• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5895-5900
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• 2014

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of complicated disorders caused by the interactive influencing factors of heredity and environment, which predisposes to many cnacers. Results from epidemic research indicate that stress is tightly related to the pathogenesis of MS and neoplasia. This paper aims to investigate the association between psychological stress and MS with respect to the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF${\alpha}$) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) genes in the Han and Hui ethnic groups. Methods: All subjects for this case-control study matched strict enrollment criteria (nationality, gender and age) and lived in the city of Wu Zhong of Ningxia Province in China. The enrolled group contained 102 matched pairs of Hui ethnic individuals and 98 matched pairs of Han ethnic individuals. Enrolled subjects completed the general Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). The TNF${\alpha}$-308G/A variant and NPYrs16147 polymorphism were detected in case (81 males, 119 females) and control (81 males, 119 females) groups by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Results: Nine factors of the SCL-90 were found to be statistically different (p<0.05) between case and control groups. The homozygous mutant genotype (AA) and the mutant allele (A) of the TNF${\alpha}$-308G/A gene were less frequently observed in the control population compared to the case group. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) in "Allele" for MS was 2.28 (1.47-3.53), p=0.0001, while "OR" was 1.11 (0.83-1.47), p=0.15, for the NPYrs16147 gene polymorphism. Conclusions: Psychological stress has been positively associated with MS. A previous study from our group suggested there were differences in the level of psychological stress between Hui and Han ethnic groups. Furthermore, we found that the stress-related TNF${\alpha}$ gene was associated with MS for both Han and Hui ethnic groups. In contrast, NPY may be a possible contributor to MS and associated cancer for the Han ethnic group.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.4999-5005
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• 2013

Objective: This study aimed to investigate expression of the proto-oncogene POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic factor (Pokemon) in colorectal cancer (CRC), and assess inhibitory effects of a small interference RNA (siRNA) expression vector in SW480 and SW620 cells. Methods: Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry were performed to determine mRNA and protein expression levels of Pokemon in CRC tissues. Indirect immunofluorescence staining was applied to investigate the location of Pokemon in SW480 and SW620 cells. The siRNA expression vectors that were constructed to express a short hairpin RNA against Pokemon were transfected to the SW480 and SW620 cells with a liposome. Expression levels of Pokemon mRNA and protein were examined by real-time quantitative-fluorescent PCR and western blot analysis. The effects of Pokemon silencing on proliferation of SW480 and SW620 cells were evaluated with reference to growth curves with MTT assays. Results: The mRNA expression level of Pokemon in tumor tissues ($0.845{\pm}0.344$) was significantly higher than that in adjacent tumor specimens ($0.321{\pm}0.197$). The positive expression ratio of Pokemon protein in CRC (87.0%) was significantly higher than that in the adjacent tissues (19.6%). Strong fluorescence staining of Pokemon protein was observed in the cytoplasm of the SW480 and SW620 cells. The inhibition ratios of Pokemon mRNA and protein in the SW480 cells were 83.1% and 73.5% at 48 and 72 h, respectively, compared with those of the negative control cells with the siRNA. In the SW620 cells, the inhibition ratios of Pokemon mRNA and protein were 76.3% and 68.7% at 48 and 72 h, respectively. MTT showed that Pokemon gene silencing inhibited the proliferation of SW480 and SW620 cells. Conclusion: Overexpression of Pokemon in CRC may have a function in carcinogenesis and progression. siRNA expression vectors could effectively inhibit mRNA and protein expression of Pokemon in SW480 and SW620 cells, thereby reducing malignant cell proliferation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.180-189
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• 2012

This study was carried out to suggest an experiment based for selecting Sedum, which can adapt well with heat tolerance in extensive green roof system. The heat tolerance of Sedum subject to laboratory high temperature treatment and heat processing time were evaluated using electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll content and regrowth test, and the relation between soil water content and heat tolerance were researched. Logistic model of nonlinear regression analysis was used to evaluate the lethal temperatures that were predicted with the range of $45.0{\sim}48.1^{\circ}C$(soil water content 5%), $47.5{\sim}49.3^{\circ}C$(10%), $48.6{\sim}52.8^{\circ}C$(15%) in 6-hours high-temperature treatment. The higher the soil water content, the stronger the heat resistance property of Sedum. there is. The higher the treatment temperature, the lower the chlorophyll content, and the less the soil water content, the faster the chlorophyll decomposition. The order of hot-temperature resistance was S. reflexum>S. takevimense>S. middendorffianum>S. album>S. sieboldii>S. spurium when soil water content was 5%. The order of hot-temperature resistance was S. album>S. reflexum>S. spurium>S. takevimense>S. middendorffianum>S. sieboldii when soil water content was 15%. The more of soil water content, S. album, S. reflexum, S. spurium had stronger tolerant of hot temperature. These results were consistent with those from the regrowth test and the heat tolerance tested by electrolyte leakage evaluation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2004

The present study was conducted to investigate the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in cumulus expansion, oocyte mortality and meiotic maturation of porcine cumulus enclosed oocytes (CEOs) cultured in two different models when gonadotropins, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were presented or not. And the interaction between NO and $\beta$-mercaptoethanol ($\beta$-ME), a free radical scavenger was also investigated. Two models refer to spontaneous maturation model and hypoxanthine (HX) medium model. All the 3,433 eligible CEOs were incubated at $39^{\circ}C$ and the cumulus expansion, oocyte morphology and nuclear phase were evaluated 44 h after incubation. (1) In spontaneous maturation model, NO stimulates the cumulus expansion and $\beta$-ME delayed it. NO doesn't affect the oocyte meiotic resumption but inhibits the oocytes to develop to metaphase II. (2) In HX medium model, NO or $\beta$-ME doesn't affect the expansion in the absence of gonadotropins, but in the presence of gonadotropins, NO or $\beta$-ME inhibits the expansion. In the presence of gonadotropins, NO inhibits the oocyte meiotic resumption and it especially inhibits the oocyte to develop to metaphase II, and $\beta$-ME reverses such inhibitory effects. The cooperation of gonadotropins and $\beta$-ME stimulates the meiotic resumption and especially, promotes the CEOs to develop to metaphase II in both models. Moreover, HX might contribute to the fragility of oocyte zona pellucida and gonadotropins, nitric oxide and $\beta$-ME could alleviate it separately, and cooperatively. It is concluded that NO exerts different functions in two models and $\beta$-ME affected the functions of NO in different models.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.49
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• pp.169-202
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• 2017

In this thesis, we investigate the animation (2001) based on the three phases of the lyrical expression derived from Ye Weiqu's Mono no aware Aesthetic-a Japanese classical aesthetics' perspective, on the aspects of the perceptions of human, world, and nature. By analyzing each component of three phases of Mono no aware Aesthetic, the thesis illustrated that how (2001) utilized and expressed Japanese classical aesthetic and how Japanese classical aesthetics were widely utilized into modern Japanese animations. Moreover, the thesis also stated that Mono no aware Aesthetic has become a creative element in order to answer a development direction with future Japanese animations. Through integrating Japanese unique classical aesthetics into the animation elements, Satoshi Kon, the director of the animation, well carried and expressed the cultural content of Japanese nation, thus promoting a deep understanding of characteristics for Japanese animation which have a wide appeal. In his masterpiece -, the characters building, plot describing, theme expressing, cultural meaning could be analyzed respectively by means of Ye Weiqu's 3 phases of Mono no aware aesthetic, reflecting how inherited the legacy of Japanese classical aesthetics. Furthermore, based on the analysis method, the animation contributed tremendously to Japanese classical aesthetics and Mono no aware aesthetics. Tradition for classical aesthetics could play a role as a creative tool for contemporary and future animation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.957-966
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• 2017

Objective: To understand the dynamic structure, function, and influence on nutrient metabolism in hosts, it was crucial to assess the genetic potential of gut microbial community in yaks of different ages. Methods: The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles and Illumina-based metagenomic sequencing on colon contents of 15 semi-domestic yaks were investigated. Unweighted pairwise grouping method with mathematical averages (UPGMA) clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to analyze the DGGE fingerprint. The Illumina sequences were assembled, predicted to genes and functionally annotated, and then classified by querying protein sequences of the genes against the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) database. Results: Metagenomic sequencing showed that more than 85% of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences belonged to the phylum Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, indicating that the family Ruminococcaceae (46.5%), Rikenellaceae (11.3%), Lachnospiraceae (10.0%), and Bacteroidaceae (6.3%) were dominant gut microbes. Over 50% of non-rRNA gene sequences represented the metabolic pathways of amino acids (14.4%), proteins (12.3%), sugars (11.9%), nucleotides (6.8%), lipids (1.7%), xenobiotics (1.4%), coenzymes, and vitamins (3.6%). Gene functional classification showed that most of enzyme-coding genes were related to cellulose digestion and amino acids metabolic pathways. Conclusion: Yaks' age had a substantial effect on gut microbial composition. Comparative metagenomics of gut microbiota in 0.5-, 1.5-, and 2.5-year-old yaks revealed that the abundance of the class Clostridia, Bacteroidia, and Lentisphaeria, as well as the phylum Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Lentisphaerae, Tenericutes, and Cyanobacteria, varied more greatly during yaks' growth, especially in young animals (0.5 and 1.5 years old). Gut microbes, including Bacteroides, Clostridium, and Lentisphaeria, make a contribution to the energy metabolism and synthesis of amino acid, which are essential to the normal growth of yaks.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.627-636
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• 2020

Background: Cultivation of medicinal crops, which synthesize hundreds of substances for curative functions, was focused on the synthesis of secondary metabolites rather than biomass accumulation. Nutrition is an important restrict factor for plant growth and secondary metabolites, but little attention has been given to the plasticity of nutrient uptake and secondary metabolites synthesis response to soil nitrogen (N) change. Methods: Two year-field experiments of Sanqi (Panax notoginseng), which can synthesize a high level of saponin in cells, were conducted to study the effects of N application on the temporal dynamics of biomass, nutrient absorption, root architecture and the relationships between these parameters and saponin synthesis. Results: Increasing N fertilizer rates could improve the dry matter yields and nutrient absorption ability through increasing the maximum daily growth (or nutrient uptake) rate. Under suitable N level (225 kg/ha N), Sanqi restricted the root length and surface and enhanced the root diameter and N uptake rate per root length (NURI) to promote nutrient absorption, but the opposite status of Sanqi root architecture and NURI was found when soil N was deficient. Furthermore, increasing N rates could promote the accumulation of saponin in roots through improving the NURI, which showed a significant positive relationship with the content of saponin in the taproots. Conclusion: Appropriate N fertilizer rates could optimize both root architecture and nutrient uptake efficiency, then promote both the accumulation of dry matter and the synthesis of saponins.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2020

Background: Hong Kong's construction industry currently faces a manpower crisis. Blue-collar workers are a disadvantaged group and suffer higher levels of chronic diseases, for example, cancer, than the wider population. Cancer risk factors are likely to cluster together. We documented prevalence of cancer-associated lifestyle risk behaviors and their correlates among Hong Kong construction workers. Methods: Data were collected from workers at 37 railway-related construction worksites throughout Hong Kong during May 2014. Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unbalanced nutrition intake, and physical inactivity were included in the analysis. Latent class analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed to identify the patterns of risk behaviors related to cancer, as well as their impact factors among construction workers in Hong Kong. Results: Overall, 1,443 workers participated. Latent class analysis identified four different behavioral classes in the sample. Fully adjusted multiple logistic regression identified age, gender, years of Hong Kong residency, ethnicity, educational level, and living status differentiated behavioral classes. Conclusion: High levels of lifestyle-related cancer-risk behaviors were found in most of the Hong Kong construction workers studied. The present study contributes to understanding how cancer-related lifestyle risk behaviors cluster among construction workers and relative impact factors of risk behaviors. It is essential to tailor health behavior interventions focused on multiple risk behaviors among different groups for further enlarging the effects on cancer prevention.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.505-512
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• 2014

A new donor-accepter-donor-accepter-donor (D-A-D-A-D) type 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-thiophene-based acceptor unit 2,5-di(4-(5-bromo-4-octylthiophen-2-yl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-7-yl)thiophene ($DTBTTBr_2$) was synthesized. Copolymerized with fluorene and indeno[1,2-b]fluorene electron-rich moieties, two alternating narrow band gap (NBG) copolymers PF-DTBTT and PIF-DTBTT were prepared. And two copolymers exhibit broad and strong absorption in the range of 300-700 nm with optical band gap of about 1.75 eV. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels vary between -5.43 and -5.52 eV and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels range from -3.64 to -3.77 eV. Potential applications of the copolymers as electron donor material and $PC_{71}BM$ ([6,6]-phenyl-$C_{71}$ butyric acid methyl ester) as electron acceptors were investigated for photovoltaic solar cells (PSCs). Photovoltaic performances based on the blend of PF-DTBTT/$PC_{71}BM$ (w:w; 1:2) and PIF-DTBTT/$PC_{71}BM$ (w:w; 1:2) with devices configuration as ITO/PEDOT: PSS/blend/Ca/Al, show an incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 2.34% and 2.56% with the open circuit voltage ($V_{oc}$) of 0.87 V and 0.90 V, short circuit current density ($J_{sc}$) of $6.02mA/cm^2$ and $6.12mA/cm^2$ under an AM1.5 simulator ($100mA/cm^2$). The photocurrent responses exhibit the onset wavelength extending up to 720 nm. These results indicate that the resulted narrow band gap copolymers are viable electron donor materials for polymer solar cells.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.2889-2894
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• 2013

A new complex [$Ni(phen)(C_9H_8Br_2NO_3)_2{\cdot}2CH_3OH{\cdot}2H_2O$] [phen: 1,10-phenanthroline $C_9H_8Br_2NO_3$: 3,5-dibromo-L-tyrosine] was synthesized and characterized by IR, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. X-ray crystallography shows that Ni(II) ion is six-coordinated. The Ni(II) ion coordinates with four nitrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms from three ligands, forming a mononuclear Ni(II) complex. The crystal crystallizes in the Orthorhombic system, space group $P2_12_12$ with a = 12.9546 ${\AA}$, b = 14.9822 ${\AA}$, c = 9.9705 ${\AA}$, V = 1935.2 ${\AA}$, Z = 1, F(000) = 1008, S = 0.969, ${\rho}_{calcd}=1.742g{\cdot}cm^{-3}$, ${\mu}=4.688mm^{-1}$, $R_1$ = 0.0529 and $wR_2$ = 0.0738 for 3424 observed reflections (I > $2{\sigma}(I)$). Theoretical study of the title complex was carried out by density functional theory (DFT) method and the B3LYP method employing the $6-3l+G^*$ basis set. The energy gap between HOMO and LUMO indicates that this complex is prone to interact with DNA. CCDC: 908041.