• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.393-402
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• 2020

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that causes severe disease when the infection occurs during pregnancy. Adenosine is a purine nucleoside involved in numerous physiological processes; however, the role of adenosine receptors in T. gondii-induced trophoblast cell function has not been investigated until now. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the intracellular signaling pathways regulated by adenosine receptors using a HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cell model of T. gondii infection. HTR8/SVneo human extravillous trophoblast cells were infected with or without T. gondii and then evaluated for cell morphology, intracellular proliferation of the parasite, adenosine receptor expression, TNF-α production and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathways triggered by adenosine A₃ receptor (A₃AR). HTR8/SVneo cells infected with T. gondii exhibited an altered cytoskeletal changes, an increased infection rate and reduced viability in an infection time-dependent manner. T. gondii significantly promoted increased TNF-α production, A₃AR protein levels and p38, ERK1/2 and JNK phosphorylation compared to those observed in uninfected control cells. Moreover, the inhibition of A₃AR by A₃AR siRNA transfection apparently suppressed the T. gondii infection-mediated upregulation of TNF-α, A₃AR production and MAPK activation. In addition, T. gondii-promoted TNF-α secretion was dramatically attenuated by pretreatment with PD098059 or SP600125. These results indicate that A₃AR-mediated activation of ERK1/2 and JNK positively regulates TNF-α secretion in T. gondii-infected HTR8/SVneo cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.494-501
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• 2012

In the present paper, the ultrasound blood images were measured at both the human radial artery(RA) and common carotid artery(CCA), depending on the age, and the pulsatility index of blood echogenicity(PIBE) was analyzed. In addition, the ultrasound blood images were measured at both RA and CCA of both the stroke patients and the control group, and PIBE was compared. PIBE of RA for the young group was similar with that for the old group ($0.13{\pm}0.11$ and $0.16{\pm}0.03$). PIBE of CCA for the young group, however, was larger than that for the old group ($0.70{\pm}0.21$ and $0.32{\pm}0.01$), and was more variable depending on the subject. Similarly, the fibrinogen concentrations of the patients ($336{\pm}61$ and $340{\pm}126mg/dl$) were more than that of the control group ($264{\pm}38$ and $257{\pm}43mg/dl$), for both RA and CCA. The results indicate the possibility of the ultrasonic test on the correlation between erythrocyte aggregation and stroke, and it is expected that the in-vivo EA measurement would be clinically useful.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.139-148
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• 2000

Objectives : Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue(華佗夾脊穴) is the Jing-Wai-Qi-Xue(經外奇穴) that is widely used in clinic and effective in Acupuncture and Moxibustion. But the location, number, acupuncture method, clinical application of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue have not been explained clearly and consistently; moreover, studies or clinical reports about this are insufficient. The purpose of this study is to investigate the location, number, acupuncture method, clinical apptication of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue. Methods : We investigated Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue through survey of 11 books and 26 relevant journals published in China Results : 1. Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue is located in about 0.5 Cun(寸) at both sides of spinous process of each vertebra. 2. There is differ as the number of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue is 34, 48, 56, 58 in each documents. Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue located in first, second cervical vertebra and first sacrum is low in application frequency, Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue located from third cervical vertebra to fourth lumbar vertebra is high in apptication frequency. Therefore, all of the acupoints located in about 0.5 Cun(寸) both sides of spinous process of cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral vertebrae are regarded as Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue in wide meaning. 3. There are Kou-Ci-Fa(叩刺法), Qian-Ci-Fa(淺刺法), Yan-Pi-Ci-Fa(沿皮刺法), Shen-Ci-Fa(深刺法) in acupuncture method of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue. Acupuncturing depths, directions is differ in each location(cervical, thoracic, lumbar vertebra, sacrum) and have something to do with therapeutic effect of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue. The feeling that patient receive after acupuncture is the key to the treatment of disease. 4. The clinical application of each Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue is mainly selected by distribution of meridians, nerve roots, vertebral segments which are attacked with a disease. The musculoskeletal diseases in treatment of disease by Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue are the most common as 12 cases. Second, there are many reports about nervous system diseases. In addition, good therapeutic results by application of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue are reported in some diseases, for instance, diseases of five viscera and six entrails, organ, tissue Conclusions : Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue is located in about 0.5 Cun(寸) at both sides of spinous process of each cervical, thoracic lumbar and sacral vertebra. Therapeutic effect of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue has something to do with acupuncturing depths, directions and feelings. Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue is mainly selected by distribution of meridians, nerve roots, vertebral segments which are attacked with a disease and is mainly applied musculoskeletal diseases, nervous system diseases.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.79
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• pp.140-164
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• 2016

What is an appropriate length of an article in the mobile era producing new tastes of contents combining computing and mobile communication? Is it still valid to have a lengthy article as high level journalism even in the mobile era? Is there any possibility to have a short article combination to give us readability and the amount of information? This study aims to find some answers to these questions. The length of articles were controlled with a field experiment; from an article of 346 syllables(including spaces between syllables) which does not need finger scrolling on a mobile phone to articles of 633, 1033, 1368 syllables(including spaces between syllables) which frequently appear in newspapers and broadcasting news program. All the main themes were same for 4 articles which have different length. Three hundred and eighty four students viewed one of the 4 articles through mobile phone or newspaper. Each participant checked their preference and evaluated quality on the article, were asked to recall contents of the article. In newspaper group, articles with 346 or 1033 syllables were highly evaluated. Mobile group seemed to prefer articles of 346 or 633 syllables. In conclusion, we need to consider various strategies shortening the length of an article into 346 or 633 syllables as a basic format to meet the neEds of mobile era.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2009

B. thuringiensis strain LY-99 belonging to subsp. alesti (H3a3c), was isolated from Chinese tobacco warehouse and showed significantly high toxicity to Plutella xylostella. For the identification of the cry1-type genes from B. thuringiensis LY-99, an extended multiplex PCRrestriction fragment length polymorphism (PCRRFLP) method was established by using two pairs of universal primers based on the conserved regions of the cry1-type genes to amplify around 2.4 kb cry1-type gene fragments. Then the DNA fragment was cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector and digested with EcoRI and EcoRV enzymes. Through this method, a known cry1-type gene was successfully identified from the reference strain, B. thuringiensis subsp. alesti. In addition, the RFLP patterns revealed that B. thuringiensis LY-99 included a novel cry1A-type gene in addition to cry1Aa, cry1Ac, cry1Be and cry1Ea genes. The novel cry1A-type gene was designated cry1Ah2 (Genbank accession No DQ269474). An inverse PCR method was used to amplify the flank regions of cry1Ah2 gene. Finally, 3143 bp HindIII fragment from B. thuringiensis LY-99 plasmid DNA including 5' region and partial ORF was amplified, and sequence analysis revealed that cry1Ah2 gene from LY-99 showed 89.31% of maximum sequence similarity with cry1Ac1 crystal protein gene. In addition, the deduced amino acid sequence of Cry1Ah2 protein shared 87.80% of maximum identity with that of Cry1Ac2. This protein therefore belongs to a new class of B. thuringiensis crystal proteins.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.57-77
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• 2010

Objective : This study reviews the recent trend of oriental medical prescription research. The data examined are the articles published in the Korean Journal of Oriental Medical Prescription from 1990 to 2009. Method : The data are retrieved through the internet database Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS) and the collection of the Korean Journal of Oriental Medical Prescription. The number of articles examined is 385, published in 25 volumes of the journal. This study examines the nature of the articles, research methods, subjects, and author information. Research subjects are sorted out by the OASIS key words for the articles published before 1999, and by key word indexes cited in the abstracts for the articles published sinceafter. Results : Among the 385 articles collected, 206 are research articles, 143 philological articles, 35 case studies, and 1 special contribution. A majority of research articles are experimental studies (199 articles or 96.6%), while clinical reports (5 articles or 2.43%), and others studies (2 articles) occupy a small portion. Most of experimental studies (183 articles or 91%) examine the effectiveness of certain prescriptions or treatments. Among the effectiveness studies, 114 articles (62.3%) employ in vivo experiment design, 52 articles (28.42%) in vitro experiments, and 17 articles (9.29%) both in vivo and in vitro experiments. In terms of research subject, the most frequently indexed key words are hepatotoxicity among diseases (9 articles), Bojungikgitang (Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang) among prescriptions (10 articles), Buja (Acontii Tuber) among meteria medica (4 articles), immunity and anti-oxidation among efficacy terminology (6 articles each), and Donguibogam(東醫寶鑑) among references in the key words (25 articles). Universities are the main affiliation of authors (76.42%), followed by university hospitals (6.71%), non-academic research institutes (5.55%), local clinics (4.67), academic research institutes (2.81%), hospitals (2.38%), and others (1.44%). The most affiliated institute of the first and correspondent authors is Wonkwang University. In terms of authorship, co-authorship outnumbers sole-authorship by 82.08% to 17.92%. The proportion of authors of a single article is 63.54% which is near the author productivity distribution described by Lotka's law.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.15-26
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• 2020

To recover phosphorus from incinerated sewage sludge ash(ISSA), ISSA were extracted with sulfuric acid solution, and the optimal phosphorus recovery conditions were experimented by comparing the recovered phosphorus contents and heavy metals by raising pH. Also the phosphorus recovery efficiency was compared when acid extract was reused or classified by particle size of ISSA. The optimal conditions for recovering phosphorus from ISSA were 1N sulfuric acid solution with an L/S ratio of 10, and an extraction time of 30 minutes. Considering the addition of alkali substances and the content of heavy metals in the recovered sediment, it is concluded to recover phosphorus under pH 5. Reuse of the ISSA extract increased the recovery rate of phosphorus by 14~21% depending on the reuse rate (100 and 50%), but it also increased zinc contents to 33 and 21%, and copper contents to 35 and 20%, respectively. The experiment of ISSA divided into four sections by particle size showed that there was no distinct advantage of phosphorous recovery by classification of certain particle size of ISSA. The removal of heavy metals from extracts through EDTA and cation exchange resin showed no definite effect.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.371-382
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• 2016

Saltwater intrusion in coastal regions can be detected by using numerous geochemical constituents in groundwater. However, insufficient numbers of groundwater data can often make us difficult to interpret saltwater intrusion. Probability statistics technique enables statistical prediction using a limited numbers of water quality data for a wider range and can make to effectively evaluate saltwater intrusion through a characterized distribution of probability. This study evaluated saltwater intrusion by applying probability statistics to the chemical constituents in groundwater, coastal discharge, and stream water in the coastal areas of Busan City. By the result of the study, it is proven that Na⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, SO₄²⁻, and Cl⁻, abundantly contained in seawater, are valuable indicators for evaluating saltwater intrusion. On the other hand, it is judged that Si⁴⁺, Fe²⁺, NO₃⁻, and PO₄³⁻, showing similar probability distribution in groundwater, coastal discharge, and stream water, are not appropriate indicators for the detection of saltwater intrusion.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.167-174
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• 2017

To identify the appropriate irrigation level for Pinus densiflora, a common reforestation species in Korea, we investigated their growth response characteristics according to different irrigation treatment levels for producing container seedlings with relatively high growth rate for higher survival rate when planted at the reforestation site. The container seedlings including control seedlings (no irrigation was applied) were grown in 104-cell trays were irrigated for 8 weeks from 15 weeks after seeding, at intervals of 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 days. Analysis of the height growth, root collar diameter growth, and dry matter production of the container seedlings according to irrigation showed that the highest growth reaction was observed for the irrigation interval of 1 day. A shorter irrigation cycle resulted in better growth of the container seedlings, but overall, longer total root length were observed with an irrigation cycle of 3 days compared with cycles of 1 or 2 days. Quality index (QI) was the highest for the irrigation interval of 1 day, and tended to decrease with increase in the irrigation interval. Thus, it was determined that irrigation at intervals of 1-2 days was appropriate for growing Pinus densiflora container seedlings.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.661-667
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• 2010

Astragali Radix (AR) has been used in traditional medicinal herb, which is known to tonify the qi and blood. It has been asserted to be a tonic that can improve the function of the lungs, adrenal glands and the gastrointestinal tract, increase metabolism, promote healing and reduce fatigue. Also, Plantago asiatica (PA) has the anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antitussive, cardiac, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic effects, though it is considered to be less powerful than the seed. Recent research is showing that it is promising in lowering cholesterol and controlling diabetes. Obesity is characterized at the cellular level by an increase in the number and size of adipocytes differentiated from fibroblastic preadipocytes in adipose tissue. In the present study, we investigated the effects of 3 to 7 extracts of mixed medicinal herbs (water and ethanol extract of Astragali Radix; ARW and ARE, water and ethanol extract of Plantago asitica; PAW and PAE, and those mixed extracts; ARW+PAE, ARW+PAW and ARE+PAE) on adipogenesis and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by MTT assay, Oil-Red-O staining and TUNEL assay. And then, we determined total contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoid compounds in mixed herbal extracts. These result showed that herbal extracts (ARW, PAE and ARW+PAE) affected on adipogenesis and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes among 3 to 7 extracts tested. Especially herbal mixed extracts (ARW+PAE) had the highest inhibition on differentiation of preadipocytes and lipoid accumulation of maturing adipocytes. And it did not affect cell viability of mature adipocytes, but herbal mixed extracts (ARW+PAE) increased apoptosis in mature adipocytes, as proved by highest concentration $200\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ using TUNEL assay. In addition, contents of total phenoilc compounds and flavonoids showed the highest level in ARE+PAE and PAE than ARW. These results suggest that this main target for adipocyte functions could be effective in improving the metabolic syndrome including obesity.