• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.479-485
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• 2021

Background: Vibrio vulnificus has been frequently detected in seawater, fish, and shellfish mainly in the coastal areas of Chungcheongnam-do Province. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the analyzed biochemical properties, genetic characteristics, and distribution of Vibrio vulnificus isolated from environmental sources in coastal areas of Chungcheongnam-do Province from 2019 to 2020. Methods: A total of 1,510 samples were obtained from six different sites in Chungcheongnam-do Province. Isolated strains from the samples were identified by a VITEK 2 system and MALDI-TOF. Antibiotic susceptibility testing for 85 isolates was done by microdilution minimum inhibitory concentration methods, and 11 isolates were analyzed for 16s rRNA sequences in multiple alignments. Results: Among the 1,510 samples taken during the investigation period, 306 strains were isolated and the detection rate of V. vulnificus was 20.3%. One hundred eighty-eight strains (24.6%) from seawater and 118 strains (15.8%) from mud flats were isolated. It was mainly detected in July (17.3%), August (36.5%), and September (28.8%), and the proportion was 82.0%. Based on the CLSI-recommended breakpoints, V. vulnificus isolates were all susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, amikacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. However, nonsusceptible isolates to ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefazolin, cefoxitin, imipenem, tetracycline and chloramphenicol were identified. In the analysis of the nucleotide sequences for 16s rRNA of V. vulnificus isolates, it was confirmed that mutations frequently occurred between nucleotide number 922 and 952, and 98.2% to 100% nucleotide identities between isolates was verified. Conclusions: The results of this study can be used as a basic data for infection control and prevention of Vibrio vulnificus infection by describing the distribution and characteristics of Vibrio vulnificus strains isolated in coastal areas of Chungcheongnam-do Province.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.96-105
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• 2019

Objective : The aims in the management of thoracolumbar spinal fractures are not only to restore vertebral column stability, but also to obtain acceptable alignment of the thoracolumbar junction (T-L junction) to prevent complications. However, insufficient surgical correction of the thoracolumbar spine would be likely to cause late progression of abnormal kyphosis. Therefore, we identified the surgical factors that affected unfavorable radiologic outcomes of the thoracolumbar spine after surgery. Methods : This study was conducted in a single institution from January 2007 to December 2013. A total of 98 patients with unstable thoracolumbar spine fracture were included. In these patients, fixation was done through transpedicular screws with rods by three surgical patterns. We reviewed digital radiographs and analyzed the images preoperatively and postoperatively during follow-up visits to compare the change of the thoracolumbar Cobb angle with radiologic parameters and clinical outcomes. The unfavorable radiologic group was defined as the patients who were measured as having greater than 20 degrees of thoracolumbar Cobb angle on the last follow-up, or who underwent kyphotic progression of thoracolumbar Cobb angle greater than 10 degrees from the immediate postoperative state to final follow-up, or who had overt instrument failure with/without additional surgery. We assessed the risk factors that affected the unfavorable radiologic outcomes. Results : We had 43 patients with unfavorable radiologic outcomes, including 35 abnormal thoracolumbar alignments and 14 instrumental failures with/without additional surgery. The multivariate logistic regression test showed that immediate postoperative T-L junction Cobb angle less than 10.5 degrees was a statistically significant risk factor, as well as the presence of osteoporosis (p=0.017 and 0.049, respectively). Conclusion : Insufficient correction of thoracolumbar kyphosis was considered to be a major factor of an unfavorable radiological outcome. The spinal surgeon should consider that having a T-L junction Cobb angle larger than 10.5 degrees immediately after surgery could result in an unfavorable radiological outcome, which is related to a poor clinical outcome.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2021

Objectives : Tetrapanacis Medulla and Akebiae Caulis are one of the most frequently adulterated herbal medicines because of their confusability of terms in the ancient writings and the similarity of morphological features of dried herbal products. The major adulterant is Aristolochia manshuriensis (Guanmutong) which has a serious safety concern with its toxicity. To ensure the safety and quality of the two herbal medicines, it is necessary to discriminate the toxic adulterant from authentic species. The aim of this study is to develop SCAR markers and to establish the multiplex-SCAR assay for discrimination of four plant species related to Tetrapanacis Medulla and Akebiae Caulis. Methods : ITS regions of fifteen samples of four species (Tetrapanax papyrifer, Fatsia japonica, Aristolochia manshuriensis, and Akebia quinata) collected from different sites were amplified and sequenced. Fifteen obtained ITS sequences were aligned and analysed for the detection of species-specific sequence variations. The SCAR markers were designed based on the sequence alignments and then, multiplex-SCAR assay enhancing rapidity was optimized. Results : ITS sequences clearly distinguished the four species at the species level. The developed SCAR markers and multiplex-SCAR assay were successfully discriminated four species and detected the adulteration of commercial product samples by comparison of the amplified DNA fragment sizes. Conclusions : These SCAR markers and multiplex-SCAR assay are a rapid, simple, and reliable method to identify the authentic Tetrapanacis Medulla and Akebiae Caulis from adulterants. These genetic tools will be useful to ensure the safety and to standardize the quality of the two herbal medicines.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2022

Solanum brevicaule is one of the tuber-bearing wild Solanum species. Because of its resistance to several important pathogens infecting potatoes during cultivation, it can be used for potato breeding. However, the fact that S. brevicaule used in this study has an EBN value of two causes the sexual reproduction barriers between the species and cultivated potatoes. In this study, specific markers for discriminating S. brevicaule from other Solanum species were developed on the basis of the results of sequence alignments with the whole chloroplast genomes of S. brevicaule and seven other Solanum species. The chloroplast genome of S. brevicaule was completed by next-generation sequencing technology described in other recent studies. The total sequence length of the chloroplast genome of S. brevicaule is 155,531 bp. Its structure and gene composition are similar to those of other Solanum species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that S. brevicaule was closely grouped with other Solanum species. BLASTN search showed that its genome sequence had 99.99% and 99.89% identity with those of S. spegazzinii (MH021562) and S. kurtzianum (MH021495), respectively. Sequence alignment identified 27 SNPs that were specific to S. brevicaule. Thus, three PCR-based CAPS markers specific to S. brevicaule were developed on the basis of these SNPs. This study will facilitate in further studies on evolutionary and breeding aspects in Solanum species.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.199-207
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• 2022

The demand for novel strains has been rising in the domestic market to increase the production of sclerotia from Wolfiporia hoelen. To improve strain breeding efficiency, we investigated whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the RNA polymerase II subunit (RPB2) gene, which may be linked to the mating type locus, are useful for distinguishing monokaryons from dikaryons in Korean W. hoelen strains. We designed a specific primer set to efficiently amplify a region of RPB2 using PCR with the genomic DNA of 12 cultivated strains and 31 wild strains of W. hoelen collected from Korea. Nucleotide sequences of the PCR-amplified RPB2 genes were determined and analyzed for the presence of SNPs among the 43 W. hoelen strains. Previously reported SNP loci were detected in the RPB2 gene of all W. hoelen strains tested. However, these previously reported SNP loci could not be applied to differentiate monokaryons from dikaryons in approximately one-third of Korean wild strains with homozygous genotypes. Three additional SNPs in the RPB2 gene, which may improve the ability to distinguish monokaryons from dikaryons, were identified by searching through the multiple sequence alignments of the 43 W. hoelen strains. The applicability of these three novel SNPs, together with the previously known SNPs, in the RPB2 gene to W. hoelen strain breeding was verified by examining the hybrid strains and their parental strains.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5D
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• pp.617-625
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• 2008

In low-density areas where travel pattern is widely dispersed and travel demand is relatively low, transit operators find it very difficult to provide a reasonable level of service at a reasonable cost. Timed-transfer system or network, if designed properly, can provide a reasonable level of service for passengers using transit systems serving low-density areas. The paper intends to apply a timed-transfer system for bus lines serving Yangsan City area and to assess the effects resulted from the application. The concept of a timed-transfer network/system is briefly described, and the present conditions of bus systems in Yangsan City area are discussed, focusing on the aspects of network type and the related problems. The bus timed-transfer network for the area is then developed by adjusting the existing routes and network with the consideration of travel time, route alignments, headways and transfer centers. One must note that developing a timed-transfer network presumes that network and schedule should be developed together. The effects of the developed time-transfer system on the passengers and operators are found substantially so as to justify its introduction to the City. The results of this study will be of considerable use for planners to design the transit systems in low density areas, where in general travel activities are widely dispersed and travel demands are low, so that provision of good quality of transit services are difficult.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.51.1-51.17
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• 2023

Background: To date, various genotypes of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) have co-circulated and in Korea, GI-15 and GI-19 lineages were prevailing. The spike protein, particularly S1 subunit, is responsible for receptor binding, contains hypervariable regions and is also responsible for the emerging of novel variants. Objective: This study aims to investigate the putative major amino acid substitutions for the variants in GI-19. Methods: The S1 sequence data of IBV isolated from 1986 to 2021 in Korea (n = 188) were analyzed. Sequence alignments were carried out using Multiple alignment using Fast Fourier Transform of Geneious prime. The phylogenetic tree was generated using MEGA-11 (ver. 11.0.10) and Bayesian analysis was performed by BEAST v1.10.4. Selective pressure was analyzed via online server Datamonkey. Highlights and visualization of putative critical amino acid were conducted by using PyMol software (version 2.3). Results: Most (93.5%) belonged to the GI-19 lineage in Korea, and the GI-19 lineage was further divided into seven subgroups: KM91-like (Clade A and B), K40/09-like, QX-like (I-IV). Positive selection was identified at nine and six residues in S1 for KM91-like and QX-like IBVs, respectively. In addition, several positive selection sites of S1-NTD were indicated to have mutations at common locations even when new clades were generated. They were all located on the lateral surface of the quaternary structure of the S1 subunits in close proximity to the receptor-binding motif (RBM), putative RBM motif and neutralizing antigenic sites in S1. Conclusions: Our results suggest RBM surrounding sites in the S1 subunit of IBV are highly susceptible to mutation by selective pressure during evolution.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.59-80
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• 2020

Excellent FinTech firms create value by finding customer needs or addressing customer problems to provide customers with differentiated solutions through information technologies and organizational innovation capability. Accordingly, the survival and growth of FinTech firms rely on the innovation performance for solving customer problems. This study assumes that IT relatedness and entrepreneurial culture play a mediating role in the relationship between service orientation and innovation performance. To examine it, designed and demonstrated is a structural model from the perspective of dynamic organizational capability. The results show that IT relatedness and entrepreneurial culture play a mediating role between service orientation and innovation performance. Although IT relatedness and entrepreneurial culture were partial mediators in each divided model, the integration model showed there was no direct effect of service orientation on innovation performance. The practical implication is that FinTech companies need to understand customer problems accurately, set up appropriate service goals and align all strategies to achieve them. With these strategic alignments, higher innovation performance can be achieved by enabling IT resources and capabilities to be actively utilized in all functions of the organization and institutionalizing the entrepreneurial culture.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.31-37
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• 2010

Chitinases (EC 3.2.1.14) hydrolyze the ${\beta}$-1,4-linkages in chitin, the second most abundant polymer of N-acetyl-${\beta}$-D-glucosamine which is a structural component of protective biological matrices such as fungal cell walls and insect exoskeletons. The glycosyl hydrolases 18 family including chitinases is an ancient gene family widely expressed in archea, prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Since earthworms live in the soil with a lot of microbial activities and fungi are supposed to be a major component of the diet of earthworm, it has been reported that there would be appropriate immune system to protect themselves from microorganisms attacks. In this study, the novel chitinase, EaChi, from the midgut of earthworm, Eisenia andrei, were identified and characterized. To obtain full-length cDNA sequence of chitinase, RT-PCR and RACE-PCR analyses were carried out by using the previously identified EST sequence amongst cDNA library established from the midgut of E. andrei. EaChi, a partial chitinase gene, was composed of 927 nucleotides encoding 309 amino acids. By the multiple sequence alignments of amino acids with other different species, it was revealed that EaCHI is a member of glycosyl hydrolases 18 family, which has two highly conserved domains, substrate binding and catalytic domain.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.583-595
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• 2014

Currently, Korean transportation policies are aiming for increase of safety and environment-friendly and efficient operation, by avoiding construction and expansion of roads, and upgrading road alignments and facilities. This is revealed by that there have been 22 road expansion projects (30%) and 50 road improvement projects (70%) under the 3rd Five-Year Plan for National Highways ('11~'15), while there were 53 road expansion projects (71%) and 22 road improvement projects (29%) under the 2nd Five-Year Plan for National Highways. For more effective road improvement projects, there is a need of choosing projects after an objective and scientific safety assessment of each road, and assessing safety improvement depending on projects. This study is intended to develop a model for this road safety analysis and assessment. The major objective of this study is creating a road safety analysis and assessment model appropriate for Korean society, based on the HSM (Highway Safety Manual) of the U.S. In order to build up data for model development, the sections thought to have identical geometrical structure factors in 5 lines, Cheonbuk province, were divided as homogeneous sections, and representative values of geometric structures, facilities, traffic volume, climate conditions and land usage were collected from the 1,452 sections divided. In order to build up data for model development, the sections thought to have identical geometrical structure factors in 5 lines, Cheonbuk province, were divided as homogeneous sections, and representative values of geometric structures, facilities, traffic volume, climate conditions and land usage were collected from the 1,452 sections divided. The collected data was processed correlation analysis of each road element was implemented to see which factor had a big effect on traffic accidents. On the basis of these results, then, an accident model was established as a negative binomial regression model.Using the developed model, an Crash Modification Factor (CMF) which determines accident frequency changes depending on safety performance function (SPF) predicting the number of accident occurrence through traffic volume and road section expansion, road geometric structure and traffic properties, was extracted.