• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.447-456
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• 1999

This paper presents a solution method, which can be regarded as the further extension of the generalized evolutionary method (Zhao et al. 1998a), for the simultaneous optimization of several different natural frequencies of a structure in general and a two dimensional structure in particular. The main function of the present method is to optimize the topology of a structure so as to simultaneously make several different natural frequencies of interest to be of the corresponding different desired values for the target structure. In order to develop the present method, the new contribution factor of an element is proposed to consider the contribution of an element to the gaps between the currently calculated values for the different natural frequencies of interest and their corresponding desired values in a weighted manner. Using this new contribution factor of an element, the most inefficiently used material can be detected and removed gradually from the design domain of a structure. Through applying the present method to optimize two and three different natural frequencies of a two dimensional structure, it has been demonstrated that it is possible and applicable to use the generalized evolutionary method for tackling the simultaneous optimization of several different natural frequencies of a structure in the structural design.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1784-1790
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• 2006

Bacillus anthracis is a causative agent of anthrax. Anthrax toxins are composed of a protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF), in which the PA is a central mediator for the delivery of the two enzymatic moieties LF and EF. Therefore, the PA has been an attractive target in the prevention and vaccinization for anthrax toxin. Recently, it has been reported that the molecule consisting of multiple copies of PA-binding peptide, covalently linked to a flexible polymer backbone, blocked intoxification of anthrax toxin in an animal model. In the present study, we have screened novel diverse peptides that bind to PA with a high affinity (picomolar range) from an M13 peptide display library and characterized the binding regions of the peptides. Our works provide a basis to develop novel potent inhibitors or diagnostic probes with a diverse polyvalence.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.342-350
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• 1999

The antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), $5{\alpha}-reductase$ inhibition and comedolytic effects are the important pharmacological target sites of antiacne drughs. We previously reported on the antibacterial activities against P. acnes by natural products. In the present study the screening of $5{\alpha}-reductase$ inhibition and comedolytic effects from natural products were performed. Seven natural products such as Angelica koreana, Sophora flavescens, Prunus persica, Bombyx mori, Areca catechu, Galla rhois and Gleditschia koraiensis perfectly inhibited the activity of $5{\alpha}-reductase$ at the concentration of 0.01% (w/v). Sixteen natural products which were shown to have the potent antibacterial activities against P.acnes or $5{\alpha}-reductase$ inhibition activities were assayed for the comedolytic test. In the results of comedolytic effects on experimentally-induced comedones (EIC), Sophora flavescens showed the strongest comedolytic effect on EIC, and Polygonum cuspidatum and Angelica koreana showed stronger comedolytic effects on EIC than azelaic acid used for a positive control at the concentration of 3% (w/v). These results suggest that several natural products including Sophora flavescens can be developed as noble antiacne agents.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.299-307
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• 2019

This study surveyed the general characteristics and forest use characteristics of forest visitors, the healing power of natural environments and Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS) to find out whether humans can feel the healing effects of natural environments. The target area of this study was the natural environments of Bunseong Mountain in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. A total of 50 questionnaires were analyzed. Female visitors and those aged between 40s to 60s accounted for 62% and over 70% respectively. All the surveyed respondents answered 'yes' to the question about the healing effects of Bunseong Mountain and natural environments, and 84% of them answered that they can get 'psychological and physical healing' in Bunseong Mountain. Many respondents chose oxygen, sunlight, and landscape as a healing factor. To the questions about the specific form or conditions of the natural environments that have the healing effects, those who answered 'forest' was the highest (72%), and they described thickness of forests, gentle slope and clean air as their conditions. The average score of the Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS) using a 7-point Likert scale was 5.14. The results of this study indicate that respondents perceive Bunseong Mountain as a restorative environment and think that they can enjoy the healing effects of Bunseong Mountain and natural environments.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.11a
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• pp.47-50
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• 1997

Drug development began with the finding of biologically active compounds which are obtained by chemical synthesis or from natural sources. The advent of Combinatorial Chemistry is recognized as a strategy which has a potential to change the methodology of research and development(R&D) of new drugs. Drug development has been carried out with diverse strategies. In the past several decades a variety of new methodology have been introduced in R&D. Random screening of accumulated synthetic samples which had been synthesized for development of other drugs led to the discovery of new drugs. The typical examples are anti-asthma drug trimethoquinol and calcium antagonist diltiazem. (herbesser). In particular the latter drug has been used as a calcium antagonist worldwide, however it was first synthesized to find new tranquilizer and this is the reason why diltiazem has benzodiazepam skeleton. The random screening contributed in the finding of new drugs were carried out with whole animal test and it is a standard methodology in R&D of new drugs. Aspirin is the first synthetic non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug(NSAID) and has been used for more than one hundred years. It is the first example of drug developed from natural product. Salicin is the main constituent of willow bark which had been used in Europe for a long time to treat arthritis and aspirin was developed from salicin. Most of NSAID used clinically were developed from the structure of aspirin, however it took 70 years to clarify why aspirin exhibits its antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities. The target of aspirin is cyclooxygenase(COX)which is the first enzyme involved in arachidonate cascade leading to the production of prostaglandins(PG) and thromboxan(TX). Side effect of aspirin causing ulcer in stomach is rather serious problem, since aspirin is so popular drug easily obtained in drug store(OTP). This problem is now going to be solved by a new finding on COX, which have two different types, one is constitutionally expressed COX 1 in almost all organs and the other is inducible COX 2. COX 2 is the responsible enzyme in inflammation etc and now the search of COX 2 specific inhibitors is the target of R&D of next generation NSAID.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3817-3825
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• 2015

Background: The human protein methyl-transferase DOT1L catalyzes the methylation of histone H3 on lysine 79 (H3K79) at homeobox genes and is also involved in a number of significant processes ranging from gene expression to DNA-damage response and cell cycle progression. Inhibition of DOT1L activity by shRNA or small-molecule inhibitors has been established to prevent proliferation of various MLL-rearranged leukemia cells in vitro, establishing DOT1L an attractive therapeutic target for mixed lineage leukemia (MLL). Most of the drugs currently in use for the MLL treatment are reported to have low efficacy, hence this study focused on various natural compounds which exhibit minimal toxic effects and high efficacy for the target receptor. Materials and Methods: Structures of human protein methyl-transferase DOT1L and natural compound databases were downloaded from various sources. Virtual screening, molecular docking, dynamics simulation and drug likeness studies were performed for those natural compounds to evaluate and analyze their anti-cancer activity. Results: The top five screened compounds possessing good binding affinity were identified as potential high affinity inhibitors against DOT1L's active site. The top ranking molecule amongst the screened ligands had a Glide g-score of -10.940 kcal/mol and Glide e-model score of -86.011 with 5 hydrogen bonds and 12 hydrophobic contacts. This ligand's behaviour also showed consistency during the simulation of protein-ligand complex for 20000 ps, which is indicative of its stability in the receptor pocket. Conclusions: The ligand obtained out of this screening study can be considered as a potential inhibitor for DOT1L and further can be treated as a lead for the drug designing pipeline.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.293-298
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• 2012

The present study tested the effect of Schizandra chinensis lignan compounds, Gomisin A and Schizandrin, on the aggregation and dissociation of beta-amyloid $(A{\beta})_{1-42}$ to explore a possible therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease. Gomisin A significantly inhibited the $A{\beta}_{1-42}$ aggregation in a dose dependent manner, but did not induced the dissociation of aggregated $A{\beta}_{1-42}$. On the other hand, Schizandrin significantly suppressed the aggregation and dissociation of $A{\beta}_{1-42}$. These results suggest that Gomisin A and Schizandrin, which are known as biologically active ingredients from Schizandra chinensis, may be potentially useful target molecules to develop a drug for the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2002

Natural cavitied were found at shallow depth during construction of a huge bridge in Cambro-Ordovician Limestone Basin in the central part or Korea. The distribution patterns of cavities in this area were investigated carefully with a supplementary field job such as a structural geological survey, a geophysical survey, and a rock mechanical test in laboratory or field. A structural geological mapping produced a detail geological map focusing the route of the Proposed highway. It suggested that there were three faults in this wet and these faults had an influence on the mechanism of natural cavities. Among many kinds of geophysical surveys, an electrical resistivity prospecting was applied first on the specific area that was selected by results from the geological survey. Many evidences far cavities were disclosed from this geophysical data. Therefore, a seismic tomography was tested on the target wet which was focused by results from the electrical resistivity Prospecting and was believed to have several large cavities. A distinct element numerical simulation using the UDEC was followed on the target area after completing all of field surveys. Data from field tests were directly dumped or extrapolated to numerical simulations as input data. It was verified from numerical analysis that several natural cavities underneath the foundation of the bridge should be reinforced Based on the project result, finally, most of fecundations far the bridge were re-examined and the cement grouting reinforcement was constructed on several foundations among them.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.266-274
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• 2003

Distance Fourier descriptors of local target boundary and feature information fusion using multiple MLPs (Multilayer perceptrons) are proposed. They are used to identify nonoccluded and partially occluded targets in natural FLIR (forward-looking infrared) images. After segmenting a target, radial Fourier descriptors as global shape features are defined from the target boundary. A target boundary is partitioned into four local boundaries to extract local shape features. In a local boundary, a distance function is defined from boundary points and a line between two extreme points. Distance Fourier descriptors as local shape features are defined by using distance function. One global feature vector and four local feature vectors are used as input data for multiple MLPs to determine final identification result of the target. In the experiments, we show that the proposed method is superior to the traditional feature sets with respect to the identification performance.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.370-380
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• 2002

This paper proposes an ATR (Automatic Target Recognition) algorithm for identifying non-occluded and occluded military vehicles in natural FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) images. After segmenting a target, a radial function is defined from the target boundary to extract global shape features. Also, to extract local shape features of upper region of a target, a distance function is defined from boundary points and a line between two extreme points. From two functions and target contour, four global and four local shape features are proposed. They are much more invariant to translation, rotation and scale transform than traditional feature sets. In the experiments, we show that the proposed feature set is superior to the traditional feature sets with respect to the similarity-transform invariance and recognition performance.