• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.118-127
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• 2007

We propose a link adaptation and selection method for the links constituting an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based wireless relay network. The proposed link adaptation and selection method selects the forwarding, modulation, and channel coding schemes providing the highest end-to-end throughput and decides whether to use the relay or not. The link adaptation and selection is done for each sub-channel based on instantaneous signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) conditions in the source-to-destination, source-to-relay and relay-to-destination links. The considered forwarding schemes are amplify and forward (AF) and simple adaptive decode and forward (DF). Efficient adaptive modulation and coding decision rules are provided for various relaying schemes. The proposed end-to-end link adaptation and selection method ensures that the end-to-end throughput is always larger than or equal to that of transmissions without relay and non-adaptive relayed transmissions. Our evaluations show that over the region where relaying improves the end-to-end throughput, the DF scheme provides significant throughput gain over the AF scheme provided that the error propagation is avoided via error detection techniques. We provide a frame structure to enable the proposed link adaptation and selection method for orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)-time division duplex relay networks based on the IEEE 802.16e standard.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2015

Various constituents in clinical specimens, particularly feces, can inhibit the PCR assay and lead to false-negative results. To ensure that negative results of a diagnostic PCR assay are true, it should be properly monitored by an inhibition control. In this study, a cloning vector harboring a modified target DNA sequence (${\approx}375bp$) was constructed to be used as a competitive internal amplification control (IAC) for a conventional PCR assay that detects ${\approx}550bp$ of the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene sequence in human feces. Modification of the native PCR target was carried out using a new approach comprising inverse PCR and restriction digestion techniques. IAC was included in the assay, with the estimated optimum concentration of 1 fg per reaction, as duplex PCR. When applied on fecal samples spiked with variable oocysts counts, ${\approx}2$ oocysts were theoretically enough for detection. When applied on 25 Cryptosporidium-positive fecal samples of various infection intensities, both targets were clearly detected with minimal competition noticed in 2-3 samples. Importantly, both the analytical and the diagnostic sensitivities of the PCR assay were not altered with integration of IAC into the reactions. When tried on 180 randomly collected fecal samples, 159 were Cryptosporidium-negatives. Although the native target DNA was absent, the IAC amplicon was obviously detected on gel of all the Cryptosporidium-negative samples. These results imply that running of the diagnostic PCR, inspired with the previously developed DNA extraction protocol and the constructed IAC, represents a useful tool for Cryptosporidium detection in human feces.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

A novel porcine circovirus 4 (PCV4) was recently identified in Chinese and Korean pig herds. Although several conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) and real-time PCR (qPCR) assays were used for PCV4 detection, more sensitive and reliable qPCR assay is needed that can simultaneously detect PCV4 and internal positive control (IPC) to avoid false-negative results. In the present study, a duplex qPCR (dqPCR) assay was developed using primers/probe sets targeting the PCV4 Cap gene and pig (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) GAPDH gene as an IPC. The developed dqPCR assay was specifically detected PCV4 but not other PCVs and porcine pathogens, indicating that the newly designed primers/probe set is specific to the PCV4 Cap gene. Furthermore, GAPDH was stably amplified by the dqPCR in all tested viral and clinical samples containing pig cellular materials, indicating the high reliability of the dqPCR assay. The limit of detection of the assay 5 copies of the target PCV4 genes, but the sensitivity of the assay was higher than that of the previously described assays. The assay demonstrated high repeatability and reproducibility, with coefficients of intra-assay and inter-assay variation of less than 1.0%. Clinical evaluation using 102 diseased pig samples from 18 pig farms showed that PCV4 circulated in the Korean pig population. The detection rate of PCV4 obtained using the newly developed dqPCR was 26.5% (27/102), which was higher than that obtained using the previously described cPCR and TaqMan probe-based qPCR and similar to that obtained using the previously described SYBR Green-based qPCR. The dqPCR assay with IPC is highly specific, sensitive, and reliable for detecting PCV4 from clinical samples, and it will be useful for etiological diagnosis, epidemiological study, and control of the PCV4 infections.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.185-189
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• 2002

Along with the worldwide rapid increase of the cultivation area and commercial production of genetically modified (GM) crops, the amount of GM grains imported to Korea has also been increasing. Roundup-Ready soybean (RRS) was introduced with 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3-photphate synthase (EPSPS) gene derived from Agrobacterium CP4 to confer the resistance to herbicide, glyphosate. In this study, we tried to develop PCR-based analytical method to detection the presence of RRS among non-GM soybeans. In order to detect RRS specifically, oligonucleotide primers were specifically designed based on the nucleotide sequence of EPSPS transgene. Qualitative PCR method was established and its specificity and accuracy were confirmed by analysing the nucleotide sequence of PCR DNA fragments. Bioassay was also conducted by spraying glyphosate at seedling stage. Survived individuals showed obvious resistance to Roundup Ready, however all of non-GM seedlings died in two weeks after spray. Conclusively, the highly selective detection systems for RRS were successfully established by both PCR using specific primers to EPSPS transgene and bioassay using the herbicide resistance of RRS. In addition to, the imported soybean showed to be mixed to several varieties regarding to 100-seed weight and hilum color.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.300-307
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• 2006

In the present study, methods of the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) were evaluated for the rapid detection and differentiation of transmissible gastroenteritis virus(TGEV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus(PEDV) and rotavirus in piglets suffering from diarrhea. For the purposes, the PCR conditions were first confirmed for the amplification of VP7 gene of rotavirus and N gene of TGEV and PEDV using each specific primers and their annealing temperature. Multiplex RT-PCR methods were further determined to distinguish these viral infections and the results are as follows. For the specific amplification of these viral genes, the reliable PCR condition was determined as 30 cycles of reaction consisting each 1 min of denature at $94^{\circ}C$, annealing at $42^{\circ}C$ and polymerization at $72^{\circ}C$ with 1.0 mM $MgCl_2$. It was able to differentiate these viral infections in the intestines and feces of piglets suffering from diarrhea by duplex PCR for TGEV and PEDV and single PCR for rotavirus with a primer-annealing temperature of $42^{\circ}C$. When the multiplex RT-PCR were undertaken for the field samples, 17 cases of PEDV and 5 cases of rotavirus infections were differential diagnosed in a total of 92 samples of intestines and feces of the piglets with diarrhea.

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.108-119
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• 2024

Purpose: The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) without chemoprophylaxis could be as high as 50% in Caucasians. However, according to several subsequent studies, the incidence of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in Asians was much lower. The routine use of chemoprophylaxis, which could potentially cause increased bleeding, infection, and wound complications, has been questioned in low-incidence populations. The objective of this study is to determine the incidence of VTE after primary THA without chemoprophylaxis in an Asian population using a fast-track rehabilitation protocol and to verify the safety profile for use of 'mechanical prophylaxis alone' in patients with standard risk of VTE. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 542 Hong Kong Chinese patients who underwent primary THA without chemoprophylaxis. All patients received intermittent pneumatic compression and graduated compression stockings as mechanical prophylaxis. Multimodal pain management was applied in order to facilitate early mobilisation. Routine duplex ultrasonography was performed between the fourth and seventh postoperative day for detection of proximal DVT. Results: All patients were Chinese (mean age, 63.0±11.9 years). Six patients developed proximal DVT (incidence rate, 1.1%). None of the patients had symptomatic or fatal pulmonary embolism. Conclusion: The incidence of VTE after primary THA without chemical prophylaxis can be low in Asian populations when following a fast-track rehabilitation protocol. Mechanical prophylaxis alone can be regarded as a reasonably safe practice in terms of a balanced benefit-to-risk ratio for Asian patients with standard risk of VTE.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.29-32
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• 2016

Purpose: Congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT) are the most common anomalies identified in newborns. This study aims to demonstrate the prevalence of CAKUT including hydronephrosis diagnosed by antenatal and postnatal ultrasound over a five-year period. Methods: The records of births between May $1^{st}$, 2009 and April $30^{th}$, 2014 at our hospital were collected. The number of infants who underwent renal ultrasound after birth for the detection of CAKUT was counted. The incidence of each type of CAKUT such as hydronephrosis, size abnormality, horseshoe kidney, and Multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) was retrospectively evaluated for antenatal screening and postnatal follow-up examination. Results: During the study period, 33,276 infants were born and 521 neonates underwent postnatal renal ultrasound. 183 cases of CAKUT were detected prenatally and 140 postnatally using ultrasonographic examinations at the following time: (i) 3-7 days postnatally in 123 newborns (87.9%), (ii) during 1-3 months in 11 newborns (7.9%), and (iii) later than 3 months in 6 newborns (4.3%). Among diagnosed CAKUT, hydronephrosis was the most common anomaly with 113 newborns diagnosed prenatally and 46 postnatally. Duplex kidney was the second most common anomaly followed by horseshoe kidney, simple cysts in the kidney and so on. Conclusion: The detection of CAKUT is an important part of the prenatal ultrasound. This study analyzed the prevalence of CAKUT detected on prenatal screening and compared the results to those detected postnatally. Prenatal ultrasound screening fulfills the needs of postnatal examinations and therefore, both antenatal and postnatal sonographic investigations are of vital importance for diagnosis of renal and urinary tract anomalies.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2016

The growth area of living modified (LM) cotton has steadily increased every year, since its first commercialization in 1996. Development of environmental risk assessment tools and techniques for LM cotton is required for ecosystem safety. We therefore developed multiplex PCR assays for simultaneous detection of two (MON15985, MON531) and four (GHB614, LLCOTTON25, MON88913 and MON1445) LM cotton events approved in Korea, with event specific primer pairs. The PCR reactions were optimized by using event specific primers of six LM cottons at various concentrations. The reactions allows amplification of estimated amplicons of MON15985 (214 bp), MON531 (270 bp), GHB614 (119 bp), LLCOTTON25 (164 bp), MON88913 (276 bp), and MON1445 (389 bp) from multiplex PCR reactions. The multiplex PCR assay developed allowed that two annealing steps (15 cycles at $55^{\circ}C$ and 25 cycles at $60^{\circ}C$) were performed for amplification of distinguished two LM cottons, and only one annealing step (50 cycles at $60^{\circ}C$) was necessary for tetraplex PCR. Primer extension step of all PCR reactions was skipped for time-effective amplification. Our methods suggest that two multiplex PCR assays can be cost-effective and a rapid diagnostic tool for environmental LMO monitoring of six LM cottons.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.653-661
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• 2019

The first small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics have recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S., and the demand for a new RNA therapeutics bioanalysis method-which is essential for pharmacokinetics, including the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of siRNA therapeutics-is rapidly increasing. The stem-loop real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR) assay is a useful molecular technique for the identification and quantification of small RNA (e.g., micro RNA and siRNA) and can be applied for the bioanalysis of siRNA therapeutics. When the anti-HPV E6/E7 siRNA therapeutic was used in preclinical trials, the established stem-loop RT-qPCR assay was validated. The limit of detection was sensitive up to 10 fM and the lower limit of quantification up to 100 fM. In fact, the reliability of the established test method was further validated in three intra assays. Here, the correlation coefficient of $R^2$>0.99, the slope of -3.10 ~ -3.40, and the recovery rate within ${\pm}20%$ of the siRNA standard curve confirm its excellent robustness. Finally, the circulation profiles of siRNAs were demonstrated in rat serum, and the pharmacokinetic properties of the anti-HPV E6/E7 siRNA therapeutic were characterized using a stem-loop RT-qPCR assay. Therefore, the stemloop RT-qPCR assay enables accurate, precise, and sensitive siRNA duplex quantification and is suitable for the quantification of small RNA therapeutics using small volumes of biological samples.