Focused Ion Beam-Induced Displacive Phase Transformation From Austenite to Martensite during Fabrication of Quenched and Partitioned Steel Micro-Pillar.

We report evidence of a displacive phase transformation from retained austenite to martensite during preparation of quenched and partitioned steel micro-pillars by using a focused ion beam (FIB) technique. The BCC phase produced by the FIB damage was identified as martensite. The invariant-plane strain surface relief associated with the martensitic transformation was observed in the retained austenite phase immediately after a FIB scan of the surface with the Ga+ ion beam. Use of a low acceleration voltage appears to lower the probability of the phase transformation, while a decrease of the acceleration voltage will result in an increase of the total milling time required to prepare a micro-pillar. This report addresses challenges related to the preparation of austenite micro-pillars by a conventional FIB technique.

Effects of Al-Si Coating and Zn Coating on the Hydrogen Uptake and Embrittlement of Ultra-High Strength Press-Hardened Steel.

Press-hardened steel (PHS), used for automotive safety-related structure parts, is sensitive to hydrogen embrittlement due to its martensitic microstructure. Hydrogen is introduced in PHS during the hot press forming (HPF) process, by an atmospheric corrosion process. In this study, the hydrogen embrittlement behavior of uncoated, aluminized, and galvanized PHSs was investigated. The Al-10%Si coating promoted the absorption of diffusible hydrogen at elevated temperature during the HPF while the reacted coating layer prevented the absorbed hydrogen from out-diffusing through the reacted coating surface layer at room temperature. Therefore, the aluminized PHS showed a greater sensitivity to both the hydrogen uptake and the resultant embrittlement, as compared to the uncoated and galvanized PHSs. Use of galvanized PHS for HPF application reduces the risk of hydrogen embrittlement, since the Zn coating effectively prevents the hydrogen uptake. The greater embrittlement resistance of the galvanized PHS is possibly due to the inhibition of the hydrogen generation reaction by the surface ZnO oxide layer and the low rate of hydrogen transport through the liquid Zn phase.

Substance-P alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced intestinal damage by suppressing inflammation through enrichment of M2 macrophages and regulatory T cells.

Intestinal inflammation alters immune responses in the mucosa and destroys colon architecture, leading to serious diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Thus, regulation of inflammation is regarded as the ultimate therapy for intestinal disease. Substance-P (SP) is known to mediate proliferation, migration, and cellular senescence in a variety of cells. SP was found to mobilize stem cells from bone marrow to the site of injury and to suppress inflammatory responses by inducing regulatory T cells (Tregs) and M2 macrophages. In this study, we explored the effects of SP in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced intestine damage model. The effects of SP were evaluated by analyzing crypt structures, proliferating cells within the colon, cytokine secretion profiles, and immune cells population in the spleen/mesenteric lymph nodes in vivo. DSS treatment provoked an inflammatory response with loss of crypts in the intestines of experimental mice. This response was associated with high levels of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-17, and low levels of Tregs and M2 macrophages, leading to severely damaged tissue structure. However, SP treatment inhibited inflammatory responses by modulating cytokine production as well as the balance of Tregs/Th 17 cells and the M1/M2 transition in lymphoid organs, leading to accelerated tissue repair. Collectively, our data indicate that SP can promote the regeneration of tissue following damage by DSS treatment, possibly by modulating immune response. Our results propose SP as a candidate therapeutic for intestine-related inflammatory diseases.

Pharmacokinetic comparisons of two acetyl-L-carnitine formulations in healthy Korean volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in several experiments and is widely prescribed to reduce cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease patients or manage neuropathic symptoms in diabetic patients. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the pharmacokinetic (PK) bioequivalence between a new generic (test) formulation of ALC hydrochloride 590 mg and a branded (reference) formulation of ALC hydrochloride 590 mg in healthy Korean male volunteers. METHODS: This was a randomizedsequence, single-dose, two-way crossover study. All subjects randomly received one formulation of the test or reference tablet and the other formulation with a 7-day washout period. Blood samples (7 mL) were collected immediately before dosing, and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hours postdose. The plasma concentrations of ALC were analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Tolerability was assessed throughout the study. RESULTS: The PK profiles of both formulations showed similar rends. The mean (±SD) baseline (predose) concentration of ALC was 1.23±0.31 µg/mL and 1.09±0.30 µg/mL for the test and the reference formulations, respectively. The mean Cmax for the test and reference formulations were 1.74±0.43 µg/mL and 1.68±0.48 µg/mL, respectively. The mean AUClast of ALC was 12.96±1.89 µg×h/mL and 12.49±2.44 µg×h/mL for the test and reference formulations, respectively. The geometric mean ratios of test/reference (90% CI) were 1.050 (0.960-1.149) for Cmax and 1.048 (1.000-1.099) for AUClast. Both formulations were well tolerated in all treatment groups. CONCLUSION: The test and the reference formulations of ALC were bioequivalent with regard to the PK parameters.

Substance P blocks ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity.

AIMS: Excessive alcohol consumption induces hepatic injury and promotes lipid accumulation, events involved in the pathogenesis of serious conditions such as alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Thus, protection of hepatocytes against alcohol-induced death is considered to be a critical approach to prevent development of liver disease. Substance P (SP) is capable of promoting cell proliferation and blocking cell death under diverse stresses, leading to beneficial effects in severe diseases, and is therefore likely to have a therapeutic application in hepatic injury. MAIN METHODS: To assess its effects on ethanol-induced hepatic damage in vitro and in vivo, SP was administered to ethanol-treated hepatocytes and a mouse model of this condition, respectively. The effect of SP was assessed based on cell viability, apoptosis, and Akt/GSK-3ß signaling, and mouse liver histology and serum biochemical parameters. KEY FINDINGS: SP was found to prevent hepatocyte death due to ethanol-induced oxidative stress by upregulating Akt/GSK-3ß activation in vitro. In vivo, ethanol treatment elevated levels of serum alanine transaminase and also increased the number of apoptotic cell, exhibiting lipid accumulation in liver tissue, effects that were entirely negated by SP treatment. Taken together, our results revealed that SP is able to block hepatic damage due to ethanol-induced oxidative stress and exerts therapeutic effects in liver disease, including ALD. Our findings identify SP treatment as a potential therapy for hepatic damage.

Data related to dislocation density-based constitutive modeling of the tensile behavior of lath martensitic press hardening steel.

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled "On the plasticity mechanisms of lath martensitic steel" (Jo et al., 2017) [1]. The strain hardening behavior during tensile deformation of a lath martensitic press hardening steel was described using a dislocation density-based constitutive model. The Kubin-Estrin model was used to describe strain hardening of the material from the evolution of coupled dislocation densities of mobile and immobile forest dislocation. The data presented provide insight into the complex deformation behavior of lath martensitic steel.

Effects of aquatic exercise and CES treatment on the changes of cognitive function, BDNF, IGF-1, and VEGF of persons with intellectual disabilities.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aquatic exercise and CES treatment on the cognitive function by using K-WAB and BDNF, IGF-1, and VEGF of persons with intellectual disabilities. METHODS: All subjects were 15 male with intellectual disabilities who were participating in the aquatic training program and CES treatment during 12 weeks at rehabilitation center. The subjects were divided into control group, exercise group, and exercise+CES group. Blood samples for BDNF, IGF-1, and VEGF were taken from brachial vein at rest between before and after treatment. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows: Cognitive function level increased significantly in the exercise+CES group compared to those in the exercise and control group. The changes of blood IGF-1 concentration were no significant difference among groups. The changes of blood BDNF and VEGF concentration were significantly increased in exercise group and exercise+CES group than control group. However, blood BDNF and VEGF concentration were significantly difference between exercise group and exercise+CES group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it can be concluded that CES treatment with exercise can amend cognitive function of persons with intellectual disabilities more effectively and increase of BDNF and VEGF by exercise can explain the cognitive function improvement of persons with intellectual disabilities.

Isolation of an exopolysaccharide-producing bacterium, Sphingomonas sp. CS101, which forms an unusual type of sphingan.

An exopolysaccharide-producing Gram negative bacterium was isolated and determined to be a Sphingomonas sp. (CS101). A sugar composition analysis of an exopolysaccharide indicated that the Sphingomonas sp. CS101 secreted an exopolysaccharide composed of glucose, mannose, fucose, and rhamnose in the ratio of 2.1:1.1:1.0:0.1, suggesting that this exoplysaccharide is an unusual type of sphingan family. The mean molecular weight of the exopolysaccharide was determined to be 4.2x10(5) Da by size exclusion chromatography coupled with multi-angle laser-light scattering (SEC/MALLS) analysis. An exopolysaccharide was produced up to 17 g/l (pH 7; 30 degrees C) with the optimal medium condition over 4 days of cultivation.