• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.361-368
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• 2018

We investigated the interfacial properties of fluorocarbon self-assembled monolayers (FC-SAMs) with different alkyl chain lengths. It was found that the substrate characteristics were changed rapidly with the fabrication time and temperature of the SAM. FC-3SAM, which has the shortest alkyl chain in this study, showed a contact angle of $54.1^{\circ}$ when it was fabricated in an electric oven at $60^{\circ}C$ for the first minute. The FC-3SAM showed a contact angle of up to $76.9^{\circ}$ when it was fabricated in an electric oven at the same temperature condition for 180 minutes. FC-10SAM, which has the longest alkyl chain in this study, showed a contact angle of $64.7^{\circ}$ when it was fabricated at a temperature condition of $60^{\circ}C$ for 1 minute, and a contact angle of $98.7^{\circ}C$ at a temperature condition of $60^{\circ}C$ for 180 minutes. It was found that the FC-10SAM shows an increased contact angle and hydrophobic properties due to a well-aligned molecular structure resulting from a strong van der Waals force. In contrast, the FC-3SAM shows a small contact angle due to the intermolecular disorder resulting from a weak van der Waals force. The average roughness of FC-SAMs was investigated using AFM. The surface roughness of FC-SAMs, which verifies the results of contact angle, was confirmed. At a fabrication time of 120 minutes, the FC-10SAM showed an improvement in average roughness by 62% compared to that of FC-3SAM due to its good alignment.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1253-1270
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• 2021

Assessment of male fertility is based on the evaluation of sperm. Semen evaluation measures various sperm quality parameters as fertility indicators. However, semen evaluation has limitations, and it requires the advancement and application of strict quality control methods to interpret the results. This article reviews the recent advances in evaluating various sperm-specific quality characteristics and methodologies, with the help of different assays to assess sperm-fertility status. Sperm evaluation methods that include conventional microscopic methods, computer-assisted sperm analyzers (CASA), and flow cytometric analysis, provide precise information related to sperm morphology and function. Moreover, profiling fertility-related biomarkers in sperm or seminal plasma can be helpful in predicting fertility. Identification of different sperm proteins and diagnosis of DNA damage has positively contributed to the existing pool of knowledge about sperm physiology and molecular anomalies associated with different infertility issues in males. Advances in methods and sperm-specific evaluation has subsequently resulted in a better understanding of sperm biology that has improved the diagnosis and clinical management of male factor infertility. Accurate sperm evaluation is of paramount importance in the application of artificial insemination and assisted reproductive technology. However, no single test can precisely determine fertility; the selection of an appropriate test or a set of tests and parameters is required to accurately determine the fertility of specific animal species. Therefore, a need to further calibrate the CASA and advance the gene expression tests is recommended for faster and field-level applications.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.66-69
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• 2021

In 2020, a brown felt was observed on persimmon (Diospyros kaki) in persimmon orchards, Sangju, Korea. The symptom on persimmon was white to grey mycelial mats on some areas of the branches. Each mat progressively expanded until the mats coalesced to occupy larger areas and finally girdled the branches. The disease branches were covered with brown-colored mold, consisting of hyphal mats of the pathogen. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth was 30℃. On the basis of mycological characteristics, pathogenicity test, and molecular analysis with complete internal transcribed spacer rDNA region, the causal fungus was identified as Septobasidium sp. This is the first report of brown felt caused by Septobasidium sp. on persimmon in Korea.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2020

Purpose: Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by impaired neuromuscular transmission. This study aims to provide the clue for early diagnosis and improved therapeutic strategies in CMS. Materials and Methods: Through the targeted panel sequencing including twenty CMS causative genes, eleven patients were genetically confirmed and enrolled in this study. A retrospective medical record review was carried out for the clinical and laboratory data analysis. Results: The age of patients ranged from 5 to 23 years, with the median age of 16 years. The peak age at onset of symptoms was the neonatal period. Seven out of the eleven patients were symptomatic at birth. The most commonly reported initial finding was generalized hypotonia with poor sucking and crying. Mean time to accurate diagnosis was 9.3±5.0 years. Total fifteen different variants in seven genes associated with CMS (DOK7, AGRN, RAPSN, CHRNE, COLQ, SLC5A7, and GFPT1) were identified. Conclusion: We describe the clinical and genetic characteristics of CMS patients and treatment outcome in a single tertiary center. High clinical suspicion and timely molecular diagnosis is particularly important for the tailored therapy to maximize clinical improvement in CMS.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.188-193
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• 2021

On March 13, 2018 two postflexion larval specimens (18.28 mm and 16.80 mm in standard length) belonging to the family Cryptacanthodidae, suborder Zoarcoidei were collected from Sokcho and Gangneung in Gangwon Province. The family Cryptacanthodidae comprises 4 species worldwide: 3 in the North Pacific Ocean and 1 in the western North Atlantic Ocean. As a result of analyzing 620 bp of the mtDNA COI region, the two postflexion larvae collected in this study were identified as Cryptacanthodes bergi by 99.5% agreement with C. bergi adult registered in NCBI. Postflexion larvae of C. bergi are compressed with large eyes and radial pectoral fins and the anus located in front of the center of the body. Melanophores were intensively distributed along the dorsal midline, except for caudal peduncle, and sporadically distributed on the back of the anus. In addition, there were limited star-like melanophores on the back of the gut. This species showed 0.058 genetic distance when compared mtDNA COI region of C. aleutensis, and it was well distinguished in the distribution pattern of black vesicles of the head, count and measurement traits. Considering the morphological and ecological characteristics of this species, we suggest a new Korean name, " Gwisin-jang-gaeng-i ".

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.341-353
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• 2021

Acanthoparyphium shinanense n. sp. (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) is described from chicks experimentally infected with the metacercariae encysted in 2 brackish water clam species, Ruditapes philippinarum and Coecella chinensis, in the Republic of Korea. The metacercariae were round to oval, armed with 23 collar spines, and 0.216 (0.203-0.226) mm in diameter. From 5 chicks experimentally infected each with 200 metacercariae, 34 juvenile (5-day-old worms) and 104 adult flukes (7-day-old worms) were harvested from their small intestines, with the average worm recovery rate of 13.8%. The adult flukes were 3.18 (2.89-3.55) mm long and 0.68 (0.61-0.85) mm wide, with an elongated, posteriorly tapering body, and a prominent head collar armed with 23 collar spines arranged in a single uninterrupted row. The posterior testis of A. shinanense was longitudinally elongated, which is similar to Acanthoparyphium spinulosum Johnston, 1917 but unique from the other closely related species, including Acanthoparyphium tyosenense Yamaguti, 1939, Acanthoparyphium kurogamo Yamaguti, 1939, and Acanthoparyphium marilae Yamaguti, 1934. The eggs of A. shinanense were larger than those of A. spinulosum, and the anterior extent of 2 lateral groups of vitellaria was slightly more limited in A. shinanense than in A. spinulosum. Molecular analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial genes revealed low homology with A. spinulosum from USA (96.1% in 5.8S rRNA) and Ukraine (97.9% in 28S rRNA), Acanthoparyphium n. sp. from USA (98.0% in 28S rRNA), and Acanthoparyphium sp. from Australia, Kuwait, and New Zealand. Biological characteristics, including its first intermediate host and natural definitive hosts, as well as its zoonotic capability, should be elucidated.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.443-451
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• 2021

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) is widely cultivated in tropical regions worldwide owing to its high nutritional value. Finger millet is more tolerant against biotic and abiotic stresses such as pests, drought, and salt than other millet crops; therefore, it was proposed as a candidate crop to adapt to climate change in Korea. In 2019, we used expressed sequence tag simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers to evaluate the genetic diversity and structure of 102 finger millet accessions from two geographical regions (Africa and South Asia) to identify appropriate accessions and enhance crop diversity in Korea. In total, 40 primers produced 116 alleles, ranging in size from 135 to 457 bp, with a mean polymorphism information content (PIC) of 0.18225. Polymorphism was detected among the 40 primers, and 13 primers were found to have PIC values > 0.3. Principal coordinate and phylogenetic analyses, based on the combined data of both markers, grouped the finger millet accessions according to their respective collection areas.Therefore, the 102 accessions were classified into two groups, one from Asia and the other from Africa. We have conducted an in-depth study on the finger millet landrace pedigree. By sorting out and using the molecular characteristics of each pedigree, it will be useful for the management and accession identification of the plant resource. The novel SSR markers developed in this study will aid in future genetic analyses of E. coracana.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.10.1-10.9
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• 2022

Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) causes fatal leukopenia and severe hemorrhagic diarrhea in cats. Although FPV isolates have been reported worldwide from several animals, the biological and genetic features of South Korean FPVs remain unclear. We characterized molecularly South Korean FPV isolates. Crandell-Rees feline kidney (CRFK) cells were used to isolate FPV from 60 organ homogenates. The isolates were confirmed to be FPVs via analyses of cytopathic effects, immunofluorescence studies, electron microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction. Viral genetic analyses used the full VP2 sequences. Eight isolates propagated in CRFK cells were confirmed to be FPVs. All isolates yielded viral titers ranging from 10^4.5 to 10^6.0 TCID₅₀/mL 5 days after inoculation into CRFK cells and exhibited hemagglutination titers ranging from 2⁷ to 2¹² (using pig erythrocytes). The Korean FPV isolates grew well in cat cells such as CRFK and Fcwf-4 cells. The FPV isolates were most similar to the KS42 strain isolated from a Korean cat in 2008. The FPV isolates will serve as useful antigens in future sero-epidemiological studies and will aid in the development of diagnostic tools.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.406-414
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• 2021

The objective of this study was to investigate the yield and characteristics of collagen protein extracted from the muscle of four different species of mantis shrimp: Miyakella nepa, Harpiosquilla harpax, Erugosquilla woodmasoni, and Odontodactylus cultrifer. Mantis shrimp muscle was extracted by using a pepsin-solubilization technique, with 0.5 M acetic acid and 5% pepsin enzyme. The highest collagen yield was from M. nepa muscle (0.478 ± 0.06%), which was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than that from H. harpax, O. cultrifer, and E. woodmasoni (0.313 ± 0.03%, 0.123 ± 0.02%, and 0.015 ± 0.00%, respectively). The freeze-dried collagen appeared as thin fibers, and formed an opaque film. The pepsin-soluble collagen (PSC) from four mantis shrimp species was analyzed by gel electrophoresis. The results showed that all species of mantis shrimp contained type I collagen, consisting of β, α1, and α2 subunits with average molecular weights of 250, 145, and 118 kDa, respectively. The study of the solubility of collagen showed that, for NaCl, collagen had the highest relative solubility in 2% NaCl (80.20 ± 4.95%). In contrast, the solubility decreased at higher NaCl concentrations. However, in terms of pH, collagen had the highest relative solubility at pH 3 (91.32 ± 5.14%), and its solubility decreased at higher pH. FT-IR spectroscopy was used to compare the collagen with a model compound. Five wavenumbers in the spectrum for model collagen were identified: Amide A (3,406-3,421 cm^-1), amide B (2,916-2,940 cm^-1), amide I (1,639-1,640 cm^-1), amide II (1,539-1,570 cm^-1), and amide III (1,234-1,250 cm^-1).

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.4-12
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• 2022

Objective : We reported the differentially methylated genes in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) using bioinformatics analyses to explore the biological characteristics of the development of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). Methods : DNA methylation profiles obtained from 40 SAH patients from an epigenome-wide association study were analyzed. Functional enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and module analyses were carried out. Results : A total of 13 patients (32.5%) experienced DCI during the follow-up. In total, we categorized the genes into the two groups of hypermethylation (n=910) and hypomethylation (n=870). The hypermethylated genes referred to biological processes of organic cyclic compound biosynthesis, nucleobase-containing compound biosynthesis, heterocycle biosynthesis, aromatic compound biosynthesis and cellular nitrogen compound biosynthesis. The hypomethylated genes referred to biological processes of carbohydrate metabolism, the regulation of cell size, and the detection of a stimulus, and molecular functions of amylase activity, and hydrolase activity. Based on PPI network and module analysis, three hypermethylation modules were mainly associated with antigen-processing, Golgi-to-ER retrograde transport, and G alpha (i) signaling events, and two hypomethylation modules were associated with post-translational protein phosphorylation and the regulation of natural killer cell chemotaxis. VHL, KIF3A, KIFAP3, RACGAP1, and OPRM1 were identified as hub genes for hypermethylation, and ALB and IL5 as hub genes for hypomethylation. Conclusion : This study provided novel insights into DCI pathogenesis following SAH. Differently methylated hub genes can be useful biomarkers for the accurate DCI diagnosis.