• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.730-739
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• 2022

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes severe infections and poses a global healthcare challenge. The utilization of novel molecules which confer synergistical effects to existing MRSA-directed antibiotics is one of the well-accepted strategies in lieu of de novo development of new antibiotics. Thymol is a key component of the essential oil of plants in the Thymus and Origanum genera. Despite the absence of antimicrobial potency, thymol is known to inhibit MRSA biofilm formation. However, the anti-MRSA activity of thymol analogs is not well characterized. Here, we assessed the antimicrobial activity of several thymol derivatives and found that 4-chloro-2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol (chlorothymol) has antimicrobial activity against MRSA and in addition it also prevents biofilm formation. Chlorothymol inhibited staphyloxanthin production, slowed MRSA motility, and altered bacterial cell density and size. This compound also showed a synergistic antimicrobial activity with oxacillin against highly resistant S. aureus clinical isolates and biofilms associated with these isolates. Our results demonstrate that chlorinated thymol derivatives should be considered as a new lead compound in anti-MRSA therapeutics.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.14-25
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• 2022

In 1971, Dr. Akira Endo succeeded in isolating a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor, compactin. Later, compactin was renamed mevastatin, meaning that it stops the synthesis of mevalonate, which is considered the first statin. However, mevastatin is not commercially released, whereas lovastatin, developed by Alfred Albert of Merk in 1979, was the first commercially developed statin. After the 4S study, the first largescale clinical trial with statins conducted in Scandinavia showed a dramatic secondary preventive effect against cardiovascular disease, and the effectiveness of statins in patients with dyslipidemia was repeatedly demonstrated. Subsequently, many oral drugs that affect blood lipid concentration; statins and ezetimibe aimed at reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL)) cholesterol; fibrates and omega 3 formulations aimed at reducing triglycerides were widely developed and used in Korea. In this article, we review the results of clinical studies on representative cardiovascular diseases for four types of oral drugs for dyslipidemia, which are currently the most commonly used in Korea.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.49-57
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• 2022

During electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis of proteins, the addition of supercharging agents allows for adjusting the maximal charge state, affecting the charge state distribution, and increases the number of ions reaching the detector thus, improving signal detection. We postulate that in di-substituted arene isomers, molecules with higher polarizability values should generate greater interactions and hence elicit higher signal intensities. Polarizability is an electronic parameter which has been demonstrated to predict many chemical interactions. Many properties can be predicted based on charge polarization. Molecular polarizability is a vital descriptor for explaining intermolecular interactions. We employed DFT (density functional/Hartree-Fock hybrid model, B3LYP)-derived descriptors and computed molecular polarizability for ten disubstituted arene reagents, each set made up of three (ortho, meta, para) isomers, with reported use as supercharging reagents during ESI experiments. The atomic electronic inputs were ionization potential (IP), electron affinity (EA), electronegativity (𝛘), hardness (η), chemical potential (µ), and dipole moment (D). We determined that the para isomers showed the highest polarizability values in nine of the ten sets. There was no difference between the ortho and meta isomers. Polarizability also increased with increasing complexity of the substituents on the benzene ring. Polarizability correlated positively with IP, EA, 𝛘, η, and D but correlated negatively with chemical potential. This DFT study predicts that the para isomers of di-substituted arene isomers should elicit the strongest ESI responses. An experimental comparison of the three isomers, especially of larger supercharging molecules, could be carried out to establish this premise.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2007.03a
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• pp.186-195
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• 2007

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are the criteria of measuring project performance in order to attain construction excellence. Previous researchers have examined the abstract concept of success for general new construction and identified its relationship with the factors of success. In fact, most buildings exist to satisfy the needs of people. With the passing of time and change in technology, buildings have to be maintained and renovated in order to continue functioning properly for the benefits of users. Therefore, criteria and factors of success have increasingly attracted the attention of both researchers and practitioners, especially in cities where buildings become ageing. However, the topic of project success for maintenance projects is less discussed in previous research, and project participants, including maintenance surveyors should be able to identify the success measurement and its associated factors for performance improvement. This study fills the research gap by investigating the criteria and factors of success for maintenance projects. It first provides a summary of the literature review on the criteria and factors of success for construction projects. An empirical study has also been carried out with ten practitioners in Hong Kong to further identify the criteria and factors critical for the success of maintenance projects in practice. While most criteria and factors of success for new construction projects are also applicable to maintenance projects, participants in maintenance projects believe that effective communication is in particular important to provide quality service to the end-users.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2022.06a
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• pp.33-41
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• 2022

Infrastructure procurement has been a major engagement route between China and Africa. This contributes immensely to the gradual infrastructure development seen on the continent. However, maturing discourse purports that these infrastructure collaborations lack intentionality in the continuous development of strategic guidelines and policies for effective implementation despite their uniqueness and criticality. This study proposes that an efficient approach to policy recommendations is through the political and economic analysis (PEA) of these partnerships using public-private partnership (PPP) optics. Unquestionably, these partnerships are representative of the concept of diplomatic transnational public-private partnership (DT-PPP) where infrastructure is procured through the collaboration of public (African governments) and private sector (Chinese state-owned corporations) who provide the managerial, financial, and technical resources for the project implementation. Given the quest for sustainable win-win, this study identifies strategies towards the realization of win-win in the implementation (i.e enablers of win-win) such that fairness and co-benefit, as well as interests, will be achieved. Thus, based on the PEA framework, case scenarios from Ghana and Nigeria using expert interviews identify the criticalities and best practices for the realization of these enablers at the development phase. Findings indicate more effort is required of the public sector (African host countries) in terms of people, structure/institutions, and the implementation processes. Recommendations include improvement of environmental management structures, contract administration procedures, external stakeholders/local community engagement mechanisms, knowledge and technology transfer procedures, and sector-based project operation and maintenance culture and systems. Additionally, actors must have emotional intelligence, good problem-solving abilities, and overall ensure cordial relationships for continued bilateral cooperation.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.48.1-48.10
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects on bone repair of different concentrations of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) added to AH Plus. Materials and Methods: Bone tissue reactions were evaluated in 30 rats (Rattus norvegicus) after 7 and 30 days. In the AH + MTA10, AH + MTA20, and AH + MTA30 groups, defects in the tibiae were filled with AH Plus with MTA in proportions of 10%, 20% and 30%, respectively; in the MTA-FILL group, MTA Fillapex was used; and in the control group, no sealer was used. The samples were histologically analyzed to assess bone union and maturation. The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were performed for multiple pairwise comparisons (p ≤ 0.05). Results: At the 7-day time point, AH + MTA10 was superior to MTA-FILL with respect to bone union, and AH + MTA20 was superior to MTA-FILL with respect to bone maturity (p < 0.05). At the 30-day time point, both the AH + MTA10 and AH + MTA20 experimental sealers were superior not only to MTA-FILL, but also to AH + MTA30 with respect to both parameters (p < 0.05). The results of the AH + MTA10 and AH + MTA20 groups were superior to those of the control group for both parameters and experimental time points (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results suggest the potential benefit of using a combination of these materials in situations requiring bone repair.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.28-28
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• 2022

This paper presents the first genome assemblies of Philippine mangoes that provide valuable reference for varietal improvement and genomic studies on mango and related fruit crops. WE sequenced whole genomes of3 species, Mangifera odorata (Huani), Mangifera altissima (Paho), and Mangifera indica 'Carabao' (Sweet Elena). 'Carabao' is the major export variety of the Philippines; Paho is identified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; Huani has fruit sap acrid which is the primary defense mechanism against insects and birds. We used Falcon, a diploid aware -de novo assembler to assemble SMRT generated long-read sequences. Falcon-unzip was employed to phase the output assembly producing larger contig sets (primary contigs) and shorter contigs corresponding to haplotypes (haplotigs). Assembly statistics were generated by comparing the assembly to a reference genome, Tommy Atkins, using Quality Assessment Tool (QUAST). Moreover, the extent of duplication and completeness of gene content was measured using Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO). Draft assemblies with high duplications were processed using Purge Haplotigs and Purge Dups to lessen duplications with minimal impact on genome completeness. De novo assemblies of Huani, Paho and 'Carabao' were then generated with primary contig sizes of 463.64 Mb, 508.95 Mb and 401.51 Mb respectively. These draft assemblies of Huani, Paho and 'Carabao' showed 96.90%, 95.17% and 99.07% complete BUSCOs respectively which is comparable to 'Tommy Atkins' genome (98.6%). Using two mango transcriptome data (pooled RNA-seq from different mango varieties and tissues), 91-96% or 24-30 million reads were successfully mapped back for each generated assembly indicating high degree of completeness. The results obtained demonstrated the highly contiguous, phased, and near complete genome assembly of three Philippine mango species for structural and functional annotation of gene units, especially those with economic importance.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.313-327
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare but fatal disease. Recent advances in PAH-specific drugs have improved its outcomes, although the healthcare burden of novel therapeutics may lead to a discrepancy in outcomes between developing and developed countries. We analyzed how the epidemiology and clinical features of PAH has changed through the rapidly advancing healthcare infrastructure in South Korea. Methods: PAH was defined according to a newly devised 3-component algorithm. Using a nationwide health insurance claims database, we delineated annual trends in the prevalence, incidence, medication prescription pattern, and 5-year survival of PAH in Korea. Cumulative survival and potential predictors of mortality were also assessed among 2,151 incident PAH cases. Results: Between 2002 or 2004 and 2018, the prevalence and incidence of PAH increased 75-fold (0.4 to 29.9 per million people) and 12-fold (0.5 to 6.3 per million person-years), respectively. The proportion of patients on combination PAH-specific drug therapy has also steadily increased up to 29.0% in 2018. Among 2,151 incident PAH cases (median [interquartile range] age, 50 [37-62] years; 67.2% female), the 5-year survival rate and median survival duration were 71.8% and 13.1 years, respectively. Independent predictors of mortality were age, sex, etiology of PAH, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and chronic kidney disease. Conclusions: This nationwide study delineated that the prevalence and incidence of PAH have grown rapidly in Korea since the early 2000s. The use of combination therapy has also increased, and the 5-year survival rate of PAH in Korea was similar to those in western countries.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.184-192
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• 2024

Objective: This study aims to investigate the genetic structure and characteristics of the Angus cattle population in Hungary. The survey was performed with the assistance of the Hungarian Hereford, Angus, Galloway Association (HHAGA). Methods: Genetic parameters of 1,369 animals from 16 Angus herds were analyzed using the genotyping results of 12 microsatellite markers with the aid of PowerMarker, Genalex, GDA-NT2021, and STRUCTURE software. Genotyping of DNA was performed using an automated genetic analyzer. Based on pairwise identity by state values of animals, the Python networkx 2.3 library was used for network analysis of the breed and to identify the central animals. Results: The observed numbers of alleles on the 12 loci under investigation ranged from 11 to 18. The average effective number of alleles was 3.201. The overall expected heterozygosity was 0.659 and the observed heterozygosity was 0.710. Four groups were detected among the 16 Angus herds. The breeders' information validated the grouping results and facilitated the comparison of birth weight, age at first calving, number of calves born and productive lifespan data between the four groups, revealing significant differences. We identified the central animals/herd of the Angus population in Hungary. The match of our group descriptions with the phenotypic data provided by the breeders further underscores the value of cooperation between breeders and researchers. Conclusion: The observation that significant differences in the measured traits occurred among the identified groups paves the way to further enhancement of breeding efficiency. Our findings have the potential to aid the development of new breeding strategies and help breeders keep the Angus populations in Hungary under genetic supervision. Based on our results the efficient use of an upcoming genomic selection can, in some cases, significantly improve birth weight, age at first calving, number of calves born and the productive lifespan of animals.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2024

This work presents experimental data and modelling of the release of Mo from high-burnup spent nuclear fuel (63 MWd/kgU) at two different pH values, 8.4 and 13.2 in air. The release of Mo from SF to the solution is around two orders of magnitude higher at pH = 13.2 than at pH = 8.4. The high Mo release at high pH would indicate that Mo would not be congruently released with uranium and would have an important contribution to the Instant Release Fraction, with a value of 5.3%. Parallel experiments with pure non irradiated Mo(s) and XPS determinations indicated that the faster dissolution at pH = 13.2 could be the consequence of the higher releases from metallic Mo in the fuel through a surface complexation mechanism promoted by the OH^- and the oxidation of the metal to Mo(VI) via the formation of intermediate Mo(IV) and Mo(V) species.