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Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) have evolved to acquire various additional domains. These domains allow ARSs to communicate with other cellular proteins in order to promote non-translational functions. Vertebrate cytoplasmic isoleucyl-tRNA synthetases (IARS1s) have an uncharacterized unique domain, UNE-I. Here, we present the crystal structure of the chicken IARS1 UNE-I complexed with glutamyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (EARS1). UNE-I consists of tandem ubiquitin regulatory X (UBX) domains that interact with a distinct hairpin loop on EARS1 and protect its neighboring proteins in the multi-synthetase complex from degradation. Phosphomimetic mutation of the two serine residues in the hairpin loop releases IARS1 from the complex. IARS1 interacts with BRCA1 in the nucleus, regulates its stability by inhibiting ubiquitylation via the UBX domains, and controls DNA repair function.

To fabricate electrodes for use in flexible electronic devices with improved resistance to the mechanical stresses induced by repeated bending, we developed a highly flexible and conductive composite comprised of Ti3C2-based MXene nanosheets and Ag nanoparticles. Specifically, we synthesized Ti3C2-based MXene nanosheets and added them as a second filler to an Ag dispersion to fabricate Ag–MXene composite paste. Although the synthesized MXene nanosheets are somewhat less electrically conductive than pure Ag nanoparticles, the conductivity of the pattern formed by printing this composite paste was comparable to that of pure Ag nanoparticle-based electrode. Moreover, resistance in the resulting electrode remained fairly constant despite repeated bending employing a curvature radius of 2 mm. We attribute this to the presence of the MXene nanosheets, whose homogeneously distributed hydroxyl or oxygen terminate surface functional groups prevented or delayed the propagation of cracks inside the printed pattern despite repeated bending.

A self-healable and stretchable light-emitting device with high emission characteristics was developed. To this end, a reversibly crosslinkable polyurethane (rcPU) was synthesized, and ZnS:Cu microparticles were dispersed therein to form an alternating current-driven electroluminescent (EL) film. Transparent electrodes were formed on both surfaces of the EL film for voltage application by using Ag nanowires, which were impregnated under the polymer surface by inverted layer processing and vaporized solvent-assisted embedding method. The developed device exhibited an exceptionally high maximum emission intensity of almost 500 cd/m2. In addition, the device maintained its homogeneous emission characteristics even after the application of 100% uniaxial strain with a luminance degradation of less than 40%. Due to the reversible crosslinking characteristics of the rcPU, the device could be recombined even after being completely cut, and the emission properties before cutting could be restored.

A new sintering technique for enhancing a densification and hardness of sintered titanium body by supplying hydrogen was developed (Hydrogen Sintering Process, HSP). The HSP was developed by only injecting hydrogen into an argon atmosphere during the core time. As a result, sound titanium sintered bodies with high density and hardness were obtained by the HSP. In addition, a pore size and number of the HSP specimens were smaller than those of the argon atmosphere specimen. It was found that the injecting hydrogen into the argon atmosphere by HSP can prevent the formation of oxide layers, resulting in enhanced densification and hardness.

In this study, the sintering properties of Ti-6Al-4V-xMo powder prepared by an addition of Mo to Ti-6Al-4V scraps and subsequent pulverization were investigated. As the content of Mo added to Ti-6Al-4V scraps as a β stabilizer increased, the weight ratio of the α and β stabilizers in the Ti-6Al-4V-xMo changed and the original weight ratio of 6:4 varied to 5.71:8.57 when 5 wt% xMo was added. In order to compare the difference in properties of Ti-6Al-4V-xMo ingots with sintered bodies of the Ti-6Al-4V-xMo powder, we prepared sintered bodies from Ti-6Al-4V-xMo powder with an O content of about 5000 ppm and 325 mesh size. As a result, it was found that the sintered bodies of Ti-6Al-4V-xMo powder showed different properties of density and micro hardness compared to the Ti-6Al-4V-xMo ingots. These differences can be explained by the larger specific surface area of the sintered bodies, which formed a porous oxide layer on the surface due to the increase of Mo in the β zone of the Ti-6Al-4V alloys.

Genome-wide analyses of the effects of U1 snRNP inhibition in human cells shows that telescripting suppresses premature cleavage and polyadenylation in long introns to sustain expression of large genes important for cell cycle and development. U1 snRNP (U1) functions in splicing introns and telescripting, which suppresses premature cleavage and polyadenylation (PCPA). Using U1 inhibition in human cells, we show that U1 telescripting is selectively required for sustaining long-distance transcription elongation in introns of large genes (median 39 kb). Evidence of widespread PCPA in the same locations in normal tissues reveals that large genes incur natural transcription attrition. Underscoring the importance of U1 telescripting as a gene-size-based mRNA-regulation mechanism, small genes were not sensitive to PCPA, and the spliced-mRNA productivity of ∼1,000 small genes (median 6.8 kb) increased upon U1 inhibition. Notably, these small, upregulated genes were enriched in functions related to acute stimuli and cell-survival response, whereas genes subject to PCPA were enriched in cell-cycle progression and developmental functions. This gene size–function polarization increased in metazoan evolution by enormous intron expansion. We propose that telescripting adds an overarching layer of regulation to size–function-stratified genomes, leveraged by selective intron expansion to rapidly shift gene expression priorities.

The high-temperature melting and the removal of gaseous and metallic impurities from Inconel 718 by hydrogen plasma arc melting (HPAM) were investigated. Solid-type Inconel 718 scraps were used as raw material. The concentrations of oxygen, nitrogen, and metallic impurities in the scraps were simultaneously decreased by HPAM. The refined ingot satisfied the recommended criteria for commercial Inconel 718. Following the melting of Inconel 718 by HPAM, the microstructure of the as-cast depended on different parts of the ingots, due to the different cooling rate of each part.

Transmitted light microscopy can readily visualize the morphology of living cells. Here, we introduce artificial-intelligence-powered transmitted light microscopy (AIM) for subcellular structure identification and labeling-free functional analysis of live cells. AIM provides accurate images of subcellular organelles; allows identification of cellular and functional characteristics (cell type, viability, and maturation stage); and facilitates live cell tracking and multimodality analysis of immune cells in their native form without labeling.

In this study, a sintering process involving simultaneous deoxidation and sintering was developed, using the vapor of a deoxidizer (Ca) to produce low-oxygen, high-density titanium. Compared to a series of reference titanium powder samples, the bodies sintered with Ca exposure had an ∼1,400 ppm lower oxygen content, resulting in an ∼2% increase in their density. This appears to be the result of decreased surface oxidation on the titanium, as increased oxidation suppresses densification at high sintering temperatures. The effect of the Ca deoxidizer was a lower oxidation, thereby increasing the sintered density. The Vickers hardness of sintered bodies from both experiments increased from an initial value of ∼249 Hv at 900 °C to ∼286 Hv at 1,400 °C, respectively. Moreover, both experiments revealed a tensile strength of ∼170 MPa at 900 °C that finally increased to ∼218 MPa at 1,400 °C. Meanwhile, the bodies sintered with Ca, the elongation was on average over 1% higher than contrary samples.

To recycle Ti alloy scraps and enhance the functionality of the recycled scraps, we manufactured low-oxygen contented Ti-Mo-Si powders using two types of ternary Ti alloy ingots which were prepared by vacuum arc melting of Ti-Mo scrap with different amounts of Si. The weight ratio of Ti-Mo scrap was Ti:Mo=9:1 and Si contents in two alloy ingots were 1 and 2 wt%. The alloy powders were prepared by the hydrogenation-dehydrogenation process and the oxygen atoms were removed by the deoxidation in solid state method. We confirmed that the deoxidation process effectively reduced the oxygen content of Ti-Mo-Si alloy powder from 3,350 ppm to 1,700 ppm. In addition, we confirmed that the high-temperature oxidation resistance was increased by adding Si to Ti-Mo alloys. Thermal gravimetric analysis showed that the weight gain of powders by the oxidation was reduced from 8.85% for Ti-Mo to 7.5% for Ti-Mo-Si at 1,500 °C.

This paper presents a real-time system platform for profiling and analyzing the gaze behavior based on visual contents. The proposed system captures the gaze information from multiple users and provides the ability to measure the degree of visual content perception by the users through statistical analysis. Visual content representation scheme is presented for capturing and annotating the gaze behavior effectively. Information correlation property among multiple image frames is defined for providing the ability to analyze the pattern of perception of user based on complex visual contents. In order to monitor the real time gaze behavior of the users, the monitoring rules are incorporated in to the representation template. The number of users and the duration of observation time may significantly increase the profile data size. To alleviate the problem, an adaptive data compression techniques is incorporated. The capabilities and functionalities of the proposed system are verified for multiple users with different gaze behavior on a sequence of commercial image data.

Diabetes mellitus and its complications have been attributed in part to oxidative stress, against which antioxidant enzymes constitute a major protective mechanism. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of early stage type 2 diabetes in the absence of obesity and liver damage on hepatic antioxidant enzyme expression and oxidative stress using 9-week-old Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. Hepatic total antioxidant capacity determined by total oxygen radical scavenging capacity and lipid peroxidation determined by malondialdehyde in plasma and liver were not significantly different between normal Wistar rats and GK rats. These results indicated that oxidative stress is not evident in these type 2 diabetic rats. Hepatic expression levels of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase-1, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and reductase, thioredoxin-1, mu- and pi-class glutathione S-transferase (GST), and the gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase catalytic subunit, were not different between normal rats and GK rats. But, hepatic level and activity of alpha-class GST were decreased and peroxiredoxin-1 level was increased in GK rats, suggesting that upregulation of peroxiredoxin-1 compensates for downregulation of alpha-class GST. These results suggest that alpha-class GST and peroxiredoxin-1 in liver can be altered during the early stages of type 2 diabetes in the absence of obesity and severe oxidative stress.

Cold stress is one of the major environmental factors limiting the amount of plant mass for bioenergy production. A chilling-sensitive Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) as a bioenergy crop was used to investigate the cold injury process at the physiological and biochemical levels. Various physiological parameters such as leaf length, width, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence, and electrolyte leakage were measured to determine the growth rate of leaves cold-treated (7 and 2 °C) for 5 days. These parameters of cold-treated Jatropha were significantly reduced from day 1 compared with control (23 °C). Using the pH indicator bromocresol purple, it was shown that surface pH of Jatropha root in control was strongly acidified by time only from the starting pH 6, while H+-efflux of the surface of cold-treated roots did not change. H+-ATPase activity of plasma membrane (PM) isolated from leaves and roots of cold-treated Jatropha was decreased in a time-dependent manner. The expression of PM H+-ATPase and 14-3-3 protein, which participates in phosphorylation of PM H+-ATPase was reduced in the presence of cold stress. Interestingly, fusicoccin, an activator of the PM H+-ATPase, alleviated cold-injury by stimulating the enzyme in leaves. These results may suggest that the activity and expression of PM H+-ATPase in Jatropha is closely related to the overcoming of cold stress.

Contact angle hysteresis is an important physical phenomenon. It is omnipresent in nature and also plays a crucial role in various industrial processes. Despite its relevance, there is a lack of consensus on how to incorporate a description of contact angle hysteresis into physical models. To clarify this, starting from the basic definition of contact angle hysteresis, we introduce the formalism and models for implementing contact angle hysteresis into relevant physical phenomena. Furthermore, we explain the influence of the contact angle hysteresis in physical phenomena relevant for industrial applications such as sliding drops, coffee stain phenomenon (in general evaporative self-assembly), and curtain and wire coating techniques

As ubiquitous computing, and pervasive computing technology are being applied rapidly to the service industry, in the field of HCI, more complex and in-depth research are required at the moment. The efforts to make user experience more valuable using useful multimedia technologies around us, are being made in various parts of the world. In addition to this, generation studies for developing easier and faster UI are being conducted in the field of UI. Until now, the studies have been focused on generation studies using UI pattern models, but smart UI generation development, considering the cultural environment of users, is required. The purpose of this study is to suggest 3-D integrated design principles of modeling, design, and system for the design of cultural user interface generation reflecting the users' potential culture models. For this, a CTT model was designed based on MB-UID; and a cultural UI generation system architecture was designed by using cultural dimension models and cultural markers. To analyze the cultural factors, CISC (Cultural Index Score for Country) was derived in the process of culture profiling. Then, to verify the design model, culture UI was implemented, targeting the category UI of smartphone app stores.

The effects of oxygen on the mechanical properties and the lattice strain of commercial pure CP) Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloys are discussed here in terms of the Vickers hardness, tensile strength and elongation. The Vickers hardness and tensile strength of the CP Ti and the Ti-6Al-4V alloys increased with an increase in the oxygen concentration. On the other hand, the elongation of the CP Ti decreased considerably as the oxygen concentration increased, while that of the Ti-6Al-4V alloys gradually decreased as the oxygen concentration increased. Thus, the oxygen concentration has a greater effect on the mechanical properties of CP Ti compared to its effects on the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. This can be explained in terms of the difference in the solid solution effect of oxygen between the CP Ti and the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Where, the mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy were previously affected by an earlier lattice expansion caused by an increment in the c/a ratio of the Ti-6Al-4V during the Al and V alloying process.

Mobile devices need to provide more accurate and personalized information in a computing environment with a small screen and limited information retrieval functions. This paper presents a user-selectable recommendation system that reflects a user interest group by employing collaborative filtering as technique to provide useful information in a mobile environment. We form similar groups by simultaneously considering a user's information preferences and demographics. Then we reconstruct lists of a final recommendation based on what search results the similar demographic group has chosen. This is an optional filter for the search results. This means that we provide an interactive flexible recommendation list that considers a user's intent more actively, rather than unilaterally. We show the Mean Absolute Error result to evaluate the recommendation and finally show the realization of a prototype that is based on both the iPhone and Android phone environments.

Heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) transduce extracellular signals into intracellular signals by activating effector molecules including adenylate cyclases that catalyze cAMP formation, and thus regulate various cellular responses such as metabolism, proliferation, and apoptosis. cAMP signaling pathways have been reported to protect cells from ionizing radiation-induced apoptosis, but however, the protective mechanism is not clear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the signaling molecules and the mechanism mediating the anti-apoptotic action of cAMP signaling system in radiation-induced apoptosis. Stable expression of a constitutively active mutant of Gas (GalphasQL) protected gamma ray-induced apoptosis which was assessed by analysis of the cleavages of PARP, caspase-9, and caspase-3 and cytochrome C release in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. GasQL repressed the gamma ray-induced down-regulation of Bcl-xL protein, but transfection of Bcl-xL siRNA increased the gamma ray-induced apoptosis and abolished the anti-apoptotic effect of GasQL. GasQL decreased the degradation rate of Bcl-xL protein, and it also restrained the decrease in Bcl-xL mRNA by increasing the stability following ionizing irradiation. Furthermore, prostaglandin E2 that activates Gas was found to protect gamma ray-induced apoptosis, and the protective effect was abolished by treatment with prostanoid receptor antagonist specific to EP2/4R subtype. Moreover, specific agonists for adenosine A1 receptor that inhibits cAMP signaling pathway augmented gamma ray-induced apoptosis. From this study, it is concluded that Galphas-cAMP signaling system can protect SH-SY5Y cells from gamma ray-induced apoptosis partly by restraining down-regulation of Bcl-xL expression, suggesting that radiation-induced apoptosis can be modulated by GPCR ligands to improve the efficiency of radiation therapy.

Lansoprazole, pharmaceutics for acid-related diseases, is unstable in low pH environments and generally coated with enteric polymer to obtain gastroresistance in stomach. Because its storage stability is influenced by acidic substitutes of enteric polymer, alkaline chemicals were generally added to dosage form as a stabilizer. In this experience, we coated lansoprazole bead with sodium alginate and evaluated the effect of bead size and sodium alginate coating on the storage stability and dissolution profile of lansoprazole. Sodium alginate solution containing lansoprazole was sprayed as a droplet into 3% (w/v) solution and the resultant bead was coated with starch, sodium alginate, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate. The content of lansoprazole granule not coated with sodium alginate decreased to 57.96% of initial content when stored at a severe condition for 4 weeks, but that of lansoprazole granule coated with sodium alginate before enteric coating decreased little and as the thickness of sodium alginate film increased, the content of bead didn't decreased for 4 weeks. Sodium alginate film also improved the gastroresistance without much influencing the maximum dissolution rate.