Assessment of In Vitro Airway Smooth Muscle Relaxant Activity of Rhus coriaria L. Fruit Ethanolic Extract and Its Possible Mechanisms

Albina Uka,Donjeta Krasniqi,Giangiacomo Beretta,Armond Daci 한국식품영양과학회 2023 Journal of medicinal food Vol.26 No.11

Rhus coriaria L. (Anacardiaceae), also known as Sumac, is commonly used as a spice, flavoring agent, andas a traditional medicinal herb. This includes also the traditional use for treating asthma, catarrh, and common colds. Theaccumulating evidence supports its cardioprotective, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, anticancer, gastroprotective, antibacterial,anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and respiratory effects. However, there are no previous studies that have shown itseffects and mechanism in the airway smooth muscle tone, and therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the in vitropharmacological action of R. coriaria L. extract (RCE) on the rat isolated tracheal and bronchial preparations by exploring itsrelaxant activity and mechanism of action. The direct relaxant effect of RCE (0.1–0.7 mg/mL) was tested in the rat bronchiand trachea rings precontracted by carbachol (CCh). In addition, the pretreatment with RCE (1 mg/mL) was tested on thebronchial and tracheal reactivity induced by CCh, potassium chloride (KCl), or CaCl2. In addition, the cyclooxygenaseinhibitor indomethacin and the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), respectively,were used for exploring the mechanisms of RCE-induced relaxation and reduction of reactivity. Our findings demonstratedthat RCE induced a concentration-dependent relaxation and a significant reduction of reactivity, significantly reduced witheither indomethacin or L-NAME. In addition, RCE decreased the responsiveness to KCl and affected the extracellular Ca2+-induced contraction in the tissues with added CCh or KCl in Ca2+-free Krebs–Henseleit solution. In summary, we have shownthat RCE displayed relaxant activities in the in vitro airway smooth muscles, and the possible mechanisms seems to involvethe prostaglandin, nitric oxide, and Ca2+ pathways. Taken together, our findings indicate the potential role of RCE in thetreatment of respiratory diseases with limited airflow, or obstructive respiratory diseases, and could justify its traditional use inthe respiratory diseases.

Design and Validation of On-chip Planar Mixer Based on Advection and Viscoelastic Effects

Lourdes Albina Nirupa Julius,Veerendra Kalyan Jagannadh,Issac J Michael,Rajesh Srinivasan,Sai Siva Gorthi 한국바이오칩학회 2016 BioChip Journal Vol.10 No.1

Mixing at low Reynolds number is usually due to diffusion and requires longer channel lengths for complete mixing. In order to reduce the mixing lengths, advective flow can be induced by varying the channel geometry. Additionally, in non-newtonian fluids, appropriate modifications to channel geometry can be used to aid the mixing process by capitalizing on their viscoelastic nature. Here we have exploited the advection and viscoelastic effects to implement a planar passive micro-mixer. Microfluidic devices incorporating different blend of mixing geometries were conceived. The optimum design was chosen based on the results of the numerical simulations performed in COMSOL. The chosen design had sudden expansion and contraction along with teeth patterns along the channel walls to improve mixing. Mixing of two different dyes was performed to validate the mixing efficiency. Particle dispersion experiments were also carried out. The results indicated effective mixing. In addition, the same design was also found to be compatible with electrical power free pumping mechanism like suction. The proposed design was then used to carry out on-chip chemical cell lysis with human whole blood samples to establish its use with non-newtonian fluids. Complete lysis of the erythrocytes was observed leaving behind the white blood cells at the outlet.

감정부조화-직무태도 간 관계에서 심리적 요인의 매개효과와 심리적 요인에 대한 종업원의 성격과 근속년수의 조절효과

임알비나(Albina Lim),박양규(Yang-Kyu Park),백유진(Yujin Back) 한국경영학회 2016 經營學硏究 Vol.45 No.2

Soviet Science Diplomacy: How Central Asia was Instrumentalised in Soviet Foreign Policy

Muratbekova Albina 한양대학교 아태지역연구센터 2023 Journal of Eurasian Studies Vol.14 No.1

During the years of the Cold War, the opportunities for foreign scientific cooperation by Soviet scholars were limited. However, despite the impediments of the Soviet system, Central Asian science's cooperation with the outside world has continued. In virtue of being of Asian origin and Muslim and having profound knowledge and understanding of the language and civilizational processes of the East, Central Asian people had a special place in Soviet foreign policy. The Central Asians attracted the sympathy of the peoples of the East, which granted them access to their scientific and diplomatic connections. The paper examines how Central Asians used understanding of and ties to the East in diplomacy, for diplomacy, and with diplomacy. First, the paper unpacks the institutional and individual potential of Soviet Central Asian diplomacy and explains how it was used as a tool for Soviet strategy. The paper then examines Oriental studies as a knowledge basis that enabled improved and more in-depth Soviet diplomacy in the East given the pervasive and basic legacy of Oriental studies in studying the East. Further, Soviet involvement in UNESCO programmes in Asia provides insight into how Soviet policy used its soft power through international organisations. In conclusion, the author summarises how science diplomacy was used to further Soviet policy and evaluates the legacy of Soviet science diplomacy in light of recent developments.

Dynamic Research of Multi-Body Mechanical Systems of Angle Measurement

Artūras Kilikevičius,Albinas Kasparaitis 한국정밀공학회 2017 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.18 No.8

Analysis of the influence of vibrations on the calibration uncertainty of an angle limb is crucial for achieving high calibration accuracy. In modern equipment, the calibration is implemented in dynamic mode when the position of the raster elements is detected in the motion of the comparator’s movable components. The research object of this work is a newly designed angle measurement comparator that operates in dynamic mode. The main aim of this research is to determine the dynamic effects influence to the accuracy of the angle comparator. During the modelling of calibration errors related to dynamic influences, it is necessary to evaluate elastic deformations related to the vibrations excited by internal and external sources. Dangerous resonance frequencies and the character of the elastic deformations of the precise angle comparator carriage, which increase the angle calibration error, were evaluated. The novelty of the research should show that the elastic deformation of main component, caused by dynamic effects, has a significant influence to an accuracy of the precision systems, which are working in dynamic mode. The evaluation of the dynamic effects is necessary during the design and exploitation of precision measurement systems.

THE COLLAPSE OF SOVIET AND RUSSIAN TRADE WITH THE DPRK, 1989-1993: IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

NICHOLAS EBERSTADT,MARC RUBIN,ALBINA TRETYAKOVA 통일연구원 1995 International journal of korean unification studie Vol.4 No.-

International cyber security strategy as a tool for comprehensive security assurance of civil aviation security: methodological considerations

Grygorov, Oleksandr,Basysta, Albina,Yedeliev, Roman,Paziuk, Andrii,Tropin, Zakhar International Journal of Computer ScienceNetwork S 2021 International journal of computer science and netw Vol.21 No.9

Civil aviation cybersecurity challenges are global in nature and must be addressed using global best practices and the combined efforts of all stakeholders. This requires the development of comprehensive international strategies and detailed plans for their implementation, with appropriate resources. It is important to build such strategies on a common methodology that can be applied to civil aviation and other interrelated critical infrastructure sectors. The goal of the study was to determine the methodological basis for developing an international civil aviation cybersecurity strategy, taking into account existing experience in strategic planning at the level of international specialized organizations. The research was conducted using general scientific and theoretical research methods: observation, description, formalization, analysis, synthesis, generalization, explanation As a result of the study, it was established the specifics of the approach to formulating strategic goals in civil aviation cybersecurity programs in the documents of intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations in the aviation sphere, generally based on a comprehensive vision of cybersecurity management. A comparative analysis of strategic priorities, objectives, and planned activities for their implementation revealed common characteristics based on a single methodological sense of cybersecurity as a symbiosis of five components: human capacity, processes, technologies, communications, and its regulatory support. It was found that additional branching and detailing of priority areas in the strategic documents of international civil aviation organizations (by the example of Cybersecurity Strategy and Cybersecurity Action Plan) does not always contribute to compliance with a unified methodological framework. It is argued that to develop an international civil aviation cybersecurity strategy, it is advisable to use the methodological basis of the Cyber Security Index.

Financial Disclosure and the Cost of Equity Capital: The Empirical Test of the Largest Listed Companies of Kazakhstan

Aizhan Baimukhamedova,Gulzada Baimukhamedova,Albina Luchaninova 한국유통과학회 2017 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.4 No.3

This study extends research into whether disclosure of corporate and financial information is associated with firms’ costs of equity capital. This study sets out to examine empirically the determinants of corporate disclosure in the annual reports of 37 largest and most liquid firms listed on Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) in Kazakhstan. It also reports the results of the association between company-specific characteristics and disclosure of the sample companies. Based on the analysis of existing empirical research, the disclosure index has been constructed and regression analysis of the influence of the disclosure index on the cost of equity capital has been conducted. The obtained results show that the received findings correlate with foreign empirical studies, and the disclosure index in this sample has a negative impact on the cost of equity capital. Using cost of equity capital estimates derived from capital asset pricing model, we find that firms with higher levels of financial transparency are associated with significantly lower costs of equity capital. Economic theory assumes that by increasing the level of corporate reporting, firms not only increase their stock market liquidity, but also decrease the investors’ estimation risk, arising from uncertainty about future returns and payout distributions. The results show that firms on the Kazakhstan market can reduce their cost of equity capital by increasing the level of their voluntary corporate disclosures.

감정부조화-긴장 및 스트레스 관계에서 성격의 조절효과

박양규 ( Yang Kyu Park ),임알비나 ( Albina Lim ) 한독경상학회 2013 經商論叢 Vol.31 No.1

본 연구는 감정부조화수준-긴장/스트레스관계에서 성격이 중간변수로서 어떤 영향을 주는지에 대해 실증적으로 탐색한다. 감정부조화는 조직구성원이 직무수행에서 요구되는 감정과 실제 감정과의 차이로부터 발생하는 두 감정사이의 불일치를 의미하는데 그 정도에 따라 조직구성원은 긴장과 스트레스를 지각하게 되고 이는 성과에 부정적인 영향을 줄 수있다. 따라서 감정부조화-성과 간 관계에 대한 적극적인 탐색이 필요함에도 실증연구는 미미한 수준이다. 특히, 두 요인 간 관계에 영향을 줄 수 있는 설명요인을 정체화 하는 연구도 활성화되고 있지 않다. 이런 이유로 본 연구는 인사조직 관련 연구에서 개인특성변수로서 주요하게 고려되고 있는 성격이 두 요인 사이에서 어떤 영향을 줄 수 있는지를 검증하려고 한다. 본 연구의 가설은 다음과 같다. 가설 1: 감정부조화 수준의 증가는 스트레스 및 긴장을 높일 것이다. 가설 2: 감정부조화 수준-긴장 및 스트레스사이에서 성격은 조절역할을 할 것이다. 가설에 대한 검증을 위해 2012년 1월부터 2개월 간 기업에서 근무하는 종업원을 대상으로 서베이를 실시하여 최종적으로 136부를 분석에 활용하였다. 가설 1을 검증하기 위해 감정부조화가 높은 집단과 낮은 집단을 구분하고 긴장과 스트레스에 대한 집단 간 차이가 있는지를 검증하였다. Spss ver. 19의 MANOVA를 활용한 통계분석결과 두 결과변수에 대한 감정부조화집단 간차이는 통계적으로 유의적이지 않은 것으로 나타났다 가설 2의 검증을 위해 군집분석을 활용하여 성격유형의 프러파일을 4가지로 구분하고 감정부조화수준-긴장/ 스트레스 간 관계에서 성격유형이감정부조화수준과 두 결과변수에 대해 유의적인 상호작용효과가 있는지를 검증하였다. 마노바를 활용한 통계검증결과 성격은 감정부조화 수준과 긴장과 스트레스에 대해 유의적인 상호작용효과가 나타나지 않아 조절역할을 하지 않는다는 결과를 얻었다. This study explores empirically that personality can work as a moderator in the relationship between emotional dissonance and tension/stress. ED(Emotional dissonance) occurs when an employee perceives an incongruence between the displayed emotions required in performing job and the felt emotion as actual emotions. Few relevant studies showed that ED had significant relations to the psychological tension and stress and consequently reduced job performance. Particularly, there has been little attention to the issue identifying moderators that can be worked in the relations. Therefore this study attempts to test the effect of personality as a moderator in the relationship between ED and psychological variables. Thus, the hypotheses examined in this study are as follows: H1: ED level has a positive effect to tension/stress. H2: Personality will be a moderator between the two variables. Questionnaires were applied in employees in corporate organizations in seoul. The survey was conducted between January 2012 and February 2012. 157 usable data were analyzed with MANOVA and K-cluster analysis in SPSS ver. 18, Findings showed that ED had no significant negative influence on the job tension/stress and personality had no interaction effect with the ED on the job tension/job stress. In this study there are some limitations such as not enough samples applied and limited attempt to explore relevant intervening variables. In spite of the issue of generalization, it is meaningful to be examined the relationship between ED and job tension/stress and to be tested the moderating effect of personality.

Quantitative comparison of bright field and annular bright field imaging modes for characterization of oxygen octahedral tilts

Kim, Young-Min,Pennycook, Stephen J.,Borisevich, Albina Y. Elsevier 2017 Ultramicroscopy Vol.181 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Octahedral tilt behavior is increasingly recognized as an important contributing factor to the physical behavior of perovskite oxide materials and especially their interfaces, necessitating the development of high-resolution methods of tilt mapping. There are currently two major approaches for quantitative imaging of tilts in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), bright field (BF) and annular bright field (ABF). In this paper, we show that BF STEM can be reliably used for measurements of oxygen octahedral tilts. While optimal conditions for BF imaging are more restricted with respect to sample thickness and defocus, we find that BF imaging with an aberration-corrected microscope with the accelerating voltage of 300kV gives us the most accurate quantitative measurement of the oxygen column positions. Using the tilted perovskite structure of BiFeO<SUB>3</SUB> (BFO) as our test sample, we simulate BF and ABF images in a wide range of conditions, identifying the optimal imaging conditions for each mode. We show that unlike ABF imaging, BF imaging remains directly quantitatively interpretable for a wide range of the specimen mistilt, suggesting that it should be preferable to the ABF STEM imaging for quantitative structure determination.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> An aberration-corrected BF STEM imaging at an accelerating voltage of 300kV provides a wide range of defocus-thickness imaging parameters and specimen misorientation for precisely locating oxygen positions in a tilted perovskite structure. </LI> <LI> BF STEM imaging for the measurements of oxygen octahedral tilts has quantitatively compared with ABF STEM imaging by systematic image simulations. </LI> <LI> BF STEM imaging working at 300kV shows superior accuracy for the measurements of the octahedral tilt angles as compared with ABF STEM imaging. </LI> </UL> </P>