• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of probiotic from pine needle microbes on growth performance, blood characteristics, carcass traits and economy of pigs. One hundred eighty pigs (L${\times}$Y${\times}$D, average body weight=75 kg) were grouped and housed with 15 animals per pen for 3 replications per each treatment. The ingredients and pine needle microbes mixed and fermented on anaerobic condition for 10 days to make the fermented diet. The basal diet was substituted with 0 (CON), 3 (T1), 5 (T2) and 10% (T3) of fermented diet, the pigs were fed for 42 days and slaughtered at the end of the trial to measure the carcass traits. Crude protein concentration of fermented diet on 10 day was higher (p<0.05) than that of on 0 day, while crude fiber concentration and pH were lower (p<0.05). The supplementation of fermented diet did not affect on growth performance and feed intake. Hemoglobin concentration of whole blood in T3 was higher (p<0.05) than that of CON, and hematocrit concentrations in CON and T1 were higher (p<0.05) than that of T2 and T3. The concentration of platelet was higher (p<0.05) in T1 than in T2 and T3. The CON had higher (p<0.05) total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations than the treatments, whereas lower (p<0.05) HDL-cholesterol concentration. Carcass weight and dressing in T1 and T3 were higher (p<0.05) than those of CON and T2. The backfat thickness was higher (p<0.05) in CON and T2 than in T3. The carcass grade and economy improved by supplementation of fermented diet compare to CON. In conclusion, the supplementation of fermented diet using probiotics from pine needle microbes could improve health and meat quality and reduce the feed cost of pigs.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.380-386
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• 2017

Purpose: To compare the clinical characteristics and prognosis of Fuchs dystrophy patients according to COL8A2 gene mutation status. Methods: Eighty-one patients (162 eyes) initially diagnosed with Fuchs dystrophy from 1996 to 2015 were divided into two groups according to COL8A2 gene mutation status. Retrospective analysis was performed comparing gender, age at diagnosis, presence of family history, diabetes mellitus, symptoms of blurred vision in the morning, changes in central corneal thickness and endothelial cell density with time, need for corneal transplantation, and pre-operative corneal status in the two groups. Results: Of the 81 patients, 12 were shown to harbor a COL8A2 gene mutation. Individuals with mutation were significantly associated with presence of family history, diabetes mellitus, and blurred vision in the morning (p = 0.021, p = 0.024, p = 0.044, respectively). They also had significantly thicker central cornea and lower endothelial cell density at the time of diagnosis (p = 0.020, p = 0.005, respectively). The differences in central corneal thickness and endothelial cell density between the two eyes in one patient were significantly smaller in patients with gene mutation (p = 0.043, p = 0.022, respectively). Over a 5-year follow-up period, 60.0% of eyes in patients with gene mutation and 19.2% of eyes in patients without gene mutation underwent corneal transplantation, a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.014). Conclusions: By testing for COL8A2 gene mutation, early binocular disease progression and the possible need for corneal transplantation in the future can be predicted among patients diagnosed with Fuchs dystrophy.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.203-212
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• 2017

A scientific model refers to a conceptual system that can describe, explain, and predict a particular physical phenomenon. The co-construction of the scientific model is attracting attention as a new teaching and learning strategy in the field of science education and various studies. The evaluation and modification of models compared with the predicted models of data from the real world is the core of modeling strategy. However, there were only a limited data provided by the teacher in many studies of modeling comparing the students' predictions of their own models. Most of the students were not given the opportunity to evaluate the suitability of the model with the data in the real world. The purpose of this study was to develop a scientific model co-construction program that can evaluate the model by directly comparing the predicted models with the observed data from the real world. Through a collaborative discussion between teachers and researchers for 6 months, a 5-session scientific model co-construction program on the subject 'image formation by convex lenses' for second grade middle school students was developed. Eighty (80) students in 3 classes and a science teacher with 20 years of service from general public co-educational middle school in Gyeonggi-do participated in this 2-week program. After the class, students were asked about the helpfulness and difficulty of the class, and whether they would like to recommend this class to a friend. After the class, 95.8% of the students constructed the scientific model more than the model using the construction rule. Students had difficulties to identify principles or understand their friends, but the result showed that they could understand through model evaluation experiment. 92.5% of the students said that they would be more than willing to recommend this program to their friends. It is expected that the developed program will be applied to the school and contribute to the improvement of students' modeling ability and co-construction ability.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.502-509
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• 2011

It is important to determine optimum soil covering depths for tree survival and growth because soil covering depths for establishing tree planting bases in coastal reclaimed lands are related to the costs for soil collection, transportation and land reclamation. The objectives of this study were carried out to determine optimum soil covering depths for the normal growth of planted trees in a coastal reclaimed land. The study sites were located in Asan National Industrial Complex in Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi-do. Four tree species (Pinus thunbergii, Chamaecyparis pisifera, Zelkova serrata, Quercus acutissima) with one hundred eighty trees of each species were planted in various depths of soil covering (no soil covering, 0.5 m, 1.5 m, 2.0 m soil covering treatments) on April 1998, and the tree growth patterns were measured on September 2000. The change of soil properties, tree mortality rate, root collar diameter and height growth were measured from each soil covering depth treatment on September 2000. Soil pH, EC, exchangeable cations ($K^+$, $Na^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$), anion $Cl^-$, and base saturation increased with decreased soil covering depths. The mortality rates of tree species showed decreased with increased soil covering depths. The height growth of tree species increased with increased soil covering depths. Height growth of Pinus thunbergii was significantly different between the soil covering depth below 0.5m and other three covering depths, while the growth of other species (C. pisifera, Z. serrata, Q. acutissima) was significantly higher in soil covering depths below 1.5 m than in other soil covering depth treatments. The root collar diameter growth of all tree species showed increasing trends with increased soil covering depths. It is recommended to cover the soil depths above 1.5 m to decrease mortality and to stimulate the tree growth of C. pisifera, Z. serrata and Q. acutissima, while P. thunbergii which is a salt tolerate species could be planted in the 1.0 m soil covering depth.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.413-421
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• 2011

The main objective of this study was to develop the multi-resistance lines to insects(brown planthopper; BPH, rice green leafhopper; GRH) and disease(blast; BL, bacterial blight; BB and rice stripe virus disease;RSV) with good grain quality and plant type by combining conventional breeding and marker assisted selection(MAS) and to eliminate the linkage drag effects between Bph1 gene and culm length, we conducted MAS of Bph1 gene in advanced backcross and double cross progenies. 'Nampyeong', 'Junam' and 'Milyang220' were used as the parent in this study. 'Milyang220' was used as the donor of brown planthopper resistance gene Bph1 with tall culm length. Two backcross progenies were developed using two recipients 'Nampyeong' carrying GRH resistance gene Grh3(t) with good grain appearance and 'Junam' harboring bacterial blight resistance gene Xa3 with short culm length. Two $BC_1$ generations were resulted from the backcrossing of the $F_1$ plants with recurrent parents 'Nampyeong' and 'Junam'. The second rounds of backcrossing($BC_2$) were derived from the cross of selected resistant $BC_1F_1$ plants based on heterozygous genotype of RM28493 linked to Bph1 gene. The double crossed population was constructed from the cross of between each heterozygous $BC_2F_1$ plants at RM28493 locus of '$Nampyeong^*3$ / Milyang220' and '$Junam^*3$ / Milyang220'., The homozygous alleles in Bph1 gene were selected using co-dominant DNA marker RM28493 in double crossed population. Eighty-five lines with multi-resistance to BL, BB, RSV, GRH and BPH were selected by bio-assay and MAS in generation of double crossing. The culm length, head rice ratio and yield of the selected multi resistance lines was ranged from 71 to 88 cm, from 51 to 93%, from 449 to 629 kg/10a. respectively. We can select a promising multi resistance line similar with 'Nampyeong' of major agronomic traits such as culm legnth, head rice ratio and yield. It was designated as Milyang265. Finally this study was developed the multi resistant varieties against to insects and diseases with the good grain quality 'Milyang265' by the advanced backcross and double cross combining MAS and it can be used as genetic resources of multi-resistance to insect and diseases in rice breeding programs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.297-309
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the relationship among the use of food-related content (FRC), dietary behaviors, and dietary self-efficacy to demonstrate the need for nutrition education to help adolescents build healthy eating habits and provide evidence for developing nutrition education programs for adolescents. Methods: Three hundred and eighty-one high school students in Seoul and Gyeonggi areas participated in the study. The subjects were divided into three groups (low, medium, and high) according to the level of use of the FRC, and their general characteristics, dietary behaviors, and dietary self-efficacy were analyzed. Correlation analysis was performed between FRC usage, dietary behaviors, and dietary self-efficacy, and the mediating effects of dietary self-efficacy on the relationship between the level of the use of FRC and dietary behaviors were estimated. Results: A higher level of FRC usage was associated with an increased daily cost of eating out and snacking, but no difference was observed in the BMI range. The subjects in a group with a high level of FRC usage ate convenience store or instant foods instead of homemade meals (p = 0.033), had a late-night meal or snack (p = 0.024), and turned to emotional eating under stress (p < 0.001) more than those in the low level group. In addition, the high level group checked the nutrition facts label more carefully when purchasing processed foods (p = 0.016) and exercised at least 30 minutes daily, not considering physical education classes (p = 0.057). The higher level of FRC use, the lower the dietary self-efficacy, whereby the subscales 'environmental stimulus control efficacy' and 'affective factor control efficacy' showed complete mediating effects. Conclusion: Given that FRC has been increased recently, adolescents are in need of support to help them control and enhance their dietary self-efficacy as well as develop healthy dietary behaviors through proper nutrition education programs.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2022

Purpose: Tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (S-1) and capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) are standard adjuvant chemotherapies (ACs) administered after gastrectomy to patients with stage II or III gastric cancer. However, the efficacy of AC in elderly patients remains unclear. The objective of this retrospective multicenter cohort study was to compare the efficacies of S-1 and CAPOX AC in patients aged ≥70 years. Materials and Methods: Nine hundred eighty-three patients who were treated with AC using S-1 (768 patients) or CAPOX (215 patients) were enrolled in this study. Each patient underwent AC after curative gastrectomy for stage II or III gastric cancer at one of 27 hospitals in the Republic of Korea between January 2012 and December 2013. Relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed according to AC regimen and age group. Results: Of the 983 patients, 254 (25.8%) were elderly. This group had a similar RFS (P=0.099) but significantly poorer OS (p=0.003) compared with the non-elderly group. Subgroup analysis of the non-elderly group revealed no AC-associated differences in survival. Subgroup analysis of the elderly group revealed significantly better survival in the S-1 group than in the CAPOX group (RFS, P<0.001; OS, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the CAPOX regimen was an independent poor prognostic factor for RFS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.891; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.072-3.333; P=0.028) and OS (HR, 2.970; 95% CI, 1.550-5.692; P=0.001). Conclusions: This multicenter observational cohort study found significant differences in RFS and OS between S-1 and CAPOX AC among patients with gastric cancer aged ≥70 years.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.388-408
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• 2022

This study was conducted to select the indicator species (plant) according to the topographical characteristics in the Picea jezoensis forests, endangered subalpine coniferous trees. In South Korea and China (close to Baekdusan), the southern tree line limit of Picea jezoensis has meaningful geographical and latitudinal values for analyzing the ecological characteristics of P. jezoensis forests. Latitude greatly affects the geographical values of plant ecology, and the difference in latitude and habitat affects the change in species composition in forests. With prolonged environmental change, the habitat of subalpine plants will become smaller, and the plants may become extinct. As the P. jezoensis forests of South Korea and China, in particular, are in danger of disappearing without protection, it is important to monitor the population and develop a conservation strategy. Eighty-seven circular plots were established in P. jezoensis forests in South Korea and China. Through processes such as MRPP-test and NMS ordination, indicator species were selected based on this, and basic data for biodiversity assessment were presented. As a result of the Indicator Species Analysis (ISA), 5 taxa were selected from the upperstory vegetation and 18 taxa from the understory vegetation at the altitude(p<0.05). Indicator species by aspect were analyzed as 3 taxa for upperstory vegetation and 16 taxa for understory vegetation (p<0.05). In the case of indicator species according to the slope, 6 taxa for upper vegetation and 24 taxa for understory vegetation were selected(p<0.05). As for the indicator species according to their habitat, 8 taxa in upper vegetation and 65 taxa on understory vegetation were selected. As a result of MRPP-test, it was analyzed that the species composition was heterogeneous in the group of understory vegetation than that of upperstory vegetation. As a result of NMS ordination, the correlation with environmental factors of indicator species was analyzed by rock exposure for upperstory vegetation and latitude for understory vegetation (cut off level=0.3).

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.84-95
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• 2022

Purpose: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common serious bacterial infections in young infants. Lumbar puncture (LP) has been used to diagnose coexisting meningitis in infants under 90 days of age with suspected UTI in many hospitals. However, the incidence of bacterial meningitis associated with UTIs is low. We aimed to describe the prevalence of concomitant bacterial meningitis in young infants with UTIs. Methods: The medical records of infants with the first episode of UTI admitted to the Chung-Ang University Hospital from January 2010 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Infants aged < 90 days who underwent LP with initial evaluation were included. Demographic and clinical features, laboratory findings, and imaging findings were collected and analyzed. Results: Eighty-six infants with UTIs were enrolled in the study. The median age was 61.5 days (interquartile range, 42.3-73.8 days) and boys (90.7%) were predominant. Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen (n=80, 93.0%) and followed by Klebsiella species (n=5, 5.8%). Fifteen (18.1%) specimens produced extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL). Five (5.8%) infants had positive blood culture results. Seven (8.1%) infants showed pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid, but none had coexisting bacterial meningitis. Twenty-four (30.8%) infants showed renal dilatation or hydronephrosis on ultrasonography. Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scans revealed cortical defects in 17 (21.3%) infants while voiding cystourethrography revealed vesicoureteral reflux in 6 (46.2%) infants. Conclusion: Co-existing bacterial meningitis was not observed in young infants with UTIs. LP could not be routinely performed considering the clinical condition of <90 days old UTI patients.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.131-140
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• 2022

Purpose: Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began, new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have emerged, and distinct epidemic waves of COVID-19 have occurred for an extended period. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with COVID-19 from the third wave to the middle of the fourth epidemic wave in Korea. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of hospitalized patients aged ≤18 years with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. The study periods were divided into the third wave (from November 13, 2020 to July 6, 2021) and the fourth wave (from July 7 to October 31, 2021). Results: Ninety-three patients were included in the analysis (33 in the third and 60 in the fourth waves). Compared with the third wave, the median age of patients was significantly older during the fourth wave (6.7 vs. 2.8 years, P=0.014). Household contacts was reported in 60.2% of total patients, similar in both periods (69.7 vs. 55.0%, P=0.190). Eighty-one (87.1%) had symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among these, 10 (12.3%) had no respiratory symptoms. Anosmia or ageusia were more commonly observed in the fourth epidemic wave (10.7 vs. 34.0%, P=0.032). Most respiratory illness were upper respiratory tract infections (94.4%, 67/71), 4 had pneumonia. The median cycle threshold values (detection threshold, 40) for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and envelope (E) genes of SARS-CoV-2 were 21.3 and 19.3, respectively. There was no significant difference in viral load during 2 epidemic waves. Conclusions: There were different characteristics during the two epidemic waves of COVID-19.