• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.880-889
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the regional amyloid burden and myocardial deformation using T1 mapping and strain values in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) according to late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) patterns. Materials and Methods: Forty patients with CA were divided into 2 groups per LGE pattern, and 15 healthy subjects were enrolled. Global and regional native T1 and T2 mapping, extracellular volume (ECV), and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-feature tracking strain values were compared in an intergroup and interregional manner. Results: Of the patients with CA, 32 had diffuse global LGE (group 2), and 8 had focal patchy or no LGE (group 1). Global native T1, T2, and ECV were significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than in the control group (native T1: 1384.4 ms vs. 1466.8 ms vs. 1230.5 ms; T2: 53.8 ms vs. 54.2 ms vs. 48.9 ms; and ECV: 36.9% vs. 51.4% vs. 26.0%, respectively; all, p < 0.001). Basal ECV (53.7%) was significantly higher than the mid and apical ECVs (50.1% and 50.0%, respectively; p < 0.001) in group 2. Basal and mid peak radial strains (PRSs) and peak circumferential strains (PCSs) were significantly lower than the apical PRS and PCS, respectively (PRS, 15.6% vs. 16.7% vs. 26.9%; and PCS, -9.7% vs. -10.9% vs. -15.0%; all, p < 0.001). Basal ECV and basal strain (2-dimensional PRS) in group 2 showed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.623, p < 0.001). Group 1 showed no regional ECV differences (basal, 37.0%; mid, 35.9%; and apical, 38.3%; p = 0.184). Conclusion: Quantitative T1 mapping parameters such as native T1 and ECV may help diagnose early CA. ECV, in particular, can reflect regional differences in the amyloid deposition in patients with advanced CA, and increased basal ECV is related to decreased basal strain. Therefore, quantitative CMR parameters may help diagnose CA and determine its severity in patients with or without LGE.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11b
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• pp.3-6
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• 2001

In common globular proteins, the native form is in its most stable state. However, the native form of inhibitory serpins (serine protease inhibitors) and some viral membrane fusion proteins is in a metastable state. Metastability in these proteins is critical to their biological functions. Our previous studies revealed that unusual interactions, such as side-chain overpacking, buried polar groups, surface hydrophobic pockets, and internal cavities are the structural basis of the native metastability. To understand the mechanism by which these structural defects regulate protein functions, cavity-filling mutations of a 1-antitrypsin, a prototype serpin, were characterized. Increasing conformational stability is correlated with decreasing inhibitory activity. Moreover, the activity loss appears to correlate with the decrease in the rate of the conformational switch during complex formation with a target protease. We also increased the stability of a 1-antitrypsin greatly via combining various stabilizing single amino acid substitutions that were distributed throughout the molecule. The results showed that a substantial increase of stability, over 13 kcal/mol, affected the inhibitory activity with a correlation of 11% activity loss per kcal/mol. The results strongly suggest that the native metastability of proteins is indeed a structural design that regulates protein functions and that the native strain of a 1-antitrypsin distributed throughout the molecule regulates the inhibitory function in a concerted manner.

• Electrical & Electronic Materials
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.3-6
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• 2001

In common globular proteins, the native form is n its most stable state. However, the native form of inhibitory serpins (serine protease inhibitors) and some viral membrane fusion proteins is in a metastable state. Metastability in these proteins is critical to their biological functions. Our previous studies revealed that unusual interactions, such as side-chain overpacking, buried polar groups, surface hydrophobic pockets, ad internal cavities are the structural basis of the native metastability. To understand the mechanism by which these structural defects regulate protein functions, cavity-filling mutations of $\alpha$1-antitrypsin, a prototype serpin, were characterized. Increasing conformational stability is correlated with decreasing inhibitory activity. Moreover, the activity loss appears to correlate with the decrease in the rate of the conformational switch during complex formation with a target protease. We also increased the stability of $\alpha$1-antitrypsin greatly via combining various stabilizing single amino acid substitutions that were distributed throughout the molecule. The results showed that a substantial increase of stability, over 13 kcal/mol, affected the inhibitory activity with a correlation of 11% activity loss per kcal/mol. The results strongly suggest that the native metastability of proteins is indeed a structural design that regulates protein functions and that the native strain of $\alpha$1-antitrypsin distributed throughout the molecule regulates the inhibitory function in a concerted manner.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.3-6
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• 2001

In common globular proteins, the native form is in its most stable state. However, the native form of inhibitory serpins (serine protease inhibitors) and some viral membrane fusion proteins is in a metastable state. Metastability in these Proteins is critical to their biological functions. Our previous studies revealed that unusual interactions, such as side-chain overpacking, buried polar groups, surface hydrophobic pockets, and internal cavities are the structural basis of the native metastability. To understand the mechanism by which these structural defects regulate protein functions, cavity-filling mutations of ${\alpha}$1-antitrypsin, a prototype serpin, were characterized. Increasing conformational stability is correlated with decreasing inhibitory activity. Moreover, the activity loss appears to correlate with the decrease in the rate of the conformational switch during complex formation with a target protease. We also increased the stability of ${\alpha}$1-antitrypsin greatly via combining various stabilizing single amino acid substitutions that were distributed throughout the molecule. The results showed that a substantial increase of stability, over 13 kcal/mol, affected the inhibitory activity with a correlation of 11% activity loss per kcal/mol. The results strongly suggest that the native metastability of proteins is indeed a structural design that regulates protein functions and that the native strain of e 1-antitrypsin distributed throughout the molecule regulates the inhibitory function in a concerted manner.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2000

Expression of the crylAcl gene of an acrystalliferous Bacillus thuringiensis strain under the control of the native or $\alpha$-amylase gene promoter was investigated. The crylAcl gene was cloned in a B. thuringiensis - E. coli shutle vector, pHT3101, undder the control of either the native promoter (pProAc) or the $\alpha$-amylase promoter from Bacillus subtilis (pAmyAc). These two recombinant plasmids were successfully expressed in B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Cry B. The first transformant (ProAc/CB), harboring pProAc, expressed an about 130 kDa protein begining 24 hr after inoculations just as in the case of the wild type of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-73. The second pAmyAc-transformant (AmyAc/CB) began to express the gene just 6 hr after inoculation, but Western analysis showed that the activity of the $\alpha$-amylase promoter was relatively weaker than that of the native promoter. As expected, their toxicity against Plutella xylostella larvae was dependent on the amount of Cry1Acl protein expressed.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2015

Background: Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is a perennial herb prone to various root diseases, with Phytophthora cactorum being considered one of the most dreaded pathogens. P. cactorum causes foliar blight and root rot. Although chemical pesticides are available for disease control, attention has been shifted to viable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective biological means such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for control of diseases. Methods: Native Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain HK34 was isolated from wild ginseng and assessed as a biological control agent for ginseng. Leaves from plants treated with HK34 were analyzed for induced systemic resistance (ISR) against P. cactorum in square plate assay. Treated plants were verified for differential expression of defense-related marker genes using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: A total of 78 native rhizosphere bacilli from wild P. ginseng were isolated. One of the root-associated bacteria identified as B. amyloliquefaciens strain HK34 effectively induced resistance against P. cactorum when applied as soil drench once (99.1% disease control) and as a priming treatment two times in the early stages (83.9% disease control). A similar result was observed in the leaf samples of plants under field conditions, where the percentage of disease control was 85.6%. Significant upregulation of the genes PgPR10, PgPR5, and PgCAT in the leaves of plants treated with HK34 was observed against P. cactorum compared with untreated controls and only pathogen-treated plants. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate HK34 as a potential biocontrol agent eliciting ISR in ginseng against P. cactorum.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.562-573
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• 2017

Some symbiotic characteristics of native Korean Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae were analysed to get some informations desirable for cultivation of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) using its symbiont in Korea. The size of indigenous populations of R. leguminosarum biovar viciae was higher in seven upland soils showing $1.7{\times}10^2{\sim}5.8{\times}10^4cells\;g{\cdot}soil^{-1}$, which appeared to be 10% and 37% higher for cultivated and uncultivated soils of hairy vetch, respectively, than seven paddy soils with $1.7{\times}10^2{\sim}1.7{\times}10^4cells\;g{\cdot}soil^{-1}$. In symbiotic potentials, however, the yields of hairy vetch treated with 10-fold-diluted ($10^{-1}$) inoculum and 1000-fold-diluted ($10^{-3}$) one was 11.2% and 8.8% more, respectively, in paddy than upland. Hairy vetch inoculated with either strain KHR 106 from Sacheon or strain KHR 120 from Yesan among native Korean R. leguminosarum biovar viciae isolates was of similar yield increment of 16% (p < 0.05) in upland soils with native R. leguminosarum biovar viciae of $5.8{\times}10cells\;g{\cdot}soil^{-1}$. In case of coinoculation of the two strains, however, the yields was not significantly increased. In especial, isolate KHR 106, KHR 120, and KHR 122 from Suwon, which has also good symbiotic effectiveness, showed different protein profile patterns each other. As a result, hairy vetch is possibly able to use atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic relationship with diverse native R. leguminosarum biovar viciae in Korean arable lands. For safe and good production of hairy, however, the use of superior strains with high symbiotic effectiveness and competitiveness will be desirable.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.147-152
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• 2017

A bioluminescent Lactobacillus plantarum (pLuc2) strain was constructed. The luminescent signal started to increase during the early exponential phase and reached its maximum in the mid-exponential phase in a batch culture of the strain. The signal detection sensitivity of the strain was the highest in PBS (phosphate buffered saline), followed by milk and MRS broth, indicating that the sensitivity was influenced by the matrix effect. The strain was used in millet seed fermentation which has a complex matrix and native lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The luminescent signal was gradually increased until 9 h during fermentation and abolished at 24 h, indicating that the strain could be specifically tracked in the complex matrix and microflora. Therefore, the bioluminescent labeling system can be used for monitoring LAB in food and dairy sciences and industries.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.183-187
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• 1991

Effect of ginseng hairy and native roots on body absorption, fecal and urinary excretion of Ingested radiostrontium were investigated in the mouse(NIH-strain, male) treated with or without pre-feeding of each ginseng soluble fraction. The test groups were fed with basic diet supplemented with 1% each ginseng soluble fraction for 7 darts before the radiostrontium were administered by intragastric intubation. In the groups of treated with soluble fraction from ginseng hairy roots, the radioactivities of fecal and urinary excretion increased about 15% over than that of control groups and the whole body retention were about 38%. In the groups of treated with soluble fraction from native ginseng roots, the radioactivities of fecal and urinary excretion increased about 25% over than that of control groups and the whole body retention were about 28%. Also, the levels of radiostrontium accumulation retained significantly the higher percent in skeletons than in other organs.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2013

This work was carried out to investigate the performance of early laying period of large-type Korean native ducks. One hundred sixty eight ducks were used in this work and divided into A and B strains (6 replications/strain, 14 birds/replication). The days at first egg of A and B strains were the age of 154.5 and 154.7 days, egg weights were 69.1 g and 65.5 g, and body weights were 3,187 g and 3,105 g at the period of laying the first egg, respectively. The days at sexual maturity of A and B strains were the age of 175.8 and 171.5 days, egg weights were 75.2 g and 74.9 g, and body weights were 3,245 g and 3,225 g at the period of laying the first egg, respectively. There were no significant differences on the day of first egg, the day of sexual maturity, egg weight and body weight at first egg and the sexual maturity, average body weight, and daily feed intake between A and B strains (P>0.05). The day of the sexual maturity of B strain was earlier than that of A strain (P<0.05). However, weekly body weight was the highest at the age of 28 weeks (P<0.05), and weekly feed intake increased after 26 weeks old (P<0.05). Egg production (%) of B strain was higher than that of A strain at the age of 22~24 weeks (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference on egg production (%) the other weeks. A number of egg laid of B strain was higher than A strain at 22~24 weeks old (P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio of A and B strains were 10.7 and 6.53 at 24~24 weeks old, respectively, so feed conversion ratio of A strain was higher than that of B strain (P<0.05). Weekly feed conversion ratio wes the highest at 20~22 weeks old, and significantly decreased until 24~24 weeks old, but were lowly maintained from the age of 24 weeks to the age of 30 weeks. These results provided the basic data on the record of early laying period of large-type Korean native ducks.