• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3140-3145
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• 2012

In this paper, a design method for a compact slot antenna fed by a coplanar waveguide (CPW) is studied. A T-shaped tuning stub is inserted inside a narrow rectangular slot and the slot is impedance matched to the CPW feedline by adjusting the width, length, and position of the stub. The resonance frequency is adjustable by the slot length and the antenna size can be reduced by bending the slot. The resonance frequency and impedance matching property of the compact slot antenna are similar to those of the half-wavelength slot antenna, which enables one to design compact antenna of this type with ease. A compact slot antenna for 2.45-GHz ISM band is designed, fabricated on an FR4 substrate (dielectric constant of 4.4 and thickness of 0.8 mm), and experimentally tested. The measured results agree well with the simulations, which confirms the validity of this study. The fabricated compact slot antenna shows an impedance bandwidth of 200 MHz(2.32-2.52 GHz) for a VSWR < 2, which is suitable for 2.45-GHz ISM band (2.4-2.48 GHz). The measured radiation patterns show ${\infty}$-shaped directional pattern in the E-plane and nearly omni-directional pattern in the H-plane with a peak gain of 2.0 dBi, which are similar to those of a monopole antenna. The proposed antenna is expected to be suitable for the applications as antennas for WLAN, RFID, and mobile handset.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.83-99
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• 2020

Objectives : Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with frequent relapses. This study was to investigate the effects of Gammakdaejo-tang(GMD) in DNCB induced atopic dermatitis mice. Methods : The study was divided into five comparion groups. 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB) solution was applied to Nc/Nga mice to induce atopic dermatitis, followed by normal group, negative control group with distilled water, positive control group with Dexamethasione and GMD 200mg/kg or 400mg/kg. The control group was orally administered 200㎕ once daily for 4 weeks. Visual skin condition, Immunoglobulin E, Histamine, Cytokine, Immune cells, Tissue biomarkers were observed. Results : As a result of the dermatitis score evaluation, it was confirmed that the GMD-administered group improved symptoms compared to the negative control group. As a result of measuring IgE, the GMD-administered group significantly decreased compared to the negative control group. As a result of measuring Histamine, GMD group except 200mg/kg of GMD significantly decreased compared to negative control group. As a result of measuring cytokine, GMD 200mg/kg significantly reduced IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α compared to the negative control. 400mg/kg significantly reduced IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and significantly increased IL-2, IFNγ. As a result of confirming the immune cells, all experimental groups showed no difference in basophil, GMD group significantly reduced monocyte and eosinophil compared to negative control group, and GMD 400mg/kg group significantly reduced white blood cell and neutrophil. And significantly increased lymphocytes. As a result of measuring the gene expression level, all GMD group significantly increased TGF-β1 compared with the negative control group, and filaggrin, VEGF and EGF were significantly increased in GMD 400mg/kg group. Epidermis, dermis thickness, and eosinophil infiltration were found to be decreased in all GMD groups compared with the negative control group. Conclusions : GMD is effective in atopic dermatitis by reducing imbalance of immune response of T cells (Th1 / Th2) and reducing skin tissue damage and inflammatory response.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2020

This study was carried out to examine a novel inactivated Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) vaccine candidate for protection of mice against salmonellosis by immunization of BALB/c mice using various type adjuvant. The novel type-inactivated vaccine candidate was constructed by adding Chlorhexidine digluconate solution. BALB/c mice were divided into 6 groups of 15 mice apiece. The mice were intramuscularly (IM) primed at 6 weeks of age and were IM boosted 8 weeks of age. Groups A and B mice were injected with sterile phosphate-buffered saline as controls; group C mice were inoculated with 5×10⁸ cells/100 µL of formalin-inactivated S. Typhimurium cells and adjuvant ISA70; groups D~F mice were immunized with 5×10⁸ cells/100 µL of the inactivated vaccine candidate and adjuvant ISA70, adjuvant IMS1313 and adjuvant IMS1313 containing 30 ㎍/mL of GI24, respectively. All mice (except group A mice) were orally challenged with a virulent S. Typhimurium strain at 10 weeks of age. Mice from groups C-F had significantly increased IgG levels compared to control groups (A-B) mice. The levels of splenocyte IFN-γ and IL-4 in mice of all groups were measured by ELISA, resulting in increased immunity in group F mice compared to those of groups A-E mice. These data suggested that systemic and cell-mediated immune responses were highly induced by IM immunization with the vaccine candidate and adjuvant IMS1313 containing GI24. Furthermore, clinical signs such as death were observed in only 20% of group F mice after virulent Salmonella strain challenge, however, groups B and C (100%), and groups D and E (60%) mice died. This data suggested that mice immunized by intramuscular prime and booster with this vaccine candidate and adjuvant IMS1313 containing GI24 effectively protected mice from salmonellosis.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 2015

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the correlations between the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and cytokines among elementary school children in an industrial city, Ulsan, South Korea, and to identify major environmental risk factors associated with AR prevalence. Methods: We conducted a case-control study in June 2009 and February 2010 in order to evaluate the relationship between AR and related cytokines. Data on physician-treated prevalence over the past 12 months and potential risk factors for AR were compiled through a questionnaire from a survey of 339 schoolchildren living in different urban environments. Logistic regression analysis was carried out with propensity score matched data (n=180) to assess the influences of cytokines (IL-13, IL-33, IL-4 and IL-5) on AR prevalence and to determine which environmental factors affected AR. Results: In univariate analysis, the AR prevalence was influenced by family history of AR (mother and siblings), environmental factors (odor condition and irritated symptoms of air pollution), and indoor allergens (D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus). The t-test demonstrated that eosinophils, Immunoglobulin E (IgE), and interleukins (IL-13 and IL-5) were statistically significantly different according to treatment of allergic rhinitis over the preceeding 12 months. The results of the multiple logistic regression analysis showed that a statistically significant association between several factors (such as irritated symptoms of air pollution (OR 4.075, CI 1.735-9.568), IL-13 (OR 0.825, CI 0.734-0.928), odor condition (OR 2.409, CI 0.908-6.389), and AR history of siblings (OR 2.217, CI 0.999-4.921)) and the prevalence of AR was found after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion: These results suggest that AR prevalence is significantly associated with cytokine level, genetic background, and outdoor environmental factors. Although living in a polluted area and genetic background can contribute to an increased risk of childhood AR, cytokine level should be considered as an important factor in the treatment of AR in the last 12 months.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.950-957
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• 2012

In this paper, a small round-ended slot loaded by double ridges on the broad wall of a rectangular waveguide is presented as an element for a waveguide slot-array antenna(WSAA). By properly adjusting the ridge dimension, a resonance of the slot at a desired frequency can be achieved. The resonant length of the proposed slot is about $0.26{\lambda}_0$(free space wave length) at the resonance frequency. The proposed resonant slot has some advantageous properties, such as small size, small resonant conductance, and short and stable resonant slot length. In addition, the characteristics of the slots are slightly affected by the adjacent elements when the slots are arrayed for a waveguide slot antenna. A $4{\times}1$ WSAA with -20 dB side-lobe level(SLL) is designed, fabricated, and tested experimentally. The measured results are well agreed with the simulated ones and have an SLL of -15.9 dB and a half-power beam width of $110.2^{\circ}$ in the E-plane and $21.2^{\circ}$ in the H-plane, respectively, at 9.41 GHz.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1189-1195
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• 2008

A study was conducted with 48 weaned barrows ($28{\pm}3d$, $8.45{\pm}0.14kg$) to determine the effect of Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharide (ABPS) supplementation on pig performance, immunological, adrenal and somatotropic responses following Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. The experiment was a $2{\times}2$ factorial design; the main factors included diet (supplementation with 0 or 500 mg/kg ABPS) and immunological challenge (LPS or saline). On d 14 and 21 of the trial, pigs were given an intraperitoneal injection with either $100{\mu}g/kg$ BW of LPS or an equivalent amount of sterile saline. Blood samples were obtained 3 h after injection for analysis of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), cortisol, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and immunoglobulin G (IgG). On d 2 after LPS challenge, peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation (PBLP) was measured. LPS administration decreased average daily feed intake (ADFI) (p<0.05), had a tendency to decrease average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.10) during both the first and second challenge periods and increased (p<0.05) feed:gain ratio only during the first challenge period. ABPS tended to improve ADG (p<0.10) during the first challenge period, and improved ADG (p<0.05) and tended to improve ADFI (p<0.10) during the second challenge period. ABPS did not affect feed:gain ratio. An interaction (p<0.05) between LPS challenge and diet was observed for the plasma concentrations of TNF-${\alpha}$, $PGE_2$ and cortisol after both LPS challenges such that, among LPS-treated pigs, pigs fed the ABPS diet were lower for these indices than those receiving the control diet. In contrast, pigs fed the ABPS diet had higher IGF-I (p<0.05) compared with those fed the control diet. No effect of diet, LPS challenge or both on GH and IgG was observed after both LPS administrations. LPS challenge increased PBLP when these cells were incubated with $8{\mu}g/ml$ of LPS during both the challenge periods, and did likewise when incubated with $8{\mu}g/ml$ of concanavalin A only after the first challenge. ABPS had no effect on PBLP. These data demonstrate that ABPS alters the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines following an immunological challenge, which might enable pigs to achieve better performance.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary Weissella koreensis (Wk), a prominent kimchi lactic acid bacteria supplementation on growth performance, nutrients utilization, gut microbiota and meat characteristics in broiler chicken. Both live and killed Wk was compared to know which could be more efficacious as a feed probiotics. Three Wk supplemented groups and no Wk supplemented group were designated according to supplementation levels and cell status. Those were; Control (no Wk), 0.1 % live Wk (LWk 0.1), 0.5% live Wk (LWk 0.5) and 0.5% killed Wk (KWk 0.5). Body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were improved (P<0.05) by dietary LWk supplementation. KWk did not exert any benefit on growth performance. Crude protein utilizability of KWk supplemented diet was lower (P<0.05) than that of other diets. However, there were no differences among treatments in other nutrients utilization. Serum IgG concentration and relative weight of bursa of Fabricius was highest (P<0.05) in broiler chicken fed KWk 0.5 diet. Cecal anaerobic lactic acid bacteria count of LWk groups were higher (P<0.05) than those of control and KWk 0.5 groups. Dietary Wk supplementation failed to lower the count of cecal and fecal E. coli. There was no effect of dietary Wk on TBARS values and fatty acids profile of broiler leg meat. However, the dietary supplementation of Wk exerted characteristic difference on electronic nose flavor of broiler meat. This study showed that dietary supplementation of LWk was able to improve body weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and cecal lactic acid bacterial count in broiler chicken. Further, the result of this study implemented that a live kimchi lactic acid bacteria, LWk, but not killed Wk, could be used as a probiotic feed supplement for broiler.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.780-793
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• 2018

This study was conducted to compare the anti-allergic effects of a whey protein concentrate (WPC) and WPC hydrolysate. WPC hydrolysate was prepared using enzymatic digestion for 8 h with trypsin and ${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin, after which it was freeze-dried. The allergic parameters assessed in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells were degranulation and release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase, release of tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, and changes in the expression of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-4, and IL-10 by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). During preparation of the WPC hydrolysate, hydrolysis increased rapidly from 0 to 10 min and then gradually increased slowly from 1 h onwards, achieving a final degree of hydrolysis of 78.50%. The SDS-PAGE analysis revealed a reduction in the intensity of several protein bands in the WPC hydrolysate compared to the WPC. IgE-induced ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release from RBL-2H3 cells was decreased to a higher degree following treatment with the hydrolysate compared to WPC treatment. W500 ($500{\mu}g/mL$ WPC) showed the least inhibition of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release, but there was no significant difference between W500 and W1000 ($1,000{\mu}g/mL$) (p<0.05). H1000 ($1,000{\mu}g/mL$ WPC hydrolysate) inhibited ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release by 39%. Compared to the control, treatment with H1000 decreased $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion to 11.87 pg/mL. The gene expression levels of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-4, and IL-13 were all significantly decreased in hydrolysate (p<0.05). In the case of $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-4, the expression levels in W1000 treated cells were decreased by 73.67% and 65%, respectively, and that of IL-13 was decreased by 66.43% compared to the control.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.266-273
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• 2011

Although turmeric has numerous pharmacological effects, the poor water-solubility of curcuminoids, active components of turmeric, restricts their systemic availability in orally administered formulations and limits their therapeutic potential. In this study we attempted turmeric fermentation using several probiotic bacteria to improve its solubility, and also investigated the effects of turmeric and fermented turmeric on anti-inflammatory activity. Fermented turmeric, by L. johnsonii IDCC 9203, more strongly inhibited LPS-induced expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines than non-fermented turmeric and fermented turmeric by other probiotic strains. We used an NC/Nga mouse model for mite antigen-induced atopic dermatitis to examine the efficacy of the fermented turmeric. Fermented turmeric-fed mice exhibited a significantly reduced serum IgE level and mitigated acute inflammation. When the fermented turmeric was pre-treated by oral administration, it had more preventive activity against acute anaphylactic reaction than the non-fermented group. In addition, we observed that fermentation of turmeric leads to increased water-solubility of curcumin and a change in the active components ratios for bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycrucumin and curcumin. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that fermented turmeric by L. johnsonii IDCC 9203 could be used as a functional food ingredient for improving treatments for atopic dermatitis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2020

Purpose: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is related to infectious mononucleosis or nasopharyngeal cancer, and its epidemiology may change according to the socioeconomic development of communities. This study aimed to evaluate the recent epidemiology of EBV seropositive rate in Korea. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed EBV serology test results obtained from a part of clinical care at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea, from January 2000 to December 2017. Results: The EBV seropositive rate in 26,527 subjects during the study period was 81.0% (21,485/26,527): 44.4% (2,716/6,122) in subjects aged 0-9 years, 75.8% (2,077/2,739) in those aged 10-19 years, and 94.5% (16,692/17,666) in those aged ≥20 years. The EBV seropositive rate decreased from 89.4% (8,592/9,616) in 2000-2008 to 76.2% (12,893/16,911) in 2009-2017 (P<0.001). Especially, the EBV seropositive rate in subjects aged 0-19 years significantly decreased from 2000-2008 to 2009-2017 (0-9 years, 62.8% [1,172/1,866] in 2000-2008 and 36.3% [1,544/4,256] in 2009-2017; 10-19 years, 83.8% [745/858] in 2000-2008 and 70.8% (1,332/1,881) in 2009-2017) (P<0.001). Conclusions: The EBV seropositive rate in children has decreased in the last 20 years. As the age of patients with primary EBV infection increased, there is a need for interest in clinical manifestation, such as infectious mononucleosis, in adolescents and young adults.