• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.427-448
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• 2019

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and its receptor, nociceptin opioid peptide (NOP) receptor, are localized in brain areas implicated in depression including the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, habenula, and monoaminergic nuclei in the brain stem. N/OFQ inhibits neuronal excitability of monoaminergic neurons and monoamine release from their terminals by activation of G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying $K^+$ channels and inhibition of voltage sensitive calcium channels, respectively. Therefore, NOP receptor antagonists have been proposed as a potential antidepressant. Indeed, mounting evidence shows that NOP receptor antagonists have antidepressant-like effects in various preclinical animal models of depression, and recent clinical studies again confirmed the idea that blockade of NOP receptor signaling could provide a novel strategy for the treatment of depression. In this review, we describe the pharmacological effects of N/OFQ in relation to depression and explore the possible mechanism of NOP receptor antagonists as potential antidepressants.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.93-114
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• 2020

Purpose -The purpose of this study is to analyze how the accreditation system affect the selection of business strategies in social enterprises, which create social value rather than maximize profits. Design/methodology/approach - This study collected survey data from 40 accredited and 53 non-accredited social enterprises. This research employs a Fuzzy-set/qualitative comparative analysis to compare the combinations of factors that affect a social enterprise's performance Findings - The results show that for accredited enterprises organizational capabilities are significantly more important than networking capabilities, whereas for non-accredited enterprises internal communication, governance capacities and networking competencies are most important capabilities to improving their social performance. And also The accreditation systems for social enterprises would entice social enterprise away from business strategies based on with local society, which is differentiated with commonly accepted social enterprise model. Research implications or Originality - This research suggests that the accreditation system for social enterprises should be redesigned for enticing social enterprises in Korea to be more localized to meet local needs in terms of positive changes of local society.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.12
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• pp.861-878
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• 2021

The human genome contains many retroviral elements called human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), resulting from the integration of retroviruses throughout evolution. HERVs once were considered inactive junk because they are not replication-competent, primarily localized in the heterochromatin, and silenced by methylation. But HERVs are now clearly shown to actively regulate gene expression in various physiological and pathological conditions such as developmental processes, immune regulation, cancers, autoimmune diseases, and neurological disorders. Recent studies report that HERVs are activated in patients suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the current pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection. In this review, we describe internal and external factors that influence HERV activities. We also present evidence showing the gene regulatory activity of HERV LTRs (long terminal repeats) in model organisms such as mice, rats, zebrafish, and invertebrate models of worms and flies. Finally, we discuss several molecular and cellular pathways involving various transcription factors and receptors, through which HERVs affect downstream cellular and physiological events such as epigenetic modifications, calcium influx, protein phosphorylation, and cytokine release. Understanding how HERVs participate in various physiological and pathological processes will help develop a strategy to generate effective therapeutic approaches targeting HERVs.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.276-286
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• 2023

The field of sheet metal forming using press technology has become essential in modern mass production systems. Draw bead is often used to enhance formability. However, optimal draw bead design often requires excessive time and cost due to iterative experimentation and sometimes results in some defects. Given these challenges, there is a need to enhance formability by introducing segmented blank holders without draw beads. In this paper, the feasibility of a localized holding strategy using segmented blank holders is evaluated without the use of draw beads. The possibility for improving the formability was evaluated by utilizing a combination of the forming limit diagram and the wrinkle pattern-based defect indicators. Artificial neural networks were used for predicting defect indicators corresponding to arbitrary input holding forces and the NSGA-II optimization algorithm is used to find optimum blank holder forces yielding better defect indicators than the original process with drawbeads. Using optimum holding forces obtained from the proposed procedure, the stamping process with the segmented blank holders can yield better formability than the conventional process with drawbeads.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.242-250
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• 2023

Comparative gene identification-58 (CGI-58) is an activating protein of triacylglycerol (TAG) lipase. It has a variety of catalytic activities whereby it may play different roles in diverse organisms. In this study, a homolog of CGI-58 in Phaeodactylum tricornutum (PtCGI-58) was identified. PtCGI-58 was localized in mitochondria by GFP fusion protein analysis, which is different from the reported subcellular localization of CGI-58 in animals and plants. Respectively, PtCGI-58 overexpression resulted in increased neutral lipid content and TAG accumulation by 42-46% and 21-32%. Likewise, it also increased the relative content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and in particular, the EPA content in TAGs almost doubled. Transcript levels of genes involved in de novo fatty acid synthesis and mitochondrial β-oxidation were significantly upregulated in PtCGI-58 overexpression strains compared with wild-type cells. Our findings suggest that PtCGI-58 may mediate the breakdown of lipids in mitochondria and the recycling of acyl chains derived from mitochondrial β-oxidation into TAG biosynthesis. Moreover, this study potentially illuminates new functions for CGI-58 in lipid homeostasis and provides a strategy to enrich EPA in algal TAGs.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.233-244
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• 2020

Purpose: For unresectable or initially metastatic gastric cancer, conversion surgery (CVS), after systemic chemotherapy, has received attention as a treatment strategy. This study evaluated the prognostic value of ypTNM stage and the oncologic outcomes in patients receiving CVS. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of clinicopathologic findings and oncologic outcomes of 116 patients who underwent CVS with curative intent, after combination chemotherapy, between January 2000 and December 2015, has been reported here. Results: Twenty-six patients (22.4%) underwent combined resection of another organ and 12 patients received para-aortic lymphadenectomy (10.3%). Pathologic complete remission (CR) was confirmed in 11 cases (9.5%). The median overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) times were 35.0 and 21.3 months, respectively. In multivariate analysis, ypTNM stage was the sole independent prognostic factor for DFS (P=0.042). Tumors invading an adjacent organ or involving distant lymph nodes showed better survival than those with peritoneal seeding or solid organ metastasis (P=0.084). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the 3-year OS rate of patients with pathologic CR and those with CR of the primary tumor but residual node metastasis was 81.8% and 80.0%, respectively. OS was 65.8% for stage 1 patients, 49.8% for those at stage 2, and 36.3% for those at stage 3. Conclusions: The ypTNM staging is a significant prognostic factor in patients who underwent CVS for localized unresectable or stage IV gastric cancers. Patients with locally advanced but unresectable lesions or with tumors with distant nodal metastasis may be good candidates for CVS.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute Of Construction Engineering and Management
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.442-446
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• 2004

One of the main issues of government is the development of local areas which have been neglected while major capital was invested on Seoul and its satellite cities. Korean Ministry of Construction and Highway and other government departments are currently working together (or the balanced development of the local areas. Localization which is the balanced development of the Capital and local areas, can be achieved through the balanced development of local industry and technology. It is required to have a strategic approach to the construction technology improvement that is localized and eventually contributes the localization efforts. Construction technology that is associated with the local characteristics is the key factor of the balanced national development. This study includes defining the 'localization' through the investigation of national and international localization examples. Construction technology that reflects the local characteristics is studied in this paper. Local characteristics are identified by (1) surveying 'construction technology demand'; (2) measuring construction technology capability, and (3) studying on government regulation changes. 1'he results provide the fundamental Information for the development of the local construction technology.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.93-100
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• 2015

Markets of e-book and app book in Korea see novel as genre literature and webtoon account for 80 percents in sales so that market share is too based towards some specific fields. In readiblily and easy-to-buy convenience, different from paper books mostly sold off-line, app books are more advantageous but it works as a weak point to take long to publicly spread them before they are generally accepted. Meanwhile, the sales of the e-book market in Korea has been steeply risen. Further, the market is not only restricted to genre literature but also has come into the stage that various experimental challenges are issued in the field of publication contents. This study is aimed at developing the sightseeing app book as a future web-mobile platform with planning and develping the first app book dealing with localized contents based on Busan tour contents, making up for its defect that it offers only current simple information and then suggesting a strategy that the travelers' app book should be available for constant utilization connected to purchase by charged download.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.62-67
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• 2007

The research team for the virtual construction development was established with the support of Korea Ministry of Construction and Transportation, and KICTEP (Korea Institute of Construction and Transportation Technology Evaluation and Planning). Its aims are to develop system that is to improve productivity & quality, to create a higher value-added business, and to cultivate international competitiveness in the construction industry. The virtual construction system is a design, engineering, and construction management information system that allows the project participants to effectively share the information throughout the construction life cycle with the support of 3D and design information. To achieve this, the research team focuses on developing several systems. First, the team focuses on developing for the pre-planning, the structural engineering, MEP, and the 3D based estimation system. Second, they focus on developing a simulation system for the construction process planning and feasibility study with help of the virtual reality technologies. Third, they focus on developing the CPLM (Construction Project Life-cycle Management) system for managing construction project data, and the decision support system that makes the collaboration among the project participants based on 3D technologies and information. We also focus on developing the SDAI (Standard Data Access Interface), the localized guideline for 3D design, and a training program. In addition, we focus on developing the undeveloped area of the commercial system and building an environment that can support the communication and collaboration in the construction life-cycle rather than developing the existing and commercialized system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.331-341
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• 2018

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of preemptive analgesia on the development of trigeminal neuropathic pain. For this purpose, mechanical allodynia was evaluated in male Sprague-Dawley rats using chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve (CCI-ION) and perineural application of 2% QX-314 to the infraorbital nerve. CCI-ION produced severe mechanical allodynia, which was maintained until postoperative day (POD) 30. An immediate single application of 2% QX-314 to the infraorbital nerve following CCI-ION significantly reduced neuropathic mechanical allodynia. Immediate double application of QX-314 produced a greater attenuation of mechanical allodynia than a single application of QX-314. Immediate double application of 2% QX-314 reduced the CCI-ION-induced upregulation of GFAP and p-p38 expression in the trigeminal ganglion. The upregulated p-p38 expression was co-localized with NeuN, a neuronal cell marker. We also investigated the role of voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) in the antinociception produced by preemptive application of QX-314 through analysis of the changes in Nav expression in the trigeminal ganglion following CCI-ION. Preemptive application of QX-314 significantly reduced the upregulation of Nav1.3, 1.7, and 1.9 produced by CCI-ION. These results suggest that long-lasting blockade of the transmission of pain signaling inhibits the development of neuropathic pain through the regulation of Nav isoform expression in the trigeminal ganglion. Importantly, these results provide a potential preemptive therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neuropathic pain after nerve injury.