• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2022

Purpose: Studies in adults have shown an increasing incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in patients hospitalized with acute pancreatitis (AP). There is lack of epidemiological data on CDI and its impact on hospitalized pediatric patients with AP. Methods: We analyzed the National Inpatient Sample and Kids' Inpatient Database between the years 2003 and 2016 and included all patients (age <21 years) with a primary diagnosis of AP using specific International Classification of Diseases codes. We compared clinical outcomes between children with CDI and those without CDI. Our primary outcome was severe AP and secondary outcomes included length of stay and hospital charges. Results: A total of 123,240 hospitalizations related to AP were analyzed and CDI was noted in 0.6% of the hospital. The prevalence rate of CDI doubled from 0.4% (2003) to 0.8% (2016), p=0.03. AP patients with CDI had increased comorbidities, and also underwent more invasive surgical procedures, p<0.05. AP patients with CDI had a higher in-hospital mortality rate and increased prevalence of severe AP, p<0.001. Multivariate regression models showed that CDI was associated with 2.4 times (confidence interval [CI]: 1.91 to 3.01, p<0.001) increased odds of severe AP. CDI patients had 7.24 (CI: 6.81 to 7.67, p<0.001) additional hospital days while incurring $59,032 (CI: 54,050 to 64,014, p<0.001) additional hospitalization charges. Conclusion: CDI in pediatric patients with AP is associated with adverse clinical outcomes and increased healthcare resource utilization. Further studies are needed to elucidate this association to prevent the development of CDI and to improve outcomes.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2023

Purpose: The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are increasing along with an increasing number of patients with comorbid conditions like psychiatric and behavioral disorders, which are independent predictors of quality of life. Methods: Non-overlapping years (2003-2016) of National Inpatient Sample and Kids Inpatient Database were analyzed to include all IBD-related hospitalizations of patients less than 21 years of age. Patients were analyzed for a concomitant diagnosis of psychiatric/ behavioral disorders and were compared with IBD patients without psychiatric/behavioral disorder diagnoses for outcome variables: IBD severity, length of stay and inflation-adjusted hospitalization charges. Results: Total of 161,294 IBD-related hospitalizations were analyzed and the overall prevalence rate of any psychiatric and behavioral disorders was 15.7%. Prevalence rate increased from 11.3% (2003) to 20.6% (2016), p<0.001. Depression, substance use, and anxiety were the predominant psychiatric disorders. Regression analysis showed patients with severe IBD (odds ratio [OR], 1.57; confidence interval [CI], 1.47-1.67; p<0.001) and intermediate IBD (OR, 1.14; CI, 1.10-1.28, p<0.001) had increased risk of associated psychiatric and behavioral disorders than patients with a low severity IBD. Multivariate analysis showed that psychiatric and behavioral disorders had 1.17 (CI, 1.07-1.28; p<0.001) mean additional days of hospitalization and incurred additional $8473 (CI, 7,520-9,425; p<0.001) of mean hospitalization charges, independent of IBD severity. Conclusion: Prevalence of psychiatric and behavioral disorders in hospitalized pediatric IBD patients has been significantly increasing over the last two decades, and these disorders were independently associated with prolonged hospital stay, and higher total hospitalization charges.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.211-222
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• 2023

Multivariate quadratic equations (MQ)-based public-key cryptographic algorithms are one of promising post-quantumreplacements for currently used public-key cryptography. After selecting to NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography StandardizationRound 3 as one of digital signature finalists, Rainbow was cryptanalyzed by advanced algebraic attacks due to its multiple layered structure. The researches on MQ-based schemes are focusing on UOV with a single layer. In this paper, we propose a new MQ-signature scheme based on UOV using the combinations of the special structure of linear equations, spare polynomials and random polynomials to reduce the secret key size. Our scheme uses the block inversion method using half-sized blockmatrices to improve signing performance. We then provide security analysis, suggest secure parameters at three security levels and investigate their key sizes and signature sizes. Our scheme has the shortest signature length among post-quantumsignature schemes based on other hard problems and its secret key size is reduced by up to 97% compared to UOV.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.289-302
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• 2023

Purpose: Liver metastasis (LM) is reported in approximately 40% of patients with advanced/metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma; mGEA) and is associated with a worse prognosis. This post-hoc analysis from the RAINBOW trial reported the efficacy, safety, and biomarker outcomes of ramucirumab and paclitaxel combination treatment (RAM+PAC) in patients with (LM+) and without (LM-) LM at baseline. Materials and Methods: Patients (n=665) were randomly assigned on a 1:1 basis to receive either RAM+PAC (LM+: 150, LM-: 180) or placebo and paclitaxel (PL+PAC) (LM+: 138, LM-: 197). The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated using stratified Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models. The correlation of dichotomized biomarkers (VEGF-C, D; VEGFR-1,2) with efficacy in the LM+ versus LM- subgroups was analyzed using the Cox regression model with reported interaction P-values. Results: The presence of LM was associated with earlier progression than those without LM, particularly in patients receiving PL+PAC (hazard ratio [HR], 1.68). RAM+PAC treatment improved OS and PFS irrespective of LM status but showed greater improvement in LM+ than that in LM- (OS HR, 0.71 [LM+] vs. 0.88 [LM-]; PFS HR, 0.47 [LM+] vs. 0.76 [LM-]). Treatment-emergent adverse events were similar between patients with and without LM. No predictive relationship was observed between biomarker levels (VEGF-C, D; VEGFR-1,2) and efficacy outcome (OS, PFS) (all interaction P-values >0.05). Conclusions: RAM provided a significant benefit, irrespective of LM status; however, its effect was numerically stronger in patients with LM. Therefore, RAM+PAC is a clinically meaningful therapeutic option for patients with mGEA and LM.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1170-1182
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• 2023

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of chitosan (CH)-based nanocomposite coating applications [chitosan+TiO₂ (CHT) and chitosan+TiO₂+rosmarinic acid (CHTRA)] on changes in quality attributes of rainbow trout fillets during cold storage (4℃). Fish fillets were randomly divided into four groups and subjected to treatments (CH, CHT, CHTRA, and control). After treatments, the groups were packaged under a modified atmosphere (40% CO₂+30% O₂+30% N₂) and stored at 4℃ for 18 days. During cold storage, the samples were subjected to physico-chemical and microbiological analyses. During storage, CH, CHT, and CHTRA treatments showed lower aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria counts than the control. However, the differences between coating treatments were not significant. The highest mean pH value was determined in the control group. As the storage time increased, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value increased. At the end of the storage period, no significant differences were observed between the treatments, including in the control group. The total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) level in the control group was above 25 mg/100 g on day 15 of storage. However, the TVB-N level in the treatment groups was below 20 mg/100 g on day 18. It was also determined that coating application×storage period interaction had a significant effect on all color parameters (p<0.01). At the end of storage, the highest CIE L* was observed in CHTRA treatment. However, the value of this treatment did not differ from that of the CH treatment.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Multivariate Quadratic (MQ)-based digital signature schemes have advantages such as ease of implementation and small signature sizes, making them promising candidates for post-quantum cryptography. To enhance the efficiency of such MQ-based digital signature schemes, utilizing sparse matrices have been proposed, including HiMQ, which has been standardized by Korean Telecommunications Technology Association standard. However, HiMQ shares a similar key structure with Rainbow, which is a representative MQ-based digital signature scheme and was broken by the MinRank attack proposed in 2022. While HiMQ was standardized by a TTA and recommended parameters were provided, these parameters were based on cryptanalysis as of 2020, without considering recent attacks. In this paper, we examine attacks applicable to MQ-based digital signatures, specifically targeting HiMQ, and perform a security analysis. The most effective attack against HiMQ is the combined attack, an improved version of the MinRank attack proposed in 2022, and none of the three recommended parameters satisfy the desired security strength. Furthermore, HiMQ-128 and HiMQ-160 do not meet the minimum security strength requirement of 128-bit security level.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.147-153
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• 2024

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) recommends two protocols (ITS and COI) for conventional PCR of G. salaris diagnosis. However, ITS PCR protocol may yield false-positive results, leading to unnecessary countermeasures. It's difficult to distinguish between G. salaris and false-positive by similar amplicon size of PCR, since the amplicon size of ITS PCR in G. salaris and false-positive was 1,300 and 1,187 bp, respectively. The nucleotide sequences of ITS false-positive in rainbow trout is 99.7% identical to previously reported host genome sequences of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and 95.3 to 89.1% identical to those of other salmonid fish species. To reduce false-positive PCR band, PCR was performed by the different annealing temperature, but PCR bands were still detected. In RFLP analysis by HaeIII, the PCR product of G. salaris was digested into four bands of 512, 399, 234 and 154 bp, while the false-positive was digested into seven bands of 297, 263, 242, 144, 93, 80 and 68 bp. In the RFLP patterns digested by HindIII, G. salaris showed two bands of 659 and 640 bp, while false-positive had one fragment of 1,187 bp without any digestion. Therefore, the RFLP method of ITS PCR with HaeIII and HindIII can be used for differentiation between G. salaris and false-positive. These results might provide important information on the improvement of PCR diagnostic method of G. salaris.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.69-80
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• 2004

The objective of the present study was to analyze genetic distances, variation and characteristics of individuals in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykis using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) method as molecular genetic technique, to detect AFLP band patterns as genetic markers, and to compare the efficiency of agarosegel electrophoresis (AGE) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), respectively. Using 9 primer combinations, a total of 141 AFLP bands were produced, 108 bands (82.4%) of which were polymorphic in AGE. In PAGE, a total of 288 bands were detected, and 220 bands (76.4%) were polymorphic. The AFLP fingerprints of AGE were different from those of PAGE. Separation of the fragments with low molecular weight and genetic polymorphisms revealed a distinct pattern in the two gel systems. In the present study, the average bandsharing values of the individuals between two populations apart from the geographic sites in Kangwon-do ranged from 0.084 to 0.738 of AGE and PAGE. The bandsharing values between individuals No.9 and No. 10 showed the highest level within population, whereas the bandsharing values between individuals No.5 and No.7 showed the lowest level. As calculated by bandsharing analysis, an average of genetic difference (mean$\pm$SD) of individuals was approximately 0.590$\pm$0.125 in this population. In AGE, the single linkage dendrogram resulted from two primers (M11+H11 and M13+H11), indicating six genetic groupings composed of group 1 (No.9 and 10), group 2 (No. 1, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 16 and 17), group 3 (No. 2, 3, 6, 8, 12, 15 and 16), group 4 (No.9, 14 and 17), group 5 (No. 13, 19, 20 and 21) and group 6 (No. 23). In AGE, the genetic distances among individuals of between-population ranged from 0.108 to 0.392. In AGE, the shortest genetic distance (0.108) displaying significant molecular differences was between individuals No.9 and No. 10. Especially, the genetic distance between individuals No. 23 and the remnants among individuals within population was highest (0.392). Additionally, in the cluster analysis using the PAGE data, the single linkage dendrogram resulted from two primers (M12+H13 and M11+H13), indicating seven genetic groupings composed of group 1 (No. 15), group 2 (No. 14), group 3 (No. 11 and 12), group 4 (No.5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 13), group 5 (No.1, 2, 3 and 4), group 6 (No.9) and group 7 (No. 16). By comparison with the individuals in PAGE, genetic distance between No. 10 and No. 7 showed the shortest value (0.071), also between No. 16 and No. 14 showed the highest value (0.242). As with the PAGE analysis, genetic differences were certainly apparent with 13 of 16 individuals showing greater than 80% AFLP-based similarity to their closest neighbor. The three individuals (No. 14, No. 15 and No. 16) of rainbow trout between two populations apart from the geographic sites in Kangwon-do formed distinct genetic distances as compared with other individuals. These results indicated that AFLP markers of this fish could be used as genetic information such as species identification, genetic relationship or analysis of genome structure, and selection aids for genetic improvement of economically important traits in fish species.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.357-368
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• 1996

To utilize the ascidian tunic as a natural pigment and dietary sources for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), juvenile were fed on experimental diets containing enzymatic hydrolysates of ascidian tunic treated with three commercial mined enzymes (ultrazyme, cellulase, viscozyme) for 12 weeks. From the results of feeding experiment, similar growth rate was checked in the enzymatic hydrolysis group compared with control, and those were a higher than of ascidian tunic powder group. The total acetone extractable pigment in muscle of the enzymatic hydrolysates group was lower than that of the ascidian extracts group and carophyll pink group until 8 weeks, but the level of those pigment of the enzymatic hydrolysates was similar to the ascidian extracts and carophyll pink group after 12 weeks. The lipid content was increased with the pigment concentration in the all experimental group. But the ascidian tunic pigment did not influence on the composition of the fatty acids in the muscle and liver. From the consideration of results for pigmentation, the enzymatic hydrolysates of ascidian tunic were suitable for both a natural pigment and dietary protein and carbohydrates sources as a substitute synthetic pigment for aquaculture use.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.239-247
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• 2008

The objective of this investigation was to examine oxygen consumption (OC) and operculum movement number (OMN) of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss as a function of changes in water temperature (WT). The WT of the rearing facility was increased from $4^{\circ}C$ to $28^{\circ}C$ stepwise at $1^{\circ}C$ day at each WT (5, 10, 15, 17, 20, 23, 26, and $28^{\circ}C$) then OC and OMN were measured. The OC of the fish increased linearly with WT: O=25.0240 WT+17.5400 in the range of $4{\sim}23^{\circ}C$ However, at 26 and $28^{\circ}C$ the OC declined to around the level at $10^{\circ}C$. The OMN also increased linearly with temperature: OMN=4.4847 WT+59.2150 in the range of $4{\sim}23^{\circ}C$ but at 26 and $28^{\circ}C$ the OMN of the fish dropped slightly. The OC and OMN of the fish showed peak at $23^{\circ}C$ with the lowest values at $4^{\circ}C$. In the range of $4{\sim}23^{\circ}C$, the relationship between OC and OMN of the fish was expressed as a linear equation: OC=0.0923 OMN-308.2100. The OC of fish transferred from $15^{\circ}C$ to certain temperatures without acclimation showed a lower OC at 5 and $10^{\circ}C$ but above $15^{\circ}C$ the OC increased/decreased with temperature. The trout died in temperatures above $28^{\circ}C$ even when acclimated step by step with a $1^{\circ}C$ day increase in WT. In this experiment, a negative physiological changs occurred in the experimental fish at $23^{\circ}C$ suggesting that the optimal physiological temperature range of rainbow trout is $10{\sim}20^{\circ}C$.