• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2015

Antimicrobial resistant bacteria has recently emerged and been disseminated in livestock environments because of excessive use of antimicrobial agents for the therapeutic and growth promotion purposes to food animals. In particular, there is potential for multidrug-resistant bacteria that can be transmitted from animals to mankind. In this study, we investigated the genotypes of E. coli strains isolated from humans and chickens using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and antimicrobial resistance patterns by disk diffusion method along with integron study involving antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. From July 2013 to July 2014, E. coli strains isolated from clinical specimens (n=44) and poultry chickens (n=34). ST131 (n=20) was most common in human-derived E. coli. ST752 (n=7) was most common in chicken-derived E. coli, with four isolates each for ST117, ST189, and ST69. Of the 44 E. coli strains isolated from humans, 25 of had a class 1 integron, as opposed to only 11 of 34 strains in the E. coli isolated from chickens. There were differences in genotypes and antimicrobial resistance patterns between the chicken-derived and the human-derived E. coli.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.339-345
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• 2006

The blood-neural barrier (BNB), including blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-retinal barrier (BRB), is an endothelial barrier constructed by an extensive network of endothelial cells, astrocytes and neurons to form functional 'neurovascular units', which has an important role in maintaining a precisely regulated microenvironment for reliable neuronal activity. Although failure of the BNB may be a precipitating event or a consequence, the breakdown of BNB is closely related with the development and progression of CNS diseases. Therefore, BNB is most essential in the regulation of microenvironment of the CNS. The BNB is a selective diffusion barrier characterized by tight junctions between endothelial cells, lack of fenestrations, and specific BNB transporters. The BNB have been shown to be astrocyte dependent, for it is formed by the CNS capillary endothelial cells, surrounded by astrocytic end-foot processes. Given the anatomical associations with endothelial cells, it could be supposed that astrocytes play a role in the development, maintenance, and breakdown of the BNB. Therefore, astrocytes-endothelial cells interaction influences the BNB in both physiological and pathological conditions. If we better understand mutual interactions between astrocytes and endothelial cells, in the near future, we could provide a critical solution to the BNB problems and create new opportunities for future success of treating CNS diseases. Here, we focused astrocyte-endothelial cell interaction in the formation and function of the BNB.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.35-49
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• 1990

A highly purified $(Na^+,\;K^+)-ATPase$ from the rectal gland of Squalus acanthias and from the electric organ of Electrophorus electricus has been used to raise antibodies in rabbits. The 97,000 dalton catalytic subunit and glycoprotein derived from the rectal gland of spiny shark were also used as antigens. The two $(Na^+,\;K^+)-ATPase$ holoenzymes and the two shark subunits were antigenic. In Ouchterlony double diffusion experiments, these antibodies formed precipitation bands with their antigens. Antibodies prepared against the two subunits of shark holoenzyme also formed precipitation bands with their antigens and shark holoenzyme, but not with eel holoenzyme. These observations are in good agreement with inhibitory effect of these antibodies on the catalytic activity of $(Na^+,\;K^+)-ATPase$ both from the shark and the eel, since there is very little cross-reaction between the shark anticatalytic subunit antibodies and the eel holoenzyme. The maximum antibodies titer of the anticatalytic subunit antibodies is found to be 6 weeks after the initial single exposure to this antigen. Multiple injections of the antigen increased the antibody titer. However, the time required to produce the maximum antibody titer was approximately the same. These antibodies also inhibit catalytic activity of $(Na^+,\;K^+)-ATPase$ vesicles reconstituted by a slow dialysis of cholate after solubilization of the enzyme in a presonicated mixture of cholate and phospholipid. In these reconstituted $(Na^+,\;K^+)-ATPase$ vesicles, effects of these antibodies on the fluxes of $Na^+$, $Rb^+$, and $K^+$ were investigated. Control or preimmune serum had no effect on the influx of $^{22}Na^+$ or the efflux of $^{86}Rb^+$. Immunized sera against the shark $(Na^+,\;K^+)-ATPase$ holoenzyme, its glycoprotein or catalytic subunit did inhibit the influx of $^{22}Na^+$ and the efflux of $^{86}Rb^+$. It was also demonstrated that these antibodies inhibit the coupled counter-transport of $Na^+$ and $K^+$ as studied by means of dual labeling experiments. However, this inhibitory effect of the antibodies on transport of ions in the $(Na^+,\;K^+)-ATPase$ vesicles is manifested only on the portion of energy and temperature dependent alkali metal fluxes, not on the portion of ATP and ouabain insensitive ion movement. Simultaneous determination of effects of the antibodies on ion fluxes and vesicular catalytic activity indicates that an inhibition of active ion transport in reconstituted $(Na^+,\;K^+)-ATPase$ vesicles appears to be due to the inhibitory action of the antibodies on the enzymatic activity of $(Na^+,\;K^+)-ATPase$ molecules incorporated in the vesicles. These findings that the inhibitory effects of the antibodies specific to $(Na^+,\;K^+)-ATPase$ or to its subunits on ATP and temperature sensitive monovalent cation transport in parallel with the inhibitory effect of vesicular catalytic activity by these antibodies provide direct evidence that $(Na^+,\;K^+)-ATPase$ is the molecular machinery of active cation transport in this reconstituted $(Na^+,\;K^+)-ATPase$ vesicular system.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.432-442
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• 1992

To identify the histological site of synthesis of yolk protein precursor, vitellogenin, by immunocytochemical method in the freshwater crab Eriocheir japonicus, we purified the yolk protein, vitellin, from crude egg extracts, and prepared the anti-rabbit serum against vitellin. Then, the site of vitellogenin synthesis was demonstrated by immunotytochemical method with PAP(peroxidase-antiperoxidase) reaction using the rabbit antiserum aganist vitellin. Female specific serum protein was identified in female serum by immunoelectrophoresis and Ouchterlony's immunodiffusion test for mature male and female sera. Based on the immunoelectrophoresis and Ouchterlony's diffusion test for mature male and female sera and crude egg extracts using antiserum against vitellogenic female serum absorbed with male serum, the female specific serum protein was identified as vitellogenin, detected in female serum only. The major yolk protein, vitellin, was purified from the crude egg extracts by DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography, followed by sepharose CL-4B gel filteration chromatography. The molecular weight of vitellin was estimated to be about 245,000 dalton by sepharose CL-4B gel filteration chromatography. from the results of immunological analysis for vitellin, it was found that the vitellin antiserum contained the antibody against vitellogenin. In the results of immunocytochemical reaction by PAP method with the rabbit antiserum against vitellin, the vitellogenic oocytes and the hepatopancreas of mature female showed positive PAP reaction, but not in follicle cells and previtellogenic oocytes nf ovary, muscle of female and mature male hepatopancreas. Therefore, it showed that the hepatopancreas of mature female is the site of vitellogenic synthesis.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1997

We determined the microviscosity of synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles (SPMV) isolated from bovine cerebral cortex and liposomes of total lipids (SPMTL) and phospholipids (SPMPL) extracted from SPMV. Changes in the microviscosity induced by the range and rate of lateral diffusion were measured by the intramolecular excimerization of 1, 3-di(1-pyrenyl)propane (Py-3-Py). The microviscosity values of the direct probe environment in SPMV, SPMTL and SPMPL were 38.17, 31.11 and 27.64 cP, respectively, at$37^{\circ}C$and the activation energies $(E_a)$ of the excimer formation of Py-3-Py in SPMV, SPMTL and SPMPL were 8.236, 7.448 amd 7.025 kcal/mol, respectively. Probe location was measured by polarity and polarizability parameters of the probe Py-3-Py and probe analogues, pyrene, 1-pyrenenonanol and 1-pyrenemethyl-3${\beta}$-hydroxy-22, 23-bisnor-5-cholenate (PMC), incorporated into membranes or solubilized in reference solvents. There existed a good linear relationship between the first absorption peak of the $^1_a$ band and the polarizability parameter $(n^{2}-1)/(2n^{2}+1)$.The calculated refractive index values for SPMV, SPMTL and SPMPL were close to 1.50, which is higher than that of liquid paraffin (n=l.475). The probe location was also determined by using a polarity parameter $(f-1/2f^{I})$. Here f=$({\varepsilon}-1)/(2{\varepsilon}+1)$ is the dielectric constant function and $f^I=(n^2-1)/(2n^2+1)$ is the refractive index function. A correlation existed between the monomer fluorescence intensity ratio and the solvent polarity parameter. The probes incorporated in SPMV, SPMTL, and SPMPL report a polarity value close to that of 1-hexanol $({\varepsilon}=13.29)$. In conclusion, Py-3-Py is located completely inside the membrane, not in the very hydrophobic core, but displaced toward the polar head groups of phospholipid molecules, e.g., central methylene region of aliphatic chains of phospholipid molecules.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.239-252
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• 2016

Two-dimensional materials offer unique characteristics for membrane applications to water technology. With its atomic thickness, availability and stackability, graphene in particular is attracting attention in the research and industrial communities. Here, we present a brief overview of the recent research activities in this rising topic with bringing two membrane architecture into focus. Pristine graphene in single- and polycrystallinity poses a unique diffusion barrier property for most of chemical species at broad ambient conditions. If well designed and controlled, physical and chemical perforation can turn this barrier layer to a thinnest feasible membrane that permits ultimate permeation at given pore sizes. For subcontinuum pores, both molecular dynamics simulations and experiments predict potential salt rejection to envisage a seawater desalination application. Another novel membrane architecture is a stack of individual layers of 2D materials. When graphene-based platelets are chemically modified and stacked, the interplanar spacing forms a narrow transport pathway capable of separation of solvated ions from pure water. Bearing unbeknownst permeance and selectivity, both membrane architecture - ultrathin porous graphene and stacked platelets - offer a promising prospect for new extraordinary membranes for water technology applications.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.217-236
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• 1979

The author's theory for plastic deformation was applied to superplastic alloys (Zn-Al eutectoid, Al-Cu, Pb-Sn, Sn-Bi, Mg-Al eutectics). The plastic deformation of the superplastic alloys could be described by two Maxwell models connected in parallel which represent two grain boundary flow units. The flow units are characterized by the two parameters $X_{gj}/{\alpha}_{gj}\;and\;{\beta}_{gj}$ (j=l or 2, g signifies the grain boundary) the values of which were obtained by applying our flow equation [Eq. (5)] to experiment. We confirmed that our flow equation describes the superplasticity very well. The curve of strain rate sensitivity m (=${\partial}\;In\;f/{\partial}\;In\;\dot{s})\;vs.\;-In\dot{s}$, where f and s are stress and strain rate, respectively, showed two peaks corresponding to flow unit gl and g2, the separation of the two peaks is determined by the difference between ${\beta}_{g1}\;and\;{\beta}_{g2}$. The condition of superplasticity is also determined by ${\beta}_{gj}$, which satisfies $\dot{s}_{mj}{\leqslant}1.53}{\beta}_{gj}$ [Eq.(13)], where $\dot{s}_{mj}$ is the s of the jth unit at the peak. The grain size dependence of ${\beta}_{gj}$ is described by $ln({\beta}_{gj})^{-1}$=alnx+b [Eq. (16)], where x is the grain size, and a and b are constants. The activation enthalpy for each flow unit, ${\Delta}H_{gj}^{\neq}$ was also determined from the temperature dependence of ${\beta}_{gj}$ which is proportional to the relaxation time of the j th unit. Since the superplasticity is determined by Eq. (13), and since ${\beta}_{gj}$ and ${\Delta}H_{gj}^{\neq}$ are related, we obtained the conclusion that superplasticity occurs in the system having small ${\Delta}H_{gj}^{\neq}$ values. The Aej values were equal to the activation enthalpies of grain boundary self-diffusion of the component atoms of the alloys, this accords with our proposed flow mechanism. The ${\Delta}H_{gj}^{\neq}$ value increases with grain size as expected from Eq. (16).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2016

Background: Rhizospheric fungi play an essential role in the plantesoil ecosystem, affecting plant growth and health. In this study, we evaluated the fungal diversity in the rhizosphere soil of 2-yr-old healthy Panax notoginseng cultivated in Wenshan, China. Methods: Culture-independent Illumina MiSeq and culture-dependent techniques, combining molecular and morphological characteristics, were used to analyze the rhizospheric fungal diversity. A diffusion test was used to challenge the phytopathogens of P. notoginseng. Results: A total of 16,130 paired-end reads of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 were generated and clustered into 860 operational taxonomic units at 97% sequence similarity. All the operational taxonomic units were assigned to five phyla and 79 genera. Zygomycota (46.2%) and Ascomycota (37.8%) were the dominant taxa; Mortierella and unclassified Mortierellales accounted for a large proportion (44.9%) at genus level. The relative abundance of Fusarium and Phoma sequenceswas high, accounting for 12.9% and 5.5%, respectively. In total,113 fungal isolates were isolated from rhizosphere soil. They were assigned to five classes, eight orders (except for an Incertae sedis), 26 genera, and 43 species based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer. Fusarium was the most isolated genus with six species (24 isolates, 21.2%). The abundance of Phoma was also relatively high (8.0%). Thirteen isolates displayed antimicrobial activity against at least one test fungus. Conclusion: Our results suggest that diverse fungi including potential pathogenic ones exist in the rhizosphere soil of 2-yr-old P. notoginseng and that antagonistic isolates may be useful for biological control of pathogens.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 1986

Crack, craze and void are common defects which may be found in the bulk of polymeric materials such as either themoplastics or thermosets. The healing phenomena, autohesion, of these defects are known to be a intrinsic material property of various polymeric materials. However, only a few experimental and theoretical investigations on crack, void and craze healing phenomena for various polymeric materials have been reported up to date [1, 2, 3]. This may be partly due to the complications of healing processes and lacking of appropriate theoretical developments. Recently, some investigators have been urged to study the healing phenomena of various polymenic materials since the significance of the use of polymer based alloys or composites has been raised in terms of specific strength and energy saving. In the earlier published reports [1, 2, 3, 4], the crack and void healing velocity, healing toughness and some other healing mechanical and physical properties were measured experimentally and compared with predicted values by utilizing a simple model such as the reptation model under some resonable assumptions. It seems, however, that the general acceptance of the proposed modeling analyses is yet open question. The crack healing processes seem to be complicate and highly dependent on the state of virgin material in terms of mechanical and physical properties. Furthermore, it is also strongly dependent on the histories of crack, craze and void development including fracture suface morphology, the shape of void and the degree of disentanglement of fibril in the craze. The rate of crack healing may be a function of environmental factors such as healing temperature, time and pressure which gives different contact configurations between two separated surfaces. It seems to be reasonable to assume that the crack healing processes may be divided in several distinguished steps like stress relaxation with molecular chain arrangement, surface contact (wetting), inter- diffusion process and com;oete healing (to obtain the original strength). In this context, it is likely that we no longer have to accept the limitation of cumulative damage theories and fatigue life if it is probable to remove the defects such as crack, craze and void and to restore the original strength of polymers or polymer based compowites by suitable choice of healing histories and methods. In this paper, we wish to present a very simple and intuitive theoretical model for the prediction of healed fracture toughness of cracked or defective polymeric components. The central idea of this investigation, thus, may be the modeling of behavior of chain molecules under healing conditions including the effects of chain scission on the healing processes. The validity of this proposed model will be studied by making comparisons between theoretically predicted values and experimentally determined results in near future and will be reported elsewhere.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.131-140
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• 2005

In this work we show the results of our most recent Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of turbulent viscoelastic channel flow using spectral spatial approximations and a stabilizing artificial diffusion in the viscoelastic constitutive model. The Finite-Elasticity Non-Linear Elastic Dumbbell model with the Peterlin approximation (FENE-P) is used to represent the effect of polymer molecules in solution, The corresponding rheological parameters are chosen so that to get closer to the conditions corresponding to maximum drag reduction: A high extensibility parameter (60) and a moderate solvent viscosity ratio (0.8) are used with two different friction Weissenberg numbers (50 and 100). We then first find that the corresponding achieved drag reduction, in the range of friction Reynolds numbers used in this work (180-590), is insensitive to the Reynolds number (in accordance to previous work). The obtained drag reduction is at the level of $49\%\;and\;63\%$, for the friction Weissenberg numbers 50 and 100, respectively. The largest value is substantially higher than any of our previous simulations, performed at more moderate levels of viscoelasticity (i.e. higher viscosity ratio and smaller extensibility parameter values). Therefore, the maximum extensional viscosity exhibited by the modeled system and the friction Weissenberg number can still be considered as the dominant factors determining the levels of drag reduction. These can reach high values, even for of dilute polymer solution (the system modeled by the FENE-P model), provided the flow viscoelasticity is high, corresponding to a high polymer molecular weight (which translates to a high extensibility parameter) and a high friction Weissenberg number. Based on that and the changes observed in the turbulent structure and in the most prevalent statistics, as presented in this work, we can still rationalize for an increasing extensional resistance-based drag reduction mechanism as the most prevalent mechanism for drag reduction, the same one evidenced in our previous work: As the polymer elasticity increases, so does the resistance offered to extensional deformation. That, in turn, changes the structure of the most energy-containing turbulent eddies (they become wider, more well correlated, and weaker in intensity) so that they become less efficient in transferring momentum, thus leading to drag reduction. Such a continuum, rheology-based, mechanism has first been proposed in the early 70s independently by Metzner and Lamley and is to be contrasted against any molecularly based explanations.