• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 2012

$Potato$ $virus$ $X$ (PVX) replication is precisely regulated by regulatory viral sequences and by viral and/or host proteins. In a previous study, we identified a 54-kDa cellular tobacco protein that bound to a region within the first 46 nucleotides (nt) of the 5' non-translated region (NTR) of the viral genome. Optimal binding was dependent upon the presence of an ACCA sequence at nt 10-13. To identify host factors that bind to 5' NTR elements including AC-rich sequences as well as stemloop 1 (SL1), we used northwestern blotting and matrixassisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for peptide mass fingerprinting. We screened several host factors that might affect PVX replication and selected a candidate protein, $Nicotiana$ $tabacum$ WRKY transcription factor 1 (NtWRKY1). We used a $Tobacco$ $rattle$ $virus$ (TRV)-based virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) system to investigate the role of NtWRKY1 in PVX replication. Silencing of $WRKY1$ in $Nicotiana$ $benthamiana$ caused lethal apical necrosis and allowed an increase in PVX RNA accumulation. This result could reflect the balancing of PVX accumulation in a systemic $N.$ $benthamiana$ host to maintain PVX survival and still produce a suitable appearance of mosaic and mottle symptoms. Our results suggest that PVX may recruit the WRKY transcription factor, which binds to the 5' NTR of viral genomic RNA and acts as a key regulator of viral infection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.907-915
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• 2018

With the increase of metal usage in various industries, metal pollution and ecological toxicity in the environmental system have become a significant concern. A geo-statistical index has been widely used to determine contamination level with normalization through a background value. In this study, geo-statistical indexes such as an enrichment factor, accumulation index, and potential ecological risk index were used to assess metal pollution in soil at locations associated with shipbuilding manufacturing industries. Metal contamination, especially of Cu and Pb, was observed in some samples located closer to manufacturing sites. Enrichment factor and accumulation (IGEO) values were indicative of concerning levels of soil contamination in specific samples, and the soil contamination could be induced by anthropogenic sources. In further study, after more detailed sampling for soil and potential pollution sources, high interpretation techniques such as Pb isotope analysis and X-ray analysis will be needed to investigate source identification.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.444-455
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Adipocytes undergo angiogenesis to receive nutrients and oxygen needed for adipocyte' growth and differentiation. No study relating quercetin with angiogenesis in adipocytes exists. Therefore, this study investigated the role of quercetin on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, acting through matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MATERIALS/METHODS: After proliferating preadipocytes into adipocytes, various quercetin concentrations were added to adipocytes, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity was investigated as an indicator of fat accumulation. The mRNA expressions of transcription factors related to adipocyte differentiation, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs), peroxisomal proliferatoractivated receptors (PPAR)-γ, and adipocyte protein 2 (aP2), were investigated. The mRNA expressions of proteins related to angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-α, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9, were investigated. Enzyme activities and concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were also measured. RESULTS: Quercetin treatment suppressed fat accumulation and the expressions of adipocyte differentiation-related genes (C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, PPAR-γ, and aP2) in a concentration-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 cells. Quercetin treatments reduced the mRNA expressions of VEGF-α, VEGFR-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in 3T3-L1 cells. The activities and concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were also decreased significantly as the concentration of quercetin increased. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that quercetin inhibits adipose tissue differentiation and fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells, which could occur through inhibition of the angiogenesis process related to MMPs.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2013

Several soil properties were studied from three young created mitigation wetlands (<10 years old), which were hydrologically comparable in the Piedmont region of Virginia. The properties included soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, gravimetric soil moisture, and bulk density ($D_b$). No significant differences were found in the soil properties between the wetlands, except SOM and SOC. SOM and SOC indicated a slight increase with wetland age; the increase was more evident with SOC. Only about a half of SOC variability found in the wetlands was explained by SOM ($R^2$ = 0.499, p < 0.05). The majority of the ratios of SOM to SOC for these silt-loam soils ranged from 2.0 to 3.5, which was higher than the 1.724 Van Bemmelen factor, commonly applied for the conversion of SOM into SOC in estimating the carbon storage or accumulation capacity of wetlands. The results may caution the use of the conversion factor, which may lead to an overestimation of carbon sequestration potentials of newly created wetlands. SOC, but not SOM, was also correlated to $D_b$, which indicates soil compaction typical of most created wetlands that might limit vegetation growth and biomass production, eventually affecting carbon accumulation in the created wetlands.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.325-325
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• 2018

The main purpose of this study is to suggest the more reliable flow direction methods within the framework of DEM by investigating the existing methodologies. To this end SFD(single flow direction method), MFD(multiple flow direction method) and IFD(Infinite flow direction method) are applied to determination of flow direction for water particles in Jeonjeokbigyo basin, and then assessed with respect to the variation of flow accumulation. As the main results the different patterns of flow accumulation are found out from each application of flow direction methods. As the flow dispersion increases on DEM contributing areas to outlet grow in sequence of SFD, IFD, MFD but contribution of individual pixels into outlet decreases. Especially MFD and IFD tend to make additional hydrologic abstraction from rainfall excess due to the flow dispersion within flow paths on DEM. Based on parameter estimation for power law distribution by maximum likelihood flow accumulation can be thought of as scale invariance factor. Combination of several flow direction methods could give rise to the more realistic water flow on DEM through separate treatment of flow direction methods for dispersion and aggregation effects of water flow within different topographies.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.1147-1154
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• 2021

The study aimed to investigate the impact of the microfinance program on loan borrowers' asset accumulation. In doing this, the study used descriptive and statistical methods to achieve the objectives. Primary data were collected from 192 respondents from Bangladesh using survey questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the multiple linear regression model. The result revealed that the majority of the borrowers said their assets such as farm, land, and livestock remained the same, which implies that microfinance borrowers still lag behind accumulating household assets. However, in the case of housing conditions and household appliances, there was a marginal increase. The regression result provides evidence that, among other factors, the amount of loan received from microfinance institutions and time duration with them is the most significant role-playing factor for borrower's sustainable well-being. The age and education level of borrowers are identified as positively related to asset accumulations, but not substantially so. Moreover, training provided by microfinance institutions is not effective and influential for microfinance borrowers' wealth accumulation, which is evidenced by the findings. This study's insights are worthwhile for any microfinance institution's decision-makers, development partners, and government to stress the shortcomings and accelerate the borrower's wealth status.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2008

Abdominal obesity, especially, visceral obesity is thought to be a risk factor of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease. Based on previous studies visceral fat accumulation is highly related to these diseases compared to subcutaneous fat accumulation. The purpose of this study was to see the relation between abdominal obesity and lipid profiles in adult women. The included subjects were 25 adult women(BMI > $23\;kg/m^2$), who visited the obesity clinic in a general hospital from April 2006 to September 2007. Blood pressure, fasting glucose and lipid profiles were measured. The abdominal fat distribution had been assessed by CT scan at the level of L4-L5. From bivariate analyses, the visceral fat accumulation showed negative correlations with TC and TC/HDL. The BMI, total abdominal fat and Visceral fat/Subcutaneous fat ratio showed significant correlations with visceral fat accumulation. From linear regression analyses of all the study subjects, TC, TG and HDL were found to be determinants of the visceral fat accumulation($R^2\;=\;0.474$).

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2003

Experiments were carried out to investigate the accumulation and the histopathological changes in liver of juvenile rockfish, S. schlegeli, after sub-chronic dietary Cu (0, 50, 125, 250 and 500mg/kg) exposure for 60 days. Cu accumulation in liver was significantly increased with dietary exposure period and concentration for 60 days, and has a linear relation with dietary exposure days. After 60 days of Cu dietary exposure, the Cu concentration in the liver was $75.9\pm12.05,\;126.29\pm22.11\;and\;360.44\pm45.26\;{\mu}g/g$ dry weight and was approximately 11-fold, 18-fold and 51-fold higher than in the control diet group at 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg Cu diet group. The accumulation factors were increased with the dietary exposure period in liver of rockfish. In the primary exposed stage, the effect of hepatic tissue in the rockfish exposed to dietary Cu observed enlargement of hepatocytes nuclei, activity of hepatic cells and the swelling of hepatic cells. While exposed time and concentration were increased, the distinct granulation, irregular shape and necrosis of hepatic cells were observed. It was observed that granule degeneration and necrosis showed a part of cells in hepatic tissue after 60 days at 500 mg/kg.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.707-716
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• 2020

Red sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus, was dried using three methods-far-infrared ray, vacuum, and freeze drying and then enzymatically hydrolyzed using nine proteases: Alcalase, Flavourzyme, Kojizyme, Neutrase, Protamex, trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, and papain. In addition, the potential ability of hydrolysates to inhibit lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was evaluated. The yield of hydrolysates from red sea cucumbers dried using each method was higher than that of the distilled water extract, and protein contents were either similar or higher. The hydrolysates that exhibited inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation, as demonstrated via Oil red O staining, were those obtained by far-infrared ray drying coupled with Alcalase, Flavourzyme, Kojizyme, or Neutrase treatment. In addition to the advantages of far-infrared drying and the characteristics of Flavourzyme, the Flavourzyme hydrolysate of far-infrared-dried red sea cucumber showed the highest inhibitory effect on lipid accumulation. In addition, this hydrolysate significantly decreased the expression of the protein factor fatty acid-binding protein 4, which is related to the late differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that Flavourzyme hydrolysates from farinfrared-dried red sea cucumber may be used as a functional food and/or a pharmaceutical ingredient for the inhibition of lipid accumulation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2004

The impact factor of bridges is analyzed based on experimental data to examine the characteristics of the dynamic responses of bridges. The experimental impact factors are compared with the impact factor of Korean Highway Design Specification and Japan T-load in terms of the span length. According to the superstructural types of bridges, the variation of the impact factor is analyzed. When vehicles are passing on a bridge, the dynamic effect acts on the bridge impact factor more than at the time of design because of the velocity of vehicles, the surface roughness reduction due to the deterioration of the bridge deck pavement, and the disconnection of the bridge entrance and the expansion joint. Because the actual value is greater than the expected value at the time of design, the dynamic response of the bridge accelerates the deterioration of the bridge due to the accumulation of fatigue, and the bridge's life-time is shortened and can have an influence on the serviceability and safety of the bridge.