• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.425-434
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• 2022

The post-translational modification (e.g., phosphorylation) of estrogen receptor α (ERα) plays a role in controlling the expression and subcellular localization of ERα as well as its sensitivity to hormone response. Here, we show that ERα is also modified by UFM1 and this modification (ufmylation) plays a crucial role in promoting the stability and transactivity of ERα, which in turn promotes breast cancer development. The elevation of ufmylation via the knockdown of UFSP2 (the UFM1-deconjugating enzyme in humans) dramatically increases ERα stability by inhibiting ubiquitination. In contrast, ERα stability is decreased by the prevention of ufmylation via the silencing of UBA5 (the UFM1-activating E1 enzyme). Lys171 and Lys180 of ERα were identified as the major UFM1 acceptor sites, and the replacement of both Lys residues by Arg (2KR mutation) markedly reduced ERα stability. Moreover, the 2KR mutation abrogated the 17β-estradiol-induced transactivity of ERα and the expression of its downstream target genes, including pS2, cyclin D1, and c-Myc; this indicates that ERα ufmylation is required for its transactivation function. In addition, the 2KR mutation prevented anchorage-independent colony formation by MCF7 cells. Most notably, the expression of UFM1 and its conjugating machinery (i.e., UBA5, UFC1, UFL1, and UFBP1) were dramatically upregulated in ERα-positive breast cancer cell lines and tissues. Collectively, these findings implicate a critical role attributed to ERα ufmylation in breast cancer development by ameliorating its stability and transactivity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2024

This study was conducted to examine the microbiological quality indicators (total bacterial count and coliform count) and physicochemical quality indicators (pH, redness, volatile basic nitrogen [VBN] content) of meat according to various storage temperatures (-20~15℃) and packaging methods (wrap, vacuum). Based on these results, we proposed a safe consumption period. Redness, pH, and VBN content were not considered appropriate for setting the expiration date, as the redness and pH of the meat after spoilage were better than the standard values for both vacuum and wrap packaging (p<0.05). Additionally, the VBN content at 2 and 4℃ increased slightly (fresh level) until the initial time of spoilage (1.0×10⁶ colony-forming unit [CFU]/cm²) and then increased rapidly thereafter. Therefore, the results were not consistent with microbial spoilage. When the decay point was evaluated based on the presence of microorganisms, vacuum packaging extended the storage period approximately 2.5-fold when compared with wrap packaging, and the meat could be stored at 2 or 4℃ for 40 or 23 days, respectively. Therefore, to evaluate meat quality, microbial indicators should be considered first. The microbiological standards proposed in this study can be used for safety management during the distribution of meat. However, to ensure meat safety, additional investigations of appropriate indicators of freshness must be conducted.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.542-550
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• 2019

To detect Escherichia coli from agri-food and production environments, a device based on IoT (internet of things) technology that can check test results in real time on a mobile phone has been developed. The efficiency of the developed device, which combines an incubator equipped with a UV lamp, a high-resolution camera and software to detect E. coli in the field, was evaluated by measuring the device's temperature, detection limit, and detection time. The device showed a difference between its programmed temperature setting and actual temperature of about 1.0℃. In a detection limit test performed with a single-colony inoculation, a color change to yellow and a florescent signal were detected after 12 and 15 h incubations, respectively. The incubation time also decreased along with increasing bacteria levels. When applying the developed method and device to various samples, including utensils, gloves, irrigation water, seeds, and vegetables, detection rates of E. coli using the device were higher than those of the Korean Food Code method. These results show that the developed protocol and device can efficiently detect E. coli from agri-food production environments and vegetables.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.64-72
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• 2017

The formation of brown colonies due to phenol oxidase activity on classic agar media containing natural material extracts of Helianthus annuus or on medium containing L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine has been used to identify Cryptococcus species complex. In this study, various natural materials were used to develop a modified medium and to identify five major serotypes of Cryptococcus species complex. Serotypes A, D, and A/D were pigmented on medium using Perilla frutescens var. japonica Hara (PerJ agar) after a three-day incubation. Serotypes B and C were pigmented on PerJ agar after four- and five-day incubations, respectively. Growth time and pigmentation of the five serotypes occurred more rapidly on PerJ agar than on the other media. In addition, colony morphology, size, and pigmentation were specific by serotype. In conclusion, PerJ agar should be used in clinic settings to identify Cryptococcus species complex and its serotypes rapidly.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1500-1507
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• 2016

Myostatin (MSTN) can negatively regulate the growth and development of skeletal muscle, and natural mutations can cause "double-muscling" trait in animals. In order to block the inhibiting effect of MSTN on muscle growth, we transferred zinc-finger nucleases (ZFN) which targeted sheep MSTN gene into cultured fibroblasts. Gene targeted colonies were isolated from transfected fibroblasts by serial dilution culture and screened by sequencing. Two colonies were identified with mono-allele mutation and one colony with bi-allelic deletion. Further, we introduced the MSTN-ZFN mRNA into sheep embryos by microinjection. Thirteen of thirty-seven parthenogenetic embryos were targeted by ZFN, with the efficiency of 35%. Our work established the technical foundation for generation of MSTN gene editing sheep by somatic cloning and microinjection ZFN into embryos.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.435-438
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• 2003

A townscape has been a main factor in urban-development problems in Japan. In the townscape, keeping harmony with environment is a common goal. But useful and meaningful goals are expressing individuality and impression of the town in the townscape. In this paper, we propose the colony planning support system system to improve the townscape. The system finds propositional colour combinations based on three elements, town image, colour harmony, and cost. The targets of this model are mostly townscapes in residential areas that already exist, In this paper, we introduce the construction of a Kansei evaluation model to quantify the impression. First, we conducted computer-based evaluational experiments for 20 subjects using the SD method to clarify the relationship between town image and street colours. We chose 16 adjective words related to town image and prepared 100 colour picture samples for the evaluation. After the experiments, we constructed the model using a neural network for each word. We chose 62 experimental results for the training data of the neural network and 20 results for the testing data. Each colour in the data was selected to have unique hue, brightness or saturation attributes, After the construction, we tested the model for accuracy. We input the testing data into the constructed model and calculated errors between the output from the model and the experimental results. Testing of the model showed that the model worked well for more than 80％ of the samples. The model demonstrated influences of colours on the town image.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2017

Bell pepper is an economically important crop worldwide; however, production is restricted by a number of fungal diseases that cause significant yield loss. Chemical control is the most common approach adopted by growers to manage a number of these diseases. Monitoring for the development to resistance to fungicides in pathogenic fungal populations is central to devising integrated pest management strategies. Two fungal species, Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC) and Colletotrichum truncatum are important pathogens of bell pepper in Trinidad. This study was carried out to determine the sensitivity of 71 isolates belonging to these two fungal species to fungicides with different modes of action based on in vitro bioassays. There was no significant difference in log effective concentration required to achieve 50% colony growth inhibition ($LogEC_{50}$) values when field location and fungicide were considered for each species separately based on ANOVA analyses. However, the $LogEC_{50}$ value for the Aranguez-Antracol locationfungicide combination was almost twice the value for the Maloney/Macoya-Antracol location-fungicide combination regardless of fungal species. $LogEC_{50}$ values for Benomyl fungicide was also higher for C. truncatum isolates than for FIESC isolates and for any other fungicide. Cropping practices in these locations may explain the fungicide sensitivity data obtained.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.115-124
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• 2011

This study examines the process of urban formation in the city of Yanji. The analysis is done by the change of street pattern and major facility location in a timely manner by appling space syntax method. This research categorizes the pattern of the urban growth focused on two urban forms, street and major buildings, in the city and is offered of the meaning of the first value on interpretation of the urban growth in the city of Yanji. The result of the research are as follows. First, the period of the city transformation is divided into four stage; intuitive period, grid-iron formative period, consolidation period, and urban expansion period. Second, characteristics of each stage have been analyzed. At the first stage, the city started to frame along both buildings and streets which were placed without a plan. At the second stage, the city was planned and constructed into new grid-iron pattern ignoring existing context by Jananese colony. At the consolidation period, the road system expands from the city center toward suburban. At the last expansion period, the shape of the city has complicated its shape with complex road system. This study contributes to provide a basic analysis and data to investigate how the Yanji city has evolved over period of time. But further continuous research should be done for future urban development of the Yanji city.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.595-600
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• 2011

Pax 6, a member of the paired box (Pax) family, has been implicated in oncogenesis. However, its therapeutic potential has been never examined in breast cancer. To explore the role of Pax6 in breast cancer development, a lentivirus based short hairpin RNA (shRNA) delivery system was used to knockdown Pax6 expression in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive (MCF-7) and ER-negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. Effect of Pax6 silencing on breast cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis was analyzed. Pax6-RNAi-lentivirus infection remarkably downregulated the expression levels of Pax6 mRNA and protein in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Accordingly, the cell viability, DNA synthesis, and colony formation were strongly suppressed, and the tumorigenesis in xenograft nude mice was significantly inhibited. Moreover, tumor cells were arrested at G0/G1 phase after Pax6 was knocked down. Pax6 facilitates important regulatory roles in breast cancer cell proliferation and tumor progression, and could serve as a diagnostic marker for clinical investigation.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.25-36
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to trace the historical background and to describe the architectural issues of the healthcare facilities in 1876~1945 years. Between 1876~1895 yr, the first western hospital "Jejung-Won" was built in Seoul by the Korean Gov. with the help of the American Missionary Dr. Allen. The special clinic for curing smallpox, Udu-Kuk was built nationally and the hospitals for infection disease were built in the same periods. In the next stage 1896~1905, 1905~1910 yr, there were many type of facilities such as military hospital, oriental medicine hospital, public hospital for poor people, clinic or hospital for Mission. After being conquered by Japan in 1910~1945, the Japan Healthcare System was directly transferred into Korean system and the healthcare facilities was built by japanese architect. At that time, the Japan healthcare system had been constructed after following the modern European healthcare system. Most healthcare facilities in the age of Japanese imperialist was handed over to the Korean Government in 1950~1960 yr after world war II.