• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.345-355
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• 2020

In this paper, vibration characteristics of double-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is studied based upon nonlocal elastic shell theory. The significance of small scale is being perceived by developing nonlocal Love shell model. The wave propagation approach has been utilized to frame the governing equations as eigen value system. The influence of nonlocal parameter subjected to diverse end supports has been overtly analyzed. An appropriate selection of material properties and nonlocal parameter has been considered. The influence of changing mechanical parameter Poisson's ratio has been investigated in detail. The dominance of boundary conditions via nonlocal parameter is shown graphically. The results generated furnish the evidence regarding applicability of nonlocal shell model and also verified by earlier published literature.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.357-367
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• 2020

The impulse of this paper is to examine the influence of unsteady flow comprising of Eyring-Powell nanofluid over a stretched surface. This work aims to explore efficient transfer of heat in Eyring-Powell nanofluid with bio-convection. Nanofluids possess significant features that have aroused various investigators because of their utilization in industrial and nanotechnology. The influence of including motile microorganism is to stabilize the nanoparticle suspensions develop by the mixed influence of magnetic field and buoyancy force. This research paper reveals the detailed information about the linearly compressed Magnetohydrodynamics boundary layer flux of two dimensional Eyring-Powell nanofluid through disposed surface area due to the existence of microorganism with inclusion the influence of non- linear thermal radiation, energy activation and bio-convection. The liquid is likely to allow conduction and thickness of the liquid is supposed to show variation exponentially. By using appropriate similarity type transforms, the nonlinear PDE's are converted into dimensionless ODE's. The results of ODE's are finally concluded by employing (HAM) Homotopy Analysis approach. The influence of relevant parameters on concentration, temperature, velocity and motile microorganism density are studied by the use of graphs and tables. We acquire skin friction, local Nusselt and motil microorganism number for various parameters.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2020

Natural products are widely used due to their various biological activities which include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-obesity effects. In this study, we determined the antioxidative and anti-obesity effects of Polygonum cuspidatum 50% ethanol extract (PEE). The antioxidative effect of PEE was evaluated using its radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content, and reducing power. The anti-obesity effect of PEE was investigated using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The antioxidative activity of PEE was progressively increased in various concentrations, mainly due to the presence of phenolic compounds. PEE also alleviated lipid accumulation on 3T3-L1 adipocytes and downregulated the mRNA and protein production of adipogenesis-related (SREBP-1c, PPARγ, C/EBPα) and lipogenesis-related (aP2, FAS, ACC) markers. Furthermore, we found that the inhibitory effect on lipid accumulation via PEE was caused by the alleviation of NF-κB, p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, and JNK at the protein level. Taken together, our results imply that PEE is a potential antioxidant that can prevent obesity-associated disorders.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.279-286
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• 2017

The root bark extract of Aralia taibaiensis is used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in China. The total saponin extracted from Aralia Taibaiensis (sAT) has effective combined antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities in experimental type 2 diabetic rats. However, the active compounds have not yet been fully investigated. In the present study, we examined effects of twelve triterpenoid saponins on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, and found that compound 28-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranosyl ester (AT12) significantly increased phosphorylation of AMPK and Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). AT12 effectively decreased blood glucose, triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The mechanism by which AT12 activated AMPK was subsequently investigated. Intracellular ATP level and oxygen consumption were significantly reduced by AT12 treatment. The findings suggested AT12 was a novel AMPK activator, and could be useful for the treatment of metabolic diseases.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.109-123
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• 2014

This paper presents chloride induced corrosion durability of reinforcing steel in geopolymer concretes containing different contents of sodium silicate ($Na_2SiO_3$) and molarities of NaOH solutions. Seven series of mixes are considered in this study. The first series is ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete and is considered as the control mix. The rest six series are geopolymer concretes containing 14 and 16 molar NaOH and $Na_2SiO_3$ to NaOH ratios of 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5. In each series three lollypop specimens of 100 mm in diameter and 200 mm in length, each having one 12 mm diameter steel bar are considered for chloride induced corrosion study. The specimens are subjected to cyclic wetting and drying regime for two months. In wet cycle the specimens are immersed in water containing 3.5% (by wt.) NaCl salt for 4 days, while in dry cycle the specimens are placed in open air for three days. The corrosion activity is monitored by measuring the copper/copper sulphate ($Cu/CuSO_4$) half-cell potential according to ASTM C-876. The chloride penetration depth and sorptivity of all seven concretes are also measured. Results show that the geopolymer concretes exhibited better corrosion resistance than OPC concrete. The higher the amount of $Na_2SiO_3$ and higher the concentration of NaOH solutions the better the corrosion resistance of geopolymer concrete is. Similar behaviour is also observed in sorptivity and chloride penetration depth measurements. Generally, the geopolymer concretes exhibited lower sorptivity and chloride penetration depth than that of OPC concrete. Correlation between the sorptivity and the chloride penetration of geopolymer concretes is established. Correlations are also established between 28 days compressive strength and sorptivity and between 28 days compressive strength and chloride penetration of geopolymer concretes.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.245-268
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• 2018

The numerical investigations have been carried out on deep beam with opening subjected to static monotonic loading to demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the finite element based numerical models. The simulations were carried out through finite element program ABAQUS/CAE and the results thus obtained were validated with the experiments available in literature. Six simply supported beams were modelled with two square openings of 200 and 250 mm sides considered as opening at centre, top and bottom of the beam. In order to define the material behaviour of concrete and reinforcing steel bar the Concrete Damaged Plasticity model and Johnson-Cook material parameters available in literature were employed. The numerical results were compared with the experiments in terms of ultimate failure load, displacement and von-Mises stresses. In addition to that, seventeen beams were simulated under static loading for studying the effect of opening location, size and shape of the opening and depth, span and shear span to depth ratio of the deep beam. In general, the numerical results accurately predicted the pattern of deformation and displacement and found in good agreement with the experiments. It was concluded that the structural response of deep beam was primarily dependent on the degree of interruption of the natural load path. An increase in opening size from 200 to 250 mm size resulted in an average shear strength reduction of 35%. The deep beams having circular openings undergo lesser deflection and thus they are preferable than square openings. An increase in depth from 500 mm to 550 mm resulted in 78% reduced deflection.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.478-489
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Morusin, a marker component of Morus alba L., possesses anti-cancer activity. The objective of this study was to determine autophagy-inducing effect of morusin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and investigate the underlying mechanism. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Autophagy induction and the expression of autophagy-related proteins were analyzed by LC3 immunofluorescence and western blot, respectively. The role of autophagy and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was determined by treating NSCLC cells with bafilomycin A1, an autophagy inhibitor, and compound C, an AMPK inhibitor. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction were determined by MTT assay, trypan blue exclusion assay, annexin V-propidium iodide (PI) double staining assay, and cell cycle analysis. RESULTS: Morusin increased the formation of LC3 puncta in the cytoplasm and upregulated the expression of autophagy-related 5 (Atg5), Atg12, beclin-1, and LC3II in NSCLC cells, demonstrating that morusin could induce autophagy. Treatment with bafilomycin A1 markedly reduced cell viability but increased proportions of sub-G1 phase cells and annexin V-positive cells in H460 cells. These results indicate that morusin can trigger autophagy in NSCLC cells as a defense mechanism against morusin-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that AMPK and its downstream acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were phosphorylated, while mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its downstream p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) were dephosphorylated by morusin. Morusin-induced apoptosis was significantly increased by treatment with compound C in H460 cells. These results suggest that morusin-induced AMPK activation could protect NSCLC cells from apoptosis probably by inducing autophagy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that combination treatment with morusin and autophagy inhibitor or AMPK inhibitor might enhance the clinical efficacy of morusin for NSCLC.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1569-1576
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• 2013

In mice, supplementation of t10,c12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) increases liver mass and hepatic steatosis via increasing uptake of fatty acids released from adipose tissues. However, the effects of t10,c12 CLA on hepatic lipid synthesis and the associated mechanisms are largely unknown. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that gut microbiota-producing t10,c12 CLA would induce de novo lipogenesis and triglyceride (TG) synthesis in HepG2 cells, promoting lipid accumulation. It was found that treatment with t10,c12 CLA ($100{\mu}M$) for 72 h increased neutral lipid accumulation via enhanced incorporation of acetate, palmitate, oleate, and 2-deoxyglucose into TG. Furthermore, treatment with t10,c12 CLA led to increased mRNA expression and protein levels of lipogenic genes including SREBP1, ACC1, FASN, ELOVL6, GPAT1, and DGAT1, presenting potential mechanisms by which CLA may increase lipid deposition. Most strikingly, t10,c12 CLA treatment for 3 h increased phosphorylation of mTOR, S6K, and S6. Taken together, gut microbiota-producing t10,c12 CLA activates hepatic de novo lipogenesis and TG synthesis through activation of the mTOR/SREBP1 pathway, with consequent lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2018

Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a collection of symptoms caused by prolonged exposure to excess cortisol. Chronically elevated glucocorticoid (GC) levels contribute to hepatic steatosis. We hypothesized that histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) could attenuate hepatic steatosis through glucocorticoid receptor (GR) acetylation in experimental CS. To induce CS, we administered adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH; 40 ng/kg/day) to Sprague-Dawley rats by subcutaneous infusion with osmotic mini-pumps. We administered the HDACi, sodium valproate (VPA; 0.71% w/v), in the drinking water. Treatment with the HDACi decreased steatosis and the expression of lipogenic genes in the livers of CS rats. The enrichment of GR at the promoters of the lipogenic genes, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acc), fatty acid synthase (Fasn), and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (Srebp1c), was markedly decreased by VPA. Pan-HDACi and an HDAC class I-specific inhibitor, but not an HDAC class II a-specific inhibitor, attenuated dexamethasone (DEX)-induced lipogenesis in HepG2 cells. The transcriptional activity of Fasn was decreased by pretreatment with VPA. In addition, pretreatment with VPA decreased DEX-induced binding of GR to the glucocorticoid response element (GRE). Treatment with VPA increased the acetylation of GR in ACTH-infused rats and DEX-induced HepG2 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that HDAC inhibition attenuates hepatic steatosis through GR acetylation in experimental CS.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.164-176
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• 2015

Cyathea gigantea is a tree fern distributed throughout humid tropical regions of northeast India and other parts of the country. However, wild populations of this species are largely affected by various natural and anthropogenic activities. Therefore, an attempt was made to study the population structure and regeneration status of C. gigantea in and around greater Itanagar area of Papum Pare district, Arunachal Pradesh. Altogether 45 patches, ranging from 19.63 to $260m^2$ of area, were randomly sampled to study population structure and regeneration status of the species. Population study showed highest number of youngs in the height class of 0.50-0.75 m while, immatures were recorded highest in the height class of 2.0 to 2.5 m. Majority of the matures belonged to 6-9 m height class while it was recorded maximum in the diameter class of 10-15 cm. Average density of C. gigantea was $0.07individuals\;ha^{-1}$ which varied greatly among different patches with a range of 2 to 14. Significant correlations were found between patch size and density of youngs, immatures, matures and total density. Maximum concentration of youngs was observed in patch size $60-140m^2$, while for immatures, it was highest in patch size $20-160m^2$. Similarly, highest concentration of matures was observed in patch size $20-80m^2$ and $80-180m^2$. Population structure of the total population exhibited inverted pyramid shaped distribution. Population structure consisting of youngs, immatures, matures showed that around 60% patches lack of regenerating individuals which depict very poor natural regeneration of the species. Effective conservation strategies are therefore to be formulated to save C. gigantea from the threat of extinction in near future.