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Microbe Hunting: A Curious Case of Cryptococcus

  • Bartlett, Karen H.;Kidd, Sarah;Duncan, Colleen;Chow, Yat;Bach, Paxton;Mak, Sunny;MacDougall, Laura;Fyfe, Murray
    • Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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    • 2005.06a
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    • pp.45-72
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    • 2005
  • C. neoformans-associated cryptococcosis is primarily a disease of immunocompromised persons, has a world-wide distribution, and is often spread by pigeons in the urban environment. In contrast, C. gattii causes infection in normal hosts, has only been described in tropical and semi-tropical areas of the world, and has a unique niche in river gum Eucalyptus trees. Cryptococcosis is acquired through inhalation of the yeast propagules from the environment. C. gattii has been identified as the cause of an emerging infectious disease centered on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. No cases of C. gattii-disease were diagnosed prior to 1999; the current incidence rate is 36 cases per million population. A search was initiated in 2001 to find the ecological niche of this basidiomycetous yeast. C. gaftii was found in the environment in treed areas of Vancouver Island. The highest percentage of colonized-tree clusters were found around central Vancouver Island, with decreasing rates of colonization to the north and south. Climate, soil and vegetation cover of this area, called the Coastal Douglas fir biogeoclimatic zone, is unique to British Columbia and Canada. The concentration of airborne C. gattii was highest in the dry summer months, and lowest during late fall, winter, and early spring, months which have heavy rainfall. The study of the emerging colonization of this organism and subsequent cases of environmentally acquired disease will be informative in planning public health management of new routes of exposure to exotic agents in areas impacted by changing climate and land use patterns. Cryptococcosis is an infection associated with an encapsulated, basidiomycetous yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. The route of entry for this organism is through the lungs, with possible systemic spread via the circulatory system to the brain and meninges. There are four cryptococcal serogroups associated with disease in humans and animals, distinguished by capsular polysaccharide antigens. Cryptococcus neoformans: variety grubii (serotype A), variety neoformans (serotype D), and variety gattii (serotypes B and C) (Franzot et at. 1999). C. neoformans variety gattii has recently been elevated to species status, C. gattii. C. neoformans val. grubii and var. neoformans have a world-wide distribution, and are particularly associated with soil and weathered bird droppings. In contrast, C. gattii (CG) is not associated with bird excrement, is primarily found in tropical and subtropical climates, and has a restricted environmental niche associated with specific tree species. (Ellis & Pfiffer 1990) Ellis and Pfeiffer theorize that, as a basidiomycete, CG requires an association with a tree in order to become pathogenic to mammals. In Australia, CG has been found to be associated with five species of Eucalypts, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. tereticornis, E. blakelyi, E. gomphocephala, and E. rudis. Eucalypts, although originally native to Australia, now have a world-wide distribution. CG has been found associated with imported eucalypts in India, California, Brazil, and Egypt. In addition, in Brazil and Columbia, where eucalypts have been naturalized, native trees have been shown to harbour CG (Callejas et al. 1998; Montenegro et al. 2000). In British Columbia, Canada, since the beginning of 1999, there have been 120 confirmed cases of cryptococcal mycoses associated with CG in humans, including 4 fatalities (data from British Columbia Centre for Disease Control), and over 200 cases in animal pets in BC (data from Central Laboratory for Veterinarians). What is remarkable about the BC outbreak of C. gattii-cryptococcosis is that all of the cases have been residents of, or visitors to, a narrow area along the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, BC, from the tip of the island in the south (Victoria) to Courtenay on the north-central island as illustrated in Figure 1. Of the first 38 human cases, 58% were male with a mean age of 59.7 years (range 20 - 82): 36 cases (95%) were Caucasian. Ten cases (26%) presented with meningitis, the remainder presented with respiratory symptoms. Cultures recovered from cases of cryptococcosis associated with the outbreak were typed as serogroup B, which is specific to CG (Bartlett et al. 2003). This was the first reported outbreak of CVG in Canada, or indeed, the world. Where infection with CG is endemic, for example, Australia, the incidence of cryptococcosis ranges from 1.8 - 4.7 per million between the southern and northern states (Sorrell 2001). However, the overall incidence of cryptococcosis in immunocompenent individuals has been estimated at 0.2 per million population per year (Kwon-Chung et al. 1984). The population of Vancouver Island is approximately 720,000,consequently, even if the organism were endemic, one would expect a maximum of 0.15 cases of cryptococcal disease annually.

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Spectral Characteristics of Sea Surface Height in the East Sea from Topex/Poseidon Altimeter Data (Topex/Poseidon에서 관측된 동해 해수면의 주기특성 연구)

  • 황종선;민경덕;이준우;원중선;김정우
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.34 no.4
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    • pp.375-383
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    • 2001
  • We extracted sea surface heights(SSH) from the TopexJPoseidon(T/P) radar altimeter data to compare with fhe SSH estimated from in-situ lide gauges(T/G) at Ulleungdo, Pohang, and SockcholMucko sites. Selection criteria such as wet/dry troposphere, ionosphere, and ocean tide were used to estimate accurate SSH. For time series analysis, the one-hour interval tide gauge SSHs were resampled al lO-day interval of the satellite SSHs. The ocean tide model applied in the altimeter data processing showed periodic aliasings of 175.5 day, 87.8 day, 62J day, 58.5 day, 49.5 day and 46.0 day, and, hence, the ZOO-day filtering was applied to reduce these spectral noises. Wavenumber correlation analysis was also applied to extract common components between the two SSHs, resulting in enhancing the correlation coefficient(CC) dramatically. The original CCs between the satenite and tide gauge SSHs are 0.46. 0.26, and 0.]5, respectively. Ulleungdo shows the largest cc bec;luase the site is far from the coast resulting in the minimun error in the satellite observations. The CCs were then increased to 0.59, 030, and 0.30, respectively, after 200.day filtering, and to 0.69, 0.63. and 0.59 after removing inversely correlative components using wavenumber correlation analysis. The CCs were greatly increased by 87, 227, and 460% when the wavenumber correlation analysis was followed by 2oo-day filtering, resulting in the final CCs of 0.86, 0.85, 0.84, respectively. It was found that the best SSHs were estimated when the two methods were applied to the original data. The low-pass filtered TIP SSHs were found to be well correlated with the TIG SSHs from tide gauges, and the best correlation results were found when we applied both low-pass filtering and spectral correlation analysis to the original SSHs.

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Integrity evaluation of grouting in umbrella arch methods by using guided ultrasonic waves (유도초음파를 이용한 강관보강다단 그라우팅의 건전도 평가)

  • Hong, Young-Ho;Yu, Jung-Doung;Byun, Yong-Hoon;Jang, Hyun-Ick;You, Byung-Chul;Lee, Jong-Sub
    • Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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    • v.15 no.3
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    • pp.187-199
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    • 2013
  • Umbrella arch method (UAM) used for improving the stability of the tunnel ground condition has been widely applied in the tunnel construction projects due to the advantage of obtaining both reinforcement and waterproof. The purpose of this study is to develop the evaluation technique of the integrity of bore-hole in UAM by using a non-destructive test and to evaluate the possibility of being applied to the field. In order to investigate the variations of frequency depending on grouted length, the specimens with different grouted ratios are made in the two constraint conditions (free boundary condition and embedded condition). The hammer impact reflection method in which excitation and reception occur simultaneously at the head of pipe was used. The guided waves generated by hitting a pipe with a hammer were reflected at the tip and returned to the head, and the signals were received by an acoustic emission (AE) sensor installed at the head. For the laboratory experiments, the specimens were prepared with different grouted ratios (25 %, 50 %, 75 %, 100 %). In addition, field tests were performed for the application of the evaluation technique. Fast Fourier transform and wavelet transform were applied to analyze the measured waves. The experimental studies show that grouted ratio has little effects on the velocities of guided waves. Main frequencies of reflected waves tend to decrease with an increase in the grouted length in the time-frequency domain. This study suggests that the non-destructive tests using guided ultrasonic waves be effective to evaluate the bore-hole integrity of the UAM in the field.

Beak Trimming Methods - Review -

  • Glatz, P.C.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.13 no.11
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    • pp.1619-1637
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    • 2000
  • A review was undertaken to obtain information on the range of beak-trimming methods available or under development. Beak-trimming of commercial layer replacement pullets is a common yet critical management tool that can affect the performance for the life of the flock. The most obvious advantage of beak-trimming is a reduction in cannibalism although the extent of the reduction in cannibalism depends on the strain, season, and type of housing, flock health and other factors. Beak-trimming also improves feed conversion by reducing food wastage. A further advantage of beak-trimming is a reduction in the chronic stress associated with dominance interactions in the flock. Beak-trimming of birds at 7-10 days is favoured by Industry but research over last 10 years has shown that beak-trimming at day-old causes the least stress on birds and efforts are needed to encourage Industry to adopt the practice of beak-trimming birds at day-old. Proper beak-trimming can result in greatly improved layer performance but improper beak-trimming can ruin an other wise good flock of hens. Re-trimming is practiced in most flocks, although there are some flocks that only need one trimming. Given the continuing welfare scrutiny of using a hot blade to cut the beak, attempts have been made to develop more welfare friendly methods of beak-trimming. Despite the developments in design of hot blade beak-trimmers the process has remained largely unchanged. That is, a red-hot blade cuts and cauterises the beak. The variables in the process are blade temperature, cauterisation time, operator ability, severity of trimming, age of trimming, strain of bird and beak length. This method of beak-trimming is still overwhelmingly favoured in Industry and there appears to be no other alternative procedures that are more effective. Sharp secateurs have been used trim the upper beak of both layers and turkeys. Bleeding from the upper mandible ceases shortly after the operation, and despite the regrowth of the beak a reduction of cannibalism has been reported. Very few differences have been noted between behaviour and production of the hot blade and cold blade cut chickens. This method has not been used on a large scale in Industry. There are anecdotal reports of cannibalism outbreaks in birds with regrown beaks. A robotic beak-trimming machine was developed in France, which permitted simultaneous, automated beak-trimming and vaccination of day-old chicks of up to 4,500 chickens per hour. Use of the machine was not successful because if the chicks were not loaded correctly they could drop off the line, receive excessive beak-trimming or very light trimming. Robotic beak-trimming was not effective if there was a variation in the weight or size of chickens. Capsaicin can cause degeneration of sensory nerves in mammals and decreases the rate of beak regrowth by its action on the sensory nerves. Capsaicin is a cheap, non-toxic substance that can be readily applied at the time of less severe beak-trimming. It suffers the disadvantage of causing an extreme burning sensation in operators who come in contact with the substance during its application to the bird. Methods of applying the substance to minimise the risk to operators of coming in contact with capsaicin need to be explored. A method was reported which cuts the beaks with a laser beam in day-old chickens. No details were provided on the type of laser used, or the severity of beak-trimming, but by 16 weeks the beaks of laser trimmed birds resembled the untrimmed beaks, but without the bill tip. Feather pecking and cannibalism during the laying period were highest among the laser trimmed hens. Currently laser machines are available that are transportable and research to investigate the effectiveness of beak-trimming using ablasive and coagulative lasers used in human medicine should be explored. Liquid nitrogen was used to declaw emu toes but was not effective. There was regrowth of the claws and the time and cost involved in the procedure limit the potential of using this process to beak-trim birds.

Effect of Epidural Analgesia on the Post-thoracotomy Patient (경막외 진통법이 개흉술후 환자에게 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Yong-Jai;Shin, Hwa-Kyun;Kim, Sun-Han;Kwon, Oh-Chun;Nam, Chung-Hee;Rho, Jung-Kee;Lee, Kihl-Rho;Kim, Young-Ah;Lee, Jang-Won;Shin, Hyung-Chul;Kim, Il-Ho;Kim, Soon-Im;Kim, Sun-Chong;Park, Wook
    • The Korean Journal of Pain
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.37-43
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    • 1992
  • Postoperative hypoxemia in the absence of hypoventilation occurs more often after thoracic or upper abdominal surgery than lower abdominal operations or surgery on extremities. Although the factors which produce postoperative alveolar collapse have not been fully evaluated, the dominant factor of postoperative hypoxemia is shunt of blood passing collapsed alveoli and the postoperative pain is associated with restriction of depth of breathing, sighing and movement. In 1979, the first successful clinical usage of epidurally administered morphine for control of postoperative pain was reported by Behar and associates. This study was carried out for twenty patients who received posterolateral thoracostomy with bleb resection between May 1990 and May 1991 and who were primary spontaneous recurrent pneumothoraxes under general endotracheal anesthesia. For the relief of post-thoracotomy pain following of the general anesthesia, we selected ten patients as control group which were treated intermittently IM with injection of pethidine(50 mg) according to the conventional method and another ten patients as study group which were managed with thoracic epidural analgesia. The tip of the catheter was inserted to T4-5 epidural space through T12-L1 or L1-2 interspinous region before the induction of the general anesthesia and then the epidural analgesics(0.25% bupivacaine 15 ml+morphine 3 mg) was injected once a day via the catheter until 4 th POD in the study group. The epidural catheters were removed at postoperative 4 th day in study group. Clinical observations were done about vital signs, ABG, tidal volume, FVC and occurence of adverse effects during postoperative 2hr, 8hr, 1st day, 2nd day, 7th day in both groups. The results were as follows; (1) The values of $V_T$ and FVC were significantly improved in study group(85% and 66%) as compared with control group(76% and 61%) during the postoperative 4 day of the epidural analgesia. (2) After the end of the epidural analgesia(7th POD), the values of FVC were improved invertly rather in control group(98%) than study group(84%). It suggested that the reduction of FVC in study group were caused by the raised pain sensitivity following the end of epidural analgesia. (3) The side effects of epidural analgesia such as transient urinary retention(2 cases), itching sensation(1) and headache(1) were noted.

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A Study on the Historical Origin of Private Security Industry in Korea (우리나라 보안산업의 역사적 기원에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Chang-Moo
    • Korean Security Journal
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    • no.22
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    • pp.91-111
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    • 2010
  • Around the middle of the ninth century the strict bone-rank system of Silla frustrated many people who had political ambition but lacked nobility. They had to seek other ways, including maritime trade. Such an undertaking reflected and also increased their economic and military power. Trade prospered with T'ang China and with Japan as well. The threat of piracy to Silla's thriving maritime trade caused to create a succession of garrisons at important coastal points. Chonghae Jin (Chonghae garrison) was regarded as the most important of these. It was established in 828 by Chang Pogo. Chonghae Jin was on Wando, an island just east of the southwestern tip of Korea and a key place at this time in the trade between China, Korea, and Japan. From this vantage point Chang Pogo became a merchant-prince with extensive holdings and commercial interests in China and with trade contacts with Japan. Although piracy was rampant in East Asia at that time, either the Chinese or Silla government was not able to control it due to inner political strife and lack of policing resources. Infuriated by the piracy and the government's inability to control it, Chang Pogo came back to Silla to fight against the pirates and to protect maritime trade. He persuaded the king of Silla and was permitted to control the private armed forces to sweep away the pirates. In 829 he was appointed Commissioner of Chonghae-Jin with the mission of curbing piracy in that region. Chang's forces were created to protect people from pirates, but also developed into traders among Silla Korea, T'ang China, and Japan in the 9th century. This was geographically possible because the Chonghae Garrison was situated at the midpoint of Korea, China, and Japan, and also because Chang's naval forces actually dominated the East Asia Sea while patrolling sea-lanes. Based on these advantages, Chang Pogo made a great fortune, which might be collected from a charge for protecting people from pirates and the trades with China and Japan. Chang's forces could be termed the first private security company in the Korean history, at least in terms of historical documents. Based on historical documents, the numbers of private soldiers might be estimated to exceed tens of thousands at least, since Chang's forces alone were recorded to be more than ten thousand. Because local powers and aristocratic elites were said to have thousands of armed forces respectively, the extent of private forces was assumed to be vast, although they were available only to the privileged class. In short, the domination of Chang's forces was attributable to the decline of central government and its losing control over local powers. In addition it was not possible without advanced technologies in shipbuilding and navigation.

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Effect of Several Application Methods of Yakto on Growth Status of Aerial Parts in Ginseng Seedlings (약토 시용방법이 인삼 양직묘 지상부 생육에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Sung-Sik;Cheon, Seong-Ki;Lee, Tae-Su;Yoon, Jong-Hyuk;Park, Hyeon-Suk;Shin, Seong-Lyon;Choi, Kwang-Tae;Lee, Gab-Soo;Ju, Seong-Don;Chung, Jae-Dong
    • Journal of Ginseng Research
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.201-206
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    • 2004
  • This experiment was conducted to determine the economic application method of Yakto among 6 application method : amount of Yakto application $3\;plot(70\;l,\;25.5\;l,\;13,3\;l/kan;\;180cm{\times}90cm),$ and added side dressing(3 l/kan) each plot. The reduced amoumt of Yakto application(25.5 l, 13.3 l/kan) were lower the contents of inorganic nitrogen, $P_{2}O_{5},\;K,\;Ca$ and Mg, but similar pH in bed soil compared with standard Yakto application(70 l/kan). Side dressing applicated on 29 May increased the contents of inorganic nitrogen, $P_{2}O_{5},\;K,\;Ca,\;Mg$ and salt concentration in bed soil compared with non­side dressing in each Yakto application plot(70 l, 25.5 l, 13,3 l/kan). The reduced amoumt of Yakto application(25.5 l/kan) added side dressing(3 l/kan) were similar the contents of inorganic nitrogen, K, Mg and salt but lower $P_{2}O_{5}$ and Ca in bed soil compared with standard Yakto application(70 l/kan) in June. The reduced amoumt of Yakto application(25,5 l/Kan) added side dressing(3 l/kan) was similar the contents of P, K, Ca and Mg but lower N in leaves compared with standard Yakto application(70 l/kan). The reduced amoumt of Yakto application(25.5 l/kan) added side dressing(3 l/kan) was shorter stem length, and higher $5{\%}$ chlorosis of leaf tip, but similar emergence ratio, survival ratio, leaf senescence ratio, chlorophyll, stem diameter and leaf area compared with standard Yakto application(70 l/kan). These suggested that 25.5 l Yakto application added side dressing(3 l/kan) per kan might be possible economical application method of Yakto.

Fusarium moniliforme Detected in Seeds of Corn and Its Pathological Significance (옥수수 종자(種子)에서 검출(檢出)된 Fusarium moniliforme와 그 병리학적(病理學的) 중요성(重要性))

  • Kim, Wan-Gyu;Oh, In-Seok;Yu, Seung-Hun;Park, Jong-Seong
    • The Korean Journal of Mycology
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.105-110
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    • 1984
  • Seven seed samples of corn obtained from Kangweon Provincial Office of Rural Development, Kerea were tested for seed-borne fungi, and found that all the samples tested were infected with Fusarium moniliforme to an extent of $6.0{\sim}79.5%$. Severely infected seed samples showed poor germination on blotter. Seed component plating showed that the fungus present not only in tip caps, pericarps and endosperms, but also in embryos. Heavy infection of the fungus caused severe seed rot and seedling blight in soil, but the damage was not severe and many plants grew without any symptoms when the seeds with light infection were sown in soil. However the fungus was frequently detected from inside of the stems of healthy looking seedlings. The results indicate that the fungus transmit from seed to plant systemically. In inoculation experiments, the fungus produced stem rots on corn plants of 110 days old. The cultivar of Hwangok 3 was revealed more susceptible to the fungus than that of Suweon 19.

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A Study on the Engineering Behaviour of Prebored and Precast Steel Pipe Piles from Full-Scale Field Tests and Finite Element Analysis (실규모 현장시험 및 유한요소해석을 통한 강관매입말뚝의 공학적 거동에 대한 연구)

  • Kim, Jeong-Sub;Jung, Gyoung-Ja;Jeong, Sang-Seom;Jeon, Young-Jin;Lee, Cheol-Ju
    • Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.5-16
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    • 2018
  • In the current study, the engineering behaviour of prebored and precast steel pipe piles was examined from a series of full-scale field measurements by conducting static pile load tests, dynamic pile load tests (EOID and restrike tests) and Class-A and Class-C1 type numerical analysis. The study includes the pile load - settlement relations, allowable pile capacity and shear stress transfer mechanism. Compared to the allowable pile capacity obtained from the static pile load tests, the dynamic pile load tests and the numerical simulation showed surprisingly large variations. Overall among these the restrike tests displayed the best results, however the reliability of the predictions from the numerical analysis was lower than those estimated from the dynamic pile load tests. The allowable pile capacity obtained from the EOID tests and the restrike tests indicated 20.0%-181.0% (avg: 69.3%) and 48.2%-181.1% (avg: 92.1%) of the corresponding measured values from the static pile loading tests, respectively. Furthermore, the computed results from the Class-A type analysis showed the largest scatters (37.1%-210.5%, avg: 121.2%). In the EOID tests, a majority of the external load were carried by the end bearing pile capacity, however, similar skin friction and end bearing capacity in magnitude were mobilised in the restrike tests. The measured end bearing pile capacity from the restrike tests were smaller than was measured from the EOID tests. The present study has revealed that if the impact energy is not sufficient in a restrike test, the end bearing pile capacity most likely will be underestimated. The shear stresses computed from the numerical analysis deviated substantially from the measured pile force distributions. It can be concluded that the engineering behaviour of the pile is heavily affected if a slime layer exists near the pile tip, and that the smaller the stiffness of the slime and the thicker the slime, the greater the settlement of the pile.

Micropropagation of Oak Seedlings from 37 Plus Half-Sib Families (참나무류(類) 수형목(秀型木) 37가계(家系)의 기내증식(器內增殖))

  • Moon, Heung Kyu;Youn, Yang;Son, Sung Ho;Lee, Suk Koo;Yi, Jae Sun
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.82 no.1
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    • pp.26-33
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    • 1993
  • In vitro shoot proliferation and rooting were tested for 2-0 seedlings of half-sib families of 4 plus oaks trees. Nodal segments having axillary buds from 37 families(16 of Quercus acutissima, 10 of Q. variabilis, 7 of Q. serrata, and 4 of Q. mongolica) were cultured on WPM(Woody Plant Medium) supplemented with 0.5 mg/l BA (6-benzyladenine) and 0.01 mg/l NAA(${\alpha}$-naphthalene acetic acid) and subcultured at 2-3 weeks of intervals fur 6 months. In vitro rooting was carried out on GD(Gresshoff and Doy) medium supplemented with 0.5mg/l IBA(indole butyric acid). The capacity for shoot proliferation and rooting was highly varied with families. Generally, white oaks(Q. serrata and Q. mongolica) showed poor response than black oaks(Q. acutissima and Q, variabilis) in shoot proliferation and rooting. Among the total of 37 families, 7 of Q. acutissima, each 2 of Q. variabilis, Q. serrata, and Q. mongolica revealed abilities for continuous shoot proliferation, and the others failed to proliferate. Rooting of the selected oak trees also greatly varied among the families. In Q. acutissima, rooting ratio ranged from 10.0%(CB 25. KG 4) to 89.8%(CB 18). Although 26.7% of KG 16 in Q. variabilis, 3.3% of JN 15 in Q. serrata were rooted, Q. mongolica was not rooted at all in this experimental conditions. No relationship between shoot growth and the rooting ability was observed. Present results suggest the possibility of large-scale micropropagation, but further studies on family differences, shoot-tip necrosis, and callusing of rooting junction are still required to develop reliable micropropagation systems.

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