• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.384-391
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• 2024

Morphological evaluation of the small intestine mucosa and apoptosis activity (caspase-3) is necessary to assess the severity of damage to the small intestine. At the same time, proliferative index based on Ki-67 can be used to assess the regenerative potential of the small intestine. Fragments of small intestine of Wistar rats (n=60) of three groups: I) control (n=20); II) experimental group (n=20; local single electron irradiation at a dose of 2 Gy), III) experimental group (n=20; local single electron irradiation at a dose of 8 Gy) were studied by light microscopy using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical reactions with antibodies to Ki-67 and caspase-3. In all samples of the experimental groups, a decrease in all morphometric indices was observed on day 1 with a tendency to recover on day 3. Small intestinal electron irradiation led to disturbances in the histoarchitecture of varying severity, and an increase in cell apoptosis was observed (increased expression of caspase-3 and decrease in Ki-67). In addition, modulation of the PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways was detected. The most pronounced destructive changes were observed in the group of 8 Gy single electron irradiation. Local irradiation of the small intestine with electrons at a dose of 2 and 8 Gy results in a decrease in the number of enterocytes, mainly stem cells of the intestinal crypts.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.65-79
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• 2019

The study attempted to estimate the optimal facility capacity by combining renewable energy sources that can be connected with gas CHP in industrial complexes. In particular, we reviewed industrial complexes subject to energy use plan from 2013 to 2016. Although the regional designation was excluded, Sejong industrial complex, which has a fuel usage of 38 thousand TOE annually and a high heat density of $92.6Gcal/km^2{\cdot}h$, was selected for research. And we analyzed the optimal operation model of CHP Hybrid System linking fuel cell and photovoltaic power generation using HOMER Pro, a renewable energy hybrid system economic analysis program. In addition, in order to improve the reliability of the research by analyzing not only the heat demand but also the heat demand patterns for the dominant sectors in the thermal energy, the main supply energy source of CHP, the economic benefits were added to compare the relative benefits. As a result, the total indirect heat demand of Sejong industrial complex under construction was 378,282 Gcal per year, of which paper industry accounted for 77.7%, which is 293,754 Gcal per year. For the entire industrial complex indirect heat demand, a single CHP has an optimal capacity of 30,000 kW. In this case, CHP shares 275,707 Gcal and 72.8% of heat production, while peak load boiler PLB shares 103,240 Gcal and 27.2%. In the CHP, fuel cell, and photovoltaic combinations, the optimum capacity is 30,000 kW, 5,000 kW, and 1,980 kW, respectively. At this time, CHP shared 275,940 Gcal, 72.8%, fuel cell 12,390 Gcal, 3.3%, and PLB 90,620 Gcal, 23.9%. The CHP capacity was not reduced because an uneconomical alternative was found that required excessive operation of the PLB for insufficient heat production resulting from the CHP capacity reduction. On the other hand, in terms of indirect heat demand for the paper industry, which is the dominant industry, the optimal capacity of CHP, fuel cell, and photovoltaic combination is 25,000 kW, 5,000 kW, and 2,000 kW. The heat production was analyzed to be CHP 225,053 Gcal, 76.5%, fuel cell 11,215 Gcal, 3.8%, PLB 58,012 Gcal, 19.7%. However, the economic analysis results of the current electricity market and gas market confirm that the return on investment is impossible. However, we confirmed that the CHP Hybrid System, which combines CHP, fuel cell, and solar power, can improve management conditions of about KRW 9.3 billion annually for a single CHP system.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.4637-4642
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• 2014

Background: Hypoxia-inducible factor $1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) plays an important role in regulating cell survival and angiogenesis, which are critical for tumor growth and metastasis. Genetic variations of HIF1A have been shown to influence the susceptibility to many kinds of human tumors. Increased expression of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ has also been demonstrated to be involved in tumor progression. However, the prognostic value of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) inthe HIF1A gene remains to be determined in most cancer types, including colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we sought to investigate the predictive role of HIF1A SNPs in prognosis of CRC patients and efficacy of chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: We genotyped two functional SNPs in HIF1A gene using the Sequenom iPLEX genotyping system and then assessed their associations with clinicopathological parameters and clinical outcomes of 697 CRC patients receiving radical surgery using Cox logistic regression model and Kaplan Meier curves. Results: Generally, no significant association was found between these 2 SNPs and clinical outcomes of CRC. In stratified analysis of subgroup without adjuvant chemotherapy, patients carrying CT/TT genotypes of rs2057482 exhibited a borderline significant association with better overall survival when compared with those carrying CC genotype [Hazard ratio (HR), 0.47; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.29-0.76; P < 0.01]. Moreover, significant protective effects on CRC outcomes conferred by adjuvant chemotherapy were exclusively observed in patients carrying CC genotype of rs2057482 and in those carrying AC/CC genotype of rs2301113. Conclusions: Genetic variations in HIF1A gene may modulate the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery in CRC patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.147-155
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted to observe the outcomes of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) with or without concurrent chemotherapy in resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in single institution. Materials and Methods: From 2002 to 2013, 78 patients diagnosed with NSCLC after curative resection were treated with radiotherapy alone (RT, n = 48) or concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT, n = 30). The indications of adjuvant radiation therapy were N2 node positive (n = 31), close or involved resection margin (n = 28), or gross residual disease due to incomplete resection (n = 19). The median radiation dose was 57.6 Gy (range, 29.9 to 66 Gy). Results: Median survival time was 33.7 months (range, 4.4 to 140.3 months). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 49.5% (RT 46% vs. CCRT 55.2%; p = 0.731). The 3-year disease-free survival rate was 45.5% (RT 39.4% vs. CCRT 55.3%; p = 0.130). The 3-year local control rate was 68.1% (RT 64.4% vs. CCRT 77.7%; p = 0.165). The 3-year DMFS rate was 56.1% (RT 52.6% vs. CCRT 61.7%; p = 0.314). In multivariate analysis, age ${\geq}66$ years and pathologic stage III were significant poor prognostic factors for OS. Treatment failure occurred in 40 patients. Four patients had radiologically confirmed grade 3 radiation pneumonitis. Conclusion: In NSCLC, adjuvant RT or CCRT after curative surgery is a safe and feasible modality of treatment. OS gain was seen in patients less than 66 years. Postoperative CCRT showed a propensity of achieving better local control and improved disease-free survival compared to RT alone according to our data.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.578-584
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• 1998

In a previous paper (Kim et al., 1996a), the immediate 5' -flanking region and coding region of the human UDP-N -acetylglucosamine:-D-mannoside-1,4-Nacetylglucosaminyltransferase III (N-acetylglucosaminyitransferase- III; GnT-III) gene was reported, isolated and analyzed. Herein, we report on amplification of a new 5' -noncoding region of the GnT-III mRNA by single-strand ligation to single-stranded cDNA-PCR (5' -RACE PCR) using poly(A)+ RNA isolated from human fetal liver cells. A cDNA clone was obtained with 5' sequences (96 bp) that diverged seven nucleotides upstream from the ATG (+1) start codon. A concensus splice junction sequence, TCTCCCGCAG, was found immediately 5' to the position where the sequences of the cDNA diverged. The result suggested the presence of an intron in the 5' -noncoding region and that the cDNA was an incompletely reversetranscribed cDNA product derived from an mRNA containing a new noncoding exon. When mRNA expression of GnT-III in various human tissues and cancer cell lines was examined, Northern blot analysis indicated high expression levels of GnT-III in human fetal kidney and brain tissues, as well as for a number of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cell lines. Promoter activities of the 5' -flanking regions of exon 1 and the new noncoding region were measured in a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, by luciferase assays. The 5'-flanking region of exon 1 was the most active, whilst that of exon 2 was inactive.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1061-1065
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• 2013

Objective: To investigate the treatment effect of additional information obtained by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) lung perfusion imaging (LPI) in the radiotherapy planning process for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: 39 patients with stage III NSCLC were enrolled. Gross tumor volume (GTV) was outlined by SPECT/CT images, SPECT-LPIs being used to define functional lung (FL) and non-functional lung (NFL) regions. Two sets of IMRT plans were designed to deliver 64Gy to PTV. One was a regular IMRT plan using CT images only (Plan 1), and the other was a corresponding IMRT plan using co-registered images (Plan 2). $FL_{Vx}$ (the % volume of functional lung receiving ${\geq}$x Gy) and $WL_{Vx}$ (% volume of whole lung to receive ${\geq}$x Gy) were compared by paired Student's t test. Kendalls correlation was used to analyze the factor (s) related with the FLV20 decrease. Results: Compared with plan 1, both $WL_{Vx}$ and $FL_{Vx}$ were decreased in plan 2. $WL_{V10}$, $WL_{V15}$, $WL_{V20}$, $WL_{V25}$, $WL_{V30}$ and $WL_{V35}$ decreased 9.7%, 13.8%, 17.2%, 12.9%, 9.8% and 9.8%, and $FL_{V10}$, $FL_{V15}$, $FL_{V20}$, $FL_{V25}$, $FL_{V30}$ and $FL_{V35}$ decreased 10.8%, 14.6%, 17.3%, 14.5%, 14.5% and 10.5%. $FL_{Vx}$ decreased significantly compared with $WL_{Vx}$. There were significant differences in $WL_{V10}$, $WL_{V15}$, $WL_{V20}$, $WL_{V25}$, $WL_{V3}$ and $FL_{V10}$, $FL_{V15}$, $FL_{V20}$, $FL_{V25}$, $FL_{V30}$ between plan 1 and plan 2 (P=0.002, 0.000, 0.000, 0.005, 0.027 and 0.002, 0.000, 0.000, 0.006, 0.010). According to Kendall correlation analysis, NFL had a negative relation with the percentage FLV20 decrease (r=-0.559, P<0.01), while the distance of PTV and NFL center had a significantly positive relation with the percentage of FLV20 decrease (r=0.768, P<0.01). Conclusion: Routine use of SPECT-LPI for patients undergoing radiotherapy planning for stage III NSCLC appears warranted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1076-1081
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• 2001

Gamma-irradiated peanuts, Korean and Chinese origins, were investigated on detection properties by thermoluminescence (TL), electron spin resonance (ESR), and DNA comet assay (single cell gel electrophoresis). TL measurement showed that the non-irradiated sample revealed a glow curve with low intensity at about 25$0^{\circ}C$, while the irradiated samples showed higher intensity around at 18$0^{\circ}C$. TL ratio (TL$_1$/TL$_2$) of area for TL$_1$ glow curve to TL$_2$ was below 0.05 for the non-irradiated sample and 0.2 or more for the irradiated ones, thus identifying each other. ESR spectroscopy for the irradiated peanuts using outer skin showed negligible signals induced by irradiation, indicating ESR is little applicable to the detection of irradiated peanuts. In DNA comet assay, the non-sample had no or very short tails, whereas the irradiated samples revealed the cells with long tails. Significance in the increase of their lengths depending on irradiation dose (r=0.761/Korean, r=0.768/Chinese) was also found. There was no remarkable difference in detection properties by origins of samples in all determinations, It is concluded that TL analysis or DNA comet assay is suitable for detection of irradiated peanuts and a combined method is recommendable for enhancing the reliability of detection results.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.2075-2082
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• 2006

This paper presents modeling and optimization techniques for hish efficiency solar cell process on single-crystalline float zone (FZ) wafers. Among a sequence of multiple steps of fabrication, the followings are the most sensitive steps for the contact formation: 1) Emitter formation by diffusion; 2) Anti-reflection-coating (ARC) with silicon nitride using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD); 3) Screen-printing for front and back metalization; and 4) Contact formation by firing. In order to increase the performance of solar cells in terms of efficiency, the contact formation process is modeled and optimized using neural networks and genetic algorithms, respectively. This paper utilizes the design of experiments (DOE) in contact formation to reduce process time and fabrication costs. The experiments were designed by using central composite design which consists of 24 factorial design augmented by 8 axial points with three center points. After contact formation process, the efficiency of the fabricated solar cell is modeled using neural networks. Established efficiency model is then used for the analysis of the process characteristics and process optimization for more efficient solar cell fabrication.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.180-188
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• 2019

Auxin plays a crucial regulatory role in plant growth and development processes. Three major classes of auxin-responsive transcription factors controlled by the Auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA), Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3), and small auxin up RNA (SAUR) genes regulate auxin signaling. Aux/IAA, in particular, encodes short-lived nuclear proteins that accumulate rapidly in response to auxin signaling. In this study, we isolated a PagAux/IAA1 gene from poplar (Populus alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa) and investigated its expression characteristics. The PagAux/IAA1 cDNA codes for putative 200 amino acids polypeptide containing four conserved domains and two nuclear localization signals (NLSs). Utilizing Southern blot analysis, we confirmed that a single copy of the PagAux/IAA1 gene was present in the poplar genome. The expression of this gene is specific to leaves and flowers of the poplar. PagAux/IAA1 expressed in the early exponential growth phase of cell-cultured in suspension. PagAux/IAA1 expression level reduced in drought and salt stress conditions, and the presence of plant hormones such as abscisic acid. However, expression enhanced in cold stress, cambial cell division, and presence of plant hormones such as gibberellic acid and jasmonic acid. Thus, these results suggest that PagAux/IAA1 participates in cold stress response as well as developmental processes in the poplar.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.148-154
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• 2022

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is known to regulate cell adhesion, migration, and mechanotransduction in focal adhesions (FAs). However, studies on how FAK activity is regulated in the plasma membrane microdomains according to the composition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are still lacking. A genetically encoded fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensor can provide useful information on the activity of intracellular signals with high spatiotemporal resolution. In this study, we analyzed the FAK activities in lipid raft (detergent-resistant membrane) and non-lipid raft (non-detergent-resistant membrane) microdomains using FRET-based membrane targeting FAK biosensors (FAK-Lyn and FAK-KRas biosensors) under four different ECM protein compositions: glass, type 1 collagen, fibronectin, and laminin. Interestingly, FAK activity in response to laminin in a lipid raft microdomain was lower than that in other ECM conditions. Cells subjected to fibronectin showed higher FAK activity in a lipid raft microdomain than that in a non-lipid raft microdomain. Therefore, this study demonstrates that the FAK activity can be distinctively regulated according to the ECM type and the environment of the plasma membrane microdomains.