• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.77-80
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• 2019

Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (CCOC), a very rare neoplasm located mostly in the mandible, has been regarded as a benign tumor. However, due to the accumulation of case reports, CCOC has been reclassified as a malignant entity by the World Health Organization. Patients with CCOC present with regional swelling and periodontal indications with variable pain, often remaining misdiagnosed for a long period. CCOC has slow growth but aggressive behavior, requiring radical resection. Histologic analysis revealed the monophasic, biphasic, and ameloblastic types of CCOC with clear cells and a mixed combination of polygonal and palisading cells. At the molecular level, CCOC shows the expression of cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen, along with markers that assign CCOC to the sarcoma family. At the genetic level, Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1-activating transcription factor 1 fusion is regarded as the key feature for identification. Nevertheless, the scarcity of cases and dependence on histological data delay the development of an efficient therapy. Regarding the high recurrence rate and the potential of distant metastasis, further characterization of CCOC is necessary for an early and accurate diagnosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.458-463
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• 2022

We evaluated the antibiotic susceptibilities, hemolytic activities, and technological properties of 36 Staphylococcus xylosus strains and 49 S. pseudoxylosus strains predominantly isolated from fermented soybean foods from Korea. Most of the strains were sensitive to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamycin, kanamycin, lincomycin, oxacillin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim. However, 23 strains exhibited potential phenotypic acquired resistance to erythromycin, lincomycin, and tetracycline. Based on breakpoint values for staphylococci from the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, >30% of the isolates were resistant to ampicillin and penicillin G, but the population distributions in minimum inhibitory concentration tests were clearly different from those expected for acquired resistance. None of the strains exhibited clear α- or β-hemolytic activity. S. xylosus and S. pseudoxylosus exhibited salt tolerance on agar medium containing 20% and 22% (w/v) NaCl, respectively. S. xylosus and S. pseudoxylosus strains possessed protease and lipase activities, which were affected by the NaCl concentration. Protease activity of S. pseudoxylosus was strain-specific, but lipase activity might be a characteristic of both species. This study confirms the potential of both species for use in high-salt soybean fermentation, but the safety and technological properties of strains must be determined to select suitable starter candidates.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.41.1-41.10
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• 2021

In addition to mutations and copy number alterations, gene fusions are commonly identified in cancers. In thyroid cancer, fusions of important cancer-related genes have been commonly reported; however, extant panels do not cover all clinically important gene fusions. In this study, we aimed to develop a custom RNA-based sequencing panel to identify the key fusions in thyroid cancer. Our ThyChase panel was designed to detect 87 types of gene fusion. As quality control of RNA sequencing, five housekeeping genes were included in this panel. When we applied this panel for the analysis of fusions containing reference RNA (HD796), three expected fusions (EML4-ALK, CCDC6-RET, and TPM3-NTRK1) were successfully identified. We confirmed the fusion breakpoint sequences of the three fusions from HD796 by Sanger sequencing. Regarding the limit of detection, this panel could detect the target fusions from a tumor sample containing a 1% fusion-positive tumor cellular fraction. Taken together, our ThyChase panel would be useful to identify gene fusions in the clinical field.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.77-88
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• 2023

In the late Joseon Dynasty, the floor of the royal palace was covered with grass mat called ji-ui. Ji-ui was produced by connecting several mats named seokja(席子) and trimming the edge with narrow fabric named seon(縇). The standard manufacturing technique was to connect the shorter sides of the seokjas by overstitching them. A room was covered with either single or multiple ji-uis, depending on the case. In the case of the main and the subsidiary halls (jeong-jeon and pyeon-jeon, respectively) where the king conducted official meetings with the civil servants, multiple ji-uis were laid out to signify the division of space, which reflected the ceremonial aspects of the governing acts. The most essential division was the distinction of yeong-wae(楹外) and yeong-nae(楹內), with the jeon-goju (a tall frontal pillar inside the hall) functioning as the breakpoint. Jeong-jeon was divided into four spaces each covered with one ji-ui: yeong-nae, yeong-wae, and the left and the right sides of the royal seat named jwa-tap(座榻). Pyeon-jeon was covered with three ji-uis that divided the hall into three spaces: yeong-nae, yeong-wae, and hu-twae(後退) (the hind section) where the royal seat was placed on.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.140-140
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• 2022

Recently an accurate quantification of streamflow under various climatological and anthropogenic factors and separation of their relative contribution remains challenging, because variation in streamflow may result in hydrological disasters. In this study, we evaluated the factors responsible for variation in streamflow in Korean watersheds, quantified separately their contribution using different Budyko-based functions, and identified hydrological breakpoint points. After detecting that the hydrological break point in 1995 and time series were divided into natural period (1966-1995), and disturbed period (1996-2014). During the natural period variation in climate tended to increase change in streamflow. However, in the disturbed period both climate variation and anthropogenic activities tended to increase streamflow variation in the watershed. Subsequently, the findings acquired from different Budyko-based functions were observed sensitive to selection of function. The variation in streamflow was observed in the response of change in climatic parameters ranging 46 to 75% (average 60%). The effects of anthropogenic activities were observed less compared to climate variation accounts 25 to 54% (average 40%). Furthermore, the relative contribution was observed to be sensitive corresponding to Budyko-based functions utilized. Moreover, relative impacts of both factors have capability to enhance uncertainty in the management of water resources. Thus, this knowledge would be essential for the implementation of water management spatial and temporal scale to reduce the risk of hydrological disasters in the watershed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 1998

The determinations of ammonia in water for drinking purpose served as one basis of judging the sanitary quality of water for a great many years. However, presently ammonia regulation varies depending on countries. In USA and Canada, ammonia is added to water for chloramination process. However, for korea, there is ammonia regulation of treated water in Korea which should not exceed 0.5mg/l as $NH_3-N$. There was a report exceeding 0.5mg/l of ammonia in chlorinated water when the famous drinking water contamination episode happened in the downstream of Nadong River, 1994. With lack of sewer distribution system and treatment plants of domestic wastes, many water treatment plants have a difficulty of complying with ammonia regulation in treated water. Breakpoint chlorination is usually performed to get rid of ammonia. The method which is allowed to measure ammonia in Korea is Phenate method. However, it would be undesirable to use Phenate method for measuring ammonia in chlorinated water if Phenate method would not differentiate ammonia from chloramine. A good possibility of interferences in measurement of ammonia exists because Phenate method include the step of the formation of chlorine and would not differentiate chloramine which is formed as a result of reaction between chlorine and ammonia. This study was on inaccuracy of Phenate method for measuring ammonia of chlorinated water when chloramine and ammonia coexist. This study found that Phenate method measured all chlormaine as ammonia. Ammonia measurement by ion chromatography confirmed this results. Finally, the result from this study suggests that ammonia measurement by Phenate method in chlorinated water should be revised accordingly.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.101-103
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• 2012

Paracentric inversion of chromosome 18 is a rare cytogenetic abnormality. The vast majority of paracentric inversions are harmless and the offspring of paracentric inversion carriers have only slightly elevated risks for unbalanced karyotypes. However, various clinical phenotypes are seen due to breakpoint variation or recombination. We report a prenatally detected case of familial paracentric inversion of chromosome 18, inv(18)(q21.1q22), with normal clinical features.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.4643-4646
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• 2016

The CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) delta 32 allele results in a nonfunctional form of the chemokine receptor and has been implicated in a variety of immune-mediated diseases. $CCR5{\Delta}32$ may also predispose one to chronic liver disease or be linked with resistance to HBV infection. This study was undertaken to investigate any association between CCR5 polymorphism with resistance to hepatitis B or susceptibility to HBV infection. A total of 812 Iranian individuals were enrolled into two groups: HBV infected cases (n=357), who were HBsAg-positive, and healthy controls (n=455). We assessed polymorphisms in the CCR5 gene using specific CCR5 oligonucleotide primers surrounding the breakpoint deletion. Genotype distributions of the HBV infected cases and healthy controls were determined and compared. The CCR5/CCR5 (WW) and $CCR5/CCR5{\Delta}32$ (W/D) genotypes were found in (98%) and (2%) of HBV infected cases, respectively. The $CCR5{\Delta}32/{\Delta}32$genotype was not found in HBV infected cases. Genotype distributions of CCR5 in healthy controls were W/W genotype in (87.3%), W/D genotype in (11.2%) and D/D genotype in (1.5%). Heterozygosity for $CCR5/CCR5{\Delta}32$ (W/D) in healthy controls was greater than in HBV infected cases (11.2% vs 2%, p < 0.001). W/D and D/D genotypes were more prominent in healthy controls than in HBV infected cases. This study provides evidence that the $CCR5{\Delta}32$ polymorphism may have a protective effect in resistance to HBV infection at least in the Iranian population.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.172-181
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes and investigate the feasibility of reduced-port laparoscopic gastrectomy using learning curve analysis in a small-volume center. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 269 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) for gastric carcinoma between 2012 and 2017. Among them, 159 patients underwent reduced-port laparoscopic gastrectomy. The cumulative sum technique was used for quantitative assessment of the learning curve. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline characteristics of patients who underwent conventional and reduced-port LDG, and the operative time did not significantly differ between the groups. However, the amount of intraoperative bleeding was significantly lower in the reduced-port laparoscopic gastrectomy group (56.3 vs. 48.2 mL; P<0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the first flatus time or length of hospital stay. Neither the incidence nor the severity of the complications significantly differed between the groups. The slope of the cumulative sum curve indicates the trend of learning performance. After 33 operations, the slope gently stabilized, which was regarded as the breakpoint of the learning curve. Conclusions: The surgical outcomes of reduced-port laparoscopic gastrectomy were comparable to those of conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy, suggesting that transition from conventional to reduced-port laparoscopic gastrectomy is feasible and safe, with a relatively short learning curve, in a small-volume center.

• Clean Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.421-428
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• 2017

In this study, we have investigated the characteristics of adsorption and desorption of toluene, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and their binary component using activated carbon. The BET analysis was performed to identify the characteristics of the activated carbon, and the desorption characteristics with temperature were examined to find out an optimum desorption temperature. Ten cyclic experiments of adsorption-desorption were performed, where each adsorption temperature was maintained at room temperature and desorption temperature at upto $120^{\circ}C$. In case of single component cyclic test, the efficiencies of adsorption and desorption decreased as the cycle increased. MEK which has lower affinity with activated carbon than toluene showed lower efficiencies of adsorption and desorption. In case of binary component cyclic test, a typical roll-up phenomenon was observed during adsorption process, where MEK reaches at breakpoint first and then was swept out by toluene.