• Mycobiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2011

Botryosphaeran, a water-soluble exopolysaccharide of the ${\beta}-(1{\rightarrow}3;1{\rightarrow}6)$-D-glucan type that has been isolated from the culture medium of Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05 grown in submerged fermentation using glucose as the sole carbon source, was previously demonstrated to be non-genotoxic in peripheral blood and bone marrow, and exhibited strong anticlastogenic activity. In the present study, the effects of botryosphaeran were investigated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats as well as in high-fat diet-fed hyperlipidemic Wistar rats. The plasma glucose level was reduced by 52% in the diabetic group of rats after administration of 12 mg botryosphaeran/kg body weight of the rats (b.w.)/day by gavage over 15 days. A reduction in the median ration intake was accompanied by an increase in the median body weight gain, as well as the efficiency of food conversion. These results demonstrate that botryosphaeran has protective effects by reducing the symptoms of cachexia in Diabetes mellitus. Botryosphaeran administered by gavage at a concentration of 12 mg botryosphaeran/kg b.w./day over 15 days also reduced the plasma levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol by 18% and 27%, respectively, in hyperlipidemic rats. Based on these findings, we conclude that botryosphaeran possesses hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic properties in conditions of diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia, respectively, and may be used as an oral anti-diabetic agent.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.167-172
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• 1998

한국 및 일본을 포함한 동아시아 지역에 벡터 매개성 바이러스에 의한 소 질병으로 인하여 경제적 손실이 몇년을 주기로 극심하게 나타나고 있다. 그러나 본 질병의 정확한 역학에 대하여는 아직까지 확실한 연구가 되어 있지 않은 상태이다. 본 연구에서는 벡터 매개성 질병에 대한 역학을 좀더 명확하게 밝히기 위하여, 일본 열도중 가장 멀리 떨어져 있으며, 아열대 지역에 속하는 오끼나와 섬에서 사육되고 있으면서 백신접종을 받지 않은 소(Japanese black cattle)를 대상으로 하여 1988년도부터 1992년도에 걸쳐 벡터 매개성 바이러스군에 대한 중화항체가를 측정하고 분석하였다. 소의 유행성 바이러스(bovine ephemeral virus)에 대한 항체 양성율은 연도 및 계절별로 크게 변화를 보였고, Ibaraki virus에 대한 항체양성율은 그 어느 다른 계절보다도 5월에 높은 항체가를 보였으며, Akabane virus에 대한 항체 양성율은 이바라키 바이러스에 대한 항체 양성율과 유사한 수준으로 나타났다. 한편 Chuzan virus에 대한 항체양성율은 계절적인 변화가 심하지 않은 것으로 나타났다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.91-98
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• 2017

This study was conducted to optimize the spring constant and the damping coefficient, which are design parameters of the tractor cabin suspension system, to minimize the ride vibration. A 3D tractor MBD (multi-body dynamics) model with a cabin suspension system was developed using a dynamic analysis program (Recurdyn). Using the developed model and optimization algorithm, the spring constant and the damping coefficient, which are the design parameters of the cabin suspension for the tractor, was were optimized so thatto minimize the maximum overshoot for the vertical displacement of the cabin was minimized. The percent maximum overshoot of the tractor cabin was simulated for the 13 initial models, which were obtained using the ISCD-II method, and for the 3 additional SAO models presented in the optimization algorithm software. The model that represents with the smallest percent maximum overshoot among the 16 models was selected as the optimized model. The percent maximum overshoot of the optimized model was about approximately 5% lower than that of the existing model.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2017

Selecting an appropriate antigen with optimal immunogenicity and physicochemical properties is a pivotal factor to develop a protein based subunit vaccine. Despite rapid progress in modern molecular cloning and recombinant protein technology, there remains a huge challenge for purifying and using protein antigens rich in hydrophobic domains, such as membrane associated proteins. To overcome current limitations using hydrophobic proteins as vaccine antigens, we adopted in silico analyses which included bioinformatic prediction and sequence-based protein 3D structure modeling, to develop a novel periodontitis subunit vaccine against the outer membrane protein FomA of Fusobacterium nucleatum. To generate an optimal antigen candidate, we predicted hydrophilicity and B cell epitope parameter by querying to web-based databases, and designed a truncated FomA (tFomA) candidate with better solubility and preserved B cell epitopes. The truncated recombinant protein was engineered to expose epitopes on the surface through simulating amino acid sequence-based 3D folding in aqueous environment. The recombinant tFomA was further expressed and purified, and its immunological properties were evaluated. In the mice intranasal vaccination study, tFomA significantly induced antigen-specific IgG and sIgA responses in both systemic and oral-mucosal compartments, respectively. Our results testify that intelligent in silico designing of antigens provide amenable vaccine epitopes from hard-to-manufacture hydrophobic domain rich microbial antigens.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.30.1-30.10
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• 2018

Background: The poultry industry suffers losses from problems as pale, soft and exudative (PSE), and dark, firm and dry (DFD) meat can develop in meat as a result of short- and long-term stress, respectively. These abnormalities are impacted by pre-slaughter animal welfare. Methods: This work evaluated the effects of open vehicle container microclimate, throughout the $38{\pm}10km$ journey from the farm to the slaughterhouse, on commercially turkey transported during the Brazilian winter season. The journey was initiated immediately after water bath in truck fitted with portable Kestrel anemometers to measure air ventilation, relative humidity, temperature and ventilation. Results: The inferior compartments of the middle and rear truck regions showed highest temperature and relative humidity, and lower air ventilation. In addition, the superior compartments of the front truck regions presented lower temperature and wind chill, and highest air ventilation. The breast meat samples from animals located at the inferior compartments of the middle and rear truck regions and subjected to with water bath (WiB) treatment presented highest DFD-like and had lowest PSE-like meat incidence than those from animals located at other compartments within the container. Lower incidence of PSE-like meat was observed in birds without water bath (WoB). Conclusions: Assessment on turkeys transported under Brazilian southern winter conditions revealed that breast meat quality can be affected by relative humidity, air ventilation, temperature, and transport under subtropical conditions promoting color abnormalities and the formation of simultaneously PSE-like and DFD-like meat.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.284-288
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• 2011

For the purpose of the pre-industry production of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and full understanding of the supercritical polymerization system, large scale polymerization of L-iactide initiated by 1-dodecano/stannous 2-ethyl-hexanoate (DoOH/Sn(Oct)$_2$) was carried out in supercritical chlorodifluoromethane under various reaction conditions (time, temperature and pressure)and reactants (monomer and supercritical solvent) concentrations. A 3 L sized-reactor system was used throughout this study. The monomer conversion increased to 72% on increasing reaction time to 5 h. The molecular weight of PLLA product also increased to 68000 g/moi over the same period. An increase in monomer concentration resulted in a higher molecular weight, up to 144000 g/mol and 97% of monomer conversion. Raising the reaction pressure from 130 to 240 bar also resulted in an increased monomer conversion and molecular weight. To increase heat resistivity of PLLA, methanol treatment and heat-vacuum methods were evaluated. Both of them successfully improved the heat resistivity property of PLLA.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.129-143
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• 2009

Objective : This study was aimed to investigate the general features and differences between obesity and skinniness of patients with Bell's palsy. Methods : We measured the sex, age. BMI. pulse diagnosis and HBGS (House-Brackmann Grading System) of 234 patients who were diagnosed with Bell's palsy. Results and Conclusions : The results with statistical significance were as follows (1) The distribution of age revealed that 40s was the most at 30.8 %: (2) The improvement period in facial palsy patients with sub-paralysis was shorter than whole-paralysis. And in one part the more we treated, the shorter the improvement period was: (3) In distribution of fat rate in facial palsy patients, obesity was the most at 61.37%, low weight 15.88%. So we found that the fatter the patients was. the higher the onset rate was: (4) In distribution of pulse diagnosis in facial palsy patients with obesity. the ratio of Xu mai (虛脈) was 67.06%. Shi mai (實脈) 32.94%. The Xu mai was similar to Qi xu (氣虛). So we found that the facial palsy patients with obesity were more Qi xu than with low weight. In distribution of pulse diagnosis in facial palsy patients with skinniness, the ratio of Chi mai (遲脈) was none. Shuo mai (數脈) was most: (5) In distribution of region in facial palsy patients with obesity-Xu mai. the ratio of left was 45.10%, right 54.90%, but this result was not statistically significant.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the quality of sleep in snoring obese children without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); and to study the possible relationship between sleep interruption and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in snoring obese children. Methods: Study subjects included 13 snoring obese children who were referred to our sleep lab for possible sleep-disordered breathing. Patients underwent multichannel intraluminal impedance and esophageal pH monitoring with simultaneous polysomnography. Exclusion criteria included history of fundoplication, cystic fibrosis, and infants under the age of 2 years. Significant association between arousals and awakenings with previous reflux were defined by symptom-association probability using 2-minute intervals. Results: Sleep efficiency ranged from 67-97% (median 81%). A total of 111 reflux episodes (90% acidic) were detected during sleep, but there were more episodes per hour during awake periods after sleep onset than during sleep (median 2.3 vs. 0.6, p=0.04). There were 279 total awakenings during the sleep study; 56 (20.1%) of them in 9 patients (69.2%) were preceded by reflux episodes (55 acid, 1 non-acid). In 5 patients (38.5%), awakenings were significantly associated with reflux. Conclusion: The data suggest that acid GER causes sleep interruptions in obese children who have symptoms of snoring or restless sleep and without evidence of OSA.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2016

A challenge in the redox field is the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms, by which $H_2O_2$ mediates signal transduction in cells. This is relevant since redox pathways are disturbed in some pathologies. The transcription factor OxyR is the $H_2O_2$ sensor in bacteria, whereas Cys-based peroxidases are involved in the perception of this oxidant in eukaryotic cells. Three possible mechanisms may be involved in $H_2O_2$ signaling that are not mutually exclusive. In the simplest pathway, $H_2O_2$ signals through direct oxidation of the signaling protein, such as a phosphatase or a transcription factor. Although signaling proteins are frequently observed in the oxidized state in biological systems, in most cases their direct oxidation by $H_2O_2$ is too slow ($10^1M^{-1}s^{-1}$ range) to outcompete Cys-based peroxidases and glutathione. In some particular cellular compartments (such as vicinity of NADPH oxidases), it is possible that a signaling protein faces extremely high $H_2O_2$ concentrations, making the direct oxidation feasible. Alternatively, high $H_2O_2$ levels can hyperoxidize peroxiredoxins leading to local building up of $H_2O_2$ that then could oxidize a signaling protein (floodgate hypothesis). In a second model, $H_2O_2$ oxidizes Cys-based peroxidases that then through thiol-disulfide reshuffling would transmit the oxidized equivalents to the signaling protein. The third model of signaling is centered on the reducing substrate of Cys-based peroxidases that in most cases is thioredoxin. Is this model, peroxiredoxins would signal by modulating the thioredoxin redox status. More kinetic data is required to allow the identification of the complex network of thiol switches.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.265-269
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• 2014

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of different ultrasonic tip designs on intraradicular post removal. Materials and Methods: The crowns of forty human canine teeth were removed, and after biomechanical preparation and filling, the roots were embedded in acrylic resin blocks. The post spaces were made, and root canal molding was performed with self-cured acrylic resin. After casting (Cu-Al), the posts were cemented with zinc phosphate cement. The specimens were randomly separated into 4 groups (n = 10), as follows: G1 - no ultrasonic vibration (control); G2 - ultrasonic vibration using an elongated cylindrical-shaped and active rounded tip; G3 - ultrasonic vibration with a flattened convex and linear active tip; G4 - ultrasonic vibration with active semicircular tapered tip. Ultrasonic vibration was applied for 15 seconds on each post surface and tensile test was performed in a Universal Testing Machine (Instron 4444 - 1 mm/min). Results: G4 presented the highest mean values, however, with no statistically significant difference in comparison to G3 (p > 0.05). G2 presented the lowest mean values with statistically significant difference to G3 and G4 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Ultrasonic vibration with elongated cylindrical-shaped and active rounded tip was most effective in reducing force required for intraradicular post removal.