Cardiovascular effects of ethanol extract of Rubus chingii Hu (Rosaceae) in rats: an in vivo and in vitro approach.

Su, X H,Duan, R,Sun, Y Y,Wen, J F,Kang, D G,Lee, H S,Cho, K W,Jin, S N The Society 2014 Journal of physiology and pharmacology Vol.65 No.3

<P>Rubus chingii Hu (Rosaceae) is an important traditional Chinese medicine that has been used to improve function of the kidney and treat excessive polyuria. However, the effects of Rubus chingii on the cardiovascular system and its pharmacological mechanisms of action have not been studied. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cardiovascular effects of ethanol extract of Rubus chingii (ERC) in rats. The changes in systolic blood pressure and heart rate of rats and vascular tone of aortic rings in in vitro were measured using pressure transducer and force transducer, respectively, connected to a multichannel recording system. ERC decreased systolic blood pressure and heart rate in a concentration-dependent manner. ERC induced vasorelaxation in a concentration-dependent manner. The ERC-induced vasorelaxation was not observed in the absence of the endothelium. The vasorelaxant effect of ERC was significantly attenuated by inhibition of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), or Ca(2+) entry from extracellular sources with L-NAME, ODQ, diltiazem, or extracellular Ca(2+) depletion, respectively. Similarly, an inhibition of Akt with wortmannin attenuated the ERC-induced vasorelaxation. Modulators of the store-operated Ca(2+) entry, thapsigargin, Gd(3+), and 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate markedly attenuated the ERC-induced vasorelaxation. Furthermore, 4-aminopyridine an inhibitor of voltage-dependent K(+) (KV) channel, significantly attenuated the ERC-induced vasorelaxation. However, tetraethylammonium and glibenclamide, had no significant effect on the ERC-induced vasorelaxation. Indomethacin, atropine, and propranolol had no effects on the ERC-induced vasorelaxation. The present study demonstrates that ERC induces vasorelaxation via endothelium-dependent two-step signaling: an activation of the Ca(2+)-eNOS-NO signaling in the endothelial cells and then subsequent stimulation of the NO-sGC-cGMP-KV channel signaling in the vascular smooth muscle cells. The Akt-eNOS pathway is also suggested to be involved in this relaxation. Also, the findings suggest that the ERC-induced vasorelaxation is closely related to the hypotensive action of the agent.</P>

Ambient Vibration measurements and finite element modelling for the Hong Kong Ting Kau Bridge

Au, F.T.K.,Tham, L.G.,Lee, P.K.K.,Su, C.,Han, D.J.,Yan, Q.S.,Wong, K.Y. Techno-Press 2003 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.15 No.1

The Ting Kau Bridge in Hong Kong is a cable-stayed bridge comprising two main spans and two side spans. The bridge deck is supported by three towers, an end pier and an abutment. Each of the three towers consists of a single reinforced concrete mast which reduces its section in steps, and it is strengthened by transverse cables and struts in the transverse vertical plane. The bridge deck is supported by four inclined planes of cables emanating from anchorages at the tower tops. In view of the threat from typhoons, the dynamic behaviour of long-span cable-supported bridges in the region is always an important consideration in their design. This paper is devoted to the ambient vibration measurements of the bridge for evaluation of dynamic characteristics including the natural frequencies and mode shapes. It also describes the modelling of the bridge. A few finite element models are developed and calibrated to match with the field data and the results of subsequent structural health monitoring of the bridge.

Characterization of the root-predominant gene promoter HPX1 in transgenic rice plants

Park, Su-Hyun,Jeong, Jin Seo,Han, Eun Hyang,Redillas, Mark C.F.R.,Bang, Seung Woon,Jung, Harin,Kim, Youn Shic,Kim, Ju-Kon 한국식물생명공학회 2013 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.7 No.3

Gene promoter(s) specialized in root tissues is an important component for crop biotechnology. In our current study, we report results of promoter analysis of the HPX1, a gene expressed predominantly in roots. The HPX1 promoter regions were predicted, linked to the gfp reporter gene, and transformed into rice. Promoter activities were analyzed in various organs and tissues of six independent transgenic HPX1:gfp plants using the fluorescent microscopy and q-RT-PCR methods. GFP fluorescence levels were high in root elongation regions but not in root apex and cap of the HPX1:gfp plants. Very low levels of GFP fluorescence were observed in anthers and leaves. Levels of promoter activities were 16- to 190-fold higher in roots than in leaves of the HPX1:gfp plants. The HPX1 promoter directs high levels of gene expression in root tissues producing GFP levels up to 0.39 % of the total soluble protein. Thus, the HPX1 promoter is predominantly active in the root elongation region during the vegetative stage of growth.

Transgenic overexpression of UIP1, an interactor of the 3' untranslated region of the Rubisco small subunit mRNA, increases rice tolerance to drought

Park, Su-Hyun,Jeong, Jin Seo,Redillas, Mark C.F.R.,Jung, Harin,Bang, Seung Woon,Kim, Youn Shic,Kim, Ju-Kon 한국식물생명공학회 2013 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.7 No.1

Gene regulation at the post-transcriptional level is a well-organized process to adjust plants in response to environmental changes. Here, we identified a novel RNA-binding protein (RBP) possessing a CBS (cystathionine-${\beta}$-synthase) domain through yeast three-hybrid screening. This RBP, 3'-UTR-interacting protein 1 (UIP1), interacts with 3' untranslated region of the Rubisco small subunit mRNA (3' RbcS)-the major mRNA element that mediates the stress-induced mRNA decay (SMD) under drought and salt stress conditions. Six deletion constructs were made to delineate the binding domain of the UIP1 protein. Co-transformation of yeast with these constructs together with three different hybrid RNAs in various combinations showed that deletion of 51 N-terminal amino acids resulted in a loss of sequence-specific binding affinity. Further deletion at the region between 52 and 212 amino acids revealed that the CBS domain of UIP1 is necessary for binding to 3' RbcS. Transgenic overexpression of UIP1 in rice resulted in an increase in tolerance to drought stress at the vegetative stage of growth. Under drought, high salt and low temperature conditions, the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II ($F_v/F_m$) of UIP1 plants was higher than those of the nontransgenic plants. Interestingly, the effect of UIP1 overexpression on tolerance to stress was much more pronounced under drought than under high salt and low temperature conditions. Taken together, our results demonstrate that UIP1 interacts with 3' untranslated region of RbcS1 mRNA and increases tolerance of transgenic overexpressors to drought stress.

Silica colloidal crystals with uni- and multi-photonic bandgaps and controlled reflective properties

Piret, F.,Kwon, Y.-U.,Su, B.-L. Elsevier 2009 Chemical physics letters Vol.472 No.4

<P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P><P>The present Letter introduces a new concept in the field of 3D photonic crystals, for the first time, we prepared the 3D silica colloidal crystals containing multi-photonic bandgaps. This is achieved by creating multiple layer structures of two (or more) colloidal crystals with different lattice parameters. Each layer will diffract lights of its characteristic wavelength and the reflectance spectra are expected to present as many reflectance peaks as the number of layers.</P><ce:figure></ce:figure> <P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>High quality silica colloidal crystals with one or multi-photonic bandgaps that can be controlled in the whole range of the visible and near infrared lights have been designed. A comprehensive set of parameters that can predetermine the particle sizes from 150 to 750nm of the resulting silica colloids and their polydispersities was established. Self-assembly of such silica spheres produced highly organized colloidal crystals, leading to the photonic crystals of which the reflectance wavelengths can cover the whole range of visible lights and parts of the ultraviolet and infrared lights. Multiple deposition of silica spheres of two or more different sizes produced a heterostructured with multiple photonic bandgaps.</P>

전기자극 하에서 알콜 산화효소의 안정화연구

김범수(Beom-Su Kim),이강민(Kang-Min Lee),J. F. Biellmann,김경숙(Kyung-Suk Kim) 한국생물공학회 2006 KSBB Journal Vol.21 No.6

Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci on Porcine Chromosome 7 Using Combined Data Analysis

Zuo, B.,Xiong, Y.Z.,Su, Y.H.,Deng, C.Y.,Lei, M.G.,Zheng, R.,Jiang, S.W.,Li, F.E. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2004 Animal Bioscience Vol.17 No.10

To further investigate the regions on porcine chromosome 7 that are responsible for economically important traits, phenotypic data from a total of 287 F2 individuals were collected and analyzed from 1998 to 2000. All animals were genotyped for eight microsatellite loci spanning the length of chromosome 7. QTL analysis was performed using interval mapping under the line-cross model. A permutation test was used to establish significance levels associated with QTL effects. Observed QTL effects were (chromosomewide significance, position of maximum significance in centimorgans): Birth weight (<0.01, 3); Carcass length (<0.05, 80); Longissimus muscle area (<0.01, 69); Skin percentage (<0.01, 69); Bone percentage (<0.01, 74); Fat depths at shoulder (<0.05, 54);Mean fat depth (<0.05, 81); Moisture in m. Longissimus Dorsi (<0.05, 88). Additional evidence was also found which suggested QTL for dressing percentage and fat depths at buttock. This study offers confirmation of several QTL affecting growth and carcass traits on SSC7 and provides an important step in the search for the actual major genes involved in the traits of economic interest.

An Impedance-Transduced Chemiresistor with a Porous Carbon Channel for Rapid, Nonenzymatic, Glucose Sensing

Ogata, Alana F.,Song, Seok-Won,Cho, Su-Ho,Koo, Won-Tae,Jang, Ji-Soo,Jeong, Yong Jin,Kim, Min-Hyeok,Cheong, Jun Young,Penner, Reginald M.,Kim, Il-Doo American Chemical Society 2018 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY - Vol.90 No.15

<P>A new type of chemiresistor, the impedance-transduced chemiresistor (ITCR), is described for the rapid analysis of glucose. The ITCR exploits porous, high surface area, fluorine-doped carbon nanofibers prepared by electrospinning of fluorinated polymer nanofibers followed by pyrolysis. These nanofibers are functionalized with a boronic acid receptor and stabilized by Nafion to form the ITCR channel for glucose detection. The recognition and binding of glucose by the ITCR is detected by measuring its electrical impedance at a single frequency. The analysis frequency is selected by measuring the signal-to-noise (<I>S</I>/<I>N</I>) for glucose detection across 5 orders of magnitude, evaluating both the imaginary and real components of the complex impedance. On the basis of this analysis, an optimal frequency of 13 kHz is selected for glucose detection, yielding an <I>S</I>/<I>N</I> ratio of 60-100 for [glucose] = 5 mM using the change in the total impedance, Δ<I>Z</I>. The resulting ITCR glucose sensor shows a rapid analysis time (<8 s), low coefficient of variation for a series of sensors (<10%), an analysis range of 50 μM to 5 mM, and excellent specificity versus fructose, ascorbic acid, and uric acid. These metrics for the ITCR are obtained using a sample size as small as 5 μL.</P> [FIG OMISSION]</BR>

AN ITERATIVE METHOD FOR SYMMETRIC INDEFINITE LINEAR SYSTEMS

Walker, Homer-F.,Yi, Su-Cheol Korean Mathematical Society 2004 대한수학회논문집 Vol.19 No.2

For solving symmetric systems of linear equations, it is shown that a new Krylov subspace method can be obtained. The new approach is one of the projection methods, and we call it the projection method for convenience in this paper. The projection method maintains the residual vector like simpler GMRES, symmetric QMR, SYMMLQ, and MINRES. By studying the quasiminimal residual method, we show that an extended projection method and the scaled symmetric QMR method are equivalent.

Effects of Inclusion Levels of Wheat Bran and Body Weight on Ileal and Fecal Digestibility in Growing Pigs

Huang, Q.,Su, Y.B.,Li, D.F.,Liu, L.,Huang, C.F.,Zhu, Z.P.,Lai, C.H. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.6

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of graded inclusions of wheat bran (0%, 9.65%, 48.25% wheat bran) and two growth stages (from 32.5 to 47.2 kg and 59.4 to 78.7 kg, respectively) on the apparent ileal digestibility (AID), apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and hindgut fermentation of nutrients and energy in growing pigs. Six light pigs (initial body weight [BW] $32.5{\pm}2.1kg$) and six heavy pigs (initial BW $59.4{\pm}3.2kg$) were surgically prepared with a T-cannula in the distal ileum. A difference method was used to calculate the nutrient and energy digestibility of wheat bran by means of comparison with a basal diet consisting of corn-soybean meal (0% wheat bran). Two additional diets were formulated by replacing 9.65% and 48.25% wheat bran by the basal diet, respectively. Each group of pigs was allotted to a $6{\times}3$ Youden square design, and pigs were fed to three experimental diets during three 11-d periods. Hindgut fermentation values were calculated as the differences between ATTD and AID values. For the wheat bran diets, the AID and ATTD of dry matter (DM), ash, organic matter (OM), carbohydrates (CHO), gross energy (GE), and digestible energy (DE) decreased with increasing inclusion levels of wheat bran (p<0.05). While only AID of CHO and ATTD of DM, ash, OM, CHO, GE, and DE content differed (p<0.05) when considering the BW effect. For the wheat bran ingredient, there was a wider variation effect (p<0.01) on the nutrient and energy digestibility of wheat bran in 9.65% inclusion level due to the coefficient of variation (CV) of the nutrient and energy digestibility being higher at 9.65% compared to 48.25% inclusion level of wheat bran. Digestible energy content of wheat bran at 48.25% inclusion level (4.8 and 6.7 MJ/kg of DM, respectively) fermented by hindgut was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that in 9.65% wheat bran inclusion level (2.56 and 2.12 MJ/kg of DM, respectively), which was also affected (p<0.05) by two growth stages. This increase in hindgut fermentation caused the difference in ileal DE (p<0.05) to disappear at total tract level. All in all, increasing wheat bran levels in diets negatively influences the digestibility of some nutrients in pigs, while it positively affects the DE fermentation in the hindgut.