• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.123-131
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• 2018

Purpose: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is mostly asymptomatic but can be detrimental to certain hosts. We investigated changes of CMV seroprevalence in Koreans before and after the year 2000. Methods: We reviewed laboratory values of patients who were tested for CMV immunoglobulin G (IgG) at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, from January 1995 to December 2015. Changes in seroprevalence were analyzed by gender, age, region, and tested year period (period 1, 1995-2005 vs. period 2, 2006-2015). Results: Overall CMV seropositivity was 94.1% (10,900/11,584). There was no significant difference for CMV seropositivity among the two periods (94.2% vs. 94.1%) (P=0.862). CMV seropositivity in the 11 to 20-year age group in period 2 (78.8%) was significantly lower than that of period 1 (89.9%) (P=0.001). The seropositivity of individuals aged 31-40 years (97.4%) was significantly higher than that of younger age groups (P<0.001) and lower than that of older age groups (P<0.001). Of 2,441 females of reproductive age (from 15 to 49), CMV seropositivity was 97% (2,467/2,441). The seropositivity in women aged 20-24-years was higher than that of men in the same age group (97.6% vs. 85.6%, P=0.003). No significant difference was observed among different regions. Conclusions: Overall CMV seropositivity of Koreans was estimated to be 94% and the average seropositivity of reproductive women was 97%. Monitoring of the changes in seroprevalence including the reproductive age group is needed in the future.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.595-604
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• 2018

In this study, in a bid to develop natural bioadhesives for paper craft, the hanji industry, and preserving cultural assets, complex polysaccharides were extracted from brown and red algae and used as an ingredient in adhesives. Brown algae include sea trumpet, kelp, sea oak, and sea mustard, whereas red algae include Pachymeniopsis elliptica agar-agar weed, Gloiopeltis tenax, and hunori. The polysaccharides were extracted after transforming them from non-aqueous Ca complexes contained in each of the brown and red algae into water-soluble polysaccharides containing alkali metals with a solubility level of 1. and extracted Subsequently, only the polysaccharides were extracted using alcohol precipitation. The adhesion tensile strengths of kelp, a brown algae, and Pachymeniopsis elliptica, a red algae, were 21.58 and 32.99 kgf, respectively. They thus demonstrated better adhesion than that of solid glue products such as water plants (18.45 kgf) and glue sticks (20.45 kgf). The extraction yield of these polysaccharides is supposed to be determined according to their extracted environments; however, no difference in adhesion strength was seen. Further, it was found that the shapes of polysaccharides were determined by their growing environment instead of extraction environment. Use of multi-step alcohol precipitation method during extraction enabled the removal of the constituents except protein and other polysaccharides, thereby demonstrating a stable outcome without cultivation of mold. Furthermore, there was no occurrence of mold even after production of the adhesives by the simple solution method, which demonstrates the adhesive's potential as an environment-friendly adhesive material.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2019

Recycling of drained nutrient solution in hydroponic cultivation of horticultural crops is important in the conservation of the water resources, reduction of production costs and prevention of environmental contamination. Objective of this research was to obtain the fundamental data for the development of a recirculation system of hydroponic solution in semi-forcing cultivation of 'Bonus' tomato. To achieve the objective, tomato plants were cultivated for 110 days and the contents of inorganic elements in plant, supplied and drained nutrient solution were analyzed when crop growth were in the flowering stage of 2nd to 8th fruiting nodes. The T-N content of the plants based on above-ground tissue were 4.1% at the flowering stage of 2nd fruiting nodes (just after transplanting), and gradually get lowered to 3.9% at the flowering stage of 8th fruiting nodes. The tissue P contents were also high in very early stage of growth and development and were maintained to similar contents in the flowering stage of 3rd to 7th fruiting nodes, but were lowed in 8th node stages. The tissue Ca, Mg and Na contents in early growth stages were lower than late growth stages and the contents showed tendencies to rise as plants grew. The concentration differences of supplied nutrient solution and drained solution in $NO_3-N$, P, K, Ca, and Mg were not significant until 5 weeks after transplanting, but the concentration of those elements in drained solution rose gradually and maintained higher than those in supplied solution. The concentrations of B, Fe, and Na in drained solution were slightly higher in the early stages of growth and development and were significantly higher in the mid to late stages of growth than those in supplied solution. The above results would be used as a fundamental data for the correction in the inorganic element concentrations of drained solution for semi-forcing hydroponic cultivation of tomato.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2019

Experiments of local cooling and heating on crown and root zone of forcing cultivation of strawberry 'Seolhyang' using heat pump and root pruning before planting were conducted. During the daytime, the crown surface temperature of the crown local cooling treatment was maintained at $18{\sim}22^{\circ}C$. This is suitable for flower differentiation, while those of control and root zone local cooling treatment were above $30^{\circ}C$. Budding rate of first flower clusters and initial yields were in the order of crown local cooling, root zone local cooling and control in root pruning plantlet and non pruning plantlet, except for purchase plantlet. Those of root pruning plantlet were higher than those of non pruning plantlet. These trends were evident in the yield of the first flower cluster until February 14, 2018, and the effect of local cooling and root pruning decreased from March 9, 2018. The budding rates of the second flower cluster according to the local cooling and root pruning treatments were not noticeable compared to first flower cluster but showed the same tendency as that of first flower cluster. In the heating experiment, root zone local heating(root zone $20^{\circ}C$+inside greenhouse $5^{\circ}C$) and crown local heating(crown $20^{\circ}C$+inside greenhouse $5^{\circ}C$) saved 59% and 65% of heating fuel, respectively, compared to control(inside greenhouse $9^{\circ}C$). Considering the electric power consumption according to the heat pump operation, the heating costs were reduced by 55% and 61%, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1516-1522
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• 2018

Atherosclerosis is an obstructive vessel disease mainly caused by chronic arterial inflammation to which the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is the main pathological response. In the present study, the primary responsible inflammatory cytokine and its signaling pathway was investigated. The proliferation and migration of VSMCs was significantly enhanced by the prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ ($PGF_{2{\alpha}}$), while neither was affected by tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$. Prostacyclin $I_2$ was seen to enhance the proliferation of VSMCs while simultaneously suppressing their migration. Both prostaglandin $D_2$ and prostaglandin $E_2$ significantly enhanced the migration of VSMCs, however, proliferation was not affected by either of them. The proliferation and migration of VSMCs stimulated by $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ progressed in a dose-dependent manner; the $EC_{50}$ value of both proliferation and migration was $0.1{\mu}M$. VSMCs highly expressed the phospholipase isoform $C-{\beta}3$ ($PLC-{\beta}3$) while others such as $PLC-{\beta}1$, $PLC-{\beta}2$, and $PLC-{\beta}4$ were not expressed. Inhibition of the PLCs by U73122 completely blocked the $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$-induced migration of VSMCs, and, in addition, silencing $PLC-{\beta}3$ significantly diminished the $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$-induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs. Given these results, we suggest that $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ plays a crucial role in the proliferation and migration of VSMCs, and activation of $PLC-{\beta}3$ could be involved in their $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$-dependent migration.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2018

A new barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar 'Mihan' having ruminant-palatable semi-smooth awn and good silage quality was developed at National Institute of Crop Science(NICS), RDA in 2016. This cultivar was derived from a cross of the 'SB00T2064' and 'Suwon385' in 2001. And its promising line showed high yielding through the preliminary yield trials(PYT) and advanced yield trials (AYT) in Iksan from 2012 to 2013. It was designated as the 'Iksan487'. 'Iksan487' was conducted to regional yield trials (RYT) in one upland field and five paddy fields around Korea for three years from 2014 to 2016. And it was released as the name of 'Mihan'. It has growth habit of IV, erect plant type, green leaf and semi-smooth awn. Its heading date was April 23 in the paddy field and maturing date was May 24. Plant height of 'Mihan' was 96cm. Mihan's spikes per $m^2$ was 665. It has better winter hardiness and resistance to BaYMV (Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus) than that of barley cultivar 'Youngyang'. The average dry matter of 'Mihan' was about $10.9ton\;ha^{-1}$ in paddy field. And average feed quality of 'Mihan' was 10.3% of crude protein content, 26.1% of ADF (Acid Detergent Fiber), 46.9 % of NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber) and 68.2% of TDN (Total Digestible Nutrients). 'Mihan' had grade I of silage quality. This cultivar would be suitable for the area above the daily minimum average temperature of $-8^{\circ}C$ in January in Korean peninsula.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.70-88
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• 2019

A statistical analysis of 4,380 non-glutinous landrace rice germplasm collected from four East Asian countries namely South Korea (1,032), North Korea (994), Japan (800), and China (528) was conducted using normal distribution, variability index value (VIV), analysis of variation (ANOVA), and Duncan's multiple range test (DMRT) based on a data obtained from Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis. In normal distribution, the average protein content was 8.2%, and the non-glutinous rice amylose, ranging over 10%, was found to be 22.0%. Protein content in most gremplasm was between 5.4 and 10.9%, and amylose content was between 15.0 and 28.9%. The VIV was 0.50 for protein, and 0.81 for non-glutinous rice amylose content. The average amylose content was 23.34% in Chinese, 21.55% in South Korean, 21.45% in Japanese, and 20.48% in North Korean resources, while the average protein content was found to be 9.02% in Chinese, 8.06% in Japanese, 8.04% in North Korean, and 7.99% in South Korean resources. ANOVA of amylose and protein content showed significant differences at p=0.01. The F-test value for amylose content was 94.92, and for protein content was 81.82 compared to the critical value of 3.79. DMRT of amylose and protein content revealed significant differences (p<0.01). Among the various germplasm obtained from different countries, that from North Korean had the lowest level of amylose content, whereas that from South Korea had the lowest level of protein content than all other resources. Chinese resources had the highest level of amylose and protein content. It is recommended to use these results in breeding fields.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2018

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) could be one of risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between PLMS and blood pressure changes during sleep. Methods: We analyzed data from 358 adults (176 men and 182 women) aged 18 years and older who were free from sleep apnea syndrome (Respiratory Disturbance Index < 5) and sleep disorders such as REM sleep behavior disorder or narcolepsy. Demographic characteristics, polysomnography records, and clinical variable data including blood pressure, body mass index, alcohol, smoking, and current medications were collected. In addition, self-report questionnaires including the Beck Depression Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were completed. Blood pressure change from bedtime to awakening was compared between the two periodic limb movement index (PLMI) groups [low PLMI ($PLMI{\leq}15$) and high PLMI (PLMI > 15)]. Blood pressure change patterns were compared using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: Systolic blood pressure in the high PLMI group was lower than that in the low PLMI group (p = 0.036). These results were also significant when adjusted for gender and age, but were not statistically significant when adjusted for BMI, alcohol, smoking, anti-hypertension medication use and sleep efficiency (p = 0.098). Systolic blood pressure dropped by 9.7 mm Hg in the low PLMI group, and systolic blood pressure in the high PLMI group dropped by 2.9 mm Hg. There was a significant difference in delta systolic blood pressure after sleep between the two groups in women when adjusted for age, BMI, alcohol, smoking, antihypertensive medication use and sleep efficiency (p = 0.023). Conclusion: PLMS was significantly associated with a decreasing pattern in nocturnal BP during sleep, and this association remained significant in women when adjusted for age, BMI, alcohol, smoking, antihypertension medication use and sleep efficiency related to blood pressure. We suggest that PLMS may be associated with cardiovascular morbidity.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.74-81
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• 2018

Objectives: Insomnia is one of the major concerns in the elderly population. Cognitive behavioral treatment for insomnia is the first line treatment option, but there are some limitations including time and cost burdens and the requirement for sufficient cognitive resources to obtain a proper treatment effect. The Brief intervention for insomnia (BII) is a treatment that focuses on behavioral aspects of insomnia in primary care practices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of BII in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A total of 47 older adults with insomnia were enrolled from community centers between May 2016 and January 2018. They participated in the BII program for three weeks. We gathered sleep-related participant information with using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the Sleep hygiene index, and a sleep diary. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by comparing total sleep time (TST), sleep latency (SL), waking after sleep onset (WASO), and sleep efficiency (SE) before and after the treatment. Results: There was significant improvement in sleep-related features after BII. Global score and sleep quality from the PSQI, freshness, and WASO from the sleep diary showed statistically significant improvement. Conclusion: We found BII showed positive clinical efficacy in community dwelling older adults, especially from the perspective of subjective sleep quality and WASO. This finding implies that BII can be effectively applied for the managment of elderly insomnia patients in a community setting.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.304-313
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to investigate the resistance starch(RS) content and in vitro hydrolysis index of roasted rice flours for low GI food development. This study used intermediate and high amylose rice varieties containing resistant starch. The intermediate amylose rice varieties 'Ilmi' and high amylose rice varieties, 'Goami4' and 'Dodamssal' were tested. The crude fat and crude protein contents of the rice cultivars ranged 2.12~3.08% and 6.2~7.63%, respectively. The RS and amylose contents of Dodamssal and Goami4 were higher than those of Ilmi. RS content of Ilmi was not significantly different before and after roasting treatment. The RS content of Goami4 before roasting was significantly higher than that of Dodamssal, but the RS content of Dodamssal was higher than that of Goami4 at temperatures above $210^{\circ}C$ of roasting. The soluble starch decreased after roasting in Goami4 and Dodamssal. Starch hydrolysis index (HI) and expected glycemic index (GI) were higher in order of Imi, Goami4 and Dodamssal regardless of roasting treatment. The sensory evaluation showed high scores in Dodamssal for color, flavor, bitter taste, bitter taste, sweet taste and sweetness at $240^{\circ}C$ for 10 min and $210^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. The results of this study indicate that Dodamssal was suitable varieties for powder meal with low GI.