• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.577-583
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• 2014

Three major classes of retroviral restriction factors (APOBEC3G, Tetherin, and TRIM5${\alpha}$) have been identified in mammals. Restriction factors are cellular proteins that are able to limit viral replication by targeting specific steps of the viral life cycle. To evaluate which restriction factor is the most effective to inhibit the replication of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs), the antiviral activity of each restriction factor was compared. In pseudotype assay, the antiviral activity of human tetherin against PERV pseudotype was slightly weaker than that of human APOBEC3G (hA3G). A combination of tetherin and hA3G was more potent than each individual restriction factor. We questioned whether a combination of tetherin and hA3G could also inhibit the spreading replication of PERV. In agreement with the pseudotype assay, two restriction factors inhibit infectious PERV replication in a spreading infection. In this study, hA3G could strongly inhibit the replication of PERV, but tetherin modestly restricted it. Based on these results, we concluded that a combination of tetherin and hA3G is the most effective way to restrict PERV. A combination of different restriction factors will encourage the development of a new approach to treat retroviral disease.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1499-1502
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• 2004

An amperometric biosensor based on carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) for the determination of urea was constructed by enzyme (urease/GL-DH)-modified method. Urea was hydrolyzed to ${NH_4}^+$ by catalyzing urease onto the enzyme-modified electrode surface in sample solution. In the presence of ${\alpha}$-ketoglutarate and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NADH), a liberated ${NH_4}^+$ produce to L-glutamate and $NAD^+$ by Lglutamate dehydrogenase (GL-DH). After the chemical reaction was proceeded, the electrochemical reaction was occurred that an excess of the NADH was oxidized to $NAD^+$. The oxidation current of NADH was monitored at +1.10 volt vs. Ag/AgCl. An optimum conditions of biosensor were investigated: The optimum pH range for catalyzed hydrolysis reaction of urea was pH 7.0-7.4. The linear response range and detection limit were $2.0\;{\times}\;10^{-5}{\sim}2.0\;{\times}\;10^{-4}M\;and\;5.0\;{\times}\;10^{-6}M$, respectively. Another physiological species did not interfere, except L-ascorbic acid.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.322-328
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• 2013

Copper iodide was employed as a modifier for preparation of a new carbon ceramic electrode. For the first time, the catalytic oxidation of amoxicillin (AMX) was demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and amperometry methods at the surface of this modified carbon ceramic electrode. The copper iodide modified sol-gel derived carbon ceramic (CIM-SGD-CC) electrode has very high catalytic ability for electrooxidation of amoxicillin. The catalytic oxidation peak current was linearly dependent on the amoxicillin concentration and the linearity range obtained was 100 to 1000 ${\mu}mol\;L^{-1}$ with a detection limit of 0.53 ${\mu}mol\;L^{-1}$. The diffusion coefficient ($D=(1.67{\pm}0.102){\times}10^{-3}\;cm^2\;s^{-1}$), and the kinetic parameter such as the electron transfer coefficient (${\alpha}$) and exchange current density ($j_0$) for the modified electrode were calculated. The advantages of the modified CCE are its good stability and reproducibility of surface renewal by simple polishing, excellent catalytic activity and simplicity of preparation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.175-182
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• 1993

Volatilization of toxic heavy metals, especially, metal chlorides at elevated temperatures in oxidation conditions was observed using a thermogravimetric furnace since such metal chlorides used to be a cause for the disease of industrial workers by their toxicity and high volatile extent. Most of tested metal chloride compounds were evaporated or decomposed into gas phase at elevated temperatures ranged from 200~90$0^{\circ}C$, while CrCl$_3$ and NiC1$_2$became stable with converting into oxide forms. A kinetic model for evaporation/condensation could predict maximum evaporation flux and the calculated values were compared with real evaporation flux. The ratio of two fluxes could be explained as the fraction of impinging gas molecules to the condensing surface( $\alpha$ ) and obtained in the range of 10$^{-3}$ ~10$^{-9}$ for the experimented toxic heavy metal chlorides. This ratio might be used to define the volatile extent or toxicity of such toxic metal compounds. The schemes to avoid volatilization of toxic heavy metals Into the atmosphere were suggested as follows ; 1 ) controlling the compositions of metals and Chlorine produced substances( such as PVC ) in the treated materials using a reverse estimation from regulatory limit and characteristics of a processing facility, 2) Installation of wet type devices such as a scrubber for condensing the metal compounds.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2000

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the topical bioavailability of retinol (vitamin A) after its transdermal administration. For this purpose, we developed the convenient HPLC method to measure the retinol concentration in the biological fluids such as plasma and skin tissues. The low detection limit was $0.1\;{\mu}g/ml$ using a gradient HPLC system of UV detection. The initial plasma concentration of retinol was about $20\;{\mu}g/ml$ after its i.v. bolus administration (4.32 mg/kg). The half life $(t_{1/2{\alpha}})$ in the distributive phase was 1.3 min, while retinol was slowly disappeared in the post-distributive phase. On the other hand, the maximum plasma concentration $(C_{max})$ was about 776 ng/ml after appling to rat skin at a dose of 43.2 mg/kg. Furthermore, the concentration of retinol in the skin tissues was about 600 ng/g tissue at 12 hr after its transdermal administration. In conclusion, the initial plasma concentration of retinol was comparable with the skin concentration after its cutaneous absorption, followed by being decreased with the passage of the time.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.229-235
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• 2020

Investors aim to maximize the return rate for their own investment, utilizing various information as possible as they can access. However those investors, especially individual investors, have limitations of interpretation of the domain-specific information or even the acquisition of the information itself. Thus, individual investors tend to make decision affectively and frequently, which may cause a loss in returns. This study aims to analyze analysts' target price and to suggest the strategy that could maximize individual's return rate. Most previous literature revealed that the optimistic bias exists in the analysts' target price and it is also confirmed in this study. In this context, this study suggests the upper limit of target rate of returns and the optimal value named 'alpha(α)' which performs the adjustment of proposed target rate to maximize excess earning returns eventually. To achieve this goal, this study developed an optimization problem using linear programming. Specifically, when the analysts' proposed target rate exceeds 30%, it could be adjusted to the extent of 59% of its own target rate. As apply this strategy, the investors could achieve 1.2% of excess earning rate on average. The result of this study has significance in that the individual investors could utilize analysts' target price practically.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.645-653
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• 2014

P-value is the probability of observing a current sample and possibly other samples departing equally or more extremely from the null hypothesis toward postulated alternative hypothesis. When p-value is less than a certain level called ${\alpha}$(= 0:05), researchers claim that the alternative hypothesis is supported empirically. Unfortunately, some findings discovered in that way are not reproducible, partly because the p-value itself is a statistic vulnerable to random variation. Boos and Stefanski (2011) suggests calculating the upper limit of p-value in hypothesis testing, using a bootstrap predictive distribution. To determine the sample size of a replication study, this study proposes thought experiments by simulating boosted bootstrap samples of different sizes from given observations. The method is illustrated for the cases of two-group comparison and multiple linear regression. This study also addresses the reproducibility of the points in the given 95% confidence interval. Numerical examples show that the center point is covered by 95% confidence intervals generated from bootstrap resamples. However, end points are covered with a 50% chance. Hence this study draws the graph of the reproducibility rate for each parameter in the confidence interval.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.218-224
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• 2001

Although Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) has been considered as the disorder occurring during childhood, the prevalence is increasing among adolescents and adults. The prevalence rate varies from 2.0 to 14.3% due to the difference of diagnostic criteria, different assessment methods, or subjects' age difference. Therefore, it needs to make age specific(i.e., for children, for adolescents, and for adults) assessment tools. Authors translated Conners-Wells Adolescents Self-Report Scales(short form)[CASS(S)] in to Korean to get validity and reliability as a way of development of assessment tool for adolescent with ADHD in Korea. CASS(S) was translated and corrtected by three psychiatrists and one clinical psychologist. To examine the concurrent validity and test-retest validity, CASS(S) was applied with K-YSR on one class of each grade in a middle school in Seoul with two week interval(total 115：male 58, female 57). To test validity, authors analysed and got Cronbach's as internal consistency. Construct validity was done by principal axis factor analysis on 4,354 students. As a result, Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency was .88, Pearson coefficient for test-retest reliability .83, and coefficient for concurrent validity .65. And in the factor analysis to examine construct validity, three factors were revealed as cognition, hyperactivity, and conduct. These results shows that CASS(S) may be useful tool for adolescents with ADHD, although there was a limit not to be done the comparison with clinical groups.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.15-35
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• 2015

Objectives This study was performed to investigate the effects of Bujasasim-tang ethanol extract (BST) on oxidative stress, inflammation and osteoarthritic rat model. Methods To ensure safety of BST, heavy metal levels were measured and cytotoxicity test was done. In vitro, To evaluate antioxidative effects of BST, total phenolic contents, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured. Also, to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of BST treated group, total nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$) levels were measured in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In vivo, We injected MIA $50{\mu}l$ (60 mg/ml) into knee joints of rats to induce osteoarthritis. Rats were divided into total 3 groups (normal, control, BST treated group, each n=7). Normal group was not treated at all without inducing osteoarthritis and taken normal diet. Control group was induced osteoarthritis by MIA and taken with 2 ml of distilled water once a day for 4 weeks. BST treated group was induced osteoarthritis by MIA and taken BST 2 ml (200 mg/kg/mouse) once a day for 4 weeks. We evaluated dynamic weight bearing with the Incapacitance Test Meter. At the end of experiment, the rats were sacrificed to observe the functions of liver and kidney, changes of WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte levels in blood, to evaluate the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tissue inhibitor of metallopreteinases-1 (TIMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), leukotriene $B_4$ ($LTB_4$) within serum. We observed change of articular structures by Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E), safranin-O staining method and measured amount of cartilage by micro CT-arthrography. Statistical analysis was done by unpaired student's t-test with significance level at p<0.05 in SPSS 11.0 for windows. Results 1. Safety of the BST was identified. 2. AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine levels of BST treated group were within normal limit. In vitro, 1. DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activities of BST showed dose-dependent increase. 2. ROS production were significantly decreased. 3. Total nitric oxide (NO) and IL-$1{\beta}$ production were decreased. 4. IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production were significantly decreased. In vivo, 1. Weight bearing ability was significantly increased. 2. WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte levels in blood were decreased. 3. IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ levels in serum were significantly decreased. and the IL-6 level was decreased. 4. TIMP-1, MMP-9, $LTB_4$, $PGE_2$ levels in serum were significantly decreased. 5. Cartilage volume of BST treated group was significantly increased. Also changes of cartilage, synovial membrane, fibrous tissue were suppressed. Conclusions The results obtained in this study Bujasasim-tang have effects of antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, relieve pain and protection of cartilage. Therefore we expect that Bujasasim-tang is effective treatment for osteoarthritis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2017

Objectives: Radon may be second only to smoking as a cause of lung cancer. Radon is a colorless, tasteless radioactive gas that is formed via the radioactive decay of radium. Therefore, radon levels can build up based on the amount of radium contained in construction materials such as phospho-gypsum board or when ventilation rates are low. This study provides our findings from evaluation of radon gas at facilities and offices in an industrial complex. Methods: We evaluated the office rooms and processes of 12 manufacturing factories from May 14, 2014 to September 23, 2014. Short-term data were measured by using real-time monitoring detectors(Model 1030, Sun Nuclear Co., USA) indoors in the office buildings. The radon measurements were recorded at 30-minute intervals over approximately 48 hours. The limit of detection of this instrument is $3.7Bq/m^3$. Also, long-term data were measured by using ${\alpha}-track$ radon detectors(${\alpha}-track$, Rn-tech Co., Korea) in the office and factory buildings. Our detectors were exposed for over 90 days, resulting in a minimum detectable concentration of $7.4Bq/m^3$. Detectors were placed 150-220 cm above the floor. Results: Radon concentrations averaged $20.6{\pm}17.0Bq/m^3$($3.7-115.8Bq/m^3$) in the overall area. The monthly mean concentration of radon by building materials were in the order of gypsum>concrete>cement. Radon concentrations were measured using ${\alpha}-track$ in parallel with direct-reading radon detectors and the two metric methods for radon monitoring were compared. A t-test for the two sampling methods showed that there is no difference between the average radon concentrations(p<0.05). Most of the office buildings did not have central air-conditioning, but several rooms had window- or ceiling-mounted units. Employees could also open windows. The first, second and third floors were used mainly for office work. Conclusions: Radon levels measured during this assessment in the office rooms of buildings and processes in factories were well below the ICRP reference level of $1,000Bq/m^3$ for workplaces and also below the lower USEPA residential guideline of $148Bq/m^3$. The range of indoor annual effective dose due to radon exposure for workers working in the office and factory buildings was 0.01 to 1.45 mSv/yr. Construction materials such as phospho-gypsum board, concrete and cement were the main emission sources for workers' exposure.