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A psychrotrophic bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens BM07, which is able to accumulate polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA) containing large amounts of 3-hydroxy- cis -5-dodecenoate unit up to 35 mol% in the cell from unrelated substrates such as fructose, succinate, etc., was isolated from an activated sludge in a municipal wastewater treatment plant. When it was grown on heptanoic acid (C 7 ) to hexadecanoic acid (C 16 ) as the sole carbon source, the monomer compositional characteristics of the synthesized PHA were similar to those observed in other fluorescent pseudomonads belonging to rRNA homology group I. However, growth on stearic acid (C 18 ) led to no PHA accumulation, but instead free stearic acid was stored in the cell. The existence of the linkage between fatty acid de novo synthesis and PHA synthesis was confirmed by using inhibitors such as acrylic acid and two other compounds, 2-bromooctanoic acid and 4-pentenoic acid, which are known to inhibit β-oxidation enzymes in animal cells. Acrylic acid completely inhibited PHA synthesis at a concentration of 4 mM in 40 mM octanoate-grown cells, but no inhibition of PHA synthesis occurred in 70 mM fructose-grown cells in the presence of 1 to 5 mM acrylic acid. 2-Bromooctanoic acid and 4-pentenoic acid were found to much inhibit PHA synthesis much more strongly in fructose-grown cells than in octanoate-grown cells over concentrations ranging from 1 to 5 mM. However, 2-bromooctanoic acid and 4-pentenoic acid did not inhibit cell growth at all in the fructose media. Especially, with the cells grown on fructose, 2-bromooctanoic acid exhibited a steep rise in the percent PHA synthesis inhibition over a small range of concentrations below 100 μM, a finding indicative of a very specific inhibition, whereas 4-pentenoic acid showed a broad, featureless concentration dependence, suggesting a rather nonspecific inhibition. The apparent inhibition constant K i (the concentration for 50% inhibition of PHA synthesis) for 2-bromooctanoic acid was determined to be 60 μM, assuming a single-site binding of the inhibitor at a specific inhibition site. Thus, it seems likely that a coenzyme A thioester derivative of 2-bromooctanoic acid specifically inhibits an enzyme linking the two pathways, fatty acid de novo synthesis and PHA synthesis. We suggest that 2-bromooctanoic acid can substitute for the far more expensive (2,000 times) and cell-growth-inhibiting PHA synthesis inhibitor, cerulenin.

In this works, the piezoelectric devices of ZnO nano-rods were fabricated for piezoelectric sensor. The ZnO nano-rods were grown by hydrothermal synthesis through two-dimensional nano-patterns using a laser interference lithography. ZnO nano-rods were preferred orientation with c-axis and wurtzite structure. It was found that the electricity of nano-rod piezoelectric device was 8x10 -7 Wh under the load of 0.8kgf. The piezoelectric behaviors are attributed to the direct compression of ZnO nano-rods by an external force. Therefore, the piezoelectric devices of ZnO nano-rods fabricated by hydrothermal methods were applicable to the pressure sensors.

To compare vascular enhancement, image quality, and radiation dose of 128-slice dual-source CT venography (CTV) between an imaging setting of 120 kVp with low pitch, and a setting of 100 kVp combined with high pitch and automatic tube current modulation. A total of 100 patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis and varicose veins were divided into two groups: Group 1 [50 patients, 120 kVp, low pitch (0.6), and fixed 120 mA) and Group 2 (50 patients, 100 kVp, high pitch (3.0), and automatic tube current modulation]. Two radiologists, who were blinded to the image protocol, assessed vascular enhancement and image noise in the inferior vena cava (IVC), femoral vein, and popliteal vein. They also assigned an image quality score independently using a 5-point visual scale. Effective dose was estimated using the dose-length product (DLP). Group demographics, radiation dose, vascular enhancement, image noise, and image quality in the two groups were analyzed. Mean vascular enhancement of the IVC, femoral vein, and popliteal vein was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1, and images in group 2 had significantly higher image noise. However, there were no significant differences in subjective image quality score of the IVC, femoral vein, and popliteal vein. The mean DLP in group 2 (402.10 ± 94.29 mGy cm) was significantly lower than that in group 1 (973.36 ± 63.20 mGy cm) (P < 0.001). Lower extremity CTV using 100 kVp, high pitch (3.0), and automatic tube current modulation improved vascular enhancement with acceptable image quality and low radiation dose.

We introduce an ultra-sensitive integrated photonic sensor structure using silicon on insulator based triangular resonator, in which a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) gold film is applied on a total internal reflection mirror. We have analyzed and optimized the triangular resonator sensor structure with an extremely small SPR mirror sensing area. Due to the large phase shift in the SPR mirror, a significantly enhanced sensitivity of 800 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) and the maximum peak shift of half free spectral range have been obtained at the SPR angle of 22.65° with Au thickness of 35 nm for the change of the refractive index Δn = 1x10 -3 .

Two different shaped ZnO nanorods were grown on ZnO buffered Al 2 O 3 substrate by laser interference lithography and hydrothermal method. The light waveguide within ZnO nano rod and photonic crystal effects in arrayed ZnO nanorods was calculated by 3D-finite dimension time domain(3D-FDTD) programs. The ZnO photonic crystal effect and number of modes of ZnO nanorod was governed by arrangement and shape of ZnO nanorod, respectively.

Organic Light Emitting Device (OLED) has a characteristic to change the electric energy into the light when the electric field is applied to the organic material. OLED is currently employed as a light source for the lighting tools because research has extensively progressed in the improvement of luminance, efficiency, and life time. OLED is widely used in the plate display device because of a simple manufacture process and high emitting efficiency. But most of OLED lighting projects were used the vacuum evaporator (thermal evaporator) with low molecular. Although printing method has lower efficiency and life time of OLED than vacuum evaporator method, projects of printing OLED actively are progressed because was possible to combine with flexible substrate and printing technology. Printing technology is ink-jet, screen printing and slot coating. This printing method allows for low cost and mass production techniques and large substrates. In this research, we have proposed inkjet printing for organic light-emitting devices has the dominant method of thick film deposition because of its low cost and simple processing. In this research, the fabrication of the passive matrix OLED is achieved by inkjet printing, using a polymer phosphorescent ink. We are measured optical and electrical characteristics of OLED.

Aim To evaluate portal vein (PV) stenosis and stent patency after hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, using abdominal computed tomography (CT). Methods Percutaneous portal venous stenting was attempted in 22 patients with significant PV stenosis (> 50%) - after hepatobiliary or pancreatic surgery - diagnosed by abdominal CT. Stents were placed in various stenotic lesions after percutaneous transhepatic portography. Pressure gradient across the stenotic segment was measured in 14 patients. Stents were placed when the pressure gradient across the stenotic segment was > 5 mmHg or PV stenosis was > 50%, as observed on transhepatic portography. Patients underwent follow-up abdominal CT and technical and clinical success, complications, and stent patency were evaluated. Results Stent placement was successful in 21 patients (technical success rate: 95.5%). Stents were positioned through the main PV and superior mesenteric vein (n = 13), main PV (n = 2), right and main PV (n = 1), left and main PV (n = 4), or main PV and splenic vein (n = 1). Patients showed no complications after stent placement. The time between procedure and final follow-up CT was 41-761 d (mean: 374.5 d). Twenty stents remained patent during the entire follow-up. Stent obstruction - caused by invasion of the PV stent by a recurrent tumor - was observed in 1 patient in a follow-up CT performed after 155 d after the procedure. The cumulative stent patency rate was 95.7%. Small in-stent low-density areas were found in 11 (55%) patients; however, during successive follow-up CT, the extent of these areas had decreased. Conclusion Percutaneous transhepatic stent placement can be safe and effective in cases of PV stenosis after hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. Stents show excellent patency in follow-up abdominal CT, despite development of small in-stent low-density areas.

Purpose: To determine the significance of the delayed hyperintense portal vein sign in Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and the requirement for informed patient consent was obtained. Six-hundred and seventy patients who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI were included in the study. Two readers who were blinded to clinical records reviewed MR images in consensus. The delayed hyperintense portal vein sign was defined if the portal vein appeared more hyperintense than surrounding liver parenchyma on the 30-minute delayed hepatobiliary phase. The frequency of the delayed hyperintense portal vein sign and the association between the sign and serum biochemical tests were assessed. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify which variables were associated with the sign. Optimal cutoff values of variables for reflecting the sign were obtained with ROC analysis. Results: The delayed hyperintense portal vein sign was observed in 13.0%. In multivariate analysis, a direct bilirubin level was associated with the delayed hyperintense portal vein sign. Optimum cutoff value for reflecting the delayed hyperintense portal vein sign was 2.18 mg/dL (sensitivity, 89%; specificity, 96%). Conclusion: The delayed hyperintense portal vein sign in Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI can potentially be used to reflect hepatobiliary function. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:678–685. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

We proposed the photonic crystal coupled surface plasmon resonance sensors using gold nano-structure to enhance the sensitivity of an SPR sensor. The proposed configuration with the photonic crystal structure is Au(Photonic crystal)/Au/Ag/Cr/Glass. The 20 nm silver film and the 20 nm gold film are layered on the glass substrate. Then, the dot-like gold photonic crystal structures with a period pitch are patterned on the Au/Ag/Cr/Glass structure. The reflectance and the optical-mode propagations as a function of incident angle are calculated using the three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method. Under this resonance condition, the incident light is highly absorbed and loses a fair amount of its energy, which results in a dip in the intensity profile of the reflected light. The optimum resonance angle of 44.5 degrees is obtained in the 75-nm-radius Au photonics crystal structure with a period of 300 nm.

We investigated the properties of a triangular microresonator using the total internal reflection (TIR) mirrors with a long evanescent field around the critical angle. For the sensitivity analysis, we have calculated the mirror offset due to the Goos-Hanchen effect and the resonance shift of the triangular resonator with the refractive index change of the outer region in the TIR mirror. The mirror offset is increased up to 0.8 μm for the transverse electric (TE) polarization and 2.0 μm for the transverse magnetic (TM) polarization to the incident angle of 18°. Then, the resonance shift of 417 pm for the TM polarized light and 34 pm for the TE polarized light were observed, respectively, by changing the refractive index of 4×10-5. The measured extinction ratio of triangular ring resonator was about 6 dB near 1550 nm, in where the incidence angle of the TIR mirror inside the resonator was 18°.

Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) thin films were prepared by ion-assisted electron-beam deposition on glass at room temperature and were annealed by rapid thermal annealing in O 2 and N 2 gas flow. TiO 2 thin films annealed in N 2 gas flow are (110) rutile phase and (101) anatase phase, but in O 2 gas flow are (110) rutile phase. The optical band gaps of the TiO 2 thin films are increased to 3.281 eV with annealing treatment of 300 ~ 500 °C in O 2 gas flow and to 3.271 eV in N 2 gas flow. However, the band gap begins to decrease to 3.277 eV at the annealing temperature of 600 °C in O 2 gas flow and to 3.257 eV in N 2 gas flow, respectively.

We proposed the grating coupled surface plasmon resonance (GC-SPR) sensors using ZnO and metallic nanograting structures to enhance the sensitivity of an SPR sensor. The GC-SPR sensors were analyzed using the finitedifference time-domain method. The optimum resonance angles of 49 and 55.5 degrees are obtained in the 150 nm wide grating structure with a period of 300 nm for the ZnO thickness of 30 and 50 nm, respectively. Here, an enhanced evanescent field is obtained due to the surface plasmon on the edge of the bandgap when the ZnO and metallic grating structures are used to excite the surface plasmon.

Novel triangular ring resonators combining extremely small multimode-interference (MMI) coupler, low loss total internal reflection (TIR) mirrors, and semiconductor optical amplifiers are reported for the first time. The MMI length of 90 microm is among the shortest reported. The incidence angle of the TIR mirror inside the resonator is 22 degrees. A free-spectral range of approximately 2 nm is observed near 1550 nm along with an on-off ratio of 17 dB. The triangular resonators with a sharp angle are very attractive components due to their promise of compact size and high levels of integration. Therefore, large numbers of resonators can be integrated on a chip to increase functionality in future optical wavelength division multiplexing system.

We present spot and mesh patterns formed with same photo-resist by using ultra-violet laser holographic lithography. The ZnO nano crystal was deposited on patterned Si substrate by hydrothermal method.

We have fabricated flip-chip ready 850 nm VCSEL with BCB planarization for optical printed circuit board. Low threshold current, high slope efficiency, and open eye diagram with high margin at 2.5 Gbps modulation are obtained in the VCSEL.

We report fabrication and measurements on novel triangular ring resonators with extremely small multimode interference couplers and total internal reflection mirrors. Free spectral range and on-off ratio are 256 GHz and 14 dB respectively.

Aim To evaluate the “transient gastric perfusion defect” sign as a way of diagnosing portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) on multidetector computed tomography (CT). Materials and methods Ninety-two consecutive patients with cirrhosis underwent three-phase CT and endoscopy. Endoscopy was performed within 3 days of the CT examination. As controls, 92 patients without clinical evidence of chronic liver diseases who underwent CT and endoscopy were enrolled; the findings at endoscopy were used as a reference standard for patients with PHG. Two radiologists who were unaware of the results of the endoscopy retrospectively interpreted the CT images. PHG was diagnosed on dynamic CT if the transient gastric perfusion defect sign was present. The transient gastric perfusion defect was defined as the presence of transient, segmental or subsegmental hypo-attenuating mucosa in the fundus or body of the stomach on hepatic arterial imaging that returned to normal attenuation on portal venous or equilibrium-phase imaging. The frequency of the transient gastric perfusion defect sign was compared between these two groups using Fisher's exact test. The frequency, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of the transient gastric perfusion defect sign were also compared between patients with PHG and without PHG in the cirrhosis group. Results Nine patients of 92 patients with cirrhosis were excluded because of previous procedure or motion artifact; the remaining 83 patients with cirrhosis were evaluated. In the cirrhosis group, 40 (48.1%) of 83 patients showed the transient gastric perfusion defect sign. In the control group, none of the 92 patients showed the transient gastric perfusion defect sign. In the cirrhotic group, the frequency of the transient gastric perfusion defect sign was significantly higher in the patients with PHG (75%, 36/48) than in patients without PHG (11.4%, 4/35). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of the sign for CT diagnosis of PHG in the cirrhosis group were 75, 88.6, 90, and 72.1% respectively. Conclusion The transient gastric perfusion defect sign could be used as a relatively specific sign of PHG in patients with cirrhosis.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography with or without an endoscopic biopsy is the method for making a definitive diagnosis of disease in or around the ampulla of Vater. However, the endoscopic findings of neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions involving the perimapullary area may be similar and an endoscopic assessment is not entirely reliable for diagnosis. Recent MR and MRCP can allow the detection of lesions in a small complex structure such as the ampulla of Vater, and distinguish between an ampullary from periampullary lesion. This article reviews the normal anatomy of the ampulla of Vater, describes the role of MR in the detection and characterization of the lesion in or around the ampulla of Vater, and attempts to correlate them with ERCP.

The liver is covered by visceral peritoneum except at the bare area, bed of the gallbladder, and porta hepatis. The investing peritoneum becomes contiguous with the adjacent structures such as the diaphragmatic peritoneum, lesser omentum, and ligamentum teres. An inflammatory process or tumors involving the perihepatic space are usually affected by intraperitoneal flow dynamics, which depend on the anatomy of the recess as well as gravity and negative subdiaphragmatic pressure. Pathologic conditions that occur in the perihepatic space include abnormal air, fatty masses, conditions producing fluid attenuation at computed tomography (CT), and soft-tissue masses. Enhancement of the hepatic capsule indicates inflammation, as is seen in Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome. The perihepatic ligaments may be invaded by various conditions by means of direct invasion, subperitoneal extension, or extension along the lymphatic vessels. Knowledge of the normal anatomy of the perihepatic space together with the clinical history and characteristic features at CT can assist the radiologist in making the correct diagnosis.

Intraluminal duodenal diverticulum (IDD) is a rare congenital abnormality consisting of a sac-like mucosal projection in the second portion of the duodenum, in close proximity to the ampulla of Vater. Although the majority of cases are asymptomatic, symptomatic IDD may result in pancreatitis, cholangitis, peptic ulcer disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, and intestinal obstruction (1). We present a case of IDD mimicking duodenoduodenal intussusception, diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) and gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without surgical correction.

Vibrio vulnificus, a Gram-negative estuarine bacterium, is a causative agent of food-borne diseases, such as life-threatening septicaemia and wound infection disease. V. vulnificus penetrating into the epithelial barrier stimulates an inflammatory response in the adjacent mucosa. Therefore, interaction between V. vulnificus and epithelial cells is important for understanding of both the immunology of mucosal surfaces and V. vulnificus. In this study, we investigated the effect and action mechanism of V. vulnificus infection on production of interleukin (IL)-8, a proinflammatory cytokine, in human intestinal epithelial INT-407 cells. V. vulnificus infection significantly induced IL-8 production in a time- and multiplicity of infection (MOI)-dependent manner, as determined by human IL-8 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, V. vulnificus infection significantly increased IL-8 mRNA levels in INT-407 cells, indicating that the increased IL-8 production by V. vulnificus occurred at the transcriptional level. V. vulnificus infection also enhanced IL-8 gene promoter activity in INT-407 cells transiently transfected with IL-8 promoter constructs, but this effect was impaired in INT-407 cells transfected with IL-8 promoter constructs deleted or mutated of a kappaB site. V. vulnificus infection increased the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) binding activity to a kappaB site and the degradation of IkappaB-alpha protein in a time- and a MOI-dependent manner. Furthermore, BAY11-7082, an inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation, significantly reduced the IL-8 production, NF-kappaB binding activity and IkappaB-alpha degradation induced by V. vulnificus infection. Taken together, these results indicate clearly that V. vulnificus infection significantly induces IL-8 production in human intestinal epithelial cells via NF-kappaB activation.

Ce3+ and Tb3+co-doped calcium aluminates luminescent material (Ca3Al2(OH)12: Ce3+, Tb3+) was synthesized at 453 K in hydrothermal system without any protective atmospheres. All the reactants used in the system were simple inorganic salts. The crystallinity and luminescent property of as-synthesized compound were investigated using X-ray diffraction and luminescence spectrometer. The compound formula was confirmed to be Ca3Al2(OH)12. The emission spectrum showed that only typical Tb3+ emission was observed and the emission from Ce3+ was almost not observed, which should be attributed to the energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ in the compound. The emission peaks at about 486 nm, 498 nm, 540 nm, 549 nm, 582 nm, 595 nm and 623 nm should be assigned to 5D4-7F6, 5D4-7F5, 5D4-7F4, and 5D4-7F3 transitions of Tb3+ ions. The weak emission peak at about 380 nm should be assigned to the emission of Ce3+ ions in the compound.

A new 3-dimensional zinc carbonate Zn(NH3)CO3 has been synthesized from a glycol system with urea and zinc acetate as raw materials. The crystal structure and photoluminescent properties have been investigated using X-ray diffraction, smart CCD and FL. The compound had an orthorhombic system with space group of Pna21 with M = 142.41, a = 9.1449(18) Å, b = 7.5963(15) Å, c = 5.4982(11) Å, V = 381.95(13) Å3, Z = 4, R = 0.0285 and RW = 0.0745. The NH3 and CO32- were connected through the Zn-N bond and Zn-O bond in the symmetric unit. Photoluminescent property was observed in the compound at room temperature and the exited and emission peaks were located at about 350 nm and 426 nm, respectively.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a chronic and progressive disease mainly influencing the lower extremities, and it is a major cause of hypofunction which worsens quality of life in a large portion of western populations. PAD occurs in approximately 20% of adults older than 55 years of age and in an estimated 27 million patients in North America and Europe (1). Conventional angiography is the gold standard for evaluation of peripheral arterial occlusive disease of lower extremity. However, it is an invasive technique that requires hospitalization, and it has a small risk of variable complications such as dissection, micro-emboli, and even pseudo-aneurysms (2). Since clinical applications of CT angiography (CTA) have been reported, CTA has been Original Article

The primary objective in the surgery of extra large vestibular schwannoma is the total removal of the tumour mass while preserving the facial nerve. Preservation of the facial nerve in extra large tumours is reported as being notoriously difficult in the majority of cases This study was undertaken to evaluate the accuracy in predicting displacement of the facial nerve by preoperative radiological imaging studies in 19 cases of extra large vestibular schwannoma. The direction of displacement of the facial nerve was predicted with preoperative axial and coronal MRI scans and verified intra-operatively. We achieved total removal of tumours in 84.2%, facial nerve displacement was predicted in 80% and we accomplished anatomical preservation in 80%. Prediction of displacement was difficult in tumours with little or no intracanalicular components or with severe bony destruction of the internal acoustic meatus. The preoperative prediction of facial nerve displacement in extra large tumours allows safe internal decompression of the tumour and careful dissection near the predicted area of the facial nerve during the operation. Consequently, a high rate of anatomical preservation of the facial nerve can be achieved.

As suggested by Y. Suh and M.J. Benedik (J. Bacteriol. 174: 2361-2366, 1992), Serratia marcescens ATCC 27117 produced very small amounts (0.8 U ml-1) of an inhibitor protein (SmaPI) that shows an inhibitory activity against extracellular 50-kDa metalloprotease (SMP) of S. marcescens and that is localized in the periplasm of cells at the optimal growth temperature of 25 degrees C. A recombinant S. marcescens harboring plasmid pSP2 encoding SMP and SmaPI genes produced 20 U of SmaPI ml-1 that is also localized in the periplasm of cells at 25 degrees C. However, a large amount of SmaPI (86 Uml-1) was extracellularly produced at the supraoptimal growth temperature 37 degrees C from the recombinant S. marcescens (pSP2). We purified SmaPI from the culture supernatant of S. marcescens (pSP2) grown at 37 degrees C, and some biochemical properties were characterized. SmaPI had a pI value of about 10.0 and was a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of 10,000. SmaPI was produced from a precursor SmaPI by cleavage of a signal peptide (26 amino acid residues). The inhibitor was stable in boiling water for up to 30 min. The thermostability of SmaPI can be attributed to its reversible denaturation. SmaPI inhibited SMP by formation of a noncovalent complex with a molar ratio of 1:1 and showed a high protease specificity, which inhibited only SMP among the various proteases we examined.

An alkalophilic bacterium, Bacillus sp. strain GM8901, grown at pH 10.5 and 50(deg)C, produced five alkaline amylases in culture broth. At an early stage of the bacterial growth, amylase I (Amyl I) was produced initially and then, as cultivation progressed, four alkaline amylases, Amyl II, Amyl III, Amyl IV, and Amyl V, were produced from proteolytic degradation of Amyl I. A serine protease present in the culture medium was believed to be involved in Amyl I degradation. We purified Amyl I from the culture supernatant by ammonium sulfate precipitation, heparin-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography, phenyl-Toyopearl column chromatography, and Mono Q HR5/5 high-performance liquid chromatography. The molecular weight of Amyl I was estimated to be about 97,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Amyl I had an extremely high optimal pH of 11.0 to 12.0 and was stable in a broad pH range of 6.0 to 13.0. Amyl I had an optimal temperature of 60(deg)C and was stable up to 50(deg)C. Thermostability was increased in the presence of Ca(sup2+) and soluble starch. The enzyme required metal ions such as Ca(sup2+), Mg(sup2+), Cu(sup2+), Co(sup2+), Ag(sup+), Zn(sup2+), and Fe(sup2+) for its enzyme activity and was inhibited by 1 mM EDTA and 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. According to the mode of action of Amyl I on starch, Amyl I was classified as an (alpha)- and exo-amylase. Amyl I produced maltotetraose predominantly from starch via intermediates such as maltohexaose and maltopentaose.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) is a well established method for the evaluation of intracranial diseases, such as acute stroke. DWI for extracranial application is more difficult due to physiological motion artifacts and the heterogeneous composition of the organs. However, thanks to the newer technical development of DWI, DWI has become increasingly used over the past few years in extracranial organs including the abdomen and pelvis. Most previous studies of DWI have been limited to the evaluation of diffuse parenchymal abnormalities and focal lesions in abdominal organs, whereas there are few studies about DWI for the evaluation of the biliopancreatic tract. Although further studies are needed to determine its performance in evaluating bile duct, gallbladder and pancreas diseases, DWI has potential in the assessment of the functional information on the biliopancreatic tract concerning the status of tissue cellularity, because increased cellularity is associated with impeded diffusion, as indicated by a reduction in the apparent diffusion coefficient. The detection of malignant lesions and their differentiation from benign tumor-like lesions in the biliopancreatic tract could be improved using DWI in conjunction with findings obtained with conventional magnetic resonance cholagiopancreatography. Additionally, DWI can be useful for the assessment of the biliopancreatic tract in patients with renal impairment because contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance scans should be avoided in these patients.

Castleman's disease is an uncommon disorder characterized by benign proliferation of the lymphoid tissue that occurs most commonly in the mediastinum. Although unusual locations and manifestations have been reported, involvement of the renal parenchyma and sinus, and moreover, manifestations as cardiac tamponade are extremely rare. Here, we present a rare case of Castleman's disease in the renal parenchyma and sinus that also accompanied cardiac tamponade.

A Pseudomonas putida strain able to accumulate high amount of polyesters of medium-chain-length 3-hydroxyalkanoic acids(PHA MCL ) was isolated from soil in a landfill site using an enrichment technique. Culture condition of the isolated strain for polyester production in a one-step culture was optimized in a mineral-salts medium against pH and concentrations of ammonium sulfate, carbon source(e.g., octanoate), and phosphate. The optimal values for maximal cell growth and PHA accumulation were : pH; 7˜8, (NH) 2 SO 4 ; 8 mM, octanoate; 40 mM. The optimum temperature was in the range of 20˜30 °C, rather broader than in other bacteria. Cell growth was strongly inhibited by phosphate limitation in less than 1 mM. An increase of phosphate concentration above 1 mM showed little effect on cell growth and polyester accumulation. When the strain was grown on octanoate under this optimized condition it produced 3.4 g dry biomass per liter and yielded 1.7 g PHA per liter amounting to 53 wt% of dry cells. The monomer units composing the polyester synthesized from octanoate were 3-hydroxyoctanoate (3HO), 3-hydroxycaproate(3HC), and 3-hydroxybutyrate(3HB)(85 : 13 : 2, mole ratio). The other carbon sources such as linear C 3 ˜C 10 monocarboxylic acids and 5-phenylvalerate were utilized for polyester production. It was found that P. putida BM01 can incorporate phenyl moieties into the polyester side chains more efficiently than other Pseudomonas species reported earlier when grown on 5-phenylvalerate.

Two-dimensional (2D) nano patterns including a two-dimensional Bravais lattice were fabricated by laser interference lithography using a two step exposure process. After the first exposure, the substrate itself was rotated by a certain angle, for a square or rectangular lattice, for an oblique lattice, and for a hexagonal lattice, and the and laser incident angle changed for rectangular and the and laser incident angle changed for a centered rectangular; we then carried out a second exposure process to form 2D bravais lattices. The band structure of five different 2D nano patterns was simulated by a beam propagation program. The presence of the band-gap effect was shown in an oblique and hexagonal structure. The oblique latticed ZnO nano-photonic crystal array had a pseudo-bandgap at a frequency of 0.337-0.375, 0.575-0.596 and 0.858-0.870. The hexagonal latticed ZnO nano-crystallite array had a pseudo-bandgap at a frequency of 0.335-0.384 and 0.585-0.645. The ZnO nano structure with an oblique and hexagonal structure was grown through the patterned opening window area by a hydrothermal method. The morphology of 2D nano patterns and ZnO nano structures were investigated by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The diameter of the opening window was approximately 250 nm. The height and width of ZnO nano-photonic crystals were 380 nm and 250 nm, respectively.

Various mucin-producing neoplasms originate in different abdominal and pelvic organs. Mucinous neoplasms differ from non-mucinous neoplasms because of the differences in clinical outcome and imaging appearance. Mucinous carcinoma, in which at least 50% of the tumor is composed of large pools of extracellular mucin and columns of malignant cells, is associated with a worse prognosis. Signet ring cell carcinoma is characterized by large intracytoplasmic mucin vacuoles that expand in the malignant cells with the nucleus displaced to the periphery. Its prognosis is also generally poor. In contrast, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the bile duct and pancreas, which is characterized by proliferation of ductal epithelium and variable mucin production, has a better prognosis than other malignancies in the pancreaticobiliary tree. Imaging modalities play a critical role in differentiating mucinous from non-mucinous neoplasms. Due to high water content, mucin has a similar appearance to water on ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging, except when thick and proteinaceous, and then it tends to be hypoechoic with fine internal echoes or have complex echogenicity on US, hyperdense on CT, and hyperintense on T1- and hypointense on T2-weighted images, compared to water. Therefore, knowledge of characteristic mucin imaging features is helpful to diagnose various mucin-producing neoplastic conditions and to facilitate appropriate treatment.

Purpose: To determine which magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequence demonstrates the highest lesion conspicuity for lesion detection in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Materials and Methods: In 30 neonates with HIE, lesion conspicuity in different brain structures was retrospectively compared on T1-weighted images, T2-weighted images, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images, and diffusion-weighted images (DWI). The brain structures were categorized as follows: cerebral cortex; cerebral white matter; deep gray matter; posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC); brain stem; and cerebellum. Results: For the deep gray matter, T1-weighted imaging was superior to the other sequences in lesion detection of 9 of 14 patients (64.3%), whereas DWI was superior in only 4/14 patients (28.6%). For the cerebral cortex, T1- and DWI were similar in lesion conspicuity (5/13 patients and 6/13 patients, respectively). For the white matter, HIE lesions were most conspicuous on DWI in a majority of the study patients. Lesions were detected in the cerebral white matter in 16/20 patients (80.0%), lesions were detected in the PLIC in 11/12 patients (91.7%), lesions were detected in the corticospinal tract in the brain stem in 11/11 patients (100%) and lesions were detected in the cerebellar white matter in one patient (100%). Conclusion: In neonates with HIE, white matter lesions are most conspicuous on DWI, whereas gray matter lesions tend to have greater conspicuity on T1-weighted images than on the other MR sequences.

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of combined exercise for 12 weeks on the adiponectin and obesity related variables in overweight and obese children. Methods:Eighteen children in 5th grade in a certain elementary school in Busan were recruited. They were all overweight or obese children(more than 85 percentile in body mass index). Nine children in the experimental group were given exercises consisting of walking and band resistant training for 12 weeks. Auxological data(including height, weight and body fat mass) and laboratory data (fasting blood sugar, insulin, adiponectin) were checked at baseline and at the 1 week, and at the 4 weeks and 12 weeks stages of their exercise program. Insulin resistance and sensitivity were evaluated indirectly using HOMA index and QUICKI index. Results:Adiponectin gradually decreased until the 4 weeks point and gradually increased thereafter to the starting level at the 12 weeks stage. Body weight, body mass index(BMI) and HOMA index significantly decreased more at the 1 week, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks stages in the experimental group than in the control group. Body fat mass significantly decreased at 12 weeks. The change of insulin was significantly correlated with changes of body weight and BMI. But there was no correlation between changes of adiponectin and changes of insulin. Conclusion:Exercise seems to effect the adiponectin concentration. And it might be assumed that exercise increases the adiponectin concentration if it is continued for long time(may be more than 12 weeks). More studies may be necessary to draw that conclusion