• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.661-673
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• 2023

Treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) has always been challenged by the development of resistance. We investigated the antiproliferative activity of licochalcone H (LCH), a regioisomer of licochalcone C derived from the root of Glycyrrhiza inflata, in oxaliplatin (Ox)-sensitive and -resistant CRC cells. LCH significantly inhibited cell viability and colony growth in both Ox-sensitive and Ox-resistant CRC cells. We found that LCH decreased epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and AKT kinase activities and related activating signaling proteins including pEGFR and pAKT. A computational docking model indicated that LCH may interact with EGFR, AKT1, and AKT2 at the ATP-binding sites. LCH induced ROS generation and increased the expression of the ER stress markers. LCH treatment of CRC cells induced depolarization of MMP. Multi-caspase activity was induced by LCH treatment and confirmed by Z-VAD-FMK treatment. LCH increased the number of sub-G1 cells and arrested the cell cycle at the G1 phase. Taken together LCH inhibits the growth of Ox-sensitive and Ox-resistant CRC cells by targeting EGFR and AKT, and inducing ROS generation and ER stress-mediated apoptosis. Therefore, LCH could be a potential therapeutic agent for improving not only Ox-sensitive but also Ox-resistant CRC treatment.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.38.1-38.8
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• 2023

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an important cause of cancer-associated deaths worldwide. Therefore, the exact molecular mechanisms of NSCLC are unidentified. The present investigation aims to identify the miRNAs with predictive value in NSCLC. The two datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNA) and mRNAs (DEmRNA) were selected from the normalized data. Next, miRNA-mRNA interactions were determined. Then, co-expression network analysis was completed using the WGCNA package in R software. The co-expression network between DEmiRNAs and DEmRNAs was calculated to prioritize the miRNAs. Next, the enrichment analysis was performed for DEmiRNA and DEmRNA. Finally, the drug-gene interaction network was constructed by importing the gene list to dgidb database. A total of 3,033 differentially expressed genes and 58 DEmiRNA were recognized from two datasets. The co-expression network analysis was utilized to build a gene co- expression network. Next, four modules were selected based on the Z_summary score. In the next step, a bipartite miRNA-gene network was constructed and hub miRNAs (let-7a-2-3p, let-7d-5p, let-7b-5p, let-7a-5p, and let-7b-3p) were selected. Finally, a drug-gene network was constructed while SUNITINIB, MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE, DOFETILIDE, HALOPERIDOL, and CALCITRIOL drugs were recognized as a beneficial drug in NSCLC. The hub miRNAs and repurposed drugs may act a vital role in NSCLC progression and treatment, respectively; however, these results must validate in further clinical and experimental assessments.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.721-731
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• 2023

This paper studies various roughness parameters, besides waviness, texture, and nonlinear parameters of Bismarck brown Y (BBY)-doped Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films based on the computed values of optical limiting (OL) threshold power and nonlinear refractive index. The films' morphology, grain size, and absorption spectra were investigated using atomic force microscopy in conjunction with ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer. The particle size of the films ranged between 4.11-4.51 mm and polymer films showed good homogeneity and medium roughness, ranging from 1.11-4.58 mm. A polymer film's third-order nonlinear optical features were carried out using the Z-scan methodology. The measurements were obtained by a continuous wave produced from a solid-state laser with a 532 nm wavelength. According to the results, BBY has a nonlinear refractive index of 10^-6 cm²/W that is significantly negative and nonlinear. The optical limiting thresholds are roughly 10.29, 13.52, and 18.71 mW, respectively. The shift of nonlinear optical features with the film's concentration was found throughout the experiment Additionally, we found that the polymer samples have outstanding capabilities for restricting the amount of optical power that may be transmitted through them. We propose that these films have the potential to be used in a wide variety of optoelectronic applications, including optical photodetectors and optical switching.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.493-508
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• 2023

Round timber materials of 600 mm length, cut from large-cross-section round timber of red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) of 450 mm width and 4.2 m length, were prepared as the target of kiln drying in this study. After treating the target materials through end sealing (ES), end sealing - kerfing (ES-K), lateral sealing - end sealing - boring (LS-ES-B), or lateral sealing - partial end sealing (LS-PES), the effects of the treatment on the incidence of drying defects were determined. The target materials with exposed lateral surface and sealed cross surface were steamed at the initial temperature of 65℃ above the official pest control temperature of 56℃, followed by kiln drying toward the final temperature of 75℃. The target materials with sealed lateral surfaces, on the other hand, were dried at the initial temperature of 90℃ at almost the maximum temperature of conventional kiln drying, as there is no risk of early check formation caused by surface moisture evaporation. The final temperature was set at approximately 100℃. The drying time, taken for the target materials with initial moisture content of 70%-80% to reach the target moisture content of 19%, varied across treatment conditions. The measured drying time was 1,146 hours (approximately 48 days) for the timber with sealed cross surface and 745 hours (approximately 31 days) for the timber with sealed lateral surface, until the moisture content reached the target level. The formation of surface checks could not be prevented in the control and ES groups, but a definite preventive effect was obtained for the LS-ES-B and LS-PES groups.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.61-77
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• 2002

This study focuses on drivers' risk perception & construct in risk scene. The measures used were the scores of hazard perception, namely the subjects' evaluation of the degree of risk through the 'Q-sorting' with 30 drivers. The subjects were divided into 3 groups according to their evaluating score, Z-score, road users' hazard(type 1), environmental hazard(type 2), situational hazard(type 3). And ten constructs derived from Q-sorting were compared through 'consensus item analysis'. It suggest that there are different in constructs for risk perception. Then those results are discussed in terms of theoretical and practical implication of traffic safety including accidents analysis and drivers' education.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.714-724
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the value of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/MRI added to contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) in initial staging, assessment of resectability, and postoperative follow-up of biliary tract cancer. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 100 patients (initial workup [n = 65] and postoperative follow-up [n = 35]) who had undergone PET/MRI and CECT for bile duct or gallbladder lesions between January 2013 and March 2020. Two radiologists independently reviewed the CECT imaging set and CECT plus PET/MRI set to determine the likelihood of malignancy, local and overall resectability, and distant metastasis in the initial workup group, and local recurrence and distant metastasis in the follow-up group. Diagnostic performances of the two imaging sets were compared using clinical-surgical-pathologic findings as standards of reference. Results: The diagnostic performance of CECT significantly improved after the addition of PET/MRI for liver metastasis (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [A_z]: 0.77 vs. 0.91 [p = 0.027] for reviewer 1; 0.76 vs. 0.92 [p = 0.021] for reviewer 2), lymph node metastasis (0.73 vs. 0.92 [p = 0.004]; 0.81 vs. 0.92 [p = 0.023]), and overall resectability (0.79 vs. 0.92 [p = 0.007]; 0.82 vs. 0.94 [p = 0.021]) in the initial workup group. In the follow-up group, the diagnostic performance of CECT plus PET/MRI was significantly higher than that of CECT imaging for local recurrence (0.81 vs. 1.00 [p = 0.029]; 0.82 vs. 0.94 [p = 0.045]). Conclusion: PET/MRI may add value to CECT in patients with biliary tract cancer both in the initial workup for staging and determination of overall resectability and in follow-up for local recurrence.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.175-184
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of human motion and javelin kinematics during the energy transfer in javelin throwing on records, and to provide evidence-based training insights for athletes and coaches to enhance records. Method: Three javelin throw athletes (age: 22.67 ± 0.58 years, height: 178.33 ± 7.37 cm, weight: 83.67 ± 1.15 kg) were recruited for this study. Each athlete attempted ten maximum record trials, and the kinematic data from each performance were analyzed to determine their influence on the records. The Theia3d Markerless system was used for motion analysis. Results: Key factors were modeled and identified at each moment. In E1, main variables were COM Y (𝛽 8.162, p<.05) and COM velocity Z (𝛽 -72.489, p<.05); in E2, COM X (𝛽 -17.604, p<.05); in E3, COM X (𝛽 -18.606, p<.05), COM velocity Y (𝛽 38.694, p<.05), and COM velocity X (𝛽 66.323, p<.05). For the javelin throw dynamics in E3, key determinants were Attitude angle and Javelin velocity in the Y-axis. Conclusion: The study reveals that controlled vertical movement, center of mass management during braking, and enhanced pelvic rotation significantly improve javelin throw performance. These kinematic strategies are critical for record enhancement in javelin throwing.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.2
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• pp.249-256
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• 2024

The Leksell frame-based transcerebellar approach was proposed with the arc support frame attached upside down to the Z coordinate. This study presented practical tips and considerations for obtaining adequate tissue samples for deep-seated cerebellar lesions or lower brainstem lesions specifically those accessible via the cerebellar peduncle. For practical insights, the Leksell coordinate frame G was fixed to prevent the anterior screw implantation within the temporalis muscle, to avoid interference with the magnetic resonance (MR)-adapter, and taking into account the magnetic field of MR in close proximity to the tentorium. After mounting of indicator box, the MR imaging evaluation should cover both the indicator box and the infratentorial region that deviated from it. The coordinates [X, Y, Za, Arc⁰, Ringa⁰] obtained from Leksell SurgiPlan^® software (Elekta, Stockholm, Sweden) with arc 0⁰ located on the patient's right side were converted to [X, Y, Zb=360-Za, Arc⁰, Ringb⁰=Ringa⁰-180⁰]. The operation was performed in the prone position under general anesthesia in four patients with deep cerebellar (n=3) and brainstem (n=1) tumors. The biopsy results showed two cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, one metastatic braintumor and one glioblastoma. One patient required frame repositioning as a complication. Drawing upon the methodology outlined in existing literature, we anticipate that imparting supplementary expertise could render the stereotactic biopsy of infratentorial tumors more consistent and manageable for the practitioner, thereby facilitating adequate tissue samples and minimizing patient complications.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.998-1008
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• 2022

Objective: The present study aimed to assess the relationship between incidental abnormalities on thoracic computed tomography (CT) and mortality in a general screening population using a long-term follow-up analysis. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected the medical records and CT images of 840 participants (mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 58.5 ± 6.7 years; 564 male) who underwent thoracic CT at a single health promotion center between 2007 and 2010. Two thoracic radiologists independently reviewed all CT images and evaluated any incidental abnormalities (interstitial lung abnormality [ILA], emphysema, coronary artery calcification [CAC], aortic valve [AV] calcification, and pulmonary nodules). Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank and z-tests was performed to assess the relationship between incidental CT abnormalities and all-cause mortality in the subsequent follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to further identify risk factors of all-cause mortality among the incidental CT abnormalities and clinical factors. Results: Among the 840 participants, 55 (6%), 171 (20%), 288 (34%), 396 (47%), and 97 (11%) had findings of ILA, emphysema, CAC, pulmonary nodule, and AV calcification, respectively, on initial CT. The participants were followed up for a mean period ± SD of 10.9 ± 1.4 years. All incidental CT abnormalities were associated with all-cause mortality in univariable analysis (p < 0.05). However, multivariable analysis further revealed fibrotic ILA as an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 2.52 [95% confidence interval, 1.02-6.22], p = 0.046). ILA were also identified as an independent risk factor for lung cancer or respiratory disease-related deaths. Conclusion: Incidental abnormalities on screening thoracic CT were associated with increased mortality during the long-term follow-up. Among incidental CT abnormalities, fibrotic ILA were independently associated with increased mortality. Appropriate management and surveillance may be required for patients with fibrotic ILA on thoracic CT obtained for general screening purposes.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.205-210
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• 2024

Nowadays, online messengers are the main communication tool of modern people. Currently, not only messengers that communicate based on text and images, but also services that can interact in real time through voice or screen sharing are actively used by the MZs. This study aims to figure out 1) the motivation of users of voice chat services, and 2) to explore the influence of motivation for use on satisfaction that one of the factors that determine the user's experience. As a result, five major motivations for using voice chat service(Relationship formation, Usefulness, Relationship maintenance, communication supplementation, and distance overcoming) were found. Among them 'Usefulness' and 'Relationship maintenance had a positive effect on user satisfaction. This study, highlighted the various needs of users who communicate in a non-face-to-face environments as well as factors to be satisfied for their positive experiences. These results should be actively used in the online communications market.