• Title/Summary/Keyword: genetic safety

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Comparison of the Microsatellite and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Methods for Discriminating among Hanwoo (Korean Native Cattle), Imported, and Crossbred Beef in Korea

  • Heo, Eun-Jeong;Ko, Eun-Kyung;Seo, Kun-Ho;Chon, Jung-Whan;Kim, Young-Jo;Park, Hyun-Jung;Wee, Sung-Hwan;Moon, Jin-San
    • Food Science of Animal Resources
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    • v.34 no.6
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    • pp.763-768
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    • 2014
  • The identity of 45 Hanwo and 47 imported beef (non-Hanwoo) samples from USA and Australia were verified using the microsatellite (MS) marker and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) methods. Samples were collected from 19 supermarkets located in the city of Seoul and Gyeonggi province, South Korea, from 2009 to 2011. As a result, we obtained a 100% concordance rate between the MS and SNP methods for identifying Hanwoo and non-Hanwoo beef. The MS method presented a 95% higher individual discriminating value for Hanwoo (97.8%) than for non-Hanwoo (61.7%) beef. For further comparison of the MS and SNP methods, blood samples were collected and tested from 54 Hanwoo ${\times}$ Holstein crossbred cattle (first, second, and third generations). By using the SNP and MS methods, we correctly identified all of the first-generation crossbred cattle as non-Hanwoo; in addition, among the second and third generation crossbreds, the ratio identified as Hanwoo was 20% and 10%, respectively. The MS method used in our study provides more information, but requires sophisticated techniques during each experimental process. By contrast, the SNP method is simple and has a lower error rate. Our results suggest that the MS and SNP methods are useful for discriminating Hanwoo from non-Hanwoo breeds.

Safety Assessment of Lactiplantibacillus (formerly Lactobacillus) plantarum Q180

  • Kwon, Yoo Jin;Chun, Byung Hee;Jung, Hye Su;Chu, Jaeryang;Joung, Hyunchae;Park, Sung Yurb;Kim, Byoung Kook;Jeon, Che Ok
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.31 no.10
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    • pp.1420-1429
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    • 2021
  • The safety of the probiotic strain Q180, which exerts postprandial lipid-lowering effects, was bioinformatically and phenotypically evaluated. The genome of strain Q180 was completely sequenced, and single circular chromosome of 3,197,263 bp without any plasmid was generated. Phylogenetic and related analyses using16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences revealed that strain Q180 is a member of Lactiplantibacillus (Lp., formerly Lactobacillus) plantarum. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes were bioinformatically analyzed using all Lp. plantarum genomes available in GenBank, which showed that AMR genes are present differently depending on Lp. plantarum strains. Bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that some mobile genetic elements such as prophages and insertion sequences were identified in the genome of strain Q180, but because they did not contain harmful genes such as AMR genes and virulence factor (VF)- and toxin-related genes, it was suggested that there is no transferability of harmful genes. The minimum inhibition concentrations of seven tested antibiotics suggested by the European Food Safety Authority guidelines were slightly lower than or equal to the microbiological cut-off values for Lp. plantarum. Strain Q180 did not show hemolytic and gelatinase activities and biogenic amine-producing ability. Taken together, this study demonstrated the safety of strain Q180 in terms of absence of AMR genes and VF- and toxin-related genes as a probiotic strain.

Material distribution optimization of 2D heterogeneous cylinder under thermo-mechanical loading

  • Asgari, Masoud
    • Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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    • v.53 no.4
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    • pp.703-723
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    • 2015
  • In this paper optimization of volume fraction distribution in a thick hollow cylinder with finite length made of two-dimensional functionally graded material (2D-FGM) and subjected to steady state thermal and mechanical loadings is considered. The finite element method with graded material properties within each element (graded finite elements) is used to model the structure. Volume fractions of constituent materials on a finite number of design points are taken as design variables and the volume fractions at any arbitrary point in the cylinder are obtained via cubic spline interpolation functions. The objective function selected as having the normalized effective stress equal to one at all points that leads to a uniform stress distribution in the structure. Genetic Algorithm jointed with interior penalty-function method for implementing constraints is effectively employed to find the global solution of the optimization problem. Obtained results indicates that by using the uniform distribution of normalized effective stress as objective function, considerably more efficient usage of materials can be achieved compared with the power law volume fraction distribution. Also considering uniform distribution of safety factor as design criteria instead of minimizing peak effective stress affects remarkably the optimum volume fractions.

Gene-Editing: Interpretation of Current Law and Legal Policy

  • Kim, Na-Kyoung
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.343-349
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    • 2017
  • tWith the development of the third-generation gene scissors, CRISPR-Cas9, concerns are being raised about ethical and social repercussions of the new gene-editing technology. In this situation, this article explores the legislation and interpretation of the positive laws in South Korea. The BioAct does not specify and regulate 'gene editing' itself. However, assuming that genetic editing is used in the process of research and treatment, we can look to the specific details of the regulations for research on humans as well as gene therapy research in order to see how genetic editing is regulated under the BioAct. BioAct differentiates the regulation between (born) humans and embryos etc. and the regulation differ entirely in the manner and scope. Moreover, due to the fact that gene therapy products are regarded as drugs, they fall under different regulations. The Korean Pharmacopoeia Act put stringent sanctions on clinical trials for gene therapy products and the official Notification "Approval and Examination Regulations for Biological Products, etc." by Food and Drug Safety Administration may be applied to gene editing for gene therapy purposes.

Effects of Styrene-metabolizing Enzyme Polymorphisms and Lifestyle Behaviors on Blood Styrene and Urinary Metabolite Levels in Workers Chronically Exposed to Styrene

  • Kim, Ki-Woong
    • Toxicological Research
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    • v.31 no.4
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    • pp.355-361
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    • 2015
  • The aim of this study was to investigate whether genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 and lifestyle habits (smoking, drinking, and exercise) modulate the levels of urinary styrene metabolites such as mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) after occupational exposure to styrene. We recruited 79 male workers who had received chronic exposure in styrene fiberglass-reinforced plastic manufacturing factories. We found that serum albumin was significantly correlated with blood styrene/ambient styrene (BS/AS), urinary styrene (US)/AS, and US/BS ratios as well as urinary metabolites, that total protein correlated with US/MA and US/PGA ratios, and that low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol significantly correlated with US/BS, US/MA, and US/PGA ratios. Multiple logistic regression analyses using styrene-metabolizing enzyme genotypes and lifestyle habits as dependent variables and blood and urine styrene concentrations and urine styrene metabolite levels as independent variables revealed that $CYP2E1^*5$ was associated with the MA/US ratio and GSTM1 with US/BS, that a smoking habit was associated with US/AS and MA/US ratios and MA and PGA levels, and that regular exercise was correlated with PGA/US. In conclusion, the results suggested that genetic polymorphisms of styrene-metabolizing enzymes, lifestyle behaviors, and albumin and LDL-cholesterol serving as homeostasis factors together are involved in styrene metabolism.

Microbiological Quality Assessment of a Local Milk Product, Kwacha Golla, of Bangladesh

  • Rahman, M.M.;Rahman, M.Mashiar;Arafat, S.M.;Rahman, Atiqur;Khan, M.Z.H.;Rahman, M.S.
    • Applied Biological Chemistry
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    • v.51 no.4
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    • pp.251-257
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    • 2008
  • Different types of milk products, such as kwacha golla, mawa, cheese, curd, and chocolate are popular in Bangladesh. However, the microbiological safety of these products is poorly understood. This study was performed to assess the microbiological quality of kwacha golla, a local milk product. Kwacha golla samples were collected from ten different areas of Rajshahi and Kushtia regions, and the quality of the each sample was assessed using various parameters including standard plate count, total coliform, fecal coliform, total fungi, and spore-forming bacteria, as well as food-borne microorganisms. Out of 300 samples, total coliform was detected at 56.66% (n= 300), exceeding the minimum allowable limit of 36.66%. Similarly, experiments were carried out with fungi and food-borne pathogens including Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella sp., and Staphylococcus aureus. Results revealed 85.33, 53, and 49.33% of the samples were contaminated by fungi, E. coli, and L. monocytogenes, respectively. However, all samples showed no contaminations of Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus sp. Therefore, this study could be helpful to the people of Bangladesh by providing information on the possibility of a major health problem caused by the consumption of kwacha golla.

Multi-step Optimization of the Moving Body for the High Speed Machinining Center using Weighted Method and G.A. (가중치방법과 유전알고리즘을 이용한 금형가공센터 고속이송체의 다단계 최적설계)

  • 최영휴;배병태;강영진;이재윤;김태형
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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    • 1997.10a
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    • pp.23-27
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    • 1997
  • This paper introduces the structural design optimization of a high speed machining center using multi-step optimization combined with G.A.(Genetic Algorithm) and Weighted Method. In this case, the design problem is to find out the best design variables which minimize the static compliance, the dynamic compliance, and the weight of the machine structure simultaneously. Dimensional thicknesses of the thirteen structural members of the machine structure are adopted as design variables. The first step is the cross-section configuration optimization, in which the area moment of inertia of the cross-section for each structural member is maximized while its area is kept constant The second step is a static design optimization, In which the static compliance and the weight of the machine structure are minimized under some dimensional and safety constraints. The third step IS a dynamic design optimization, where the dynamic compliance and the structure weight are minimized under the same constraints. After optunization, static and dynamic compliances were reduced to 62.3% and 95.7% Eorn the initial design, while the weight of the moving bodies are also in the feaslble range.

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Pros and cons of using aberrant glycosylation as companion biomarkers for therapeutics in cancer

  • Kang, Jeong-Gu;Ko, Jeong-Heon;Kim, Yong-Sam
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.44 no.12
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    • pp.765-771
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    • 2011
  • Cancer treatment has been stratified by companion biomarker tests that serve to provide information on the genetic status of cancer patients and to identify patients who can be expected to respond to a given treatment. This stratification guarantees better efficiency and safety during treatment. Cancer patients, however, marginally benefit from the current companion biomarker-aided treatment regimens, presumably because companion biomarker tests are dependent solely on the mutation status of several genes status quo. In the true sense of the term, "personalized medicine", cancer patients are deemed to be identified individually by their molecular signatures, which are not necessarily confined to genetic mutations. Glycosylation is tremendously dynamic and shows alterations in cancer. Evidence is accumulating that aberrant glycosylation contributes to the development and progression of cancer, holding the promise for use of glycosylation status as a companion biomarker in cancer treatment. There are, however, several challenges derived from the lack of a reliable detection system for aberrant glycosylation, and a limited library of aberrant glycosylation. The challenges should be addressed if glycosylation status is to be used as a companion biomarker in cancer treatment and contribute to the fulfillment of personalized medicine.

Capacity design by developed pole placement structural control

  • Amini, Fereidoun;Karami, Kaveh
    • Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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    • v.39 no.1
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    • pp.147-168
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    • 2011
  • To ensure safety and long term performance, structural control has rapidly matured over the past decade into a viable means of limiting structural responses to strong winds and earthquakes. Nonlinear response history analysis requires rigorous procedure to compute seismic demands. Therefore the simplified nonlinear analysis procedures are useful to determine performance of the structure. In this investigation, application of improved capacity demand diagram method in the control of structural system is presented for the first time. Developed pole assignment method (DPAM) in structural systems control is introduced. Genetic algorithm (GA) is employed as an optimization tool for minimizing a target function that defines values of coefficient matrices providing the placement of actuators and optimal control forces. The ground acceleration is modified under induced control forces. Due to this, performance of structure based on improved nonlinear demand diagram is selected to threshold of nonlinear behavior of structure. With small energy consumption characteristics, semi-active devices are especially attractive solutions for limiting earthquake effects. To illustrate the efficiency of DPAM, a 30-story steel moment frame structure employing the semi-active control devices is applied. In comparison to the widely used linear quadratic regulation (LQR), the DPAM controller was shown to be just as effective and better in the reduction of structural responses during large earthquakes.

On-Time Internal Pedestrian Localization Algorithm Based on Ad-Hoc Networks (애드혹 네트워크 기반의 실내 보행자 위치 추적 알고리즘)

  • Han, Ji-Yong;Jang, Jae-Min;Han, Junghee
    • The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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    • v.39C no.11
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    • pp.1000-1008
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    • 2014
  • Situation awareness for vehicles and pedestrians is very critical to ensure safety. While on-board sensors or systems can easily detect line-of-sight pedestrians, it is difficult to locate the positions of out-of-sight pedestrians especially with no GPS service. This paper proposes a method for accurate and on-time localization of indoor pedestrians by nearby vehicles. The proposed method is based on mobile ad-hoc networks among vehicles and pedestrians, without relying on infrastructures such as GPS, WiFi AP, and Bluetooth-based systems. Also, this paper develops a genetic algorithm to accurately and promptly locate pedestrians. Finally, simulation results are presented to quantitatively evaluate the proposed method compared to other studies.