• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2004

Worldwide, tuberculosis remains one of the leading infectious diseases, accounting for nearly 3 million deaths and more than 8 million new cases annually. DNA typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is important for the control of tuberculosis, since it can be used to track transmission route of tuberculosis, source of internal laboratory contaminations, and to answer questions on the nature of tuberculosis infections such as reactivation or exogenous reinfection of disease. At present, IS6110-based RFLP is the choice of method for typing large numbers of clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis, since it has the highest resolution power. However, RFLP requires long time, high cost and qualified experts, so only reference level laboratories can use the RFLP technique. In order to have an optional molecular typing method suitable for the clinical settings, this study evaluated the use of one of PCR-based typing methods, IS6110-based outward PCR for typing clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis. In brief, the results from this study showed that IS6110-based RFLP is useful to discriminate diverse clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis as well as to identify clinical isolates that belong to the same family or cluster groups that have been previously classified by RFLP analysis. In addition, the banding profiles resulted from IS6110-based outward PCR seemed to represent genomic characteristics of M. tuberculosis, since strains belong to the K-family generated unique band that is not present in any other strains but present only in the genome of K-family strains. The IS6110-based outward PCR was also shown to be useful with DNAs isolated directly from liquid cultures indicating this method can be suitable for typing M. tuberculosis in clinical settings.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.5-16
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• 1994

Particulate biogenic silica (PBSi), diatom abundance and dissolved silicate were measured in the Nakdong River estuary from March, 1991 to April, 1992. The PBSi concentrations were in the range of 0.40∼11.45 ug-at/l with being relatively high in spring and fall. The concentrations were higher in inner Bay than in outer Bay. In vertical profiles, the concentrations showed maximum in the surface layer, decreasing with depth, and then increased slightly in the bottom layer. the PBPi concentrations were related with diatom abundances, but the relatively high ratios of PBSi concentrations were related with diatom abundances, but the relatively high ratios of PBPi to diatom abundance (ca.500 pgSi$.$cell/SUP -1/) suggest that there be much detrital PBSi. The source of dissolved silicate was the Nakdong River discharge and the dissolved silicate does not seem to be a limiting factor of diatom growth due to relatively high concentration during the study period. the silicate concentrations in the bottom layer seem to be related with the PBSi concentrations existed just before the sampling time in addition to river discharge. Relatively low ratios of PBSi to POC (average 0.2 gSi$.$gC/SUP -1/) and relatively high ratios of POC to chlorophyll a (ca. 900) suggest that much detrital POC comprise the total POC.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.137-149
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• 2015

In the search for novel potent fungi-derived bioactive compounds for bioinsecticide applications, crude ethyl acetate culture filtrate extracts from 110 mangrove fungal endophytes were screened for their toxicity. Toxicity tests of all extracts against brine shrimp (Artemia salina) larvae were performed. The extracts with the highest toxicity were further examined for insecticidal activity against Spodoptera litura larvae and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity. The results showed that the extracts of five isolates exhibited the highest toxicity to brine shrimp at 50% lethal concentration ($LC_{50}$) values of 7.45 to 10.24 ppm. These five fungal isolates that obtained from Rhizophora mucronata were identified based on sequence data analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region of rDNA as Aspergillus oryzae (strain BPPTCC 6036), Emericella nidulans (strains BPPTCC 6035 and BPPTCC 6038), A. tamarii (strain BPPTCC 6037), and A. versicolor (strain BPPTCC 6039). The mean percentage of S. litura larval mortality following topical application of the five extracts ranged from 16.7% to 43.3%. In the AChE inhibition assay, the inhibition rates of the five extracts ranged from 40.7% to 48.9%, while eserine (positive control) had an inhibition rate of 96.8%, at a concentration of 100 ppm. The extracts used were crude extracts, so their potential as sources of AChE inhibition compounds makes them likely candidates as neurotoxins. The high-performance liquid chromatography profiles of the five extracts differed, indicating variations in their chemical constituents. This study highlights the potential of culture filtrate ethyl acetate extracts of mangrove fungal endophytes as a source of new potential bioactive compounds for bioinsecticide applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.2101-2101
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• 2001

Near-infrared spectroscopy is now being used in clinical diagnosis as a non-invasive monitor of tissue oxygenation state. However, due to lack of the optical pathlength information within tissues, it is still difficult to quantitate the hemoglobin concentration with present CW techniques. Time-resolved spectroscopy (TRS), which measures temporal profiles of emerging light from tissues, enables to estimate the pathlength distribution within tissues by converting time to distance. Consequently, quantitative measurement of tissue oxygenation is possible by analyzing the data with optical diffusion equation 1) or our Microscopic Beer-Lambert law2). Time-Resolved Spectroscopy System : TRS-1O3) Our TRS-10 system consists of a three-wavelength (759, 797, 833 nm) PLP as pulsed light source, a high speed PMT with high sensitivity and three signal-processing circuits for time-resolved measurement (CFD/TAC, A/D converter and histogram memory). Optical pulse train consisting of 759, 797 and 833nm is generated by PLP at 5㎒ repetition rate and irradiated a sample through a single optical fiber. The diffuse-reflected light from the sample is collected by a bundle fiber and then detected by the PMT for single photon measurement. After being amplified by a following fast amplifier, the electrical signals for each wavelength are picked out by CFD/TAC module. Then, a signal processing circuit integrated the TRS data for each wavelength individually. The simultaneous TRS measurement for three wavelengths achieved without any optical or mechanical switch. Experiment and Results Input and detection fibers of TRS-10 were attached at the human forehead with a fiber separation of 3cm. TRS measurements were continuously performed for about 20 minutes including 2 minutes hyper ventilation. It was observed that the total hemoglobin concentration was decreasing during the hyper ventilation and recovered until 2 minutes after hyper ventilation. On the other hand, the deoxy-hemoglobin concentration began to increase after hyper ventilation and had its peak at around 2 minute later, showing 502 drop from 75% to 60% due to inhibition of breathing by performing hyper ventilation. The results showed that this system might be able to quantitate the concentrations of oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin in the human brain.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Red grape seeds as functional food are a good source of important bioactive components such as phenolics and antioxidants, which decrease oxidative stress that contributes to the pathogenesis of hepatotoxicity. The current study was conducted in order to evaluate the protective effect of red grape dried seeds (RGDS) on antioxidant properties, lipid metabolism, and liver and kidney functions of rats with paracetamol (750 mg/kg) induced hepatotoxicity. MATERIALS/METHODS: RGDS was added to the basal diet at 5, 10, and 20%. Thirty five adult male rats were assigned to five groups (n = 7) for a six-week feeding period; group (1) normal control, group (2) induced control, groups (3, 4, and 5) fed a diet with RGPS at different levels, 5, 10, and 20%, respectively. At the end of the feeding period, animals' blood and tissues were collected for estimation of serum lipid profile, serum liver, and kidney biomarkers. The protection was measured by detecting lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) (in liver tissues), and liver histological examination. RESULTS: The results showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C), with a significant increase in level of high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) for RGDS groups compared to induced control. Rats administered a diet containing RGDS levels produced significant (P < 0.05) hepatoprotection by decreasing the activities of liver enzymes, kidney parameters, and lipid peroxidation, while levels of GSH, SOD, and CAT were increased significantly to near the normal levels. CONCLUSION: The RGDS 20% group was more effective than others against hepatotoxicity of paracetamol, which may be attributed to RGDS total phenols and antioxidant contents, which were 1.438 mg and 1.231 mg, respectively.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.595-605
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• 1994

The field observations. data analyses and numerical experiments are performed to investigate the short and long term beach deformation mechanisms in Haeundae beach. The schematic diagrams of deposition and erosion mechanism due to the attack of typhoons are described from the analysis on the beach widths and profiles. The short term beach deformation depends strongly on the characteristics of incident waves and wave-induced currents. The main incident wave and the calibration parameters of the shoreline change model are determined using the beach width data. Beacause the main incident wave approaches obliquly from the SE direction, the net westward longshore sediment transport occurs. Therefore the unbalance of longshore sediment budget in the east of the beach where the sediment source dose not exist causes a beach erosion. On the other hand, the deposited sand in the west is lost offshore by the storm wave action.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the clinical and metabolic determinants of circulating soluble leptin receptor (CSLR) and free leptin index (FLI) in pre-pubertal obese male children. Methods: We conducted a preliminary cross-sectional study at three tertiary hospitals and one public primary school. Eighty obese male children without growth and developmental abnormalities aged 5-9 years were recruited. In these children, obesity was solely caused by excessive food intake, and not by acute illness, medications, endocrine abnormalities, or any syndrome. Body mass index (BMI), body fat mass, carbohydrate intake, fat intake, high density lipoprotein cholesterol level, low density lipoprotein cholesterol level, triglyceride level, and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance are the potential determinants for leptin regulation, which is represented by CSLR level and FLI. Results: Carbohydrate was the main source of energy. BMI and body fat mass had negative weak correlation with CSLR and positive weak correlation with FLI. Furthermore, carbohydrate intake was found to be independently associated with CSLR based on the results of the multiple linear regression analysis. Following an increase in carbohydrate intake, CSLR level decreased progressively without any negative peak. Conclusion: Leptin regulation in prepubertal obese male children is associated with body composition and dietary intake. Carbohydrate intake is useful for predicting CSLR. Lipid profiles and insulin resistance are not related to both CSLR and FLI. Treatment and prevention of leptin resistance in obese children should focus on reducing BMI, fat mass, and carbohydrate intake.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.838-848
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• 2013

The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model is capable of providing high quality atmospheric chemistry profiles through the utilization of high-resolution meteorology and emissions data. However, it cannot simulate air quality accurately if input data are not appropriate and reliable. One of the most important inputs required by CMAQ is the air pollutants emissions, which determines air pollutants concentrations during the simulation. For the CMAQ simulation of Korean peninsula, we, in general, use the Korean National Emission Inventory data which are estimated by Clean Air Policy Support System (CAPSS). However, since they are not provided by model-ready emission data, we should convert CAPSS emissions into model-ready data. The SMOKE is the emission model we used in this study to generate CMAQ-ready emissions. Because processing the emissions data is very monotonous and tedious work, we have developed CAPSS2SMOKE program to convert CAPSS emissions into SMOKE-ready data with ease and effective. CAPSS2SMOKE program consists of many codes and routines such as source classification code, $PM_{10}$ to $PM_{2.5}$ ratio code, map projection conversion routine, spatial allocation routine, and so on. To verify the CAPSS2SMOKE program, we have run SMOKE using the CAPSS 2009 emissions and found that the SMOKE results inherits CAPSS emissions quite well.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 1992.10a
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• pp.21-21
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• 1992

The X-ray binary pulsar Her X-1 was observed with Ginga on 1988 August 28 during the orbital phase of 0.76 to 0.85 at the main-on phase of the 35 day cycle. During the observations the X-ray intensity varied by a factor of five or more on a time scale as short as 30 sec, due mostly to the soft X-ray absorption in the pre-eclipse phase. From the studies of pulse profiles and energy spectra, we revealed that there exists in the dipphase an unpulsed component which is "3% of the intensity at the non-absorbed high-level. We suggest that scattering of the source continuum by the optically thin hot corona is responsible for the unpoised component. In the spectral analysis, we find that the high-state non-absorbed spectra can be fitted by a power-law without absorption, and the spectra observed in the different abgorption states by two components of a power-law with the same photon index. An iron-K emission line is required in to the cases of fitting. The estimated equivalent width of the iron line varies from 0.18 to 0.51 key according to the change in the absorption column density along the line of sight. We suggest that the fluorescent iron line arises in a cool and relatively small region, like the Alfvensur face, and may be partially intercepted by the optically thick gas cloud passing across the line of sight.1 Korea Astronomy Observatorya The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in Japan3 Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.278-285
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• 2012

Poultry products are an important source of Salmonella enterica. An effective way to reduce food poisoning due to Salmonella would be to breed chickens more resistant to infection. Unfortunately host responses to Salmonella are complex with many factors involved. To learn more about responses to Salmonella in young chickens of 2 wk old, a cDNA Microarray containing 13,319 probes was performed to compare gene expression profiles between two chicken groups under control and Salmonella infected conditions. Newly hatched chickens were orally infected with S. enterica serovar Enteritidis. Since the intestine is one of the important barriers the bacteria encounter after oral inoculation, intestine gene expression was investigated at 2 wk old. There were 588 differentially expressed genes detected, of which 276 were known genes, and of the total number 266 were up-regulated and 322 were down-regulated. Differences in gene expression between the two chicken groups were found in control as well as Salmonella infected conditions indicating a difference in the intestine development between the two chicken groups which might be linked to the difference in Salmonella susceptibility. The differential expressions of 4 genes were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR and the results indicated that the expression changes of these genes were generally consistent with the results of GeneChips. The findings in this study have lead to the identification of novel genes and possible cellular pathways, which are host dependent.