T_c and J_c distribution in in situ processed MgB₂ bulk superconductors with/without C doping

Kim, C.J.,Kim, Y.J.,Lim, C.Y.,Jun, B.H.,Park, S.D.,Choo, K.N. The Korea Institute of Applied Superconductivity a 2014 한국초전도저온공학회논문지 Vol.16 No.2

Temperature dependence of magnetic moment (m-T) and the magnetization (M-H) at 5 K and 20 K of the in situ processed $MgB_2$ bulk pellets with/without carbon (C) doping were examined. The superconducting critical temperature ($T_c$), the superconducting transition width (${\delta}T$) and the critical current density ($J_c$) were estimated for ten test samples taken from the $MgB_2$ bulk pellets. The reliable m-T characteristics associated with the uniform $MgB_2$ formation were obtained for both $MgB_2$ pellets. The $T_cs$ and ${\delta}Ts$ of all test samples of the undoped $MgB_2$ were the same each other as 37.5 K and 1.5 K, respectively. The $T_cs$ and ${\delta}Ts$ of the C-doped $MgB_2$ were 36.5 K and 2.5 K, respectively. Unlike the m-T characteristics, there existed the difference among the M-H curves of the test samples, which might be caused by the microstructure variation. In spite of the slight $T_c$ decrease, the C doping was effective in enhancing the $J_c$ at 5 K.

TmSR-C, scavenger receptor class C, plays a pivotal role in antifungal and antibacterial immunity in the coleopteran insect Tenebrio molitor

Kim, S.G.,Jo, Y.H.,Seong, J.H.,Park, K.B.,Noh, M.Y.,Cho, J.H.,Ko, H.J.,Kim, C.E.,Tindwa, H.,Patnaik, B.B.,Bang, I.S.,Lee, Y.S.,Han, Y.S. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2017 Insect biochemistry and molecular biology Vol.89 No.-

Scavenger receptors (SRs) constitute a family of membrane-bound receptors that bind to multiple ligands. The SR family of proteins is involved in removing cellular debris, oxidized low-density lipoproteins, and pathogens. Specifically, class C scavenger receptors (SR-C) have also been reported to be involved in phagocytosis of gram-positive and -negative bacteria in Drosophila and viruses in shrimp. However, reports are unavailable regarding the role of SR-C in antifungal immune mechanisms in insects. In this study, a full-length Tenebrio molitor SR-C (TmSR-C) sequence was obtained by 5'- and 3'-Rapid amplification of cDNA ends-polymerase chain reaction (RACE-PCR). The TmSR-C full-length cDNA comprised 1671 bp with 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions of 23- and 107-bp, respectively. TmSR-C encodes a putative protein of 556 amino acid residues that is constitutively expressed in all tissues of late instar larvae and 2-day-old adults, with the highest transcript levels observed in hemocytes of larvae and adults. TmSR-C mRNA showed a 2.5-fold and 3-fold increase at 24 and 6 h after infection with Candida albicans and β-glucan, respectively. Immunoassay with TmSR-C polyclonal antibody showed induction of the putative protein in the cytosols of hemocytes at 3 h after inoculation of C. albicans. RNA interference (RNAi)-based gene silencing and phagocytosis assays were used to understand the role of TmSR-C in antifungal immunity. Silencing of TmSR-C transcripts reduced the survivability of late instar larvae at 2 days post-inoculation of C. albicans, Escherichia coli, or Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, in TmSR-C-silenced larvae, there was a decline in the rate of microorganism phagocytosis. Taken together, results of this study suggest that TmSR-C plays a pivotal role in phagocytosing not only fungi but also gram-negative and -positive bacteria in T. molitor.

Diagnostic usefulness of a T cell-based assay for latent tuberculosis infection in kidney transplant candidates before transplantation

Kim, S.-H.,Lee, S.-O.,Park, I.-A.,Park, S.J.,Choi, S.-H.,Kim, Y.S.,Woo, J.H.,Park, S.-K.,Park, J.S.,Kim, S.C.,Han, D.J. Blackwell Publishing Inc 2010 Transplant infectious disease Vol.12 No.2

<P>S.-H. Kim, S.-O. Lee, I.-A. Park, S.J. Park, S.-H. Choi, Y.S. Kim, J.H. Woo, S.-K. Park, J.S. Park, S.C. Kim, D.J. Han. Diagnostic usefulness of a T cell-based assay for latent tuberculosis infection in kidney transplant candidates before transplantation.Transpl Infect Dis 2010: <B>12:</B> 113–119. All rights reserved</P><P>Background</P><P>The presence of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) should be evaluated before kidney transplantation. Although a new T cell-based assay for diagnosing LTBI gave promising results, this assay has not yet been compared with the tuberculin skin test (TST) for diagnosing LTBI in renal transplant candidates before transplantation.</P><P>Patients and methods</P><P>All adult patients admitted to a single institute for renal transplantation over a 1-year period were prospectively enrolled. A clinically predictive risk of LTBI was defined as: (i) recent close contact with a person with pulmonary TB; (ii) abnormal chest radiography; (iii) a history of untreated or inadequately treated TB; or (iv) a new infection (i.e., a recent conversion of TST).</P><P>Results</P><P>Of 209 renal recipients, 47 (22%) had a positive TST≥5 mm, 21 (10%) had a positive TST≥10 mm, 65 (30%) had a positive T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test, and 25 (12%) had an indeterminate T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test. The induration size of TST was significantly associated with a high positivity rate on T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> (<I>P</I><0.001). Agreement between T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test and TST≥10 mm was fair (<I>k</I>=0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.11–0.36). However, neither univariate nor multivariate analysis showed any association between the clinical risk for LTBI and positivity on T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> or TST.</P><P>Conclusion</P><P>T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test was more frequently positive than TST in renal transplant candidates. However, further longitudinal studies are awaited to determine whether the ability of T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> assay to detect LTBI in renal transplant recipients can better predict the development of TB than can TST after transplantation.</P>

S6K1 Phosphorylation of H2B Mediates EZH2 Trimethylation of H3: A Determinant of Early Adipogenesis

Yi, S.,Um, S.,Lee, J.,Yoo, J.,Bang, S.,Park, E.,Lee, M.,Nam, K.,Jeon, Y.,Park, J.,You, J.,Lee, S.J.,Bae, G.U.,Rhie, J.,Kozma, Sara C.,Thomas, G.,Han, J.W. Cell Press 2016 Molecular Cell Vol.62 No.3

S6K1 has been implicated in a number of key metabolic responses, which contribute to obesity. Critical among these is the control of a transcriptional program required for the commitment of mesenchymal stem cells to the adipocytic lineage. However, in contrast to its role in the cytosol, the functions and targets of nuclear S6K1 are unknown. Here, we show that adipogenic stimuli trigger nuclear translocation of S6K1, leading to H2BS36 phosphorylation and recruitment of EZH2 to H3, which mediates H3K27 trimethylation. This blocks Wnt gene expression, inducing the upregulation of PPARγ and Cebpa and driving increased adipogenesis. Consistent with this finding, white adipose tissue from S6K1-deficient mice exhibits no detectable H2BS36 phosphorylation or H3K27 trimethylation, whereas both responses are highly elevated in obese humans or in mice fed a high-fat diet. These findings define an S6K1-dependent mechanism in early adipogenesis, contributing to the promotion of obesity.

Radotinib induces high cytotoxicity in c-KIT positive acute myeloid leukemia cells

Heo, S.K.,Noh, E.K.,Kim, J.Y.,Jo, J.C.,Choi, Y.,Koh, S.,Baek, J.H.,Min, Y.J.,Kim, H. North-Holland 2017 European journal of pharmacology Vol.804 No.-

<P>Previously, we reported that radotinib, a BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, induced cytotoxicity in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. However, the effects of radotinib in the subpopulation of c-KIT-positive AML cells were unclear. We observed that low-concentration radotinib had more potent cytotoxicity in c-KIT-positive cells than c-KIT-negative cells from AML patients. To address this issue, cell lines with high c-KIT expression, HEL92.1.7, and moderate c-KIT expression, H209, were selected. HEL92.1.7 cells were grouped into intermediate and high c-HIT expression populations. The cytotoxicity of radotinib against the HEL92.1.7 cell population with intermediate c-HIT expression was not different from that of the population with high c-KIT expression. When H209 cells were grouped into c-KIT expression-negative and c-HIT expression-positive populations, radotinib induced cytotoxicity in the c-KIT-positive population, but not the c-KIT-negative population. Thus, radotinib induces cytotoxicity in c-KIT-positive cells, regardless of the c-KIT expression intensity. Therefore, radotinib induces significant cytotoxicity in c-KIT-positive AML cells, suggesting that radotinib is a potential target agent for the treatment of c-KIT-positive malignancies including AML.</P>

Search for light tetraquark states in ϒ(1S) and ϒ(2S) decays

Jia, S.,Shen, C. P.,Yuan, C. Z.,Adachi, I.,Ahn, J. K.,Aihara, H.,Al Said, S.,Asner, D. M.,Atmacan, H.,Aushev, T.,Ayad, R.,Babu, V.,Badhrees, I.,Bahinipati, S.,Bakich, A. M.,Bansal, V.,Behera, P.,Berge American Physical Society 2017 Physical review. D Vol.96 No.11

<P>We search for the J(PC) = 0(--) and 1(+-) light tetraquark states with masses up to 2.46 GeV/c(2) in gamma(1S) and gamma(2S) decays with data samples of (102 +/- 2) million and (158 +/- 4) million events, respectively, collected with the Belle detector. No significant signals are observed in any of the studied production modes, and 90% credibility level (C. L.) upper limits on their branching fractions in Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S) decays are obtained. The inclusive branching fractions of the Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S) decays into final states with f(1)(1285) are measured to be B(Upsilon(1S) -> f(1)(1285) + anything) = (46 +/- 28(stat) +/- 13(syst)) x 10(-4) and B(Upsilon(2S) -> f(1)(1285) + anything) = (22 +/- 15(stat) +/- 6.3(syst)) x 10(-4). The measured chi(b2) -> J/Psi + anything branching fraction is measured to be (1.50 +/- 0.34(stat) +/- 0.22(syst)) x 10(-3), and 90% C. L. upper limits for the chi(b0;b1) -> J/Psi + anything branching fractions are found to be 2.3 x 10(-3) and 1.1 x 10(-3), respectively. For B(chi(b1) -> omega + anything), the branching fraction is measured to be (4.9 +/- 1.3(stat) +/- 0.6(syst) x 10(-2). All results reported here are the first measurements for these modes.</P>

The Effects of Stress Related Genes on Carcass Traits and Meat Quality in Pigs

H. J. Jin,B. Y. Park,J. C. Park,I. H. Hwang,S. S. Lee,S. H. Yeon,C. D. Kim,C. Y. Cho,Y. K. Kim,K. S. Min,S. T. Feng,Z. D. Li,C. K. Park,C. I. Kim 아세아·태평양축산학회 2006 Animal Bioscience Vol.19 No.2

The current study was conducted to investigate the relationship between stress related gene and meat quality in pigs. A total number of 212 three-way cross bred (Landrace-Yorkshire횞Duroc) and 38 Duroc were sampled from the Korean pig industry to determine genotype requency of porcine stress syndrome (PSS) and heat shock protein 70 kDa (HSP70) genes and their relationship with carcass traits and longissimus meat quality. Screen of HSP70 was performed by the single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) technique. Based on the analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1) gene, genetic disorder of PSS was related to a mutation at 18,168th (C to T) of exon 17. There was no significant difference in ultimate meat pH and backfat thickness between HSP70 K1-AA type and -BB type in pure Duroc breed. In Landrace-Yorkshire횞Duroc (L-YxD) cross bred pig, our results indicated that HSP70 derivate type in Duroc had a limited effect on backfat thickness, but L-YxD type had a noticeable linkage with HSP70 K1-AA and K3-AB. This tendency was also observed in hot carcass weight where HSP70 K1-AA and K3-AB resulted in heavier weight with 86.3 kg compared to HSP70 K1-AB and K3-BB of 74.3 kg. Results imply that stress related HSP70 genotype has a potential association with backfat thickness and carcass weight.

Relationship between Stress Gene Polymorphisms and Litter Size by AI in Pigs

Jin, H.J.,Kim, I.C.,Wee, M.S.,Yeon, S.H.,Kim, C.D.,Lee, S.S.,Cho, C.Y.,Cho, S.R.,Son, D.S.,Park, C.K. 韓國受精卵移植學會 2007 한국동물생명공학회지 Vol.22 No.4

This study was performed to investigate the relationship between PSS-HSP70 gene polymorphism and artificial insemination (AI) reproductivity in the pigs. The RFLP polymorphism of PSS and the SSCP polymorphisms of HSP70 K1, K3 and K4 PCR product were detected different patterns. In the experiment for AI of fresh semen, spring and fall season showed higher litter size born of 10.89 head than 10.47 head of summer season. Landrace was showed higher litter size of 9.96 head than that of Duroc and Yorkshire (p<0.05). Stress relating PSS and HSP70 polymorphism of PSS-Normal, HSP70 K1-BB, K3-AB, K4-AA showd a highest litter size born of 10.97 head and litter size born alive of 10.69 head than that of the other polymorphisms(p<0.05). In the experiment for AI of frozen semen, effects of season and pig breeds were not showed for litter size born. The stress relating polymorphism of PSS-Carrier, HSP70 K1-BB, K3-BB, K4-AB showed highest litter size born of 11.29 head and litter size born alive of 10.82 head and PSS-Normal, HSP70 K1-BB, K3-AB, K4-AA showed the lowest litter size born of 8.48 head and litter size born alive of 7.33 head than that of the other polymorphisms(p<0.05). These results suggest that AI litter size born for the stress of forzen thawed semen may be affected by PSS and HSP70 polymorphism in pigs.

O-free polyacrylonitrile doping to improve the J_c(B) and H_c2 of MgB₂ wires

Hwang, S.M.,Sung, K.,Choi, J.H.,Kim, W.,Joo, J.,Lim, J.H.,Kim, C.J.,Park, Y.S.,Kim, D.H. North-Holland 2010 Physica. C, Superconductivity Vol.470 No.20

We selected polyacrylonitrile (PAN, -[C<SUB>3</SUB>H<SUB>3</SUB>N]-) as an O-free organic dopant and fabricated C-doped MgB<SUB>2</SUB> wires by in situ and powder-in-tube techniques. 0-5 wt.% PAN powders were uniformly mixed with B powder using a liquid mixing method. The precursor powders were mixed with Mg powder, filled into Fe tubes, and then drawn into wires. Sintering was performed at 900<SUP>o</SUP>C for 1h in a flowing Ar gas. The PAN doping decreased the critical temperature (T<SUB>c</SUB>) and a-axis lattice parameter, but significantly improved the critical current density (J<SUB>c</SUB>) in high fields, upper critical field (H<SUB>c2</SUB>), and irreversibility field (H<SUB>irr</SUB>) performances. These results are attributed to the replacement of B sites with C by the PAN doping. Furthermore, as expected, the MgO amount did not increase as the doping content increased. The J<SUB>c</SUB> of the PAN-doped MgB<SUB>2</SUB> wires was more than one order of magnitude higher than that of the undoped MgB<SUB>2</SUB> wire at 5K and 6.6T (1.46-3.82kA/cm<SUP>2</SUP> vs. 0.11kA/cm<SUP>2</SUP>).

Runx3 is required for the differentiation of lung epithelial cells and suppression of lung cancer

Lee, K-S,Lee, Y-S,Lee, J-M,Ito, K,Cinghu, S,Kim, J-H,Jang, J-W,Li, Y-H,Goh, Y-M,Chi, X-Z,Wee, H,Lee, H-W,Hosoya, A,Chung, J-H,Jang, J-J,Kundu, J K,Surh, Y-J,Kim, W-J,Ito, Y,Jung, H-S,Bae, S-C Macmillan Publishers Limited 2010 Oncogene Vol.29 No.23

Human lung adenocarcinoma, the most prevalent form of lung cancer, is characterized by many molecular abnormalities. K-ras mutations are associated with the initiation of lung adenocarcinomas, but K-ras-independent mechanisms may also initiate lung tumors. Here, we find that the runt-related transcription factor Runx3 is essential for normal murine lung development and is a tumor suppressor that prevents lung adenocarcinoma. Runx3−/− mice, which die soon after birth, exhibit alveolar hyperplasia. Importantly, Runx3−/− bronchioli exhibit impaired differentiation, as evidenced by the accumulation of epithelial cells containing specific markers for both alveolar (that is SP-B) and bronchiolar (that is CC10) lineages. Runx3−/− epithelial cells also express Bmi1, which supports self-renewal of stem cells. Lung adenomas spontaneously develop in aging Runx3+/− mice (∼18 months after birth) and invariably exhibit reduced levels of Runx3. As K-ras mutations are very rare in these adenomas, Runx3+/− mice provide an animal model for lung tumorigenesis that recapitulates the preneoplastic stage of human lung adenocarcinoma development, which is independent of K-Ras mutation. We conclude that Runx3 is essential for lung epithelial cell differentiation, and that downregulation of Runx3 is causally linked to the preneoplastic stage of lung adenocarcinoma.