• Title/Summary/Keyword: Agent-based System

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The current status and control measures of BSE in the worldwide (국내, 외 광우병의 발생 현황과 대응 방안)

  • Yoo, Han-Sang
    • 한국환경농학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2009.07a
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    • pp.273-282
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    • 2009
  • The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) disease group are fatal neurodegenerative disorders affecting a wide range of hosts. The group includes kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans, scrapie in sheep and goats and Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle. The exact nature of the infectious agent involved in the transmission of these diseases remains controversial. However, a central event in their pathogenesis is the accumulation in infected tissues of an abnormal form of a host-encoded protein, the prion protein (PrP). Whereas the normal cellular protein is fully sensitive to protease ($PrP^{sen}$), the disease-associated prion protein ($PrP^d$) is only partly degraded ($PrP^{res}$), its amino-terminal end being removed. BSE was first reported in the mid-80s in the UK. Ten years later, a new form of human prion disease, variant CJD (vCJD) developed in the wake of the BSE epidemic, and there is now strong scientific evidence that vCJD was initiated by the exposure of humans to BSE-infected tissues, thus indicating a zoonotic disease. However, the ban on the feeding of animal-derived proteins to ruminants, and the apparent lack of vertical transmission of BSE, have led to a decline in the incidence of the disease within cattle herd and therefore, an assumed decreased risk for human contacting vCJD. The origin of the original case(s) of BSE still remains an enigma even though three hypotheses have been raised. Hypotheses are i) sheep- or goat-derived scrapie-infected tissues included in meat and bone meal fed to cattle, ii) a previously undetected sporadic or genetic bovine TSE contaminating cattle feed or iii) originating from a human TSE through animal feed contaminated with human remains. A host cellular membrane protein ($PrP^C$), which is abundant in central nervous system tissue, appear to be conformationally altered in the diseased host into a prion protein ($PrP^{Sc}$). This $PrP^{Sc}$ is detergent insoluble and partially protease-resistant ($PrP^{res}$). The term $PrP^{res}$ is normally used to describe the protein detected after protease treatment, in techniques such as Western immunoblotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay using fresh/frozen tissue. Immunohistochemistry may performed with formalin-fixed tissues. Also, clinical signs of the BSE are one of the major diagnostic indicators. Recently, atypical forms (known as H- and L-type) of BSE have appeared in several European countries, Japan, Canada and the United States. An unusual case was also reported in a miniature zebu. The atypical BSE fall into two groups based on the relative molecular mass (Mm) of the unglycosylated $PrP^{res}$ band relative to that of classical BSE, one of the higher Mm (H-type) and the other lower (L-type). Both types have been detected worldwide as rare cases in older animals, at a low prevalence consistent with the possibility of sporadic forms of prion diseases in cattle. This raises the unwelcome possibility that vCJD could increase in the human population. Now, active surveillance program against BSE is going on in Korea. In regional veterinary service lab, ELISA is applied to screen the BSE in slaughter and confirmatory tests by Western immunoblotting and immunohistochemisty are carried out if there are positive or suspect in the screening test. Also, the ruminant feed ban is rigorously enforced. Removal of specified risk materials such as brain and spinal cord from cattle is mandatory process at slaughter to prevent the infected material from entering the human food chain.

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A STUDY ON THE BONDING OF COMPOMER TO DECIDUOUS DENTIN (컴포머와 유치 상아질의 결합에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Jee-Tae;Kim, Yong-Kee;Kim, Jong-Soo;Kwon, Soon-Won
    • Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.509-518
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    • 2002
  • The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bonding of compomer to deciduous dentin which is known to have been developed to improve the weak properties of glass ionomer cement and composite resin. 120 sound primary molars were used for the shear bond strength test and another 24 for the scanning electron microscopic evaluation. Each material was ailed into polyethylene mold attached to exposed dentinal surface($3{\times}4mm$ in diameter) of sample blocks. Shearbond strength was measured using Universal testing machine and data were analyzed statistically with Oneway-ANOVA and Scheffe test. Scanning electron microscopic observation was performed in order to evaluate the pattern of distribution and penetration of resin tags and hybrid layer. Compomer groups(II-V) showed significantly higher bond strength values than glass ionomer group(I)(p<.05). Etching-compomer groups(III, V) showed the significantly higher bond strength than non-etching compomer groups(II, IV)(p<.05), but slightly lower values than composite resin group(VI) with no statistically significant difference(p>.05). No significantly different bond strength was found between compomer groups of different bonding system(p>.05). Scanning electron micrographs showed more irregular distribution of short and thin resin tags in non-etching compomer groups(II, IV) whereas the more regular and intimate distribution of long and thick tags in etching compomer groups(III, V) and composite resin group(VI). The evaluation of hybrid layer also showed more regular formation of thicker layer in etching compomer groups(III, V). Based on the results of present study, the use of compomer as an esthetic restorative material for primary molars might be justified.

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Oxidative Degradation of PCE/TCE Using $KMnO_4$ in Aqueous Solutions under Steady Flow Conditions (유동조건에서 $KMnO_4$도입에 따른 수용액중 PCE/TCE의 산화분해)

  • Kim, Heon-Ki;Kim, Tae-Yun
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.41 no.6
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    • pp.685-693
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    • 2008
  • The rates of oxidative degradation of perchloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) using $KMnO_4$ solution were evaluated under the flow condition using a bench-scale transport experimental setup. Parameters which are considered to affect the reaction rates tested in this study were the contact time (or retention time), and the concentration of oxidizing agent. A glass column packed with coarse sand was used for simulating the aquifer condition. Contact time between reactants was controlled by changing the flow rate of the solution through the column. The inflow concentrations of PCE and TCE were controlled constant within the range of $0.11{\sim}0.21\;mM$ and $1.3{\sim}1.5\;mM$, respectively. And the contact time was $14{\sim}125$ min for PCE and $15{\sim}36$ min for TCE. The $KMnO_4$ concentration was controlled constant during experiment in the range of $0.6{\sim}2.5\;mM$. It was found that the reduction of PCE and TCE concentrations were inversely proportional to the contact time. The exact reaction order for the PCE and TCE degradation reaction could not be determined under the experimental condition used in this study. However, the estimated reaction rate constants assuming pseudo-1st order reaction agree with those reported based on batch studies. TCE degradation rate was proportional to $KMnO_4$ concentration. This was considered to be the result of using high inflow concentrations of reactant, which might be the case at the vicinity of the source zones in aquifer. The results of this study, performed using a dynamic flow system, are expected to provide useful information for designing and implementing a field scale oxidative removal process for PCE/TCE-contaminated sites.

Changes of Physico-chemical Characteristic on Swine Manure Using Different Suction Strength in Composting System (돈분 퇴비화 시 공기 흡입 강도에 따른 이화학적 특성변화)

  • Lee, Dong-Jun;Kim, Jung Kon;Jeong, Kwang-Hwa;Kawg, Jung-Hoon;Ravindran, B.;Lee, Ji-Woong
    • Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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    • v.25 no.2
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    • pp.59-67
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    • 2017
  • The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of air suction rate (SR) during the composting process of swine manure mixed with sawdust used as a bulking agent. In the 25 L composting reactors, the suction rate (SR) was at four different treatment levels (100%, 200%, 300%, 400%), and were fixed on the based on constant aeration rate into the composting mixtures. The temperature reached to thermophilic phase within 2 days and it was maintained up to the $5^{th}$ day of the composting process in all reactors and then gradually decreased to room temperature at the end of the composting process. The moisture content (MC, %) of the initial mixtures was 64.27%, and it was reduced to 38.4, 33.08, 14.59 and 11.93 in the different suction rate of 100%, 200%, 300%, 400%, respectively in the end process. During the composting, the level of pH was increased from 6.83 to 8.67 and it gradually decreased to 7.56 in 100% and 200%(SR). At the same time, the pH values were reduced only up to 8.19 at 300%, and 8.08 at 400%(SR), showing that suction strengths of 100% and 200% were the better option for composting than those of 300% and 400%. The total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) of initial composts mixtures was 2.3% and were changed in 3.3, 3.1, 2.5, and 2.3% at the end of the composting period from the 100%-400% (SR) variations respectively. These results also indicated that 100% and 200% (SR) were more affected by the dry mass loss as $CO_2$ and water evaporation. The initial value of C/N ratio was 25.17 and were significantly reduced to 11.88, 11.97, 14.31, and 14.72 at the end of the experiment, respectively from the 100%-400% (SR) variations. These results suggest that the suction rate (SR) of 100% and 200% relative to constant air supply would be the optimal conditions to produce high-quality compost.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Vitamin A and Chronic Consumption of Ethanol on Oxidative Damage and Antioxidant System in Rats (비타민 A 보충 식이 및 에탄올의 만성적 급여가 흰쥐의 체내 산화적 손상과 항산화체계에 미치는 영향)

  • 양경미
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.32 no.2
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    • pp.278-286
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    • 2003
  • Alcohol is well known agent which can damage the human tissues such as liver via stimulating lipid peroxidation. On the other hand, carotenoids in addition to vitamins A, C and I play important roles in protecting these oxidative damages as well as preventing the production of free radicals. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin A on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants status in ethanol-treated rats. In the experiment, male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 160~180 g were given a liquid diet containing 36% of total calories as ethanol for 7 weeks. The pair-fed control rats received an isocaloric amount of diet containing sucrose instead of ethanol on the following day Additionally, the liquid diet contained adequate amount of $\beta$-carotene, retinyl acetate or 13-sis-reinoic acid except vitamin A-deficient diet. The results obtained are as follows. The levels of plasma and hepatic lipid peroxide were increased after chronic ethanol feeding in rats. Retinyl acetate supplementation significantly reduced lipid peroxidation induced by ethanol feeding Glucose 6-phosphatase activity was significantly reduced in rats fed vitamin A-deficient diet with ethanol and alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly induced in rats fed 13-cis-reinoic acid diet with ethanol. Catalase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities did not show a consistent tendency in experiment groups. The hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities did not significantly changed by chronic ethanol feeding groups. The striking decrease in conversion of $\beta$-carotene to retinol was observed in rats fed a $\beta$-carotene diet with ethanol feeding The level of retinol and retinoic acid in plasma and liver was decreased after chronic ethanol administration Based on this result, these data suggest that ethanol feeding enhances oxidative stress especially in those fed a vitamin A-deficient diet, and vitamin A supplementation, especially, retinyl acetate intake can prevent enhanced lipid peroxidation and related damage to some extent.

On the Utilization of Inactive BHC isomers -Synthesis of 3-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl)-1-methyl urea as a herbicide- (BHC 이성질체(異性質體)의 활용(活用)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究) -제초제(除草劑)로서 3-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl)-1- methyl urea의 합성(合成)-)

  • Lee, Kyu-Seung;Park, Chang-Kyu
    • Applied Biological Chemistry
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.109-122
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    • 1979
  • Present study was carried out to reduce residual toxicity of BHC insecticides inherent in the organochlorine pesticides. For This end, r-isomer, the most potent insecticidal component among the BHC stereoisomers, was isolated and thus fortified by means of solvent precipitation. In parallel, 3-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl)-1-methyl urea was prepared in good yield from technical BHC via 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4,-trichloronitrobenzene, and 2,4,5-trichloroaniline. In addition, certain merit of the compound which make it possible to use as a herbicide is discussed. The results are summarized as follows; 1. Recrystallizing technical BHC from methanol-water binary solvent system, r-isomer was enriched to 49.7% at 95% recovery of r-isomer. 2. By partitioning technical BHC in 85% of methanolic solution into chloroform, r-isomer was fortified to 89.6% at 90.5% recovery of r-isomer. 3. Yield of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene from technical BHC was greatly dependent upon concentration of alkalies and to less degree on the alkalies. 4. Surfactants, in particular cationic a quartenary ammonium salt, increased yield of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene from technical BHC by alkaline hydrolysis. 5. Conversion of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene to 2,4,5-trichloronitrobenzene was effected almost quantitatively utilizing $HNO_3-H_2SO_4$ nitrating agent at low temperature. 6. Yield of 91.4% was observed for the synthesis of 2,4,5-trichloroaniline by reducing 2,4,5-trichloronitrobenzene in the presence of iron turning and hydrochloric acid. 7. Overall yield based on BHC of 3-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl)-1- methyl urea was 60.8%. 8. Inhibition effects, both germination and growth, 3-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl)-1-methyl urea on several crops were found comparable to or more potent than those of $linuron{\circledR}\;and\;diuron{\circledR}$. In addition, it was also noted that susceptibility to the prepared compound depended upon the crops as well as specific part (shoots, roots) of the plant exposed to the chemicals.

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A Novel Synthesized Tyrosinase Inhibitor, (E)-3-(4-hydroxybenzylidene) chroman-4-one (MHY1294) Inhibits α-MSH-induced Melanogenesis in B16F10 Melanoma Cells (신규 합성물질 (E)-3-(4-하이드록시벤질리딘)크로마논 유도체의 티로시나아제 효소활성 저해 및 멜라닌 생성 억제 효과)

  • Jeon, Hyeyoung;Lee, Seulah;Yang, Seonguk;Bang, EunJin;Ryu, Il Young;Park, Yujin;Jung, Hee Jin;Chung, Hae Young;Moon, Hyung Ryong;Lee, Jaewon
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.31 no.8
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    • pp.719-728
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    • 2021
  • Melanin pigments are abundantly distributed in mammalian skin, hair, eyes, and nervous system. Under normal physiological conditions, melanin protects the skin against various environmental stresses and acts as a physiological redox buffer to maintain homeostasis. However, abnormal melanin accumulation results in various hyperpigmentation conditions, such as chloasma, freckles, senile lentigo, and inflammatory pigmentation. Tyrosinase, a copper-containing enzyme, plays an important role in the regulation of the melanin pigment biosynthetic pathway. Although several whitening agents based on tyrosinase inhibition have been developed, their side effects, such as allergies, DNA damage, mutagenesis, and cytotoxicity of melanocytes, limit their applications. In this study, we synthesized 4-chromanone derivatives (MHY compounds) and investigated their ability to inhibit tyrosinase activity. Of these compounds, (E)-3-(4-hydroxybenzylidene)chroman-4-one (MHY1294) more potently inhibited the enzymatic activity of tyrosinase (IC50 = 5.1±0.86 μM) than kojic acid (14.3±1.43 μM), a representative tyrosinase inhibitor. In addition, MHY1294 showed competitive inhibitory action at the catalytic site of tyrosinase and had greater binding affinity at this site than kojic acid. Furthermore, MHY1294 effectively inhibited α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced melanin synthesis and intracellular tyrosinase activity in B16F10 melanoma cells. The results of the present study indicate that MHY1294 may be considered as a candidate pharmacological agent and cosmetic whitening ingredient.