• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.280-291
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• 2019

Potential utility of 14 candidate housekeeping genes as normalization reference for RT-qPCR analysis with developmental samples (fertilized eggs to late veliger larvae) in Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai was evaluated using four different statistical algorithms (geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and comparative ΔCT method). Different algorithms identified different genes as the best candidates, and geometric mean-based final ranking from the most to the least stable expression was as follow: RPL5, RPL4, RPS18, RPL8, RPL7, UBE2, RPL7A, GAPDH, RPL36, PPIB, EF1A, ACTB and B-TU. The findings were further validated via relative quantification of metallothionein (MT) transcripts using the stable and unstable reference genes, and expression levels of MT were greatly influenced according to the choice of reference genes. In overall, our data suggest that RPL5 and RPS18, either singly or in combination, are appropriate for normalizing gene expression in developmental samples of this abalone species, whereas ACTB, B-TU and EF1A are less stable and not recommended. In addition, our findings propose that standard deviations in geometric ranking as well as geometric mean itself should also be taken into account for the final selection of reference gene(s). This study could be a useful basis to facilitate the generation of accurate and reliable RT-qPCR data with developmental samples in this abalone species.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.62-66
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• 2009

HbA1c is the major fraction of glycated hemoglobin, and used primarily to identify the average plasma glucose concentration over prolonged periods of time, mostly 2-3 months. It is used as markers for the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetic patients and increasingly used a marker in health screening check up for general populations. In this study, HbA1c was measured with Cobas integra 800 (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany), using immunoturbidimetry principles. We established the reference interval for HbA1c with Cobas integra 800 and evaluated its significance. The study subjects were 36,140 (male 57.5%, and female 42.2%) who visited the Health Promotion Center of a tertiary care center in Seoul for health checkup from January to September, 2008. HbA1c levels were measured with immunoturbidimetric method. Statistical evaluation was done with SPSS. Comparison between male and female was checked with Mann-Whitney test, and among age groups with Kruskal-Wallis test. Reference interval for HbA1c was from 4.8% to 6.1%. There was no significant difference between male and female with Mann-Whitney test (P=0.539). There was significant difference among age groups with Kruskal-Wallis test (P<0.05). Reference interval for HbA1c with Cobas integra 800 was 4.8~6.1%, which was different from conventional one, 4.4-6.4%. Establishment of reference interval for each principle is needed.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 2016

Objectives: Aluminum is well known as a potent neurotoxicant. There are many reports that aluminum can be toxic to humans and to animals. However, there are only few studies on the assessment of aluminum exposure among humans in Korea. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate current aluminum concentrations among the adult population in regions of Korea. Methods: We selected 439 adults aged 20-89 years from the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region and certain other sites. Blood aluminum concentrations were analyzed using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS). The geometric means (GM) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of aluminum concentrations were calculated, and we also confirmed the proportion of excess of the aluminum reference value. Results: Total GM (95% CI) of aluminum levels was 14.26 (13.43-15.14) ppb. Levels among males (15.58 [14.09-17.22] ppb) were higher compared to among females (13.51 [12.54-14.55] ppb), and levels increased with subject age from 40 years and over. Three point one nine percent of the subjects exceed the reference value of 50 ppb. Lastly, aluminum concentration has a log-normal distribution with lnN (x; 2.89, 0.642), x>0. Conclusion: In the present study, we evaluated the distribution of blood aluminum concentrations among the normal population in Korea, and we found some adults exceeding the reference levels. However, in order to compare the results with other studies, an extended study including measurement of serum aluminum level is required. In addition, further research on various population groups, including occupational exposure of workers, is required.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2010

We analyzed and compared the concentration of total cholesterol (CHOL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) in serum and the serum protein electrophoresis fractions of thyroid disease patients. In comparison with the average of reference, our data showed that the average concentration of CHOL, LDL cholesterol and TG in hyperthyroidism patients were decreased significantly, but HDL cholesterol was increased significantly. In hypothyroidism patients, CHOL, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and TG were all increased significantly. In comparison of the concentration of lipids in each patient to reference range, 28.3% of hyperthyroidism patients showed abnormally low level of total cholesterol. In the patients with hypothyroidism, the percentage of patients showed abnormally high level of CHOL, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and TG were 37.7%, 10%, 68.8% and 49.1%, respectively. In our studies of serum protein electrophoresis, the average of ${\alpha}_2$-globulin and $\gamma$-globulin in hyperthyroidism patients were increased and $\beta$-globulin was decreased significantly. In hypothyroidism patients, the average of $\gamma$-globulin was increased and $\beta$-globulin was decreased significantly. In comparison of protein fractions of each patient to reference range, 38.3% and 50.0% of hyperthyroidism patients showed abnormally high levels of ${\alpha}_2$-globulin and $\gamma$-globulin, but 73.3% of patients showed abnormally low level of $\beta$-globulin. In hypothyroidism patients, 70.4% of patients were abnormally decreased in $\beta$-globulin and 63.9% of patients were abnormally increased in $\gamma$-globulin. These data suggest that the concentrations of CHOL, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and TG are not critical data for clinical interpretation of hyperthyroidism, but the levels of them are useful for interpretation of hypothyroidism patients. Our results of serum protein electrophoresis suggest that the concentration of serum protein electrophoresis fractions can be useful to understand the thyroid disease.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.339-346
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• 2014

The author assessed the availability of urine reference material for proficiency test provided for laboratories in occupational health. N-methylacetamide is the biomarker of exposure to N,N-dimethyl acetamide, which was used as the substitute for hepatotoxic N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). N-methylacetamide (NMAC) urine samples of 3 different levels covering the 0.2~2 times of the exposure limit were tested. Stability test up to 180 days (0, 7, 30, 60, 180 days) at 4 different temperatures (-60, -20, 5, $25^{\circ}C$) and homogeneity test were performed for these samples. New analytical condition by GC/MSD using SIM mode (m/z 58, 59) and DB-624 column was investigated for better selectivity, sensitivity and resolution. Urinary NMAC samples showed good homogeneity for 3 levels. These samples also showed good stability up to 180 days. The data of stability and homogeneity of urinary DMAC confirmed the basis of including this item into Korean proficiency test for occupational health laboratories since 2008.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.213-216
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• 2002

Food consumption and conversion efficiency of new bivoltine hybrids (CSR2$\times$CSR4 and CSR2$\times$CSR5) were studied under restricted feeding levels (10, 20 and 30% less quantity of mulberry leaves). The data were compared with a control fed with standard quantum of feed as per the recommendation. The nutritional indices parameters i. e. ingests, digesta, approximate digestibility (%) and reference ratio were recorded higher in control batches compared to less feed batches while nutritional efficiency parameters i. e., ECI and ECD to cocoon and shell were recorded significantly higher in restricted feeding level batches. This increase is attributed due to the physiological adaptation under nutritional stress condition.

• Child Studies in Asia-Pacific Contexts
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-29
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• 2016

To help define future research direction and enhance educational service for children from Asian and Latino immigrant backgrounds, this review examines research investigating social competence with reference to host and heritage language skills. A targeted search obtained 14 peer-reviewed studies published from 1994 to 2014 focusing on children aged from birth to 12 years. Social competence is mainly measured by four dimensions: externalizing behaviours, internalizing behaviours, social skills and relationships with others. The evidence suggests that English proficiency levels are positively associated with social skills and parent-child relationships are of higher quality when parent-child heritage language difference is minimal. However the findings are mixed regarding how English levels are associated with externalizing, internalizing behaviours and relationships with others and how heritage language levels are associated with social competence. This review makes a set of recommendations for future research including assessment of participants' language proficiency with language tests and examination of emotional factors in the relationship between English and social competence. The implications of the findings are also discussed for educators.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1980

A portable count-ratemeter and a thermoluminescent detector ($CaSO_4:Dy$) have been used to obtain total gamma dose rates at approximately 50 locations during the course of several survey trips in the southeastern Korea. The purposes of these measurement were to provide a future reference data and to establish the approximate range of population exposure to the natural environmental radiation. The natural levels encountered ranged from a low of 14.6 microroentgen per hour to a high of 18.9 microroentgen per hour with a mean of $16.3{\pm}1.0$ microroentgen per hour. Among these results are the relatively high natural dose rate levels in the Masan area and Yangsan-Tongdosa area with the relatively low natural dose rate levels in the Gyeongsan-Cheongdo area and the Samrangjin-Jinyeong-Gimhae area.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.263-270
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• 2009

This paper investigates linear soft combination schemes for cooperative spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks. We propose two weight-setting strategies under different basic optimality criteria to improve the overall sensing performance in the network. The corresponding optimal weights are derived, which are determined by the noise power levels and the received primary user signal energies of multiple cooperative secondary users in the network. However, to obtain the instantaneous measurement of these noise power levels and primary user signal energies with high accuracy is extremely challenging. It can even be infeasible in practical implementations under a low signal-to-noise ratio regime. We therefore propose reference data matrices to scavenge the indispensable information of primary user signal energies and noise power levels for setting the proposed combining weights adaptively by keeping records of the most recent spectrum observations. Analyses and simulation results demonstrate that the proposed linear soft combination schemes outperform the conventional maximal ratio combination and equal gain combination schemes and yield significant performance improvements in spectrum sensing.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.131-135
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• 2015

The thyroid hormones act on nearly every cell in the body. Moreover, the thyroid gland continuously interacts with the ovaries, and the thyroid hormones are involved in almost all phases of reproduction. Thyroid dysfunctions are relatively common among women of reproductive age, and can affect fertility in various ways, resulting in anovulatory cycles, high prolactin levels, and sex hormone imbalances. Undiagnosed and untreated thyroid disease can be a cause of subfertility. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), also known as mild thyroid failure, is diagnosed when peripheral thyroid hormone levels are within the normal reference laboratory range, but serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels are mildly elevated. Thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) is characterized by the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies, which include anti-thyroperoxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. SCH and TAI may remain latent, asymptomatic, or even undiagnosed for an extended period. It has also been demonstrated that controlled ovarian hyperstimulation has a significant impact on thyroid function, particularly in women with TAI. In the current review, we describe the interactions between thyroid dysfunctions and subfertility, as well as the proper work-up and management of thyroid dysfunctions in subfertile women.