Fast-ion Dα spectroscopy diagnostic at KSTAR

A fast-ion Dα (FIDA) diagnostics system was installed for core and edge measurements on KSTAR. This system has two tangential FIDA arrays that cover both blue- and redshifted Dα lines (cold: 656.09 nm) in active views along the neutral beam 1 A centerline. The spectral band is 647-662.5 nm, and it covers the Doppler shift of the emission from the maximum energy of the neutral beam (100 keV). A curved filter strip with a motorized stage adequately prevents saturation of the electron multiplying charge-coupled device signal by the cold Dα line from the plasma edge. From comparisons of the measured spectra and FIDASIM modeling code, the FIDA spectra are well matched quantitatively. Moreover, the first measurements show that the FIDA radiance agrees with the neutron rate in the time trace during external heating and perturbation. In addition, responses are observed in the core FIDA radiance during the edge-localized mode cycle.

Calibration methods of X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer on KSTAR

The detailed calibration methods and procedure for the X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer (XICS) in the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research device are investigated. A cross comparison from two different diagnostics including the XICS and charge exchange spectrometer is the best option, in particular, when both systems can be operated simultaneously.

Experimental results from an X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer utilizing multi-wire proportional counter for KSTAR

The inconsistency of the first experimental results from the X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer for the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research device utilizing a multi-wire proportional counter (MWPC) is clarified after improving the photon-count rate of the data acquisition system for the MWPC and ground loop isolator for the whole spectrometer system. The improved MWPC is successfully applied to pure Ohmic plasmas as well as plasmas with high confinement modes.

A specific cathepsin-L-like protease purified from an insect midgut shows antibacterial activity against gut symbiotic bacteria

Because gut symbiotic bacteria affect host biology, host insects are expected to evolve some mechanisms for regulating symbiont population. The bean bug, Riptortus pedestris, harbors the Burkholderia genus as a gut symbiont in the midgut organ, designated as the M4 region. Recently, we demonstrated that the lysate of M4B, the region adjacent to M4, harbors potent antibacterial activity against symbiotic Burkholderia but not to cultured Burkholderia. However, the bona fide substance responsible for observed antibacterial activity was not identified in the previous study. Here, we report that cathepsin-L-like protease purified from the lysate of M4B showed strong antibacterial activity against symbiotic Burkholderia but not the cultured Burkholderia. To further confirm this activity, recombinant cathepsin-L-like protease expressed in Escherichia coli also showed antibacterial activity against symbiotic Burkholderia. These results suggest that cathepsin-L-like protease purified from the M4B region plays a critical role in controlling the population of the Burkholderia gut symbiont.

Burkholderia gut symbionts enhance the innate immunity of host Riptortus pedestris

The relation between gut symbiosis and immunity has been reported in various animal model studies. Here, we corroborate the effect of gut symbiont to host immunity using the bean bug model. The bean bug, Riptortus pedestris, is a useful gut symbiosis model due to the monospecific gut symbiont, genus Burkholderia. To examine the effect of gut symbiosis to host immunity, we generated the gut symbiont-harboring (symbiotic) insect line and the gut symbiont-lacking (aposymbiotic) insect line. Upon bacterial challenges, the symbiotic Riptortus exhibited better survival than aposymbiotic Riptortus. When cellular immunity was inhibited, the symbiotic Riptortus still survived better than aposymbioic Riptortus, suggesting stronger humoral immunity. The molecular basis of the strong humoral immunity was further confirmed by the increase of hemolymph antimicrobial activity and antimicrobial peptide expression in the symbiotic insects. Taken together, our data clearly demonstrate that Burkhoderia gut symbiont positively affect the Riptortus systemic immunity.

Bacterial cell motility of Burkholderia gut symbiont is required to colonize the insect gut

We generated a Burkholderia mutant, which is deficient of an N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine amidase, AmiC, involved in peptidoglycan degradation. When non-motile ΔamiC mutant Burkholderia cells harboring chain form were orally administered to Riptortus insects, ΔamiC mutant cells were unable to establish symbiotic association. But, ΔamiC mutant complemented with amiC gene restored in vivo symbiotic association. ΔamiC mutant cultured in minimal medium restored their motility with single-celled morphology. When ΔamiC mutant cells harboring single-celled morphology were administered to the host insect, this mutant established normal symbiotic association, suggesting that bacterial motility is essential for the successful symbiosis between host insect and Burkholderia symbiont.

Culturally competent methods to promote organ donation rates among African-Americans using venues of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles

BACKGROUND

The diversity of the nation is one of society's greatest assets, but this feature is overshadowed by the disproportionate burden of disease that exists among America's minorities. Evidence of the disparate health status has been documented in low life expectancy, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, and kidney disease as well as a plethora of disorders that necessitate organ transplantation. Many minorities have been reluctant to register to become organ donors. This circumstance can be alleviated by educating the public regarding the necessity of organ transplantation. We have developed a "unique" collaborative outreach program designed to promote acceptance of organ donation in African-Americans (AAs). Our outreach curriculum at Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) has resulted in increased registrations and awareness regarding the need and positive perceptions toward donation.

METHODS

We developed a culturally sensitive outreach program: cultural sensitivity indicates how culture has the ability to influence communication between patients and health providers. An "Outreach Promotional Contest" was strategically targeted toward 28 Ohio BMVs to promote and assist in an outreach educational program regarding organ donation/registry.

RESULTS

The consequence/results has been an increase of 3.4% in the BMV locations. The one BMV, with the highest increase was attended predominantly by AAs which moreover, won first place in the contest (6.425%; P < .05).

CONCLUSION

To increase the number of people willing to register, we believe that both community education regarding the need and importance, as well as culturally sensitive promotion of organ donation, is the best way to increase organ donor registries particularly among minority populations.

Synthesis and biological activity of conformationally controlled 2-PAM derivatives

A series of conformationally controlled 2-PAM derivatives were prepared from 2-acetylpyridine and 2,3-pyrido[b]cycloalkenones in two steps and their reactivities towards parathion poisoned AChE were evaluated. The most planar 2,3-pyrido[b]cyclohexanone oxime methiodide showed an activity comparable to 2-PAM implying E-syn is that the most active conformation of 2-PAM in the biological system.

Synthesis of the quinoline-linked triazolopyrimidine analogues and their interactions with the recombinant tobacco acetolactate synthase

Acetolactate synthase (ALS) is the first common enzyme in the biosynthesis of L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine. Triazolopyrimidine sulfonamide (TP) is a mixed-type inhibitor of ALS with respect to both pyruvate and thiamine pyrophosphate. In this study, we synthesized new substituted quinoline-linked TP analogues and several TP analogues which contained either unsubstituted aminoquinolines or amino isoquinolines. In addition, we examined the interactions of both the wild-type and the sulfonylurea-resistant recombinant tobacco ALS enzymes in a highly pure and active form with the quinoline-linked TP analogues, respectively. The wild-type tobacco ALS was extremely sensitive to inhibition by the quinoline-linked TP analogues. In contrast, the mutant tobacco ALS was insensitive to both the quinoline-linked triazolopyrimidine and the sulfonylurea herbicides. The results indicate that the ability of the quinoline-linked TP analogues to inhibit ALS is highly sensitive to substitution at the ortho position (C-7) and to the position of the ring nitrogen around the sulfonamide functionality (C-8).

Surgical treatment of mandibular prognathism in collaboration with orthodontic treatment in Korea

Mandibular prognathism is defined by John Hunter as follows: "The lower jaw projecting too far forward so that the foreteeth pass before those of the upper jaw, therefore disfigurement and malocclusion are two of the main facial characteristics." Other distinguishing features are the coexistence of class III malocclusion, incomplete closure of lip, deviation of the midline, and decrease of labiomental fold. Generally, the functional occlusal relationship and balanced facial harmony cannot be obtained by surgical or orthodontic treatment alone. Its success depends on careful conjoint, supplementary diagnostic, and treatment planning. As a cardinal principle the authors made the following combined surgical and orthodontic treatment plans: (1) Orthodontic treatment relocates and decompensates the malpositioned teeth (remove the masking effect of teeth) and, therefore, skeletal deformity is exposed maximally. (2) Surgical treatment eliminates the maximally exposed skeletal defect. Therefore, dramatic facial balance and functional occlusal relationship are obtained. Treatment planning includes the pre- and postoperative orthodontic treatment, lateral cephalometric prediction tracing (LCPT), and model surgery with dental cast. The authors made it easy with the use of an acrylic dental wafer to coordinate exact occlusal relationship after surgery. We treated mandibular prognathism by using Dautrey's modification of the sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) (10 cases) and intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO) (5 cases) and sometimes additional genioplasty (2 cases). IVRO was used in those cases where (1) the amount of setback was more than 10 mm and (2) where there was a flat gonial angle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)