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Toexplore the feasibility of developing ligands targeted to theatypical C1 domains of protein kinase C ζ and ι, we haveprepared diacylglycerol lactones substituted with hydrophilic groupson their side chains, which potentially could interact with the arginineresidues that distinguish the atypical C1 domains of PKCζ andPKCι from typical C1 domains, and we have measured their bindingto mutated versions of the C1b domain of PKCδ that incorporateone or more of these arginine residues. The most selective of thediacylglycerol lactones showed only a 10-fold reduction in bindingaffinity with the triple arginine mutant (N7R/S10R/L20R) comparedto the wild-type, whereas phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate showed a 6000-foldloss of affinity. Molecular modeling confirms that these ligands areindeed able to interact with the arginine residues. Our results showthat dramatic changes in selectivity can be obtained through appropriatesubstitution of diacylglycerol lactones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify fundamental business practice differences that resulted from cultural differences between China and the West and to examine if traditional Chinese values and modern values coexist in the business context. Design/methodology/approach – In total, ten one-on-one and two focus group interviews with Chinese business people involved in transactions with the USA were conducted in China. Findings – The findings largely confirmed the significant influence of core Chinese traditional values on business practices in China. Contemporary business practices in China were found to be adapting to Western cultures in the presence of dynamic economic and social transitions. Research limitations/implications – The findings of this study are based on a series of interviews conducted in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen with selected Chinese businesses. While this initial data from the Chinese perspective provides valuable insights, inclusion of a diverse population would provide richer understanding. Originality/value – Based on findings, this study concludes that approaching China only with its traditional values limits understanding of the country's reality. Detailed practical implications based on findings are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to assist US apparel firms to successfully market in China. It aims to accurately predict Chinese consumers' purchase intentions toward a US brand. For this purpose, it proposes a composite model incorporating two behavioral intention models, Lee's model and decomposed Ajzen's model, and empirically tests the composite model. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 747 consumer data were collected in three cities of China, Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, utilizing a series of mall intercept method at two levels of shopping malls in each city. Findings – Among the proposed direct paths to purchase intention (PI), attitude toward the US brand apparel was the most important in explaining contemporary Chinese consumers' purchase intentions, followed by external perceived behavioral control (PBC) and subjective norm (SN). Two Confucian values, face saving and group conformity, did not directly affect PI at all, and face saving only influenced PI indirectly through the increase of attitude toward US brand apparel. Among external PBC (one's controllability toward a purchase) and internal PBC (one's self-efficacy), only external PBC led to PI. Practical implications – By examining the two aspects of PBC, the study validated the importance of consumers' resource controllability (i.e. external PBC) in Chinese purchase behaviors in the midst of rapid socioeconomic changes. This approach advances previous studies that primarily viewed PBC as one dimension. Originality/value – The paper is one of earliest endeavors to consider the decomposed PBC in a composite model. Also, the paper provides early proof that external PBC is more important than internal PBC in purchase contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Light extraction efficiency of GaN-based light emitting diodes (LEDs) has improved significantly by using ITO/ZnO layer texturing. We have deliberately designed and successfully fabricated GaN-based LEDs having one and two interfaces of ITO/ZnO layer texturing in the device structure. It was found that the light extraction efficiencies of one and two interfaces of ITO/ZnO-layer texturing LEDs were 22.29% and 35.54% at 20mA of current injection, respectively. Creating the chances of multiple light scattering at more than one interface is playing a major role to enhance light output power of the device. The source of the enhanced light output power is also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The synthesis of a small number of ceramide analogues containing a combination of linear and highly branched alkyl chains on either the d-sphingosine or the N-acyl core of the molecule is reported. Regardless of location, the presence of the branched chain improves potency relative to the positive control, C2 ceramide; however, the most potent compound (4) has the branched side chain as part of the d-sphingosine core. The induction of apoptosis by 4 in terms of Annexin V binding and DiOC6 labeling was superior to that achieved with C2 ceramide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The antimetastatic properties of soybean saponin were investigated by evaluating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2 and MMP-9) production in HT-1080 cells. The mRNA expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were determined by RT-PCR analysis. The levels of secreted MMP-2, MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) were determined by gelatin zymography and/or ELISA. The invasion of a Matrigel-coated membrane by human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 and HT-29 colon cancer cells was quantitatively assessed by counting the migrated cells. The treatment of HT-1080 cells with soybean saponin inhibited the mRNA expression of and reduced the amounts of secreted MMP-2 and MMP-9, whereas it increased the amount of secreted TIMP-2 dose-dependently. Soybean saponin significantly inhibited the invasion of HT-1080 cells through a Matrigel-coated membrane. The antimetastatic properties by soybean saponin were further confirmed by in vivo mice experiment via the tail vein injection of CT-26 colon cancer cells after feeding the mice the dietary soybean saponin. The incidence of metastatic tumor colonization of lungs of mice moderately decreased 2 weeks after the tail vein injection of CT-26 cells. Our current data support the notion that soybean saponin inhibits tumor cell metastasis by suppressing MMP-2 and MMP-9 productions, and stimulating TIMP-2 secretion, thereby suggesting that soybean saponin has a chemopreventive property against cancer metastasis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Inflammation plays a key role in obesity-related pathologies such as cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and several types of cancer. Obesity-induced inflammation entails the enhancement of the recruitment of macrophages into adipose tissue and the release of various proinflammatory proteins from fat tissue. Therefore, the modulation of inflammatory responses in obesity may be useful for preventing or ameliorating obesity-related pathologies. Some spice-derived components, which are naturally occurring phytochemicals, elicit antiobesity and antiinflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated whether active spice-derived components can be applied to the suppression of obesity-induced inflammatory responses. Mesenteric adipose tissue was isolated from obese mice fed a high-fat diet and cultured to prepare an adipose tissue-conditioned medium. Raw 264.7 macrophages were treated with the adipose tissue-conditioned medium with or without active spice-derived components (i.e., diallyl disulfide, allyl isothiocyanate, piperine, zingerone and curcumin). Chemotaxis assay was performed to measure the degree of macrophage migration. Macrophage activation was estimated by measuring tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), nitric oxide, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) concentrations. The active spice-derived components markedly suppressed the migration of macrophages induced by the mesenteric adipose tissue-conditioned medium in a dose-dependent manner. Among the active spice-derived components studied, allyl isothiocyanate, zingerone, and curcumin significantly inhibited the cellular production of proinflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and nitric oxide, and significantly inhibited the release of MCP-1 from 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our findings suggest that the spice-derived components can suppress obesity-induced inflammatory responses by suppressing adipose tissue macrophage accumulation or activation and inhibiting MCP-1 release from adipocytes. These spice-derived components may have a potential to improve chronic inflammatory conditions in obesity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In order to determine the importance of the two ester pharmacophores in high affinity, conformationally constrained DAG-lactones (Lac-1–5) as PK-C ligands, we have independently replaced the sn-1 and sn-2 carbonyl esters in these compounds by ketone (2, 10, 11), amide (3, 25–28), and hydroxyl (12, 13) isosteres. Although the ketone analogue of the sn-1 ester (2) exhibited comparable activity to the parent Lac-1 when taking into account the difference in lipophilicities, the other isosteres were significantly poorer PK-Cα ligands compared to the parent DAG-lactones. This study demonstrates that the ester functionality in DAG-lactone plays an important role in the ligand''s capacity to form a strong hydrogen bond with Gly253 at the active site. The discrete Ki analysis from the sn-1 and sn-2 isosteres further confirms that the DAG-lactones bind preferentially to the C1-domain in the sn-2 binding mode, as previously suggested. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We aimed to evaluate muscle mass changes after injection of botulinum toxin (BoNT) in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Children aged between 2 and 12 years who were diagnosed with hemiplegic CP with spastic equinus foot were prospectively recruited and administered BoNT in the affected leg. Lean body mass (LBM) of both legs and total limbs was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) preinjection and 4 and 12 weeks after injection. A total of 15 children were enrolled into the study. LBM of both legs and total limbs increased significantly over 12 weeks of growth. The ratio of LBM of the affected leg to total limbs and to the unaffected leg significantly reduced at 4 weeks after injection compared with preinjection but significantly increased at 12 weeks after injection compared with 4 weeks after injection. In conclusion, the muscle mass of the affected leg after BoNT injection in children with hemiplegic spastic CP decreased at 4 weeks after BoNT injection but significantly recovered after 12 weeks after injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the causal–effect relationships among moral philosophy, moral intensity, and purchase behavior toward environmentally sustainable textile and apparel products. A research model incorporating two dimensions of moral philosophy (i.e., idealism and relativism), five dimensions of moral intensity (i.e., magnitude, probability, temporal immediacy, proximity, and social consensus), and purchase behavior toward sustainable textile and apparel products was tested using consumer data collected from a wide age range of Korean females through online surveys. Organic and naturally dyed textile and apparel products were selected as focal interests of this study due to the significance of the two product markets in Korea. The results revealed that, of the two dimensions of moral philosophy, only idealism had a significant impact on overall moral intensity and moral intensity had a significant impact on consumer purchase behavior toward sustainable textile and apparel products, which confirmed the sequential relationship among the variables. As the first attempt, to our knowledge, to apply an ethical view to environmentally sustainable textile and apparel product consumption, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the determinants of sustainable textile and apparel consumption among Korean consumers and the development of effective marketing communication strategies targeting Korean consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]