• Journal of the Korean Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.77-105
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• 2014

Medical imaging techniques have evolved to expand our ability to visualize new contrast information of electrical, optical, and mechanical properties of tissues in the human body using noninvasive measurement methods. In particular, electrical tissue property imaging techniques have received considerable attention for the last few decades since electrical properties of biological tissues and organs change with their physiological functions and pathological states. We can express the electrical tissue properties as the frequency-dependent admittivity, which can be measured in a macroscopic scale by assessing the relation between the time-harmonic electric field and current density. The main issue is to reconstruct spectroscopic admittivity images from 10 Hz to 1 MHz, for example, with reasonably high spatial and temporal resolutions. It requires a solution of a nonlinear inverse problem involving Maxwell's equations. To solve the inverse problem with practical significance, we need deep knowledge on its mathematical formulation of underlying physical phenomena, implementation of image reconstruction algorithms, and practical limitations associated with the measurement sensitivity, specificity, noise, and data acquisition time. This paper discusses a number of issues in electrical tissue property imaging modalities and their future directions.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2018

The elderly are at increased risk of developing dysphagia due to aging and illnesses. The aim of the current study was to analyze, via an acoustic study, the change in the voice quality of normal elderly people after a 3oz water-swallow test. Subjects included a group of 60 normal elderly people (age: $mean{\pm}SD=76.9{\pm}6.66$) and 60 healthy young adults (age: $mean{\pm}SD=25.1{\pm}2.36$). Every participant produced a five-second /a/ phonation pre- and post-swallowing, and the fractioned two-second sections were analyzed using the MDVP (multi dimensional voice program) analysis. The elderly group demonstrated a post-swallowing increase in the following related acoustic parameters: fundamental frequency, fundamental frequency variation, amplitude-variation, and noise in both two-second sections. However, the younger group showed an increase only in frequency related acoustic parameters (i.e., STD ) in the first two-second section. The significant changes in values in the post-swallowing parameters might indicate temporary irregularities in pitch and amplitude along with higher amounts of noise in the voice. The results could be attributed to water residues in the vocal fold and vocal tract, as well as a deterioration of the motor and sensory functions caused by anatomical and physiological changes that result from aging.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.75-82
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• 2017

Correct prediction of emotion is essential for developing advanced health devices. For this purpose, neural network has been successfully used. However, interpretation of how a certain emotion is predicted through the emotion prediction neural network is very tough. When interpreting mechanism about how emotion is predicted by using the emotion prediction neural network can be developed, such mechanism can be effectively embedded into highly advanced health-care devices. In this sense, this study proposes a novel approach to interpreting how the emotion prediction neural network yields emotion. Our proposed mechanism is based on HRV (heart rate variability) measurements, which is based on calculating physiological data out of ECG (electrocardiogram) measurements. Experiment dataset with 23 qualified participants were used to obtain the seven HRV measurement such as Mean RR, SDNN, RMSSD, VLF, LF, HF, LF/HF. Then emotion prediction neural network was modelled by using the HRV dataset. By applying the proposed mechanism, a set of explicit mathematical functions could be derived, which are clearly and explicitly interpretable. The proposed mechanism was compared with conventional neural network to show validity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.538-543
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• 2020

Cardiovascular diseases are a rapidly growing epidemic with high morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need to develop nutraceutical-based therapy with minimum side effects to reduce cardiovascular risk. Panax ginseng occupies a prominent status in herbal medicine for its various therapeutic effects against inflammation, allergy, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer, with positive, beneficial, and restorative effects. The active components found in most P. ginseng varieties are known to include ginsenosides, polysaccharides, peptides, alkaloids, polyacetylene, and phenolic compounds, which are considered to be the main pharmacologically active constituents in ginseng. P. ginseng is an adaptogen. That is, it supports living organisms to maintain optimal homeostasis by exerting effects that counteract physiological changes caused by physical, chemical, or biological stressors. P. ginseng possesses immunomodulatory (including both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive), neuromodulatory, and cardioprotective effects; suppresses anxiety; and balances vascular tone. P. ginseng has an antihypertensive effect that has been explained by its vasorelaxant action, and paradoxically, it is also known to increase blood pressure by vasoconstriction and help maintain cardiovascular health. Here, we discuss the potential adaptogenic effects of P. ginseng on the cardiovascular system and outline a future research perspective in this area.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.56-60
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• 2002

Physiological functions of oyster mushroom Kimchi were investigated. Oyster mushroom Kimhies were found to have antioxidant activities. The effect was in a dose-dependent manner, the effect was higher in oyster mushroom Kimchies than in control and higher in raw oyster mushroom Kimchi (ROMK) than in blanched oyster mushroom Kimchi (BOMK). Methanol extract of Kimchi revealed antimutagenic activity and suppressed growth of cancer cell in a dose-dependent manner, and the effects were higher in ROMK than in other Kimchies. The methanol extracts of oyster mushroom Kimchi alone did not appear proliferation effect of spleenic immune cell, but revealed the effect with Con A. The proliferation effect was higher in ROMK than in BOMK.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.303-309
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• 2005

The end of eukaryotic genomic DNA is capped by a specialized structure called as "telomere" which consists of the repetitive array of nucleotide sequence, TTAGGG, in humans and mice, and a variety of binding proteins. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex responsible for the elongation of telomeres to maintain the genomic integrity, and is composed of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), telomerase RNA component (TERC), and their associated factors regulating the catalytic activity of telomerase. Although it is now apparent that telomerase protects cells from apoptosis via the maintenance of genomic integrity by stabilizing telomeres, our understanding for the physiological role of telomerase is yet far from completion, and emerging evidence suggests that telomerase has additional extratelomeric roles in mediating cell survival and anti-apoptotic functions against various cytotoxic stresses. Here we summarize and discuss how telomerase and telomeres are involved in mediating cellular protection against apoptosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2007

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) is expressed at very high levels in the gastrointestinal epithelium. Many of the functions of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in gastrointestinal epithelial cells have been elucidated in recent years, and a pattern is emerging which suggests that this receptor plays an important role in gastrointestinal physiology. There is also strong evidence that $PPAR{\gamma}$ is a colon cancer suppressor in pre-clinical rodent models of sporadic colon cancer, and there is considerable interest in exploitation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ agonists as prophylactic or chemopreventive agents in colon cancer. Studies in mice and in human colon cancer cell lines suggest several mechanisms that might account for the tumor suppressive effects of $PPAR{\gamma}$ agonists, although it is not in all cases clear whether these effects are altogether mediated by $PPAR{\gamma}$. Conversely, several reports suggest that $PPAR{\gamma}$ agonists may promote colon cancer under certain circumstances. This possibility warrants considerable attention since several million individuals with type II diabetes are currently taking $PPAR{\gamma}$ agonists. This review will focus on recent data related to four critical questions: what is the physiological function of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in gastrointestinal epithelial cells; how does $PPAR{\gamma}$ suppress colon carcinogenesis; is $PPAR{\gamma}$ a tumor promoter; and what is the future of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in colon cancer prevention?

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.332-346
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• 2008

S-glutathionylation is a reversible post-translational modification that continues to gain eminence as a redox regulatory mechanism of protein activity and associated cellular functions. Many diverse cellular proteins such as transcription factors, adhesion molecules, enzymes, and cytokines are reported to undergo glutathionylation, although the functional impact has been less well characterized. De-glutathionylation is catalyzed specifically and efficiently by glutaredoxin (GRx, aka thioltransferase), and facile reversibility is critical in determining the physiological relevance of glutathionylation as a means of protein regulation. Thus, studies with cohesive themes addressing both the glutathionylation of proteins and the corresponding impact of GRx are especially useful in advancing understanding. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and redox regulation are well accepted as playing a role in inflammatory processes, such as leukostasis and the destruction of foreign particles by macrophages. We discuss in this review the current implications of GRx and/or glutathionylation in the inflammatory response and in diseases associated with chronic inflammation, namely diabetes, atherosclerosis, inflammatory lung disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease, and in viral infections.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.145-154
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• 2006

Heterotrimeric G proteins (G proteins) are conserved in all eukaryotes and are crucial components sensing and relaying external cues into the cells to elicit appropriate physiological and biochemical responses. Basic units of the heterotrimeric G protein signaling system include a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), a G protein composed of ${\alpha},\;{\beta},\;and\;{\gamma}$ subunits, and variety of effectors. Sequential sensitization and activation of these G protein elements translates external signals into gene expression changes, resulting in appropriate cellular behaviors. Regulators of G protein signaling (RGSs) constitute a crucial element of appropriate control of the intensity and duration of G protein signaling. For the past decade, G protein signaling and its regulation have been intensively studied in a number of model and/or pathogenic fungi and outcomes of the studies provided better understanding on the upstream regulation of vegetative growth, mating, development, virulence/pathogenicity establishment, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in fungi. This review focuses on the characteristics of the basic upstream G protein components and RGS proteins, and their roles controlling various aspects of biological processes in the model filamentous ascomycete fungus Aspergillus nidulans. In particular, their functions in controlling hyphal proliferation, asexual spore formation, sexual fruiting, and the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin production are discussed.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 1997

We have developed a patient monitoring system including module-based bedside monitors, interbed network, central stations, clinical workstations, and DB servers. A bedside monitor with a color LCD can accommodate up to 3 module cases and 21 different modules. Six different physiological parameters of ECG, respiration, invasive blood pressure, noninvasive blood pressure, body temperature, and arterial pulse oximetry with plethysmoyaph are provided as parameter modules. In a single bedside monitor, modules and a module controller communicate with IMbps data rate through an intrabed network based on RS-485 and HDU protocol. At the same time, it communicates with other bedside monitors and central stations through interbed network based on 1 OMbps Ethernet and TCP/IP protocol. Central stations using 20" color CRT monitors can be connected with many bedside monitors and they display 18 channels of waveforms simultaneously. Clinical workstations are used mainly for the review of patient datE In order to accommodate more advanced data management capabilities such as 24-hour full disclosure, we have developed a relational database server dedicated to the patient monitoring system. Software for bedside monitor, central station, and clinical workstation fully utilizes graphical user interface techniques and all functions are controlled by a rotate/push button on the bedside monitor arid a mouse on the central station and clinical workstation. The entire system satisfies the requirements of AAMI and ANSI standards in terms of electrical safety and performances.nces.