Experimental infection of mandarin duck with highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N8 and H5N1) viruses

Kang, H.M.,Lee, E.K.,Song, B.M.,Heo, G.B.,Jung, J.,Jang, I.,Bae, Y.C.,Jung, S.C.,Lee, Y.J. Elsevier Scientific Pub. Co 2017 Veterinary microbiology Vol.198 No.-

<P>A highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 virus was first detected in poultry and wild birds in South Korea in January 2014. Here, we determined the pathogenicity and transmissibility of three different clades of 1-15 viruses in mandarin ducks to examine the potential for wild bird infection. H5N8 (Glade 2.3.4.4) replicated more efficiently in the upper and lower respiratory tract of mandarin ducks than two previously identified H5N1 virus clades (clades 2.2 and 2.3.2.1). However, none of the mandarin ducks infected with H5N8 and H5N1 viruses showed severe clinical signs or mortality, and gross lesions were only observed in a few tissues. Viral replication and shedding were greater in H5N8-infected ducks than in H5N1-infected ducks. Recovery of all viruses from control duck in contact with infected ducks indicated that the highly pathogenic H5 viruses spread horizontally through contact. Taken together, these results suggest that H5N8 viruses spread efficiently in mandarin ducks. Further studies of pathogenicity in wild birds are required to examine possible long-distance dissemination via migration routes. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</P>

Calculations of AC magnetic losses from the experimental field profiles in various types of coated conductors under applied fields

Yoo, J,Lee, S,Jung, Y,Lee, J,Youm, D,Ha, H,Kim, H,Ko, R-K,Oh, S Institute of Physics 2008 Journal of physics. Conference series Vol.97 No.1

<P>We measured the field profiles, <I>H</I>(<I>x,H</I><SUB>a</SUB>) s, near the surface of coated conductors (CCs) by using the scanning Hall probe method. The samples were SmBCO-CC tape fabricated by co-evaporation method and YBCO-CC tape fabricated by PLD method. The applied fields, <I>H</I><SUB>a</SUB>s, were decreased from <I>H</I><SUB>peak</SUB>to -<I>H</I><SUB>peak</SUB> stepwise. From the values of <I>H</I>(<I>x,H</I><SUB>a</SUB>), we calculated the current profiles, <I>J</I>(<I>x,H</I><SUB>a</SUB>) s, by the inversion method. From the values of <I>J</I>(<I>x,H</I><SUB>a</SUB>) and the corresponding flux densities, we calculated the hysteretic energy losses per cycle, <I>Q</I><SUB>M</SUB>s, for various <I>H</I><SUB>peak</SUB>s. From the values of <I>Q</I><SUB>M</SUB>, we calculated the characteristic functions, <I>g</I>s, by using the relation, <I>g</I>= π<I>Q</I><SUB>M</SUB>/μ<SUB>0</SUB><I>I</I><SUP>2</SUP><SUB>c</SUB>. Here, <I>I</I><SUB>c</SUB> is the critical current. For the range of <I>H</I><SUB>peak</SUB>/<I>H</I><SUB>c</SUB>≤ 3, the <I>g</I>-values of SmBCO CC tape were larger than those of YBCO CC tape. However, for the range of <I>H</I><SUB>peak</SUB>/<I>H</I><SUB>c</SUB> ≥ 3, the <I>g</I>-values of SmBCO CC tape were smaller than those of YBCO CC tape. When <I>H</I><SUB>peak</SUB>/<I>H</I><SUB>c</SUB> = 3, both sample show almost same value of <I>g.</I>However we found qualitatively different <I>J–B</I> hysteretic curves for both samples. We also compared our <I>g</I>-values with other <I>g</I>-values, which were directly measured by energy loss experiments. Our <I>g</I>-values of YBCO CC tapes were basically similar to the Brandt's theoretical values of <I>g</I> in the most range of <I>I</I><SUB>peak</SUB> in our measurements.</P>

Single-step synthesis of dimethyl ether from syngas on Al₂O₃-modified CuO-ZnO-Al₂O₃/ferrierite catalysts: Effects of Al₂O₃ content

Lee, Y.J.,Jung, M.H.,Lee, J.B.,Jeong, K.E.,Roh, H.S.,Suh, Y.W.,Bae, J.W. Elsevier Science Publishers 2014 CATALYSIS TODAY - Vol.228 No.-

Single step synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) from syngas on the bifunctional catalysts of CuO-ZnO-Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> deposited on Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>-modified H-ferrierite was investigated to elucidate effects of Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> modification of H-ferrierite in terms of CO conversion and DME yield. The enhanced catalytic activity was observed on the bifunctional catalysts at an optimum content of Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> on H-ferrierite around 2.5-5wt%. It is attributed to a higher dispersion of Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> on H-ferrierite with an enhanced interaction of copper particles with Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> modified H-ferrierite with a lower aggregation property by adjusting acidic sites and by increasing the dispersion of copper particles. The main role of Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> on H-ferrierite is found to reduce strong acidic sites by depositing on the sites selectively, which resulted in showing a lower formation of byproducts. Both of copper surface area and amount of acidic sites are well correlated with an intrinsic activity (turn-over frequency; TOF), which revealed a structure-insensitive reaction character of a single-step synthesis of DME. The measurements of the dispersion of Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> and copper particles with the number of acidic sites concomitantly were employed to verify the effects of Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> modification of H-ferrierite though X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature-programmed methods and surface morphology characterizations.

Roles of AKT1 and AKT2 in non-small cell lung cancer cell survival, growth, and migration.

Lee, Myoung W,Kim, Dae S,Lee, Joo H,Lee, Bum S,Lee, Soo H,Jung, Hye L,Sung, Ki W,Kim, Heung T,Yoo, Keon H,Koo, Hong H Japanese Cancer Association 2011 Cancer Science Vol.102 No.10

<P>Although AKT ? protein kinase B is constitutively active in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and is an attractive target for enhancing the cytotoxicity of therapeutic agents, the distinct roles of the AKT isoforms in NSCLC are largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the roles of AKT1 and AKT2 in NSCLC cells using RNAi. The siRNA targeting of AKT1 or AKT2 effectively decreased protein levels of AKT1 and AKT2, respectively, in A549 and H460 cells. Cisplatin treatment of these cells increased apoptotic cell death compared with control. The siRNA-induced knockdown of AKT1 in H460 cells significantly decreased basal MEK? ERK1 ? 2 activity, resulting in nuclear factor-κB activation, whereas knockdown of AKT2 resulted in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein MCL-1 (MCL-1) cleavage, the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, and activation of the caspase cascade. Consequently, both siRNA treatments enhanced the chemosensitivity of H460 cells to cisplatin. However, neither AKT1 nor AKT2 siRNA treatment had any effect of p27 expression, and although both treatments tended to induced G2 ?M phase arrest, the effect was not statistically significant. Treatment with AKT1 siRNA markedly decreased colony formation growth and migration, but AKT2 siRNA had no significant effects on these parameters. These data suggest that AKT1 and AKT2 both contribute to cell survival, albeit via different mechanisms, and that the effects on cell growth and migration are predominantly regulated by AKT1. These findings may aid in refining targeted strategies for the inhibition of AKT isoforms towards the sensitization of NSCLC cells to therapeutic agents.</P>

Growth characteristics and electrical properties of SiO2 thin films prepared using plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition and chemical vapor deposition with an aminosilane precursor

Jung, H.,Kim, W. H.,Oh, I. K.,Lee, C. W.,Lansalot-Matras, C.,Lee, S. J.,Myoung, J. M.,Lee, H. B.,Kim, H. Springer Science + Business Media 2016 JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE - Vol.51 No.11

<P>The deposition of high-quality SiO2 films has been achieved through the use of both plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) and plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) methods using H2Si[N(C2H5)(2)](2) as a Si precursor. We systematically investigated growth characteristics, chemical compositions, and electrical properties of PE-CVD SiO2 prepared under various deposition conditions. The SiO2 films prepared using PE-CVD showed high purity and good stoichiometry with a dielectric constant of similar to 4. In addition, the PE-ALD process of the SiO2 films exhibited well-saturated and almost linear growth characteristics of similar to 1.3 cycle(-1) without notable incubation cycles, producing pure SiO2 films. Electrical characterization of metal-oxide silicon capacitor structures prepared with each SiO2 film showed that PE-ALD SiO2 films had relatively lower leakage currents than PE-CVD SiO2 films. This might be a result of the saturated surface reaction mechanism of PE-ALD, which allows a smooth surface in comparison with PE-CVD method. In addition, the dielectric properties of both SiO2 films were further evaluated in the structures of In-Ga-Zn-O thin-film transistors, and they both showed good device performances in terms of high I (on) - I (off) ratios (> 10(8)) and low off-currents (< 10(-11) A). However, based on the negative bias stress reliability test, it was found that PE-ALD SiO2 showed better reliability against a negative V (th) shift than PE-CVD SiO2, which might also be understood from its smoother channel/insulator interface generation at the interface.</P>

Distinct clinical courses according to presenting phenotypes and their correlations to <i>ATP7B</i> mutations in a large Wilson's disease cohort

Lee, Beom H.,Kim, Joo H.,Lee, Sun Y.,Jin, Hye Y.,Kim, Kwi‐,Joo,Lee, Jin‐,Joo,Park, Jung‐,Young,Kim, Gu‐,Hwan,Choi, Jin‐,Ho,Kim, Kyung M.,Yoo, Han‐,Wook Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 Liver International Vol.31 No.6

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P><B>Introduction and aims: </B> Wide phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneities in Wilson's disease (WD) have been reported, hampering the study of their correlations. The goal of this study was to identify the factors related to these diversities.</P><P><B>Methods: </B> Clinical courses and molecular genetic characteristics were analysed in 237 unrelated Korean WD families. The average follow‐up period was 8.2 ± 5.8 years.</P><P><B>Results: </B> Presenting phenotypes were classified as H1 (12.2%), H2 (42.4%), N1 (21.6%), N2 (0.4%), NX (0.4%), presymptomatic (22.4%) and other (0.4%), modifying the guidelines by Ferenci and colleagues. Age at presentation was youngest and cirrhosis was rarest in the presymptomatic group. Decompensated cirrhosis was the highest in the H1 group. Favourable outcome was rarest in the N1 group. Forty‐seven (11 novel) <I>ATP7B</I> mutations were identified in 85% of the 474 alleles. Multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification assays in <I>ATP7B</I> and analyses of <I>ATOX1</I> and <I>COMMD1</I> genes identified no additional mutations. Yeast complementation assays demonstrated functional perturbation of the seven novel missense mutants. Five major mutations, p.Arg778Leu, p.Ala874Val, p.Asn1270Ser, p.Lys838SerfsX35 and p.Leu1083Phe, accounted for 63% of the alleles. H1 was more common, age at presentation was younger and N1+N2+NX tended to be less common in patients with nonsense, frame shifting or splicing mutations than in those with missense mutations alone. Patients with both mutations in the transduction (Td) or the ATP hinge domain showed presymptomatic or hepatic manifestations but no neurological manifestation.</P><P><B>Conclusions: </B> The presenting phenotype strongly affects the clinical outcome of WD, and is related to the <I>ATP7B</I> mutation type and location, providing an evidence for genotype–phenotype correlations in WD.</P>

Time-dependent effects of Klebsiella pneumoniae endotoxin on the pharmacokinetics of chlorzoxazone and its main metabolite, 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone, in rats: restoration of the parameters in 96 hour in KPLPS rats to control levels

Jung, Hye Y.,Kang, Hee E.,Choi, Young H.,Kim, So H.,Lee, Myung G. John Wiley Sons, Ltd. 2009 BIOPHARMACEUTICS AND DRUG DISPOSITION Vol.30 No.8

<P>It has been reported that chlorzoxazone (CZX) was primarily metabolized via hepatic Cyp2e1 to form 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone (OH-CZX) in rats, and the activity of aniline hydroxylase (a Cyp2e1 marker) in the liver was significantly decreased in rats at 24 h after pretreatment with lipopolysaccharide derived from Klebsiella pneumoniae (24 h KPLPS rats), whereas the levels were not changed at 2 h and 96 h in the KPLPS rats. Thus, the time-dependent pharmacokinetic parameters of CZX and OH-CZX were evaluated after the intravenous administration of CZX (20 mg/kg) to control rats, and the 2 h, 24 h and 96 h KPLPS rats along with the time-dependent changes in the protein expression of hepatic Cyp2e1. After the intravenous administration of CZX to 24 h KPLPS rats, the AUC<SUB>0–2 h</SUB> of OH-CZX and AUC<SUB>OH-CZX, 0–2 h</SUB>/AUC<SUB>CZX</SUB> were significantly smaller (by 40.5% and 71.2%, respectively) than those of controls due to the significant decrease (by 75.3%) in the protein expression of hepatic Cyp2e1. However, in 96 h KPLPS rats, the pharmacokinetic parameters of both CZX and OH-CZX were unchanged compared with controls due to the restoration of the protein expression of hepatic Cyp2e1 to control levels. These observations highlighted the existence of the time-dependent effects of KPLPS on the pharmacokinetics of CZX and OH-CZX in rats. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</P>

Display of membrane proteins on the heterologous caveolae carved by caveolin-1 in the Escherichia coli cytoplasm

Shin, J.,Jung, Y.H.,Cho, D.H.,Park, M.,Lee, K.E.,Yang, Y.,Jeong, C.,Sung, B.H.,Sohn, J.H.,Park, J.B.,Kweon, D.H. IPC Science and Technology Press ; Elsevier Scienc 2015 Enzyme and microbial technology Vol.79 No.-

Caveolae are membrane-budding structures that exist in many vertebrate cells. One of the important functions of caveolae is to form membrane curvature and endocytic vesicles. Recently, it was shown that caveolae-like structures were formed in Escherichia coli through the expression of caveolin-1. This interesting structure seems to be versatile for a variety of biotechnological applications. Targeting of heterologous proteins in the caveolae-like structure should be the first question to be addressed for this purpose. Here we show that membrane proteins co-expressed with caveolin-1 are embedded into the heterologous caveolae (h-caveolae), the cavaolae-like structures formed inside the cell. Two transmembrane SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins, Syntaxin 1a and vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2), were displayed on the h-caveolae surface. The size of the h-caveolae harboring the transmembrane proteins was ~100nm in diameter. The proteins were functional and faced outward on the h-caveolae. Multi-spanning transmembrane proteins FtsH and FeoB could be included in the h-caveolae, too. Furthermore, the recombinant E. coli cells were shown to endocytose substrate supplemented in the medium. These results provide a basis for exploiting the h-caveolae formed inside E. coli cells for future biotechnological applications.

Context dependency of Set1/COMPASS-mediated histone H3 Lys4 trimethylation

Thornton, Janet L.,Westfield, Gerwin H.,Takahashi, Yoh-hei,Cook, Malcolm,Gao, Xin,Woodfin, Ashley R.,Lee, Jung-Shin,Morgan, Marc A.,Jackson, Jessica,Smith, Edwin R.,Couture, Jean-Francois,Skiniotis, G Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 2014 Genes & development Vol.28 No.2

<P>The stimulation of H3K4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) by H2B monoubiquitination (H2Bub) has been widely studied, and multiple mechanisms have been proposed for this form of histone cross-talk. Thornton et al. combine biochemical, structural, and in vivo approaches to provide a novel mechanism for the role of H2B ubiquitination machinery in the regulation of histone H3K4 methylation by COMPASS. This study demonstrates that the H2Bub machinery and Cps35/Swd2 function to focus the H3K4me3 activity of COMPASS at promoter-proximal regions in a context-dependent manner.</P>

Syngas production by combined steam and CO₂ reforming of coke oven gas over highly sinter-stable La-promoted Ni/MgAl₂O₄ catalyst

Park, J.E.,Koo, K.Y.,Jung, U.H.,Lee, J.H.,Roh, H.S.,Yoon, W.L. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2015 International journal of hydrogen energy Vol.40 No.40

Highly sinter-stable 10 wt% Ni-xLa/MgAl<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB> (x = 0-5 wt%) catalysts were prepared by co-impregnation for the combined steam and CO<SUB>2</SUB> reforming (CSCR) of coke oven gas (COG). The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were analyzed by BET, XRD, H<SUB>2</SUB> chemisorption, and H<SUB>2</SUB>-TPR. To compare the sinterstabilities, aging treatment was performed at 900 <SUP>o</SUP>C under H<SUB>2</SUB>:H<SUB>2</SUB>O:N<SUB>2</SUB> = 1:10:1.25 for 50 h. Although the Ni dispersions decrease and Ni crystallite sizes increase for all of catalysts after the aging treatment, the La-promoted catalysts had higher Ni dispersion and smaller crystallite sizes than the Ni/MgAl<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB> catalyst owing to the enhancement of strong metal-support interactions. The catalytic test was carried out under CH<SUB>4</SUB>:H<SUB>2</SUB>O:CO<SUB>2</SUB>:H<SUB>2</SUB>:CO:N<SUB>2</SUB> = 1:1.2:0.4:2:0.3:0.3 at 900 <SUP>o</SUP>C and 5 atm for 40 h. The Ni-2.5La/MgAl<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB> (aged) catalyst exhibited the highest activity and sinterstability owing to its high surface area and Ni dispersion. It was also confirmed that La promotion prevents the agglomeration of Ni particles through TEM.