• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.8
• /
• pp.875-880
• /
• 2016

The plasma membrane plays a crucial role in relaying signals from the outside environment to the inside of the cells. In eukaryotic cells, the inner leaflets of the plasma membrane are composed mostly of phospholipids, including phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylinositides (PIs). In this study, we tried to analyze the morphological changes induced by EGFP-fused membrane binding proteins, which are targeted to the plasma membrane via specific phospholipids binding. As a result, we found that overexpression of EGFP-P4M-SidM, a specific PI4P binding protein, or EGFP alone, did not induce any morphological changes. On the other hand, overexpression of EGFP-PLCδ1(PH), which is a specific PI(4,5)P₂ binding protein, EGFP-AKT1(PH) which binds to PI(3,4,5)P₃, or EGFP-OSH2(PH)×2 which binds to PI4P and PI(4,5)P₂, could induce the filopodia and lamilapodia formation as well as cell shrinkage. Overexpression of Lact-C2-EGFP which is a specific PS-binding probe, EGFP fused Aplysia phosphodiesterase 4 (ApPDE4) long-form (L(N20)-EGFP) which is localized to the plasma membrane via hydrophobic interaction, or EGFP fused Aplysia PDE4 short-form (S(N-UCR1-2)-EGFP) which is localized to the plasma membrane via electrostatic interaction, could induce cell shrinkage, but not filopodia or lamilapodia formation. Taken together, our data support that the different phospholipid bindings in the plasma membrane could induce different characteristic morphological changes. Thus, we can analyze, characterize, and classify the cellular morphological changes induced by the various phospholipid binding proteins.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.12.1-12.7
• /
• 2014

This study investigated changes in gene expression by dietary fat source, i.e., beef tallow, soybean oil, olive oil, and coconut oil (each 3% in feed), in both male and female growing-finishing pigs. Real-time PCR was conducted on seven genes (insulin receptor; INSR, insulin receptor substrate; IRS, phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate; PIP3, 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1; PDK1, protein kinase B; Akt, forkhead box protein O1; FOXO1 and cGMP-inhibited 3', 5'-cyclic phosphodiesterase; PDE3) located upstream of the insulin signaling pathway in the longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) of pigs. The INSR, IRS, PIP3, and PDE3 genes showed significantly differential expression in barrow pigs. Expression of the PIP3 and FOXO1 genes was significantly different among the four dietary groups in gilt pigs. In particular, the PIP3 gene showed the opposite expression pattern between barrow and gilt pigs. These results show that dietary fat source affected patterns of gene expression according to animal gender. Further, the results indicate that the type of dietary fat affects insulin signaling-related gene expression in the LM of pigs. These results can be applied to livestock production by promoting the use of discriminatory feed supplies.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.561-574
• /
• 2018

In this paper, for efficiently reducing the computational cost of the model updating during the optimization process of damage detection, the structural response is evaluated using properly trained surrogate model. Furthermore, in practice uncertainties in the FE model parameters and modelling errors are inevitable. Hence, an efficient approach based on Monte Carlo simulation is proposed to take into account the effect of uncertainties in developing a surrogate model. The probability of damage existence (PDE) is calculated based on the probability density function of the existence of undamaged and damaged states. The current work builds a framework for Probability Based Damage Detection (PBDD) of structures based on the best combination of metaheuristic optimization algorithm and surrogate models. To reach this goal, three popular metamodeling techniques including Cascade Feed Forward Neural Network (CFNN), Least Square Support Vector Machines (LS-SVMs) and Kriging are constructed, trained and tested in order to inspect features and faults of each algorithm. Furthermore, three wellknown optimization algorithms including Ideal Gas Molecular Movement (IGMM), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Bat Algorithm (BA) are utilized and the comparative results are presented accordingly. Furthermore, efficient schemes are implemented on these algorithms to improve their performance in handling problems with a large number of variables. By considering various indices for measuring the accuracy and computational time of PBDD process, the results indicate that combination of LS-SVM surrogate model by IGMM optimization algorithm have better performance in predicting the of damage compared with other methods.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.11C
• /
• pp.925-931
• /
• 2008

In video coding standard H.264/AVC, variable block size mode algorithm improves compression efficiency but has need of a large amount of computation for various block modes and mode decision. Meanwhile, decided inter block modes depend on the complexity of a block image, and then the more complex a macroblock is, the smaller its block size is. This paper proposes fast inter block mode decision algorithm. It limits valid block modes to the block modes with a great chance for decision using the image complexity and carries out motion estimation rate-distortion optimization with only the valid block modes. In addition to that, it applies fast motion estimation PDE to the valid block modes with only the $16{\times}16$ block mode. The reference software JM 9.5 was executed to estimate the proposed algorithm's performance. The simulation results showed that the proposed algorithm could save about 24.12% of the averaged motion estimation time while keeping the image quality and the bit rate to be -0.02dB and -0.12% on the average, respectively.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.101-106
• /
• 2019

Most diabetic patients experience diabetic mellitus (DM) urinary bladder dysfunction. A number of studies evaluate bladder smooth muscle contraction in DM. In this study, we evaluated the change of bladder smooth muscle contraction between normal rats and DM rats. Furthermore, we used pharmacological inhibitors to determine the differences in the signaling pathways between normal and DM rats. Rats in the DM group received an intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin and measured blood glucose level after 14 days to confirm DM. Bladder smooth muscle contraction was induced using acetylcholine (ACh, $10^{-4}M$). The materials such as, atropine (a muscarinic receptor antagonist), U73122 (a phospholipase C inhibitor), DPCPX (an adenosine $A_1$ receptor antagonist), udenafil (a PDE5 inhibitor), prazosin (an ${\alpha}_1$-receptor antagonist), papaverine (a smooth muscle relaxant), verapamil (a calcium channel blocker), and chelerythrine (a protein kinase C inhibitor) were pre-treated in bladder smooth muscle. We found that the DM rats had lower bladder smooth muscle contractility than normal rats. When prazosin, udenafil, verapamil, and U73122 were pre-treated, there were significant differences between normal and DM rats. Taken together, it was concluded that the change of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release mediated by PLC/IP3 and PDE5 activity were responsible for decreased bladder smooth muscle contractility in DM rats.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.249.1-249.1
• /
• 2002

This study was carried out to demonstrate the effects of oral administration of DA-8159. a selective phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor. on development of pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline (MCT). MCT-treated rats(60mg/kg) were divided into three groups and orally administered vehicle, 1 mg/kg or 5 mg/kgg of DA-8159 twice a day for 3 weeks. Increased right ventricular weights, medial wall thickening in pulmonary arteries. myocardial fibrosis, decrease of plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) level and body weight gains were shown in MCT group. (omitted)

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.34-41
• /
• 1996

The heat of evaporation (cold energy) of LNG is the energy consumed in the production of LNG. This energy amounts to 14% of the NG. In Pyungtak LNG terminal, it is about 96 MW in 1993. In order to utilize the cold energy, the cold power generation systems are investigated: The Rankine cycle using the low temperature energy, the partial expansion cycle using the pressure energy, and the Linde process which is a combined cycle of the Rankine and the partial direct expansion cycle. The commercial simulator, ASPEN Plus, is used. The conceptual design data are obtained from the current facilities of the Pyungtak LNG terminal. The performances of three systems are evaluated. The amount of electric power ranges iron 3 MW to 6MW. The optimum energy efficiency is about 37%. The optimum design conditions are obtained for the partial direct expansion (PDE) cycle. The performance of the PDE cycle is supposed to be comparable to that of the Rankine cycle if the areas of the total heat exchanger of the both cycle are equal.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.80-86
• /
• 2001

Objective: To assess the potential clinical utility of in-vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in patients with various malignant and benign breast lesions. Materials and Methods: Seventeen patients with untreated primary malignant breast lesions (group I), eight patients with untreated benign breast lesions (group II) and seven normal breasts (group III) were included in this study. In-vivo 31P MRS was performed using a 1.5 Tesla MR scanner. Because of the characteristics of the coil, the volume of the tumor had to exceed 12 cc (3×2×2 cm), with a superoinferior diameter at least 3 cm. Mean and standard deviations of each metabolite were calculated and metabolite ratios, such as PME/PCr, PDE/PCr, T-ATP/PCr and PCr/T-ATP were calculated and statistically analyzed. Results: Significant differences in PME were noted between groups I and III (p=0.0213), and between groups II and III (p=0.0213). The metabolite ratios which showed significant differences were PME/PCr (between groups II and III) (p=0.0201), PDE/PCr (between groups I and III, and between groups II and III) (p=0.0172), T-ATP/PCr (between groups II and III) (p=0.0287), and PCr/T-ATP (between groups II and III) (p=0.0287). There were no significant parameters between groups I and II. Conclusion: In-vivo 31P MRS is not helpful for establishing a differential diagnosis between benign and malignant breast lesions, at least with relatively large lesions greater than 3 cm in one or more dimensions.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.94-99
• /
• 2004

Purpose : To investigate the signal enhancement ratio by NOE effect on in vivo $^{31}P$ MRS in human heart muscle and liver. we also evaluated the enhancement ratios of different phosphorus metabolites, which are important in 31P MRS for each organ. Materials and Methods : Ten normal subjects (M:F = 8:2, age range = 24-32 yrs) were included for in vivo $^{31}P$ MRS measurements on a 1.5 T whole-body MRI/MRS system using $^1H-^{31}P$ dual tuned surface coil. Two-dimensional Chemical Shift Imaging (2D CSI) pulse sequence for $^{31}P$ MRS was employed in all $^{31}P$ MRS measurements. First, $^{31}P$ MRS performed without NOE effect and then the same 2D CSI data acquisitions were repeated with NOE effect. After postprocessing the MRS raw data in the time domain, the signal enhancements in percent were estimated from the major metabolites. Results : The calculated NOE enhancement for liver $^{31}P$ MRS were $\alpha-ATP\;(7\%),\;\beta-ATP\;(9\%),\;\gamma-ATP\;(17\%),\;Pi\;(1\%),\;PDE\;(19\%)$ and $PME\;(31\%)$. Because there is no creatine kinase activity in liver, PCr signal is absent. For cardiac $^{31}P$ MRS, whole body coil gave better scout images and thus better localization than surface coil. In $^{31}P$cardiac multi-voxel spectra, DPG signal increased from left to right according to the amount of blood included. The calculated enhancement for cardiac $^{31}P$ MRS were : $\alpha-ATP\;(12\%),\;\beta-ATP\;(19\%),\;\gamma-ATP\;(30\%),\;PCr\;(34\%),\;Pi\;(20\%),\;(PDE)\;(51\%),\;and\;DPG\;(72\%)$. Conclusion : Our results revealed that the NOE effect was more pronounced in heart muscle than in liver with different coupling to 1H spin system and thus different heteronuclear cross-relaxation.

• East Asian mathematical journal
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.583-591
• /
• 2020

In [8, 9] they introduced a new finite element method for accurate numerical solutions of Poisson equations with corner singularities. They consider the Poisson equations with corner singularities, compute the finite element solutions using standard Finite Element Methods and use the extraction formula to compute the stress intensity factor(s), then they posed new PDE with a regular solution by imposing the nonhomogeneous boundary condition using the computed stress intensity factor(s), which converges with optimal speed. From the solution they could get an accurate solution just by adding the singular part. The error analysis was given in [5]. In their approaches, the singular functions and the extraction formula which give the stress intensity factor are the basic elements. In this paper we consider the biharmonic problems with the cramped and/or simply supported boundary conditions and get the singular functions and its duals and find properties of them, which are the cornerstones of the approaches of [8, 9, 10].