Tonicity response element binding protein associated with neuronal cell death in the experimental diabetic retinopathy

AIM: To study the contribution of tonicity response element binding protein (TonEBP) in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death of diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS: Diabetes was induced in C57BL/6 mice by five consecutive intraperitoneal injections of 55 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). Control mice received vehicle (phosphate -buffered saline). All mice were killed 2mo after injections, and the extent of cell death and the protein expression levels of TonEBP and aldose reductase (AR) were examined. RESULTS: The TonEBP and AR protein levels and the death of RGC were significantly increased in the retinas of diabetic mice compared with controls 2mo after the induction of diabetes. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) -mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) -positive signals co -localized with TonEBP immunoreactive RGC. These changes were increased in the diabetic retinas compared with controls. CONCLUSION: The present data show that AR and TonEBP are upregulated in the DR and TonEBP may contribute to apoptosis of RGC in the DR.close2

On thermal radiation of de Sitter space in the semiclassical Jackiw-Teitelboim model

In general, the Gibbons-Hawking temperature based on the Euclidean functional approach shows that de Sitter space in the Bunch-Davies vacuum is globally thermal. In the exactly soluble semiclassical Jackiw-Teitelboim model, we investigate thermal property of de Sitter space by taking into account the quantum back reaction of the geometry. The temperature of de Sitter space in the Bunch-Davies vacuum is found to vanish. In case of a certain quantum state breaking the de Sitter symmetry, de Sitter space can be made thermally exited; however, in this case the dilaton singularity cannot be avoided. Consequently, in the Jackiw-Teitelboim model the temperature of de Sitter space in the Bunch-Davies vacuum turns out to be zero and the Bunch-Davies vacuum is found to be the only physical vacuum without any naked singularities.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure, comments and references adde

Unruh effect of nonlocal field theories with a minimal length

The nonlocal field theory commonly requires a minimal length, and so it appears to formulate the nonlocal theory in terms of the doubly special relativity which makes the speed of light and the minimal length invariant simultaneously. We set up a generic nonlocal model having the same set of solutions as the local theory but allowing Lorentz violations due to the minimal length. It is exactly corresponding to the model with the modified dispersion relation in the doubly special relativity. For this model, we calculate the modified Wightman function and the rate of response function by using the Unruh-DeWitt detector method. It turns out that the Unruh effect should be corrected by the minimal length related to the nonlocality in the regime of the doubly special relativity. However, for the Lorentz-invariant limit, it is shown that the Wightman function and the Unruh effect remain the same as those of the local theory.Comment: 16 pages, version to appear in PL

policy and managerial implications

Thesis(Master) --KDI School:Master of Development Policy,2017Countries are in transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy to achieve sustainable development. One of the important ways into the sustainable growth path is carbon reduction, which is especially true in Korea with high proportion of road vehicle. Therefore, this paper investigates bicycle sharing economy as an emerging and alternative mode of transportation service and provides potential managerial and policy implications. Since bicycle sharing economy is still at an early stage of introduction as a transportation mode, the government is promoting public bicycle sharing to encourage bike riding as a substitute for private car. This study analyzed the current status of bicycle sharing programs through survey which was distributed randomly to users and non-users across the country. Using factor analysis, the overall attitudes such as satisfaction and loyalty for the existing users, and intention to use and expected satisfaction for the potential users were examined in relation with utility factors. The findings of the study could be applicable to the future direction of sharing economy as a means to follow sustainable development of society.I. Introduction II. Literature Reviews III. Theoretical Background IV. Hypotheses Developments V. Methodology VI. Data Analysis VII. ConclusionOutstandingmasterpublishedHwajin KIM

Photochemical Organonitrate Formation in Wet Aerosols

Water is the most abundant component of atmospheric fine aerosol. However, despite rapid progress, multiphase chemistry involving wet aerosols is still poorly understood. In this work, we report results from smog chamber photooxidation of glyoxal and OH &ndash; containing ammonium sulfate or sulfuric acid particles in the presence of NOx and O3 at high and low relative humidity. Particles were analyzed using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). During the 3 hour irradiation, OH oxidation products of glyoxal that are also produced in dilute aqueous solutions (e.g., oxalic acids and tartaric acids) were formed in both ammonium sulfate (AS) aerosols and sulfuric acid (SA) aerosols. However, the major products were organonitrogens (CHNO), organosulfates (CHOS), and organonitrogen-sulfates (CHNOS). These were also the dominant products formed in the dark chamber indicating non-radical formation. In the humid chamber (> 70 % RH), two main products for both AS and SA aerosols were organonitrates, which appeared at m/z&minus; 147 and 226. They were formed in the aqueous phase via non-radical reactions of glyoxal and nitric acid, and their formation was enhanced by photochemistry because of the photochemical formation of nitric acid via reactions of peroxy radicals, NOx and OH during the irradiation.</html

Comprehensive methylome map of lineage commitment from haematopoietic progenitors.

Epigenetic modifications must underlie lineage-specific differentiation as terminally differentiated cells express tissue-specific genes, but their DNA sequence is unchanged. Haematopoiesis provides a well-defined model to study epigenetic modifications during cell-fate decisions, as multipotent progenitors (MPPs) differentiate into progressively restricted myeloid or lymphoid progenitors. Although DNA methylation is critical for myeloid versus lymphoid differentiation, as demonstrated by the myeloerythroid bias in Dnmt1 hypomorphs, a comprehensive DNA methylation map of haematopoietic progenitors, or of any multipotent/oligopotent lineage, does not exist. Here we examined 4.6 million CpG sites throughout the genome for MPPs, common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs), common myeloid progenitors (CMPs), granulocyte/macrophage progenitors (GMPs), and thymocyte progenitors (DN1, DN2, DN3). Marked epigenetic plasticity accompanied both lymphoid and myeloid restriction. Myeloid commitment involved less global DNA methylation than lymphoid commitment, supported functionally by myeloid skewing of progenitors following treatment with a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor. Differential DNA methylation correlated with gene expression more strongly at CpG island shores than CpG islands. Many examples of genes and pathways not previously known to be involved in choice between lymphoid/myeloid differentiation have been identified, such as Arl4c and Jdp2. Several transcription factors, including Meis1, were methylated and silenced during differentiation, indicating a role in maintaining an undifferentiated state. Additionally, epigenetic modification of modifiers of the epigenome seems to be important in haematopoietic differentiation. Our results directly demonstrate that modulation of DNA methylation occurs during lineage-specific differentiation and defines a comprehensive map of the methylation and transcriptional changes that accompany myeloid versus lymphoid fate decisions

On the multiday haze in the Asian continental outflow: the important role of synoptic conditions combined with regional and local sources

The air quality of the megacities in populated and industrialized regions like East Asia is affected by both local and regional emission sources. The combined effect of regional transport and local emissions on multiday haze was investigated through a synthetic analysis of PM2.5 sampled at both an urban site in Seoul, South Korea and an upwind background site on Deokjeok Island over the Yellow Sea during a severe multiday haze episode in late February 2014. Inorganic components and carbonaceous species of daily PM2.5 samples were measured, and gaseous pollutants, local meteorological factors, and synoptic meteorological conditions were also determined. A dominance of fine-mode particles (PM2.5 / PM10 similar to 0.8), a large secondary inorganic fraction (76 %), high OC / EC (&gt; 7), and highly oxidized aerosols (oxygen-to-carbon ratio of similar to 0.6 and organic-mass-to-carbon ratio of similar to 1.9) under relatively warm, humid, and stagnant conditions characterize the multiday haze episode in Seoul; however, the early and late stages of the episode show different chemical compositions of PM2.5. High concentrations of sulfate in both Seoul and the upwind background in the early stage suggest a significant regional influence on the onset of the multiday haze. At the same time, high concentrations of nitrate and organic compounds in Seoul, which are local and highly correlated with meteorological factors, suggest the contribution of local emissions and secondary formation under stagnant meteorological conditions to the haze. A slow eastward-moving high-pressure system from southern China to the East China Sea induces the regional transport of aerosols and potential gaseous precursors for secondary aerosols from the North China Plain in the early stage but provides stagnant conditions conducive to the accumulation and the local formation of aerosols in the late stage. A blocking ridge over Alaska that developed during the episode hinders the zonal propagation of synoptic-scale systems and extends the haze period to several days. This study provides chemical insights into haze development sequentially by regional transport and local sources, and shows that the synoptic condition plays an important role in the dynamical evolution of long-lasting haze in the Asian continental outflow region.Y