• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.464-475
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• 2023

In this study, based on an analysis of two DNA barcode markers (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b genes), we performed species identification and monitored labeling compliance for 50 commercial pufferfish products sold in on-line markets in Korea. Using these barcode sequences as a query for species identification and phylogenetic analysis, we screened the GenBank database. A total of seven pufferfish species (Takifugu chinensis, T. pseudommus, T. xanthopterus, T. alboplumbeus, T. porphyreus, T. vermicularis, and Lagocephalus cheesemanii) were identified and we detected 35 products (70%) that were non-compliant with the corresponding label information. Moreover, the labels on 12 commercial products contained only the general common name (i.e., pufferfish), although not the scientific or Korean names for the 21 edible pufferfish species. Furthermore, the proportion of mislabeled highly processed products (n = 9, 81.8%) was higher than that of simply processed products (n = 26, 66.7%). With respect to the country of origin, the percentage of mislabeled Chinese products (n = 8, 80%) was higher than that of Korean products (n = 26, 66.7%). In addition, the market and dialect names of different pufferfish species were labeled only as Jolbok or Milbok, whereas two non-edible pufferfish species (T. vermicularis and T. pseudommus) were used in six commercial pufferfish products described as JolboK and Gumbok on their labels, which could be attributable to the complex classification system used for pufferfish. These monitoring results highlight the necessity to develop genetic methods that can be used to identify the 21 edible pufferfish species, as well as the need for regulatory monitoring of commercial pufferfish products.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.129-136
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• 2018

In this paper, we propose a new real-time lane detection method that is efficient for road environment. Existing methods have a problem of low reliability under environmental changes. In order to overcome this problem, we emphasize the lane candidate area by using gray level division. And Extracts a straight line component near the lane by using the Hough transform, and generates an ROI for each straight line based on the extracted coordinates. And integrates the generated ROI images. Then, the lane is determined by dividing the object using the dual queue in the ROI image. The proposed method is able to detect lanes even in the environmental change unlike the conventional method. And It is possible to obtain an advantage that the area corresponding to the background such as sky, mountain, etc. is efficiently removed and high reliability is obtained.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.55-65
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• 2010

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is a reactive free radical gas and a messenger molecule. NO has many physiological functions, but excessive NO production induces neurotoxicity. Objective: The present study investigated whether the aqueous extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow possesses a protective effect on NO-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC. Method: For this study, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, DNA fragmentation assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot, and caspase-3 enzyme assay were performed. Result: Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) exposure significantly decreased the viability of cells. The cells treated with SNP exhibited several apoptotic features such as increasing of Bax expression, caspase-3 enzyme activity and inhibiting of Bcl-2 expression. On the other hand, the viability of cells pre-treated with the aqueous extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow was increased dose-dependently. The cells pre-treated for 1 h with the aqueous extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow followed by treatment with SNP showed a decreased occurrence of apoptotic features like decreasing Bax expressions, caspase-3 enzyme activity and increasing Bcl-2 expressions. The aqueous extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow reduced apoptotic cell death in neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC through the inhibition of Bax-dependent caspase-3 activation and the increasing of Bcl-2 expression. Conclusion: Based on the present results, it is possible that Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow has therapeutic value for the treatment of a variety of NO-induced brain diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.108-120
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• 2004

Objective : Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb (EA) is a traditional Korean herbal medicine, commonly used to treat tumors in Korea and China for centuries. Several earlier studies have indicated that EA exhibits anti-tumor properties, but its mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the molecular mechanism of EA in a human uterine leiomyomal smooth muscle cell (ULSMC) line. Methods : This study was evaluated by: (a), morphological changes by using acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining; (b), DNA fragmentation by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL); and (c), sub-G1 cell analysis. Results : This study observed that EA treatment caused apoptotic cell death and depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH) and that reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential was found to be involved in the initiation of apoptosis by EA. Conclusion : This results show that EA exerted clear cytotoxic effects and strongly inhibited the proliferation of ULSMC.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2013

This paper investigated Korean prosody as it relates to graded internal structure in an identification function. Within Korean prosody, variants regarded as dialectal variations can appear as different prosodic scales, which contain the range of within-category variations. The current experiment was intended to show how the prosodic scale corresponding to the range of within-category differences relates to f0 contours for speakers of two Korean dialects, North Kyungsang and South Cholla. In an identification task, participants responded by selecting an item from two answer choices. The probability of choosing the correct response from the two choices was computed by a logistic regression analysis using intercepts and slopes. That is, the correct response between two choices was used to show a linear line with an s-shape presentation. In this paper, to investigate the graded internal structure of labeling, 25%, 50%, and 75% of predicted probability were assessed. Listeners from North Kyungsang showed progressive variations, whereas listeners from South Cholla revealed random patterns in the internal structure of the identification function. In this paper, the results were plotted using scatterplot graphs, applying the range of within-category variation and predicted probability obtained from the logistic regression analyses. The scatterplot graphs showed the different degree of the responses for f0 scales (i.e., variations within categories). The results demonstrate that the gradient structures of native pitch accent users become more progressive in response to f0 scales.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.130-142
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• 2005

Objectives: Amygdalin is known to be a natural compound which has antitussive and anticancer activities. Amygdalin is abundant in the seeds of bitter almond and apricots of the Prunus genus, and other rosaceous plants. We investigated whether amygdalin induces apoptosis. Materials and Methods : 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)assay, terminal deoxynuclotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAFI) staining, flow cytometric analysis, DNA fragmentation assay, western blot, and caspase-3 enzyme assay were performed on ME-180 cervical cancer cells treated with amygdalin. Results: Through morphological and biochemical analyses, it was demonstrated that ME-180 cells treated with amygdalin exhibit several apoptotic features. It was shown that amygdalin induces increases in levels of Bax and caspase-3 and a decrease in Bcl-2 expression. Conclusions: These results suggest the possibility that amygdalin exerts an anti-tumor effect on human cervical cancer.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.65 no.11
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• pp.1879-1886
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• 2016

In this paper, we propose a real-time recognition algorithm of lanes, stop lines and speed bumps on roads for autonomous vehicles. First, we generate a top-view using the image transmitted from a camera that is installed to see the front of a vehicle. To speed up the processing, we simplify the mapping algorithm in constructing a top-view wherein the region of interest (ROI) is concerned. The features of lanes, stop lines and speed bumps, which are composed of lines, are searched in the edge image of the top-view, then followed by labeling and clustering specialized to detect straight lines. The width of lines, distances from the center of a vehicle, and curvature of each cluster are considered to select final candidates. We verify the proposed algorithm on real roads using the commercial car (KIA K7) which is converted into an autonomous vehicle.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 1999

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) has been considered to be as one of major antioxidants present in grapes responsible for beneficial effects of red wine consumption on coronary heart disease. This triphenolic stilbene has been suggested as a potential cancer chemopreventive agent based on its striking inhiitory effects on diverse cellular events associated with tumor initiation, promotion, and progression. The compound has strong antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities which amy contribute to its chemopreventive/chemoprotective properties. In the present work, we have found that resveratrol reduces viability and DNA synthesis capability of cultured human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. Likewise, the viability of human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 was reduced by resveratrol treatment. The growth inhibitory and antiproliferative properties of resveratrol appear to be associated with its induction of apoptotic cell death as determined by morphological and ultrastructural changes, agarose gel electrphoretic analysis of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, and in situ terminal end-labeling of fragmented DNA (TUNEL). This compound also inhibited the phorbol ester-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in immortalized human mammary epithelial MCF-10A cells. These results suggest that resveratrol has the promising cancer therapeutic/chemopreventive potential.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.137-148
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• 2010

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Gamipalmi-hwan (GPH) on elastase-induced lung cell injury. Materials and Methods: As an in vitro model of emphysema, the current study was performed to investigate potential activity of GPH in regulating injury responses of A549 human type II cell line mediated by elastase treatment. Results: GPH treatment increased the number of A549 cells which was reduced by elastase digestion. Elastin protein level, which was reduced by elastase treatment, was increased by GPH treatment. Labeling intensity with caspase 3 protein in elastase-treated cells was reduced by GPH treatment. Both Erk1/2 and Cdc2 protein levels, which were decreased by elastase treatment, were increased to a level similar to that of the normal cells. mRNA levels encoding IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-$\alpha$ were increased by elastase and then down-regulated by GPH. Conclusion: The present data suggest that A549 cells are subjected to inflammatory damage by elastase and can be recovered by GPH treatment. Further studies examining the protective activity of GPH in elastase-treated lung tissue would be useful for therapeutic strategies of emphysema treatment.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2003

Viral and non-viral vectors have been used in the delivery of genetic materials into animal cells and tissues, with each approach having pros and cons. Non-viral vectors have many useful merits such as easy preparation, low immunity and size tolerance of a transgene when compared to those of viral vectors. Delivery specificity may be achieved by complex formation between receptor ligands and a non-viral vector. In the present study, non-viral vector systems are investigated in an effort to find a practical delivery means for gene therapy, Receptor-ligand interaction between transferrin-receptor and transferrin was utilized for efficient gene transfer into cancer cells. A plasmid vector, pcDNA3 (LacZ) was ligated with a small duplexed oligo fragment in which a Biotin- VN$^{TM}$ phosphoramidite was placed in the middle of the oligo. The plasmid vector labeled by biotin was then conjugated with biotin-labeled transferrin via streptavidin. This trimeric conjugates were delivered to a hepatoma cell line, HepG2. The delivery efficiency of the trimeric conjugate was 2-fold higher than that of cationic liposomes used for transfection of a plasmid vector. These results demonstrate that a plasmid vector can be efficiently transferred into cells by forming a trimeric complex of plasmid vector-linker-ligand.