• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.20.1-20.11
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• 2021

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) membranes incorporated with antimicrobial agents regarding cytotoxicity in fibroblasts of the periodontal ligament (PDLF), antimicrobial activity, and inhibition of multispecies biofilm formation. Materials and Methods: The tested BNC membranes were BNC + 1% clindamycin (BNC/CLI); BNC + 0.12% chlorhexidine (BNC/CHX); BNC + nitric oxide (BNC/NO); and conventional BNC (BNC; control). After PDLF culture, the BNC membranes were positioned in the wells and maintained for 24 hours. Cell viability was then evaluated using the MTS calorimetric test. Antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Actinomyces naeslundii, and Streptococcus sanguinis (S. sanguinis) was evaluated using the agar diffusion test. To assess the antibiofilm activity, BNC membranes were exposed for 24 hours to the mixed culture. After sonicating the BNC membranes to remove the remaining biofilm and plating the suspension on agar, the number of colony-forming units (CFU)/mL was determined. Data were analyzed by 1-way analysis of variance and the Tukey, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunn tests (α = 5%). Results: PDLF metabolic activity after contact with BNC/CHX, BNC/CLI, and BNC/NO was 35%, 61% and 97%, respectively, compared to BNC. BNC/NO showed biocompatibility similar to that of BNC (p = 0.78). BNC/CLI showed the largest inhibition halos, and was superior to the other BNC membranes against S. sanguinis (p < 0.05). The experimental BNC membranes inhibited biofilm formation, with about a 3-fold log CFU reduction compared to BNC (p < 0.05). Conclusions: BNC/NO showed excellent biocompatibility and inhibited multispecies biofilm formation, similarly to BNC/CLI and BNC/CHX.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2023

Purpose: The present study aimed to study the immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in patients with hematologic malignancies. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study of hematology patients aimed to evaluate their antibody levels against the receptor-binding domain of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein and seroconversion rates following two doses of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. Between June and July 2021, we enrolled 61 patients and included 44 patients in our analysis. Antibody levels were assessed 8 and 4 weeks after the first and second injections, respectively, and compared with those of a healthy group. Results: Eight weeks after the first dose, the geometric mean antibody level was 1.02 binding antibody units (BAU)/mL in the patient group and 37.91 BAU/mL in the healthy volunteer group (p<0.01). Four weeks after the second dose, the geometric mean antibody level was 9.44 BAU/mL in patients and 641.6 BAU/mL in healthy volunteers (p<0.01). The seroconversion rates 8 weeks after the first dose were 27.27% and 98.86% in the patient and healthy volunteer groups, respectively (p<0.001). The seroconversion rate 4 weeks after the second dose was 47.73% in patients and 100% in healthy volunteers. Factors leading to lower seroconversion rates were rituximab therapy (p=0.002), steroid therapy (p<0.001), and ongoing chemotherapy (p=0.048). Factors that decreased antibody levels were hematologic cancer (p<0.001), ongoing chemotherapy (p=0.004), rituximab (p<0.001), steroid use (p<0.001), and absolute lymphocyte count <1,000/mm³ (p=0.009). Conclusion: Immune responses were impaired in individuals with hematologic malignancies, particularly patients undergoing ongoing therapy and B-cell-depleting therapy. Additional vaccinations should be considered for these patients, and further investigated.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2024

In this study, the scale of renewable photovoltaic(PV) panels and hydrogen fuel storage facilities required to achieve "net zero carbon emissions" in military facilities were predicted based on actual electricity consumption. It was set up to expect the appropriate installation size of PV panel and hydrogen fuel storage facility for achieving carbon neutrality, limited to the electricity consumption in the public sector, including national defense and social security administration in Yeongcheon. The experimental results of this paper are largely composed of two parts. First, representative meteorological factors were considered to predict solar power generation in the Yeongcheon area, and solar power generation was estimated through a multiple regression model using deep learning techniques. Second, the size of solar power generation facilities and hydrogen storage facilities in military bases was estimated with the amount of solar power generation and electricity consumption. As a result of this analysis, it was calculated that a site of 155.76×104 m² for PV panels was needed and a facility capable of storing 27,657 kg of hydrogen gas was required. Through these results, it is meaningful to demonstrated the prospect that military units can lead the achievement of "carbon net zero 2050" by using PV panels and hydrogen fuel storage facilities on idle sites of military bases.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2017

Objectives: This study compared the amount of apically extruded bacteria during the glide-path preparation by using multi-file and single-file glide-path establishing nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary systems. Materials and Methods: Sixty mandibular first molar teeth were used to prepare the test apparatus. They were decoronated, blocked into glass vials, sterilized in ethylene oxide gas, infected with a pure culture of Enterococcus faecalis, randomly assigned to 5 experimental groups, and then prepared using manual stainless-steel files (group KF) and glide-path establishing NiTi rotary files (group PF with PathFiles, group GF with G-Files, group PG with ProGlider, and group OG with One G). At the end of canal preparation, 0.01 mL NaCl solution was taken from the experimental vials. The suspension was plated on brain heart infusion agar and colonies of bacteria were counted, and the results were given as number of colony-forming units (CFU). Results: The manual instrumentation technique tested in group KF extruded the highest number of bacteria compared to the other 4 groups (p < 0.05). The 4 groups using rotary glide-path establishing instruments extruded similar amounts of bacteria. Conclusions: All glide-path establishment instrument systems tested caused a measurable apical extrusion of bacteria. The manual glide-path preparation showed the highest number of bacteria extruded compared to the other NiTi glide-path establishing instruments.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.400-406
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• 2007

The purpose of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of immediate orthodontic loading on the stability at the bone-implant interface of titanium miniscrews in a rabbit model. Methods: Forty titanium miniscrews (1.6 mm diameter, 8 mm length) were inserted in the tibiae of 10 rabbits. Twenty test group miniscrews were subjected to continuous orthodontic forces of 200g immediately after implantation for a period of 6 weeks. The remaining 20 control group miniscrews were left unloaded for the same follow-up interval. Removal torque values were recorded using a digital torque gauge. An independent t-test was performed. Results: All the miniscrews were stable, and exhibited no mobility or displacement throughout the experimental period. Histologically, miniscrews were well-integrated into bone. No statistically significant differences in removal torque data were found between the loaded test and the unloaded control groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that titanium miniscrews can be used as anchoring units for orthodontic tooth movement immediately after insertion.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.269-275
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• 1999

Background : In April 6, 1990, a male researcher who has worked at a research unit at the Basic Research Building of Seoul National University(SNU) College of Medicine admitted to SNU Hospital due to persistent fever. He was diagnosed serologically as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS). Another female researcher in the same unit was also diagnosed as HFRS at the same hospital several days later. Epidemic investigation of HFRS was conducted to determine the magnitude of the problems since these two cases were strongly suspected to have laboratory-acquired infections of HFRS. Methods : All researchers and employees working at the Basic Research Building(BRB) of SNU College of Medicine as of April 1, 1996 were recruited for the study, information on symptoms of HFRS and history of contact to experimental animals were collected by self-administered questionnaires and serological tests among study subjects were also conducted by indirect immunofluorescent antibody(IFA) to hantavirus. The experimental animals were also serologically tested for infection with hantavirus by IFA. Results : Among 218 surveyed, six researchers and an animal caretaker had hantavirus antibodies above 1:20 in IFA titer. Five of seven sero-positive subjects had antibodies above 1:640 in IFA titer and had shown clinical symptoms compatible to HFRS during Jan. 1 to Apr, 20, 1996. The sero-positive persons had handled animals more frequently than sero-negative persons (OR, 19,68; 95% Cl, 1.11-350.40) and handling animals at the animal quarter at School of Public Health(SPH) had shown consistently higher risk to get infected with hantavirus irrespective of types of animals handled (OR, 4.90-6.37). Sero-positivity of rats of the aniamal quarter at BRB was 30-60%, whereas 80% of rats at SPH tested were shown sero-positivity. Conclusion: There was a epidemic of HFRS in research units of a medical school during the period from Jan. through Apr, Further investigation is needed to determine the extent and the mode of transmission of the laboratory-acquired infection with hantavirus in other research facilities.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2013

In order to evaluate the effect of various organic soil conditioner ratios on the soil moisture content and growth of Cotoneaster horizontalis, a container type for wall-planting experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at Konkuk University under non-irrigation. The experimental planting grounds were prepared with different organic soil conditioner ratios ($A_1L_0$, $A_8L_1$, $A_4L_1$ $A_2L_1$ and $A_1L_1$), and a drought-tolerant ornamental variety of Cotoneaster horizontalis was planted. The change in soil moisture content, plant height, number of branches, number of dead leaves, number of leaves, number of shoots, length of node, length of leaf, width of leaf, root-collar caliper, chlorophyll content, and survival rate were investigated, from April to Jun 2010. The results of soil moisture content measurements were analyzed with weight units in the container type for wall-planting during the dry summer season. The soil moisture contents were significantly enhanced in the container type for wall-planting in increasing order as the amount of soil conditioner level was increased ($A_1L_1$ > $A_2L_1$ > $A_4L_1$ > $A_8L_1$ > $A_1L_0$). Compared to the control treatment application (amended soil with 100% + organic soil conditioner 0%), the highest plant growth was observed in the treatment of $A_1L_1$ application (amended soil with 50% + organic soil conditioner 50%). However, the differences between the organic soil conditioner ratio treatments of $A_1L_1$, $A_4L_1$, and $A_8L_1$ organic soil conditioner application were mostly not significant. The survival rate increased with the increasing application of organic soil conditioner, but in the control treatment application all the plants died. The experimental results from clearly demonstrated that the organic soil conditioner improved the survival rate more than the growth of Cotoneaster horizontalis. Therefore, Cotoneaster horizontalis is expected to be a highly valuable shrub for green wall systems, when considered for us in integration system or for increasing soil water contents in planting grounds.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.384-401
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• 2016

The vegetation assessment indicator has been developed recently as a biological part of the integrated assessment system for river environment to improve the efficiency of river restoration projects. This study carried out to test the vegetation assessment indicator and to reset its grade criteria on experimental streams. We classified and mapped vegetation communities at the level of physiognomic-floristic composition by each assessment unit. A total of 204 sampling quadrats were set up on the 68 assessment units at 5 experimental streams. By analyzing the vegetation data collected, we examined the appropriate numbers of sampling quadrats, the criteria of vegetation index score, classification of vegetation community, and grade criteria for vegetation assessment. The developed vegetation assessment indicator composed with the vegetation complexity index (VCI), the vegetation diversity index (VDI), and the vegetation naturalness index (VNI) was proved to reflect the current conditions of the streams sufficiently. The contribution of vegetation naturalness index to grading by vegetation assessment indicator was larger, but three indexes were closely correlated to each other. Also there was more clearer discrimination of grading with the application of adjusted criteria of vegetation assessment indicator and the standardized classification of vegetation community, but the stream segment type did not influence the vegetation assessment grade significantly.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2006

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementing earthworm meal(EWM) on the egg quality and performance of laying hens. A total of 360 laying hens at 55 weeks of age were fed the experimental diets containing 0(Control), 0.3 and 0.6% of EWM for 5 weeks. Eggs were collected and weighed in every day and egg production and feed conversion were weekly recorded. However egg quality were measured fer last week of experimental period. When fed both 0.3 and 0.6% of EWM, egg production and daily egg mass tended to increase but were not different between those treatments. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio of laying hens were not different among three groups. Egg shell thickness, breaking strength, color and egg yolk color were tend to improve in both 0.3 and 0.6% of EWM compared to those of control. The haugh units(HUs) showed no difference among each treatments at 14 after laying egg, but increased in EWM treatments compared to control for storage period. As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb detected 4.41, 1.23, 1.18, 0.00 and 3.39ppm in EWM, respectively, but which were not detected in control. It assumed that supplementing 0.3% of earthworm meal in the 55 weeks old laying hens diet, improved the laying performance and egg quality.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.338-338
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• 2017

One of the problems in increasing rice production is getting lines or varieties that have high adaptability so that able to produce maximum production in a variety of environmental conditions. One strategy that can be done to get adaptive varieties is through the improvement of native varieties. This research was conducted in rain fed paddy field, Aceh province, Indonesia from June to September 2014. The texture of the soil was clay-loam with the soil pH ranged from 6.5-6.7. Five potential progenies of rice from crossing between native Indonesian rice with introduced rice varieties consist of C3, C4, S3, S5, S6 were used in this study. Besides that, one national rice variety Ciherang also used as a comparison. The plants were growth in the plot with the size of $2m{\times}1.4m$ with plant distance was $20cm{\times}20cm$. The fertilizers used in this study were Urea, NPK, and KCl. Randomized block design with 6 rice progenies/variety and 3 replications were used in this study. There were 18 experimental units and each experimental unit had 10 samples for the sources of data. The variables that were observed in this study including plant height at harvesting time, number of productive tiller, the percentage of empty grains and filled grain per panicle, weight of filled grains per hill, weight of filled grain per plot and yield potential per hectare. Analyzed were also conducted for the depth of root penetration, dry-root weight, dry-shoot weight, shoot-root weight ratio and its correlation with the weight of filled grain per hill. The research results show that there was significant difference on plant height at harvesting time, number of productive tillers, the percentage of empty grains and filled grain per panicle, weight of filled grains per hill, weight of filled grain per plot and yield potential per ha (p>0.01) among the treatments. In addition, depth root penetration, dry-root weight, dry-shoot weight, shoot-root weight ratio also had significant difference (p>0.01) among the treatment. The highest plant at harvesting time was found in S6, reaching 129.8 cm and the shortest plants was found in C3 reaching 107.5 cm. The largest number of productive tillers and the highest percentage of filled grains per panicle were found in Ciherang reaching 10.5 tillers and 80.7% respectively. Ciherang also had the heaviest weight of filled grains per hill and per plot reaching 21.1 g and 2.18 kg respectively. Whereas, S6 had the lowest number of tillers and the lowest percentage of filled grain per panicle.. The highest yield potential per ha was found in Ciherang reaching 7.79 tons. Among the progenies, S5 had the highest yield potential reaching 5 tons/Ha. The result also showed significant relationship between shoot-root weight ratio with weight of filled grains per hill. The highest value of shoot-root weight ratio (1.57) in Ciherang is thought had closed relationship with its yield potential.