• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.90-97
• /
• 2024

In this study, we employed Highly Ductile Cement Composite (HDCC) to evaluate the flexural performance of a RC slab that simulates the laminating structure of a seashell. To evaluate flexural performance, we produced conventional RC slab specimens, HDCC slab specimens, and HDCC-M slab specimens which biomimics a seashell's layered structure by inserting PE mesh inside the slab made of HDCC. A series of 4-point bending tests were conducted. Experimental results shows the flexural strength of the HDCC-M slab specimen was 1.7 times and 1.2 times higher than that of the RC and HDCC slab specimens, respectively. Furthermore, the ductility was evaluated using the ratio of yield deflection to maximum deflection, and it was confirmed that the HDCC slab test specimen exhibited the best ductility. This is most likely due to the fact that the inserted PE mesh separates the layers and increases ductility, while the HDCC passing through the mesh prevents the loss of load carrying capacity due to layer separation.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.61-74
• /
• 2016

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that sample their environment and present antigens to naïve T lymphocytes for the subsequent antigen-specific immune responses. DCs exist in a range of distinct subpopulations including plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) and classical DCs (cDCs), with the latter consisting of the cDC1 and cDC2 lineages. Although the roles of DC-specific transcription factors across the DC subsets have become understood, the posttranscriptional mechanisms that regulate DC development are yet to be elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression in a myriad of biological processes, but their contribution to the immune system is just beginning to surface. In this study, our in-house probe collection was screened to identify miRNAs possibly involved in DC development and function by targeting the transcripts of relevant mouse transcription factors. Examination of DC subsets from the culture of mouse bone marrow with Flt3 ligand identified high expression of miR-124 which was able to target the transcript of TCF4, a transcription factor critical for the development and homeostasis of pDCs. Further expression profiling of mouse DC subsets isolated from in vitro culture as well as via ex vivo purification demonstrated that miR-124 was outstandingly expressed in CD24⁺ cDC1 cells compared to in pDCs and CD172α⁺ cDC2 cells. These results imply that miR-124 is likely involved in the processes of DC subset development by posttranscriptional regulation of a transcription factor(s).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.1299-1306
• /
• 2024

Antibiotics are used to control infectious diseases. However, adverse effects of antibiotics, such as devastation of the gut microbiota and enhancement of the inflammatory response, have been reported. Health benefits of fermented milk are established and can be enhanced by the addition of probiotic strains. In this study, we evaluated effects of fermented milk containing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) SNUG50430 in a mouse model with antibiotic treatment. Fermented milk containing 2 × 10⁵ colony-forming units of L. rhamnosus SNUG50430 was administered to six week-old female BALB/c mice for 1 week. Interleukin (IL)-10 levels in colon samples were significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared to water-treated mice, whereas interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were decreased, of mice treated with fermented milk containing L. rhamnosus SNUG50430-antibiotics-treated (FM+LR+Abx-treated) mice. Phylum Firmicutes composition in the gut was restored and the relative abundances of several bacteria, including the genera Coprococcus and Lactobacillus, were increased in FM+LR+Abx-treated mice compared to PBS+Abx-treated mice. Interestingly, abundances of genus Coprococcus and Lactobacillus were positively correlated with IL-5 and IL-10 levels (P < 0.05) in colon samples and negative correlated with IFN-γ and TNF-α levels in serum samples (P < 0.001). Acetate and butyrate were increased in mice with fermented milk and fecal microbiota of FM+LR+Abx-treated mice were highly enriched with butyrate metabolism pathway compared to water-treated mice (P < 0.05). Thus, fermented milk containing L. rhamnosus SNUG50430 was shown to ameliorate adverse health effects caused by antibiotics through modulating immune responses and the gut microbiota.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.19.1-19.15
• /
• 2024

The influenza virus poses a global health burden. Currently, an annual vaccine is used to reduce influenza virus-associated morbidity and mortality. Most influenza vaccines have been developed to elicit neutralizing Abs against influenza virus. These Abs primarily target immunodominant epitopes derived from hemagglutinin (HA) or neuraminidase (NA) of the influenza virus incorporated in vaccines. However, HA and NA are highly variable proteins that are prone to antigenic changes, which can reduce vaccine efficacy. Therefore, it is essential to develop universal vaccines that target immunodominant epitopes derived from conserved regions of the influenza virus, enabling cross-protection among different virus variants. The internal proteins of the influenza virus serve as ideal targets for universal vaccines. These internal proteins are presented by MHC class I molecules on Ag-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells, and recognized by CD8 T cells, which elicit CD8 T cell responses, reducing the likelihood of disease and influenza viral spread by inducing virus-infected cell apoptosis. In this review, we highlight the importance of CD8 T cell-mediated immunity against influenza viruses and that of viral epitopes for developing CD8 T cell-based influenza vaccines.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2017

We investigated the callus induction and plant regeneration ability of 16 maize genotypes, including the Korean inbred lines, using 9 to 15 day-old immature zygotic embryos from maize grown in pots and from field cultures. Immature zygotic embryos placed on MS medium supplemented with L-proline 0.7 g/L, MES 0.5 g/L, Dicamba 1.5 mg/L, 2,4-D 0.5 mg/L, $AgNO_3$ 4 mg/L, and sucrose 20 g/L, showed the highest frequency of callus induction. The highest number of shoots regenerated when the embryogenic callus were transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mg/L zeatin. The root formation was observed when shoots were grown on MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Additionally, under the same culture conditions, immature zygotic embryos from maize grown in the field also had a high frequency of plant regeneration. Except one genotype, 15 genotypes showed callus induction and shoot regeneration. Among the 16 genotypes tested, H99, B98, HW3, and B73 yielded the best plant regeneration. H99 showed maximum shoot formation from the primary embryogenic callus. The results suggest that genotypes and growth conditions of the maize plant plays very important roles for enhancing the embryogenesis competence of immature zygotic embryos. The successful regeneration from immature zygotic embryos of maize inbred lines provides a basis for molecular breeding of new cultivars by genetic transformation.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
• /
• v.43 no.3 s.309
• /
• pp.78-84
• /
• 2006

Our study aimed at quantitative assessment of a cleft palate nose deformity condition by analyzing the following parameters gathered from a photographic image of a cleft palate patient: (1) angle difference between two nostril axes, (2) center of the nostril and distance between two centers, (3) overlapped area of two nostrils, and (4) the overlapped area ratio of the two nostrils. A regression equation of doctor's grades was obtained using the eight parameters. Three plastic surgeons gave us the glades for the each photographic image by to increments with maximum grade of 100. The average reproducibility of the grades given by the three plastic surgeons and the three laymen using the developed program was $10.8{\pm}4.6%\;and\;7.4{\pm}1.8%$, respectively. Kappa values representing the degree of consensus of the plastic surgeons and the three laymen were 0.43 and 0.83, respectively. Correlation coefficient of the grades evaluated by the surgeons and obtained by the regression equation was 0.642 and that of the grades by the surgeons and by the neural network was 0.798. In conclusion, the developed neural network model provided us better reproducibility, much better consensus, and better correlation than doctor's subjective evaluation in addition to objectiveness and easy application.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.29-37
• /
• 2014

The Feather Color of chicken is considered as most obvious, and the purpose of this study is to identify the genotype following the SNP of MC1R, MITF and TYRP1, which are genes related to Feather Color, and develop a SNP marker that can be classified per breed. When a haplotype is observed through the combination of markers, a Korean Native Chicken can especially be distinguished when it is a CGG type in the SNP combination of the MC1R gene. In case of the TAG, TGG and TAA types, only Araucana was identified, and for the CAA type, Leghorn could specifically be distinguished. In the SNP combination of TYRP1 gene, only Leghorn was differentiated in case of the TTTCA and CCTCA types, and only Silky Fowl was identified in case of the CTTTA type. The SNP combination of MC1R gene enabled for Korean Native Chicken, Leghorn, and Araucana to be distinguished and each of the SNP and combination of TYRP1 gene allowed for all 4 breeds to be classified. If many researches are conducted about genetic polymorphism between breeds, then it is considered that the differences between breeds will be understood from a molecular biological aspect instead of simply distinguishing the breeds through Feather Color.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.9-20
• /
• 2007

The incineration process has commonly used for wastes amount reduction and thermal treatments of pollutants as the technologies accumulated. However, the process is getting negative public images owing to matter of hazardous pollutants emission. Specially dioxins became a main issue and were mostly emitted from municipal solid wastes incineration. In this reason, pyrolysis/gasification/melting process is presented as an alternative of incineration process. The pyrolysis/gasification/melting process, a novel technology, is middle of verification of commercial plant and development of technologies in Korea. But the survey about the pollutant emission from the process, and background data in these facilities is necessary. So in this survey, t is investigated that the behavior of chlorobenzenes and chlorophenols in plasma type pyrolysis/gasification/melting plant of pilot scale. We investigated discharging behavior of each phase of chlorobenzene through each process in the plsasma type pyrolysis/gasification/melting process. From this result, it was found that about 99 percent of particle-phase chlorobenzene was removed, but on the other hand gas-phase chlorobenzene was increased by about 600 percent through heat exchanger, flue gas cooling, system and semi dry absorption bag filter(SDA/BF). Also, this investigation presented that di-chlorobenzene(DCB) tri-chlorobenzene(TCB), tetra-chlorobenzene(TeCB), penta-chlorobenzene (PCB), except mono-chlorobenzene(MCB) and hexa-chlorobenzene(HCB) were increased through the flue gas cooling system and the semi dry absorption bag filter(SDA/BF). It was investigated that concentration of particle-phase chlorophenol was decreased by about 66 percent, but on the other hand, concentration of gas-phase chlorophenol was increased by about 170 percent through heat exchanger, flue gas cooling system, and semi dry absorption bag filter(SDA/BF). Also, it was found that di-chlorophenol(DCP), tri-chlorophenol(TCP), and penta-chlorophenol(PCP) were increased through the flue gas cooling system, and the semi dry absorption bag filter(SDA/BF). It can be considered that small-scale pilot facility and short investigation period might cause the concentration increase through the flue gas cooling system and the semi dry absorption bag filter(SDA/BF). A further study on real-scale pilot facility and accurate investigation may be required.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.348-353
• /
• 2003

Generally, two different types of fructose polymer are found in nature. One is inulin, whose fructosyl residues are linked mainly by a ${\beta}-(2,1)-linkage$, while the other is high-molecular-weight levan, whose fructosyl residues are linked mainly by a ${\beta}-(2,6)-linkage$. In contrast to the extensive studies on the prebiotic properties of inulin, there has been no report on the effect of levan on the large bowel microflora in viva. Therefore, to examine whether dietary levan can be used as a prebiotic, Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed one of two diets for 3 weeks: 1) basal diet plus sucrose; 2) basal diet plus 10% (wt/wt) levan. The cecal bowel mass, cecal and colon short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), pH, and microflora were then compared. The intake of the levan-containing diet significantly increased the total cecal weight and wall weight. The analyses of the SCFAs in the cecal and colonic contents revealed that levan was converted into acetate, butyrate, and lactate, which resulted in acidic conditions. The intake of levan also significantly increased the total number of microorganisms by 5-fold and lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) 30-fold in the feces. Accordingly, the current work shows that levan can be used as a prebiotic for stimulating the growth of LAB in an animal model.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.667-674
• /
• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of germinated and fermented unmarketable soybean (GFS) on laying performance and egg quality in laying hens. A total of two hundred laying hens were divided into 5 groups (5 treatment $\times$ 4 replication $\times$ 10 birds each) and fed with the experimental diets for 8 wk as follows: control, GFS free; T1, GFS 0.15%; T2, GFS 0.3%; T3, GFS 1%; T4, GFS 2%. The laying performance, egg quality, blood profiles, cecal microbial population, isoflavone content in egg yolk were investigated. There were no significant differences laying performance, relative liver and spleen weights, egg yolk color, eggshell color among groups. Eggshell strength in groups fed with diets containing GFS increased, but not significantly. Eggshell thickness significantly increased in the GFS-supplemented group. No significant differences were observed in the blood profiles and intestinal microflora after supplementation. The decrease of Haugh unit during storage was alleviated by feeding of GFS (p<0.05). The concentrations of malondialdehyde in groups fed with GFS were decreased as compared with control (p<0.05). Isoflavones in the egg yolk were detected in group fed with diet containing 2% GFS. These results showed that unmarketable GFS could be used as a favorable feed additive and feedstuff for production of quality enhanced and isoflavone fortified eggs.