• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.25-28
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• 2005

The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) plays an important role in regulation of melanin pigment synthesis within mammalian melanocytes. Mutations within the gene encoding MC1R have been shown to explain coat color variations within several mammalian species including cattle. To develope a rapid and accurate method for the identification of Hanwoo meat, we performed a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis in Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene using TaqMan$^{(R)}$ MGB probe-based real-time PCR. Two specific probes (one for Hanwoo and the other for Holstein and Black angus) were designed. At the 5' end of 2 TaqMan$^{(R)}$ MGB probes, 6-carboxyfluorescein (FAM) was labeled for Hanwoo, and VIC for Holstein and Black angus. As a result, Hanwoo samples showed FAM-positive signal only, whereas other samples showed VIC-positive. This result suggests that the TaqMan$^{(R)}$ MGB probe based real-time PCR technique would be very accurate, easy and reproducible method to discriminate between Hanwoo meat and Holstein/Black angus meat.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.123-126
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• 2023

The prevalence of candidiasis, a contagious disease with high morbidity and mortality, has sharply increased globally over the last two decades. Candida albicans can cause serious infections in patients with weak immunity and in recipients of prolonged antibiotic treatment. Consequently, rapid and accurate identification of species can play an important role in the treatment of candidiasis. Here, we investigated the positive rate and infection trend of C. albicans according to age, specimen type, and sex using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction-based testing of samples collected for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases in Korea between 2018 and 2020. When the type of specimen collected was a swab, the positive rate of C. albicans was higher among younger women, and tended to decrease with age. Analysis of swab samples revealed higher positive rates than urinalysis. The reduction trend in positive rates by age was comparable between the overall samples and urine specimens. Among male patients, the positive rate did not differ substantially across the various types of specimens collected. Previous studies have shown a higher prevalence of non-albicans Candida species than C. albicans in clinical specimens, and exclusion of the former from our analysis may be a limitation of this study. However, our findings contribute significantly to the literature because globally, there is a paucity of epidemiological studies using molecular techniques to detect C. albicans in sexually transmitted disease test samples.

• Communications of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.437-460
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• 2024

In this paper we present the weighted shift operators having the property of moment infinite divisibility. We first review the monotone theory and conditional positive definiteness. Next, we study the infinite divisibility of sequences. A sequence of real numbers γ is said to be infinitely divisible if for any p > 0, the sequence γ^p = {γ^p_n}^∞_n=0 is positive definite. For sequences α = {α_n}^∞_n=0 of positive real numbers, we consider the weighted shift operators W_α. It is also known that W_α is moment infinitely divisible if and only if the sequences {γ_n}^∞_n=0 and {γ_n+1}^∞_n=0 of W_α are infinitely divisible. Here γ is the moment sequence associated with α. We use conditional positive definiteness to establish a new criterion for moment infinite divisibility of W_α, which only requires infinite divisibility of the sequence {γ_n}^∞_n=0. Finally, we consider some examples and properties of weighted shift operators having the property of (k, 0)-CPD; that is, the moment matrix M_γ(n, k) is CPD for any n ≥ 0.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.153-157
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• 2013

Although culture is the gold standard method to identify mycobacteria, its use in tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBL) is limited due to formalin fixation of the submitted specimens. We evaluated the performance of quantitative real-time PCR (q-PCR) for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) in granulomatous lymphadenitis using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. From 2000 to 2010, a total number of 117 cases of lymph node samples with granulomatous inflammation which were surgically removed and fixed in formalin were studied. Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) and Ziehl-Neelsen-stained (ZN) slides were reviewed. qPCR using Real TB-Taq$^{(R)}$ was performed for all cases to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Thirteen non-tuberculous lymphadenopathy cases were used as negative control. Cervical lymph nodes were more frequently affected (60%, 70/117) than other sites. ZN stain for acid fast bacilli was positive in 19 (16.24%) cases. qPCR for tuberculosis was positive in 92 (78.63%) cases. Caseous necrosis was found in 103 (88.03%) cases. While the ZN stain and qPCR were both negative in all control cases, the qPCR showed a significantly higher positive rate (78.63% vs. 16.24%) compared to ZN stain in histologically diagnosed TBL. Quantitative real-time PCR proves to be more sensitive than ZN stain for diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis.

• East Asian Journal of Business Economics (EAJBE)
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.24-36
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• 2018

Purpose - From establishing China-Japan diplomatic relations in 1972, the relations between two states has improved a lot, from which makes the government and the people reap much benefit. Owing to this reason, this paper aims at exploiting the impact of exchange rate volatility of RMB on China's foreign direct investment to Japan. Research design and methodology - The quarterly time series data from 2003 to 2016 will be employed to conduct an empirical analysis under the vector error correction model. Meanwhile, a menu of estimated methods such the Johansen co-integration test and the Granger Causality test will be also used to explore the impact of exchange rate volatility of RMB on China's foreign direct investment to Japan. Results - The empirical analysis results exhibit that the real exchange rate has a positive effect on China's foreign direct investment to Japan in the long run. Conversely, the real exchange rate volatility of RMB, the trade openness and the real GDP have a negative effect on China's foreign direct investment to Japan in the long run. However, in the short run, the China's foreign direct investment to Japan, the real exchange rate, the trade openness and the real GDP in period have a negative effect on China's foreign direct investment to Japan in period. Oppositely, the real exchange rate volatility of RMB in period has a positive effect on China's foreign direct investment to Japan in period. Conclusions - From the empirical evidences in this paper provided, it can be concluded that an increase in the exchange rate volatility of RMB can result in a decrease in the China's foreign direct investment to Japan in the long run. However, an increase in the exchange rate volatility of RMB can lead to an increase in the China's foreign direct investment to Japan in the short run. Therefore, the China's government should have a best control of the real exchange rate volatility of RMB so as to improve China's foreign direct investment to Japan.

• Korean Journal of Mathematics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.327-336
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• 2015

In this paper, we study a constructive approximation by neural networks with positive integer weights. Like neural networks with real weights, we show that neural networks with positive integer weights can even approximate arbitrarily well for any continuous functions on compact subsets of $\mathbb{R}$. We give a numerical result to justify our theoretical result.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.4
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• pp.249-253
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• 2011

Background: Mycobacterial infection is a problem throughout the world along with the increase of immunocompromised patients. For this reason, there have been many methods for faster and more accurate diagnosis. In this study, we evaluated several laboratory methods for mycobacterial infection. Methods: From January to December 2009, 635 specimens were cultured with mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) and Ogawa media. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed with the AdvanSure tuberculosis (TB)/non-tuberculosis mycobacterium (NTM) real-time PCR Kit (LG Life Sciences, Seoul, Korea). The 69 samples showing positive culture results were identified with the AdvanSure Mycobacteria Genotyping Chip Kit (LG Life Science, Seoul, Korea). Results: Sixty-nine (10.9%) out of 635 samples showed positive results for mycobacterial culture. Among the 635 samples, 64 were positive in MGIT, but only 42 were positive in Ogawa media. Of the 635 samples, 607 (95.6%) showed the same results between MGIT and Ogawa and the results of 579 (95.4%) were also consistent with the TB/NTM real-time PCR results. However, in the case of NTM, only one (1/24, 4.2%) was positive in PCR. In the Mycobacteria genotyping chip analysis, the most frequently identified NTM species in descending order were M. avium, M. intracellulare, M. chelonae and M. abscessus. Conclusion: Culturing with a combination of MGIT and Ogawa is recommended to increase the recovery rate of mycobacteria. Although PCR missed a reasonable number of NTM, it is faster and usually gives results that concur with those from the culture. The appropriate combination of diagnostic methods with clinical correlation are necessary.

• Communications of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.721-732
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• 2012

The principal aim of the paper is to investigate new integral expression $${\int}_0^{\infty}x^{s+1}e^{-{\sigma}x^2}L_m^{(\gamma,\delta)}\;({\zeta};{\sigma}x^2)\;L_n^{(\alpha,\beta)}\;({\xi};{\sigma}x^2)\;J_s\;(xy)\;dx$$, where $y$ is a positive real number; $\sigma$, $\zeta$ and $\xi$ are complex numbers with positive real parts; $s$, $\alpha$, $\beta$, $\gamma$ and $\delta$ are complex numbers whose real parts are greater than -1; $J_n(x)$ is Bessel function and $L_n^{(\alpha,\beta)}$ (${\gamma};x$) is generalized Laguerre polynomials. Some integral formulas have been obtained. The Maple implementation has also been examined.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.157-170
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• 1996

Even if holding debt may be a rational means for household to maximize utility under any circumstance and any time through the family life cycle most households have some difficulty to determin and keep the moderate debt amount. The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of household's debt and the factor associated with debt. Data used in this study consisted of 4,009 households. The results of this study were as follows; Among 4,009 households 1,400 housholds?(34.9%) owed. Age education and occupation of household header liquid and real asset and housing ownership had significant effects on whether household having debt. The real and liquid asset had significantly positive relation with the liabilities of financial agency whereas the occupation of household header liquid asset and unearned income with private liabilities. Finally age education and occupation of household header home ownership and liquid asset had significantly negative effect on the total a ount of debt while earned and unearned income and real asset had positive one.

• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
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• v.25 no.1_2
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• pp.201-216
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• 2007

In this paper we consider the difference equation $$x_{n+1}=\frac{a+bx_{n-k}\;-\;cx_{n-m}}{1+g(x_{n-l})}$$ where a, b, c are nonegative real numbers, k, l, m are nonnegative integers and g(x) is a nonegative real function. The oscillatory and periodic character, the boundedness and the stability of positive solutions of the equation is investigated. The existence and nonexistence of two-period positive solutions are investigated in details. In the last section of the paper we consider a generalization of the equation.