• BMB Reports
• /
• 제33권5호
• /
• pp.391-395
• /
• 2000

Calexcitin, a calcium-binding protein, was previously cloned and functionally characterized in the squid Loligo pealei. We now report the cloning of a second form of Calexcitin, Calexcitin-2, found in the squid Todarodes pacificus optic lobe. Calexcitin-2 has a significantly different carboxyl terminal region than Calexcitin-1. It lacks the CAAX motif, which is a farnesylation site. The amino acid sequence of Calexcitin-2 shows an 84% identity with Calexcitin-1 and also displays a strong cross immunoreactivity. Western blotting shows that Calexcitin-2 was expressed exclusively in the optic lobe region of squid, but not in other body organs. Regardless of its lack of conserved regions for GTP-binding, Calexcitin-2 shows moderately low affinity GTP-binding and also shows dramatic conformational change induced by GTP-binding. Three possible GTP-binding region mutations, K142A, D144A, and K157A, did not change the G TP binding affinity. This raises the possibility that Calexcitin-2 may have a novel GTP-binding motif.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제42권4호
• /
• pp.206-211
• /
• 2009

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) plays an essential role in the stress response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and is the precursor of biologically active peptides such as adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), $\alpha$-melanocyte-stimulating hormone ($\alpha$-MSH), $\beta$-melanocyte-stimulation hormone ($\beta$-MSH) and $\beta$-endorphin. We have synthesized two different forms of POMC cDNA clones, POMC-I and POMC-II, from a pituitary cDNA library for Paralichthys olivaceus, or Japanese flounder. jfPOMC-I cDNA consists of 954bp and encodes a polypeptide of 216 amino acid residues, whereas jfPOMC-II consists of 971bp which encode a polypeptide of 194 amino acid residues. The high levels of jfPOMC-I and -II mRNAs detected in the pituitary tissue and moderate levels detected in the brain tissue plus our quantitative RT-PCR analysis, which showed there to be no significant difference between the levels of jfPOMC-I and -II mRNAs, indicate that there may be no functional separation between these two mRNAs in the flounder.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• 제30권2호
• /
• pp.83-85
• /
• 2013

Anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) are thought to be magnetars which are young isolated neutron stars with extremely strong magnetic fields of > $10^{14}$ Gauss. Their tremendous magnetic fields inferred from the spin parameters provide a huge energy reservoir to power the observed X-ray emission. High-energy emission above 0.3 MeV has never been detected despite intensive search. Here, we present the possible Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) detection of ${\gamma}$-ray pulsations above 200 MeV from the AXP, 1E 2259+586, which puts the current theoretical models of ${\gamma}$-ray emission mechanisms of magnetars into challenge. We speculate that the high-energy ${\gamma}$-rays originate from the outer magnetosphere of the magnetar.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• 제1권1호
• /
• pp.27-32
• /
• 1995

Jejunal and ileal atresias are the most common cause of congenital intestinal obstruction and accounts for about 1/3 of all cases of intestinal obstruction in newborns. Despite the relative frequency of this anomaly, its survival rate was less than 10% up to 1950, more recently the survival rate has risen rapidly to 90% with the introduction of modern surgical techniques and the use of total parenteral nutrition. In 1969 Thomas described a tapering jejunoplasty to manage the discrepancy in the size of the proximal dilated lumen & contracted distal lumen, and to preserve absorptive surface when the dilated jejunum involved a long length, and Grosfeld et al.(1979) facilitated this method by using GIA staplers. Author have also used GIA stapler to resect the antimesenteric portion of the dilated proximal bowel in 8 cases of jejunoileal atresias with good results. The following results were obtained ; 1. There we 3 jejunal atresias & 5 ileal atresias, and male to female sex ratio was 5 : 3. 2. The type of atresia was as follows ; type IIIa was 3 cases, type IIIb was 4 cases, type IIIb+IV was 1 case. 3. In non-complication cases(5 cases), the mean hospital day was 16 days, and oral feeding was feasible from 6.2 days after operation. 4. The complications(anastomotic leakage, pneumonia) were frequently occurred in type IIIb cases and in low birth weight cases(75%). 5. Mortality rate was 25% including DAMA(discharge against medical advice) discharge case.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• 제13권4호
• /
• pp.685-709
• /
• 2014

Carbon nanotubes are due to their outstanding mechanical properties destined for a wide range of possible applications. Since the knowledge of the material behavior is vital regarding the possible applications, experimental and theoretical studies have been conducted to investigate the properties of this promising material. The aim of the present research is the calculation of mechanical properties and of the mechanical behavior of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The numerical simulation was performed on basis of a molecular mechanics approach. Within this approach two different issues were taken into account: (i) the nanotube geometry and (ii) the modeling of the covalent bond. The nanotube geometry is captured by two different approaches, the roll-up and the exact polyhedral model. The covalent bond is modeled by a structural molecular mechanics approach according to Li and Chou. After a short introduction in the applied modeling techniques, the results for the Young's modulus for several SWCNTs are presented and are discussed extensively. The obtained numerical results are compared to results available in literature and show an excellent agreement. Furthermore, deviations in the geometry stemming from the different models are given and the resulting differences in the numerical findings are shown. Within the investigation of the deformation mechanisms occurring in SWCNTs, the basic contributions of each individual covalent bond are considered. The presented results of this decomposition provide a deeper understanding of the governing deformation mechanisms in SWCNTs.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• 제9권1호
• /
• pp.10-12
• /
• 2003

In the present study, dikamali resin (obtained from the leaf buds and the young shoots of Gardenia gummifera Linn.) was extracted with diethyl ether and the extract was vacuum dried. Qualitative tests confirmed the presence of flavonoids and free phenolic compounds in the extract. The antioxidant property (qualitative) of the extract was performed by TLC method $({\beta}-carotene-linoleate method)$. The $LD_{50}$ of the extract was found to be 2227 mg/kg by Karber's arithmetic method. The extract was screened for analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) and anthelmintic (0.1,0.2 and 0.5%w/v) activities by standard methods. The extract exhibited antioxidant property and prevented oxidation of ${\beta}-carotene$. The extract exhibited significant graded dose response for analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and anthelmintic activities. The extract caused the death of earthworms in all experimental concentration whereas the standard drug (piperazine) only effected paralysis. The present study proved the claims of dikamali resin mentioned in the Indian system of medicine.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• 제6권3호
• /
• pp.193-197
• /
• 2004

In vitro multiplication of Curculigo orchioides was achieved by direct somatic embryogenesis in young leaf segments. Immature leaf segments of about 0.5 cm in length were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of BAP (2-10 $\mu{M}$) or Kin (2-10 $\mu{M}$). Optimum response in terms of per cent cultures responding (89%) and the number of embryos per explant (16) were observed on MS medium supplemented with 8 $\mu$M BAP. The emergence of several somatic embryos on the adaxial side of the leaf segments was observed one month after the culture. Germinated somatic embryos were grown up to about 1.5 cm length before transferring to maturation medium. For maturation, the individual embryos were isolated and transferred to MS medium supplemented with BAP (5 $\mu{M}$) and NAA (0.5 $\mu{M}$). The plantlets emerged from the embryos were transferred to soil containing 1 peat: 1 sand with 90% success. The embryos were formed directly on the leaf segments without any callus phase. Direct regeneration of somatic embryos is important for the conservation of this endangered species, as rare somaclonal variants are likely to arise than from indirect regeneration.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.29-34
• /
• 2015

Fucoidan, a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed in the class Phaeophyceae, has been widely studied for its possible health benefits. However, the potential of fucoidan as a possible treatment for hyperpigmentation is not fully understood. This study investigated the effects of fucoidan on melanogenesis and related signaling pathways using Mel-Ab cells. Fucoidan significantly decreased melanin content. While fucoidan treatment decreased tyrosinase activity, it did not do so directly. Western blot analysis indicated that fucoidan downregulated microphthalmia-associated transcription factor and reduced tyrosinase protein expression. Further investigation showed that fucoidan activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, suggesting a possible mechanism for the inhibition of melanin synthesis. Treatment with PD98059, a specific ERK inhibitor, resulted in the recovery of melanin production. Taken together, these findings suggest that fucoidan inhibits melanogenesis via ERK phosphorylation.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
• /
• 제14권3호
• /
• pp.131-142
• /
• 2022

This study aims to explore how college students have adjusted to Internet-based learning (IBL) since the pandemic and how they have subjectively experienced their Internet-based classes including live-streaming and recorded classes. We conducted a qualitative study on 16 college students in South Korea. The analysis of the in-depth interviews revealed that despite early negative experiences regarding adjustment to IBL, the participants seemed to have developed an increased sense of control over their learning and simultaneously reported a greater need for self-discipline and social support in order to stay motivated. Also, instructors' digital competence and creative attempts to facilitate class communication and discussion appeared to have influence on successful IBL. Lastly, the participants' physical learning environments seemed to impact their online learning in terms of their level of alertness and motivation for study. Implications and suggestions were discussed.

• 운동영양학회지
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.55-62
• /
• 2019

[Purpose] The effect of acute nitrate supplementation on muscle fatigue is largely unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of acute nitrate supplementation on muscle fatigue. [Methods] Thirty-five recreationally active subjects consumed 140 ml of beetroot (BR) juice (nitrate: 8 mmol·d^-1) or placebo (PL) 12 and 2.5 hours before two exercise sessions. Peak torque was measured during 50 repetitions, at maximal effort, and during concentric knee extensions at 90°·s^-1. Blood pressure (BP) was recorded pre- and post-exercise. [Results] Peak torque, maximum work, rate of fatigue, and rate of work fatigue were similar between the BR and PL conditions. Post-exercise diastolic BP (BR: 67.2 ± 9.8 vs. PL: 64.5 ± 7.9 mmHg, p < 0.05) and mean arterial pressure (BR: 91.6 ± 9.3 vs. PL: 88.8 ± 8.2 mmHg, p < 0.05) were higher with BR supplementation. [Conclusion] These findings suggest that the acute intake of BR juice had no effect on knee extensor muscle strength or fatigue but increased BP in a healthy recreationally active population.