• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.5145-5151
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• 2013

Background: Numerous carcinogens and reactive oxygen species (ROS) may cause DNA damage including oxidative base lesions that lead to risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Genetic susceptibility has been reported to play a key role in the development of this disease. The base excision repair (BER) pathway can effectively remove oxidative lesions, maintaining genomic stability and normal expression, with X-ray repair crosscomplementing1 (XRCC1), 8-oxoguanine glycosylase-1 (OGG1) and apurinic/apyimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) playing important roles. Aims: To analyze polymorphisms of DNA BER genes (OOG1, XRCC1 and APE1) and explore their associations, and the combined effects of these variants, with risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Materials and Methods: We detected SNPs of XRCC1 (Arg399Gln), OGG1 (Ser326Cys), APE1 (Asp148Glu and -141T/G) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with peripheral blood samples from 231 patients with NPC and 300 healthy people, furtherly analyzing their relations with the risk of NPC in multivariate logistic regression models. Results: After adjustment for sex and age, individuals with the XRCC1 399Gln/Gln (OR=1.96; 95%CI:1.02-3.78; p=0.04) and Arg/Gln (OR=1.87; 95%CI:1.29-2.71; p=0.001) genotype variants demonstrated a significantly increased risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma compared with those having the wild-type Arg/Arg genotype. APE1-141G/G was associated with a significantly reduced risk of NPC (OR=0.40;95%CI:0.18-0.89) in the smoking group. The OR calculated for the combination of XRCC1 399Gln and APE1 148Gln, two homozygous variants, was significantly additive for all cases (OR=2.09; 95% CI: 1.27-3.47; p=0.004). Conclusion: This is the first study to focus on the association between DNA base-excision repair genes (XRCC1, OGG1 and APE1) polymorphism and NPC risk. The XRCC1 Arg399Gln variant genotype is associated with an increased risk of NPC. APE1-141G/G may decrease risk of NPC in current smokers. The combined effects of polymorphisms within BER genes of XRCC1 399Gln and APE1 148Gln may contribute to a high risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.751-765
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• 1999

Several growth factors and polypeptidesare not commonly yet used for regenerators of bone tissue or alveolar bone because of the insufficiency of studies on their side effects, genetic engineering for mass production and stability for clinical application. Recently, many natural medicines, which have advantage of less side effects and possibility of long-term use, have been studied for their capacity and effects of anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and regenerative potential of periodontal tissues. Olibanum, Myrrha, Phlomis Radix, and Cimicifugae Rhizoma have been traditionally used as a drug for treatment of bone disease in oriental medicine. The objective of this study was to examine the ability of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) synthesis of rat calvarial osteoblast(MC3T3-E1) when several natural medicines were supplemented. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured with ${\alpha}$-MEM(negative control), dexamethasone(positive control), and each natural medicines for 3 and 5 days. And then ALP synthesis was measured by spectrophotometer for enzyme activity and by naphthol AS-BI staining for morphometry. All of the natural medicines induced higher activity of ALP synthesis than the negative controls. Especially Olibanumind uced the higher activity than the positive controls (p<0.05). In the aspects of culturing time, except Cimicifugae Rhizoma, the natural medicines induced higher activity of ALP synthesis at 5 days than at 3 days (p<0.05). In morphometry, all of the natural medicines showed statistical significance compared to the negative control (p<0.05). Myrrha a n d Phlomis Radix showed larger positively stained area at 5days than at 3 days, whereas the others did not showed the difference between at 5 and at 3 days(p<0.05). These results indicate that several natural medicines have an inducing ability of ALP synthesis in MC3T3-E1 cells.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.29-41
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• 2007

Structural design, like other complex decision problems, involves many trade-offs among competing criteria. Although mathematical programming models are becoming increasingly realistic, they often have design limitations, that is, there are often relevant issues that cannot be easily captured. From the understanding of these limitations, a decision-support system is developed that can generate some useful alternatives as well as a single optimum value in the optimization of steel frame structures. The alternatives produced using this system are "good" with respect to modeled objectives, and yet are "different," and are often better, with respect to interesting objectives not present in the model. In this study, we created a decision-support system for designing the most cost-effective moment-resisting steel frame structures for resisting lateral loads without compromising overall stability. The proposed approach considers the cost of steel products and the cost of connections within the design process. This system makes use of an optimization formulation, which was modified to generate alternatives of optimum value, which is the result of the trade-off between the number of moment connections and total cost. This trade-off was achieved by reducing the number of moment connections and rearranging them, using the combination of analysis based on the LRFD code and optimization scheme based on genetic algorithms. To evaluate the usefulness of this system, the alternatives were examined with respect to various design aspects.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• 제1권3호
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• pp.199-206
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• 1985

Viroids are the smallest. well-characterized infectious agents presently known. and so far viroids have been found only in higher plants. The structures of viroid-molecules are single-stranded, covalently closed circular RNA molecules with a range of 240 to 380 nucleotides according to the various viroids. Viroids are remarkable not only as a new category of pathogen, which cause economically important diseases, but also as an excellent model system for biochemical and biophysical investigations because of their small size, relative stability and their self-replication. Four different patato spindle tuber viroid isolates, which express the different symptoms on the same host plant exchange only 2 to 6 nucleotides in the total number of 359 nucleotides, but now the mechanism of viroid pathogenicity is not explained fully. Viroid-melecules are replicated without any special viroid-associated proteins, and during the process of viroid replication oligomeric viroid-associated RNAs are detected at nuclei of viroid infected leaf tissue. The mechanism of viroid replication can now be illustrated according to a possible explanation of rolling-circle system. Although the rapid progress have been made in elucidation of the biochemical and biophysical properties of PSTV and other viroids, the mechanism of viroid replication and pathogenicity is less known and is still a matter of speculation. When these problems can be sufficiently explained, the viroid molecule could play an important role as an available vector in plant genetic engineering.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.445-456
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• 2008

Telomeres consist of TTAGGG tandem repeated DNA sequences with specific proteins and locate at chromosome ends. Telomeres are essential for chromosome stability and are related with cell senescence, apoptosis and cancer. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein which has a template for the synthesis of telomeric DNA. This study was carried out to analyze the amount of telomeric DNA and telomerase activity in cattle cells. Analysis of the quantity of telomere in lymphocytes was done at different ages, sex and among Korean cattle and Holstein breeds. The telomerase activity was also analyzed in liver, brain, heart, kidney, and testis tissues of fetal calf and of 18 month old cattle. The amount of telomeres in lymphocytes and other tissue cells was analyzed by Quantitative-Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (Q-FISH) technique using a telomeric DNA probe. Telomerase activity was analyzed by Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol assay (TRAP). The amount of telomeric DNA on the lymphocytes during the whole life span was decreased along with age. Quantity of telomeres in Korean cattle was significantly higher than that in Holstein breed. The amount of telomeric DNA in males was significantly higher than that in females. Telomerase activity was up-regulated in most bovine tissues during fetal stage, but was down-regulated in most tissues at mature 18 month age except the testis cells. This study indicates that the amount of telomeres and telomerase activity of cells can be used as an age marker or/and a physiological marker of cattle.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.31-37
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• 1986

Seven cultivars of hard and soft wheat were evaluated by regression analysis for five bread quality characteristics to determine varietal response to environments. The regression coefficients were used as the measure of adaptability, and determination coefficients were used as the measure of stability by models of Eberhart and Russell. Phenotypic, genotypic and environmental correlation coefficient estimated for 6 characters tested in this experiments. Statistical analyses confirmed the strong influence of environment on five bread quality. A significant positive correlation exists between protein content, sedimentation value, pelshenke value and specific loaf volume. High heritability was found for sedimentation value ($h^2=0.747$), protein content ($h^2=0.557$) and specific loaf volume ($h^2=0.551$).

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.636-643
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• 1999

Ectodermal dysplasia is a genetic birth defect in which at least abnormally develop two structures derived from the ectoderm. It is usually inherited in autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive pattern. Oral manifestations are oligodontia, anodontia, dysmorphic teeth(conical shape), decreased occlusal vertical dimension and alveolar bone. Extraoral signs may include decreased or absent sweat glands, sparse and fine hair, saddle nose, hearing loss and decreased production of body fluids including saliva. Most affected children require extensive dental treatment to restore their appearance and help the development of a positive self image. The patient's overclosed profile was due to a decreased vertical dimension. The use of overdenture is to preserve erupted teeth, to accomodate the newly constructed occlusal plane, to improve retention and stability of denture and to maintain the remaining alveolar bone. The restoration of vertical dimension improved the child's speech, swallowing, and eating. Growth continue until the age of approximately 18. As child grows, replacement dentures will have to be fabricated primarily to accomodate increasing vertical dimension and changing dentition. Implants may be indicated later if the alveolar bone is adequate. Periodic recall visits are advised, to monitor the dentures during periods of growth and development, and eruption of the permanent teeth.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.12-19
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• 1999

To improve biopolymer productivity and properties of Bacillus strains, protoplast fusion was performed between biopolymer producing Bacillus subtilis K-1 and lactose utilizing Bacillus coagulans. The results were as follows; Protoplasts mixed in fusion fluid containing 33% PEG 6000, 1% PVP and 10 mM $CaCl_2$ were reacted for 5 min at $37^{\circ}C$ and then centrifused protoplasts were directly overlaid on the selective media containing $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ antibiotics and incubated for 3 days. At this conditions, the frequency of protoplast fusion was generally in the range of $4.6{\times}10^{-5}\;to\;1.8{\times}10^{-7}$ in ratio. Segregation ratio was observed between 1 to 6% indicating genetic stability of all the fusants. Fusants growth were also observed on the media contained amino acid and antibiotics as required marked materials. DNA contents of the selected fusants were 1.6 to 2.7 times more than that of parent strains. With observation by TEM microscopy, spherical protoplasts were first released from the swollen parental cells and then contracted to fuse in the process of fusion. And fused cells were observed representative vesicle. Originally, the parental cells were observed as in the morphology of thick-walled and double membrane-surrounded rod shape with TEM microscopy.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.55-64
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• 1990

Cell volume and DNA contents of the fusants were similar to those of parents. Genetic stability of the fusants was increased when they were cultured on minimal medium (MM) rather than on complete medium (CM), and the fusants were stabilized by subculturing 7 generations each 7 day on MM agar. The finally selected fusants after being cultured for 6 months on CM were stable without segregation. The fusants could also form nuclein and ascospores, and show red and pink colors by the test of TTC colorization. Assimilability and fermentability of carbon sources of the fusants were similarto those of parents. The tolerance of KCl, NaCl, sodium propionate and cycloheximide showed the traits of one strain of parents. When the fusants were cultured for 72 hr and 60 hr in the medium containing 20% glucose and sucrose, respectively, the yield of ethanol for FWKS 260 was reached to 9.6 v/v% and 9.8v/v%, respectively. The sensitive strain Kyokai 7 was found to be killed entirely after cultivation of 48 hr by the killer toxin from the fusants. The recipient S 29 and Kyokai 7 were found to have neither L nor M dsRNA plasmid. However, K 52 and fusants had both L and M dsRNA plasmid of 4.7 kb and 2.5 kb, respectively. The curants treated by heat and cycloheximide did not contain M dsRNA plasmid, but had large amounts of L dsRNA plasmid of those of killer yeasts.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제41권10호
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• pp.290-301
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• 2017

Background: Forest edges create distinctive ecological space as adjacent constituents, which distinguish between different ecosystems or land use types. These edges are made by anthropogenic or natural disturbance and affects both abiotic and biotic factors gradually. This study was carried out to assess edge effects on disturbed landscape at the pine-dominated clear-cut area in a genetic resources reserve in Uljin-gun, eastern Korea. This study aims to estimate the distance of edge influence by analyzing changes of abiotic and biotic factors along the distance from forest edge. Further, we recommend forest management strategy for sustaining healthy forest landscapes by reducing effects of deforestation. Results: Distance of edge effect based on the abiotic factors varied from 8.2 to 33.0 m. The distances were the longest in $Mg^{2+}$ content and total nitrogen, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$ contents, canopy openness, light intensity, air humidity, $Na^+$ content, and soil temperature followed. The result based on biotic factors varied from 6.8 to 29.5 m, coverage of tree species in the herb layer showed the longest distance and coverage of shrub plant in the herb layer, evenness, species diversity, total coverage of herb layer, and species richness followed. As the result of calculation of edge effect by synthesizing 26 factors measured in this study, the effect was shown from 11.0 m of the forest interior to 22.4 m of the open space. In the result of stand ordination, Rhododendron mucronulatum, R. schlippenbachii, and Fraxinus sieboldiana dominated arrangement of forest interior sites and Quercus mongolica, Vitis amurensis, and Rubus crataegifolius dominated spatial distribution of the open area plots. Conclusions: Forest interior habitat lies within the influence of both abiotic and biotic edge effects. Therefore, we need a forest management strategy to sustain the stability of the plant and further animal communities that depend on its stable conditions. For protecting forest interior, we recommend selective logging as a harvesting method for minimizing edge effects by anthropogenic disturbance. In fact, it was known that selective logging contributes to control light availability and wind regime, which are key factors affecting microclimate. In addition, ecological restoration applying protective planting for the remaining forest in the clear-cut area could contribute to prevent continuous disturbance in forest interior.