3,603 research outputs found
Simultaneous dual-frequency radio observations of S5 0716+714: A search for intraday variability with the Korean VLBI Network
This study aims to search for the existence of intraday variability (IDV) of
BL Lac object S5 0716+714 at high radio frequencies for which the interstellar
scintillation effect is not significant. Using the 21-meter radio telescope of
the Korean VLBI Network (KVN), we present results of multi-epoch simultaneous
dual-frequency radio observations. Single-dish observations of S5 0716+714 were
simultaneously conducted at 21.7 GHz (K-band) and 42.4 GHz (Q-band), with a
high cadence of 30-60 minute intervals.We observed four epochs between December
2009 and June 2010. Over the whole set of observation epochs, S5 0716+714
showed significant inter-month variations in flux density at both the K- and
Q-bands, with modulation indices of approximately 19% for the K-band and
approximately 36% for the Q-band. In all epochs, no clear intraday variability
was detected at either frequency. The source shows monotonic flux density
increase in epochs 1 and 3 and monotonic flux density decrease in epochs 2 and
4. In the flux density increasing phases, the flux densities at the Q-band
increase more rapidly. In the decreasing phase, no significant flux density
difference is seen at the two frequencies. The situation could be different
close to flux density peaks that we did not witness in our observations. We
find an inverted spectrum with mean spectral indices of -0.57+-0.13 in epoch 1
and -0.15+-0.11 in epoch 3. On the other hand, we find relatively steep indices
of +0.24+-0.14 and +0.17+-0.18 in epochs 2 and 4, respectively. We conclude
that the frequency dependence of the variability and the change of the spectral
index are caused by source-intrinsic effects rather than by any extrinsic
scintillation effect.Comment: 6 pages and 4 figures and 4 table
Synergistic Antibacterial Effect between Silibinin and Antibiotics in Oral Bacteria
Silibinin is a composition of the silymarin group as a hepatoprotective agent, and it exhibits various biological activities, including antibacterial activity. In this study, the antibacterial activities of silibinin were investigated in combination with two antimicrobial agents against oral bacteria. Silibinin was determined with MIC and MBC values ranging from 0.1 to 3.2 and 0.2 to 6.4 μg/mL, ampicillin from 0.125 to 64 and 0.5 to 64 μg/mL, gentamicin from 2 to 256 and 4 to 512 μg/mL, respectively. The ranges of MIC50 and MIC90 were 0.025–0.8 μg/mL and 0.1–3.2 μg/mL, respectively. The antibacterial activities of silibinin against oral bacteria were assessed using the checkerboard and time-kill methods to evaluate the synergistic effects of treatment with ampicillin or gentamicin. The results were evaluated showing that the combination effects of silibinin with antibiotics were synergistic (FIC index <0.5) against all tested oral bacteria. Furthermore, a time-kill study showed that the growth of the tested bacteria was completely attenuated after 2–6 h of treatment with the MBC of silibinin, regardless of whether it was administered alone or with ampicillin or gentamicin. These results suggest that silibinin combined with other antibiotics may be microbiologically beneficial and not antagonistic
Recommended from our members
High-cycle fatigue response of diagonally-cracked conventionally reinforced concrete bridge girders
The behavior of stirrups engaged by diagonal cracks and under service loads is
largely unknown. Full-size laboratory specimens were loaded to induce diagonal
cracks and subjected to high-cycle fatigue loading to represent a service life of 50
years. Tests indicated little change in the average stirrup stress range and mean
while diagonal crack width and motion increased. Observed changes in stirrup
strain range and crack motion were larger when stirrup spacing was wide or
anchorage of longitudinal reinforcement was poor. Disregarding aggregate
interlock and dowel forces, service level shear was attributed to the compression
zone and transverse steel. These were reasonably calculated by Response 2OOO™, a
sectional analysis program, by setting the concrete tensile strength very low
Impact of Toxocariasis in Patients with Unexplained Patchy Pulmonary Infiltrate in Korea
Toxocariasis is one of the causes of pulmonary eosinophilic infiltrate that is increasing in Korea. This study was designed to identify the prevalence of toxocara seropositivity in patients with unexplained pulmonary patchy infiltrate and to evaluate associated factors. We evaluated 102 patients with unexplained pulmonary patchy infiltrate on chest computed tomography (CT) scan. As a control set, 116 subjects with normal chest CT were also evaluated. History of allergic disease, drug use, parasitic disease and raw cow liver intake were taken. Blood eosinophil count and total IgE level were measured. Specific serum IgG antibody to Toxocara canis larval antigen and specific IgG antibodies to 4 other parasites were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the infiltrate group, 66.7% subjects were toxocara seropositive whereas 22.4% of the control group were seropositive (p<0.001). In the infiltrate group, patients with a history of eating raw cow liver (odds ratio [OR], 7.8) and patients with eosinophilia (OR, 5.2) had a higher incidence of toxocara seropositivity. Thirty-five percent of toxocara seropositive patients with infiltrate exhibited migrating infiltrate and 48% had decreased infiltrate on the follow-up CT. We recommend that toxocara ELISA should be performed in patients with unexplained pulmonary patchy infiltrate, and that the eating of raw cow liver should be actively discouraged
Downbeat, Positional, and Perverted Head-Shaking Nystagmus Associated with Lamotrigine Toxicity
Lamotrigine is an effective antiepileptic drug with few adverse effects. Nystagmus is one of the commonly observable signs of lamotrigine overdose, which may result from central nervous system involvement. However, the physiologic basis of lamotrigine-induced nystagmus is not fully understood. Here we report a patient who presented with lamotrigine-associated nystagmus that was probably related to cerebellar dysfunction
Student Piano Trio: Ae-Sil Kim, Violin; Young Ju Lee, Cello; Koo Soon Youn, Piano; February 15, 1974
Centennial East Recital HallFriday EveningFebruary 15, 19748:15 p.m
The Prevalence and Evolution of Anemia Associated with Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) may produce abnormalities in the peripheral blood, including anemia. However, the evolution of TB-associated anemia with short-term combination anti-TB chemotherapy has not been well elucidated. The aim of this study was to characterize TB-associated anemia by clarifying its prevalence, characteristics, and evolution, through involving large numbers of patients with TB. The medical records of adult patients with TB diagnosed between June 2000 and May 2001 were reviewed. Among 880 patients with TB, 281 (31.9%) had anemia on diagnosis of TB, however, the hemoglobin concentration was less than 10 g/dL in only 45 patients (5.0%). Anemia was more frequently associated with the female and old age. Good treatment response, young age (≤65 yr-old) and initial high hemoglobin were the predictive factor for resolution of anemia. In 202 patients with anemia (71.9%), anemia was normocytic and normochromic. During or after anti-TB treatment, anemia was resolved in 175 (64.6%) out of 271 patients without iron intake. The mean duration of resolution from the initiation of anti-TB treatment was 118.8±113.2 days. In conclusion, anemia is a common hematological abnormality in patients with TB and close observation is sufficient for patients with TB-associated anemia, because TB-associated anemia is usually mild and resolves with anti-TB treatment
Efficacy of inducible protein 10 as a biomarker for the diagnosis of tuberculosis
SummaryObjectiveThis study evaluated inducible protein 10 (IP-10) as a diagnostic biomarker for specific tuberculosis (TB) infection and evaluated the ability of IP-10 to distinguish between active TB and latent TB infection (LTBI).MethodsForty-six patients with active pulmonary TB, 22 participants with LTBI, and 32 non-TB controls were enrolled separately. We measured IP-10 in serum and in supernatants from whole blood stimulated with TB-specific antigens.ResultsTB antigen-dependent IP-10 secretion was significantly increased in the active TB patients and LTBI subjects compared with controls, but did not differ significantly between the active TB patients and LTBI subjects. Serum IP-10 levels were higher in active TB than in LTBI (174.9 vs. 102.7pg/ml, p=0.002). The respective rates of positive responders of TB antigen-dependent IP-10 were 97.8%, 90.9%, and 12.5% in active TB, LTBI, and non-TB controls, respectively. For serum IP-10, 87.5%, 45.5%, and 9.5% of responders were positive in the respective groups.ConclusionsThe IP-10 response to TB antigen may constitute a specific biomarker for TB infection, but does not by itself distinguish between active TB and LTBI. Serum IP-10 may enhance the diagnostic performance when used in combination with another marker
- …