• Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.698-715
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• 2018

Purpose: Hrd1 has recently emerged as a critical regulator of B-cells in autoimmune diseases. However, its role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to examine Hrd1 expression and B-cell accumulation and their possible roles in CRSwNP. Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting were used to assess gene and protein expression in nasal tissue extracts. Cells isolated from nasal tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were characterized by flow cytometry. Local antibody production was measured in tissue extracts with a Bio-Plex assay. Additionally, changes in Hrd1 expression in response to specific inflammatory stimuli were measured in cultured dispersed polyp cells. Results: Nasal polyps (NPs) from patients with eosinophilic CRSwNP (ECRS) had increased levels of Hrd1, B-cells and plasma cells compared with NPs from patients with non-eosinophilic CRSwNP (non-ECRS) or other control subjects (P < 0.05). The average Hrd1 levels in B-cells in NPs from ECRS patients were significantly higher than those from non-ECRS patients and control subjects (P < 0.05). NPs also contained significantly increased levels of several antibody isotypes compared with normal controls (P < 0.05). Interestingly, Hrd1 expression in cultured polyp cells from ECRS patients, but not non-ECRS patients, was significantly increased by interleukin-$1{\beta}$, lipopolysaccharide and Poly(I:C) stimulation, and inhibited by dexamethasone treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Differential Hrd1 expression and B-cell accumulation between the ECRS and non-ECRS subsets suggests that they can exhibit distinct pathogenic mechanisms and play important roles in NP.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.199-207
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• 2002

In this paper, a self-tuning gain-scheduled skyhook control for semi-active suspension systems is investigated. The dynamic characteristics of a continuously variable damper including electro-hydraulic pressure control valves is analyzed. A 2-d.o.f. time-varying quarter-car model that permits variations in sprung mass and suspension spring coefficient is considered. The self-tuning skyhook control algorithm proposed in this paper requires only the measurement of body acceleration. The absolute velocity of the sprung mass and the relative velocity of the suspension deflection are estimated by using integral filters. The skyhook gains are gain-scheduled in such a way that the body acceleration and the dynamic tire force are optimized. An ECU prototype is discussed. Experimental results using a 1/4-ear simulator are discussed. Also, a suspension ECU prototype targeting real implementation is provided.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.559-564
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• 2002

Cross-talk cancellation, inverse filter design or deconvolution in a generic term, is a vital process for a virtual sound realization in the stereo sound reproduction system. Most, if not all, of the design algorithms available for the inverse filter are based on a linearized model of the real physical plant. The result of such a plant-based design method, which may be referred to here as the indirect method, is biased due to both modelling and inversion errors. This paper presents a novel direct cross-talk cancellation method that may be free from the inversion error. The direct method can directly models the inverse filter by a suitable rearrangement of the input and output ports of the original plant so that no inversion is required here. Advantages are discussed with various experiments in an anechoic chamber using a PC soundcard. Binaural reproduction tests conducted showed that the conventional indirect method yields about 8 % reproduction performance error on both ear positions, whereas the direct method offers about 3 %.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2016

The thickness of specimen is an important factor in microscopic researches. Thicker specimen contains more information, but it is difficult to obtain well focused image with precise details due to optical limit of conventional microscope. Recently, a microscope unit that combines improved illumination system, which allows real time three-dimensional (3D) image and automatic z-stack merging software. In this research, we evaluated the usefulness of this unit in observing thick samples; Golgi stained nervous tissue and ground prepared bone, tooth, and non-transparent small sample; zebra fish teeth. Well focused image in thick samples was obtained by processing z-stack images with Panfocal software. A clear feature of neuronal dendrite branching pattern could be taken. 3D features were clearly observed by oblique illumination. Furthermore, 3D array and shape of zebra fish teeth was clearly distinguished. A novel combination of two channel oblique illumination and z-stack imaging process increased depth of field and optimized contrast, which has a potential to be further applied in the field of neuroscience, hard tissue biology, and analysis of small organic structures such as ear ossicles and zebra fish teeth.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1036-1043
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• 2006

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of Gamisamul-tang (GSMT) on atopic dermatitis (AD). AD was induced in NC/Nga mutant mice by DNCB treatment. GSMT administration reduced levels of skin severity scores. Serum levels of IgE, IgG, IgM, and inflammatory cytokines including IL-4, IL-4 and 1L-13 were significantly decreased by GSMT treatment. Levels of mRNA's encoding IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $interferon-{\gamma}$ in the dermal tissue and draining lymph node (DLN) by real time RT-PCR analysis showed decrease by GSMT testament. Moreover, the number of CD4+ and CD8+ cells was significantly decreased in the spleen and DLN tissues. Histological examination showed that infiltration levels of immune cells in ear, skin, and DLN of AD-induced NC/Nga mice were much improved by GSMT treatment. The present data suggest that GSMT may play an important role in recovering AD symptoms by regulating immune reactivity.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.513-517
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• 2015

Objective : Microscopic indocyanine green (ICG) angiography is useful for identifying the completeness of aneurysm clipping and the preservation of parent arteries and small perforators. Neuroendoscopy is helpful for visualizing structures beyond the straight line of the microscopic view. We evaluated our prototype of endoscopic ICG fluorescence angiography in swine, which we developed in order to combine the merits of microscopic ICG angiography and endoscopy. Methods : Our endoscopic ICG system consists of a camera, a light source, a display and software. This system can simultaneously display real-time visible and near infrared fluorescence imaging on the same monitor. A commercially available endoscope was used, which was 4 mm in diameter and had an angle of $30^{\circ}$. A male crossbred swine was used. Results : Under general anesthesia, a small craniotomy was performed and the brain surface of the swine was exposed. ICG was injected via the ear vein with a bolus dose of 0.3 mg/kg. Visible and ICG fluorescence images of cortical vessels were simultaneously observed on the display monitor at high resolution. The real-time merging of the visible and fluorescent images corresponded well. Conclusion : Simultaneous visible color and ICG fluorescent imaging of the cortical vessels in the swine brain was satisfactory. Technical improvement and clinical implication are expected.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.43.1-43.13
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• 2024

Importance: Haemaphysalis longicornis is an obligate blood-sucking ectoparasite that has gained attention due its role of transmitting medically and veterinary significant pathogens and it is the most common tick species in Republic of Korea. The preferred strategy for controlling ticks is a multi-antigenic vaccination. Testing the efficiency of a combination antigen is a promising method for creating a tick vaccine. Objective: The aim of the current research was to analyze the role of subolesin and enolase in feeding and reproduction of H. longicornis by gene silencing. Methods: In this study, we used RNA interference to silence salivary enolase and subolesin in H. longicornis. Unfed female ticks injected with double-stranded RNA targeting subolesin and enolase were attached and fed normally on the rabbit's ear. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm the extent of knockdown. Results: Ticks in the subolesin or enolase dsRNA groups showed knockdown rates of 80% and 60% respectively. Ticks in the combination dsRNA (subolesin and enolase) group showed an 80% knockdown. Knockdown of subolesin and enolase resulted in significant depletion in feeding, blood engorgement weight, attachment rate, and egg laying. Silencing of both resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in tick engorgement, egg laying, egg hatching (15%), and reproduction. Conclusions and Relevance: Our results suggest that subolesin and enolase are an exciting target for future tick control strategies.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.375-385
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• 2016

Recently, several implantable hearing aids such as cochlear implant, middle ear implant, etc., which have a module receiving power and signal from outside the body, are frequently used to treat the hearing impaired patients. Most of implantable hearing aids are adopted permanent magnet pairs to couple between internal and external devices for the enhancement of power transmission. Generally, the internal device which containing the magnet in the center of receiving coil is implanted under the skin of human temporal bone. In case of MRI scanning of a patient with the implantable hearing aid, however, homogeneous magnetic fields of the MRI might be interfered by the implanted magnet. For the above reasons, the MR image is degraded by large area of artifact, so that diagnostics are almost impossible in deteriorated region. In this paper, we proposed an external coil system that can reduce the artifact of MR image due to the internal coupling magnet. By finite element analysis estimating area of MR artifact according to varying current and shape of the external coil, optimal coil parameters were extracted. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed external coil system was verified by confirming the artifact at real MRI scan.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 2011

The overexpression of Phosphoprotein Enriched in Astrocytes (PEA15) gene is commonly found in human diabetic patients. The overexpression of this gene in skeletal muscle and fat tissues have been reported to cause insulin resistance, thereby impairing insulin stimulated glucose uptake. We introduced a gene of mouse PEA15 (mPEA15) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) into fertilized one cell pig zygotes using microinjection, and produced a piglet that showed overexpression of mPEA15 in the muscle tissues and expression of EGFP in the ear tissues and hooves. RT-PCR RFLP, southern blot and FISH analysis showed that the tissues carried the transgene. Real-time RT-PCR and western blots demonstrated that PEA15 gene was overexpressed in the various tissues and muscle tissues, respectively. These fads suggest that expression vector system is normally expressed in the transgenic (TG) pigs. To use as animal diseases model for type 2 diabetes, further study is necessary to confirm whether diabetes occur in these TG pigs, especially insulin resistance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.622-626
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• 2007

Using multi-trait animal model BLUP, selection was conducted over seven generations for growth rate (DG), real-time ultrasound loin-eye muscle area (LEA), backfat thickness (BF), and intramuscular fat content (IMF) to develop a new line of purebred Duroc pigs with enhanced meat production and meat quality. This study was intended to investigate the relationship between restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of a heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) gene and intramuscular fat content (IMF) of this Duroc purebred population. The present experiment examined the RFLP of 499 slaughtered pigs. The DNA was separated from the blood or ear tissue of the pigs, which were slaughtered at 105 kg of body weight. Intramuscular fat content of the longissimus muscle was measured using chemical analysis. A significant difference was detected in the breeding value of IMF among the H-FABP PCR RFLP genotypes. The AA genotype has a significantly larger positive effect on the IMF breeding value than do the Aa and aa genotypes for the MspI RFLP. In addition, the DD genotype has a significantly greater positive effect on IMF breeding value than the Dd and dd genotypes for the HaeIII RFLP. For the HinfI RFLP, the hh genotype has a significantly larger positive effect on IMF breeding value than the HH genotype. Multiple regression analysis was performed using the IMF breeding values as the dependent variable and the three H-FABP genotypes as independent variables. Results revealed that the contribution of the genotypes to variation in IMF breeding values was approximately 40%. These results demonstrated that H-FABP RFLPs affect IMF in this Duroc population.