass. We identify an evolutionary sequence from star formation via nuclear activity to quiescence. This transition process lasts about 1 Gyr, and the peak AGN phase occurs roughly half a Gyr after the starburst. The most likely interpretation is that star formation is suppressed by nuclear activity in these objects before they settle on the red sequence. This is empirical evidence for the occurrence of AGN feedback in early-type galaxies at recent epochs.
A
bstract
We report on the response of a high light-output NaI(Tl) crystal to nuclear recoils induced by neutrons from an Am-Be source and compare the results with the response to electron recoils ...produced by Compton-scattered 662 keV γ-rays from a
137
Cs source. The measured pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) power of the NaI(Tl) crystal is found to be significantly improved because of the high light output of the NaI(Tl) detector. We quantify the PSD power with a quality factor and estimate the sensitivity to the interaction rate for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with nucleons, and the result is compared with the annual modulation amplitude observed by the DAMA/LIBRA experiment. The sensitivity to spin-independent WIMP-nucleon interactions based on 100 kg·year of data from NaI detectors is estimated with simulated experiments, using the standard halo model.
In pursuit of the elusive mechanism of high-T C superconductors (HTSC), spectroscopic imaging scanning tunneling microscopy (SI-STM) is an indispensable tool for surveying local properties of HTSC. ...Since a conventional STM utilizes metal tips, which allow the examination of only quasiparticles and not superconducting (SC) pairs, Josephson tunneling using STM has been demonstrated by many authors in the past. An atomically resolved scanning Josephson tunneling microscopy (SJTM), however, was realized only recently on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x (Bi-2212) below 50 mK and on the Pb(110) surface at 20 mK. Here we report the atomically resolved SJTM on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x at 4.2 K using Bi-2212 tips created in situ. The I-V characteristics show clear zero bias conductance peaks following Ambegaokar-Baratoff (AB) theory. A gap map was produced for the first time using an atomically resolved Josephson critical current map I C (r) and AB theory. Surprisingly, we found that this new gap map is anticorrelated to the gap map produced by a conventional method relying on the coherence peaks. Quasiparticle resonance due to a single isolated zinc atom impurity was also observed by SJTM, indicating that atomically resolved SJTM was achieved at 4.2 K. Our result provides a starting point for realizing SJTM at even higher temperatures, rendering possible investigation of the existence of SC pairs in HTSC above the T C .
Since it was suggested that B cells play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic graft-versus-host disease, rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody targeting B cells, has been shown to be effective ...in steroid-refractory, chronic graft-versus-host disease. However, most of the data were from small numbers of patients or retrospective analyses. We, therefore, conducted a multicenter phase II study to confirm the efficacy of this treatment strategy that targets B cells.
We diagnosed and evaluated chronic graft-versus-host disease according to the National Institute of Health criteria for clinical trials on this condition. The treatment consisted of weekly intravenous infusions of rituximab for 4 weeks followed by monthly rituximab for 4 months. We evaluated the patients' responses and monitored their disease activity until their final visit, which was on day 365. We also assessed the patients' subsequent quality of life and serum levels of B-cell-activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor family.
Among 37 patients enrolled (median age, 29 years; range 8-57 years), 32 patients responded to rituximab with 8 complete and 24 partial responses. Twenty-one patients maintained their response for 1 year, so their steroid treatment was discontinued or its dose reduced (21/37, or 56.8%), and their scores representing quality of life were improved although these changes were not statistically significant. The responses were better for clinical manifestations of the skin, oral cavity and musculoskeletal system (response rate, 71.4-100%) than for other organs. However, infectious complications and primary disease relapse accounted for the majority of treatment failure. The pre-treatment serum level of B cell-activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor family was not associated with better treatment outcome (P=0.147).
Rituximab could improve clinical responses and quality of life of patients with steroid-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease, although such patients may need active prophylaxis against infection.
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