• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2014

SPLITT fractionation (SF) allows continuous (and thus a preparative scale) separation of micronsized particles into two size fractions ('fraction-a' and 'fraction-b'). SF is usually carried out in a thin rectangular channel with two inlets and two outlets, which is equipped with flow stream splitters at the inlet and the outlet of the channel, respectively. A new large scale splitter-less gravitational SF (GSF) system had been assembled, which was designed to eliminate the flow stream splitters and thus is operated by the full feed depletion (FFD) mode (FFD-GSF). In the FFD mode, there is only one inlet through which the sample is fed. There is no carrier liquid fed into the channel, and thus prevents the sample dilution. The effects of the sample-feeding flow rate, the channel thickness on the fractionation efficiency (FE, number % of particles that have the size predicted by theory) of FFD-GSF was investigated using industrial polyurethane (PU) latex beads. The carrier liquid was water containing 0.1% FL-70 (particle dispersing agent) and 0.02% sodium azide (used as bactericide). The sample loading rate was varied from about 4 to 7 L/hr with the sample concentration fixed at 0.01%. The GSF channel thickness was varied from 900 to $1300{\mu}m$. Particles exiting the GSF channel were collected and monitored by optical microscopy (OM). Sample recovery was monitored by collecting the fractionated particles on a $0.45{\mu}m$ membrane filter. It was found that FE of fraction-a was increased as the channel thickness increases, and FE of fraction-b was increased as the flow rate was increased. In all cases, the sample recovery has higher than 95%. It seems the new splitter-less FFD GSF system could become a useful tool for large scale separations of various types of micron-sized particles.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the optimum irrigation method for propagation of cutting strawberry ($Fragaria{\times}ananassa$ Duch. cv. Maehyang) plantlet in summer season. The cutting strawberry plantlets were planted in 24-cell tray ($60{\times}34{\times}10cm$) filled with commercial mixed medium (Tosilee) and placed in semi closed-type small plastic tunnel. Each semi closed-type small plastic tunnel was treated as follows; control (non-treatment), over head irrigation (twice a day), capillary mats irrigation (twice a day), or fog irrigation (30 minutes turn on and 10 minutes off from 8:00 to 18:00). The strawberry plantlets were rooted during 8 days in the semi closed-type small plastic tunnel, and then plastic film was removed. Growth parameters, such as plant height, root length, number of primary roots, petiole length, leaf length, leaf width, crown diameter, SPAD, leaf area, fresh and dry weights of the shoot and root, were measured at 61 days after cutting. Relative humidity in tunnel was high in the order by fog irrigation, over head irrigation, capillary mats, and the control as 72.5, 56.3, 45.8, and 29% on average, respectively. However, the air temperature was similar in all treatments. On the 4 and 8 days, the rooting rate of strawberry plantlet was significantly higher in the over head irrigation and fog irrigation treatments. Plant height, petiole length, crown diameter, and leaf area were highest in the over head irrigation and fog irrigation treatments. In addition, fresh and dry weights of shoot were greater in over head irrigation and fog irrigation treatments than the others. Dry weight of root was differed significantly heaviest in the fog irrigation treatment. However, root length, no. of primary roots, SPAD value, and fresh weight of root were not significantly different in all treatments. These results indicated that growth and rooting for propagation of cutting strawberry plantlet 'Maehyang' were best achievement in the over head irrigation and fog irrigation treatments.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2003

Purpose: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which is part of the mitogen-activated protin kinase cascade, opposes initiation of the apoptotic cell death which is programmed by diverse cytotoxic stimuli. In this regard, the inhibition of ERK may be useful in improving the therapeutic efficacy of established anticancer agents. Materials and Methods: Murine hepatocarcinoma, HCa-I is known to be highly radioresistant with a TCD50 (radiation dose yield in $50\%$ cure) of more than 80 Gy. Various anticancer drugs have been found to enhance the radioresponse of this particular tumor but none were successful. The objective of this study was to explore whether the selective inhibition of MEK could potentiate the antitumor efficacy of radiation in vivo, particularly in the case on radioresistant tumor. C3H/HeJ mice hearing $7.5\~8\;mm$ HCa-I, were treated with PD98059(intratumoral injection of $0.16\;\mug/50\;\mul$). Results: Downregulation on ERK by PD98059 was most prominent 1h after the treatment. In the tumor growth delay assay, the drug was found to Increase the effect of the tumor radioresponse with an enhancement factor (EF) of 1.6 and 1.87. Combined treatment of 25 Gy radiation with PD98059 significantly increased radiation induced apoptosis. The peak apoptotic index (number on apoptotic nuclei in 1000 nuclei X100) was $1.2\%$ in the case of radiation treatment alone, $0.9\%$ in the case of drug treatment alone and $4.9\%,\;5.3\%$ in the combination treatment group. An analysis of apoptosis regulating molecules with Western blotting showed upregulation of p53, p$p21^{WAF1/CIP1}\;and\;Bcl-X_s$ in the combination treatment group as compared to their levels in either the radiation alone or drug alone treatment groups. The level of other molecules such as $Bcl-X_L4, Bax and Bcl-2 were changed to a lesser extent. Conclusion: The selective inhibition of MEK in combination with radiation therapy may have potential benefit in cancer treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.253-260
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• 2004

Objectives: Klinefelter syndrome is the most common genetic cause of male infertility and presents with 47, XXY mainly or 46, XX/47, XXY mosaicism. It is characterized by hypogonadism and azoospermia due to testicular failure, however, sporadic cases of natural pregnancies have been reported. With the development of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), sperm can be retrieved successfully and ART is applied in these patients for pregnancy. It has been suggested that the risk of chromosome aneuploidy for both sex chromosome and autosome is increased in the sperms from 47, XXY germ cells. Considering the risk for chromosomal aneuploidy in the offspring, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) could be applied as a safe and more effective treatment option in Klinefelter syndrome. The aim of this study is to assess the outcome of PGD cycles by using FISH for sex chromosome and autosome in patients with Klinefelter syndrome. Materials and Methods: From Jan. 2001 to Dec. 2003, PGD was attempted in 8 cases of Klinefelter syndrome but TESE was failed to retrieve sperm in the 3 cases, therefore PGD was performed in 8 cycles of 5 cases (four 47, XXY and one 46, XY/47, XXY mosaicism). In one case, ejaculated sperm was used and in 4 cases, TESE sperm was used for ICSI. After fertilization, blastomere biopsy was performed in $6{\sim}7$ cell stage embryo and the chromosome aneuploidy was diagnosed by using FISH with CEP probes for chromosome X, Y and 17 or 18. Results: A total of 127 oocytes were retrieved and ICSI was performed in 113 mature oocytes. The fertilization rate was $65.3{\pm}6.0%$ (mean$\pm$SEM) and 76 embryos were obtained. Blastomere biopsy was performed in 61 developing embryos and FISH analysis was successful in 95.1% of the biopsied blastomeres (58/61). The rate of balanced embryos for chromosome X, Y and 17 or 18 was $39.7{\pm}6.9%$. The rate of aneuploidy for sex chromosome (X and Y) was $45.9{\pm}5.3%$ and $43.2{\pm}5.8%$ for chromosome 17 or 18, respectively. Embryo transfer was performed in all 8 cycles and mean number of transferred embryos was $2.5{\pm}0.5$. In 2 cases, clinical pregnancies were obtained and normal 46, XX and 46, XY karyotypes were confirmed by amniocentesis, respectively. Healthy male and female babies were delivered uneventfully at term. Conclusion: The patients with Klinefelter syndrome can benefit from ART with TESE and ICSI. Considering the risk of aneuploidy for both sex chromosome and autosome in the sperms and embryos of Klinefelter syndrome, PGD could be offered as safe and more effective treatment option.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 1997

Three strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated from fish and shrimp pickles. Two strains were identified as Lactobacillus casei, and one strain as L. Pentosus, respectively. All three strains were used as starters in producing yogurts. The physico-chemical characteristics of yogurts were examined. The original pH, titratable acidity, visicosity and viable cell counts of the yogurts were $4.03{\sim}4.26,\;1.049{\sim}l.217%,\;1,772{\sim}2,232\;cps\;and\;1.4{\times}10^9{\sim}1.6{\times}10^9\;cfu/ml$, respectively. In evaluating buffer capacity, $12.50{\sim}14.06\;ml$ 1.0N HCl was consumed to titrate 100 ml of yogurt to pH value 2 units below the original pH value and $9.46{\sim}13.06\;ml$ of 1.0N NaOH was consumed to pH value 4 units above the original pH value. The ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity reached maximum at 48 hrs, and reduced gradually during fermantation. After 2 hr incubation of yogurts at $37^{\circ}C$ under different pH conditions, ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activities of three strains were reduced to 50% at pH 3.5, but there were no remaining activities neither at pH 2.5 nor at pH 1.5. Under the same pH conditions the number of viable cells decreased to $1.9{\times}10^6{\sim}1.8{\times}10^8\;cfu/ml$ at pH 2.5 and $1.0{\times}10^3{\sim}2.4{\times}10^5$ at pH 1.5, respectively. However, no significant difference was found at pH 3.5.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.281-294
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• 1999

Vasospasm causes microvascular surgery to fail as a main factor in the loss of transferred flap dye to the diminution of blood flow in reconstruction surgery. Although there has been extensive research to resolve the vasospasm problem, no one has reached an ideal solution to date. However, cryotherapy, which is often used for destruction of tumor lesions, is being presented as a new way of releasing vasospasm. After making a histomorphometric measurement on vasodialation during the course of 1, 3 and 7 days, 2 and 4 weeks, and 5 months periods and observing the change of blood vessel in a histologic, immunohistochemical, and scanning electronic microscopic approach, the results were as follows : 1. Vascular inner diameters of the experimental 1 and 3 days groups were measured $476.3{\pm}28.20{\mu}m$, $497.15{\pm}48.79{\mu}m$ respectively showing statistically meaningful vasodilation(P<0.05), which continued by the experiment 4 weeks group. However, in the experimental 5 months group, the vascular inner diameter appeared similar to the control groups. Even though the thickness of smooth muscular layers come out to be thinner in all the experimental groups compared to the control group, it was difficult to find any statistical meaningfulness. In addition, the vascular external diameters of every experimental groups were shown to be longer than the control group. 2. In light microscopic view, severe injury was evident on the smooth muscular layer cell from the experimental 1 day group, started recovering partially from the experimental 7 days group, and was mostly restored in the experimental 4 weeks group and layer of adventitial stripping were nearly recoverd 2 weeks group. 3. The PCNA positive cells of smooth muscular layer were observed from the experimental 7 days group and had a tendency to increase by the experimental 2 weeks group. In the experimental 4 weeks and 5 months group, the number of PCNA possitive cells observed was comparable to the control group. 4. ${\alpha}$-SMA level of smooth muscular layer cells, having been significantly lower than the control group in the severly damaged experimental 1 day group. It was seen to be increased in the experimental 7 days group and turned out to show similar ${\alpha}$-SMA level in 4 weeks to the control group. 5. In the view of SEM, the endothelial cells were destructed and falling off, and also present the appearance of flattening in the experiment 1 day group. The endothelial layer cells started partially recovering from the 7 days group after the freezing injury. On 4 weeks and 5 months, the endothelial cells were fully coverd the damaged area, also it's appearance is similar to control group. In conclusion, the vascular freezing after the removal of adventitia caused damages to smooth muscular layer cells, and brought about vasodilation, which continued by the 4th week. The smooth muscular layer cells started partially reviving from the 7rd day after the damage by vascular freezing, and recovered their similar figure to the control group's 4 weeks later. This was considered the result of cells which surround the damaged blood vessel being influxed into the smooth muscular layers. Therefore, this local freezing injury on the blood vessel was thought to be applied clinically to relieve severe vasospasm which cannot be treated by vasodilation drug, a microvascular surgery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.579-589
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• 1996

Background : Activation of neutrophil is critical for the clearance of microorganisms and toxic host mediators during sepsis. Unfortunately the activated neutrophil and its toxic byproducts can produce tissue injury and organ dysfunction. The leucocyte CD11/18 adhesion complex regulates neutrophil-endothelial cell adhesion, the first step in neutrophil migration to sites of injection and inflammation. To investigate the potential of neutrophil inhibition as a treatment strategy for sepsis, we evaluated the effects of monoclonal antibody against CD11b (MAb 1B6) in rats intrabronchial challenged with Escherichia coli. Methods : Animals were randomly assigned to receive monoclonal antibody against CD11b (1 mg/kg, sc) and bovine serum albumin(BSA, 1 mg/kg, sc) 6 hr before, at 0 and 6 hr after intrabronchial challenge of $20x10^9$ CFU/kg E. coli 0111. Animals were randomized to treat either 24, 60 or 90% oxygen after bacterial challenge and begining 4 hr after inoculation, all animals were received 100 mg/kg ceftriaxone qd for 3 days. Peripheral and alveolar neutrophil(by bronchoalveolar lavage) counts and lung injury parameters such as alveolar-arte rial $PO_2$ difference, wet to dry lung weight ratio and protein concentration of alveolar fluid were measured in survived rats at 12 hr and 96 hr. Results : Monoclonal antibody against CD11b decreased circulating and alveolar neutrophil especially more in 12 hr than in 96 hr The lung injury parameters of antibody-treated animals were not different from those of BSA-treated animals. but It was meaningless due to small number of survived animals. The early(6 hr) mortality rate was significantly increased in antibody-treated group(51%) compared to BSA-treated group(31%) (P=0.02) but late(from 12 hr to 72 hr) mortality rate was not different in antibody-treated group(44%) from BSA-treated group(36%) (P =0.089). Conclusion : Leucocyte CD11b/18 adhesion molecule is known to regulate neutrophil migration to the site of infection and inflammation. The monoclonal antibody against CD11b decreased alveolar neutrophil in rats with pulmonary sepsis and increased early mortality rate. Therefore, we can speculate that monoclonal antibody against CD11b blocks of alveolar recruitment of neutrophils, impairs host defense mechanism and increases early mortality rate of pulmonary sepsis in rat.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2016

Batteries are used for main power engine in the fields such as mobiles, electric vehicles and unmanned submarines, for starter and lamp driver in general automotive, for emergency electric source in ship. These days, lead-acid and the lithium ion batteries are increasingly used in the fields of the secondary battery, and the lead-acid battery has a low price and safety comparatively, The lithium ion battery has a high energy density, excellent output characteristics and long life, whereas it has the risk of explosion by reacting with moisture in the air. But Recently, due to the development of waterproof, fireproof, dustproof technology, lithium batteries are widely used, particularly, because their usages are getting wider enough to be used as a power source for hybrid ship and electric propulsion ship, it is necessary to manage more strictly. Hybrid ship has power supply units connected to the packets to produce more than 500kWh large power source, and therefore, A number of the communication modules and wires need to implement the wire inspection and monitor system(WIIMS) that allows monitoring server to transmit detecting voltage, current and temperature data, which is required for the management of the batteries. This paper implements a low price type wireless inspection and monitoring system(WILIMS) of the lithium ion battery for hybrid vessels using BLE wireless communication modules and power line modem( PLM), which have the advantages of low price, no electric lines compared to serial communication inspection systems(SCIS). There are state of charge(SOC), state of health(SOH) in inspection parts of batteries, and proposed system will be able to prevent safety accidents because it allows us to predict life time and make a preventive maintenance by checking them at regular intervals.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2009

Clonorchis sinensis is the most important widely distributed parasite of the human bile duct in East Asia and the most prevalent parasitic helminth in Korea. The prevalence rate of human clonorchiasis has remained at about 2.9% in Korea. C. sinensis induces dilatation of the duct, hyperplasia of the mucosa, metaplasia or neoplasia of the mucosal epithelium, periductal inflammation and fibrosis, and thickening of the ductal wall. Fibroblast are the most common cells in connective tissue and are responsible for the synthesis of extracellular matrix components. The fibrosis associated with chronic inflammation and injury may also contribute to cholangiocarcinoma pathogenesis, particularly through an increase in extracellular matrix components, which participate in the regulation of bile duct differentiation during development. In this study, ultrastructural changes, the distribution of lectin receptors and actin protein in cultured SD rat bile duct fibroblast after infection of C. sinensis were observed. Experimental group had been divided into four groups: normal bile duct fibroblast cultured in basal media (G1); C. sinensis infected bile duct fibroblast cultured in basal media (G2); normal bile duct fibroblast cultured in basal media containing excretory-secretory product (ESP) (G1-1); C. sinensis infected bile duct fibroblast cultured in basal media containing ESP (G2-1). Overall, once a host is infected by C. sinensis, it affects the host to the extent that sialic acid of ductal fibroblast is increased. Number of cytoplasmic process of SD rat bile duct fibroblast was increased. Actin protein and sialic acid were located in cell surface. Fibroblast induced by C. sinensis was not recovered to normal fibroblast. The cytoplasm bulk and cytoplasmic process were increased whereas the growth rate of the fibroblast of infected SD rat was reduced rather than that of normal fibroblast. In result, it inhibits fibroblast proliferation and increases actin protein on fibroblast cytoplasm, and so causes fibroblast metamorphosis and cellular mutation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2002

Since GnRH and its receptor genes are expressed in the ovary, it has been suggested that ovarian GnRH might be involved in the regulation of ovarian function and the apoptosis of ovarian cells. However, it was not known well on the expression and function of GnRH and its receptor in the corpus luteum. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether GnRH and its receptor are expressed in luteal cells and GnRH has any effect on the apoptosis of luteal cells. Luteal cells obtained from the pregnant rats were cultured and stained for GnRH and its receptor proteins. Cultured luteal cells showed distinct immunoreactivity against both anti-GnRH and anti-GnRH receptor antibodies. In addition, the presence of GnRH receptor protein in cultured cells was confirmed by Western blot analysis. To investigate the effect of GnRH on the apoptosis of luteal cells, luteal cells were cultured in the presence of 10$^{-6}$ M GnRH-agonist(GnRH-Ag) for 3, 8, and 12h. TUNEL assay showed that the number of cells undergoing apoptosis increased 12h after culture(P<0.05). DNA fragmentation analysis confirmed the results such that the cells treated for 12h showed the greatest increase of fragmentation(p<0.05). Further, Western blot analysis of cytochrome c in the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic fractions of the luteal cells showed that GnRH-Ag treatment increased the content of cytochrome c in cytoplasm. These results demonstrate that the luteal cells express GnRH and its receptor and GnRH-Ag treatment induces apoptosis of the luteal cells via mitochondrial release of cytochrome c. The present study suggest that the releasing of cytochrome c from mitochondria might be involved in the luteal cell apoptosis induced by GnRH-Ag.