• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.172-180
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• 2012

The $LiMn_2O_4$ cathodes for lithium ion battery were synthesized from various precursors of manganese oxides and manganese hydroxides. As the first step, nanosized precursors such as ${\alpha}-MnO_2$ (nano-sticks), ${\beta}-MnO_2$ (nano-rods), $Mn_3O_4$ (nano-octahedra), amorphous $MnO_2$(nano-spheres), and $Mn(OH)_2$ (nano-plates) were prepared by a hydrothermal or a precipitation method. Spinel $LiMn_2O_4$ with various sizes and shapes were finally synthesized by a solid-state reaction method from the manganese precursors and LiOH. Nano-sized (500 nm) octahedron $LiMn_2O_4$ showed high capacities of 107 mAh $g^{-1}$ and 99 mAh $g^{-1}$ at 1 C- and 50 C-rate, respectively. Three dimensional octahedral crystallites exhibit superior electrochemical characteristics to the other one-dimensional and two-dimensional shaped $LiMn_2O_4$ nanoparticles. After 500 consecutive charge discharge battery cycles at 10 C-rate with the nano-octahedron $LiMn_2O_4$ cathode, the capacity retention of 95% was observed, which is far better than any other morphologies studied in this work.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.93-98
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with neuroblastoma aged less than 1 year. Methods : From January 1997 to December 2007, 41 patients aged less than 1 year were diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Patients were divided into 3 risk groups according to the stage of the disease and N-myc amplification. Low-risk patients underwent surgery with (stage 2) or without (stage 1) short-term chemotherapy. Intermediate-risk patients underwent chemotherapy and surgery with or without local radiation therapy. High-risk patients underwent chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and high-dose chemotherapy/autologous stem cell rescue (HDCT/ASCR). Results : While tumor relapse occurred in only 1 patient, 7 patients died of treatment-related toxicities. Causes of treatment- related death included infection during conventional chemotherapy in 5 patients and acute myocarditis during HDCT/ASCR in 2 patients. The overall 5-year survival (${\pm}$ standard error) and 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rates after diagnosis for all 41 patients were $82.8{\pm}5.9%$ and $80.0{\pm}$6.3%$, respectively, with a median follow-up of 58 (9-137) months. The 5-year EFS rates for low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk patients were 100%, $68.4{\pm}10.8%$, and $66.7{\pm}19.3%$, respectively. Conclusion : Increased efforts to reduce infection-associated toxicity deaths during conventional chemotherapy are needed to further improve the survival of patients with neuroblastoma aged less than 1 year.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2017

The eggshell is an intricate and highly ordered structure composed of multiple layers and a calcified matrix. The eggshell is formed at the uterine segment of the chicken oviduct. In this study, histological changes in the uterine endometrium and the expression of the eggshell-related genes were investigated according to hen age. We analyzed the expression of eggshell protein-related genes, such as OCX-32, OCX-36, OC-17, OC-116, and eggshell-ion-related genes, such as CABL-1, SPP1, SCNN1G, ATP2A2, CA2, and CALM1. In chicken uterine endometrium, histological deformation, fibrosis, atrophy and elimination of micro-villi were found with increasing hen age. The concentration of blood-ion components did not significantly change with age. The amount of telomeric DNA in uterine endometrial cells decreased with increasing hen age. The expression of most of the eggshell-related genes changed significantly with increasing hen age. The expression of some ovo-proteins, which play a role in eggshell formation, increased with increasing hen age; however, there were no significant correlations among eggshell protein genes. Eggshell ion-related genes, such as ATP2A2, SCNN1G, CA2, and CALM1, were closely related to each other. The OCX-32 and OCX-36 genes were closely related to some of the eggshell ion genes. Eggshell protein-related genes, such as the OCX-32, OCX-36 genes and ion-related genes such as CALB-1, ATP2A2, SCNN1G, CA2, CALM1, affected eggshell formation, mutually or independently. This study shows that, uterine although endometrial cell damage occurs with increasing hen age, normal eggshells can be formed in old hens. This suggests that eggshell protein-and eggshell ion-related genes also control the homeostasis of eggshell formation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2004

Objectives: Despite severe oligospermia, males with Y chromosome microdeletion can achieve conception through ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection). However, ICSI may not only result in the transmission of microdeletions but also the expansion of deletion to the offspring. The purpose of this study was to screen vertical transmission, expansion of microdeletions and de novo deletion in male fetuses conceived by ICSI. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 ICSI treated patients with their 33 (a case of twin) male fetuses conceived by ICSI were used to make this study group. Sequence-tagged sites (STSs)-based PCR analyses were performed on genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood of fathers and from the amniocytes of male fetuses. Ten primer pairs namely, sY134, sY138, MK5, sY152, sY147, sY254, sY255, SPGY1, sY269 and sY158 were used. The samples with deletions were verified at least three times. Results: We detected a frequency of 12.5% (4 of the 32 patients) of microdeletions in ICSI patients. In 4 patients with detected deletions, two patients have proven deletions on single STS marker and their male fetuses have the identical deletion in this region. Another two patients have two and three deletions, but their male fetuses have more than 3 deletions which include deletions to their father's. Meanwhile, seven male fetuses, whose fathers were analyzed to have all 10 STS markers present, have deletions present in at least one or more of the markers. Conclusions: Although the majority of deletions on the Y chromosome are believed to arise de novo, in some cases a deletion has been transmitted from the fertile father to the infertile patient. In other cases the deletion was transmitted through ICSI treatment, it is likely that one sperm cell is injected through the oocyte's cytoplasm and fertilization can be obtained from spermatozoa. Our tests for deletion were determined by PCR and our results show that the ICSI treatment may lead to vertical transmission, expansion and de novo Y chromosome microdeletions in male fetuses. Because the sample group was relatively small, one should be cautious in analyzing these data. However, it is important to counsel infertile couples contemplating ICSI if the male carries Y chromosomal microdeletions.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.369-376
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant components and activities of HR02/04(8:2)-W, a mixture of S. quelpaertensis Nakai and F. erecta var. sieboldii. We investigated the p-coumaric acid, total flavonoid, and total phenol contents. To evaluate the antioxidant efficacy, we measured the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, FRAP activity, reducing power, and ORAC value. We observed the protective effect of hydrogen peroxide against cell damage in human dermal fibroblasts. As a result of the experiment, the p-coumaric acid, total flavonoid, and total phenol contents were 75.62±1.56 mg/100 g, 21.57±0.84 mg rutin equivalent (RE)/g, and 21.25±1.31 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g, respectively. In the experiments on antioxidant activity, HR02/04(8:2)-W was found to have significantly increased antioxidant activity. In the human dermal fibroblasts, the HR02/04(8:2)-W treated groups could effectively protect cells against oxidative damage. In this study, we confirmed that HR02/04(8:2)-W is a material with effective physiological antioxidant activity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.231-239
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• 2004

Cerebral microvessel endothelial cells that form blood-brain barrier (BBB) have tight junction for maintaining brain homeostasis. Occludin, one of tight junction protein, is crucial for BBB function. $H_2O_2$ induced occludin changes and effects in bovine brain BBB endothelial cells were examined in this study. The decrease of transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) by $H_2O_2$ was due to disruption of occludin localization. Cytotoxicity test revealed that $H_2O_2$ did not cause cell death below 1 mM $H_2O_2$ within 4 hr. $H_2O_2$ caused intermittent disruption and loss of occludin at tight junctions and occludin disappeared with dose dependent manner from tight junction in confocal laser microscopy. But Western blot revealed that the total amounts of occludin increased by $H_2O_2$ administration. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the ultrastructure of tight junction was not changed by $H_2O_2$. These data suggest that functional disruption of BBB by $H_2O_2$ was due to the localized loss of occludin in tight junction, but the expression of occludin increased in order to compensate the disrupted function in BBB.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.287-296
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• 2014

Chicken eggs undergo various physiological changes during egg maturation. To study genes associated with the egg maturation in pre-ovulation (immature) and post-ovulation (mature), we compared gene expression patterns between in the immature egg and mature egg using RNA sequencing data. Mature and immature eggs were obtained from a Heuksaek Jaerae-jong of Korean native chicken. Total RNAs obtained from the eggs were sequenced by Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform, and the generated sequence reads were mapped to Galgal4 reference sequence assembly using Tuxedo Protocol. From the comparison of the RNA sequencing data, 315 genes were differentially expressed between mature and immature eggs, and 46 genes were only detected in immature egg. Further gene ontology (GO) analysis was performed for the differentially expressed genes using DAVID, showing that 29 and 28 GO terms were independently clustered from mature and immature, respectively. From those clustered GO terms, genes related to germ cell development, sex differentiation and defense response to bacterium were mainly expressed in the immature egg, while genes related to regulation of apoptosis, steroid metabolic process and lipid homeostasis were mainly detected in the mature egg. Our results could contribute to understand egg maturation before and after ovulation, and develop genetic markers for improving egg quality and productivity.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.249-259
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• 2014

Cryopreserving cells which are maintaining their viability are the very complex process. This study has been carried out in order to find the effects of cryopreservation steps and freezing media on the rates of viability of cryopreserved chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs). PGCs obtained from the germinal gonade of 5.5~6 day (stage 28) chick embryos of Korean Ogye (KO) and Commercial breeds (C), using the MACS method were suspended in a freezing medium containing a freezing and protecting agents (e.g. dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol (EG) and propylene glycol (PG)). Gonads were harvested from stage 28 chick embryos and pooled in groups of 5, 10, 15, 20E embryos, contributing gonads to the cell suspension. The gonadal cells, including PGCs, were then frozen in 1 of the following cryoprotectant treatments : 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 0% cryoprotectant (DMSO, EG, PG) as a control. Effects of exposure to slow freezing and vitrification, with different concentrations of the cryoprotectant solution, were examined. After vitrification and slow freezing, survival rates of the frozen-thawed PGCs from the 10% EG plus FBS treatment were 85.63%, and 66.14% (p<0.05), respectively. The viability of PGCs after freeze-thawing was significantly higher for 10% EG plus FBS treatment than for 10% PG + FBS treatment (p<0.05) (85.63% vs 66.81%) by vitrification. This study established a method for preserving chicken PGCs that enables systematic storage and labeling of cryopreserved PGCs in liquid ($LN_2$) at a germplasm repository and ease of entry into a data base. In the future, the importance for this new technology is that poultry lines can be conserved while work is being conducted on improving the production of germline chimeras.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.143-146
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• 2010

Purpose: Insulin is involved in carbohydrate metabolism and also it's very important because it increases storage of glycogen, synthesis of fatty acids, absorption of amino acid, synthesis of protein. Insulin is clinically useful when we evaluate fasting patients in hypoglycemia, classify and predict diabetes, assess the activity of ${\beta}$-cell, research insulin resistance. We are going to increase usability of insulin assay by establishing normal reference value according to statistical analysis. Material & Method: We selected 6,648 patients who visited asan health medical center from May to August in 2008. We set exclusion criteria as family of diabetes, diabetes medication, the past history of blood glucose rise, more than 100 mg/dL in normal fasting blood glucose, outside the scope of BMI 18.5~22.9 $kg/m^2$, and more than HbA1c 6.5%. We determine whether the subgroup is portioned as sex and age or not and establish normal reference value by conducting statistical analysis as Bayesian's method and Hoffman's method. Result: Portioning of subgroup as sex and age is not needed. By statistical analysis of Bayesian method, results 1.5-11.0 uIU/mL. By statistical analysis of Hoffman method, results 1.8~12.8 uIU/mL. Conclusion: We established 1.8~12.8 uIU/mL as Insulin normal reference value by Hoffman method. This is a similar value with reporting reference value 1.7~11.8 uIU/mL in kit. This will enhance the usability of insulin assay by establishing normal reference value.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.843-859
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• 2017

The JK-1 isolate which was the best producer of indole-3-acetic acid and carotenoid among the 388 strains isolated from 28 wetlands in Jeju, was identified to be Rhodopseudomonas palustirs belongs to a typical group of non sulfur purple bacteria based on 16S sRNA sequencing. This study investigated the effect of different cultural conditions of pH, temperature, agitation, light and aeration on growth, IAA and carotenoid production of photosynthetic bacterium JK-1 for optimization of IAA and carotenoid production. It was found that growth, IAA, carotenoid, and bacteriochlorophyll production with light (3,000~3,500 Lux) and agitation (100 rpm) showed better results than those with dark/static or dark/agitation (100 rpm) in anaerobic conditions. The optimal pH, temperature and agitation speed for cell growth were 7, $30^{\circ}C$, 150 rpm, for IAA production were 9, $30^{\circ}C$, 150rpm and for carotenoid production were 6, $25^{\circ}C$, 50 rpm, cultured for 72 h under anaerobic light, respectively. The growth and IAA production were high in aerobic culture compared with anaerocic culture, whereas carotenoid and bacteriochlorophyll content were decreased extremely in aerobic condition (0.5~1 vvm). Subsequently, the optimal culture conditions for JK-1 were selected with pH 7, $30^{\circ}C$ and 100 rpm under anaerobic light and the effect on plant growth was tested by pot assay. Inoculation of JK-1 with 3% (v/v) level caused increase in shoot and root dry weigh that varied from 20%~58% to 40%~28% in young radish in camparison to uninoculated treatment at 50 days of growth. The study suggests that the JK-1 isolate may serve as efficient biofertilizer inoculants to promote plant growth.