• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary leucine supplementation on mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in the liver of normal birth weight (NBW) and intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) weanling piglets. MATERIALS/METHODS: A total of sixteen pairs of NBW and IUGR piglets from sixteen sows were selected according to their birth weight. At postnatal day 14, all piglets were weaned and fed either a control diet or a leucine-supplemented diet for 21 d. Thereafter, a $2{\times}2$ factorial experimental design was used. Each treatment consisted of eight replications with one piglet per replication. RESULTS: Compared with NBW piglets, IUGR piglets had a decreased (P < 0.05) hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content. Also, IUGR piglets exhibited reductions (P < 0.05) in the activities of hepatic mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), citrate synthase (CS), ${\alpha}$-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (${\alpha}$-KGDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and complexes I and V, along with decreases (P < 0.05) in the concentration of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the protein expression of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ coactivator $1{\alpha}$ (PGC-$1{\alpha}$). Dietary leucine supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the content of ATP, and the activities of CS, ${\alpha}$-KGDH, MDH, and complex V in the liver of piglets. Furthermore, compared to those fed a control diet, piglets given a leucine-supplemented diet exhibited increases (P < 0.05) in the mtDNA content and in the mRNA expressions of sirtuin 1, PGC-$1{\alpha}$, nuclear respiratory factor 1, mitochondrial transcription factor A, and ATP synthase, $H^+$ transporting, mitochondrial F1 complex, ${\beta}$ polypeptide in liver. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary leucine supplementation may exert beneficial effects on mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in NBW and IUGR weanling piglets.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.43-48
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to develop an earth leakage alarm circuit breaker, equipped with a leakage alarming function (JER-E2S, ETECKOREA Co., Korea), and to analyze its characteristics. The developed mechanism is exclusively used for single-phase and 220 V circuits, with a rated current of 32 A, 20 A, 20 A (for restrooms), 16 A, etc. It satisfies all characteristics of existing earth leakage circuit breakers (ELB). If a fire current, which is a resistive leakage current (Igr), flows through an electric line, the device detects the leakage current in real time and warns against the leakage through a blinking LED lamp. Since the developed device displays a tolerance to a capacitative leakage current (Igc) that inevitably occurs in LED lamps, communication devices, etc., it ensures a stable power supply. In addition, the earth leakage alarm circuit breaker protects against power failure due to a momentary ground fault. Therefore, it can supply power without the risk of the circuit breaker malfunctioning due to a momentary ground fault caused by water droplets, leaves, etc. Moreover, with a standby power of less than 0.1 W, the developed earth leakage alarm circuit breaker exhibits a power saving performance that is 3~8 times greater than that of other ELBs. Installation of approximately 10 earth leakage alarm circuit breakers in one apartment household, with an area of 120 ㎡, can save 2~5 kWh per month. Therefore, the developed earth leakage alarm breaker not only satisfies the characteristics of existing earth leakage breakers, but also exhibits outstanding power supply quality since it has the functions of electric fire prevention and malfunction prevention. Therefore, this device can innovatively contribute to electric fire prevention.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.125-132
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• 2023

BACKGROUND: There is limited data on the residual echocardiographic findings including strain analysis among post-coronavirus disease (COVID) patients. The aim of our study is to prospectively phenotype post-COVID patients. METHODS: All patients discharged following acute COVID infection were systematically followed in the post-COVID-19 Recovery Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital. At 4-18 weeks post diagnosis, patients underwent comprehensive echocardiographic assessment. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was assessed by 3D, 2D Biplane Simpson's, or visual estimate. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) was measured using a vendor-independent 2D speckle-tracking software (TomTec). RESULTS: A total of 127 patients (53% female, mean age 58 years) were included in our analyses. At baseline, cardiac conditions were present in 58% of the patients (15% coronary artery disease, 4% heart failure, 44% hypertension, 10% atrial fibrillation) while the remainder were free of cardiac conditions. COVID-19 serious complications were present in 79% of the patients (76% pneumonia, 37% intensive care unit admission, 21% intubation, 1% myocarditis). Normal LVEF was seen in 96% of the cohort and 97% had normal right ventricular systolic function. A high proportion (53%) had abnormal LV GLS defined as < 18%. Average LV GLS of septal and inferior segments were lower compared to that of other segments. Among patients without pre-existing cardiac conditions, LVEF was abnormal in only 1.9%, but LV GLS was abnormal in 46% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Most post-COVID patients had normal LVEF at 4-18 weeks post diagnosis, but over half had abnormal LV GLS.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.441-453
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• 2014

Thermal and physical properties were measured on 206 Jurassic granite samples obtained from three boreholes in the central part of Korea. Thermal conductivity(${\lambda}$), thermal diffusivity(${\alpha}$), and specific heat(Cp) were measured in a laboratory; the average values are ${\lambda}$=2.813 W/mK, ${\alpha}=1.296mm^2/sec$, and Cp=0.816 J/gK, respectively. In addition, porosity(${\phi}$), and dry and saturated density(${\rho}$) were measured in the laboratory; the average values are ${\phi}$=0.01, ${\rho}(dry)=2.662g/cm^3$ and ${\rho}(saturated)=2.67g/cm^3$, respectively. Thermal diffusivity of 10 granite samples were measured with increasing temperature from $25^{\circ}C$ to $200^{\circ}C$. In this study, we found that thermal diffusivity at $200^{\circ}C$ is about 30% lower than thermal diffusivity at $25^{\circ}C$. In correlation analysis, thermal conductivity increases with increasing thermal diffusivity. However, thermal conductivity does not show good correlation with porosity and density. Consequently, we know that thermal conductivity of granite would be more influenced by mineral composition than by porosity. We also derived ${\rho}=-2.393{\times}{\phi}+2.705$ from density and porosity data. XRD and XRF analysis were performed to investigate effects of mineral and chemical composition on thermal conductivity. From those results, we found that thermal conductivity increases with increasing quartz and $SiO_2$, and decreases with increasing albite and $Al_2O_3$. Regression analysis using those mineral and chemical composition were carried out ; we found $K=0.0294V_{Quartz}+1.93$ for quartz, $K=0.237W_{SiO_2}-14.09$ for $SiO_2$, and $K=0.053W_{SiO_2}-0.476W_{Al_2O_3}+6.52$ for $SiO_2$ and $Al_2O_3$. Specific gravities were measured on 10 granite samples in the laboratory. The measured specific gravity depends on chemical compositions of granite. Therefore, specific gravity can be estimated by the felsic-mafic index(F) that is calculated from chemical composition. The estimated specific gravity ranges from 2.643 to 2.658. The average relative error between measured and estimated specific gravities is 0.677%.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.300-311
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to evaluate prospectively the effect of different bonding systems and retention grooves on the clinical performance of resin restorations in non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs). Thirty-nine healthy adults who had at least 2 NCCLs in their premolar areas were included in this study. One hundred and fifty teeth were equally assigned to six groups: (A) Scotchbond Multi-Purpose (SBMP, 3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA, 4th generation bonding system) without retention grooves; (B) SBMP with retention grooves; (C) BC Plus (Vericom Co., Anyang, Gyeonggido, Korea, 5th generation bonding system) without retention grooves; (D) BC Plus with retention grooves; (E) Adper Prompt (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany, 6th generation bonding system) without retention grooves; (F) Adper Prompt with retention grooves. All cavities were filled with a hybrid composite resin. Denfil (Vericom Co., Anyang, Gyeonggido, Korea) by one operator. Restorations were evaluated at baseline and at 6-month recall, according to the modified USPHS (United States Public Health Service) criteria. Additionally, clinical photographs were taken and epoxy resin replicas were made for SEM evaluation. At 6-month recall, there were some differences in the number of alpha ratings among the experimental groups. But, despite the differences in the number of alpha ratings, there was no significant difference among the 3 adhesive systems (p < 0.05). There was also no significant difference between the groups with or without mechanical retention (p < 0.05). Follow-ups for longer periods than 6 months are needed to verify the clinical performance of different bonding systems and retention grooves.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.275-282
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• 1986

A series of studies on the properties of clayey terrace soils distributed at the inland (Yeongcheon) and coastal (Yeongjil) regions in Yeongnam district was carried out. On the base of the facts found and already reported about the macro morphological features as well as on pedological characters in micro scale, physicochemical properties, mineralogical characteristics etc., the present study dealt with soil genesis and tried to classify the soils for reasonable use and managements. 1. Although the both regions belonged to "Mesic" soil temperature regime and "red and yellow earths" areas of "Thornthwaite" pedo-climatic diagram, climatic indices as a soil forming factor indicate that the coastal Yeongil had milder than the inland Yeongcheon. 2. All the terrace soils had developed soil profiles with an "Argrllic B". Upyeong soils in Yeongil region had "Argillans" even in the "II B horizons" that possibly be "Paleo-argillic". 3. The bisequum profiles of Bancheon in Yeongcheon and Upyeong in Yeongil revealed that they were developed on Late Mesozoic shale and on semiconsolidated Tertiary deposits respectively, therefore the overlying clayey terrace deposits were assumed to be originated from the Early Quaternary deposits, Diluvium. 4. To supplement the Soil Taxonomy of USDA, the terrace soils with different degrees of gleyzation were classified as follows; Deogpyeong and Hwadong soils which have less than 50cm of paddified gley horizons (redness less than 0.5) in the upper part of the profiles by artificial surface irrigation, tentatively classified into "Anthrepiaquic Hapludalfs" and the Geugrag soils that have more than 50cm of paddified gley horizons within 1.2m of the profiles, into "Anthr-aquic Ochraqualfs" while the Upyeong soils that had greyish mottles in subsoils by natural ground water remain as an "Aquic Hapludalfs" the same as present. The Bancheon soils with free mottles are into "Typic Hapludalfs" as used at present.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.1152-1159
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• 2013

Four male lambs (Katahdin; average live weight $25.9{\pm}2.9$ kg) with "T" type cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were used in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square experiment to evaluate the influence of supplemental dry distillers grain with solubles (DDGS) levels (0, 10, 20 and 30%, dry matter basis) in substitution for dry-rolled (DR) corn on characteristics of digestive function and digestible energy (DE) of diet. Treatments did not influence ruminal pH. Substitution of DR corn with DDGS increased ruminal neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestion (quadratic effect, p<0.01), but decreased ruminal organic matter (OM) digestion (linear effect, p<0.01). Replacing corn with DDGS increased (linear, $p{\leq}0.02$) duodenal flow of lipids, NDF and feed N. But there were no treatment effects on flow to the small intestine of microbial nitrogen (MN) or microbial N efficiency. The estimated UIP value of DDGS was 44%. Postruminal digestion of OM, starch, lipids and nitrogen (N) were not affected by treatments. Total tract digestion of N increased (linear, p = 0.04) as the DDGS level increased, but DDGS substitution tended to decrease total tract digestion of OM (p = 0.06) and digestion of gross energy (p = 0.08). However, it did not affect the dietary digestible energy (DE, MJ/kg), reflecting the greater gross energy content of DDGS versus DR corn in the replacements. The comparative DE value of DDGS may be considered similar to the DE value of the DR corn it replaced up to 30% in the finishing diets fed to lambs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 1994

The relationship of thyroid status and certain blood biochemical constituents with body weight gains (ADG) and age (13 to 96 weeks) was studied in Holstein Friesian ${\times}$ Hariana ($1/2F{\times}1/2H$) crossbred male calves by assessing their plasma triiodo thyronine ($T_3$), Thyroxine ($T_4$), sodium, potassium, total proteins and cholesterol level at two energy levels. Body weight gains (ADG) were higher during the 50 to 72 weeks of age and declined thereafter, the plasma $T_3$ conc. was aignificantly (p < 0.01) higher during this period compared to all other periods. There was no significant variation due to energy level. Overall mean plasma $T_3$ conc. was $1.19{\pm}0.12ng/ml$. Plasma $T_4$ conc. did not show any significant variation either between the different age periods or between the two energy levels. The mean plasma $T_4$ conc. was $37.34{\pm}1.32ng/ml$. The plasma sodium and potassium concentration did not vary significantly due to energy levels. But amongst the different age periods, sodium concentration was highest ($147.70{\pm}2.29mEq/L$) during 49-60 weeks of age and lowest ($134.70{\pm}1.78mEq/L$) during 13-24 weeks, where as for potassium concentration changes were nonsignificant. There was very little variation amongst other periods. Plasma protein level was higher at 100% energy level than at 75%. Amongst the different age period, it was significantly lower ($6.44{\pm}0.36$) during 13 to 24 weeks of age than at 37 to 48 weeks of age ($7.14{\pm}0.11$). Plasma cholesterol values were higher for 75% energy level than that of 100%. Between the periods it was highest during 61 to 72 weeks of age and the difference amongst the age period were highly significant.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1371-1382
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• 2016

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate expression of mRNAs in many biological pathways. Liver plays an important role in the feed efficiency of animals and high and low efficient cattle demonstrated different gene expression profiles by microarray. Here we report comprehensive miRNAs profiles by next-gen deep sequencing in Angus cattle divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI) and identify miRNAs related to feed efficiency in beef cattle. Two microRNA libraries were constructed from pooled RNA extracted from livers of low and high RFI cattle, and sequenced by Illumina genome analyser. In total, 23,628,103 high quality short sequence reads were obtained and more than half of these reads were matched to the bovine genome (UMD 3.1). We identified 305 known bovine miRNAs. Bta-miR-143, bta-miR-30, bta-miR-122, bta-miR-378, and bta-let-7 were the top five most abundant miRNAs families expressed in liver, representing more than 63% of expressed miRNAs. We also identified 52 homologous miRNAs and 10 novel putative bovine-specific miRNAs, based on precursor sequence and the secondary structure and utilizing the miRBase (v. 21). We compared the miRNAs profile between high and low RFI animals and ranked the most differentially expressed bovine known miRNAs. Bovine miR-143 was the most abundant miRNA in the bovine liver and comprised 20% of total expressed mapped miRNAs. The most highly expressed miRNA in liver of mice and humans, miR-122, was the third most abundant in our cattle liver samples. We also identified 10 putative novel bovine-specific miRNA candidates. Differentially expressed miRNAs between high and low RFI cattle were identified with 18 miRNAs being up-regulated and 7 other miRNAs down-regulated in low RFI cattle. Our study has identified comprehensive miRNAs expressed in bovine liver. Some of the expressed miRNAs are novel in cattle. The differentially expressed miRNAs between high and low RFI give some insights into liver miRNAs regulating physiological pathways underlying variation in this measure of feed efficiency in bovines.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.431-436
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• 2013

Bone homeostasis is maintained by co-ordination of bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. Imbalance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts leads to many bone diseases such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis. Taxillus chinensis is a herb that has been widely used to improve bone health. However, the effect and mechanism of Taxillus chinensis extract on osteoclast differentiation and bone resportion has been unknown. Thus, We investigated the effect of Taxillus chinensis on expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Also, the action of Taxillus chinensis on mechanisms relating to osteoclast differentiation was studied. In this results, we identified that Taxillus chinensis significantly inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and bone resportion. Moreover, Taxillus chinensis was suppressed the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in bone marrow macrophage treated RANKL and M-CSF. Taxillus chinensis was down-regulated the mRNA expression of c-Fos, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT)c1, osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). The cell adhesion-related molecules such as integrin ${\alpha}v$ and integrin ${\beta}3$, and the filamentous actin (F-actin) rings of mature osteoclasts-related molecules such as dendritic cell-specific transmembrane preotein (DC-STAMP) and cathepsin K are also suppressed. Taken together, these results indicated that Taxillus chinensis will be a good candidate to treat osteoclast-mediated bone diseases.