• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2008

Background/Aims : Entecavir is a synthetic nucleoside analogue, cyclopentyl guanine nucleoside, which has a potent antiviral effect and the least viral breakthrough in hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. Entecavir has been available in Korea since 2007 but there are few reports on its effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the virological response (VR) and biochemical response (BR) to entecavir in HBV patients at 3, 6 and 9 months after treatment with entecavir. Materials and Methods : Thirty-three chronic hepatitis B patients who took entecavir for at least 9 months were enrolled. We investigated VR and BR by retrospectively reviewing medical records. Patients who satisfied the following criteria were chosen: 1) initial alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels = 1.5upper limit of normal (ULN) and 2) initial HBV DNA levels = $5\;log_{10}\;copies/ml$. We measured ALT levels every 3 months until month 9. HBV DNA was measured every 2 or 3 months by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results : Most patients taking entecavir showed good BR (ALT < 40 IU/L). The BR rates were 61%, 73% and 67% at months 3, 6 and 9, respectively. VR (HBV DNA < $5\;log_{10}\;copies/ml$ or 2 log lower than initial HBV DNA) rates were 82%, 91% and 91% at months 3, 6 and 9, respectively. Undetectable HBV DNA (HBV DNA < 4 log10 copies/ml) rates were 49%, 73% and 85% at months 3, 6 and 9, respectively. Two patients presented with virological breakthrough without adverse effects until month 9. Conclusions : Entecavir showed good BR and VR from month 3 and these effects continued through the 9-month observation period. This suggests that entecavir is also a good choice for the first line treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Further studies are needed to determine the long-term efficacy and drug resistance of entecavir in Korean CHB patients.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.219-225
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• 2012

Seed size has been considered as an effective criteria for selection of the most vigorous seeds in sorghum [(Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench]. The smaller seeds were inferior to the larger sizes in emergence and grain yield. This study was conducted to determine germination rate, field emergence and vigor of sorghum for selection of high quality seed by different seed size. Sorghum cultivar of two (Hwanggeumchal and Tojong) were separated into five seed size proportion (<2.36, 2.80, 3.15, 3.35 and >3.55 mm diam.) according to seed size. The larger seed was more higher 1,000 seeds weight, seed density, carbohydrates and protein content. Total seed germination performing varied 92% at the largest size (>3.55 mm diam.) frequently inferior to slightly 67% at smaller seed (2.36 to 2.80 mm diam.) in the standard germination test. Seed size did have a significant effect on mean emergence time (MET) and maximum emergence rate index (ERI) and percentage of emergence. It should be noted that the results refer to MET of sorghum seeds ranging from 4.26 to 4.74 days. The relationship of seed size was not only to stand establishment but to grain yield. Yield was most affected by seed size and large seeds were superior to the smaller seed in 25~37% of the cases. Especially, yield was significant under 3.15 mm the beginning.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.283-289
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• 2016

This study was carried out to identify the optimum seeding dates for selecting a double-cropping system and to assess the effect of polyethylene film mulching on the yield of Proso millet. Seeds of the varieties Hwanggeumgijang and Ibaegchal were sown in Miryang on five different dates: 1st (May 25), 2nd (June 15), 3rd (June 25), 4th (July 5), and 5th (July 15), with and without polyvinyl mulching. The varieties have different characteristics, for example, Hwanggeumgijang is an early-maturing type and more sensitive to temperature, whereas Ibaegchal is a medium-maturing type and more sensitive to the duration for which it is exposed to sunlight. Late-sown Hwanggeumgijang had a short heading date from seeding and required a low accumulated temperature. It also had a shorter period of heading, a shorter culm length and a shorter diameter of stem. In contrast, it had had a higher number of ears $per\;m^2$ although similar ear length and similar 1000-grain weight. The yield potential of Hwanggeumgijang was found to decrease at a late seeding date. In particular, it significantly decreased at the seeding date of July 15. In the case of cultivation with polyvinyl mulching, the period of heading was shorter by 2-4 days and the yield potential was increased by approximately 12-32%. The length and diameter of culm in Ibaegchal were slowly decreased, but the length of ear, the 1000-grain weight and the yield potential were similar for all seeding dates (except July 15) and cultivation with and without mulching. When sown late, the length and diameter of the culm of Ibaegchal very rapidly decreased by the July 15 seeding date. The protein content of Ibaegchal was higher but the amlyose content of Ibaechal was lower compared to Hwanggeumgijang. At late seeding dates, the protein contents of the two varieties increased but the amylose contents were similar.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2004

Objectives of this study were to monitor the distribution of heavy metals, to compare extractable heavy metal with total content and to investigate the relationships between soil physico-chemical properties and heavy metals in orchard soil. Sampling sites were 48 in Gyeonggi, 36 in Gangwon, 36 in Chungbuk, and 44 in Chungnam, Soils were collected farm form two depths, 0 to 20 and 20 to 40 cm (here after referred to as upper and lower layers) from March to May in 1998. Total contents of heavy metal in soils were analyzed by ICP-OES after acid digestion ($HNO_3$:HCl:$H_2O_2$) whereas extractable contents were measured after successive extraction of 0.1N-HCl, 0.05 M-EDTA, and 0.005 M-DTPA. Mercury was analysed by mercury atomizer. The average contents of Cd Cu, and Pb in the extractant with 0.1N-HCl at upper layer were 0.080, 4.23, and 3.42 mg/kg, respectively. As content in the extractant with 1N-HCl was 0.44 mg/kg, and total contents of Zn, Ni and Hg were 78.9, 16.1, and 0.052 mg/kg, respectively. The ratios of concentrations of heavy metals to threshold values (Cd 1.5, Cu 50, Pb 100, Zn 300, Ni 40, Hg 4 mg/ke in Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea (2001) were low in the range of $1/2.5{\sim}1/76.9$ in orchard soils. The ratios of extractable heavy metal to total content ranged $5.4{\sim}9.21%$ for Cd, $27.9{\sim}47.8%$ for Cu, $12.6{\sim}21.8$% for Pb, $15.8{\sim}20.3%$ for Zn, $5.3{\sim}6.3%$ for Ni, and $0.7{\sim}3.6%$ for Zn, respectively. Cu and Pb contents in 0.05 M-EDTA extractable solution were higher than those in the other extractable solution. Total contents of Cd, Ni and Ni in soils were negatively correlated with sand content but positively correlated with silt and clay contents. Ratios of extractable heavy metal to total content were negatively correlated with clay content but ai and Ni contents were positively correlated with soil pH, organic matter, and available phosphorous. Therefore, the orchard soil was safe because the heavy metal contents of orchard soil were very low as compared to its threshold value in the Soil Environmental Conservation Act. However, it need to consider the input of agricultural materials to the agricultural land for farming practices for assessment of heavy metals.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2004

This study was conducted to how the effect of lime and humic acid on cadmium availability and ie uptake by plant grown in contaminated paddy soils with heavy metal. The treatment levels of lime were 2.5 and 5.0 ton/ha and that of humic acid were 1 and 2%. The contents of 0.1N HCl extractable Cd were reduced with lime and humic acid and were negatively correlated with CEC as well as soil pH. The sequential extraction procedure was used to fractionate the heavy metals in soils into the designated from exchangeable (0.5 M $KNO_3$) water soluble ($H_2O$), organically bound (0.5 M NaOH), carbonate (0.05 M $Na_{2-}$ EDTA) and sulfide/residual (4 M $HNO_3$). In soil amended with 2.5 ton/ha lime and 1% humic acia che- mical forms of Cd at tillering stage were predominant exchangeable + water soluble extractable Cd, whereas that at harvesting stage were predominant carbonate + sulfide/residual extractable Cd. The exchangeable forms of Cd in soil with lime and humic acid were negatively correlated with soil pH during the harvesting period. Total absorbed Cd of paddy rice tended to occur in the order of root > stem > leaf > brown rice. Cd contents of brown rice with lime and humic acid treatment were 0.09 and 0.08 mg/kg, respectively. That were lower than control, 0.20 mg/kg. It could be that treatment of lime and humic acid in polluted soil by heavy metals would reduce the uptake of heavy metals by piano and be a temporary method of reclamation at the highly heavy Metal contaminated soils.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 1994

This study was carried out to investigate the possibility of potential injury to crops which were exposed to precipitation. The rainwater were collected from May to September in 1992 and analyzed its chemical composition. The amounts of chlorophyll and cations in plant were measured, and the morphological structure of epidermis was also investigated by SEM. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The pH of precipitation in Suwon was relatively high even with high level of $SO_4^{2-}$ and monthly pH at May, June, July, August, and September were 4.65, 5.47, 5.32, 5.44 and 4.80, respectively. 2. The amount of ions in rainwater was in the order of $NH_4^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$ and $H^+$ for cations, and $SO_4^{2-}$, $NO_3^-$ and $Cl^-$ for anions. 3. pH of rain in less than 5mm of precipitation was higher than that in greater than 5mm of precipitation. 4. The amount of chlorophyll was higher in the plant exposed to rain than that in plant intercepted rain during the early portion of growing season, but at the later period, the trend was shown to be reversed. 5. When the sesame plants were exposed to rain at harvesting stage, they contained less amount of CaO, MgO and $Na_2O$ than those with the interception of rain. 6. Scanning electron microphotographs revealed the shringkage in glandular trichomes in the epidermis of sesame leaves when they were exposed to rain.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.655-666
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• 2005

This study was performed to measure physicochemical and textural characteristics, and shelf-life effect of low-fat functional sausages(LFFSs) manufactured with sodium lactate(SL, 3.3%), lac pigment and various molecular weights(MWs) of chitosan (Low=1.5 kDa, Med=30-50 kDa and High=200 kDa) during storage at 15$^{\circ}C$ for 18 days. LFFSs had 73.7-76.0% moisture, lower than 3% fat and 14-15% protein, respectively. pH values were 6.05-6.44 and the control(150 ppm, $NaNO_2$) was the lowest among LFFSs (p<0.05). Increasing storage time decreased pH values, but no differences in pH values were observed up to 6 days of storage (p>0.05). LFFSs containing SL and low MW of chitosan improved water holding capacity (WHC) and different from those with SL and medium-MW chitosan. WHC was decreased with increased storage time and differences of WHC were observed from 18 days of storage. The addition of chitosan reduced both lightness and redness values, as compared to 150 ppm sodium nitrite(SN), and increased storage time decreased yellowness(p<0.05), especially at 12 days of storage. LFFSs with SL and medium-MW chitosan increased most textural properties compared to the control(p<0.05). The addition of SN of 150 ppm in LFFSs retarded microbial growth for E. coli 0157:H7, while those with SL tended to have an antimicrobial effect for Listeria monocytogenes(LM). The growth rate of LM was delayed by addition of various MW of chitosans in LFFSs, especially high MW chitosan, as compared to LFFSs containing SL alone. These results indicated that the functional, textural and antimicrobial effects of LFFSs were improved by addition SL and various MW of chitosan combinations. In addition, 0.05% lac pigment improved the cure color of LFFSs similar to those of 150 ppm SN.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2011

Using the materials collected from nine farms in a three-way cross system to produce commercial pigs produced from F1 sows (Landrace $\times$ Large White) $\times$ Duroc, the power of individual discrimination and parentage of the 13 microsatellite (MS) marker set that has been suggested for individual/brand identification (traceability) was empirically tested. Initially, genotypes of the parental population ($F_1$ sows and Duroc), and commercial pigs were determined and the genotype frequency and polymorphic index were estimated using the Cervus 2.0 program. The probability of identity among genotypes of random individuals, that random half sibs and that of full sib individuals, based on the genotypes from 91 $F_1$ sows and Duroc were expected to be $4.94{\times}10^{-34}$, $8.16{\times}10^{-23}$ and $2.01{\times}10^{-08}$, respectively, using the API-CALC version 1.0 program. When commercial pigs were included, the estimates increased to $3.74{\times}10^{-35}$, $5.48{\times}10^{-25}$ and $2.96{\times}10^{-11}$, respectively. For the empirical verification of the estimated powers of individual discrimination and parentage, the parentage test was performed for 452 commercial pigs using PAPA version 2.0, and individuals with the same genotype were investigated using the Cervus version 2.0 program. Parents for all commercial pigs were successfully estimated and no identical individual was identified in the pedigree. Although the individual discriminating power was not fully verified because of the lack of individuals corresponding with the theoretical power, the 100% efficiency of parentage test was clearly confirmed. Therefore, we believe that the 13 MS marker set in conjunction with management record/information for the pig production kept in a farm/brand should be useful in the pork traceability in a brand unit.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.284-291
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• 2007

Purpose : Theophylline has recently been reported to have concurrent anti-inflammatory effects at low therapeutic plasma concentrations which are below the doses at which significants, clinically useful bronchodilatation is evident. Sustained-release formulation in capsule and dry syrup forms were developed to reduce its adverse effects and improve its clinical effects. We compared the therapeutic effects of theophylline dry syrup and capsules in children with mild asthma. Methods : Ninety children with mild asthma were randomized to receive either theophylline dry syrup (n=44) or theophylline capsules (n=46); 4 mg per kilogram of body weight, twice a day, for 12 weeks. Baseline and serial measurements of daytime and nighttime asthma symptom score were performed. Compliance scores, drug swallowing scores, and drug usability scores were measured every 4 weeks. Each scoring was rated on a scale of 0-4. Serum theophylline concentration were measured at 4 and at 12 weeks. To examine the anti-inflammatory effect of theophylline on asthma, Serum eosinophilic cationic protein as a marker of airway inflammation caused by eosinophil was measured 12 weeks pre- and post-administration. Results : The daytime and nighttime asthma symptom scores of the two groups after 4 weeks significantly improved over the baseline score. Daytime and nighttime asthma symptom scores in the dry syrup group were statistically lower at all time points except for the nighttime symptom scores at 4 weeks. Compliance scores, drug swallowing scores, and drug usability scores in the dry syrup group were significantly higher at the end time point. Only in the dry syrup group was the serum ECP at the end time point statistically lower than baseline. Conclusion : Low-dose sustained-release theophylline may be safe and effective in bronchial asthma and this effect may be mediated by its anti-inflammatory action mechanisms. Especially, when used in children with asthma, dry syrup formulation is recommended because of its higher compliance than capsule formulation.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.41-48
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• 2017

A vertical multi-stage ammonia stripping reactor using E-PFR, which has been proved to be superior in anaerobic and aerobic treatment, was developed and a lab scale experiment was conducted. According to the change of stage number condition, the removal rate of the ammonia nitrogen in the reactor with 0-stage was about 52.5% after 8 hours (pH 10, temperature $35^{\circ}C$, and the air/liquid ratio $3min^{-1}$) However, in the reactor with 5-stage, the removal efficiency was about 62.6%. According to the change of pH condition, the removal rate of ammonia nitrogen was about 42.6% at pH 9 after 8 hours, and was about 74.4% at pH 11 (5-stage reactor, temperature $35^{\circ}C$, and the air/liquid ratio $3min^{-1}$). According to the change of temperature condition, the removal rate of the ammonia nitrogen was about 51% at $25^{\circ}C$ after 8 hours (5-stage reactor, pH 10, and the air/liquid ratio $3min^{-1}$), and was about 87.2% at $45^{\circ}C$. According to the change of air injection volume condition, the removal rate of the ammonia nitrogen was about 45.8% at $2min^{-1}$ after 8 hours (5-stage reactor, pH 10, and at $35^{\circ}C$). and was about 75% at $4min^{-1}$. Based on these results, we will follow up the applicability of the actual plant in the future through continuous operation evaluation.