• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.249-263
• /
• 2022

Purpose: Lassa fever is a zoonotic acute viral hemorrhagic disease caused by Lassa virus (LASV). There is currently no licensed vaccine for the prevention of the disease. This study is aimed at discovering immunodominant epitopes from the envelope glycoprotein of the Lassa mammarenavirus and designing of a multi-epitope vaccine candidate (VC). Materials and Methods: The amino acid sequences of the envelope glycoprotein of 26 strains of LASV from five countries were selected. After evaluation for antigenicity, immunogenicity, allergenicity, and toxicity, immunodominant CD8, CD4, and linear B lymphocytes were also selected. The selected epitopes were modelled and a molecular docking with the appropriate major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins was performed. Using an adjuvant and linkers, a multi-epitope VC was designed. The VC was evaluated for its physicochemical and immunological properties and structurally refined, validated, and mutated (disulphide engineering). The complex formed by the VC and the toll-like receptor-4 receptor was subjected to molecular dynamic simulation (MDS) followed by in silico cloning in a plasmid vector. Results: A VC with 203 sequences, 22.13 kDa weight, isoelectric point of 9.85 (basic), instability index value of 27.62, aliphatic index of 68.87, and GRAVY value of -0.455 (hydrophilic) emerged. The VC is predicted to be non-allergenic with antigenicity, MHC I immunogenicity, and solubility upon overexpression values of 0.81, 2.04, and 0.86 respectively. The VC also has an estimated half-life greater than 10 hours in Escherichia coli and showed stability in all the parameters of MDS. Conclusion: The VC shows good promise in the prevention of Lassa fever but further tests are required to validate its safety and efficacy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.49-64
• /
• 1971

The radioactive $^{131}I$-rose bengal serial scintiphotography was performed in 62 patients with the hepatobiliary diseases and in 20 normal subjects. This approach permitted visualization of the hepatic uptake of $^{131}I$-rose bengal from the circulation and its excretion into the biliary trees and the intestines. In some of these patients, gallbladder function was examined, using eggs as a gallbladder constrictor. The time of maximum hepatic uptake was well correlated to the conventional biochemical liver function tests. In addition to $^{131}I$-rose bengal scintiphotography, $^{198}Au$-colloid scintiphotography was also performed to make comparison of these two tests. The results obtained were as follows: 1. In normal subjects, the maximum hepatic uptake of $^{131}I$-rose bengal occurred at $23{\pm}2.9$ minutes, the initial hepatic excretion at $34{\pm}5.1$ minutes, the visualization of the gallbladder at $29{\pm}5.7$ minutes and the intestinal visualization at $54{\pm}25.8$ minutes. The radioactivity in the gallbladder decreased to $10.7{\pm}5.0%$ one hour after the ingestion of eggs. 2. In the patients with cirrhosis of the liver, there was a delayed and decreased hepatic uptake. The maximun hepatic upake occurred at $43{\pm}12.9$ minutes. The differences in the results of uptake between the cirrhotic and the normal group were statistically significant. The initial hepatic excretion occurred at $60{\pm}18.5$ minutes and had tendency of delaying compared with the normal controls. The gallbladder was visualized in 13 of 16 cases (81%) and its visualization occurred at $49{\pm}14.6$ minutes with a tendency to be delayed compared with the normal controls. The intestinal visualization occurred at $63{\pm}15.8$ minutes and its delaying tendency was somewhat more prominent. 3. In patients with hepatitis, the maximum hepatic uptake occurred at $59{\pm}21.4$ minutes and was significantly delayed. The initial hepatic excretion occurred at $82{\pm}34.3$ minutes and the results revealed a delaying tendency. The gallbladder was visualized in 15 of 20 cases (75%) at $57{\pm}18.7$ minutes, which was significantly delayed. The Intestinal visualization was noted in all cases with marked delay. 4. In patients with obstructive jaundice, the maximum hepatic uptake was noted at $83{\pm}14.7$ minutes, showing the most significant delay. The hepatic excretion into biliary trees and intestines was not entirely noted in all cases except the only one case with gallbladder visualization. 5. In patients with cholelithiasis, the maximum hepatic upake and the initial hepatic excretion were slightly delayed with mean times of $39{\pm}11.2\;and\;48{\pm}17.1$ minutes respectively. The visualization of the gallbladder was demonstrated in 10 of 17 cases (59%) and occurred at $52{\pm}25.6$ minutes with a slight delay. The intestinal visualization occurred at $67{\pm}47.7$ minutes and was slightly delayed. $^{131}I$-rose bengal in the gallbladder remained high, $49.3{\pm}21.3%$, which suggested quantitatively decreased power of gallbladder constriction. 6. The time of the maximum hepetic uptake was correlated well to BSP retention and serum alkaline phosphatase ativity. However, the maximum hepatic uptake had no definite correlation with serum albumin, serum globulin, TTT, serum cholesterol, SGPT or SGOT. 7. In the diagnosis of the hepatobiliary diseases with jaundice, $^{131}I$-rose bengel serial scintiphotography has proved to be more useful than $^{198}Au$-colloid scintiphotography. With these results, it could be justified that $^{131}I$-rose bengal scintiphotography is an excellent diagnostic aid for dynamic hepatobiliary function studies in the clinical practice.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.19-30
• /
• 2012

Due to the fact that the social environment is improved and the urban development is stabilized, the demand of new construction of apartment becomes slowdown. Accordingly, there are many researches to lengthen the service life of the existing apartment through the remodeling and its importance is continuously rising. However, reliable design specifications and guidelines for the design of remodeling with partial demolition are not provided yet in Korea. Specially, in the apartment remodeling, slab collapse accidents take major portion in all accidents that reported by Korean Government. It is very important to prevent intial crack of slab because intial crack could cause severe accident like collapse of all structure in a short period of time. The purpose of this study is to develop structural guidelines that could guarantee the structural safety and serviceability of slab structure and could be adopted in Korean remodeling with partial demolition. There are mainly two components to determine structural behavior of slab structure. One is the shape of slab structure and the other is load which is resisted by the slab structure. In this study, the weight per unit volume of concrete debris and concrete strength are estimated through the analysis of previous researches to recognize the relationship between the shape of slab and load that loaded on the slab. Accordingly, approximately 300 pieces of floor plan are collected and analyzed. The finite element analysis is conducted using these analyzed and estimated results. From the finite element analysis results, the limited stacking height of debris is suggested and the stacking method is also discussed. In addition, to find the relationship between movement of demolition equipment and structural behavior of slab, the static and dynamic loading tests are conducted. From the results of loading tests, the impact factor which will be considered in the remodeling design could be estimated.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.323-328
• /
• 2002

Soil-steel structures have been used for the underpass, or drainage systems in the road embankment. This type of structures sustain external load using the correlations with the steel wall and engineered backfill materials. Buried flexible conduits made of corrugated steel plates for the coastal road was tested under vehicle loading to investigate the effects of live load. Testing conduits was a circular structure with a diameter of 6.25m. Live-load tests were conducted on two sections, one of which an attempt was made to reinforce the soil cover with the two layers of geo-gird. Hoop fiber strains of corrugated plate, normal earth pressures exerted outside the structure, and deformations of structure were instrumented during the tests. This paper describes the measured static and dynamic load responses of structure. Wall thrust by vehicle loads increased mainly at the crown and shoulder part of the conduit. However additional bending moment by vehicle loads was neglectable. The effectiveness of geogrid-reinforced soil cover on reducing hoop thrust is also discussed based on the measurements in two sections of the structure. The maximum thrusts at the section with geogrid-reinforced soil cover was 85-92% of those with un-reinforced soil cover in the static load tests of the circular structure; this confirms the beneficial effect of soil cover reinforcement on reducing the hoop thrust. However, it was revealed that the two layers of geogrid had no effect on reducing the overburden pressure at the crown level of structure. The obtained values of DLA decrease approximately in proportion to the increase in soil cover from 0.9m to 1.5m. These values are about 1.2-1.4 times higher than those specified in CHBDC.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.96-101
• /
• 2012

Purpose: Glomerular filtration rate is an important index for assessment of renal function, early discovery of renal disease, and progress observation of chronic renal disease patients. In the present study, the objective is to conduct a comparative analysis of differences between Gates and Modified Gates method in dynamic renal scintigraphy based on MDRD (Modification of Diet Renal Disease) formula using blood collection. Materials and Methods: Renal scintigraphy was performed for 45 patients who visited our hospital between November 2010 and August 2011. For 20 patients of those tested, glomerular filtration rates from Gates method and MDRD formula using AGUS equipment, were compared. For the other 20 patients, glomerular filtration rates from Modified Gates method and MDRD formula using INFINIA equipment. Finally, Gates and Modified Gates method were compared for 5 patients who indicated no change in glomerular filtration rates from MDRD formula during progress observation. Results: Glomerular filtration rates from both Gates and Modified Gates method showed a high correlation with those from MDRD formula ($p$<0.01, r=0.903, r=0.867), with a paired difference mean for Gates method of $2.05{\pm}2.54mL/min/1.73m$, and that for Modified Gates method of $25.2{\pm}3.71mL/min/1.73m$. Finally, the values for Gates method and those for Modified Gates method showed a high correlation for the five patients ($p$<0.05, r=0.949), with a paired difference mean of $20.4{\pm}8.84mL/min/1.73m$. Conclusion: Glomerular filtration rates from Gates method, Modified Gates method and MDRD formula showed mutually high correlations. If the tests are performed with recognition for the correlations between Gates and Modified Gates method used in a dynamic renal scintigraphy, then an accurate assessment of renal function is considered possible with an improved diagnostic ability.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.21-30
• /
• 1985

The tension leg platform (TLP) is a kind of compliant structures, and is also a type of moored stable platform with a buoyancy exceeding the weight because of having tensioned vertical anchor cables. In this paper, among the various kinds of tension leg structures, Deep Oil Technology (DOT) TLP was analyzed because it has large-displacement portions of the immersed surface such as vertical corner pontoons and small-diameter elongated members such as cross-bracing. It also has results of hydraulic model tests, comparable with theorectical analysis. Because of the vertical axes of symmetry in the three vertical buoyant legs and because there are no larger horizontal buoyant members between these three vertical members, it was decided to develop a numerical algorithm which would predict the dynamic response of the DOT TLP using the previously developed numerical algorithm Floating Vessel Response Simulation (FVRS) for vertically axisymmetric bodies of revolution. In addition, a linearized hydroelastic Morison equation subroutine would be developed to account for the hydrodynamic pressure forces on the small member cross bracing. Interaction between the large buoyant members or small member cross bracings is considered to be negligible and is not included in the analysis. The dynamic response of the DOT TLP in the surge mode is compared with the results of the TLP algorithm for various combinations of diffraction and Morison forces and moments. The results which include the Morison equation are better than the results for diffraction only. This is because the vertically axisymmetric buoyant members are only marginally large enough to consider diffractions effects. The prototype TLP results are expected to be more inertially dominated.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.5-11
• /
• 2014

Recently, there have been various lifeline installations constructed in the underground space of urban area due to the effective use of land. For newly installed lifelines or the management of the installed lifelines, many construction activities of excavation and backfilling are observed. Around these area, there are possibilities of collapse or excessive settlement due to the leaking of the pipe or unsatisfactory compaction of backfill material. Besides, construction costs can be saved since the on-site soils are used. The application of this liquidity filling material is not only to the lifeline installation but also to underpin the foundation under the vibrating machinery. On the evaluation of the applicability of this method to this circumstance, the strength should be investigated against the static load from the machine load as well as the vibration load from the activation of the machine. In this study, the applicability of the liquidity fill material on the foundation under the vibrating machinery is assessed via uniaxial compression and resonant column tests. The liquidity filling material consisting of the on-site soils with loess and kaolinite are tested to investigate the static and dynamic characteristics. Furthermore, the applicability of the reclaimed ash categorized as an industrial waste is evaluated for the recycle of the waste to the construction materials. The experimental results show that the shear modulus and 7 day uniaxial strength of the liquidity filling material mixed with reclaimed ash show higher than those with the on-site soils. However, the damping ratio does not show any tendency on the mixed materials.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2018

As part of a research dedicated to the field evaluation of the durability of concrete subjected to freezing-thawing, this study analyzes the relationship between the surface roughness and the relative dynamic elastic modulus through image analysis. Four mix compositions with water-to-binder ratios (W/B) of 40%, 50%, 60% and 70% and without AE agent were considered to provoke early freezing. The basic physical properties of the mixes including the relative dynamic elastic modulus and the compressive strength were first evaluated experimentally according to W/B. Then, tests were performed to measure the surface roughness followed by photographs and SEM image analysis. The measured surface roughness tended to increase with larger number of freezing-thawing cycles regardless of W/B. The relative dynamic elastic modulus appeared to increase gradually with the number of cycles for the relatively denser mixes with W/B of 40% and 50%. Besides, the surface roughness increased only at rupture for the mixes with W/B of 60% and 70%. Moreover, the analysis of the photographs of the surface of the mixes with W/B of 40% and 50% revealed that the degradation progressed gradually from the surface with the freezing-thawing cycles. However, for the mixes with W/B of 60% and 70%, apparent change of the surface remained very insignificant until rupture at which damage like cracking could be observed. Consequently, the analysis of surface photograph or the measurement of the surface roughness presented some limitation in assessing the degree of freezing-thawing-induced degradation in case of relatively porous specimens. On the other hand, the photograph and surface roughness appeared to be sufficient for assessing such degradation for the mixes with W/B of 40% and 50%. Accordingly, the image of the surface and the surface roughness are potentially applicable on site for the assessment of freezing-thawing damages in relatively dense mixes.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.107-113
• /
• 2010

In this study, the relative effects of low-chloride deicier(LCD) and two other deicing agents on the scaling of concrete were conducted in a series of tests at laboratory accordance with the ASTM C 672. The solutions concentration of deicers tested included 1, 4, 10%. Tap water was used as control. The amount of scaling was evaluated gravimetrically. As test result of deicer solution types, when applied to 4% solutions, surface scaling of concrete after 56 freeze-thaw cycles was produced significantly as about 9 times on LCD solution, as about 18 times on $CaCl_2$ solution, and as about 33 times on NaCl solution comparing with tap water. As test result of deicer solution concentrations, relatively low concentrations (of the 4% by weight) of deicer were produced more surface scaling than higher concentrations (of the 10% by weight) or lower concentrations (of the 1% by weight) of deicer. It show that the damaging concentration is of the order of 3~4% for previous research result. It appears that the mechanism of surface scaling is primarily physical rather than chemical. Also, the effect of chloride deicier types, freeze-thaw cycling, and air contents on the performance of concrete was experimentally investigated. The results show that the concrete specimens subjected to freeze-thaw cycling scaled more severely in exposure to deicing salt than those in non-exposure to deicing salt, weight losses of the specimens tested in exposure to deicing salt were twice as much as those tested in non-exposure to deicing salt. Relative dynamic modulus of elasticity of concrete specimens decreased more quickly in exposure to deicing salt than in non-exposure to deicing salt. Also, relative dynamic modulus of elasticity of concrete specimens in exposure to sodium chloride deicing salt was decreased more quickly comparing with exposure to LCD salt. It is also shown that the chloride contents according to concrete specimen depths was more largely in exposure to LCD salt. When concrete specimen is exposed to chloride deicing salts and freeze-thaw cycling, performance degradation in the entrained air concrete(AE concrete) retarded more considerably comparing with non-entrained air concrete(Non-AE concrete).

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
• /
• 1981.05a
• /
• pp.38.1-38
• /
• 1981

Currently in the otologic field, there are various methods of special audiometric examinations, such as, tone decay, SISI, and impedance audiometry and only a few studies has been done in these fields sporadically in Korea. The purpose of this paper is to establish norms of various special audiometric tests, so we have performed the special audiometric tests on 100 male medical students in good physical condition and the follow results were obtained. 1. All cases showed over 90% of PB scores. The mean and its 2 S.D. were 98$\pm$4.9% in the right ear and 97$\pm$5.6% in the left ear. 2. The mean and its 2 S.D. of MCL(most comfortable level) were 45$\pm$15.4 dB in the right ear and 46$\pm$17.9 dB in the left ear, and its range was 12$\pm$12.2 dB in the right ear and 13$\pm$12.6 dB in the left ear. 3. The mean and its 2 S.D. of UCL (uncomfortable level) were 102$\pm$7.9 dB in the right ear and 102$\pm$7.9 dB in the left ear and about an half in cases showed over 106 dB of UCL. 4. In 95% of cases, SISIs(short increment sensitivity index) at 1, 000 Hz and 4000 Hz was below 45% in the right ear in both frequencies and below 55% and 75% in the left ear, respectively. 5. In 95% of cases, tone decays at 2, 000 Hz and 4, 000 Hz was below 10 dB in both ears. 6. The difference between SRT and PTA (speech reception threshold minus pure tone average) was 4$\pm$9.2 dB in the right ear and 4$\pm$10.0 dB in the left ear. 7. The dynamic range(uncomfortable level minus speech reception threshold) was 98$\pm$13.5 dB in the right ear and 99$\pm$13.5 dB in the left ear. We had trouble in estimating the dynamic range in about an half in cases, in which we couldn't estimate the UCL with our conventional audiometry. 8. The results of impedance audiometric tests were as follow: A. In the tympanogram, all cases were of A type with one exception of B type in the left ear. The mean and its 2 S.D. of its peak level were 22.8$\pm$32.94mm $H_2O$ in the right ear and 23.9$\pm$29. 81mm $H_2O$ in the left ear. B. The mean and its 2 S.D. of the compliance were 0.6$\pm$0.54cc in the right ear and 0.6$\pm$0.53cc in the left ear. C. The results of stapedial reflex: a. The mean and its 2 S.D. of the controlateral stapedial reflex at 500Hz, 1, 000Hz, 2, 000Hz, 4, 000Hz were 99$\pm$17.7 dB, 87$\pm$14.4 dB, 79$\pm$13.7 dB, 77$\pm$20.0 dB in the right ear and 99$\pm$15.9 dB, 88$\pm$13.9 dB, 79$\pm$13.7 dB, 77$\pm$21.3 dB in the left ear. Depending on the tested frequencies, the stapedial reflex wasn't generated in 6 cases in the right ear and 11 cases in the left ear. b. The mean and its 2 S.D. of the ipsilateral stapedial reflex at 1, 000Hz, and 2, 000Hz were 89$\pm$16.3 dB, 82$\pm$15.9 dB in the right ear and 89$\pm$18.0 dB, 83$\pm$18.9 dB in the left ear. Depending on the tested frequencies, the stapedial reflex wans't generated in 1 case in the right ear and 2 cases in the left ear. 9. Eustachian tube function using with impedance audiometry was malfunctioned in21 cases depending on the tested pressure and the range of peak level of tympanogram was 14$\pm$26.9mm $H_2O$(tested pressure:+250mm $H_2O$), 8$\pm$21.9mm $H_2O$ (tested pressure:-250mm $H_2O$) in the right ear and 11 cases depending on the tested pressure and the range of the peak level of tympanogram was 12$\pm$22.5mm $H_2O$ (tested pressure: +250 mm $H_2O$, 9$\pm$17.3mm $H_2O$(tested pressure: -250mm $H_2O$) in the left ear.