• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.160-170
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• 2016

The increasing spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has raised the interest in alternative antimicrobial treatments. In our study, the functionally active gram-negative bacterium bacteriophage CP933 endolysin was produced in Nicotiana benthamiana plants by a combination of transient expression and vacuole targeting strategies, and its antimicrobial activity was investigated. Expression of the cp933 gene in E. coli led to growth inhibition and lysis of the host cells or production of trace amounts of CP933. Cytoplasmic expression of the cp933 gene in plants using Potato virus X-based transient expression vectors (pP2C2S and pGR107) resulted in death of the apical portion of experimental plants. To protect plants against the toxic effects of the CP933 protein, the cp933 coding region was fused at its Nterminus to an N-terminal signal peptide from the potato proteinase inhibitor I to direct CP933 to the delta-type vacuoles. Plants producing the CP933 fusion protein did not exhibit the severe toxic effects seen with the unfused protein and the level of expression was 0.16 mg/g of plant tissue. Antimicrobial assays revealed that, in contrast to gram-negative bacterium E. coli (BL21(DE3)), the gram-positive plant pathogenic bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis was more susceptible to the plant-produced CP933, showing 18% growth inhibition. The results of our experiments demonstrate that the combination of transient expression and protein targeting to the delta vacuoles is a promising approach to produce functionally active proteins that exhibit toxicity when expressed in plant cells.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study is the research of the 2D:4D ratio and its correlation with the Sasang constitution and the MBTI preference types. Methods: A measurement of the 2D:4D ratios of 101 South Korean medical students was performed, the QSCC-II and PSSC-2004 were used to diagnose the Sasang constitution, and MBTI testing was performed to classify the preference types. Results: In the relationship between the Sasang constitution and the 2D:4D ratios, a statistically significant difference is absent in the 2D:4D ratios of the group comprising both sexes in the order of Taeumin, Soyangin, and Soeumin. A statistically significant difference is also lacking in the 2D:4D ratios of the male-only group in the order of Taeumin, Soyangin, and Soeumin. The 2D:4D ratios are higher in the female group only, but again a statistically significant difference is absent. In the 2D:4D ratios according to the MBTI preference type, the 2D:4D ratios of the I, S, F, and P types are higher in the unisex group, but a significant difference is not evident. The 2D:4D ratios of the E, N, F, and P types are higher in the male-only group, but again a significant difference is not evident. In the female-only group, the mean of the 2D:4D ratios of the I, S, F, and P types is higher, but a significant difference is not identifiable. Conclusions: The Sasang constitution and the MBTI preference types did not show statistically significant differences regarding the 2D:4D ratios of the male, female, and unisex groups.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.321-331
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• 2008

Purpose: To examine the relationship between body fat percentage (BFP) and N-K cell activity (NKCA) in Korean breast and rectal cancer patients just after diagnosis. Methods: With 35 subjects enrolled between November 2002 and May 2003, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis was used to estimate BFP. FACS Analysis was used to measure N-K cell activity. The relationships between BFP and NKCA were identified by using curve estimation, simple regression, and multiple regression, Results: The mean BFPs of the subjects and all the sub-groups were higher than acceptable BFPs. Both the mean NKCAs of male and female subjects were lower than that of healthy women. NKCA was explained by BFP with a 14.9% variance in the total subjects (p<.05). There were significant negative relationships between BFP and NKCA after controlling age, type of cancer, and stage of cancer while no significant relationship was found after controlling for gender. The relationships between BFP and NKCA in the sub-groups of female, breast cancer, and stage I, and II were significant. The relationships between male, rectal cancer, and the stage III, and VI sub-groups were not identified, but they revealed a mild to moderate steep in curve estimation. Conclusion: Weight reduction could prevent the risk and advancement of breast and rectal cancer in Koreans.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.834-842
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on recovery of muscle atrophy induced by Parkinson's disease. Methods: The rat model was established by direct injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 20 ${\mu}g$) into the left striatum using stereotaxic surgery. Rats were divided into two groups; the Parkinson's disease group with vehicle treatment (Vehicle; n=12) or DHEA treatment group (DHEA; n=22). DHEA or vehicle was administrated intraperitoneally daily at a dose of 0.34 mmol/kg for 21 days. At 22-days after DHEA treatment, soleus, plantaris, and striatum were dissected. Results: The DHEA group showed significant increase (p<.01) in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurons in the lesioned side substantia nigra compared to the vehicle group. Weights and Type I fiber cross-sectional areas of the contralateral soleus of the DHEA group were significantly greater than those of the vehicle group (p=.02, p=.00). Moreover, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation significantly decreased in the lesioned striatum, but was recovered with DHEA and also in the contralateral soleus muscle, Akt and ERK phosphorylation recovered significantly and the expression level of myosin heavy chain also recovered by DHEA treatment. Conclusion: Our results suggest that DHEA treatment recovers Parkinson's disease induced contralateral soleus muscle atrophy through Akt and ERK phosphorylation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.773-778
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• 2013

Background In the management of mallet deformities, oblique retinacular ligament (ORL) reconstruction provides a mechanism for automatic distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint extension upon active proximal interphalangeal joint extension. The two variants of ORL reconstruction utilize either the lateral band or a free tendon graft. This study aims to compare these two surgical techniques and to assess any differences in functional outcome. As a secondary measure, the Mitek bone anchor and pull-in suture methods are compared. Methods A single-institutional retrospective review of ORL reconstruction was performed. The standard patient demographics, injury mechanism, type of ORL reconstruction, and pre/postoperative degree of extension lag were collected for the 27 cases identified. The cases were divided into lateral band (group A, n=15) and free tendon graft groups (group B, n=12). Group B was subdivided into the pull-in suture technique (B-I) and the Mitek bone anchor method (B-II). Results Overall, ORL reconstructions had improved the mean DIP extension lag by $10^{\circ}$ (P=0.027). Neither the reconstructive technique choice nor bone fixation method identified any statistically meaningful difference in functional outcome (P=0.51 and P=0.83, respectively). Soft-tissue injury was associated with $30.8^{\circ}$ of improvement in the extension lag. The most common complications were tendon adhesion and rupture. Conclusions The choice of the ORL reconstructive technique or the bone anchor method did not influence the primary functional outcome of extension lag in this study. Both lateral band and free tendon graft ORL reconstructions are valid treatment methods in the management of chronic mallet deformity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5477-5482
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• 2015

Background: This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors for a prethrombotic state in patients with malignant tumors. Materials and Methods: Plasma d-dimer (D-D) in patients with malignant tumors was measured. Abnormal rates of D-D and possible risk factors like gender, age, type of tumor, and staging of tumor were analyzed. Results: Of 1,453 patients, 629 demonstrated plasma D-D abnormality (43.3%). The D-D abnormal rate of male patients (n=851, 43.5%) was not statistically significantly different from that for female patients (n=602, 43.0%) (p>0.05). D-D abnormal rate increased with age and was statistically significant among different age groups (p<0.05). Regarding staging of tumor, D-D abnormal rate in patients with phase I was 2.0%, 6.2% in phase II, 47.6% in phase III and 83.1% in phase IV, with statistically significant differences between phase III and II, as well as phase III and IV (p<0.01). Conclusions: A prethrombotic state was closely related to malignancy of tumors. The risk factors for a prethrombotic state include age and tumor stage.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.40
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• pp.5.1-5.8
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• 2018

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of masticatory muscle injection of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) on the growth of the mandibular bone in vivo. Methods: Eleven Sprague-Dawley rats were used, and BTX-A (n = 6) or saline (n = 5) was injected at 13 days of age. All injections were given to the right masseter muscle, and the BTX-A dose was 0.5 units. All of the rats were euthanized at 60 days of age. The skulls of the rats were separated and fixed with 10% formalin for micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis. Results: The anthropometric analysis found that the ramus heights and bigonial widths of the BTX-A-injected group were significantly smaller than those of the saline-injected group (P < 0.05), and the mandibular plane angle of the BTX-A-injected group was significantly greater than in the saline-injected group (P < 0.001). In the BTX-A-injected group, the ramus heights II and III and the mandibular plane angles I and II showed significant differences between the injected and non-injected sides (P < 0.05). The BTX-A-injected side of the mandible in the masseter group showed significantly lower mandibular bone growth compared with the non-injected side. Conclusion: BTX-A injection into the masseter muscle influences mandibular bone growth.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.43-56
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the adhesiveness and cytotoxicity of 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), and to evaluate the role of collagen membrane with DOPA in the guided bone regeneration. Materials and Methods: Peel resistance and cell cytotoxicity test were performed. Four defect types in nine rabbit calvaria were randomly allocated: i) control, ii) membrane, iii) deproteinized porcine bone mineral (DPBM) covered by membrane with DOPA, and iv) DPBM covered by membrane with cyanoacrylate. Animals were sacrificed at 2 (n=4) and 8 weeks (n=5) for microcomputed tomography and histomorphometric analysis. DOPA showed low peel resistance but high cell viability. Result: Cyanoacrylate and DOPA groups showed significantly higher mineralized tissue volume (MTV) compared to control and membrane groups at 2 weeks (P<0.05). At 8 weeks, DOPA group showed the highest MTV. Significantly higher new bone area was found in DOPA group at 8 weeks (P<0.05). Bone formation increased from 2 to 8 weeks in DOPA group (P<0.05). Conclusion: DOPA showed high cell viability and in vivo study revealed predictable performance in bone regeneration.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.509-514
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• 2020

The two key variables of an Si solar cell, i.e., emitter (n-type window layer) and base (p-type substrate) doping levels or concentrations, are studied using Medici, a 2-dimensional semiconductor device simulation tool. The substrate is p-type and 150 ㎛ thick, the pn junction is 2 ㎛ from the front surface, and the cell is lit on the front surface. The doping concentration ranges from 1 × 10¹⁰ cm^-3 to 1 × 10²⁰ cm^-3 for both emitter and base, resulting in a matrix of 11 by 11 or a total of 121 data points. With respect to increasing donor concentration (Nd) in the emitter, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) is little affected throughout, and the short-circuit current (Isc) is affected only at a very high levels of Nd, exceeding 1 × 10¹⁹ cm^-3, dropping abruptly by about 12%, i.e., from Isc = 6.05 × 10^-9 A·㎛^-1, at Nd = 1 × 10¹⁹ cm^-3 to Isc = 5.35 × 10^-9 A·㎛^-1 at Nd = 1 × 10²⁰ cm^-3, likely due to minority-carrier, or hole, recombination at the very high doping level. With respect to increasing acceptor concentration (Na) in the base, Isc is little affected throughout, but Voc increases steadily, i.e, from Voc = 0.29 V at Na = 1 × 10¹² cm^-3 to 0.69 V at Na = 1 × 10¹⁸ cm^-3. On average, with an order increase in Na, Voc increases by about 0.07 V, likely due to narrowing of the depletion layer and lowering of the carrier recombination at the pn junction. At the maximum output power (Pmax), a peak value of 3.25 × 10^-2 W·cm^-2 or 32.5 mW·cm^-2 is observed at the doping combination of Nd = 1 × 10¹⁹ cm^-3, a level at which Si is degenerate (being metal-like), and Na = 1 × 10¹⁷ cm^-3, and minimum values of near zero are observed at very low levels of Nd ≤ 1 × 10¹³ cm^-3. This wide variation in Pmax, even within a given kind of solar cell, indicates that selecting an optimal combination of donor and acceptor doping concentrations is likely most important in solar cell engineering.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.14 no.6 s.53
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• pp.244-251
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• 2005

With the development of cognitive science and environmental psychology, there have been growing researches and discussions on the relationship between the residential design preferences and personality types. MBTI personality types have been earning popular credibility. MBTI means Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. It is based on Carl Jung's theory of psychological type. This study is based on Myers-Briggs theory to explain residential furnishing preference and explores the relationship between the four bi-polar personality types-Extroversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Perceiving and residential furnishing preference. These tests were conducted to two hundred and twelve adult residents who live in Seoul, Korea. These tests were analyzed several significances by Chi-Square with SPSS for windows software. (E) Extroverted residents prefer layouts for interaction with guests. (I) Introverted residents prefer centripetal layout around the bed. (S) Sensing residents prefer practical and functional layouts. (N) Intuitive residents prefer personal and conceiving layouts. (T) Thinking residents prefer for attribute of space. (F) Feeling residents for familiar conversation. (J) Judging residents prefer systematic and complete layouts. (P) Perceiving residents prefer adaptable and flexible layouts. In conclusion, personality types can have a determining role in preference of residential furnishing layouts. This study suggests that residential designers should take into account clients' personality types prefer effective designing and should provide a variety of alternatives reflecting clients' preferences. This will promote clients' pleasantness and satisfaction in dwelling at home.