• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2024

In this study, the applicability of replacing DG(Desulfurized Gypsum) from oil refinery with CCCMs(Carbon dioxide Conversion Capture Materials) as an ALC(Auto-claved LIghtweight Concrete) raw material was examined, and basic properties of ALC was measured. The main chemical components of DG and CCCMs were CaO and SO₃, and an increase in LOI(Loss of ignition) due to mineral carbonation reaction was verified. The crystalline phases of CCCMs were CaCO₃, CaSO₄, Ca(OH)₂, and CaSO₄·2H₂O. When DG, a raw material for ALC production, was replaced with CCCMs, foaming height, pore shape, absolute dry gravity, and compressive strength results measured similar for all binders. In addition, the formation of tobermorite which is main crystalline phase of ALC was shown for all specimens in microstructural analysis.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.287-299
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• 2023

In vitro luwak coffee was produced using enzyme­microbial complexes. The coffee quality of non-fermented coffee beans (NFC) and fermented coffee beans (FC) was compared. The total free amino acid content was higher in FC than in NFC. The levels of glutamic acid and γ-amino-n-butyric acid in NFC were higher than those in FC; however, the contents of essential amino acids, such as lysine, leucine, and valine, in FC were higher than in NFC. During fermentation, the sucrose content decreased, whereas the fructose and glucose contents increased (p<0.001). The chromaticity of the coffee extract showed higher lightness (L), redness (a), and yellowness (b) values in FC than those in NFC. The caffeine content was significantly lower in FC (696.94±0.04 ㎍/mL) compared to that in NFC (1,130.22±1.55 ㎍/mL) (p<0.001). Conversely, the polyphenol and chlorogenic acid contents were significantly higher in NFC than in FC (p<0.001). Electronic nose analysis indicated considerable differences between the volatile aromatic components in NFC and FC. Sensory scores were significantly higher for FC than those for NFC. Therefore, the fermentation of coffee beans using enzyme­microbial complexes altered the chemical components, which promoted the Maillard reaction during the coffee bean roasting process. These results suggest the possibility of producing in vitro luwak coffee with better flavor and lower caffeine content.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.362-370
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• 2023

Objective: To report the clinical and radiological characteristics of patients with underlying B-cell lymphoma and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) showing migratory airspace opacities on serial chest computed tomography (CT) with persistent COVID-19 symptoms. Materials and Methods: From January 2020 to June 2022, of the 56 patients with underlying hematologic malignancy who had undergone chest CT more than once at our hospital after acquiring COVID-19, seven adult patients (5 female; age range, 37-71 years; median age, 45 years) who showed migratory airspace opacities on chest CT were selected for the analysis of clinical and CT features. Results: All patients had been diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma (three diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and four follicular lymphoma) and had received B-cell depleting chemotherapy, including rituximab, within three months prior to COVID-19 diagnosis. The patients underwent a median of 3 CT scans during the follow-up period (median 124 days). All patients showed multifocal patchy peripheral ground glass opacities (GGOs) with basal predominance in the baseline CTs. In all patients, follow-up CTs demonstrated clearing of previous airspace opacities with the development of new peripheral and peribronchial GGO and consolidation in different locations. Throughout the follow-up period, all patients demonstrated prolonged COVID-19 symptoms accompanied by positive polymerase chain reaction results from nasopharyngeal swabs, with cycle threshold values of less than 25. Conclusion: COVID-19 patients with B-cell lymphoma who had received B-cell depleting therapy and are experiencing prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistent symptoms may demonstrate migratory airspace opacities on serial CT, which could be interpreted as ongoing COVID-19 pneumonia.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.1345-1354
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• 2024

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify candidate genes that play important roles in skeletal muscle development in ducks. Methods: In this study, we investigated the transcriptional sequencing of embryonic pectoral muscles from two specialized lines: Liancheng white ducks (female) and Cherry valley ducks (male) hybrid Line A (LCA) and Line C (LCC) ducks. In addition, prediction of target genes for the differentially expressed mRNAs was conducted and the enriched gene ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes signaling pathways were further analyzed. Finally, a protein-to-protein interaction network was analyzed by using the target genes to gain insights into their potential functional association. Results: A total of 1,428 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with 762 being up-regulated genes and 666 being down-regulated genes in pectoral muscle of LCA and LCC ducks identified by RNA-seq (p<0.05). Meanwhile, 23 GO terms in the down-regulated genes and 75 GO terms in up-regulated genes were significantly enriched (p<0.05). Furthermore, the top 5 most enriched pathways were ECM-receptor interaction, fatty acid degradation, pyruvate degradation, PPAR signaling pathway, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. Finally, the candidate genes including integrin b3 (Itgb3), pyruvate kinase M1/2 (Pkm), insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1), glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (Gpi), GABA type A receptor-associated protein-like 1 (Gabarapl1), and thyroid hormone receptor beta (Thrb) showed the most expression difference, and then were selected to verification by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The result of qRT-PCR was consistent with that of transcriptome sequencing. Conclusion: This study provided information of molecular mechanisms underlying the developmental differences in skeletal muscles between specialized duck lines.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.281-292
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocyte (CM) hold great promise as a cellular source of CM for cardiac function restoration in ischemic heart disease. However, the use of animal-derived xenogeneic substances during the biomanufacturing of hiPSC-CM can induce inadvertent immune responses or chronic inflammation, followed by tumorigenicity. In this study, we aimed to reveal the effects of xenogeneic substances on the functional properties and potential immunogenicity of hiPSC-CM during differentiation, demonstrating the quality and safety of hiPSC-based cell therapy. Methods and Results: We successfully generated hiPSC-CM in the presence and absence of xenogeneic substances (xeno-containing (XC) and xeno-free (XF) conditions, respectively), and compared their characteristics, including the contractile functions and glycan profiles. Compared to XC-hiPSC-CM, XF-hiPSC-CM showed early onset of myocyte contractile beating and maturation, with a high expression of cardiac lineage-specific genes (ACTC1, TNNT2, and RYR2) by using MEA and RT-qPCR. We quantified N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), a xenogeneic sialic acid, in hiPSC-CM using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring-mass spectrometry. Neu5Gc was incorporated into the glycans of hiPSC-CM during xeno-containing differentiation, whereas it was barely detected in XF-hiPSC-CM. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the electrophysiological function and glycan profiles of hiPSC-CM can be affected by the presence of xenogeneic substances during their differentiation and maturation. To ensure quality control and safety in hiPSC-based cell therapy, xenogeneic substances should be excluded from the biomanufacturing process.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2024

In July 2020, total RNA was extracted from passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) leaves showing virus symptoms such as chlorotic spots and vein banding in Haenam, South Korea. Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)-HN2 was identified through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and sequencing analysis. To confirm the biological characteristics of the CMV infecting passion fruit, 10 indicator plants were inoculated with CMV-HN2, and the results showed a typical CMV symptoms. Phylogenetic analysis based on the amino acid of the coat protein (CP) of CMVs revealed that the CMV passion fruit isolates belonged to subgroup I, among which CMV-HN2 belonged to subgroup IA. Additionally, CMVs isolated from passion fruit in Korea have amino acid sequence variation between the subgroup. Among them, CMV-HN2 had four to eight amino acid differences in CP from other CMV isolates from passion fruit. These results confirm the presence of genetic diversity in the CPs of passion fruit CMV isolates.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.131-138
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• 2024

In this study, the microstructure and plasma resistance characteristics of 35Bi₂O₃-15Al₂O₃-50SiO₂ (BiAl SiO) and 35Bi₂O₃-7.5Al₂O₃-50SiO₂-7.5AlF₃ (BiAlSiOF) glass layers coated on sintered alumina substrates were investigated according to the sintering conditions. The coated layers were formed using the bar coating method and then sintered at a temperature in the range of 700~900℃, which corresponds to the temperature before and after the hemisphere forming temperature, after a debinding process. The plasma resistance of the two coated glasses was approximately 2~3 times higher than that of the quartz glass, and in particular, the BiAlSiOF glass film with F added showed higher plasma resistance than BiAlSiO. It is thought to be due to the effect of suppressing the reaction with fluorine gas by adding fluorine to the glass. When the sintering time was increased at 700℃ and 800℃, the plasma resistance of both glasses improved, but when the sintering temperature was increased to 900℃, the plasma resistance decreased again (i.e., the etching rate increased). This phenomenon is thought to be related to the crystallization behavior of both glasses. The change in plasma resistance depending on the sintering conditions is thought to be related to the appearance of Al and Bi-rich phases.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.200-206
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• 1984

This study was conducted to examine the morphological, physical and chemical characteristics of the Bancheon, Gopyeong, Hwadong and Deogpyeong series derived from diluvium in Korea. The results were as follows. 1. The sequence of the Bancheon, Gopyeong, Hwadong and Deogpyeong series consists of the soil catena. Thus, the Bancheon and Gopyeong series are weil drained, the Hwadong and Deogpyeong series moderately well drained due to the influence of topography and irrigation water. 2. The surface soils of the Bancheon and Gopyeong series are yellowish red, dark yellowish brown fine silty texture and the subsoils are yellowish red, red and strong brown fine clayey with moderate to strong angular blocky or subangular blocky structure with clayey cutans on the structural face. The surface soils of the Hwadong and Deogpyeong series are dark grayish brown, grayish brown fine silty texture and the subsoils are strong brown, light olive brown and brownish yellow fine silty or fine clayey with moderate to strong prismatic, angular blocky or subangular blocky structure with clayey cutans on the structural face. The consistences of all the subsoil horizons are extremely compact and hard, whereas sticky and plastic when wet. 3. The lower the topography, the higher the silt/clay ratio, soil reaction, organic matter, available water and phosphate content but the higher the topography, the higher the active iron content. 4. These soils are classified as Hapludalfs by Soil Taxonomy in U.S.D.A. 5. These soils must be applied with much lime, phosphate and compost to improve the soil fertility.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.925-936
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• 2005

The present study evaluated whether pentoxifylline added to the freezing extender could improve the sperm characteristics and function in canine frozen semen. Also the conception rate following AI with frozen-thawed semen was investigated. The beneficial effects of pentoxifylline supplementation were visible in motility, viability, acrosome reaction, and tail swelling patterns. Especially, highest sperm viability and function were obtained in the forzen semen supplemented with 1mM pentoxifylline. The follicle size measured by ultrasonography was 6.48 mm, 11.52 mm and 8.9 mm on 11, 13 and 15 days after the onset of natural estrus, respectively and ovulation occurred on 13 and 15 days. The pregnancy rates in bitches inseminated with frozen semen on natural and induced estrus were 71.4% and 75.0%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the pregnancy rates in bitches inseminated with frozen semen following natural and induced estrus, but the litter size was slightly increased in natural cycle.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.5
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• pp.266-272
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• 2012

Background: Limited data on the incidence and clinical characteristics of adult pertussis infections are available in Korea. Methods: Thirty-one hospitals and the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated to investigate the incidence and clinical characteristics of pertussis infections among adults with a bothersome cough in non-outbreak, ordinary outpatient settings. Nasopharyngeal aspirates or nasopharyngeal swabs were collected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture tests. Results: The study enrolled 934 patients between September 2009 and April 2011. Five patients were diagnosed as confirmed cases, satisfying both clinical and laboratory criteria (five positive PCR and one concurrent positive culture). Among 607 patients with cough duration of at least 2 weeks, 504 satisfied the clinical criteria of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (i.e., probable case). The clinical pertussis cases (i.e., both probable and confirmed cases) had a wide age distribution ($45.7{\pm}15.5$ years) and cough duration (median, 30 days; interquartile range, 18.0~50.0 days). In addition, sputum, rhinorrhea, and myalgia were less common and dyspnea was more common in the clinical cases, compared to the others (p=0.037, p=0.006, p=0.005, and p=0.030, respectively). Conclusion: The positive rate of pertussis infection may be low in non-outbreak, ordinary clinical settings if a PCR-based method is used. However, further prospective, well-designed, multicenter studies are needed.