• Laboratory Medicine Online
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2011

Background: Laboratory diagnosis of new influenza A (H1N1) is crucial for managing patients and establishing control and prevention measures. We compared the diagnostic accuracies of the real time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) test recommended for the confirmation of the new flu and the viral culture method used conventionally for viral disease with that of the rapid antigen test (RAT). Methods: We performed RAT, R-mix culture, and real-time PCR by using 861 respiratory samples collected from December 2009 to January 2010 and evaluated the abilities of these methods to detect new influenza A. The relationship among the positive rates of RAT, grades of culture, and the cycle threshold (Ct) values of rRT-PCR was also evaluated. Results: Of the 861 patients, 308 (35.8%) were diagnosed with new influenza A. The sensitivities, specificities, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of the tests were respectively as follows: 59.7%, 99.5%, 98.4%, and 81.6% for RAT; 93.2%, 100%, 100%, and 96.3% for R-mix culture; and 95.8%, 100%, 100%, and 97.7% for rRT-PCR. Samples with weak positive grade in culture and those with Ct values of 30-37 in rRT-PCR showed positivities as low as 25.3% and 2.3% in RAT, respectively. The hospitalization rate and death rate of the confirmed patients were 3.2% and 0.3%, respectively, and gastrointestinal symptoms were observed in 7.2% of the patients. Conclusions: R-mix culture and rRT-PCR tests showed excellent reliability in the diagnosis of new influenza A and could be very useful, especially for samples with low viral load.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2017

Purpose: To investigate the clinical outcomes of distal hook augmentation using a pedicle screw in thoracolumbar fusion in elderly patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective multicenter study recruited 20 patients aged 65 years or older, who underwent anterior support and long level posterior fusion in the thoracolumbar junction with a follow-up of one year. To assess the effect of distal hook augmentation, the patients were divided into two groups; the pedicle screw with hook group (PH group, n=10) and the pedicle screw alone group (PA group, n=10). Results: The average age was 72.4 years (65-83 years). The average fusion segment was 4.6 segments (3-6 segments). There were no significant differences in age, sex, causative diseases, bone mineral density of lumbar and proximal femur, number of patients with osteoporosis, and number of fused segments between the two groups (p≥0.05). At 1 year follow-up after surgery, parameters related with distal screw pullout were significantly worse in the PA group. No patients in the PH group had distal screw pullout. However, six patients (60%, 6/10) in the PA group had distal screw pullout. There were no significant differences in the progression of distal junctional kyphosis between the two groups. Conclusion: Distal hook augmentation is an effective procedure in protecting distal pedicle screws against the pullout when long level thoracolumbar fusion was performed in elderly patients aged 65 years or older.

• Laboratory Medicine Online
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2011

Background: ABO antibody titration is useful for the evaluation of ABO-incompatible bone marrow or solid organ transplantations, yet the results quite vary between different test methods used. We compared the results of microcolumn agglutination and tube methods. Methods: Anti-A and anti-B isoagglutionin titers were determined in 63 healthy individuals (23 O, 20 A, and 20 B blood groups) using 4 different methods: immediate spin tube (tube), microcolumn agglutination without anti-human globulin (AHG) (CAT), tube with AHG (tube-AHG) and microcolumn agglutination with AHG (CAT-AHG). Results: The median (range) titers of anti-A and anti-B in group O individuals by tube, CAT, tube-AHG, and CAT-AHG methods were 64 (8-512), 64 (8-512), 128 (8-2,048), and 128 (16-2,048); 64 (16-128), 128 (16-256), 128 (16-512), and 256 (16-512), respectively. The median (range) titers of anti-A in group B and anti-B in group A individuals by the four methods were 64 (16-128), 128 (8-128), 128 (8-256), and 256 (8-256); 64 (8-128), 64 (8-128), 32 (8-128), and 64 (8-256), respectively. The isoagglutinin titer measured by CAT-AHGmethod was the highest. The titers measured by CAT and CAT-AHG methods were 0-1 titer higher than those by tube and tube-AHG methods, respectively. Whatever method was used, the isoagglutinin titers were higher in women than in men. Conclusions: CAT-AHG was the most sensitive method among the four methods tested. Since AHG titer values are critical for the clinical management and CAT has less manual procedures than tube method, CAT-AHG method could be used for the standardization of ABO antibody titration in different institutions.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.173-182
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• 2016

This study was aimed to identify the phenotypic relationships between calving interval and lactation curve parameters in Korean Holstein cow. The data of 36,505 lactation records was obtained from the Dairy Herd Improvement program run by Dairy Cattle Improvemnet Center of National Agricultural Federation of Korea. All lactation records were collectied from the multiparous cows calving between 2011 to 2013. The estimated lactation curves were drawn using Wood model based on actual milk yield records, and NLIN Procedure of SAS program (ver. 9.2). General linear multivariate models for calving interval, 305-d milk yield, lactation parameters(A, b, c), persistency, peak day, and peak yield included fixed effects of calving year-season (spring, summer, fall and winter) and parity(2, 3 and 4). For calving interval, 305-d milk yield, lactation parameters(A, b, c), persistency, peak day and peak yield, all two fixed effect(calving year-season, parity) were significant(p<0.05). The estimated lactation functions using Wood model for 2, 3, and 4 parity were yt=24.66t0.175e-0.00302t, yt=24.69t0.192e-0.00334t, and yt=24.22t0.200e-0.00341t, respectively. Phenotypic correlation (partial residual correlation) between calving interval and 305-d milk yield, A, b, c, persistency, peak day, and peak yield were 0.093, -0.014, 0.028, -0.046, 0.099, 0.085, and 0.052, respectively. To conclude, if calving interval increase then ascent to peak, persistency, peak day and peak yield are increase, and descent after peak is decrease. So, total 305-d milk yield is increase.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.119-127
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• 2016

The current disinfection method of vehicles being applied in South Korea has various shortcomings. So, the epidemic has generated continuously at livestock farms. It is very important to develop an effective disinfection system for reduction of the epidemic. And various basic data is required for this development. Therefore, this study was performed to identify the nozzle type and proper discharge pressure of sprayers. The experiment was conducted from January 10, 2012 until February 28, 2012. All the performance measurement experiments were repeated five times. The subjects of experiment were the A, B and C company's products. The sprayed capacity, angle of spray and the covering area ratio were measured for each product. As a result, the sprayed capacity, angle of spray and the covering area ratio were increased as the discharge pressure of the sprayer was increased. In conclusion, the conical shaped of the nozzle is considered more appropriate than V-shaped, and the proper discharge pressure is expected to be at least 20kg/㎠.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2016

The study was aimed to analyze pedigree structure and inbreeding coefficients for performance tested Holstein cows in Korea. A total of 400,029 Holstein cows data which born between 2002 and 2012 were obtained from Dairy Cattle Improvement Center of National Agricultural Cooperative Federation(NACF). Their related pedigrees, as obtained from Korean Animal Improvement Association(KAIA), consisted of 509,740 animals. Pedigree depth of the cows were traced back to 3 generations earlier. The percentage of cows with fully identified ancestors in various provinces of Korea were 55.18%(Gyeonggi-do), 23.49%(Gangwon-do), 47.83%(Chungcheongnam-do), 53.62%(Chungcheongbuk-do), 56.38%(Gyeongsangbuk-do), 51.35% (Gyeongsangnam-do), 26.58%(Jeollanam-do), 49.41%(Jeollabuk-do), and 56.90%(Jeju-do), whereas, it was about 63.20% as a whole in Korea. The average inbreeding coefficients showed increment across the consecutive years of birth such as, 0.43(2002), 0.44(2003), 0.58(2004), 0.64(2005), 0.78(2006), 0.93(2007), 1.08(2008), 1.23(2009), 1.46(2010), 1.77(2011), and 2.03 (2012). However, this coefficient was 0.93 in overall Korean population. An average generation interval for sire to daughter genetic path was 8.15 years; which was about 4.20 years considering dam to daughter genetic path. The estimated effective population sizes (Ne) were 56.5, 51.3, and 32.2 animals born in 2004, 2009, and 2012, respectively. These results indicated that an increased rate of inbreeding has led to a significant reduction in the Ne over the decade.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.139-152
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• 2016

The comparative in vitro and in situ analysis were conducted to evaluate the rumen degradability and physical structure of domestic roughage as rice straw, timothy, alfalfa, wormwood and green tea. The feedstuffs incubated with rumen fluid and was used to determine gas production, microbial growth rate and pH changes in an in vitro experiment. The gas production was increased during incubation times and was significantly(p<0.05) lower in green tea than other feedstuffs. The microbial growth rate in the feedstuffs was increased during incubation times. However, microbial growth rate was significantly(p<0.05) lower in wormwood and green tea than other feedstuffs. Ruminal pH was decreased during incubation times, and timothy was the lowest, and rice straw was the highest among feedstuffs. The disappearance rate of dry matter(DM) and crude protein(CP) in all feedstuffs were increased during incubation times and green tea was the highest(p<0.05) compared with other feedstuffs. In effective degradability, when rumen out-flow rate was assigned to 4%, wormwood showed the highest in DM, and alfalfa was the highest in CP. Whereas, green tea was the highest in both in situ DM and CP degradability. Many cilia on the surface and stoma of wormwood and stoma in green tea were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Microbes breaked down the cilia at the beginning and then degraded the surface in wormwood. In case of green tea, microbes attached to stoma. Therefore, wormwood and green tea have a potential value as ruminal feed stuffs.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.91-98
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• 2016

This aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of phosphate on the quality properties of the surimi-like materials. Surimi-like materials as a control was prepared with beef heart by three times of washing treatment. Three types of surimi-like materials were manufactured by different conditions(T1: 2% salt, T2: 1.95% salt+0.05% phosphate, T3: 1.90% salt+0.10% phosphate). The moisture content was significantly lower in T1 than the control, and T3 sample had the highest crude protein content(P<0.05). The cooking loss was significantly lower in T2 than the control, and T2 sample had the highest water-holding capacity(P<0.05). The lightness and whiteness values were significantly lower in the treatment samples compared to the control sample; whereas redness values was higher than the control(P<0.05). Beef heart surimi-like materials added with salt and phosphate had higher in texture properties in the control, and T3 sample had the highest hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness values(P<0.05). Therefore, the addition of phosphate could increase the protein content and gel properties as well as water-holding capacity of surimi-like materials from beef heart.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.167-178
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• 2016

This study was conducted to estimate genetic parameters for milk production and linear type traits in Holstein dairy cattle in Korea. The data including milk yields, fat yields, protein yields, fat percent, protein percent, somatic score and 15 linear type traits for 10,218 first parity cows collected by Dairy Cattle Improvement Center, National Agricultural Cooperative, Korea, which were calving from January 2009 to April 2013. Genetic and error (co)variances between two traits selected form 19 traits were estimated using bi-trait pairwise analyses with WOMBAT package. The estimated heritabilities for milk yield(MY), fat yield(FY), protein yield(PY), fat percent(FP), protein percent(PP), somatic cell score(SCS), udder depth(UD), udder texture(UT), median suspensory(MS), fore udder attachment(FUA), front teat placement (FTP), rear attachment height(RAH), rear attachment width(RAW), rear teat placement(RTP), front teat length(FTL), foot angle(FA), heel depth(HD), bone quality(BQ), rear legs side view(RLSV), rear legs rear view(RLRV) and locomotion(LC) were 0.128, 0.144, 0.100, 0.273, 0.333, 0.090, 0.179, 0.066, 0.104, 0.109, 0.127, 0.099, 0.059, 0.069, 0.154, 0.014, 0.010, 0.052, 0.065, 0.175 and 0.031, respectively. Among the genetic correlations, UD, UT, FTP, RAW, FTL, FA and RLSV with MY were -0.334, 0.271, 0.445, 0.544, 0.076, -0.281 and -0.228, respectively, and MS, FTP, RTP, FTL, FA, BQ, RLSV, RLRV and LC with PP were -0.147, -0.182, -0.262, -0.136, 0.355, 0.311, 0.135, 0.233 and 0.143, respectively. Especially, MY had the highest positive genetic correlation with RAW (0.544), while SCS had the highest negative genetic correlation with LC (-0.603). FP had negative genetic correlation with most udder traits, whereas, FP had positive genetic correlation with leg and hoof traits (0.056 - 0.355).

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2023

X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis, thermal differential and thermos gravimetric analysis, cation exchange capacity analysis, and Cesium (Cs), Strontium (Sr) adsorption experiments were performed to investigate the physical and chemical properties of natural zeolite from Guryongpo in Korea. As a result of X-ray diffraction analysis, minerals such as mordenite, heulandite, clinoptilolite, and illite are contained, and as a result of X-ray fluorescence analysis, elements such as SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, K₂O, MgO, Fe₂O₃ and Na₂O are contained, and the cation exchange capacity was 148.6 meq/100 g. As a result of thermal differential and thermos gravimetric analysis, it was confirmed that the thermal stability was excellent up to 600 ℃. As a result of the adsorption equilibrium experiment over time, the equilibrium was reached within 30 min. for Cesium (Cs) and within 8 hr. for Strontium (Sr), and the adsorption rates of Cesium (Cs) and Strontium (Sr) were 80% and 18%, respectively. As a result of the single-component isothermal adsorption experiment, in conformed to the Langmuir model, and the maximum Cesium (Cs) adsorption amount was 131.5 mg/g, which was high, while the Strontium (Sr) maximum adsorption amount was 29.5 mg/g, which was low. In the case of the natural zeolite used in this study, the content of minerals including 8-rings such as clinoptilolite, heulandite, and mordenite is high, showing high selectivity for Cesium (Cs).