• Title/Summary/Keyword: Process-control agent

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A Study on Teaching-Learning and Evaluation Methods of Environmental Studies in the Middle School (중학교 "환경" 교과의 교수.학습 및 평가 방법 연구)

  • 남상준
    • Hwankyungkyoyuk
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.1-17
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    • 1994
  • This study was performed to determine appropriate teaching-learning and evaluation methods for Environmental Studies. To promote the relevance of our study to the needs of the schools and concerned educational communities of environmental education, we reviewed related literature, conducted questionnaire surveys, interviewed related teachers and administrator, held meetings with experts, and field-tested our findings. For selecting and developing teaching-learning methods of Environmental Studies, findings of educational research in general are considered. moreover, principles of environmental education, general aim of environmental education, orientations of environmental education, and developmental stages of middle school students in educational psychology were attended. In addition, relevance to the purpose of the Environmental Studies curriculum, appropriateness for value inquiry as well as knowledge inquiry, small group centered class organization, social interaction centered teaching-learning process, regional environmental situation, significance of personal environment, evaluation methods of Environmental Studies, multi- and inter-disciplinary contents of the Environmental Studies textbook, suitability to the evaluation methods of Environmental Studies, and emphasis on the social interaction in teaching-learning process were regarded. It was learned the Environmental Studies can be taught most effectively in via of holding discussion sessions, conducting actual investigation, doing experiment-practice, doing games and plate, role-playing and carrying out simulation activities, and doing inquiry. These teaching-learning methods were field-tested and proved appropriate methods for the subject. For selecting and developing evaluation method of Environmental Studies, such principles and characteristics of Environmental Studies as objective domains stated in the Environmental Studies curriculum, diversity of teaching-learning organization, were appreciated. We categorized nine evaluation methods: the teacher may conduct questionnaire surveys, testings, interviews, non-participatory observations; they may evaluate student's experiment-practice performances, reports preparation ability, ability to establish a research project, the teacher may ask the students to conduct a self-evaluation, or reciprocal evaluation. To maximize the effect of these methods, we further developed an application system. It considered three variables, that is, evaluates, evaluation objectives domains, and evaluation agent, and showed how to choose the most appropriate methods and, when necessary, how to combine uses of different methods depending on these variables. A sample evaluation instrument made on the basis of this application system was developed and tested in the classes. The system proved effective. Pilot applications of the teaching-learning methods and evaluation method were made simultaneously; and the results and their implications are as follows. Discussion program was applied in a lesson dealing with the problems of waste disposal, in which students showed active participation and creative thinking. The evaluation method used in this lesson was a multiple-choice written test for knowledge and skills. It was shown that this evaluation method and device are effective in helping students' revision of the lesson and in stimulating their creative interpretations and responces. Pupils showed great interests in the actual investigation program, and this programme was proved to be effective in enhancing students' participation. However, it was also turned out that there must be pre-arranged plans for the objects, contents and procedures of survey if this program is to effective. In this lesson, non-participatory observation methods were used with a focus on the attitudes of students. A scaled reported in general description rather than in grade. Experiment-practice programme was adopted in a lesson for purifying contaminated water and in this lesson, instruction objectives were properly established, the teaching-learning process was clearly specified and students were highly motivated. On the other hand, however, it was difficult to control the class when some groups of students require more times to complete their experiment, and sometimes different results. As regards to evaluation, performance observation test were used for assessing skills and attitudes. If teachers use well-prepared Likert scale, evaluation of all groups within a reasonablely short period of time will be possible. The most effective and successful programme in therms of students' participation and enjoyment, was the 'ah-nah-bah-dah-market' program, which is kind of game of the flea market. For better organized program of this kind, however, are essential, In this program, students appraise their own attitudes and behavior by responding to a written questionnaire. In addition, students were asked to record any anecdotes relating to self-appraisal of changes on one's own attitudes and behaviours. Even after the lesson, students keep recording those changes on letters to herself. Role-playing and simulation game programme was applied to a case of 'NIMBY', in which students should decide where to located a refuse dumping ground. For this kind of programme to e successful, concepts and words used in the script should be appropriate for students' intellectual levels, and students should by adequately introduced into the objective and the procedures of the lessons. Written questionnaire was used to assess individual students' attitudes after the lesson, but in order to acquire information on the changes of students' attitudes and skills, pre-test may have to be made. Doing inquiry programme, in which advantages in which students actually investigated the environmental influence of the areas where school os located, had advantages in developing students' ability to study the environmental problems and to present the results of their studies. For this programme to be more efficient, areas of investigation should be clearly divided and alloted to each group so that repetition or overlap in areas of study and presentation be avoided, and complementary wok between groups bee enhanced. In this programme, teacher assessed students' knowledge and attitudes on the basis of reports prepared by each group. However, there were found some difficults in assessing students' attitudes and behaviours solely on the grounds of written report. Perhaps, using a scaled checklist assessing students' attitudes while their presentation could help to relieve the difficulties.

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The Effect of EDTA, Tetracycline-HCl, and Citric Acid on Diseased Root Surfaces; The SEM Study (EDTA, 염산 테트라싸이클린, 구연산 처치가 치근면에 미치는 영향)

  • Ahn, Seong-Hee;Chai, Jung-Kiu;Kim, Chong-Kwan;Cho, Kyoo-Sung
    • Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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    • v.29 no.3
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    • pp.561-578
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    • 1999
  • The goal of periodontal therapy is the periodontal regeneration by the removal of microorganisms and their toxic products from the periodontally diseased root surface. To achieve periodontal regeneration, root conditioning as an adjunct to root planing has been done. There are low pH etchants such as citric acid, tetracycline-HCl, and EDTA solution which is a neutral chelating agent. The purpose of present study was to examine the effect of root conditioning by citric acid, tetracycline HCl, and EDTA. Total 35 root specimens(6${\times}$3${\times}$2mm) were prepared from the periodontally diseased teeth, scaled and root planed. The specimens were treated with normal saline for 1 minute, saturated citric acid(pH 1) for 3 minutes, 50mg/ml tetracycline-HCl(pH 2) for 5 minutes, 15% EDTA(pH 7) for 5 minutes using rubbing technique. The specimens were examined under scanning electron microscopy at 1000, and 3000 magnification. On the microphotographs taken at 1000 magnification, the numbers of opened and patent dentinal tubules per unit area(10,640${\mu}m^2$) were counted. And the diameters of opened dentinal tubules per unit are (10,640${\mu}m^2$) were measured. The differences of number and diameter among all groups were statistically analyzed by Kruskal Wallis Test. The results were as follows; 1. In the specimens applied with normal saline(control group), the root surface was finely cracked, and was covered by irregular smear layer. Neither exposed dentinal tubules nor any patent dentinal tubules could be seen. 2. In the specimens applied with saturated citric acid(experimental 1 group), the globular collagen fibers were exposed around the peritubular space, and many dentinal tubules were revealed. 3. In the specimens applied with tetracycline-HCl(experimental 2 group), the process-like collagen fibers were exposed around the peritubular space, and some dentinal tubules were revealed. 4. In the specimens applied with 15% EDTA(experimental 3 group), the root surface was covered by the collagenous fibrillar network, and many dentinal tubules were revealed. 5. The numbers of opened and patent dentinal tubules were significantly more in exp. 1 group and exp. 3 group than in exp. 2 group(P<0.05). But there was no significant difference between exp. 1 group and exp. 3 group. In control group, the number of opened and patent dentinal tubules could not be counted because any dentinal tubules couldn't be seen. 6 . The diameter of opened dentinal tubules was significantly smaller in exp. 1 group and exp. 3 group than in exp. 2 group(P<0.05). But there was no significant difference between exp. 1 group and exp. 3 group. In control group, the diameter of opened dentinal tubules could not be measured because any dentinal tubules couldn't be seen. The results demonstrate that root conditioning with citric acid, tetracycline- HCl, and EDTA is more effective in periodontal healing than only root planing, and 15% EDTA solution can replace low pH etching agents such as citric acid, tetracycline-HCl for root conditioning.

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A Study on the Post-Receptor Mechanism of Adenosine Receptor on Acetylcholine Release in the Rat Hippocampus (흰쥐 해마에서 Acetylcholine 유리에 관여하는 Adenosine Receptor의 Post-Receptor 기전에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Bong-Kyu;Oh, Jae-Hee
    • The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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    • v.30 no.3
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    • pp.263-272
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    • 1994
  • Since it was been reported that the depolarization-induced ACh release is inhibited by activation of presynaptic $A_1-adenosine$ heteroreceptor in hippocampus, a large body of experimental data on the post-receptor mechanism of this process has been accumulated. But, the post-receptor mechanism of presynaptic $A_1-adenosine$ receptor on the ACh release has not been clearly elucidated yet. Therefore, it was attempted to clarify the post-receptor mechanisms of the $A_1-adenosine$ receptor-mediated control of ACh release in this study. Slices from rat hippocampus were equilibrated with $^3H-choline$ and the release of the labelled products was evoked by electrical stimulation (3 Hz, 5 $VCm^{-1}$, 2ms, rectangular pulses), and the influence of various agents on the evoked tritium-outflow was investigated. Adenosine, in concentrations ranging from $0.3{\sim}300\;{\mu}M$, decreased the ACh release in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting the basal rate of release. The adenosine effects were significantly inhibited by $DPCPX\;(2\;{\mu}M)$, a selective $A_1-receptor$ antagonist. The responses to N-ethylmaleimide $(10&30{\mu}M)$, a SH-alkylating agent of G-protein, were characterized by increments of the evoked ACh-release and the basal release, and the adenosine effects were completely abolished by NEM pretreatment. PDB $(1{\sim}10\;{\mu}M)$, a specific protein kinase C (PKC) activator, increased, whereas PMB $(0.03{\sim}1\;mg)$, a PKC inhibitor, decreased the evoked ACh-release, and the adenosine effects were not affected by these agents. Nifedipine $(1\;{\mu}M)$, a $Ca^{2+}\;-channel$ blocker of dihydropyridine analogue, significantly inhibited the adenosine effect, but glibenclamide, a $K^+-channel$ blocker, did not. Finally, 8-bromo cyclic AMP $(100\;&\;300{\mu}M)$, a membrane-permeable analogue of cAMP, did not alter the ACh release, but adenosine effects were inhibited by pretreatment with large dose of 8-br-cAMP $(300\;{\mu}M)$. These results indicate that the decrement of the evoked ACh-release by $A_1-adenosine$ receptor is mediated by the G-protein, and nifedipine-sensitive $Ca^{2+}-channel$ and adenylate cyclase system are coupled partly to this effect, and that protein kinase C and glibenclamide-sensitive $K{^+}-channel$ are not involved in this process.

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Characteristic Changes of Swine Manure by Air Suction Composting System (돈분 퇴비화 시 공기 흡입 시스템에 따른 퇴비화 특성 변화)

  • Lee, Dong-jun;Kim, Jung Kon;Jeong, Kwang-Hwa;Cho, Won-Mo;Ravindran, B.
    • Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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    • v.24 no.3
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    • pp.63-74
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    • 2016
  • The objective of this study was to investigate the variations of physico-chemical properties during the swine manure composting, sawdust as the bulking agent was composted at different points (Top layer, Side of middle layer, Bottom layer). Air suction system with constant bottom aeration in bench scale reactors (30 L). The highest temperature was reached in the range of $58^{\circ}C$ to $62^{\circ}C$ on $3^{rd}$ day and this thermophilic phase (> $50^{\circ}C$) was continued for 3 days in all the treatment mixtures. However, the temperature was gradually decreased to room temperature at the end of 60 day composting process. Except control, the discharged ammonia ($NH_3$) was a maximum in the treatment order of Top layer>Bottom layer>Side of middle layer as 500 ppm, 162 ppm and 120 ppm, respectively, on the $4^{th}$ day and showing that Top layer point Air suction produce much more ammonia content than the other point. During the composting process, the total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) was gradually increased due to the mass loss in the composting mixtures. At the same time, C/N ratio was decreased to Top layer, 13; Side of middle layer, 12 and Bottom layer, 13 at Air suction points. The significant reduction of C/N ratio in all different air suction system when manure was matured. The $NH_4-N$ to $NO_3-N$ ratio was recorded as 10.52 at the initial stage of the compost mixtures and reduced to 0.97 (Top layer), 0.70 (Side of middle layer), 3.2 (Bottom layer) because of manure decomposition. The overall results revealed that Top layer and Side of middle layer Air suction is a suitable option when compared other point for high quality composts.

A Study on the Post-Receptor Mechanism of Adenosine Receptor on Norepinephrine Release in the Rat Hippocampus (흰쥐 해마에서 Norepinephrine 유리에 미치는 Adenosine Receptor의 Post-Receptor 기전에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Bong-Kyu;Kim, Do-Kyung;Yang, Kyung-Moo
    • The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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    • v.32 no.1
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    • pp.1-11
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    • 1996
  • Since it has been reported that the depolarization-induced norepinephrine (NE) release is inhibited by activation of presynaptic $A_1-adenosine$ heteroreceptor in hippocampus, a large body of experimental data on the post-receptor mechanism of this process has been accumulated. But, the post-receptor mechanism of presynaptic $A_1-adenosine$ receptor on the NE release has not been clearly elucidated yet. Therefore, it was attempted to clarify the post-receptor mechanisms of the $A_1-adenosine$ receptor-mediated control of NE release in this study. Slices from rat hippocampus were equilibrated with $^3H-norepinephrine$ and the release of the labelled products was evoked by electrical stimulation (3 Hz, 5 $Vcm^{-1}$, 2 ms, rectangular pulses), and the influence of various agents on the evoked tritium-outflow was investigated. Adenosine, in concentrations ranging from $1{\sim}30{\mu}M$, decreased the NE release in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting the basal rate of release. The adenosine effects were significantly inhibited by 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, $2{\mu}M$), a selective $A_1-receptor$ antagonist. The responses to N-ethylmaleimide (NEM, 10 & $30{\mu}M$), a SH-alkylating agent of G-protein, were characterized by increments of the evoked NE-release and the basal release, and the adenosine effects were completely abolished by NEM pretreatment. $4{\beta}-Phorbol$ 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB, $1{\mu}M$), a specific protein kinase C (PKC) activator, increased the evoked NE release, whereas polymyxin B sulfate (PMB,0.1 mg), a PKC inhibitor, decreased the release, and the adenosine effects were inhibited by these agents. Nifedipine $(1{\mu}M)$, a $Ca^{2+}-channel$ blocker of dihydropyridine analogue, did not affect the adenosine effect. Tetraethylammonium (TEA, 3 mM) increased the evoked NE release, and inhibited the adenosine effects, but glibenclamide, a ATP dependent $K^+-channel$ blocker, did not. Finally, 8-bromo cyclic AMP (100 & $300{\mu}M$), a membrane-permeable analogue of cAMP, did not alter the NE release, but adenosine effects were inhibited by pretreatment with 8br-cAMP. These results suggest that the decrement of the evoked NE-release by $A_1-adenosine$ receptor is mediated by the C-protein, which is coupled to protein kinase C, adenylate cyclase system and TEA sensitive $K^+-channel$, and that nifedipine-sensitive $Ca^{2+}-channel$ and glibenclamide-sensitive $K^+-channel$ are not involved in this process.

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The Change of Transforming Growth Factor ${\beta}1(TGF-{\beta}1)$ Expression by Melatonin in Irradiated Lung (방사선조사된 폐에서 Melatonin에 의한 TGF-${\beta}1$ 발현의 변화)

  • Jang, Seong-Soon;Choi, Ihl-Bohng
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.161-168
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    • 2005
  • Purpose: The changed expressions of $TGF-{\beta}1$, as a key cytokine in the fibrotic process, due to melatonin with potent antioxidative effects, were investigated in the irradiated lung using fibrosis-sensitive C57BL/6 mice. Materials and Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice were divided into control irradiation-only, and melatonin (300 mg/kg i.p. 1 hr before irradiation) pretreatment groups. The thoraces of the mice were irradiated with a single dose of 12 Gy. The mRNA expressions of $TGF-{\beta}1$ in the lung tissue 2 and 4 weeks after irradiation were quantified using semiquantitive RT-PCR, and the cellular origin and expression levels of $TGF-{\beta}1$ protein were identified using immunohistochemical staining. Results: The relative mRNA expression levels in the irradiation-only and melatonin pretreatment groups 2 and 4 weeks after irradiation were 1.92- and 1.80-fold (p=0.064) and 2.38- and 1.94-fold (p=0.004) Increased, respectively compared to those in the control group. increased expressions of $TGF-{\beta}1$ protein were prominently detected in regions of histopathologicai radiation injury, with alveolar macrophages and septal epithelial cells serving as important sources of $TGF-{\beta}1$ expression. At 2 and 4 weeks after irradiation, the expression levels of protein were $15.8\%\;vs.\;16.9\%$ (p=0.565) and $36.1\%\;vs.\;25.7\%$ (p=0.009), respectively. Conclusion: The mRNA and protein expressions of $TGF-{\beta}1$ in the lung tissue following thoracic irradiation with 12 Gy were significantly decreased by melatonin pretreatment at 4 weeks. These results indicate that melatonin may have a possible application as an antifibrotic agent in radiation-induced lung injury.

Effect of Nandrolone Decanoate on Disuse Muscle Atrophy and Bone Beating in Dogs (개에서 불용성 근위축과 골절 치유에 대한 Nandrolone decanoate의 효과)

  • Yun Seong-jin;Lim Ji-hey;Rahman Md. Mizanur;Byeon Ye-eun;Kim Wan-hee;Kweon Oh-kyeong
    • Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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    • v.22 no.4
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    • pp.336-341
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    • 2005
  • Anabolic steroid compounds are widely used for the increase of muscle mass, density of bone and athletic ability. The present study conducted to evaluate the effects of nandrolone decanoate (ND), one of the anabolic steroid compounds, on disuse muscle atrophy and healing process of bone in dogs. Twenty physically healthy dogs of both sexes were used in this experiment and divided into three groups: group A (control), group B (low dose M-1.5 mg/kg) and group C (high dose ND-7.5 mg/kg). One-mm strip of full thickness bone was excised from the radius below the pronator teres muscle for the artificial fracture and then the fractured ends were fixed in apposition with bone plate leaving 1mm gap, and finally immobilized externally by Robert John's bandage for 4 weeks. ND was administered intramuscularly once a week far 8 weeks. Body weight, muscle mass change and fracture gap of the bone were evaluated immediately after surgery, and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery. The rates of muscle mass change 8 weeks after surgery were $-2.75\pm0.16\%,\;1.68\pm0.11\%\;and\;1.74\pm0.48\%$ in groups A, B and C, respectively. The significant increase (p<0.05) of muscle mass increments were found in the treated groups. The fibrous connective tissue layer in the fracture gaps of the treated groups increased more than the control, especially in the group C at 4th week. More dense fibrous connective tissue were found in the treated groups at 8th week. Collectively, our results suggested that ND was an effective anabolic agent for the immobilized disuse muscle and bone healing.

Changes of characteristics of livestock feces compost pile during composting period and land application effect of compost (축분 퇴비화과정 중 특성변화와 축분퇴비 이용효과)

  • Jeong, Kwang-Hwa;Kang, Ho
    • Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.56-64
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    • 2001
  • Composting of livestock feces is economic and safe process to decrease the possibility of direct leakage of organic pollutants to ecosystem from commercial and environmental point of view. This study was conducted with three different experiments related to composting of livestock feces. The purpose of experiment 1 was to investigate changes of characteristic of compost pile during composting period by low temperature in cold season. To compare composting effect of experimental compost pile and control pile exposed in cold air, experimental compost piles were warmed up by hot air until their temperatures were reached at $35^{\circ}C$. Sawdust, Ricehull and Ricestraw were mixed with livestock feces as bulking agent. The highest temperatures of compost pile during composting period were in sawdust, rice hull, rice straw, and control were $75^{\circ}C$, $76^{\circ}C$, $68^{\circ}C$, $45^{\circ}C$ respectively. Moisture content, pH, C/N and volume of compost were decreased during composting period. Experiment 2 was carried out to study utilization effect of compost by plant. A corn was cultivated for 3 years on fertilized land with compost and chemical fertilizer. The amount of harvest and nutrition value of corn were analyzed. In first year of trial, the amount of harvest of corn on land treated with compost was lower by 20% than that of land treated with chemical fertilizer. In second year, there was no difference in yield of com between compost and chemical fertilizer. In third year, the yield of com on land fertilized with compost was much more than that of land fertilized with chemical fertilizer. The purpose of experiment 3 was to estimate the decrease of malodorous gas originating from livestock feces by bio-filter. Four types of bio-filters filled with saw dust, night soil, fermented compost and leaf mold were manufactured and tested. Each bio-filter achieved 87-95% $NH_3$ removal efficiency. This performance was maintained for 10 days. The highest $NH_3$ removal efficiency was achieved by leaf mold on the first day of operation period. It reduced the concentration of $NH_3$ by about 95%. Night soil and fermented compost showed nearly equal performance of 93 to 94% for 10 days from the beginning of operation. The concentration of hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan originating for compost were equal to or less than $3mg/{\ell}$ and $2mg/{\ell}$, respectively. After passing throughout the bio-filter, hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan were not detected.

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Interaction of Forskolin with the Effect of $N^6-Cyclopentyladenosine$ on $[^3H]-Acetylcholine$ Release in Rat Hippocampus (흰쥐 해마에서 Acetylcholine 유리에 미치는 $N^6-Cyclopentyladenosine$ 및 Forskolin의 영향)

  • Choi, Bong-Kyu;Park, Hie-Man;Kang, Yeon-Wook;Kook, Young-Johng
    • The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.129-136
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    • 1992
  • As it has been reported that the depolarization-induced acetylcholine (ACh) release is modulated by activation of presynaptic $A_1-adenosine$ heteroreceptor in hippocampus and various lines of evidence indicate the involvement of adenylate cyclase system in $A_1-adenosine$ post-receptor mechanism in hippocampus, it was attempted to delineate the role of adenylate cyclase system in the $A_1-receptor-mediated$ control of ACh release in this study. Slices from rat hippocampus were incubated with $[^3H]-choline$ and the release of the labelled products was evoked by electrical stimulation $(3\;Hz,\;5\;Vcm^{-1},\;2\;ms,\;rectangular\;pulses)$, and the influence of various agents on the evoked tritium-outflow was investigated. $N^6-cyclopentyladenosine$ (CPA), a specific $A_1-adenosine$ receptor agonist, in concentrations ranging from 0.1 to $10\;{\mu}M$, decreased the $[^3H]-ACh$ release in a dose-dependent manner without the changes of basal rate of release. 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine $(DPCPX,\;1{\sim}10\;{\mu}M)$, a selective $A_1-receptor$ antagonist, increased the $[^3H]-ACh$ release in a dose-related fashion with slight increase of basal tritium-release. And the CPA effects were significantly inhibited by DPCPX $(2\;{\mu}M)$ pretreatment and the dose-response curve produced by CPA was shifted to the right. The responses to N-ethylmaleimide $(NEM,\;10\;&\;30\;{\mu}M)$, a SH-alkylating agent of G-protein, were characterized by increments of the evoked ACh-release and the basal release, and the CPA effect were completely abolished by NEM pretreatment. Forskolin, a specific adenylate cyclase activator, in concentrations ranging from 0.3 to $10\;{\mu}M$, increased the evoked ACh-release in a dose-dependent manner and the CPA effects were inhibited by forskolin. These results indicate that the $A_1-adenosine$ heteroreceptor plays an important role in ACh-release via nucleotide-binding protein Gi in the rat hippocampus and that the adenylate cyclase system might be participated in this process.

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The current status and control measures of BSE in the worldwide (국내, 외 광우병의 발생 현황과 대응 방안)

  • Yoo, Han-Sang
    • 한국환경농학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2009.07a
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    • pp.273-282
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    • 2009
  • The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) disease group are fatal neurodegenerative disorders affecting a wide range of hosts. The group includes kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans, scrapie in sheep and goats and Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle. The exact nature of the infectious agent involved in the transmission of these diseases remains controversial. However, a central event in their pathogenesis is the accumulation in infected tissues of an abnormal form of a host-encoded protein, the prion protein (PrP). Whereas the normal cellular protein is fully sensitive to protease ($PrP^{sen}$), the disease-associated prion protein ($PrP^d$) is only partly degraded ($PrP^{res}$), its amino-terminal end being removed. BSE was first reported in the mid-80s in the UK. Ten years later, a new form of human prion disease, variant CJD (vCJD) developed in the wake of the BSE epidemic, and there is now strong scientific evidence that vCJD was initiated by the exposure of humans to BSE-infected tissues, thus indicating a zoonotic disease. However, the ban on the feeding of animal-derived proteins to ruminants, and the apparent lack of vertical transmission of BSE, have led to a decline in the incidence of the disease within cattle herd and therefore, an assumed decreased risk for human contacting vCJD. The origin of the original case(s) of BSE still remains an enigma even though three hypotheses have been raised. Hypotheses are i) sheep- or goat-derived scrapie-infected tissues included in meat and bone meal fed to cattle, ii) a previously undetected sporadic or genetic bovine TSE contaminating cattle feed or iii) originating from a human TSE through animal feed contaminated with human remains. A host cellular membrane protein ($PrP^C$), which is abundant in central nervous system tissue, appear to be conformationally altered in the diseased host into a prion protein ($PrP^{Sc}$). This $PrP^{Sc}$ is detergent insoluble and partially protease-resistant ($PrP^{res}$). The term $PrP^{res}$ is normally used to describe the protein detected after protease treatment, in techniques such as Western immunoblotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay using fresh/frozen tissue. Immunohistochemistry may performed with formalin-fixed tissues. Also, clinical signs of the BSE are one of the major diagnostic indicators. Recently, atypical forms (known as H- and L-type) of BSE have appeared in several European countries, Japan, Canada and the United States. An unusual case was also reported in a miniature zebu. The atypical BSE fall into two groups based on the relative molecular mass (Mm) of the unglycosylated $PrP^{res}$ band relative to that of classical BSE, one of the higher Mm (H-type) and the other lower (L-type). Both types have been detected worldwide as rare cases in older animals, at a low prevalence consistent with the possibility of sporadic forms of prion diseases in cattle. This raises the unwelcome possibility that vCJD could increase in the human population. Now, active surveillance program against BSE is going on in Korea. In regional veterinary service lab, ELISA is applied to screen the BSE in slaughter and confirmatory tests by Western immunoblotting and immunohistochemisty are carried out if there are positive or suspect in the screening test. Also, the ruminant feed ban is rigorously enforced. Removal of specified risk materials such as brain and spinal cord from cattle is mandatory process at slaughter to prevent the infected material from entering the human food chain.

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