• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.301-310
• /
• 1998

Background: Cell mediated immune response mediated by interaction between CD4+ T lymphocytes and macrophagies is thought to play an important role in tuberculous pleurisy. This interaction is dependent on the interplay of various cytokines. The immunologic response of tuberculous pleurisy is thought to depend on the balance between helper T cell(Th1) cytokine Interleukin-12, Interferon gamma and Th2 cytokine IL-4, IL-10. To understand immunologic mechanism in tuberculous pleurisy and evaluate diagnostic value of these cytokines, the concentrations of Th1 cytokine IL-12, IFN -$\gamma$ and Th2 cytokine IL-10 were measured in tuberculous pleurisy and malignant pleural effusion group. Material and Methods: The concentrations of IL-10, IL-12 and IFN-$\gamma$ were measured by ELISA method in pleural fluids and serums of 20 patients with tuberculous pleurisy and 20 patients with malignant pleural effusion ADA activities were measured by spetrophotomery in pleural fluids of both groups. Results: In tuberculous pleurisy, the mean concentrations of IL-10, IL-12 and IFN-$\gamma$ of pleural fluids showed $121.3{\pm}83.7$ pg/mL, $571.4{\pm}472.7$ pg/mL and $420.4{\pm}285.9$ pg/mL. These were significantly higher than that of serum, $21.2{\pm}60.9$ pg/mL, 194.5 pg/mL, $30.1{\pm}18.3$ pg/mL respectively(p< 0.01). In malignant pleural effusion, the mean concentrations of IL-10, IL-12 and IFN-$\gamma$ of pleural fluids showed $88.4{\pm}40.4$ pg/mL, $306.5{\pm}271.1$ pg/mL and $30.5{\pm}54.8$ pg/mL respectively. Compared with that of serum ($43.4{\pm}67.2$ pg/mL, $206.8{\pm}160.6$ pg/mL, $14.6{\pm}3.3$ pg/mL), only IL-10 was significantly higher (p<0.001), but IL-12, IFN-$\gamma$ were not significant. In tuberculous pleural effusion compared with malignant pleural effusion, the concentration of IL-12, IFN-$\gamma$, ADA were significantly higher (p=value 0.046, <0.001, <0.001), but IL-10 was not significant. For differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy from malignant pleural effusion, using cut-off value of IL-12, IFN-$\gamma$, ADA as 300 pg/mL. 100 pg/mL, 45 U/L, the sensitivity/specificity were 60%/70%, 90%/87.5%, 85%/90% respectively. Conclusion: In tuberculous pleurisy, IL-10, IL-12 and IFN-$\gamma$ were selectively concentrated highly in pleural space than serum. Compared with malignant pleural effusion, IL-12 and IFN-$\gamma$ were significantly higher, but IL-10 were not in tuberculous pleural effusion. The results suggest that Th1 pathway contributes to immune resistant mechanism in tuberculous pleurisy. IFN-$\gamma$ and ADA revealed useful methods of differential diagnosis in tuberculous pleurisy from malignant pleural effusion.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.183-194
• /
• 2009

Purpose : This study was performed not only to compare the brain activation regions associated with sexual arousal induced by visual stimulation and SP6 acupuncture, but also to evaluate its differential neuro-anatomical mechanism in healthy women using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 3 Tesla (T). Subjects and methods : A total of 21 healthy right-handed female volunteers (mean age 22 years, range 19 to 32) underwent fMRI on a 3T MR scanner. The stimulation paradigm for sexual arousal consisted of two alternating periods of rest and activation. It began with a 1-minute rest period, 3 minutes of stimulation with either of an erotic video film or SP6 acupuncture, followed by 1-minute rest. In addition, a comparative study on the brain activation patterns between an acupoint and a shampoint nearby GB37 was performed. The fMRI data were obtained from 20 slices parallel to the AC-PC line on an axial plane, giving a total of 2,000 images. The mean activation maps were constructed and analyzed by using the statistical parametric mapping (SPM99) software. Results : As comparison with the shampoint, the acupoint showed 5 times and 2 times higher activities in the neocortex and limbic system, respectively. Note that brain activation in response to stimulation with the shampoint was not observed in the regions including the HTHL in the diencephalon, GLO and AMYG in the basal ganglia, and SMG in the parietal lobe. In the comparative study of visual stimulation vs. SP6 acupuncture, the mean activation ratio of stimulus was not significantly different to each other in both the neocortex and the limbic system (p < 0.05). The mean activities induced by both stimuli were not significantly different in the neocortex, whereas the acupunctural stimulation showed higher activity in the limbic system (p < 0.05). Conclusions : This study compared the differential brain activation patterns and the neural mechanisms for sexual arousal, which were induced by visual stimulation and SP6 acupuncture by using 3T fMRI. These findings will be useful to understand the theory of traditional acupuncture and acupoint channel in scientific point of view.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.285-292
• /
• 2009

It has been observed that, after long term storage, some ammunitions are misfired by tamping (combustionstopping) due to aging of the chemicals loaded in the ammunitions. Used in ammunitions are percussion powder which provides the initial energy, igniter which ignites the percussion powder, and a delay system that delays the combustion for a period of time. The percussion powder is loaded first, followed by the igniter and then the delay system, and the ammunitions explode by the energy being transferred in the same order. Tamping occurs by combustion-stopping of the igniter or insufficient energy transfer from the igniter to the delay system or the combustion-stopping of the delay system, which are suspected to be caused by low purity of the components, inappropriate mixing ratio, size distribution of particulate components, type of the binder, blending method, hydrolysis by the humidity penetrated during the long term storage, and chemical changes of the components by high temperature. Goal of this study is to find the causes of the combustion-stopping of the igniter and the delay system of the ammunitions after long term storage. In this study, a method was developed for testing of the combustion-stopping, and the size distributions of the particulate components were analyzed with field-flow fractionation (FFF), and then the mechanism of chemical change during long term storage was investigated by thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry), XRD (X-ray diffractometry), and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). For the ignition system, M (metal)-O (oxygen) and M-OH peaks were observed at the oxygen's 1s position in the XPS spectrum. It was also found by XRD that $Fe_3O_4$ was produced. Thus it can be concluded that the combustion-stopping is caused by reduction in energy due to oxidation of the igniter.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.83-88
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study was to provide a basis for studying the molecular mechanism of pharmacological action of chlorhexidine digluconate. Large unilamellar vesicles (OPGTL) were prepared with total lipids extracted from cultured Porphyromonas gingivalis outer membranes (OPG). The anthroyloxy probes were located at a graded series of depths inside a membrane, depending on its substitution position (n) in the aliphatic chain. Fluorescence polarization of n-(9-anthroyloxy)stearic acid was used to examine effects of chlorhexidine digluconate on differential rotational mobility, while changing the probes' substitution position (n) in the membrane phospholipids aliphatic chain. Magnitude of the rotational mobility of the intact six membrane components differed depending on the substitution position in the descending order of 16-(9-anthroyloxy)palmitic acid (16-AP), 12, 9, 6, 3 and 2-(9-anthroyloxy)stearic acid (12-AS, 9-AS, 6-AS, 3-AS and 2-AS). Chlorhexidine digluconate increased in a dose-dependent manner the rate of rotational mobility of hydrocarbon interior of the OPGTL prepared with total lipids extracted from cultured OPG, but decreased the mobility of membrane interface of the OPGTL. Disordering or ordering effects of chlorhexidine digluconate on membrane lipids may be responsible for some, but not all of its bacteriostatic and bactericidal actions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 1999.10a
• /
• pp.449-456
• /
• 1999

The concrete wall is the most useful of retaining structure which can obtain the engineering stability, but has problems that is not friendly with nature environment in a fine view, such as poor rear drainage, and shrinkage crack by temperature difference, etc. Because of this problems, the research for a segmental crib retaining wall has been performed. A segmental crib retaining wall is quickly and easily erected because is possible to be erected as the individual members, and is not sensitive to differential settlement and earthquakes. Also, it shows effective drainage and has a friendly advantage with nature environment because of being able to be planted with vines and shrubs in retaining walls The design of crib retaining walls has traditionally been based on classical soil mechanics theories. These theories, originally derived by Rankine(1857) and Coulomb(1776), assume that the wall acts as a rigid body. This assumption results in failure being predicted by either monolithic overturning or base sliding mechanisms. However, the wall consists of individual members which have been created a three dimensional grid. This grid confines an fill mass which becomes part of the wall. The filled wall resists the earth pressure with the same mechanism of classical gravity walls. Because of the flexibility of the individual segment, it allows relative movement between the individual members within the wall. The three dimensional flexible grid leads to stress redistribution when the wall is subjected to external or fill loads. Due to the flexibility and the stress redistribution, the failure of segmental crib wall consists of not only overturing and base sliding but the local deformation and the failure between the segmental members. It has been researched in the field that due to this flexibility and load redistribution, serviceability failure of segmental crib walls is unlikely to be due to overturning or base sliding. Therefore, in this study, the relative displacement appearance of retaining wall due to variation of inclination is measured to examine this behavior characteristics. Also, the behavior characteristics of retaining walls by surcharge load, and location of acting point of retaining wall rear, and the displacement characteristics and deflections are estimated about the existence and nonexistence of Rear Stretcher performing an role in transmitting earth pressure of Header and Stretcher organizing retaining walls. This research focuses on the characteristics due to the behavior of retaining walls. This research focuses on the characteristics due to the behavior of retaining walls.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.167-176
• /
• 2005

Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is known as a key regulator of ARE-mediated gene expression and the induction of Phase II detoxifying enzymes and antioxidant enzymes, which is also a common property of many chemopreventive agents. In the present study, we investigated the regulatory role of different chemopreventive agents including sulforaphane (SUL), allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), indole-3-carbinol (I3C), and parthenolide (PTL), in the expression and degradation of Nrf2 and the induction of the antioxidant enzyme HO-1. SUL strongly induced Nrf2 protein expression and ARE-mediated transcription activation, retarded degradation of Nrf2 through inhibiting Keap1, and thereby activating the transcriptional expression of HO-1. AITC was also a potent inducer of Nrf2 protein expression, ARE-reporter gene and HO-1 but had little effect on delaying the degradation of Nrf2 protein. Although PTL and I3C could induce ARE reporter gene expression and Nrf2 to some extent, they were not as potent as SUL and AITC. However, PTL dramatically induced the HO-1 expression, which was comparable to SUL, while I3C had no effect. In addition, when treated with SUL and PTL, inhibition of proteasome by MG132 did not cause additional accumulation of Nrf2, suggesting the involvement of other degradation mechanism(s) in the presence of these compounds such as SUL and PTL. In summary, the results of our current study indicated that different chemopreventive compounds have different regulatory properties on the accumulation and degradation of Nrf2 as well as the induction of cellular antioxidant enzyme HO-1.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.61-71
• /
• 2000

By screening a cDNA library of auxin-treated mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) hypocotyls, we have isolated two full-length cDNA clones, pVR-ACS6 and pVR-ACS7, for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the ethylene biosynthetic pathway. While PVR-ACS6 corresponds to the previously identified PCR fragment pMBA1, pVR-ACS7 is a new cDNA clone. A comparison of deduced amino acid sequences among auxin-induced ACC synthases reveal that these enzymes share a high degree of homology (65-75%) to VR-ACS6 and VR-ACS7 polypeptides, but only about 50% to VR-ACS1 polypeptide. ACS6 and ACS7 are specifically induced by auxin, while ACS1 is induced by cycloheximide, and to lesser extent by excision and auxin treatment. Results from nuclear run-on transcription assay and RNA gel blot studies revealed that all three genes were transcriptionally active displaying unique patterns of induction by IAA and various hormones in etiolated hypocotyls. Particularly, 24-epibrassinolide (BR), an active brassinosteroid, specifically enhanced the expression of VR-ACS7 by distinct temporal induction mechanism compared to that of IAA. In addition, BR synergistically increased the IAA-induced VR-ACS6 and VR-ACS7 transcript levels, while it effectively abolished both the IAA- and kinetin-induced accumulation of VR-ACS1 mRNA. In light-grown plants, VR-ACS1 was induced by IAA in roots, whereas W-ACS6 in epicotyls. IAA- and BR-treatments were not able to increase the VR-ACS7 transcript in the light-grown tissues. These results indicate that the expression of ACC synthase multigene family is regulated by complex hormonal and developmental networks in a gene- and tissue-specific manner in mung bean plants. The VR-ACS7 gene was isolated, and chimeric fusion between the 2.4 kb 5'-upstream region and the $\beta$-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene was constructed and introduced into Nicotiana tobacum. Analysis of transgenic tobacco plants revealed the VR-ACS7 promoter-driven GUS activity at a highly localized region of the hypocotyl-root junction of control seedlings, while a marked induction of GUS activity was detected only in the hypocotyl region of the IAA-treated transgenic seedlings where rapid cell elongation occurs. Although there was a modest synergistic effect of BR on the IAA-induced GUS activity, BR alone failed to increase the GUS activity, suggesting that induction of VR-ACS7 occurs via separate signaling pathways in response to IAA and BR.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.187-194
• /
• 1991

Absorption and translocation, and metabolism studies using $^{14}C$-naproanilide were conducted to determine selective mode of action of naproanilide in rice and paddy weeds under different temperature conditions. Absorption amount of $^{14}C$-naproanilide was greater in Cyperus serotinus and Sagittaria pygmaea than rice and Echinochloa crusgalli. Especially, absorption of $^{14}C$-naproanilide in C. serotinus was increased twice at 32 $^{\circ}C$ and 48 hour exposure conditions. $^{14}C$-naproanilide in roots was translocated to shoots very little in rice and E. crusgalli, but S. pygmaea somewhat greater translocation than the other species. In C. serotinus and S. pygmaea, susceptible weeds, metabolic rates of naproanilide into phytotoxic NOP (2-(2-naphthoxy)-propionic acid) and NOPM (methyl 2-(2-naphthoxy) propionate) were significantly greater than in rice and E. crugalli, tolerant species. Consequently, differential uptake by roots and the difference in activation metabolism of naproanilide among species may explain the possible mechanism of selectivity.

• Journal of Broadcast Engineering
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.80-92
• /
• 2007

IPTV Services that is representative union service of broadcasting and telecommunication need guarantee of QoS, efficiency of multicasting, and hish bandwidth on the network. Because typical TDM based metro transport network was designed by transporting fixed voice traffic with stable and recovering method, it has a defect of bottleneck and a waste of bandwidth for acceptance of data traffic with burst feature and then all of data are treated equally at the transport network because it cannot classify between advanced high end service and best effort low end service. for completely resolving this kind of problem about increasing burst traffic and QoS issues, firstly we need to new design for transport network. This paper presents transformation method from TDM based metro transport network to packet based transport network and advantage and effectiveness of packet based transport network and also indicates technical factor and characters about method of packet transport system. As a result of research, the Packet Transport System, which is a transmission network for packet delivery, take in not only a specific character of legacy TDM but QoS, Multicast and high bandwidth, then, it is able to keep an effective bandwidth and a stabilized performance of packet transmissions. Additionally, if a fault be occurred on an optical link, the system is able to guarantee a differential QoS by an each service class using an algorithm to make certain of a traffic existence and contain a protective mechanism.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.880-884
• /
• 2001

Rumen microbiology research has undergone several evolutionary steps: the isolation and nutritional characterization of readily cultivated microbes; followed by the cloning and sequence analysis of individual genes relevant to key digestive processes; through to the use of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) sequences for a cultivation-independent examination of microbial diversity. Our knowledge of rumen microbiology has expanded as a result, but the translation of this information into productive alterations of ruminal function has been rather limited. For instance, the cloning and characterization of cellulase genes in Escherichia coli has yielded some valuable information about this complex enzyme system in ruminal bacteria. SSU rRNA analyses have also confirmed that a considerable amount of the microbial diversity in the rumen is not represented in existing culture collections. However, we still have little idea of whether the key, and potentially rate-limiting, gene products and (or) microbial interactions have been identified. Technologies allowing high throughput nucleotide and protein sequence analysis have led to the emergence of two new fields of investigation, genomics and proteomics. Both disciplines can be further subdivided into functional and comparative lines of investigation. The massive accumulation of microbial DNA and protein sequence data, including complete genome sequences, is revolutionizing the way we examine microbial physiology and diversity. We describe here some examples of our use of genomics- and proteomics-based methods, to analyze the cellulase system of Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1 and explore the genome of Ruminococcus albus 8. At Illinois, we are using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vectors to create libraries containing large (>75 kbases), contiguous segments of DNA from R. flavefaciens FD-1. Considering that every bacterium is not a candidate for whole genome sequencing, BAC libraries offer an attractive, alternative method to perform physical and functional analyses of a bacterium's genome. Our first plan is to use these BAC clones to determine whether or not cellulases and accessory genes in R. flavefaciens exist in clusters of orthologous genes (COGs). Proteomics is also being used to complement the BAC library/DNA sequencing approach. Proteins differentially expressed in response to carbon source are being identified by 2-D SDS-PAGE, followed by in-gel-digests and peptide mass mapping by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry, as well as peptide sequencing by Edman degradation. At Ohio State, we have used a combination of functional proteomics, mutational analysis and differential display RT-PCR to obtain evidence suggesting that in addition to a cellulosome-like mechanism, R. albus 8 possesses other mechanisms for adhesion to plant surfaces. Genome walking on either side of these differentially expressed transcripts has also resulted in two interesting observations: i) a relatively large number of genes with no matches in the current databases and; ii) the identification of genes with a high level of sequence identity to those identified, until now, in the archaebacteria. Genomics and proteomics will also accelerate our understanding of microbial interactions, and allow a greater degree of in situ analyses in the future. The challenge is to utilize genomics and proteomics to improve our fundamental understanding of microbial physiology, diversity and ecology, and overcome constraints to ruminal function.