• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2002

The detection of tubercle bacilli (TB) from sputum smear is one of the fast and inexpensive methods for diagnosis of tuberculosis. For this method. sputum smears are usually flexed by heating and stained by acid-fast staining method, and then examined under an optical microscope. Two Procedures are commonly used fur TB staining. One is hot staining and the other is cold staining method. The Ziehl-Neelsen method which is a hot staining method is widely used in Korea because its stained color is more vivid However, the conventional automated stainer has to fix the sputum smear on a slide manually and the stain is not so vivid because it has not heating function. In an effort to save labor and minimize variations in manual staining Procedure. we developed an automated stainer with heating function. The entire staining process is fully automated. from fixation to final washing and drying. With the automated methods, five slides can be flexed and stained in 21 minutes at consistent high quality We compared the concordance rate between the two methods for 91 sputum samples to validate the stain quality of the developed automated stainer. As the results, the concordant rate between the two methods was 95% and there was no significant difference (p>0.05)

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.245-248
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• 1997

Operative interventions for the management of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) include core drilling, with or without vascularized fibular bone grafting. Nevertheless, their clinical results have not been consistently satisfactory. Recently, a new surgical procedure that incorporates cementation with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) after core drilling has been tried clinically. In this study, a biomechanical analysis using a finite element method(FEM) was undertaken to evaluate surgical methods and their underlying surgical parameter. Our finite element models included five types. They were (1) normal model (Type I), (2) necrotic model (Type II), (3) core decompressed model (Type III). (4) fibular bone grafted model (Type IV), and (5) cemented with PMMA model (Type V). The geometric dimensions of the femur were based on digitized CT-scan data of a normal person. Various physiological loading conditions and surgical penetration depths by the core were used as mechanical variables to study their biomechanical contributions in stress transfer within the femoral head region. In addition. the peak von Mises stress(PVMS) within the necrotic cancellous bone of the femoral head was obtained. The fibular bone grafted method and cementation method provided optimal stress transfer behaviors. Here. substantial increase in the low stress level was observed when the penetration depth was extended to 0mm and 5mm from the subchondral region. Moreover, significant decrease in PVMS due to surgery was observed in the fibular bone grafted method and the cementation method when the penetration depths were extended up to 0 and 5mm from the subchondral region. The drop in PVMS was greater during toe-off than during heel-strike (57% vs. 28% in Type IV and 49% vs. 22% in Type V). Both the vascularized fibular bone grafting method (Type IV) and the new PMMA technique (Type V) appear to be very effective in providing good stress transfer and reducing the peak Von-Mises stress within the necrotic region. Overall results show that fibular bone grafting and cementation methods are quite similar. In light of above results, the new cementation method appears to be a promising surgical alternative or the treatment of ONFH. The use of PMMA for the core can be less prone to surgical complication as opposed to preparation of fibular bone graft and can achieve more immediate fixation between the core and the surrounding region.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 1995.06b
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• pp.27-53
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• 1995

In plant pathology there is an increasing necessity for improved cytological techniques as basis for the localization of cellular substances within the dynamic fine structure of the host-(plant)-pathogen-interaction. Low temperature (LT) preparation techniques (shock freezing, freeze substitution, LT embedding) are now successfully applied in plant pathology. They are regarded as important tools to stabilize the dynamic plant-pathogen-interaction as it exists under physiological conditions. - The main advantage of LT techniques versus conventional chemical fixation is seen in the maintenance of the hydration shell of molecules and macromolecular structures. This results in an improved fine structural preservation and in a superior retention of the antigenicity of proteins. - A well defined ultrastructure of small, fungal organisms and large biological samples such as plant material and as well as the plant-pathogen (fungus) infection sites are presented. The mesophyll tissue of Arabidopsis thaliana is characterized by homogeneously structured cytoplasm closely attached to the cell wall. From analyses of the compatible interaction between Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei on barley (Hordeum vulgare), various steps in the infection sequence can be identified. Infection sites of powdery mildew on primary leaves of barley are analysed with regard to the fine structural preservation of the haustoria. The presentation s focussed on the ultrastructure of the extrahaustorial matrix and the extrahaustorial membrane. - The integration of improved cellular preservation with a molecular analysis of the infected host cell is achieved by the application of secondary probing techniques, i.e. immunocytochemistry. Recent data on the characterization of freeze substituted powdery mildew and urst infected plant tissue by immunogold methodology are described with special emphasis on the localization of THRGP-like (threonine-hydrxyproline-rich glycoprotein) epitopes. Infection sites of powdery mildew on barley, stem rust as well as leaf rust (Puccinia recondita) on primary leaves of wheat were probed with a polyclonal antiserum to maize THRGP. Cross-reactivity with the anti-THRGP antiserum was observed over the extrahaustorial matrix of the both compatible and incompatible plant-pathogen interactions. The highly localized accumulation of THRGP-like epitopes at the extrahaustorial host-pathogen interface suggests the involvement of structural, interfacial proteins during the infection of monocotyledonous plants by obligate, biotrophic fungi.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2006

Image processing by ultra high voltage electron microscopy (UHVEM) and tomography has offered major contributions to research in the field of cellular ultrastructure. Furthermore, such advancements also have enabled the improved analysis of three-dimensional cellular structures in botany. In the present study. using UHVEM and tomography, we attempted to reconstruct the three-dimensional images of plastid inclusions that probably differentiate during photosynthesis. The foliar tissues were studied Primarily with the TEM and further examined with UHVEM. The spatial relationship between tubular elements and the thylakoidal membrane and/or starch grains within plastids mainly have been investigated in CAM-performing Sedum as well as in $C_4$ Salsola species. The inclusion bodies were found to occur only in early development in the former, while they were found only in mesophyll cells in the latter. The specimens were tilted every two degrees to obtain two-dimensional images with UHVEM and subsequently comparison has been made between the two types. Digital image processing was performed on the elements of the inclusion body using tilting, tomography, and IMOD program to generate and reconstruct three-dimensional images on the cellular level. In Sedum plastids, the inclusion bodies consisted of tubular elements exhibiting about 20 nm distance between elements. However, in Salsola, plastid inclusion bodies demonstrated quite different element structure, displaying pattern, and origin relative to those of the Sedum. The inclusion bodies had an integrative relationship with the starch grains in both species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.912-919
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• 2017

Objective: Identification of the candidate genes that play key roles in phenotypic variations can provide new information about evolution and positive selection. Interleukin (IL)-32 is involved in many biological processes, however, its role for the immune response against various diseases in mammals is poorly understood. Therefore, the current investigation was performed for the better understanding of the molecular evolution and the positive selection of single nucleotide polymorphisms in IL-32 gene. Methods: By using fixation index ($F_{ST}$) based method, IL-32 (9375) gene was found to be outlier and under significant positive selection with the provisional combined allocation of mean heterozygosity and $F_{ST}$. Using nucleotide sequences of 11 mammalian species from National Center for Biotechnology Information database, the evolutionary selection of IL-32 gene was determined using Maximum likelihood model method, through four models (M1a, M2a, M7, and M8) in Codeml program of phylogenetic analysis by maximum liklihood. Results: IL-32 is detected under positive selection using the $F_{ST}$ simulations method. The phylogenetic tree revealed that goat IL-32 was in close resemblance with sheep IL-32. The coding nucleotide sequences were compared among 11 species and it was found that the goat IL-32 gene shared identity with sheep (96.54%), bison (91.97%), camel (58.39%), cat (56.59%), buffalo (56.50%), human (56.13%), dog (50.97%), horse (54.04%), and rabbit (53.41%) respectively. Conclusion: This study provides evidence for IL-32 gene as under significant positive selection in goat.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2004

In order to investigate the Post-operative changes in scoliotic spine according to selection of fusion level a mathematical finite element model of King-Moe type II scoliotics spine system was developed. By utilizing this finite element scoliosis model surgical correction simulation procedures of pedicle fixation and derotation were simulated. In consequence of the calculation by changing the fusion Levels, postoperative changes like Cobb angle, apical vertebrae axial rotation (AVAR), thoracic kyphosis, and rib hump were Qualitatively analyzed. In the analysis of operative kinematics, the decrease or Cobb angle was most prominent in distraction than in deroation. Applying the rod derotation only was not effective in decrease of Cobb angle but just caused increase of At AR and rib hump. From the operative simulation, co-action or distraction and translation during rod insertion has major impact on Cobb angle decrease and maintenance of kyphosis. With rod rotation, Cobb angle decrease was obtained, but combined increase of AVAR and rib hump was simulation observed as well. The case of most extended instrumentation range with 60o rod rotation produced double decrease of Cobb angle, but the increase of rib hump and AYAR occurred corresponding1y. The optimum selection of fusion level was proved as one level less than inflection position of the thoracic spine curvature.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.347-355
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• 2000

To determine nitrogen balance (Input-Output) of Korea that was asked by Joint Working Party of the Committee for Agriculture and the Environment Policy Committee, OECD, nitrogen input and output were separately investigated as followings: nitrogen input included the amounts of chemical fertilizer consumption, cattle manure production, and biological nitrogen fixation in the national scale, and nitrogen output summed amounts withdrawn by crop and pasture harvesting, and crop residue removal, and lost by denitrification. In 1997, nitrogen balance of Korea was $158kg\;ha^{-1}$ and $211kg\;ha^{-1}$ on including and excluding denitrification loss, respectively. N balance excluded N loss by denitrification and N withdrawal by crop residues on nitrogen output was $250kg\;ha^{-1}$, which OECD asked to except two items from N balance determination because participants were not enough their data. Nitrogen balance was increased to 1.7~2.3 times in 1997 compared with 70 and $162kg\;ha^{-1}$ in 1985, which calculated on the condition of including denitrification and excluding denitrification and removal of crop residues in nitrogen output, respectively. This increase was caused mainly by increasing livestock manure production and chemical fertilizer consumption together with agricultural land area decrease. Nitrogen input was composed with 59% of chemical fertilizer. 42% of cattle manure and 5% of others in 1997, and output was with 73% of crop production, 23% of crop residue withdrawal and 4% of pasture production. Average nitrogen balance excluded N loss by denitrification and N withdrawals by crop residues in 1995~1997 calculated by OECD was $253kg\;ha^{-1}$, which was the second highest rank in OECD participants following $262kg\;ha^{-1}$ of Netherlands. Japanese N balance that has similar farming system with us was $135kg\;ha^{-1}$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.641-653
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to confirm the antifungal activity, plant growth-promoting activity, and mineral solubilizing activity of 18 types of bacteria isolated purely from rhizosphere soil. The potential of isolates of the genus Bacillus and Pseudomonas as biocontrol agents was confirmed through the antifungal activity of these isolates. This activity has been determined to be due to various hydrolytic enzymes on the cell wall of plant pathogenic fungi and the production of siderophores in isolates. In addition, most of the isolates have been found to have aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase production activity, indole-3-acetic acid production activity, and nitrogen fixation activity. These characteristics are believed to have a positive effect on root development, growth, and the productivity of crops via a reduction in the concentration of ethylene under conditions of environmental stress, to which plants are commonly exposed. In addition, on testing for the solubilizing activity of the isolates for phosphoric acid, silicon, calcium carbonate, and zinc, some isolates were found to have mineral solubilizing activities. Inoculation of these isolates during plant growth is expected to assist plant growth by converting nutrients necessary for growth into usable forms that can be absorbed by plants. The 18 isolated strains can be used as biocontrol agents due to their antifungal activity, plant growthpromoting activity, and mineral solubilizing activity.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.179-185
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• 1992

Rhizobium meliloti populated in five Korean pasture soils were characterized by symbiotic effectiveness and intrinsic antibiotic resistance using whole-soil inoculum and 11 antibiotics, respectively. Most probable number (MPN) of naturalized rhizobia counted with alfalfa Vernal[Medicago sativa (L.)] as a host ranged $1.7{\times}10^2\;cells/g$. soil(Chunghyo, Kyeongiu)-$1.0{\times}10^5\;cells/g$. soil(Gampo, Kyeongiu) and ended to be positively associated with soil pH. On the whole, the effectiveness of population as compared to TAL mix inoculum (TAL 380+TAL 1372+TAL 1373) was very low. Nevertheless, there were two highly effective strains, YCK 539 and YCK 542, which were not inferior to TAL 1372, from Ogpo, Dalseong among the total of 30 of 6 isolates per each soil. As long as mean $N_2$ fixing ability of each soil isolate, the isolates from Hyeongog, Kyeonju were outstanding and the rest were in order of Ogpo, Dalseong>Chunghyo, Kyeongju>Hwaweon, Dalseong>Gampo, Kyeongiu. Isolates as a whole were resistant to erythromycin(67崙), nalidixic acid(77%), and streptomycin sulfate(8051), which had the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$, $160\;{\mu}g/ml$, and $10\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively and divided into 14 patterns of resistance. Association between resistances in each soil was not clear. And there was no relationship of resistance pattern to effectiveness. The best effective strain YCKa 542 exclusively fell into No. X pattern having resistance to erythromycin, nalidixic acid, and neomycin sulfate.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.181-193
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• 2018

The present study was conducted to analyze the quality of the habitats of Abies koreana WILS. by using the InVEST model based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique and to evaluate the economic value by estimating the carbon fixation. Abies koreana WILS., an original biological species of South Korea, may be an essential element in establishing the national biological sovereignty in the future. The subjects of the present study were the national parks in Mt. Halla, Mt. Jiri, and Mt. Sobaek, which are the habitats of Abies koreana WILS. As suggested by previous studies as a limitation of the InVEST model, the utilization of the data from relevant international publications as the input data, due to the lack of the domestic input data, may decrease the accuracy of the modeling. Therefore, the AHP technique was applied for the input data. The modeling was performed with reference to the years of 1980, 1990, and 2000 for the scenario analysis. The result of the modeling showed that the habitat quality was changed most in the national park in Mt. Halla, as the habitat quality score was decreased from 0.96 in 1980 to 0.97 in 1990 and 0.94 in 2000. In the national part of Mt. Sobeak, the habitat quality was changed most in the sub-alpine zone, as the habitat quality score was decreased from 0.98 in 1980 and 0.98 in 1990 to 0.97 in 2000. The habitat quality was best conserved in the national part in Mt. Jiri, as the habitat quality score was 0.98 in 1980, 0.99 in 1990, and 0.99 in 2000. The estimated economic loss by the change of the habitat quality was 19,280,000 USD for Mt. Halla and 8,030,000 USD for Mt. Sobeak. In the present study, the habitat quality of the Abies koreana WILS, the original species of South Korea, was evaluated and the economic value of the ecological services provided by the habitats was estimated quantitatively. The result showed that the ecosystem service model may be used to qualitatively analyze the quality of a habitat located in a specific region and to estimate the economic value quantitatively. The objective evaluation of ecosystem services demonstrated in the present study may be applied to promote sustainable utilization of natural resources and conservation of the ecosystem by predicting the changes that may be caused by external factors including the development of preservation areas.