• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.1056-1064
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• 2007

Biomolecular computing is a new computing paradigm that uses biomolecules such as DNA for information representation and processing. The huge number of molecules in a small volume and the innate massive parallelism inspired a novel computation method, and various computation models and molecular algorithms were developed for problem solving. In the meantime, the use of biomolecules for information processing supports the possibility of DNA computing as an application for biological problems. It has the potential as an analysis tool for biochemical information such as gene expression patterns. In this context, a DNA computing-based model of a biomolecular perceptron has been proposed and the result of its experimental implementation was presented previously. The weight encoding and weighted sum operation, which are the main components of a biomolecular perceptron, are based on the competitive hybridization reactions between the input molecules and weight-encoding probe molecules. However, thermodynamic symmetry in the competitive hybridizations is assumed, so there can be some error in the weight representation depending on the probe species in use. Here we suggest a generalized model of hybridization reactions considering the asymmetric thermodynamics in competitive hybridizations and present a weight encoding method for the reliable implementation of a biomolecular perceptron based on this model. We compare the accuracy of our weight encoding method with that of the previous one via computer simulations and present the condition of probe composition to satisfy the error limit.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.133-144
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• 2011

Background: Tigecycline (TIG), a new broad-spectrum glycylcycline with anti-multidrug-resistant-(MDR)-pathogen activity, was launched in March 2009 in South Korea, but there are insufficient clinical studies on its use in the country. As such, this study was performed to analyze cases of severe MDR-pathogen-caused infections treated with TIG. Methods: Patients treated with TIG within the period from May 2009 to June 2010 were enrolled in this study. Their clinical and microbiologic data were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Twenty-one patients were treated with TIG for complicated skin and soft-tissue infections (cSSTIs) (42.9%), complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs) (38.1%), or pneumonia (19.1%) caused by MDR pathogens like carbapenem-resistant $Acinetobacter$ $baumannii$ (76.2%), methicillin-resistant $Staphylococcus$ $aureus$ (61.9%), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing $Escherichia$ $coli$ and $Klebsiella$ $pneumoniae$ (38.1%), and penicillin-resistant $Enterococcus$ species (33.3%). Thirteen patients (61.9%) had successful clinical outcomes while five (23.8%) died within 30 days. The rate of clinical success was highest in cSSTI (77.8%), followed by cIAI (50%) and pneumonia (50%), and the mortality rate was highest in pneumonia (50%), followed by cIAI (25%) and cSSTI (11.1%), Conclusion: Tigecycline therapy can be an option for the treatment of severe MDR-pathogen-caused infections in South Korea, Due to its high risk of failure and mortality, however, prudence is required in its clinical use for the treatment of severe infections like nosocomial pneumonia.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.187-196
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• 2020

Objective: Porcine respiratory disease is one of the most important health problems causing significant economic losses. To understand the genetic basis for susceptibility to swine enzootic pneumonia (EP) in pigs, we detected 102,809 single nucleotide polymorphisms in a total of 249 individuals based on genome-wide sequencing data. Methods: Genome comparison of susceptibility to swine EP in three pig breeds (Jinhua, Erhualian, and Meishan) with two western lines that are considered more resistant (Duroc and Landrace) using cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity and F-statistic (F_ST) statistical approaches identified 691 positively selected genes. Based on quantitative trait loci, gene ontology terms and literature search, we selected 14 candidate genes that have convincible biological functions associated with swine EP or human asthma. Results: Most of these genes were tested by several methods including transcription analysis and candidate genes association study. Among these genes: cytochrome P450 1A1 and catenin beta 1 (CTNNB1) are involved in fertility; transforming growth factor beta receptor 3 plays a role in meat quality traits; Wnt family member 2, CTNNB1 and transcription factor 7 take part in adipogenesis and fat deposition simultaneously; plasminogen activator, urokinase receptor (completely linked to AXL receptor tyrosine kinase, r² = 1) plays an essential role in the successful ovulation of matured oocytes in pigs; colipase like 2 (strongly linked to SAM pointed domain containing ETS transcription factor, r² = 0.848) is involved in male fertility. Conclusion: These adverse genes susceptible to swine EP may be selected while selecting for economic traits (especially reproduction traits) due to pleiotropic and hitchhiking effect of linked genes. Our study provided a completely new point of view to understand the genetic basis for susceptibility or resistance to swine EP in pigs thereby, provides insight for designing sustainable breed selection programs. Finally, the candidate genes are crucial due to their potential roles in respiratory diseases in a large number of species, including human.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2011

Red ginseng is one of the most popular traditional medicines in Korea. In this study, we developed a new technique in which ethanol extract of $\underline{r}$ed $\underline{g}$inseng (HRG) was exposed to the $Co^{60}$ gamma radiation ranging from 1~5 kGy. The irradiated HRG (IHRG) were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine any compositional changes of ginsenosides due to irradiation. No appreciable difference was observed in the HPLC pattern of ginsenosides of HRG. Using MTT assay, the cytotoxicity effect was significantly increased by IHRG compared to HRG. The $LD_{50}$ concentration was $30{\mu}g/mL$ for IHRG-1 (1 kGy), and $15{\mu}g/mL$ for IHRG-5 (5 kGy). The evidences of apoptosis, such as nuclei cleavage and Annexin V staining, were observed in the human prostate cancer PC-3 cells treated with the IHRG. Additionally, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was apparently elevated by IHRG. We also studied the inhibitory effect of IHRG on the growth rate of tumor xenografts in BALB/c male mice. The tumor growth rates were inhibited by 56.9 and 76.1% in mice treated with 10 mg/kg of IHRG-1 and IHRG-5, respectively, compared with control group (21.1%). These results suggest that some biologically active and soluble components in HRG can be more effectively enhancement of anti-tumor effects using irradiation.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.435-442
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• 1995

The abalone shell (Haliotis) is one of the most important resources for the coastal fisheries and it is popular as an aquacultural species. Proper cultivating grounds for mid-term nursery of abalone spats are required before releasing them. It is difficult for us to find good enough aquacultural grounds to rear abalone spats to 20"30mm of shell length. Therefore, we need to study a practical and effective new type of aquacultural device for the nursing of abalone spats by using open sea areas. We can find this kind of studies from 'Marine aya No. 1' of Japan, Though they focused on the easy operation, safe working and low operating cost, it involves so much initial cost that it is difficult for us to justify such expenditure. However, with a modified small buoy system, this submersible facility needs only a horizontal frame to fulfill its essential function and the vortical part can be removed. The working boat equipped with a pump can operate this facility to keep it submerged or floated. This paper deals with the possibility of this submersible fishery facility for the mid term nursing of abalone spats in the open sea. A small version of this system to ensure low initial cost is suggested and wave and current forces were calculated for the estimation of the weight of the mooring anchor.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.4 s.114
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• pp.475-481
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• 2005

In an effort to identify a new environment-friendly algicide, we examined the ability of extracts from the leaves and stems of nine Korean oak tree species to inhibit growth of the bloom-forming cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa. At a concentration of 100 mg $L^{-1}$, five of the oak tree extracts (QAT-L, QAT-5, QAS- L, QGI-5, and QSA- L) decreased the cell density of M. aeruginosa by over 90% for 7 days. At a concentration of 20 mg $L^{-1}$, the same five extracts inhibited the growth of M. aeruginosa by approximately 50%. The minimum concentration of oak tree extracts required for effective inhibition of M. aeruginosa (20 mg $L^{-1}$) is comparable to that of the known algicide, tannic acid (17 mg $L^{-1}$), which is thought to be one of the main active ingredients in the oak tree extract. These findings suggest that oak extracts may be useful as an environment-friendly algicide to control the bloomforming cyanobacterium, M. aeruginosa, in eutrophic waters.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.712-720
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• 2001

Algorithms from the research of the layout migration were proposed in the paper. These are automatic recognition algorithm for the VLSI devices from it, graph based construction algorithm to maintain the constraints, dependencies, and design rule between the devices, and high speed compaction algorithm to reduce size of the VLSI area and reuse the design with compacted size for the new technology. Also, this paper describes that why proposed algorithms are essential for the era of the SoC (System on a Chip), design reuse, and IP DB, which are the big concerns in these days. In addition to introduce our algorithms, the benchmark showed that our performance is superior by 27 times faster than that of the commercial one, and has better efficiency by 3 times in disk usage.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.191-202
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• 2001

Human being has extensively invaded, occupied, and used the natural environment as a consequence of the advance of civilization. Mankind has increasingly modified the environment for his own benefit. Such modification has not only caused the extinction of many other species but also, caused human being himself to confront to serious environmental problems. The recognition of this fact by human is expressed in the establishment and development of restoration ecology. This new study fold is, in fact, an "Eco-technology" directed towards healing of damages to the environment. The goal is to reestablish processes and functions in a damaged site, imitating the way of healing works that an integral natural system carries out. Ecological restoration uses different treatments and approaches according to extents of the existing damage and to the specific goal to be achieved. An ecological diagnosis is, therefore, required prior to restoration practice. The cost and efforts to achieve a proposed goal can be significantly reduced when a restoration plan is formulated upon the results of well-conducted ecological diagnosis. Under such perspectives, restoration ecology is a practical science, which aims to solve the problems of the real world based on the existing ecological principle. Furthermore, restoration ecology offers opportunities to test the ecological concepts and theories obtained by means of the former ecological studies. Human being exploited natural environment excessively for his comfort on one hand but damaged it inevitably on the other hand. Such intensive resource utilization and continuous environmental damaging will extend into the future and ultimately jeopardize the survival of humankind if no prompt action is taken. In the present situation, we must not continue such lives without any preparation. We have to cope with the environmental crises approaching near us by pursuing the ecological restoration that reduce the unnecessary use, recruit the deficient part, and strengthen the weak portion in our environment. Restoration ecology could be recognized as the ecology for the future in such viewpoints.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.20.1-20.18
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• 2020

Background: Olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, is an economically important aquaculture species in Korea. Olive flounders have been heavily damaged by streptococcal infections every year and are treated with antibiotics. However, antibiotic abuse is causing the emergence of resistant strains, and to overcome this, research has shown that new antibiotics must be applied. Tylosin is a relatively safe antibiotic and has good activity against Gram-positive bacteria and mycoplasma. We studied the therapeutic effects and side effects of tylosin on Streptococcus parauberis-infected olive flounder. Methods: After artificial infection of olive flounder with S. parauberis SPOF18J3, an appropriate dose of tylosin was confirmed by intramuscular injection (I.M.) at 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 mg/kg, and oral administration at 10 and 20 mg/kg. After I.M. and oral administration dosing of tylosin, side effects were confirmed by serological analysis, histopathological analysis, and median lethal dose (LD₅₀) analysis at both an appropriate concentration and a high concentration. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test (p < 0.05). Results: The appropriate I.M. and oral administration concentration of tylosin administered to olive flounder infected with S. parauberis SPOF18J3 was found to be 10 mg/kg. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were showed not significantly different between the control group and the experimental groups. The histopathologic results showed mild inflammatory responses in muscle and tubular vacuolization and tubular atrophy appeared, but there were no significant differences between the groups. The LD₅₀ was confirmed to be 461 mg/kg. Conclusion: In this study, an effective treatment method was provided by verifying the treatment effects and side effects of tylosin in olive flounder infected with S. parauberis, which can be applied directly to aquaculture sites. In addition, these results may be used as a reference for evaluation required upon request to obtain approval for tylosin antibiotics as fishery antibiotics in Korea. After approval, it is possible that a fishery disease manager will be able to prescribe and sell the antibiotic tylosin.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.24 no.4 s.79
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• pp.265-273
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• 1996

Fleshy fungi were collected during field trips to mountain areas throughout the country from October in 1994 to June in 1995. Through the observation and identification of specimens belonging to the wood-rotting fungi of the Aphyllophorales, one genus, Phlebiopsis, and six species, Athelia bombacina, Ceraceomyces sublaevis, Hyphoderma sibiricum, Hyphodontia arguta, Phlebiopsis gigantea, and Radulomyces confluens were confirmed as new corticioid fungi to Korea and are registered here with descriptions.