• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.92-111
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• 2021

Purpose: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is the most common form of glomerulopathy in children. Most pediatric patients respond to glucocorticosteroid treatment (steroid-sensitive NS, SSNS), while approximately 10-15% will remain unresponsive or later become steroid-resistant. There has been a long-standing effort to find biomarkers that may predict steroid responsiveness. Methods: We systematically reviewed current studies which investigated clinically relevant biomarkers for predicting steroid responsiveness in pediatric NS. We performed a PubMed and EMBASE search to identify eligible articles. We collected data on urinary markers, blood/serum markers (including cellular phenotypes and mRNA expression), genotypes and HLA allele frequency. Results: A total of 659 articles were identified following electronic and manual searches. After reviewing the titles, abstracts, and full texts, 72 eligible articles were finally included. Vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) seemed to be significantly elevated in SRNS than in SSNS, in both serum and urine specimen, although further validation is required. Conclusions: The present paper narratively illustrates current understandings of potential biomarkers that may help predict steroid responsiveness. Further investigation and collaboration involving a larger number of patients are necessary.

• Journal of Multimedia Information System
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.177-182
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• 2022

A deep neural network (DNN) includes variables whose values keep on changing with the training process until it reaches the final point of convergence. These variables are the co-efficient of a polynomial expression to relate to the feature extraction process. In general, DNNs work in multiple 'dimensions' depending upon the number of channels and batches accounted for training. However, after the execution of feature extraction and before entering the SoftMax or other classifier, there is a conversion of features from multiple N-dimensions to a single vector form, where 'N' represents the number of activation channels. This usually happens in a Fully connected layer (FCL) or a dense layer. This reduced 2D feature is the subject of study for our analysis. For this, we have used the FCL, so the trained weights of this FCL will be used for the weight-class correlation analysis. The popular DNN models selected for our study are ResNet-101, VGG-19, and GoogleNet. These models' weights are directly used for fine-tuning (with all trained weights initially transferred) and scratch trained (with no weights transferred). Then the comparison is done by plotting the graph of feature distribution and the final FCL weights.

• Honam Mathematical Journal
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.183-197
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• 2021

Recently several authors have extended the Beta function by using its integral representation. However, in many cases no expression of these extended functions in terms of classic special functions is known. In the present paper, we introduce a further extension by defining a family of functions G_r,s : ℝ^*₊ → ℂ, with r, s ∈ ℂ and ℜ(r) > 0. For given r, s, we prove that this function satisfies a second-order linear differential equation with rational coefficients. Solving this ODE, we express G_r,s as a combination of confluent hypergeometric functions. From this we deduce a new integral relation satisfied by Tricomi's function. We then investigate additional specific properties of G_r,1 which take the form of new non trivial integral relations involving exponential and error functions. We discuss the connection between G_r,1 and Stokes' first problem (or Rayleigh problem) in fluid mechanics which consists in determining the flow created by the movement of an infinitely long plate. For $r{\in}{\frac{1}{2}}{\mathbb{N}}^*$, we find additional relations between G_r,1 and Hermite polynomials. In view of these results, we believe the family of extended beta functions G_r,s will find further applications in two directions: (i) for improving our knowledge of confluent hypergeometric functions and Tricomi's function, (ii) and for engineering and physics problems.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

Objectives : Many of currently used anti-cancer drugs were developed to target cell death mechanisms and had serious side effects by causing damage to normal cells. Hangambujeongsan or Kangai Fuzheng Powder was a mixture based on the traditional Chinese medicine. It had been used in the local Chinese hospitals to treat cancer patients for decades and had shown a certain level of beneficial effects without major toxic effects. But its mechanism of action had not been elucidated yet. Thus this study aimed to investigate the effects of Kangai Fuzheng Powder in an in vitro experiment. Methods : Cancer lines or RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells were treated with Kangai Fuzheng Powder. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and morphological observation was also performed. Gene expression of cytokines in macrophages was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Phagocytic function assay was also performed in macrophage cells. Results : Kangai Fuzheng Powder had no direct detrimental effect on cancer cells. When macrophages were co-cultured with cancer cells, Kangai Fuzheng Powder had toxic effect on cancer cells. After exposing macrophages to Kangai Fuzheng Powder, macrophages transformed into activated form and the mRNA level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 was significantly enhanced. Phagocytic activity of macrophages was dramatically potentiated. Conclusions : We demonstrated that anti-cancer effect of Kangai Fuzheng Powder was related to activation of macrophages including enhanced cytokine production and phagocytic function.

• Journal of Research and Publication Ethics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-5
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• 2023

Purpose: There are already hundreds of millions of users of the Metaverse platform, and within a few years, it is expected to develop into a stage for new economic activities with huge industrial ripple effects due to the size of users. The purpose of this study is to derive considerations for the development of metaverse ethical guidelines. Research design, data, and methodology: The concept of the metaverse was examined through various opinions of industry and experts on the metaverse, and literature related to metaverse ethics was analyzed in the Korean journal database. Results: Six issues were identified through the existing research. (1) Establishing a unified definition of metaverse (2) Necessity of establishing ethical principles considering the operator (3) Personal information protection and privacy (4) Expression in a virtual environment (5) Copyright and intellectual property rights of creations (6) Virtual economy and fairness of trade. Conclusions: Metaverse ethics will be developed and implemented in a form and method different from the real world, but basically, continuous discussions on ethical rationality are needed in the process. In addition, since the ethical judgment in the metaverse environment accompanies cultural differences and epochal changes, it is necessary to focus on metaverse ethics cases.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.90-101
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• 2004

Se is essential for a number of enzymes that perform important metabolic functions necessary for good health. However, people in many countries do not appear to consume adequate amounts of Se to support the maximal expression of the selenoproteins and Se retention in the body of animals and humans is dependent on the ingested Se source such as organic and inorganic Se. Therefore, this review was discussed to explore metabolic characterization regarding intestinal absorption, bioavailability and selenoprotein synthesis according to animal species such as monogastrics including human beings and ruminants. Generally, organic Se provided to animals is more effective than inorganic Se in body retention for the animal owing to the difference of manner for intestinal absorption. But, Se absorption in ruminants depending on its chemical form still remained questioned by several microbial actions and feeding regimen in the rumen. And Se absorbed through small intestine is utilized for the synthesis of selenoproteins and/or retained as selenoamino acids in the body. Retained Se in the body may be recycled to synthesize selenoproteins as lacked of dietary Se. In conclusion, desirable forms of Se ingestion in the animal may be useful for Se fortification in animal products as well as well being for humans and animals.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2001

Erwinia amylovora causes a devastating disease called fire blight in rosaceous trees and shrubs such as apple, pear, and raspberry. To successfully infect its hosts, the pathogen requires a set of clustered genes termed hrp. Studies on the hrp system of E. amylovora indicated that it consists of three functional classes of genes. Regulation genes including hrpS, hrpS, hrpXY, and hrpL produce proteins that control the expression of other genes in the cluster. Secretion genes, many of which named hrc, encode proteins that may form a transmembrane complex, which is devoted to type III protein secretion. Finally, several genes encode the proteins that are delivered by the protein secretion apparatus. They include harpins, DspE, and other potential effector proteins that may contribute to proliferation of E. amylovora inside the hosts. Harpins are glycine-rich heat-stable elicitors of the hypersensitive response, and induce systemic acquired resistance. The pathogenicity protein DseE is homologous and functionally similar to an avirulence protein of Pseudomonas syringae. The region encompassing the hrpldsp gene cluster of E. amylovora shows features characteristic of a genomic island : a cryptic recombinase/integrase gene and a tRNA gene are present at one end and genes corresponding to those of the Escherichia coli K-12 chromosome are found beyond the region. This island, designated the Hrp pathogenicity island, is more than 60 kilobases in size and carries as many as 60 genes.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.97-110
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• 2023

The coefficient of lateral earth pressure at rest in loose sand during virgin loading, K₀ , and during unloading, K'₀ , have been determined from laterally confined load-unload tests. The tests included measurement of lateral pressure with null pressure gauges, side wall friction with newly designed friction meters and applied pressure and base pressure with load cells. The importance of accounting for side-wall friction when evaluating the distribution of vertical pressure over the height of the soil specimen was demonstrated. Relatively uniform friction was observed during loading, but this was not the case during unloading unless friction reduction measures were employed. While the measured value of K₀ was found to be close to, if slightly higher than the value commonly estimated on the basis of friction angle, φ', the ratio of K'₀ to K₀ was found to reasonably fit an expression of the form K'₀/K₀ = 1 + C·log(OCR), with C equal to 1 in the present tests.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.456-465
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• 2023

Cervical tumors represent a prevalent form of cancer affecting women worldwide; current treatment options involve surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation, is a crucial factor in cervical tumor growth. The molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of the liver kinase B1 (LKB1/STK11) tumor suppressor protein on tumor angiogenesis have not been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the role of LKB1 in cervical tumor angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo in this study. Our results demonstrated that LKB1 inhibited cervical tumor angiogenesis by suppressing the expression of angiogenesis-related factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α. LKB1 directly affected both carcinoma and vascular endothelial cells, resulting in a significant reduction in tumor growth and angiogenesis. Furthermore, LKB1 was found to bind to VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) and target the VEGFR-2-mediated protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling pathway in endothelial cells, thereby reducing cervical tumor growth and angiogenesis. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects of LKB1 in cervical cancer. These findings will help develop new therapeutic strategies for cervical cancer.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2023

This paper studied the problem of determining the optimal inventory level to meet the customer service target level in a situation where the customer demand for each branch of a nationwide retailer is uncertain. To this end, ISR (In-Stock Ratio) was defined as a key management indicator (KPI) that can be used from the perspective of a nationwide retailer such as Samsung, LG, or Apple that sells goods at branches nationwide. An optimization model was established to allow the retailer to minimize the total amount of inventory held at each branch while meeting the customer service target level defined as the average ISR. This paper proves that there is always an optimal solution in the model and expresses the optimal solution in a generalized form using the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker condition regardless of the shape of the probability distribution of customer demand. In addition, this paper studied the case where customer demand follows a specific probability distribution such as a normal distribution, and an expression representing the optimal inventory level for this case was derived.