• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2008

Video image processing systems (VIPS) offer numerous benefits to transportation models and applications, due to their ability to monitor traffic in real time. VIPS based on a wide-area detection algorithm provide traffic parameters such as flow and velocity as well as occupancy and density. However, most current commercial VIPS utilize a tripwire detection algorithm that examines image intensity changes in the detection regions to indicate vehicle presence and passage, i.e., they do not identify individual vehicles as unique targets. If VIPS are developed to track individual vehicles and thus trace vehicle trajectories, many existing transportation models will benefit from more detailed information of individual vehicles. Furthermore, additional information obtained from the vehicle trajectories will improve incident detection by identifying lane change maneuvers and acceleration/deceleration patterns. However, unlike human vision, VIPS cameras have difficulty in recognizing vehicle movements over a detection zone longer than 100 meters. Over such a distance, the camera operators need to zoom in to recognize objects. As a result, vehicle tracking with a single camera is limited to detection zones under 100m. This paper develops a methodology capable of monitoring individual vehicle trajectories based on image processing. To improve traffic flow surveillance, a long distance tracking algorithm for use over 200m is developed with multi-closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras. The algorithm is capable of recognizing individual vehicle maneuvers and increasing the effectiveness of incident detection.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.102-113
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• 2016

This study analyzes the geographic information system (GIS) and machine learning models to understand the relationship between the appearance of hibernation sites and habitats in order to systematically manage the habitat of Asiatic Black Bear(Ursus thibetanus ussuricus) inhabiting Jirisan National Park, South Korea. The most important environmental factors influencing the hibernation sites was found to be the inclination(41.4%), followed by altitude(20.4%), distance from the trail(10.9%), and age group(7.7%) in the order of their contribution. A comparison between the hibernation habitat and the normal habitat of Asiatic Black Bear indicated that the average altitude of the hibernation sites was 63m, whereas the average altitude of the normal habitat was approximately 400m. The average inclination was found to be $7^{\circ}$, and a preference for the steeper inclination of $12-43^{\circ}$ was also observed. The average distance of the hibernation site from the road was approximately 300m; the range of separation distance was found to be 1,300-2,400m. This was thought to be the result of a safer selection of winter hibernation site by preventing human contact and outside invasion. This study analyzes the habitat environmental factors for the selection of hibernation sites that prevent severe cold and other threats during the hibernation period in order to provide fundamental data for hibernation ecology and habitat management of Asiatic Black Bear.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.232-241
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• 2013

Purpose: Gastrokine 1 plays an important role in gastric mucosal defense. Additionally, the Gastrokine 1-miR-185-DNMT1 axis has been shown to suppress gastric carcinogenesis through regulation of epigenetic alteration. Here, we investigated the effects of Gastrokine 1 on DNA methylation and gastritis. Materials and Methods: Expression of Gastrokine 1, DNMT1, EZH2, and c-Myc proteins, and the presence of Helicobacter pylori CagA protein were determined in 55 non-neoplastic gastric mucosal tissue samples by western blot analysis. The CpG island methylation phenotype was also examined using six markers (p16, hMLH1, CDH1, MINT1, MINT2 and MINT31) by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Histological gastritis was assessed according to the updated Sydney classification system. Results: Reduced Gastrokine 1 expression was found in 20 of the 55 (36.4%) gastric mucosal tissue samples and was closely associated with miR-185 expression. The Gastrokine 1 expression level was inversely correlated with that of DNMT1, EZH2, and c-Myc, and closely associated with the degree of gastritis. The H. pylori CagA protein was detected in 26 of the 55 (47.3%) gastric mucosal tissues and was positively associated with the expression of DNMT1, EZH2, and c-Myc. In addition, 30 (54.5%) and 23 (41.9%) of the gastric mucosal tissues could be classified as CpG island methylation phenotype-low and CpG island methylation phenotype-high, respectively. Reduced expression of Gastrokine 1 and miR-185, and increased expression of DNMT1, EZH2, and c-Myc were detected in the CpG island methylation phenotype-high gastric mucosa. Conclusions: Gastrokine 1 has a crucial role in gastric inflammation and DNA methylation in gastric mucosa.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.816-828
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• 1995

During the industrial preparation and the storage of foods, the side chain of some protein-bound amino acids can react chemically each other or with other molecules present in the food. The following reactions have been described : destruction of amino acids, racemization, protein-protein interactions, reactions of proteins with reducing sugars, oxidizing agents, or polyphenols. Apart from total destruction, the main reacitons are the forming of Maillard reactions products(e.g. fructoselysine) and the crosslinking with other amino acids in the same or in another protein molecule(e.g. lysinoalanine). The most often involved amino acid is lysine because of its free functional ${\varepsilon}-amino$ acid group. Generally derivatives of amino acids or crosslinks in polypeptides influence the bioavailability and the overall digestibility of the protein. This work reviews the technological, analytical, nutritional, and physiological problems related to the formation of fructoselysine and lysinolalnine in human foods, and evaluates the possible health risk for humans. A summary of the available information is of help in considering whether or not the presence of fructoselysine/lysinoalanine in foods represents a danger to man. The reduction in protein quality through these reactions is not a problem for the general population, but it is extremely important in infant foods, since infants are often nourished with a limited number of food product(e.g. formular foods) which are sensitive to the Mailard reaction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.516-523
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• 2006

The mushroom Inonotus obliquue (IO) has been traditionally used for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer in Russia, Poland, and most of Baltic countries. To explore the possibility that IO has chemoprevention effects, we examined whether or not the aqueous extract of IO inhibits HT-29 cell growth and investigated tile mechanism for this effect. Cells were incubated in the presence of increasing concentrations of the aqueous extract of IO. The extract substantially inhibited the viable HT-29 cell number in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA of HT-29 cells. Annexin-V staining followed by flow cytometry revealed that the extract induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis of total cell lysates revealed that the extract induced cleavage of caspase-8, -9 and -3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, but did not affect the protein levels of Bax and Bcl-2. In addition, the extract dose-dependently increased the activity of caspase-8, -9 and -3. We have demonstrated that the aqueous extract of IO inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in HT-29 cells, which may be mediated by its ability to activate the caspase pathway.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.438-446
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• 2007

Viable cells of periodontal ligament would be an important factor for the successful replantation of an avulsed tooth. Therefore, it is critical to choose the storage medium for the preservation of traumatically avulsed teeth. Growth factors and hormones could be considered for the therapeutic application of the maintenance of viable periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs). Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been suggested as an important player for the regeneration and wound healing process on other tissues. Therefore, EGF was evaluated for the therapeutic application on avulsed teeth. In addition, the synergic effect of EGF with tri-iodothyronine (T3) and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF). The cell proliferation of PDLFs was determined by MTT assay and increased dose-dependently up to 10 ng/ml in the presence of EGF. Maximum cellular growth was shown at the concentration of 10 ng/ml EGF. Also, EGF promoted the wound healing of PDLFs examined by in vitro wound healing assay. Combined effects of EGF with T3 or HB-EGF on the proliferation of PDLFs were also studied. Interestingly, EGF showed the synergic effect on the proliferation of PDLFs with T3 and HB-EGF. To find out the mechanism of the synergic effect of EGF and T3, the effect of T3 on the expression of endogenous EGF receptor was determined by RT-PCR. The result was that T3 enhanced the expression of EGF receptor in PDLFs. It suggested that EGF might be a good choice for a therapeutic application, which can be used as combination with T3 and HB-EGF.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2005

Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is known as a key regulator of ARE-mediated gene expression and the induction of Phase II detoxifying enzymes and antioxidant enzymes, which is also a common property of many chemopreventive agents. In the present study, we investigated the regulatory role of different chemopreventive agents including sulforaphane (SUL), allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), indole-3-carbinol (I3C), and parthenolide (PTL), in the expression and degradation of Nrf2 and the induction of the antioxidant enzyme HO-1. SUL strongly induced Nrf2 protein expression and ARE-mediated transcription activation, retarded degradation of Nrf2 through inhibiting Keap1, and thereby activating the transcriptional expression of HO-1. AITC was also a potent inducer of Nrf2 protein expression, ARE-reporter gene and HO-1 but had little effect on delaying the degradation of Nrf2 protein. Although PTL and I3C could induce ARE reporter gene expression and Nrf2 to some extent, they were not as potent as SUL and AITC. However, PTL dramatically induced the HO-1 expression, which was comparable to SUL, while I3C had no effect. In addition, when treated with SUL and PTL, inhibition of proteasome by MG132 did not cause additional accumulation of Nrf2, suggesting the involvement of other degradation mechanism(s) in the presence of these compounds such as SUL and PTL. In summary, the results of our current study indicated that different chemopreventive compounds have different regulatory properties on the accumulation and degradation of Nrf2 as well as the induction of cellular antioxidant enzyme HO-1.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 1983

The epidemiological relationship between the current prevalence and monthly reinfection rate of Ascaris lumbricoides was observed in rural communities in Korea by means of blanket mass chemotherapy and worm collection for measurement of the prevalence and reinfection rates. During the period from 1975 to 1980, a total of 4,466 inhabitants in 10 different localities were treated with 10 mg/kg of pyrantel pamoate and 2 days' whole stools were collected from 2,547 inhabitants. The stools were examined for the presence of expelled adult and/or young worms, which represent the prevalence and reinfection rates for past 2 months respectively. After then, the obtained rates were correlated each other applying the timeprevalence curve proposed by Hayashi. It was observed that the prevalence (overall worm positive rate) and worm burden per individual ranged by areas from 13. 6 to 72. 3% and 1.4~10. 2 respectively. The calculated monthly reinfection rates (X) (from young worm positive rates) according to areas were in the range, 2.6~16.2%, and clearly correlated with the current prevalence (Y) under the equation, $Y=1-(l-X)^{7.2}$ where 7.2 is time in month. The equation means that after one time mass chemotherapy the period needed to attain equilibrium of prevalence again would be about 7~8 months. And it is inferred that the majority of reinfected worms in human host turn over every 7~8 months.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.291-299
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• 2016

Human hydatid disease (cystic echinococcosis, CE) is a chronic parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. As the disease mainly affects the liver, approximately 70% of all identified CE cases are detected in this organ. Optical molecular imaging (OMI), a noninvasive imaging technique, has never been used in vivo with the specific molecular markers of CE. Thus, we aimed to construct an in vivo fluorescent imaging mouse model of CE to locate and quantify the presence of the parasites within the liver noninvasively. Drug-treated protoscolices were monitored after marking by JC-1 dye in in vitro and in vivo studies. This work describes for the first time the successful construction of an in vivo model of E. granulosus in a small living experimental animal to achieve dynamic monitoring and observation of multiple time points of the infection course. Using this model, we quantified and analyzed labeled protoscolices based on the intensities of their red and green fluorescence. Interestingly, the ratio of red to green fluorescence intensity not only revealed the location of protoscolices but also determined the viability of the parasites in vivo and in vivo tests. The noninvasive imaging model proposed in this work will be further studied for long-term detection and observation and may potentially be widely utilized in susceptibility testing and therapeutic effect evaluation.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2009

The occurrence of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), chemicals that interfere with human hormone system, are increasing in the freshwater, waste water and subsurface as well. In this study, we determined the reactivity of three EDCs in the presence of birnessite. In aqueous phase, bisphenol A, 2,4-dichlorophenol and 17${\beta}$-estradiol, which possesses phenoxy-OH, were very rapidly transformed by birnessite: up to 99% of initial concentrations (50 mg/L for bisphenol A, 100mg/L for 2,4-dichlorophenol, and 1.5mg/L for 17${\beta}$-estradiol) were destroyed within 60 minutes. Especially, bisphenol A was the most reactive chemical, disappearing by 99% in a few minutes. The reaction occurred on the surface of birnessite, showing a linear increase of first-order kinetic constants with the increase of the surface area of birnessite. In soil slurry phase, the reactivity of birnessiteto EDCs was faster than in aqueous phase probably due to the cross coupling reaction of phenoxy radicals with soil organic matter. Considering the rapid transformation of the EDCs in the both phases, this oxidative cross coupling reaction mediated by birnessite would be an effective solution for the remediation of EDCs in environmental media, especially in soil.