Human AP endonuclease suppresses DNA mismatch repair activity leading to microsatellite instability

The multifunctional mammalian apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease (APE) participates in the repair of AP sites in the cellular DNA as well as participating in the redox regulation of the transcription factor function. The function of APE is considered as the rate-limiting step in DNA base excision repair. Paradoxically, an unbalanced increase in APE protein leads to genetic instability. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms of genetic instability that are induced by APE. Here, we report that the overexpression of APE protein disrupts the repair of DNA mismatches, which results in microsatellite instability (MSI). We found that expression of APE protein led to the suppression of the repair of DNA mismatches in the normal human fibroblast cells. Western blot analysis revealed that hMSH6 protein was markedly reduced in the APE-expressing cells. Moreover, the addition of purified Mutα (MSH2 and MSH6 complex) to the extracts from the APE-expressing cells led to the restoration of mismatch repair (MMR) activity. By performing MMR activity assay and MSI analysis, we found that the co-expression of hMSH6 and APE exhibited the microsatellite stability, whereas the expression of APE alone generated the MSI-high phenotype. The APE-mediated decrease in MMR activity described here demonstrates the presence of a new and highly effective APE-mediated mechanism for MSI

The Effect of Combined Superheated Steam Roasting and Smoking on the Quality Characteristic of Alaska Pollack (Gadus chalcogrammus) Roe

Alaska pollack roe (APR) is a protein source that is usually salted and fermented, containing a high salt content. Using a combination of superheated steam roasting and smoking, we developed a new low-salt ready-to-eat APR variant, whose quality characteristics we analyzed. The optimal conditions for roasting (216 ◦C for 4 min) and smoking (64 ◦C for 14 min) were obtained from sensorial attributes using response surface methodology. Under the optimal conditions, smoke-roasted APR had an overall acceptance (OA) score of 8.89. The combination of roasting and smoking significantly increased volatile basic nitrogen (VBN, 18.6%) and decreased the total bacterial count (TBC, 38.6%), while thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were not affected. Smoke-roasting APR also increased its nutritional content to 30% protein with 44% essential amino acids, and more than 40% DHA and EPA in 4.3% fat. During 30 days of storage, the OA, VBN, TBARS, and TBC values significantly changed with time and storage temperature (p < 0.05). The shelf life of the product was estimated to be 24 d. In conclusion, the combination of roasting and smoking APR could improve product quality and may be an alternative to diversify processed APR

Flying Cross-Border To Entrepreneurs: Business Angels In Croatia And Slovenia

The signifi cant expansion of business formation is playing a key role in the transformation of transitional economies. As a result of this and, the development of more entrepreneurial business culture, the role of endogenous venture capital, equity market provision, and the potential for business angels involvement is also growing. Despite these entrepreneurially driven developments, and the encouragement of individuals to establish new businesses, start-up companies in Croatia and Slovenia, they are facing the immediate issue of raising capital. Th is paper undertakes a comparative analysis of business angels in Croatia and Slovenia as part of they represent a key part of the response and solution to this problem. Their primary motivation is capital growth, and they seek to fi ll an equity gap and compensate for failures in the venture capital market wherever they appear. Th e study documents the current state of business angel activity and networking within the private equity market in Croatia and Slovenia, based on interviews and case studies. Th erefore, it informs the analysis of key functions that business angels can play in addressing problems faced by new small businesses in an emergent economic and investment environment

Kidney Health Plan 2033 in Korea: bridging the gap between the present and the future

In response to the increase in the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Korea, the growth of patients requiring renal replacement therapy and the subsequent increase in medical costs, the rapid expansion of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and the decrease in patients receiving home therapy, including peritoneal dialysis, the Korean Society of Nephrology has proclaimed the new policy, Kidney Health Plan 2033 (KHP 2033). KHP 2033 would serve as a milestone to bridge the current issues to a future solution by directing the prevention and progression of CKD and ESKD, particularly diabetic kidney disease, and increasing the proportion of home therapy, thereby reducing the socioeconomic burden of kidney disease and improving the quality of life. Here, we provide the background for the necessity of KHP 2033, as well as the contents of KHP 2033, and enlighten the Korean Society of Nephrology’s future goals. Together with patients, healthcare providers, academic societies, and national policymakers, we need to move forward with goal-oriented drive and leadership to achieve these goals

FSI analysis of deformation along offshore pile structure for tidal current power

Due to global warming, the need to secure an alternative clean energy resource has become an international issue. Tidal current power is now recognized as one of the clean power resources in Korea, where there are many strong current regions on the west and south coasts. Recently, large scale tidal devices have been deployed with a maximum rotor diameter of 18 m. These devices impose significant loading on supporting structures. In many cases, a pile fixed foundation is used to secure the structure. However, due to the high density of seawater, the drag and lift forces are much larger than in air, causing extensive stress and deflection to the pile tower structure. In this study, a numerical analysis of the hydro-forces from a rotating tidal current turbine to a tower was conducted to determine the deformation distribution along the pile tower

Electrical modification of a composite electrode for room temperature operable polyethylene oxide-based lithium polymer batteries

Lithium polymer batteries (LPBs) are considered to be the most promising alternatives to current lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which have been known to exhibit certain safety issues. However, the relatively poor electrochemical performances of LPBs hinder their practical usage, particularly at high C-rates, moderate temperatures, and/or with high loading densities. Therefore, this study analyzes the use of a novel composite electrode for manufacturing room-temperature operable LPBs with high loading densities. Rapid decay in the rate capabilities of LPBs at high C-rates is found to be attributable to the increased electrical resistance in an electrode. To account for this, this study modified the composite electrode with various conducting fillers. Subsequently, the effect of the type and content of the conducting fillers on the performance of LPBs was systematically investigated using the composite electrode. The incorporation of the conducting fillers in the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) composite electrode was found to effectively reduce the electrical resistance and consequently improve the electrochemical performance of LPBs. Furthermore, LFP composite electrodes with a mixture of structurally different graphene (G) and carbon nanotube (CNT) (1 wt%) were observed to demonstrate synergistic effects on improving the electrochemical performance of LPBs. The results obtained in this study elucidate that the facilitated electrical conduction within a composite electrode is critically important for the performance of LPBs and the expedited diffusion of Li ^+

The Effect of Combined Superheated Steam Roasting and Smoking on the Quality Characteristic of Alaska Pollack (Gadus chalcogrammus) Roe

Alaska pollack roe (APR) is a protein source that is usually salted and fermented, containing a high salt content. Using a combination of superheated steam roasting and smoking, we developed a new low-salt ready-to-eat APR variant, whose quality characteristics we analyzed. The optimal conditions for roasting (216 &deg;C for 4 min) and smoking (64 &deg;C for 14 min) were obtained from sensorial attributes using response surface methodology. Under the optimal conditions, smoke-roasted APR had an overall acceptance (OA) score of 8.89. The combination of roasting and smoking significantly increased volatile basic nitrogen (VBN, 18.6%) and decreased the total bacterial count (TBC, 38.6%), while thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were not affected. Smoke-roasting APR also increased its nutritional content to 30% protein with 44% essential amino acids, and more than 40% DHA and EPA in 4.3% fat. During 30 days of storage, the OA, VBN, TBARS, and TBC values significantly changed with time and storage temperature (p &lt; 0.05). The shelf life of the product was estimated to be 24 d. In conclusion, the combination of roasting and smoking APR could improve product quality and may be an alternative to diversify processed APR

Robust synthesis of gold rhombic dodecahedra with well-controlled sizes and their optical properties

Through the seed-mediated growth method in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)-water medium using trisodium citrate and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as stabilizer, Au rhombic dodecahedra with a narrow size distribution (&lt; 5% in standard deviation) and high shape yield (&gt; 90%) could be reproducibly synthesized thanks to the robust formation of rhombic dodecahedra by DMF-water medium and surface stabilization by trisodium citrate. Moreover, the edge lengths of these Au rhombic dodecahedra could be readily controlled from 19 to 67 nm by varying the amount of seeds, concentration of HAuCl4, or both, and thus the localized surface plasmon resonance peak positions of the Au rhombic dodecahedra could be continuously tuned from 532 to 655 nm. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.FALS