Diagnostic usefulness of a T cell-based assay for latent tuberculosis infection in kidney transplant candidates before transplantation

Kim, S.-H.,Lee, S.-O.,Park, I.-A.,Park, S.J.,Choi, S.-H.,Kim, Y.S.,Woo, J.H.,Park, S.-K.,Park, J.S.,Kim, S.C.,Han, D.J. Blackwell Publishing Inc 2010 Transplant infectious disease Vol.12 No.2

<P>S.-H. Kim, S.-O. Lee, I.-A. Park, S.J. Park, S.-H. Choi, Y.S. Kim, J.H. Woo, S.-K. Park, J.S. Park, S.C. Kim, D.J. Han. Diagnostic usefulness of a T cell-based assay for latent tuberculosis infection in kidney transplant candidates before transplantation.Transpl Infect Dis 2010: <B>12:</B> 113–119. All rights reserved</P><P>Background</P><P>The presence of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) should be evaluated before kidney transplantation. Although a new T cell-based assay for diagnosing LTBI gave promising results, this assay has not yet been compared with the tuberculin skin test (TST) for diagnosing LTBI in renal transplant candidates before transplantation.</P><P>Patients and methods</P><P>All adult patients admitted to a single institute for renal transplantation over a 1-year period were prospectively enrolled. A clinically predictive risk of LTBI was defined as: (i) recent close contact with a person with pulmonary TB; (ii) abnormal chest radiography; (iii) a history of untreated or inadequately treated TB; or (iv) a new infection (i.e., a recent conversion of TST).</P><P>Results</P><P>Of 209 renal recipients, 47 (22%) had a positive TST≥5 mm, 21 (10%) had a positive TST≥10 mm, 65 (30%) had a positive T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test, and 25 (12%) had an indeterminate T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test. The induration size of TST was significantly associated with a high positivity rate on T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> (<I>P</I><0.001). Agreement between T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test and TST≥10 mm was fair (<I>k</I>=0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.11–0.36). However, neither univariate nor multivariate analysis showed any association between the clinical risk for LTBI and positivity on T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> or TST.</P><P>Conclusion</P><P>T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test was more frequently positive than TST in renal transplant candidates. However, further longitudinal studies are awaited to determine whether the ability of T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> assay to detect LTBI in renal transplant recipients can better predict the development of TB than can TST after transplantation.</P>

Study of B^+/-→K^+/-(K_SKπ)⁰ decay and determination of η_c and η_c(2S) parameters

Belle Collaboration,Vinokurova, A.,Kuzmin, A.,Eidelman, S.,Arinstein, K.,Aulchenko, V.,Aushev, T.,Bakich, A.M.,Balagura, V.,Barberio, E.,Belous, K.,Bhardwaj, V.,Bondar, A.,Bozek, A.,Bracko, M.,Brodzic North-Holland Pub. Co 2011 Physics letters: B Vol.706 No.2

We report the results of a study of B<SUP>+/-</SUP>→K<SUP>+/-</SUP>η<SUB>c</SUB> and B<SUP>+/-</SUP>→K<SUP>+/-</SUP>η<SUB>c</SUB>(2S) decays followed by η<SUB>c</SUB> and η<SUB>c</SUB>(2S) decays to (K<SUB>S</SUB>Kπ)<SUP>0</SUP>. The results are obtained from a data sample containing 535 million BB@?-meson pairs collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB e<SUP>+</SUP>e<SUP>-</SUP> collider. We measure the products of the branching fractions B(B<SUP>+/-</SUP>→K<SUP>+/-</SUP>η<SUB>c</SUB>)B(η<SUB>c</SUB>→K<SUB>S</SUB>K<SUP>+/-</SUP>π<SUP>@?</SUP>)=(26.7+/-1.4(stat)<SUB>-2.6</SUB><SUP>+2.9</SUP>(syst)+/-4.9(model))x10<SUP>-6</SUP> and B(B<SUP>+/-</SUP>→K<SUP>+/-</SUP>η<SUB>c</SUB>(2S))B(η<SUB>c</SUB>(2S)→K<SUB>S</SUB>K<SUP>+/-</SUP>π<SUP>@?</SUP>)=(3.4<SUB>-1.5</SUB><SUP>+2.2</SUP>(stat+model)<SUB>-0.4</SUB><SUP>+0.5</SUP>(syst))x10<SUP>-6</SUP>. Interference with the non-resonant component leads to significant model uncertainty in the measurement of these product branching fractions. Our analysis accounts for this interference and allows the model uncertainty to be reduced. We also obtain the following charmonia masses and widths: M(η<SUB>c</SUB>)=(2985.4+/-1.5(stat)<SUB>-2.0</SUB><SUP>+0.5</SUP>(syst)) MeV/c<SUP>2</SUP>, Γ(η<SUB>c</SUB>)=(35.1+/-3.1(stat)<SUB>-1.6</SUB><SUP>+1.0</SUP>(syst)) MeV/c<SUP>2</SUP>, M(η<SUB>c</SUB>(2S))=(3636.1<SUB>-4.2</SUB><SUP>+3.9</SUP>(stat+model)<SUB>-2.0</SUB><SUP>+0.7</SUP>(syst)) MeV/c<SUP>2</SUP>, Γ(η<SUB>c</SUB>(2S))=(6.6<SUB>-5.1</SUB><SUP>+8.4</SUP>(stat+model)<SUB>-0.9</SUB><SUP>+2.6</SUP>(syst)) MeV/c<SUP>2</SUP>.

A study of γγ->K_S⁰K_S⁰ production at energies from 2.4 to 4.0 GeV at Belle

Belle Collaboration,Chen, W.T.,Abe, K.,Abe, K.,Adachi, I.,Aihara, H.,Anipko, D.,Aulchenko, V.,Bakich, A.M.,Barberio, E.,Bay, A.,Bedny, I.,Bitenc, U.,Bizjak, I.,Blyth, S.,Bondar, A.,Bozek, A.,Bracko, M North-Holland Pub. Co 2007 Physics letters: B Vol.651 No.1

K<SUB>S</SUB><SUP>0</SUP>K<SUB>S</SUB><SUP>0</SUP> production in two-photon collisions has been studied using a 397.6 fb<SUP>-1</SUP> data sample collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e<SUP>+</SUP>e<SUP>-</SUP> collider. For the first time the cross sections are measured in the two-photon center-of-mass energy range between 2.4 GeV and 4.0 GeV and angular range |cosθ<SUP>*</SUP>|<0.6. Combining the results with measurements of γγ->K<SUP>+</SUP>K<SUP>-</SUP> from Belle, we observe that the cross section ratio σ(K<SUB>S</SUB><SUP>0</SUP>K<SUB>S</SUB><SUP>0</SUP>)/σ(K<SUP>+</SUP>K<SUP>-</SUP>) decreases from ∼0.13 to ∼0.01 with increasing energy. Signals for the χ<SUB>c0</SUB> and χ<SUB>c2</SUB> charmonium states are also observed.

Multistage symmetry breaking in the breathing pyrochlore latticeLi(Ga,In)Cr4O8

Lee, S.,Do, S.-H.,Lee, W.-J.,Choi, Y. S.,Lee, M.,Choi, E. S.,Reyes, A. P.,Kuhns, P. L.,Ozarowski, A.,Choi, K.-Y. American Physical Society 2016 Physical Review B Vol.93 No.17

<P>We present magnetic susceptibility, dielectric constant, high-frequency electron spin resonance, Li-7 nuclear magnetic resonance, and zero-field muon spin relaxation measurements of LiACr(4)O(8) (A = Ga, In), towards realizing a breathing pyrochlore lattice. Unlike the uniform pyrochlore ZnCr2O4 lattice, both the In and the Ga compounds feature two-stage symmetry breaking: a magnetostructural phase transition with subsequent antiferromagnetic ordering. We find a disparate symmetry breaking process between the In and the Ga compounds, having different degrees of bond alternation. Our data reveal that the Ga compound with moderate bond alternation shows the concomitant structural and magnetic transition at T-S = 15.2 K, followed by the magnetic ordering at T-m = 12.9 K. In contrast, the In compound with strong bond alternation undergoes a thermal crossover at T* approximate to 20.1 K from a tetramer singlet to a dimer singlet or a correlated paramagnet with a separate weak magnetostructural transition at T-S = 17.6 K and the second antiferromagnetic ordering at T-m = 13.7 K. This suggests that the magnetic phases and correlations of the breathing pyrochlore lattice can be determined from the competition between bond alternation and spin-lattice coupling, thus stabilizing long-range magnetic ordering against a nonmagnetic singlet.</P>

Design a steam chamber to avoid over gelatinization thus producing straight and single form of rice noodles strings

M.K.A. Shanika(M.K.A. Shanika ),K.S. Kumararathna(K.S. Kumararathna ),S.B. Navarathne(S.B. Navarathne ),V.S. Jayamanne(V.S. Jayamanne ) 한국축산식품학회 2022 Food and Life Vol.2022 No.3

Over gelatinization of extruded rice noodles during open wet steam cooking is a major problem in the food processing industry and occurs due to the condensation of water droplets that come into contact with noodle strings during the steaming process. This issue may arise due to the presence of stuck noodles in the finished product. Therefore, 5 prototype designs; wooden frame enclosed with polythene sheet (A), wooden frame enclosed with gray cloth (B), wooden frame enclosed with a plywood sheet with two steam inlets in the galvanized door (C), wooden frame enclosed with plywood sheet with multiple steam inlets in the galvanized door (D), and completely enclosed galvanized chamber were made (E). All steam chambers had multiple steam inlets in lateral walls except the chamber with gray cloth. Red rice noodles were prepared from the combination (16% w/w moisture, 200 μm, water at ambient temperature (30±2℃), control atmosphere, 20 min) and fed into five different types of prototype designs to complete the cooking (gelatinization) process. The performance of the five prototype designs was evaluated in terms of the percentage of dried noodles coming out of each design in a single straight form. According to the results, the percentage of dried noodles coming out of each design was (A-50.0±7.1%, B-15.0±5.0%, C-15.0±5.0%, D-50.0±7.1%, E-77.5±4.3% w/w) analyzed. The mean values of all designs revealed that the effective prototype design was “design E” (steam chamber consisted of a completely enclosed galvanized chamber with multiple steam inlets in the two lateral sides). It was able to produce a higher percentage of straight single noodles when compared to other designs. In conclusion, design E is the effective steam chamber to produce straight single rice noodles for the market. The design of a steam chamber is also a very important aspect to avoid over gelatinization thus producing straight and single form of rice noodles strings.

HWE(Hot Wall Epitaxy)에 의한 ZnIn_2S_4 박막 성장과 광전도 특성

홍광준,이관교,정준우,정경아,방진주,장현규,문종대,김혜숙 조선대학교 기초과학연구소 1999 自然科學硏究 Vol.22 No.1

HWE 방법에 의해 ZnIn_2S_4 박막을 Si(00) 기판 위에 성장시켰다. 증발원과 기판의 온도를 각각 610℃, 450℃로 하여 성장시킨 ZnIn_2S_4 박막의 이중 결정 X-선 요동곡선(DCRC)의 반폭치(FWHM)값이 245 arcsec로 가장 작았다. Van der Pauw 방법으로 Hall 효과를 측정하여 운반자농도의 1n n 대 1/T에서 구한 활성화에너지는 0.17eV로 측정되었다. Hall 이동도의 온도 의존성은 30K에서 100K까지는 불순물산란에 기인하고, 100K에서 293K까지는 격자산란에 기인한것으로 고찰되었다. 광전도셀의 특성으로 spectral response, 최대 허용소비전력(MAPD), 광전류와 암전류(pc/dc)의 비 및 응답시간을 측정하였다. S 증기분위기에서 열처리한 광전도 셀의 경우, 감도(??)는 0.99, pc/dc은 1.37x10^7, 그리고 최대 허용소비전력(MAPD)은 336mW, 오름시간(rise time)은 9ms, 내림시간(decay time)은 9.8ms로 가장 좋은 광전도 특성을 얻었다. The ZnIn_2S_4 thin films were grown on the Si(100) wafers by a hot wall epitaxy method(HWE). The source and substrate temperature are 610℃ and 450℃ respectively. The crystalline structure of epilayers was investigated by double crystal X-ray diffraction(DCXD). Hall effect on the sample was measured by the van der Pauw method and studied on the carrier density and mobility dependence on temperature. From Hall data, the mobility was increased in the temperature range 30K to 100K by impurity scattering and decreased in the temperature range 100K to 293K by the lattice scattering. In order to explore the applicability as a photoconductive cell, we measured the sensitivity(??), the ratio of photocurrent to darkcurrent(pc/dc), maximum allowable power dissipation(MAPD), spectral response and response time. The results indicated that the photoconductive characteristic were the best for the samples annealed in S vapor compare with in Zn, In, air and vacuum vapour. Then we obtained the sensitivity of 0.99, the value of pc/dc of 1.37x10^7, the MAPD of 336mW, and the rise and decay time of 9ms and 9.8ms, respectively.

Effect of Triticale Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles on Ruminal Bacterial Populations as Revealed by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Wu, R.B.,Munns, K.,Li, J.Q.,John, S.J.,Wierenga, K.,Sharma, R.,Mcallister, T.A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2011 Animal Bioscience Vol.24 No.11

Real time PCR was used in this study to determine the effect of triticale dried distillers grains with solubles (TDDGS) as a replacement for grain or barley silage in finishing diets on the presence of six classical ruminal bacterial species (Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens, Selenomonas ruminantium, Streptococcus bovis, Megasphaera elsdenii, Prevotella ruminicola and Fibrobacter succinogenes) within the rumen contents of feedlot cattle. This study was divided into a step-wise adaptation experiment (112 days) that examined the effects of adaptation to diets containing increasing levels of TDDGS up to 30% (n = 4), a short-term experiment comparing animals (n = 16) fed control, 20%, 25% or 30% TDDGS diets over 28 days, and a rapid transition experiment (56 days) where animals (n = 4) were rapidly switched from a diet containing 30% TDDGS to a barley-based diet with no TDDGS. It was found that feeding TDDGS as replacement for barley grain (control vs. 20% TDDGS) decreased 16S rRNA copy numbers of starch-fermenting S. ruminantium and S. bovis (p<0.001 and p = 0.04, respectively), but did not alter 16S rRNA copy numbers of the other rumen bacteria. Furthermore, feeding TDDGS as a replacement barley silage (20% vs. 25% and 30% TDDGS) increased 16S rRNA copy numbers of S. ruminantium, M. elsdenii and F. succinogenes (p<0.001; p = 0.03 and p<0.001, respectively), but decreased (p<0.001) the 16S rRNA copy number of P. ruminicola. Upon removal of 30% TDDGS and return to the control diet, 16S rRNA copy numbers of S. ruminantium, M. elsdenii and F. succinogenes decreased (p = 0.01; p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively), but S. dextrinosolvens and S. bovis increased (p = 0.04 and p = 0.009, respectively). The results suggest that replacement of TDDGS for grain reduces 16S rRNA copy numbers of starch-fermenting bacteria, whereas substitution for barley silage increases 16S rRNA copy numbers of bacteria involved in fibre digestion and the metabolism of lactic acid. This outcome supports the contention that the fibre in TDDGS is highly fermentable.

Oral Fluoropyrimidines (Capecitabine or S-1) and Cisplatin as First Line Treatment in Elderly Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Retrospective Study

Seol, Y. M.,Song, M. K.,Choi, Y. J.,Kim, G. H.,Shin, H. J.,Song, G. A.,Chung, J. S.,Cho, G. J. Oxford University Press 2009 Japanese journal of clinical oncology Vol.39 No.1

<P>BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral fluoropyrimidines and cisplatin therapy in elderly patients with untreated advanced gastric cancer (AGC) retrospectively. In addition, we evaluated the relative activity and toxicity of these agents in this patient population. METHODS: Clinical data from 72 patients with previously untreated AGC, who were treated with capecitabine/cisplatin and S-1/cisplatin, were reviewed. Oral fluoropyrimidines were administered orally twice a day on Days 1-14. The dose of capecitabine was 1250 mg/m(2) and that of S-1 was 50 mg [body surface area (BSA) < 1.5 m(3)] or 60 mg (BSA > 1.5 m(3)) twice a day. Cisplatin was administered intravenously on Day 1 (before the first dose of capecitabine or S-1) at a dose of 70 mg/m(2) over a 2 h period. The chemotherapy cycle was of 3 weeks (with oral capecitabine or S-1). RESULTS: Thirty-two and 40 patients received the S-1 and capecitabine regimens, respectively, and were included in the analysis. The S-1 protocol had a response rate of 40.6%, a median time-to-progression (TTP) of 5.4 months and a median survival of 9.6 months. The capecitabine had a response rate of 55%, a median TTP of 5.9 months and a median survival of 10.2 months. Each protocol had a similar incidence of Grade 3 or 4 adverse events. However, there was a higher rate of the hand-foot syndrome (6 versus 37%) and diarrhea (25 versus 32%) in the capecitabine group. CONCLUSION: Oral fluoropyrimidines and cisplatin in elderly patients with untreated AGC showed encouraging results. The treatment was well tolerated with a manageable toxicity profile. The comparison of S-1 with capecitabine showed that capecitabine had a slightly higher response rate (statistically not significant) in addition to a higher rate of adverse events such as the hand-foot syndrome and diarrhea. These data should be warranted with further prospective studies.</P>

간호 대학생의 성 지식, 성 태도와 성 건강 간호 장애감 간의 관계

김다연,김은아,노수경,류아인,박나은,박지혜,서정민,심효정,주성민,한진실,이건정,박수민 이화여자대학교 간호과학대학 2017 이화간호학회지 Vol.- No.51

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate correlation among sexual knowledge, attitude and Barriers to patient’s sexual health of nursing undergraduate students and to provide objective data to promote sexual health-care. Method: Using a descriptive correlation, 304 nursing undergraduate students were recruited through convenience random sampling from August 1st to December 20th, 2016. Data were analyzed using average, standard deviation, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson’s correlation and Multiple linear regression analysis using the SPSS 21.0 program. Results: The correlation between Sexual knowledge and Sexual attitude is statistically significant(r=.289, p<.01). As the level of sexual knowledge is higher, the sexual attitude is more open. And, Sexual knowledge(r=-.307,p<.01) and Sexual attitude(r=.180,p=.002) had a negative relationship with Barriers to patient’s sexual health. Also, Sexual knowledge was the greatest influencing factor on Barriers to patient’s sexual health. Conclusion: This study showed as the level of Sexual knowledge is higher, the Sexual attitude is more open. As the degree of Sexual knowledge is lower, the Sexual attitude is more conservative, and Barriers to patient’s sexual health is more higher. Also, Sexual knowledge is the most influential factor on Barriers to patient’s sexual health.

A study of nerve agent model organophosphonate binding with manganese-A₂B-corrole and -A₂B₂-porphyrin systems

Kim, K.,Kim, I.,Maiti, N.,Kwon, S.J.,Bucella, D.,Egorova, O.A.,Lee, Y.S.,Kwak, J.,Churchill, D.G. Pergamon Press 2009 Polyhedron Vol.28 No.12

Herein the synthesis and binding studies of novel trans-A<SUB>2</SUB>B-corrole and trans-A<SUB>2</SUB>B<SUB>2</SUB>-porphyrin derivatives are presented in comparing manganese(III)-organophosphonate (OP) binding (e.g., M<SUP>n+</SUP>←O?PR(OR)<SUB>2</SUB>) capabilities. H<SUB>3</SUB>(PFP-VC) [PFP-VC=5,15-di(pentafluorophenyl)-10-(3-vinylphenyl)corrolate] was synthesized by way of literature procedures and was characterized by a variety of 2-D NMR spectroscopic techniques and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These compounds represent the first example of 3-vinyl-phenyl-containing meso-substituted corroles or porphyrins. Mn(PFP-VC) (3) was treated separately with (CH<SUB>3</SUB>CH<SUB>2</SUB>O)<SUB>2</SUB>P?O(C<SUB>3</SUB>H<SUB>6</SUB>NMe<SUB>2</SUB>), (C<SUB>4</SUB>H<SUB>9</SUB>O)<SUB>2</SUB>P?O(Me), (C<SUB>2</SUB>H<SUB>5</SUB>O)<SUB>2</SUB>P?O(CH<SUB>2</SUB>COCH<SUB>3</SUB>), (CH<SUB>3</SUB>CH<SUB>2</SUB>O)<SUB>2</SUB>P?O(Me), to give 1:1 adducts, as determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy (Job Plot), giving a red shift; Ph<SUB>3</SUB>P?O, was also found to bind, but very weakly. The trans-A<SUB>2</SUB>B<SUB>2</SUB>-porphyrin analogue Mn(PFP-VP) (4) was also prepared by way of a literature procedure; related binding studies gave 1:1 organophosphonate-Mn(PFP-VP) adducts (Job Plot). A clean blue shift occurred for the Mn-porphyrins at higher organophosphonate loadings (K<SUB>a</SUB> values: 6.7 (0.9)-11.9 (0.4)M<SUP>-1</SUP>). DFT geometry optimizations of O?P(OMe)<SUB>2</SUB>Me binding and formal Mn-O or P-O cleavage products in the unsubstituted neutral Mn-corrolato and -porphyrinato systems with a range of metal-based spin states revealed greatest stability in formal phosphoryl oxygen binding (energies: 11-13kcal/mol) for the Mn-corrole (singlet); the Mn-porphyrin (sextet) was also quite stable.