• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.114-123
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• 2015

Plants can respond and adapt to cold stress through regulation of gene expression in various biochemical and physiological processes. Cold stress triggers decreased rates of metabolism, modification of cell walls, and loss of membrane function. Hence, this study was conducted to construct coexpression networks for time-based expression pattern analysis of genes related to cold stress in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis). B. rapa cold stress networks were constructed with 2,030 nodes, 20,235 edges, and 34 connected components. The analysis suggests that similar genes responding to cold stress may also regulate development of Chinese cabbage. Using this network model, it is surmised that cold tolerance is strongly related to activation of chitinase antifreeze proteins by WRKY transcription factors and salicylic acid signaling, and to regulation of stomatal movement and starch metabolic processes for systemic acquired resistance in Chinese cabbage. Moreover, within 48 h, cold stress triggered transition from vegetative to reproductive phase and meristematic phase transition. In this study, we demonstrated that this network model could be used to precisely predict the functions of cold resistance genes in Chinese cabbage.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.164-175
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• 2019

The Tor Tong Daeng Irrigation Project with the irrigation area of 61,400 hectares is located in the Ping Basin of the Upper Central Plain of Thailand where farmers depended on both surface water and groundwater. In the drought year, water storage in the Bhumipol Dam is inadequate to allocate water for agriculture, and caused water deficit in many irrigation projects. Farmers need to find extra sources of water such as water from farm pond or groundwater as a supplement. The operation of Bhumipol Dam and irrigation demand estimation are vital for irrigation water allocation to help solve water shortage issue in the irrigation project. The study aims to determine the smart dam operation system to mitigate water shortage in this irrigation project via introduction of machine learning to improve dam operation and irrigation demand estimation via soil moisture estimation from satellite images. Via ANN technique application, the inflows to the dam are generated from the upstream rain gauge stations using past 10 years daily rainfall data. The input vectors for ANN model are identified base on regression and principal component analysis. The structure of ANN (length of training data, the type of activation functions, the number of hidden nodes and training methods) is determined from the statistics performance between measurements and ANN outputs. On the other hands, the irrigation demand will be estimated by using satellite images, LANDSAT. The Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI) values are estimated from the plant growth stage and soil moisture. The values are calibrated and verified with the field plant growth stages and soil moisture data in the year 2017-2018. The irrigation demand in the irrigation project is then estimated from the plant growth stage and soil moisture in the area. With the estimated dam inflow and irrigation demand, the dam operation will manage the water release in the better manner compared with the past operational data. The results show how smart system concept was applied and improve dam operation by using inflow estimation from ANN technique combining with irrigation demand estimation from satellite images when compared with the past operation data which is an initial step to develop the smart dam operation system in Thailand.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2016

Epidermis is continuously regenerated by keratinocyte stem cells (KSCs) residing in basement membrane, which is critical to the survival of an organism. KSCs are believed to persist during the whole lifetime and generate an enormous number of keratinocytes, required for the maintenance of epidermis, through transit amplifying cells dividing definite times until they become differentiated. In this report, we have developed a phenolic compound, paeonol, purified from Moutan Cortex, as a KSC proliferation activator, by screening about 350 herbal compounds. The cell proliferation activation by paeonol is specific for KSC not for keratinocyte, and no significant difference in the expression of p63 protein, a KSC marker, in KSCs treated with paeonol was observed in FACS analysis with anti-p63 antibody. In the colony forming assay, paeonol-treated KSC showed improved colony forming activity more than 1.3 fold. In addition, the result of PCR array shows that the activity of paeonol is through several signal pathways involving stem cell functions. These results suggest that paeonol could enhance KSC proliferation activity without reduction in stemness and could be applied to cosmetics as a KSC activating ingredient.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.96-106
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• 2021

The PC structure based on the OSC (Off-Site Construction) is mentioned as a representative method of innovation in the construction industry that converts the existing construction environment from site-centered to factory production-transportation-site assembly. However, recent research on PC method has focused on improving the functions of subsidiary materials and improving the production system to increase productivity and institutional / policy R&D that can be universally applied to the life-cycle stage of ordering / design /construction is insufficient. In particular, the absence of standardized cost calculation standards makes it difficult to calculate and verify of objectified appropriate construction cost. So which is an obstacle to the activation of the PC method. In this study, the standards for construction costs of domestic and foreign PC method were surveyed and similar Construction Standard Production Rates were analyzed to confirm the product structure suitable for PC method. Subsequently, the construction procedures and input resources for each PC subsidiary materials were identified through on-site surveys to derive component for subsidiary materials, and the factors of change in the product according to the construction characteristics(height, weight of subsidiary material) were verified. As a result the standard product calculation system suitable for the site installation of the PC method for apartment was presented.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.321-330
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• 2021

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of neuronal disorders including brain ischemic injury. Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1), a 12 kDa oxidoreductase, has anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic functions in various cells. It has been highly implicated in brain ischemic injury. However, the protective mechanism of Trx1 against hippocampal neuronal cell death is not identified yet. Using a cell permeable Tat-Trx1 protein, protective mechanism of Trx1 against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death was examined using HT-22 cells and an ischemic animal model. Transduced Tat-Trx1 markedly inhibited intracellular ROS levels, DNA fragmentation, and cell death in H2O2-treatment HT-22 cells. Tat-Trx1 also significantly inhibited phosphorylation of ASK1 and MAPKs in signaling pathways of HT-22 cells. In addition, Tat-Trx1 regulated expression levels of Akt, NF-κB, and apoptosis related proteins. In an ischemia animal model, Tat-Trx1 markedly protected hippocampal neuronal cell death and reduced astrocytes and microglia activation. These findings indicate that transduced Tat-Trx1 might be a potential therapeutic agent for treating ischemic injury.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.326-333
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• 2018

In this study, we identified methods to improve heat stability and skin permeability of functional protein biopolymers, such as growth factors, enzymes, and peptides. The biopolymers participate in cellular activation and catalytic functions in vivo. Therefore, when applied to cosmetics, their efficacies are expected to be helpful for skin care. However, they have disadvantages that include instability to heat and low skin permeability due to their high molecular weight. To overcome these problems, we searched for a composition that increases heat stability. Stability was improved using a polymeric humectant having a long polyethylene glycol length, compared with a mono-molecular structure humectant. Next, to enhance skin permeation, a permeation enhancing peptide was selected from a phage library. The permeation enhancing peptide can be commonly used to promote the permeation of growth factors, enzymes, and peptides. Screening was performed on the polymeric humectant formulation. One dominant peptide from the modified-screening method was identified. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the permeability of the peptide was better than that of the peptide developed through a screening system based on phosphate-buffered saline. The data indicate that the polymeric humectant formulation will be helpful for increasing the heat stability of protein ingredients and that skin permeability could be increased by a formulation-specific, penetration-enhancing peptide.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.39-48
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• 2018

Despite the fact that Daejeon has excellent technology infrastructures such as government-funded research institutes, Daedeok Innopolis, and KAIST, the infrastructure for initial investment and growth support for technological start-ups is not sufficient. In particular, the amount of venture capital supply in Daejeon is relatively low compared to other innovation infrastructures. The purpose of this study is to suggest the implications of the venture capital ecosystem in Daejeon area through the analysis of what evolution process has been undergoing and what improvements and complementary points are needed in the future. First, the role of public finance system should be strengthened in order to stimulate angel investment and private capital inflows to start-up companies. Second, in order to cultivate investment professionals in the region, it is necessary to grant local funds to local institutions, and to run investment expert training courses in universities. Third, cooperation between related agencies is needed to add accelerator functions to existing incubators and to foster new accelerators. Fourth, in order to expand the role of local governments, it is necessary to establish funds, to open innovation mindset of public officials, and to communicate effectively with the central government. Fifth, basic venture ecosystem infrastructures such as inflow of excellent manpower, prevention of technology deception, improvement of rechallenge environment should be expanded. Sixth, it is necessary to reorganize the step-by-step start-up financing policy of 'Establishment - Growth - Exit - Rechallenge'. This study is meaningful in that it has grasped the current status of venture start-up financial ecosystem in Daejeon, which is changing rapidly. In particular, it is different in that it identifies financial difficulties venture companies in Daejeon and finds ways to utilize existing financial ecosystem efficiently.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2019

Background: Breast cancer is a complex, heterogeneous disease and one of the most common malignancies in women worldwide. The efficacy of chemotherapy as an important breast cancer treatment option has been severely limited because of the inherent or acquired resistance of cancer cells. The molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) upregulated in response to cellular stress is required for functions such as conformational maturation, activation and stability in more than 200 client proteins, mostly of the signaling type. In this study, the expression of HSP90 isoforms including $HSP90{\alpha}$ and $HSP90{\beta}$ in breast cancer cell lines before and after treatment with doxorubicin (DOX) was assessed. Material and Methods: The cell cytotoxicity of DOX in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines was determined using the MTT assay. immunofluorescence and western blotting techniques were used to determine the expression of $HSP90{\beta}$ in the cell lines before and after DOX treatment. Immunofluorescence was also conducted to ascertain the expression of $HSP90{\alpha}$. Results: The MTT assay results showed that the MDA-MB-231 cells ($IC_{50}=14.521{\mu}M$) were more sensitive than the MCF-7 cells ($IC_{50}=16.3315{\mu}M$) to DOX. The immunofluorescence results indicated that the expression of $HSP90{\alpha}$ in both cell lines decreased after exposure to DOX. The western blot and immunofluorescence analyses showed that $HSP90{\beta}$ expression decreased in the MCF-7 cells but increased in the MDA-MB-231 cells after DOX treatment. Conclusion: The obtained results suggested that $HSP90{\alpha}$ and $HSP90{\beta}$ expression levels were reduced in the MCF-7 cells after exposure to DOX. In the MDA-MB-231 cells, $HSP90{\alpha}$ expression was reduced while $HSP90{\beta}$ was found to be overexpressed following DOX treatment.

• Informatization Policy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.69-89
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• 2019

In order to implement smart cities that will become living spaces in the fourth industrial revolution era, detailed privacy information such as residents' living information, buildings and facilities information must be collected and processed in real time. While city functions and convenience for individuals are being facilitated, threats to personal information exposure and leakage are also likely to increase at the same time. Therefore, the design concept for personal information protection should be considered and accordingly reflected from the stages of smart city design, technology development and operation planning of intelligent information (AI) facilities. The results of the analysis show that for activation of smart cities and operation of data-driven cities, the concept of Privacy by Design (PbD) has already been introduced in the institutional, industrial and technological aspects, particularly in the cases of European countries and the US. In order to strengthen the local and global competitiveness of smart cities and the country, Korea also needs to actively deploy PbD as a strategy to secure a data-driven economy, which is the core strategy for smart cities. Therefore, the study suggests policy implications focused on approaches to legislative improvement and technology development support, which reflect the basic properties of PbD as defined in the study.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.564-569
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• 2019

Heavy drinking disrupts the nervous system by activation of GABA receptors and inhibition of glutamate receptors, thereby preventing short-term memory formation. Degradation of cognition by alcohol induces blackouts, and it can lead to alcoholic dementia if repeated. Therefore, drugs need to be developed to prevent alcohol-induced blackout. In this study, we confirmed the effect of an ethanol extract of Cassia obtusifolia seeds (COE) on alcohol-induced memory impairment. The effects of COE and ethanol on cognitive functions mice were examined using the passive avoidance and Y-maze tests. The manner in which alcohol affects long-term potentiation (LTP) in relation to the learning and memory was confirmed by electrophysiology performed on mouse hippocampal slices. We also measured N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated field excitatory synapses (fEPSPs), which have a known association with cognitive impairment caused by ethanol. Ethanol caused memory impairments in passive avoidance and Y-maze tests. COE prevented these ethanol-induced memory impairments in these tests. Ethanol also blocked LTP induction in the mouse hippocampus, and COE prevented this ethanol-induced LTP deficit. Ethanol decreased NMDA receptor-mediated fEPSPs in the mouse hippocampus, and this decrease was prevented by COE. These results suggest that COE might be useful in preventing alcohol-induced neurological dysfunctions, including blackouts.