A Study on the Actual Condition of Automobile Mechanic\u27s Coverall

This study aimed to provide basic information for development of coveralls which reflect the needs of automobile mechanics. We explored the types and characteristics of work clothes worn by mechanics through previous studies and literature, and derived problems and suggestions for improvement of coveralls from the interviews on the automobile mechanics in the field. In a follow-up study, we aim to conduct survey through questionnaire based on this preliminary study to propose new coverall design developments that will reflect users\u27 demands in terms of design, material, and pattern. To evaluate these new designs, actual mechanics will conduct a functionality evaluation

Comparison of Clinical Manifestations between Patients with Ocular Myasthenia Gravis and Generalized Myasthenia Gravis

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical manifestations between patients with ocular myasthenia gravis and those with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG). METHODS: The medical records of 71 patients diagnosed with MG between January 1995 and December 2007 were reviewed. Demographics, sensitivities of diagnostic methods, the presence of systemic autoimmune diseases, ophthalmic complications caused by MG, and treatments were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (20%) were diagnosed with ocular MG and 57 patients (80%) with generalized MG. Sensitivities of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody and repetitive nerve stimulation tests were significantly higher in the generalized MG group (84%, 89%) compared to those in the ocular MG group (50%, 54%) (p = 0.011, p = 0.008). The sensitivity of the neostigmine test was the highest in both groups (98% of generalized MG, 79% of ocular MG), and the difference between the two groups was borderline significant (p = 0.058). The most common symptoms were ptosis and diplopia, and both groups presented with pain, blurred vision, and tearing. Systemic autoimmune disease was more prominent in the generalized MG group (21%) than in the ocular MG group (14%), and steroid therapy was used more frequently in the generalized MG group (82%) than in the ocular MG group (57%). Ophthalmic complications associated with long-term steroid treatment were more profound in the generalized MG (30%) compared to those of the ocular MG (21%). CONCLUSIONS: The generalized MG group was associated with higher sensitivities to diagnostic tests, more systemic steroid use, higher ophthalmic complications caused by systemic autoimmune disease, and long-term steroid treatment compared to those of the ocular MG groupope

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Methanol Extract of Moutan Cortex in LPS-Activated Raw264.7 Cells

Moutan Cortex (MCE) has been used in traditional medicine to remove heat from the blood, promote blood circulation and alleviate blood stasis. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of MCE on regulatory mechanisms of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) involved in immunological activity of Raw264.7 cells. Cells were pretreated with methanolic extracts of MCE, and further cultured for an appropriate time after lipopolyssacharide (LPS) addition. During the entire experimental period, 0.1 and 0.3 mg ml−1 of MCE had no cytotoxicity. In these concentrations, MCE inhibited the production of NO and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and phosphorylated inhibitor of κBα (p-IκBα), and the activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). MCE also reduced the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the Raw264.7 cells that were activated by LPS. These results demonstrate that MCE has anti-inflammatory effects through the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression by suppressing the phosphorylation of I-κBα and the activation of NF-κB

E-p-methoxycinnamic acid production in hairy root cultures of Scrophularia buergeriana Miquel

E-p-methoxycinnamic acid (MCA) is one of the main active constituents of Scrophularia buergeriana Miquel and has hepatoprotective, anti-amnestic, and neuroprotective activities. For studying in vitro production of MCA, we established a hairy root culture of S. buergeriana by infecting leaf explants with Agrobacterium rhizogenes R1000, and tested the growth and MCA production of these cultures using different strengths of media and concentrations of auxins. Hairy roots grown in half-strength MS medium showed the highest levels of growth (10.3 g/l) as well as MCA production (0.83 mg/100 g dry weight). Hairy root culture with the treatment of 0.5 mg/l IBA produced the highest amount of dry weight (11.8 g/l) and MCA (1.26 mg/100 g dry weight) production. These results demonstrate that the hairy root culture of S. buergeriana is a valuable alternative approach for the production of MCA.

Discovery of Novel Sources of Vitamin B12 in Traditional Korean Foods from Nutritional Surveys of Centenarians

Human longevity can be explained by a variety of factors, among them, nutritional factor would play an important role. In our study of Korean centenarians for their longevity, the apparent nutritional imbalance in the traditional semi-vegetarian diet raised a special attention, especially on vitamin B12 status, supplied by animal foods. Interestingly, we found that the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficient Korean centenarians was not higher compared with those from Western nations with animal-oriented traditional foods. We assumed that there might be some unveiled sources for vitamin B12 in the Korean traditional foods. Screening of vitamin B12 contents has revealed that some traditional soybean-fermented foods, such as Doenjang and Chunggukjang, and seaweeds contain considerable amounts of vitamin B12. Taken together, it can be summarized that the traditional foods, especially of fermentation, might be evaluated for compensation of the nutritional imbalance in the vegetable-oriented dietary pattern by supplying vitamin B12, resulting in maintenance of health status

Monitoring of multi-frequency polarization of gamma-ray bright AGNs

We started two observing programs with the Korean VLBI Network (KVN) monitoring changes in the flux density and polarization of relativistic jets in gamma-ray bright AGNs simultaneously at 22, 43, 86, 129 GHz. One is a single-dish weekly-observing program in dual polarization with KVN 21-m diameter radio telescopes beginning in 2011 May. The other is a VLBI monthly-observing program with the three-element VLBI network at an angular resolution range of 1.0--9.2 mas beginning in 2012 December. The monitoring observations aim to study correlation of variability in gamma-ray with that in radio flux density and polarization of relativistic jets when they flare up. These observations enable us to study the origin of the gamma-ray flares of AGNs.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of the conference "The innermost regions of relativistic jets and their magnetic fields", Granada, Spai

Analysis of volatile compounds from three species of Atractylodes by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

A total of 99 different volatile compounds were detected through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) from three species of Atractylodes, namely Atractylodes lancea, Atractylodes japonica, and Atractylodes chinensis. Thirteen-volatile flavor compounds i.e., acid, alcohol, aldehyde, alkane, alkene, alkyne, ester, ketone, monoterpene, oxygenated monoterpene, sesquiterpene, oxygenated sesquiterpene, and oxygenated triterpenoid detected from different species of Atractylodes. It was observed that all the species contained 38 common compounds, while A. lancea contained 7 unique compounds, A. japonica has 4 unique compounds, and A. chinensis hold 6 compounds not detected in the other extracts. In addition, essential oils from A. lancea and A. japonica possessed 11 compounds in common, and A. lancea and A. chinensis possessed 19 compounds in common. The remaining 14 compounds were detected only in A. japonica and A. chinensis. The total content of all components in the species was comparable, with 82.528%, 81.766%, and 81.799% of volatile components being detected for A. lancea, A. japonica, and A. chinensis, respectively. Curzerene was found to be the most predominant compound in both A. lancea (14.1%) and A. chinensis (16.7%), while murolan-3,9(11)-diene-10-peroxy was found predominantly in A. japonica (16.8%). The present study suggests that the identified volatile compounds may possess important biological properties, and could be suitable for application in both oriental medicines and the pharmaceutical industry

AN ANALYSIS OF 500 M INLINE SKATE STARTING MOTIONS

The purpose of this study was to examine if there are kinematical variables differences between national representative players (NRP) and non national representative players (NNRP) during 500 m inline skate starting motion. Four NRP and six NNRP were recruited for the study. Each subject executed starting motion five times on a 2x12 m start way in a gymnasium. Kinematical variables were analyzed by the three-dimensional motion analysis system (60Hz). It was hypothesized that there are time and center of mass acceleration differences in starting phase between groups since starting phase has been considered important in sprinting. The results showed that the NRP had significantly shorter starting phase time than that of NNRP