• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.798-802
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• 2010

Recently, a total of 74 Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates were collected from clinical cases of canine pyoderma and otitis externa in Korea. In this study, we examined in vitro fluoroquinolone resistance among those isolates using a standard disc diffusion technique. The results demonstrated that, except for one isolate, approximately 18.9% to 27.0% of the isolates possessed bacterial resistance to both veterinary- and human-licensed fluoroquinolones including moxifloxacin (18.9% resistance), levofloxacin (20.3% resistance), ofloxacin (24.3% resistance), ciprofloxacin (25.7% resistance), and enrofloxacin (27.0% resistance). Most surprisingly, 14 out of 74 (18.9%) isolates were resistant to all the five fluoroquinolones evaluated. Moreover, a PCR detection of the methicillin resistance gene (mecA) among the 74 isolates revealed that 13 out of 25 (52.0%) mecApositive isolates, but only 7 out of 49 (14.3%) mecA-negative isolates, were resistant to one or more fluoroquinones. Taken together, our results imply that bacterial resistance to both veterinary- and human-use fluoroquinolones becomes prevalent among the S. pseudintermedius isolates from canine pyoderma and otitis externa in Korea, as well as that the high prevalence of the mecA-positive S. pseudintermedius isolates carrying multiple fluoroquinolones resistance could be a potential public health problem.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.115-120
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• 2015

Tight junction protein 1 (TJP1), a component of tight junction, has been reported to play a role in protein networks as an adaptor protein, and TJP1 expression is altered during tumor development. Here, we found that TJP1 expression was increased at the RNA and protein levels in TGF-${\beta}$-stimulated lung cancer cells, A549. SB431542, a type-I TGF-${\beta}$ receptor inhibitor, as well as SB203580, a p38 kinase inhibitor, significantly abrogated the effect of TGF-${\beta}$ on TJP1 expression. Diphenyleneiodonium, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, also attenuated TJP1 expression in response to TGF-${\beta}$ in lung cancer cells. When TJP1 expression was reduced by shRNA lentiviral particles in A549 cells (A549-sh TJP1), wound healing was much lower than in cells infected with control viral particles. Taken together, these data suggest that TGF-${\beta}$ enhances TJP1 expression, which may play a role beyond structural support in tight junctions during cancer development.

• 한국안광학회지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.241-245
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• 2010

목적: 시각적 공간감각인 물체의 거리감과 움직임에 대하여 시력측정이 가능한 격자시표를 제안하고자 한다. 방법: 주기성을 갖는 한 쌍의 격자를 제작하여 이를 렌즈로 결상하고 그 상을 시력표에 투영하여 도형모양의 시표를 형성한다. 이 격자를 회전 또는 선형 이동하여 도형모양의 시표에 거리감과 움직임을 주는 형식으로 피검사자가 공간감각을 인지할 때 격자의 위치변위를 알 수 있도록 한다. 결과: 격자를 회전하여 거리감의 정도를 나타내는 측정값은 이론식에 의한 값과 비교하여 평균 2.98%의 오차를 나타냈고 선형이동에 따른 움직임을 인식하는 결과는 격자가 $\theta=15^{\circ}$ 회전된 상태에서 평균 1.73%의 오차를 나타냈다. 결론: 본 실험에서 제시한 무아레 무늬의 시표는 시각적 공간감각에서 피검사자의 거리감과 물체의 움직임을 측정하는 시표로서 그 활용이 가능하다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.679-688
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• 2018

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders that share behavioral features, the results of numerous studies have suggested that the underlying causes of ASDs are multifactorial. Behavioral and/or neurobiological analyses of ASDs have been performed extensively using a valid model of prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA). Abnormal synapse formation resulting from altered neurite outgrowth in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) during embryonic brain development has been observed in both the VPA model and ASD subjects. Although several mechanisms have been suggested, the actual mechanism underlying enhanced neurite outgrowth remains unclear. In this study, we found that VPA enhanced the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), particularly mature BDNF (mBDNF), through dual mechanisms. VPA increased the mRNA and protein expression of BDNF by suppressing the nuclear expression of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), which is a transcriptional repressor of BDNF. In addition, VPA promoted the expression and activity of the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which induces BDNF maturation through proteolytic cleavage. Trichostatin A and sodium butyrate also enhanced tPA activity, but tPA activity was not induced by valpromide, which is a VPA analog that does not induce histone acetylation, indicating that histone acetylation activity was required for tPA regulation. VPA-mediated regulation of BDNF, MeCP2, and tPA was not observed in astrocytes or neurons. Therefore, these results suggested that VPA-induced mBDNF upregulation was associated with the dysregulation of MeCP2 and tPA in developing cortical NPCs.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.1-27
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• 2016

Final construction project cost is significantly determined by construction rate. The Industrialized Building System (IBS) was promoted to enhance the importance of prefabrication technology rather than conventional methods in construction. Ensuring the stability of a building constructed by using IBS is a challenging issue. Accordingly, the connections in a prefabricated building have a basic, natural, and essential role in providing the best continuity among the members of the building. Deficiencies of conventional precast connections were observed when precast buildings experience a large induced load, such as earthquakes and other disasters. Thus, researchers aim to determine the behavior of precast concrete structure with a specific type of connection. To clarify this problem, this study investigates the capacity behavior of precast concrete panel connections for industrial buildings with a new type of precast wall-to-wall connection (i.e., U-shaped steel channel connection). This capacity behavior is compared with the capacity behavior of precast concrete panel connections for industrial buildings that used a common approach (i.e., loop connection), which is subjected to monotonic loading as in-plane and out-of-plane loading by developing a finite element model. The principal stress distribution, deformation of concrete panels and welded wire mesh (BRC) reinforcements, plastic strain trend in the concrete panels and connections, and crack propagations are investigated for the aforementioned connection. Pushover analysis revealed that loop connections have significant defects in terms of strength for in-plane and out-of-plane loads at three translational degrees of freedom compared with the U-shaped steel channel connection.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.119-123
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• 2012

In the present study, the antinociceptive profiles of $Agrimonia$ $pilosa$ $Ledeb$ extract were examined in ICR mice. $Agrimonia$ $pilosa$ $Ledeb$ extract administered orally (200 mg/kg) showed an antinociceptive effect as measured by the tail-flick and hot-plate tests. In addition, $Agrimonia$ $pilosa$ $Ledeb$ extract attenuated the writhing numbers in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. Furthermore, the cumulative nociceptive response time for intrathecal (i.t.) injection of substance P (0.7 ${\mu}g$) was diminished by $Agrimonia$ $pilosa$ $Ledeb$ extract. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) pretreatment with yohimbine (${\alpha}_2$-adrenergic receptor antagonist) attenuated antinociceptive effect induced by $Agrimonia$ $pilosa$ $Ledeb$ extract in the writhing test. However, naloxone (opioid receptor antagonist) or methysergide (5-HT serotonergic receptor antagonist) did not affect antinociception induced by $Agrimonia$ $pilosa$ $Ledeb$ extract in the writhing test. Our results suggest that $Agrimonia$ $pilosa$ $Ledeb$ extract shows an antinociceptive property in various pain models. Furthermore, this antinociceptive effect of $Agrimonia$ $pilosa$ $Ledeb$ extract may be mediated by ${\alpha}_2$-adrenergic receptor, but not opioidergic and serotonergic receptors.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.343-349
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Fermentation of dietary fiber results in production of various short chain fatty acids in the colon. In particular, butyrate is reported to regulate the physical and functional integrity of the normal colonic mucosa by altering mucin gene expression or the number of goblet cells. The objective of this study was to investigate whether butyrate modulates mucin secretion in LS174T human colorectal cells, thereby influencing the adhesion of probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains and subsequently inhibiting pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli. In addition, possible signaling pathways involved in mucin gene regulation induced by butyrate treatment were also investigated. MATERIALS/METHODS: Mucin protein content assay and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining were performed in LS174T cells treated with butyrate at various concentrations. Effects of butyrate on the ability of probiotics to adhere to LS174T cells and their competition with E. coli strains were examined. Real time polymerase chain reaction for mucin gene expression and Taqman array 96-well fast plate-based pathway analysis were performed on butyrate-treated LS174T cells. RESULTS: Treatment with butyrate resulted in a dose-dependent increase in mucin protein contents in LS174T cells with peak effects at 6 or 9 mM, which was further confirmed by PAS staining. Increase in mucin protein contents resulted in elevated adherence of probiotics, which subsequently reduced the adherent ability of E. coli. Treatment with butyrate also increased transcriptional levels of MUC3, MUC4, and MUC12, which was accompanied by higher gene expressions of signaling kinases and transcription factors involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, butyrate is an effective regulator of modulation of mucin protein production at the transcriptional and translational levels, resulting in changes in the adherence of gut microflora. Butyrate potentially stimulates the MAPK signaling pathway in intestinal cells, which is positively correlated with gut defense.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.236-244
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• 2018

PURPOSE. To determine the discrepancy in monolithic zirconium dioxide crowns made with computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems by comparing scans of silicone impressions and of master casts. MATERIALS AND METHODS. From a Cr-Co master die of a first upper left molar, 30 silicone impressions were taken. The 30 silicone impressions were scanned with the laboratory scanner, thus obtaining 30 milled monolithic yttrium stabilized zirconium dioxide (YSZD) crowns (the silicone group). They were poured and the working models were scanned, obtaining 30 milled monolithic yttrium stabilized zirconium dioxide (YSZD) crowns (the plaster group). Three predetermined points were analyzed in each side of the crown (Mesial, Distal, Vestibular and Palatal), and the marginal fit was evaluated with SEM (${\times}600$). The response variable is the discrepancy from the master model. A repeated measures ANOVA with two within subject factors was performed to study significance of main factors and interaction. RESULTS. Mean marginal discrepancy was $22.42{\pm}35.65{\mu}m$ in the silicone group and $8.94{\pm}14.69{\mu}m$ in the plaster group. The statistical analysis showed significant differences between the two groups and also among the four aspects. Interaction was also significant (P=.02). CONCLUSION. The mean marginal fit values of the two groups were within the clinically acceptable values. Significant differences were found between the groups according to the aspects studied. Various factors influenced the accuracy of digitizing, such as the design, the geometry, and the preparation guidance, as well as the texture, roughness and the color of the scanned material.

• 한국전자파학회논문지
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• 제25권9호
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• pp.930-937
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• 2014

역 합성 개구면 레이더(Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar: ISAR) 영상은 레이더를 이용해 전자기파를 방사하여 표적에 맞고 다시 되돌아오는 신호를 이용하여 형성할 수 있으며, 표적의 유무 판별과 식별을 위해 사용하는 보편적인 수단중 하나이다. 본 논문에서는 계단 첩 파형(Stepped Chrip Waveform: SCW)의 주파수 영역에서의 합성과 서브-샘플링(sub-sampling) 방법을 이용하여 초점이 맞는 고해상도의 ISAR 영상을 형성하는 방법을 소개한다. 기존의 계단 주파수 파형(stepped freuqnecy waveform)을 이용하는 방법은 낮은 펄스 반복 주기로 인하여 비모호 거리(unambiguous range)가 짧아 고스트(ghost) 현상이 발생하는 문제점이 발생하지만, 이는 SCW를 이용한 ISAR 영상 형성 방법을 통해 해결할 수 있다. 본 논문에서는 산란점들로 구성된 보잉-737 표적이 속도와 가속도를 가지고 움직인다고 가정한 후 제안한 방법으로 고해상도의 ISAR 영상을 형성하였다.

• 비파괴검사학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.128-133
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• 2015

원격진료를 요하는 응급현장에서 사용을 위하여 1차원 배열 탐촉자를 손으로 조작하는 동안 변하는 방사빔의 위치를 추적하여 정적인 3차원 초음파영상을 구성하였다. 탐촉자에 고정된 모션센서의 병진운동 및 회전운동에 대한 정보를 기준직교좌표계로 변환하는 이론적 모델을 제시하였으며, 신호 증폭과 시리얼 통신을 위한 인터페이스 용도의 모듈을 상용의 센서를 사용하여 제작하였다. 실리콘 퍼티로 제작된 시험용 팬텀에 대한 B-모드의 동영상과 센서의 신호를 동기화하여 기록하였다. 동영상으로부터 주기적으로 추출한 B-모드 영상과 각 영상내의 픽셀 각각의 그레이 레벨을 이용하여 3차원 복셀의 그레이 레벨을 재구성하였다. 이 복셀의 데이터를 이용하여 3차원 영상과 임의단면의 B-모드 방식의 2차원 영상을 구성하였으며, 이 영상들은 시험용 팬텀의 형상과 잘 일치하였다.