• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.301-310
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: RUNX2 plays an essential role during the odontoblast differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). RUNX2 Exon 5 is an alternative exon and essential for RUNX2 transcriptional activity. This study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of RUNX2 exon 5 alternative splicing in human DPSCs. Methods and Results: The regulatory motifs of RUNX2 exon 5 were analyzed using the online SpliceAid program. The alternative splicing of RUNX2 exon 5 in DPSCs during mineralization-induced differentiation was analyzed by RT-PCR. To explore the effect of splicing factor YBX1 on exon 5 alternative splicing, gaining or losing function of YBX1 was performed by transfection of YBX1 overexpression plasmid or anti-YBX1 siRNA in DPSCs. Human RUNX2 exon 5 is evolutionarily conserved and alternatively spliced in DPSCs. There are three potential YBX1 binding motifs in RUNX2 exon 5. The inclusion of RUNX2 exon 5 and YBX1 expression level increased significantly during mineralization-induced differentiation in DPSCs. Overexpression of YBX1 significantly increased the inclusion of RUNX2 exon 5 in DPSCs. In contrast, silence of YBX1 significantly reduced the inclusion of exon 5 and the corresponding RUNX2 protein expression level. Knockdown of YBX1 reduced the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OC) and the mineralization ability of DPSCs, while overexpression of YBX1 increased the expression of ALP and OC and the mineralization ability of DPSCs. Conclusions: Human RUNX2 exon 5 is conserved evolutionarily and alternatively spliced in DPSCs. Splicing factor YBX1 promotes the inclusion of RUNX2 exon 5 and improves the mineralization ability of DPSCs.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.102-106
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• 1999

Ce exhibits the intermediate valence (IV) state both as an element and in its compounds. In the present review characteristic behavior of the materials showing the IV state are described. Then the methods of producing this state : the application of the external pressure, temperature and magnetic field as well as the alloying are being discussed. An identification of the IV state is frequently not a simple goal and the best results can be obtained using a combination of various independent methods. Particular attention is paid to the X-ray spectroscopy, lattice parameters and the magnetic properties. As the examples of the IV state in the Ce compounds the properties of following materials are reported : CeRhSb, $CeCu_5In_7, CeAg_6In_6, Sc_{1-x}Ce_xFe_4Al_8 $and for comparison Sc1-xYbxFe4Al8.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.271-279
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• 2000

5 m/o Yb-doped SrCeO3 proton conductor was prepared by a solid state reaction method and its total electriccal conductivity measured as a function of both oxygen partial pressure and water vapor partial pressure in the temperature range of 500~100$0^{\circ}C$. From the total conductivity have been deconvoluted the partial conductivities of oxide ions, protons, and holes, respectively, on the basis of the defect model proposed. The equilibrium constant of hydrogen-dissolution reaction, proton concentration, and mobilities of oxygen vacancies and protons have subsequently been evaluated. It is verified that SrCe1-xYbxO3 is a mixed conductor of holes, protons and oxide ions and the proton conduction prevails as temperature decreases and water vapor pressure increases. The heat of water dissolution takes a representative value of $\Delta$HoH=-(140$\pm$20) kJ/mol-H2O, but tends to be less negative with increasing temperature. Migration enthalpies of proton and oxygen vacancy are extracted as 0.83$\pm$0.10 eV and 0.81$\pm$0.01 eV, respectively.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2023

Objective: Pigs, an ideal biomedical model for human diseases, suffer from about 50% early embryonic and fetal death, a major cause of fertility loss worldwide. However, identifying the causal variant remains a huge challenge. This study aimed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and candidate genes for the number of mummified (NM) piglets using the imputed whole-genome sequence (WGS) and validate the potential candidate genes. Methods: The imputed WGS was introduced from genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) using a multi-breed reference population. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for NM piglets at birth from a Landrace pig populatiGWAS peak located on SSC11: 0.10 to 7.11 Mbp (Top SNP, SSC11:1,889,658 bp; p = 9.98E-13) was identified in cyclin dependent kinase on. A total of 300 Landrace pigs were genotyped by GBS. The whole-genome variants were imputed, and 4,252,858 SNPs were obtained. Various molecular experiments were conducted to determine how the genes affected NM in pigs. Results: A strong GWAS peak located on SSC11: 0.10 to 7.11 Mbp (Top SNP, SSC11:1,889,658 bp; p = 9.98E-13) was identified in cyclin dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) gene, which plays a crucial role in embryonic retardation and lethality. Based on the molecular experiments, we found that Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) was a crucial transcription factor for CDK8, which mediated the effect of CDK8 in the proliferation of porcine ovarian granulosa cells via transforming growth factor beta/small mother against decapentaplegic signaling pathway, and, as a consequence, affected embryo quality, indicating that this pathway may be contributing to mummified fetal in pigs. Conclusion: A powerful imputation-based association study was performed to identify genes associated with NM in pigs. CDK8 was suggested as a functional gene for the proliferation of porcine ovarian granulosa cells, but further studies are required to determine causative mutations and the effect of loci on NM in pigs.