• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.276-285
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• 2020

Circadian rhythm is an endogenous oscillation of about 24-h period in many physiological processes and behaviors. This daily oscillation is maintained by the molecular clock machinery with transcriptional-translational feedback loops mediated by clock genes including Period2 (Per2) and Bmal1. Recently, it was revealed that gut microbiome exerts a significant impact on the circadian physiology and behavior of its host; however, the mechanism through which it regulates the molecular clock has remained elusive. 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (4-OH-PPA) and 3-phenylpropionic acid (PPA) are major metabolites exclusively produced by Clostridium sporogenes and may function as unique chemical messengers communicating with its host. In the present study, we examined if two C. sporogenes-derived metabolites can modulate the oscillation of mammalian molecular clock. Interestingly, 4-OH-PPA and PPA increased the amplitude of both PER2 and Bmal1 oscillation in a dose-dependent manner following their administration immediately after the nadir or the peak of their rhythm. The phase of PER2 oscillation responded differently depending on the mode of administration of the metabolites. In addition, using an organotypic slice culture ex vivo, treatment with 4-OH-PPA increased the amplitude and lengthened the period of PER2 oscillation in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and other tissues. In summary, two C. sporogenes-derived metabolites are involved in the regulation of circadian oscillation of Per2 and Bmal1 clock genes in the host's peripheral and central clock machineries.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.565-573
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• 2004

In this paper, we proposed a heart activity control model for simulation of the aortic sinus baroreceptor, which was the most representative baroreceptor sensing the variance of pressure in the cardiovascular system. And then, the heart activity control model composed electric circuit model of the cardiovascular system with baroreflex control and time delay sub-model to observe the effect of time delay in heart period and stroke volume under the regulation of baroreflex in the aortic sinus. The mechanism of time delay in the heart activity baroreflex control model is as follows. A control function is conduct sensing pressure information in the aortic sinus baroreceptor to transmit the efferent nerve through central nervous system. As simulation results of the proposed model, we observed three patterns of the cardiovascular system variability by the time delay. First of all, if the time delay over 2.5 second, aortic pressure and stroke volume and heart rate was observed non-periodically and irregularly. However, if the time delay from 0.1 second to 0.25 second, the regular oscillation was observed. And then, if time delay under 0.1 second, then heart rate and aortic pressure-heart rate trajectory were maintained in stable state.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.779-787
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• 2018

As security problems of the paper ballot have been emerged on and on, electronic voting with enhanced security and convenience has been introduced in several countries. However, it has not been adopted most of countries because of the problems that come from interdependence and security flaws. Meanwhile, the blockchain technology has high reliability due to the mechanism of mining that miners verify and preserve blocks independently by using P2P formation which does not have a central authority. Furthermore, because each block refers to the hash of the previous block. if any one block is changed, it is very difficult to forge and modify the blockchain because all blocks must be changed. If this technology is applied to the E-voting, integrity, and transparency about the result of the ballot is guaranteed. In this paper, we propose and implement an electronic voting system based on blockchain that improves interdependence, the reliability of excessive TTP and single point of failure come from original electronic voting. Also, we analyze the security and advantage of the proposal system compared with the existing bitcoin-based electronic voting system.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.57-69
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to identify distributional characteristics of autumn droughts in occurrence frequency and to analyze synoptic characteristics on the surface pressure fields and 500hPa levels for autumn droughts in Korea. The regional distributions of autumn droughts in occurrence frequency vary according to the monthly regional distributions of the precipitation variabilities in Korea. In september, the southwestern and the mid western parts of Korean Peninsula have high rate of drought frequency, while the eastern coast regions have low rate of it. It means that the regional distribution of the drought frequency in september indicates west-high and east-low pattern. In October, the regional distribution of the drought frequency shows low variations on regions, but in November the inland areas have low rate of drought frequency, whereas the coastal areas have high rate of it. Negative anomalies appear on the surface and 500hPa level, around Korean Peninsula during the drought period of early autumn. Positive height anomalies areas are extended from the Sea of Okhotsk to the central part of the North Pacific Ocean. It indicates that the occurrence frequencies of blocking high and ridge are high around the Sea of Okhotsk. When the pressure system, such as migratory anticyclone, stays around the Korean Peninsula, a drought occurs. In late autumn drought, the positive anomalies appear in the west and the negative anomalies in the east are generated, respectively and therefore, zonal wind is strong around Korean Peninsula. In consequence, occurrences of droughts in early autumn have a different mechanism from those of late autumn.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 1988

A pot experiment was conducted to find out the effect of arsenic(As) added to soil on the number of roots, root diameter, root length and root tissue of the rice plant. The results obtained were as follows: Higher As levels in soil remarkably reduced not only the number of roots, root length and root diameter, but also the diameter of the central cylinder, the route of the water and inor ganic nutrients of the roots. When arsenic was treated in soil, abnormal cells in the cortex of rice root were developed and considerably increased with higher As levels in the soil. These were only observed in the middle and upper parts of root segments except root tips and they looked like rice roots without epidermis in shape. Therefore, the occurrence of the abnormal cells in the root was attributed to high arsenic accumulation in the root. Its mechanism is not clear. However, it is assumed that the abnormal cells had occurred to compensate for lower amount of water and inorganic nutrient absorption by the injured rice root or self-defense against the penetration of arsenic within the rice root.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.378-385
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• 2017

This study investigated the design of a snap fit, which is widely used for fastening plastic parts. We analyzed the assembly mechanism of a lock snapfit, measured the assembly force and separation force based on the design of experiments, and derived a regression equation through an analysis of variance. The response surface methodology was also used. Polybutylene terephthalate was used to fabricate specimens, and the assembly force and separation force were measured using a micro-tensile tester. The length, width, thickness, and interference were considered as factors. A second-order regression model was used to derive the regression equation. The assembly force decreased with increasing length and width, but it increased with increasing thickness and interference. The finite element method was used to analyze the assembly mechanics. The width decreased the assembly force by increasing the ductility. The influences of the factors for low assembly force and high release force were shown to be opposite to each other. It was necessary to design a structure that minimized the assembly force while maintaining an appropriate level of separation force.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.156-172
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• 2003

In this paper we identify that there are High Higher surfaces(HH-surface) around Jeongdongjin and Daejin area where Higher surfaces(H-surface) of marine terrace are formed on a large scale. On the basis of an altitude of the ancient shoreline of the marine terraces, geomorphic surfaces can be classified into HH I (140m a.s.l), HH II (110m a.s.l), H I (90m a.s.l), H II (70m a.s.l), M (40m a.s.l), L I (25m a.s.l) and L II (10m a.s.l). Besides, we identify that the lowest surfaces(5~6m a.s.l) are found extensively in the research area which are assumed to be formed in the Holocene. Considering that the formation mechanism of the marine terraces in the research area is similar to that of the marine terraces at both Campo area in the south east coastal region of Korea md the thalassostatic terraces of Osip River in Samchuk in a short distance from the research area, we can assume that the HH-surfaces in both areas were formed in the same period. Based on the fact that L I- surface was formed on the Last Interglacial Stage of MIS 5, we can infer that M- was formed in MIS 7, H I- in MIS 9, H II- in MIS 11, HH I- in MIS 13 and HH II- in MIS 15. The reason for that H-surfaces, similar to those at Gampo area, to remain on a large scale is that the Holsteinian Interglacial continued for a long period of time and at that time there was a large wave-cut platform in the vicinity of the shoreline.

• Journal of Oriental Physiology
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• v.14 no.2 s.20
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• pp.199-208
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• 1999

As the average life span have been lengthened and the rate of senile population have been raised, chronic degenerative diseases incident to aging has been increased rapidly and become a social problem. With this social background, recently, the facts that oxygen radicals(OR) have toxic effects on Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System and cause neuropathy such as Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer Disease have been turned out, and accordingly lots of studies on the mechanism of the toxic effects of OR on nerves, the diseases caused by OR and the approaches to curing the diseases have been made. The purpose of this study is to examine the toxic effects caused by Glucose Oxidase(GO) and the effects of herbal extracts such as Chilbokyeum(CBY) on the treatment of the toxic effects. For this purpose, experiments with the cultured cell from the cerebrums of new born mice were done. The results of these experiments were as follows. 1. GO, a oxygen radical, decreased the survival rate of the cultured cells on NR assay and MTT assay 2. GO, a oxygen radical, increased lipid peroxidation and the amount of LDH. 3. CBY have efficacy of decreasing lipid peroxidation. 4. CBY have efficacy of decreasing the amount of LOH. From the above results, It is concluded that Chilbokyeum has marked efficacy as a treatment for the damages caused in the GO-mediated oxidative process. And Chilbokyeum is thought to have certain pharmacological effects on controlling over aging and treating Dementia. Further clinical study of this pharmacological effects of Chilbokyeum should be complemented.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.22-37
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• 2007

The autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of neurodegenerative diseases, clinically and genetically heterogeneous, characterized by degeneration of spinocerebellar pathways with variable involvement of other neural systems. At present, 27 distinct genetic forms of SCAs are known: SCA1-8, SCA10-21, SCA23, SCA25-28, DRPLA (dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy), and 16q-liked ADCA (autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia). Epidemiological data about the prevalence of SCAs are restricted to a few studies of isolated geographical regions, and most do not reflect the real occurrence of the disease. In general a prevalence of about 0.3-2 cases per 100,000 people is assumed. As SCA are highly heterogeneous, the prevalence of specific subtypes varies between different ethnic and continental populations. Most recent data suggest that SCA3 is the commonest subtype worldwide; SCA1, SCA2, SCA6, SCA7, and SCA8 have a prevalence of over 2%, and the remaining SCAs are thought to be rare (prevalence <1%). In this review, we highlight and discuss the SCA7. The hallmark of SCA7 is the association of hereditary ataxia and visual loss caused by pigmentary macular degeneration. Visual failure is progressive, bilateral and symmetrical, and leads irreversibly to blindness. This association represents a distinct disease entity classified as autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) type II by Harding. The disease affectsprimarily the cerebellum and the retina by the moderate to severe neuronal loss and gliosis, but also many other central nervous system structures as the disease progresses. SCA7 is caused by expansion of an unstable trinucleotide CAG repeat in the ATXN7 gene encoding a polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the corresponding protein, ataxin-7. Normal ATXN7 alleles contain 4-35 CAG repeats, whereas pathological alleles contain from 36->450 CAG repeats. Immunoblott analysis demonstrated that ataxin-7 is widely expressed but that expression levels vary among tissues. Instability of expanded repeats is more pronounced in SCA7 than in other SCA subtypes and can cause substantial lowering of age at onset in successive generations termed ‘anticipation’ so that children may become diseased even before their parents develop symptoms. The strong anticipation in SCA7 and the rarity of contractions should have led to its extinction within a few generations. There is no specific drug therapy for this neurodegenerative disorder. Currently, therapy remains purely symptomatic. Cellular models and SCA7 transgenic mice have been generated which constitute valuable resources for studying the disease mechanism. Understanding the pathogenetic mechanisms of neurodegeneration in SCAs should lead to the identification of potential therapeutic targets and ultimately facilitate drug discovery. Here we summarize the clinical, pathological, and genetic aspects of SCA7, and review the current understanding of the pathogenesis of this disorder. Further, we also review the potential therapeutic strategies that are currently being explored in polyglutamine diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.796-805
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• 2021

Hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress contributes to the development of steatosis and insulin resistance. The components of unfolded protein response (UPR) regulate lipid metabolism. Recent studies have reported an association between ER stress and aberrant cellular lipid control; moreover, research has confirmed the involvement of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs)-the central regulators of lipid metabolism-in the process. However, the exact role of SREBPs in controlling lipid metabolism during ER stress and its contribution to fatty liver disease remain unknown. Here, we show that SREBP-1c deficiency protects against ER stress-induced hepatic steatosis in mice by regulating UPR, inflammation, and fatty acid oxidation. SREBP-1c directly regulated inositol-requiring kinase 1α (IRE1α) expression and mediated ER stress-induced tumor necrosis factor-α activation, leading to a reduction in expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α and subsequent impairment of fatty acid oxidation. However, the genetic ablation of SREBP-1c prevented these events, alleviating hepatic inflammation and steatosis. Although the mechanism by which SREBP-1c deficiency prevents ER stress-induced inflammatory signaling remains to be elucidated, alteration of the IRE1α signal in SREBP-1c-depleted Kupffer cells might be involved in the signaling. Overall, the results suggest that SREBP-1c plays a crucial role in the regulation of UPR and inflammation in ER stress-induced hepatic steatosis.