• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.14.1-14.11
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• 2021

Background: Quantitation of urine protein is important in dogs with chronic kidney disease. Various analyzers are used to measure urine protein-to-creatinine ratios (UPCR). Objectives: This study aimed to compare the UPCR obtained by three types of analyzers (automated wet chemistry analyzer, in-house dry chemistry analyzer, and dipstick reading device) and investigate whether the differences could affect clinical decision process. Methods: Urine samples were collected from 115 dogs. UPCR values were obtained using three analyzers. Bland-Altman and Passing Bablok tests were used to analyze agreement between the UPCR values. Urine samples were classified as normal or proteinuria based on the UPCR values obtained by each analyzer and concordance in the classification evaluated with Cohen's kappa coefficient. Results: Passing and Bablok regression showed that there were proportional as well as constant difference between UPCR values obtained by a dipstick reading device and those obtained by the other analyzers. The concordance in the classification of proteinuria was very high (κ = 0.82) between the automated wet chemistry analyzer and in-house dry chemistry analyzer, while the dipstick reading device showed moderate concordance with the automated wet chemistry analyzer (κ = 0.52) and in-house dry chemistry analyzer (κ = 0.53). Conclusions: Although the urine dipstick test is simple and a widely used point-of-care test, our results indicate that UPCR values obtained by the dipstick test are not appropriate for clinical use. Inter-instrumental variability may affect clinical decision process based on UPCR values and should be emphasized in veterinary practice.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2016

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are too compact to be resolved by any existing optical telescope facility, making it difficult to understand their structure and the emission processes responsible for their huge energy output. However, variability, one of their characteristic properties, provides a tool to probe the inner regions of AGN. Blazars are the best candidates for such a study, and hence a considerable amount of effort is being made to investigate variability in these sources across the electromagnetic spectrum. Here, using the Mt. Abu infrared observatory (MIRO) blazar monitoring program, we present intra-night, inter-night, and long term aspects of the variability in S5 0716+71, 3C66A, and OJ 287. These stars show significant variability on short (a few tens of mins, to a few hours, to a few days) to long term (months to years) timescales. Based on the light travel time argument, the shortest variability timescales (micro-variability) provide upper limits to the size of the emission region. While S5 0716 shows a very high duty cycle of variability (> 80 %), 3C66A shows a much lower intra day variability (IDV) duty cycle (< 20 %). All three show rapid variations within 2.5 to 3.5 hr, which, perhaps, are generated near the vicinity of black holes. Assuming this, estimates of the masses of the black holes are made at ~10⁹, 8×10⁸, and 2.7×10⁹ M_⨀ for S5 0716+71, 3C66A, and OJ 287, respectively. Multi-wavelength light-curves for the blazar PKS 1510-089 are discussed to infer the emission processes responsible for the recent flaring episodes in this source.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.351-362
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• 2012

We made a study on real-time determination method for relative position using the laser-measured distance data between satellites. We numerically performed the determination of relative position in accordance with extended Kalman filter algorithm using the vectors obtained through nonlinear equation of relative motion, laser simulator for distance measurement, and attitude determination of chief satellite. Because the spherical parameters of relative distance and direction are used, there occur some changes in precision depending on changes in relative distance when determining the relative position. As a result of simulation, it was possible to determine the relative position with several millimeter-level errors at a distance of 10 km, and sub-millimeter level errors at a distance of 1 km. In addition, we performed the determination of relative position assuming the case that global positioning system data was not received for long hours to see the impact of determination of chief satellite orbit on the determination of relative position. The determination of precise relative position at a long distance carried out in this study can be used for scientific mission using the satellite formation flying.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.7-21
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• 2003

The state-of-art third generation wave prediction model WAM was applied to the Korean seas for a winter monsoon period of January 1997. The wind field used in the present study is the global NSCAT-ERS/NCEP blended winds, which was further interpolated using a bi-cubic spline interpolator to fine grid limited area shallow water regime surrounding the Korean seas. To evaluate and investigate the accuracy of WAM, the hindcasted wave heights are compared with observed data from two shallow water buoys off Chil-Bal and Duk-Juk. A detailed study has been carried with the various meteorological parameters in observed buoy data and its inter-dependency on model computed wave fields was also investigated. The RMS error between the observation and model computed wave heights results to 0.489 for Chil-Bal and 0.417 for Duk-Juk. A similar comparison between the observation and interpolated winds off Duk-Juk show RMS error of 2.28 which suggest a good estimate for wave modelling studies.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2014

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and precision of polyurethane (PUT) dental arch models fabricated using a three-dimensional (3D) subtractive rapid prototyping (RP) method with an intraoral scanning technique by comparing linear measurements obtained from PUT models and conventional plaster models. Methods: Ten plaster models were duplicated using a selected standard master model and conventional impression, and 10 PUT models were duplicated using the 3D subtractive RP technique with an oral scanner. Six linear measurements were evaluated in terms of x, y, and z-axes using a non-contact white light scanner. Accuracy was assessed using mean differences between two measurements, and precision was examined using four quantitative methods and the Bland-Altman graphical method. Repeatability was evaluated in terms of intra-examiner variability, and reproducibility was assessed in terms of interexaminer and inter-method variability. Results: The mean difference between plaster models and PUT models ranged from 0.07 mm to 0.33 mm. Relative measurement errors ranged from 2.2% to 7.6% and intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.93 to 0.96, when comparing plaster models and PUT models. The Bland-Altman plot showed good agreement. Conclusions: The accuracy and precision of PUT dental models for evaluating the performance of oral scanner and subtractive RP technology was acceptable. Because of the recent improvements in block material and computerized numeric control milling machines, the subtractive RP method may be a good choice for dental arch models.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1684-1688
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• 2013

A rapid and sensitive method for determining usnic acid of Lethariella cladonioides in rat was established using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) tandem mass (MS/MS). Rat plasma was pretreated by mixture of acetonitrile and chloroform to precipitate plasma proteins. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a column ($50{\times}2.1$ mm, $5{\mu}m$) with a mobile phase consisting of water (containing $5{\times}10^{-3}$ M ammonium formate, pH was adjusted to 3.0 with formic acid) and acetonitrile (20:80, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. A tandem mass spectrometric detection with an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface was conducted via collision induced dissociation (CID) under negative ionization mode. The MS/MS transitions monitored were m/z 343.0448 ${\rightarrow}$ m/z 313.2017 for usnic acid and m/z 153.1024 ${\rightarrow}$ m/z 136.2136 for protocatechuic acid (internal standard). The linear range was calculated to be 2.0-160.0 ng/mL with a detection limit of 3.0 pg/mL. The inter- and intra-day accuracy and precision were within ${\pm}7.0%$. Pharmacokinetic study showed that the apartment of usnic acid in vivo confirmed to be a two compartment open model. The method was fully valid and will probably be an alternative for pharmacokinetic study of usnic acid.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1.1-1.7
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• 2012

Background: The F-box proteins represent one of the largest families of proteins in eukaryotes. Apart from being a component of the ubiquitin (Ub)/26 S proteasome pathways, their regulatory roles in other cellular and developmental pathways have also been reported. One interesting feature of the genes encoding the proteins of this particular family is their variable selection patterns across different lineages. This resulted in the presence of lineage specific F-box proteins across different species. Findings: In this study, 48 non-redundant F-box proteins in E. siliculosus have been identified by a homology based approach and classified into three classes based on their variable C-terminal domains. A greater number of the F-box proteins have domains similar to the ones identified in other species. On the other hand, when the proteins having unknown or no C-terminal domain (as predicted by InterProScan) were analyzed, it was found that some of them have the polyglutamine repeats. To gain evolutionary insights on the genes encoding the F-box proteins, their selection patterns were analyzed and a strong positive selection was observed which indicated the adaptation potential of the members of this family. Moreover, four lineage specific F-box genes were found in E. siliculosus with no identified homolog in any other species. Conclusions: This study describes a genome wide in silico analysis of the F-box proteins in E. siliculosus which sheds light on their evolutionary patterns. The results presented in this study provide a strong foundation to select candidate sequences for future functional analysis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.241-247
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• 2015

Lactate and ketone bodies are considered biological markers for ketosis and several inherited metabolic disorders. In the current study, the specific ratios of lactate and ketone bodies as analytical tools for differential diagnosis of various lactic acidosis were devised. The study included a protein precipitation step following tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatisation. Total run time was approximately 30 min including sample preparation and GS/MS analysis. The limits of detection were below 0.1 pg/mL over the targeted 4 analytes. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range of $0.001{\sim}250{\mu}g/mL$ for pyruvate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetoacetate ($R^2$ > 0.99). Inter-day accuracy and precision were 87.7~94.8% with RSD of 2.5~5.7% at 2 levels. Absolute recoveries (%) of target analytes were 87.0~98.4%. The method was validated for the quantification of lactate and ketone bodies for differentiation of lactic acidosis.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.212-216
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• 2005

A rapid, sensitive and selective electrospray tandem mass spectrometric (ESI-LC/MS/MS) method for the quantitation of gliquidone in human plasma was developed. A bioavailability study of gliquidone tablet (30 mg gliquidone, Boehringer Ingelheim Korea Co.) was performed using the validated ESI-LC/MS/MS method. The dose of 30 mg of gliquidone (1 tablet) was orally administered to 9 healthy Korean subjects. After administration, blood was taken at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 24, and 33 hour. The validation data were as follows; the standard curve was linear ($r^2$=0.999) over the concentration range of $10\~1000 ng/ml$. The coefficient of variation for intra- and inter-day assay were $8.30\~18.86$, and $2.19\~12.92\%$, respectively. The lower limit of quantification for gliquidone was 10 ng/ml. The pharmacokinetic parameters obtained were as follows; $AUC_t$ was 3861.17$\pm$1328.61 ng-hr/ml, $C_{max}$ was 831.02$\pm$227.99 ng/ml, $T_{max}$ was $2.94{\pm}0.77 hr,\;K_e$, was 0.19$\pm$0.06 1/hr, and $t_{l/2}$ was 4.47$\pm$3.52 hr. Based on the validated analytical method and pharmacokinetic parameters, a standard guideline of the bioavailability test of gliquidone dosage forms was prepared successfully and could be used for the bioequivalence test of gliquidone preparation.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.225-229
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• 2005

A rapid, sensitive and selective tandem mass spectrometric method (LC-MS/MS) for the quantitation of nicorandil in human plasma was developed. A bioavailability study of Sigmat tablet (5 mg nicorandil, Choongwae Co.) was per-formed using the validated LC-MS/MS method. The dose of 5 fig of nicorandil (1 tablet) was orally administered to 9 healthy Korean subjects. After administration, blood was taken at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hour. The validation data were as follows; the standard curve was linear ($r^2$=0.999) over the concentration range of $0.5\~200.0 ng/ml$. The coefficient of variation for intra- and inter-day assay were $3.55\~7.44$, and $2.17\~9.102\%$, respectively. The lower limit of quantification for nicorandil was 0.5 ng/ml. The pharmacokinetic parameters obtained were as follows; $AUC_t$ was 145.9$\pm$83.0 ng-hr/ml, Cmax was 83.8$\pm$32.2 ng/ml, $C_{max}$ was 0.42$\pm$0.13 hr, $K_e$ was 0.56$\pm$0.23 l/hr, and $t_{l/2}$ was 1.42$\pm$0.52 hr. Based on the validated analytical method and pharmacokinetic parameters, a standard guideline of the bioavailability test of nicorandil dos-age forms was prepared successfully and could be used for the bioequivalence test of nicorandil preparation.