• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.193-208
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• 2020

In this study, we investigate the effects of technology innovation investments and employment on credit ratings of very small start-up businesses using the data period of 2009 till 2015 test two hypotheses: asymmetric information hypothesis or competence hypothesis. We use financial and non-financial data of 51,903 observations of 12,028 small businesses from a database of a commercial bank and fixed effects panel models and two-stage instrumental variable models. We find that in the short-run small size startups show lower credit ratings than non-startups, and that both technology innovation activities and employment capability improve their credit ratings. In the long-run, technology innovation investments do not improve their credit ratings of later years while employment capability improve their credit ratings of the subsequent year. In addition, the age of startups improves their credit ratings of the current year and until the subsequent two years while employee productivity, fixed ratio and ROA positively affect their credit ratings for up to three years. However, short-term and overall debt ratios, cost of borrowings and firm-size negatively affect their credit ratings for up to three years. The results of the study on credit ratings suggest that credit rating agencies seem to consider both technology innovation activities and employment capability in the credit ratings of small start-ups as 'competence factors' rather than 'asymmetric information factors' with inefficiency and cost burdens. The results also suggest that we must find ways to reflect properly the severe asymmetric information of the early-stage start-ups, and technology innovation activities and employment capability in the credit rating formula.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 1988

To determine the source of Cysticercus·specIfic IgG antibody in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF), paired samples of serum and CSF were collected from confirmed neurocysticercosis, other neurologic diseases and normal control. The antibody levels in serum and CSF were measured by ensyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). With the measurement of total protein, albumin and IgG concentration in serum and CSF, the contribution of IgG in CSF were calculated in transudation, exudation and intracranial synthesis using the formula of Tourtellotte and Ma (1978). Mean concentrations of total protein, albumin, IgG and proportional IgG levels in CSF by transudation, exudation and intracranial synthesis were elevated in neurocysticercosis. But only the intracranial synthesis of IgG showed a statistically significant correlation with the specific IgG antibody levels in CSF. In CSF from lateral ventricle in the 4th ventricular neurocysticercosis, the protein concentrations were normal and the specific antibody levels were negative. However, in consecutively secured lumbar CSF from the same patients, the former were increased and the latter were positive. These results indicated that, in neurocysticercosis, the specific IgG antibody in CSF was a local product of intracranial synthesis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 1994

Recently, the importance of toxoplasmosis is raised as a complication in immunosuppressed or AIDS patients. Our study focused on the identification of a variety of Toxoplasma antigens by immunoblotting. Rabbits and BALB/c mice were immunized with Toxoplosmo Iysate (RH strain) , frozen tachyzoites (RH strain) or cysts (Beverly and Fukaya strain) . Blood were collected from ear vein, heart or orbital plexus for detecting the serum antibody levels. For excretory-secretory (E.S) antigens, T gondii (RH) tachyzoite were cultured in CHL (Chinese hamster lung) cells with MEM containing of 5% FCS. After 72hrs, culture supernatant was collected. BALB/c mice were inoculated with RH tachyzoite intraperitoneally and peritoneal fluids were extracted three days later. E.S antigens were detected in culture supernatant and infected mouse peritoneal fluid by EITB. Serum IgG levels in rabbit were 1 :512 of 10 days after primary immunization, 1 : 2,048 of 10 days after secondary immunization, 1: 1,024 of 20 days after secondary immunization by IFAT, respectively. Serum IgG levels of immunized mice were 1:128 after 7 weeks. Tachyzoite antigens of the RH strain were detected 25 protein bands ranging 10 kDa-220 kDa of molecular weights with Coomassie blue stain. Toxoplcsma major antigens corresponding to n of 24 kDa, 27 kDa,30 kDa, 35 kDa, 38 kDa were recognized by IgG and IgM antibodies. Excretory-secretory antigens present in culture supernatant with M. W. of 20, 30 kDa and in infected mouse peritoneal fluid with M.W. of 33 (P30), 45 kDa. When RH tachyzoite antigen was probed with different mice sera immunized with 2 strains of T gondii, the IgG antibody bud of Fukaya and Beverly strain (8 week-serum) is identical to those of RH strain. It is considered that the 30 kDa polypeptide detected in excretory- secretory materials and Iysate was important major antigen of T gondii (RH).

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.210-220
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• 2015

Athletic performance is an important criteria used for the selection of superior horses. However, little is known about exercise-related epigenetic processes in the horse. DNA methylation is a key mechanism for regulating gene expression in response to environmental changes. We carried out comparative genomic analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in the blood samples of two different thoroughbred horses before and after exercise by methylated-DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-Seq). Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in the pre-and post-exercise blood samples of superior and inferior horses were identified. Exercise altered the methylation patterns. After 30 min of exercise, 596 genes were hypomethy-lated and 715 genes were hypermethylated in the superior horse, whereas in the inferior horse, 868 genes were hypomethylated and 794 genes were hypermethylated. These genes were analyzed based on gene ontology (GO) annotations and the exercise-related pathway patterns in the two horses were compared. After exercise, gene regions related to cell division and adhesion were hypermethylated in the superior horse, whereas regions related to cell signaling and transport were hypermethylated in the inferior horse. Analysis of the distribution of methylated CpG islands confirmed the hypomethylation in the gene-body methylation regions after exercise. The methylation patterns of transposable elements also changed after exercise. Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) showed abundance of DMRs. Collectively, our results serve as a basis to study exercise-based reprogramming of epigenetic traits.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.136-142
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• 2000

Purpose : Although there are a lot of the reports about the persistence of anti HBs titer of plasma derives HBV vaccine, it is difficult to find the follow up studies of the recombinant HBV vaccine. We performed this study to compare the persistence of anti HBs titer by vaccination schedule and the seronegative rate of 5 years later according to Anti HBs titer after basic immunization in neonatal period by recombinant HBV vaccination. Methods : This study was performed on 420 neonates at Pusan Moon Hwa Hospital from April to December 1993, followed up for 5 years after basic immunization by recombinant HBV vaccine. The anti HBs titer test was done by radioimmunoassay(RIAAUSAB, Abbott laboratories). The positive anti HBs level that would protect against HBV infection was defined as a level equal to or greater than 10mIU/mL. Results : In this study the seronegative rate after 5 years was 5% in 2 month schedule group, 25.5% in 6 month schedule group(P>0.05). In 2 month schedule group the seronegative rate was 20% when anti HBs titer is lower than 200mIU/mL, 0% when more than 200mIU/mL(P>0.05). In 6 month schedule group the seronegative rate was 66.7% when anti HBs titer was lower than 200mIU/mL, 40% when 200~499.9mIU/mL, 23.9% when 500~999.9mIU/mL, 22.5% when more than 1000mIU/mL. Conclusion : In this study the seronegative rate after 5 years of recombinant HBV vaccination was 5~25.5%. The persistence of anti HBs titer was statistically irrelevant to schedule. The seronegative rate after 5 years was statistically irrelevant to anti HBs titer after basic immunization.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.132-137
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• 2014

Green mold disease caused by Trichoderma species has recently caused considerable damage to oyster mushroom industries in Korea. This disease Trichoderma, Penicillium, Aspergillus, such as in (genus) to be included in a disease caused by a species that collectively the largest incidence and damage is caused by the pathogen Trichoderma genus. T. longibrachiatum, Trichoderma koningii, Trichoderma virens, T. hazianum, T. atroviride, and T. pseudokoningii were detected on oyster mushroom beds and, of them, T. virens, T. hazianum, T. longibrachiatum was the most frequently detected. The knowledge concerning physiological and ecological properties of Trichoderma spp. was essential for their effective control. T. longibrachiatum hyphal growth is very fast, spore formation, and, particularly well-chlamydospore formation characteristics, and reviews are dark green discoloration. T. koningii, fast mycelial growth, aerial hyphae and spores in aerial hyphae formation is concentrated. T. virens, especially if the color change caused by spore-forming, slow, late in infection, the more severe the damage is discovered. T. hazianum fast mycelial growth, white aerial hyphae and late turns dark green. After spore formation hyphae glob of white pustules or tufts on the top of the formation. T. atroviride. aerial hyphae usually the mycelial growth and spore formation in the unlikely event of the formation and smells similar to the smell of coconut is that. Fast T. pseudokoningii mycelial growth, spore formation is formed around the inoculation site, discoloration of the medium color and well formed chlamydospores.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 2000

Purpose: Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is a useful technique to diagnose and to predict prognosis in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the prognostic value of normal exercise $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and to analyze results with regard to those of exercise electrocardiography or coronary angiography. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 301 patients (mean age $52{\pm}10$ years, 166 males and 135 females) with normal exercise $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI myocardial perfusion SPECT performed for suspected coronary artery disease. Subject were evaluated for cardiac events and followed for 8-55 months (mean $19{\pm}10$ months) after imaging. Results: During the follow-up period, there was no cardiac death but only one non-fatal myocardial infarction (event rate 0.21% per year). In addition, only one patient underwent coronary revascularization. There was no significant difference in cardiac event rate between patients with positive (n=27) and negative (n=235) exercise electrocardiography (p:NS). There was no cardiac event in 17 patients who underwent coronary angiography (4 patients with >50% luminal narrowing, 2 patients with vasospasm and 11 patients with no significant lesion). Conclusion: Patients with normal exercise $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI myocardial perfusion SPECT has a very low risk for cardiac events regardless of exercise electrocardiographic and coronary angiographic findings.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2003

Objectives: A new software (Cardiac SPECT Analyzer: CSA) was developed for quantification of volumes and election fraction on gated myocardial SPECT. Volumes and ejection fraction by CSA were validated by comparing with those quantified by Quantitative Gated SPECT (QGS) software. Materials and Methods: Gated myocardial SPECT was peformed in 40 patients with ejection fraction from 15% to 85%. In 26 patients, gated myocardial SPECT was acquired again with the patients in situ. A cylinder model was used to eliminate noise semi-automatically and profile data was extracted using Gaussian fitting after smoothing. The boundary points of endo- and epicardium were found using an iterative learning algorithm. Enddiastolic (EDV) and endsystolic volumes (ESV) and election fraction (EF) were calculated. These values were compared with those calculated by QGS and the same gated SPECT data was repeatedly quantified by CSA and variation of the values on sequential measurements of the same patients on the repeated acquisition. Results: From the 40 patient data, EF, EDV and ESV by CSA were correlated with those by QGS with the correlation coefficients of 0.97, 0.92, 0.96. Two standard deviation (SD) of EF on Bland Altman plot was 10.1%. Repeated measurements of EF, EDV, and ESV by CSA were correlated with each other with the coefficients of 0.96, 0.99, and 0.99 for EF, EDV and ESV respectively. On repeated acquisition, reproducibility was also excellent with correlation coefficients of 0.89, 0.97, 0.98, and coefficient of variation of 8.2%, 5.4mL, 8.5mL and 2SD of 10.6%, 21.2mL, and 16.4mL on Bland Altman plot for EF, EDV and ESV. Conclusion: We developed the software of CSA for quantification of volumes and ejection fraction on gated myocardial SPECT. Volumes and ejection fraction quantified using this software was found valid for its correctness and precision.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 2003

Purpose : Cerebral blood flow (CBF) reactivity to acetazolamide (ACZ) is useful to select patients with hemodynamic failure. However, it is still a matter of speculation that varying degrees of regional CBF increases after ACZ administration represent the severity or stage of regional hemodynamic failure as assessed by positron emission tomography (PET). We studied to elucidate whether ACZ challenge $^{123}I-IMP$ brain single photon emission tomography (SPECT) can accurately grade the seventy of regional hemodynamic failure. Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients (M: 16, F: 2, average age: 61 years) with unilateral occlusive disease of the internal carotid artery or the trunk of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Patients undewent $^{123}I-IMP$ brain SPECT study with acetazolamide challenge and PET study was carried out within 2 weeks before and after SPECT study. Five healthy volunteers with a mean age of 48 years (range: 28-73 yr, M: 3, F: 2) underwent PET studies to determine normal values. In SPECT study, an asymmetry index (Al)-the percentage of radioactivity of region of interest (ROI) in the occlusive cerebrovascular lesion to the contralateral homologous ROI-was used for numerical evaluation of relative $^{123}I-IMP$ distribution. In PET study, regional CBF, oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen ($CMRO_2$) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) values were measured with $^{15}O-labeled$ gas inhalation method and the values were used for comparison with Al (Al during acetazolamide challenge-Al of basal study) on the SPECT study. ROls were classified by severity into three groups (normal, stage I and stage II). Results: Mean values of Al in areas with normal, stage I and stage II hemodynamic failure were $6.25{\pm}7.77%\;(n=107),\;-10.38{\pm}10.41%\:(n=117)\;and\;13.30{\pm}10.51%\;(n=140)$, respectively. Al significantly differed with each groups (p<0.05). Correlation between Al and CBF, OEF and CBV/CBF in hemisphere with occlusive cerebrovascular lesion was 0.20 (p<0.01), -0.28 (p<0.01) and -0.28 (p<0.01), respectively. Conclusion: We concluded that $^{123}I-IMP$ brain SPECT with acetazolamide challenge could determine the severity ad stage of regional hemodynamic failure as assessed by PET.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2007

This experiment was conducted to study the spring productivity and feeding value of hairy vetch varieties. We also measured DM yield and feeding value by analyze CP and CF that authors made possible to calculate TDN and RFV. The results can be summarized as follows; Dry matter yield were increased earlier autumn seeding date and later cut in spring. Differences of dry matter yield in earlier cut in spring was high in order of Ostsaat, Welta, Vv4712, Penn-02, Common and Minnie. Crude protein(CP) yield was increased when earlier autumn seeding date and later cut in spring. Total digestible nutrient(TDN) yield of hairy vetch varieties was decreased when later autumn seeding date, and was increased when later cut in spring. TDN yield was highest in Ostsaat and Welta varieties had highest dry matter yield. Acid detergent fiber(ADF) content was decreased when later autumn seeding date and was increased when later cut in spring. Neutral detergent fiber(NDF) content was decreased when later autumn seeding date. Average values for relative feed value(RFV) were 157% and 132% in both cut. It shows that a high feed value in all of hairy vetch varieties. Above all, the results presented that the optimal seeding date for cultivating hairy vetch in the central region of Korea is between the 10th to the 20th of September. Because Ostsaat and Welta had significantly high dry matter yield we expected Ostsaat and Welta have a higher wintering ability.