• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.4 s.100
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• pp.266-272
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• 2002

For analyzing function of a microbial ecosystem which was created under the artificial vegetation island (AVI) installed at Lake Paldang, zooplankton and bacterial numbers and exoenzyme activities (${\beta}$-glucosidase and phosphatase) were measured biweekly from 3 November 2()()1 to 20 April 2002 at AVI site and control site. Under the AVI, the water quality was worse than control site in term of comparing the environmental parameters. But, zooplankton number of AVI site was 25 times higher than that of control site. Respiratory active bacterial numbers were 3-8 times higher at AVI site. In addition, enzymatic activities were higher at AVI site than those of control site. These results suggest that the zooplankton-phytoplankton-bacteria relationships are closely coupled with each other and organic materials are eliminated by respiration of zooplankton and bacterial activities.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.47-53
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• 2001

When a ship advancing in waves is subjected to impact forces or irregular forces, the motion analyses for ship are convenient for being calculated in the time domain. The added mass, wave damping coefficients, wave exciting forces and mean drift forces are calculated by 3-Dimensional panel method used the translating pulsating Green function in the frequency domain and the motion equations which are considered by the memory effect due to waves are numerically solved by using the Newmark-$\beta$ method in the time domain. The motion analyses are carried out for a Series 60($C_B=0.7$) moving in irregular waves. The items of calculation are 6-degree motions, accelerations at the fore and after position, numbers of deck wetness and numbers of exposure at ship-bottom, etc. Moreover, the thrust addition in waves is examined by considering the time mean drift forces in the motion equations of time domain.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.347-354
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships among health related quality of life and uncertainty in adult patients with congenital heart diseases. Methods: The subjects were 136 adult congenital heart disease patients at the congenital heart center out-patient clinic of the A General Hospital in S city. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression. Results: There were significant negative correlations of quality of life with general motor function area and uncertainty. Among predictors, gross motor(${\beta}=-.38$) and daily activity (${\beta}=-.21$) had statistically significant influences on uncertainty(F=6.15, p=.018). Conclusion: Nursing interventions to promote gross motor and daily activity might be essential for adult patients with congenital heart disease in order to reduce uncertainty.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.940-948
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the immune activity of Ailantias altissima as an active ingredient on the immune enhancement by mixing ethanol extract with lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The activity of $NF-{\kappa}B/AP1$ transcription factor increased by $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity when mixed with LAB samples rather than with the extract alone. Nitric oxide (NO) production was similar in ethanol extract alone group and LPS treatment group. Mixing Ailantias altissima extract and lactic acid bacteria led to low NO production. The cytokine productivity of $TNF-{\alpha}$ significantly increased in Ailantias altissima extract when treated with LPS, and increased even more when mixed with lactic acid bacteria. The $IL-1{\beta}$ cytokine production was high when the Ailantias altissima extract were treated alone, but no $IL-1{\beta}$ cytokine was produced in the mixtures with isolates. The combination of the ethanol extract of the Ailantias altissima and the lactic acid bacteria was found to be effective in the immune function. Consequently, the ingredient to combine Ailantias altissima extract and lactic acid bacteria can be effectively used for development of the health functional food on the prevention and treatment of hypoimmunities.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.1064-1071
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• 2018

Purpose: To explore the influence of S100 calcium binding protein A4 (S100A4) knockout (KO) on methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice. Materials and Methods: S100A4 KO mice (n=20) and their wild-type (WT) counterparts (n=20) were randomly divided into KO/MCD, Ko/methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS), WT/MCD, and WT/MCS groups. After 8 weeks of feeding, blood lipid and liver function-related indexes were measured. HE, Oil Red O, and Masson stainings were used to observe the changes of liver histopathology. Additionally, expressions of S100A4 and proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, while hepatocyte apoptosis was revealed by TUNEL staining. Results: Serum levels of aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, and total cholesterol in mice were increased after 8-week MCD feeding, and hepatocytes performed varying balloon-like changes with increased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fibers; however, these effects were improved in mice of KO/MCD group. Meanwhile, total NAFLD activity scores and fibrosis were lower compared to WT+MCD group. Compared to WT/MCS group, S100A4 expression in liver tissue of WT/MCD group was enhanced. The expression of proinflammatory ($TGF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6) and profibrogenic cytokines ($TGF-{\beta}1$, COL1A1, ${\alpha}-SMA$) in MCD-induced NAFLD mice were increased, as well as apoptotic index (AI). For MCD group, the expressions of proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines and AI in KO mice were lower than those of WT mice. Conclusion: S100A4 was detected to be upregulated in NAFLD, while S100A4 KO alleviated liver fibrosis and inflammation, in addition to inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.97-102
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• 2021

Objectives : Virus infection through the respiratory tract causes various inflammatory diseases such as pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, and obstructive pulmonary disease, causing enormous social damage. Therefore, it is very important to develop a treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. In this study, we investigated the effect of water extracts of Liriope muscari (WELM), known to improve lung function, on the inflammatory response of lung carcinoma cell line A549 cells induced by the viral double stranded RNA mimetic Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C). Methods : The cell viability by WELM treatment was analyzed using MTS assay in A549 cells. After inducing an inflammatory response to WELM-treated A549 cells with Poly I:C, the degree of apoptosis was confirmed through bright field microscopy. Interferon beta (IFN-β) mRNA expression level in A549 cells was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Results : WELM treatment has no significant effect on cell viability of A549 cells. We confirmed that pre-treatment of WELM effectively reduces the Poly I:C-induced apoptotic cell death in A549 cells. In addition, it was confirmed that the mRNA expression level of IFN-β, a pro-inflammatory cytokine increased by Poly I:C treatment, was significantly suppressed by WELM treatment in A549 cells. Conclusions : These results provide the evidence that WELM is effective at inhibiting inflammation on respiratory viral infections and suggest that Liriope muscari might be a valuable natural substance in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.287-296
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• 2020

The absence of functional estrogen receptor α (Esr1) results in an overgrowth of the epididymal fat, as observed in estrogen receptor α knockout (ERαKO) mouse. The present research was aimed to evaluate expression of various molecules associated with adipocyte differentiation and maturation in the epididymal fat of ERαKO mouse at several postnatal ages by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The highest transcript levels of all molecules were detected at 12 months of postnatal age, except leptin which the mRNA level was increased at 5 months of age and was unchanged until 12 months of age. The expression levels of CCAAT enhancer binding protein (Cebp) alpha, androgen receptor, and lipoprotein lipase were decreased at 5 months of age but increased at about 8 months of age. The mRNA levels of Cebp gamma and sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 remained steady until 8 months of age. Continuous increases of transcript levels during postnatal period were found in Cebp beta, estrogen receptor (ER) beta, fatty acid binding protein 4, and delta like non-canonical Notch ligand 1. The increases of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and adiponectin mRNA levels were detected as early as 8 months of age. The levels of fatty acid synthase and resistin transcript at 5 and 8 months of age were lower than that at 2 months of age. These findings show the aberrant expression patterns of genes related to adipocyte differentiation and maturation in the postnatal epididymal fat pad by the disruption of ER alpha function.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.6A
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• pp.989-999
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• 2006

In this paper, numerical analysis method to perform linear dynamic analysis of bridge considering the road surface roughness and bridge-vehicle interaction when vehicle is moving on bridge is presented. The vehicle and bridge are modeled as three-dimension where contact length of tire and pitching of tandem spring are considered and single truck with 2-axles and 3- axles, and tractor-trailer with 5-axles are modeled as 7-D.O.F., 8-D.O.F., and 14-D.O.F., respectively. Dynamic equations of vehicle are derived from the Lagrange's equation and solution of the equation is obtained by Newmark-${\beta}$ method. The surface roughness of bridge deck for this analysis is generated from power spectral density (PSD) function. Beam element for the main girder, shell element for concrete deck and rigid link between main girder and concrete deck are used. The equations of the motion of bridges are solved by mode-superposition procedures. The proposed procedure is validated by comparing the results with the experimental data by Whittemore and Fenves.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.2A
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• pp.319-326
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• 2006

A new enhanced 8-node hybrid/mixed plane stress elements based on assumed stress fields and modifed shape functions has been presented. The assumed stress fields are derived from the non-conforming displacement modes, which are less sensitive to geometric distortion. Explicit expression of shape functions is modifed so that it can represent any quadratic fields in Cartesian coordinates under the same condition as 9-node isoparametric element. The newly developed element has been designated as 'HQ8-$14{\beta}$'. The presented element is compared with existing elements to establish its accuracy and efficiency. Over a wide range of mesh distortions, the element presented here is found to be exceptionally accurate in predicting displacements.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.303-312
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• 2024

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory pruritic skin disease worldwide, characterized by the infiltration of multiple pathogenic T lymphocytes and histological symptoms such as epidermal and dermal thickening. This study aims to investigate the effect of vinpocetine (Vinp; a phosphodiesterase 1 inhibitor) on a 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD-like model. DNCB (1%) was administered on day 1 in the AD model. Subsequently, from day 14 onward, mice in each group (Vinp-treated groups: 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg and dexamethasone-treated group: 2 mg/kg) were administered 100 µl of a specific drug daily, whereas 0.2% DNCB was administered every other day for 30 min over 14 days. The Vinp-treated groups showed improved Eczema Area and Severity Index scores and trans-epidermal water loss, indicating the efficacy of Vinp in improving AD and enhancing skin barrier function. Histological analysis further confirmed the reduction in hyperplasia of the epidermis and the infiltration of inflammatory cells, including macrophages, eosinophils, and mast cells, with Vinp treatment. Moreover, Vinp reduced serum concentrations of IgE, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-13, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1. The mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, Thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) were reduced by Vinp treatment. Reduction of TGF-β protein by Vinp in skin tissue was also observed. Collectively, our results underscore the effectiveness of Vinp in mitigating DNCB-induced AD by modulating the expression of various biomarkers. Consequently, Vinp is a promising therapeutic candidate for treating AD.