• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.42-47
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• 2023

Carthamus tinctorius L. (known as safflower) is a valuable oil plant whose importance is increasing rapidly in the world due to its high adaptation to arid regions. The seeds of this unique plant are especially used in edible oil, soap, paint, varnish and lacquer production. Its flowers are used in vegetable dye production and medicinal purposes beside its features as a coloring and flavoring in food. After the oil is removed, the remaining pulp and plant parts are used as animal feed, and dry straw residues are used as fuel. Beside all these features, its usage as a herbal medicinal plants for various diseases has gained importance on recent years. In this study, it was designed a plant metabolomic approach which transfers all the recent data processing strategies of untargeted metabolomics in clinical applications to the present study. Q-TOF LC/MS-based analysis of the extracts (70% ethanol, hexane, and chloroform) for both seed and flowers was performed using a C18 column (Agilent Zorbax 1.8 µM, 100 × 2.1 mm). Differences were observed in seed and fruit extracts and these differences were visualized using principal component analysis (PCA) plots. The total number and intersections of the peaks in the extracts were visualized using peak count comparison graph. Based on the experimental results, the number of the detected peaks for seeds was higher than the ones for the flowers for all solvent systems to extract the samples.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 2023

Background: Osteoarthritis is a common condition with an increasing prevalence and is a common cause of disability. Osteoarthritic pain decreases the quality of life, and simple gait training is used to alleviate it. Knee osteoarthritis limits joint motion in the sagittal and lateral directions. Although many recent studies have activated orthotic research to increase knee joint stabilization, no study has used patellar tendon straps to treat knee osteoarthritis. Objects: This study aimed to determine the effects of patellar tendon straps on kinematic, mechanical, and electromyographic activation in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Patients with knee osteoarthritis were selected. After creating the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), leg length difference, Q-angle, and thumb side flexion angle of the foot were measured. Kinematic, kinetic, and muscle activation data during walking before and after wearing the orthosis were viewed. Results: After wearing the patellar tendon straps, hip adduction from the terminal stance phase, knee flexion from the terminal swing phase, and ankle plantar flexion angle increased during the pre-swing and initial swing phases. The cadence of spatiotemporal parameters and velocity increased, and step time, stride time, and foot force duration decreased. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the increase in plantar flexion after strap wearing is inferred by an increase due to neurological mechanisms, and adduction at the hip joint is inferred by an increase in adduction due to increased velocity. The increase in cadence and velocity and the decrease in gait speed and foot pressure duration may be due to joint stabilization. It can be inferred that joint stabilization is increased by wearing knee straps. Thus, wearing a patellar tendon strap during gait in patients with knee osteoarthritis influences kinematic changes in the sagittal plane of the joint.

• Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.417-426
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• 2018

This study aims to figure out what kind of competences Chinese teachers need when teaching foreigners Chinese and if there is a difference between the importance degree they cognise and the practical level they keep, which could help to indicate improving directions of teachers' cultivation and training. To achieve this purpose, we chose 56 in-service Chinese teachers in Q City, Shandong Province, China as the subject of investigation. As results of this study, about the importance degree of competences of teaching foreigners Chinese, the average score is pretty high, which could assure the competences Chinese teachers need, but as for practical level, the average score is relatively low, which could help to assure the improving directions. In conclusion, competences of teaching foreigners can be divided into knowledge, skill and attitude. To improve the practical level of Chinese teachers, it's necessary to attach more importance to Chinese culture, methods of language education, cross-cultural adaptation, research on teaching and so on in Chinese teachers' cultivation and training programs.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.64.1-64.1
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• 2019

The first high-resolution spectroscopic and new multiband photometric observations of the semi-detached Algol type binary XZ CMi were performed at the Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory (BOAO) and the Sobaeksan Optical Astronomy Observatory (SOAO), respectively. A total of 34 spectra were obtained using the 1.8 m reflector of the BOAO equipped with the Bohyunsan Optical Echelle Spectrograph to construct the radial velocity (RV) curves of the eclipsing pair. New BVRI photometric light curves were also covered by using the SOAO 61cm reflector and a CCD camera. A detailed analysis of all eclipse timings shows that the orbital period of XZ CMi has varied in an upward parabolic variation superposed on a sinusoidal oscillation with a period of 38.0 yr and a semi-amplitude of 0.0071 days. From the spectral analysis, the effective temperature and the projected rotational velocity of the primary component were determined to be T_eff,1 = 7387±161 K and v₁sini = 122±6 km s^-1, respectively. Our simultaneous synthesis of the double-lined RV and BVRI light curves gives the reliable system parameters of XZ CMi with a mass ratio (q) of 0.314, an orbital inclination (i) of 81.9 deg and a large temperature difference (∆T) of 2481 K. The individual masses and radii of both components are M₁ = 1.91±0.08M_⊙, M₂ = 0.60±0.02M_⊙, R₁ = 1.60±0.02R_⊙, R₂ = 1.13±0.02R_⊙, respectively. Although the primary component is located inside the δ Sct and γ Dor instability strips, no evidence of pulsation in the system was detected. The possible evolutionary status of XZ CMi is discussed.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.558-564
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• 2023

In this study, we designed and manufactured a large angular contact ball bearing (LACBB) with low deformation using JIS-SUJ2 steel and analyzed changes in its structural characteristics and chemical composition upon heat treatment. The bearing was produced by hot forging and heat treatment including a quenching and tempering (Q/T) process, and its properties were analyzed using 4 mm thick specimens. A difference in the size distribution of the carbide in the outer and inner parts of the bearing was observed and it was confirmed that large and non-uniform carbide was distributed in the inner part of the bearing. After heat treatment, the hardness value of the outer part increased from 13.4 HRC to 61 HRC and the inner part increased from 8.0 HRC to 59.7 HRC. As a result of X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, the volume fraction of the retained austenite contained in the outer part was calculated to be 3.5~4.8 % and the inner part was calculated to be 3.6~5.0 %. The surface chemical composition and the content of chemical bonds were quantified through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and a decrease in C=C bonds and an increase in Fe-C bonds were confirmed.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.381-394
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• 2023

This study was conducted to monitor the antibiotics resistance of human-harmful bacteria isolated in the agricultural environment for hot peppers (Capsicum annuum) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). As a result, we isolated 120 bacterial species (34 on fruits, 48 in soil, 21 in water, and 17 in manure), identified them with the 16S rRNA sequence, analyzed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for 26 antibiotics using Sensititre ARIS Hi-Q system and then evaluated whether each bacterial genus acquired resistance for the tested antibiotics or not, according to the CLSI criteria. From difference in MIC between eco-friendly (EFM) and practical (PFM) cultivation farms, Klebsiella spp. isolated from EFM was resistant to ampicillin (AMP) and nalidixic acid (NAL), and that isolated from PFM was resistant to streptomycin (STR) and tetracycline (TET). Enterobacter spp. isolated from EFM was resistant to AMP and azithromycin (AZI), and that isolated from PFM was resistant to AMP, AZI, and STR. Meanwhile, Pseudomonas spp. isolated from EFM and PFM were all resistant to AMP, AZI, cefotaxime (FOT), cefoxitin (FOX), ceftriaxone (AXO), CHL, NAL, and STR. Staphylococcus spp. isolated from EFM and PFM were resistant to gentamycin (GEN), STR, and kanamycin (KAN), and in particular, that from EFM showed resistance for erythromycin (ERY). In conclusion, our study suggested that EFM lead STR antibiotics resistance for human-harmful bacteria to decrease, because only the bacteria isolated from hot pepper and tomato crop with PFM have showed resistance against STR antibiotics, regardless of bacterial genus.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2024

We have proposed a method for estimating the size-dependent mortality (M) of short-lived semelparous cephalopod species. To estimate the size-dependent mortality of a winter cohort of the common squid Todarodes pacificus, a commercially important cephalopod species in the North Pacific, we used the data and results of previous studies. On the basis of the bigger-is-better the steady-state hypothesis, we derived a theoretical mortality curve by assuming M as an inverse function of mantle length (ML). The derived constant for size-specific instantaneous mortality (q), assuming an embryonic survival rate of 86.6%, was 0.413 day^-1 mm in ML. Estimates of life-stage-specific M ranged from 0.0280 to 0.435 day^-1 for paralarvae, 0.00278 to 0.0269 day^-1 for juveniles, 0.00197 to 0.00275 day^-1 for pre-spawning adults, and 0.0913 to 0.0920 day^-1 for post-spawning adults. Sensitivity analyses showed that the derived size-dependent M did not significantly change with varying embryonic survival rates, from 48%, the lowest reported value, to 100%. Additionally, comparison of the length frequencies derived from our simulations with those derived from catch data did not show a significant difference, suggesting that our approach and procedures are reliable for stock assessment and management of the common squid.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.725-734
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• 2024

CYP102A1 from Bacillus megaterium is an important enzyme in biotechnology, because engineered CYP102A1 enzymes can react with diverse substrates and produce human cytochrome P450-like metabolites. Therefore, CYP102A1 can be applied to drug metabolite production. Terpinen-4-ol is a cyclic monoterpene and the primary component of essential tea tree oil. Terpinen-4-ol was known for therapeutic effects, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. Because terpenes are natural compounds, examining novel terpenes and investigating the therapeutic effects of terpenes represent responses to social demands for eco-friendly compounds. In this study, we investigated the catalytic activity of engineered CYP102A1 on terpinen-4-ol. Among CYP102A1 mutants tested here, the R47L/F81I/F87V/E143G/L188Q/N213S/E267V mutant showed the highest activity to terpinen-4-ol. Two major metabolites of terpinen-4-ol were generated by engineered CYP102A1. Characterization of major metabolites was confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), gas chromatography-MS, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Based on the LC-MS results, the difference in mass-to-charge ratio of an ion (m/z) between terpinen-4-ol and its major metabolites was 16. One major metabolite was defined as 1,4-dihydroxyp-menth-2-ene by NMR. Given these results, we speculate that another major metabolite is also a mono-hydroxylated product. Taken together, we suggest that CYP102A1 can be applied to make novel terpene derivatives.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.395-406
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• 2023

The large amount of energy required for successful crop production is the main challenge in greenhouse cropping systems. As a response to this challenge a comprehensive evaluation of greenhouse energy consumption was carried out in two structurally similar single-span greenhouses with different thermal curtain positions, with particular attention to energy productivity, specific energy, net energy, and energy ratio. The greenhouses are used for strawberry production. In the R-greenhouse (RGH), the thermal curtain hanged directly at the roof ridge, whereas in the Q-greenhouse (QGH), the thermal curtain was placed 5° from an imaginary vertical axis, from the middle of the roof ridge downwards to the north side of the greenhouse roof. The relevant data were recorded using standard methods. The results indicated that the energy expended in the RGH and QGH systems was 2,186.48 and 2,189.26 MJ/m², respectively. Electricity and nitrogen fertilizer contributed the highest energy input in both greenhouses and in all seasons. The output energy was 3.12 and 3.82 MJ/m², respectively, in RGH and QGH in season I and 4.40 and 4.87 MJ/m² in season II. In terms of energy expended, there was no significant difference between the two greenhouses, nor between the two seasons. These results indicate that greenhouses of the size used in this investigation are not viable in terms of energy productivity, energy-use efficiency, and subsequent economic performance. However, further studies should be conducted to scale-up the information obtained from this investigation.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2006

Purpose : In Korea, the school urine screening program is a useful tool for screening urine abnormalities. It is particularly useful in early detection of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis(MPGN) I, which frequently progresses to chronic renal failure. In this study, we studied the medical history, laboratory findings, and histologic findings of MPGN to gain helpful information on early detection and treatment. Methods : The subjects were 19 children, who were diagnosed with MPGN from kidney biopsies that were performed in ten nationwide university hospitals because of abnormal urine findings from school urine screening programs conducted from July 1999 to April 2004. We divided the patients into 2 groups, a nephrotic range proteinuria group(n=8) and a non-nephrotic proteinuria group(n=11), and retrospectively analyzed the clinical features, laboratory findings, histologic findings, treatment, and clinical course. Results : The mean age at the first abnormal urinalysis was $10.6{\pm}2.2$ years in the nephrotic proteinuria group and $9.6{\pm}3.2$ years in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group. The mean age at the time of kidney biopsy was $11.3{\pm}2.3$ years in the nephrotic range proteinuria group and $10.4{\pm}3.2$ years in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean age and sex between the two groups. In the nephrotic proteinuria group, 6 children had a low plasma C3 level and in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group, 8 children had a low plasma C3 level, but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in the laboratory test results(including WBC count, RBC count, platelet count and other serologic tests) between the 2 groups except for 24 hour urine protein secretion. There was no difference between the 2 groups with regard to the acute and chronic changes in the glomerulus on light microscopic findings, IgG, IgA, Ig M, C1q, C3, C4, fibrogen deposition on immunofluoroscence findings, and mesangial deposits, subendothelial deposits, and subepithelial deposits on electron microscopic findings. The children were treated with corticosteroids, ACE(angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors, dipyridamole and other immunosuppressive agents. During the course of treatment, there were no children whose clinical condition worsened. Among 19 children, 3 children went into remission(2 in the nephrotic proteinuria group, 1 in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group) and 9 children went into a partial remission(4 in the nephrotic proteinuria group, 5 in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group) on urinalysis. There was no significant difference in the treatment results between the two groups. Conclusion : The 73.7% of children who were incidentally diagnosed with MPGN by the school urine screening program had reduced C3. 42.1% of the children had nephrotic range proteinuria. There were no significant differences in clinical features, laboratory test results, light microscopic, immunofluorescence microscopic, and electron microscopic findings between the nephrotic proteinuria group and the non-nephrotic proteinuria group except for the 24 hour urine protein secretion. Therefore, for early detection of MPGN during the school urine screening program, we strongly recommend a kidney biopsy if children have abnormal urine findings such as persistent proteinuria and persistent hematuria, or if the serum C3 is reduced.