Nominal mismatches in Swahili locatives

According to Carstens (2008), Bantu locatives in general project double DPs. However, recent works have presented convincing evidence for a reduction in nominal size for Bantu locatives (Fuchs & van der Wal 2017, 2018). We argue that the actual size of nominals in Swahili, a language of the Bantu family, depends on the type of locative expression. In this regard, a mismatch in terms of nominal size is observed for Swahili. By means of analyzing such mismatches, we adopt the PP analysis as well as the stacked-n analysis suggested by Kramer (2015). In doing so, we demonstrate that there are two distinct ways of forming Swahili locatives. The first is to utilize a prepositional head, P (e.g., kwa), projected above a full nominal whereas the other is to make use of the head, n (e.g., -ni), projected within a reduced nominal. Such dissimilarity in constructing locatives, in turn, gives rise to mismatches in Swahili nominals

Replication of the genetic effects of IFN regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) on systemic lupus erythematosus in a Korean population

Recently, two studies provided convincing evidence that IFN regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) gene polymorphisms are significantly associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in several white populations. To replicate the association with SLE in an Asian population, we examined the genetic effects in our SLE cohort from a Korean population. A total of 1,565 subjects, composed of 593 cases and 972 controls, were genotyped using the TaqMan® (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) method. The genetic effects of polymorphisms on the risk of SLE were evaluated using χ2 tests and a Mantel–Haenszel meta-analysis. Statistical analysis revealed results in the Korean population were similar to the previous reports from white populations. The rs2004640 T allele had a higher frequency in SLE cases (0.385) than controls (0.321; odds ratio (OR) = 1.32, P = 0.0003). In combined analysis, including all seven independent cohorts from the three studies so far, robust and consistent associations of the rs2004640 T allele with SLE were observed. The estimate of risk was OR = 1.44 (range, 1.34–1.55), with an overall P = 1.85 × 10-23 for the rs2004640 T allele. The haplotype (rs2004640T–rs2280714T) involved in both the alternative splice donor site and the elevated expression of IRF5 also had a highly significant association with SLE (pooled, P = 2.11 × 10-16). Our results indicate that the genetic effect on the risk of SLE mediated by IRF5 variants can be generally accepted in both white and Asian populations

PKCε-mediated ERK1/2 activation involved in radiation-induced cell death in NIH3T3 cells

AbstractProtein kinase C (PKC) isoforms play distinct roles in cellular functions. We have previously shown that ionizing radiation activates PKC isoforms (α, δ, ε, and ζ), however, isoform-specific sensitivities to radiation and its exact mechanisms in radiation mediated signal transduction are not fully understood. In this study, we showed that overexpression of PKC isoforms (α, δ, ε, and ζ) increased radiation-induced cell death in NIH3T3 cells and PKCε overexpression was predominantly responsible. In addition, PKCε overexpression increased ERK1/2 activation without altering other MAP-kinases such as p38 MAPK or JNK. Co-transfection of dominant negative PKCε (PKCε-KR) blocked both PKCε-mediated ERK1/2 activation and radiation-induced cell death, while catalytically active PKCε construction augmented these phenomena. When the PKCε overexpressed cells were pretreated with PD98059, MEK inhibitor, radiation-induced cell death was inhibited. Co-transfection of the cells with a mutant of ERK1 or -2 (ERK1-KR or ERK2-KR) also blocked these phenomena, and co-transfection with dominant negative Ras or Raf cDNA revealed that PKCε-mediated ERK1/2 activation was Ras–Raf-dependent. In conclusion, PKCε-mediated ERK1/2 activation was responsible for the radiation-induced cell death

Echovirus 30 Induced Neuronal Cell Death through TRIO-RhoA Signaling Activation

BACKGROUND: Echovirus 30 (Echo30) is one of the most frequently identified human enteroviruses (EVs) causing aseptic meningitis and encephalitis. However the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of Echo30 infection with significant clinical outcomes is not completely understood. The aim of this investigation is to illustrate molecular pathologic alteration in neuronal cells induced by Echo30 infection using clinical isolate from young patient with neurologic involvement. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To characterize the neuronal cellular response to Echo30 infection, we performed a proteomic analysis based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and MALDI-TOF/TOF Mass Spectrophotometric (MS) analysis. We identified significant alteration of several protein expression levels in Echo30-infected SK-N-SH cells. Among these proteins, we focused on an outstanding up-regulation of Triple functional domain (TRIO) in Echo30-infected SK-N-SH cells. Generally, TRIO acts as a key component in the regulation of axon guidance and cell migration. In this study, we determined that TRIO plays a role in the novel pathways in Echo30 induced neuronal cell death. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our finding shows that TRIO plays a critical role in neuronal cell death by Echo30 infection. Echo30 infection activates TRIO-guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) domains (GEFD2) and RhoA signaling in turn. These results suggest that Echo30 infection induced neuronal cell death by activation of the TRIO-RhoA signaling. We expect the regulation of TRIO-RhoA signaling may represent a new therapeutic approach in treating aseptic meningitis and encephalitis induced by Echo30

Position and Thickness Optimization of Ribs for Ventilation Covering Using the Micro Genetic Algorithm with an Interpolated Smooth Objective Function

Structures with supporting ribs are adopted in many fields of engineering. These ribs are attached to the main plate or shell to increase stiffness and reduce the stresses of a structure. Currently, much research in structural optimization has been devoted to size or thickness optimizations. In this study, the discrete positions of the ribs of a structure are optimized in addition to their thicknesses. The objective function, which is the total weight of a structure, is a continuous function with respect to the thickness of the ribs. However, it is a stepwise function of a dimensionless variable, which represents the set of positions of the ribs. Because of this stepwise objective function, the gradient method of optimization is not applicable. Therefore, we applied the micro genetic algorithm (MGA), which does not need derivatives of the objective function. To accelerate the rate of convergence, the stepwise objective function is interpolated to a smooth artificial objective function that does not alter the optimal solution

New Signature Scheme Using Conjugacy Problem

We propose a new digital signature scheme based on a non-commutative group where the conjugacy search problem is hard and the conjugacy decision problem is feasible. We implement our signature scheme in the braid groups and prove that an existential forgery of the implementation under no message attack gives a solution to a variation of conjugacy search problem. Then we discuss performance of our scheme under suggested parameters

Purification and characterization of angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptide from the jellyfish, Nemopilema nomurai

The Nemopilema nomurai hydrolysate was produced by the reaction of papain, and an angiotensin-Ι converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptide was purified by using the molecular cut-offs membrane filter, the gel filtration chromatography with Sephadex LH-20 and the reverse phase chromatographic method using C18 and C12 columns. Purification yield of the active peptide was estimated to be 0.2 ± 0.1%, starting from the lyophilized jellyfish. The infrared (IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) spectrometer analyses elucidated that the structure of the purified peptide is tyrosine-isoleucine (Tyr-Ile). The inhibitory concentration at 50% (IC50) and Ki values were calculated to be 2.0 ± 0.3 μg/ml and 3.3 ± 0.3 μM, respectively, which acts as a competitive inhibitor to ACE.Keywords: Angiotensin-Ι converting enzyme, Jellyfish, Nemopilema nomurai, Papain hydrolysate, Tyrosine-IsoleucineAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(15), pp. 1888-189

Palliative radiotherapy in patients with a symptomatic pelvic mass of metastatic colorectal cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the palliative role of radiotherapy (RT) and define the effectiveness of chemotherapy combined with palliative RT (CCRT) in patients with a symptomatic pelvic mass of metastatic colorectal cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From August 1995 to December 2007, 80 patients with a symptomatic pelvic mass of metastatic colorectal cancer were treated with palliative RT at Samsung Medical Center. Initial presenting symptoms were pain (68 cases), bleeding (18 cases), and obstruction (nine cases). The pelvic mass originated from rectal cancer in 58 patients (73%) and from colon cancer in 22 patients (27%). Initially 72 patients (90%) were treated with surgery, including 64 complete local excisions; 77% in colon cancer and 81% in rectal cancer. The total RT dose ranged 8-60 Gy (median: 36 Gy) with 1.8-8 Gy per fraction. When the <b>α/β </b>for the tumor was assumed to be 10 Gy for the biologically equivalent dose (BED), the median RT dose was 46.8 Gy₁₀(14.4-78). Twenty one patients (26%) were treated with CCRT. Symptom palliation was assessed one month after the completion of RT.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Symptom palliation was achieved in 80% of the cases. During the median follow-up period of five months (1-44 months), 45% of the cases experienced reappearance of symptoms; the median symptom control duration was five months. Median survival after RT was six months. On univariate analysis, the only significant prognostic factor for symptom control duration was BED ≥40 Gy₁₀(p < 0.05), and CCRT was a marginally significant factor (p = 0.0644). On multivariate analysis, BED and CCRT were significant prognostic factors for symptom control duration (p < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>RT was an effective palliation method in patients with a symptomatic pelvic mass of metastatic colorectal cancer. For improvement of symptom control rate and duration, a BED ≥ 40 Gy₁₀is recommended when possible. Considering the low morbidity and improved symptom palliation, CCRT might be considered in patients with good performance status.</p

ZnO Thin-Film Transistor Grown by rf Sputtering Using Carbon Dioxide and Substrate Bias Modulation

ZnO thin-film transistor (TFT) grown by rf magnetron sputtering in Ar/O2 atmosphere shows inferior turn-off characteristics compared to ZnO TFT grown by other methods. We thought that reactions between Zn and O2 might produce defects responsible for the poor turn-off behavior. In order to solve this problem, we studied sputtering growth in Ar/CO2 atmosphere at 450°C. During sputtering growth, we modulated substrate dc bias to control ion supply to the substrate. After growth ZnO was annealed in CO2 and O2 gas. With these methods, our bottom-gate ZnO thin-film transistor showed 4.7 cm2/Vsec mobility, 4×106 on/off ratio, and –2 V threshold voltage