• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.234-241
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• 2019

An intensive interaction between yeasts and insects has highlighted their relevance for attraction to food and for the insect's development and behavior. Yeast associated in the gut of insects secretes cellulase which aided in the food digestion (cellulose degradation). Three strains of cellulose-degrading yeast were isolated from the gut of adult grasshoppers collected in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The strains $ON22^T$, $G10^T$, and $G15^T$, showed positive cellulolytic activity in the carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-plate assay. The phylogenetic tree based on sequence analysis of D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions revealed that the strains $ON22^T$ (100 and 98.4% sequence similarities in D1/D2 domains and ITS) and $G10^T$ (99.8 and 99.5% in D1/D2 domain and ITS region) were most closely related to the species Moesziomyces aphidis JCM $10318^T$; $G15^T$ (100% in D1/D2 domains and ITS) belongs to the species Moesziomyces antarcticus JCM $10317^T$, respectively. Morphology and biochemical test results are provided in the species description. Cellulase with its massive applicability has been used in various industrial processes such as biofuels like bioethanol productions. Therefore, this is the first report of the cellulolytic yeast strains $ON22^T$, $G10^T$, and $G15^T$ related to the genus Moesziomyces in the family Ustilaginaceae (Ustilaginales), in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.161-162
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• 2019

The aim of the research is analyzing the performance of the concrete IoT management system invented with similar technique from 'G' company to certify the performance of CIMS. As a results, the compressive strength assessing performance was compared. Since both systems assess concrete compressive strength with maturity method based on measured concrete temperature, both systems measured concrete temperature similarly, and maturity was calculated similarly. Therefore, the assumed compressive strength values were similar for both systems. Therefore, through the test, compressive strength assessing performance of CIMS was considered as a similar level of the 'G' company's system. Furthermore, it is considered that the CIMS has an additional advantage of reusability, adding capability of additional sensor, and wider range of Bluetooth communication.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.453-458
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• 2019

Synthesis of ZnCo₂O₃ oxide is performed by sol-gel method via nitrate-citrate route. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) study shows monoclinic unit cell having lattice parameters: a = 5.721(1) Å, b = 8.073(2) Å, c = 5.670(1) Å, β = 93.221(8)°, space group P_2/m and Z = 4. Average crystallite sizes determined by Scherrer equation are the range ~14-32 nm, whereas SEM micrographs show nano-micro meter size particles formed in ZnCo₂O₃. Endothermic peak at ~798 K in the Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) trace without weight loss could be due to structural transformation and the endothermic peak ~1143 K with weight loss is due to reversible loss of O₂ in air atmosphere. Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis profile shows the presence of elements Zn, Co and O which indicates the purity of the sample. Magnetic measurements in the range of +12 kOe to -12 kOe at 10 K, 77 K, 120 K and at 300 K by PPMS-II Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS) shows hysteresis loops having very low values of the coercivity and retentivity which indicates the weakly ferromagnetic nature of the oxide. Observed X-band EPR isotropic lineshapes at 300 K and 77 K show positive g-shift at g_iso ~2.230 and g_iso ~2.217, respectively which is in agreement with the presence of paramagnetic site Co²⁺(3d⁷) in the oxide. DC conductivity value of 2.875 ×10^-8 S/cm indicates very weakly semiconducting nature of ZnCo₂O₃ at 300 K. DRS absorption bands ~357 nm, ~572 nm, ~619 nm and ~654 nm are due to the d-d transitions ⁴T_1g(⁴F)→²E_g(²G), ⁴T_1g(⁴F)→⁴T_1g(⁴P), ⁴T_1g(⁴F)→⁴A_2g(⁴F), ⁴T_1g(⁴F)→⁴T_2g(⁴F), respectively in octahedral ligand field around Co²⁺ ions. Direct band gap energy, E_g~ 1.5 eV in the oxide is obtained by extrapolating the linear part of the Tauc plot to the energy axis indicates fairly strong semiconducting nature of ZnCo₂O₃.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2019

Vitamin D dependent rickets type 1A (VDDR1A) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in CYP27B1. Clinical findings are growth retardation, hypotonia, muscle weakness, hypocalcemic seizures, and radiological features of rickets. We aimed to present the VDDR1A case with a genetic study of CYP27B1. The 14-month-old boy was admitted to the hospital due to a seizure. Serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25(OH) vitamin D, and 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D values were 5.1 mg/dL, 3.7 mg/dL, 705 IU/L, 429 pg/mL, 24.9 ng/mL, and 8.8 pg/mL, respectively. Radiological study showed cupping and fraying of the distal ulna and radius. The molecular genetic study revealed that the patient had a compound heterozygous mutation, $Phe443Profs^*24$ and c.589+1G>A, in CYP27B1. Genetic analysis of the family members presented that the mother was heterozygous for the mutation c.589+1G>A, and that the father was heterozygous for $Phe443Profs^*24$. The patient was treated with calcium lactate and calcitriol. Until now, six Korean patients with VDDR1A have been studied. Including this case, Korean patients with VDDR1A were found to have only three different mutations in 14 alleles, indicating that the mutation in the CYP27B1 gene is homogeneous in the Korean population.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2019

Salvia miltiorrhiza Radix is cultivated in Korea and China and is traditionally used to treat cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we developed and validated a quantitative analysis method for S. miltiorrhiza Radix using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Identification was performed using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. For quantitative analysis, we used seven marker compounds. Separation conditions for HPLC were optimized using an ODS column with gradient conditions of 1% formic acid in distilled water and 1% formic acid in acetonitrile, with a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min and a detection wavelength of 280 nm. This method showed good linearity ($R^2=0.9998$), precision (relative standard deviation ${\leq}3.3%$), accuracy (recovery of 94.16-102.89%), limit of detection ($7.53{\mu}g/mL$), and limit of quantification ($23.71{\mu}g/mL$). This approach successfully quantified marker compounds in S. miltiorrhiza Radix. The individual marker compounds were identified by comparing the molecular masses and retention times with does standard compounds. Marker compound contents of S. miltiorrhiza Radix were investigated with different cultivation regions. Seven marker compounds were detected and quantified in all samples. Among them, salvianolic acid B showed the highest contents and it ranged from 4.13 to 7.15%. The salvianolic acid B content (7.15%) of marker compound was the highest in Bonghwa, and the tanshinone IIA content (1.90%) was the highest in Pohang. The results of marker compounds and developed method were intended to provide a favorable reference for the study of S. miltiorrhiza Radix from different regions of Korea.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.215-222
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• 2019

PURPOSE. To evaluate the polishing effect on roughness and color change of pressed and layering ceramics after immersion in coffee solution. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 88 ceramic discs ($1.0mm{\times}10.0mm$) were manufactured - 44 nano-fluorapatite layering ceramics (IPS e.max Ceram. Group C) and 44 pressed lithium disilicate ceramic discs (IPS e. max Press - Group P). Each group was divided into 4 subgroups according to surface treatments: (G) Glaze, (S) Shofu polishing system (Shofu Inc.), (E) Edenta AG polishing System, (KG) $30-{\mu}m$ diamond granulation tip. Surface roughness (Ra) and color change (${\Delta}E$) measurings after the surface treatments were performed, before and 12 days after the immersion in coffee solution. A samples' qualitative analysis was conducted with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data were statistically-treated with one-way-ANOVA and Duncan's tests, apart from paired t-test and Pearson's correlation test (${\alpha}=5%$). RESULTS. The decrescent order, both for surface roughness (Ra) and ${\Delta}E$ for both ceramics were: KG > E > S > G (P<.05). With exception for PG and CG subgroups, which did not present statistical difference between them, all other pressed ceramics subgroups presented smaller Ra values and greater ${\Delta}E$ values than the layering ceramics subgroups (P<.05). CONCLUSION. Although mechanical polishing systems presented intermediate Ra values, their colors were considered clinically acceptable. There is a strong correlation between the surface roughness and the color change of tested ceramics.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.291-299
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• 2019

This study is a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest designed to understand the effect of ethical dilemma discussion program on human rights sensitivity and ethical values of university students. By providing ethical dilemma discussion program to university students in C university, G-do, the effectiveness was verified. Analyzed using IBM SPSS 24.0. The normality of the variables was verified by Shapiro-Wilk test. Homogeneity was verified using real number and percentage, Fisher's exact probability test and independent t-test. The program's effect was verified using paired t-test. The results of this study are as follows: after the ethical dilemma discussion program, the experimental group's human rights sensitivity(t=-2.32, p=.025), and ethical value(t=-2.43, p=.020) were higher than the control group. Therefore, the ethical dilemma discussion program of this study helped improve the human rights susceptibility and ethical values of the subjects. Further research is needed to verify the effects of ethics education on diverse groups.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.577-586
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• 2019

The engineered Aspergillus oryzae has a high NADPH demand for xylose utilization and overproduction of target metabolites. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH, E.C. 1.1.1.49) is one of two key enzymes in the oxidative part of the pentose phosphate pathway, and is also the main enzyme involved in NADPH regeneration. The open reading frame and cDNA of the putative A. oryzae G6PDH (AoG6PDH) were obtained, followed by heterogeneous expression in Escherichia coli and purification as a his6-tagged protein. The purified protein was characterized to be in possession of G6PDH activity with a molecular mass of 118.0 kDa. The enzyme displayed maximal activity at pH 7.5 and the optimal temperature was $50^{\circ}C$. This enzyme also had a half-life of 33.3 min at $40^{\circ}C$. Kinetics assay showed that AoG6PDH was strictly dependent on $NADP^+$ ($K_m=6.3{\mu}M$, $k_{cat}=1000.0s^{-1}$, $k_{cat}/K_m=158.7s^{-1}{\cdot}{\mu}M^{-1}$) as cofactor. The $K_m$ and $k_{cat}/K_m$ values of glucose-6-phosphate were $109.7s^{-1}{\cdot}{\mu}M^{-1}$ and $9.1s^{-1}{\cdot}{\mu}M^{-1}$ respectively. Initial velocity and product inhibition analyses indicated the catalytic reaction followed a two-substrate, steady-state, ordered BiBi mechanism, where $NADP^+$ was the first substrate bound to the enzyme and NADPH was the second product released from the catalytic complex. The established kinetic model could be applied in further regulation of the pentose phosphate pathway and NADPH regeneration of A. oryzae to improve its xylose utilization and yields of valued metabolites.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.96-103
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• 2022

Purpose: Studies on the immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccines are necessary to evaluate the ongoing vaccination programs by correlating serological response data and clinical effectiveness data. We performed a longitudinal immunological profiling of health care workers vaccinated with mRNA-1273 (Moderna, Cambridge, MA, USA). Half of these vaccinees had experienced a mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in the spring of 2020 ("COVID-recovered" cohort), whereas the other half of the vaccinees had no previous COVID-19 infection ("COVID-naive" cohort). Materials and Methods: Serum was drawn at multiple time points and subjected to assays measuring anti-Spike immunoglobulin G (IgG), avidity of anti-Spike IgG, avidity of anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG, virus neutralizing activity, and interferon-γ release from stimulated lymphocytes. Results: Between both cohorts and within each cohort, we found remarkable inter-individual differences regarding cellular and humoral immune responses to the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine. Conclusion: First, our study indicates that the success of mRNA-1273 vaccinations should be verified by serological assays in order to identify "low-responders" to vaccination. Second, the kinetics of anti-S IgG and neutralizing activity correlate well with clinical effectiveness data, thus explaining incipient protection against infection 2 weeks after the first dose of mRNA-1273 in COVID-naive vaccinees. Third, our IgG-avidity data indicate that this incipient protection is mediated by low-avidity anti-RBD IgG and low-avidity anti-S IgG.

• Economic Analysis
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.34-65
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• 2019

This paper investigates the effects on Korean exports of demand in developed economies, and how these effects have changed since the global financial crisis. As a measure of import demand, we use import intensity-adjusted demand to take into account heterogenous import intensities across components of aggregate demand. Our estimation of a dynamic panel regression model reveals that Korea's exports to the G7 countries were elastic with respect to the import demand of these countries until the global financial crisis, but have shifted to become inelastic since. Furthermore, we separately estimate the effects of the different components of the G7 countries' aggregate demand (private consumption, public consumption, investment and exports). The results show that the decrease in private consumption in the G7 countries during the crisis had a significant impact in causing the decline in Korea's exports to them, but that the increase in their public consumption since the crisis has had a significant effect on driving increased Korean exports to them. The effects of the G7 countries' exports on Korea's exports to them remain positive and significant during both the pre- and post-crisis periods. The effects of the G7 countries' investments on Korea's exports are also positive and significant, but the positive effect has weakened since the crisis. Our findings suggest that the overall effect of changes in the G7 countries' import demand on Korea's exports to them has weakened compared to the pre-crisis period.