• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.176-180
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• 2012

Although the majority of research on CD137 has been directed to T cells, it is becoming clear that this molecule has distinct functions in other lineages of cells, including non-hematopoietic cells. In particular, emerging evidence suggests that the CD137-its ligand (CD137L) network involving immune cells and non-immune cells, directly or indirectly regulates inflammation in both positive and negative manners. Bidirectional signaling through both CD137 and CD137L is critical in the evolution of inflammation: 1) CD137L signaling plays an indispensible role in the activation and recruitment of neutrophils by inducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells such as macrophages, endothelial cells and epithelial cells; 2) CD137 signaling in NK cells and T cells is required for their activation and can influence other cells participating in inflammation via either their production of proinflammatory cytokines or engagement of CD137L by their cell surface CD137: 3) CD137 signaling can suppress inflammation by controlling regulatory activities of dendritic cells and regulatory T cells. As recognition grows of the role of dysregulated CD137 or CD137L stimulation in inflammatory diseases, significant efforts will be needed to develop antagonists to CD137 or CD137L.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.139-146
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• 2015

Adaptive brain function and synaptic plasticity rely on dynamic regulation of local proteome. One way for the neuron to introduce new proteins to the axon terminal is to transport those from the cell body, which had long been thought as the only source of axonal proteins. Another way, which is the topic of this review, is synthesizing proteins on site by local mRNA translation. Recent evidence indicates that the axon stores a reservoir of translationally silent mRNAs and regulates their expression solely by translational control. Different stimuli to axons, such as guidance cues, growth factors, and nerve injury, promote translation of selective mRNAs, a process required for the axon's ability to respond to these cues. One of the critical questions in the field of axonal protein synthesis is how mRNA-specific local translation is regulated by extracellular cues. Here, we review current experimental techniques that can be used to answer this question. Furthermore, we discuss how new technologies can help us understand what biological processes are regulated by axonal protein synthesis in vivo.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.2240-2248
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• 2015

The integration of the large-scale wind power brings great challenge to the stability of the power grid. This paper investigates and studies the fault on May 14, 2012 of the large-scale cascading trip-off of wind turbines in North China. According to the characteristics of the voltage variation, the fault process is divided into three stages: the pre-event stage, the critical stage before cascading, and the cascading stage. The scenes in the fault are reproduced, using the full-size actual power system model. Simulation models of double-fed induction generators (DFIGs) and SVCs including protection settings and controller strategies are carefully chosen to find out the reason of voltage instability in each stage. Some voltage dynamic that have never been observed before in the faults of the same kind are analyzed in detail, and an equivalent voltage sensitive dynamic model of DFIG is proposed for the fast computation. The conclusions about the voltage dynamics are validated by the actual PMU observation evidence.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.935-951
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• 2013

The recent entry and heated competition of numerous fashion brands in the luxury fashion market have all compelled luxury businesses to change. The issue of brand equity has emerged as one of the most critical areas for luxury marketing management. Despite strong interest in the subject, there is little evidence of how brand equity is created by marketing activities and what their effects are. This study identifies the effects of luxury marketing activities on the brand equity of luxury items, utilizing Keller's (2001) 'CBBE (Customer Based Brand Equity) Model' as a theoretical framework. Based on literature review, a conceptual model for brand signature, heritage, premium price, controlled distribution, and promotion on customers' view on brand equity was tested. To test the hypothesized building paths of luxury brand equity, statistical analysis were performed with an AMOS 7.0 program using a confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation model. The results were: First, luxury brand equity was defined in terms of four components (brand awareness/association, customer judgment, customer feeling, and customer-brand resonance). Second, the proposed conceptual framework of this study was partially significant. We can provide an effectiveness of Keller's CBBE model to conceptualize the building process of luxury brand equity; subsequently, marketers should develop core elements to position a brand strategy to create a competitive advantage.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.251-264
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• 2004

The effects of a class of nonlinear Tuned Mass Dampers on the aeroelastic behavior of SDOF systems are investigated. Unlike classical linear TMDs, nonlinear constitutive laws of the internal damping acting between the primary oscillator and the TMD are considered, while the elastic properties are keept linear. The perturbative Multiple Scale Method is applied to derive a set of bifurcation equations in the amplitude and phase and a parametric analysis is performed to describe the postcritical scenario of the system. Both cubic- and van der Pol-type dampings are considered and the dependence of the limit-cycle amplitudes on the system parameters is studied. These new results, compared with the previously obtained bifurcation scenario of a SDOF aeroelastic oscillator equipped with a linear TMD, show a detrimental effect on the maximum limit-cycle amplitude reduction of the nonlinear TMD. However, the analyses evidence that in the parameter region away from the perfect tuning condition the nonlinear connection can be used to tune the system with an enhancement of the limit-cycle amplitude reduction.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9593-9597
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• 2014

Ursolic acid, extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine bearberry, can induce apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. However, its pro-apoptotic mechanism still needs further investigation. More and more evidence demonstrates that mitochondrial translocation of cofilin-1 appears necessary for the regulation of apoptosis. Here, we report that ursolic acid (UA) potently induces the apoptosis of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. Further mechanistic studies revealed that the ROCK1/PTEN signaling pathway plays a critical role in UA-mediated mitochondrial translocation of cofilin-1 and apoptosis. These findings imply that induction of apoptosis by ursolic acid stems primarily from the activation of ROCK1 and PTEN, resulting in the translocation of cofilin-1 from cytoplasm to mitochondria, release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and finally inducing apoptosis of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.610-617
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• 2016

Candidiasis has posed a serious health risk to immunocompromised patients owing to the increase in resistant yeasts, and Candida albicans is the prominent pathogen of fungal infections. Therefore, there is a critical need for the discovery and characterization of novel antifungals to treat infections caused by C. albicans. In the present study, we report on the antifungal activity of the ethanol extract from Salvia miltiorrhiza against C. albicans and the possible mode of action against C. albicans. The increase in the membrane permeability was evidenced by changes in diphenylhexatriene binding and release of both 260-nm-absorbing intracellular materials and protein. In addition, inhibition of cell wall synthesis was demonstrated by the enhanced minimal inhibitory concentration in the presence of sorbitol and reduced (1,3)-β-D-glucan synthase activity. The above evidence supports the notion that S. miltiorrhiza has antifungal activity against C. albicans by the synergistic activity of targeting the cell membrane and cell wall. These findings indicate that S. miltiorrhiza displays effective activity against C. albicans in vitro and merits further investigation to treat C. albicans-associated infections.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.99-106
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• 2017

Obesity is a critical risk factor for the hypertension. Although angiotensin II (Ang II) in obese individuals is known to be upregulated in obesity-induced hypertension, direct evidence that explains the underlying mechanism for increased vascular tone and consequent increase in blood pressure (BP) is largely unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate the novel mechanism underlying Ang II-induced hyper-contractility and hypertension in obese rats. Eight-week old male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with 60% fat diet or normal diet for 4 months. Body weight, plasma lipid profile, plasma Ang II level, BP, Ang II-induced vascular contraction, and expression of regulatory proteins modulating vascular contraction with/without Ang II stimulation were measured. As a result, high fat diet (HFD) accelerated age-dependent body weight gaining along with increased plasma Ang II concentration. It also increased BP and Ang II-induced aortic contraction. Basal expression of p-CPI-17 and myosin light chain (MLC) kinase was increased by HFD along with increased phosphorylation of MLC. Ang II-induced phosphorylation of CPI-17 and MLC were also higher in HFD group than control group. In conclusion HFD-induced hypertension is through at least in part by increased vascular contractility via increased expression and activation of contractile proteins and subsequent MLC phosphorylation induced by increased Ang II.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.13-18
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• 2016

Purpose - Usage of E-services is critical for businesses to maximize work efficiency and gain competitive advantage. The aim of the study is to explore how awareness of technology and e-services usage in an emerging economy in Pakistan. The studies aimed to explore as to what extent these factors can potentially motivate transport employees towards e-services; who are generally not aware about technology and hence also not confident in using it also. Research design, data, and methodology - Employees from the three transport subsidiary units from a large private company in Pakistan were sampled for the study. Through using self-administered technique, the questionnaires were distributed during the month of April, 2016 to 189 employees. A total of 150 responses were taken further for analysis where the study found a positive link between awareness of technology and e-services usage. Results - This study found positive relationship between intention to use and e-service usage among the employees of three subsidiary units. The paper has reported 30 percent variance explained by the predicting variables in relation with e-services usage. Conclusions - Employees could be motivated to use e-services and latest technology through enhancing their awareness about their respective importance and viability. Accordingly, organizations can foster employees' intentions to use to enhance e-service usage.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.47-55
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• 2020

Purpose: The issue of access to credit for private enterprises has been given an increased amount of attention given their crucial role in fueling economic growth. Vietnamese small and medium-sized businesses, however, face many obstacles in accessing financing for profitable investment opportunities, with up to 70% unable to access or obtain bank loans. This paper aims to address the factors affecting the credit accessibility of Vietnamese enterprises, and provide further insights of this issue under the new context of Basel II. Research design, data and methodology: We adopt a pooled sections approach to construct a sample of 155 firm observations before and after the implementation of Basel II accord in Vietnam and employing binary logistic regression and interaction terms for data analysis. Results: We find that firm characteristics (export participation, female ownership) and proxies for bank-borrower relationship (deposit, overdraft facility) have significant and positive effects on firm's access to credit. Notably, the sign of interaction coefficient shows that the implementation of Basel II tends to benefit small-sized firms in terms of credit accessibility. Conclusions: The finding further emphasizes the important role of relationship lending in Vietnam's credit market, which is even more critical for small firms when Basel II is universally applied as the new banking standards in the coming years.