• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.610-620
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• 2021

There has been increasing interest in the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) that is caused by high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) and has posed a significant challenge to Otolaryngologists. A rapid, sensitive, and reliable method is required for the detection of HR-HPV in clinical specimens to prevent and treat HPV-induced diseases. In this study, a multiple cross-linking spiral amplification (MCLSA) assay was developed for the visual detection of HPV-16. In the MCLSA assay, samples were incubated under optimized conditions at 62℃ for 45 min, and after mixing with the SYBR Green I (SGI) dye, the positive amplicons showed bright green fluorescence while the negative amplicons exhibited no obvious change. The specificity test revealed that the developed MCLSA technique had high specificity and could effectively distinguish all five HPV-16 strains from other pathogenic microorganisms. In terms of analytical sensitivity, the limit of detection (LoD) of MCLSA assay was approximately 5.4 × 101 copies/tube, which was 10-fold more sensitive than loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and RT-PCR. The detection results of laryngeal cancer specimens collected from 46 patients with suspected HPV infection in the Liaoning region demonstrated that the positive detection rates of MCLSA and hybridized capture 2 kit were 32.61% (15/46). The true positive rate of the MCLSA assay was higher than that of RT-PCR (100% vs. 93.33%) and LAMP (100% vs. 86.67%). Therefore, the MCLSA assay developed in the present study could be a potentially useful tool for the point-of-care (PoC) diagnosis of HR-HPV, especially in resource-limited countries.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.73-83
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• 2019

Concrete reinforced with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars (FRP-RC) has attracted a significant amount of research attention in the last three decades. A limited number of studies, however, have investigated the effect of bond slip on the performance of FRP-RC columns under eccentric loading. Based on previous experimental study, a finite-element model of eccentrically loaded FRP-RC columns was established in this study. The bondslip behavior was modeled by inserting spring elements between FRP bars and concrete. The improved Bertero-Popov-Eligehausen (BPE) bond slip model with the results of existing FRP-RC pullout tests was introduced. The effect of bond slip on the entire compression-bending process of FRP-RC columns was investigated parametrically. The results show that the initial stiffness of bond slip is the most sensitive parameter affecting the compression-bending performance of columns. The peak bond stress and the corresponding peak slip produce a small effect on the maximum loading capacity of columns. The bondslip softening has little effect on the compression-bending performance of columns. The sectional analysis revealed that, as the load eccentricity and the FRP bar diameter increase, the reducing effect of bond slip on the flexural capacity becomes more obvious. With regard to bond slip, the axial-force-bending-moment (P-M) interaction diagrams of columns with different FRP bar diameters show consistent trends. It can be concluded from this study that for columns reinforced with large diameter FRP bars, the flexural capacity of columns at low axial load levels will be seriously overestimated if the bond slip is not considered.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.86-97
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• 2021

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer has been used as a nourishing edible herb in East Asia for thousands of years. 25-OH-PPT was first discovered as a natural rare triterpenoid saponin in ginseng stems and leaves by our group. Research found that it showed strong inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, and protected cardiocytes (H9c2) through PI3K/Akt pathway. Methods: In the research, in order to optimize the 25-OH-PPT enrichment process, optimal macroporous resins and optimal purification conditions were studied. Meanwhile, the hypoglycemic effect and mechanism of 25-OH-PPT were evaluated by using STZ to establish insulin-dependent diabetic mice and the spontaneous type 2 diabetes DB/DB mice. Results and Conclusion: Research found that 25-OH-PPT can reduce blood glucose and enhance glucose tolerance in STZ model mice. It increases insulin sensitivity by upregulating GLUT4 and AMPK in skeletal muscle, and activating insulin signaling pathways. In DB/DB mice, 25-OH-PPT achieves hypoglycemic effects mainly by activating the insulin signaling pathway. Meanwhile, through the influence of liver inflammatory factors and lipids in serum, it can be seen that 25-OH-PPT has obvious anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects. These results provide new insights into the study of ginseng as a functional food.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.437-446
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• 2022

In this study, to obtain icaritin with high pharmacological activities from icariin, which has a content ratio of over 58% in the total flavonoids of Epimedium herb, a special Epimedium flavonoid-glycosidase was produced, purified and characterized from Aspergillus sp.y848 strain. The optimal enzyme production was gained in a medium containing 5% (w/v) wheat bran extract and 0.7% (w/v) Epimedium leaf powder as the enzyme inducer, and strain culture at 30℃ for 6-7 days. The molecular weight of the enzyme was approximately 73.2 kDa; the optimal pH and temperature were 5.0 and 40℃. The enzyme Km and Vmax values for icariin were 15.63 mM and 55.56 mM/h. Moreover, the enzyme hydrolyzed the 7-O-glucosides of icariin into icariside II, and finally hydrolyzed 3-Orhamnoside of icariside II into icaritin. The enzyme also hydrolyzed 7-O-glucosides of epimedin B to sagittatoside B, and then further hydrolyzed terminal 3-O-xyloside of sagittatoside B to icarisiede II, before finally hydrolyzing 3-O-rhamnoside of icarisiede II into icaritin. The enzyme only hydrolyzed 7-O-glucoside of epimedin A or epimedin C into sagittatoside A or sagittatoside C. It is possible to prepare icaritin from the high-content icariin in Epimedium herb using this enzyme. When 2.5% icariin was reacted at 40℃ for 18-20 h by the low-cost crude enzyme, 5.04 g icaritin with 98% purity was obtained from 10 g icariin. Also, the icaritin molar yield was 92.5%. Our results showed icaritin was successfully produced via cost-effective and relatively simple methods from icariin by crude enzyme. Our results should be very useful for the development of medicines from Epimedium herb.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.57.1-57.9
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• 2022

Background: Classical swine fever virus (CSFV), the causative agent of classical swine fever (CFS), is a highly contagious disease that poses a serious threat to Chinese pig populations. Objectives: Many provinces of China, such as Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, and Liaoning provinces, have reported epidemics of CSFV, while the references to the epidemic of CSFV in Yunnan province are rare. This study examined the epidemic characteristics of the CSFV in Yunnan province. Methods: In this study, 326 tissue samples were collected from different regions in Yunnan province from 2015 to 2021. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), sequences analysis, and phylogenetic analysis were performed for the pathogenic detection and analysis of these 326 clinical specimens. Results: Approximately 3.37% (11/326) of specimens tested positive for the CSFV by RT-PCR, which is lower than that of other regions of China. Sequence analysis of the partial E2 sequences of eleven CSFV strains showed that they shared 89.0-100.0% nucleotide (nt) and 95.0-100.0% amino acid (aa) homology, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these novel isolates belonged to the subgenotypes 2.1c and 2.1d, with subgenotype 2.1c being predominant. Conclusions: The CSFV was sporadic in China's Yunnan province from 2015 to 2021. Both 2.1c and 2.1d subgenotypes were found in this region, but 2.1c was dominant.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.383-390
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• 2022

Background: The treatment of trigeminal neuralgia remains a challenging issue. Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) provide optimized therapy for chronic pain. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the attenuation of trigeminal neuralgia by SHED. Methods: Trigeminal neuralgia was induced by chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve. The mechanical threshold was assessed after model establishment and local SHED transplantation. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) morphology and Caspase12 expression in trigeminal ganglion (TG) was evaluated as well. BiP expression was observed in PC12 cells induced by tunicamycin. Results: The local transplantation of SHED could relieve trigeminal neuralgia in rats. Further, transmission electron microscopy revealed swelling of the ER in rats with trigeminal neuralgia. Moreover, SHED inhibited the tunicamycin-induced up-regulated expression of BiP mRNA and protein in vitro. Additionally, SHED decreased the up-regulated expression of Caspase12 mRNA and protein in the TG of rats caused by trigeminal neuralgia after chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve mode. Conclusions: This findings demonstrated that SHED could alleviate pain by relieving ER stress which provide potential basic evidence for clinical pain treatment.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1-31
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• 2015

The present research examined the interesting but less attended effects of pride- and surprise-tagged money on consumers' spending decisions. Focusing on the unexpected money received in their daily life, we explored recipient's judgments and responses toward pride-tagged money versus surprise-tagged, and identified differences in types of recipient's consumption and spending behaviors between the pride- tagged money and the surprise-tagged money. Consumers tend to use the money associated with pride (vs. surprise) to reward their invested effort; as a result, they were more likely to buy a personal gift. Moreover, in the context of self-gift, consumers with pride-tagged money have showed a bigger positive difference between the intent to buy individual self-expressive products and the intent to buy social self-expressive products than those with surprise-tagged money. And the receipt of pride-tagged money activates motivation to express one's individual self. Consumers who have received a sum of extra money tend to add the money into the current spendable income account and broaden the array of product category. And consumers with high arousal level of surprise triggered by receiving a sum of unpredictable money because of good luck show a smaller difference between the intent to buy individual self-expressive product and the intent to buy social self-expressive product than those with low level arousal in pride. Therefore, marketers should advertise their products in the respects of individual self-expression when their customers have pride-tagged money, and should advertise their products in the respects of social self-identity when they have surprise-tagged money by winning a large sum of unpredicted money like lottery winning.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.131-152
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• 2018

This study evaluates the potential by Chines region for entry of Korean logistics companies and retailers. The variables affecting e-commerce business and retail sales concerning the Chinese omni-channel market were extracted from a thorough literature review. Empirical analyses for variables based on 31 regions in China were performed. Results show that e-commerce is affected by disposable income and internet traffic and that retail sales are affected by urban and rural population, GRDP and urbanization. In addition, we performed variance decomposition analysis in order to estimate responses of logistics GDP(transport, storage and communication) and the number of Chinese mobile users. Exogenous shocks to logistics GDP and the number of mobile phone users play a strong role in explaining the forecast error of express service variance over time. Based on our results, we suggest 7 potential regions(Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Beijing, Shanghai, Liaoning and Shandong) as well as managerial implications for entry into China for logistics companies and retailers.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1101-1110
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• 2023

Streptococcus mutans is the primary causative agent of caries, which is one of the most common human diseases. Thus, rapid and early detection of cariogenic bacteria is critical for its prevention. This study investigated the combination of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and microfluid technology to quantitatively detect S. mutans. A low-cost, rapid microfluidic chip using LAMP technology was developed to amplify and detect bacteria at 2.2-2.2 × 10⁶ colony-forming units (CFU)/ml and its detection limits were compared to those of standard polymerase chain reaction. A visualization system was established to quantitatively determine the experimental results, and a functional relationship between the bacterial concentration and quantitative results was established. The detection limit of S. mutans using this microfluidic chip was 2.2 CFU/ml, which was lower than that of the standard approach. After quantification, the experimental results showed a good linear relationship with the concentration of S. mutans, thereby confirming the effectiveness and accuracy of the custom-made integrated LAMP microfluidic system for the detection of S. mutans. The microfluidic system described herein may represent a promising simple detection method for the specific and rapid testing of individuals at risk of caries.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.175-184
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• 2016

In this study, we transplanted Chinese (Liaoning Dandong) and Chungnam (Taean) manila clam seeds to Gochang tidal flats in Jeonbuk province, and compared growth, mortality, and condition indices from May 2015 to August 2016. Within 2 months after transplantation, clam mortality of Chungnam and Chinese origin were $6.9{\pm}4.3%$, $16.9{\pm}7.9{\sim}21.0{\pm}6.3%$, respectively. We supposed that higher mortality of Chinese manila clams might be due to higher stress and weakening of physiological functions by air-exposure and unavailability of food intake for 5 days harvesting, transportation, quarantine procedures. Unlike the local clam farmer's opinion based on their field experience, growth of Chungnam clams in shell length and total weight were a little better than Chinese without statistical significant difference (P > 0.05). Condition indices of Chinese clams showed declining tendency after reaching a peak in May 2014, and in June 2015, respectively. Meanwhile, Chungnam clams has reached its peak of condition indices in May 2014 and in April 2015, respectively. From this result, we supposed that there might be at least one month difference in reproduction between the Chinese and Chungnam manila clams during the first-transplanted year. Because the mortality of adult clam have sharply increased from June 2015 (due to high temperature, few rainfall and spawning) in Gochang tidal flat, it would be recommendable that farmers harvest the clams before June when its shell length are larger than 40 mm. In conclusion, we could directly compare the productivity of Chinese and Chungnam manila clam at Gochang tidal flats by field experiment, and these results are also meaningful to manila clam farmers.