• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1233-1239
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• 2014

Background: The incidence of brain metastases (BM) varies in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), calls into question the value of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). It is possible that clinicopathologic characteristics are associated with the development of BM, but these have yet to be identified in detail. Thus, we conducted the present meta-analysis on risk factors for BM and the value of PCI in patients with NSCLC. Methods: Eligible data were extracted and the risk factors for BM and the value of PCI in patients with NSCLC were analyzed by calculating the pooled odds ratio (OR). Heterogeneity was detected using Q and I-squared statistics, and publication bias was tested by funnel plots and Egger's test. Results: Six randomized controlled trials with a focus on the value of PCI and 13 eligible studies with a focus on risk factors for BM were included. PCI significantly reduced the incidence of BM in patients with NSCLC (p=0.000, pooled OR=0.34, 95% confidence interval = 0.37-0.59). Compared with non-squamous cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma was associated with a low incidence of BM in patients with NSCLC (p=0.000, pooled OR=0.47, 95% confidence interval =0.34-0.65). The funnel plot and Egger's test suggested that there was no publication bias in the current meta-analysis. Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides statistical evidence that compared with non-squamous cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma can be used as a predictor for BM in patients with NSCLC, and PCI might reduce the incidence of BM in patients with NSCLC, but does not provide a survival benefit.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9655-9660
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• 2014

Background: Nigella Sativa (NS) is an herb from the Ranunculaceae family that exhibits numerous medicinal properties and has been used as important constituent of many complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs). The ability of NS to kill cancer cells such as PC3, HeLa and hepatoma cells is well established. However, our understanding of the mode of death caused by NS remains nebulous. The objective of this study was to gain further insight into the mode and mechanism of death caused by NS in breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Materials and Methods: Human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) were treated with a methanolic extract of NS, and a dose- and time-dependent study was performed. The $IC_{50}$ was calculated using a Cell Titer $Blue^{(R)}$ viability assay assay, and evidence for DNA fragmentation was obtained by fluorescence microscopy TUNEL assay. Gene expression was also profiled for a number of apoptosis-related genes (Caspase-3, -8, -9 and p53 genes) through qPCR. Results: The $IC_{50}$ of MCF-7 cells was $62.8{\mu}L/mL$. When MCF-7 cells were exposed to $50{\mu}L/mL$ and $100{\mu}L/mL$ NS for 24h, 48h and 72h, microscopic examination (TUNEL assay) revealed a dose- and time-dependent increase in apoptosis. Similarly, the expression of the Caspase-3, -8, -9 and p53 genes increased significantly according to the dose and time. Conclusions: NS induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells through both the p53 and caspase pathways. NS could potentially represent an alternative source of medicine for breast cancer therapy.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.55-66
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• 1988

This study was conducted to investigate the various engineering properties and correlationshops among the soil constants of alluvial clayey deposits distributed in the bay of Asan and their results are summarized as follows : 1. Grain size distribution of soil was consisted of 12 % of clay, 46-73 % of silt, 2-23 % of sand, and as for the consistency characteristics, 26-36 % of liquid limit, 18-21 % of plastic limit and 6-16 % of plastic index, and so the soil belonging to as a lower plastic nonorganic clay, it's specific gravity was 2,66-2.70, and the location on the plastic chart was approximately above the A-line. Z The natural moisture content and unit weight were 30-43 % and 1.76-1.87 g I cm$_3$, respectively, and according to increment of natural moisture content, the unit weight was decreased, and the initial void ratio and degree of saturation were shown of 0,87-1119 and 92- 100 %, most of saturated. 3. Cone resistance value which was shown 2.4 - 6.5 kg / $cm^2$ was a little lower and it was increased with the depth of layer and shown the formular $q_c=0.7_z+1.32$. 4. Unconfined compression strength was about 0.18-0.43kg /$cm^2$, cu, 0.1-0.22kg / $\psi$, $2-6^{\circ}$ under uu-test condition of triaxial, and CCU, 0.08-0.3 kg/cm , $\psi$, $12-18^{\circ}$ under the condition of cu-test. 5. Pre-consolidation load of characteristics of consolidation was 0.4-0.8 kg / $cm^2$, compression index, about 0.17-0.33. 6. Liquid limit and plastic index were incresased with the increment of clay content but most of alluvial clay was appeared as a normal through non-activity clay soil shown more natural moisture content than liquid limit, and their relationship as follows : LL=0.38( cy+54.8), PI=0.836(LL -17.8), PI =0.468(LL -0.48) 7. The initial void ratio presented correlationship of positive among clay content, natural moisture content and liquid limit, and that of reverse with unit weight, and their results as follws : $e_o=0.024(w_n+0.2)$, $e_o=e_o=0.0003c_y+0.0005 LL+0.0151 W_n+\frac{3.58}{r-t}-1.52$ 8. It was shown that the compression index has correlationship of postive among the clay content, liquid limit, plastic index, natural moisture content and initial void ratio, and their relationships as follows ; $c_c=0.44(e_o-0.47)$, $c_c=0.001$

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.2125-2134
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• 2015

IrrE is a highly conserved global regulator in the Deinococcus genus and contributes to survival from high doses of UV radiation, ionizing radiation, and desiccation. Drad-IrrE and Dgob-IrrE from Deinococcus radiodurans and Deinococcus gobiensis I-0 each share 66% sequence identity. However, Dgob-IrrE showed a stronger protection phenotype against UV radiation than Drad-IrrE in the D. radiodurans irrE-deletion mutant (ΔirrE), which may be due to amino acid residues differences around the DNA-binding HTH domain. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to generate a Drad-IrrE A184S single mutant, which has been characterized and compared with the ΔirrE mutant complemented strain with Drad-irrE, designated ΔirrE-E. The effects of the A184S mutation following UV radiation and mitomycin C (MMC) shock were determined. The A184S mutant displayed significantly increased resistance to UV radiation and MMC shock. The corresponding A184 site in Dgob-IrrE was inversely mutated, generating the S131A mutant, which exhibited a loss of resistance against UV radiation, MMC shock, and desiccation. qPCR analysis revealed that critical genes in the DNA repair system, such as recA, pprA, uvrA, and ddrB, were remarkably induced after UV radiation and MMC shock in the ΔirrE-IE and A184S mutants. These data suggested that A184S improves the ability against UV radiation and MMC shock, providing new insights into the modification of IrrE. We speculated that the serine residue may determine the efficiency of DNA binding, leading to the increased expression of IrrE-dependent genes important for protection against DNA damage.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.197-203
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• 2009

An indole oxygenase originated from Rhodococcus sp. RHA1 was cloned into the expression vector, pTrc99A, in Escherichia coli, and designated pTCAN1. The pTCAN2 was constructed from pTCAN1 by the deletion of $lacI^q$ for the constitutive expression of indole oxygenase without adding IPTG in the medium. The complete open reading frame of indole oxygenase was 1,224 bp long, which encodes a protein of 407amino acids. Crude extracts of E. coli $DH5{\alpha}$/pTCAN1 and pTCAN2, respectively, were prepared and subjected to SDS-PAGE analysis. A band corresponding to molecular mass of about 43 kDa was appeared and this result correlated with the predicted molecular mass of cloned indole oxygenase. The E. coli harboring pTCAN1 and pTCAN2, respectively, showed blue color colony in LB plate. The pigment showing blue color was prepared from E. coli $DH5{\alpha}$/pTCAN2, and identified as indigo by experiments using spectrophotometer, HPLC, and TLC. The indigo-forming activity of indole oxygenases from the whole cell of E. coli $DH5{\alpha}/pTCAN1$ cultured at LB medium added 1mM of IPTG and that of E. coli/pTCAN2 showed about 1.75nmol/min/mg DCW (dry cell weight) and 3.85 nmol/min/mg DCW, respectively. Also, the E. coli $DH5{\alpha}$/pTCAN2 produced about $236{\mu}M$ of indigo after 48 hours incubation in TB medium supplemented with 2.5 mM of tryptophan.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.588-596
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• 2018

An endo-${\beta}$-1,4-glucanase gene, cel9K, was cloned using the shot-gun method from Paenibacillus sp. X4, which was isolated from alpine soil. The gene was 2,994 bp in length, encoding a protein of 997 amino acid residues with a predicted signal peptide composed of 32 amino acid residues. Cel9K was a multimodular enzyme, and the molecular mass and theoretical pI of the mature Cel9K were 103.5 kDa and 4.81, respectively. Cel9K contains the GGxxDAGD, PHHR, GAxxGG, YxDDI, and EVxxDYN motifs found in most glycoside hydrolase family 9 (GH9) members. The protein sequence showed the highest similarity (88%) with the cellulase of Bacillus sp. BP23 in comparison with the enzymes with reported properties. The enzyme was purified by chromatography using HiTrap Q, CHT-II, and HiTrap Butyl HP. Using SDS-PAGE/activity staining, the molecular mass of Cel9K was estimated to be 93 kDa, which is a truncated form produced by the proteolytic cleavage of its C-terminus. Cel9K was optimally active at pH 5.5 and $50^{\circ}C$ and showed a half-life of 59.2 min at $50^{\circ}C$. The CMCase activity was increased to more than 150% in the presence of 2 mM $Na^+$, $K^+$, and $Ba^{2+}$, but decreased significantly to less than 50% by $Mn^{2+}$ and $Co^{2+}$. The addition of Cel9K to a commercial enzyme set (Celluclast 1.5L + Novozym 188) increased the saccharification of the pretreated reed and rice straw powders by 30.4% and 15.9%, respectively. The results suggest that Cel9K can be used to enhance the enzymatic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to reducing sugars as an additive.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.375-380
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• 1999

This study was conducted to develop an intrauterine inseminator (IUI) to deposit of frozen semen into uterus and to evaluate the results obtained after artificial insemination by IUI. Two Japanese spitzs (2 to 4 years of age) were used as semen donors. Semen was collected by manual masturbation into sterile glass collection tubes and separated into 3 fractions with only the sperm-rich fractions retained for further examination. Sperm motility >70%, sperm concentration of 200 to $400{\times}10^6 cells/ml$$\times$g for 5 min and poured out the suspended solution, and then diluted with 2 ml Tris-buffer which was consisted of 2.4 g Tris, 1.4 g citric acid, 0.8 g glucose, 0.1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml streptomycin, 100 IU/ml penicillin, 20 ml egg yolk to 100 ml mili-Q water (Ext I) or supplemented with 8 ml glycerol and 1 ml Equex STM paste to 100 rnl (Ext II). The diluted semen was cooled to 5$^{\circ}C$ in cold room, where the temperature in the sample reached 5$^{\circ}C$. Two h after beginning the cooling procedure, 2 ml of Ext II, also at 5$^{\circ}C$, was added and mixed by gently reversing the tubes several times during 1 h. The final sperm concentration for freezing was approximately $50{\times}10^6 cells/ml$. After equilibration, the semen was loaded into 0.5 ml straw and frozen on the liquid nitrogen vapour in styrofoam box. The straws were thawed at 7$0^{\circ}C$ for precisely 6 sec. After thawing of each straw, the frozen semen can survived over 50% motility. All the females were inseminated twice with 1 ml of $25{\times}10^6 cells/ml$

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.291-298
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• 2013

On this study, we treated rats with restraint stress, and observed the changes with an optical microscope. Within the salivary gland tissue, we measured cell apoptosis cycle evaluation which show positive reaction on TUNEL assay, and compared within the groups. For this study, 18 rats were divided into 3 groups; 1) 2 rats of group I were selected as a normal control. 2) 2 rats of group II, as a experimental control were placed in the restraint cone for 2 hours 3) 14 rats of group III were placed in the restraint cone for 2 hours once a day. The rats were sacrificed immediately (group II, as a experimental control), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7days after application of the stress and the both parotid glands were excised. The conclusions follow. 1. 5 days after giving an confining stress to the parotid gland of Rats, we can observe the hypotropy and pus and inflammation of Rat parotid gland acinar cells, and after 7 days, we can see a cell apoptosis. 2. Through the In situ DNA end labeling assay and TUNEL dye, on serous glands, benign tumor cell increased with statistically significant result after 5 days from confining stress. And the index shows maximum value on 7th days, which is same result with histological opinion. Therefore, our study shows that a cell apoptosis can be induced by restraint stress on salivary gland tissue, and we think more study should be accomplished about the cell signaling pathway in the future.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.6-12
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• 2007

배경: 소아 진정 치료 시 서로 다른 용량의 chloral hydrate와 hydroxyzine을 복용 후 midazolam을 구강 점막 하 주사했을 때 행동 반응을 비교하였다. 방법: 총 32회 진정법을 통해 치과치료를 받은 30명의 나이 24-72개월, 체중 20 kg 미만의 미국 마취과학회 신체등급 I의 건강하지만 겁이 많고 협조가 안 되는 소아 환자를 대상으로 2개 치아이상의 보존 치료 및 발치를 필요로 하는 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 호흡기 질환이 있는 아이들은 이 연구에서 제외되었다. 연구 계획은 이대 목동 병원의 임상 실험 심사 위원회에 제출되었다. 1군은 chloral hydrate 50 mg/kg와 hydroxyzine 1 mg/kg 복용 후 점막 하 midazolam 0.2 mg/kg을 추가 투여했고 2군은 chloral hydrate 60 mg/kg와 hydroxyzine 1 mg/kg 복용 후 점막 하 midazolam 0.1 mg/kg을 주사 받았다. 50% nitrous oxide는 치료 중 두 군 모두 유지되었다. 전날 수면 시간과 약물 복용 태도를 기록하였으며 모든 치료 과정은 비디오로 촬영되었다. 맥박 산소 계측기를 이용하여 경피적 산소 포화도와 맥박수를 기록하였고 행동 반응은 Houpt scale을 이용하여 매 2분마다 40분 동안 기록되었다. 전반적인 행동 반응은 Houpt scale를 이용하여 평가되었다. 모든 자료는 SPSS 통계 프로그램을 이용하여 two sample independent t-test를 사용하였다. P 값은 0.05 미만인 경우를 통계학적으로 유의하다고 보았다. 결과: 두 군 간의 경피적 산소 포화도와 맥박수는 모두 정상 범위이며 유의한 차이가 없었다. 행동 반응 비교에서는 치료 처음 10분 동안 2군이 1군에 비해 점수가 높게 나왔으며(P < 0.05), 그 외에는 유의한 차이가 없었다. 전날 총 수면 시간과 약물을 복용하는 태도는 수면 치료 중의 행동 반응에 영향을 주지 않았다. 결론: Chloral hydrate 50 mg/kg 복용과 점막 하 midazolam 0.2 mg/kg은 chloral hydrate 60 mg/kg 복용과 점막 하 midazolam 0.1 mg/kg과 비교할 때 두 약물의 조합은 모두 소아 환자 수면 치료시 안전하고 효과적인 용량이다. Overall behavior와 Q (quiet)의 분포를 비교해 볼 때 두 군 모두 성공적인 진정효과를 기대할 수 있다.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1169-1176
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• 2010

The RF front-end for L1/L2 dual-band Global Positioning System(GPS) receiver is presented in this paper. The RF front-end(down-converter) using low IF architecture consists of a wideband low noise amplifier(LNA), a current mode logic(CML) frequency divider and a I/Q down-conversion mixer with a poly-phase filter for image rejection. The current bleeding technique is used in the LNA and mixer to obtain the high gain and solve the head-room problem. The common drain feedback is adopted for low noise amplifier to achieve the wideband input matching without inductors. The fabricated RF front-end using $0.18{\mu}m$ CMOS process shows a gain of 38 dB for L1 and 41 dB for L2 band. The measured IIP3 is -29 dBm in L1 band and -33 dBm in L2 band, The input return loss is less than -10 dB from 50 MHz to 3 GHz. The measured noise figure(NF) is 3.81 dB for L1 band and 3.71 dB for L2 band. The image rejection ratio is 36.5 dB. The chip size of RF front end is $1.2{\times}1.35mm^2$.