Change in the Gastro-Intestinal Tract by Overexpressed Activin Beta A.

Originally, activins were identified as stimulators of FSH release in reproduction. Other activities, including secondary axis formation in development, have since been revealed. Here, we investigated the influence of activin βA on the body, including the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract.

Shape from focus using multilayer feedforward neural networks.

The conventional shape-from-focus (SFF) methods have inaccuracies because of piecewise constant approximation of the focused image surface (FIS). We propose a scheme for SFF based on representation of three-dimensional (3-D) FIS in terms of neural network weights. The neural networks are trained to learn the shape of the FIS that maximizes the focus measure.

Direct measurement of concentration distribution within the boundary layer of an ion-exchange membrane.

In this study the concentration distributions within the diffusion boundary layer were obtained by directly measuring the potential drops while the currents (under- and overlimiting) passed through the Neosepta CMX cation-exchange membrane (Tokuyama Corp., Japan). Potential drops according to the distance from the membrane surface on the depleted side were measured using a microelectrode to obtain the concentration profile.

Change in particle size distribution of fractal agglomerates during Brownian coagulation in the free-molecule regime.

Time evolution of particle size distribution of fractal agglomerates undergoing Brownian coagulation in the free-molecule regime was investigated. A simple analytical solution for the size distribution change was obtained by using the assumption that the size distribution during the coagulation process can be represented by a time-dependent log-normal function. The derived solution consists of three parameters of the log-normal distribution function.

Fouling mitigation of anion exchange membrane by zeta potential control.

The feasibility of fouling mitigation of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) in the presence of humate was studied by adding three different types of water-soluble polymers, i.e., poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and poly(ethylene imine) (PEI), during electrodialysis (ED) desalination.

Dechloromonas hortensis sp. nov. and strain ASK-1, two novel (per)chlorate-reducing bacteria, and taxonomic description of strain GR-1.

Recent studies on the occurrence of (per)chlorate-reducing bacteria have resulted in the characterization of strains capable of dissimilatory (per)chlorate reduction. Phylogenetic analysis has shown that these bacteria are members of the Proteobacteria. Strains have been isolated from polluted and pristine sites, but only strains from polluted sites have been characterized in detail and deposited in culture collections.

Bioleaching of cadmium and nickel from synthetic sediments by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.

The microbial leaching process was evaluated for the treatment of synthetic sediments contaminated with cadmium and nickel sulfides. A series of batch leaching experiments was conducted to compare metal solubilization in sediment inoculated with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans -inoculated sediments to that in sterile control sediment. The rate and extent of metal solubilization were significantly higher in A.

In situ photopolymerization of a polymerizable poly(ethylene glycol)-covered phospholipid monolayer on a methacryloyl-terminated substrate.

We have prepared a chemically anchored monolayer of PEG (poly(ethylene glycol)) and phospholipid mixture (PEG/phospholipid) on a methacryloyl-terminated substrate by in situ photopolymerization. Both monoacryloyl phospholipid (acryloyl-PC, 1-palmitoyl-2-[12-(acryloyloxy)dodecanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) and monoacryloyl PEG (acryloyl-PEG, 12-(acryloyloxy)dodecanoyl-PEG) were synthesized by modifyingphospholipid and PEGwith 12-(acryloyloxy)-1-dodecanoic acid and 12-(acryloyloxy)-1-dodecanol, respectively. The surface pressure-area (pi-A) isotherm showed that acryloyl-PEG molecules were stable in the phospholipid monolayer and that they could be evenly inserted into a phospholipid monolayer at the air/water interface.

Simultaneous measurements of atmospheric pollutants and visibility with a Long-Path DOAS system in urban areas.

In this paper, the applicability of a Long-Path Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (LP-DOAS) system was checked for the feasibility of the simultaneous measurement of trace gases (such as 03, NO2, SO2, and HCHO) and atmospheric visibility (light extinction by aerosols) in Asian urban areas. Field studies show that an LP-DOAS system can simultaneously measure the key pollutants (such as O3, NO2, SO2, and HCHO) at detection limits in the ppb/sub-ppb range as well as the Mie extinction coefficient with an uncertainty of approximately 0.1 km(-1) at time resolution of a few minutes.

Respirometric monitoring for the determination of effective height and reaction rate constant in up-flow autotrophic denitrification reactor packed with sulfur.

A novel technology for the removal of nitrogen from wastewater, autotrophic denitrification process with sulfur particle, has been developed. A respirometer was employed for the monitoring of nitrogen gas produced in the reactor. It was found that the autotrophic denitrification studied by gas production rate and nitrate depletion rate followed a first order reaction from the relationship.

Trophoblast apoptosis is increased in women with evidence of TH1 immunity.

Interferon-gamma secretion from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions was increased by trophoblast stimulation. Apoptosis was significantly increased in trophoblast cells cultured with the supernatant of PBMCs from women with evidence of T(H)1 immunity to trophoblast stimulation.

Removal of arsenic in tailings by soil flushing and the remediation process monitoring.

In order to investigate the optimum conditions for the application of soil flushing of arsenic, a batch test was carried out using EDTA at various concentration and pH levels. Based on the optimum condition derived from the batch test, a column test was conducted to examine the feasibility of the soil-flushing technology under field-equivalent conditions. In this column test, a low flushing solution flow rate showed a significantly higher As removal efficiency (71.

Enhanced aerobic floc-like granulation and nitrogen removal in a sequencing batch reactor by selection of settling velocity.

In order to enhance the solid-liquid separation properties and nitrogen removal efficiency of SBR, the aerobic floc-like granules were cultivated under temporal alternating aerobic and anoxic conditions without the presence of carrier material in a SBR having 15 H/D (height/diameter) ratio. Two different effluent port positions were applied to the SBR for different selection of minimum settling velocities (over 0.6 and 0.

Enhancement of the multi-channel continuous monitoring system through the use of Xenorhabdus luminescens lux fusions.

The enhancement of the multi-channel continuous toxicity monitoring system developed previously was studied. To achieve better and more stable results from the system, the use of thermo-lux fusion strains that express the luxCDABE genes from Xenorhabdus luminescens was evaluated. A total of six recombinant Escherichia coli strains with the promoters from three oxidative-stress responsive genes, i.

Chemical composition of post-harvest biomass burning aerosols in Gwangju, Korea.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the chemical characteristics of post-harvest biomass burning aerosols from field burning of barley straw in late spring and rice straw in late fall in rural areas of Korea. A 12-hr integrated intensive sampling of particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 microm (PM10) and PM with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 microm (PM2.

Hyaluronic acid and silver sulfadiazine-impregnated polyurethane foams for wound dressing application.

Five different kinds of PU foam wound dressings were prepared to investigate their wound healing capability. They include (i) PU+silver sulfadiazine (AgSD), (ii) PU+alginate (Al), (iii) PU+Al+AgSD, (i.v.

Evaluation of wastewater effluents for soil aquifer treatment in South Korea.

Soil batch and column experiments were performed to characterize the wastewater effluents from seven different wastewater treatment plants in the Jonnam province, South Korea, with the purpose of evaluating the effluents for possible application of a soil aquifer treatment (SAT) in Korea. Batch experiments were conducted to measure the biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) while 1 m soil columns, for simulating SAT, were employed to further analyze dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal. The soils were collected from a river bottom in Jonnam.

Sorption behaviors of heavy metals in SAT (soil aquifer treatment) system.

Degradation or detoxification of pollutants by SAT system was generally focused on organic contaminants although the regulation of water reuse has provisions of heavy metals. This study is to evaluate the feasibility of SAT for metals such as Cd, Cr and Pb with the pilot scaled column experiment. The desorption possibility of sorbed metals was also examined in the condition of continuous water and even acidic water (pH 4.

Modeling the fate and transport of organic and nitrogen species in soil aquifer treatment process.

Soil aquifer treatment (SAT) is a promising technique for wastewater reclamation and reuse. This treatment strategy takes advantage of physicochemical and biological processes in the subsurface. The model employed in this study is based on MODFLOW-SURFACT (HydroGeoLogic, Inc.

pH-dependent elution profiles of selected proteins in HPLC having a stationary phase modified with pH-sensitive sulfonamide polymers.

An approach to controlling protein interactions with silica (glass) beads grafted with pH-sensitive copolymers of a sulfonamide and N,N-dimethylacrylamide is proposed. The bead surface was modified with poly(N.N-dimethyl acrylamide-co-methacryloyl sulfadimethoxine), which exhibits hydrophobic/hydrophilic switching around pH 7.

Combined effects of pH and biosurfactant addition on solubilization and biodegradation of phenanthrene.

Phenanthrene solubilization and biodegradation with a biosurfactant (rhamnolipid) solution were investigated as a function of pH. Batch phenanthrene solubilization experiments were performed in the pH range 4-8 and the highest solubilities with the biosurfactant were detected around a pH of 4.5-5.

Expression, activity, and regulation of MAP kinases in cultured chondrocytes.

The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family consists of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), p38 kinase, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and transduces signals from the extracellular environment to the cytoplasm and nucleus. MAP kinase signaling involves a multistep kinase cascade including MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK), MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK), and MAP kinase. The MAP kinase subtypes are constitutively expressed in articular chondrocytes and they regulate chondrocyte function, including differentiation, apoptosis, inflammatory responses, and activation of matrix metalloproteinases.

Effect of polyethylene glycol grafted onto islet capsules on prevention of splenocyte and cytokine attacks.

In the graft rejection of transplanted islets, the host's immune cells recognize the islets as antigens, which then stimulate the immune cells to begin the cytokine secretion and also the proliferation of immune cells. To prevent the recognition of islets by the immune cells, we grafted biocompatible polyethylene glycol (PEG) onto the collagen capsule of islets without incurring any changes in the morphology and function of islets. To evaluate the efficiency of PEG grafting, PEG-grafted islets were cultured with splenocytes consisting mainly of lymphocytes and macrophages.

Comparative analysis of vertical heterogeneity of microbial community in sulfur-packed reactor used for autotrophic nitrate removal.

To better understand microbial community in sulfur-based nitrate removal process, comparative molecular analyses were performed with the biofilm formed on sulfur particles that were obtained from different bed-heights of a laboratory-scale reactor employed for the process. Microbial community in the reactor showed vertical heterogeneity in terms of total cell count and nitrate removal activity. DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining revealed that total cell count (per g sulfur particle) gradually decreased as bed height increased until reaching approximately middle of the reactor bed, showing a nearly plateau afterward.