Innovations in Self-Consciousness. Towards Oneness with the World

In their article Innovations in Self-Consciousness. Towards Oneness with the World Soon-ok Myong and Byong-soon Chun examine the limitations and vulnerabilities of modern civilization. Asia is a multiethnic, multilingual and multicultural territory of over 40 countries and more than 4.4 billion people, that is, almost half of the population of the world. The One Asia community seeks to question a world made up of strong egos that make up businesses, organization and nations, and embrace communal goals, helping Asia and the world to become \u27one community.\u27 Thus, the paper suggests ways of self-innovation through forms of transitional consciousness. Although the modern Sapiens is a highly social being, the human tendency to exclusive superiority over all other creatures falls into self-destructive contradictions as civilization evolves. The research seeks to show how the nature of altruistic cooperation and the empathic abilities inherent to humans can be re-activated by expanding our worldview to larger frame. Only then can humankind be called \u27sapiens\u27 in the true sense of the word

The Effects of Air Pollution on Mortality in South Korea

AbstractIt is well known that air pollution has the negative effect on human health. This study is dealt with the relationship between air pollutant level and standardized mortality between 2005 and 2013 in Korea. The standardized mortality are collected by the 251 administrative districts using KOSIS (Korean Statistical Information Service) and the air pollutant data collected from air pollutant monitoring sites. The statistical interpolation technique is adapted to solve the problem of spatial misalignment between air pollutant and administrative districts. In addition, SaTScan is used to detecting the high relatively risk area based on spatial and temporal characteristics. It can help determining other external factors to mortality

Development of a bycatch reduction device (BRD) for shrimp beam trawl using flexible materials

This study aimed to design a bycatch reduction device (BRD) for shrimp beam trawl, which is manufactured by flexible materials to reduce bycatch for the gear in the South Sea of Korea. The model test was carried out to understand the shape of the gear in the water and to measure the variation of flow speed due to the BRD in a circulating water channel. Catches were compared between a shrimp beam trawl without BRD (control gear) and others with BRD (treatment gears) in the field. BRDs were two different types in this study. In the case of BRD (a), a square-shaped grid net and a funnel-shaped net were installed in the front part of the cod end to help fish sorting and expelling through the outlet at the bottom. BRD (b) has one more outlet which is added at the upper part of the BRD (a). On the model test, water speed was reduced a little in the gear by installing the BRD. At the results of comparing with a control gear, the bycatch (%) of fish excluding shrimp was reduced between 17 and 68% using BRD (a) and 5 and 66% for BRD (b) respectively. By the signed test of significant level 0.05, the quantity of shrimp catches for BRD (a) was not different in comparison to the control gear but it decreased for the gear installing BRD (b)

Flavonol glycosides from the aerial parts of Aceriphyllum rossii and their antioxidant activities

The methanol extract obtained from the aerial parts ofAceriphyllum rossii (Saxifragaceae) was fractionated into ethyl acetate (EtOAc),n-BuOH and H2O layers through solvent fractionation. Repeated silica gel column chromatography of EtOAc andn-BuOH layers afforded six flavonol glycosides. They were identified as kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (astragalin,1), quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (isoquercitrin,2), kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyrano-side (rutin,4), kaempferol 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (5) and quercetin 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (6) on the basis of several spectral data. The antioxidant activity of the six compounds was investigated using two free radicals such as the ABTS free radical and superoxide anion radical. Compound1 exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in the ABTS2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging method. 100 mg/L of compound1 was equivalent to 72.1±1.4 mg/L of vitamin C, and those of compounds3 and5 were equivalent to 62.7±0.5 mg/L and 54.3±1.3 mg/L of vitamin C, respectively. And in the superoxide anion radical scavenging method, compound5 exhibited the highest activity with an IC50 value of 17.6 ± 0.3 μM. In addition, some physical and spectral data of the flavonoids were confirme

Nuclear Factor Erythroid-Derived 2-Like 2-Induced Reductive Stress Favors Self-Renewal of Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells via the FoxO3a-Bmi-1 Axis

Aims: A subpopulation of cancer cells, termed cancer stem cells (CSCs), has stemness properties, such as self-renewal and differentiation, which drive cancer recurrence and tumor resistance. CSCs possess enhanced protection capabilities to maintain reduced intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared with nonstem-like cancer cells. This study investigated whether reductive stress could regulate self-renewal activity in breast CSCs. Results: We found that manifestation of stemness in breast cancer stem-like cells was associated with an elevated production of reduced glutathione (GSH) maintained by upregulation of glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and consequently, lowered ROS levels. This was accompanied by upregulation of phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase, FoxO3a, and Bmi-1. Notably, expression of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) protein was substantially increased in cells undergoing sphere formation. We noticed that expression of Bmi-1 was inhibited after introduction of Nrf2 short interfering RNA into MCF-7 mammosphere cells. Silencing of Nrf2 expression suppressed the xenograft growth of subcutaneously or orthotopically injected human breast cancer cells. Innovation: Association between Nrf2 and self-renewal signaling in CSCs has been reported, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unresolved. This study demonstrates the Nrf2-mediated signaling pathway in maintenance of reductive stress in breast CSCs. Conclusion: Nrf2 overactivation in breast CSCs upregulates GCLC expression and consequently enhances GSH biosynthesis with concurrent reduction in intracellular ROS accumulation, thereby provoking the reductive stress. The consequent upregulation of nuclear FoxO3a and its binding to the promoter of the gene encoding Bmi-1 account for the self-renewal activity of breast cancer stem-like cells and their growth in a xenograft mouse model.

Funding structures for Build-to-Suit developments in Brazil: advantages and risks

Empreendimentos build-to-suit são aqueles em que o locador desenvolve um imóvel sob medida para o locatário, que o ocupará pelo prazo previsto em contrato. Dadas as peculiaridades desse tipo de contrato no contexto do real estate, o objetivo deste artigo é analisar as diferentes origens de recursos (fontes de funding) e a forma como eles são empregados (estruturas de funding) para desenvolver os empreendimentos, e discutir as vantagens e riscos dessas estruturas de funding do ponto de vista do empreendedor, que também é o locador. De forma a desenvolver este estudo e formatar as estruturas de funding apresentadas, parte-se de uma revisão das\ud práticas atuais do mercado imobiliário brasileiro (através de notícias veiculadas\ud na mídia e de prospectos de negócios realizados), da literatura brasileira sobre o tema e do conhecimento gerado no Grupo de Real Estate da Escola Politécnica da USP. De maneira a verificar a validade legal das soluções, é realizada uma checagem com\ud base na legislação brasileira e nas normas da Comissão de Valores Mobiliários.\ud Considera-se fontes de funding aquelas tratadas (1) como equity: capital próprio do empreendedor, capital de parceiros (e sócios) no empreendimento na forma de dinheiro ou imóveis (notadamente, o terreno onde será construído o empreendimento), ou investimento de Fundo de Investimento Imobiliário (FII); e (2) como dívida: financiamento bancário, securitização dos recebíveis de aluguéis com CRI ou debêntures. As estruturas de funding apresentadas serão combinações dessas fontes. A análise evidencia que estruturas com financiamento por securitização e emissão de CRI são as mais adequadas de forma geral para os negócios, assim como o investimento completo por FII para negócios de maior porte e nos quais o FII é proprietário direto do empreendimento. \ud Palavras-chave: real estate, build-to-suit, locação, funding, project financeBuild-to-suit real estate assets are tailor made developments for the tenant purposes, who occupies and operates the property for the duration agreed. Given the peculiarities of these contracts and the specificities of the property, this article aims at analyzing the sources of capital and how these funds are mixed and structured for the developments. The article discusses the risks and benefits of each of these funding\ud structures assuming the role of developer. In order to do this study and establish the funding structures shown, the research starts with a review of the current practices in Brazilian real estate market (based on press releases and prospects of deals), of local research papers, and will use the knowledge created at the Real Estate Research Group at Escola Politécnica at Universidade de São Paulo. Since it’s necessary to validate\ud the solutions proposed, Brazilian laws and Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (CVM) norms\ud are reviewed. Funding sources considered will be treated as (1) equity: developers own funds, partnership (via capital or real state – mainly land – investment), or Fundo de Investimento Imobiliário (Brazilian investment structure comparable to REITs); or as (2) debt: banks traditional credit lines, securitization of receivables with CRI emissions\ud , and debt bond emissions. The funding structures presented are mixes of these sources. The analysis shows that the structures best suited for this purpose are those with debt by securitization with CRI emissions, along with the complete investment by a FII but only with large emissions and having the FII as the sole owner of the real estate. \ud Keywords: real estate, build-to-suit, rent, funding, project financ

Potential of South African medicinal plants targeting the reduction of Aβ42 protein as a treatment of Alzheimer's disease

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE : Twenty South African medicinal plant species were selected by conducting a literature review based on the relevant information of their reported traditional medicinal uses and scientific reports against Alzheimer's disease, dementia, anxiety, mental illness, depression, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, headache, epilepsy, convulsion, hysteria, and sedative effects. AIM OF STUDY : The goal of this study was to investigate the biological activity of the traditionally used medicinal plant extracts against Alzheimer's disease by in vitro screening of the extracts to determine their potential to decrease levels of Aβ42 protein. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Different plant parts (leaves, stem, bark, and stalks) of twenty selected plants were collected from the Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden, University of Pretoria. Plant parts were dried, ground and then extracted using DCM:MeOH (1:1). We measured the levels of β-amyloid precursor protein proteolytic products in HeLa cells stably transfected with APP carrying the Swedish mutation using ELISA. RESULTS : Of 33 plant extract 10 (30.3%) were found active based on the potential to significantly reduce the production of Aβ42. Amongst them extracts of leaves of Xysmalobium undulatum (Apocynaceae), leaves of Cussonia paniculata (Araliaceae) and leaves of Schotia brachypetala (Fabaceae) potently decreased the production of Aβ42 by 77.3 ± 0.5%, 57.5 ± 1.3%, and 44.8 ± 0.1%, respectively. X. undulatum and S. brachypetala enhanced non-amyloidogenic processing of β-amyloid precursor protein, thereby decreasing Aβ42 level. We also showed that C. paniculata induced the decrease of Aβ42 level through inhibiting APP processing. In addition, we isolated two cardenolides, compound [A] and [B], from X. undulatum and found that they potently decreased the Aβ42 production. CONCLUSION : These data suggest that the extract of X. undulatum, C. paniculata, and S. brachypetala have potential to be developed for Alzheimer's disease treatment. These active extracts and compounds are considered for further studies which examine their efficacy towards the reduction of Aβ42 through inhibiting APP process.The University of Pretoria Post Graduate Research Support Bursay, South Africa and by the Bio-Synergy Research Project (NRF-2012M3A9C4048793) and the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program (NRF-2015M3A9A5030735) of the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning through the National Research Foundation, Republic of Korea.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jethpharm2020-03-01hj2019Chemistr

Suppression of bimolecular recombination by UV-sensitive electron transport layers in organic solar cells

Incorporating UV-sensitive electron transport layers (ETLs) into organic bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photovoltaic devices dramatically impacts short-circuit current (Jsc) and fill factor characteristics. Resistivity changes induced by UV illumination in the ETL of inverted BHJ devices suppress bimolecular recombination producing up to a two orders of magnitude change in Jsc. Electro-optical modeling and light intensity experiments effectively demonstrate that bimolecular recombination, in the form of diode current losses, controls the extracted photocurrent and is directly dependent on the ETL resistivity

Simultaneous detection and subtyping of porcine endogenous retroviruses proviral DNA using the dual priming oligonucleotide system

The purpose of this study was to develop a multiplex PCR that can detect porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) proviral genes (pol, envA, envB, envC) and porcine mitochondrial DNA, using a dual priming oligonucleotide (DPO) system. The primer specifically detected the PERV proviral genes pol, envA, envB, envC, and porcine mitochondrial DNA only in samples of pig origin. The sensitivity of the primer was demonstrated by simultaneous amplification of all 5 target genes in as little as 10 pg of pig DNA containing PERV proviral genes and mitochondrial DNA. The multiplex PCR, when applied to field samples, simultaneously and successfully amplified PERV proviral genes from liver, blood and hair root samples. Thus, the multiplex PCR developed in the current study using DPO-based primers is a rapid, sensitive and specific assay for the detection and subtyping of PERV proviral genes