• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1012-1022
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• 2020

Objective: Caseins and fatty acids of milk are synthesized and secreted by the epithelial cells of the mammary gland. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), an active metabolite of vitamin A, has been shown to promote mammary development. This study was conducted to determine the effect of ATRA on casein synthesis and fatty acid composition in MAC-T cells. Methods: MAC-T cells were allowed to differentiate for 4 d, treated with ATRA (0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 μM), and incubated for 3 d. We analyzed the fatty acid composition, the mRNA expression of casein and fatty acid synthesis-related genes, and the phosphorylation of casein synthesis-related proteins of MAC-T cells by gas chromatography, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting, respectively. Results: In MAC-T cells, ATRA increased the mRNA levels of α_S1-casein and β-casein, janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and E74-like factor 5 of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 β (STAT5-β) pathway, ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (S6K1) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, inhibited the mRNA expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E of the mTOR pathway, and promoted the phosphorylation of STAT5-β and S6K1 proteins. Additionally, ATRA increased the de novo synthesis of fatty acids, reduced the content of long-chain fatty acids, the ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids (SFA), the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to SFA, and the ratio of ω-6 to ω-3 PUFA. The mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, fatty acid synthase, lipoprotein lipase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) were enhanced by ATRA. Conclusion: ATRA promotes the synthesis of casein by regulating JAK2/STAT5 pathway and downstream mTOR signaling pathway, and it improves the fatty acid composition of MAC-T cells by regulating SREBP1-related genes.

• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.27-35
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• 2015

We analyze an M/G/1/K queueing system with queue-length dependent service and arrival rates. There are a single server and a buffer with finite capacity K including a customer in service. The customers are served by a first-come-first-service basis. We put two thresholds $L_1$ and $L_2$($${\geq_-}L_1$$ ) on the buffer. If the queue length at the service initiation epoch is less than the threshold $L_1$, the service time of customers follows $S_1$ with a mean of ${\mu}_1$ and the arrival of customers follows a Poisson process with a rate of ${\lambda}_1$. When the queue length at the service initiation epoch is equal to or greater than $L_1$ and less than $L_2$, the service time is changed to $S_2$ with a mean of $${\mu}_2{\geq_-}{\mu}_1$$. The arrival rate is still ${\lambda}_1$. Finally, if the queue length at the service initiation epoch is greater than $L_2$, the arrival rate of customers are also changed to a value of $${\lambda}_2({\leq_-}{\lambda}_1)$$ and the mean of the service times is ${\mu}_2$. By using the embedded Markov chain method, we derive queue length distribution at departure epochs. We also obtain the queue length distribution at an arbitrary time by the supplementary variable method. Finally, performance measures such as loss probability and mean waiting time are presented.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.694-697
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• 2006

The initiation of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic reactions requires binding of IgE antibody to its high-affinity receptor. Human basophilic KU812F cells express $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ on the cell surface and act as effector cells in the allergic response. In this study, we investigated the effects of Scutellaria radix extract on the expression of the $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ in human KU812F cells. Flow cytometric analysis showed that S. radix extract treatment caused a concentration-dependent decrease in $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ expression on the cell surface. Furthermore, the level of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$, and ${\gamma}$ chain mRNA in KU812F cells was examined by RT-PCR. S. radix extract reduced total cellular $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ $\alpha$ and ${\gamma}$ chain mRNA expression in a concentration-dependent manner. $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$-mediated histamine release was reduced from $21.75{\pm}1.34\;ng/10^6$ cells in non-treated cells to $16.46{\pm}1.98\;ng/10^6$ cells in S. radix extract treated cells. These results suggested that S. radix extract has the potential to down-regulate of FcRI expression and to inactivate basophils.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.316-326
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• 2018

Objective: This study investigated the expression of genes in cashmere goats at different periods of their fetal development. Methods: Bioinformatics analysis was used to evaluate data obtained by transcriptome sequencing of fetus skin samples collected from Inner Mongolia cashmere goats on days 45, 55, and 65 of fetal age. Results: We found that FoxN1, FoxE1, and FoxI3 genes of the Fox gene family were probably involved in the growth and development of the follicle and the formation of hair, which is consistent with previous findings. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction detecting system and Western blot analysis were employed to study the relative differentially expressed genes FoxN1, FoxE1, and FoxI3 in the body skin of cashmere goat fetuses and adult individuals. Conclusion: This study provided new fundamental information for further investigation of the genes related to follicle development and exploration of their roles in hair follicle initiation, growth, and development.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2003

A wide variety of unsaturated vinyl derivatives can be induced to undergo free-radical chain polymerization. The capability to carry out a thermodynamically feasible polymerization relies on its kinetic feasibility on whether the proceeds at a reasonable rate under a given set of reaction conditions. Initiator or promoter is often required to achieve the kinetic feasibility. Only a few unsaturated monomers including methyl methacrylate(MMA) are known to absorb light between 250 and 500 nm which is the most convenient wavelength range. Also, the polysilanes with unusual optical and electronic properties have been used as ceramic precursors, deep UV photoresists, photoconductors. The hydrosilation has been used to make many interesting types of silicon containing polymers such as copolymer, dendrimers. Bulk polymerization of monomers with different molar radio of hydrosilanes(9:1 through 1:9) were performed. A quartz test tube charged with monomer and hydrosilane was degassed and irradiated with 250 nm UV for 6 hours. The polymer was taken in toluene, precipitated in hexane, filtered off, and dried. It was found that the initiators appeared to competitively and concurrently function as both chain initiation and transfer agents in the polymerization of vinyl monomers.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.776-782
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• 1995

A theory of the helix/coil transition for $\alpha$ helical dimer such as $\alpha$ tropomycin and paramycin is developed. The treatment differs from those formulated previously for oligopeptide dimer which is explained by the matrix method using Zimm-Bragg parameter: In the present treatement, it is explained by the zipper model which can account for the dangling H-bond. We calculate the fractional helicity in $\alpha$ helical dimer as a function of helix initiation $constant(\sigma)$, helix stability constant(${\xi}$) and hydrophobic interaction parameter(w). For $\alpha$ tropomycin, the helix stability profile is also calculated. The transitions of this oligomer due to the change of temperature and the concentration of oligopeptide involve simultaneous dissociation of the dimer. The transitions of dimers which have cross-linked S-S bonds or have long chains don't occur, because they keep always helical structures. The transitons due to the concentration of the oligopeptides are steeper than those due to the chain length or temperature.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.sup1
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• pp.45-48
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• 2016

Short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (SCADD) is a rare autosomal recessive mitochondrial disorder of fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation, and is associated with mutations in the acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (ACADS) gene. Recent advances in spectrometric screening for inborn errors of metabolism have helped detect several metabolic disorders, including SCADD, without symptoms in the neonate period. This allows immediate initiation of treatment and monitoring, so they remain largely symptomless metabolic disease. Here, we report a 15-month-old asymptomatic male, who was diagnosed with SCADD by newborn screening. Spectrometric screening for inborn errors of metabolism 72 hours after birth revealed an elevated butyrylcarnitine (C4) concentration of $2.25{\mu}mol/L$ (normal, < $0.99{\mu}mol/L$). Urinary excretion of ethylmalonic acid was also elevated, as detected by urine organic acid analysis. To confirm the diagnosis of SCADD, direct sequencing analysis of 10 coding exons and the exon-intron boundaries of the ACADS gene were performed. Subsequent sequence analysis revealed compound heterozygous missense mutations c.164C>T (p.Pro55Leu) and c.1031A>G (p.Glu344Gly) on exons 2 and 9, respectively. The patient is now growing up, unretarded by symptoms such as seizure and developmental delay.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1234-1244
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• 2022

Oral streptococci are considered as an opportunistic pathogen associated with initiation and progression of various oral diseases. However, since the currently-available treatments often accompany adverse effects, alternative strategy is demanded to control streptococci. In the current study, we investigated whether short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including sodium acetate (NaA), sodium propionate (NaP), and sodium butyrate (NaB), can inhibit the growth of oral streptococci. Among the tested SCFAs, NaP most potently inhibited the growth of laboratory and clinically isolated strains of Streptococcus gordonii under anaerobic culture conditions. However, the growth inhibitory effect of NaP on six different species of other oral streptococci was different depending on their culture conditions. Metabolic changes such as alteration of methionine biosynthesis can affect bacterial growth. Indeed, NaP enhanced intracellular methionine levels of oral streptococci as well as the mRNA expression level of methionine biosynthesis-related genes. Collectively, these results suggest that NaP has an inhibitory effect on the growth of oral streptococci, which might be due to alteration of methionine biosynthesis. Thus, NaP can be used an effective bacteriostatic agent for the prevention of oral infectious diseases caused by oral streptococci.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.295-306
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• 2007

The growth and health of the fetus and neonate are directly influenced by the nutritional and physiological status of sows. Sows are often under catabolic conditions due to restrict feeding program during pregnancy and low voluntary feed intake during lactation. The current restrict feeding program, which aims at controlling energy intake during gestation, results in an inadequate supply of dietary protein for fetal and mammary gland growth. Low voluntary feed intake during lactation also causes massive maternal tissue mobilization. Provision of amino acids and fatty acids with specific functions may enhance the performance of pregnant and lactating sows by modulating key metabolic pathways. These nutrients include arginine, branched-chain amino acids, glutamine, tryptophan, proline, conjugated linoleic acids, docosahexaenoic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid, which can enhance conception rates, embryogenesis, blood flow, antioxidant activity, appetite, translation initiation for protein synthesis, immune cell proliferation, and intestinal development. The outcome is to improve sow reproductive performance as well as fetal and neonatal growth and health. Dietary supplementation with functional amino acids and fatty acids holds great promise in optimizing nutrition, health, and production performance of sows and piglets. (Supported by funds from Texas Tech, USDA, NLRI-RDA-Korea, and China NSF).

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.521-530
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• 2010

This study aimed to explore how to characterize the earth science inquiry in schools in terms of science teaching interaction and constructivist teaching practice. The constructivist teaching practices were analyzed with Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP) in three aspects including (1) student oriented class implementation, (2) subject knowledge and representation, and (3) classroom communication. Fourteen earth science classes were observed and scored with RTOP. The class was evaluated to be transitional stage in terms of constructivist teaching, e.g., moving toward student-centered teaching practice. Especially, Korean teachers tend to lean their classes more on propositional knowledge than procedural knowledge. To interpret science teaching interactions, an earth science teacher with a RTOP top rank was selected. Her class was then videotaped for detailed analysis. I adopted the analytical framework of communicative approaches and discourse patterns among the five aspects of interactions presented by Mortimer and Scott (2003). It was found that this earth science teacher used more authoritative patterns than the dialogic. In addition, she used IRE discourse pattern more frequently. Interestingly, teachers interacted with their students more frequently in the form of repeated (or IRE chain pattern), that is IRFRF (teacher initiation-student response-teacher feedback-student response-teacher feedback) in the context of dialogic communicative approaches, while simple IRE occurred in an authoritative approach. In earth science classrooms, typical interaction may well be constructed in the form of IRFRF chains to allow students free conjectures and abduction.