• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.92-96
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• 2011

Rhodococcus sp. strain DK17 possesses three megaplasmids (380 kb pDK1, 330 kb pDK2, and 750 kb pDK3). The alkylbenzene-degrading genes (akbABCDEF) are present on pDK2 while the phthalate operons which are duplicated are present on both pDK2 (ophA'B'C'R') and pDK3 (ophABCR). DK17 with an optimal temperature of $30^{\circ}C$ showed no growth at $37^{\circ}C$. When transferred to $30^{\circ}C$, however, the $37^{\circ}C$ culture began to grow immediately, indicating that $37^{\circ}C$ is not lethal but stressful for DK17 growth. In addition, when exposed to $37^{\circ}C$ even for a short time, a part of DK17 cells lost the ability to degrade o-xylene (a model compound of alkylbenzenes). When two hundred colonies were randomly selected for colony PCR for pDK2-specific akbC, ophC', or pDK3-specific ophC, a total of 29 colonies were found to have lost at least one of the three genes. PFGE analysis clearly showed that all the mutants have different megaplasmid profiles from that of DK17 wild type, which are divided into five different cases: Type I (10 mutants, pDK2 loss and acquisition of a new ~700 kb plasmid), Type II (9 mutants, pDK2 loss), Type III (8 mutants, pDK3 loss and acquisition of a new ~400 kb plasmid), Type IV (1 mutant, pDK3 loss), and Type V (1 mutant, pDK2 and pDK3 loss and acquisition of the ~400 kb and ~700 kb plasmids). The above results showing that growth temperature changes can induce physical changes in bacterial genomes suggest that environmental changes in habitats including temperature fluctuations affect significantly the evolution of bacteria.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 1978

In de novo biosynthesis of the extracellulor enzymes-proteinsaes, alpha and gluc-amylases during the synchronized differentiation of Aspergillus niger in submerged culture and surface liquid culture were investigated. Gluc-amylase was synthesized in the stage of presporulation in which phialide formation is involved. Proteinase was synthesized both in the stages of conidiophore formation and presporulation. Alpha-amylase was synthesized during presporulation and sporulation stages, the activity of enzyme lasted for seven days on surface liquid culture. It seemed that the synthesis was occured in de novo partly repressed by the catabolite, and its nature was found to be constitutive since it is produced in non-starch medium. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis have shown that presporulating and sporulating body produced diverse types of the proteins whereas the earlier stages of vegetative body showed simpler profiles. The uptake of C-14 uracil into RNA and C-14 glutamate into protein were shown to be vigorous in presporulating body rather than those in sporulating body. Coincidence of alpha-amylase biosynthesis in de novo and sporulation may be significant in the study of differentiation in which gene expression is involved.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2003

Objectives: Many researches have been done to compare psychopathology of functional gastrointestinal disorder and inflammatory bowel disease which involves structural change. Recently, many studies focused on the topic of alexithymia. The results from these studies were questionable for lack of valid measures of alexithymia and valid diagnostic criteria of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, we tried to overcome these two problems and to assess alexithymia, personality characteristics, and other psychopathology. Methods: The subjects consisted of ulcerative colitis group(N=28) who were diagnosed by colonoscopy and biopsy, irritable bowel syndrome group(N=27) who were diagnosed by Rome II criteria and normal control group(N=22). All patients were diagnosed at outpatient department of Kyungpook National University Hospital. All these groups completed three psychological tests, including MMPI, Rorschach test, and well validated TAS-20K(The Korean Version of the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale). Results: Twenty-five percent of the ulcerative colitis group and 22% of the irritable bowel syndrome group scored in the alexithymia range, compared with 0% of the normal group. In Rorschach test, irritable bowel syndrome group showed high levels of weighted Sum C and EA. Most of clinical scales of MMPI were higher in two gastrointestinal groups than the normal control group. And two gastrointestinal groups showed low ego strength level, but there was no statistical significant difference between them. Conclusion: Two gastrointestinal groups showed high rate of alexithymia, other psychopathological profiles, and low ego strength but there was no significant difference between two groups.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.203-218
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• 2010

The site categorization and corresponding site amplification factors in the current Korean seismic design guideline are based on provisions for the western United States (US), although the site effects resulting in the amplification of earthquake ground motions are directly dependent on the regional and local site characteristic conditions. In these seismic codes, two amplification factors called site coefficients, $F_a$ and $F_v$, for the short-period band and midperiod band, respectively, are listed according to a criterion, mean shear wave velocity ($V_S$) to a depth of 30 m, into five classes composed of A to E. To suggest a site classification system reflecting Korean site conditions, in this study, systematic site characterization was carried out at four regional areas, Gyeongju, Hongsung, Haemi and Sacheon, to obtain the $V_S$ profiles from surface to bedrock in field and the non-linear soil properties in laboratory. The soil deposits in Korea, which were shallower and stiffer than those in the western US, were examined, and thus the site period in Korea was distributed in the low and narrow band comparing with those in western US. Based on the geotechnical characteristic properties obtained in the field and laboratory, various site-specific seismic response analyses were conducted for total 75 sites by adopting both equivalent-linear and non-linear methods. The analysis results showed that the site coefficients specified in the current Korean provision underestimate the ground motion in the short-period range and overestimate in the mid-period range. These differences can be explained by the differences in the local site characteristics including the depth to bedrock between Korea and western US. Based on the analysis results in this study and the prior research results for the Korean peninsula, new site classification system was developed by introducing the site period as representative criterion and the mean $V_S$ to a depth of shallower than 30 m as additional criterion, to reliably determine the ground motions and the corresponding design spectra taking into account the regional site characteristics in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.1783-1789
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of 10 week onion extract supplementation on blood lipid profiles in borderline hypercholesterolemic participants. The study consisted of 10 males and 17 females aged $45.9{\pm}10.0$ years. At baseline, serum total cholesterol level was $228.6{\pm}4.1$ mg/dL (201~239 mg/dL). This study was designed as randomized single blind placebo controlled cross-over study. After 1 week wash-out period, subjects were randomized into two groups; they took onion extract (150 mL/1 pack, containing 30 mg quercetin) or placebo for 10 weeks. After 1 week wash-out period again, subjects took exchanged samples for another 10 weeks. The total-cholesterol ($226.7{\pm}4.6{\rightarrow}206.8{\pm}3.6$ mg/dL; p<0.01), LDL-cholesterol ($151.6{\pm}5.0{\rightarrow}127.1{\pm}4.1$ mg/dL; p<0.01) and atherogenic index (AI: $4.0{\pm}0.3{\rightarrow}3.4{\pm}0.2$; p<0.05) decreased significantly after 10 weeks of onion extracts supplementation, while there were no significant changes during placebo periods. The levels of HDL-cholesterol (onion extract: $46.5{\pm}2.0{\rightarrow}50.2{\pm}2.1$ mg/dL, placebo: $47.8{\pm}2.1{\rightarrow}50.1{\pm}2.4$ mg/dL), GOT (onion extract: $36.8{\pm}1.8{\rightarrow}32.3{\pm}1.8$ IU/L, placebo: $35.1{\pm}2.1{\rightarrow}32.8{\pm}2.0$ IU/L), and GPT (onion extract: $36.5{\pm}3.2{\rightarrow}32.9{\pm}1.8$ IU/L, placebo: $36.6{\pm}3.8{\rightarrow}33.8{\pm}2.8$ IU/L) showed no significant changes in both periods. These results indicate that the consumption of onion concentrated extracts exerts beneficial effects on dyslipidemia through the decrease of serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in borderline hypercholestrolemic subjects. In conclusion, onion was useful as dietary therapy for hypercholestrolemia and adequate onion intake may help to prevent cardiovascular disease.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the extent of pain response and objective response to palliative radiotherapy (RT) for bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma according to RT dose. Materials and Methods: From January 2007 to June 2010, palliative RT was conducted for 103 patients (223 sites) with bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment sites were divided into the high RT dose and low RT dose groups by biologically effective dose (BED) of 39 $Gy_{10}$. Pain responses were evaluated using the numeric rating scale. Pain scores before and after RT were compared and categorized into 'Decreased', 'No change' and 'Increased'. Radiological objective responses were categorized into complete response, partial response, stable disease and progression using modified RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors) criteria; the factors predicting patients' survival were analyzed. Results: The median follow-up period was 6 months (range, 0 to 46 months), and the radiologic responses existed in 67 RT sites (66.3%) and 44 sites (89.8%) in the high and low RT dose group, respectively. A dose-response relationship was found in relation to RT dose (p=0.02). Pain responses were 75% and 65% in the high and low RT dose groups, respectively. However, no statistical difference in pain response was found between the two groups (p=0.24). There were no differences in the toxicity profiles between the high and low RT dose groups. Median survival from the time of bone metastases diagnosis was 11 months (range, 0 to 46 months). The Child-Pugh classification at the time of palliative RT was the only significant predictive factor for patient survival after RT. Median survival time was 14 months under Child-Pugh A and 2 months under Child-Pugh B and C. Conclusion: The rate of radiologic objective response was higher in the high RT dose group. Palliative AT with a high dose would provide an improvement in patient quality of life through enhanced tumor response, especially in patients with proper liver function.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2004

Objectives: We investigated the factors related to health examination behaviors, sociodemographic aspects and lifestyles of elderly persons with different social backgrounds, and compared sexual and regional differences in urban and rural elderlies. Methods: The total study subjects(464 individuals) from urban(236) and rural areas(228), recruited by a stratified cluster random sampling were interviewed and examined about their sociodemographic profiles, daily lifestyles, subjective health status, conditions concerning use of medical resources, hearing acuity, visual acuity and ADL(activity of daily living), and whether they receive health examination or not. For statistical analysis, Chi-square test was used for sexual and regional comparisons among the groups who have been given a health examination and the one who have not. Results: In urban areas, the rate of having underwent health examination was 54.5% in men and 46.9% in women, and in rural areas, it was 59.8% in men and 42.7% in women, showing its higher rate in men than in women in both areas. For regional differences between the group who have taken a health examination and the one who have not, there was a significant difference in terms of age, family pattern, current job, monthly household income, owning a house, drinking status, eating habit, subjective health status, whether they have taken outpatient medical service for the recent 3 months or not, anxiety for the health, and IADL conditions according to whether the community is rural or urban. In multiple regressions, the influential factors on the health examination behaviors were selected such as having their own house, their family doctor, amnesia, urinary incontinence and chronic disease in urban districts. But in rural districts, the variables were selected such as having or not of their family doctor, urinary incontinence, anxiety for the health, educational level, their own house and chronic disease. Conclusions: It is suggested that the approach to the health examination of an older patient requires substantial consideration of highly variable individual sociodemographic characteristics involving regional attributes as well as their daily life styles, subjective health status, status of performing health examination, physical health status and ADL conditions.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.195-204
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• 1991

This study was conducted to determine physiological responses rice cultivars to glufosinate-ammonium. Changes of total protein content, protein population, glutamine synthetase activity, accumulated ammonia content and free amino acid composition were examined in both tolerant and susceptible rice cultivars. Tamjinbyeo and Fukei 126 showed relatively tolerant response to glufosinate-ammonium while Namyeongbyeo, Palgongbyeo and Youngdugbyeo were susceptible to it. Total protein content of two tolerant cultivars was 93.2 of the untreated control in average but three susceptible cultivars showed 76.5 of the untreated control in average, showing 16.7 difference. Protein profiles of the tolerant cultivars seemed to be not affected by glufosinate-ammonium treatment. However, in susceptible cultivar like Namyeongbyeo, 10ppm of glufosinate-ammonium application resulted in decrease of band density or disapperance of spot density in near 20kD and in between 45kD and 66kD on 2D-PAGE. Glutamine synthetase activity in susceptible cultivars was markedly inhibited by glufosinate-ammonium treatment, accompanying remarkable increase of ammonia content by three times greater than tolerant cultivars, and markedly increase of glutamic acid, showing 430% of the untreated control.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.1 s.115
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• pp.1-12
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• 2006

Distributions of water temperature and DO profiles were investigated in Andong Reservoir from 1992 to 2004. Thermal stratification began to form from May of every year. Increasing water temperature of epilimnion, temperature difference between epilimnion and hypolimnion increased until August. Lower oxygen layer was formed at metalimnion from June or July of every year and there were 2 layers depending on each year. The two lower oxygen layers were affected by rainfall and inflow between July and September when thermal stratification was formed. The metalimnetic oxygen minima strongly formed at 2 layers, upper and lower part, when the average rainfall and inflow were ${\geqq}$ 170 mm, ${\geqq}$ 50 $m^3\;sec^{-1}$, respectively. It formed weakly when they were > 400 mm and > 200 $m^3\;sec^{-1}$ for one month. The upper part of low oxygen layers formed on the interface of epilimnion and metalimnion showed larger decreasing rate of DO than temperature and it disappeared around November. The lower part of those farmed on interface of metalimnion and hypolimnion existed until December and disappeared in January, this layer showed larger decreasing rate of temperature than DO. DO increased between the upper and lower part of the low oxygen layers. DO on hypolimnion increased under metalimnion and dramatically decreased near the bottom of the reservoir. Temperature of the inflow during rainy season was similar to that of the reservoir's metalimnion, DO was similar or higher and BOD, COD and SS increased. Density layer caused by turbidity was formed in metalimnion, and turbidity increased under the upper part (oxygen increasing layer) of metalimnetic DO minima layers reaching the maximum at the direct upper part of the lower DO minima layer. The upper part of DO minima layers formed on the interface of epilimnion and metalimnion is related to organic activity on the surface, and the lower part of those was considered to be the result of turbid water inflow to metalimnion during rainy season.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.25 no.spc5
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• pp.476-484
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to examine the misconception profiles of the scientifically-gifted and non-gifted children in terms of basic physics concepts and to compare them in terms of the types of differences in misconception as well as in their understanding of the concepts themselves. The subjects of this study were 75 scientifically-gifted children attending the Educational Center of Gifted Children in DNUE and 148 non-gifted children in elementary schools in Daegu city. For the purposes of this study, the basic concepts of physics (heat, electromagnetism, force, and light) which should be learned in an elementary school were selected with a review of related previous research and with an analysis of the 7th science curriculum. Next, a questionnaire was made which was made up of 20 multiple choice statement based items. Analysis of the results of the statement sections in the test, it was hoped, would reveal the difference between the scientifically-gifted and the non-gifted children's understanding, while the responses in the multiple choice items would suggest the differences between the two groups in terms of the misconceptions regarding physics concepts. The results of this study are as follows: First, although both the gifted and non-gifted children showed a low level of understanding of the concepts of heat, electromagnetism, force, and light, the gifted children' level of understanding of those physics concepts was proved to be significantly higher than the non-gifted, so it seems that the scientifically-gifted children have fundamentally understood the concepts in physics and have a higher level of understanding of them. Additionally, both the scientifically-gifted and non-gifted children' level of understanding of all the concepts was lower in the order of electromagnetism, heat, force, and light. This shows that both the scientifically-gifted and the non-gifted children have no difference in the level of understanding of any specific physics concept, but have similar levels of difficulty in every concept. Second, both the scientifically-gifted and non-gifted children showed similar types of misconceptions. However, the scientifically-gifted children had fewer misconceptions than the non-gifted. We suggest that scientifically-gifted children's misconceptions were not fixed yet, so there remained a possibility of them being corrected easily with appropriate instruction.