RNA aptamer-based sensitive detection of SARS coronavirus nucleocapsid protein

Ahn, Dae-Gyun,Jeon, Il-Ji,Kim, Jung Dong,Song, Min-Sun,Han, Seung-Ryul,Lee, Seong-Wook,Jung, Hyungil,Oh, Jong-Won Royal Society of Chemistry 2009 The Analyst Vol.134 No.9

<P>Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the etiological agent of a newly emerged disease SARS. The SARS-CoV nucleocapsid (N) protein is one of the most abundant structural proteins and serves as a diagnostic marker for accurate and sensitive detection of the virus. Using a SELEX (systematic evolution of ligand by exponential enrichment) procedure and recombinant N protein, we selected a high-affinity RNA aptamer capable of binding to N protein with a dissociation constant of 1.65 nM. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and RNA competition experiments showed that the selected aptamer recognized selectively the C-terminal region of N protein with high specificity. Using a chemiluminescence immunosorbent assay and a nanoarray aptamer chip with the selected aptamer as an antigen-capturing agent, we could sensitively detect N protein at a concentration as low as 2 pg/ml. These aptamer–antibody hybrid immunoassays may be useful for rapid, sensitive detection of SARS-CoV N protein.</P> <P>Graphic Abstract</P><P>We describe the high-affinity RNA aptamers capable of capturing SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) nucleocapsid (N) protein. A nanoarray aptamer chip with the selected aptamer might have application potential for rapid, sensitive detection of SARS coronavirus. <IMG SRC='http://pubs.rsc.org/services/images/RSCpubs.ePlatform.Service.FreeContent.ImageService.svc/ImageService/image/GA?id=b906788d'> </P>

Superficial Temporal Artery-Sparing Mini-Pterional Approach for Cerebral Aneurysm Surgery

Ahn, Jun-Young,Kim, Sung-Tae,Yi, Ki-Chang,Lee, Won-Hee,Paeng, Sung Hwa,Jeong, Young-Gyun The Korean Neurosurgical Society 2017 Journal of Korean neurosurgical society Vol.60 No.1

Objective : The purposes of this study were to introduce a superficial temporal artery (STA)-sparing mini-pterional approach for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms and review the surgical results of this approach. Methods : Between June 2010 and December 2015, we performed the STA-sparing mini-pterional approach for 117 patients with 141 unruptured intracranial aneurysms. We analyzed demographic, radiologic, and clinical variables including age, sex, craniotomy size, aneurysm location, height of STA bifurcation, and postoperative complications. Results : The mean age of patients was 58.4 years. The height of STA bifurcation from the superior border of the zygomatic arch was $20.5mm{\pm}10.0$ (standard deviation [SD]). The craniotomy size was $1051.6mm^2{\pm}206.5$ (SD). Aneurysm neck clipping was possible in all cases. Intradural anterior clinoidectomy was performed in four cases. Contralateral approaches to aneurysms were adopted for four cases. Surgery-related complications occurred in two cases. Permanent morbidity occurred in one case. Conclusion : Our STA-sparing mini-pterional approach for surgical treatment of cerebral aneurysms is easy to learn and has the advantages of small incision, STA sparing, and a relatively wide surgical field. It may be a good alternative to the conventional pterional approach for treating cerebral aneurysms.

Lipidomic analysis of plasma lipids composition changes in septic mice

Ahn, Won-Gyun,Jung, Jun-Sub,Song, Dong-Keun The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2018 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.22 No.4

A lipidomic study on extensive plasma lipids in bacterial peritonitis (cecal ligation and puncture, CLP)-induced sepsis in mice was done at 24 h post-CLP. The effects of administration of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), compounds known to have beneficial effects in CLP, on the sepsis-induced plasma lipid changes were also examined. Among the 147 plasma lipid species from 13 lipid subgroups (fatty acid [FA], LPA, LPC, lysophosphatidylethanolamine [LPE], phosphatidic acid [PA], phosphatidylcholine [PC], phosphatidylethanolamine [PE], phosphatidylinositol [PI], monoacylglyceride [MG], diacylglyceride [DG], triacylglyceride [TG], sphingomyelin [SM], and ceramide [Cer]) analyzed in this study, 40 and 70 species were increased, and decreased, respectively, in the CLP mice. Treatments with LPC and LPA affected 14 species from 7 subgroups, and 25 species from 9 subgroups, respectively. These results could contribute to finding the much needed reliable biomarkers of sepsis.

Biochemical characterization of a recombinant SARS coronavirus nsp12 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase capable of copying viral RNA templates

Ahn, Dae-Gyun,Choi, Jin-Kyu,Taylor, Deborah R.,Oh, Jong-Won Springer-Verlag 2012 Archives of virology Vol.157 No.11

<P>The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) RNA genome is replicated by a virus-encoded RNA replicase, the key component of which is the nonstructural protein 12 (nsp12). In this report, we describe the biochemical properties of a full-length recombinant SARS-CoV nsp12 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) capable of copying viral RNA templates. The purified SARS-CoV nsp12 showed both primer-dependent and primer-independent RNA synthesis activities using homopolymeric RNA templates. The RdRp activity was strictly dependent on Mn(2+). The nsp12 preferentially copied homopolymeric pyrimidine RNA templates in the absence of an added oligonucleotide primer. It was also able to initiate de novo RNA synthesis from the 3'-ends of both the plus- and minus-strand genome of SARS-CoV, using the 3'-terminal 36- and 37-nt RNA, respectively. The in vitro RdRp assay system established with a full-length nsp12 will be useful for understanding the mechanisms of coronavirus replication and for the development of anti-SARS-CoV agents.</P>

Lipidomic analysis of plasma lipids composition changes in septic mice

Won-Gyun Ahn,Jun-Sub Jung,Dong-Keun Song 대한생리학회-대한약리학회 2018 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.22 No.4

A lipidomic study on extensive plasma lipids in bacterial peritonitis (cecalligation and puncture, CLP)-induced sepsis in mice was done at 24 h post-CLP. The effects of administration of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and lysophosphatidic acid(LPA), compounds known to have beneficial effects in CLP, on the sepsis-induced plasma lipid changes were also examined. Among the 147 plasma lipid species from 13 lipid subgroups (fatty acid [FA], LPA, LPC, lysophosphatidylethanolamine [LPE],phosphatidic acid [PA], phosphatidylcholine [PC], phosphatidylethanolamine [PE],phosphatidylinositol [PI], monoacylglyceride [MG], diacylglyceride [DG], triacylglyceride[TG], sphingomyelin [SM], and ceramide [Cer]) analyzed in this study, 40 and 70 species were increased, and decreased, respectively, in the CLP mice. Treatments with LPC and LPA affected 14 species from 7 subgroups, and 25 species from 9 subgroups, respectively. These results could contribute to finding the much needed reliable biomarkers of sepsis.

Identification of Multiple Active Forms in Cellulase-xylanase of Aspergillus sp . 8-17 by Active Staining

( PYUNG GYUN SHIN,JUN BAE AHN,CHANG YOUNG KIM,WON HWA JEONG,JIN CHANG RYU ) 한국미생물생명공학회 1998 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.8 No.1

Chattering Alleviation using Integral Sliding Mode Control (ICCAS 2005)

Tae Won Kim,Min Chan Kim,Seung Kyu Park,Ho Gyun Ahn 제어로봇시스템학회 2005 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2005 No.6

대륙별 항만 물동량이 세계 경제에 미치는 영향 실증분석

안영균(Ahn Young Gyun),이주원(Lee Joo Won) 한국물류학회 2017 물류학회지 Vol.27 No.1

본 연구의 목적은 항만 컨테이너 물동량이 세계 GDP에 미치는 영향을 추정하여, 세계 경제성장에 기여하는 항만 물동량의 중 요성을 검증하는 것이다. 특히 항만 컨테이너 물동량을 대륙별로 분류하여 대륙별 세계 경제성장 기여수준을 추정하고, 이를 통해 세계 GDP 성장을 위해 개발이 필요한 컨테이너 항만시설의 대륙 간 우선순위를 도출하였다. 세계 수출입 물량의 95% 이상이 해상을 통해 수송되고 있다. 전 세계에서 생산되고 있는 제품의 대다수가 항만을 통해 선박수송되고 있으며 따라서 항만 물동량의 증감이 세계 경제에 미치는 영향력은 매우 높다. 본 연구는 이러한 배경을 바탕으로, 해상 수송의 실적을 의미하는 지표인 대륙별(유럽, 아시아, 북아메리카, 기타 등 4종) 항만물동량과 세계 경제(연도별 세계 GDP) 규모 간의 회귀분석을 수행하였다. 패널 데이터를 사용한 로그변형 GLS 추정(Log Transformed GLS Regression)을 통해, 각각의 대륙별 항만 물동량이 증가하였을 때에 얼마만큼 세계 경제는 영향을 받는지를 추정하였다. 이와 더불어 LR(Likelihood ratio) 검정을 시행하여 고정효과 모형(Fixed Effects Model)을 통해 대륙별 항만 물동량의 세계 GDP 간의 인과관계를 추정하였다. 고정효과 모형을 통한 추정 결과, 유럽 대륙 컨테이너 물동량 1% 증가 시 세계 GDP는 0.72% 증가, 아시아 대륙 컨테이너 물동량 1% 증가 시 세계 GDP 1.27% 증가, 북미 대륙 컨테이너 물동량 1% 증가 시 세계 GDP 1.18% 증가, 기타 대륙(남미+아프리카 대륙) 컨테이너 물동량 1% 증가 시 세계 GDP는 2.43% 증가하는 것으로 각각 추정되었다. 글로벌 주요 항만들이 대부분 유럽이나 아시아 대륙에 입지하고 있는 상황에서, 남미나 아프리카 대륙 등 신흥국들이 다수 포진해 있는 대륙의 물동량 증가가 세계 경제(세계 GDP) 성장에 미치는 영향력이 더 큰 것으로 추정된 본 연구 결과는, 개발도상국이나 경제 낙후국가들이 다수 입지해 있는 남미, 아프리카 대륙에서의 무역이 확대될 경우 세계 경제는 보다 더 빠르게 성장할 수 있음을 시사한다. 즉, 무역이나 물류활동이 비교적 덜 발달되어 있는 남미나 아프리카 권역의 자유무역 확대는 국제분업을 촉진시킴으로써 궁극적으로 세계 경제 성장에 긍정적인 영향을 미칠 것이다. The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the continental container port traffic impact on growth of world GDP. In order for regressing the relationship between the yearly continental container port traffic in each four continent(EU, Asia, North America, and the other continent(South America+Africa)) and yearly world GDP, we performed the Log-Transformed GLS regression and Fixed Effects Model regression. Also we did the Granger Causality Test before performing the Fixed Effects Model regression in order to find the order relationship. This study could find one kind of order relationship : the increase of container port traffic happens precedently, and the world GDP increases subsequently. By applying the Hausman and LR tests, we could find that the fixed effects model is econometrically more meaningful than the random effects model for this study. The primary result of this study in the fixed effects model is that the coefficients of the container port traffic in every four continent,” show a positive (+) impact on the dependent variable, the world GDP, even though four coefficients show different size of impact on world GDP respectively. The coefficients of the container traffic in EU continent and in Asia Continent show that the world GDP will increase by 0.72% and 1.27% if the container volume in each continent increase by 1%. In addition, we could investigate that if the coefficients of the container traffic in North America continent and in the other continent by 1.0%, the world GDP will increase by 1.18% and 2.43% respectively. Therefore, this study can conclude that the World find it appropriate to invest in container related port SOC especially in South America or Africa including many emerging economies, for more rapid world GDP’s development.

수배전반에 적용된 내진 자동 복귀 시스템에 관한 연구

최원묵(Won-Mook Choi),차재석(Jae-Seock Cha),손완식(Wan-Sic Son),윤태성(Tae-Sung Yoon),안호균(Ho-Gyun Ahn),안한열(Han-Yeul Ahn),문성춘(Sung-Chun Mun) 대한전기학회 2015 대한전기학회 학술대회 논문집 Vol.2015 No.7

항만투자가 해상물동량에 미치는 요인 분석 -항만사회간접자본을 중심으로-

안영균 ( Ahn Young-gyun ),이주원 ( Lee Joo-won ) 한국해운물류학회(구 한국해운학회) 2016 해운물류연구 Vol.32 No.4

항만 투자가 국가 경제에 미치는 기여를 추정하기 위해서는 항만 투자로 인한 항만 SOC 증가가 물동량에 어떠한 영향을 미치는 지 추정이 필요하다. 본 연구는 패널자료를 사용하는 고정효과모형을 통해 추정하여 1920년부터 2015년 96년간의 기간 중 일본 내 1,082개 항만을 대상으로 6개 부문으로 세분류된 항만자본스톡과 해상 물동량 간의 상관관계를 추정하였다. 본 연구의 실증분석 결과에 따르면, 컨테이너 부두 관련 항만 자본 스톡이 1.0% 증가하면 항만물동량은 0.15% 증가하고, 일반 부두관련 항만 자본 스톡이 1.0% 증가 시 항만물동량은 0.09% 증가한다. 무엇보다 방파제·방파호안 등의 파제 시설 자본 스톡이 물동량에 높은 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났는데, 파제 시설 관련 자본 스톡 1.0% 증가 시 해상 물동량은 0.32% 증가하는 것으로 추정되었다. 본 연구의 회귀 분석 결과는 항만투자로 인한 항만 SOC 증가는 물동량 확대로 이어질 수 있음을 보여주는 것으로, 장래 적극적인 항만투자가 필요함을 시사하고 있다. Recently, Korea has been witnessing the emergence of some idle ports whose cargo-handling capacities are bigger than their sea traffic, frequently raising concerns over excessive port investments. Thus, it is important to find a logical explanation for whether investments in port social overhead capital(SOC) can ultimately contribute toward increasing the traffic volume of ports, even the nation`s economic development. In this study, using the fixed effects model with panel data, we investigate the impact of port SOC on maritime traffic. In order to investigate the relationships between port SOC and maritime volume, panel data covering a period of 97 years and 1,082 ports was applied to a regression model. Panel data could be collected by collaborating with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). MLIT now periodically announces the SOC amount of Japanese ports. First, we followed the rules set by the MLIT, according to which the port SOCs was divided into six categories: “the development of new port", “the development of container berth", “the development of bulk berth", “the jetty facilities like breakwater", “the maintenance of port", and “the navigation facilities." Then, we performed the regression analysis by setting the maritime traffic as the dependent variable and the forementioned six categories as independent variables. By applying the Hausman and LR tests, we could find that the fixed effect model is statistically more appropriate than the random effect model for this study. The primary results of this study in the fixed effect model are that the coefficients of “the development of container berth", “the development of bulk berth", “the jetty facilities" show a positive (+) impact on the dependent variable, the sea traffic. Contrarily, the coefficients of “the development of new port", “the maintenance of port", and “the navigation facilities" show a negative (-) impact. The coefficients of the development of container berth and the development of bulk berth show that the maritime traffic will increase by 0.15% and 0.09% if the SOC of the development of container berth or the development of bulk berth increase by 1%. The coefficient of the development of new port explains that if the SOC of the development of new port increases by 1.0%, the maritime traffic will decrease by 0.05%. In addition, the coefficients of the maintenance of port and the navigation facilities show that their elasticities for sea traffic are -0.06 and -0.09, respectively. Especially, the coefficient of “the jetty facilities like breakwater" has a strong impact on maritime traffic. The result of the fixed effects model regression, indicates that the maritime traffic will increase by 0.32% when the SOC of the jetty facilities increase by 1.0%. Therefore, we can conclude that port authorities(like the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) find it appropriate to invest in port SOC including jetty facilities for increasing maritime traffic in the future.