• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1041-1045
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• 2019

In this study, the KS A ISO Guide 35 was applied to develop analytical standards for heavy metal cadmium using the Korean mussel (Mytilus coruscus) and to evaluate the homogeneity and stability of the sample. Some of the crucial characteristics that reference materials must consist include homogeneity and stability of both intra- and inter-bottles. We tested homogeneity using ANOVA analysis and short-term stability using regression analysis. The variations of cadmium concentrations did not significantly differ between intra- and inter-bottles (F=0.41, p=0.90). For short-term stability verification, cadmium analysis results were not statistically significant as a result of the regression analysis (significance F=0.51, p=0.53). This suggests that we can not dismiss the null hypothesis that there is no significant variation in concentrations of cadmium over time. These results indicated that the cryogenic-milling process has statistically proven the short-term stability for materials from mussels in the chemical analysis of cadmium. Therefore, we propose that the Korean mussel's reference material developed for the proficiency test could be used as a tool to evaluate reliability and consistency in laboratories.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1271-1277
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• 2018

The National Environmental Specimen Bank (NESB) has been sampling and cryogenically preserving various wildlife specimens to monitor bio-accumulations of chemical pollutants since 2010. Recently, the NESB set up a plan to develop reference materials at their facility to assure the analytical quality of and validate the analytical methods for their monitoring samples. One of the crucial characteristics of reference materials is intra- and inter-bottle homogeneity. In this study, we used ANOVA for total mercury concentrations in some samples to validate their homogeneities after milling and homogenization. We examined the intra- and inter-bottle homogeneities of two cryogenically-milled samples (Korean mussel (Mytilus coruscus) and black-tailed gull's egg (Larus crassirostris). The variations in the total mercury concentrations were not significantly different intra- and inter-bottle (mussel: F=0.74, p=0.67; gull egg: F=1.96, p=0.10). Additionally, the relative standard deviations of the total mercury concentrations showed low values (mussel: 2.02%, gull egg: 1.78%). Therefore, the cryogenic-milling process statistically proves the homogeneity of the materials of mussels and sea gull eggs for chemical analysis for total mercury.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2017

Scaffolds of cell substrates are biophysical platforms for cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation. They ultimately play a leading-edge role in the regeneration of tissues. Recent studies have shown the potential of bioactive scaffolds (i.e., osteo-inductive) through 3D printing. In this study, rice bran-derived biocomposite was fabricated for fused deposition modeling (FDM)-based 3D printing as a potential bone-graft analogue. Rice bran by-product was blended with poly caprolactone (PCL), a synthetic commercial biodegradable polymer. An extruder with extrusion process molding was adopted to manufacture the newly blended "green material." Processing conditions affected the performance of these blends. Bio-filament composite was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Mechanical characterization of bio-filament composite was carried out to determine stress-strain and compressive strength. Biological behaviors of bio-filament composites were also investigated by assessing cell cytotoxicity and water contact angle. EDX results of bio-filament composites indicated the presence of organic compounds. These bio-filament composites were found to have higher tensile strength than conventional PCL filament. They exhibited positive response in cytotoxicity. Biological analysis revealed better compatibility of r-PCL with rice bran. Such rice bran blended bio-filament composite was found to have higher elongation and strength compared to control PCL.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.19-31
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• 2021

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has been promoting the 'Fishing Village Specialization Capacity Enhancement Project' to pursue sustainable development of villages such as income generation by using local tangible and intangible resources led by local residents at the village level since 2013. For the fishing village-Specialization capacity enhancement project, six training sessions (mainly in the village unit) are selected by the public offering method, and the project (income generating business, village development project, etc.) is developed for the selected village residents. It has a process of establishing a village project plan (a preliminary plan for village development or a sixth preliminary industrialization plan) based on the training of experts 5 times, practice or excursion 1 time). In this study, four villages in Gangwon-do fishing villages (two coastal villages and two inland water villages) were surveyed on the perception and satisfaction of fishing village development projects before and after training. The survey analysis was conducted by dividing the analysis of resident capacity and satisfaction into personal, interpersonal, and social dimensions. The survey was conducted by distributing a survey before and after training, and a 1:1 survey was conducted according to the residents' cognitive status. Based on the survey, factor analysis, reliability analysis, and analysis using the corresponding sample t-test showed an increase of 0.02 for Yangyang Mulchi fishing village, 0.11 for Samcheok Jangho fishing village, and 0.36 for Hongcheon River fishing industry, but Yanggu Jinmok fishing industry was -0.29, unlike other regions. As a result of this analysis, it has been empirically proven that provision of training projects through resident participation is a very important factor for the success of the fishing village project. Therefore, rather than fostering local leaders, training and community activities to strengthen personal capacities of residents participating in the project, it is necessary to operate the software business with a focus.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.192-197
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• 2022

Cell signals for growth factors depend on the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding the cells. Microtubule acetylation is involved in the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced myofibroblast differentiation in the soft ECM. However, the mechanism of activation of α-tubulin acetyltransferase 1 (α-TAT1), a major α-tubulin acetyltransferase, in the soft ECM is not well defined. Here, we found that casein kinase 2 (CK2) is required for the TGF-β-induced activation of α-TAT1 that promotes microtubule acetylation in the soft matrix. Genetic mutation and pharmacological inhibition of CK2 catalytic activity specifically reduced microtubule acetylation in the cells cultured on a soft matrix rather than those cultured on a stiff matrix. Immunoprecipitation analysis showed that CK2α, a catalytic subunit of CK2, directly bound to the C-terminal domain of α-TAT1, and this interaction was more prominent in the cells cultured on the soft matrix. Moreover, the substitution of alanine with serine, the 236th amino acid located at the C-terminus, which contains the CK2-binding site of α-TAT1, significantly abrogated the TGF-β-induced microtubule acetylation in the soft matrix, indicating that the successful binding of CK2 and the C-terminus of α-TAT1 led to the phosphorylation of serine at the 236th position of amino acids in α-TAT1 and regulation of its catalytic activity. Taken together, our findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the TGF-β-induced activation of α-TAT1 in a soft matrix.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.39-49
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• 2022

In this study, data on traffic volume and weight of small trucks were collected from three National Highways to identify the overload status of small trucks excluded from domestic overloaded vehicle enforcement. These data were classified according to the vehicle type, day of the week, and time of day to analyze the overload distributions by the vehicle total weight. From the analysis results by vehicle type, on average, the overload ratios for trucks of 1.5 tons or less, 2.5 tons or less, 3.5 tons or less were 6.2%, 31.7%, and 13.7%, respectively. In addition, for the same vehicle model, there was a difference by collection point, and the smaller the total weight of the small truck, the higher the overload ratio. From the results according to the day of the week, there was no tendency for the overload ratio to appear high on a specific day, but there was a predictable occurrence pattern at each site. In addition, from the results by the time of day, the overload ratio was the highest on average after lunch (13:00-15:59) at all sites.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.167-189
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• 2022

In the case of SAE autonomous driving levels 2 and 3, since complete autonomous driving is impossible, the take-over process is essential, and take-over time(TOT) is the most important factor in determining the safety of the autonomous driving system. Accordingly, research on TOT is being actively conducted, but each research is independently conducted and general conclusions that integrate various research results are required. Therefore, in this study, the factors affecting TOT were analyzed using meta-analysis, which integrates the results of individual studies and presents an integrated opinion. As a result of meta-analysis, a total of 10 influencing factors were selected, and most of them were related to the non-driving related task(NDRT) type. In addition, implications for the future research direction of take-over and NDRT were presented.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2023

In this study, the number of truck traffic accidents was predicted by using Poisson and negative binomial regression analysis to understand what factors affect accidents using expressway data. Significant variables in the truck traffic accident prediction model were continuous driving time, link length, truck traffic volume. number of bridges and number of drowsy shelters. The calculated LOSS rating was expressed on the national expressway network to diagnose the risk of truck accidents. This is expected to be used as basic data for policy establishment to reduce truck accidents on expressways.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5A
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• pp.747-756
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• 2008

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of the important parameters on the transfer length during the dynamic flame cutting of tendon experimentally. The considered parameters were strand diameter, concrete cover thickness, stirrup, debonding strand and release method. Ten pretensioned concete beam specimens were cast and tested. Time history curves for the axial strain of tendon were measured by electrical resistance strain gauges mounted on the strands. Experimental results indicated that large dynamic shock effects occurred near cut-end during the sudden release. The prestressing forces are dependent on the parameters above considered. The ratio of residual prestressing forces of 12.7 mm strands is greater than 15.2 mm strands. Using debonding strand and gradual release are more efficient for applying prestressing forces.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.214-223
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• 2024

Metabolic abnormalities in the liver are closely associated with diverse metabolic diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ameliorating effect of robinetin (RBN) on the significant pathogenic features of metabolic failure in the liver and to identify the underlying molecular mechanism. RBN significantly decreased triglyceride (TG) accumulation by downregulating lipogenesis-related transcription factors in AML-12 murine hepatocyte cell line. In addition, mice fed with Western diet (WD) containing 0.025% or 0.05% RBN showed reduced liver mass and lipid droplet size, as well as improved plasma insulin levels and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values. CD38 was identified as a target of RBN using the BioAssay database, and its expression was increased in OPA-treated AML-12 cells and liver tissues of WD-fed mice. Furthermore, RBN elicited these effects through its anti-histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity. Computational simulation revealed that RBN can dock into the HAT domain pocket of p300, a histone acetyltransferase, which leads to the abrogation of its catalytic activity. Additionally, knock-down of p300 using siRNA reduced CD38 expression. The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that p300 occupancy on the promoter region of CD38 was significantly decreased, and H3K9 acetylation levels were diminished in lipid-accumulated AML-12 cells treated with RBN. RBN improves the pathogenic features of metabolic failure by suppressing the p300-CD38 axis through its anti-HAT activity, which suggests that RBN can be used as a new phytoceutical candidate for preventing or improving this condition.