• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• 제9권10호
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• pp.4108-4125
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• 2015

This paper presents a scalable coding method for depth images by considering the quality of synthesized images in virtual views. First, we design a new edge detection algorithm that is based on calculating the depth difference between two neighboring pixels within the depth map. By choosing different thresholds, this algorithm generates a scalable bit stream that puts larger depth differences in front, followed by smaller depth differences. A scalable scheme is also designed for coding depth pixels through a layered sampling structure. At the receiver side, the full-resolution depth image is reconstructed from the received bits by solving a partial-differential-equation (PDE). Experimental results show that the proposed method improves the rate-distortion performance of synthesized images at virtual views and achieves better visual quality.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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• 제68권
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• pp.24-32
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• 2018

Nanocellulose was surface-functionalized toward the applications in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) as a green alternative. The focus of this paper is on the effect of this material based nanofluid (NF) on foam lamella stabilization through studying its bubble breakup dynamics and flow behaviors in constricted mircofluidic devices. The NF stabilized foam produced an improved flow resistance across the capillary largely due to the capillary trapped bubbles at the contraction. The "snap-off" caused the NF stabilized foam to produce finer textured bubbles, which can migrate readily forward to the deep porous media, as revealed by the pressure profiles.

• Mycobiology
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.133-141
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• 2021

A new fungus, Ophiocordyceps alboperitheciata, parasitic on the larva of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) was identified from a survey of entomopathogenic fungi in Kunming Wild Duck Forest Park, Yunnan Province, China. It can be primarily distinguished from relatives by its longer fertile parts, sterile tips, superficial perithecia, narrower asci, and smaller septa of ascospores. As revealed from phylogenetic analyses inferred from nrSSU, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1, and rpb2 sequence data, O. alboperitheciata belongs to the Hirsutella citriformis clade in the genus Ophiocordyceps of Ophiocordycipitaceae, and forms a separated clade from other related species. The uniqueness of the taxon is significantly evidenced by both molecular phylogeny and morphology. Furthermore, the interspecific relationships in the H. citriformis clade are discussed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권20호
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• pp.8631-8635
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• 2014

Glutathione S-transferase A1 (GSTA1) appears to be primarily involved in detoxification processes, but possible roles in lung cancer remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression and function of GSTA1 in lung cancer cells. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to assess expression in cancer cell lines and the normal lung cells, then verify the A549 cells line with stable overexpression. Localization of GSTA1 proteins was assessed by cytoimmunofluorescence. Three double-strand DNA oligoRNAs (SiRNAs) were synthesized prior to being transfected into A549 cells with Lipofectamine 2000, and then the most efficient SiRNA was selected. Expression of the GSTA1 gene in the transfected cells was determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting. The viability of the transfected cells were assessed by MTT. Results showed that the mRNA and protein expression of A549 cancer cells was higher than in MRC-5 normal cells. Cytoimmunofluorescence demonstrated GSTA1 localization in the cell cytoplasm and/or membranes. Transfection into A549 cells demonstrated that down-regulated expression could inhibit cell viability. Our data indicated that GSTA1 expression may be a target molecule in early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

• 대한한의학원전학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.31-50
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• 2017

Objectives : This paper aims to shed light on the change in Korean medicine's anatomical awareness through reviewing the locations and the interrelationship between back acupoints, live, and spleen as revealed in Suwen Xueqixingzhipian. Methods : The locations of the back acupoints described in the Suwen Xueqixingzhipian were compared with the information found in Neijing annotations, Lingsu, and other books on acupuncture, and the location of liver and spleen were compared with the figures of internal organs found in pre-Northern Song Period texts and with Neijing's other chapters. Results : According to Taisu, the acupoint UB18 and UB20 as described in the back acupoints of Suwen Xueqixingzhipian are located left side and right side of human body respectively, and this knowledge derives from an accurate anatomical awareness of the locations of liver and spleen. Although such anatomical awareness found in Taisu, which was published in the Sui Dynasty, was unable to influence the 10th century Oh Dynasty's Yanluozi Neijingtu, it was gradually revised in Northern Song Period's Qixifan Wuzangtu and Cunzhentu through autopsies. However, the Theory of Five Elements which described as seen in the other chapters in Neijing or Tang Dynasty Wang Bing's annotation that liver is located at the left side of human body and spleen at the center exerted an immense influence over the subsequent generations' future doctors. Even though Taisu disappeared in Korea and China at the end of Southern Song period, the accurate anatomical knowledge with regards to the locations of viscera and entrails were passed down through medical texts such as Ming Dynasty's Yixuerumen. Conclusions : Suwen Xueqixingzhipian's awareness on the anatomical locations of liver and spleen only continued until the end of Southern Song period through Taisu. Because of this, it's anatomical awareness did not have a chance to gain much following like the Theory of Five Elements' point of view that were introduced in Wang Bing's annotations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.2307-2312
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• 2015

Curcumol is a sesquiterpene originally isolated from curcuma rhizomes, a component of herbal remedies commonly used in oriental medicine. Its beneficial pharmacological activities have attract significant interest recently. In this study, anti-cancer activity of curcumol was examined with both in vitro and in vivo models. It was found that curcumol exhibited time- and concentration-dependent anti-proliferative effects in SPC-A-1 human lung adenocarcinoma cells with cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase while apoptosis-induction was also confirmed with flow cytometry and morphological analyses. Interestingly, curcumol did not display growth inhibition in MRC-5 human embryonic lung fibroblasts, suggesting the anti-proliferative effects of curcumol were specific to cancer cells. Anti-neoplastic effects of curcumol were also confirmed in tumor bearing mice. Curcumol (60 mg/ kg daily) significantly reduced tumor size without causing notable toxicity. In conclusion, curcumol appears a favorable anti-cancer candidate for further development.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권7호
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• pp.1106-1112
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• 2007

This report provides the complete nucleotide sequences of the full-length cDNA encoding squalene synthase (SQS) and its genomic DNA sequence from a triterpene-producing fungus, Ganoderma lucidum. The cDNA of the squalene synthase (SQS) (GenBank Accession Number: DQ494674) was found to contain an open reading frame (ORF) of 1,404 bp encoding a 468-amino-acid polypeptide, whereas the SQS genomic DNA sequence (GenBank Accession Number: DQ494675) consisted of 1,984 bp and contained four exons and three introns. Only one gene copy was present in the G. lucidum genome. The deduced amino acid sequence of Ganoderma lucidum squalene synthase (GI-SQS) exhibited a high homology with other fungal squalene synthase genes and contained six conserved domains. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that G. lucidum SQS belonged to the fungi SQS group, and was more closely related to the SQS of U. maydis than to those of other fungi. A gene expression analysis showed that the expression level was relatively low in mycelia incubated for 12 days, increased after 14 to 20 days of incubation, and reached a relatively high level in the mushroom primordia. Functional complementation of GI-SQS in a SQS-deficient strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae confirmed that the cloned cDNA encoded a squalene synthase.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.491-497
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• 2015

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and long-term disability, which can decrease quality of life. In spite of numerous studies suggesting that Epigallocatechin-3- gallate (EGCG) has been used as a therapeutic agent for a broad range of disorders, the effect of EGCG on TBI remains unknown. In this study, a weight drop model was established to evaluate the therapeutic potential of EGCG on TBI. Rats were administered with 100 mg/kg EGCG or PBS intraperitoneally. At different times following trauma, rats were sacrificed for analysis. It was found that EGCG (100 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment significantly reduced brain water content and vascular permeability at 12, 24, 48, 72 hour after TBI. Real-time PCR results revealed that EGCG inhibited TBI-induced IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA expression. Importantly, CD68 mRNA expression decreasing in the brain suggested that EGCG inhibited microglia activation. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry results showed that administering of EGCG significantly inhibited the levels of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression. TBI-induced oxidative stress was remarkably impaired by EGCG treatment, which elevated the activities of SOD and GSH-PX. Conversely, EGCG significantly reduced the contents of MDA after TBI. In addition, EGCG decreased TBI-induced NADPH oxidase activation through inhibition of $p47^{phox}$ translocation from cytoplasm to plasma membrane. These data demonstrate that EGCG treatment may be an effective therapeutic strategy for TBI and the underlying mechanism involves inhibition of oxidative stress.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.90-95
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• 2018

Stimulated polariton scattering from the $B_1$-symmetry modes of a $KNbO_3$ crystal to generate a terahertz wave (THz-wave) with a noncollinear phase-matching scheme is investigated. The frequency-tuning characteristics of the THz-wave by varying the phase-matching angle and pump wavelength are analyzed. The expression for the effective parametric gain length under the noncollinear phase-matching condition is deduced. Parametric gain and absorption characteristics of the THz-wave in $KNbO_3$ are theoretically simulated. The characteristics of $KNbO_3$ for a terahertz parametric oscillator (TPO) are compared to those of $MgO:LiNbO_3$. The analysis indicates that $KNbO_3$ is an excellent optical crystal for a TPO, to enhance the THz-wave output.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.267-274
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• 2013

The impact of income and education level on the clinical and pathologic characteristics, implementation of clinical breast examination (CBE), and treatment patterns of a small population of Chinese female breast cancer patients was studeied in order to provide a theoretical basis and statistical reference for further nationwide research. We included 484 pathologically confirmed female primary breast cancer inpatients of the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University from February 2003 to January 2004. All cases were reviewed and relevant information was collected using a designed case report form (CRF). Chisquare tests, rank-sum tests, and Fisher's exact tests were used in the analysis. Our analysis showed that: (1) women in different occupation groups had significant differences in tumor size, pre-operative mammography, surgical options, post-operative estrogen receptor (ER), progestin receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) status, and post-operative radiotherapy and chemotherapy (P < 0.05); and (2) women with different education levels had statistically significant differences in tumor size, post-operative ER, PR and Her2 status, and post-operative chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and endocrine therapy (P < 0.05). In Xi'an, China, women in low-income occupations or with low education levels are more likely to have advanced tumor stages at presentation, lower implementation rate of clinical breast examination, and less treatment.