Influence Of Trap Cropping And Predator Avoidance Behavior On Habitat Choice Pattern By Adult Whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

This study examined how adult whiteflies modulate their habitat choice patterns under trap cropping (i.e., bottom-up effect) and predation risk (i.e., top-down effect), and how this can influence pest management efficacy. First, eggplant was evaluated as a trap crop for two whitefly species, Bemisia argentifolii and Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), on poinsettia. The results indicate that trap cropping has limited potential for either whitefly species for two different reasons. For B. argentifolii, the trap cropping was not effective as this species did not respond to the trap crop if the adults had first settled on the cash crop. For T. vaporariorum, high mortality of adult whiteflies on the cash crop significantly diluted the effectiveness of trap cropping even when a large number of adults were attracted to the trap crop. For this reason, there was only a marginal management benefit from the trap cropping for T. vaporariorum. Collectively, the trap cropping study demonstrates that the effectiveness of trap cropping is governed by the interplay between pest attraction to a trap crop and pest mortality on a cash crop. Experiments were conducted to determine whether adult B. argentifolii avoided predators of their offspring and how this behavior might influence trap cropping efficacy. The presence of predators, Delphastus catalinae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), on a poinsettia cash crop induced more adult whiteflies to leave the cash crop and move onto a cucumber trap crop, compared to whiteflies on the cash crop with no predators. This push effect increased the efficacy of the trap crop. Another set of experiments revealed that adult B. argentifolii modulated their avoidance behaviors to the predators across different spatial scales. The adult whiteflies delayed their settling on leaf-discs when they are confined with predators compared to when there were no predators. The adults showed a significant avoidance behavior at a within-plant scale by moving into the upper parts of the plants from the lower parts harboring predators. However, the presence of predators did not induce more whiteflies to disperse into adjacent plants at an amongplant scale. This study indicates that adult whiteflies can significantly change their habitat choice patterns under trap cropping and predation risk, and thus this behavioral change needs to be considered in the context of pest management

Effect of adductor canal block on medial compartment knee pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis: Retrospective comparative study

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common disease in middle-aged and elderly people. Pain is the chief complaint of symptomatic KOA and a leading cause of chronic disability, which is most often found in medial knees. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of pain relief and functional improvement in KOA patients treated with ultrasound-guided adductor canal block (ACB)

Organic flexible memristor with reduced operating voltage and high stability by interfacial control of conductive filament growth

This work was supported in part through the BK21 Program funded by Ministry of Education of Korea.Herein, the underlying mechanisms for the growth of conductive filaments (CFs) at a metal–polymer electrolyte interface through ion migration in organic electrochemical metallization (ECM) memristor are presented. It is observed that the free volume of voids (nanopores) in the polymer electrolyte serves as the pathways of metal‐cations whereas the interfacial topography between an active electrode and a polymer electrolyte determines the nucleation sites of the CFs. The growth kinetics of the CFs and the resultant resistive memory are found to vary with the molecular weight of the polymer electrolyte and the metal protrusions at the interface. Our direct observations show that the free volume of voids of the polymer electrolyte, varied with the molecular weight, dictates the ion transport for the growth and the disruption of the CFs. Our organic ECM‐based memristor with a hetero‐electrolyte exhibits high mechanical flexibility, low switching voltages reduced by about three times compared to those of conventional devices, and stable memory retention for longer than 104 s under repeated cycles of bending.PostprintPeer reviewe

Association of the programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1) gene polymorphism with ankylosing spondylitis in the Korean population

The PD-1 (programmed death 1) molecule is a negative regulator of T cells. PDCD1 (programmed cell death 1) has been reported to have a genetic association in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis in Caucasians. However, there are no reports on the association between this gene and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The present study investigated the association of the PD-1 polymorphisms and the haplotypes with AS in a Korean population sample. In a case-control association study, two single-nucleotide polymorphisms, PD-1.5 C/T and PD-1.9 T/C, were genotyped in 95 AS patients and 130 healthy controls. The T allele of the PD-1.9 polymorphism was more frequent in the Korean male population with AS than in the Korean male controls (21.0% versus 6.9%, odds ratio 1.89, 95% confidence interval 1.483 to 2.408). The frequency of the CT haplotype (PD-1.5 C/T and PD-1.9 T/C) was higher in the AS patients (19%) than the controls (5.4%) (odds ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.559 to 2.521). The PD-1 polymorphism was demonstrated in Korean AS patients. The results suggest a genetic association between the PD-1 polymorphism and susceptibility to AS

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 post-transcriptionally regulates Drp1 expression in neuroblastoma cells.

Excessive mitochondrial fission is associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) possesses specific fission activity in the mitochondria and peroxisomes. Various post-translational modifications of Drp1 are known to modulate complex mitochondrial dynamics. However, the post-transcriptional regulation of Drp1 remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) regulates Drp1 expression at the post-transcriptional level. hnRNP A1 directly interacts with Drp1 mRNA at its 3'UTR region, and enhances translation potential without affecting mRNA stability. Down-regulation of hnRNP A1 induces mitochondrial elongation by reducing Drp1 expression. Moreover, depletion of hnRNP A1 suppresses 3-NP-mediated mitochondrial fission and dysfunction. In contrast, over-expression of hnRNP A1 promotes mitochondrial fragmentation by increasing Drp1 expression. Additionally, hnRNP A1 significantly exacerbates 3-NP-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death in neuroblastoma cells. Interestingly, treatment with 3-NP induces subcellular translocation of hnRNP A1 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, which accelerates the increase in Drp1 expression in hnRNP A1 over-expressing cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that hnRNP A1 controls mitochondrial dynamics by post-transcriptional regulation of Drp1.This research was supported by a grant of the Korea–UK Collaborative Alzheimer's Disease Research Project by Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (A120196, HI14C1913) and was supported by the Basic Science Research Program of the National Research Foundation, Republic of Korea (2014R1A2A1A11053431). We are grateful to Wellcome Trust, Principal Research Fellowship to DCR (095317/Z/11/Z)This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagrm.2015.10.01

Association of ATP7B Mutation Detection Rate with Biochemical Characteristics in Korean Patients with Wilson Disease

Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene, yet many patients have either one mutation, or no mutation. We investigated whether the mutation detection rate is associated with any biochemical characteristics of WD. In a study of 71 patients, we used PCR-sequencing to screen for ATP7B mutations in 7 exons (exons 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, and 18) covering 95% of known mutations in Korean patients with WD. We also investigated serum concentrations of various biochemical analytes. Data were analyzed by linear association test and one-way ANOVA. Based on the number of detected ATP7B mutations, a significant difference in serum ceruloplasmin concentration was found among the 3 groups (p < 0.001). Serum ceruloplasmin concentration averaged 3.32 +/- 1.74, 10.8 +/- 5.50, and 14.9 +/- 3.88 mg/dl (mean +/- SD) in the 25, 20, and 26 patients with two, one, and no ATP7B mutations, respectively. We observed 82.9% and 16.7% of mutant allele frequency in WD patients with ceruloplasmin concentration < 10 mg/dl and 10-20 mg/dl, respectively (p < 0.001). Thus serum ceruloplasmin concentrations among WD patients differed according to the number of ATP7B mutations detected.Riordan SM, 2001, J HEPATOL, V34, P165Gow PJ, 2000, GUT, V46, P415Brewer GJ, 2009, NETH J MED, V67, P195Korman JD, 2008, HEPATOLOGY, V48, P1167, DOI 10.1002/hep.22446Mak CM, 2008, CLIN CHEM, V54, P1356, DOI 10.1373/clinchem.2008.103432Mak CM, 2008, CRIT REV CL LAB SCI, V45, P263, DOI 10.1080/10408360801991055Park S, 2007, HUM MUTAT, V28, P1108, DOI 10.1002/humu.20574Kroll CA, 2006, MOL GENET METAB, V89, P134, DOI 10.1016/j.ymgme.2006.03.008Durand F, 2001, GUT, V48, P849Yoo HW, 2002, GENET MED, V4, p43S, DOI 10.1097/01.GIM.0000040260.30727.EBSHIM H, 2003, J NUTR, V133, P1527Roberts EA, 2003, HEPATOLOGY, V37, P1475, DOI 10.1053/jhep.2003.50252Ferenci P, 2003, LIVER INT, V23, P139Cullen LM, 2003, CLIN GENET, V64, P429Seo J, 2004, J TURBUL, V5, DOI 10.1088/1468-5248/5/1/015YANG X, 2005, ZHONGHUA NEI KE ZA Z, V44, P13Brewer GJ, 2005, J HEPATOL, V42, pS13, DOI 10.1016/j.jhep.2004.11.013De Bie P, 2005, J HERED, V96, P803, DOI 10.1093/jhered/esi110CHOI JS, 2006, KOREAN J LAB MED, V26, P449Kim JH, 2006, J GASTROEN HEPATOL, V21, P588, DOI 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2005.04127.xEisenbach C, 2007, WORLD J GASTROENTERO, V13, P1711Kenney SM, 2007, HUM MUTAT, V28, P1171, DOI 10.1002/humu.20586Roberts EA, 2008, HEPATOLOGY, V47, P2089, DOI 10.1002/hep.22261Kok KF, 2008, NETH J MED, V66, P348BREWER GJ, 2009, NETH J MED, V67, P196SALLIE R, 1992, HEPATOLOGY, V16, P1206

P-TEFb Regulates Transcriptional Activation in Non-coding RNA Genes

Many non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) serve as regulatory molecules in various physiological pathways, including gene expression in mammalian cells. Distinct from protein-coding RNA expression, ncRNA expression is regulated solely by transcription and RNA processing/stability. It is thus important to understand transcriptional regulation in ncRNA genes but is yet to be known completely. Previously, we identified that a subset of mammalian ncRNA genes is transcriptionally regulated by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) promoter-proximal pausing and in a tissue-specific manner. In this study, human ncRNA genes that are expressed in the early G1 phase, termed immediate early ncRNA genes, were monitored to assess the function of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), a master Pol II pausing regulator for protein-coding genes, in ncRNA transcription. Our findings indicate that the expression of many ncRNA genes is induced in the G0–G1 transition and regulated by P-TEFb. Interestingly, a biphasic characteristic of P-TEFb-dependent transcription of serum responsive ncRNA genes was observed: Pol II carboxyl-terminal domain phosphorylated at serine 2 (S2) was largely increased in the transcription start site (TSS, -300 to +300) whereas overall, it was decreased in the gene body (GB, &gt; +350) upon chemical inhibition of P-TEFb. In addition, the three representative, immediate early ncRNAs, whose expression is dependent on P-TEFb, metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1), and X-inactive specific transcript (XIST), were further analyzed for determining P-TEFb association. Taken together, our data suggest that transcriptional activation of many human ncRNAs utilizes the pausing and releasing of Pol II, and that the regulatory mechanism of transcriptional elongation in these genes requires the function of P-TEFb. Furthermore, we propose that ncRNA and mRNA transcription are regulated by similar mechanisms while P-TEFb inhibition unexpectedly increases S2 Pol II phosphorylation in the TSSs in many ncRNA genes.One Sentence Summary: P-TEFb regulates Pol II phosphorylation for transcriptional activation in many stimulus-inducible ncRNA genes

Footwear Design Crowdsourcing Platform Model For Strengthening Of the Competitiveness Of The Footwear Industry

The volumes of global footwear production and consumption have been steadily increasing. In particular, the income increases of China and Southeast Asian countries have led to the rapid growth of footwear production and consumption in Asia. However, while advanced countries still include footwear business as one of their growth engines, Korea regard it as stagnant or diminishing. However, beyond the category of simple manufacturing, footwear industry involves the integration of highly functional products, parts manufacturing, and marketing business, and includes expertise in the fields of design, materials, and epidemiology. The strengthening of the shoe industry is an important potential driver of the overall economy. The strengthened competiveness of the footwear industry will play an important role in the overall economic growth. Crowdsourcing is an approach that encourages the participation of specific communities or unspecified masses in a company’s production, service, or problem-solving processes to increase efficiency. To this end, this paper suggests the crowdsourcing platform model built through the integration of footwear design and IT for the ultimate enhancement of the competitiveness of the Korean footwear industry. Following this paper, a study about the practical development, application, and active use of such platform needs to be conducted. One limitation of this study is that the platform is yet to be developed or applied. Future research should focus on developing an actual platform and further studies in its application and vitalization

Complete Fracture of Sirolimus-Eluting Stent in a Saphenous Vein Graft to Left Anterior Descending Artery

Coronary stent fractures have been suggested as a potential new mechanism of restenosis. The mechanical properties of stents were designed not only to prevent vessel recoil, but also to resist the mechanical stress of vessel movement over millions of cardiac cycles. We present a case in which mechanical stress may have contributed to the fracture of a stent implanted in a saphenous vein graft (SVG) to the left coronary artery. The patient was admitted due to chest pain 2 years after receiving a coronary artery bypass graft. A coronary angiography revealed the culprit vessel to be the SVG to the left coronary artery. The graft was stenosed and was stented with a sirolimus-eluting stent. A 6-month follow-up coronary angiography revealed 80% in-stent restenosis with stent fracture. We re-intervened by balloon angioplasty. This is the first report of sirolimus-eluting stent fracture combined with restenosis of SVG in Korea

Immunotherapy of Malignant Melanoma with Tumor Lysate-Pulsed Autologous Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells

PURPOSE: Dendritic cell (DC) vaccination for melanoma was introduced because melanoma carries distinct tumor-associated antigens. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of DC vaccination for melanoma in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five patients with stage IV and one with stage II were enrolled. Autologous monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) were cultured and pulsed with tumor-lysate, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and cytokine cocktail for mature antigen-loaded DC. DC vaccination was repeated four times at 2-week intervals and 2-4×10⁷ DC were injected each time. RESULTS: Reduced tumor volume was observed by PET-CT in three patients after DC vaccination. Delayed type hypersensitivity responses against tumor antigen were induced in five patients. Tumor antigen-specific IFN-γ-producing peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot in two patients. However, the overall clinical outcome showed disease progression in all patients. CONCLUSION: In this study, DC vaccination using tumor antigen-loaded, mature MoDCs led to tumor regression in individual melanoma patients. Further standardization of DC vaccination protocol is required to determine which parameters lead to better anti-tumor responses and clinical outcomes.ope