Increased pulse pressure (PP) and decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) are strong prognostic predictors of adverse cardiovascular events. Recently, the International Consortium for Blood Pressure ...Genome-Wide Association Studies (ICBP-GWAS) reported eight loci that influenced PP and MAP. The ICBP-GWAS examined 51 cohorts--comprising 122 671 individuals of European ancestry--and identified eight SNPs: five that governed PP and three that controlled MAP. Six of these loci were novel. To replicate these newly identified loci and examine genetic architecture of PP and MAP between European and Asian populations, we conducted a meta-analysis of the eight SNPs combining data from ICBP and general population-based Korean cohorts. Two SNPs (rs13002573 (FIGN) and rs871606 (CHIC2)) for PP and two SNPs (rs1446468 (FIGN) and rs319690 (MAP4)) for MAP were replicated in Koreans. Although our GWAS only found moderate association, we believe that the findings promote us to propose that a similar genetic architecture governs PP and MAP in Asians and Europeans. However, further studies will be needed to confirm the possibility using other Asian population.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
A reliable and efficient numerical method is presented for the design of broadband absorbers, fabricated by layering two square patch-frequency selective surfaces (SP-FSS) with different geometries ...on a grounded dielectric substrate. The circuit parameters of the inductance and capacitance of the SP-FSS were retrieved using the strip wire conductor model. Due to the high capacitance and low inductance of the SPFSS, a nearly constant resonance frequency (f0 = 37 GHz) is observed, irrespective of patch size at a given unit cell periodicity of 7.5 mm. For the SP-FSS, the circuit is capacitive below f0 and inductive above f0. For a grounded substrate with a quarter wavelength thickness, however, the input impedance is inductive below f0, resulting in impedance matching over a wide frequency range, with the controlled FSS resistance matched to the free-space impedance. The double-layer absorber was designed by optimizing the surface resistance and layer thickness of two SP-FSSs with different geometries, and demonstrated a 10 dB absorption bandwidth of 6.1−41.4 GHz with a total thickness of 5 mm, which is equal to the theoretical limit. A test sample was prepared by screen printing method, and the free space measurement demonstrated a wide-bandwidth absorption result (4.7−40.0 GHz for −10 dB reflection loss) with a small total thickness (5.4 mm). The simulation and experimental results strongly validated the SP-FSS for the design of wide bandwidth electromagnetic wave absorbers.
► We observed TiO2 nanostructures by TEM and electron tomography. ► We can observe entire shapes of TiO2 nanotubes from 3D reconstruction. ► Nanocylinder shapes of solar cells were also studied in ...this paper.
Three-dimensional nanostructures of TiO2 related materials including nanotubes, electron acceptor materials in hybrid polymer solar cells, and working electrodes of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were visualized by electron tomography as well as TEM micrographs. The regions on the wall of TiO2 nanotubes where the streptavidins were attached were elucidated by electron tomogram analysis. The coverage of TiO2 nanotubes by streptavidin was also investigated. The TiO2 nanostructures in hybrid polymer solar cells made by sol–gel and atomic layer deposition (ALD) methods and the morphologies of pores between TiO2 particles in DSSCs were also observed by reconstructed three-dimensional images made by electron tomography.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Stem cell therapy is a promising strategy for treating neurological diseases but its effectiveness is influenced by the route of administration and the characteristics of the stem cells. We ...determined whether neural induction of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was beneficial when the cells were delivered intra-arterially through the carotid artery.
MSCs were neurally induced using a retroviral vector expressing the neurogenic transcription factor neurogenin-1 (Ngn1). The LacZ gene encoding bacterial β-galactosidase was used as a control. Ischemic stroke was induced by transluminal occlusion of the middle cerebral artery and 3 days later the MSCs were delivered intra-arterially through the internal carotid artery. Magnetic resonance imaging analysis indicated that compared to MSCs expressing LacZ (MSCs/LacZ), MSCs expressing Ngn1 (MSCs/Ngn1) exhibited increased recruitment to the ischemic region and populated this area for a longer duration. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that compared to MSCs/LacZ, MSCs/Ngn1 more effectively alleviated neurological dysfunction by blocking secondary damage associated with neuronal cell death and brain inflammation. Microarray and real-time PCR analysis indicated that MSCs/Ngn1 exhibited increased expression of chemotactic cytokine receptors, adherence to endothelial cells, and migration ability.
Neural induction with Ngn1 increases the homing ability of MSCs, enhancing their engraftment efficiency in the ischemic rat brain. Intra-arterial delivery of neurally induced MSCs/Ngn1 3 days after ischemic injury blocks neuronal cell death and inflammation, and improves functional recovery. Thus, intra-arterial administration of stem cells with neural properties may be a novel therapy for the treatment of ischemic stroke.
Recently,
gene therapy has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by introducing functional genes
. Here, we explored the need of using ...selection markers to increase the gene delivery efficiency and evaluated the potential risks associated with their use in the manufacturing process.
We used MSCs/CD that carry the cytosine deaminase gene (
) as a therapeutic gene and a puromycin resistance gene (
) as a selection marker. We evaluated the correlation between the therapeutic efficacy and the purity of therapeutic MSCs/CD by examining their anti-cancer effect on co-cultured U87/GFP cells. To simulate
horizontal transfer of the
gene
, we generated a puromycin-resistant
(
/
) by introducing the
gene and assessed its responsiveness to various antibiotics. We found that the anti-cancer effect of MSCs/CD was directly proportional to their purity, suggesting the crucial role of the
gene in eliminating impure unmodified MSCs and enhancing the purity of MSCs/CD during the manufacturing process. Additionally, we found that clinically available antibiotics were effective in inhibiting the growth of hypothetical microorganism,
/
.
In summary, our study highlights the potential benefits of using the
gene as a selection marker to enhance the purity and efficacy of therapeutic cells in MSC-based gene therapy. Furthermore, our study suggests that the potential risk of horizontal transfer of antibiotics resistance genes
can be effectively managed by clinically available antibiotics.
Therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is determined by biodistribution and engraftment in vivo. Compared to intravenous infusion, biodistribution of locally transplanted MSCs are ...partially understood. Here, we performed a pharmacokinetics (PK) study of MSCs after local transplantation. We grafted human MSCs into the brains of immune-compromised nude mice. Then we extracted genomic DNA from brains, lungs, and livers after transplantation over a month. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction with human Alu-specific primers, we analyzed biodistribution of the transplanted cells. To evaluate the role of residual immune response in the brain, MSCs expressing a cytosine deaminase (MSCs/CD) were used to ablate resident immune cells at the injection site. The majority of the Alu signals mostly remained at the injection site and decreased over a week, finally becoming undetectable after one month. Negligible signals were transiently detected in the lung and liver during the first week. Suppression of Iba1-positive microglia in the vicinity of the injection site using MSCs/CD prolonged the presence of the Alu signals. After local transplantation in xenograft animal models, human MSCs remain predominantly near the injection site for limited time without disseminating to other organs. Transplantation of human MSCs can locally elicit an immune response in immune compromised animals, and suppressing resident immune cells can prolong the presence of transplanted cells. Our study provides valuable insights into the in vivo fate of locally transplanted stem cells and a local delivery is effective to achieve desired dosages for neurological diseases.
A new problem encoding is devised for the minimum span frequency assignment problem in wireless communications networks which is compact and general. Using the new encoding, which reduces search ...space dramatically over previous problem encodings, an optimization algorithm is developed which combines a genetic algorithm global search with a computationally efficient local search method from the literature. This memetic algorithm is shown to be more effective than six previous approaches in the literature on a suite of established test problems. Further, it shown that the integration of the global search with the local search is important; neither component by itself is nearly as effective.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
We investigated the taxonomic status of the Korean populations of Eurema hecabe (Linnaeus, 1758) based on morphology and nuclear triose phosphate isomerase (Tpi ). Up to now, the Korean population of ...E. hecabe was classified into E. mandarina (de l'Orza, 1869) based on morphological characteristics. A previous study raised the possibility of the Jeju-do population to be E. hecabe based on the color of forewing’s fringe. However, morphological examination showed that the Korean population found in southern areas (Gyeonsang and Jeolla provinces), including Jeju-do is E. mandarina. In particular, the external morphology of autumn seasonal type of the Korean population was almost same as the Japanese mainland population, which is known as E. mandarina. Furthermore, sequence analysis of Tpi gene from nine individuals of E. mandarina collected in South Korean localities including Jeju-do clearly showed that all Korean specimens truly belong to E. mandarina.
The Bekko Tombo, Libellula angelina Selys, 1883 (Odonata: Libellulidae), is listed as an endangered species in South Korea, and is classified as a critically endangered species by the International ...Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). An assessment of the genetic diversity and population relationships of the species by molecular markers can provide the information necessary to establish effective conservation strategies. In this study, we developed 10 microsatellite markers specific to L. angelina using the Illumina NextSeq 500 platform. Forty-three samples of L. angelina collected from three localities in South Korea were genotyped to validate these markers and to preliminarily assess the population genetic characteristics. The 10 markers revealed 4-11 alleles, 0.211-0.950 observed heterozygosity (H
O
), and 0.659-0.871 expected heterozygosity (H
E
) in the population with the largest sample size (n = 20), thereby validating the suitability of these markers for population analyses. Our preliminary assessment of the population genetic characteristics appears to indicate the following: presence of inbreeding in all populations, an isolation of the most geographically distant population (Seocheon), and a lower H
O
than H
E
. The microsatellite markers developed in this study will be useful for studying the population genetics of L. angelina collected from additional sites in South Korea and from other regions.
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