• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.34-46
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ on the proliferation, differentiation, and matrix mineralization of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells in vitro. Methods: MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ were prepared. Cytotoxic effects and osteogenic differentiation were evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, ALP staining, alizarin red S staining, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for osteogenic differentiation markers such as ALP, collagen type I (Col-I), osteocalcin (OCN), vitamin D receptor (VDR), and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Results: The MTT assay showed that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ did not inhibit cell growth and that the rate of cell proliferation was higher than in the positive control group at all concentrations. ALP activity was also higher than in the positive control group at low concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ ($10^{-10}$, $10^{-12}$, and $10^{-14}M$). RT-PCR showed that the gene expression levels of ALP, Col-I, OCN, and vitamin D receptor (VDR) were higher at a low concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ ($10^{-12}M$). Alizarin red S staining after treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ ($10^{-12}M$) showed no significant differences in the overall degree of calcification. In contrast to the positive control group, formation of bone nodules was induced in the early stages of cell differentiation. Conclusions: We suggest that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ positively affects cell differentiation and matrix mineralization. Therefore, it may function as a stimulating factor in osteoblastic bone formation and can be used as an additive in bone regeneration treatment.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.653-659
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activities and anti-aging efficacy in terms of suppression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells by adding the ethanol extracts of Josaengheogchal (JE) and Shintoheug rice (SRE). In the electron-donating ability and ABTS radical-scavenging assays, we observed that both JE and SRE had scavenging activities and in a collagenase inhibition assay, both extracts showed inhibition effects of over 73% at $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. The expression of MMP-1 and -3, when the extracts were treated with UVB $50mJ/cm^2$, irradiated human HaCaT keratinocytes, was analyzed by western blotting and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that MMP-1 and -3 proteins and mRNAs were downregulated in a concentration-dependent manner in response to both extracts. Therefore, we expect that these compounds have a potential for the use as functional ingredients with anti-aging effects in the cosmetic and food industries.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.55-74
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• 2021

The role of container ports contributes greatly to international trade and national or regional economic development by supporting maritime transportation and occupies a central position in the supply chain connecting sea and land. The performance(traffic volume) of a port generally depends on geographic, economic, and operational factors etc. For the past several decades, container port volumes have grown with fluctuation. This study amis to analyze how global ports have undergone changes in terms of cargo volume by region, size and period. For the analysis, only the volumes of global top 100 ports were used. Shift-share analysis and BCG matrix analysis were employed as methodologies. According to the result of the analysis, the relative volatility of port traffic over the past 16 years as a whole was found to be limited. On the other hand, ports in China and Southeast and Southwest Asia, which are economically growing for the last decades, showed growing trends, while ports in Northeast Asia and Europe appeared to be in a stagnant or declining phase. It also shows that most of the global ports maintain limited changes in cargo volume because they are already positioned as central ports in the region. In addition, it can be seen that the global port volume has a close relationship with the change in the economic capability of the relevant region or country.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.122-133
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• 2022

The aim of this study was to investigating whether lncRNA H19 promotes myocardial fibrosis by suppressing the miR-29a-3p/miR-29b-3p-VEGFA/TGF-β axis. Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and healthy volunteers were included in the study, and their biochemical parameters were collected. In addition, pcDNA3.1-H19, si-H19, and miR-29a/b-3p mimic/inhibitor were transfected into cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), and proliferation of CFs was detected by MTT assay. Expression of H19 and miR-29a/b-3p were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, collagen II, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and elastin were measured by western blot analysis. The dual luciferase reporter gene assay was carried out to detect the sponging relationship between H19 and miR-29a/b-3p in CFs. Compared with healthy volunteers, the level of plasma H19 was significantly elevated in patients with AF, while miR-29a-3p and miR-29b-3p were markedly depressed (P < 0.05). Serum expression of lncRNA H19 was negatively correlated with the expression of miR-29a-3p and miR-29b-3p among patients with AF (r_s = -0.337, r_s = -0.236). Moreover, up-regulation of H19 expression and down-regulation of miR-29a/b-3p expression facilitated proliferation and synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM)-related proteins. SB431542 and si-VEGFA are able to reverse the promotion of miR-29a/b-3p on proliferation of CFs and ECM-related protein synthesis. The findings of the present study suggest that H19 promoted CF proliferation and collagen synthesis by suppressing the miR-29a-3p/miR-29b-3p-VEGFA/TGF-β axis, and provide support for a potential new direction for the treatment of AF.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.562-571
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• 2017

In this study, we investigated the anti-oxidant activities [electron-donating ability (EDA), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging ability, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibitory activity], anti-wrinkle activities [collagenase inhibitory activity, suppression and/or phosphorylation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity], and mRNA expression levels using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay in ultraviolet (UV) B ray ($50mJ/cm^2$)-irradiated human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Josaengheugchal, Sinneungheugchal (SE), Shintoheug rice, Heugjinju rice, and Heugseol (HE) among colored rice varieties were reported to have excellent antioxidant properties. In the EDA and ABTS radical scavenging assays, extracts of the five colored rice varieties had scavenging activities of 72% at concentrations higher $50{\mu}g/mL$. In the collagenase inhibition assay, ethanol extracts of the five colored rice varieties showed high inhibitory effects of about 60% at concentrations higher $25{\mu}g/mL$. In the ROS inhibition assay, ethanol extracts of HE and SE showed very excellent inhibition efficacies at all concentrations. We determined molecular biological mechanisms of MMPs (MMP-1, -3, -8, and -13) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) with HE, and the results show that HE suppressed expression of MMPs and phosphorylation of MAPK and increased expression of pro-collagen type I in UVB-irradiated cells. It was also confirmed by RT-PCR that HE reduced expression of MMPs mRNA. Therefore, these results suggest that HE has anti-wrinkle and collagen production effects and may be used as a material in the development of functional food and cosmetic industries.

• Proceedings of the Korean Aquaculture Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.92-92
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• 2003

본 연구는 부착규조류에 따른 부착성 요각류 Tigriopus japonicus의 nauplius 생산력을 알아보기 위하여 실시하였다. 실험에 사용된 T. japonicus는 부산 동백섬 부경대학교 수산과학연구소 부근에 있는 tidal pool에서 동물성부유생물망으로 채집하였다. 먹이생물로는 부경대학교 한국해양 미세조류 은행에서 보관중인 부착규조류 중 중형종인 Caloneis schroder를 대표종으로 이와 크기가(14.8~27.5$\mu\textrm{m}$) 유사한 종들을 대상으로 형태를 현미경 하에서 관찰하고, 지역과 분리일자 등을 고려하여 유사종을 선별한 후 최종적으로 종의 유전적 유사성을 밝히기 위하여 RAPD-PCR (random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction)을 실시하였다. 이 중 Caloneis schroder와 유전적으로 유사성이 낮은 Navicula spp. (KMCC B-245, 393, 394, 581) 4종을 선별하여 T. japonicus의 먹이로 사용하여 포란한 암컷의 nauplius 생산력을 3반복 조사하였다. Genomic DNA는 대부분의 종에서 성공적으로 검출되었으며, 종에 따라 PCR 증폭산물이 나타나지 않은 경우도 있었으므로, PCR 산물이 나타난 종에 대해서만 분석하였고, 증폭된 DNA band는 대부분 크기 0.5~2.0kb 범위에서 나타났다. 실험에 사용된 부착규조류 간의 유사성을 알아보기 위하여 similarity matrix를 분석한 결과 F값의 범위는 0.00에서 1.00까지 였으며, Caloneis schroder와 유사성이 낮은 종들에 비하여 유사성이 높은 종들이 더 많이 나타났다. 이들을 먹이로 하여 포란한 T. japonicus의 실험구별 nauplius 평균 개체수를 살펴보면, KMCC B-394가 255.7마리로 가장 높았던 반면 KMCC B-581가 29.7마리로 가장 낮았다. 그 외 KMCC B-245가 120.0마리, KMCC B-393가 76.0마리, Caloneis schroder가 32.3마리 각각 나타났다. 이와같은 결과를 볼 때 T. japonicus의 nauplius 생산력은 규조 종에 따라 큰 차이가 있는 것으로 판단된다.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.95-104
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether increasing the Ti6Al4V surface oxide negative charge through heat ($600^{\circ}C$) or radiofrequency plasma glow discharge (RFGD) pretreatment, with or without a subsequent coating with fibronectin, stimulated osteoblast gene marker expression in the MC3T3 osteoprogenitor cell line. Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure changes over time in the mRNA levels for osteoblast gene markers, including alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein, collagen type I (${\alpha}1$), osteocalcin, osteopontin and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTH-rP), and the osteoblast precursor genes Runx2 and osterix. Results: Osteoprogenitors began to differentiate earlier on disks that were pretreated with heat or RFGD. The pretreatments increased gene marker expression in the absence of a fibronectin coating. However, pretreatments increased osteoblast gene expression for fibronectin-coated disks more than uncoated disks, suggesting a surface oxide-mediated specific enhancement of fibronectin's bioactivity. Heat pretreatment had greater effects on the mRNA expression of genes for PTH-rP, alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin while RFGD pretreatment had greater effects on osteopontin and bone sialoprotein gene expression. Conclusions: The results suggest that heat and RFGD pretreatments of the Ti6Al4V surface oxide stimulated osteoblast differentiation through an enhancement of (a) coated fibronectin's bioactivity and (b) the bioactivities of other serum or matrix proteins. The quantitative differences in the effects of the two pretreatments on osteoblast gene marker expression may have arisen from the unique physico-chemical characteristics of each resultant oxide surface. Therefore, engineering the Ti6Al4V surface oxide to become more negatively charged can be used to accelerate osteoblast differentiation through fibronectin-dependent and independent mechanisms.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.300-312
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• 2020

Purpose: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new class of RNA molecules whose function is largely unknown. There is a growing evidence that circRNAs play an important regulatory role in the progression of a variety of human cancers. However, the exact roles and the mechanisms of circRNAs in gastric cancer are not clear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism of hsa_circ_0005556. Materials and Methods: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of hsa_circ_0005556, miR-4270, and matrix metalloproteinase-19 (MMP19) in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. The expression of hsa_circ_0005556 in gastric cancer cells was silenced by lentivirus, and cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and tumorigenesis in nude mice were assessed to evaluate the function of hsa_circ_0005556 in gastric cancer. Results: The expression of hsa_circ_0005556 in gastric cancer tissues and gastric cancer cell lines was higher compared to normal controls. In vitro, the downregulation of hsa_ circ_0005556 significantly inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells. In vivo, the downregulation of hsa_circ_0005556 suppressed tumor growth in nude mice. Conclusions: Our study shows that the hsa_circ_0005556/miR-4270/MMP19 axis is involved in proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells through the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4555-4559
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• 2012

Breast cancer causes death due to distant metastases in which tumor cells produce matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes which facilitate invasion. Oleuropein, the main olive oil polyphenol, has anti-proliferative effects. This study aimed to investigate the effect of oleuropein on the metastatic and anti-metastatic gene expression in the MDA human breast cancer cell line. We evaluated the MMPs and TIMPs gene expression by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in treated and untreated cells. This study demonstrated that OL may induce anti-metastatic effects on human breast cancer cells. We found that TIMP1,-3, and -4 were over-expressed after all periods of incubation in treated cancer cells compared to untreated cells, while MMP2 and MMP9 genes were down-regulated, at least initially. Treatment of breast cancer cells with oleuropein could help in prevention of cancer metastasis by increasing the TIMPs and suppressing the MMPs gene expressions.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.1036-1057
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• 2013

Wireless body area network (WBAN) is a promising candidate for future health monitoring system. Nevertheless, the path to mature solutions is still facing a lot of challenges that need to be overcome. Energy efficient scheduling is one of these challenges given the scarcity of available energy of biosensors and the lack of portability. Therefore, researchers from academia, industry and health sectors are working together to realize practical solutions for these challenges. The main difficulty in WBAN is the uncertainty in the state of the monitored system. Intelligent learning approaches such as a Markov Decision Process (MDP) were proposed to tackle this issue. A Markov Decision Process (MDP) is a form of Markov Chain in which the transition matrix depends on the action taken by the decision maker (agent) at each time step. The agent receives a reward, which depends on the action and the state. The goal is to find a function, called a policy, which specifies which action to take in each state, so as to maximize some utility functions (e.g., the mean or expected discounted sum) of the sequence of rewards. A partially Observable Markov Decision Processes (POMDP) is a generalization of Markov decision processes that allows for the incomplete information regarding the state of the system. In this case, the state is not visible to the agent. This has many applications in operations research and artificial intelligence. Due to incomplete knowledge of the system, this uncertainty makes formulating and solving POMDP models mathematically complex and computationally expensive. Limited progress has been made in terms of applying POMPD to real applications. In this paper, we surveyed the existing methods and algorithms for solving POMDP in the general domain and in particular in Wireless body area network (WBAN). In addition, the papers discussed recent real implementation of POMDP on practical problems of WBAN. We believe that this work will provide valuable insights for the newcomers who would like to pursue related research in the domain of WBAN.