Direct and Indirect Detection of Neutralino Dark Matter and Collider Signatures in an SO(10)SO(10) Model with Two Intermediate Scales

We investigate the detectability of neutralino Dark Matter via direct and indirect searches as well as collider signatures of an $SO(10)$ model with two intermediate scales. We compare the direct Dark Matter detection cross section and the muon flux due to neutralino annihilation in the Sun that we obtain in this model with mSUGRA predictions and with the sensitivity of current and future experiments. In both cases, we find that the detectability improves as the model deviates more from mSUGRA. In order to study collider signatures, we choose two benchmark points that represent the main phenomenological features of the model: a lower value of $|\mu|$ and reduced third generation sfermion masses due to extra Yukawa coupling contributions in the Renormalization Group Equations, and increased first and second generation slepton masses due to new gaugino loop contributions. We show that measurements at the LHC can distinguish this model from mSUGRA in both cases, by counting events containing leptonically decaying $Z^0$ bosons, heavy neutral Higgs bosons, or like--sign lepton pairs.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figure

Nanotechnology for Early Cancer Detection

Vast numbers of studies and developments in the nanotechnology area have been conducted and many nanomaterials have been utilized to detect cancers at early stages. Nanomaterials have unique physical, optical and electrical properties that have proven to be very useful in sensing. Quantum dots, gold nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, gold nanowires and many other materials have been developed over the years, alongside the discovery of a wide range of biomarkers to lower the detection limit of cancer biomarkers. Proteins, antibody fragments, DNA fragments, and RNA fragments are the base of cancer biomarkers and have been used as targets in cancer detection and monitoring. It is highly anticipated that in the near future, we might be able to detect cancer at a very early stage, providing a much higher chance of treatment

Unusual transport characteristics of nitrogen-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes

Electrical transport characteristics of nitrogen-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (N-SWCNTs), in which the nitrogen dopant is believed to form a pyridinelike bonding configuration, are studied with the field effect transistor operations. Contrary to the expectation that the nitrogen atoms may induce a n -type doping, the electrical transports through our N-SWCNTs are either ambipolar in vacuum or p -type in air. Through the first-principles electronic structure calculations, we show that the nitrogen dopant indeed favors the pyridinelike configuration and the Fermi level of the pyridinelike N-SWCNT is almost at the intrinsic level.open01

Multiple Roles of Sirtuin 6 in Adipose Tissue Inflammation

Adipose tissue (AT) inflammation is strongly associated with obesity-induced insulin resistance. When subjected to metabolic stress, adipocytes become inflamed and secrete a plethora of cytokines and chemokines, which recruit circulating immune cells to AT. Although sirtuin 6 (Sirt6) is known to control genomic stabilization, aging, and cellular metabolism, it is now understood to also play a pivotal role in the regulation of AT inflammation. Sirt6 protein levels are reduced in the AT of obese humans and animals and increased by weight loss. In this review, we summarize the potential mechanism of AT inflammation caused by impaired action of Sirt6 from the immune cells’ point of view. We first describe the properties and functions of immune cells in obese AT, with an emphasis on discrete macrophage subpopulations which are central to AT inflammation. We then highlight data that links Sirt6 to functional phenotypes of AT inflammation. Importantly, we discuss in detail the effects of Sirt6 deficiency in adipocytes, macrophages, and eosinophils on insulin resistance or AT browning. In our closing perspectives, we discuss emerging issues in this field that require further investigation

Waterlogging induced oxidative stress and the mortality of the Antarctic plant, Deschampsia antarctica

We investigated the mortality and the oxidative damages of Deschampsia antarctica in response to waterlogging stress. In field, we compared the changes in the density of D. antarctica tuft at the two different sites over 3 years. The soil water content at site 2 was 6-fold higher than that of site 1, and the density of D. antarctica tuft decreased significantly by 55.4% at site 2 for 3 years, but there was no significant change at site 1. Experimental results in growth chamber showed that the H2O2 and malondialdehyde content increased under root-flooding treatment (hypoxic conditions—deficiency of O2), but any significant change was not perceptible under the shoot-flooding treatment (anoxic condition—absence of O2). However, total chlorophyll, soluble sugar, protein content, and phenolic compound decreased under the shoot-flooding treatment. In addition, the catalase activity increased significantly on the 1st day of flooding. These results indicate that hypoxic conditions may lead to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species, and anoxic conditions can deplete primary metabolites such as sugars and protein in the leaf tissues of D. antarctica. Under present warming trend in Antarctic Peninsula, D. antarctica tuft growing near the shoreline might more frequently experience flooding due to glacier melting and inundation of seawater, which can enhance the risk of this plant mortality.This research was supported by the Korea Polar Research Institute grant Status and Changes of Polar Indicator Species and Coastal/Terrestrial Ecosystems (PE10040) and by National Institute of Ecology grant Ecological Studies of Alien Species (NIE-A-2019-08)

Protective Effect of Proanthocyanidin against Diabetic Oxidative Stress

We investigated the antidiabetic potential of proanthocyanidin and its oligomeric form in STZ-induced diabetic model rats and db/db type 2 diabetic mice. Proanthocyanidin ameliorated the diabetic condition by significant decreases of serum glucose, glycosylated protein, and serum urea nitrogen as well as decreases of urinary protein and renal-AGE in STZ-induced diabetic rats and decrease of serum glucose as well as significant decrease of glycosylated protein in db/db type 2 diabetic mice. The suppression of ROS generation and elevation of the GSH/GSSG ratio were also observed in the groups administered proanthocyanidin. Moreover, proanthocyanidin, especially its oligomeric form, affected the inflammatory process with the regulation of related protein expression, iNOS, COX-2 and upstream regulators, NF-κB, and the IκB-α. In addition, it had a marked effect on hyperlipidemia through lowering significant levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and NEFA. Moreover, expressions in the liver of SREBP-1 and SREBP-2 were downregulated by the administration of proanthocyanidins. The protective effect against hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in type 1 and 2 diabetic models was significantly strong in the groups administered the oligomeric rather than polymeric form. This suggests that oligomers act as a regulator in inflammatory reactions caused by oxidative stress in diabetes

Experiences of Sanhujori Facility Use among the First Time Mothers by the Focus Group Interview

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of Sanhujori facility use among the first time mothers in Korea. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted, using focus group interview. Data were collected from the 24 first time mothers of 4 focus groups, who had given birth within 6 month and had used one of the Sanhujori facilities located in C province, Korea. After obtaining written informed consent from all participants, each session of the focus group was audio-taped and transcribed into verbatim. Data were analyzed using content analysis in order to identify significant themes. RESULTS: Four major themes that emerged from the data were as follows. 1) Promoting postpartum physical recovery through a enough time with only focusing on herself, 2) Promoting postpartum psychological recovery through emotional and informational support with peer mothers, 3) Experiencing breast feeding difficulties and disappointing with unsatisfied help from health professionals, and 4) Lack of the professional education programs regarding parenting. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, it will be suggested that the various support programs by not only the peer mothers co-resided in Sanhujori facilities but also the health care professionals in the Sanhujori facilities should be developed for helping a "becoming a mother" of the first time mother in the Sanhujori facilities. In addition, qualified education and counseling program, especially for the successful breast feeding, should be provided by the health care professionals for improving mothering ability of the first time mother in the Sanhujori facilities

Effects of a Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Antagonist on Experimentally Induced Rhinosinusitis

This prospective, randomized, and controlled study examined the effects of tumor necrosis factor soluble receptor type I (sTNFRI, a TNF-α antagonist) on experimentally induced rhinosinusitis in rats. The experimental groups received an instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus an intramuscular injection of amoxicillin/clavulanate (antibiotic group), an instillation of sTNFRI (sTNFRI group), an instillation of sTNFRI and an injection of amoxicillin/clavulanate (sTNFRI/antibiotic group), or no additional treatment (LPS group). Histopathological changes were determined using hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Leakage of exudate was determined using fluorescence microscopy. Vascular permeability was measured using the Evans blue dye technique. Expression of MUC5AC was measured using reverse transcriptase PCR. The sTNFRI, antibiotic, and sTNFRI/antibiotic groups had significantly less capillary permeability, mucosal edema, PAS staining, and expression of MUC5AC than the LPS group. There were no differences in capillary permeability, mucosal edema, PAS staining, and MUC5AC expression between the sTNFRI and sTNFRI/antibiotic groups. The antibiotic group had PAS staining similar to that of the sTNFRI and sTNFRI/antibiotic groups but had a greater increase in capillary permeability, mucosal edema, and MUC5AC expression. This study shows that sTNFRI reduces inflammatory activity and mucus hypersecretion in LPS-induced rhinosinusitis in rats

Plant species colonization in newly created road habitats of South Korea: insights for more effective restoration

Despite the advances in restoration methods for newly created road habitats such as roadcuts and embankments, implementation in different parts of the world is limited by high cost and lack of knowledge of naturally formed plant communities. However, a cheaper alternative is to relay in natural successional process in sites under optimal conditions. Thus, the first steps should focus on identifying plant species that colonize roadways and road habitats as well as optimal colonization sites. Our study aimed to describe species composition, exotic species presence, and diversity among four roadways (Jeongok-Youngjung, JG; Seolma-Gueup, SM; Singal, SG; and Samga-Daechon, DC) and three habitat types (embankments, plain areas, and roadcuts) in South Korean peninsula. The effect of some environmental factors on plant composition was also examined (soil type, soil slope, and surrounding landscape). Our results showed that established plant species composition was influenced by the interaction between roadways and habitats types, which was also the main interaction affecting plant richness and evenness. Surprisingly, environmental variables had no effect on plant species composition, with a residual amount of explained variation. A total of 48 plant species were described as indicator of different roadways and habitat types, and 50% of them were invasive or cultivated species. It appeared that different regional-dependent processes, such as northern vs. southern roadways, interact with local process in new-road habitats, producing complex patterns of plant species colonization and composition. Thus, ecological restoration solutions should be targeted at site-specific needs (local) while taking into consideration the differences between northern and southern roadways (regional). Here, regional-pool and local-constraints interaction controls plant composition and diversity during road construction in South Korea. Finally, new restoration actions should be based on plant species that have been established spontaneously in these degraded areas.This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Ecology (NIE), funded by the Ministry of Environment (MOE), Republic of Korea (NIE-C-2018-04). JGA was supported by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, Spain (RYC-2016-20528)