• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2015

Pyronaridine and artesunate have been shown to be effective in falciparum malaria treatment. However, pyronaridine is rarely used in Hainan Island clinically, and artesunate is not widely used as a therapeutic agent. Instead, conventional antimalarial drugs, chloroquine and piperaquine, are used, explaining the emergence of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. In this article, we investigated the sensitivity of P. falciparum to antimalarial drugs used in Hainan Island for rational drug therapy. We performed in vivo (28 days) and in vitro tests to determine the sensitivity of P. falciparum to antimalarial drugs. Total 46 patients with falciparum malaria were treated with dihydroartemisinin/piperaquine phosphate (DUO-COTECXIN) and followed up for 28 day. The cure rate was 97.8%. The mean fever clearance time ($22.5{\pm}10.6hr$) and the mean parasite clearance time ($27.3{\pm}12.2hr$) showed no statistical significance with different genders, ages, temperatures, or parasite density (P>0.05). The resistance rates of chloroquine, piperaquine, pyronarididine, and artesunate detected in vitro were 71.9%, 40.6%, 12.5%, and 0%, respectively (P<0.0001). The resistance intensities decreased as follows: chloroquine>piperaquine>pyronarididine>artesunate. The inhibitory dose 50 ($IC_{50}$) was $3.77{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, $2.09{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, $0.09{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, and $0.05{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, and the mean concentrations for complete inhibition (CIMC) of schizont formation were $5.60{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, $9.26{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, $0.55{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, and $0.07{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$, respectively. Dihydroartemisinin showed a strong therapeutic effect against falciparum malaria with a low toxicity.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.253-260
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• 2002

To find the optimal rearing conditions for Saxidomus purpuratus juvenile, filtering activity was estimated as functions of algal concentration and temperature by measuring the rates of clearance (CR) and ingestion (IR), when S. purpuratus was feeding. The clams were fed on unialgal diet of Isochrysis galbana at 6 algal concentrations (4.6$\times$$10^4$~2.6$\times$$10^6$ cells/ml) and at 6 temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30^{\circ}C ). Algal concentration significantly affected the CR and the IR at all temperatures. At lower algal concentrations, CR increased, but decreased beyond a particular concentration. The maximum CR ($CR_{max}$) at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30^{\circ}C were 0.30, 1.73, 5.95, 15.17, 21.12, and 0.33 $l/g/h$, respectively. Below the level of 5.6$\times$10$^{5}$ cells/ml, IR increased as algal concentration increased, but was saturated at higher concentrations. To maintain high growth rate of S. purpuratus, I. galbana should be supplied with more than 5.6$\times$10$^{5}$ cells/ml. The maximum IR ($IR_{max}$) at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and30^{\circ}C were $2.2$\times$10^8, $1.5\times$10^9, 3.4$\times$10^9, 4.9$\times$10^9, 5.3$\times$10^9, and 1.0$\times$10^8$ cells/g/h, respectively. As for temperature, both $CR_max$ and $IR_max$ increased remarkably with raising temperature from 5 to 25^{\circ}C, but rapidly decreased at 30^{\circ}C. Between 15 and 25^{\circ}C $CR_{max} and IR_{max}$ were higher and most stable, At this temperature range, the $Q_{10}/s for CR_{max} and IR_{max}$ were 3.5 and 1.6, respectively. Therefore the optimal thermal range for the juvenile is 15~$25^{\circ}C$. The annual variation in IR$_{max}$ predicted by natural seawater temperature shows that inactive period (with lower $IR_max$) lasts for 5 months (from December to April). To ensure higher growth of juvenile during this inactive period at hatcheries, rearing temperature should be elevated to $15^{\circ}C$.>.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.4 s.118
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• pp.424-434
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• 2006

This study investigates bacteria-zooplankton grazing link and factors affecting their grazing relationship at trophically different two sites (Paldang Dam and Kyungan Stream) of Lake Paldang Ecosystem from April to December, 2005. Zooplankton were divided into two size groups; microzooplankton (MICZ) : 60-200 ${\mu}m$ and macrozooplankton (MACZ): >200 ${\mu}m$), and their grazing rates on bacteria were conducted for each size group separately. Bacterial abundance and seasonal change pattern were similar between two sites. MICZ, mostly rotifers (e.g., Brachionus, Keratella, Polyathra) were numerically dominant at both sites, while carbon biomass was highest in cladocerans. Zooplankton biomass was higher at the Kyungan Steam site compared to Paldang Dam site, and their high biomass during spring decreased as they were passing through the storm events in summer season at both sites. Zooplankton clearance rate (CR) was high in spring and autumn while low in summer at Paldang Dam site. However, zooplankton CR was high during the summer at Kyungan Stream site. Bacterial C-flux was high in spring and autumn when MACZ (esp. cladecerans) developed at a high biomass level at both sites. Overall, MACZ community CR and carbon flux (C-flux) were higher than those of MICZ, and the degree of difference between them was higher at Kyungan Stream site. Short hydraulic residence time and physical disturbance caused by summer storm event appeared to affect the zooplankton grazing on bacteria at both sites. The results of this study indicate that bacteria are potentially important carbon source of zooplankton, and that both biotic (e.g,, prey and predator taxa composition and abundance) and physical parameters appear to alter energy transfer in the planktonic food web of this river-reservoir hybrid system.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1919-1924
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• 2015

Polymorphisms in the region of the interleukin IL-28 gene on chromosome 19 have been related with clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV), a major human pathogen responsible for chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. About 3% of the world's population is infected with HCV. The long-term response to therapy is influenced by many host and viral factors, and recent evidence has indicated that some host genetic polymorphisms related to IL-28 are the most powerful predictors of virological response in patients with HCV. This study assessed frequency of the IL-28 polymorphism (rs8099917) in 50 patients (39 men and 11 women) with chronic hepatitis C using ZNA probe real time PCR new method. All patients were tested for genotype of HCV and the HCV viral load. In parallel, the levels of SGOT, SGPT and ALK enzymes were assessed. Treatment using Peg-interferon alpha with ribavirin was conducted for patients and subsequently samples were collected to detect any change in viral load or liver enzyme rates. The overall frequency of the TT allele is 74%, TG allele 20% and GG allele 6% and the percent of patients who had T allele was 84%. Clear reduction in viral load and liver enzymes was reported in patients with the T allele. Especially for genotype 1 which is relatively resistant to treatment, these alleles may have a role in this decline. In conclusion, we showed that IL-28 polymorphism rs8099917 strongly predicts virological response in HCV infection and that real-time PCR with Zip nucleic acid probes is a sensitive, specific and rapid detection method for detection of SNPs which will be essential for monitoring patients undergoing antiviral therapy.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.689-696
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• 2010

Interval-censored data are commonly found in studies of diseases that progress without symptoms, which require clinical evaluation for detection. Several techniques have been suggested with independent assumption. However, the assumption will not be valid if observations come from clusters. Furthermore, when the cluster size relates to response variables, commonly used methods can bring biased results. For example, in a study on lymphatic filariasis, a parasitic disease where worms make several nests in the infected person's lymphatic vessels and reside until adulthood, the response variable of interest is the nest-extinction times. Since the extinction times of nests are checked by repeated ultrasound examinations, exact extinction times are not observed. Instead, data are composed of two examination points: the last examination time with living worms and the first examination time with dead worms. Furthermore, as Williamson et al. (2008) pointed out, larger nests show a tendency for low clearance rates. This association has been denoted as an informative cluster size. To analyze the relationship between the numbers of nests and interval-censored nest-extinction times, this study proposes a joint model for the relationship between cluster size and clustered interval-censored failure data.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.637-647
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• 2018

Extra-hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) plays an important role in reproduction. To study the treatment effect of Grin (a novel hGHRH homodimer), the infertility models of 85 male Chinese hamsters were established by intraperitoneally injecting 20 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide once in a week for 5 weeks and the treatment with Grin or human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) as positive control was evaluated by performing a 3-week mating experiment. 2-8 mg/kg of Grin and 200 U/kg of hMG showed similar effect and different pathological characteristics. Compared to the single cyclophosphamide group (0%), the pregnancy rates (H-, M-, L-Grin 26.7, 30.8, 31.3%, and hMG 31.3%) showed significant difference, but there was no difference between the hMG and Grin groups. The single cyclophosphamide group presented loose tubules with pathologic vacuoles and significant TUNEL positive cells. Grin induced less weight of body or testis, compactly aligned tubules with little intra-lumens, whereas hMG caused more weight of body or testis, enlarging tubules with annular clearance. Grin presented a dose-dependent manner or cell differentiation-dependentincrease in testicular GHRH receptor, and did not impact the levels of blood and testicular GH, testosterone. Grin promotes fertility by proliferating and differentiating primitive cells through up-regulating testicular GHRH receptor without triggering GH secretion, which might solve the etiology of oligoasthenozoospermia.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.958-970
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• 1996

This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary calcium level on cadmium and lead toxicity in rats. Fifty-four male rats of Sprague-Dawely strain weighing 152$\pm$12g were blocked into 9 groups according to body weight, and were raised for 30 days. Nine experimental diets different with cadmium(0%, 0.04%), lead (0%, 0.071%) and calcijm(0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%) levels were prepared. The results are summarized as follow. Weight gain, F.E.R.(food efficiency ratio), and weights of liver, kidney and femur were lower in cadmium exposed groups than those of heavy metal free groups. Weight gain F.E.R. and ash weight of lead groups were lower than those of heavy metal free groups. But, these were increased with increasing dietary calcium level. Cadmium and lead concentrations in blood, liver, kidney and femur were lower in rats fed 1.5% calcium than 0.5% calcium diet. Fecal cadmium and lead excretions were remarkably increased in 1.5% calcium groups, and cadmium and lead retention rates were decreased in 1.5% calcium groups. Metallothionein concentrations in liver, kidney and small intestine were higher in rats exposed to cadmium and lead. Calcium content in blood, femur and daily urinary and fecal calcium excretion were decreased by cadmium and lead additions, and increased in 1.5% calcium groups. Creatinine clearance were decreased with cadmium administratino and calcium addition. In conclusion, weight gain and organ weights were decreased with cadmium or lead administration. But, cadmium administration was more toxic than lead adminstration. Cadmium or lead toxicity was alleviated by increasing dietary calcium level. Especially, lead toxicity was alleviated in proportion to dietary calcium level.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.468-477
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• 1996

Vasopressin which is an antidiuretic hormone in human body produced the diuretic action in dog. This study was investigated in order to certify the diuretic action and to search out the mechanism of the action on the vasopressin. Vasopressin, when given in a dose of 10.0mU/kg, bolus+1.0mU/kg/min intravenously, exhibited the increase of urine flow(Vol), renal plasma flow(RPF), osmolar clearance (Cosm) and amounts of sodium and potassium excreted in urine ($E_{Na},\;E_K$), the decrease of reabsorption rate of sodium and potassium in renal tubules ($R_{Na},\;R_K$), and then elevated the mean arterial pressure(MAP). Vasopressin given in a increased dose to 30.0mU/kg, bolus+1.0mU/kg/min intravenously elicited the same aspect with that exhibited by a small dose in changes of Vol. and all renal function and potentiated the change rates, whereas this time MAP did not change at all when compared with control value. Vasopressin, when administered into a renal artery, did not induce the changes of Vol and all renal function in experimental (administered) kidney, but increased slightly the Vol, glomerular filtration rate(GFR), $E_{Na},\;and\;E_K$ expected the no change of $R_{Na}\;and\;R_K$ in the control (not administered) kidney. Vasopressin, when infused into carotid artery, showed the increase of Vol. GFR, $E_{Na},\;and\;E_K$ and no change of $R_{Na}\;and\;R_K$ in a dose of 1/5 of intravenous dose. Diuretic action of vasopressin administered into carotid artery was not influenced by renal denervation. Above results suggest that vasopressin produced diuretic action by hemodynamic changes in dogs. These hemodynamic changes may be mediated by central endogenous substances not associated with renal nerve.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.450-457
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• 2016

While many studies on the heat transfer effect of an impinging jet have been published, most studies focus on the downward impinging jet. This study investigates the impinging jet heat transfer phenomenon when water at a temperature of $24^{\circ}C$ impinges on the downward isothermal circular plate at 60, 70, and $80^{\circ}C$ and when the upward round jet nozzle is 4, 6, and 8 mm diameter with a flow rate 3.6, 4.6, and 5.6 L/min, respectively, and when the ratio of the nozzle clearance/nozzle diameter (H/D) is 1. The results showed that, as the nozzle diameter decreases, the heat transfer coefficient increases at a constant flow rate. The correlation equation of $Nu_r$, $Pr_r$, and $Re_{jg}$ is obtained in the impinging and constant velocity flow region $(Nu_r/Pr^{0.4}_r)Dr=4.6[Re_{jg}(r/R_c)Dr]^{0.8}$ at all flow rates, in the deceleration and falling flow regions $(Nu_r/Pr^{0.4}_r)Dr=42.7{\mid}Re_{jg}(r/R_c)Dr-345.7{\mid}^{0.3}$ at 3.6 L/min, $(Nu_r/Pr^{0.4}_r)Dr=92.4{\mid}Re_{jg}(r/R_c)Dr-16.8{\mid}^{0.2}$ at 4.6 L/min, and $(Nu_r/Pr^{0.4}_r)Dr=322.4{\mid}Re_{jg}(r/R_c)Dr-536.2{\mid}^{0.01}$ at 5.6 L/min.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.1259-1265
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• 2020

A beta ray scanner was proposed for in-situ discrimination of beta and gamma ray radioactivity. This scanner is based on the principle that gamma and beta rays experience different changes in detection efficiency in scintillators with different geometries, especially with regard to the scintillator thickness. The ratios of the counting rates of gamma rays (R_gamma), beta rays (R_beta), and sample measurements (R_total) in a thick scintillator to those in a thin one are reported. The parameter X_thick, which represents the counting rate contributed by beta rays to the total counting rate in the thick scintillator, was derived as a function of those ratios. The values of R_gamma and R_beta for ⁶⁰Co and ⁹⁰Sr sources were estimated as 3.2 ± 0.057 and 0.99 ± 0.0049, respectively. The estimated beta ray contributions had relative standard deviations of 2.05-4.96%. The estimated range of the beta rays emitted from ⁹⁰Sr was 19 mm as per the Monte Carlo N-Particle simulation, and this value was experimentally verified. Homogeneous and surface contaminations of ⁶⁰Co and ⁹⁰Sr-⁹⁰Y were simulated for application of the proposed method. The counting rate contributed by the beta rays was derived and found to be proportional to the concentration of ⁹⁰Sr-⁹⁰Y contamination.