RASAL1 Attenuates Gastric Carcinogenesis in Nude Mice by Blocking RAS/ERK Signaling

Chen, Hong,Zhao, Ji-Yi,Qian, Xu-Chen,Cheng, Zheng-Yuan,Liu, Yang,Wang, Zhi Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.3

Recent studies have suggested that the RAS protein activator like-1 (RASAL1) functions as a tumor suppressor in vitro and may play an important role in the development of gastric cancer. However, whether or not RASAL1 suppresses tumor growth in vivo remains to be determined. In the present study, we investigated the role of RASAL1 in gastric carcinogenesis using an in vivo xenograft model. A lentiviral RASAL1 expression vector was constructed and utilized to transfect the human poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma cell line, BGC-823. RASAL1 expression levels were verified by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. Then, we established the nude mice xenograft model using BGC-823 cells either over-expressing RASAL1 or normal. After three weeks, the results showed that the over-expression of RASAL1 led to a significant reduction in both tumor volume and weight compared with the other two control groups. Furthermore, in xenograft tissues the increased expression of RASAL1 in BGC-823 cells caused decreased expression of p-ERK1/2, a downstream moleculein the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signal pathway. These findings demonstrated that the over-expression of RASAL1 could inhibit the growth of gastric cancer by inactivation of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in vivo. This study indicates that RASAL1 may attenuate gastric carcinogenesis.

Resonant-Frequency-Dependent Flux Noise of a High-TC rf SQUID Coupled to a Substrate Resonator

Ji-Cheng Chen,Hong-Chang Yang,Chiu-Hsien Wu,Herng-Er Horng,Jen-Tzong Jeng,Kuen-Lin Chen 한국물리학회 2006 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.48 No.5I

In the recent development of a high-TC rf SQUID magnetometer, Zhang et al. used a SrTiO3 substrate resonator with a YBCO thin film flux concentrator on it. The effective area was improved by a flux concentrator. However, there was no study of the resonant frequency of the substrate resonator. In this work, the frequency-dependent flux noise of a high-TC rf SQUID coupled to a substrate resonator was investigated. The results were analyzed with the noise theory. The optimization of the SQUID with a substrate resonator and its flux noise are discussed.

mTOR- and SGK-Mediated Connexin 43 Expression Participates in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Macrophage Migration through the iNOS/Src/FAK Axis

Shen, Chen,Chen, Jin Hong,Lee, Youngyi,Hassan, Md. Mehedi,Kim, Su Jin,Choi, Eun Young,Hong, Seong-Tshool,Park, Byung-Hyun,Park, Ji Hyun American Association of Immunologists 2018 Journal of Immunology Vol. No.

<P>Connexin 43 (Cx43) deficiency was found to increase mortality in a mouse model of bacterial peritonitis, and Cx43 is upregulated in macrophages by LPS treatment. In this study, we characterized a novel signaling pathway for LPS-induced Cx43 expression in RAW264.7 cells and thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages (TGEMs). LPS alone or LPS-containing conditioned medium (CM) upregulated Cx43. Overexpression or silencing of Cx43 led to the enhancement or inhibition, respectively, of CM-induced TGEM migration. This response involved the inducible NO synthase (iNOS)/focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/Src pathways. Moreover, CM-induced migration was compromised in TGEMs from Cx43<SUP>+/−</SUP> mice compared with TGEMs from Cx43<SUP>+/+</SUP> littermates. Cx43 was upregulated by a serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK) activator and downregulated, along with inhibition of CM-induced TGEM migration, by knockdown of the <I>SGK</I> gene or blockade of the SGK pathway. LPS-induced SGK activation was abrogated by Torin2, whereas LPS-induced Cx43 was downregulated by both Torin2 and rapamycin. Analysis of the effects of FK506 and methylprednisolone, common immunosuppressive agents following organ transplantation, suggested a link between these immunosuppressive drugs and impaired macrophage migration via the Cx43/iNOS/Src/FAK pathway. In a model of <I>Escherichia coli</I> infectious peritonitis, GSK650349-, an SGK inhibitor, or Torin2-treated mice showed less accumulation of F4/80<SUP>+</SUP>CD11b<SUP>+</SUP> macrophages in the peritoneal cavity, with a delay in the elimination of bacteria. Furthermore, following pretreatment with Gap19, a selective Cx43 hemichannel blocker, the survival of model mice was significantly reduced. Taken together, our study suggested that Cx43 in macrophages was associated with macrophage migration, an important immune process in host defense to infection.</P>

유럽업체상표 선호도에 영향을 미치는 요인들의 구조적 관계

진기홍(Chen Ji-Hong),박명호(Park Myung-Ho),김상우(Kim Sang-Woo) 한국소비문화학회 2004 소비문화연구 Vol.7 No.3

본 연구의 목적은 소비자의 유통업체상표 선호도에 영향을 미치는 중요 요인들(가격민감성, 지각된 품질차이, 제품친숙성, 점포이미지, 지각된 위험)을 선정하여 이들 요인들간의 구조적 관계를 규명하는데 있다. 또한, 이들 관계에 대한 소비자의 인구통계적 특성(연령, 학력, 소득)의 조절적 효과도 추가적으로 분석하였다. 선행연구를 바탕으로 연구모형과 가설을 설정하고, 유통업체상표를 구매한 경험이 있는 소비자를 대상으로 실증분석을 하였다. 분석결과 지각된 품질차이는 지각된 위험에 영향을 미치고, 소비자의 가격민감성, 지각된 위험 및 점포이미지는 유통업체상표 선호도에 영향을 미치는 것으로 확인되었다. 한편, 소비자의 인구통계적 특성이 이들 변수들간의 관계를 조절하는가를 검정하였다. 따라서, 유통업체상표의 성공적인 마케팅을 위해서는 소비자의 지각된 위험을 감소시키는 방안과 적정한 가격설정 및 점포이미지를 제고하는 마케팅전략을 적극 구사할 필요가 있으며, 소비자 세분시장별 차별적 마케팅활동을 전개하기 위한 PB를 개발할 필요가 있다. To understand consumer's preference and purchase behavior of private brands(PBs), this study is focusing on consumer's perception of price sensitivity, product quality difference, product familiarity and store image which are major characteristics of goods, as well as on consumer's perceived risks. The results of this study coincide with the direction of research hypotheses Most hypotheses are accepted, except for those on product familiarity and consumer-perceived risks. This research suggests that PB managers need to exercise marketing strategy and methodology to minimize consumer's perceived risks for the successful marketing of their PBs. In other words, it is required to utilize the distinctive marketing strategy to improve such aspects like as the appropriate price level and product qualities of PBs and the store image which affect consumer's preference of PBs. Also, this study confirms the necessity to maintain and build the customer relations in compliance with consumers' characteristics and to exercise marketing activities suitable for each market segment, since there exist significant differences in the special qualities of goods required by typical consumers for their preference of PBs.

Risk Factors for Anxiety in Major Depressive Disorder Patients

Li-Min Xin,Lin Chen,Zhen-Peng Ji,Suo-Yuan Zhang,Jun Wang,Yan-Hong Liu,Da-Fang Chen,Fu-De Yang,Gang Wang,Yi-Ru Fang,Zheng Lu,Hai-Chen Yang,Jian Hu,Zhi-Yu Chen,Yi Huang,Jing Sun,Xiao-Ping Wang,Hui-Chun 대한정신약물학회 2015 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.13 No.3

Objective: To analyze the sociodemographic and clinical factors related to anxiety in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: This study involved a secondary analysis of data obtained from the Diagnostic Assessment Service for People with Bipolar Disorders in China (DASP), which was initiated by the Chinese Society of Psychiatry (CSP) and conducted from September 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011. Based on the presence or absence of anxiety-related characteristics, 1,178 MDD patients were classified as suffering from anxious depression (n=915) or non-anxious depression (n=263), respectively. Results: Compared with the non-anxious group, the anxious-depression group had an older age at onset (t=−4.39, p<0.001), were older (t=−4.69, p<0.001), reported more lifetime depressive episodes (z=−3.24, p=0.001), were more likely to experience seasonal depressive episodes (χ2=6.896, p=0.009) and depressive episodes following stressful life events (χ2=59.350, p <0.001), and were more likely to have a family history of psychiatric disorders (χ2=6.091, p=0.014). Their positive and total scores on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) and the 32-item Hypomania Checklist (HCL-32) (p<0.05) were also lower. The logistic regression analysis indicated that age (odds ratio [OR]=1.03, p<0.001), a lower total MDQ score (OR=0.94, p=0.011), depressive episodes following stressful life events (OR=3.04, p<0.001), and seasonal depressive episodes (OR=1.75, p=0.039) were significantly associated with anxious depression. Conclusion: These findings indicate that older age, fewer subclinical bipolar features, an increased number of depressive episodes following stressful life events, and seasonal depressive episodes may be risk factors for anxiety-related characteristics in patients with MDD.

High abundance of protein-like fluorescence in the Amerasian Basin of Arctic Ocean: Potential implication of a fall phytoplankton bloom

Chen, Meilian,Nam, Seung-Il,Kim, Ji-Hoon,Kwon, Young-Joo,Hong, Sungwook,Jung, Jinyoung,Shin, Kyung-Hoon,Hur, Jin Elsevier BV 2017 Science of the Total Environment Vol.599 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The seawater samples from the Chukchi and East Siberian Seas were collected along a shelf-slope-basin gradient and analyzed for chromophoric and fluorescent DOM (i.e., CDOM and FDOM, respectively). Unexpected high protein-like FDOM (0.35±0.40 and 0.24±0.34 RU for peaks B and T, respectively) levels were identified, which corresponded to 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than those documented by previous reports. This unique phenomenon could be attributed to a fall phytoplankton bloom. The seawater chl-<I>a</I> data, estimated from in situ fluorescence measurements and satellite remote sensing data, showed the subsurface chl-<I>a</I> maximum of up to 1.52mgm<SUP>−3</SUP> at ~25–70m depths and the surface monthly average values (August 2015) up to 0.55 to 0.71mgm<SUP>−3</SUP>, which fall in the range of ~0.5–2.0mgm<SUP>−3</SUP> during fall phytoplankton blooms in this area. Meanwhile, the depth profile of DOM parameters revealed subsurface maxima of protein-like fluorescence peaks along the shelf-slope gradient. The positive correlations between the protein-like peaks and biological index implied the lateral transport of DOM and nutrients from the shelf to the slope and basin. Despite still being a largely ice-covered environment, potential shifts in the ecosystem appear to make progress in response to changing climate in the Arctic Ocean.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Importance of CDOM dynamics in the fast-changing Arctic ecosystem is highlighted. </LI> <LI> Optical properties of DOM were spatially examined in the Arctic Ocean area. </LI> <LI> High levels of protein-like fluorescence were newly found in the region. </LI> <LI> All observed data including remote sensing data supported fall phytoplankton bloom. </LI> <LI> A lateral spreading of nutrients and DOM was suggested along shelf-slope-basin. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Comparison of developmental and reproductive biology inwing diphenic Anaphothrips obscurus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Hong-Xue Jiang,Su-Huan Niu,Xiao-Wei Li,Xiao-Chen Zhang,Ji-Nian Feng 한국응용곤충학회 2015 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.18 No.4

Anaphothrips obscurus (Müller) is a cosmopolitan pest feeding on cereal crops and grasses. This species exhibits wing polyphenism. Differences in the life history traits of female macropterous and brachypterous A. obscurus were compared in the laboratory for this study. Experiments were performed in climate chambers set at 20 and 25 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 10% RH under a 16 L:8D photoperiod. The duration of total pre-adult stage, adult preoviposition period and total pre-oviposition period of macropterous morphs were significantly longer than in the brachypterous morphs both at 20 and 25 °C. No significant differenceswere found in adult longevity, survival rate or total fecundity between the twowingmorphs,while early fecunditywas significantly higher for brachypterous females compared with that for macropterous females at two temperatures.

Preparation and Characterization of Porous and Composite Nanoparticulate Films of CdS at the Air/Water Interface

Ji, Guanglei,Chen, Kuang-Cai,Yang, Yan-Gang,Xin, Guoqing,Lee, Yong-Ill,Liu, Hong-Guo Korean Chemical Society 2010 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.31 No.9

CdS nano-particulate films were prepared at the air/water interface under Langmuir monolayers of arachidic acid (AA) via interfacial reaction between $Cd^{2+}$ ions in the subphase and $H_2S$ molecules in the gaseous phase. The films were made up of fine CdS nanoparticles with hexagonal Wurtzite crystal structure after reaction. It was revealed that the formation of CdS nano-particulate films depends largely on the experimental conditions. When the films were ripened at room temperature or an increased temperature ($60^{\circ}C$) for one day, numerous holes were appeared due to the dissolution of smaller nanoparticles and the growth of bigger nanoparticles with an improved crystallinity. When the films were ripened further, CdS rodlike nanoparticles with cubic zinc blende crystal structure appeared due to the re-nucleation and growth of CdS nanoparticles at the stacking faults and defect structures of the hexagonal CdS grains. These structures were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These results declare that CdS semiconductor nanoparticles formed at the air/water interface change their morphologies and crystal structures during the ripening process due to dissolution and recrystallization of the particles.

A Single Phase Active AC Power Filter

Chen Wei Ji,Chan Weng Hong 대한전자공학회 1998 ITC-CSCC :International Technical Conference on Ci Vol.- No.-

Effects of temperature on the development, reproduction and population growth of Anaphothrips obscurus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Hong-Xue Jiang,Xiao-Chen Zhang,Su-Huan Niu,Ji-Nian Feng 한국응용곤충학회 2016 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.19 No.4

Anaphothrips obscurus is a cosmopolitan pest feeding on cereals and other grasses. The effects of constant temperatures on the biology of A. obscurus are notwell known. Laboratory studieswere conducted to assess the effects of temperature on the development, survival, longevity, fecundity and population parameter of A. obscurus at six constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 32, 35 °C). The hatchability was the lowest at 15 °C, the highest at 25 °C and no eggs hatched at 35 °C. Developmental rates increased linearly as the temperature increased. The lower developmental threshold temperaturewas 10.6 °C and 200 degree-dayswere required to complete development from egg to adult. Adult longevity decreased with increasing temperature, and ranged from 68.87 d at 15 °C to 16.41 d at 32 °C. The highest total fecundity occurred at 20 °Cwith 162 eggs per female. The temperature-dependent total fecundity, age-specific oviposition rate, and age-specific survival rate models were described. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was significantly higher at 30 and 32 °C (0.239 and 0.250) than at other temperatures. This study suggests that optimal developmental and reproductive temperatures for A. obscurus ranges between 25 and 30 °C and this may help this species adapt to warmer areas and widen its distribution and potential for damage in response to global warming. These findings will also be useful in developing monitoring programs, population dynamic models, and timing of control measures for A. obscurus.