• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.309-315
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• 2003

DNA methylation at CpG sites, which is a epigenetic modification, is associated with gene expression without change of DNA sequences. During early mouse embryogenesis, dynamic changes of DNA methylation occur. In this study, DNA methylation patterns of porcine embryos produced in vivo and in vitro were examined at various developmental stages by the immunocytochemical staining method. Interestingly, active demethylation was not observed on the paternal pronucleus of porcine zygotes. However, differences were detected in the passive demethylation process between in vivo and in vitro embryos. There was no change in the DNA methylation state until the blastocyst stage of in vivo embryos, whereas partial demethylation was observed in several blastomeres from a 4 cell stage to a morula stage of in vitro embryos. The whole genome of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells in porcine blastocysts were evenly methylated without de novo methylation. Our findings demonstrate that genome-wide demethylation does not occur in pig embryos during preimplantation development unlike murine and bovine embryos. It indicates that the machinery regulating epigenetic reprogramming may be different between species.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.233-241
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• 2005

Ursolic acid (UA), a bioactive triterpene acid, has been known to increase collagen content in human skin in addition to other actions such as anti-inflammatory, skin-tumor prevention and anti-invasion. However, it is poorly soluble in water. Therefore, we firstly prepared microemulsion system with benzyl alcohol, ethanol and Cremophor EL, RH 40 and Brij 35 as surfactant in order to increase solubility of UA and then prepared microemulsion was dispersed in o/w cream base for the topical delivery of UA in an effort to improve anti-wrinkle effect. The pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were developed and various microemulsion formulations were prepared using benzyl alcohol as an oil, Cremophor EL, RH 40 and Brij 35 as a surfactant. The droplet size of microemulsions was characterized by dynamic light scattering. The accumulation of VA in the skin from topical cream was evaluated in vitro using hairless mouse skins. The mean droplet size was $26.8{\pm}6.6$ nm for microemulsions II with Cremophor EL. All UA creams showed pseudoplastic flow and hysterisis loop in their rheogram, depending on the type of materials added in topical creams. The in vitro accumulation data demonstrated the UA topical cream prepared with the combination of Poloxamer 407 and Xanthan gum as a copolymer showed higher accumulation percentage than those prepared with either Poloxamer 407 or Xanthan gum. These results suggest that UA topical cream using microemulsion systems may be promising for the topical delivery of UA.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles. We used a water-soluble, amphiphilic phospholipid polymer, poly (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-n-butyl methacrylate) (PMB30W), as a stabilizer for the PLA nanoparticles. The PLA nanoparticles and PMB30W-modified PLA (PLA/PMB30W) nanoparticles were prepared by evaporating tetrahydrofuran (THF) from its aqueous solution. Precipitation of the polymers from the aqueous solution produced PLA and PLA/PMB30W nanoparticles with a size distribution of $0.4-0.5{\mu}m$. The partial coverage of PMB30W on the surface of the PLA/PMB30W nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and dynamic light-scattering (DLS). A high-content automated screening assay (240 random fields per group) revealed that the PLA nanoparticles induced apoptosis in a mouse macrophage-like cell line (apoptotic population: 73.9% in 0.8 mg PLA/mL), while the PLA/PMB30W nanoparticles remained relatively non-hazardous in vitro (apoptotic population: 13.8% in 0.8 mg PLA/mL). The reduction of the apoptotic population was attributed to the phosphorylcholine groups in the PMB30W bound to the surface of the nanoparticle. In conclusion, precipitation of PLA in THF aqueous solution enabled the preparation of PLA nanoparticles with similar shapes and size distribution but different surface characteristics. PMB30W was an effective stabilizer and surface modifier, which reduced the cytotoxicity of PLA nanoparticles by enabling their avoidance of the mononuclear phagocyte system.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.165-177
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• 2008

An important issue in Multiagent reinforcement learning is how an agent should learn its optimal policy in a dynamic environment where there exist other agents able to influence its own performance. Most previous works for Multiagent reinforcement learning tend to apply single-agent reinforcement learning techniques without any extensions or require some unrealistic assumptions even though they use explicit models of other agents. In this paper, a Naive Bayesian based policy model of the opponent agent is introduced and then the Multiagent reinforcement learning method using this model is explained. Unlike previous works, the proposed Multiagent reinforcement learning method utilizes the Naive Bayesian based policy model, not the Q function model of the opponent agent. Moreover, this learning method can improve learning efficiency by using a simpler one than other richer but time-consuming policy models such as Finite State Machines(FSM) and Markov chains. In this paper, the Cat and Mouse game is introduced as an adversarial Multiagent environment. And then effectiveness of the proposed Naive Bayesian based policy model is analyzed through experiments using this game as test-bed.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.2.1-2.16
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• 2018

Supplementation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at sites of bone resorption is required for bone homeostasis because of the non-proliferation and short lifespan properties of the osteoblasts. Calcium ions ($Ca^{2+}$) are released from the bone surfaces during osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. However, how elevated extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations would alter MSCs behavior in the proximal sites of bone resorption is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ on MSCs phenotype depending on $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations. We found that the elevated extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ promoted cell proliferation and matrix mineralization of MSCs. In addition, MSCs induced the expression and secretion of osteopontin (OPN), which enhanced MSCs migration under the elevated extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ conditions. We developed in vitro osteoclast-mediated bone resorption conditions using mouse calvaria bone slices and demonstrated $Ca^{2+}$ is released from bone resorption surfaces. We also showed that the MSCs phenotype, including cell proliferation and migration, changed when the cells were treated with a bone resorption-conditioned medium. These findings suggest that the dynamic changes in $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations in the microenvironments of bone remodeling surfaces modulate MSCs phenotype and thereby contribute to bone regeneration.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to develope a parcel-based automatic simulation system of land price through the integration of urban mathematical model and GIS. The appraisal process of public land price by the local government is simple but is a great time-consuming task. Moreover, it doesn't provide any statistical analysis and spatial presentation tools. So, it is difficult for planners or administrative officials to analyze the variation of land price with spatial idea. From these, a system is developed combining two sub-systems, they are ANN(Artificial Neural Network) for the calculation of land price and GIS for visual presentation. Using Matlab application, ANN model was designed having 3-layer structure and was trained with the sample data taken from Chinju city. With the trained network, the impact of 'road', 'parks', 'height control district' and 'beauty district' on land price in 9 regions(dong) are simulated. The results of the simulation were visualized with ArcView GIS. The automatic simulation system operated through the DDE(Dynamic Data Exchange) conversation between two applications. ArcView was set as client and Matlab as server. Scripting in ArcView and customizing a window of ArcView, this system can execute the whole process of simulation by just clicking a button with mouse. As a conclusion, this system was proved to be an effective and easily controllable planning support system for the land price simulation.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2018

Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a cell surface membrane protein, which is overexpressed in most prostate cancer. Recently, PET imaging with $[^{68}Ga]$PSMA-HBED-CC has been widely used for the diagnosis of recurrent prostate cancer and the studies on the diagnostic potential of $^{64}Cu$-labeled PSMA ligands reported actively. In this study, we monitored with biological evaluation in vivo and PET imaging of $^{64}Cu$-labeled PSMA ligand ($[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617). The radiolabelling efficiency and stability of $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 were confirmed by radio-thin layer chromatography. The radiolabeling efficiency of $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 showed over 95%, and stabilities of intact remained over 98% in both human and mouse serum for 48 h. In normal male mice, in vivo uptake of $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 in several organs was measured at 2, 4, 6, 24, 48 h after injection. Rapid blood clearance was observed for $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617. The high uptake was observed in the lung, liver, intestines and kidneys at 2 h postinjection, but was low in the other organs (1-2 %ID/g) at 4 h. The dynamic PET/CT images of 22RV1 tumor-bearing nude mice were acquired during 60 min and additionally acquired 24 h and 48 h after injection. In dynamic PET images, $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 uptake ratio in tumors versus muscle was increased as time elaplsed until 60 minutes and remained in tumors at 48 h. In these results, the PET/CT imaging using $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 in prostate cancer is expected to be useful for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer patients.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.573-580
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• 2010

The earlier KANSEI evaluation had to choose not to overlap the opposite meaning of the words, had to choose that some figures are shown step by step and had to choose be prepared things in advance. However, The Study shows a method which visualizes the imprecise evaluations of human without choosing evaluation items which are not prepared figures. The program is used the way which is entered by hand-drawing that the subjects use the way to enter their subjective feelings about the evaluations presented by using the mouse or the graphics tablet. It is possible to express imprecise things about evaluations and the method of drawing is free. The program provides that we can express our thinking by drawing and there are a few limits and the prescribed standard. The area ratio of each circle is expressed as a pie chart and the area of circle what is drawn which is counted automatically at the same time. These things are possible not only to modify a transparency, a thickness of a line, a color and the area of circle what is drawn, but also to adjust the area of circle. The conceptual model is visualized that expresses something by hand-drawing such as a circle. The conceptual model has wide range of applications such as a personnel evaluation, a suffering evaluation and product evaluation. The program currently has been testing the effective of the program's possibilities which is used with the personnel appraisal tool of the nurses themselves who work in nurse support department where the St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital is. And also the program is proceeding with development to visualize the conceptual model by dynamic interfaces effectively and the program is applied such as KJ method and a program is used to express the kind of the patient's pain and its level.

• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.179-188
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• 2008

An important issue in multiagent reinforcement learning is how an agent should team its optimal policy through trial-and-error interactions in a dynamic environment where there exist other agents able to influence its own performance. Most previous works for multiagent reinforcement teaming tend to apply single-agent reinforcement learning techniques without any extensions or are based upon some unrealistic assumptions even though they build and use explicit models of other agents. In this paper, basic concepts that constitute the common foundation of multiagent reinforcement learning techniques are first formulated, and then, based on these concepts, previous works are compared in terms of characteristics and limitations. After that, a policy model of the opponent agent and a new multiagent reinforcement learning method using this model are introduced. Unlike previous works, the proposed multiagent reinforcement learning method utilize a policy model instead of the Q function model of the opponent agent. Moreover, this learning method can improve learning efficiency by using a simpler one than other richer but time-consuming policy models such as Finite State Machines(FSM) and Markov chains. In this paper. the Cat and Mouse game is introduced as an adversarial multiagent environment. And effectiveness of the proposed multiagent reinforcement learning method is analyzed through experiments using this game as testbed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.673-679
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• 2017

Microtubules are long rods in the cytoplasm of cells that plays a role in cell motility and intracellular transport. Microtubule-based transport by motor proteins is essential in intracellular transport. Kinesin 1 is a molecular motor protein that mediates the intracellular transport of various membranous vesicles, mRNAs, and proteins along microtubules. It is comprised of two heavy chains (KHCs, also called KIF5s) and two light chains (KLCs). KIF5s bear a motor domain in their amino (N)-terminal regions and interact with various cargoes through the cargo-binding domain in their carboxyl (C)-terminal regions. To identify proteins interacting with KIF5B, yeast two-hybrid screening was performed, and a specific interaction with the cytoplasmic linker protein 170 (CLIP-170), a plus end microtubule-binding protein, was found. The coiled-coil domain of CLIP-170 is essential for interactions with KIF5B in the yeast two-hybrid assay. CLIP-170 bound to the cargo-binding domain of KIF5B. Also, other KIF5s, KIF5A and KIF5C, interacted with CLIP-170 in the yeast two-hybrid assay. In addition, glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-downs showed that KIF5s specifically interacted with CLIP-170. An antibody to KIF5B specifically co-immunoprecipitated CLIP-170 associated with KIF5B from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that kinesin 1 motor protein may transport CLIP-170 in cells.