Chemical Composition Change in TSP Due to Dust Storm at Gosan, Korea: Do the Concentrations of Anthropogenic Species Increase Due to Dust Storm?

Aerosol composition change between dust storm and non-dust storm periods in spring is studied using the total suspended particle data measured at Gosan, a background area in Korea. The concentrations of eight inorganic ions and 12 elements were analyzed for the TSP samples collected from March 1992 to May 2006. Two-step statistical analyses were carried out for the data: F test and t test. The concentrations of anthropogenic ionic species showed increasing trend since 2003. The absolute concentrations of most anthropogenic species such as sulfate or nitrate increased (from 7.33 to 9.25 µg m^?3 and from 2.04 to 4.84 µg m^?3, respectively) during the dust storm period. However, the enrichment factors or normalized concentrations based on Al of most anthropogenic species decreased during dust storm period (factor of 0.1–0.5). It suggests that, in general, relative importance of anthropogenic species during dust storm would be not high.     

Study on half-scale model test for light-frame shear wall

A half-scale model of a light-frame shear wall was developed to evaluate the racking performance of a fullscale shear wall (prototype). The effect of nail size on the performance of the shear wall was also investigated using models constructed with three types of nail. Materials for the model were determined through experimental methods, which included nail-head push-through, stud-to-sheathing nail connection, and static bending tests. Materials with which the model was made to be in similarity to the prototype were three-layer 4.8-mm plywood, 39.72-mm long nails, and 1 × 2 lumber cut from 2 × 4 studs. In accordance with ASTM E 72 and ASTM E 564, racking resistance tests were conducted on 20 shear walls. The results showed that the maximum load capacities of the prototype walls could be evaluated by the model without significantly different failure modes. Tests on the effect of nail size revealed that increasing the nail head diameter may improve the performance of shear walls.Parts of this paper were presented at the International Conference on Effective Utilization of Plantation Timber (ICEUPT'99), Chi-Tou, Taiwan, May 1999; and the World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE2000), Whistler, Canada, July–August 2000     

Plasma haptoglobin and immunoglobulins as diagnostic indicators of deoxynivalenol intoxication

This study aimed to discover potential biomarkers for dioxynivalenol (DON) intoxication. B6C3F1 male mice were orally exposed to 0.83, 2.5 and 7.5 mg/kg body weight (bw) DON for 8 days and the differential protein expressions in their blood plasma were determined by SELDI - Time-of-Flight/Mass Spectrometry (TOF/MS) and the immunoglobulins (Igs) G, A, M and E in the serum were investigated. 11.7 kDa protein was significantly highly expressed according to DON administration and this protein was purified by employing a methyl ceramic HyperD F column with using optimization buffer for adsorption and desorption. The purified protein was identified as a haptoglobin precursor by peptide mapping with using LC/Q-TOF/MS and MALDI-TOF/MS and this was confirmed by western blotting and ELISA. IgG and IgM in serum were decreased in a dose-dependent manner and IgA was decreased at 7.5 mg/kg bw DON administration, but the IgE level was not changed. To compare the expressions of haptoglobin and the Igs patterns between aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEA) and DON intoxications, rats were orally administered with AFB1 1.0, ZEA 240 and DON 7.5 mg/kg bw for 8 days. Haptoglobin was increased only at DON 7.5 mg/kg bw, while it was slightly decreased at ZEA 240 mg/kg bw and it was not detected at all at AFB1 1.0 mg/kg bw. IgG and IgA were decreased by DON, but IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE were all increased by AFB1. No changes were observed by ZEA administration. These results show that plasma haptoglobin could be a diagnostic biomarker for DON intoxication when this is combined with examining the serum Igs.     

Protective potential of an attenuated Pasteurella multocida,which expresses only the N-terminal truncated fragment of P. multocida toxin

Pasteurella multocida serogroup D causes progressive atrophic rhinitis in pigs and produces a potent, intracellular, mitogenic toxin known as P. multocida toxin (PMT), which is encoded by the toxA gene. Highly toxic to cells, PMT is a poor antigen and becomes more immunogenic after its native structure has been destroyed. Previously, we found that the N-terminal fragment of PMT (N-PMT) can induce a strong immune response that is protective against wild-type challenge. Here, an attenuated P. multocida mutant expressing only N-PMT was developed and its protective effect was evaluated. The mutant provides protective immune responses against bacterial and toxin challenges, and so is a good live vaccine candidate.     

Association between the body weight of growing pigs and the functional capacity of their gut microbiota

Gastrointestinal microbiota impact host's biological activities, including digestion of indigestible feed components, energy harvest, and immunity. In this study, fecal microbiota of high body weight (HW) and low body weight (LW) growing pigs at 103 days of age were compared. Principal coordinates analysis separated the HW and LW groups into two clusters, indicating their potential differences between microbial community composition. Although the abundances of two major phyla, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, did not significantly differ between the HW and LW groups, some genera showed significant differences. Among them, Peptococcus and Eubacterium exhibited strong positive correlations with body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) (Rho > 0.40), whereas Treponema, Desulfovibrio, Parabacteroides, and Ruminococcaceae_unclassified exhibited strong negative correlations with BW and ADG (Rho < ?0.40). Based on these results, the structure of intestinal microbiota may affect growth traits in pigs through host–microbe interactions. Further in‐depth studies will provide insights into how best to reshape host–microbe interactions in pigs and other animals as well.     

Larval Development and Rearing of Longtooth Grouper Epinephelus bruneus in Jeju Island, Korea

Eggs and sperm were obtained from a female (6.3 kg/BW) and a male (8.4 kg/BW) longtooth grouper Epinephelus bruneus following HCG injection in July 2003. The eggs were fertilized artMcially with the sperm and incubated in one of two 50-m³ tanks after washing the fertilized eggs. The fertilized eggs were 830–950 pn (average 900 ± 2 μm) in diameter and the respective fertilization and hatching rates were 97.7 ± 0.6% and 96.8 ± 0.5% at a water temperature of 25.0 ± 0.5 C. With this regime, the survival rate by day 93 was 7.5% in the 50-m³ tank. The elapsed time from hatching to opening the mouth was 3 d at 25 C. The initial mouth size (z) of the larvae was 0.22–0.23 mm. The newly hatched larvae were 2.02 ± 0.02 mm TL; this increased to 4.12 ± 0.09 mm TL by day 11. By day 54, the larvae had metamorphosed into juveniles and reached 41.12 ± 1.20 mm TL, and by day 93 the juveniles reached 93.78 ± 1.98 mm TL. In all, 49.5% of the larvae were malformed and the type of malformation was diverse.     

Derivation of histocompatible stem cells from ovarian tissue

Somatic cell nuclear transfer, the first established technique for producing patient-specific autologous stem cells, inevitably requires the sacrifice of viable embryos. To circumvent the serious ethical issues associated with this use of embryos, researchers have developed several alternative methods for the production of histocompatible stem cells. In our research, we have used two methods to derive histocompatible stem cells from murine ovarian tissue. First, we have established autologous stem cells by culturing degeneration-fated preantral follicles to produce developmentally competent, mature oocytes and then parthenogenetically activating these mature oocytes to acquire genetic homogeneity. Second, we have used cell-to-cell interactions to derive stem cells from ovarian stromal cells without undertaking genetic modification. We have successfully derived autologous murine stem cells by manipulating primary and early secondary follicles in vitro, and this method has proved successful even for follicles retrieved from aged ovaries. Furthermore, we believe that it will be possible to isolate stem cells directly from non-germline ovarian tissue or to derive stem cells by culturing the ovarian cells with other somatic cells. If achieved, these aims will greatly advance the development of induced pluripotent stem cell technology, as well as tissue-specific stem cell research. In this review, we introduce the relevant technologies for establishing histocompatible stem cells from ovarian tissue cells without undertaking genetic manipulation and review the current limitations of, and future research directions in, stem cell biology.     

Serum concentrations of leptin and adiponectin in dogs with chronic kidney disease

BackgroundAn imbalance in adipokines is associated with the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans. However, alterations in adipokines in dogs with CKD remain unclear.ObjectivesTo examine whether adipokine concentrations in serum differ between healthy dogs and dogs with CKD and to determine the correlation between serum adipokine concentrations and CKD severity in dogs.AnimalsTwenty dogs with CKD and 10 healthy dogs.MethodsIn this cross‐sectional study, serum concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐10, IL‐18, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α were measured in healthy dogs and dogs with CKD, which were classified according to the International Renal Interest Society guidelines.ResultsSerum leptin concentrations were positively correlated with systolic arterial blood pressure (r = .41), creatinine concentrations (r = .39), and symmetric dimethylarginine concentrations (r = .73). Serum adiponectin concentrations (median [range]) in CKD dogs with borderline or non‐proteinuric (20.25 [14.9‐45.8] ng/mL) were significantly higher than those in proteinuric CKD dogs (13.95 [6.4‐22.1] ng/mL; P = .01). Serum IL‐6 (median [range]; 43.27 [24.30‐537.30] vs 25.63 [6.83‐61.03] pg/mL; P = .02), IL‐18 (median [range]; 25.98 [11.52‐280.55] vs 10.77 [3.53‐38.45] pg/mL; P = .01), and TNF‐α (median [range]) concentrations (11.44 [8.54‐38.45] vs 6.105 [3.97‐30.68] pg/mL; P = .02) were significantly different between proteinuric and borderline or non‐proteinuric CKD dogs.Conclusions and Clinical Importanceleptin and adiponectin concentrations in serum might be associated with severity of CKD and proteinuria in dogs with CKD, respectively.     

Extractability and Molecular Modifications of Gliadin and Glutenin Proteins Withdrawn from Different Stages of a Commercial Ethanol Fuel/Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles Process Using a Wheat Feedstock

Extractability and molecular modifications of gliadin and glutenin proteins withdrawn from different stages of a commercial ethanol fuel/distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) process using a wheat feedstock were investigated. Materials were taken postliquefaction (PL), postdistillation (whole stillage), and postdrying (DDGS) during the process and then fractionated to separate the gliadins and the soluble high‐ and low‐molecular‐weight glutenins following a modified Verbruggen extraction method. Each fraction was characterized based on the extraction efficiencies within various aqueous alcohols of propan‐1‐ol, electrophoretic patterns, intrinsic and extrinsic fluorescence, free and total sulfhydryl content, and total disulfide bond levels. Findings indicated significant changes to the composition of extracted proteins and modifications to the protein structure (i.e., surface properties and conformation) throughout the ethanol/DDGS process, beginning with the first step of production (PL, ≈83°C). Overall, processing resulted in a shift toward an unextractable gluten matrix, accompanied by increases in hydrophobicity, disulfide bridging, and excessive protein aggregation.