• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.533-542
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• 2021

Chitosan has been considered an environmental-friendly polymer. However, its use in agriculture has not been extended yet due to its relatively low solubility in water. N-Methylene phosphonic chitosan (NMPC) is a water-soluble derivative prepared by adding a phosphonic group to chitosan. This study demonstrates that NMPC has a fungicidal effect on the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii (F. eumartii) judged by the inhibition of F. eumartti mycelial growth and spore germination. NMPC affected fungal membrane permeability, reactive oxygen species production, and cell death. Also, this chitosan-derivative exerted antifungal effects against two other phytopathogens, Botrytis cinerea, and Phytophthora infestans. NMPC did not affect tomato cell viability at the same doses applied to these phytopathogens to exert fungicide action. In addition to water solubility, the selective biological cytotoxicity of NMPC adds value in its application as an antimicrobial agent in agriculture.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.42.1-42.17
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• 2021

Salivary gland carcinoma (SGC) is rare cancer, constituting 6% of neoplasms in the head and neck area. The most responsible genes and pathways involved in the pathology of this disorder have not been fully understood. We aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), the most critical hub genes, transcription factors, signaling pathways, and biological processes (BPs) associated with the pathogenesis of primary SGC. The mRNA dataset GSE153283 in the Gene Expression Omnibus database was re-analyzed for determining DEGs in cancer tissue of patients with primary SGC compared to the adjacent normal tissue (adjusted p-value < 0.001; |Log2 fold change| > 1). A protein interaction map (PIM) was built, and the main modules within the network were identified and focused on the different pathways and BP analyses. The hub genes of PIM were discovered, and their associated gene regulatory network was built to determine the master regulators involved in the pathogenesis of primary SGC. A total of 137 genes were found to be differentially expressed in primary SGC. The most significant pathways and BPs that were deregulated in the primary disease condition were associated with the cell cycle and fibroblast proliferation procedures. TP53, EGF, FN1, NOTCH1, EZH2, COL1A1, SPP1, CDKN2A, WNT5A, PDGFRB, CCNB1, and H2AFX were demonstrated to be the most critical genes linked with the primary SGC. SPIB, FOXM1, and POLR2A significantly regulate all the hub genes. This study illustrated several hub genes and their master regulators that might be appropriate targets for the therapeutic aims of primary SGC.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1178-1185
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• 2022

Steroids are a class of compounds with cyclopentane polyhydrophenanthrene as the parent nucleus, and they usually have unique biological and pharmacological activities. Most of the biosynthesis of steroids is completed by a series of enzymatic reactions starting from cholesterol. Synthetic biology can be used to synthesize cholesterol in engineered microorganisms, but the production of cholesterol is too low to further produce other high-value steroids from cholesterol as the raw material and precursor. In this work, combinational strategies were established to increase the production of cholesterol in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae RH6829. The basic medium for high cholesterol production was selected by screening 8 kinds of culture media. Single-factor optimization of the carbon and nitrogen sources of the culture medium, and the addition of calcium ions, zinc ions and citric acid, further increased the cholesterol production to 192.53 mg/l. In the 5-L bioreactor, through the establishment of strategies for glucose and citric acid feeding and dissolved oxygen regulation, the cholesterol production was further increased to 339.87 mg/l, which was 734% higher than that in the original medium. This is the highest titer of cholesterol produced by microorganisms currently reported. The fermentation program has also been conducted in a 50-L bioreactor to prove its stability and feasibility.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.27.1-27.13
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• 2022

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent head and neck malignancy, with frequent cervical lymph-node metastasis, leading to a poor prognosis in OSCC patients. The present study aimed to identify potential markers, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and genes, significantly involved in the etiology of early-stage OSCC. Additionally, the main OSCC's dysregulated Gene Ontology annotations and significant signaling pathways were identified. The dataset GSE45238 underwent multivariate statistical analysis in order to distinguish primary OSCC tissues from healthy oral epithelium. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) with the criteria of p-value < 0.001 and |Log2 fold change| > 1.585 were identified in the two groups, and subsequently, validated targets of DEMs were identified. A protein interaction map was constructed, hub genes were identified, significant modules within the network were illustrated, and significant pathways and biological processes associated with the clusters were demonstrated. Using the GEPI2 database, the hub genes' predictive function was assessed. Compared to the healthy controls, main OSCC had a total of 23 DEMs. In patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), upregulation of CALM1, CYCS, THBS1, MYC, GATA6, and SPRED3 was strongly associated with a poor prognosis. In HNSCC patients, overexpression of PIK3R3, GIGYF1, and BCL2L11 was substantially correlated with a good prognosis. Besides, "proteoglycans in cancer" was the most significant pathway enriched in the primary OSCC. The present study results revealed more possible mechanisms mediating primary OSCC and may be useful in the prognosis of the patients with early-stage OSCC.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.382-389
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• 2022

In this study, the accuracy of the orthognathic surgical guides with single-stage split path was upgraded to realize orthognathic surgical guides with two-stage split path and simulated surgery was performed to verify its accuracy. As a result, the average error distance between the simulation model and the scan model was + 0.289 / - 0.468 mm (standard deviation 0.128), which was confirmed to be within ± 0.5 mm, which is a clinically acceptable level. Also, there was no significant difference compared with the average value of + 0.313 / - 0.456 mm (average standard deviation 0.106) of the conventional single-stage split path type device. It is judged that the use of this device can contribute to the reduction of surgical time and increase in accuracy since a separate finishing operation for bone preparation is unnecessary.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

Objectives : The heartwood of Sappan Lignum has been used since ancient times as an ingredient in folk medicines against anti-bacterial and anti-anemia purposes. Many bioactive constituents have been derived from this biomass such as chalcones and homoisoflavonoids. In the current investigation, the antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties using DPPH and $ABTS^+$ radicals scavenging, ${\alpha}-glucosidase$, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) inhibition assays were evaluated by different extraction methods of Sappan Lignum. Methods : In our continuing investigation for bioactive natural ingredients, the antioxidant and ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory properties of Sappan Lignum extracts were prepared from different extraction methods and the biological efficacies were investigated in vitro. The antioxidant properties were evaluated employing radical scavenging assays using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) ($ABTS^+$) radicals. In addition, the anti-diabetic effects of Sappan Lignum extracts were tested via ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ and AGEs formation inhibitory assay. The total phenolic contents were determined using a spectrophotometric method. Results : All the tested samples showed dose-dependent radical scavenging and ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory activities. Among the tested extracts, the 80% methanolic extract of Sappan Lignum was showed the most potent activity with an $IC_{50}$ value of $82.3{\pm}1.7{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ against DPPH radical scavenging assay. While, $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activity of 80% methanolic extract was higher than those of other extracts. Also, ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory and AGEs formation effects of each extacts and total phenolic contents were evaluated. Conclusions : These results suggested that Sappan Lignum can be considered as a new effective source of natural antioxidant and anti-diabetic materials.

• Journal of Information Processing Systems
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.359-373
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• 2022

The new crown pneumonia (COVID-19) has become a global epidemic. The disease has spread to most countries and poses a challenge to the healthcare system. Contact tracing technology is an effective way for public health to deal with diseases. Many experts have studied traditional contact tracing and developed digital contact tracking. In order to better understand the field of contact tracking, it is necessary to analyze the development of contact tracking in the field of computer science by bibliometrics. The purpose of this research is to use literature statistics and topic analysis to characterize the research literature of contact tracking in the field of computer science, to gain an in-depth understanding of the literature development status of contact tracking and the trend of hot topics over the past decade. In order to achieve the aforementioned goals, we conducted a bibliometric study in this paper. The study uses data collected from the Scopus database. Which contains more than 10,000 articles, including more than 2,000 in the field of computer science. For popular trends, we use VOSviewer for visual analysis. The number of contact tracking documents published annually in the computer field is increasing. At present, there are 200 to 300 papers published in the field of computer science each year, and the number of uncited papers is relatively small. Through the visual analysis of the paper, we found that the hot topic of contact tracking has changed from the past "mathematical model," "biological model," and "algorithm" to the current "digital contact tracking," "privacy," and "mobile application" and other topics. Contact tracking is currently a hot research topic. By selecting the most cited papers, we can display high-quality literature in contact tracking and characterize the development trend of the entire field through topic analysis. This is useful for students and researchers new to field of contact tracking ai well as for presenting our results to other subjects. Especially when comprehensive research cannot be conducted due to time constraints or lack of precise research questions, our research analysis can provide value for it.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2023

Many recent studies have reported that the quality of input learning data was vital to the detection of regions of interest. However, due to a lack of research on the quality of learning data on lesion detetcting using gastroscopy, we aimed to quantify the impact of quality difference in endoscopic images to lesion detection models using Image Quality Assessment (IQA) algorithms. Through IQA methods such as BRISQUE (Blind/Referenceless Image Spatial Quality Evaluation), Laplacian Score, and PSNR (Peak Signal-To-Noise) algorithm on 430 sheets of high quality data (HQD) and 430 sheets of low quality data (PQD), we showed that there were significant differences between high and low quality images in lesion detecting through BRISQUE and Laplacian scores (p<0.05). The PSNR value showed 10.62±1.76 dB on average, illustrating the lower lesion detection performance of PQD than HQD. In addition, F1-Score of HQD showed higher detection performance at 77.42±3.36% while F1-Score of PQD showed 66.82±9.07%. Through this study, we hope to contribute to future gastroscopy lesion detection assistance systems that involve IQA algorithms by emphasizing the importance of using high quality data over lower quality data.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.191-202
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• 2023

Food upcycling has emerged as an effective approach to sustainably utilize the food waste generated within the food supply chain. This review article examines upcycled food with respect to its definition, consumers' knowledge and perception on it, and the process by which by-products from the food supply chain are utilized for the creation of upcycled food products. The definition of upcycled food varied among manufacturers, research institutions, and the Upcycled Food Association, depending on the specific values and objectives of each sector. This has resulted in the use of different keywords to highlight the distinctive characteristics of their respective interpretations of upcycled food. This review also summarizes the various consumer traits that can influence the awareness and acceptance of upcycled food, encompassing functional, empirical and emotional, symbolic and self-expressive, and economic benefits. Additionally, the review presents strategies to utilize by-products produced in large quantities in Korea, while also addressing the control of hazardous components to ensure biological or chemical safety and the changes in nutritional value that may occur during the utilization of these byproducts.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.182-189
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• 2023

CT is a medical device that acquires medical images based on Attenuation coefficient of human organs related to X-rays. In addition, using this theory, it can acquire sagittal and coronal planes and 3D images of the human body. Then, CT is essential device for universal diagnostic test. But Exposure of CT scan is so high that it is regulated and managed with special medical equipment. As the special medical equipment, CT must implement quality control. In detail of quality control, Spatial resolution of existing phantom imaging tests, Contrast resolution and clinical image evaluation are qualitative tests. These tests are not objective, so the reliability of the CT undermine trust. Therefore, by applying an artificial intelligence classification model, we wanted to confirm the possibility of quantitative evaluation of the qualitative evaluation part of the phantom test. We used intelligence classification models (VGG19, DenseNet201, EfficientNet B2, inception_resnet_v2, ResNet50V2, and Xception). And the fine-tuning process used for learning was additionally performed. As a result, in all classification models, the accuracy of spatial resolution was 0.9562 or higher, the precision was 0.9535, the recall was 1, the loss value was 0.1774, and the learning time was from a maximum of 14 minutes to a minimum of 8 minutes and 10 seconds. Through the experimental results, it was concluded that the artificial intelligence model can be applied to CT implements quality control in spatial resolution and contrast resolution.