• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.156-163
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• 2014

Interleukin (IL) 17 is produced by T-helper (Th) 17 with a vigorous effect on cells of the immune system playing important roles in pathogenesis of immune-mediated diseases, including autoimmune disorders and cancers. Therefore, the aim of current study was to determine the serum levels of IL-6, IL-17, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-${\beta}$) in Iranian bladder cancer patients, and to correlate them with disease status. Blood samples were collected from 40 bladder cancer patients and 38 healthy individuals with no history of malignancies or autoimmune disorders. The serum levels of IL-6, IL-17, and TGF-${\beta}$ were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the levels of IL-17 (p<0.0001) and TGF-${\beta}$ (p<0.0001) were significantly lower in the patients compared to the controls. No significant differences in the level of serum IL-6 (p=0.16) was observed between the patients and controls. In addition, demographic characteristics between control and patients groups were not significantly different. As most of the cases studied in this investigation were in stage I and II, it is concluded that reduced Th17-related cytokines can be used as indicators for following the course and clinical stages of bladder carcinoma progress and immune response to cancer.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.627-641
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• 2020

Intensive farming methods that do not guarantee animal welfare can induce stress in pigs. Stress, in turn, can reduce their disease resistance and influence their hormones and metabolites in such a manner that productivity is negatively affected. This study was conducted to compare the stress related factors and blood characteristics of pigs raised on conventional farms and those raised on animal welfare farms. We measured the levels of cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine, biochemical parameters in blood and glycogen, L-lactate and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in muscle, as physiological markers of indicating the stress in conventional farm pigs (Control, n=10) and animal welfare farm pigs (Welfare, n=10). We found that there was a significant difference in the albumin-globulin ratio (A/G ratio), as well as the albumin (ALB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels between the two farms. Epinephrine was significantly higher in conventional farm, while level of norepinephrine was higher in animal welfare farm. There was no significant difference in cortisol, which is known as a stress hormone, across the two groups of farms. Muscular glycogen content was significantly high in animal welfare farm pigs. While L-lactate tended to be low in the animal welfare farm pigs, the difference between them and the conventional farm cohorts was not significant. HSP70 showed high levels of expression in conventional farm. Thus, we suggested that blood parameter results showed a stress response in the livers of conventional farm, and that catecholamine hormones, glycogen, L-lactate and HSP70 can be used as physiological factors of assessing animal welfare.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.59.1-59.12
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• 2020

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease. To understand AD, there have been many trials establishing AD animal models. Although various trials to establish AD animal models have been existed, even the mechanisms of AD in animal models are not enough clarified. Objectives: This study assessed AD characteristics induced in Nishiki-nezumi Cinnamon/Nagoya (Nc/Nga) mice following trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB) treatment for different periods and house dust mite (HDM) treatment to compare each model's immunological patterns, especially with cytokine antibody array tool. Methods: In this study, we exposed Nc/Nga mice to TNCB or HDM extract to induce AD. Nc/Nga mice were divided into 4 groups: control, TNCB 2 weeks-treated, TNCB 8 weeks-treated, and HDM-treated groups. After AD induction, all mice were evaluated by serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration and serum cytokine antibody assays, scoring of skin lesions, scoring of scratching frequency, and histological analysis. Results: The results showed significant differences between groups in serum IgE concentration, skin lesion scores, and scratching frequency. The analysis results for serum cytokine antibody arrays showed that in the TNCB 8 weeks- and HDM-treated groups, but not in the TNCB 2 weeks-treated group, expressions of genes related to the immune response were enriched. Among the histological results, the skin lesions in the HDM-treated group were most similar to those of AD. Conclusions: We confirmed that immunological pattern of AD mice was markedly different between HDM and TNCB treated groups. In addition, the immunological pattern was quietly different dependent on TNCB treated duration.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.773-791
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• 2023

Connections with damage concentrated to pre-selected components can enhance seismic resilience for moment resisting frames. These pre-selected components always yield early to dissipate energy, and their energy dissipation mechanisms vary from one to another, depending on their position in the connection, geometry configuration details, and mechanical characteristics. This paper presents behaviour insights on two types of beam-to-beam connections that the angles were designed as energy dissipation components, through the results of experimental study and finite element analysis. Firstly, an experimental programme was reviewed, and key responses concerning the working mechanism of the connections were presented, including strain distribution at the critical section, section force responses of essential components, and initial stiffness of test specimens. Subsequently, finite element models of three specimens were established to further interpret their behaviour and response that were not observable in the tests. The moment and shear force transfer paths of the composite connections were clarified through the test results and finite element analysis. It was observed that the bending moment is mainly resisted by axial forces from the components, and the dominant axial force is from the bottom angles; the shear force at the critical section is primarily taken by the slab and the components near the top flange. Lastly, based on the insights on the load transfer path of the composite connections, preliminary design recommendations are proposed. In particular, a resistance requirement, quantified by a moment capacity ratio, was placed on the connections. Design models and equations were also developed for predicting the yield moment resistance and the shear resistance of the connections. A flexible beam model was proposed to quantify the shear resistance of essential components.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.238-245
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• 2008

To evaluate wave reflection and transmission from buoyant flap-typed storm surge barriers, hydraulic experiments were performed by using regular and irregular wave conditions. Buoyant flap-typed storm surge barriers consist of buoyant main body connected with foundation structure in the seabed by hinge. The characteristics of wave reflection, transmission and dynamic response of the structure were investigated for 36 regular and 4 irregular wave conditions. It was also evaluated the usage of plain plate attached on the buoyant main body as one of alternatives to control wave reflection and transmission. From the hydraulic experiments, it was found that the case of plain plate attached on the offshore side is very effective to improve the wave transmission as well as reflection. But, the effect of the case on the harbor side might be negligible.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2020

Recently, there has been growing interest in the study of removal of harmful and hazardous pollutants emitted by industrial activities. In this study, we have developed porous activated carbon fibers prepared by a water vapor activation method and analyzed the adsorptions of the harmful gases with electrochemical responses of activated carbon fibers. To control the uniformity of pore structures, active reaction areas, and active sites, the reaction conditions of activation temperatures were varied from 750 to 850 ℃ with the predetermined reaction time intervals (30 to 240 min). The SO₂ and NO gas adsorptions of activated carbon fibers prepared by various reaction conditions were analyzed and monitored by electrochemical sensor responses. In particular, the activated carbon fibers prepared at the reaction temperature of 850 ℃ and time of 45 min showed the highest specific surface area (1,041.9 ㎡/g) and pore characteristics (0.42 ㎤/g), and excellent adsorption capabilities of SO₂ (1.061 mg/g) and NO (1.210 mg/g) gases, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.240-246
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• 2006

Cyanobacteria are present abundantly in rice fields and are important in helping to maintain rice fields fertility through nitrogen fixation. Many rice fields soil contain a high density of cyanobactera, and over 50% of cyanobacterial genera that are in existence in rice paddy fields are heterocystous filamentous forms. A total of 142 isolates of heterocystous filamentous cyanobacteria were screened from 100 soil samples taken from rice paddy fields in 10 different locations across Korea, classified according to their morphological characteristics under light microscopy, and their susceptibly to fungicides examined. The collected blue-green alga were classified into a total of 14 genera, including seven genera of filamentous cyanobacteria and seven genera of nonfilamentous cyanobacteria. In particular, 142 heterocystous filamentous cyanobacteria were isolated and classified into six genera, including Anabaena, Nostoc, Calothrix, Cylindrospermum, Nodularia, Scytomena, and Tolypotrix. Yet, over 90% of the heterocystous filamentous cyanobacteria isolated from the rice paddy fields belonged to two genera: Anabaena and Nostoc. The response of 129 $N_2-fixing$ cyanobacterial isolates, 53 Anabaena and 76 Nostoc, to 10 fungicides was then investigated. The results showed that the Nostoc spp. were more tolerant of the ten tested fungicides than the Anabaena spp., and among the ten tested fungicides, benomyl showed the highest acute toxicity to Anabaena spp. and Nostoc spp. In conclusion, although benomyl is a very useful agent to control phytopathogenic fungi, the application of this fungicide to rice fields should be considered because of its toxicity to the heterocystous filamentous cyanobacteria.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.109-120
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• 2016

Purpose : This study surveyed the relationship between the dietetic behaviors of high school students and nutrition information available from mass media thereby suggesting the way of improving the dietetic health promotion of adolescents. Method : This study surveyed coeducational high school students in S region. 220 questionnaires have been collected and analyzed, which is statistically significant as in other previous studies. The survey lasted for one month, March 14 through April 14 in 2016. The statistical analysis was performed by using the windows version 21.0 of SPSS. Primarily, the frequency analysis and descriptive statistics was carried out on the general information, the usage and confidence of mass media, and the diabetic behaviors of respondents. t-Test and One-way ANOVA were adopted to clarity the mass media usage and diabetic behaviors of respondents for general characteristics. Result : The statistical analysis on the diet usage of mass media among high school students shows that famous restaurants(Response rate 51%) and diet control(20%) are highly evaluated, but disease prevention(15%) is low. Regarding the dietetic information acquisition, the mass media including TV, radio, and Internet appear as main information carriages (p<.001). The confidence in mass media are analyzed in the relation with 10 dietetic behaviors, and 4 items(meal amount: p<.011, vegetable intake: p<.005, protein intake: p<.003) are inversely related to the mass media, which means regular intake party is less dependent of the exterior information. The seaweed(p<.017) intake is statistically significant in confidence level. Conclusion : To increase the interest and the health promotion of students, the dietetic information need to be offered in mass media and education course.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.4
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• pp.522-529
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• 2013

Climate change will affect the physiological traits and growth of forest trees. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of an experimental warming on growth and physiological characteristics of Pinus densiflora S. et Z. seedlings. One-year-old P. densiflora seedlings were planted in control and warmed plots in April 2010. The air temperature of warmed plots was increased by $3^{\circ}C$ using infrared lamps from November 2010. We measured shoot height, root collar diameter, above and below ground biomass, chlorophyll contents and leaf nitrogen concentration from March 2011 to March 2013. Seedling height and root collar diameter showed no significant difference between warmed and control plots except for root collar diameter measured in June 2012. Seedling leaf biomass was lower in the warmed ($23.94{\pm}2.10g$) than in the control ($26.08{\pm}1.72g$) plots in 2013. Shoot to root ratio (S/R ratio) was lower in the warmed ($1.09{\pm}0.07$) than in the control ($1.31{\pm}0.10$) plots in 2013. Leaf nitrogen concentrations and chlorophyll contents were not significantly different between warmed and control plots except for leaf nitrogen concentration in 2011. Leaf C/N ratio was increased in 2012 under the warming treatment. Low growth and S/R ratio in warmed plots might be related to the higher temperature and water stress. In the future, the below-ground carbon allocation of P. densiflora might be increased by global warming due to temperature and water stress.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.422-429
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of canine uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) and the interaction between canine UPEC and human bladder epithelial cells. Ten E. coli isolates collected from dogs with cystitis were analyzed for antimicrobial resistance patterns, the presence of virulence factors, and biofilm formation. The ability of these isolates to induce cytotoxicity, invade human bladder epithelial cells, and stimulate an immune response was also determined. We observed a high rate of antimicrobial resistance among canine UPEC isolates. All virulence genes tested (including adhesins, iron acquisition, and protectin), except toxin genes, were detected among the canine UPEC isolates. We found that all isolates showed varying degrees of biofilm formation (mean, 0.26; range, 0.07 to 0.82), using a microtiter plate assay to evaluate biofilm formation by the isolates. Cytotoxicity to human bladder epithelial cells by the canine UPEC isolates increased in a time-dependent manner, with a 56.9% and 36.1% reduction in cell viability compared with the control at 6 and 9 h of incubation, respectively. We found that most canine UPEC isolates were able to invade human bladder epithelial cells. The interaction between these isolates and human bladder epithelial cells strongly induced the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8. We demonstrated that canine UPEC isolates can interact with human bladder epithelial cells, although the detailed mechanisms remain unknown. The results suggest that canine UPEC isolates, rather than dogspecific pathogens, have zoonotic potential.