• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.30.1-30.7
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• 2020

The novel coronavirus pandemic that has originated from China and spread throughout the world in three months. Genome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) predecessor, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) play an important role in understanding the concept of genetic variation. In this paper, the genomic data accessed from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) through Molecular Evolutionary Genetic Analysis (MEGA) for statistical analysis. Firstly, the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and Akaike information criterion (AICc) are used to evaluate the best substitution pattern. Secondly, the maximum likelihood method used to estimate of transition/transversions (R) through Kimura-2, Tamura-3, Hasegawa-Kishino-Yano, and Tamura-Nei nucleotide substitutions model. Thirdly and finally nucleotide frequencies computed based on genomic data of NCBI. The results indicate that general times reversible model has the lowest BIC and AICc score 347,394 and 347,287, respectively. The transition/transversions bias for nucleotide substitutions models varies from 0.56 to 0.59 in MEGA output. The average nitrogenous bases frequency of U, C, A, and G are 31.74, 19.48, 28.04, and 20.74, respectively in percentages. Overall the genomic data analysis of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV highlights the close genetic relationship.

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.426-433
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• 2018

Plant tissue culture is a technique that has invariably been used for various purposes such as obtaining transgenic plants for crop improvement or functional analysis of genes. However, this process can be associated with a variety of genetic and epigenetic instabilities in regenerated plants, termed as somaclonal variation. In this study, we investigated mutation spectrum, chromosomal distributions of nucleotide substitution types of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions/deletions (InDels) by whole genome re-sequencing between Dongjin and Nipponbare along with regenerated plants of Dongjin from different induction periods. Results indicated that molecular spectrum of mutations in regenerated rice against Dongjin genome ranged from $9.14{\times}10^{-5}$ to $1.37{\times}10^{-4}$ during one- to three-month callus inductions, while natural mutation rate between Dongjin and Nipponbare genomes was $6.97{\times}10^{-4}$. Non-random chromosome distribution of SNP and InDel was observed in both regenerants and Dongjin genomes, with the highest densities on chromosome 11. The transition to transversion ratio was 2.25 in common SNPs of regenerants against Dongjin genome with the highest C/T transition frequency, which was similar to that of Dongjin against Nipponbare genome.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1789-1793
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• 2014

Pseudo-first-order rate constants ($k_{obsd}$) have been measured spectrophotometrically for the reactions of 5-nitro-8-quinolyl nicotinate (4) and 5-nitro-8-quinolyl isonicotinate (5) with alkali metal ethoxides (EtOM; M = K, Na and Li) in anhydrous ethanol at $25.0{\pm}0.1^{\circ}C$. The plots of $k_{obsd}$ vs. [EtOM] curve slightly upward for the reactions with EtOK and EtONa but are linear for the reactions with EtOLi and for those with EtOK in the presence of 18-crown-6-ether. Dissection of $k_{obsd}$ into $k_{EtO^-}$ and $k_{EtOM}$ (i.e., the second-order rate constants for the reactions with the dissociated $EtO^-$ and ion-paired EtOM, respectively) has revealed that the reactivity increases in the order $EtO^-{\approx}EtOLi$ < EtOK < EtONa for the reactions of 4 and EtOLi < $EtO^-$ < EtOK < EtONa for the reactions of 5. Comparison of the kinetic results for the reactions of 4 and 5 with those reported previously for the corresponding reactions of 5-nitro-8-quinolyl benzoate (2) and picolinate (3) has revealed that the esters possessing a pyridine ring (i.e., 3-5) are significantly more reactive than the benzoate ester 2 due to the presence of the electronegative N atom (e.g., 2 << 3 < 4 < 5). It has been concluded that $M^+$ ion catalyzes the reactions of 3-5 by increasing the electrophilicity of the reaction center through a five-membered cyclic transition state (TS) for the reaction of 3 and via a four-membered cyclic TS for the reactions of 4 and 5.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.150-154
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• 2013

$La_{1-z}Nd_z(Fe_{0.88}Si_{0.12})_{13}$ and their hydrides were investigated to obtain large magnetocaloric effects (MCEs) in a wide temperature range, including room temperature, for applications in magnetic refrigents. Since the magnetization change due to the itinerant-electron metamagentic (IEM) transition for $La_{1-z}Nd_z(Fe_{0.88}Si_{0.12})_{13}$ becomes larger with increasing z, the isothermal magnetic entropy change ${\Delta}S_m$ and the relative cooling power (RCP) are enhanced. In addition, the Curie temperatrue $T_C$ of $La_{0.8}Nd_{0.2}(Fe_{0.88}Si_{0.12})_{13}$ is increased from 193 to 319 K by hydrogen absorption, with the IEM transition. The maximum value of $-{\Delta}S_m$, $-{\Delta}S{_m}^{max}$, in a magnetic field change of 2 T for $La_{0.8}Nd_{0.2}(Fe_{0.88}Si_{0.12})_{13}H_{1.1}$ is about 23 J/kg K at $T_C$ = 288 K, which is larger than that of 19 J/kg K at $T_C$ = 276 K for $La(Fe_{0.88}Si_{0.12})_{13}H_{1.0}$. The value of RCP = 179 J/kg of the former is also larger than 160 J/kg of the latter. It is concluded that the partial substitution of Nd improves MCEs in a wide temperautre range, including room temperature.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2014

X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) were used to investigate the influence of Ni ions on the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of nickel-ferrites ($Ni_xFe_{3-x}O_4$). Spinel $Ni_xFe_{3-x}O_4$ ($x{\leq}0.96$) samples were prepared as polycrystalline thin films on $Al_2O_3$ (0001) substrates, using a sol-gel method. XRD patterns of the nickel-ferrites indicate that as the Ni composition increases (x > 0.3), a structural phase transition takes place from cubic to tetragonal lattice. The XPS results imply that the Ni ions in $Ni_xFe_{3-x}O_4$ substitute for the octahedral sites of the spinel lattice, mostly with the ionic valence of +2. The minority-spin d-electrons of the $Ni^{2+}$ ions are mainly distributed below the Fermi level ($E_F$), at around 3 eV; while those of the $Fe^{2+}$ ions are distributed closer to $E_F$ (~1 eV below $E_F$). The magnetic hysteresis curves of the $Ni_xFe_{3-x}O_4$ films measured by VSM show that as x increases, the saturation magnetization ($M_s$) linearly decreases. The decreasing trend is primarily attributable to the decrease in net spin magnetic moment, by the $Ni^{2+}$ ($2{\mu}_B$) substitution for octahedral $Fe^{2+}$ ($4{\mu}_B$) site.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.733-739
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• 2001

In Al-25Nb binary system, it was observed only formation of $D0_{22}$ $Al_3Nb$ intermetallic compound after 5hr milling but it was not observed formation of meta stable phase like L1$_2$ phase. In this state, $D0_{22}$ $Al_3Nb$ fabricated had nano sized grain of approximately 20nm. Ternary systems, transition metals such as Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn were added 6~12at.% as substitution of Al, showed formation of $D0_{22}$ $Al_3Nb$ like Al-25Nb binary system. In Al- l2Cu-25Nb system, it was observed that broad XRD pattern like amorphization of Al and not observed formation of $D0_{22}$ $Al_3Nb$ after 5hr milling. But there was mixed phase of a lot of amorphous Al and little $D0_{22}$ $Al_3Nb$ through TEM. In the states of unalloyed, 5~7hr milling time, those showed exothermic reaction at 35$0^{\circ}C$, which was formation of $D0_{22}$ $Al_3Nb$ like Al-25Nb binary system. With increasing milling time to 10hr, $D0_{22}$ $Al_3Nb$ was transformed to mixed phase of amorphous and nanocryatlline, having approximately 10nm grain but the meta stable $Al_3Nb$ was not fabricated by adding transition metals.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.2929-2933
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• 2010

Pseudo-first-order rate constants ($k_{obsd}$) have been measured for nucleophilic substitution reactions of 2-pyridyl benzoate 5 with alkali metal ethoxides (EtOM, M = Li, Na, K) in anhydrous ethanol. The plots of $k_{obsd}$ vs. $[EtOM]_o$ are curved upwardly but linear in the excess presence of 18-crown-6-ether (18C6) with significant decreased $k_{obsd}$ values in the reaction with EtOK. The $k_{obsd}$ value for the reaction of 5 with a given EtONa concentration decreases steeply upon addition of 15-crown-5-ether (15C5) to the reaction medium up to ca. [15C5]/$[EtONa]_o$ = 1, and remains nearly constant thereafter, indicating that $M^+$ ions catalyze the reaction in the absence of the complexing agents. Dissection $k_{obsd}$ into $k_{EtO^-}$- and $k_{EtOM}$, i.e., the second-order rate constants for the reaction with the dissociated $EtO^-$ and the ion-paired EtOM, respectively has revealed that ion-paired EtOM is 3.2 - 4.6 times more reactive than dissociated $EtO^-$. It has been concluded that $M^+$ ions increase the electrophilicity of the reaction center through a 6-membered cyclic transition state. This idea has been examined from the corresponding reactions of 4-pyridyl benzoate 6, which cannot form such a 6-membered cyclic transition state.

• Biomaterials Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 2018

Background: Mucoadhesive polymers, which may increase the contact time between the polymer and the tissue, have been widely investigated for pharmaceutical formulations. In this study, we developed a new polysaccharide-based mucoadhesive polymer with thermogelling properties. Methods: Hexanoyl glycol chitosan (HGC), a new thermogelling polymer, was synthesized by the chemical modification of glycol chitosan using hexanoic anhydride. The HGC was further modified to include thiol groups to improve the mucoadhesive property of thermogelling HGC. The degree of thiolation of the thiolated HGCs (SH-HGCs) was controlled in the range of 5-10% by adjusting the feed molar ratio. The structure of the chemically modified polymers was characterized by $^1H$ NMR and ATR-FTIR. The sol-gel transition, mucoadhesiveness, and biocompatibility of the polymers were determined by a tube inverting method, rheological measurements, and in vitro cytotoxicity tests, respectively. Results: The aqueous solution (4 wt%) of HGC with approximately 33% substitution showed a sol-gel transition temperature of approximately $41^{\circ}C$. SH-HGCs demonstrated lower sol-gel transition temperatures ($34{\pm}1$ and $31{\pm}1^{\circ}C$) compared to that of HGC due to the introduction of thiol groups. Rheological studies of aqueous mixture solutions of SH-HGCs and mucin showed that SH-HGCs had stronger mucoadhesiveness than HGC due to the interaction between the thiol groups of SH-HGCs and mucin. Additionally, we confirmed that the thermogelling properties might improve the mucoadhesive force of polymers. Several in vitro cytotoxicity tests showed that SH-HGCs showed little toxicity at concentrations of 0.1-1.0 wt%, indicating good biocompatibility of the polymers. Conclusions: The resultant thiolated hexanoyl glycol chitosans may play a crucial role in mucoadhesive applications in biomedical areas.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.942-948
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• 2005

New polymorphism of major histocompatibility complex B-G genes was investigated by amplification and digestion of a 401bp fragment including intron 1 and exon 2 using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique with two restriction enzymes of Msp I and Tas I in eight breeds of Chinese indigenous chickens and one exotic breed. In the fragment region of the gene, three novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected at the two restriction sites. We found the transition of two nucleotides of A294G and T295C occurred at Tas I restriction site, and consequently led to a non-synonymous substitution of asparagine into serine at position 54 within the deduced amino acid sequence of immunoglobulin variable-region-like domain encoded by the exon 2 of B-G gene. It was observed at rare frequency that a single mutation of A294G occurring at the site, also caused an identical substitution of amino acid, asparagine 54-to-serine, to that we described previously. And the transversion of G319C at Msp I site led to a non-synonymous substitution, glutamine 62-to-histidine. The new alleles and allele frequencies identified by the PCR-RFLP method with the two enzymes were characterized, of which the allele A and B frequencies at Msp I and Tas I loci were given disequilibrium distribution either in the eight Chinese local breeds or in the exotic breed. By comparison, allele A at Msp I locus tended to be dominant, while, the allele B at Tas I locus tended to be dominant in all of the breeds analyzed. In Tibetan chickens, the preliminary association analysis revealed that no significant difference was observed between the different genotypes identified at the Msp I and Tas I loci and the laying performance traits, respectively.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.254-262
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• 2009

Nine kinds of hydroxypropyl celluloses (HPCs) with degree of substitution (DS) and molar substitution (MS) ranging from 2.10 to 2.71 and 2.3 to 6.7, respectively and seven kinds of fully butanoated HPCs (BPCs) based on the HPCs with $2.3\;{\le}\;MS\;{\le}\;6.7$ were synthesized, and the molecular characteristics of HPCs and the thermotropic liquid crystalline properties of the derivatives were investigated. MS was nearly equal to DS for small value of DS, but it became exceedly larger than DS for $DS{\gtrsim}1$, showing that in the later stages of reaction, propylene oxide preferentially adds to the side chains rather than the main chain. All the derivatives formed enantiotropic cholesteric phases with right-handed helical structures. The glass and clearing transition temperatures of both HPCs and BPCs were decreased with increasing MS. The optical pitches (${\lambda}_m'S$) of BPCs, as well as HPCs themselves, increased with increasing temperature. However, the ${\lambda}_m'S$ of both HPCs and BPCs at the same temperature increased with increasing MS. Moreover, the temperature dependence of ${\lambda}_m$ of HPCs was weaker than that of BPCs, suggesting that the helical twisting power of the cellulose chain highly depends on the length and chemical structure of the side chain introduced in cellulose chain.