Identification of the novel HLA-B*58:138 allele in a Korean individual.

HLA-B*58:138 differs from HLA-B*58:01:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution in exon 3 at codon 145.

Nafion Composite Membranes Impregnated with Polydopamine and Poly(Sulfonated Dopamine) for High-Performance Proton Exchange Membranes.

We prepared Nafion composite membranes by impregnating Nafion-212 with polydopamine, poly(sulfonated dopamine), and poly(dopamine--sulfonated dopamine) using the swelling-filling method to generate nanopores in the Nafion framework that were filled with these polymers. Compared to the pristine Nafion-212 membrane, these composite membranes showed improved thermal and mechanical stabilities due to the strong interactions between the catecholamine of the polydopamine derivatives and the Nafion matrix. For the composite membrane filled with poly(sulfonated dopamine) (N-PSDA), further interactions were induced between the Nafion and the sulfonic acid side chain, resulting in enhanced water uptake and ion conductivity.

The novel HLA-C*06:325 allele identified in a Korean individual awaiting kidney transplantation.

HLA-C*06:325 differs from HLA-C*06:02:01:01 by a non-synonymous nucleotide substitution in codon 145, changing Arginine to Histidine.

Investigation on the Microscopic/Macroscopic Mechanical Properties of a Thermally Annealed Nafion Membrane.

The Nafion electrolyte membrane, which provides a proton pathway, is an essential element in fuel cell systems. Thermal treatment without additional additives is widely used to modify the mechanical properties of the membrane, to construct reliable and durable electrolyte membranes in the fuel cell. We measured the microscopic mechanical properties of thermally annealed membranes using atomic force microscopy with the two-point method.

A new allele, HLA-C*08:228, identified by sequence-based typing in a Korean individual.

The new allele C*08:228 showed one nucleotide difference from C*08:01:01 in codon 36 (TTC -> TTG).

The novel HLA-DQB1 allele, HLA-DQB1*03:457, identified in a Korean kidney transplant recipient.

HLA-DQB1*03:457 differs from HLA-DQB1*03:02:01:01 by a non-synonymous nucleotide substitution in codon 95, changing valine to glutamic acid.

Nafion-Based Proton-Exchange Membranes Built on Cross-Linked Semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Networks between Poly(acrylic acid) and Poly(vinyl alcohol).

We report semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) membranes prepared easily from a cross-linked network using poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with interpenetrated Nafion for both proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE) applications. Thermal esterification between PAA and PVA induced three-dimensional cross-linking to improve mechanical toughness and reduce hydrogen crossover, while the hydrophilic nature of the PAA-PVA-based cross-linked matrix still enhanced the water uptake (WU) and hence conductivity of the Nafion penetrant. The semi-IPN membrane (NPP-95) composed of Nafion, PAA, and PVA with a ratio of 95:2.

The HLA-C*03:539 allele identified in a kidney transplantation recipient.

The novel HLA-C*03:539 allele differs from HLA-C*03:04:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution at codon 26.

Methanol Tolerant Pt-C Core-Shell Cathode Catalyst for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells.

Methanol crossover is one of the largest problems in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Methanol passing from the anode to the cathode through the membrane is oxidized at the cathode, degrading the DMFC performance, and the intermediates of the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) cause cathode catalyst poisoning. Therefore, it is essential to develop a cathode catalyst capable of inhibiting MOR while promoting the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is a typical cathode reaction in DMFCs.

Confirmation of the recently described HLA-DPA1 allele, HLA-DPA1*02:02:08.

The HLA-DPA1*02:02:08 allele differs from HLA-DPA1*02:02:02:01 by a synonymous nucleotide substitution at codon 194.

A nitrogen and fluorine enriched Fe/FeC@C oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst for anion/proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

Nitrogen-doped carbon-encapsulated non-noble metals are promising electrocatalytic alternatives to Pt for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, we describe the efficient synthesis of nitrogen- and fluorine-doped carbon-encapsulated Fe/FeC (NFC@Fe/FeC) crystals from a Fe-poly(aniline-fluoro-aniline) co-polymer and demonstrate their use as efficient ORR electrocatalysts in acidic and alkaline environments. X-ray diffraction patterns, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectra, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are used to determine the structural properties of NFC@Fe/FeC.

Identification of the novel HLA-B allele, HLA-B*27:198, from a Korean individual.

The novel HLA-B*27:198 allele differs from HLA-B*27:05:02:01 by one nucleotide substitution at codon 45.

Ultrafine Pt Nanoparticles Stabilized by MoS/N-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide as a Durable Electrocatalyst for Alcohol Oxidation and Oxygen Reduction Reactions.

Direct alcohol fuel cells play a pivotal role in the synthesis of catalysts because of their low cost, high catalytic activity, and long durability in half-cell reactions, which include anode (alcohol oxidation) and cathode (oxygen reduction) reactions. However, platinum catalysts suffer from CO tolerance, which affects their stability. The present study focuses on ultrafine Pt nanoparticles stabilized by flowerlike MoS/N-doped reduced graphene oxide (Pt@MoS/NrGO) architecture, developed via a facile and cost-competitive approach that was performed through the hydrothermal method followed by the wet-reflux strategy.

Dual-Functional Electrocatalyst Derived from Iron-Porphyrin-Encapsulated Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Active, stable electrocatalysts based on non-precious metals for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are critical for the development of cost-effective, efficient renewable energy technologies. Here, Fe/FeC-embedded nitrogen-doped carbon was fabricated via pyrolysis of iron-porphyrin-encapsulated mesoporous metal-organic frameworks [PCN-333 (Fe), where "PCN" stands for "porous coordination network"] at 700 °C. The various characterization techniques confirmed that Fe- and FeC-containing Fe-N-C material (FeP-P333-700) was successfully prepared by pyrolysis of porphyrin-encapsulated PCN-333 (Fe).

A facile synthetic strategy for iron, aniline-based non-precious metal catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.

The development of a low cost and highly active alternative to the commercial Pt/C catalysts used in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) requires a facile and environmentally-friendly synthesis process to facilitate large-scale production and provide an effective replacement. Transition metals, in conjunction with nitrogen-doped carbon, are among the most promising substitute catalysts because of their high activity, inexpensive composition, and high carbon monoxide tolerance. We prepared a polyaniline-derived Fe-N-C catalyst for oxygen reduction using a facile one-pot process with no additional reagents.

Resolution of ambiguous HLA genotyping in korean by multi-group-specific sequence-based typing.

Purpose: To evaluate a multi-group-specific sequence-based typing (SBT) method for resolving ambiguous results from human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping.

Materials And Methods: A total of 50 samples that showed ambiguous genotypes for at least two HLA loci from HLA-A, -B, -C and -DRB1 by the conventional SBT assay were evaluated using a new SBT test, the AVITA plus assay. The most likely HLA genotypes for the respective samples considering allele frequencies in Korean were concordant between the AVITA and conventional SBT assays.

Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) polymorphism and expression in breast cancer patients.

Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is known to be implicated in a tumor-driven immune escape mechanism in malignancies. The purpose of this study was to investigate HLA-G polymorphism and expression in breast cancer. HLA-G alleles were determined by direct DNA sequencing procedures from blood samples of 80 breast cancer patients and 80 healthy controls.

Development and clinical evaluation of a microarray for hepatitis C virus genotyping.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype is the most important factor in predicting the outcome of chronic hepatitis C treatment. Therefore, convenient and accurate HCV genotyping methods for routine laboratory testing are needed. In this study, to identify the HCV genotypes, an oligonucleotide DNA chip was designed using 15 probes from the 5'-untranslated region.

[Analysis of clinical characteristics and S gene mutation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients with hepatitis B surface antigen RIA negative and HBV DNA positive].

Background: We investigated hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection cases, who were HBsAg negative by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and HBV DNA positive for their clinical characteristics, the S gene mutation of hepatitis B virus (HBV), and usefulness of other HBsAg immunoassay.

Methods: Among the patients requested for HBV DNA quantification, 16 patients positive in HBV DNA but negative in HBsAg RIA (BNIBT HBsAg Kit, China) were enrolled. The "a" determinant of HBV S gene was sequenced and clinical characteristics were reviewed.

[Co-circulation of two genotypes of hepatitis A virus from sporadic cases in northeastern area of Seoul, Korea].

Background: In previous studies, most hepatitis A virus (HAV) isolates had been genotype IA in Korea. Recently, a small number of different genotypes were reported with an upsurge of acute hepatitis by HAV. We investigated the distribution of HAV genotypes.

The K121Q polymorphism in ENPP1 (PC-1) is not associated with type 2 diabetes or obesity in Korean male workers.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, and ENPP1 plays an important role in insulin resistance. We investigated the association of the ENPP1 K121Q polymorphism with both diabetes and obesity (body mass index [BMI]) in Korean male workers. The study design was case-control.