Yellow Monascus pigments can be of two kinds: Natural and reduced, in which natural yellow Monascus pigments (NYMPs) attract widespread attention for their bioactivities. In this study, the antioxidative and antibreast cancer effects of the water-soluble NYMPs fermented by Monascus ruber CGMCC 10910 were evaluated. Results showed that water-soluble NYMPs had a significantly improved antioxidative activities compared to the reduced yellow Monascus pigments (RYMPs) that were chemically derived from orange or red Monascus pigments. Furthermore, NYMPs exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition activity on MCF-7 cell growth (p < 0.001). After a 48-h incubation, a 26.52% inhibition yield was determined with 32 μg/mL of NYMPs. NYMPs also significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of MCF-7 cells. Mechanisms of the activities were associated with a down-regulation of the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and vascular endothelial growth factor. Rather than being alternatively used as natural colorants or antioxidants, this work suggested that NYMPs could be selected as potential functional additives in further test of breast cancer prevention and adjuvant therapy.

In this paper, the development and testing of a Roots pump with a new rotor profile for hydrogen recirculation in the fuel cell system are presented. The design method of the rotor profile, port position, and structure of the pump is presented. A prototype of a three-lobe Roots pump with helical rotors was fabricated, and its performance was experimentally tested. The measured data show that the effect of the pressure difference on the flow rate and volumetric efficiency of the Roots pump is the most significant, while the effect of suction pressure is limited. It is concluded that the leakage rather than flow resistance is the key factor, which has a major influence on volumetric and isentropic efficiency. The comparison of the performance is also given by the measured results of the same Roots pump working with air, helium, and hydrogen. Finally, the successful integration of the Roots pumps into three PEM fuel cell systems is reported and the optimal operating parameters of the Roots pump in the systems under various loads are also presented. It is found that the performance of the Roots pump integrated into the fuel cell system is better than that measured with pure hydrogen on the test rig. The performance maps composed of all the measured data of the Roots pump are very helpful for the optimal design and operation of the fuel cell system.

Ectopic ATP5B, which is located in a unique type of lipid raft caveolar structure, can be upregulated by cholesterol loading. As the structural component of caveolae, Cav-1 is a molecular hub that is involved in transmembrane signaling. In a previous study, the ATP5B-specific binding peptide B04 was shown to inhibit the migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells, and the expression of ATP5B on the plasma membrane of MDA-MB-231 cells was confirmed. The present study investigated the effect of ectopic ATP5B on the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells and examined the involvement of Cav-1. Cholesterol loading increased the level of ectopic ATP5B and promoted cell migration and invasion. These effects were blocked by B04. Ectopic ATP5B was physically colocalized with Cav-1, as demonstrated by double immunofluorescence staining and coimmunoprecipitation. After Cav-1 knockdown, the migration and invasion abilities of MDA-MB-231 cells were significantly decreased, suggesting that Cav-1 influences the function of ectopic ATP5B. Furthermore, these effects were not reversed after treatment with cholesterol. We concluded that Cav-1 may participate in MDA-MB-231 cell migration and invasion induced by binding to ectopic ATP5B.

In this paper, the performance of a Roots pump for hydrogen recirculation in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system is simulated based on CFD modeling. The Roots pump is in a three-lobe configuration with helical rotors, and it is developed specifically for fuel cell systems between 60 to 110 kW. A three-dimensional model of the Roots pump is established to predict the pump performance, including the flow rate and power consumption under various operating conditions. Extensive simulations were conducted and then verified experimentally by operating with working fluids of air and helium. Based on the validated CFD model, the contents of water vapor and nitrogen in the hydrogen recirculated are taken into account to evaluate the Roots pump performance numerically according to the actual conditions of the recirculating hydrogen at the stack outlet. It is shown that the volumetric efficiency and isentropic efficiency are improved with the increase fraction of water vapor and nitrogen. It is found that the performance of the Roots pump integrated in the PEM fuel cell system is between the performance of the pump working with air and helium. Finally, correlations of volumetric efficiency and isentropic efficiency are given based on the CFD results to show the general pattern of this kind of hydrogen pump. It is believed that these equations are very helpful to the design and operation control of the PEM fuel cell system.

Ternary blends containing one major and two minor components are a common type of polymer blends, however, they have never been used to improve the electrical conductivity of polymer composites. Herein, polycarbonate (PC)/nylon‐poly(m‐xylene adipamide) (MXD6)/poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) (70/15/15) ternary blend is used to improve the conductivity of PC by forming sea‐island type interfacial carbon black (CB) networks. The phase change of PET from island to continuous structure, caused by the formation of CB networks at PET/MXD6 interface, is the key of success. The electrical percolation threshold of CB is much smaller than that in neat PC (only a ninth). Rheological investigation is carried out to confirm the formation of CB networks. The static mechanical properties of PC/MXD6/PET (70/15/15)‐2 vol% CB composite are evaluated by tensile testing, showing improved stiffness and strength, compared with the corresponding ternary blend, neat PC, and PC‐2 vol% CB composite.