• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.32-40
• /
• 2013

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have enormous potential in the biomedical sciences because they can grow continuously and differentiate into any kind of cell in the body. However, for future application in regenerative medicine, it is still a challenge to control the differentiation of PSCs without using genetic materials. To control the differentiation of PSCs, small molecules might be the best substitute for genetic materials considering the following advantages: small size, which enables penetration of plasma membrane; easy-to-modify structure; and low chance of genetic recombination in treated cells. Herein, we introduce small molecules that induce the neuroectodermal differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The small molecules were identified via ESC-based consecutive screenings of small-molecule libraries composed of 324 natural compounds or 93 selected drugs. The natural compounds discovered in the first screening were used to select 93 structurally similar drugs out of 1,200 approved drugs. In the second screening, among the 93 compounds, we found 4 drugs that induced the neuroectodermal differentiation of ESCs. These drugs were progesteroneor corticoid-derivatives. Our results suggest that small molecules targeting the progesterone receptor or glucocorticoid receptor could be used as chemical tools to induce the differentiation of PSCs into a specific germ lineage.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.376-383
• /
• 1999

The effects of $\beta$-carotene substitutionl for vitamin A and the chronic consumption of ethanol of ethanol on hepatic folate metabolism were studied it rats. The substitution of $\beta$-carotene for vitamin A depressed hepatic 10-formyl-tetreahydrofolate dehydrogenase(10-formyl-tetrahydrofolate : NADP oxidoreductase, E.C. 1.5. 1.6)activity to 65% of controls(p<0.001) and enhanced hepatic 5, 10-methy-lenetetrahydrofolate reductase(E. C. 6.3.3.2)activity by 56% with respect to control levels(p<0.001). Hepatic activity of 10-formyltertrahydrofolate dehydrogenase was depressed to about half that of control levels by ethanol administration to rats(36% ethanol diet, p<0.001). The activity of 5, 10-methyleneterahydrofolate reductase was not changed by ethanol consumption. The increased activity of 5, 10-methyleneterahydrofolate reductase and the decreased activity of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase appeared to decrease the level of nonmethyl folate conezyme and the rate of one-carbon metabolism. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were significantly higher in rats fed ethanol(p<0.01) o $\beta$-carotene(p<0.001) than in controls, which suggests that increased activity of 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase can depress homocysteine metabolism. We concluded that dietary substitution of $\beta$-carotene for vitamin A or chronic administration of ethanol resulted in changes in the activity of hepatic folate-dependent enzymes, which could affect the distribution of folate derivatives, plasma homocysteine levels and one-carbon metabolism.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.11
• /
• pp.1634-1637
• /
• 2001

Allantoin and uric acid were estimated in milk to study the association between the levels of these purine derivatives and milk production per day under given feeding regimens. Keeping the stage of lactation, parity and initial milk yield in view thirty lactating buffaloes were randomly selected from early lactating group. All the animals were fed 30 kg green, 2 kg straw and 5 kg concentrate mixture on per animal/day basis at basal level up to 8 1 produce. 1 kg concentrate mixture, soaked cotton seed and boiled cotton seed was fed for every 2 I milk, respectively in Group I (control), Group II and Group III animals. Average milk Allantoin and Uric acid levels were $120{\pm}11.7g/ml$ and $4.03{\pm}0.63g/ml$, respectively in milk. Cotton seed feeding enhanced the milk production significantly (p<0.01) in comparison to concentrate mixture fed control group animals. A significant difference (p<0.01) in milk allantoin levels was found over the different feeding management at higher level of production group animals. Study also revealed a significant negative correlation between the milk allantoin and production per day r=-0.43 (p<0.05).

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.300-307
• /
• 1996

ATP and ADP are potential regulators of mitochondtial respiration and at physiological concentrations they affect the rate of electron transfer between cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase. The electron transfer, however, depends on the electrostatic interaction between the two proteins. In order to exclude any nonspecific ionic effects by these polyvalent nucleotides, we used 2'-O-(2,4,6)trinitro(TNP)-derivatives of ATP and ADP which have three orders of magnitude higher affinity for cytochrome c oxidase. A simple titration of the fluorescence intensity of TNP by cytochrome c oxidase showed a binding stoichiometry of 2:1 cytochrome c:cytochrome c oxidase. Higher ionic strength was required for TNP-ATP than for TNP-ADP to be dissociated from cytochrome c oxidase, indicating that the negative charges on the phosphate group are at least partially responsible for the binding. In both spectrophotometric and polarographic assays, addition of ATP (and ADP to a less extent) showed an enhanced cytochrome c oxidase activity. Both electron paramagnetic resonance and fluorescence spectra indicate that there is no Significant change in the cytochrome c-cytochrome c oxidase interaction. Instead, reduction levels of the cytochromes at steadystate suggest that the increased activity of nucleotide-bound cytochrome c oxidase is due to faster electron transfer from cytochrome ${\alpha}$ to cytochrome ${\alpha}_3$, which is known to be the fate limiting step in the oxygen reduction by cytochrome c oxidase.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.53-58
• /
• 2011

Systemic acquired resistance is a form of inducible resistance that is triggered in systemic healthy tissues of local-infected plants. Several candidate signaling molecules emerged in the past two years, including the methylated derivatives of well-known defense hormones salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA). In our present study, the symptom on Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) infected Arabidopsis leaves in 0.1 mM SA or 0.06 mM JA pre-treated plants was lighter (less reactive oxygen species accumulation and less oxidative damages) than that of the control group. JA followed by SA (JA${\rightarrow}$SA) had the highest inhibitory efficiency to CMV replication, higher than JA and SA simultaneous co-pretreatment (JA+SA), and higher than a JA or a SA single pretreatment. The crosstalk between the two hormones was further investigated at the transcriptional levels of pathogenesis-related genes. The time-course measurement showed JA might play a more important role in the interaction between JA and SA.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.5
• /
• pp.1403-1415
• /
• 2021

The transient capability of a SP₃ based pin-wise core analysis code SPHINCS is developed and verified through the analyses of the C5G7-TD benchmark. Spatial discretization is done by the fine mesh finite difference method (FDM) within the framework of the coarse mesh finite difference (CMFD) formulation. Pin size fine meshes are used in the radial fine mesh kernels. The time derivatives of the odd moments in the time-dependent SP₃ equations are neglected. The pin homogenized group constants and Super Homogenization (SPH) factors generated from the 2D single assembly calculations at the unrodded and rodded conditions are used in the transient calculations via proper interpolation involving the approximate flux weighting method for the cases that involve control rod movement. The simplifications and approximations introduced in SPHINCS are assessed and verified by solving all the problems of C5G7-TD and then by comparing with the results of the direct whole core calculation code nTRACER. It is demonstrated that SPHINCS yields accurate solutions in the transient behaviors of core power and reactivity.

• Journal of IKEEE
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.716-721
• /
• 2019

A novel switching differentiator-based backstepping controller for uncertain pure-feedback nonlinear systems is proposed. Using asymptotically convergent switching differentiator, time-derivatives of the virtual controls are directly estimated in every backstepping design steps. As a result, the control law has an extremely simple form and asymptotical stability of the tracking error is guaranteed regardless of parametric or unstructured uncertainties and unmatched disturbances in the considered system. It is required no universal approximators such as neural networks or fuzzy logic systems that are adaptively tuned online to cope with system uncertainties. Simulation results show the simplicity and performance of the proposed controller.

• Nonlinear Functional Analysis and Applications
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.649-672
• /
• 2024

This paper explores the significance and implications of fixed point results related to orbital contraction as a novel form of contraction in various fields. Theoretical developments and theorems provide a solid foundation for understanding and utilizing the properties of orbital contraction, showcasing its efficacy through numerous examples and establishing stability and convergence properties. The application of orbital contraction in control systems proves valuable in designing resilient and robust control strategies, ensuring reliable performance even in the presence of disturbances and uncertainties. In the realm of financial modeling, the application of fixed point results offers valuable insights into market dynamics, enabling accurate price predictions and facilitating informed investment decisions. The practical implications of fixed point results related to orbital contraction are substantiated through empirical evidence, numerical simulations, and real-world data analysis. The ability to identify and leverage fixed points grants stability, convergence, and optimal system performance across diverse applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
• /
• 2002.04a
• /
• pp.543-550
• /
• 2002

This work is concerned with the estimation of output derivatives and their use for the design of robust controller for linear systems with systems uncertainties due to modeling errors and disturbance. It is assumed that a nominal transfer function model and Quantitative bounds for system uncertainties are known. The developed control schemes are shown to achieve regulation of the system output and ensures boundedness of the system states without imposing any structural conditions on system uncertainties and disturbances. Output derivative estimation is first conducted trough restructuring of the plant in a specific parameterization. They are utilized for constructing robust nonlinear high-gain feedback controller of a SMC(Sliding Mode Controller) Type. The performances of the developed controller are evaluated and shown to be effective and useful through simulation study.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
• /
• 2002.05a
• /
• pp.253-258
• /
• 2002

This work is concerned with the estimation of output derivatives and their use for the design of robust controller for linear systems with systems uncertainties due to modeling errors and disturbance. It is assumed that a nominal transfer function model and quantitative bounds for system uncertainties are known The developed control schemes are shown to achieve regulation of the system output and ensures boundedness of the system states without imposing any structural conditions on system uncertainties and disturbances. Output derivative estimation is first conducted trough restructuring of the plant in a specific parameterization. They are utilized for constructing robust nonlinear high-gain feedback controller of a SMC(Sliding Mode Controller)Type. The performances of the developed controller are evaluated and shown to be effective and useful through simulation study.