Detection and genotyping of Korean porcine rotaviruses

Kim, H.J.,Park, S.I.,Ha, T.P.M.,Jeong, Y.J.,Kim, H.H.,Kwon, H.J.,Kang, M.I.,Cho, K.O.,Park, S.J. Elsevier Scientific Pub. Co 2010 Veterinary microbiology Vol.144 No.3

Porcine group A rotavirus (GARV) is considered to be an important animal pathogen due to their economic impact in the swine industry and its potential to cause heterologous infections in humans. This study examined 475 fecal samples from 143 farms located in 6 provinces across South Korea. RT-PCR and nested PCR utilizing primer pairs specific for the GARV VP6 gene detected GARV-positive reactions in 182 (38.3%) diarrheic fecal samples. A total of 98 porcine GARV strains isolated from the GARV-positive feces were analyzed for G and P genotyping. Based on the sequence and phylogenetic analyses, the most predominant combination of G and P genotypes was G5P[7], found in 63 GARV strains (64.3%). The other combinations of G and P genotypes were G8P[7] (16 strains [16.3%]), G9P[7] (7 strains [7.1%]), G9P[23] (2 strains [2.0%]), and G8P[1] (1 strain [1.0%]). The counterparts of G or P genotypes were not determined in three G5, five P[7], and one P[1] strains. Interestingly, phylogenetic analysis indicated that all Korean G9 strains were more closely related to lineage VI porcine and human viruses than to other lineages (I-V) of GARVs and to Korean human G9 strains (lineage III). These results show that porcine GARV infections are common in diarrheic piglets in South Korea. The infecting strains are genetically diverse, and include homologous (G5P[7]), heterologous (G8P[1]), and reassortant (G8P[7]), as well as emerging G9 GARV strains.

Foxp3 is a key downstream regulator of p53-mediated cellular senescence

Kim, J-E,Shin, J-S,Moon, J-H,Hong, S-W,Jung, D-J,Kim, J H,Hwang, I-Y,Shin, Y J,Gong, E-Y,Lee, D H,Kim, S-M,Lee, E Y,Kim, Y S,Kim, D,Hur, D,Kim, T W,Kim, K-p,Jin, D-H,Lee, W-J Macmillan Publishers Limited 2017 Oncogene Vol.36 No.2

<P>The downstream events and target genes of p53 in the process of senescence are not fully understood. Here, we report a novel function of the forkhead transcription factor Foxp3, which is a key player in mediating T-cell inhibitory functions, in p53-mediated cellular senescence. The overexpression of Foxp3 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) accelerates senescence, whereas Foxp3 knockdown leads to escape from p53-mediated senescence in p53-expressing MEFs. Consistent with these results, Foxp3 expression resulted in the induction of senescence in epithelial cancer cells, including MCF7 and HCT116 cells. Foxp3 overexpression also increased the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ROS inhibitor N-acetyl-L-cysteine rescued cells from Foxp3-expression-induced senescence. Furthermore, the elevated ROS levels that accompanied Foxp3 overexpression were paralleled by an increase in p21 expression. Knockdown of p21 in Foxp3-expressing MEFs abrogated the Foxp3-dependent increase in ROS levels, indicating that Foxp3 acts through the induction of p21 and the subsequent ROS elevation to trigger senescence. Collectively, these results suggest that Foxp3 is a downstream target of p53 that is sufficient to induce p21 expression, ROS production and p53-mediated senescence.</P>

A systematic investigation of the thermoelectric stability of Pt–Rh thermocouples between 1300 °C and 1500 °C

Pearce, J V,Edler, F,Elliott, C J,Greenen, A,Harris, P M,Izquierdo, C Garcia,Kim, Y-G,Martin, M J,Smith, I M,Tucker, D,Veltcheva, R I BUREAU INTERNATIONAL DES POIDS ET MESURES 2018 METROLOGIA -BERLIN- Vol.55 No.4

<P>By using a simple model to relate the electromotive force drift rate of Pt–Rh thermoelements to d<I>S</I>/d<I>c</I>, i.e. the sensitivity of the Seebeck coefficient, <I>S</I>, to rhodium mass fraction, <I>c</I>, the composition of the optimal pair of Pt–Rh wires that minimizes thermoelectric drift can be determined. The model has been applied to four multi-wire thermocouples each comprising 5 or 7 Pt–Rh wires of different composition. Two thermocouples were exposed to a temperature of around 1324 °C, one thermocouple to around 1492 °C, i.e. the melting points of the Co–C and Pd–C high temperature fixed points, respectively, and one thermocouple to a series of temperatures between 1315 °C and 1450 °C. The duration of exposure at each temperature was several thousand hours. By performing repeated calibrations <I>in situ</I> with the appropriate fixed point during the high temperature exposure, the drift performance has been quantified with high accuracy, entirely free from errors associated with thermoelectric homogeneity. By combining these results it is concluded that the Pt-40%Rh versus Pt-6%Rh is the most stable at the temperatures investigated. A preliminary reference function was determined and is presented.</P>

Pd–P Hydrogenation Catalyst: Nanoparticle Nature and Surface Layer State

Lyudmila B. Belykh,Nikita I. Skripov,Tatyana P. Sterenchuk,Vitaliy A. Umanets,Fedor K. Schmidt 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2016 NANO Vol.11 No.6

The Pd–P selective catalyst for liquid-phase hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene (o-CNB) was obtained by the reduction of Pd(acac)2 with hydrogen at 80℃ in the presence of white phosphorus (P/Pd=1) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). It has been shown [(high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD)] that such low-temperature synthesis of the Pd–P catalyst affords nanoparticles of palladium phosphides (Pd5P2, PdP2), the Pd5P2 phosphide being prevailing. On the nanoparticle surface, palladium is present as a phosphide (BE (Pd3d5/2)=336.2 eV; BE (P2p3/2)=130 eV) and as palladium clusters of 1 nm in diameter. The formation of the Pd–P catalyst proceeds through a number of stages: a redox process between Pd(acac)2 and white phosphorus affording mainly PdP2 nanoparticles, H3PO3 and acacH; next follows the reduction of unreacted Pd(acac)2 with hydrogen at 80℃ and the reaction of Pd(0) atoms with each other and with PdP2. It is assumed that formation of small palladium clusters on the surface of the Pd5P2 nanoparticles ensures the high selectivity of the Pd–P catalyst in the o-CNB hydrogenation.

Search for Λc+→ϕpπ0 and branching fraction measurement of Λc+→K−π+pπ0

Pal, B.,Schwartz, A. J.,Adachi, I.,Aihara, H.,Al Said, S.,Asner, D. M.,Aushev, T.,Ayad, R.,Badhrees, I.,Bakich, A. M.,Bansal, V.,Behera, P.,Berger, M.,Bhardwaj, V.,Biswal, J.,Bobrov, A.,Bozek, A.,Bra& American Physical Society 2017 Physical review. D Vol.96 No.5

<P>We have searched for the Cabibbo-suppressed decay Lambda(+)(c) -> pi p(0) in e(+) e(-) collisions using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 915 fb(-1). The data were collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB e(+) e(-) asymmetric-energy collider running at or near the (4S) and (5S) resonances. No significant signal is observed, and we set an upper limit on the branching fraction of B(Lambda(+)(c) -> phi p(0)) < 15.3 x 10(-5) at 90% confidence level. The contribution of nonresonant Lambda(+)(c) -> K+ K- p pi(0) decays is found to be consistent with zero, and the corresponding upper limit on its branching fraction is set to be B(Lambda(+)(c) ->. K+ K- p pi(0))(NR) < 6.3 x 10(-5) at 90% confidence level. We also search for an intermediate hidden-strangeness pentaquark decay P-s(+) -> phi p. We see no evidence for this intermediate decay and set an upper limit on the product branching fraction of B(Lambda(+)(c) -> P-s(+) pi(0)) x B(P-s(+) -> phi p) < 8.3 x 10(-5) at 90% confidence level. Finally, we measure the branching fraction for the Cabibbo-favored decay Lambda(+)(c) -> K- pi(+) p pi(0); the result is B(Lambda(+)(c) -> K- pi(+) p pi(0)) = (4.42 +/- 0.05(stat)+/- 0.12(syst)+/- 0.16(norm))%, which is the most precise measurement to date.</P>

Bishop's property (<i>β</i>), a commutativity theorem and the dynamics of class A ( s , t ) operators

Duggal, B.P.,Kubrusly, C.S.,Kim, I.H. Elsevier 2015 Journal of mathematical analysis and applications Vol.427 No.1

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Given a Hilbert space operator A ∈ B ( H ) with polar decomposition A = U | A | , the class A ( s , t ) , 0 < s , t ≤ 1 , consists of operators A ∈ B ( H ) such that <SUP> | <SUP> A ⁎ </SUP> | 2 t </SUP> ≤ <SUP> ( <SUP> | <SUP> A ⁎ </SUP> | t </SUP> <SUP> | A | 2 s </SUP> <SUP> | <SUP> A ⁎ </SUP> | t </SUP> ) t t + s </SUP> . Every class A ( s , t ) operator is paranormal; prominent amongst the subclasses of A ( s , t ) operators are the class A ( 1 2 , 1 2 ) consisting of w-hyponormal operators and the class A ( 1 , 1 ) consisting of (semi-quasihyponormal [16, p. 93], or) class A operators. Our aim here is threefold. We prove that A ( s , t ) operators satisfy: (i) Bishop's property (<I>β</I>), thereby providing a proof of [6, Theorem 3.1], and (ii) a Putnam–Fuglede commutativity theorem, thereby answering a question posed in [18, Conjecture 2.4]; we prove also an extension of [3, Theorem 3.4] to prove that (iii) if an A ( s , t ) operator is weakly supercyclic then it is a scalar multiple of a unitary operator.</P>

Inhibition of the prostaglandin-degrading enzyme 15-PGDH potentiates tissue regeneration

Zhang, Yongyou,Desai, Amar,Yang, Sung Yeun,Bae, Ki Beom,Antczak, Monika I.,Fink, Stephen P.,Tiwari, Shruti,Willis, Joseph E.,Williams, Noelle S.,Dawson, Dawn M.,Wald, David,Chen, Wei-Dong,Wang, Zhengh American Association for the Advancement of Scienc 2015 Science Vol.348 No.6240

<P><B>A shot in the arm for damaged tissue</B></P><P>Tissue damage can be caused by injury, disease, and even certain medical treatments. There is great interest in identifying drugs that accelerate tissue regeneration and recovery, especially drugs that might benefit multiple organ systems. Zhang <I>et al.</I> describe a compound with this desired activity, at least in mice (see the Perspective by FitzGerald). SW033291 promotes recovery of the hematopoietic system after bone marrow transplantation, prevents the development of ulcerative colitis in the intestine, and accelerates liver regeneration after hepatic surgery. It acts by inhibiting an enzyme that degrades prostaglandins, lipid signaling molecules that have been implicated in tissue stem cell maintenance.</P><P><I>Science</I>, this issue 10.1126/science.aaa2340; see also p. 1208</P><P>Agents that promote tissue regeneration could be beneficial in a variety of clinical settings, such as stimulating recovery of the hematopoietic system after bone marrow transplantation. Prostaglandin PGE2, a lipid signaling molecule that supports expansion of several types of tissue stem cells, is a candidate therapeutic target for promoting tissue regeneration in vivo. Here, we show that inhibition of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), a prostaglandin-degrading enzyme, potentiates tissue regeneration in multiple organs in mice. In a chemical screen, we identify a small-molecule inhibitor of 15-PGDH (SW033291) that increases prostaglandin PGE2 levels in bone marrow and other tissues. SW033291 accelerates hematopoietic recovery in mice receiving a bone marrow transplant. The same compound also promotes tissue regeneration in mouse models of colon and liver injury. Tissues from 15-PGDH knockout mice demonstrate similar increased regenerative capacity. Thus, 15-PGDH inhibition may be a valuable therapeutic strategy for tissue regeneration in diverse clinical contexts.</P>

Preparing DNA-mimicking multi-line nanocaterpillars via in situ nanoparticlisation of fully conjugated polymers

Lee, I. H.,Amaladass, P.,Choi, I.,Bergmann, V.,Weber, S. L.,Choi, T. L. Royal Society of Chemistry 2016 Polymer chemistry Vol.7 No.7

<P>A unique hierarchical evolution from single-line nanocaterpillars to multi-line nanocaterpillars and then to multi-line nanocaterpillars bearing a few long-chain branches was demonstrated by in situ nanoparticlisation of fully conjugated poly(2,5-dihexyloxy-1,4-phenylene)-block-poly(3-methylthiophene) (PPP-b-P3MT). PPP-b-P3MTs of various block ratios were successfully synthesised by the Grignard metathesis polymerization method; moreover, these block copolymers underwent spontaneous self-assembly during the polymerization owing to the solvophobicity or strong p-p interactions of the core block, i.e. P3MT. These in situ generated PPP-b-P3MT NPs were quite different from the previously reported NPs generated from poly(2,5-dihexyloxy-1,4-phenylene)-block-polythiophene (PPP-b-PT). AFM and TEM images revealed that PPP-b-P3MTs formed single-to multi-line nanocaterpillars, whereas PPP-b-PTs only formed shorter single-line nanocaterpillars. On the basis of PXRD and UV-vis data, we speculated that this interesting morphology of multi-line nanocaterpillars, resembling duplex DNA, arose from different packing modes and crystallinity as well as improved solubility of the P3MT core compared with the NPs containing the PT core.</P>

Modification of Schottky Barrier Properties of Ti/p-type InP Schottky Diode by Polyaniline (PANI) Organic Interlayer

P. R. Sekhar Reddy,V. Janardhanam,I. Jyothi,Shim-Hoon Yuk,V. Rajagopal Reddy,Jae-Chan Jeong,Sung-Nam Lee,Chel-Jong Choi 대한전자공학회 2016 Journal of semiconductor technology and science Vol.16 No.5

The electrical properties of Ti/p-type InP Schottky diodes with and without polyaniline (PANI) interlayer was investigated using current–voltage (I–V) and capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements. The barrier height of Ti/p-type InP Schottky diode with PANI interlayer was higher than that of the conventional Ti/p-type InP Schottky diode, implying that the organic interlayer influenced the space-charge region of the Ti/p-type InP Schottky junction. At higher voltages, the current transport was dominated by the trap free space-charge-limited current and trap-filled space-charge-limited current in Ti/p-type InP Schottky diode without and with PANI interlayer, respectively. The domination of trap filled space-charge-limited current in Ti/p-type InP Schottky diode with PANI interlayer could be associated with the traps originated from structural defects prevailing in organic PANI interlayer.

Extrusion Processing of Low-Inhibitor Soybeans Improves Growth Performance of Early-Weaned Pigs

Kim, I.H.,Hancock, J.D.,Jones, D.B.,Reddy, P.G. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1999 Animal Bioscience Vol.12 No.8

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of roasting and extrusion on nutritional value of conventional and low-inhibitor soy beans for nurser-age pigs. In Exp. 1, 100 weaning pigs (7.5 kg average initial BW) were used in a 35-d growth assay to determine the effects of processing method (roasting in a Rast-A-Tron$^{TM}$ raster vs extrusion in an Insta-Pro$^{TM}$ extruder) on the nutritional value of Williams 82 soybeans with (+K) and without (-K) gene expression for the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor. Treatments were 48% soybean meal with added soybean oil, +K roasted, +K extruded, -K roasted and -K extruded. All diets were formulated to contain 3.5 Mcal DE/kg, with 0.92% lysine for d 0 to 14 and 0.76% lysine for d 14 to 35 of the experiment. The lysine concentrations were 80% of NRC (1988) recommendations to accentuate difference in response to protein quality and lysine availability. For d 0 to 14, pigs fed extruded soybeans (+K and -K) had greater ADG (p<0.001), ADFI (p<0.09) and gain/feed (p<0.01) than pigs fed roasted soybeans. For d 14 to 35 and overall, the same effects were noted, i.e., pigs fed extruded soybeans had greater ADG, ADFI and gain/feed than pigs fed roasted soybeans (p<0.03). Also, pigs fed -K soybeans were more efficient (p<0.008) than pigs fed +K soybeans. In Exp. 2, 150 weanling pigs (7.0 kg average initial BW) were used in a 35-d growth assay. All diets were formulated to contain 3.5 Mcal DE/kg, with 1.25% lysine for d 0 to 14 and 1.10% lysine for d 14 to 35 of the experiment. The lysine concentrations were formulated to be in excess of NRC recommendation to determine if differences in nutritional value of the soybean preparations could be detected in protein-adequate diets. For d 0 to 14 (p<0.06), 14 to 35 (p<0.03) and 0 to 35 (p<0.02), pigs fed extruded soybeans had greater ADG and gain/feed than pigs fed roasted soybeans. Apparent digestibilities of DM, N and GE were greater for diets with extruded soybeans than diets with roasted soybeans and diets with soybean meal and soybean oil were intermediate. The response to extrusion processing was greater with -K than +K soybeans, with pigs fed extruded -K soybeans having the greatest growth performance and nutrient digestibilities and lowest skin-fold thickness of any treatment. In conclusion, extrusion yielded a full-fat soy product of greater nutritional value than roasting. Also, selection against genetic expression of the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor improved nutritional value of the resulting soybean preparations.