• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.324-329
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• 2015

The primary aim of this study was to investigate biosecurity practices in pig farms and to determine the major risk factors associated with PCV2 infection for a sampled swine population in Korea. To this end, we analyzed data from a cross-sectional study of 296 farrow-to-finish farms, which was conducted between March and September 2014 to explore the prevalence of swine disease at farm level. Face-to-face interviews by on-site visit of trained veterinarians were conducted with the farm owners or managers using a standardized questionnaires with information about basic demographical data and management practices. Farms were classified as negative or positive through the use of infection profiles that combined data on serological testing including PCR antigen test result, antibody titer and sero-conversion pattern at each age category taking into account vaccination status. Data were analyzed using multivariate ordinal logistic regression. Results from this study indicated that biosecurity level of the farms was considered not good given low compliance of the biosecurity programs and facilities in the farm: off-site removal of dead stocks (7%), off-site location of storage facility for incoming feeds (12.6%), off-site pick-up location for finishers (19.3%), restrictions on feed supplier vehicles for farm entrance (19.6%), restriction of finisher trucks entering the farm (22.4%), and restriction on manure disposal trucks entering the farm (26.4%). In the final model (n = 255), allowance of finisher truck driver to the pig unit had increased risk of infection (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.22-4.67) whereas farms with a sign forbidding the entrance had decreased risk of infection (OR = 0.19, 95% CI 0.10-0.58). Further comprehensive research with larger sample size is required to better understand the multifactorial characteristic that some predisposing risk factors that were not available in this study. To the best knowledge of the authors, this was the first study to use empirical data to report risk factors associated with PCV2 infection in the Korean pig farms. Results from the current study could be used to decide optimal biosecurity measures to reduce the impact of PCV2 infection to farmers and policy makers.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2013

In Korea, most hepatitis A virus is the IA genotype, but reports of other genotypes have increased recently. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to conduct a genotypic analysis of acute hepatitis A virus. From April 2010 to April 2011, clinical specimens from 20 patients hospitalized with acute hepatitis A and 36 sera positive for anti-HAV IgM were obtained, and the genotype of the VP1/P2A region was analyzed. RNA sequences of the VP1/P2A junction region were amplified using RT-PCR, and the sequences were compared. From 50 sequences amplified, 4 sequences (8%) belonged to genotype IA. The remaining 46 (92%) belonged to genotype IIIA. The results indicate that the genotype of the hepatitis A virus has changed from IA to IIIA in Korea.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.789-795
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• 2015

The new garden chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum Ramat.) cultivar 'Nuri Ball' was developed at Yesan Chrysanthemum Experiment Station of Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services in 2011. 'Nuri Ball' was bred through a cross between the '02-145-01' line as the female parent with yellow flower color and '02-04-32' as the male plant with white flower color in 2004. Three years of adaptation trials were conducted from 2006 to 2009 under natural conditions. This study compared the external shape type with that of 'White Miri' and conducted ploidy and RAPD (Random amplified polymorphic DNA) marker analyses. These tests showed that 'Nuri Ball' cultivar has its own characteristics compared with the control 'White Miri'. 'Nuri Ball' was a shrub type variety with semi-double flowers of 4.0 cm in width with white petals. It could produce 1025.2 flowers per plant in autumn. Compared with the control 'White Miri', 'Nuri Ball' was similar in terms of shape and color of flowers, but was different in flower size and number. The natural flowering time of 'Nuri Ball' was late September. It had very vigorous growth and an early budding plant. 'Nuri Ball' was demonstrated to be a new cultivar based on ploidy test and RAPD analysis. 'Nuri Ball' is intended for use as a bed chrysanthemum and expected to contribute to farm incomes in landscaping.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.1103-1107
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• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical effect of intense regulated pulse light (IRPL) and changes in tear film thickness in dry eye patients. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 25 patients with Meibomian gland dysfunction who had subjective dry eye discomfort and whose tear film break-up time (TBUT) was < 10 seconds. All patients were treated with IRPL three times on days 1, 15, and 45. TBUT, Schirmer 1 test results, cornea staining score with fluorescein, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and lipid layer thickness were measured and compared before and after the procedure. Results: TBUT was significantly increased from $3.7{\pm}1.2s$ to $4.4{\pm}2.1s$ after IRPL (p = 0.03). Schirmer 1 test and cornea staining scores changed significantly (p < 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively). OSDI also showed a statistically significant improvement from $39.5{\pm}17.5points$ to $30.4{\pm}18.7points$ (p = 0.01). However, no significant difference in lipid layer thickness was observed (p = 0.49). Conclusions: IRPL is an effective treatment modality to improve TBUT, Schirmer 1 test scores, cornea staining scores, and subjective dry eye symptoms.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1258-1266
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• 2019

Yangkyuksanhwa-Tang (YKSH), consisting of nine different herbs, is commonly used in Soyangin-type individuals with stroke, based on the Sasang Constitution Theory in Korea. However, no evidence has yet confirmed a beneficial effect of YKSH in ischemic stroke treatment. In this study, we investigated the effects of YKSH on ischemic brain injury in a mouse model of cerebral ischemia. Focal cerebral ischemia in mice was induced by photothrombosis, and behavioral recovery was evaluated. Infarct volume, inflammation, and newly generated cells were evaluated by histology and immunochemistry. YKSH treatment resulted in a significant recovery from the motor impairments induced by focal cerebral ischemia, as determined with wire grip and rotarod tests. YKSH treatment also decreased the infarct volume and the number of cells positive for tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and myeloperoxidase when compared with a vehicle-treated control group. By contrast, YKSH treatment considerably increased the number of cells positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1, as well as the number of cells doubly positive for Ki67/doublecortin when compared with the vehicle-treated group. These results suggest that YKSH treatment attenuated the infarct size by anti-inflammatory action, astrocyte and microglia activation, and neuronal proliferation, thereby facilitating neurofunctional recovery from a cerebral ischemic assault. YKSH could therefore be a potential treatment for neurofunctional restoration of the injured brains of patients with stroke.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.491-501
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• 2002

A cross-examination between KT&G Central Research Institute and Guangzhou Institute for Drug Control was carried out in order to select optimum conditions for extraction, separation and determination of ginsenosides in red ginseng and to propose a better method for the quantitative analysis of ginsenosides. The optimum extraction conditions of ginsenosides from red ginseng were as follows: the extraction solvent, $70\%$ methanol; the extraction temperature, $100^{\circ}C;$ the extraction time, 1 hour for once; and the repetition of extraction, twice. The optimum separation conditions of ginsenosides on the SepPak $C_{18}$ cartridge were as follows: the loaded amount, 0.4 g of methanol extract; the washing solvents, distilled water of 25 ml at first and then $30\%$ methanol of 25 ml; the elution solvent, $90\%$ methanol of 5 ml. The optimum HPLC conditions for the determination of ginsenosides were as follows: column, Lichrosorb $NH_2(25{\times}0.4cm,$ 5${\mu}m$, Merck Co.); mobile phase, a mixture of acetonitrile/water/isopropanol (80/5/15) and acetonitrile/water/isopropanol (80/20/15) with gradient system; and the detector, ELSD. On the basis of the optimum conditions a method for the quantitative analysis of ginsenosides were proposed and another cross-examination was carried out for the validation of the selected analytical method conditions. The coefficient of variances (CVs) on the contents of ginsenoside-$Rg_{1}$, -Re and $-Rb_1$ were lower than $3\%$ and the recovery rates of ginsenosides were $89.4\~95.7\%,$ which suggests that the above extraction and separation conditions may be reproducible and reasonable. For the selected HPLC/ELSD conditions, the CVs on the detector responses of ginsenoside-Rg, -Re and $-Rb_1$) were also lower than $3\%$, the regression coefficients for the calibration curves of ginsenosides were higher than 0.99 and two adjacent ginsenoside peaks were well separated, which suggests that the above HPLC/ELSD conditions may be good enough for the determination of ginsenosides.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.405-412
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• 2016

We investigate the intraspecific morphological variations and geographical distributions from twelve populations (28 samples) of Orobanche coerulescens in Korea. Two main morphological types were detected, i.e., glabrous (G-type) and pilose (P-type), in the external morphology (stem, leaf, bract, calyx, and corolla). The G-type was found on Ulleung-do and Dok-do, and the P-type was observed on the coasts of South Korea, Jeju-do and Ulleung-do. The distinct difference in the morphological types and geographical distribution suggested the existence of two putative lineages with different distribution processes. O. coerulescens, distributed in very limited areas, was only identified as the G-type on Dok-do. Hence, conservation efforts should focus on protecting native habitats to conserve native species and the unique biogeographic significance of this species.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.326-332
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• 2021

Background: The association of invasive tracheobronchial aspergillosis (ITBA) with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is not well established. We aimed to compare clinical characteristics between patients who exhibited ITBA with IPA and those who exhibited isolated ITBA (iITBA). Additionally, the usefulness of serum or bronchial galactomannan (GM) tests in diagnosing ITBA was evaluated. Methods: This retrospective single-center case-control study was conducted over a period of 4 years. Fifteen patients were enrolled after confirming the presence of ITBA using bronchoscopy-guided biopsy (iITBA, 7 vs. ITBA+IPA, 8). Clinical characteristics of patients and results obtained from serum or bronchial GM tests were compared between the two groups. Mortality was assessed using data collected from a 6-month follow-up period. Results: The ITBA+IPA group showed a higher prevalence of hematologic malignancy (75% vs. 14%, p=0.029), a greater number of patients with multiple bronchial ulcers (75% vs. 14%, p=0.029), lower platelet counts (63,000/μL vs. 229,000/μL, p<0.001), and a mortality rate which was significantly higher (63% vs. 0%, p=0.026) than the iITBA group. In the ITBA+IPA group, 57% of patients tested positive according to the serum GM assay, whereas in the iITBA group, all patients tested negative (p=0.070). The bronchial GM level was high in both groups, but there was no significant difference between them. Conclusion: Patients with ITBA+IPA had a greater number of hematologic malignancies with lower platelet counts and a poorer prognosis than patients diagnosed with iITBA. Findings obtained from bronchoscopy and bronchial GM tests were more useful in diagnosing ITBA than the serum GM test results.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2019

In South Korea, six large outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have occurred since the first confirmation in 2003 from chickens. For the past 15 years, HPAI outbreaks have become an annual phenomenon throughout the country and has extended to wider regions, across rural and urban environments. An understanding of the spatial epidemiology of HPAI occurrence is essential in assessing and managing the risk of the infection; however, local spatial variations of relationship between HPAI incidences in Korea and related risk factors have rarely been derived. This study examined whether spatial heterogeneity exists in this relationship, using a geographically weighted Poisson regression (GWPR) model. The outcome variable was the number of HPAI-positive farms at 252 Si-Gun-Gu (administrative boundaries in Korea) level notified to government authority during the period from January 2014 to April 2016. This response variable was regressed to a set of sociodemographic and topographic predictors, including the number of wild birds infected with HPAI virus, the number of wintering birds and their species migrated into Korea, the movement frequency of vehicles carrying animals, the volume of manure treated per day, the number of livestock farms, and mean elevation. Both global and local modeling techniques were employed to fit the model. From 2014 to 2016, a total of 403 HPAI-positive farms were reported with high incidence especially in western coastal regions, ranging from 0 to 74. The results of this study show that local model (adjusted R-square = 0.801, AIC = 954.5) has great advantages over corresponding global model (adjusted R-square = 0.408, AIC = 2323.1) in terms of model fitting and performance. The relationship between HPAI incidence in Korea and seven predictors under consideration were significantly spatially non-stationary, contrary to assumptions in the global model. The comparison between global Poisson and GWPR results indicated that a place-specific spatial analysis not only fit the data better, but also provided insights into understanding the non-stationarity of the associations between the HPAI and associated determinants. We demonstrated that an empirically derived GWPR model has the potential to serve as a useful tool for assessing spatially varying characteristics of HPAI incidences for a given local area and predicting the risk area of HPAI occurrence. Considering the prominent burden of HPAI this study provides more insights into spatial targeting of enhanced surveillance and control strategies in high-risk regions against HPAI outbreaks.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.17-28
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• 2019

The Korean Astronomical Society (KAS) Education & Public Outreach Committee has provided education services for children and school teachers in Cambodia over the past three years from 2016 to 2018. In the first year, 2016, one KAS member visited Pusat to teach astronomy to about 50 children, and in the following two years of 2017 and 2018, three and six KAS members, respectively, executed education workshops for ~ 20 (per each year) local school teachers in Sisophon. It turned out that it is desirable to include both teaching of astronomical knowledge and making experiments and observations in the education in order for the program to be more effective. Language barrier was the main obstacle in conveying concepts and knowledge, and having a good interpreter was very important. It happens that some languages, such as the Khmer of Cambodia, do not have astronomical terminologies, so that lecturers and even the education participants together are needed to communicate and create appropriate words. Handout hard-copies of the education materials (presentation files, lecture/experiment summaries, terminologies, etc.) are extremely helpful for the participants. Actual performing of assembling and using astronomical telescopes for night sky observations has been lifetime experience for some of the participants, which might promote zeal for knowledge and education. It is hoped that these education services for developing countries like Cambodia can be regularly continued in the future, and further extended to other countries such as Laos and Myanmar.