• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 2015

Purpose: We developed and validated a fetal trisomy detection method for use as a noninvasive prenatal test (NIPT) including a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified bioinformatics pipeline on a cloud-based computing system using both Illumina and Life Technology sequencing platforms for 221 Korean clinical samples. We determined the necessary proportions of the fetal fraction in the cell-free DNA (cfDNA) sample for NIPT of trisomies 13, 18, and 21 through a limit of quantification (LOQ) test. Materials and Methods: Next-generation sequencing libraries from 221 clinical samples and three positive controls were generated using Illumina and Life Technology chemistries. Sequencing results were uploaded to a cloud and mapped on the human reference genome (GRCh37/hg19) using bioinformatics tools. Based on Z-scores calculated by normalization of the mapped read counts, final aneuploidy reports were automatically generated for fetal aneuploidy determination. Results: We identified in total 29 aneuploid samples, and additional analytical methods performed to confirm the results showed that one of these was a false-positive. The LOQ test showed that the proportion of fetal fraction in the cfDNA sample would affect the interpretation of the aneuploidy results. Conclusion: Noninvasive chromosome examination (NICE), a CLIA-certified NIPT with a cloud-based bioinformatics platform, showed unambiguous success in fetus aneuploidy detection.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.470-475
• /
• 2013

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major environmental factor that leads to acute and chronic reactions in the human skin. UV exposure induces wrinkle formation, DNA damage, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Most mechanistic studies of skin physiology and pharmacology related with UV-irradiated skin have focused on proteins and their related gene expression or single-targeted small molecules. The present study identified and analyzed the alteration of skin metabolites following UVB irradiation and topical retinyl palmitate (RP, 5%) treatment in hairless mice using direct analysis in real time (DART) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) with multivariate analysis. Under the negative ion mode, the DART ion source successfully ionized various fatty acids including palmitoleic and linolenic acid. From DART-TOF-MS fingerprints measured in positive mode, the prominent dehydrated ion peak (m/z: 369, M+H-$H_2O$) of cholesterol was characterized in all three groups. In positive mode, the discrimination among three groups was much clearer than that in negative mode by using multivariate analysis of orthogonal partial-least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). DART-TOF-MS can ionize various small organic molecules in living tissues and is an efficient alternative analytical tool for acquiring full chemical fingerprints from living tissues without requiring sample preparation. DART-MS measurement of skin tissue with multivariate analysis proved to be a powerful method to discriminate between experimental groups and to find biomarkers for various experiment models in skin dermatological research.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.862-867
• /
• 1999

The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of administration of exogenous progesterone early in gestation on uterine levels of IGF-I mRNA and on embryo survival at day 25 of gestation in the pig. Forty-one prepubertal gilts were induced into oestrus with PG600 and artificially inseminated at their subsequent naturally occurring oestrus. Gilts were then randomly assigned to one of three groups. Gilts in the two treatment groups were injected intramuscularly with 50 mg of progesterone either from day 2 to 14 (N=14) or from day 4 to 14 (N=15) after breeding while those in the control group (N=12) were given corn oil (0.5 ml) from day 2 to 14. Between days 25 and 28 of gestation, gilts were slaughtered and reproductive tracts were recovered. Endometrial tissue (1 g) was collected and analysed for IGF-I mRNA levels using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Progesterone treatment, starting either on day 2 or 4 after breeding, neither significantly increased embryo survival rate by day 25 of gestation nor altered IGF-I mRNA levels in uterine tissue. However, across all samples, the IGF-I mRNA level in the uterus was highly correlated with embryo survival rate (r=0.8193, p<0.01), supporting the involvement of IGF-I in the regulation of porcine embryo development.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.84 no.3
• /
• pp.356-360
• /
• 1995

Korean white pine(Pinus koraiensis S.et Z.) is one of the important silvicultural species due to its quality timber in addition to edible pine - nut production. Selective breeding method is under progress to improve growth and nut production for this species. This study was carried out to obtain genetic information necessary for establishing advanced generation seed orchard, such as genetic parameters and efficiency of early selection. Open - pollinated cones were collected from 50 plus trees. In the spring of 1986, test plantations were established at 3 different sites with 4 - year - old seedlings. Seedling height was measured from age 5 to 10 in plantations. Genetic and phenotypic correlations based on the log of the ratio of two ages (LAK) were expressed as simple regression with statistical significance($r^2=0.7862$ and 0.8256, respectively). If 20 years is presumed to mature, the most efficient age for early selection is 3 years after planting with efficiency of 1.96.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.112-119
• /
• 2013

Objectives: This study investigated the question of whether adenoviral magnetofection can be a suitable method for increasing the efficacy of gene delivery into bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) and for generation of a high level of bone morphogenic protein (BMP) secretion at a minimized viral titer. Materials and Methods: Primary BMSCs were isolated from C57BL6 mice and transduced with adenoviral vectors encoding ${\beta}$ galactosidase or BMP2 and BMP7. The level of BMP secretion, activity of osteoblast differentiation, and cell viability of magnetofection were measured and compared with those of the control group. Results: The expression level of ${\beta}$ galactosidase showed that the cell transduction efficiency of AdLacZ increased according to the increased amount of magnetic nanoparticles. No change in cell viability was observed after magnetofection with 2 ${\mu}L$ of magnetic nanoparticle. Secretion of BMP2 or BMP7 was accelerated after transduction of AdBMP2 and 7 with magnetofection. AdBMP2 adenoviral magnetofection resulted in up to 7.2-fold higher secretion of BMP2, compared with conventional AdBMP2-transduced BMSCs. Magnetofection also induced a dramatic increase in secretion of BMP7 by up to 10-fold compared to the control. Use of only 1 multiplicity of infection (moi) of magnetofection with adenoviral transduction of AdBMP2 or AdBMP7 resulted in significantly higher transgene expression compared to 20 moi of conventional adenoviral transduction. Conclusion: Magnetic particle-mediated gene transudation is a highly efficient method of gene delivery to BMSCs. Magnetofection can lower the amount of viral particles while improving the efficacy of gene delivery.

• Journal of Broadcast Engineering
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.299-309
• /
• 2008

In this paper, we propose an algorithm for object generation from model-based 3-dimensional multi-viewpoint images using OpenGL rendering. In the first step, we preprocess a depth map image in order to get a three-dimensional coordinate which is sampled as a vertex information on OpenGL and has a z-value as depth information. Next, the Delaunay Triangulation algorithm is used to construct a polygon for texture-mapping using the vertex information. Finally, by mapping a texture image on the constructed polygon, we generate a viewpoint-adaptive object by calculating 3-dimensional coordinates on OpenGL.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.281-284
• /
• 2004

Optical imaging and spectroscopy of G353.2+0.9, the brightest part of the giant H II region NGC 6357, shows that this H II region is optically thin, contains ${\~}300\;M_{\bigodot}$ of ionized gas and is probably expanding into the surrounding medium. Its chemical composition is similar to that found in other H II regions at similar galactocentric distances if temperature fluctuations are significant. The inner regions are probably made of thin shells and filaments, whereas extended slabs of material, maybe shells seen edge-on, are found in the periphery. The radio continuum and H$\alpha$ emission maps are very similar, indicating that most of the optical nebula is not embedded in the denser regions traced by molecular gas and the presence of IR sources. About $10^{50}$ UV photons per second are required to produce the H$\beta$ flux from the 1l.3'${\times}$10' region surrounding the Pis 24 cluster that is south of G353.2+0.9. Most of the energy powering this region is produced by the 03-7 stars in Pis 24. Most of the 2MASS sources in the field with large infrared excesses are within G353.2+0.9, indicating that the most recent star forming process occured within it. The formation of Pis 24 preceded and caused the formation of this new generation of stars and may be responsible for the present-day morphology of the entire NGC 6357 region.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.333-347
• /
• 2013

The present study numerically models the interaction between a regular wave and the roll motion of a rectangular floating structure. In order to simulate two-dimensional incompressible viscous two-phase flow in a numerical wave tank with the rectangular floating structure, the present study used the volume of fluid method based on the finite volume method. The sliding mesh technique is adopted to handle the motion of the rectangular floating structure induced by fluid-structure interaction. The effect of the wave period on the flow, roll motion and forces acting on the structure is examined by considering three different wave periods. The time variations of the wave height and the roll motion of the rectangular structure are in good agreement with experimental results for all wave periods. The present response amplitude operator is in good agreement with experimental results with the linear potential theory. The present numerical results effectively represent the entire process of vortex generation and evolution described by the experimental results. The longer wave period showed a different mechanism of the vortex evolution near each bottom corner of the structure compared to cases of shorter wave periods. In addition, the x-directional and z-directional forces acting on the structure are analyzed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.813-833
• /
• 2015

Spherical reticulated shells are widely applied in structural engineering due to their good bearing capability and attractive appearance. Parametric modeling of spherical reticulated shells is the basis of internal analysis and optimization design. In the present study, generation methods of nodes and the corresponding connection methods of rod elements are proposed. Modeling programs are compiled by adopting the ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL). A shape optimization method based on the two-stage algorithm is presented, and the corresponding optimization program is compiled in FORTRAN environment. Shape optimization is carried out based on the objective function of the minimum total steel consumption and the restriction condition of strength, stiffness, slenderness ratio, stability. The shape optimization of four typical Schwedler spherical reticulated shells is calculated with the span of 30 m~80 m and rise to span ratio of 1/7~1/2. Compared with the shape optimization results, the variation rules of total steel consumption along with the span and rise to span ratio are discussed. The results show that: (1) The left and right rod-Schwedler spherical reticulated shell is the most optimized and should be preferentially adopted in structural engineering. (2) The left diagonal rod-Schwedler spherical reticulated shell is second only to left and right rod regarding the mechanical behavior and optimized results. It can be applied to medium and small-span structures. (3) Double slash rod-Schwedler spherical reticulated shell is advantageous in mechanical behavior but with the largest total weight. Thus, this type can be used in large-span structures as far as possible. (4) The mechanical performance of no latitudinal rod-Schwedler spherical reticulated shell is the worst and with the second largest weight. Thus, this spherical reticulated shell should not be adopted generally in engineering.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.63-71
• /
• 2012

To assess parameters of mating system in seed orchard, such as outcrossing rates, number of potential pollen contributors, and degree of pollen contamination, seeds, produced in '77 plot of the Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora S et Z) seed orchard at Anmyeon island, were collected in 2007 and analysed by nSSR and cpSSR markers. Estimates of outcrossing rates ranged from 91.2 to 100% (mean 97.7%) on the basis of the analysis of cpSSR haplotypes and from 81.6 to 100% (mean 95.3%) on the basis of the analysis of nSSR genotypes. By cross checking of both DNA markers, seeds, presumed to be products of self pollination on the basis of single marker, were confirmed as outcrossed seeds, which resulted in cumulative outcrossing rates of 98.9%. On the basis of pooled cpSSR haplotype of each seed, the number of pollen contributors and paternal contribution rates were estimated as 14.8 and 0.512, respectively. In conclusion, considering pretty high level of outcrossing rates observed in a seed orchard, good genetic potential of the seeds, produced in '77 plot of the seed orchard of Japanese red pines at Anmyeon island, may be guaranteed. Investigated results from the analysis of mating system of Japanese red pines in a '77 plot of the seed orchard may also be expected to provide useful information for the management and establishment of the seed orchard of the progressive generation.