• 한국초등과학교육학회지:초등과학교육
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.71-83
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to explore ecological concepts, epistemological reasoning and reasoning processes through constructing 'food web and food pyramid' in ecology. We conducted classes which involved a 'food web and food pyramid' for $6^{th}$ grade students. Each class is constructed of small groups to do modeling and epistemological reasoning through communication. The researcher had videotaped and recorded each class and have made transcription about classes. We analysed patterns of 'food web and food pyramid models' and reasoning processes according to scientific epistemology using transcription data and student outputs. As a result, students represented phenomenon-based reasoning, relation-based reasoning and model-based reasoning in scientific epistemology from their modeling. Students usually did relation-based reasoning and model-based reasoning in food web which explains ecological phenonenon, while they usually did model-based reasoning in food pyramid which expects ecological phenomenon. Student's reasoning can be limited when they have misconception of scientific knowledge and are limited by fragmentary knowledge. This represents that students has to do relation-based reasoning and model-based reasoning is beneficial in their ecological model. It also suggests that students need to define correct-conception related to ecological modeling(food web, food pyramid).

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.63-76
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• 2005

Objectives: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide range of acute and longterm neurodegenerative diseases. This study was undertaken to examine whether Sunghyangchungisan(SHCS), a well-known prescription in Korean traditional medicine, might have beneficial effects on ROS-induced brain cell injury. Methods: Human neuroglioma cell line A172 and H2O2 were employed as an experimental model cell and oxidant. Results: SHCS effectively protected the cells against both the necrotic and apoptotic cell death induced by H2O2. The effect of SHCS was dose-dependent at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 5mg/ml. SHCS significantly prevented depletion of cellular ATP and activation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase induced by H2O2. It also helped mitochondria to preserve its functional integrity estimated by MTT reduction ability. Furthermore, SHCS significantly prevented H202-induced release of cytochrome c into cytosol. Determination of intracellular ROS showed that SHCS might exert its role as a powerful scavenger of intracellular ROS. Conclusions: The present study provides clear evidence for the beneficial effect of SHCS on ROS-induced neuroglial cell injury. The action of SHCS as an ROS-scavenger might underlie the mechanism.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.89-94
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• 2011

Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide derived from brown algae that has been reported to perform multiple biological activities, including immunostimulation. In this study, we investigated whether fucoidan has beneficial effects on endotoxemia induced by LPS, a septic model in mice. The focus of this study was on survival rates and spleen function of the mice upon treatment. We found that fucoidan had prophylactic effects on the survival rate of mice with endotoxemia. Flow cytometric analysis using antibodies for subset-specific markers revealed that fucoidan profoundly reversed the depleted population of dendritic cells in mice with endotoxemia. According to Western blot analysis, the spleen cells of LPS/fucoidan-treated mice showed a higher expression of anti-apoptotic molecules compared to those of LPS-treated mice. Also, fucoidan-treated spleen cells were more responsive to mitogens. Taken together, these results demonstrate that fucoidan pre-treatment has beneficial effects on the survival rate and function of the spleen in mice with endotoxemia. This study may broaden the use of fucoidan in clinical fields, especially endotoxemia.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제49권5호
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• pp.288-294
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this work was to investigate the beneficial effects of rhamnazin against inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and anti-oxidative activity in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Methods: To examine the beneficial properties of rhamnazin on inflammation, ROS/ RNS, and anti-oxidative activity in the murine macrophage RAW264.7 cell model, several key markers, including COX and 5-LO activities, $NO^{\cdot}$, $ONOO^-$, total reactive species formation, lipid peroxidation, $^{\cdot}O_2$ levels, and catalase activity were estimated. Results: Results show that rhamnazin was protective against LPS-induced cytotoxicity in macrophage cells. The underlying action of rhamnazin might be through modulation of ROS/RNS and anti-oxidative activity through regulation of total reactive species production, lipid peroxidation, catalase activity, and $^{\cdot}O_2$, $NO^{\cdot}$, and $ONOO^{\cdot}$ levels. In addition, rhamnazin down-regulated the activities of pro-inflammatory COX and 5-LO. Conclusion: The plausible action by which rhamnazin renders its protective effects in macrophage cells is likely due to its capability to regulate LPS-induced inflammation, ROS/ RNS, and anti-oxidative activity.

• 한국식생활문화학회지
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.74-81
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• 2024

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory intestinal disease characterized by an imbalance in immune function and the overexpression of inflammatory cytokines and mediators. Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin (Libof), is an essential water-soluble vitamin with numerous beneficial properties, including antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, and anti-cancer effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of Libof on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitis. The C57BL/6 mice were used as the in vivo model of chronic colitis to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Libof. RAW 264.7 cells were used for the in vitro investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. In vivo, Libof alleviated the DSS-induced disease activity index (DAI), colon length shortening, and colonic pathological damage. In vitro, Libof inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 production in RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, Libof inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in RAW 264.7 cells. In conclusion, these findings indicate that Libof shows potential as an agent for the treatment of UC.

• 대한가정학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.99-110
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• 2009

The Technology Acceptance Model(TAM) proposed by Davis(1989) has been applied as a reliable and robust model in the study of user’s adoption of different technologies. However it is necessary to incorporate additional constructs to the original model in the quest for increased predictive power. This study investigate consumer’s acceptance of smart clothing applied by the extended TAM. Besides perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, clothing involvement is included in the extended TAM. Data were collected from the adults over 20 years old living in Seoul and other metropolitan areas from March 2 to March 12, 2009. 815 copies of data were analyzed to examine a structural model and test research hypotheses using AMOS package. The study showed the extended TAM for smart clothing was validated empirically in predicting the individual’s acceptance of smart clothing and 5 hypotheses among 7 hypotheses were supported. Specifically, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and clothing involvement were the factors affecting attitude toward smart clothing. Attitude toward smart clothing was influenced directly by perceived usefulness and clothing involvement but influenced indirectly by perceived ease of use. Acceptance intention toward smart clothing was influenced strongly by attitude. From a theoretical point of view, the study extended the TAM for smart clothing. Moreover, this study would be beneficial for those who would develop smart clothing by providing information about attitude and acceptance intention of smart clothing consumers.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.663-683
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• 2014

In order to study the dynamic failure mechanism and aseismic measure for high concrete gravity dam under earthquake, the comparative models experiment on the shaking table was conducted to investigate the dynamic damage response of concrete gravity dam with and without the presence of reinforcement and evaluate the effectiveness of the strengthening measure. A new model concrete was proposed and applied for maintaining similitude with the prototype. A kind of extra fine wires as a substitute for rebar was embedded in four-points bending specimens of the model concrete to make of reinforced model concrete. The simulation of reinforcement concrete of the weak zones of high dam by the reinforced model concrete meets the similitude requirements. A tank filled with water is mounted at the upstream of the dam models to simulate the reservoir. The Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) that induces the first tensile crack at the head of dam is applied as the basic index for estimating the overload capacity of high concrete dams. For the two model dams with and without strengthening tested, vulnerable parts of them are the necks near the crests. The results also indicate that the reinforcement is beneficial for improving the seismic-resistant capacity of the gravity dam.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.100-108
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• 2023

In this study, a neural network model inspired by a one-dimensional convolution U-net is developed to automatically accelerate edge localized mode (ELM) detection from big diagnostic data of fusion devices and increase the detection accuracy regardless of the hyperparameter setting. This model recognizes the input signal patterns and overcomes the problems of existing detection algorithms, such as the prominence algorithm and those of differential methods with high sensitivity for the threshold and signal intensity. To train the model, 10 sets of discharge radiation data from the KSTAR are used and sliced into 11091 inputs of length 12 ms, of which 20% are used for validation. According to the receiver operating characteristic curves, our model shows a positive prediction rate and a true prediction rate of approximately 90% each, which is comparable to the best detection performance afforded by other algorithms using their optimized hyperparameters. The accurate and automatic ELM-burst detection methodology used in our model can be beneficial for determining plasma properties, such as the ELM frequency from big data measured in multiple experiments using machines from the KSTAR device and ITER. Additionally, it is applicable to feature detection in the time-series data of other engineering fields.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.371-377
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• 2017

Muscle atrophy is characterized by a decrease in the mass of the muscle. With an increase in life expectancy and chronic illnesses, the incidence of muscle atrophy is increasing and the quality of life of patients is decreasing. Thus, reducing muscle atrophy is of high clinical and socio-economic importance. Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant that has been used as a traditional medicine in many countries to treat various human illnesses. It has been reported that Korean mistletoe extract (KME) has diverse biological functions including anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity properties, and extension of lifespan. Especially, we have recently reported that KME improves exercise endurance in mice, indicating its beneficial roles in enhancing the capacity of skeletal muscle. In this study, we investigated whether KME could activate the signaling pathway related to protein synthesis in a mouse model of muscle atrophy. Interestingly, KME efficiently activated the Akt/mTOR pathway, and Akt and mTOR are important signaling hub molecules for the acceleration of protein synthesis in muscle cells. In addition, KME also increased the activity of S6 kinase which is involved in the regulation of muscle cell size. Moreover, the ERK activity, required for transcription of ribosomal RNA for protein synthesis, was also enhanced in KME-treated mouse muscle. These data support the idea that KME increases muscle mass via increased protein synthesis. Our findings also suggest that Korean mistletoe might be a promising candidate for the development of functional foods that are beneficial for preventing muscle atrophy.

• 셀메드
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.25.1-25.7
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• 2020

Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is an IgE (immunoglobin-E) mediated inflammatory condition of upper respiratory tract; main clinical features involve runny nose, sneezing, nasal obstruction, itching and watery eyes. AR is a global problem and has large variations in incidences, currently affects up to 20% - 40% of the population worldwide. It may not be a life-threatening disease per se but indisposition from the condition can be severe and has the potential to adversely affect the daily functioning of life. Classical yoga literature indicates that, components of yoga have been used to treat numerous inflammatory conditions including upper respiratory tract. A few yoga intervention studies reported improvement in lung capacity, Nasal air flow and symptoms of allergic rhinitis. This review examined various anti-inflammatory pathways mediated through Yoga that include downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. The hypothalaminic-pitutary-adrenal (HPA) axis and vagal efferent stimulation has been reported to mediate anti-inflammatory effect. A significant reduction is also reported in other inflammatory biomarkers like- TNF-alpha, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), plasma CRP and Cortisol level. Neti, a yogic nasal cleansing technique, reported beneficial effect on AR by direct physical cleansing of thick mucus, allergens, and inflammatory mediator from nasal mucosa resulting in improved ciliary beat frequency. We do not find any study showing effect of yoga on neurogenic inflammation. In summary, Integrated Yoga Therapy may have beneficial effect in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life for patients with allergic rhinitis. Yoga may reduce inflammation through mediating neuro-endocrino-immunological network. Future studies are needed to explore the mechanism how yoga might modulate immune inflammation cascade and neurogenic inflammation at the cellular level in relevance to allergic rhinitis; the effects of kriyas (yogic cleansing techniques) also need to be evaluated in early and late phase of AR. So the proposed model could guide future research.