• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1060-1068
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• 2021

Community-associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is notorious as a leading cause of soft tissue infections. Despite several studies on the Agr regulator, the mechanisms of action of Agr on the virulence factors in different strains are still unknown. To reveal the role of Agr in different CA-MRSA, we investigated the LACΔagr mutant and the MW2Δagr mutant by comparing LAC (USA300), MW2 (USA400), and Δagr mutants. The changes of Δagr mutants in sensitivity to oxacillin and several virulence factors such as biofilm formation, pigmentation, motility, and membrane properties were monitored. LACΔagr and MW2Δagr mutants showed different oxacillin sensitivity and biofilm formation compared to the LAC and MW2 strains. Regardless of the strain, the motility was reduced in Δagr mutants. And there was an increase in the long chain fatty acid in phospholipid fatty acid composition of Δagr mutants. Other properties such as biofilm formation, pigmentation, motility, and membrane properties were different in both Δagr mutants. The Agr regulator may have a common role like the control of motility and straindependent roles such as antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, change of membrane, and pigment production. It does not seem easy to control all MRSA by targeting the Agr regulator only as it showed strain-dependent behaviors.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.263-267
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• 2001

Beef samples of loin eye area from New Zealand, USA and three quality grades of Hanwoo were analyzed using near infrared spectrophotometer with reference values from laboratory optical Chromameter to determine effective spectrum range and mathematical treatment for determination of color values. $R^2s$ of prediction models were not improved much by calibrating with whole light range (400~2500 nm) compared to using visible range (400~1100 nm). Standard errors of calibration and prediction were influenced by possible bias due to sampling non-homogeneous sample sources. However, partial differentiation in the first order was more stable against sampling biases than second derivatives of the spectra. Lightness value was little different among the five sample sources of beef. Beef samples from USA were brighter and more reddish than beefs of Hanwoo or from New Zealand (p<0.05). Yellowness of USA beef was the highest followed by beef from New Zealand, which was also higher than Hanwoo beefs of three quality grades (p<0.05).

• KIEE International Transactions on Electrophysics and Applications
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• v.11C no.4
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• pp.99-106
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• 2001

An overview of Silicon Carbide (SiC) Static Induction Transistor (SIT) development is presented. Basic conduction mechanisms are introduced and discussed, including ohmic, exponential, and space charge limited conduction (SCLC) mechanisms. Additionally, the impact of velocity saturation and temperature effects on SCLC are reviewed. The small-signal model, breakdown voltage, power density, and different gate structures are also discussed, before a final review of published SiC SIT results. Published S-band (3-4 GHz) results include 9.5 dB of gain and output power of 120 W, and L-band (1.3 GHz) results include 400 W output power, 7.7 dB of gain, and power density of 16.7 W/cm.

• Proceedings of the KACD Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.558.2-558
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• 2001

The aims of this study are (1) to investigate the relation of irradiation mode, polymerization shrinkage and degree of cure of composite resin and(2) it effect on micorleakage of class V restorations. VIP(BISCO Dental Products, Schaumburg, IL, USA) and Optilux 501 (Demetron/Kerr, Danbury, CT, USA) curing lights were used for curing Z-250 composite resin following irradiation mode: VIP 200㎽d, VIP 400㎽, VIP 600㎽, pulse-delay(200㎽ 3sec, 5min wait, 600㎽ 30sec), Optilux R mode.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the KACD Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.555-555
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• 2001

The aims of this study are (1) to investigate the relation of irradiation mode, polymerzition shrinkage and degree of cure of composite resin and (2) it effect on microliakage of calss V restorations. VIP(BISCO Dental Products, Schaumburg, IL, USA) and Optilux 501(Demetron/Kerr, Danbury, CT, USA) curing lights were used for curing Z-250 composite resin following irradiation mode: VIP 200㎽, VIP 400㎽, VIP 600㎽, pulse-delay(200㎽ 3sec, 5min wait, 600㎽ 30sec), Optilux C mode, Optilux R mode.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the KACD Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.576-577
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• 2003

I. Objectives This study investigated the dentin shear bond strength and the degree of conversion (DC) of currently used dentin bonding agents (DBAs) that were irradiated with a light emitting diode (LED) light curing unit (LCU) and a halogen LCU. II. Materials and methods The halogen LCU and the LED LCU used in this study were a VIP(Bisco, Schaumburg, IL, USA) and an Elipar Freelight(3M ESPE, St Paul, MN, USA) respectively. For the VIP, $400mW{\cdot}cm-2$ intensity mode was used to adjust to the intensity of the LED LCU. The DBAs used in this study were Scotchbond Multipurpose (3M ESPE), Single Bond (3M ESPE), One-step(Bisco), Clearfil SE Bond(Kuraray), and Adper Prompt(3M ESPE).(omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.29-37
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• 2019

Purpose DMIDR(Discovery Molecular Imaging Digital Ready, General Electric Healthcare, USA) is a PET/CT scanner designed to allow application of PSF(Point Spread Function), TOF(Time of Flight) and Q.Clear algorithm. Especially, Q.Clear is a reconstruction algorithm which can overcome the limitation of OSEM(Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization) and reduce the image noise based on voxel unit. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the performance of reconstruction algorithms and optimize the algorithm combination to improve the accurate SUV(Standardized Uptake Value) measurement and lesion detectability. Materials and Methods PET phantom was filled with $^{18}F-FDG$ radioactivity concentration ratio of hot to background was in a ratio of 2:1, 4:1 and 8:1. Scan was performed using the NEMA protocols. Scan data was reconstructed using combination of (1)VPFX(VUE point FX(TOF)), (2)VPHD-S(VUE Point HD+PSF), (3)VPFX-S (TOF+PSF), (4)QCHD-S-400((VUE Point HD+Q.Clear(${\beta}-strength$ 400)+PSF), (5)QCFX-S-400(TOF +Q.Clear(${\beta}-strength$ 400)+PSF), (6)QCHD-S-50(VUE Point HD+Q.Clear(${\beta}-strength$ 50)+PSF) and (7)QCFX-S-50(TOF+Q.Clear(${\beta}-strength$ 50)+PSF). CR(Contrast Recovery) and BV(Background Variability) were compared. Also, SNR(Signal to Noise Ratio) and RC(Recovery Coefficient) of counts and SUV were compared respectively. Results VPFX-S showed the highest CR value in sphere size of 10 and 13 mm, and QCFX-S-50 showed the highest value in spheres greater than 17 mm. In comparison of BV and SNR, QCFX-S-400 and QCHD-S-400 showed good results. The results of SUV measurement were proportional to the H/B ratio. RC for SUV is in inverse proportion to the H/B ratio and QCFX-S-50 showed highest value. In addition, reconstruction algorithm of Q.Clear using 400 of ${\beta}-strength$ showed lower value. Conclusion When higher ${\beta}-strength$ was applied Q.Clear showed better image quality by reducing the noise. On the contrary, lower ${\beta}-strength$ was applied Q.Clear showed that sharpness increase and PVE(Partial Volume Effect) decrease, so it is possible to measure SUV based on high RC comparing to conventional reconstruction conditions. An appropriate choice of these reconstruction algorithm can improve the accuracy and lesion detectability. In this reason, it is necessary to optimize the algorithm parameter according to the purpose.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.111-127
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• 2023

Purpose: Gallium-68 (⁶⁸Ga) is increasingly used in nuclear medicine imaging for various conditions such as lymphoma and neuroendocrine tumors by labeling tracers like Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) and DOTA-TOC. However, compared to Fluorine-18 (¹⁸F) used in conventional nuclear medicine imaging, ⁶⁸Ga has lower spatial resolution and relatively higher Signal to Background Ratio (SBR). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the optimized parameters and reconstruction methods for PET/CT imaging using the ⁶⁸Ga radiotracer through model-based image evaluation. Materials and Methods: Based on clinical images of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT, a NEMA/IEC 2008 PET phantom model was prepared with a Hot vs Background (H/B) ratio of 10:1. Images were acquired for 9 minutes in list mode using DMIDR (GE, Milwaukee WI, USA). Subsequently, reconstructions were performed for 1 to 8 minutes using OS-EM (Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization) + TOF (Time of Flight) + Sharp IR (VPFX-S), and BSREM (Block Sequential Regularized Expectation Maximization) + TOF + Sharp IR (QCFX-S-400), followed by comparative evaluation. Based on the previous experimental results, images were reconstructed for BSREM + TOF + Sharp IR / 2 minutes (QCFX-S-2min) with varying β-strength values from 100 to 700. The image quality was evaluated using AMIDE (freeware, Ver.1.0.1) and Advanced Workstation (GE, USA). Results: Images reconstructed with QCFX-S-400 showed relatively higher values for SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio), CNR (Contrast to Noise Ratio), count, RC (Recovery Coefficient), and SUV (Standardized Uptake Value) compared to VPFX-S. SNR, CNR, and SUV exhibited the highest values at 2 minutes/bed acquisition time. RC showed the highest values for a 10 mm sphere at 2 minutes/bed acquisition time. For small spheres of 10 mm and 13 mm, an inverse relationship between β-strength increase and count was observed. SNR and CNR peaked at β-strength 400 and then decreased, while SUV and RC exhibited a normal distribution based on sphere size for β-strength values of 400 and above. Conclusion: Based on the experiments, PET/CT imaging using the ⁶⁸Ga radiotracer yielded the most favorable quantitative and qualitative results with a 2 minutes/bed acquisition time and BSREM reconstruction, particularly when applying β-strength 400. The application of BSREM can enhance accurate quantification and image quality in ⁶⁸Ga PET/CT imaging, and an optimization process tailored to each institution's imaging objectives appears necessary.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.432-438
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Lespedeza caneata extract on the livers of alcohol-administered mice. The study subjects were divided into a control (Con), alcohol administration (AL), alcohol and Lespedeza Caneata extract 200 mg/kg administration (AL-LC 200), and alcohol and Lespedeza caneata extract400 mg/kg administration (AL-LC 400) group. Distilled water was administrated orally to control and alcohol groups for ten days, while Lespedeza caneata extract was administered orally to alcohol and Lespedeza caneata extract groups for ten days. All experimental groups were fasted for twelve hours seven days after the oral administration, after which distilled water was administered orally to Con five times at twelve-hour intervals. At the same time, 50% ethanol (MERCK, USA) at 10 g/kg concentration was administered orally to AL and AL-LC groups five times at 12-hour intervals. The AST, ALT enzyme activation in blood and histology of the liver were then evaluated. AST and ALT in AL-LC groups were lower than in the AL group. Particularly, the AL-LC 200 and AL-LC 400 groups had significantly lower AST activation than the AL group. Histological results showed that most of the subjects in the AL group had necrosis and deformation in their livers, while fat droplets were accumulated in hepatic cells around the central vein. AL-LC 200 group revealed that a portion of the central vein was swollen, liver cells were expanded, and small fat droplets were accumulated. In the AL-CL 400 group, the central vein was normal and small fat droplets were accumulated in some liver cells. However, most of the liver cells appeared normal in the AL-CL 400 group. These results suggest that the extracts of Lespedeza caneata prevented alcohol induced liver damage in mice and have great potential for use as natural health products.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.158-174
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of light irradiation modes on polymerization shrinkage, degree of cure and microleakage of a composite resin. VIP$^{TM}$ (Bisco Dental Products, Schaumburg, IL, USA) and Optilux 501$^{TM}$ (Demetron/Kerr, Danbury, CT, USA) were used for curing Filtek$^{TM}$ Z-250 (3M Dental Products, St. Paul., MN, USA) composite resin using following irradiation modes: VIP$^{TM}$ (Bisco) 200mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ (V2), 400mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ (V4), 600mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ (V6), Pulse-delay (200 mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ 3 seconds, 5 minutes wait, 600mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ 30seconds, VPD) and Optilux 501$^{TM}$ (Demetron/Kerr) C-mode (OC), R-mode (OR). Linear polymerization shrinkage of the composite specimens were measured using Linometer (R&B, Daejeon, Korea) for 90 seconds for V2, V4, V6, OC, OR groups and for up to 363 seconds for VPD group (n=10, each). Degree of conversion was measured using FTIR spectrometer (IFS 120 HR, Bruker Karlsruhe, Germany) at the bottom surface of 2 mm thick composite specimens V2, Y4, V6, OC groups were measured separately at five irradiation times (5, 10, 20, 40, 60 seconds) and OR, VPD groups were measured in the above mentioned irradiation modes (n=5 each). Microhardness was measured using Digital microhardness tester (FM7, Future-Tech Co., Tokyo, Japan) at the top and bottom surfaces of 2mm thick composite specimens after exposure to the same irradiation modes as the test of degree of conversion(n=3, each). For the microleakage test, class V cavities were prepared on the distal surface of the ninety extracted human third molars. The cavities were restored with one of the following irradiation modes : V2/60 seconds, V4/40 seconds, V6/30 seconds, VPD , OC and OR. Microleakage was assessed by dye penetration along enamel and dentin margins of cavities. Mean polymerization shrinkage, mean degree of conversion and mean microhardness values for all groups at each time were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test, and using chi-square test far microleakage values. The results were as follows : . Polymerization shrinkage was increased with higher light intensity in groups using VIP$^{TM}$ (Bisco) : the highest with 600mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$, followed by Pulse-delay, 400mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ and 200mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ groups, The degree of polymerization shrinkage was higher with Continuous mode than with Ramp mode in groups using Optilux 501$^{TM}$ (Demetron/Kerr). . Degree of conversion and microhardness values were higher with higher light intensity. The final degree of conversion was in the range of 44.7 to 54.98% and the final microhardness value in the range of 34.10 to 56.30. . Microleakage was greater in dentin margin than in enamel margin. Higher light intensity showed more microleakage in dentin margin in groups using VIP$^{TM}$ (Bisco). The microleakage was the lowest with Continuous mode in enamel margin and with Ramp mode in dentin margin when Optilux 501$^{TM}$ (Demetron/Kerr) was used.