• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2016

Probiotics that are able to provide beneficial effects on animal health have become important ingredients of dog foods. This study was conducted to characterize the probiotic potentials of two strains, Lactobacillus reuteri BCLR-42 and Lactobacillus plantarum BCLP-51, that were derived from feces of healthy dogs and evaluated based on tolerance to low pH and bile acid, antimicrobial activities, enzyme profiles, sensitivity to antibiotics, and innate immune enhancing potentials. Both strains showed survival of more than 90% at pH 3 and 0.2% bile acid and exhibited broad antimicrobial activities against indicator bacteria. Moreover, both strains showed high sensitivity to antibiotics, except vancomycin, metronidazole, and gentamicin. The alkaline phosphatase was negligible (score 0), whereas they showed strong beta galactosidase activity (score range 5 or 3, respectively). The phagocytosis and oxidative burst activities of canine granulocytes were significantly enhanced in response to both strains. These results show that both strains have the capability to act as probiotics and the potential for application as ingredients in dog foods.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.403-408
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) method of detecting noroviruses in artificially and naturally contaminated shellfish. We used 58 fecal samples that tested positive for noroviruses with electron microscopy (EM) to develop an NASBA assay for these viruses. Oligonucleotide primers targeting the polymerase coding region were used to amplify the viral RNA in an isothermal process that resulted in the accumulation of RNA amplicons. These amplicons were detected by hybridization with digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotide probes that were highly specific for genogroup I (GI) and genogroup II (GII) of noroviruses. The expected band of 327bp appeared in denaturing agarose gel without any nonspecific band. The specific signal for each amplicon was obtained through Northern blotting in many repeats. All fecal samples of which 46(79.3%) belonged to GII and 12(20.6%) belonged to GI were positive for noroviruses by EM and by NASBA. Target RNA concentrations as low as 5pg/ml were detected in fecal specimens using NASBA. When the assay was applied to artificially contaminated shellfish, the sensitivity to nucleic acid was 100pg/1.5g shellfish tissue. The potential use of this assay was also confirmed in naturally contaminated shellfish collected from different ponds in Guangzhou city of China, of which 24 (18.76%) out of 128 samples were positive for noroviruses; of these, 19 (79.6%) belonged to GII and 5 (20.4%) belonged to GI. The NASBA assay provided a more rapid and efficient way of detecting noroviruses in fecal samples and demonstrated its potential for detecting noroviruses in food and environmental samples with high specificity and sensitivity.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2004

[ $DeniLite^{TM}$ ] laccase immobilized Pt electrode was used for amperometric detection of some catechol derivatives and o-aminophenol (OAP) derivative by means of substrate recycling. In case of catechol derivatives, the obtained sensitivities are 85, 79 and $57 nA/{\mu}M$ with linear ranges of $0.6\~30,\;0.6\~30\;and\; 1\~25 {\mu}M$ and detection limits (S/N=3) of 0.2, 0.2 and $0.3{\mu}M$ for 3,4-dihydroxycinnaminic acid (3,4-DHCA), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHBA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (3,4-DHPAA), respectively. In case of OAP derivative, the obtained sensitivity is $237 nA/{\mu}M$ with linear range of $0.2\~15{\mu}M$ and detection limit of 70 nM for 2-amino-4-chlorophenol (2-A-4-CP). The response time $(t_{90\%})$ is about 2 seconds for each substrate and the long-term stability is around 40-50days for catechol derivatives and 30 days for 2-A-4-CP with retaining $80\%$ of initial activity. The optimal pHs of the sensor for these substrates are in the range of 4.5-5.0, which indicates that stability of the enzymatically oxidized product plays a very important role in substrate recycling. The different sensitivity of the sensor for each substrate can be explained by the electronic effect of the sugstituent on the enzymatically oxidized form.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2008

OLETF (Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty) rats are characterized by obesity-related insulin resistance, which is a phenotype of type 2 diabetes. Sulfonylurea drugs or benzoic acid derivatives as inhibitors of the ATP-sensitive potassium $(K_{ATP})$ channel are commercially available to treat diabetes. The present study compared sulfonylurea drugs (glimepiride and gliclazide) with one of benzoic acid derivatives (repaglinide) in regard to their long-term effect on ameliorating insulin sensitivity in OLETF rats. Each drug was dissolved and fed with drinking water from 29 weeks of age. On high glucose loading at 45 weeks of age, response of blood glucose recovery was the greatest in the group treated with glimepiride. On immunohistochemistry analysis for the Kir6.2 subunit of $K_{ATP}$ channels, insulin receptor ${\beta}$-subunits, and glucose transporters (GLUT) type 2 and 4 in liver, fat and skeletal muscle tissues, the sulfonylurea drugs (glimepiride and gliclazide) were more effective than repaglinide in recovery from their decreased expressions in OLETF rats. From these results, it seems to be plausible that $K_{ATP}$-channel inhibitors containing sulfonylurea moiety may be much more effective in reducing insulin resistance than those with benzoic acid moiety. In contrast to gliclazide, non-tissue selectivity of glimepiride on $K_{ATP}$ channel inhibition may further strengthen an amelioration of insulin sensitivity unless considering other side effects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.1004-1007
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• 2014

Culture is the gold standard for diagnosis of tuberculosis, but it takes 6 to 8 weeks to confirm the result. This issue is complemented by the detection method using polymerase chain reaction, which is now widely used in a routine microbiology laboratory. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the Seegene Anyplex TB PCR to assess its diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, and compared its results with the Roche Cobas TaqMan MTB PCR, one of the most widely used assays in the world. Five university hospitals located in the Chungcheong area in South Korea participated in the study. A total of 1,167 respiratory specimens ordered for acid-fast bacilli staining and culture were collected for four months, analyzed via the Seegene Anyplex TB PCR, and its results were compared with the Roche Cobas TaqMan MTB PCR. For detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the Anyplex TB PCR were 87.5% and 98.2% respectively, whereas those of the Cobas TaqMan were 92.0% and 98.0% respectively (p value > 0.05). For smear-positive specimens, the sensitivity of the Anyplex TB PCR was 95.2%, which was exactly the same as that of the Cobas TaqMan. For smear-negative specimens, the sensitivity of the Anyplex TB PCR was 69.2%, whereas that of the Cobas TaqMan TB PCR was 84.6%. For detection of MTB, the Seegene Anyplex TB PCR showed excellent diagnostic performance, and high sensitivity and specificity, which were comparable to the Roche Cobas TaqMan MTB PCR. In conclusion, the Anyplex TB PCR can be a useful diagnostic tool for the early detection of tuberculosis in clinical laboratories.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.359-364
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• 2015

A self-oscillating interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) poly(acrylic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PAA/PEG) hydrogel was prepared by using radical polymerization with a two-step method. The IPN hydrogel was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and morphological analysis. The results indicated that the chains of PEG and PAA twined to form porous structure which is beneficial to water molecules entering inside of the hydrogel. In addition, the pH-responsive behavior, salt sensitivity, swelling/de-swelling oscillatory behaviors and self-oscillation in a closed pH oscillator were also studied. The results showed that the prepared hydrogel exhibited pH-sensitivity, good swelling/de-swelling reversibility and excellent salt sensitivity. The self-oscillating behavior of swelling/de-swelling for the prepared hydrogel was caused by pH alteration coupled with the external media. This study may create a new possibility as biomaterial including new self-walking actuators and other related devices.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.317-321
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• 2009

Sensitivity to the new carboxylic acid amide fungicide, mandipropamid, of Phytophthora capsici causing pepper Phytophthora blight was determined on 187 isolates collected in Korea over 3 years, from 2005 to 2007. All isolates were sensitive to mandipropamid, with $EC_{30}$ values for growth of mycelia ranging from 0.001 to $0.037\;{\mu}g/ml$. Among the isolates, 147 (79.0%) isolates were sensitive to metalaxyl, whereas others were resistant to this fungicide. Mandipropamid had the same effect on mycelium growth of both metalaxyl-sensitive and metalaxyl-resistant isolates, indicating an absence of cross-resistance between these two fungicides. Comparison of the sensitivities of P. capsici isolates showed a positive correlation between sensitivity to mandipropamid and dimethomorph ($r^2$=0.8533). The results of this study indicate that there is no evidence for development of resistance to mandipropamid in this population of P. capsici isolates collected in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.721-729
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• 1991

SnO2-TiO2(Pt or Pd), as raw material for hydrocarbon gas sensors, was prepared by a coprecipitation method. The SnO2-TiO2-based thick film gas sensors were made by screen printing technique. The titanium dioxide synthesized was shown to be anatase structure from XRD peaks and was transformed to rutile structure between 700$^{\circ}C$ and 1000$^{\circ}C$. Titanium dioxide in SnO2-TiO2 thick films devices plays a very important role in the enhancement of the sensitivity to CH4 and C4H10. In the case of SnO2-TiO2(Pt) sensors, titanium dioxide that was rutile structure enhanced the sensitivity of the thick film to CH4. Platinum added to the raw powder at coprecipitation (as chloroplatinic acid VI hydrate) improved the gas sensitivity to hydrocarbon gases. Therefore, it is expected that the SnO2-TiO2(Pt) thick film sensors fabricated in this experiment could be put into practical use as LPG (primary component : C4H10 and C3H8) and LNG (primary component : CH4) sensors.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2007.07a
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• pp.280-281
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• 2007

본 논문에서는 생체 내에 삽입하거나 연속적으로 혈당을 모니터링하기 위하여 제작된 무효소 혈당세서의 바이오 패키징 및 특성 최적화에 관하여 고찰하였다. 3전극을 갖는 동일한 센서구조에서 sensitivity를 최대화하기 위해 평면형 백금전극을 사용한 센서, 메조포러스 구조가 작동전극에 형성된 센서, 메조포러스 구조가 작동전극과 보조전극에 형성된 무효소 혈당센서를 설계, 제작하고 비교하였다. 각각의 센서는 0.009${\mu}A$ $mM^{-1}cm^{-2}$, 5.46${\mu}A$ $mM^{-1}cm^{-2}$, 7.75${\mu}A$ $mM^{-1}cm^{-2}$의 sensitivity를 가졌다. 또한 생체 이식되었을 때 혈액 속에서 글루코스응답을 얻는 데에 있어 방해종인 Ascrobic Acid와 Acetaminophen의 반응을 최소화하고, 혈액 내의 단백질들이 전극에 엉겨 붙는 것을 막기 위해 생체 적합한 물질인 Nafion 을 패키징 멤브레인으로 적용하여 센서를 제작하였다. 이 센서는 0.36${\mu}A$ $mM^{-1}cm^{-2}$의 sensitivity를 가졌다.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 1991

Retinoic acid. the active metabolite of vitamin A. was detected in the human liver for the first time using a new method. A rapid and sensitive technique has been developed using gradient-elution. reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. This assay. with simultaneous multiwavelength detection at 294nm, 325nm and 450nm after saponifcation of liver samples. allows us seperation and quantitation of vitamin E, retinoic acid, total retinoids and various carotenoids in one small sample. The proportion of retinoic acid to total retinoids in human liver appears to be quite $consistent(2.4\pm0.2%$ ). With low vitamin A storage in liver, detection at another wavelenth 354nm would increase the sensitivity for retinoic acid of small quantity This method of analysis could be used for other tissues like red blood cells, plasma or serum, also. Hepatic retinoic acid level with total retinoids and carotenoids would serve a better indicator of functional vitamin A nutriture especially for those with disease requiring needle biopsy of liver.