• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.400-404
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• 2003

This study was to evaluate the effects of gamma irradiation on the germination, nutrient concentrations and growth of spinach and radish. Both the spinach and radish seeds exhibited relatively higher germination rates in response to the low doses of gamma irradiation compared to the non -irradiated control. Leaf DW of the radish did not respond to gamma irradiation but that of the spinach increased significantly in response to a gamma radiation of 4 Gy (P< 0.05). Leaf growth parameters of the spinach including the leaf area and SLA (leaf area/leaf dry weight) also demonstrated increased responses to gamma irradiation. R/S (root dry weight/shoot dry weight), root DW and root length of the spinach exhibited a positive response to gamma irradiation while those of the radish did not. In contrast, SRL (root length/root dry weight) significantly decreased with gamma irradiation at 8 Gy for the spinach, but not for the radish. The tissue nitrogen concentrations of the spinach showed an increased response to gamma irradiation while that of the radish did not. Furthermore, higher concentrations of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium were found in the irradiated spinach, but not in the irradiated radish. It seems that the non-specific physiological and/or biochemical activities of spinach might be accelerated by gamma irradiation, possibly accounting for the stimulation of nutrient uptake from the root media and early biomass accumulation in the current study.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.413-420
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• 2017

The increase in the number of mud shrimps Upogebia major is a concern because of their negative effects on shellfish aquaculture, including Manila clam Venerupis philippinatum along the west coast of Korea. This study developed a behavioral analysis system for aquatic animals using a set of monochromatic light-emitting diode (LED) modules covering the visible light range at similar intervals. Movements of mud shrimp were monitored using a tracking system under illumination with infra-red light and an LED of 660 nm wavelength without provoking stimulation. The minimum light intensity needed to induce a photoresponse by the mud shrimp was $10{\mu}mole/m^2/s$ under the conditions tested. Of the six kinds of LED illuminations tested, the most sensitive response was obtained with illumination with the 505 nm LED, followed in order by LEDs with peak wavelengths of $525nm{\fallingdotseq}465nm$ > $405nm{\fallingdotseq}590nm$ > 660 nm. These findings should help to identify LED sources that efficiently induce movement of the mud shrimp and also for monitoring movement without stimulating.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2018

Recent findings indicate that Type 2 taste receptors (T2Rs) are expressed outside the gustatory system, including in the gastrointestinal tracts and the exocrine glands, such as the submandibular (SM), parotid (P), lacrimal (L) glands and pancreas (PC). Specifically, T2Rs are found in some of the gastrointestinal endocrine cells, and these cells secreted peptide hormones in response to stimulation by bitter-tasting compounds. The results show that T2Rs may have significant physiological roles besides bitter taste reception. The functions of the T2Rs in the exocrine glands remain poorly understood. An expression levels analysis of T2Rs will help to determine those functions in the exocrine glands. The expression levels of the T2Rs in the exocrine glands were discovered via the qPCR. C57BL/6J mice of 42~60-day-old were used. Messenger RNAs were extracted from S, P, L and PC. Cloned DNAs were synthesized by reverse transcription. Quantitative PCRs were performed using the SYBR Green method. The expression levels of the T2Rs were calculated as relative expression levels to that of the GAPDH. The statistical significance among the observed exocrine glands was tested using the variance analysis (ANOVA test). Tas2r108, out of murine 35 T2Rs, was the most highly expressed in every observed exocrine gland. This finding was similar to previous results from tongue papillae, but the expression levels were lower than those of the tongue papillae. Tas2r137 of SM, P, L and PC were expressed a little lower than that of tongue papillae. The T2Rs in the exocrine glands may play slightly different roles from those in the tongue. We suggest that physiological studies such as a patch clamp and functional $Ca^{2+}$ imaging of acinar cells are necessary for understanding the Tas2r108 functions.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2004

Objectives: To investigate the effect of LH receptor in folliculogenesis, we confirm the expression level of LH receptor (LH-R) mRNA in human granulosa cells (GCs) and its expression levels were analyzed by comparison to embryo developmental rate and pregnancy rate. Materials and Methods: GCs were obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval from the patients undergoing IVF-ET program. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n=20) is poor responder (retrieved oocyte(s)$\leq$3ea), Group II (n=80) is normal responder (retrieved oocytes>3ea). After the extraction of total RNA, semiquantitative RT-PCR was performed and the expression level of LH-R mRNA was normalized by $\beta$-actin. Statistical analysis was performed by using $X^2$ test, Student's t-test and Pearson correlation. Results: In Group II, the relative values of LH-R mRNA (0.680 vs. 0.463, p<0.005) and pregnancy rate (54.7% vs. 23.1%, p<0.05) were significantly higher than in Group I. Number of retrieved oocyte(s) was gradually increased when the expression of LH-R mRNA was increased (p<0.05). But the quality of retrieved oocyte and transferred embryo were not related with the expression of LH-R mRNA. When the pregnancy rate was compared with FSH only group and FSH combined with hMG group in the ovarian stimulation protocol, FSH combined with hMG group was significantly higher than FSH only group in Group I (37.5% vs. 0%), and the expression of LH-R mRNA was significantly higher in hMG combined group than FSH only group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Expression level of LH-R mRNA has important role in ovarian function related with the response to gonadotrophin in human folliculogenesis. Furthermore these data might provide the evidence that additional use of hMG is helpful to poor responders.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.32-50
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• 2000

A descriptive exploratory design was used in this study to evaluate the effects of sponge bathing on physiological(heart rate, heart period, vagal tone, oxygen saturation, respiration) and behavioral responses in newly born 40 preterm infants from intensive care unit of S University Hospital in Seoul. Data has been collected from October, 1997 to March, 1999. The infants were between 27-33 weeks gestational age at birth, and were free of congenital defects. The subjects entered the protocol when they were medically stable (determined by initiation of feeding and discontinuation of all respiratory support) but still receiving neonatal intensive care. The infants' physiologic parameters were recorded a 10 - minute before, during, and after bathing. Continuous heart rate data were recorded on a notebook computer from the infant's EKG monitor. The data were digitized off-line on software(developed by Lee and Chang in Wavelet program) which detected the peak of the R wave for each heart beat and quantified sequential R-R intervals in msec(i.e. heart periods). Heart period data were edited to remove movement artifact. Heart period data were quantified as : 1) mean heart period; 2) vagal tone. Vagal tone was quantitfied with a noninvasive measure developed by Porges(1985) in Mxedit software. To determine behavioral status, tools were developed by Scafidi et al(1990) were used. Collected data were analyzed with the SPSS program using paried t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. The result were as follow. 1. The results of the ANOVAs indicated that vagal tone were signifcantly lower during bathing than baseline and post-bathing. There were significant differences in heart period and heart rate levels across the bathing. But the mean oxygen saturations and respirations were no differences. Also, there were no significant differences on behavioral sign, motor activity, behavioral distress, weight changes, morbidity, and hospitalization period. 2. To evaluate the relation between vagal tone and subsequent parameters, the two groups (the high group had 19 subjects and low group had 21subjects) were divided by the mean baseline vagal tone. Vagal tone measured prior to bathing were significantly associated with respiration before bathing, vagal tone during bathing, and the magnitude of change in both vagal tone. But, other subsequent reactivities were no differences in two groups. 3. Correlations were also calculated between vagal tone and the subsequent physiological reactivities from baseline through after- bathing. Correlations were significant between baseline vagal tone and baseline heart rate, between baseline vagal tone and baseline heart period, between baseline vagal tone and oxygen saturation after bathing. In summary, the bathing in this study showed a stressful stimulus on premature infants through there was significance in the physiological parameters. In addition, our study represents the documentation that vagal tone reactivity in response to clearly defined external stimulation provides an index of infant's status.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.49-67
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• 2020

On-Demand services have emerged as one of the core business strategies for delivering new experiential values by providing customized services in different user-needs nowadays. Based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework, this paper focuses on the factors of environmental stimulation and emotional states of the demand-side that induce continuous intention of use from the On-Demand services. The study defines 'Informativeness', 'Fulfillment', 'Trust', and 'Convenience' as the properties of the On-Demand services and considers 'Playfulness', 'Customer Return on Investment (CROI)', and 'Service Excellence' as the aspects of the experiential values. The research shows that 'Fulfillment', 'Trust' and 'Convenience' affected the experiential value in 'Kakao Taxi (On-Demand transportation service)' while 'Informativeness', 'Fulfillment', 'Trust of platform', and 'Convenience' are represented as the related factors to the experiential value in 'Baedal Minjok (On-Demand food delivery service)'. The experiential value factors, 'CROI' and 'Service Excellence', are shown directly related to the continuous intention of use in both services. A partial mediation relationship is, furthermore, observed between the aspects of 'CROI' and 'Service Excellence' in Kakao Taxi and its 'Convenience' and 'Continuous intention of use.' In Baedal Minjok, a partial mediation relationship is found between the 'CROI' with its aspects of 'Trust of the platform', 'Convenience', and 'Continuous intention of use' as well. The results of this study may contribute a comprehensive understanding of the purpose of On-Demand services and its needs from the demand-side thus can be helpful for the supply-side.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.164-177
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• 2022

Medical device usability evaluation refers to the evaluation of medical devices through actual users before the final prototype production is completed. IEC 62366, one of the international safety standards for electronic medical devices, is a standard that must be applied to obtain medical device licenses in major advanced countries such as Europe and the United States. In Korea, through the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's notice, from January 2021, sequential application by grade has been implemented. In this study, 15 participant specialists were recruited through the Incheon G University Hospital Medical Device Convergence Center for formative evaluation during user suitability evaluation of the focused ultrasound stimulation system being developed by Icleo Co., Ltd., and the test was conducted through joint scenario development. . In the result of task performance, the performance rate was 90.67%, and after the completion of the performance, 86.67% of 'Easy user interface' and 94% of 'Identification/Readability/Understanding of information' questions in the participant survey results analysis by question. The response rate was above average.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.497-505
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• 2002

Background : INF-${\gamma}$ plays an important role in the host response to a mycobacterial infection. A complete IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor 1 deficiency is a life threatening condition because it renders patients highly susceptible to a mycobacterial infection. Several mutations in the IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor and STAT1 gene have been identified in the rare mycobacterial infections. These mutations have partial function of the IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor and similar pathologic features to clinical tuberculosis. Materials and Methods : The function of the IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor was evaluated in the patients with clinical tuberculosis. In addition, the DNA coding sequence of the IFNgR1 and STAT1 gene was also analyzed in disseminated tuberculosis patients who might have a defective IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor. Results : The cell surface expression levels of HLA-DR and CD64 in the PMBC after being stimulation with IFN-${\gamma}$ (100IU/ml, 1000IU/ml) were increased in both controls and patients. However, the rate of increase in both groups was similar. The production of TNF-${\alpha}$ in the response to stimulation with LPS was higher in the both groups ($850.7{\pm}687.8$ vs. $836.7{\pm}564.3$ pg/ml). Pretreatment with IFN-${\gamma}$ prior to LPS stimulation resulted in further increase in TNF-${\alpha}$ production between both groups ($2203.5{\pm}242.5$ vs. $2227.5{\pm}560.4$ pg/ml). However, the rate of the increase in TNF-${\alpha}$ production in the both groups was similar. The known mutations in the IFNgR1 and STAT1 coding sequences were not found in the genomic DNA of patients with disseminated tuberculosis. Conclusion : The functional and genetic defects of the IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor were not identified in clinical tuberculosis. This suggests the defective IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor that predispoe patients to a BCG or NTM infection can not alone account for the cases of clinical tuberculosis.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 2013

Activeness of exercise is critical for stroke rehabilitation so that application of stimulation in response to patient's intention would be effective in FES cycling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between muscle reaction force (MRF) and electromyogram (EMG) during cycling exercise, for the future usage of MRF as patients' intention signal. Seven young men ($24{\pm}1.63$ yrs) participated in this study. Cycling speed was set to 20 RPM and 60 RPM. MRF and EMG were measured in the vastus lateralis muscle of right leg. Active cycling was performed at the maximal load (16 Nm) of an ergometer. Angle dependent artifact in MRF was measured from passive cycling and was subtracted from the MRF of active cycling. The delay of MRF with respect to EMG envelope and their correlation coefficients were derived from the best of cross correlation. MRF was significantly correlated with EMG amplitude in all subjects (p<0.01). Their mean correlations were 0.84 and 0.91 for 20 RPM and 60 RPM, respectively. Mean delay in MRF was 59.14 ms and 53.14 ms for 20 RPM and 60 RPM, respectively. The result suggests that MRF can be used to assess patient's intention for exercise as a substitute to EMG. The method may be applied to FES cycling to encourage patient's effort which is critical for stroke rehabilitation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.729-741
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• 1997

Background : We have recently reported that airway epithelial cells can produce RANTES and IL-8 in response to the stimulation of tubercle bacilli suggesting a certain role of airway epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis. The pathogenesis of tuberculosis is determined by several factors including phagocytosis, immunological response of host, and virulence of tubercle bacilli. Interestingly, there have been reports suggesting that difference in immunological response of host according to the virulence of tubercle bacilli may be related with the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. We, therefore, studied the expressions and productions of RANTES and IL-8 in airway epithelial cells in response to tubercle bacilli(H37Rv, virulent strain and H37Ra, avirulent strain), in order to elucidate the possible pathophysiology of pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods : Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from normal volunteers. Peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) were stimulated with LPS($10{\mu}g/ml$), H37Rv, or H37Ra($5{\times}10^5$ bacilli/well) along with normal control for 24 hours. A549 cells were stimulated with supernatants of cultured PBM for 24 hours. ELISA kit was used for the measurement of $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ production in supernatants of cultured PBM and for the measurement of RANTES and IL-8 in supernatants of cultured A549 cells. Northern blot analysis was used for the measurement of RANTES and IL-8 mRNA expression in cultured A549 cells. Results : $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ productions were increased in cultured PBM stimulated with LPS or tubercle bacilli(H37Rv or H37Ra) compared with the control. There was, however, no difference in $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ production between cultured PBM stimulated with H37Rv and H37Ra. RANTES and IL-8 expressions and productions were also increased in cultured A549 cells stimulated with LPS or tubercle bacilli compared with the control. RANTES and IL-8 mRNA expressions were significantly increased in cultured A549 cells stimulated with H37Ra-conditioned media(CM) compared with A549 cells stimulated with H37Rv-CM (p<0.05). However, there was no difference in RANTES and IL-8 productions between A549 cells stimulated with H37Rv-CM and H37Ra-CM. Conclusion : Airway epithelial cells can produce the potent chemokines such as RANTES and IL-8, in response to the stimulation of tubercle bacilli. These results suggest that airway epithelial cells may play a certain role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis. However, the role of airway epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis according to the virulence of tubercle bacilli was not clear in this study.