• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.569-577
• /
• 2018

Background: The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) infection represents a global public health emergency. We evaluated the usefulness of a newly developed multiplexed, bead-based bioassay (Quantamatrix Multiplexed Assay Platform [QMAP], QuantaMatrix, Seoul, Korea) to rapidly identify the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and detect rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) resistance-associated mutations. Methods: A total of 200 clinical isolates from respiratory samples were used. Phenotypic anti-TB drug susceptibility testing (DST) results were compared with those of the QMAP system, reverse blot hybridization (REBA) MTB-MDR assay, and gene sequencing analysis. Results: Compared with the phenotypic DST results, the sensitivity and specificity of the QMAP system were 96.4% (106/110; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9072-0.9888) and 80.0% (72/90; 95% CI 0.7052-0.8705), respectively, for RIF resistance and 75.0% (108/144; 95% CI 0.6731-0.8139) and 96.4% (54/56; 95% CI 0.8718-0.9972), respectively, for INH resistance. The agreement rates between the QMAP system and REBA MTB-MDR assay for RIF and INH resistance detection were 97.6% (121/124; 95% CI 0.9282-0.9949) and 99.1% (109/110; 95% CI 0.9453-1.0000), respectively. Comparison between the QMAP system and gene sequencing analysis showed an overall agreement of 100% for RIF resistance (110/110; 95% CI 0.9711-1.0000) and INH resistance (124/124; 95% CI 0.9743-1.0000). Conclusions: The QMAP system may serve as a useful screening method for identifying and accurately discriminating MTBC from non-tuberculous mycobacteria, as well as determining RIF- and INH-resistant MTB strains.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 2024

Green Hydrogen demonstration complex is under conduction in Jeju island which is rich in renewable energy resources and will produces green hydrogen using a water electrolysis systems. In order to check durability of long-term operation, AST(accelerated stress test) was applied and the power pattern based on Jeju Island's wind power was applied. After 800 hours of repeated application of low current and high current, the performance of the PEM water electrolysis cell was reduced by up to 10% and by about 5.5% in operating conditions. As the result of impedance analysis, it can be seen that the electrode polarization resistance greatly increased than ohmic polarization resistance. In addition, when the durability evaluation was conducted by applying the wind power pattern of Jeju Island, the performance of the PEM water electrolysis cell showed up to 1.6% and a decrease of less than 1% in operating conditions. As a result of the impedance, it can be seen that the change of ohmic resistance and electrode polarization resistance is small.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.111-118
• /
• 2008

Pull-out resistance tests of root were carried out for 7 shrub species which are mainly used greening of deteriorated forest slope. Mean pull-out resistance forces of Aralia elata, Salix koreensis and Stephanandra incisa were 37.26 kgf, 34.56 kgf and 26.00 kgf, respectively. The pull-out resistances were high as collar diameter and volume of the root increased. Correlations between root collar diameter and root volume were high in Rubus crataegifolius, but on the other hand, the correlation was lowest in Zanthoxylum schinifolium. There were significant differences in pull-out resistance by root collar diameters, and the difference of pull-out resistance by species showed only below 20 ml root volume.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2019.04a
• /
• pp.62-62
• /
• 2019

Bacterial leaf blight(BLB), caused by X. oryzae pv. oryzae(Xoo), is one of the most destructive diseases of rice due to its high epidemic potential. Understanding BLB resistance at a genetic level is important to further improve the rice breeding that provides one of the best approaches to control BLB disease. In the present investigation, a collection of 192 accessions was used in the genome-wide association study (GWAS) for BLB resistance loci against four Korean races of Xoo that were represented by the prevailing BLB isolates under Xoo differential system. A total of 192 accessions of rice germplasm were selected on the basis of the bioassay using four isolated races of Xoo such as K1 and K2. The selected accessions was used to prepare 384-plex genotyping by sequencing (GBS) libraries and Illumina HiSeq 2000 pairedend read was used for GBS sequencing. GWAS was conducted using TASSEL 5.0. The TASSEL program uses a mixed linear model (MLM). The results of the bioassay using a selected set of 192 accessions showed that a large number of accessions (93.75%) were resistant to K1 race and K2 resistant germplasm proportion remained between 66.67. The genotypic data produced SNP matrix for a total of 293,379 SNPs. After imputation the missing data was removed, which exhibited 34,724 SNPs for association analysis. GWAS results showed strong signals of association at a threshold of [-log10(P-value)] more than 5 (K1 and K2) for nine of the 39 SNPs, which are plausible candidate loci of resistance genes. These SNP loci were positioned on rice chromosome 2, 9, and 11 for K1 and K2 races. The significant loci detected have also been illustrated and make the CPAS markers for NBS-LRR type disease resistance protein, SNARE domain containing protein, Histone deacetylase 19, NADP-dependent oxidoreductase, and other expressed and unknown proteins. Our results provide a better understanding of the distribution of genetic variation of BLB resistance to Korean pathogen races and breeding of resistant rice.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.32-38
• /
• 2001

Effects of the ratio of rubber composition on covulcanization and ozone resistance were studied in this study. Specimens used in this study were rubber compounds(specimen-A) blended with various ratio of NR, SBR, BR, IIR, and EPDM, unsaturated rubber compounds(specimen-B) with NR/BR/SBR, and saturated rubber compounds(specimen-C) with NR/IIR/EPDM. PAD adhesion specimen was prepared from vulcanizing specimen-A and B, and specimen-A and C, respectively. Using same adhesion specimen, peel strength was measured and tested ozone resistance. In specimen-A, peel strength was higher with increasing NR ratio for NR and BR contained blends. In other specimen-A containing NR and SBR, the peel strength was also increased with increasing SBR ratio. NR/BR/IIR/EPDM rubber compounds had also better adhesion property than NR/SBR/IIR/EPDM compounds. As more unsaturated rubber was blended, the peel strength was higher but ozone resistance was worse. Optimum ratio of unsaturated and saturated rubbers for the peel strength and ozone resistance was 60/40.

• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.91-96
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of different yarn twisting methods on physical properties. Plain single jersey structured fabrics were knitted from Kevlar yarn, and from Kevlar/HPPE, and from Kevlar/Basalt fiber, and from Kevlar/Glass fiber and Kevlar/Stainless steel fiber blended and core-spun yarns. and then, The fabrics were coated NBR Latex. The physical properties, including tear strength, modulus, degree of penetration, heat resistance, and cut resistance of the knitted fabrics were investigated and compared. Kevlar/HPPE blended yarn fabrics recorded the highest heat resistance (13 Sec.). and Kevlar/HPPE blended yarn fabrics had good cut resistance (Cut Level 4).

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.448-457
• /
• 2024

Background/Aims: Improved knowledge of local epidemiology and predicting risk factors of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are required to optimize the management of infections. This study examined local epidemiology and antibiotic resistance patterns of liver cirrhosis (LC) patients and evaluated the predictors of MDR bacteremia in Korea. Methods: This was a retrospective study including 140 LC patients diagnosed with bacteremia between January 2017 and December 2022. Local epidemiology and antibiotic resistance patterns and the determinants of MDR bacteremia were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results: The most frequently isolated bacteria, from the bloodstream, were Escherichia coli (n = 45, 31.7%) and Klebsiella spp. (n = 35, 24.6%). Thirty-four isolates (23.9%) were MDR, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase E. coli (52.9%) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (17.6%) were the most commonly isolated MDR bacteria. When Enterococcus spp. were cultured, the majority were MDR (MDR 83.3% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.003), particularly vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium. Antibiotics administration within 30 days and/or nosocomial infection was a significant predictor of MDR bacteremia (OR: 3.40, 95% CI: 1.24-9.27, p = 0.02). MDR bacteremia was not predicted by sepsis predictors, such as positive systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA). Conclusions: More than 70% of strains that can be treated with a third-generation cephalosporin have been cultured. In cirrhotic patients, antibiotic administration within 30 days and/or nosocomial infection are predictors of MDR bacteremia; therefore, empirical administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics should be considered when these risk factors are present.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.37 no.12
• /
• pp.888-898
• /
• 2014

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal cancers and is associated with limited diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Currently, gemcitabine is the only effective drug and represents the preferred first-line treatment for chemotherapy. However, a high level of intrinsic or acquired resistance of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine can contribute to the failure of gemcitabine treatment. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms for gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer, we performed label-free quantification of protein expression in intrinsic gemcitabine-resistant and -sensitive human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines using our improved proteomic strategy, combined with filter-aided sample preparation, single-shot liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, enhanced spectral counting, and a statistical method based on a power law global error model. We identified 1931 proteins and quantified 787 differentially expressed proteins in the BxPC3, PANC-1, and HPDE cell lines. Bioinformatics analysis identified 15 epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and 13 EMT-related proteins that were closely associated with drug resistance were differentially expressed. Interestingly, 8 of these proteins were involved in glutathione and cysteine/methionine metabolism. These results suggest that proteins related to the EMT and glutathione metabolism play important roles in the development of intrinsic gemcitabine resistance by pancreatic cancer cell lines.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.186-191
• /
• 2014

Double layer films which consisted of aluminum(Al) and magnesium(Mg) have been prepared by e-beam deposition. The structure, alloy phase, and corrosion resistance of the prepared films were investigated before and after heat treatment. The first (bottom) layer fixed with Al, and the thickness ratio between Al and Mg layers has been changed from 1 : 1 to 5 : 1, respectively. Total thickness of Al-Mg film was fixed at $3{\mu}m$. The cold-rolled steel sheet was used as a substrate. Heat treatment was fulfilled in an nitrogen atmosphere at the temperature of $400^{\circ}C$ for 2, 3 and 10 min. Surface morphology of as-deposited Al-Mg film having Mg top layer showed plate-like structure. The morphology was not changed even after heat treatment. However, cross-sectional morphology of Al-Mg films was drastically changed after heat treatment, especially for the samples heat treated for 10 min. The morphology of as-deposited films showed columnar structure, while featureless structure of the films appeared after heat treatment. The x-ray diffraction data for as-deposited Al-Mg films showed only pure Al and Mg peaks. However, Al-Mg alloy peaks such as $Al_3Mg_2$ and $Al_{12}Mg_{17}$ appeared after heat treatment of the films. It is believed that the formation of Al-Mg alloy phase affected the structure change of Al-Mg film. It was found that the corrosion resistance of Al-Mg film was increased after heat treatment.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.41 no.10
• /
• pp.900-908
• /
• 2018

Insulin resistance is closely associated with metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) have been developed to ameliorate insulin resistance by activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) ${\gamma}$. Although TZDs are synthetic ligands for $PPAR{\gamma}$, metabolic outcomes of each TZD are different. Moreover, there are lack of head-to-head comparative studies among TZDs in the aspect of metabolic outcomes. In this study, we analyzed the effects of three TZDs, including lobeglitazone (Lobe), rosiglitazone (Rosi), and pioglitazone (Pio) on metabolic and thermogenic regulation. In adipocytes, Lobe more potently stimulated adipogenesis and insulin-dependent glucose uptake than Rosi and Pio. In the presence of pro-inflammatory stimuli, Lobe efficiently suppressed expressions of pro-inflammatory genes in macrophages and adipocytes. In obese and diabetic db/db mice, Lobe effectively promoted insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and suppressed pro-inflammatory responses in epididymal white adipose tissue (EAT), leading to improve glucose intolerance. Compared to other two TZDs, Lobe enhanced beige adipocyte formation and thermogenic gene expression in inguinal white adipose tissue (IAT) of lean mice, which would be attributable to cold-induced thermogenesis. Collectively, these comparison data suggest that Lobe could relieve insulin resistance and enhance thermogenesis at low-concentration conditions where Rosi and Pio are less effective.