• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

During early pregnancy, before the development of a functioning thyroid gland, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is a very sensitive marker of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy. Normal values have been modified during gestation with a downward shift. The fetus is influenced by the TSH supplied by the mother. TSH and free thyroxine (FT4) concentrations vary during pregnancy and conventional units can vary between laboratories. A downward shift of the TSH reference range occurs during pregnancy, with a decrease in both the lower and upper limits of maternal TSH, relative to the typical non-pregnant TSH reference range. Each laboratory produces its own reference TSH and FT4 concentrations because there are many different assays that yield different results in pregnancy. Therefore, automated immunoassays used for serum FT4 analysis are still used widely, but the important considerations discussed above must be noted. The use of population-based, trimester-specific reference ranges remains the best way to handle this issue The slight downward shift in the upper reference range of TSH occurring in the latter first trimester (7~12 weeks) of pregnancy, typically not observed prior to 7 weeks. Their use indicates high or low levels in a quantitative manner independent of the reference ranges. These data highlight the importance of calculating population-based pregnancy-specific thyroid parameter reference intervals. A precision medicine initiative in this area will require the collection and analysis of a large number of genetic, biological, psychosocial, and environmental variables in large cohorts of individuals. Large prospective randomized controlled trials will be needed to resolve these controversies.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.423-428
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• 2004

Soybean seeds contain high amounts of isoflavones that display biological effects and isoflavone content of soybean seed can vary by year, environment, and genotype. Objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci that underlie isoflavone content in soybean seeds. The study involved 85 $F_2$ populations derived from Korean soybean cultivar 'Kwangkyo' and wild type soybean 'IT182305' for QTL analysis associated with isoflavone content. Isoflavone content of seeds was determined by HPLC. The genetic map of 33 linkage groups with 207 markers was constructed. The linkage map spanned 2,607.5 cM across all 33 linkage groups. The average linkage distance between pair of markers among all linkage groups was 12.6 cM in Kosambi map units. Isoflavone content in $F_2$ generations varied in a fashion that suggested a continuous, polygenic inheritance. Eleven markers (4 RAPD, 3 SSR, 4 AFLP) were significantly associated with isoflavone content. Only two markers, Satt419 and CTCGAG3 had F-tests that were significant at P<0.01 in $F_2$ generation for isoflavone content. Interval mapping using the $F_2$ data revealed only two putative QTLs for isoflavone content. The peak QTL region on linkage group 3, which was near OPAG03c, explained $14\%$ variation for isoflavone content. The peak QTL region on linkage group 5, which was located near OPN14 accounted for $35.3\%$ variation for isoflavone content. Using both Map-Maker-QTL $(LOD{\geq}2.0)$ and single-factor analysis $(P{\leq}0.05)$, one marker, CTCGAG3 in linkage group 3 was associated with QTLs for isoflavone content. This information would then be used in identification of QTLs for isoflavone content with precision

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.405-411
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• 2011

Avian influenza virus vaccines produced in oil-emulsified inactivated form with antigen content of at least 160 hemagglutinin units (HAU) induced immunity in birds. However, in addition to enhancing the effect of the adjuvant(s), other additional supplemented biological compounds included in inactivated vaccines could produce higher levels of antibody. We examined in chickens, Vietnamese ducks, and muscovy ducks the adjuvant effect of Sophy ${\beta}$-glucan (SBG), a ${\beta}$-1,3-1,6 glucan produced by the black yeast Aureobasidium pollulans strain AF0-202, when administered with an avian influenza H5 subtype vaccine. In Experiment 1, 40 chickens (ISA Brown hybrid), allocated to four groups of ten each, were immunized with Oil-H5N1(VN), Oil-H5N1(CN), Oil-H5N2(CN), and saline (control group), respectively. In Experiment 2, chickens (ISA Brown hybrid), muscovy ducks (French hybrid), and Vietnamese ducks (indigenous Vietnamese) were used to further assess the effect of SBG on immunogenicity of the Oil-H5N1(VN) Vietnamese vaccine. ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays were used to assess the antibody response. The H5 subtype vaccines initiated significantly higher immune responses in the animals dosed with SBG, with 1.0-1.5 $log_2$ higher HI titers and 10-20% ELISA seroconversion, compared with those not dosed with ${\beta}$-glucan. Notably, some of the animals dosed with SBG induced HI titers higher than 9.0 $log_2$ following boosting immunization. Taken together, our serial studies indicated that SBG is a potential effector, such as enhancing the immune response to the H5 vaccines tested.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2008

This paper reports on a realtime OS based master-slave configuration robot control system for laparoscopic surgery robot which enables telesurgery and overcomes shortcomings with conventional laparoscopic surgery. Surgery robot system requires control system that can process large volume information such as medical image data and video signal from endoscope in real-time manner, as well as precisely control the robot with high reliability. To meet the complex requirements, the use of high-level real-time OS (Operating System) in surgery robot controller is a must, which is as common as in many of modem robot controllers that adopt real-time OS as a base system software on which specific functional modules are implemened for more reliable and stable system. The control system consists of joint controllers, host controllers, and user interface units. The robot features a compact slave robot with 5 DOF (Degree-Of-Freedom) expanding the workspace of each tool and increasing the number of tools operating simultaneously. Each master, slave and Gill (Graphical User Interface) host runs a dedicated RTOS (Real-time OS), RTLinux-Pro (FSMLabs Inc., U.S.A.) on which functional modules such as motion control, communication, video signal integration and etc, are implemented, and all the hosts are in a gigabit Ethernet network for inter-host communication. Each master and slave controller set has a dedicated CAN (Controller Area Network) channel for control and monitoring signal communication with the joint controllers. Total 4 pairs of the master/slave manipulators as current are controlled by one host controller. The system showed satisfactory performance in both position control precision and master-slave motion synchronization in both bench test and animal experiment, and is now under further development for better safety and control fidelity for clinically applicable prototype.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2004

A field-scale(8.6${\times}$2.5${\times}$2.4 m) and pilot-scale(1.39${\times}$0.89${\times}$0.89 m) thermophilic aerobic oxidation (TAO) units were installed to investigate the volume reduction efficiency of slurry, by varying the aeration and treatment temperature of swine manure, and the collected liquid was evaluated as a liquid fertilizer. In the field-scale unit, the aeration level and numbers of foam breakers made different effects on the slurry volume and temperature in the TAO system. The experiments were peformed for three cases, using different levels of aeration and numbers of foam breakers: Treat-A (aeration rate; 120 ㎥ air/hr using 2 air pumps and 2 foam breakers), Treat-B (aeration rate; 180 ㎥ air/hr using 3 air pumps and 3 foam breakers) and Treat-C (aeration rate; 180 ㎥ air/hr using 3 air pumps and 4 foam breakers). With the same input volume (5 ㎥/day) of swine manure slurry, the resulting liquid levels, temperatures and evaporation rates were 50∼100 cm, 31∼$64^{\circ}C$ and 55 $\ell/m^2$/day for Treat-A; 40∼90 cm, 29∼$52^{\circ}C$ and 75 $\ell/m^2$/day for Treat-B; and 40∼70 cm, 45∼$54^{\circ}C$ and 120.0 $\ell/m^2$/day for Treat-C. In the pilot-scale unit, semi-continuous flow of swine manure slurry was introduced. 50 $\ell$ every 2hr(T-1), 50 $\ell$ every 3hr(T-2), 40 $\ell$ every 2hr (T-3) and 60 $\ell$ every 4hr (T-4) within 24 hours, in order to find the maximum slurry volume reduction conditions.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to define the content of requisite human structure and function knowledge needed for clinical knowledge of nursing practice. Subjects of human structure and function were divided into 10 units, and each unit was further divided into 21 subunits, resulting in a total of 90 items. Contents of knowledge of human structure and function were constructed from syllabus of basic nursing subjects in 4 college of nursing, and textbooks published by nurse scholars prepared with basic nursing sciences. The degree of need of 90 items was measured with a 4 point scale. The subjects of this study were college graduated 136 nurses from seven university hospitals in Seoul and three university hospitals located in Chonnam Province, Kyungbook Province, and Inchon. They have been working at internal medicine ward, surgical ward, intensive care unit, obstetrics and gynecology ward, pediatrics ward, opthalmology ward, ear, nose, and throat ward, emergency room, rehabilitation ward, cancer ward, hospice ward, and their working period was mostly under 5 years. The results were as follows: 1. The highest scored items of human structure and function knowledge necessary for nursing practice were electrolyte balance, blood clotting mechanism and anticoagulation mechanism, hematopoietic function, body fluid balance, function of plasma, and anatomical terminology in the order of importance. The lowest scored items of human structure and function knowledge necessary for nursing practice was sexual factors of genetic mutation. 2. The highest order of need according to unit was membrane transport in the living unit, anatomical terminology in movement and exercise unit, mechanism of hormone function in regulation and integration unit, component and function of blood in oxygenation function unit, structure and function of digestive system in digestive and energy metabolism unit, temperature regulation in temperature regulation unit electrolyte balance in body fluid and electrolyte unit, concept of immunity in body resistance unit, and genetics terminology in genetics unit. The highest order of importance according to subunit was membrane transportation in cell subunit, classification of tissues in tissue unit, function of skin and skin in skin subunit, anatomical derivatives of the skeleton subunit, classification of joints in joint subunit, an effect of exercise on muscles in muscle subunit, function of brain in nervous system subunit, special sense in sensory subunit mechanism of hormone function in endocrine subunit, structure and function of female reproductive system in reproductive system unit, structure and function of blood in blood unit, structure of heart, electrical and mechanical function in cardiovascular system unit, structure of respiratory system in respiratory system subunit, structure and function of digestive system in digestive system subunit, hormonal regulation of metabolism in nutrition and metabolism subunit, function of kidney in urologic system subunit, electolyte balance in body fluid, electolyte and acid-base balance subunit. 3. The common content of human structure and function knowledge need for all clinical areas in nursing was structure and function of blood, hematopoietic function, function of plasm, coagulation mechanism and anticoagulation mechanism, body fluid, electrolyte balance, and acid-base balance. However, the degree of need of each human structure and function knowledge was different depending on clinical areas. 4. Significant differences in human structure and function knowledge necessary for nursing practice such as skin and derivatives of the skin, growth and development of bone, classification of joint, classification of muscle, structure of muscle, function of muscle, function of spinal cord, peripheral nerve, structure and function of pancrease, component and function of blood, function of plasma, structure and function of blood, hemodynamics, respiratory dynamics, gas transport, regulation of respiration, chemical digestion of foods, absorption of foods, characteristics of nutrients, metabolism and hormonal regulation, body energy balance were demonstrated according to the duration of work. 5. Significant differences in human structure and function knowledge necessary for nursing practice such as classification of tissue, classification of muscles, function of muscles, muscle metabolism, classification of skeletal muscles, classification of nervous system, neurotransmitters, mechanism of hormone function, pituitary and pituitary hormone, structure and function of male reproductive organ, structure and function of female reproductive organ, component and function of blood, function of plasma, coagulation mechanism and anticoagulation mechanism, gas exchange, gas transport, regulation of respiration, characteristics of nutrients, energy balance, function of kidney, concept of immunity, classification and function of immunity were shown according to the work area. Based on these findings, all the 90 items constructed by Korean Academic Society of Basic Nursing Science should be included as contents of human structure and function knowledge.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2010

In this study, lactic acid bacteria with high angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor activity were isolated from Korean fermented food, such as kimchi and salted seafood. The strain HLJ59, isolated from salted shrimp showed the highest angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor activity in DeMan Rogosa Sharpe broth. Optimum growth temperature of Lactobacillus brevis HLJ59 was at $34^{\circ}C$. Acid treatment at pH 3.0 for 1.5 h decreased cell viability from $9.9{\times}10^8$ CFU/ml to $3.11{\times}10^4$ CFU/ml. The bile extract concentration of 0.3%, 0.5%, and 1.0% in MRS broth did not inhibit the growth of HLJ59. Isolated strain HLJ59 showed more sensibility to amikacin, gentamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, kanamycin, cefmetazole, cephalothin, ampicillin, ticarcillin, sulbactam+ampicillin, amoxicillin+clavulanic acid (AMC), tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole+trime thoprim (SXT) as compare to other 7 different antibiotics. However, it showed more resistance to cefoxatin, ceftnaxone, penicillin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, lincomycin, and chloramphenicol.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.143-153
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of the present exploratory study was to evaluate extraction socket healing at sites with a history of periodontal and endodontic pathology. Methods: The mandibular 4th premolar teeth in 5 adult beagle dogs served as experimental units. Periodontal and endodontic lesions were induced in 1 premolar site in each animal using wire ligatures and pulpal exposure over 3 months (diseased sites). The contralateral premolar sites served as healthy controls. The mandibular 4th premolar teeth were then extracted with minimal trauma, followed by careful wound debridement. The animals were sacrificed at days 1, 7, 30, 60, and 90 post-extraction for analysis, and the healing patterns at the healthy and diseased extraction sites were compared using radiography, scanning electron microscopy, histology, and histometry. Results: During the first 7 days of healing, a significant presence of inflammatory granulation tissue was noted at the diseased sites (day 1), along with a slightly accelerated rate of fibrin clot resolution on day 7. On day 30, the diseased extraction sites showed a greater percentage of persistent fibrous connective tissue, and an absence of bone marrow formation. In contrast, healthy sites showed initial signs of bone marrow formation on day 30, and subsequently a significantly greater proportion of mature bone marrow formation on both days 60 and 90. Radiographs exhibited sclerotic changes adjoining apical endodontic lesions, with scanning electron microscopy showing collapsed Volkmann canals protruding from these regions in the diseased sites. Furthermore, periodontal ligament fibers exhibited a parallel orientation to the alveolar walls of the diseased sites, in contrast to a perpendicular arrangement in the healthy sites. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it appears that a history of periodontal and endodontic pathology may critically affect bone formation and maturation, leading to delayed and compromised extraction socket healing.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.561-567
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• 1987

The purpose of this study was to find out the removal capacity of harmful ammonia by different filter media in the submerged biological filters in a given space of chamber. Four materials, pile cloth, corrugated skylight roofing plate, embossed plastic plate, and gravel, were used as the experimental filter media. Each filter medium was placed in two aquariums, each aquarium measuring $90cm\times60cm\times60cm\;(depth)$. Under the normal operating condition, the average of mean ammonia removal rates during the first and second functioning periods by each filter material which occupied tile space in the filter chamber (aquarium) was as follows: 1. Pile cloth: $8.381\;g{\cdot}m^{-3}.\;day^{-1}$ 2. Corrugated skylight roofing plate: $7.834\;g{\cdot}m^{-3}.\;day^{-1}$ 3. Embossed plastic plate: $7.797\;g{\cdot}m^{-3}.\;day^{-1}$ 4. Gravel: $7.051\;g{\cdot}m^{-3}.\;day^{-1}$ Thus, there were no significant differences between the media, but at the time of practical application of these materials, some other factors such as investment cost, easiness for the removal of excess detritus accumulated in tile interstices of filter media, etc. should be fallen into consideration. When large units are required, in particular, removal of excess detritus from tile gravel bed is extremely difficult, and in case of pile cloth filters the installation work is much complicated and a problem in supporting the structure when drained also exists. In these respects, corrugated skylight roofing plate and embossed plastic plate seem to be more optimal, but again in practice the local situation for the availability and the price of the materials should be rechecked and the fitness of tile materials in the particular filter chambers under use or under consideration for construction must be taken into account.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.505-512
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• 2014

A new donor-accepter-donor-accepter-donor (D-A-D-A-D) type 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-thiophene-based acceptor unit 2,5-di(4-(5-bromo-4-octylthiophen-2-yl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-7-yl)thiophene ($DTBTTBr_2$) was synthesized. Copolymerized with fluorene and indeno[1,2-b]fluorene electron-rich moieties, two alternating narrow band gap (NBG) copolymers PF-DTBTT and PIF-DTBTT were prepared. And two copolymers exhibit broad and strong absorption in the range of 300-700 nm with optical band gap of about 1.75 eV. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels vary between -5.43 and -5.52 eV and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels range from -3.64 to -3.77 eV. Potential applications of the copolymers as electron donor material and $PC_{71}BM$ ([6,6]-phenyl-$C_{71}$ butyric acid methyl ester) as electron acceptors were investigated for photovoltaic solar cells (PSCs). Photovoltaic performances based on the blend of PF-DTBTT/$PC_{71}BM$ (w:w; 1:2) and PIF-DTBTT/$PC_{71}BM$ (w:w; 1:2) with devices configuration as ITO/PEDOT: PSS/blend/Ca/Al, show an incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 2.34% and 2.56% with the open circuit voltage ($V_{oc}$) of 0.87 V and 0.90 V, short circuit current density ($J_{sc}$) of $6.02mA/cm^2$ and $6.12mA/cm^2$ under an AM1.5 simulator ($100mA/cm^2$). The photocurrent responses exhibit the onset wavelength extending up to 720 nm. These results indicate that the resulted narrow band gap copolymers are viable electron donor materials for polymer solar cells.