• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2018

This study examined the behavior of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) during the estrus period, breeding period, and mating including the estrus period along as well as the effect of environmental factors in an outdoor breeding facility. The average mating duration was 19.95 min (n = 13, range = 1.17-35.25 min). The breeding season was mainly early February (56.6%) for foxes aged more than one year and mid-March (60.0%) for foxes aged less than one year. The mating duration was longest when both male and female were more than one year old ($24.4{\pm}11.08min$), although copulation took place regardless of partner's age. Females that mated twice within two days after estrus started or with two males had 100% pregnancy rate. In addition, the pregnancy rate was highest (87%) when both mating partners were more than one year old. Foxes preferred daytime to nighttime for mating, and thus mating usually took place on sunny days or between 10:00 and 12:00 on partly cloudy days. A male mated with different females for a maximum of five times, and the higher the mating frequency of a male, the longer the mating duration. Interest in mating decreased after three copulations in the case of males and after two copulations in the case of females. Males required at least 4 hours and 46 minutes between the first and second copulation. For this study, we collected reference data that might be applied to breeding programs for the red fox to secure the restoration of individuals of this important species.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.373-383
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• 2020

Our previous study revealed a novel role of Fas-associated death domain-containing protein (FADD) in islet development and insulin secretion. Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a zinc metalloprotease that selectively degrades biologically important substrates associated with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The current study was designed to investigate the effect of FADD phosphorylation on IDE. We found that the mRNA and protein levels of IDE were significantly downregulated in FADD-D mouse livers compared with control mice. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that FADD regulates the expression of IDE at the transcriptional level without affecting the stability of the mRNA in HepG2 cells. Following treatment with cycloheximide, the IDE protein degradation rate was found to be increased in both FADD-D primary hepatocytes and FADD-knockdown HepG2 cells. Additionally, IDE expression levels were reduced in insulin-stimulated primary hepatocytes from FADD-D mice compared to those from control mice. Moreover, FADD phosphorylation promotes nuclear translocation of FoxO1, thus inhibiting the transcriptional activity of the IDE promoter. Together, these findings imply a novel role of FADD in the reduction of protein stability and expression levels of IDE.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.1-19
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• 2010

With the increasing importance of ecosystem in a business environment, the value of open innovation is receiving great attention. Under open innovation, companies open their knowledge, capital, and other resources to cooperating companies; on the other hand, under closed innovation companies depend solely on their own resources. In this paper, we compare closed and open innovation using the simulation method, and confirm that in terms of total capital and production of the industry, open innovation provides greater opportunities to the entire ecosystem. Moreover, Schumpeterian competition, which is a dynamic of closed innovation, functions even under open innovation. Our findings highlight that not only small but also large companies can receive the benefit of an enlarged industry under open innovation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2016

The serine/threonine kinase mTOR is essential for the phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) signaling pathway, and regulates the development and function of immune cells. Aberrant activation of mTOR signaling pathway is associated with many cancers including leukemia. Here, we report the contributions of mTOR signaling to growth of human leukemic cell lines and mouse T-cell acute leukemia (T-ALL) cells. Torin, an ATP-competitive mTOR inhibitor, was found to have both cytotoxic and cytostatic effects on U-937, THP-1, and RPMI-8226 cells, but not on Jurkat or K-562 cells. All cells were relatively resistant to rapamycin even with suppressed activity of mTOR complex 1. Growth of T-ALL cells induced by Notch1 was profoundly affected by torin partially due to increased expression of Bcl2l11 and Bbc3. Of note, activation of Akt or knockdown of FoxO1 mitigated the effect of mTOR inhibition on T-ALL cells. Our data provide insight on the effect of mTOR inhibitors on the survival and proliferation of leukemic cells, thus further improving our understanding on cell-context-dependent impacts of mTOR signaling. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(1): 63-68]

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.205-209
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• 2012

The objective of the present study was to establish the method of measurement of hydrogen peroxide and to estimate the anti-oxidative effect of genistein in the skin. UVB induced skin oxidation and anti-oxidative effect of genistein formulations were evaluated by determining levels of hydrogen peroxide. The mechanism involved in the determination of hydrogen peroxide is based on a color reaction between ferric ion ($Fe^{3+}$) and xylenol orange, often called FOX assay and subsequent monitoring of absorbance values of the reactant at 540 nm. The reaction was to some extent pH-dependent and detection sensitivity was greatest at pH 1.75. Genistein liposomal gel demonstrated better anti-oxidative effect with regard to lowering hydrogen peroxide levels elevated by UVB irradiation compared to genistein-suspended gel. A linear relationship has been observed between anti-oxidative effect of genistein and drug deposition in the skin tissue. Genistein liposomal gel resulting in the localization of the drug in the deeper skin led to improved anti-oxidative effect compared to genistein gel. The suggested method for evaluation of oxidation of the skin can be used as a tool to screen effective anti-oxidative agents and their delivery systems acting on the skin.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2021

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-atrophic effect of polycan in dexamethasone-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in vitro model. Methods : C2C12 myoblast were differentiated into myotube by 2% horese serum medium for 6 days, and then treated polycan extract at different concentrations for 24h. The effect of dexamethasone on the induction of muscle atrophy and expression of atrophy-related genes in differentiated C2C12 myotubes using a GSH, ROS, real-time PCR, western blots analysis. Results : The results showed that Treatment with polycan (100 and 200 ㎍/㎖) noncytotoxic levels on both myoblast and myotube. Polycan decreased the ROS level overproduced with dexamethasone and improved the depletion of GSH level. Dexamethasone showed a decrease in myotube diameter, which was associated with up-regulation muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases markers, such as atrogin-1, FoxO3, myostatin and muscle RING finger-1 (MuRF1), and down-regulation of myogenin, MEF2, Myogenic regulatory factor 5, 6 and MyoD. The results showed that polycan treatment significantly dose-dependently inhibited it. Furthermore, decreased expressions of PI3K/Akt signal pathway by dexamethasone were reversed by treatment with polycan. Conclusions : Thus, polycan suppresses dexamethasone induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotube in vitro model through activation of PI3K/Akt pathway and protective effect of improve skeletal muscle function.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.159-170
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• 2020

Purpose: Immunization with Porphyromonas gingivalis heat shock protein 60 (PgHSP60) may have an immunoregulatory effect on atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether nasal immunization with a PgHSP60 peptide could reduce atherosclerotic plaque formation in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice. Methods: Seven-week-old male ApoE KO mice were assigned to receive a normal diet, a Western diet, a Western diet and challenge with PgHSP60-derived peptide 14 (Pep14) or peptide 19 (Pep19), or a Western diet and immunization with Pep14 or Pep19 before challenge with Pep14 or Pep19. Results: Atherosclerotic plaques were significantly smaller in mice that received a Western diet with Pep14 nasal immunization than in mice that received a Western diet and no Pep14 immunization with or without Pep14 challenge. An immunoblot profile failed to detect serum reactivity to Pep14 in any of the study groups. Stimulation by either Pep14 or Pep19 strongly promoted the induction of CD4⁺CD25⁺ forkhead box P3 (FoxP3)⁺ human regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vitro. However, the expression of mouse splenic CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs was lower in the Pep14-immunized mice than in the Pep14-challenged or Pep19-immunized mice. Levels of serum interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor beta were higher and levels of interleukin (IL) 10 were lower in the Pep14-immunized mice than in the other groups. Induction of CD25^- IL-17⁺ T helper 17 (Th17) cells was attenuated in the Pep14-immunized mice. Conclusions: Nasal immunization with Pep14 may be a mechanism for attenuating atherogenesis by promoting the secretion of IFN-γ and/or suppressing Th17-mediated immunity.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1210-1220
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• 2021

Objective: Unlike mammals, goose fatty liver shows a strong tolerance to fatty acids without obvious injury. Stearyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1) serves crucial role in desaturation of saturated fatty acids (SAFs), but its role in the SAFs tolerance of goose hepatocytes has not been reported. This study was conducted to explore the role of SCD1 in regulating palmitic acid (PA) tolerance of goose primary hepatocytes. Methods: 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide was examined to reflect the effect of PA on hepatocytes viability, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA levels of several genes related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, and the role of SCD1 in PA tolerance of goose hepatocytes was explored using RNA interfere. Results: Our results indicated that goose hepatocytes exhibited a higher tolerant capacity to PA than human hepatic cell line (LO2 cells). In goose primary hepatocytes, the mRNA levels of fatty acid desaturation-related genes (SCD1 and fatty acid desaturase 2) and fatty acid elongate enzyme-related gene (elongase of very long chain fatty acids 6) were significantly upregulated with 0.6 mM PA treatment. However, in LO2 cells, expression of ER stress-related genes (x box-binding protein, binding immunoglobulin protein, and activating transcription factor 6), inflammatory response-related genes (interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-1β [IL-1β], and interferon-γ) and apoptosis-related genes (bcl-2-associated X protein, b-cell lymphoma 2, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9) was significantly enhanced with 0.6 mM PA treatment. Additionally, small interfering RNA (siRNA) mediated downregulation of SCD1 significantly reduced the PA tolerance of goose primary hepatocytes under the treatment of 0.6 mM PA; meanwhile, the mRNA levels of inflammatory-related genes (IL-6 and IL-1β) and several key genes involved in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), mammalian target of rapamycin and AMPK pathways (AKT1, AKT2, FoxO1, and sirtuin 1), as well as the protein expression of cytochrome C and the apoptosis rate were upregulated. Conclusion: In conclusion, our data suggested that SCD1 was involved in enhancing the PA tolerance of goose primary hepatocytes by regulating inflammation- and apoptosis-related genes expression.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.1B
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• pp.47-62
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• 2009

The climate change caused by global warming may affect on the hydro-meteorologic factor such as evaporation (IPCC, 2001). Furthermore, it is also necessary that the effect of climate change according to geographical condition on evaporation should be studied. In this study, considering geographical and topographical conditions, the 6 evaporation equations that have been applied to simulate annual and monthly pan evaporation were compared. 56 climatologic stations were selected and classified, basing on the geographical and topographical characteristics (urbanization, topographical slope, proximity to coast, and area of water body). The evaporation equations currently being used are applied. These evaporation equations are Penman, Kohler-Nordenson-Fox (KNF), DeBruin-Keijman, Priestley-Taylor, Hargreaves, and Rohwer. Furthermore, Penman equation was modified by calibrating the parameters of wind function and was verified using relative error. The study results indicate that the KNF equation compared best with the pan: relative error was 8.72%. Penman equation provided the next-best values for evaporation relative to the pan: relative error was 8.75%. The mass-transfer method (Rohwer) provided the worst comparison showing relative error of 33.47%. In case that there is a close correlation between wind function and wind speed, modified Penman equation provided a better estimate of pan evaporation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.6129-6133
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• 2015

miR-129-2 is frequently downregulated in multiple cancers. However, how it is silenced in cancers remains unclear. Here we investigated the expression profile and potential biological function of miR-129-2 in glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and lethal form of brain tumors in adults. We showed that miR-129-2 is lost in GBM patient specimens and cultured cell lines. miR-129-2 expression could be restored upon treatment with a histone deadetylase inhibitor (trichostatin A) but not a DNA methylation inhibitor (5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine), and more profound effect was observed with the treatment of these two drugs in combination. Furthermore, forced expression of miR-129-2 repressed the expression of major oncogenic genes such as PDGFRa and Foxp1 in GBMs. Consistently, expression of miR-129-2 significantly inhibits GBM cell proliferation in vitro. These results reveal that miR-129-2 is epigenetically regulated and functions as a tumor suppressor gene in GBMs, suggesting it may serve as a potential therapeutic target for GBM treatment.