• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.199-207
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Fermented Laminaria japonica (FL), a type sea tangle used as a functional food ingredient, has been reported to possess cognitive improving properties that may aid in the treatment of common neurodegenerative disorders, such as dementia. MATERIALS/METHODS: We examined the effects of FL on scopolamine (Sco)- and ethanol (EtOH)-induced hippocampus-dependent memory impairment, using the Passive avoidance (PA) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. To examine the underlying mechanisms associated with neuroprotective effects, we analyzed acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, brain tissue expression of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), and immunohistochemical analysis, in the hippocampus of mice, compared to current drug therapy intervention. Biochemical blood analysis was carried out to determine the effects of FL on alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels. 7 groups (n = 10) consisted of a control (CON), 3 Sco-induced dementia and 3 EtOH-induced dementia groups, with both dementia group types containing an untreated group (Sco and EtOH); a positive control, orally administered donepezil (Dpz) (4mg/kg) (Sco + Dpz and EtOH + Dpz); and an FL (50 mg/kg) treatment group (Sco + FL50 and EtOH + FL50), orally administered over the 4-week experimental period. RESULTS: FL50 significantly reduced EtOH-induced increase in AST and ALT levels. FL50 treatment reduced EtOH-impaired step-through latency time in the PA test, and Sco- and EtOH-induced dementia escape latency times in the MWM test. Moreover, anticholinergic effects of Sco and EtOH on the brain were reversed by FL50, through the attenuation of AChE activity and elevation of ACh concentration. FL50 elevated ERK1/2 protein expression and increased p-CREB (ser133) in hippocampus brain tissue, according to Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis, respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, these results suggest that FL may be considered an efficacious intervention for Sco- and EtOH-induced dementia, in terms of reversing cognitive impairment and neuroplastic dysfunction.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.52-58
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• 1998

We can and must improve the diagnostic images using available knowledge and technology. At the same time we must strive to reduce the patient's integral and entrance radiation dose. Reducing the integral dose to the patient during the radiologic procedure is a primary concern of the patient, especially the pediatric patient, the radiologist and the technologist. A 100cm focal film distance generally is used for most over-table radiography. The early x-ray tubes and screen film combinations required long exposures, which often resulted in motion artifacts. But nowaday, we have the generators and x-ray tubes that can deliver the energy necessary in a very short time and the receptors that can record the information just as rapidly. And, we performed this studies to evaluate the patient exposure dose and the image quality by increasing focal film distance in diagnostic radiography. There are many factors which affected to exposure factor, but we studied to verify of FFD increase, only. Effect of increasing the focal film distance to a 140 cm distance was tested as follows; 1. The focal film distances were set at 100, 120, and 140cm. 2. A 18cm acryl(tissue equivalent) phantom was placed on the table top. 3. An Capintec 192 electrometer with PM 05 ion chamber was placed at the entrance surface of the phantom, and exposure were made at each focal film distances. 4. The procedure was repeated in the same manner as above except the ion chamber was placed beneath the phantom at the film plane. 5. Exit exposure were normalize to 8mR for each portions of the experiment. Based on the success of the empirical measurements, a detailed mathematical analysis of the dose reduction was performed using the percent depth dose data. The results of this study can be summerized as followings ; 1) Increasing FFD from 100 cm to 140 cm, we would create a situation that would have a significant effect on the overall quality of radiograph and achive the 17.42% reduction of entrance dose and the 18.95% reduction of integral dose that the patient receives. 2) Thickness of Al step wedge for equal film density increased with the long distance. 3) Increasing FFD, Magnification of image was lowered. 4) Resolution of image also increased with the FFD. As the results described above, we strongly recommend using the long FFD to provide better information for our patients and profession in abdomen radiographic studies.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.37-48
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• 1990

Detection of deep-seated abscesses is sometimes difficult with ultrasonogrpahy or computed tome graphy alone. Indium-111-labeled leukocyte has widely used in the localization of abscesses after introduction by Segal and Thakur in 1976. But there are some difficulties in using indium-111-oxine in our country because of hardness to get the radiopharmaceutical timely and long time for labeling leukocytes. So we peformed the indium-111-labeled leukocyte scan for establishment of the labeling procedure and clinical application. We labeled the mixed leukocytes from 36 ml of patient's blood using 4 ml of ACD solution, 7 ml of 6% hydroxyethyl starch solution $(HESPAN^{(R)})$, 1 mCi of indium-111 oxine, 5 ml of normal saline and centrifuge. It took about 2 hours for the preparation of radiolabeled leukocytes and attention for contamination was needed. The average injected dose of labeled mixed leukocytes was 465 uCi. The average number of injected leukocytes was $2.5\times10^8$ and the labeling ratio was $57{\pm}13%$ (Table 2, Fig. 5). These number and ratio were sufficient for the localization of abscess. About twenty per cent of indium was labeled to red blood cells and platelets (Fig. 6) and the half-life of injected radiolabeled leukocytes was 8.3 hours. Scan was performed in 9 patients who were suspected to have abscesses clinically or radiologically. Three patients were positive, in one patient who had abscess close to lower lumbar vertebrae was surgically drained and another 2 positive cases did not show abscess clearly on computed tomography, so only antibiotics were administrated and treated successfully. The negative 6 patients were improved without specific treatment. In conclusion, the use of indium-111 oxine labeled leukocytes for localization of abscesses were very specific and helpful in the decision of treatment considering its relatively simple labeling method, and could be easily performed providing timely supply of the radiopharmaceutical.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.306-313
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• 2019

It is important to identify the most suitable anesthetic agent that has minimal side effects to be able to control and perform surgeries on bears. In this study, we examined and compared the induction and recovery times as well as the physiological changes occurring during anesthesia induced by medetomidine-zolazepam/tiletamine (MZT) and xylazine-zolazepam/tiletamine (XZT) at general anesthesia for laparoscopic salpingectomy in 326 female Asiatic black bears. The body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and levels of PaO₂ and EtCO₂ were the physiological changes measured during surgical procedures in female bears after anesthesia. In addition, the levels of pO₂, pCO₂, and sO₂ were measured using a portable blood gas analyzer. To induce recovery from anesthesia, bears anesthetized with MZT were intravenously administered atipamezole and bears anesthetized with XZT were intravenously administered yohimbine. The combination MZT, at dosages of 0.019 ± 0.001 mg/kg for medetomidine and 1.4 ± 0.1 mg/kg for ZT, or the combination XZT, at dosages of 2.0 ± 0.1 mg/kg for xylazine and 3.0 ± 0.1 mg/kg for ZT, proved to be reliable and effective in anesthetizing Asiatic black bears for a 40-min handling period for routine clinical procedures. The average anesthesia induction times were 16.5 ± 0.95 min for the bears in the MZT group and 12.0 ± 0.44 min for those in the XZT group. A significant difference was noted between the two drugs (P < 0.001) in terms of the average anesthesia induction time. The anesthesia induction time was shorter for bears with lower body weights than those with higher body weights (P < 0.05). The recovery time of MZT was significantly faster than that of XZT (11.3 ± 0.45 min vs. 18.5 ± 0.83 min) (P < .001). The bears anesthetized with MZT exhibited lower cardiopulmonary suppression than those anesthetized with XZT (P < 0.05). The body temperatures and EtCO₂ of bears in the M ZT group were significantly lower than those in the XZT group as time progressed after anesthesia (P < 0.05). The average pO₂ before the bears were supplied with oxygen was 64.8 ± 3.7 mmHg, but it increased to 211.5 ± 42.5 mmHg afterwards (P < 0.001). In conclusion, our results indicate that bears anesthetized with MZT have longer anesthesia induction time, shorter recovery time, slower heart and respiratory rates, and lower body temperatures and EtCO₂ than those anesthetized with XZT. These findings suggest that XZT is preferable to MZT, warranting further research on its uses and clinical responses in bears.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.1.1-1.14
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• 2019

Hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ ($HIF-1{\alpha}$) mediates tumor cell adaptation to hypoxic conditions and is a potentially important anticancer therapeutic target. We previously developed a method for synthesizing a benzofuran-based natural product, (R)-(-)-moracin-O, and obtained a novel potent analog, MO-460 that suppresses the accumulation of $HIF-1{\alpha}$ in Hep3B cells. However, the molecular target and underlying mechanism of action of MO-460 remained unclear. In the current study, we identified heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2B1 (hnRNPA2B1) as a molecular target of MO-460. MO-460 inhibits the initiation of $HIF-1{\alpha}$ translation by binding to the C-terminal glycinerich domain of hnRNPA2B1 and inhibiting its subsequent binding to the 3'-untranslated region of $HIF-1{\alpha}$ mRNA. Moreover, MO-460 suppresses $HIF-1{\alpha}$ protein synthesis under hypoxic conditions and induces the accumulation of stress granules. The data provided here suggest that hnRNPA2B1 serves as a crucial molecular target in hypoxiainduced tumor survival and thus offer an avenue for the development of novel anticancer therapies.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제53권9호
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• pp.3068-3084
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• 2021

Investigations of large commercial aircraft impact effect on nuclear power plant (NPP) buildings have been drawing extensive attentions, particularly after the 9/11 event, and this paper aims to experimentally assess the damage and vibrations of NPP buildings subjected to aircraft crash. In present Part I, two shots of reduce-scaled model test of aircraft impacting on NPP building were carried out. Firstly, the 1:15 aircraft model (weighs 135 kg) and RC NPP model (weighs about 70 t) are designed and prepared. Then, based on the large rocket sled loading test platform, the aircraft models were accelerated to impact perpendicularly on the two sides of NPP model, i.e., containment and auxiliary buildings, with a velocity of about 170 m/s. The strain-time histories of rebars within the impact area and acceleration-time histories of each floor of NPP model are derived from the pre-arranged twenty-one strain gauges and twenty tri-axial accelerometers, and the whole impact processes were recorded by three high-speed cameras. The local penetration and perforation failure modes occurred respectively in the collision scenarios of containment and auxiliary buildings, and some suggestions for the NPP design are given. The maximum acceleration in the 1:15 scaled tests is 1785.73 g, and thus the corresponding maximum resultant acceleration in a prototype impact might be about 119 g, which poses a potential threat to the nuclear equipment. Furthermore, it was found that the nonlinear decrease of vibrations along the height was well reflected by the variations of both the maximum resultant vibrations and Cumulative Absolute Velocity (CAV). The present experimental work on the damage and dynamic responses of NPP structure under aircraft impact is firstly presented, which could provide a benchmark basis for further safety assessments of prototype NPP structure as well as inner systems and components against aircraft crash.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• 제41권6호
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• pp.587-594
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to develop the indirect dosimetry by calculation (IDC) method for diagnostic X-ray equipment. The experiments were performed with inverter type X-ray tubes: Toshiba (E7252X, Japan) and Varian (RAD-14, USA). For the development method, we first applied the standard quality of X-ray beam shown in the TRS457 document, and second, to produce the constants of trendline for the IDC, the total filtration on X-ray beam was subdivided. Third, in order to increase the precision, the energy region was divided into the high energy region and the low energy region and developed by the IDC. In order to verify the IDC, mean dose (mR) values were measured for three Toshiba X-ray tubes and three Varian X-ray tubes at clinical medical institutions and then compared with the IDC on the 2013. As a result, compared with the previous study, the accuracy of the IDC of this study were improved by 2.71% and 9.91% in Toshiba and Varian X-ray tubes, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.69-73
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• 2019

During screening of microbes for compounds having cosmetic benefits, we isolated Marinobacter salarius HL2708#2 from lava seawater on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. The complete genome sequence was determined. Strain HL27080#2 features a circular chromosome of 4,304,603 bp with 57.21% G+C content and a 244,163 bp plasmid with 53.14% G+C. There were 4,180 protein coding sequences identified, along with 49 transfer RNA and 18 ribosomal RNA noncoding genes. The genome harbored genes for the utilization of alcohol, maltose/starch, and monosaccharide as sole carbon sources. Genes responsible for halophilic characteristics and heavy metal resistance could be annotated, as well as aromatic and alkane hydrocarbons. Contrary to the prior report that M. salarius is negative for nitrate and nitrite reduction, nitrate/nitrite reductase along with nitrate/nitrate transporters and nitronate monooxygenase were evident, suggesting that strain HL2708#2 may be able to denitrify extracellular nitroalkenes to ammonia.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.74-76
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• 2019

Gram-positive anaerobic bacilli Actinomyces spp. commonly reside on mucosal surfaces of the oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and urogenital tract. Here, we first report the draft genome sequence of Actinomyces georgiae KHUD_A1, isolated from dental plaque of a Korean elderly woman. The genome is 2,652,059 bp in length and has a GC content of 68.06%. The genome includes 2,242 protein-coding genes, 9 rRNAs, and 64 tRNA. We identified 157 KHUD_A1 strain-specific genes, including genes encoding CPBP family intramembrane metalloprotease, bile acid: sodium symporter family protein, Txe/YoeB family addiction module toxin and Phd/YefM family antitoxin. The sequence information of A. georgiae KHUD_A1 will help understand the general characteristics of the bacterial species and the genome diversity of the genus Actinomyces.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.904-911
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• 2019

Objective: The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of night light regimen on growth performance, antioxidant status and health of Lingnan Yellow broiler chickens from 1 to 21 days of age. Methods: A completely randomized factorial design involved 2 photoperiods (constant lighting [CL], 24 L:0 D and intermittent lighting [INL], 17 L:3 D:1 L:3 D)${\times}2$ light intensities (10 lx and 30 lx). A total of one thousand six hundred and eighty 1-d-old Lingnan Yellow broiler chicks were randomly divided into 4 treatments with 6 replicates (70 birds per replicate). The experiment lasted for 21 d. Results: Photoperiods and light intensities had no effect on average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, and mortality of the broiler chickens (p>0.05). The INL had a significant effect on average daily feed intake (p<0.05) of broiler chickens compared with CL. Photoperiod and light intensity had an interactive effect on melatonin (MT) concentration (p<0.05). At CL, reducing light intensity increased MT concentration; INL birds had higher MT but MT concentration was not affected by light intensity. There was an interactive effect on glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) in serum and total antioxidant capability (T-AOC) in liver between photoperiod and light intensity. With the decrease of light intensity, the activities of GPx and CAT in serum and T-AOC in liver increased in CL group (p<0.05). Broiler chickens reared under INL had better antioxidant status and 10 lx treatments had higher activities of CAT in serum than 30 lx (p<0.05). Different photoperiods and light intensities had no effect on malondialdehyde. There was an interaction between photoperiod and light intensity on serum creatine kinase (CK) concentration (p<0.05). At CL, the elevated light intensity resulted in an increase in CK content; INL birds had lower CK concentration especially in low light intensity group. Besides, INL and low light intensity significantly reduced the concentration of serum corticosterone and heat shock protein 70 (p<0.05). Serum immunoglobulin M contents were increased in broiler chickens reared under the INL compared with CL group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Results above suggest that the night light regimen of INL and 10 lx could be beneficial to the broiler chickens from 1 to 21 days of age due to the better health status and electricity savings.