• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.473-483
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• 2023

Many cancers arise from sites of chronic inflammation, which creates an inflammatory microenvironment surrounding the tumor. Inflammatory substances secreted by cells in the inflammatory environment can induce the proliferation and survival of cancer cells, thereby promoting cancer metastasis and angiogenesis. Therefore, it is important to identify the role of inflammatory factors in cancer progression. This review summarizes the signaling pathways and roles of C-reactive protein (CRP) in various cancer types, including breast, liver, renal, and pancreatic cancer, and the tumor microenvironment. Mounting evidence suggests the role of CRP in breast cancer, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is typically associated with a worse prognosis. Increased CRP in the inflammatory environment contributes to enhanced invasiveness and tumor formation in TNBC cells. CRP promotes endothelial cell formation and angiogenesis and contributes to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. In pancreatic and kidney cancers, CRP contributes to tumor progression. In liver cancer, CRP regulates inflammatory responses and lipid metabolism. CRP modulates the activity of various signaling molecules in macrophages and monocytes present in the tumor microenvironment, contributing to tumor development, the immune response, and inflammation. In the present review, we overviewed the role of CRP signaling pathways and the association between inflammation and cancer in various types of cancer. Identifying the interactions between CRP signaling pathways and other inflammatory mediators in cancer progression is crucial for understanding the complex relationship between inflammation and cancer.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.29-32
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• 2009

Prostaglandin $F_2{\alpha}$ ($PGF_2{\alpha}$) can facilitate release of epinephrine from the adrenal gland. The objective was to extend these findings and determine the effects of $PGF_2{\alpha}$ on sexual activity and semen collection training in sexually inexperienced boars. Boars (n=32; $281{\pm}18$ days of age) were moved individually once weekly to a semen collection room equipped with an artificial sow. Before entering the semen collection room, boar received i.m. treatments of $PGF_2{\alpha}$ at doses of 5 (n=8), 10 (n=8), or 20 (n=8), and control boar (n=8) were not treated. Reaction time (elapsed time after entering collection pen until the start of mounting) for boars receiving 5mg ($3.3{\pm}0.9\;min$), 10mg ($3.3{\pm}0.8\;min$) $PGF_2{\alpha}$ was shorter (p<0.05) than for controls ($6.7{\pm}0.9min$). Duration of ejaculation (min) per session was longer (p<0.05) for $PGF_2{\alpha}$ (10 mg, 20 mg)-treated boars ($7.3{\pm}0.7\;min$, $6.9{\pm}0.7\;min$), compared to control ($3.4{\pm}0.8\;min$). The number of training session per boars was less (p=0.056) for $PGF_2{\alpha}$ 10mg-treated boars ($1.0{\pm}0.4$), compared to control ($2.0{\pm}0.4$). Semen characteristic such as volume, concentration, the number of total ejaculated sperm, were similar for $PGF_2{\alpha}$-treated and controls. There was no apparent difference on sperm movement characteristics (Mot: motility, VCL : curve linear velocity, VSL : straight line velocity, VAP : average path velocity, LIN : linearity) after semen preservation by collected with or without $PGF_2{\alpha}$ treatment. In summary, administration of $PGF_2{\alpha}$ in boars increased the sexual activity and facilitated the training boars to mount an artificial sow for semen collection, but did not affect semen characteristic.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제21권10호
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• pp.1411-1415
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• 2008

The purpose of the present study was to determine the onset of breeding season, the occurrence of silent and true heats and the duration of estrus in female Markhoz goats of the Kurdistan province in Iran. Ten, 3 years-old Markhoz does with an average weight of $34.05{\pm}2.62kg$ and with one kidding record, were used. The goats were maintained in an open barn under constant nutritional levels and natural photoperiod. One aproned buck was used twice a day every 12 h to detect estrus from mid August to early January. For the determination of the onset of reproductive activity as well as occurrence of silent heat, blood samples were collected every 10 days, from the beginning of the experiment. After $2^{nd}$ standing heat, blood samples were obtained twice a week in order to assess luteal activity and the length of estrous cycles. In this study, estrous behavior was observed including sniffing, vocal exchange, following courtship, flehman, standing heat and mounting. The results of the progesterone assay indicated that in this goat silent heats occur mostly in the early breeding season. The first standing heat was observed in mid-October which was considered as the onset of the breeding season. Duration of the estrous cycle and estrus was recorded as being $20.93{\pm}1.56days$ and $38.86{\pm}15.19h$, respectively. The correlation coefficient between length of daylight and occurrence of estrus was negative (r = -0.470) but not significant (p>0.05). The data showed that there was no significant effect of body weight on estrous cycles (first, second and third) and estrous periods (first, second, third and fourth). Progesterone levels were not significantly different in the first, second and third estrous cycles at days 0, 4, 10, 12, 14 and 19. The results of progesterone assay during the estrous cycle indicate that follicular and luteal phases last 4-5 and 14-15 days, respectively and the concentration of serum progesterone in these phases was $0.88{\pm}0.08$ and $7.44{\pm}0.26ng/ml$, respectively. The study concluded that Markhoz does could be considered as a breed with a short breeding season and an optimal estrous activity in autumn.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국약용작물학회 2011년도 추계학술발표회
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• pp.31-45
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• 2011

The amyloid ${\beta}$-peptide ($A{\beta}$), which originates from the proteolytic cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP), plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mounting evidence indicates that different species of $A{\beta}$, such as $A{\beta}$ oligomers and fibrils, may contribute to AD pathogenesis via distinct mechanisms at different stages of the disease. Importantly, elevation and accumulation of soluble $A{\beta}$ oligomers closely correlate with cognitive decline and/or disease progression in animal models of AD. In agreement with these studies, oligomers of $A{\beta}$ have been shown to directly affect synaptic plasticity, a neuronal process that is known to be essential for memory formation. Our previous studies showed that $A{\beta}$ induces the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2), a phospholipid that regulates key aspects of neuronal function. PI(4,5)P2 breakdown was found to be a key step toward synaptic and memory dysfunction in a mouse model of AD. To this end, we seek to identify small molecules that could elevate the levels of PI(4,5)P2 and subsequently block $A{\beta}$ oligomer-induced breakdown of PI(4,5)P2 and synaptic dysfunction.. We found that (20S)Rg3, an active triterpene glycoside from heat-processed ginseng, serves as an agonist for phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIalpha (PI4KIIalpha), which is a lipid kinase that mediates a rate-limiting step in PI(4,5)P2 synthesis. Consequently, (20S)Rg3 stimulates PI(4,5)P2 synthesis by directly stimulating the activity of PI4KIIalpha. Interestingly, treatment of a mouse model of AD with (20S)Rg3 leads to reversal of memory deficits. Our data suggest that the PI(4,5)P2-promoting effects of (20S)Rg3 may help mitigate the cognitive symptoms associated with AD.

• 정보처리학회논문지:소프트웨어 및 데이터공학
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• 제2권11호
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• pp.795-800
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• 2013

한우 발정기의 조기 탐지는 축산 농가의 경제성을 향상시키는 매우 중요한 연구 과제 중 하나이다. 이를 위한 다양한 방법들이 제안되었으나, 현재까지도 시스템의 경제성 문제를 포함한 조기 발정 탐지 및 탐지 정확도 등에 여전히 취약한 점이 있는 것이 사실이다. 본 논문에서는 감시카메라 환경에서 축사내 승가 행동을 포함하는 한우의 특이 행동들을 탐지하는 다중 객체의 특이 행동 탐지 프로토타입 시스템을 제안한다. 다중 객체의 특이 행동 탐지란 감시카메라로부터 유입되는 영상에서 다중 객체가 위험에 처한 상황 혹은 비정상적인 행동들을 신속하고 정확하게 탐지하는 분야를 말한다. 제안된 시스템은 한우 축사에 고정 설치된 카메라의 입력 동영상으로 부터 움직임 벡터 정보를 이용하여 영상내의 움직임 정보를 추출 표현하였으며, 특이 행동의 판별 문제를 실용적 차원의 단일 클래스 분류 문제로 재해석하여 단일 클래스 SVM의 대표적 모델인 SVDD를 탐지기로 설계하였다. 실제로 진주에 위치한 한 축사에서 취득한 한우 암소의 영상 정보를 이용하여 본 논문에서 제안한 시스템의 성능을 실험적으로 검증한다.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2011

Measurement of magnetic signals generated from electric activity of myocardium provides useful information for the functional diagnosis of heart diseases. Key technical component of the magnetocardiography (MCG) technology is SQUID. To measure MCG signals with high signal-to-noise ratio, sensitive SQUID magnetic field sensors are needed. Present magnetic field sensors based on Nb SQUIDs have field sensitivity good enough to measure most of MCG signals. However, for accurate measurement of fine signal pattern or detection of local atrial fibrillation signals, we may need higher field sensitivity. In addition to field sensitivity, economic aspect of the SQUID system is also important. To simplify the SQUID readout electronics, the output voltage or flux-to-voltage transfer of SQUID should be large enough so that direct measurement of SQUID output can be done using room-temperature preamplifiers. Double relaxation oscillation SQUID (DROS), having about 10 times larger flux-to-voltage transfers than those of DC-SQUIDs, was shown to be a good choice to make the electronics compact. For effective cancellation of external noise inside a thin economic shielded room, first-order axial gradiometer with high balance, simple structure and long-baseline is needed. We developed a technology to make the axial gradiometer compact using direct bonding of superconductive wires between pickup coil and input coil. Conventional insert has mechanical support to hold the gradiometer array, and the dewar neck has equal diameter with the dewar bottom. Boiling of the liquid He can generate mechanical vibrations in the gradiometer array due to mechanical connection structure. Elimination of the mechanical support, and direct mounting of the gradiometer array into the dewar bottom can reduce the dewar neck diameter, resulting in the reduction of liquid He consumption.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권11호
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• pp.767-776
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• 2014

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is clinically characterized with progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Synaptic dysfunction is an early pathological feature that occurs prior to neurodegeneration and memory dysfunction. Mounting evidence suggests that aggregation of amyloid-${\alpha}$ ($A{\alpha}$) and hyperphosphorylated tau leads to synaptic deficits and neurodegeneration, thereby to memory loss. Among the established genetic risk factors for AD, the ${\varepsilon}4$ allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the strongest genetic risk factor. We and others previously demonstrated that apoE regulates $A{\alpha}$ aggregation and clearance in an isoform-dependent manner. While the effect of apoE on $A{\alpha}$ may explain how apoE isoforms differentially affect AD pathogenesis, there are also other underexplored pathogenic mechanisms. They include differential effects of apoE on cerebral energy metabolism, neuroinflammation, neurovascular function, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. ApoE is a major carrier of cholesterols that are required for neuronal activity and injury repair in the brain. Although there are a few conflicting findings and the underlying mechanism is still unclear, several lines of studies demonstrated that apoE4 leads to synaptic deficits and impairment in long-term potentiation, memory and cognition. In this review, we summarize current understanding of apoE function in the brain, with a particular emphasis on its role in synaptic plasticity and the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, involving low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), syndecan, and LRP8/ApoER2.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.195-199
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• 2022

The use of copper antibacterial films as an effective infection prevention method is increasing owing to its ability to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission. In this study, we evaluated the bacterial contamination of the antibacterial copper membrane attached to a door handle at a university over time. Six mounting locations with high floating population were selected. In three sites, the door handles with the antibacterial film were exposed, while the remaining three were not attached with the antibacterial films. On days 7 and 14, isolated bacterial strains were inoculated in BHI broth and agar, respectively. Colony-forming units (CFU) were determined after incubation. Strain identification was performed using bacterial 16s rRNA PCR and sequencing. Results showed that the bacterial population on day 14 significantly increased from 6 × 10⁹ CFU/mL (day 7) to 2 × 10¹⁰ CFU/mL. Furthermore, strain distribution was not different between the on and off the copper antibacterial film groups. In conclusion, although copper has an antibacterial activity, microbial contamination may occur with prolonged use.

• 감성과학
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.97-108
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• 2017

본 연구의 목적은 스마트 피트니스웨어가 갖추어야 할 요건과 스마트 피트니스웨어의 수용 정도 및 기능 수요를 고찰하고, 이를 기반으로 퍼스널 트레이닝 효과 향상을 지원하는 피트니스용 스마트 스포츠의류의 상품기획 및 디자인 방향을 제시하는 것이다. 이를 위해 전문 피트니스 트레이너를 심층 인터뷰하고 그 응답 자료에 대해 범주분석을 실시한 결과 5개의 범주와 13개 주제어를 도출하였다. 또한 일반 소비자들을 대상으로 설문조사를 실시하여 스마트 피트니스웨어의 수용 정도와 상품개발에 필요한 기능 수요를 탐색하였다. 그 결과 전반적으로 인구통계학적 특성에 따른 차이보다는 운동의 관여도 및 운동관련 문화와 관련된 특성에 따라 스마트 피트니스웨어의 수용 정도에 차이가 있는 것을 발견할 수 있었다. 스마트 피트니스웨어에 대한 기능 수요에 대한 차이점으로는 전문 트레이너의 경우 운동 효과의 과학적 향상에 중점을 두는 반면 일반 소비자는 운동 시 지속성을 고려한 기능을 중요시 하는 것으로 분석되었다. 본 연구 결과를 종합하여 '심박 센싱, 근육 활성도 센싱, 부위별 운동 동작 각도 또는 자세 센싱, 운동량 센싱 등의 기능 탑재', '전문가 라인과 일반 라인별 컨셉 및 컨텐츠 개발', '압박 의류 형태로 디자인', '운동지역에 따른 상품개발의 차별화' 등의 상품기획 및 디자인 방향을 제시하였다.

• 인터넷정보학회논문지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.59-65
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• 2016

색채 환경에 따라 인지반응의 상관관계를 분석한 결과가 다양한 산업분야에 적용되고 있다. 특히, 의학 분야에서 색채 환경기반 생체신호를 수집하여 환자 상태의 파악과 치료 그리고 뇌활동의 규명에 관련된 연구가 활발하게 진행되고 있다. 그러나 기존 연구들은 색채조명 또는 LED를 이용한 색채 환경을 구축하여 다양한 실험을 진행하고 있으나 다른 광원에 노출 되어 심리적인 영향을 주는 문제점을 갖고 있다. 따라서, 본 논문에서 제안하는 시스템은 HMD(Head-Mounted-Display)를 이용하여 피험자에게 완벽한 색채 환경조건을 제공하고자 한다. 그리고 인체반응정도 측정을 위해 기억력-주의력 테스트하는 동안 BMS(Bio-Medical-System)으로 생체정보를 수집하여 색채별 인체반응정도 측정뿐만 아니라 심리적인 변화에 대한 상관관계를 확인할 수 있는 시스템을 제안한다. 제안한 시스템을 통하여 수집하는 생체정보는 심전도(ECG), 호흡(Respiration), 산소포화도(SpO2), 임피던스(Bio-Impedance), 혈압(Blood-Pressure) 이며 데이터베이스에 저장한다. 이와함께, 인체의 인지반응을 측정하기위해 기억력-주의력 테스트는 앱으로 구현하여 색채 조건별 인지반응 정보를 측정하고 결과를 확인 할 수 있다. 제안한 시스템을 통하여 수집된 인체반응정보를 활용하여 생리학적 정보의 정량화하는 연구를 진행할 수 있으며, 색채 환경과 생리학적 정보의 상관관계를 분석하여 의학적 진단 및 치료에 응용이 될 것으로 기대한다. 향후 연구로 구축한 시스템을 통해 수집된 데이터를 분석 및 시각화 기능을 추가하고, 치매 질환의 예측 및 치료를 위한 시스템으로 확장하여 재활프로그램으로서의 유효성을 평가하고자 한다.