• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.491-495
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• 2016

Background: Small B-cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) is difficult to be distinguished from non-neoplastic reactive processes using conventional haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining due to different interpretations among pathologists with diagnosis based on morphologic features. Ancillary examinations such as immunohistochemical (IHC) staining are essential. However, negative or doubtful results are still sometimes obtained due to unsatisfactory tissue processing or IHC technique. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a molecular diagnostic technique is very sensitive and specific. Clonality detection of heavy chain immunoglobulin (IgH) gene rearrangement has been widely used to establish diagnosis of B-cell NHL. Aims: To elaborate interobserver variation in small B-cell NHL diagnosis based on morphologic features only and to confirm sensitivity and specificity of the PCR technique as an ancillary method. Materials and Methods: A toptal of 28 samples of small B cell NHL and suspicious lymphoma were interpreted by 3 pathologists in Sardjito General Hospital based on their morphology only. The reliability of assessment and the coefficient of interobserver agreement were calculated by Fleiss kappa statistics. Interpretation results were confirmed with IHC staining (CD20, CD3, Bcl2). PCR was performed to analyze the clonality of IgH gene rearrangement. Results: Interobserver agreement in morphologic evalution of small B cell NHL and chronic lymphadenitis revealed kappa coefficient 0.69 included in the substantial agreement category. The cases were divided into 3 groups based on morphology and IHC results; lymphoma, reactive process and undetermined group. PCR analysis showed 90% sensitivity and 60% specificity. Conclusions: The present study revealed a substantial agreement among pathologists in small B-cell NHL diagnosis. For difficult cases, PCR is useful as complementary method to morphologic and IHC examinations to establish definitive diagnosis.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.213-219
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• 2015

Samples from soils and crops were collected and analyzed in order to investigate the interactions of selenium among rocks, soils, and crops by hydrothermal alteration near epithermal mines in the region of Mio-san, Haenam. Soil samples included 6 samples each from mountain and farm area and compositional minerals and their contents were analyzed by water content, pH, ICP, XRD, XRF. Crop samples from onion and scallion were analyzed for chemical composition to elucidate the relationship with soils. Results from XRD analysis for soil samples showed that major compositional minerals are qualtz and feldspar, and illite, chlorite, hematite formed by hydrothermal alteration were included on a small scale. The pH ranges of soil samples from mountain and farm were measured at 4.6~4.9 and 5.2~6.7, respectively. The higher pH in farm soils may result from fertilization during agricultural activities. Results from ICP analysis showed that, compared to soil samples from mountain area with no potassium and calcium, significant amount of K and Ca were detected in soil samples from farms which is affected by fertilization. In a similar manner, potassium and calcium were absorbed and detected in crop samples at relatively high concentrations (116.89~169.79 ppm for K and 20.18~32.29 ppm for Ca). While the selenium contents in soil samples ranged from 18.35 ppb to 70.31 ppb which showed no significant difference, high concentrations of selenium were detected in onion (119.48~179.50 ppb) and scallion (146.65 ppb). These difference in enrichment for each element may result from the distinctive adsorption characteristics depending on crops.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.287-307
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate levels of mathematically gifted students' understanding of statistical samples through comparison with non-gifted students. For this purpose, rubric for understanding of samples was developed based on the students' responses to tasks: no recognition of a part of population (level 0), consideration of samples as subsets of population (level 1), consideration of samples as a quasi-proportional, small-scale version of population (level 2), recognition of the importance of unbiased samples (level 3), and recognition of the effect of random sampling (level 4). Based on the rubric, levels of each student's understanding of samples were identified. t tests were conducted to test for statistically significant differences between mathematically gifted students and non-gifted students. For both of elementary and middle school graders, the t tests show that there is a statistically significant difference between mathematically gifted students and non-gifted students. Table of frequencies of each level, however, shows that levels of mathematically gifted students' understanding of samples were not distributed at the high levels but were overlapped with levels of non-gifted students' understanding of samples.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Laboratory workers, in resource-poor countries, still consider PCR detection of Giardia lamblia more costly and more time-consuming than the classical parasitological techniques. Based on 2 published primers, an in-house one-round touchdown PCR-RFLP assay was developed. The assay was validated with an internal amplification control included in reactions. Performance of the assay was assessed with DNA samples of various purities, 91 control fecal samples with various parasite load, and 472 samples of unknown results. Two cysts per reaction were enough for PCR detection by the assay with exhibited specificity (Sp) and sensitivity (Se) of 100% and 93%, respectively. Taking a published small subunit rRNA reference PCR test results (6%; 29/472) as a nominated gold standard, G. lamblia was identified in 5.9% (28/472), 5.2%, (25/472), and 3.6% (17/472) by PCR assay, $RIDA^{(R)}$ Quick Giardia antigen detection test (R-Biopharm, Darmstadt, Germany), and iodine-stained smear microscopy, respectively. The percent agreements (kappa values) of 99.7% (0.745), 98.9% (0.900), and 97.7% (0.981) were exhibited between the assay results and that of the reference PCR, immunoassay, and microscopy, respectively. Restriction digestion of the 28 Giardia-positive samples revealed genotype A pattern in 12 and genotype B profile in 16 samples. The PCR assay with the described format and exhibited performance has a great potential to be adopted in basic clinical laboratories as a detection tool for G. lamblia especially in asymptomatic infections. This potential is increased more in particular situations where identification of the parasite genotype represents a major requirement as in epidemiological studies and infection outbreaks.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.103-113
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• 2015

Objective : Five most generally adopting basic oriental prescriptions (yookmijihwangtang, ojeoksan, sipjeondaebotang, samultang, bojoongikgitang) samples were collected from 10 oriental hospitals nationwide and the transferring ratio to aqueous phase (TRAP) were calculated. Method : The samples are grounded evenly and the decocted at $120^{\circ}C$ for 12 min on hot plate and then filtered. The concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr and Pb in before and after decoction were measure by ICP/MS and the TRAPs were calculated. Results : The concentrations of As, Cr and Pb in the ground samples before decoction were all below criteria level, and TRAP values were also very low (<10%). For Cd, although some ground samples before decoction showed relatively high concentration level compare to the criteria level, because of their low TRAP (~3%), the actual concentrations in the decoction were quite low compare the criteria level. The Co's concentrations in the ground samples before decoction were all relatively low level. However, the TRAP of Co was astonishingly high value of around 40% average. Conclusion : The toxic heavy metal concentrations in the decoction were very low compare to the criteria level. The TRAPs are less than <10% except Co. The toxic heavy metals in the prescriptions are mainly remained in the residue and the only very small fraction may transferred to the decoctions. Therefore the toxicity of the oriental herbal medicine about the toxic heavy metal may be overstressed. The Co's TRAP turned out to be quite high value (40% average). Since the criteria level wes not established yet, the safety of decoctions according to Co was not fully confirmed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.1519-1519
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• 2001

The aim of this work was to test the feasibility of NIRS in analysing textural characteristics of “Pasta Filata” cheese during the shelf-life. For this purpose, 128 samples of “Pasta Filata” cheese, subdivided into two sets on the basis of the wax used to avoid mechanical damages (paraffin, biodegradable wax), were analysed by using an InfraAlyzer 500 (Bran+Luebbe). Analyses were performed at room temperature. Samples were cut into small cylinders (D=3.2 cm, height = 1 cm), in agreement with literature information. Data were processed by using Sesame Software (Bran+Luebbe). Samples were analysed, during the shelf-life, at 90 and 120 days. In parallel, textural characteristics were detected carrying out a compression method by using an Universal Testing Machine Instron model 4301 (Instron Corporation, Canton, Massachusetts). As compression probe was used a cylinder (D = 5.8 cm, height = 3.7 cm) and a speed rate of 20mm/min was applied. The load at 20 mm of compression was recorded on sample cylinders of 1.7 cm (D) by 2 cm (height). Qualitative analysis of full spectra showed the possibility to gather samples on the basis of the days of shelf-life. The textural characteristics of cheese during the shelf-life was evaluated by comparing NIRS data with rheological results. The best correlation was obtained applying MLR to the first derivative of normalized absorbance values at seven wavelengths. Load values were plotted against the NIR prediction values based on first derivatives. NIRS proved to be an useful tool in classifying samples on the basis of the shelf-life period as well as in predicting their textural characteristics ($R^2$= 0.916, SEC = 0.192, SEP = 0.248, SEV = 0.345).

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2012

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the lead levels in blood samples from nielloware workers, to determine airborne lead levels, to describe the workers' hygiene behaviors, and to ascertain and describe any correlations between lead levels in blood samples and lead levels in airborne samples. Methods: Blood samples and airborne samples from 45 nielloware workers were collected from nielloware workplaces in Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province, Thailand. Lead levels were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), at a wavelength of 283.3 nm. FAAS was used especially adequate for metals at relatively high concentration levels. Results: The geometric mean of the 45 airborne lead levels was 81.14 ${\mu}g/m^3$ (range 9.0-677.2 ${\mu}g/m^3$). The geometric mean blood lead level of the 45 workers was 16.25 ${\mu}g/dL$ (range 4.59-39.33 ${\mu}g/dL$). No worker had a blood lead level > 60 ${\mu}g/dL$. A statistically significantly positive correlation was found between airborne lead level and blood lead levels (r = 0.747, p < 0.01). It was observed that personal hygiene was poor; workers smoked and did not wash their hands before drinking or eating. It was concluded that these behaviors had a significant correlation with blood lead levels (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Improvements in working conditions and occupational health education are required due to the correlation found between blood leads and airborne lead levels.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.113-117
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• 2015

Cryptosporidium spp., ubiquitous enteric parasitic protozoa of vertebrates, recently emerged as an important cause of economic loss and zoonosis. The present study aimed to determine the distribution and species of Cryptosporidium in post-weaned and adult pigs in Shaanxi province, northwestern China. A total of 1,337 fresh fecal samples of post-weaned and adult pigs were collected by sterile disposable gloves from 8 areas of Shaanxi province. The samples were examined by Sheather's sugar flotation technique and microscopy at${\times}400$ magnification for Cryptosporidium infection, and the species in positive samples was further identified by PCR amplification of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene. A total of 44 fecal samples were successfully amplified by the nested PCR of the partial SSU rRNA, with overall prevalence of 3.3%. The average prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in each pig farms ranged from 0 to 14.4%. Species identification by sequencing of SSU rRNA gene revealed that 42 (3.1%) samples were Cryptosporidium suis and 2 (0.15%) were Cryptosporidium scrofarum. C. suis had the highest prevalence (7.5%) in growers and the lowest in breeding pigs (0.97%). C. suis was the predominant species in pre-weaned and adult pigs, while C. scrofarum infected pigs older than 3 months only. A season-related difference of C. suis was observed in this study, with the highest prevalence in autumn (5.5%) and the lowest (1.7%) in winter. The present study provided basic information for control of Cryptosporidium infection in pigs and assessment of zoonotic transmission of pigs in Shaanxi province, China.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2015

Glancing angle deposition (GLAD) is a powerful technique to control the morphology and microstructure of thin film prepared by physical vapor deposition. Chromium (Cr) thin films were deposited on a polymer substrate by a sputtering technique using GLAD. The change in thickness and Vickers microhardness for the samples was observed with a change in the glancing angle. The adhesion properties of the critical load (Lc) by a scratch tester for the samples were also measured with varying the glancing angle. The critical load, thickness and Vickers microhardness for the samples decreased with an increase in the glancing angle. However, the thickness of the Cr thin film prepared at a $90^{\circ}$ glancing angle showed a relatively large value of 50 % compared to that of the sample prepared at $0^{\circ}$. The results of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the effect of GLAD on the microstructure of samples prepared by sputter technique was not as remarkable as the samples prepared by evaporation technique. The relatively small change in thickness and microstructure of the Cr thin film is due to the superior step-coverage properties of the sputter technique.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.441-451
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• 2016

Deep sequencing has generated 52 contigs derived from five viruses; Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV), Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV), Apple green crinkle associated virus (AGCaV), and Apricot latent virus (ApLV) were identified from eight apple samples showing small leaves and/or growth retardation. Nucleotide (nt) sequence identity of the assembled contigs was from 68% to 99% compared to the reference sequences of the five respective viral genomes. Sequences of ASPV and ASGV were the most abundantly represented by the 52 contigs assembled. The presence of the five viruses in the samples was confirmed by RT-PCR using specific primers based on the sequences of each assembled contig. All five viruses were detected in three of the samples, whereas all samples had mixed infections with at least two viruses. The most frequently detected virus was ASPV, followed by ASGV, ApLV, ACLSV, and AGCaV which were withal found in mixed infections in the tested samples. AGCaV was identified in assembled contigs ID 1012480 and 93549, which showed 82% and 78% nt sequence identity with ORF1 of AGCaV isolate Aurora-1. ApLV was identified in three assembled contigs, ID 65587, 1802365, and 116777, which showed 77%, 78%, and 76% nt sequence identity respectively with ORF1 of ApLV isolate LA2. Deep sequencing assay was shown to be a valuable and powerful tool for detection and identification of known and unknown virome in infected apple trees, here identifying ApLV and AGCaV in commercial orchards in Korea for the first time.