• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.734-742
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• 2012

To compare RNA interference-mediated gene silencing technique and T-DNA integration for gene function analysis in Chinese cabbage, BrSAMS-knockout (KO) line and BrSAMS-knockdown (KD) line were used. The KO line had lost the function of a Brassica rapa S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (BrSAMS) gene by T-DNA insertion and the KD line had shown down-regulated BrSAMS genes' expression by dsRNA cleavage. From microarray results of the KO and KD lines, genes linked to SAMS such as sterol, sucrose, homogalacturonan biosynthesis and glutaredoxin-related protein, serine/threonine protein kinase, and gibberellin-responsive protein showed distinct differences in their expression levels. Even though one BrSAMS gene in the KO line was broken by T-DNA insertion, gene expression pattern of that line did not show remarkable differences compared to wild type control. However, the KD line obtained by RNAi technique showed prominent difference in its gene expression. Besides, change of polyamine and ethylene synthesis genes directly associated with BrSAMS was displayed much more in the KD line. In the microarray analysis of the KO line, BrSAMS function could not be clearly defined because of BrSAMS redundancy due to the genome triplication events in Brassicaceae. In conclusion, we supposed that gene knock-down method by RNAi silencing is more effective than knock-out method by T-DNA insertion for gene function analysis of polyploidy crops such as Chinese cabbage.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.6_1
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• pp.1491-1506
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• 2021

To estimate errors in GEMS retrievals for bromine monoxide (BrO) total vertical column densities(VCDs), we perform a sensitivity test using synthetic spectra generated by a radiative transfer model. Hourly synthetic data are produced for 00-07 UTC on the first day of every month in Jul 2013- Jun 2014. Solution errors estimated by the optimal estimation method tend to decrease with increasing air mass factors (AMFs) but increase when AMFs are larger than 5. Interference errors induced by formaldehyde (HCHO) absorption appear to be larger with smaller BrO AMFs. Total BrO retrieval errors estimated by combining solution and interference errors show an average of 26.74±30.18% for all data samples and 60.39±133.78% for those with solar zenith angles higher than 80°. Due to interfering spectral features and measurement errors not considered in thisstudy, errorsin BrO retrievals from actual GEMS measurements may have different magnitudes from our estimates. However, the variability of errors assessed in this study is still expected to appear in the actual BrO retrievals.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.472-477
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• 2011

The concentration of selenium in grain samples was determined using isotope dilution method in ORC-ICPMS. The experimental conditions were optimized to $H_2$ mode and the flow rate was $4.0\;mL\;min^{-1}$. ORC in $H_2$ mode proved to eliminate most of polyatomic interferences except $BrH^+$ when Br is present in sample matrix. Chemical removal of Br was very difficult and the mathematical correction was successfully employed. The fraction of $BrH^+$ generated from Br at the current experimental condition was 14.1%. The signal on m/z 82 was corrected and calculated for isotope dilution. The analytical reliability of the propose method was successfully evaluated by analyzing the certified standard reference material NIST SRM 1566 and 1567. The method was applied to real samples and the results are $0.034{\pm}0.001\;{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ for white rice, $0.059{\pm}0.002_5\;{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ for brown rice, $0.029{\pm}0.001_4\;{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ for black rice, and $0.034{\pm}0.002\;{\mu}g \;g^{-1}$ for barley. The detection limits ($3\sigma$) for Se was $0.012\;ng\;g^{-1}$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.367-374
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• 2018

RNA interference provides an effective tool for developing antitumor therapies. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are delivery vectors widely used to efficiently transport small-interfering RNA (siRNA) to intracellular targets. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of the cancer-specific CPP carrier BR2 to specifically transport siRNA to cancer-target cells. Our results showed that BR2 formed a complex with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor siRNA (siVEGF) that exhibited the appropriate size and surface charge for in vivo treatment. Additionally, the BR2-VEGF siRNA complex exhibited significant serum stability and high levels of gene-silencing effects in vitro. Moreover, the transfection efficiency of the complex into a cancer cell line was higher than that observed in non-cancer cell lines, resulting in downregulated intracellular VEGF levels in HeLa cells and comprehensively improved antitumor efficacy in the absence of significant toxicity. These results indicated that BR2 has significant potential for the safe, efficient, and specific delivery of siRNA for diverse applications.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.509-513
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• 2002

In this study, instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to assess the concentration level of inorganic trace elements in Korean women blood serum. It was found out that high concentration of Na and Cl incurs analytical interference, but 12 elements of Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, K, Na, Rb, Se, Zn can be determined under the condition of interference minimization. Serum samples collected from 63 women were analyzed and the concentration level and range of the elements were evaluated. NIST SRMs were analyzed simultaneously for analytical quality control. The average values of Na and Cl determined in serum samples are around 3000 mg/L, Ca is 100 mg/L and K is 200 mg/L. Besides, Br, Se and Zn have concentration level of 6.0, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/L, respectively. It was found that there is no significant difference between the present values and reported values.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1067-1072
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• 2013

Hiwi, a human homologue of the Piwi family, plays an important role in stem cell self-renewal and is overexpressed in various human tumors. This study aimed to determine whether an RNA interference-based strategy to suppress Hiwi expression could inhibit tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. A rare population of $SSC^{lo}\;Alde^{br}$ cells was isolated and identified as lung cancer stem cells in our previous study. Plasmids containing U6 promoter-driven shRNAs against Hiwi or control plasmids were successfully established. The xenograft tumor model was generated by subcutaneously inoculating with lung cancer stem cell $SSC^{lo}\;Alde^{br}$ cells. After the tumor size reached about 8 mm in diameter, shRNA plasmids were injected into the mice via the tail vein three times a week for two weeks, then xenograft tumor growth was assessed. In nude mice, intravenously delivery of Hiwi shRNA plasmids significantly inhibited tumor growth compared to treatment with control scrambled shRNA plasmids or the vehicle PBS. No mice died during the experiment and no adverse events were observed in mice administered the plasmids. Moreover, delivery of Hiwi shRNA plasmids resulted in a significant suppressed expression of Hiwi and ALDH-1 in xenograft tumor samples, based on immunohistochemical analysis. Thus, shRNA-mediated Hiwi gene silencing in lung cancer stem cells by an effective in vivo gene delivery strategy appeared to be an effective therapeutic approach for lung cancer, and may provide some useful clues for RNAi gene therapy in solid cancers.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.99-106
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• 1998

In this study, we have examined the role of cAMP in gap junctional communication (GJC) in preimplantation mouse embryos. GJC was monitored by Lucifer Yellow (LY) injected into one blastomere of compacted embryos. The speed of GJC was defined as the time taken for the last blastomere of the embryo to become visibly fluorescent. The median time for 8-cell embrvos (140 sec) was similar to that for 16-cell (135 sec). To determine whether cAMP and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) are involved in the regulation of GJC, the effects of PKA inhibitor (H8) and cAMP analogues (Rp-cAMP and 8-Br-cAMP) on dye transfer between blastomeres of compacted embryos were examined. Some of the embryos treated with either H8 or Rp-cAMP failed to transfer LY to all blastomeres within 10 min. In contrast, 8-Br-cAMP speeded up fluorescent dye transfer. The median time to fill all blastomeres with LY was 140 sec in untreated controls and 90 sec in siblings treated with 8-Br-cAMP. Inhibition of PKA by H8 or Rp-cAMP induced delay or arrest in embryo development after compaction, but the increase of intracellular cAMP showed no effect. These findings suggest that GJC in preimplantation mouse embryos is regulated by cAMP-PKA pathway and transient interference by PKA inhibitors induces the developmental delay beyond compaction.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.1907-1914
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• 2010

A novel catalytic kinetic method is proposed for the determination of Se(IV), Se(VI) and total inorganic selenium in water based on the catalytic effect of Se(IV) on the reduction of bromate by p-nitrophenylhydrazine at pH 3.0. The generated bromine, $Br_2$ or $Cl_2$ plus $Br_2$ in 0.1 M NaCl (or NaBr) environment efficiently decolorized Calmagite and the reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically at 523 nm as a function of time. In this indicator reaction, bromide acted as an activator for the catalysis of selenium (IV) and a reducing agent for selenium (VI) at pH 3.0, which allowed the determination of total selenium. The fixed time method was adopted for the determination and speciation of inorganic selenium. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graph are linear in the range 1 - 35 ${\mu}gL^{-1}$ of Se(IV) for the fixed time method at $25^{\circ}C$. The detection limit based on statistical $3S_{blank}$/m-criterion was 0.215 ${\mu}gL^{-1}$ for the fixed time method (7 min). All of the variables that affect the sensitivity at 523 nm were investigated, and the optimum conditions were established. The interference effect of various cations and anions on the Se (IV) determination was also studied. The selectivity of the selenium determination was greatly improved with the use of the strongly cation exchange resin such as Amberlite IR120 plus. The proposed kinetic method was validated statistically and through recovery studies in natural water samples. The RSDs for ten replicate measurements of 5, 15 and 25 ${\mu}gL^{-1}$ of Se(IV) and Se(VI) was changed between 2.1 - 4.85%. Analyses of a certified standard reference material (NIST SRM 1643e) for selenium using the fixed-time method showed that the proposed kinetic method has good accuracy. Se(IV), Se(VI) and total inorganic selenium in environmental water samples have been successfully determined by this method after selective reduction of Se(VI) to Se(IV).

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.35 no.12B
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• pp.1183-1191
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• 2010

In this paper, I propose an adaptive OFDM CP length algorithm for in PLC systems for smart grid. The proposed scheme calculates the channel delay information at the CP controller of the receiver by taking correlation between a received data frame and the following delayed one. The CP controller, immediately, feeds back the channel delay information to the transmitter. Then, the transmitter adapts CP length for next data frame. As an impulsive noise model, Middleton Class A interference model was employed. The performance is evaluated in terms of packet data rate, cumulative packet data rate, and bit error rate (BER). The simulation results showed data gain (which is the amount of the reduced bits) gets larger as the number of packets increase, but the amount of data gain reduced as the number of branches ($N_{br}$) increase. In respects of BER for the cases $N_{br}$ is 3, 4, and 5, performance of the adaptive CP length algorithm and the fixed CP scheme are similar. Therefore, it is confirmed the proposed scheme achieved data rate increment without BER performance reduction compared to the conventional fixed CP length scheme.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2000

Effects of acids and pre-reductants in the analysis of arsenic have been studied by hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry. The analytical results were strongly dependent on the acid concentrations. All the pre-reductants was very effective to observe the arsenic signal at strong acid concentrations (3 M-5 M). However, at the low acid condition (${\leq}0.1M$), L-cysteine only showed a reasonable effect on the absorption signal. When the sample was treated with the nitric acid, absorption signal was unstable and was also decreased. Although interference effects were observed from metal ions such as $Cr^{6+}$ and $Br^{5+}$ at low acid condition, the generation of hydride could be increased by the strong acid condition.