• Title/Summary/Keyword: Q-Stress

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In silico characterisation, homology modelling and structure-based functional annotation of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) Hsp70 and Hsc70 proteins

  • Tran, Ngoc Tuan;Jakovlic, Ivan;Wang, Wei-Min
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.57 no.12
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    • pp.44.1-44.9
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    • 2015
  • Background: Heat shock proteins play an important role in protection from stress stimuli and metabolic insults in almost all organisms. Methods: In this study, computational tools were used to deeply analyse the physicochemical characteristics and, using homology modelling, reliably predict the tertiary structure of the blunt snout bream (Ma-) Hsp70 and Hsc70 proteins. Derived three-dimensional models were then used to predict the function of the proteins. Results: Previously published predictions regarding the protein length, molecular weight, theoretical isoelectric point and total number of positive and negative residues were corroborated. Among the new findings are: the extinction coefficient (33725/33350 and 35090/34840 - Ma-Hsp70/ Ma-Hsc70, respectively), instability index (33.68/35.56 - both stable), aliphatic index (83.44/80.23 - both very stable), half-life estimates (both relatively stable), grand average of hydropathicity (-0.431/-0.473 - both hydrophilic) and amino acid composition (alanine-lysine-glycine/glycine-lysine-aspartic acid were the most abundant, no disulphide bonds, the N-terminal of both proteins was methionine). Homology modelling was performed by SWISS-MODEL program and the proposed model was evaluated as highly reliable based on PROCHECK's Ramachandran plot, ERRAT, PROVE, Verify 3D, ProQ and ProSA analyses. Conclusions: The research revealed a high structural similarity to Hsp70 and Hsc70 proteins from several taxonomically distant animal species, corroborating a remarkably high level of evolutionary conservation among the members of this protein family. Functional annotation based on structural similarity provides a reliable additional indirect evidence for a high level of functional conservation of these two genes/proteins in blunt snout bream, but it is not sensitive enough to functionally distinguish the two isoforms.

New Isolated Zero Voltage Switching PWM Boost Converter (새로운 절연된 영전압 스위칭 PWM 부스트 컨버터)

  • Cho, Eun-Jin;Moon, Gun-Woo;Jung, Young-Suk;Youn, Myung-Joong
    • Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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    • 1994.07a
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    • pp.535-538
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    • 1994
  • In this paper, an isolated ZVS-PWM boost converter is proposed for single stage line conversion. For power factor correction, we used the half bridge topology at the primary side of isolation transformer permitting switching devices to operate under ZVS by using circuit parastics and operating at a fixed duty ratio near 50%. Thus the relatively continuous input current distortion and small size input filter are also achievable. The ZVS-PWM boost operation of the proposed converter can be achieved by using the boost inductor $L_f$, main switch $Q_3$, and simple auxiliary circuit at the secondary side of isolation transformer. The secondary side circuit differ from a conventional PWM boost converter by introduction a simple auxiliary circuit. The auxiliary circuit is actived only during a short switching transition time to create the ZVS condition for the main switch as that of the ZVT-PWM boost converter. With a single stage, it is possible to achieve a sinusoidal line current at unity power factor as well as the isolated 48V DC output. Comparing to the two stage schemes, overall effiency of the proposed converter is highly improved due to the effective ZVS of all devices as well as single stage power conversion. Thus, it can be operated at high switching frequency allowing use of small size input filter. Minimum voltage and current stress make it high power application possible.

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Sildenafil Ameliorates Advanced Glycation End Products-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in HT-22 Hippocampal Neuronal Cells

  • Sung, Soon Ki;Woo, Jae Suk;Kim, Young Ha;Son, Dong Wuk;Lee, Sang Weon;Song, Geun Sung
    • Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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    • v.59 no.3
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    • pp.259-268
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    • 2016
  • Objective : Accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) and mitochondrial glycation is importantly implicated in the pathological changes of the brain associated with diabetic complications, Alzheimer disease, and aging. The present study was undertaken to determine whether sildenafil, a type 5 phosphodiesterase type (PDE-5) inhibitor, has beneficial effect on neuronal cells challenged with AGE-induced oxidative stress to preserve their mitochondrial functional integrity. Methods : HT-22 hippocampal neuronal cells were exposed to AGE and changes in the mitochondrial functional parameters were determined. Pretreatment of cells with sildenafil effectively ameliorated these AGE-induced deterioration of mitochondrial functional integrity. Results : AGE-treated cells lost their mitochondrial functional integrity which was estimated by their MTT reduction ability and intracellular ATP concentration. These cells exhibited stimulated generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, induction of mitochondrial permeability transition, and release of the cytochrome C, activation of the caspase-3 accompanied by apoptosis. Western blot analyses and qRT-PCR demonstrated that sildenafil increased the expression level of the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). CoPP and bilirubin, an inducer of HO-1 and a metabolic product of HO-1, respectively, provided a similar protective effects. On the contrary, the HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP IX blocked the effect of sildenafil. Transfection with HO-1 siRNA significantly reduced the protective effect of sildenafil on the loss of MTT reduction ability and MPT induction in AGE-treated cells. Conclusion : Taken together, our results suggested that sildenafil provides beneficial effect to protect the HT-22 hippocampal neuronal cells against AGE-induced deterioration of mitochondrial integrity, and upregulation of HO-1 is involved in the underlying mechanism.

The Perception of Teenagers on the Bully - With the subject of primary, middle and high school students - (학교청소년이 지각하는 집단 따돌림에 관한 연구 -초.중.고등학생을 대상으로-)

  • 정혜경;김경희
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.30 no.1
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    • pp.137-147
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    • 2000
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics of teenagers' perceptions to bullies according to the classification types of Q-methodology. The results of the analysis were classified in 5 types. Type 1, which was the type geared foward solution, showed that they expressed a strong attitude of sympathy and protection towards the victim. However, they had harbored rage and hostile feelings against the assaulter. For example, when they witnessed the bully in action, they positively intervened in the situation. Type 2, which was the observer type, showed that they thought the victims were to blame for their misfortune. Also, when a friend who was left out in the cold by his classmates, they were just watched without showing any special interest. Type 3, which was the type of conflict, indicated that they believed that the both the victim and the assaulter should have responsibility. In contrast to the previous type, they had sympathy for the friend who was left out in the cold by his classmates, they had the dual feeling that intended to use the bully under the situation with his friend. Type 4, which was the type of assenting, indicated that they assumed an indifferent attitude to the situation, while they implied assenting to the situation of the friend who had a bad relationship with them. Type 5, which was the negative type, showed that they had the negative view to the situation of bully itself so that they did not recognize the bully as the method of revenge for whatever reason. The results of the study showed that the bully increased the factor of stress to school life of the victim or assaulter, even in the subjective position. The perception of the bully should change according to the characteristics of the types of people and it is necessary to study how to cope with the situations.

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Genomic Organization and Isoform-Dependent Expression Patterns of Wap65 genes in Various Tissues during Immune Challenges in the Mud Loach Misgurnus mizolepis

  • Kim, Yi Kyung;Cho, Young Sun;Lee, Sang Yoon;Nam, Yoon Kwon
    • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.471-478
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    • 2014
  • Genomic organization, including the structural characteristics of 5'-flanking regions of two 65-kDa protein (WAP65) isoform genes associated with warm temperature acclimation, were characterized and their transcriptional responses to immune challenges were examined in the intestine, kidney and spleen of the mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis; Cypriniformes). Both mud loach Wap65 isoform genes displayed a 10-exon structure that is common to most teleostean Wap65 genes. The two mud loach Wap65 isoforms were predicted to possess various stress- and immune-related transcription factor binding sites in their regulatory regions; however, the predicted motif profiles differed between the two isoforms, and the inflammation-related transcription factor binding motifs, such as NF-${\kappa}B$ and CREBP sites, were more highlighted in the Wap65-2 isoform than the Wap65-1 isoform. The results of qRT-PCR indicated that experimental immune challenges using Edwardsiella tarda, lipopolysaccharide or polyI:C induced the Wap65-2 isoform more than Wap65-1 isoform, although modulation patterns in response to these challenges were tissue- and stimulant-dependent. This study confirms that functional diversification between the two mud loach Wap65 isoforms (i.e., closer involvement of Wap65-2 in the acute phase of inflammation and innate immunity) occurs at the mRNA level in multiple tissues, and suggests that such differential modulation patterns between the two isoforms are related to the different transcription factor binding profiles in their regulatory regions.

Development of Structural Equation Model for Causal Relationships Among the Risk Factors of Arteriosclerosis (동맥경화증 위험요인들간의 인과관계에 대한 구조모형 구축)

  • 오현수;서화숙
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.29 no.6
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    • pp.1192-1207
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    • 1999
  • The purpose of this study was to clarify the dynamic relationships among risk factors of arteriosclerosis and to develop and examine a model which could explain this relationship clearly. Data were collected from medical records of 400 male clients who visited a university hospital located in Inchon for physical examinations, from May 1996 to December 1996. Data were analyzed using the LISREL (Linear Structural Relationship) 8 program. To test the fitness of the hypothesized model, chi-square, RMSR (root mean square residual), GFI (goodness of fit index), CN (critical number) and Q-plot were used. Most of the fitness measurements, except the chi-square showed that the hypothesized model complimented the real data. According to the results, there were trends that obesity and hyperlipidemia were prevalent in heavier smokers, higher alcohol intakers, and groups who excercised less. Also, hypertension was more prevalent in older age, higher alcohol intaker, and higher serum lipid level groups. In contrast to the hypothesis, alcohol intake did not significantly affect serum lipid levels. This might be due to the serum lipid measurements (total cholesterol and trigryceride) used in this study to estimate hyperlipidemia. The direct effect of smoking on hypertension was not significant. However, the total effect of smoking on the hypertension was significant since indirect effects of smoking on hypertension, such as obesity and hyperlipidemia, were significant. The total effect of obesity on hypertension was significant since the indirect effect of obesity on hypertension via hyperlipidemia was significant, although the direct effect of smoking on hypertension was not significant. The degree of explaining hyperlipidemia with smoking, exercise, and obesity was high (60%), however, the degree of explaining obesity with age, smoking, alcohol intake, and exercise was very low (7%). On the basis of these results, high risk factors of arteriosclerosis such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or obesity are either directly or indirectly correlated each other. Therefore, it is difficult to predict outcomes for increasing or decreasing the risk factors by simply modulating a factor. Smoking, alcohol, and exercise both directly and indirectly affected major risk factors of arteriosclerosis. Therefore, correcting these variables is required to decrease risk factors. Finally, the relationship among other risk factors which have been known to be related with arteriosclerosis (diet, stress or hereditary) should be clarified in further studies.

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Effects of Oleo Gum Resin of Ferula assa-foetida L. on Senescence in Human Dermal Fibroblasts - Asafoetida reverses senescence in fibroblasts -

  • Moghadam, Farshad Homayouni;Mesbah-Ardakani, Mehrnaz;Nasr-Esfahani, Mohammad Hossein
    • Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.213-219
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    • 2017
  • Objectives: Based on data from Chinese and Indian traditional herbal medicines, gum resin of Ferula assa-foetida (sometimes referred to asafetida or asafoetida) has several therapeutic applications. The authors of various studies have claimed that asafetida has cytotoxic, antiulcer, anti-neoplasm, anti-cancer, and anti-oxidative effects. In present study, the anti-aging effect of asafetida on senescent human dermal fibroblasts was evaluated. Methods: Senescence was induced in in vitro cultured human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) through exposure to $H_2O_2$, and the incidence of senescence was recognized by using cytochemical staining for the activity of ${\beta}$-galactosidase. Then, treatment with oleo gum resin of asafetida was started to evaluate its rejuvenating effect. The survival rate of fibroblasts was evaluated by using methyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot assays were performed to evaluate the expressions of apoptotic and anti-apoptotic markers. Results: Our experiments show that asafetida in concentrations ranging from $5{\times}10^{-8}$ to $10^{-7}g/mL$ has revitalizing effects on senescent fibroblasts and significantly reduces the ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity in these cells (P < 0.05). Likewise, treatment at these concentrations increases the proliferation rate of normal fibroblasts (P < 0.05). However, at concentrations higher than $5{\times}10^{-7}g/mL$, asafetida is toxic for cells and induces cell death. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that asafetida at low concentrations has a rejuvenating effect on senescent fibroblasts whereas at higher concentrations, it has the opposite effect of facilitating cellular apoptosis and death.

Molecular Genetic Characterization and Analysis of Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression in the Big-belly Seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis (빅벨리해마(Hippocampus abdominalis) 글루코코르티코이드 수용체의 분자 유전학적 동정과 발현 분석)

  • Jo, Eunyoung;Oh, Minyoung;Lee, Sukkung;Qiang, Wan;Lee, Jehee
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.48 no.3
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    • pp.346-353
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    • 2015
  • Glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroid hormones regulated through responses to stress to maintain diverse metabolic and homeostatic functions. GCs act on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a member of the nuclear receptor family. This study identified and characterized the GR gene from the big-belly seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis designating it HaGR. The open reading frame of the HaGR cDNA was 2,346 bp in length, encoding a 782-amino-acid polypeptide with a theoretical isoelectric point of 6.26 and predicted molecular mass of 86.8 kDa. Nuclear receptors share a common structural organization, comprising an N-terminal transactivation domain, DNA-binding domain, and C-terminal ligand-binding domain. The tissue-specific mRNA expression profile of HaGR was analyzed in healthy seahorses using a qPCR technique. HaGR mRNA was expressed ubiquitously in all of the tissues examined, with the highest expression levels in kidney, intestine, stomach, and gill tissues. The mRNA expression in response to immune challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), Edwardsiella tarda, and Streptococcus iniae revealed that it is inducible in response to pathogen infection. These results suggest that HaGR is involved in the immune response of the big-belly seahorse.

Stiffness Characteristics according to Salt Cementation (소금 고결화에 따른 강성 특성)

  • Eom, Yong-Hun;Truong, Q. Hung;Yoo, Joung-Dong;Byun, Yong-Hoon;Lee, Jong-Sub
    • Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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    • 2009.03a
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    • pp.255-264
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    • 2009
  • Soils containing vanishing materials lead changes in the microstructure of particulate media due to water inflow. Thus, dissolution renders some local unstability. As the moisture contents decease, the component of the vanished materials may affects on the cementation of paniculate materials. This cementation phenomenon has a huge influence on the stiffness, strength and stability under lower stress level. The goal of this study is to introduce the cementation effects on a compressional wave velocity, a shear wave velocity, and the resonant frequency of shear waves. The glass bead and salt water with different mole contents are used. Test results show that the changes of shear and compressional wave velocities consist of three stages. In the first region, compressional wave velocities increase and shear wave velocities decrease with a decreases in reducing water contents from 100% to 90~95%. In the second region, shear and compressional wave velocities become stable at 90~95% to 10% of the water contents. In the third region, shear and compressional wave velocities increases dramatically with a decrease in the water content due to the capillary force and cementation of salt. Furthermore, the resonant frequency of the shear waves shows similar phenomenon. Specimens prepared by glass beads and salt water are proved to be able to provide a meaningful insight in under structural behaviors of the cementation.

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Attitude Type about Smoking of Smoking Middle School Students (흡연 중학생의 흡연에 대한 태도 유형)

  • Moon, Sun-Young;Choi, Yang-Hee;Oh, Bok-Chang;Kim, Shin-Jeong;Han, Kyoung-Soon
    • Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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    • v.13 no.3
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    • pp.481-492
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    • 2002
  • The purpose of this study was to understand and analyze the subjective structure of attitude The method was based on a Q-Methodological approach. The results of this study, there were four categories of smoking middle school students' attitude about smoking. The first type named Self Belief type that this type didn't sensible of their surrounding persons when they were smoking and they also were responsible for strong opinion at their behavior. The second type named Other's Awareness type that they were seen the behaviors they always have to see other person when they were smoked, but if they didn't smoke or have tobaccos they feel heavy and are restless. The third type named Solving of Anxiety type. They first used to smoke when they wanted to solve their anxiety, stress, awkwardness and angry. The fourth type named A Sense of Belonging Group type. This type followed if their friends were smoking they also did it with them. As to grasping of their motivation to smoking of middle school of students with smoking, they felt some intimacy and same quality each other. In consideration of various types of attitude about smoking, it was very necessary important to grasp the meaning because we were known about attitude, belief etc. And then Through getting hold of the meaning, we could understand with their thought and value of Students in middle school. Besides, as a substitute for the students were depending on smoking purposelessly will fix right self-confidence.

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