• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.202-213
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• 2022

Antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli cases are increasing high especially in Southeast Asia. Illegal use of the antibiotic in the aquaculture farming may become the culprit of the outbreak and spread into environmental source. A study was conducted to: 1) detect the chloramphenicol (CAL)-resistant gene in E. coli isolated from three aquaculture farms and six rivers of northwestern Borneo and 2) investigate the correlation between cat gene with five common antibiotics used. Isolation of E. coli was done on Eosin methylene blue agar and characterized using indole, methyl red, Voges-Proskauer, citrate tests. E. coli isolates were subsequently tested for their susceptibility to five antibiotics commonly used in aqua-farming. The CAL-resistant E. coli were further analyzed for the presence of resistant genes (cat I, cat II, cat III, cat IV) using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. 42 bacterial colonies were isolated from a total of 80 individual water samples, 34 of which were identified as E. coli. Result showed 85.3% of the E. coli isolates were resistant to amoxicillin, 35.3% were resistant to tetracycline, 29.4% were resistant to CAL, 17.6% were resistant to nitrofurantoin and 8.8% were resistant to nalidixic acid. All of the 10 CAL resistant E. coli isolateswere detected with cat II genes; five isolates detected with cat IV genes; three isolates detected with cat III genes; and another two detected with cat I genes. Pearson correlation coefficient shows highly significant relationship between resistance pattern of CAL with amoxicillin; and CAL with tetracycline. Our findings provide the supplementary information of the CAL resistance gene distribution, thereby improving our understanding of the potential risk of antibiotic resistance underlying within this microbial ecosystem.

• Advances in materials Research
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.225-235
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• 2022

It includes the synthesis of pristine ZnO nanoparticles and a series of Ag-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles was carried out by reflux method by varying the amount of silver (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9% by mol.). The morphology of these nanoparticles was investigated by SEM, XRD and FT-IR techniques. These techniques show that synthesized particles are homogenous spherical nanoparticles having an average particle size of about 50-100 nm along with some agglomeration. The photocatalytic activity of the ZnO nanoparticles and Ag doped ZnO nanoparticles were investigated via photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) as a standard dye. The data from the photocatalytic activity of these nanoparticles show that 7% Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles exhibit much enhanced photocatalytic activity as compared to pristine ZnO nanoparticles and other percentages of Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles. Furthermore, 7% Ag-doped ZnO was made composites with sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride by physical mixing method and a series of nanocomposites were made (3.5, 7.5, 25, 50, 75% by weight). It was observed that the 25% composites exhibited better photocatalytic performance than pristine S-g-C 3 N 4 and pure 7% Ag-doped ZnO. Tauc's plot also supports the photodegradation results.

• 한국분말재료학회지
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.492-498
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• 2022

N-doped Na₂Ti₆O₁₃@TiO₂ (denoted as N-NTO@TiO₂) composites are successfully synthesized using a simple two-step process: 1) ball-milling of TiO₂ with Na₂CO₃ followed by heat treatment at 900℃; 2) mixing of the prepared Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ with titanium isopropoxide and calcining with urea at 500℃. The prepared composites are characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, and BET. The N-NTO@TiO₂ composites exhibit well-defined crystalline and anatase TiO₂ with exposed {101} facets on the external surface. Moreover, dopant N atoms are uniformly distributed over a relatively large area in the lattice of the composites. Under visible light irradiation, ~51% of the aqueous methylene blue is photodegraded by N-NTO@TiO₂ composites, which is higher than the values shown by other samples because of the coupling effects of the hybridization of NTO and TiO₂, N-doping, and presence of anatase TiO₂ with exposed {101} facets.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.45.1-45.8
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to introduce a gelatin/bovine serum albumin (BSA) tissue standard, which provides dissolution properties identical to those of biological tissues. Further, the study evaluated whether the utilization of endodontic activating devices led to enhanced phantom dissolution rates. Materials and Methods: Bovine pulp tissue was obtained to determine a benchmark of tissue dissolution. The surface area and mass of samples were held constant while the ratio of gelatin and BSA were varied, ranging from 7.5% to 10% gelatin and 5% BSA. Each sample was placed in an individual test tube that was filled with an appropriate sodium hypochlorite solution for 1, 3, and 5 minutes, and then removed from the solution, blotted dry, and weighed again. The remaining tissue was calculated as the percent of initial tissue to determine the tissue dissolution rate. A radiopaque agent (sodium diatrizoate) and a fluorescent dye (methylene blue) were added to the phantom to allow easy quantification of phantom dissolution in a canal block model when activated using ultrasonic (EndoUltra) or sonic (EndoActivator) energy. Results: The 9% gelatin + 5% BSA phantom showed statistically equivalent dissolution to bovine pulp tissue at all time intervals. Furthermore, the EndoUltra yielded significantly more phantom dissolution in the canal block than the EndoActivator or syringe irrigation. Conclusions: Our phantom is comparable to biological tissue in terms of tissue dissolution and could be utilized for in vitro tests due to its injectability and detectability.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.223-229
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• 2023

Background: Preauricular sinus (PAS) is a common congenital anomaly, and complete excision is recommended to prevent recurrence. However, PAS has a high recurrence rate as a result of incomplete removal due to the high variability of the sinus ramifications, making its treatment challenging. In this study, we standardized the surgical procedure to reduce the complications and recurrence rate and compared the postoperative results between the non-standardized and the standardized groups. Methods: This retrospective study included 97 patients (120 ears) who had undergone PAS excision by a single surgeon between October 2014 and September 2022 and underwent at least 6 months of follow-up. After October 2018, all patients were treated using the standardized method, which comprised the use of magnifying glasses, exploration with a lacrimal probe, the use of methylene blue staining, and excision of a piece of surrounding normal tissue and related cartilage in continuity with the specimen. There were 38 patients (45 ears) in the non-standardized group and 59 patients (75 ears) in the standardized group. Results: Recurrence was observed in six of 120 ears, indicating an overall recurrence rate of 5.0%. Recurrence occurred in five ears (11.1%) in the non-standardized group and one ear (1.3%) in the standardized group. The standardized group had a significantly lower recurrence rate (p= 0.027) than the non-standardized group. Conclusion: We defined a standardized sinectomy protocol and used it for the surgical treatment of PAS. With this standardized method, we were able to reduce the rates of complications and recurrence without the use of a long incision.

• 대한소아치과학회지
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.434-442
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• 2023

This study was aimed to evaluate the bonding performance of a self-adhesive giomer and compare it to a conventional flowable composite resin with regard to shear bond strength and microleakage in enamel and dentin. Healthy human premolars extracted for orthodontic treatments were used in the study. For shear bond strength tests, enamel and dentin specimens were prepared for the study group with self-adhesive giomer and for the control group with conventional flowable composite resin with a 5th-generation adhesive system. A universal testing machine was used to measure the shear bond strength. For the microleakage tests, specimens were immersed in a 2% methylene blue solution for 24 hours, cut into sections, and evaluated with a stereomicroscope for the extent of dye penetration. The results of the study showed no statistically significant difference in shear bond strength between the self-adhesive giomer and the conventional flowable composite resin in enamel (p = 0.091). On the contrary, in dentin, the self-adhesive giomer showed significantly lower shear bond strength (p < 0.0001). The microleakage of the self-adhesive giomer was significantly higher than that of the conventional flowable composite resin (p = 0.002). Self-adhesive giomer is considered useful for restoring small cavities at the enamel level of pediatric patients by reducing chair time with the advantage of a simple bonding process. However, as the study was conducted in a laboratory setting, further research in a clinical environment is deemed necessary.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.275-282
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• 2024

In this work, we investigated the photo-degradation performance of MnO₂-SiC fiber-TiO₂ (MnO₂-SiC-TiO₂) ternary nanocomposite according to visible light excitation utilizing methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) as standard dyes. The photocatalytic physicochemical characteristics of this ternary nanocomposite were described by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tunneling electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), photocurrent and cyclic voltammogram (CV) test. Photolysis studies of the synthesized MnO₂-SiC-TiO₂ composite were conducted using standard dyes of MB and MO under UV light irradiation. The experiments revealed that the MnO₂-SiC-TiO₂ exhibits the greatest photocatalytic dye degradation performance of around 20 % with MB, and of around 10 % with MO, respectively, within 120 min. Furthermore, MnO₂-SiC-TiO₂ showed good stability against photocatalytic degradation. The photocatalytic efficiency of the nanocomposite was indicated by the adequate photocatalytic reaction process. These research results show the practical application potential of SiC fibers and the performance of a photocatalyst composite that combines these fibers with metal oxides.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.26-33
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• 2024

Background: Sitagliptin is an antidiabetic drug that inhibits dipeptidyl peptidase-4 enzyme. This study aimed to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of sitagliptin in formalin and carrageenan tests and determine the possible mechanism(s) of its antinociceptive activity. Methods: Male Swiss mice (25-30 g) and male Wistar rats (180-220 g) were used for formalin and carrageenan tests, respectively. In the formalin test, paw licking time and in the carrageenan test, paw thickness were considered as indexes of pain behavior and inflammation respectively. Three doses of sitagliptin (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) were used in these tests. Also, several antagonists and enzyme inhibitors were used to evaluate the role of adrenergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic, and opioid receptors as well as the NO/cGMP/K_ATP pathway in the antinociceptive effect of sitagliptin (5 mg/kg). Results: Sitagliptin showed significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in the formalin and carrageenan tests respectively. In the carrageenan test, all three doses of sitagliptin significantly (P < 0.001) reduced paw thickness. Pretreatment with yohimbine, prazosin, propranolol, naloxone, and cyproheptadine could not reverse the antinociceptive effect of sitagliptin (5 mg/Kg), which indicates that adrenergic, opioid, and serotonin receptors (5HT₂) are not involved in the antinociceptive effects. L-NAME, methylene blue, glibenclamide, ondansetron, and sulpiride were able to reverse this effect. Conclusions: NO/cGMP/K_ATP, 5HT₃ and D₂ pathways play an important role in the antinociceptive effect of sitagliptin. Additionally significant anti-inflammatory effects observed in the carrageenan test might contribute in reduction of pain response in the second phase of the formalin test.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• 제57권2호
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• pp.229-237
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• 2024

The infiltration of the interspace between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the posterior knee (IPACK) block, is a novel ultrasound-guided technique used for postoperative pain management of the knee. The success of the block is attributed to the spread of injectate between the capsule of the knee and the popliteal artery. This novel technique is believed to target the articular branches of the tibial, common fibular (peroneal) and obturator nerves. However, the extent of the spread in a paediatric population is unknown. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the spread of the IPACK block. Using ultrasound guidance, the IPACK block was replicated bilaterally in neonatal cadavers. Methylene blue dye (0.3 ml/kg) was injected proximally and distally. Subsequently, cadavers were dissected to determine the injectate spread. Proximal injections resulted in staining of some of the articular branches, while the distal injections resulted in staining of all four articular branches. Additional staining of the superior lateral and medial genicular nerves was noted irrespective of the technique. Overall, both injections resulted in posterior, anterolateral spread with limited medial spread. Results from this study reveal preservation of the main nerve trunks following the proximal technique, while the distal technique displayed greater staining of the articular branches. We believe that the block can be seen as a more holistic and viable alternative to lower limb blocks for the paediatric population, as it allows for a wider spread in the posterior and medial-lateral compartments of the knee.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.79-88
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• 2024

Modification of Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) characteristics and performance were investigated via post treatment using different oxidants. sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and potassium persulfate (KPS). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) results revealed no structural differences after post treatment. Cross-sectional micrographs show finger-like structures at the outer and inner walls of the HFMs and sponge-like structures in middle, where NaOCl and KPS post treated fibers exhibited a decrease in finger-like structures in addition to aggregates appearing on the surface, consequently leading to an increase in the surface roughness (Ra) from 48 nm to 52.8nm and 56 nm, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide post treatment only was observed to decrease the water contact angle from 98° to 81.4°. It was also observed that the elongation at break and the modulus deceased after NaOCl post treatment from 34.5 to 28.5% and from 19.3 Mpa to 16.6 Mpa, respectively. Moreover, pure water flux after H₂O₂ post treatment increased from 87.8 LMH/bar to 113 LMH/bar at 0.45 bar, while no changes were detected for the methylene blue dye rejection (74%) between raw and hydrogen peroxide post treated fibers at the same pressure. According to the findings hydrogen peroxide post treated PVDF HFMs have the most uniform surfaces, with almost no alterations in structural and mechanical properties or porosities with enhanced hydrophilicity and pure water flux maintaining appropriate rejection. Therefore, it is considered an efficient surface modifying agent for UF/NF membranes or low-pressure separators.