• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2013

The underlying changes in biological processes that are associated with reported changes in mental and physical health in response to yoga breathing ($pr{\bar{a}}n{\bar{a}}y{\bar{a}}ma$) have not been systematically explored yet. In this study, the effects of a yoga breathing program on prefrontal EEG were tested with middle-aged women. Participants were collected as volunteers and controlled into two groups. Two channel EEG was recorded in the prefrontal region (Fp1, Fp2) from the yoga breathing group (n=17) and control group (n=17). QEEG quotients were transformed from the EEGs and analyzed by the ANOVAs on gain scores. As a result, ${\alpha}/{\delta}$ (left, right) and CQ (correlation quotient) for yoga breathing participants were significantly decreased compared to control group (p<.05). ${\alpha}/{\beta}_H+{\alpha}/{\delta}$ (left, right) were increased significantly (p<.05). For those significantly changed QEEG quotients, the interaction effects of Group x prefrontal alpha (${\alpha}$) and beta (${\beta}$) asymmetry were tested. Only the ${\alpha}$ asymmetry showed main effect on the gain score of ${\alpha}/{\beta}_H+{\alpha}/{\delta}$ (right) with F (1, 34)＝5.694 (p<.05). Pearson's correlation coefficient between ${\alpha}$ asymmetry and gain score of ${\alpha}/{\beta}_H+{\alpha}/{\delta}$ (right) was .374 (p<.05). The gain score of ${\alpha}/{\beta}_H+{\alpha}/{\delta}$ (right) was increased for the right ${\alpha}$ dominance of yoga breathing group. On the contrary it was decreased for the left ${\alpha}$ dominance of yoga breathing group as well as the control regardless of the dominance. The result of this study implies that yoga breathing increases stress resistance and is effective in the management of physical stress. Emotionally relaxed people may have greater instantaneous stress reduction after yoga breathing. Moreover, yoga breathing could be also beneficial for depressed who may be more vulnerable to stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.310-319
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• 2012

In order to investigate the biological effects of conformational changes in the folding state of bovine ${\alpha}$-lactalbumin (${\alpha}$-La), the protein was prepared and classified as apo form, microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) added form, or bovine ${\alpha}$-La made lethal to tumor cell (BAMLET) form. Apo ${\alpha}$-La form showed weaker cancer cell inhibitory activity (apoptosis) than native ${\alpha}$-La, which suggests that the metal ion-like $Ca^{2+}$ had a positive effect, whereas BAMLET form showed strong cancer cell apoptotic activity. The BAMLET form seemed to be a molten globule structure that increased hydrophobicity. MTGase added to apo ${\alpha}$-La polymer showed similar anti-cancer activity as native ${\alpha}$-La, and it was well hydrolyzed by digestive enzymes. NMR results showed that BAMLET interacted with oleic acid and produced a complex.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 1992

This experiment was carried out to elucidate some kinetic properties of the $\alpha$-galactosidase which produced and purified from Aspergillus niger ATCC 16513 and soybean(Glycine max. L). The Km value of Asp. niger and soybean $\alpha$-galactosidase were 37.0mM and 50.0mM for raffinose and55.5mM and 55.5mM for stachyose, respectively. The activity of Asp. niger and soybean $\alpha$-galactosidase were inhibited by galactose. Among the amino acids in active sites of both Asp. niger and soybean $\alpha$-galactosidase, histidine was identified by chemical modification of diethyl pyrocarbonate. Number of amino acids residues per mole of Asp. niger and soybean $\alpha$-galactosidase were 902 and 286, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.269-274
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• 1973

The rate constants of the hydrolysis of ${\alpha}$-Cyano-${\beta}$-piperonylacrylic acid were determined by Ultraviolet spectrophotometry at various pH and a rate equation which can be applied over wide pH range was obtained. The reaction mechanism of hydrolysis of ${\alpha}$-Cyano-${\beta}$-piperonylic acid and especially the catalytic contribution of hydroxide ion which not studied carefully before in acidic media, can be fully explained by the rate equation obtained. The rate equation reveals that; below pH 4.0, the reaction is initiated by the addition of water molecule to ${\alpha}$-Cyano-${\beta}$-piperonyl acrylic acid. At pH $5.0{\sim}7.5$, ${\alpha}$-Cyano-${\beta}$-piperonylacrylic acid compete with ${\alpha}$-Cyano-${\beta}$-piperonyl acrylate ion in adding of water. At pH 8.0, water is the only nucleophile for ${\alpha}$-Cyano-${\beta}$-piperonylacrylate ion, however, above pH 12.0, hydroxide ion is an addendum and the accepter is ${\alpha}$-Cyano-${\beta}$-piperonylacrylate ion.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1207-1213
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• 2006

Tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$ has been implicated in skeletal diseases by promoting bone loss in inflammatory bone diseases. In the present study, we examined the effects of $TNF-{\alpha}$ on osteoblastic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). $TNF-{\alpha}$ dose-dependently promoted matrix mineralization of hBMSCs with a maximal stimulation at 2ng/ml. $TNF-{\alpha}$ increased expression of alkaline phosphatase, which plays a crucial role for the matrix deposition. The $TNF-{\alpha}-stimulated$ osteoblastic differentiation was not affected by $NF_kB$ inhibitors, BAY and SN50. However, a JNK-specific inhibitor, SP600125 completely abolished the $TNF-{\alpha}-stimulated$ matrix mineralization and expression of alkaline phosphatase. These results suggest that $TNF-{\alpha}$ enhances osteoblastic differentiation of hBMSCs through JNK-dependent pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.409-414
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• 2008

The cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), a key player in cholesterol metabolism, has been shown to promote the transfer of triglycerides from very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) to high density lipoprotein (HDL) in exchange for cholesterol ester. Here we demonstrate that farnesoid X receptor ${\alpha}$ ($FXR{\alpha}$; NR1H4) down-regulates CETP expression in HepG2 cells. A $FXR{\alpha}$ ligand, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), suppressed basal mRNA levels of the CETP gene in HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Using gel shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays, we found that $FXR{\alpha}$ could bind to the liver X receptor ${\alpha}$ ( $LXR{\alpha}$; NR1H3) binding site (LXRE; DR4RE) located within the CETP 5' promoter region. $FXR{\alpha}$ suppressed $LXR{\alpha}$-induced DR4RE-luciferase activity and this effect was mediated by a binding competition between $FXR{\alpha}$ and $LXR{\alpha}$ for DR4RE. Furthermore, the addition of CDCA together with a $LXR{\alpha}$ ligand, GW3965, to HepG2 cells was shown to substantially decrease mRNA levels of hepatic CETP gene, which is typically induced by GW3965. Together, our data demonstrate that $FXR{\alpha}$ down-regulates CETP gene expression via binding to the DR4RE sequence within the CETP 5' promoter and this $FXR{\alpha}$ binding is essential for $FXR{\alpha}$ inhibition of $LXR{\alpha}$-induced CETP expression.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.512-520
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• 2005

Phytoestrogens, especially Yak-kong or soybean-derived isoflavones have been traditionally used as a supplement of estrogen for preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis in oriental folk medicine. In a previous study, we demonstrated that as Yak-kong and soybean increased MG-63 human osteoblastic cell proliferation, the expression of estrogen receptor $\alpha\;and\;beta\;(ER\;\alpha:\;ER\;\beta$) both were increased. However, the increased level of ER $\alpha$ is much higher than that of ER$\beta$. To determine whether the altered level of ER $\alpha$ expression affects Yak-kong or soybean induced MG-63 cell proliferation, we established cell lines stably expressing either ER $\alpha$ or antisense ER $\alpha$ RNAs. Increased expression of ER a in MG- 63 cells (ER $\alpha$-MG63) enhanced Yak-kong or soybean induced proliferation which paralleled with the enhanced expression of IGF-I. Inhibition of ER $\alpha$ expression by antisense $ER\;\alpha\;RNAs\;(As-ER\;\alpha-MG63$) caused these cells to insensitize Yak- kong or soybean induced proliferation and IGF-I expression. Furthermore, the comparable effects between Yak-kong and the combined treatment of genistein and daidzein at $0.5\;{\times}\;10^{-8}M$, which is a concentration of these two isoflavones similar to Yak-kong at 0.001 mg/ml, on cell proliferation and IGF-I expression in $ER\;\alpha-MG63\;or\;As-ER\;\alpha-MG63$ cells demonstrate that ER $\alpha$ plays an important, active role in MG-63 cell proliferation induced by phytoestrogens, especially Yak-kong or soybean derived isoflavones.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.58-70
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• 2002

In an attempt to compare the antioxidation effects of constrain the oxidation and improve the structural stability, retinol and various antioxidants were together encapsulated by liposome. Four water soluble and four oil soluble antioxidants were tested for performance. The influence of tertiary butylhydroquinone(TBHQ), ${\alpha}$-glycosyl rutin(${\alpha}$-G rutin), licorece, pycnogenol as water soluble antioxidants and butylated hydroxytoluene(BHT), ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid, ferulic acid, natural concentrated tooopherol(no-tocopherol) as oil soluble antioxidants on the constraint of oxidation of retinol were investigated. Additional study was conducted to compare the synergic effect of antioxidation for retinol with licorice, pycnogenol, ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid and BHT. All the antioxidant used at the study constrained oxidation of retinol. The effect of antioxidation for retinol increased in order of licorice, pycnogenol, TBHQ, ${\alpha}$-G rutin as water soluble antioxidants and ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid, BHT, no-tocopherol, ferulic acid as oil soluble antioxidants. In conclusion, ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid is more effective retinol antioxidants than BHT. And the combination of ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid and BHT gave best synergic among six combinations.

• The Pure and Applied Mathematics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.337-347
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• 2012

The taxicab distance and Chinese-checker distance in the plane are practical distance notions with a wide range of applications compared to the Euclidean distance. The ${\alpha}$-distance was introduced as a generalization of these two distance functions. In this paper, we study alpha circle, trigonometry, and the area of a triangle in the plane with ${\alpha}$-distance.

• Journal of the Chungcheong Mathematical Society
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.259-268
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• 2013

In this paper, we define the Banach-valued strong $M_{\alpha}$-integral and study the primitive of the strong $M_{\alpha}$-integral in terms of the $M_{\alpha}$-variational measures. We also prove that every function of bounded variation is a multiplier for the strong $M_{\alpha}$-integral.