AAD-2004, a potent spin trapping molecule and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 inhibitor, shows safety and efficacy in a mouse model of ALS

While free radicals and inflammation constitute major routes of neuronal injury occurring in neurodegenerative diseases, neither antioxidants nor nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have shown significant efficacy in human clinical trials. To explore the possibility that concurrent blockade of free radicals and PGE2-mediated inflammation might constitute a safe and effective therapeutic approach to certain neurodegenerative diseases, we have developed 2-hydroxy-5-[2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-ethylaminobezoic acid (AAD-2004) as a derivative of aspirin. AAD-2004 completely removed free radicals at 50 nM as a potent spin trapping molecule and inhibited microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) with an IC50 of 230 nM. Oral administration of AAD-2004 blocked free radical formation, PGE2 formation, and microglial activation in the spinal motor neurons of SOD1G93A mice. As a consequence, AAD-2004 reduced autophagosome formation, axonopathy, and motor neuron degeneration, improving motor function and increasing life span. In these assays, AAD-2004 was superior to ibuprofen or riluzole. Gastric bleeding was not induced by AAD-2004 even at a dose 400-fold higher than that required to obtain maximal therapeutic efficacy in SOD1G93A mice. Targeting both mPGES-1 and free radicals may be a promising approach to reduce neurodegeneration in ALS and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases

Ultrastrong and stress corrosion cracking-resistant martensitic steels

This study aims to reveal the atomic-scale effects of tempering on the complex substructures and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance of high-strength martensitic steels. The SCC resistance and strength of boron-doped Fe-0.3C-0.3Si-1.0Mn-1.0Ni-0.5Cr (wt%) martensitic steel increase concurrently without low-temperature tempering. Notably, the degradation of SCC resistance caused by tempering is in con-trast with the known effect. To explore this unexpected result, subboundaries inside the martensitic mi-crostructure are investigated via atomic-nano-micro-scale analyses. The strongly segregated carbon at the lath boundaries during tempering is a precursor to the harmful cementite, which acts as severe SCC ini-tiation sites. Eventually, intensive crack grew along the lath boundaries, deteriorating the SCC resistance of the material. (c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Successful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Patient With Severe Hemophilia A

Patients with hemophilia generally have a reduced frequency of coronary artery disease compared to the general population. As advances in the management of hemophilia have increased their life expectancy, the prevalence of coronary artery disease also has increased. However, there are no standard treatment guidelines for coronary artery disease in patients with hemophilia, especially in the field of coronary intervention. We report the case of a patient with severe hemophilia A who presented with acute coronary syndrome and was successfully treated with percutaneous coronary intervention

Development of foam concrete with nitrogen oxides removal capability using various forms of titanium dioxide

Air quality in Seoul is significantly worse than in major OECD countries, with 1.2–3.5 times higher levels of fine dust and nitrogen dioxide. Photocatalytic reaction with Ca-bound catalyst efficiently removes nitrogen oxides (NOx), especially in building materials, promising solutions for NOx removal in urban air purification. This study therefore investigates the effect of various forms of titanium dioxide (TiO2) on the mechanical properties and NOx removal capability of foam concrete. To produce foam concrete, the type and amount of air foaming agent were optimized. Two types of commercially available TiO2 (P25 and NP600) were incorporated into the foam concrete, alongside synthesized TiO2-mayenite (as an intermixing powder or a coating material). Test results indicated that the incorporation of P25 and NP600 led to increased compressive strength and decreased porosity. The strength increased and porosity decreased, as the amount of TiO2 powders was increased. P25 outperformed NP600 in terms of the NOx removal capacity of foam concrete, with the peak NOx removal capacity (6.07 μmol/50 cm2·5 h) observed at a P25 content of 3%. An even higher NOx removal amount of 6.19 μmol/50 cm2·5 h was achieved by triple-coating the foam concrete surface with 10 wt% TiO2-mayenite. Considering the thickness of the coated TiO2-mayenite and economic feasibility, an approach with dual-coating emerged as the most suitable

Mismatch in working hours and workaholism in permanent waged workers

ObjectivesA cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate whether working hours mismatch is associated with workaholism.Material and MethodsThis study used the data from the 17th wave (2014) of the nationwide Korean Labor and Income Panel Study. Workaholism was evaluated using the Workaholism Analysis Questionnaire. The final study involved 3157 subjects who answered questions regarding both workaholism and working hours mismatch. To identify the association between working hours mismatch and workaholism according to weekly working hours, a stratification analysis was conducted by dividing the number of working hours/week into 3 groups (≤40 h, 41–59 h, and ≥60 h). The odds ratios were calculated using a multiple logistic regression model, which was adjusted for potential confounders.ResultsThe workers working more hours than desired showed the greatest frequency of workaholism. As regards workaholism, in all weekly working hours groups, the odds ratios of the group working more hours than desired were 4.28, 95% CI: 2.29–7.99 (≥40 h), 2.14, 95% CI: 1.34–3.43 (41–59 h), 3.40, 95% CI: 1.60–7.21 (≤60 h), which were statistically significant compared to the reference (matched) group. There was no statistically significant relationship between working hours and workaholism when stratified according to the mismatch in working hours.ConclusionsThe workers’ working hours mismatch can be significantly related to workaholism

Intraspecific diversity of Monochamus saltuarius (Gebler) based on DNA barcode analysis

Monochamus saltuarius has a morphological polymorphism, but there is no standard phenotype to distinguish the differences in M. saltuarius species. To investigate molecular diversity of M. saltuarius, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I 5’ sequence were analyzed against specimens collected from Chungbuk, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon province. The DNA barcode results showed that the specimens make two groups with a 1.68%–3.1% K2P distance, but cannot find a specific phenotype difference among the specimens

Effect of Interdendritic Precipitations on the Mechanical Properties of GBF or EMS Processed Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloys

The effects of nanoprecipitations on the mechanical properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys after GBF (gas bubbling filtration) and EMS (electromagnetic stirring) casting were investigated. Dendritic cell structures were formed after GBF processing, while globular dendritic structures were nucleated after EMS processing. Equiaxed cell sizes were smaller in the EMS-processed specimens compared to the GBF-processed specimens, confirmed by EBSD (electron backscatter diffraction) analysis. Nanoprecipitations of eta & PRIME; phases inside of dendrites were observed by TEM (transmission electron microscope), and other Fe-bearing compounds were located in the dendritic boundaries. The yield strength of the T4 and T6 heat-treated specimens was close to 400 MPa and 500 MPa, respectively. Fractographic analysis was performed to investigate the effect of precipitations on tensile fracture.</p&gt