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We examine how corporate social responsibility affects financial performance in the Korean market by examining a new set of data, the ESG score. Using panel regression models, we show that the ESG score is negatively related with a widely used measures of financial performance, ROA and Tobin's Q, unlike extant studies arguing for the positive relationships. Among the three pillars of ESG performance, the social and governance scores robustly show negative relationships with ROA but the environmental score does not. The consideration of unique Korean governance structure, chaebol, does not change our findings. Our findings generally support the traditional view of corporations but argue against the stakeholder theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The baculovirus expression system has been considered as a highly efficient tool for the production of recombinant biopharmaceutical proteins. The recombinant antigenic glycoprotein GA733 is a cell surface protein that is strongly expressed in human colorectal cancer. Efficient virus titration should be established to achieve optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) conditions, which are in turn essential for strong expression of the recombinant GA733 fused to the human immunoglobulin IgG Fc fragment (GA733-Fc) in the baculovirus-insect system. In the present study, the Sf9 cell line was transfected with plasmid DNA containing the GA733-Fc expression cassette under the control of the baculovirus polyhedron promoter. MOI values (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 3) were calculated based on both microscope observations and results of titration assay and then used to determine the optimum recombinant expression and harvested sample [cell culture media (CM) or cell lysate (CL)]. The pFastBac dual vector carrying the GA733-Fc gene was constructed to express GA733-Fc and used to generate recombinant baculoviruses.Western blotting results showed that recombinant protein expression was dependent on the MOI. In addition, CMand CL showed significant differences in protein synthesis and protein secretion capacities. Our findings suggested that our proposed titration method can be used for reliable calculation of MOI values, which significantly influence recombinant GA733-Fc protein expression in the baculovirus-insect cell system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Binding of transcription factors to their target sequences is a primary step in the regulation of gene expression and largely determines gene regulatory networks. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) is an indispensable tool used to investigate the binding of DNA-binding proteins (e.g., transcription factors) to their target sequences in vivo. ChIP assays require specific antibodies that recognize endogenous target transcription factors; however, in most cases, such specific antibodies are unavailable. To overcome this problem, many ChIP assays use transgenic plants that express epitope-tagged transcription factors and immunoprecipitate the protein with a tag-specific antibody. However, generating transgenic plants that stably express epitope-tagged proteins is difficult and time-consuming. Results: Here, we present a rapid, efficient ChIP protocol using transient expression in Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts that can be completed in 4 days. We provide optimized experimental conditions, including the amount of transfected DNA and the number of protoplasts. We also show that the efficiency of our ChIP protocol using protoplasts is comparable to that obtained using transgenic Arabidopsis plants. We propose that our ChIP method can be used to analyze in vivo interactions between tissue-specific transcription factors and their target sequences, to test the effect of genotype on the binding of a transcription factor within a protein complex to its target sequences, and to measure temperature-dependent binding of a transcription factor to its target sequence. Conclusions: The rapid and simple nature of our ChIP assay using Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts facilitates the investigation of in vivo interactions between transcription factors and their target genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hole mobility in various p-doped organic semiconductors possessing different energetic disorder parameters in low-to-moderate doping range is reported. The hole mobility is reduced by orders of magnitude and converged to 10-7-10-6 cm2/Vs at a doping concentration of 5mol. % for all the materials, even though the pristine organic films possess orders of magnitude of different mobilities from 10-5 to 10-3 cm2/Vs. These results indicate that the ionized dopants behave as traps for generated carriers to reduce the mobility. Further increase in the doping concentration either increases or decreases the mobility depending on the energetic disorder parameters of the organic films. These phenomena are interpreted based on the Coulomb trap depth of the ionized dopants and energetic disorder of the host layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaire-OG25 was developed to evaluate the quality of life in patients with stomach and esophageal cancer. The following are included in the OG25 but not in the STO22: odynophagia, choked when swallowing, weight loss, trouble eating with others, trouble swallowing saliva, trouble talking, and trouble with coughing. In this study, we evaluated the quality of life of gastrectomized patients using both, the OG25 and the STO22. Materials and Methods: A total of 138 patients with partial gastrectomy (PG) (distal gastrectomy=91; pylorus-preserving gastrectomy= 47) and 44 patients with total gastrectomy (TG) were prospectively evaluated. Body weight and scores from the OG25 and STO22 were evaluated preoperatively and at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery. Results: Patients with TG had significant weight loss compared to patients with PG. At 3 months, TG was associated with worse scores for dysphagia, eating, odynophagia, trouble eating with others, trouble with taste, and weight loss on the OG25. TG was also associated with dysphagia, eating restrictions, and anxiety on the STO22. The OG25 helped differentiate between the groups with respect to weight loss, odynophagia, choked when swallowing, and trouble eating with others. The OG25 scores changed over time and were significantly different. Conclusions: The OG25 is a more sensitive and useful scale than the STO22 for evaluating the quality of life of gastrectomized patients, especially those with total gastrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forehead osteomas are benign but can pose aesthetic and functional problems. These osteomas are resected via bicoronal or endoscopic approach. However, large osteomas cannot be removed via endoscopic approach, and bicoronal approach can result in damage to the supraorbital nerve with resultant numbness in the forehead. We present a new approach to resection of forehead osteomas, with access provided by an anterior hairline incision and subcutaneous dissection. Three patients underwent resection of the forehead osteoma through an anterior hairline incision. The dissection was carried in the subcutaneous plane, and the frontalis muscle and periosteum were divided parallel to the course of supraorbital nerve. The resulting bony defect was re-contoured using Medpor ®. All three patients recovered without any postoperative infection or complication and symptoms. Scalp sensory was preserved. Aesthetic outcomes were satisfactory. Patients remain free of recurrence for 12 months of follow up. The anterior hair line approach with subcutaneous dissection is an effective method for removal of forehead osteoma, since it offers broad visualization and hides the scar in the hairline. In addition, the dissection in the subcutaneous plane avoids inadvertent injury to the deep nerve branches and helps to maintains scalp sensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic pseudoaneurysm is a potentially life-threatening complication often associated with pancreatitis or pancreatic surgery. As the rupture of pancreatic pseudoaneurysms can lead to catastrophic bleeding and is associated with high mortality rates, clinical suspicion and early diagnosis are essential to improve patient outcomes. In the management of pseudoaneurysms, transarterial embolization (TAE) could be effective; however, there have been limited local studies on the outcomes of TAE for patients with pseudoaneurysm rupture associated with pancreatitis. Here, we describe patients who were diagnosed with pseudoaneruysm rupture associated with pancreatitis and treated with TAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are extremely rare soft tissue sarcomas. Among various locations, the trunk and extremities are the most commonly involved sites, with only 15% of such lesions occuring in head and neck region. Here, we report a case of a 74-year-old male who presented with forehead swelling and right eye deviation. Computed tomography images revealed a tumor involving the frontal sinus, ethmoid sinus, and the orbital cavity. The patient underwent a surgical excision of the lesion, which histopathological examination revealed to be a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a highly efficient phosphorescent green inverted top emitting organic light emitting diode with excellent color stability by using the 1,4,5,8,9,11-hexaazatriphenylene-hexacarbonitrile/indium zinc oxide top electrode and bis(2-phenylpyridine)iridium(III) acetylacetonate as the emitter in an exciplex forming co-host system. The device shows a high external quantum efficiency of 23.4% at 1000 cd/m2 corresponding to a current efficiency of 110 cd/A, low efficiency roll-off with 21% at 10 000 cd/m2 and low turn on voltage of 2.4 V. Especially, the device showed very small color change with the variation of Δx=0.02, Δy=0.02 in the CIE 1931 coordinates as the viewing angle changes from 0° to 60°. The performance of the device is superior to that of the metal/metal cavity structured device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a highly efficient phosphorescent green inverted top emitting organic light emitting diode with excellent color stability by using the 1,4,5,8,9,11-hexaazatriphenylene-hexacarbonitrile/indium zinc oxide top electrode and bis(2-phenylpyridine)iridium(III) acetylacetonate as the emitter in an exciplex forming co-host system. The device shows a high external quantum efficiency of 23.4% at 1000 cd/m2 corresponding to a current efficiency of 110 cd/A, low efficiency roll-off with 21% at 10 000 cd/m2 and low turn on voltage of 2.4 V. Especially, the device showed very small color change with the variation of Δx=0.02, Δy=0.02 in the CIE 1931 coordinates as the viewing angle changes from 0° to 60°. The performance of the device is superior to that of the metal/metal cavity structured device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in ambient temperature affect flowering time in plants; understanding this phenomenon will be crucial for buffering agricultural systems from the effects of climate change. Here, we show that levels of FLM-ß, an alternatively spliced form of the flowering repressor FLOWERING LOCUS M, increase at lower temperatures, repressing flowering. FLM-ß interacts with SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP); SVP is degraded at high temperatures, reducing the abundance of the SVP-FLM-ß repressor complex and, thus, allowing the plant to flower. The svp and flm mutants show temperature-insensitive flowering in different temperature ranges. Control of SVP-FLM-ß repressor complex abundance via transcriptional and splicing regulation of FLM and postradiational regulation of SVP protein stability provides an efficient, rapid mechanism for plants to respond to ambient temperature changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flowering time of plants is affected by modest changes in ambient temperature. However, little is known about the regulation of ambient temperature-responsive flowering by small RNAs. In this study, we show that the microRNA156 (miR156)- SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE3 (SPL3) module directly regulates FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) expression in the leaf to control ambient temperature-responsive flowering. Overexpression of miR156 led to more delayed flowering at a lower ambient temperature (16°C), which was associated with down-regulation of FT and FRUITFULL expression. Among miR156 target genes, SPL3 mRNA levels were mainly reduced, probably because miR156-mediated cleavage of SPL3 mRNA was higher at 16°C. Overexpression of miR156-resistant SPL3 [SPL3(-)] caused early flowering, regardless of the ambient temperature, which was associated with up-regulation of FT and FRUITFULL expression. Reduction of miR156 activity by target mimicry led to a phenotype similar to that of SUC2::rSPL3 plants. FT up-regulation was observed after dexamethasone treatment in GVG-rSPL3 plants. Misexpression and artificial microRNA-mediated suppression of FT in the leaf dramatically altered the ambient temperature-responsive flowering of plants overexpressing miR156 and SPL3(-). Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that the SPL3 protein directly binds to GTAC motifs within the FT promoter. Lesions in TERMINAL FLOWER1, SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE, and EARLY FLOWERING3 did not alter the expression of miR156 and SPL3. Taken together, our data suggest that the interaction between the miR156-SPL3 module and FT is part of the regulatory mechanism controlling flowering time in response to ambient temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to improve the reliability of the endurance test for the powertrain system of military tracked vehicles. The measurement system that measures the driving duty applied to the powertrain system caused by mobility on roads consists of eight analog channels and two pulse channels, including the propeller shaft output torques for the left and right sides. The data obtained from this measurement system can be used to introduce a new technology that produces the output torque of a torque converter and that can be applied to analyze the revolution counting for the endurance and road mobility in the front unit and represent the relative fatigue damages analysis technique and its results according to the driven roads through a cumulative fatigue method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(methacrylate) copolymer containing 95 mol% of photoreactive H-bonded mesogenic unit 4-(6-hydroxyhexyloxy)cinnamic acid (6CA) and 5 mol% of luminescent unit 2,7-bis[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-cyanovinyl]-9,9-dihexyl-9H-fluorene (CN-DHFP) was synthesized and characterized. The irradiation with LPUV light resulted in the induction of a small negative optical anisotropy (ΔA) in the films due to the axis selective photoreaction of the cinnamic acid group. After annealing, the negative optical anisotropies both 6CA and CN-DHFP groups were significantly enhanced. The enhanced reorientation direction of both groups was perpendicular to E of LPUV light. Polarized blue emission was obtained with polarization ratio of about 2.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic analyses have identified four major genetic pathways which control the timing of floral transitions in Arabidopsis. The floral promotion or inhibitory signals from these distinct pathways ultimately converge into a subset of genes, commonly known as the floral integrators, such that the plants are compelled either to switch into a flowering phase or to remain in the vegetative stage. In this review, we have discussed the recent findings regarding cross-talk between floral promotion pathways and flowering locus T and suppressor of overexpression of Constans 1, the major floral integrators within Arabidopsis. The spatial regulation of these integrators has also been discussed, as these spatial patterns may help us to understand the manner in which floral inductive signals are transmitted. We have also discussed conservation and divergence with regard to the regulation of floral integrators between Arabidopsis and rice. Finally, we have provided a series of insights into the complex signaling network which coordinates plant development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of serum pepsinogen (PG) testing for gastric atrophy (AG), intestinal metaplasia (IM), gastric adenoma and cancer by GastroPanel kit. In addition, these results were compared with Latex-enhanced Turbidimetric Immunoassay (L-TIA) kit for correlation between two kits. Methods Serum levels of PG I (sPGI) and sPGII, and PG I/II ratios were measured using both kits in 2,204 patients including 753 controls, 356 peptic ulcer diseases, 316 gastric adenomas and 779 gastric cancers. Results sPGI, sPGII, and PG I/II ratios measured using these two kits showed high concordance. sPGI 70 of the L-TIA kit corresponded to 100 of the Gastropanel kit and PG I/II ratio 3 corresponded to 5.3, respectively, in the analysis using receiver operating characteristic curves. GastroPanel results showed that sPGI was highest in normal control, and decreased in the gastric adenoma and cancer groups; sPGII decreased in the adenoma group while it increased in the cancer group in comparison to control; PG I/II ratios were significantly lower in the adenoma and the cancer groups, especially the intestinal type cancer group (Figure). The senilities and the specificities calculated using the GastroPanel kit were slightly higher in the diagnosis of AG, IM, and adenoma than those of L-TIA kit without statistical difference (Table). Conclusion PG I/II ratio (≤ 5.3) could be a reliable biomarker for the detection of gastric adenoma and gastric cancer. The GastroPanel kit showed non-inferiority compared to the L-TIA kit in the detection of AG or IM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is an excellent source of protein, oil, carbohydrates, and many other bioactive ingredients. However, its raw mature seeds also contain several antinutritional components. The newly developed soybean cultivar ‘Hayoung’ has large yellow seeds and a low stachyose content, and is free of lipoxygenase, Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI), and 7S α’-subunit proteins. ‘Hayoung’ was selected from the population derived from a cross between the intermediate parent (F4-4) and the breeding line (15G1). It has purple flowers, tawny pubescence, a determinate growth habit, and light-yellow pods at maturity. The seed of the cultivar has a yellow hilum and yellow seed coat color. The dry weight seed protein and oil content were 37.9 and 16.0%, respectively. The stachyose content was 3.1 g/kg, which was much lower than 12.7 g/kg of the check cultivar, ‘Daewon’. ‘Hayoung’ has shown resistance to soybean necrosis, soybean mosaic virus, Cercospora leaf spot and blight, black root rot, pod and stem blight, and bacterial pustule. ‘Hayoung’ matured on 22 October with a plant height of 56 cm and a 100-seed weight of 32.3 g. The average yield of the cultivar was 3.12 (Ton/ha), based on regional yield trials in 2018 at four locations. ‘Hayoung’ has been registered as a soybean cultivar (registration number: 8625, registration date: June 08, 2021) by the Korea Seed & Variety Service, Republic of Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of primary necrotizing fasciitis, a soft tissue infection, of the left breast, diagnosed in an untreated 31-year-old female patient with diabetes.

Objective: To analyze the changes in muscle mass and quality with time on the paretic and non-paretic sides in subacute stroke patients and identify correlations between the variation of muscle mass and quality and lower limb functions. Methods: Thirty hemiplegia patients diagnosed with stroke participated in this study. To evaluate poststroke muscle changes, longitudinal measurement of muscle mass and quality was conducted with bilateral lower limbs. The elastic shear modulus was measured using shear wave elastography and muscle thickness (MT) of rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius (GCM) muscles. Functional evaluation was performed using Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Five Times Sit to Stand Test (FTSST). Follow-up was performed at discharge. The muscle mass and quality were compared according to time. We analyzed whether muscle quantity and quality were related to function. Results: MT demonstrated no significant change with time. The elastic shear modulus increased significantly in the paretic VL and GCM muscles and did not change significantly in the muscles on the non-paretic side. Correlation analysis detected that elastic shear modulus in the VL has a cross-sectional negative relationship between BBS and positive relationship between FTSST. There were significant correlation between variation of FTSST and the variation of the elastic shear modulus in VL. Conclusion: Only paretic VL and GCM muscle quality changed in subacute stroke patients and muscle's property related to lower limb functions. Therefore, the lower extremity requires an approach to muscle quality rather than quantity for subacute stroke patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effect of (+)-ABA on the in vitro interaction of rice FCA and FY homologs, OsFCA and OsFY. From this analysis, we found no disruption of the OsFCA–OsFY complexes by ABA treatment. This result prompted us to examine the effect of ABA on the FCA–FY interaction. In these experiments, we could not reproduce the inhibitory effect of (+)-ABA on the interaction between FCA and FY. Based on these combined results, we believe that the inhibitory effect of (+)-ABA on the FCA–FY interaction should be cautiously reconsidered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants must perceive and rapidly respond to changes in ambient temperature for their successful reproduction. Here we demonstrate that Arabidopsis SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) plays an important role in the response of plants to ambient temperature changes. The loss of SVP function elicited insensitivity to ambient temperature changes. SVP mediates the temperature-dependent functions of FCA and FVE within the thermosensory pathway. SVP controls flowering time by negatively regulating the expression of a floral integrator, FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), via direct binding to the CArG motifs in the FT sequence. We propose that this is one of the molecular mechanisms that modulate flowering time under fluctuating temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A perfect ohmic contact is formed at the interface of indium tin oxide (INTO) and N,N'-did(naphthalene-1-yl)-N,N'-diphenyl-benzidine (NPB) using ReO3 as the interfacial layer. The hole injection efficiency is close to 100% at the interface, which is much higher than those for interfacial layers of 1,4,5,8,9,11-hexaazatripheylene hexacarbonitrile (HAT-CN) and MoO3. Interestingly, the ReO3 and MoO3 interfacial layers result in the same hole injection barrier,≈0.4 eV, to NPB, indicating that the Fermi level is pinned to the NPB polaron energy level. However, a significant difference is observed in the generated charge density in the NPB layer near the interfacial layer/NPB interface, indicating that charge generation at the interface plays an important role in forming the ohmic contact [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the detection of a large population of ultradiffuse galaxies (UDGs) in two massive galaxy clusters, Abell S1063 at z = 0.348 and Abell 2744 at z = 0.308, based on F814W and F105W images in the Hubble Frontier Fields Program. We find 47 and 40 UDGs in Abell S1063 and Abell 2744, respectively. Color–magnitude diagrams of the UDGs show that they are mostly located at the faint end of the red sequence. From the comparison with simple stellar population models, we estimate their stellar mass to range from 108 to 109M⊙. Radial number density profiles of the UDGs show a turnover or a flattening in the central region at r < 100 kpc. We estimate the total masses of the UDGs using the galaxy scaling relations. A majority of the UDGs have total masses M200 = 1010–1011M⊙, and only a few of them have total masses M200 = 1011–1012M⊙. The total number of UDGs within the virial radius is estimated to be N(UDG) = 770 ± 114 for Abell S1063 and N(UDG) = 814 ± 122 for Abell 2744. Combining these results with data in the literature, we fit the relation between the total numbers of UDGs and the masses of their host systems for M200 > 1013M⊙ with a power law, N(UDG) = . These results suggest that a majority of the UDGs have a dwarf galaxy origin, while only a small number of the UDGs are massive L* galaxies that failed to form a normal population of stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For electroluminescence with delayedfluorescence, the azasiline unit has been introduced for the firsttime as a donor in a thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF)material. The TADF material (DTPDDA) shows strong intramolecular chargetransfer (CT) character with large spatial separation with the acceptorof triazine leading to narrow splitting of singlet and triplet excitedstates for the efficient reverse intersystem crossing (RISC). A blueorganic light emitting diode (OLED) based on DTPDDA not only displaysdeep blue in the Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage (CIE)coordinates of (0.149, 0.197) but also exhibits a high external quantumefficiency (EQE) of 22.3% which is the highest value ever reportedfor a blue fluorescent OLED. Theoretical prediction based on transientphotoluminescence (PL) and optical simulation result agrees well withthe achieved EQE indicating the successful conversion of triplet excitonsto singlet in the blue fluorescent OLED by using DTPDDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plants, successful reproduction requires the proper timing of lowering under changing environmental conditions. Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), which encodes a proposed phloem-mobile florigen, has a close homologue, TWIN SISTER OF FT (TSF). During the vegetative phase, TSF shows high levels of expression in the hypocotyl before FT induction, but the tsf mutation does not have an apparent lowering-time phenotype on its own under long-day conditions. This study compared the protein mobility of FT and TSF. With TSF-overexpressing plants as the rootstock, the lowering time of ft tsf scion plants was only slightly accelerated. Previous work has shown that FT is graft-transmissible; by contrast, this study did not detect movement of TSF from the roots into the shoot of the scion plants. This study used plants overexpressing FT/TSF chimeric proteins to map a region responsible for FT movement. A chimeric TSF with region II of FT (L28 to G98) expressed in the rootstock caused early lowering in ft tsf scion plants; movement of the chimeric protein from the rootstocks into the shoot apical region of the ft tsf scion plants was also detected. Misexpression of TSF in the leaf under the control of the FT promoter or grafting of 35S::TSF cotyledons accelerated lowering of ft-10 plants. FT was more stable than TSF. Taking these results together, we propose that protein mobility of FT is higher than that of TSF, possibly due to a protein domain that confers mobility and/or protein stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants integrate day length and ambient temperature to determine the optimal timing for developmental transitions. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the floral integrator FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and its closest homolog TWIN SISTER OF FT promote flowering in response to their activator CONSTANS under long-day inductive conditions. Low ambient temperature (16°C) delays flowering, even under inductive photoperiods, through repression of FT, revealing the importance of floral repressors acting at low temperatures. Previously, we have reported that the floral repressors TEMPRANILLO (TEM; TEM1 and TEM2) control flowering time through direct regulation of FT at 22°C. Here, we show that tem mutants are less sensitive than the wild type to changes in ambient growth temperature, indicating that TEM genes may play a role in floral repression at 16°C. Moreover, we have found that TEM2 directly represses the expression of FT and TWIN SISTER OF FT at 16°C. In addition, the floral repressor SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) directly regulates TEM2 but not TEM1 expression at 16°C. Flowering time analyses of svp tem mutants indicate that TEM may act in the same genetic pathway as SVP to repress flowering at 22°C but that SVP and TEM are partially independent at 16°C. Thus, TEM2 partially mediates the temperature-dependent function of SVP at low temperatures. Taken together, our results indicate that TEM genes are also able to repress flowering at low ambient temperatures under inductive long-day conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tumor-associated antigen GA733 is a cell-surface glycoprotein highly expressed in colorectal carcinomas. In this study, 3 recombinant genes were constructed as follows: GA733 tagged to the ER retention sequence KDEL (GA733K), GA733 fused to the immunoglobulin Fc fragment (GA733-Fc), and GA733-Fc fused to the ER retention sequence (GA733-FcK). Agrobacteriummediated transformation was used to generate transgenic plants expressing recombinant genes. The presence of transgenes was confirmed by genomic PCR. Western blot, confocal immunofluorescence, and sandwich ELISA showed the expression of recombinant proteins. The stability, flexibility, and bioactivity of recombinant proteins were analyzed and demonstrated through N-glycosylation analysis, animal trials, and sera ELISA. Our results suggest that the KDEL retained proteins in ER with oligomannose glycan structure and enhanced protein accumulation level. The sera of mice immunized with GA733-FcK purified from plants contained immunoglobulins which were at least as efficient as the mammalian-derived GA733-Fc at recognizing human colorectal cancer cell lines. Thus, a plant system can be used to express the KDEL fusion protein with oligomannose glycosylation, and this protein induces an immune response which is comparable to non-KDEL-tagged, mammalian-derived proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tumor-associated antigen GA733 is a cell-surface glycoprotein highly expressed in colorectal carcinomas. In this study, 3 recombinant genes were constructed as follows: GA733 tagged to the ER retention sequence KDEL (GA733K), GA733 fused to the immunoglobulin Fc fragment (GA733-Fc), and GA733-Fc fused to the ER retention sequence (GA733-FcK). Agrobacteriummediated transformation was used to generate transgenic plants expressing recombinant genes. The presence of transgenes was confirmed by genomic PCR. Western blot, confocal immunofluorescence, and sandwich ELISA showed the expression of recombinant proteins. The stability, flexibility, and bioactivity of recombinant proteins were analyzed and demonstrated through N-glycosylation analysis, animal trials, and sera ELISA. Our results suggest that the KDEL retained proteins in ER with oligomannose glycan structure and enhanced protein accumulation level. The sera of mice immunized with GA733-FcK purified from plants contained immunoglobulins which were at least as efficient as the mammalian-derived GA733-Fc at recognizing human colorectal cancer cell lines. Thus, a plant system can be used to express the KDEL fusion protein with oligomannose glycosylation, and this protein induces an immune response which is comparable to non-KDEL-tagged, mammalian-derived proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Aim: Organ shortages lead end stage renal disease patients to seek overseas kidney transplantations (OTs), but the long-term outcomes of OTs have not been evaluated extensively. Methods: Patients who received OT and were followed at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) from 2000 to 2009 ( n = 87) were compared with patients who received kidneys from local donors (LTs) and were followed at SNUH ( n = 577). Furthermore, we matched OT patients and LT patients via a propensity score using operation date, age, renal replacement therapy duration, and donor sources ( n = 87 vs 87). Results: The recipient age was older in the OT group (48 vs 41 years), and donor age was younger in the OT group (29 vs 39 years). The estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) of functioning grafts between the groups were not different throughout the follow-up period. Biopsy-proven acute rejection, infectious disease, and hospitalization were more frequent in the OT group (27/87 vs 141/577, log-rank P < 0.001; 39/87 vs 28/577, log-rank P < 0.001; 66/87 vs 99/577, log-rank P < 0.001). The graft survival rate was lower in the OT group (82/87 vs 542/577, log-rank P = 0.003). Patient survival rate, however, was similar between the groups. After propensity score matching, the donor age was still younger in the OT group (29 vs 38 years). The risks of biopsy-proven acute rejection, infectious disease, and hospitalization were still higher in the OT group (27/87 vs 36/87, log-rank P = 0.04; 39/87 vs 3/87, log-rank P < 0.001; 66/87 vs 19/87, log-rank P < 0.001). Conclusion: Overseas kidney transplantation connotes risk factors that may negatively affect the long-term graft outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pteridine reductase (PTR1) is a target for drug development against Trypanosomaand Leishmaniaspecies, parasites that cause serious tropical diseases and for which therapies are inadequate. We adopted a structure-based approach to the design of novel PTR1 inhibitors based on three molecular scaffolds. A series of compounds, most newly synthesized, were identified as inhibitors with PTR1-species specific properties explained by structural differences between the T. bruceiand L. majorenzymes. The most potent inhibitors target T. bruceiPTR1, and two compounds displayed antiparasite activity against the bloodstream form of the parasite. PTR1 contributes to antifolate drug resistance by providing a molecular bypass of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibition. Therefore, combining PTR1 and DHFR inhibitors might improve therapeutic efficacy. We tested two new compounds with known DHFR inhibitors. A synergistic effect was observed for one particular combination highlighting the potential of such an approach for treatment of African sleeping sickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Hydraulic conductivity (K) for an alluvial system in a riverbank filtration area in Changwon City, South Korea, has been studied using grain-size distribution, pumping and slug tests, and numerical modeling. The alluvial system is composed of layers: upper fine sand, medium sand, lower fine sand, and a highly conductive sand/gravel layer at the base. The geometric mean of K for the sand/gravel layer (9.89 × 10−4 m s−1), as determined by grain-size analyses, was 3.33 times greater than the geometric mean obtained from pumping tests (2.97 × 10−4 m s−1). The geometric mean of K estimates obtained from slug tests (3.08 × 10−6 m s−1) was one to two orders of magnitude lower than that from pumping tests and grain-size analyses. K estimates derived from a numerical model were compared to those derived from the grain-size methods, slug tests and pumping tests in order to determine the degree of deviation from the numerical model. It is considered that the K estimates determined by the slug tests resemble the uppermost part of the alluvial deposit, whereas the K estimates obtained by grain-size analyses and pumping tests are similar to those from the numerical model for the sand/gravel layer of the riverside alluvial system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arabidopsis genes FT and TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1) encode related proteins with similarity to human Raf kinase inhibitor protein. FT, and likely also TFL1, is recruited to the promoters of floral genes through interaction with FD, a bZIP transcription factor. FT, however, induces flowering, while TFL1 represses flowering. Residues responsible for the opposite activities of FT and TFL1 were mapped by examining plants that overexpress chimeric proteins. A region important in vivo localizes to a 14-amino-acid segment that evolves very rapidly in TFL1 orthologs, but is almost invariant in FT orthologs. Crystal structures show that this segment forms an external loop of variable conformation. The only residue unambiguously distinguishing the FT and TFL1 loops makes a hydrogen bond with a residue near the entrance of a potential ligand-binding pocket in TFL1, but not in FT. This pocket is contacted by a C-terminal peptide, which also contributes to the opposite FT and TFL1 activities. In combination, these results identify a molecular surface likely to be recognized by FT- and/or TFL1-specific interactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CONSTANS (CO) regulates flowering time by positively regulating expression of two floral integrators, FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CO1 (SOC1), in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). FT and SOC1 have been proposed to act in parallel pathways downstream of CO based on genetic analysis using weak ft alleles, since ft soc1 double mutants showed an additive effect in suppressing the early flowering of CO overexpressor plants. However, this genetic analysis was inconsistent with the sequential induction pattern of FT and SOC1 found in inducible CO overexpressor plants. Hence, to identify genetic interactions of CO, FT, and SOC1, we carried out genetic and expression analyses with a newly isolated T-DNA allele of FT, ft-10. We found thatft-10 almost completely suppressed the early flowering phenotype of CO overexpressor plants, whereas soc1-2 partially suppressed the phenotype, suggesting that FT is the major output of CO. Expression of SOC1 was altered in gain- or loss-of-function mutants of FT, whereas expression of FT remained unchanged in gain- or loss-of-function mutants of SOC1, suggesting that FT positively regulates SOC1 to promote flowering. In addition, inactivation of FT caused down-regulation of SOC1 even in plants overexpressing CO, indicating that FT is required for SOC1 induction by CO. Taken together, these data suggest that CO activates SOC1 through FT to promote flowering in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on findings of a controlled study of virtual reality exposure therapy for the fear of flying (FOF). Percentage of population affected by FOF; Treatment sessions; Evaluation of respondents' willingness to fly and anxiety during flight immediately after treatment.