• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.166-171
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• 2023

Monocytes are peripheral leukocytes that function in innate immunity. Excessive triglyceride (TG) accumulation causes monocyte death and thus can compromise innate immunity. However, the mechanisms by which TG mediates monocyte death remain unclear to date. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which TG induces monocyte death. Results showed that TG induced monocyte death by activating caspase-3/7 and promoting poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. In addition, TG induced DNA damage and activated the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)/checkpoint kinase 2 and ATM-and Rad3-related (ATR)/checkpoint kinase 1 pathways, leading to the cell death. Furthermore, TG-induced DNA damage and monocyte death were mediated by caspase-2 and -8, and caspase-8 acted as an upstream molecule of caspase-2. Taken together, these results suggest that TG-induced monocyte death is mediated via the caspase-8/caspase-2/DNA damage/executioner caspase/PARP pathways.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.24.1-24.7
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• 2023

Assays of clinical diagnosis and species identification using molecular markers are performed according to a quantitative method in consideration of sensitivity, cost, speed, convenience, and specificity. However, typical polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay is difficult to quantify and have various limitations. In addition, to perform quantitative analysis with the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) equipment, a standard curve or normalization using reference genes is essential. Within the last a decade, previous studies have reported that the digital PCR (dPCR) assay, a third-generation PCR, can be applied in various fields by overcoming the shortcomings of typical PCR and qRT-PCR assays. We selected Stilla Naica System (Stilla Technologies), Droplet Digital PCR Technology (Bio-Rad), and Lab on an Array Digital Real-Time PCR analyzer system (OPTOLANE) for comparative analysis among the various droplet digital PCR platforms currently in use commercially. Our previous study discovered a molecular marker that can distinguish Hanwoo species (Korean native cattle) using Hanwoo-specific genomic structural variation. Here, we report the pros and cons of the operation of each dPCR platform from various perspectives using this species identification marker. In conclusion, we hope that this study will help researchers to select suitable dPCR platforms according to their purpose and resources.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.113-118
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• 2016

Hydatidosis has become a real concern for health care institutions and animal rearers in Tunisia. The Tunisian endemicity is aggravated by the growing number of dogs and the difficulty of getting rid of contaminated viscera because of the lack of equipment in most slaughterhouses. Therefore, microscopic and molecular tools were applied to evaluate the role of slaughterhouses in canine infection and Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s. l.) egg dissemination. Exposure risk to E. granulosus s. l. eggs in urban and rural areas was explored in order to implant preventive and adapted control strategies. Microscopic examinations detected taeniid eggs in 152 amongst 553 fecal samples. The copro-PCR demonstrated that 138 of 152 taeniid samples analyzed were positive for E. granulosus s. l. DNA. PCR-RFLP demonstrated that all isolated samples belonged to E. granulosus sensu stricto (s. s.). An important environmental contamination index (25.0%) by E. granulosus s. l. eggs was demonstrated. The average contamination index from the regions around slaughterhouses (23.3%; 95% CI: 17.7-28.9%) was in the same range as detected in areas located far from slaughterhouses (26.0%, 95% CI: 21.3-30.8%). Echinococcosis endemic areas were extended in both rural (29.9%, 95% CI: 24.8-34.9%) and urban locations (18.1%, 95% CI: 13.0-22.9%). The pathogen dissemination is related neither to the presence/absence of slaughterhouses nor to the location in urban or rural areas, but is probably influenced by human activities (home slaughtering) and behavior towards the infected viscera.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10985-10989
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• 2015

Background: The capability for DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair is crucial for inherent radiosensitivity of tumor and normal cells. We have investigated the clinicopathologic significance of DNA repair gene expression in nasopharyngeal (NP) carcinoma. Materials and Methods: A total of 65 NP cancer patients who received radiotherapy were included. The immunopositivity to Ku 70, DNA-PKcs, MRN, RAD50, XRCC4, and LIG4 were examined in all tumor tissues. Results: The patients comprised 42 males and 23 females, with a median age of 56 years (range, 18-84). The expression levels of RAD50 (0,+1,+2,+3) were 27.7%, 32.3%, 21.5%, and 18.5%. LIG4 (${\pm}$) were 43.1% and 56.9% respectively. The 5-year OS rate of patients with LIG4 (${\pm}$) were 90% and 67.9%, respectively (p=0.035). The 5-year TTP rate of patients with LIG4 (${\pm}$) were 75.9%, 55.5%, respectively (P=0.039). Conclusions: Our results suggest the possibility of predicting the radiosensitivity of NP cancer by performing immunohistochemical analysis of LIG4.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.593-600
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• 2014

Normal rice starch (NRS) possesses high gelling and retrogradation tendencies, with poor freeze-thaw stability. This study investigated the effects of partial replacement of waxy rice starch (WRS) with gums on the pasting and viscoelastic properties as well as the freeze-thaw stability of the WRS paste. Xanthan gum (XAT), locust bean gum (LBG), and their mixtures were individually mixed with WRS at a ratio of 1:19 (w/w). WRS-gum mixtures were pasted using a rapid visco-analyzer at 5% total solid content, and analyzed with respect to the pasting and viscoelastic characteristics, and freeze-thaw stability. Pasting properties of WRS were retarded in pasting temperature and enhanced in pasting viscosity (although peak viscosity was varied) by partial replacement with gum and gum mixtures. Storage moduli of WRS-XAT:LBG pastes became similar to those of NRS paste with increasing angular frequency from 1 to 10 rad/s. Finally, WRS-XAT and WRS-XAT:LBG possessed more enhanced freeze-thaw stability than NRS.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.231-242
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• 1976

The effects of temperature and pressure of leaching water on the leaching of radionuclides from bitumen-waste products were studied. The principal results are as follows: The fraction of $^{90}$ Sr and $^{137}$ Cs leached for periods of up to 120 days at 8atm was 2.1$\times$10$^{-6}$ ($\textrm{cm}^2$/g)$^{-1}$ , day$^{-1}$ and 6.02$\times$10$^{-5}$ ($\textrm{cm}^2$/g)$^{-1}$ day$^{-1}$ respectively and at 5$^{\circ}C$, 1.7$\times$10$^{-5}$ ($\textrm{cm}^2$/g)$^{-1}$ day$^{-1}$ and 4.01$\times$10$^{-5}$ ($\textrm{cm}^2$/g)$^{-1}$ day$^{-1}$ respectively. These values were lower than those in atmospheric pressure and room temperature. No diffence in the leaching rate with sea and distilled water was observed for the bitumen-waste products containing 40wt% salts. It appears that these results could be saved by improving safety in the dumping of sea. The effect of the softening point of pure asphalt or bitumen-waste product by $^{60}$ Co irradiation was increased with increasing total dose. Irradiation of asphalts at a total dose of 5.8$\times$10$^{8}$ rad showed no evidence of volume and caused no swelling. The functional groups of blown asphalt by infrared spectra are also identified.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2000

In order to develop an appropriate cultural practice for a newly bred 2-rowed, waxy, naked barley cultivar 'Duwonchapssalbori' in the southern region, 2 varieties, 3 seeding dates, 4 seeding rates were designed with 2 replications. The heading and maturity dates of 'Duwonchapssalbori' were' earlier than 'Saessalbori by 2-5 and 4 days, respectively. Culm length of 'Duwonchapssalbori' was 60 to 66cm with lodging resistance. Grain yields of both varieties were 4.28-4.33 ton/ha in the plot of Oct. 20 seeding, 4.11-4.18 ton in the plot of Oct. 28 seeding, and 3.7-13.89 ton/ha in the Nov. 5 seeding. Grain yield with different seeding rates highly significantly fitted with secondary polynomial equations in the plots of Oct. 20 and Oct. 28 seedings ($R^2$=0.84-0.85), showing the greatest yield with seeding rate of 140kg per ha. However, the grain yield with various seeding rates in the plot of Nov. 5 seeding showed simple linear regression ($R^2$=0.71), showing the seeding rate over 160kg in the case of later seeding to be optimal. Number of spikes per $m^2$ significantly contributed to grain yield, and fitted to simple linear regression ($R^2$=0.881-0.891), suggesting that plenty of early stands should be established at early seedling stage for high grain yield. Young spikes of 'Duwonchapssalbori' in the plot of Oct. 20 seeding elongated with linear increments since Feb. 10 (6.7mm), and showed rapid increment since March 7 (15.1mm). However, elongation of young spikes of 'Saessalbori' began from March 15 with slow increments. From these studies, the optimum seeding date and seeding rate in 'Duwonchapssalbori' were Oct. 20-28 and 140kg per ha for high grain yield in the southern regions.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1167-1184
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• 2015

Despite considerable life casualty and financial loss resulting from past earthquakes, many existing steel buildings are still seismically vulnerable as they have no lateral resistance or at least need some sort of retrofitting. Passive control methods with decreasing seismic demand and increasing ductility reduce rate of vulnerability of structures against earthquakes. One of the most effective and practical passive control methods is to use a shear panel system working as a ductile fuse in the structure. The shear Panel System, SPS, is located vertically between apex of two chevron braces and the flange of the floor beam. Seismic energy is highly dissipated through shear yielding of shear panel web while other elements of the structure remain almost elastic. In this paper, lateral behavior and related benefits of this system with narrow-flange link beams is experimentally investigated in chevron braced simple steel frames. For this purpose, five specimens with IPE (narrow-flange I section) shear panels were examined. All of the specimens showed high ductility and dissipated almost all input energy imposed to the structure. For example, maximum SPS shear distortion of 0.128-0.156 rad, overall ductility of 5.3-7.2, response modification factor of 7.1-11.2, and finally maximum equivalent viscous damping ratio of 35.5-40.2% in the last loading cycle corresponding to an average damping ratio of 26.7-30.6% were obtained. It was also shown that the beam, columns and braces remained elastic as expected. Considering this fact, by just changing the probably damaged shear panel pieces after earthquake, the structure can still be continuously used as another benefit of this proposed retrofitting system without the need to change the floor beam.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.87-110
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• 2020

Catamaran has recently been a choice to support a typical vertical axis turbine in floating tidal current energy conversion system. However, motion responses associated with the catamaran can reduce the turbines efficiency. The possibility to overcome this problem isto change the catamaran parameter by varying and simulating the demi-hull separations to have lower motion responses. This simulation was undertaken by Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) using potential flow analysis. Cases of demi-hull separation were considered, with ratios of demi-hull separation (S) to the breadth of demi-hull (B), ^S/_B of 3.45, 4.95, 6.45, 7.2 and 7.95. In order to compare to the previous works in the literature, the regular wave was set with wave height of 0.8 m. Furthermore, the analysis was carried out by irregular waves with significant wave height, H_s, of about 0.09 to 1.5 m and the wave period, T, of about 1.5 to 6 s or corresponding to the wave frequency, ω, of about 1.1 to 4.2 rad/s. The wave spectrum was derived from the equation of the International Towing Tank Conference (ITTC). For the case of turbines-loaded catamaran under consideration, the new finding is that the least significant amplitude response can be satisfied at the ratio ^S/_B of 7.2. This study indicates that selecting a right choice of demi-hull separation ratio could contribute in reducing motion responses of the tidal current turbines-loaded catamaran.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 1990

This experiment was performed to clarify the effects of /sup 60/Co gamma irradiation on secretory function, amylase activity and contents of nucleic acids of parotid gland in rat. Experimental animals were divided into 6th hours, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days after irradiation and control. The experimental animals are singly irradiated with 20Gy (2,000rad) through protective lead block. Secretory function of parotid gland was evaluted by uptake and clearance of /sup 99m/TcO₄. /sup 99m/TcO₄. 0.2μ ci/gm, was injected into peritonium in uptake groups. Rats were sacrified with cervical dislocation after 30 minutes and gland was excised. In the clearance group. pilocarpine nitrate (8㎎/㎏) was intraperitoneally injected at 30 minutes after /sup 99m/TcO₄ injection and rats were sacrified 30 minutes after pilocarpine injection. Radioactivity of excised parotid gland was measured by using of gamma counter and stimulation-secretion coefficients, uptake radioactivity divided by clearance radioactivity, was calculated. Amylase activity and contents of DNA and RNA were determined by spectrophotometry. The results obtained were as follows: 1. In the uptake test, the radioactivity of /sup 99m/TcO₄ per unit weight increase in experimental group except 6th hours group, compared with control groups and showed a peak at 3rd days after irradiation. 2. In the clearance test, the radioactivity of /sup 99m/cO₄per unit weight rose to a peak at 3rd days after irradiation and gradually recovered thereafter. 3. Stimulation-secretion coefficient of parotid gland decreased at 6th hours, 3rd and 7th days after irradiation, and gradually increased. 4. Amylase activity of parotid gland decreased in 3rd and 7th days group, and especially lowest in 3rd days after irradiation. 5. The contents of DNA showed no definite difference in all the experimental groups, but RNA was seemed to decrease with time after irradiation.