Abstract
In April 2020, manufacturing of the ITER vacuum vessel (VV) first sector has been completed by the Korean domestic agency, manufacturing having started in February 2012. The ITER VV sector ...is the largest fusion VV structure in the world. Each step of the manufacturing was a challenge as a first-of-a-kind, and a French nuclear pressure vessel. The paper provides an overview of the major challenges which were overcome over the last 10 years.
Korean kimchi is known for its myriad of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with diverse bioactive compounds. This study was undertaken to isolate an efficient antifungal LAB strain among the isolated kimchi ...LABs. One thousand and four hundred LABs isolated from different kimchi samples were initially screened against Aspergillus niger. The strain exhibiting the highest antifungal activity was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum YML007 by 16S rRNA sequencing and biochemical assays using API 50 CHL kit. Lact. plantarum YML007 was further screened against Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum and other pathogenic bacteria. The morphological changes during the inhibition were assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Preliminary studies on the antifungal compound demonstrated its proteinaceous nature with a molecular weight of 1256·617 Da, analysed by matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF). The biopreservative activity of Lact. plantarum YML007 was evaluated using dried soybeans. Spores of A. niger were observed in the negative control after 15 days of incubation. However, fungal growth was not observed in the soybeans treated with fivefold concentrated cell‐free supernatant of Lact. plantarum YML007. The broad activity of Lact. plantarum YML007 against various food spoilage moulds and bacteria suggests its scope as a food preservative.
Significance and Impact of the Study
After screening 1400 kimchi bacterial isolates, strain Lactobacillus plantarum YML007 was selected with strong antifungal activity against various foodborne pathogens. From the preliminary studies, it was found that the bioactive compound is a low molecular weight novel protein of 1256·617 Da. Biopreservative potential of Lact. plantarum YML007 was demonstrated on soybean grains, and the results point out YML007 as a potent biopreservative having broad antimicrobial activity against various foodborne pathogens.
Significance and Impact of the Study: After screening 1400 kimchi bacterial isolates, strain Lactobacillus plantarum YML007 was selected with strong antifungal activity against various foodborne pathogens. From the preliminary studies, it was found that the bioactive compound is a low molecular weight novel protein of 1256·617 Da. Biopreservative potential of Lact. plantarum YML007 was demonstrated on soybean grains, and the results point out YML007 as a potent biopreservative having broad antimicrobial activity against various foodborne pathogens.
Aims
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, with a steadily increasing prevalence. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been widely used in the food industry and are an attractive ...option for preventing and treating allergic skin diseases. We previously isolated new LABs including Lactococcus lactis KR‐050L from Gajuknamu kimchi, and showed the anti‐inflammatory effects of extract of L. lactis KR‐050L culture broth (LLK). In this study, we investigated the effects of LLK on AD.
Methods and Results
For the in vitro study, we used human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and mast cells (RBL‐2H3). In vivo study, we investigated the effects of LLK on Dermatophagoides farinae extract (DFE) and 2,4‐dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)‐induced atopic skin inflammation in mice. LLK suppressed expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by down‐regulation of p38 MAPK, STAT1 and nuclear translocation of NF‐κB in keratinocytes. Topical application of LLK suppressed AD symptoms based on reduction in ear thickness, serum IgE levels and immune cell infiltration. Furthermore, LLK inhibited serum histamine levels and mast cells infiltration in vivo, and reduced mast cells activation in vitro.
Conclusions
These results suggest that LLK inhibits AD symptoms through inhibition of keratinocytes and mast cells activation.
Significance and Impact of the Study
LLK is a potential therapeutic candidate for AD treatment.
Summary
Background
To date, there has been no reliable in vitro test to diagnose aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD).
Objective
To investigate potential diagnostic biomarkers for AERD ...using metabolomic analysis.
Methods
An untargeted profile of serum from asthmatics in the first cohort (group 1) comprising 45 AERD, 44 patients with aspirin‐tolerant asthma (ATA), and 28 normal controls was developed using the ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)/Q‐ToF MS system. Metabolites that discriminate AERD from ATA were quantified in both serum and urine, which were collected before (baseline) and after the lysine‐aspirin bronchoprovocation test (Lys‐ASA BPT). The serum metabolites were validated in the second cohort (group 2) comprising 50 patients with AERD and 50 patients with ATA.
Results
A clear discrimination of metabolomes was found between patients with AERD and ATA. In group 1, serum levels of LTE4 and LTE4/PGF2α ratio before and after the Lys‐ASA BPT were significantly higher in patients with AERD than in patients with ATA (P < 0.05 for each), and urine baseline levels of these two metabolites were significantly higher in patients with AERD. Significant differences of serum metabolite levels between patients with AERD and ATA were replicated in group 2 (P < 0.05 for each). Moreover, serum baseline levels of LTE4 and LTE4/PGF2α ratio discriminated AERD from ATA with 70.5%/71.6% sensitivity and 41.5%/62.8% specificity, respectively (AUC = 0.649 and 0.732, respectively P < 0.001 for each). Urine baseline LTE4 levels were significantly correlated with the fall in FEV1% after the Lys‐ASA BPT in patients with AERD (P = 0.008, r = 0.463).
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance
Serum metabolite level of LTE4 and LTE4/PGF2α ratio was identified as potential in vitro diagnostic biomarkers for AERD using the UHPLC/Q‐ToF MS system, which were closely associated with major pathogenetic mechanisms underlying AERD.
Reactor experiment for neutrino oscillation (RENO) began data-taking from August 2011. It successfully observed reactor antineutrino disappearance in April 2012 to measure the smallest mixing angle ...of θ13. Two identical detectors, one at near location and the other at far location, are constructed at the Yonggwang nuclear power plant in South Korea, to compare the observed reactor neutrino fluxes. Each RENO detector is filled with 16 mass tons of Gadolinium loaded liquid scintillator (GdLS) in the neutrino target region, and with 28 mass tons of unloaded liquid scintillator (LS) in the γ-catcher region surrounding the target. LS was developed to satisfy chemical, physical, optical properties, and safety requirements. Linear alkyl benzene (LAB) was chosen as a solvent because of its high flash-point, sufficient light yield, and being environmentally friendly. GdLS is carefully developed to keep a long attenuation length and high light yield for a long time period. In this paper, we report the characteristics and mass production of the RENO LS and GdLS.
We use the high-resolution simulation MassiveBlackII to examine scaling relations between black hole (BH) mass and host galaxy properties (σ, total M
* and L
V
), finding good agreement with recent ...observational data, especially at the high-mass end. We find Gaussian intrinsic scatter (∼half the observed scatter) about all three relations, except among the most massive objects. Below z ∼ 2 the slope of the relations remain roughly z-independent, and only steepen by 50 per cent by z ∼ 4. The normalization of the σ, L
V
relations evolve by 0.3, 0.43 dex, while the M
* correlation does not evolve out to at least z ∼ 2. Testing for selection biases, we find M
BH- or M
*-selected samples have steeper slopes than random samples, suggesting a constant-mass selection function can exhibit faster evolution than a random sample. We find a potential bias among high-L
BH subsamples due to their more massive hosts, but that bright (active) active galactic nuclei exhibit no intrinsic bias relative to fainter (inactive) BHs in equivalent-mass hosts. Finally, we show that BHs below the local relation tend to grow faster than their host (72 per cent of BHs >0.3 dex below the mean relation have an M
BH–M
* trajectory steeper than the local relation), while those above have shallower trajectories (only 14 per cent are steeper than local). Thus BHs tend to grow faster than their hosts until surpassing the local relation, when their growth is suppressed, bringing them back towards the mean relation.
We have isolated Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) from stool and CSF samples taken from patients with acute flaccid paralysis, herpangina, or hand, foot and mouth disease in 2000. Both the cell ...culture-neutralization test and RT-PCR were used to detect enteroviruses. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RD), HEP2c, and BGM cells were used for the isolation of viruses, and serotypes were determined by the neutralization test using EV71-specific antiserum. For genomic analysis, we amplified a 437-bp fragment of the 5'-noncoding region of the enterovirus genome and a 484-bp fragment of the VP3/VP1 region of EV71 by RT-PCR, with positive results. Products amplified using an EV71-specific primer pair were sequenced and compared with other isolates of EV71. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the amplified fragments showed that the EV71 isolates from patients were over 98% homologous and belonged to the genotype C.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacies and compare the outcomes of targeted and blind epidural blood patch (EBP) treatments of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH).
Between ...January 1999 and December 2009, 56 patients who were diagnosed with SIH received either a targeted or blind EBP. The efficacies of targeted and blind EBPs were evaluated based on degree and duration of symptom relief and on the need for repeat EBP.
Fifty-six patients (23 men and 33 women; mean age, 39.6 years; age range, 22-69 years) were included in this study. Thirty-one patients received EBP that targeted CSF leak segments, and 25 received a blind EBP because primary CSF leak sites were not identified (19 patients via a lumbar epidural route, mainly the L 3-4 level, regardless of primary CSF leak site, and 6 patients via upper thoracic epidural spaces, mainly the T4-6 level). In the 31 patients who received a targeted EBP, 27 (87.1%) exhibited clinical improvement after first administration. In contrast, 13 of the 25 patients (52%) who received a blind EBP via a lumbar or upper thoracic epidural route achieved complete recovery. Targeted EBPs were more effective than blind EBPs for the treatment of SIH (p < 0.05).
EBPs targeting CSF leaks can be safely placed under fluoroscopic guidance in patients with SIH and are more likely to be effective than blindly placed EBPs.
Patients with natural killer T (NK/T) -cell lymphomas have poor survival outcome, and for this condition there is no optimal therapy. The purpose of this study was to design a prognostic model ...specifically for extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, which can identify high-risk patients who need more aggressive therapy.
This multicenter retrospective study was comprised of 262 patients who were diagnosed with NK/T-cell lymphoma.
After a median follow-up duration of 51.2 months, 5-year overall survival rate in 262 patients was 49.5%. Prognostic factors for survival were "B" symptoms (P = .0003; relative risk, 2.202; 95% CI, 1.446 to 3.353), stage (P = .0006; relative risk, 2.366; 95% CI, 1.462 to 3.828), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (P = .0005; relative risk, 2.278; 95% CI, 1.442 to 3.598), and regional lymph nodes (P = .0044; relative risk, 1.546; 95% CI, 1.009 to 2.367). Of 262 patients, 219 had complete information on four parameters. We identified four different risk groups: group 1, no adverse factor; group 2, one factor; group 3, two factors; and group 4, three or four factors. The new model showed a superior prognostic discrimination as compared with the International Prognostic Index (IPI). Notably, the distribution of patients was balanced when a new model was adopted (group 1, 27%; group 2, 31%; group 3, 20%; group 4, 22%), whereas 81% of patients were categorized as low or low-intermediate risks using IPI.
The newly proposed model for extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma demonstrated a more balanced distribution of patients into four groups with better prognostic discrimination as compared with the IPI.
In this study, we sought to identify a criterion for the intermediate-risk grouping of patients with cervical cancer who exhibit any intermediate-risk factor after radical hysterectomy.
In total, ...2158 patients with pathologically proven stage IB-IIA cervical cancer with any intermediate-risk factor after radical hysterectomy were randomly assigned to two groups, a development group and a validation group, at a ratio of 3 : 1 (1620 patients:538 patients). To predict recurrence, multivariate models were developed using the development group. The ability of the models to discriminate between groups was validated using the log-rank test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.
Four factors (histology, tumour size, deep stromal invasion (DSI), and lymphovascular space involvement (LVSI)) were significantly associated with disease recurrence and included in the models. Among the nine possible combinations of the four variables, models consisting of any two of the four intermediate-risk factors (tumour size ≥3 cm, DSI of the outer third of the cervix, LVSI, and adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma histology) demonstrated the best performance for predicting recurrence.
This study identified a 'four-factor model' in which the presence of any two factors may be useful for predicting recurrence in patients with cervical cancer treated with radical hysterectomy.
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