• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.335-339
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• 2003

Purpose : Surfactant protein A(SP-A) is involved in surfactant physiology and structure, and plays a major role in innate host defense and inflammatory processes in the lung. Steroid therapy is widely used for mothers who threaten to deliver prematurely and also used commonly in the management of preterm infants with chronic lung disease. Two SP-A genes(SP-A1, SP-A2) and several alleles have been characterized for each SP-A gene in human. Preliminary evidence indicates that differences may exist among alleles in response to Dexamethasone(Dexa) and that the SP-A 3'UTR plays a role in this process. We studied whether 3'UTR-mediated differences exist among the most frequently found SP-A alleles in response to Dexa. Methods : Constructs containing the 3'UTR from eight different SP-A alleles were made using luciferase as a the reporter gene. These constructs were driven by the SV40 promotor and were transfected along with a transfection control vector in H441 cells that express SP-A. The activity of the reporter gene in the presence or absence of Dexa(100 nM) treatment was measured. All the experiments for the eight SP-A alleles studied, were performed in triplicate and repeated five times. The results were normalized to the transfection control. Results : Expression of alleles of 6A3, 6A, 1A were significantly decreased in response to Dexa. Conclusion : Three UTR mediated differences exist among human SP-A variants both in the basal expression and in response to Dexa. These genotype-dependent differences may point to a need for a careful consideration of individual use of steroid treatment in the prematurely born infant.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.157-161
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• 2002

A lactic acid bacteria with ${\beta}$-gal activity was isolated from Kimchi, a traditional fermented vegetable food in Korea. The isolate was identified as a Lactococcus lactis strain and named L. lactis A2. The gene encoding ${\beta}$-gal of L. lactis A2 was cloned as a 5.8 kb PstI fragment. DNA sequencing identified the complete lacA (galactoside acetyltransferase)-lacZ (${\beta}$-galactosidase) genes together with the 3' part of upstream galT (galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase), and the 5'region of downstream galE (UDP-galactose-4-epimerase) genes. L. lactis A2 had the same gal/lac operon structure as in L. lactis subsp. lactis 7962. Other genes of the Leloir pathway are most likely to be located in the 5'upstream of the 5.8 kb fragment on the A2 chromosome. Sequences downstream of galE were different from those of L. lactis subsp. lactis 7962.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.156-170
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• 2006

Determining the best visibility positions on terrain surface has been one of the frequently used analytical issues in GIS visibility analysis and the search for a solution has been carried out effectively using spatial search techniques. However, the spatial search process provides operational and methodological challenges for finding computational algorithms suitable for solving the best visibility site problem. For this problem, current GIS visibility analysis has not been successful due to limited algorithmic structure and operational performance. To meet these challenges, this paper suggests four algorithms explored robust search techniques: an extensive iterative search technique; a conventional solution based on the Tornqvist algorithm; genetic algorithm; and simulated annealing technique. The solution performance of these algorithms is compared on a set of visibility location problems and the experiment results demonstrate the useful feasibility. Finally, this paper presents the potential applicability of the new spatial search techniques for GIS visibility analysis by which the new search algorithms are of particular useful for tackling extensive visibility optimization problems as the next GIS analysis tool.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.60-65
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• 2005

The human solute carrier, SLC41Al, is a $Mg^{2}+$ transporter that is regulated by extracellular magnesium. Although intracellular magnesium plays a fundamental role in cellular metabolism, little is known about how $Mg^{2}+$ is taken up and controlled by cells. Magnesium plays a fundamental role in cellular metabolism so that its control within the body is critical. Magnesium homeostasis is principally a balance between intestinal absorption of dietary magnesium and renal excretion of urinary magnesium. The kidney, mainly the distal convoluted tubule, controls magnesium reabsorption. Although renal reabsorption is under the influence of many hormones, selective regulation of magnesium transport is due to intrinsic control involving transcriptional processes and synthesis of transport proteins. Using microarray analysis, identification of the genetic elements involved with this transcriptional control has been begun. SLC41A1(GenBank Accession No. AJ514402), comprises 10 putative transmembrane domains, two of which are highly homologous to the integral membrane part of the prokaryote transports $Mg^{2}+$ and other divalent cations $Sr^2+,\;Zn^2+,\;Cu^2+,\;Fe^2+,\;Co^2+,\;Ba^2+,\;and\;Cd^2+,\;but\;not\;Ca^2+,\;Mn^2+,\;and\;Ni^2+.$ Transport of $Mg^{2}+$ by SLC41Al is rheogenic, voltage dependent, and not coupled to Na or Cl. Expressed SLC41Al transports a range of other divalent cations: $Mg^{2+},\;Sr^{2+},\;Zn^{2+},\;Cu^{2+},\;Fe^{2+},\;Co^{2+},\;Ba^{2+},\;and\;Cd^{2+}$. The divalent cations $Ca^{2+},\;Mn^{2+},\;and\;Ni^{2+}$and the trivalent ion $Gd^{3+}$ did not induce currents nor did they inhibit $Mg^{2+}$ transport. The nonselective cation $La^{3+}$ abolishes $Mg^{2+}$ uptake. Computer analysis of the SLC41Al protein structure reveals that it belongs to MgtE protein family & suggested that the human solute carrier, SLC41Al, might be a eukaryotic $Mg^{2+}$ transporter closely related $(60-70\%)$ protein encoded by SLC41A2 is a $Mg^{2}+$ transporter that might be involved in magnesium homeostasis in epithelial cells also transports a range of other divalent cations: $Ba^2,\;Ni^2,\;CO^2,\;Fe^2,\;or\;Mn^2,\;but\;not\;Ca^2,\;Zn^2,\;or\;Cu^{2+}$ that may have related functional properties.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.651-657
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• 2007

Odontomas are the common type of odontogenic tumors and generally are asymptomatic and frequently lead to impaction or delayed eruption of permanent teeth. They are composed of enamel, dentin, cementum and pulp tissue and are divided into compound and complex according to the morphology of the hard tissues. Compound odontomas consist of varying numbers of small toothlike structure and have a predilection for the maxillary anterior regions. Complex odontomas consist of an unorganized mass of odontogenic tissues and comprise approximately 25 percent of all odontomas and have a predilection for the mandibular posterior regions. The etiology of odontomas is uncertain but hypothesized to involve local trauma, infection and genetic factors. Treatment of odontoma is conservative surgical removal and are little probability of recurrence. These two cases were about the patients with delayed eruption of mandibular first molar and mandibular lateral incisor. We surgically removed odontoma, exposed impacted tooth and guided impacted tooth into normal position by orthodontic traction. At the completion of traction, the mandibular first molar and mandibular lateral incisor was positioned fairly within the arch and complications such as root resorption were not observed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.257-263
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• 1999

It is well known that discard of seminal plasma from the semen and separation of motile sperm should be preceded before insemination for IUI or IVF. Till now, more than ten kinds of semen treatment methods have been developed. Of those, swim-up and Percoll methods have been used widely in ART laboratories as a routine semen treatment methods because of its advantages. However, there are reports that Percoll can make a genetic trouble because of its chemical structure and therefore the necessity has been arisen to substitute Percoll for other equivalent materials. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of three different sperm preparation methods (swim-up, Percoll and Sil-Select) on sperm motility, sperm recovery rate and fertilization rate. Also, the feasibility of using Sil-Select instead of Percoll in ART was evaluated. Each semen samples were divided into three fractions and motile sperm were recovered by swim-up, Percoll and Sil-Select gradient centrifugation methods. Normal and sub-normal criteria of fifteen semen samples and seventeen IVF cycles were included in these study. As results, no significant difference was found in sperm recovery rate in normal semen treated by a Swim-up, Percoll and Sil-Select method ($13.2{\times}10^6,\;17.5{\times}10^6\;and\;17.7{\times}10^6$ respectively). The initial sperm motility was 61.9% and this increased to 87.1%, 92.6% and 89.5% through Swim-up, Percoll and Sil-Select treatment, respectively. Higher motility was observed in Percoll and Sil-Select treated groups (81.5%, 79.2%, respectively) than swim-up group (66.8%) after incubation for 24hrs. In sub-normal group, sperm recovery rates were higher in Sil-Select group $(2.9{\times}10^6)$ than Percoll gradients group $(1.8{\times}10^6)$. In IVF cycles, the outcomes of fertilization using sperm treated by swim-up and Sil-Select group were similar (82.2%, 79.7% respectively). In conclusion, our results indicate that Sil-Select can be used as a substitute material for sperm preparation instead of Percoll.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.329-329
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• 2017

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of different harvesting time on pasting properties of starch in three colored rices. Seven major parameters of starch pasting properties, peak viscosity (PKV), hot pasting viscosity (HPV), cool pasting viscosity (CPV), setback (CPV minus PKV), breakdown (PKV minus HPV), peak time, and pasting time were determined by Rapid Visco Analyzer. The peak viscosity, hot viscosity, cool viscosity and peak time were influenced by different harvesting times. Pasting time was delayed slightly with prolonged harvesting time in all rice cultivars. Pasting temperature in each rice cultivar differed from each harvesting time, and pasting temperature of the two rice cultivars, Hongjinju and Joseongheugchal, showed the highest at the 40 days after heading and then it decreased at the final harvesting time. With the delay of the harvesting time, peak viscosity, hot viscosity, cool viscosity, setback value and pasting temperature did not exhibit a regular trend depending on their genetic characteristics. Branch chain length distribution of amylopectin was demonstrated a distinct difference among these colored rices. In changes of amylopectin branch chain-length distribution, the amylopectin structure of Hongjinju rice cultivar as affected by different harvesting time, the shortest chain length of amylopectin in rice starch harvested at 20 days after heading was characterized by the significant increase in A chains with $DP{\geq}12$ and remarked decrease in long chains $37{\leq}DP$ compared to that of 30, 40, and 50 days after heading. In particular, when harvesting time is delayed the distribution percentage of short chain (A chains with $DP{\geq}12$) was increased except for the rice which harvested 20 days after heading. The similar results were also observed in Sintoheugmi rice cultivar like that of Hongjinju rice cultivar. Otherwise, distribution percentage of the shortest chain length of amylopectin in rice starch harvested at 20 days after heading was characterized by the significant decrease in A chains with $DP{\geq}12$ and remarked increase in B chains $13{\leq}DP{\geq}24$ compared to that of 30, 40, and 50 days after heading.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.133-133
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• 2017

Lodging is one of the important constraints in rice production. The lodging destroys the canopy structure, and sharply reduces the capacity of photosynthetic rate and dry matter production. In cereal crops, stem lodging can be classified into two types: stem breaking type and stem bending type. To improve stem lodging resistance, it is important to reveal strong culm traits of superior lodging resistant varieties. There are large varietal differences in parameters associated with the bending moment at breaking (M) and flexural rigidity (FR). The indica variety Takanari possesses large M due to its large section modulus (SM) despite of its small bending stress (BS), while Takanari also has large FR due to its large secondary moment of inertia (SMI) and Young's modulus (YM). To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and the corresponding genes associated with the parameters for M ($=SM{\times}BS$) and FR ($=SM{\times}YM$) should enable to develop lodging resistant varieties, efficiently. In order to identify QTLs for cell wall materials such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin associated with BS and YM, a set of Chromosome Segment of Substitution Lines (CSSLs) consisted of 37 lines with chromosome segments of Koshihikari in the genetic background of Takanari were used. Takanari had large M and small BS as compared with Koshihikari. The QTLs for BS were estimated on chromosomes 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Koshihikari alleles increased BS in these QTLs. Takanari had a large FR due to its large SMI and YM as compared with Koshihikari. The YM was increased by substitution of the Koshihikari chromosomal segments on chromosomes 2, 10 and 11. Other QTLs estimated on chromosomes 7 and 12 that Koshihikari alleles contributed to the decrease of YM. For lignin, only one major QTL for lignin density was detected on chromosome 11. Hollocellulose densities were increased by the substitution of Koshihikari segments on chromosomes 5 and 11. On the other hand, these were decreased on chromosomes 1 and 3 by substitution of Koshihikari segments. QTLs for cellulose density were estimated on chromosomes 1, 3 and 5 by substitution of Koshihikari segments. For hemicellulose, QTL on chromosome 3 showed that hemicellulose density decreased by the substitution of Koshihikari segment. However, hemicellulose densities on chromosomes 5, 8 and 11 showed the opposite effects. The QTLs for hemicellulose, cellulose, and hollocelulose densities identified on chromosome 5 overlapped with that for bending stress, indicating the positive effect of Koshihikari segment on increasing bending stress. These results suggest that some QTLs for the densities of cell wall materials contribute to increasing bending stress and Young's modulus, and could be utilized to improve the lodging resistance for both types of breaking and bending in rice varieties.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.585-595
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• 2020

Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) has become an important technique for examining changes in human brain structure with neurological disorders. Brain development is a very complex process, and is affected by neurogenesiss and genetic programs. As age increases, structures of the brain change, which can contribute to the formation of brain diseases. Among the various factors, Gender is one of the greatest influential factors that affect the development of a healthy brain. The images were analyzed through various programs found in FSL such as SIENAX, FIRST, and Vertex analysis. Our results show that significant gender-related differences in subcortical areas were observed at the particular age group. The magnitude of these differences between gender and volume varied depending on the area investigated. In this study, we used more advanced 3T MRI for the structural analysis of subcortical structures between each gender. In addition, Vertex Analysis was used to visualize the volumetric differences in subcortical structures between each gender. This study is limited to groups in their 70s, therefore, further studies are needed for wider age groups.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.421-433
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• 2001

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experience of mothers of children with muscular dystrophy. The participants were 11 mothers recruited by snowball sampling, who agreed with the objectives of the research and could verbally communicate with the researcher and who lived with their sons who had muscular dystrophy. Data collection was done through in-depth interviews with participants in their own homes. Each interview took 50 to 120 minutes. All of the interviews were audiotaped and then transcribed. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's (1978) method of phenomenology. From the transcripts 109 significant sentences and phrases were selected and 13 clusters of themes were categorized from 67 significant statements. These results were integrated into the essential structure of the lived experience of mothers of children with muscular dystrophy. 1. Anxious and relying on chance due to indefinite diagnosis. 2. Only able to cry with shock because of son's fatal disease. 3. Seeing the future as dismal and feeling resentment that this disease in transmitted through the mother. 4. Feeling caught between a husband who is distancing himself from his family and the family which is disintegrating. 5. Feeling like a sinner for transmission of genetic disease(Feeling guilt for conceiving a son with a genetically transmitted fatal disease). 6. Empathizing with other suffers of muscular dystropy and their parents in their grief and helping to dissipate their heavy feelings. 7. Deciding to sacrifice self as a way of taking responsibility for giving birth to a handi-capped son. 8. Losing hope (feeling despair) as son's condition deteriorates in spite of all attempts to help him. 9. Wishing to die with son who becomes progressively immobile. 10. Accumulating Han*(한, 恨), because of rising Hwa(화, anger), and becoming sick both mentally and physically. 11. Seeing events as destiny and finding self-control through faith. 12. Finally, giving up sacrificing self for son and becoming concerned(involved) with other children in the family. 13. Feeling fear at son's impending death. This is the first research on the experience of Korean mothers of children with muscular dystrophy. In applying the phenomenology research method, this study not only helps health professionals understand the experience of these mothers in the Korean patriarchal social system, but the researcher, as a nurse, can share their agony and grief through identification of their inner world through in-depth personal interviews. The results obtained in this study will not only help in the development of family nursing practice for families with genetically transmitted diseases but also prepare basic data for family nursing practice in the Korean sociocultural context.