• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제57권3호
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• pp.403-423
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• 2016

The challenges involved with fatigue damage assessment of steel catenary riser (SCR) in the touchdown zone (TDZ) are primarily due to the non-linear behaviour of the SCR-seabed interaction, considerable uncertainty in SCR-seabed interaction modelling and geotechnical parameters. The issue of fatigue damage induced by the cyclic movements of the SCR with the seabed has acquired prominence with the touch down point (TDP) interaction in the TDZ. Therefore, the SCR-seabed response is critical for reliable estimation of fatigue life in the TDZ. Various design approaches pertaining to the lateral pipe-soil resistance model are discussed. These techniques have been applied in the finite element model that can be used to analyse the lateral SCR-seabed interaction under hydrodynamic loading. This study investigates the sensitivity of fatigue performance to geotechnical parameters through a parametric study. In this study, global analyses are performed to assess the influence of vertical linear seabed springs, the lateral seabed model and the non-linear seabed model, including trench evolution into seabed, seabed normalised stiffness, re-penetration offset parameter and soil suction resistance ratio, on the fatigue life of SCRs in the TDZ.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.85-93
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• 2011

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are synthetic molecules which bind to estrogen receptors (ER) and can modulate its transcriptional capabilities in different ways in diverse estrogen target tissues. Tamoxifen, the prototypical SERM, is extensively used for targeted therapy of ER positive breast cancers. Unfortunately, the use of tamoxifen is associated with acquired resistance and some undesirable side effects. This study investigated the availability of the conventional SERMs on the TAM-resistance breast cancer cells. SERMs showed more effectiveness in MCF-7 cells than tamoxifen resistant cells, except toremifene and ospemifene. Especially, toremifene was more efficacious in tamoxifen resistant cells than MCF-7. Ospemifene had similar cytotoxic activity on the two types of breast cancers. The other SERMs used in this experiment didn't inhibit efficiently the proliferation of tamoxifen resistant cells. These results support the possibility to usage of toremifene on tamoxifen resistant cancer. The effectiveness by toremifene on tamoxifen resistant cells might be different pathways from the apoptosis and the autophagy. Further study should be needed to elucidate the underlying mechanism of effect of toremifene on tamoxifen resistant cancer.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권8호
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• pp.724-732
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• 2018

Plant defence responses to various biotic stresses via systemic acquired resistance (SAR) are induced by avirulent pathogens and chemical compounds, including certain plant hormones in volatile form, such as methyl salicylate and methyl jasmonate. SAR refers to the observation that, when a local part of a plant is exposed to elicitors, the entire plant exhibits a resistance response. In the natural environment, plants are continuously exposed to avirulent pathogens that induce SAR and volatile emissions affecting neighbouring plants as well as the plant itself. However, the underlying mechanism has not been intensively studied. In this study, we evaluated whether plants "memorise" the previous activation of plant immunity when exposed repeatedly to plant defensive volatiles such as methyl salicylate and methyl jasmonate. We hypothesised that stronger SAR responses would occur in plants treated with repeated applications of the volatile plant defence compound MeSA than in those exposed to a single or no treatment. Nicotiana benthamiana seedlings subjected to repeated applications of MeSA exhibited greater protection against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum than the control. The increase in SAR capacity in response to repeated MeSA treatment was confirmed by analysing the defence priming of the expression of N. benthamiana Pathogenesis-Related 1a (NbPR1a) and NbPR2 by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR compared with the control. We propose the concept of plant memory of plant defence volatiles and suggest that SAR is strengthened by the repeated perception of volatile compounds in plants.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.386-393
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• 2006

Increasing environmental concerns require to solve the problem produced due to the use of heavy metals in coating formulations. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new coating strategy employing inherently conducting polymers such as polyaniline. Polyaniline is a conductive polymer that is synthesized by oxidation polymerization, and the electrochemical and chemical polymerization are possible for the oxidation of aniline. Electrochemical oxidation polymerization produces a fine surface and although voltage control is more convenient, it require electrolytic cells, and elaborate thin film can be acquired with the polymerization. Polyaniline films were electro-polymerized on cold rolled sheets using the galvanostat mode in the oxalic acidaniline-sodium molybdate electrolyte. The structure and properties of polyaniline film were studied using Potentiostat/Galvanostat 263A, FE-SEM,, AFM, SST, Colorimetry. A high corrosion resistance of polyaniline film was observed with an increase of corrosion potential by $500{\sim}600$ mV for the substrate covered with polyaniline.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.53-58
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• 2011

Systemic acquired resistance is a form of inducible resistance that is triggered in systemic healthy tissues of local-infected plants. Several candidate signaling molecules emerged in the past two years, including the methylated derivatives of well-known defense hormones salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA). In our present study, the symptom on Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) infected Arabidopsis leaves in 0.1 mM SA or 0.06 mM JA pre-treated plants was lighter (less reactive oxygen species accumulation and less oxidative damages) than that of the control group. JA followed by SA (JA${\rightarrow}$SA) had the highest inhibitory efficiency to CMV replication, higher than JA and SA simultaneous co-pretreatment (JA+SA), and higher than a JA or a SA single pretreatment. The crosstalk between the two hormones was further investigated at the transcriptional levels of pathogenesis-related genes. The time-course measurement showed JA might play a more important role in the interaction between JA and SA.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.295-303
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• 2003

연구배경 : 국내에서 검출된 폐렴구균의 페니실린 내성률은 약 70%로 알려져 있고, 특히 고도 내성률은 33%로 매우 높은 것으로 알려져 왔다. 내성 균주에 대한 경험적 항생제가 실패할 수 있다는 보고가 있었으나, 내성 여부가 사망률과 무관하다는 반론들도 적지 않았다. 이에 저자들은 폐렴구균에 의한 지역사회획득폐렴에서 페니실린 내성률을 조사하였고, 페니실린에 대한 내성이 치료 실패와 직접적인 연관이 있는지 확인하고자 하였다. 방 법 : 1999년 7월부터 2001년 5월까지 한림대학교 성심병원에 내원한 지역사회 획득 폐렴 환자 중 객담 및 혈액 배양검사를 통해 폐렴구균에 의한 폐렴으로 진단된 42명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 배양된 폐렴구균에 대해 E-test를 시행하여 MIC에 따라 감수성, 중등도 내성, 고도 내성으로 분류하여 내성률을 조사하였고, 각 군별로 내성여부에 따른 임상경과를 분석하였다. 결 과 : 폐렴구균에 의한 폐렴으로 진단된 42명의 환자 중 페니실린 감수성 균주($MIC{\leq}0.06{\mu}g/m{\ell}$)는 14예(33.3%), 중등도 내성 균주(MIC $0.1-1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$)는 22예(52.4%), 고도 내성($MIC{\geq}2.0{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) 균주는 6예(14.3%)였다. 경험적 항생제 치료에 대해 감수성 균주에 의한 폐렴 군과 내성 균주에 의한 폐렴 군간에 임상경과는 차이가 없었다. 폐렴구균에 의한 폐렴에서 페니실린에 대한 내성률은 66.7%로 현재까지의 보고와 큰 차이가 없으나 고도내성의 경우 약 33%로 알려진 것에 비해 저자들의 연구에서는 14.3%로 낮게 조사되었다. DRSPTWG의 분류에 따른 내성률은 26.2%에 불과했으며, 고도내성에 해당하는 균주는 없었다. 결 론 : 이와 같은 결과는 폐렴구균에 의한 폐렴의 내성을 정의하는 현재의 기준이 지나치게 낮아 항생제 내성이 높게 나타났기 때문으로 사료되며 기존의 기준에 의한 내성은 경험적 항생제 치료의 예후에 별다른 영향을 주지 못하는 것으로 확인되었다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.547-558
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• 1997

연구배경 : 종양괴사인자(tumor necrosis factor ; TNF)는 다양한 생물학적 기능을 가지고 있는바, 그 중 생체외에서 증명된 뚜렷한 항암효과로 말미암아 최근 항암유전자요법의 중요한 대상으로 관심을 모으고 있다. 그러나 유전자 이입의 기술적 문제로 생체외에서 암세포에 유전자 이입을 시행한 후 이를 다시 환자의 생체내로 이식하는 방법이 연구의 주종을 이루고 있다. 그러나 저지들의 과거의 연구를 포함한 여러 연구에서 TNF가 이입된 암세포는 TNF에 대해 내성을 보이는 것으로 증명되었다. 이 획득내성의 기전을 밝히는 것이 종양생물학의 이해를 넓히고 보다 효과적인 항암유전자 요법을 개발하기 위한 매우 중요한 과제로 생각된다. 저자들은 TNF 유전자 이입에 따른 암세포의 TNF에 대한 획득 내성에 새로운 방어단백질의 합성이 관여하는 지를 규명하고자 본 실험을 수행하였다. 방 법 : TNF에 감수성을 보이는 생쥐 섬유육종 세포주인 WEHI164에 TNF-$\alpha$ 유전자를 retroviral vector를 이용하여 이입하고 TNF의 발현을 시도하여 PCR, ELISA, MTT assay로 확인하였고, TNF 유전자가 이입된 세포(WEHI164-TNF)는 TNF에 내성을 보이는지 역시 MTT assay로 검증하였다. WEHI164-TNF세포를 transcription 억제제인 actinomycin D와 translation 억제제인 cycloheximide로 처리한 후 역시 MTT assay로 TNF에 대한 감수성에 변화를 보이는지 확인하였다. 결 과 : 1) TNF-$\alpha$ 유전자 이업 및 발현 확인 PCR을 시행한 결과 TNF 유전자가 이입된 WEHI164-TNF 세포주는 790 base pair 크기의 진한 DNA band를 보인 반면 모세포주는 보이지 않아서 retroviral vector를 이용한 유전자 이입이 DNA 수준에서 이루어졌음을 확인할 수 있었다. 그리고 WEHI164-TNF의 배양상층액에서 TNF양을 ELISA와 MTT assay로 측정한 결과, 생물학적 활성을 지닌 TNF를 $10.9{\pm}1.47ng/24hr/10^6cells$ 생산함을 알 수 있었다. 2) TNF 유전자 이입 전후, 암세포의 TNF에 대한 감수성 비교 TNF 농도 100ng/ml 에서 모세포는 $73{\pm}5%$의 세포독성을 보인 반면 WEHI164-TNF 세포는 $3{\pm}2%$의 세포독성을 보여 통계적으로 유의하게 (p < 0.00) TNF에 대한 내성을 획득함을 알 수 있었다. 3) TNF 유전자 이입 후 획득된 TNF에 대한 내성의 기전 WEHI164-TNF 세포를 actinomycin D로 처리한 경우 TNF 농도 10ng/ml과 100ng/ml에서 각각 $24{\pm}7%$, $44{\pm}6%$의 세포독성을 보여 control의 $6{\pm}2%$, $17{\pm}2%$보다 통계적으로 유의하게(p < 0.01) TNF에 대한 감수성이 부분적으로 회복됨을 관찰할 수 있었다. 그러나 cycloheximide로 처리한 경우에서는 TNF에 대한 감수성에 변화를 관찰할 수 없었다. 결 론 : TNF에 감수성을 보이는 암세포주인 WEHI164에 TNF 유전자를 이입하여 TNF를 발현하게 하였을 때 그 세포 자신은 TNF에 대해 내성을 획득하게되며 이에는 미지의 방어단백질의 합성이 일부 관여할 것으로 판단된다.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.148-153
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• 2015

Purpose: We investigated trends in antibiotic resistance for gram-negative bacteria in infants with a urinary tract infection (UTI) over 15 years at a single institution. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for children younger than 24 months who visited the emergency room and were diagnosed with a UTI between January 2000 and December 2014. We selected urine culture data that grew Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Baseline clinical information and results of antimicrobial susceptibility tests were analyzed by dividing the 15-year study time frame into three periods (A: 2000-2004, B: 2005-2009, and C: 2010-2014). Results: During the study period, 478 applicable children were identified (E. coli, 89.7% and K. pneumoniae, 10.3%). Antibiotic resistance to third-generation cephalosporins was increased from period A to period C (A, 2.1%; B, 8.3%; C, 8.8%; P=0.025). Resistance to quinolones also showed a steady pattern during periods A to C, although it was not statistically significant (A, 7.9%; B, 9.7%; C, 12.4%; P=0.221). The incidence of Extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase (ESBL)-producing gram-negative bacteria increased from period A to period C (A, 1.4%; B, 7.6%; C, 8.2%; P=0.012). Conclusion: This study revealed that the common uropathogens E. coli and K. pneumoniae experienced increasing resistance rates against third-generation cephalosporins and a constant antibiotic resistance to quinolones in children younger than 24 months. We also showed a recent increased incidence of ESBL-producing gram-negative bacteria in patients with community-acquired UTIs. Therefore, it is necessary to actively surveil resistance in order to properly select empirical antibiotics.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.1925-1930
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• 2011

Psychrophilic bacteria have acquired cold-resistance in order to protect themselves against freezing temperatures, which would otherwise be lethal. DnaK/DnaJ/GrpE systems are molecular chaperones which facilitate proper folding of newly synthesized proteins. Efficient folding processes are of great importance especially in a cold environment, such as the Arctic. In order to understand the protection mechanisms of psychrophilic bacteria against cold temperatures, we have explored a genome of KOPRI22215, tentatively identified as Psychromonas arctica, whose genome sequence has not yet been discovered. With an aim of searching for a coding gene of DnaK from KOPRI22215, we have applied a series of polymerase chain reactions (PCR) with homologous primers designed from other Psychromonas species and LA PCR in vitro cloning. 1917 bp complete coding sequence of dnaK from KOPRI22215 was identified including upstream promoter sites. Recombinant plasmids to overexpress PaDnaK along with EcDnaK (DnaK of E. coli) were then constructed in pAED4 vector and the pET-based system to induce PaDnaK expression by IPTG. Characterization assays of expressed PaDnaK were carried out by measuring survival rates upon 4 day incubation at 4 $^{\circ}C$: a refolding assay as molecular chaperone, and ATPase assay for functional activity. Taking account of all the data together, we conclude that PaDnaK was identified, successfully expressed, and found to be more efficient in providing cold-resistance for bacterial cells.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.71-80
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• 2010

Pseudomonas aeruginosa are important nosocomial pathogens. Their resistance to carbapenem is increasing and causing concerns in Korea. An increasing prevalence of carbapenem resistance mediated by acquired carbapenemase is being reported. Over a 10 month-period from July 2007 to April 2008, 32 strains of imipenem-nonsusceptible P. auruginosa were isolated from Kangwon National University Hospital. To determine the prevalence and genotypes of the carbapenemase-producing clinical isolates, the antibiotic susceptibility was determined by Microscan Walkaway 96 SI System and the carbapenem activity was detected by the modified Hodge test and the imipenem-EDTA-SMA double-disk synergy test. The metallo-${\beta}$-lactamase gene and OXA-type ${\beta}$-lactamase gene reported in Korea were detected by PCR. As for the result of PCR, 30 isolates of P. aeruginosa were found to have $bla_{IMP-1}$-like and 1 isolate was found to have $bla_{IMP-1}$-like and $bla_{IMP-2}$. No clinical isolates were found to have $bla_{SIM-1}$, $bla_{OXA-23}$-like and $bla_{OXA-24}$-like. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR and dendrogram for genetical similarity to band patterns of each clinical isolates were examined. P. aeruginosa were grouped into 7 clusters of up to 50% of similarity index. In the P. aeruginosa group, PS3 was resistant to the most antibiotics, PS1 was susceptible to the most antibiotics. PS7 was resistant to aztreonam unlike other groups. This is the first report of prevalence of carbapenemase in Chuncheon.