• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.475-482
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• 2020

Background: Active natural ingredients, especially small molecules, have recently received wide attention as modifiers used to treat neurodegenerative disease by promoting neurogenic regeneration of neural stem cell (NSC) in situ. 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), one of the bioactive ingredients in ginseng, possesses neuroprotective properties. However, the effect of PPD on NSC proliferation and differentiation and its mechanism of action are incompletely understood. Methods: In this study, we investigated the impact of PPD on NSC proliferation and neuronal lineage differentiation through activation of the Wnt/glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β/β-catenin pathway. NSC migration and proliferation were investigated by neurosphere assay, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and EdU assay. NSC differentiation was analyzed by Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. Involvement of the Wnt/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway was examined by molecular simulation and Western blot and verified using gene transfection. Results: PPD significantly promoted neural migration and induced a significant increase in NSC proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, a remarkable increase in anti-microtubule-associated protein 2 expression and decrease in nestin protein expression were induced by PPD. During the differentiation process, PPD targeted and stimulated the phosphorylation of GSK-3β at Ser9 and the active forms of β-catenin, resulting in activation of the Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. Transfection of NSCs with a constitutively active GSK-3β mutant at S9A significantly hampered the proliferation and neural differentiation mediated by PPD. Conclusion: PPD promotes NSC proliferation and neural differentiation in vitro via activation of the Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway by targeting GSK-3β, potentially having great significance for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.571-575
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• 2019

Fungal occurrence during production of dried red pepper was investigated using red pepper samples collected at harvest, before and after washing, and before, during or after drying. Fungal incidence was evaluated by counting the number of fungal colonies grown after incubating random pepper cuts on potato dextrose agar plates. Washing with ground water had no significant effect on reduction of fungal contamination. Fungal increase was observed in some samples, and the insides of washer and containers were contaminated with fungi. Drying caused significant fungal increase regardless of drying method although the fungal incidence after machine drying was lower than that after greenhouse drying. Fungal increase was observed in the samples being dried in a greenhouse and some mycotoxigenic species were also detected. Therefore, the most important control point for fungal contamination during dried pepper production appears to be the drying process, especially in a greenhouse.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.381-387
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• 2004

To characterize chemically a spent pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel, an analytical method for trace amounts of tritium ($^3H$) in it has been established. Considering the effective management of radioactive wastes generated through the whole experimental process and the radiological safety for analysts, a separation condition under which $^{14}C$ and $^3H$ can be sequentially recovered from a single fuel sample was optimized using simulated spent PWR fuel dissolved solutions. $^{14}CO_2$ evolved during dissolution of the spent PWR fuels with nitric acid was trapped in an aliquot of 1.5 M NaOH. $^{129}I_2$ which was volatilized along with $^{14}CO_2$ was removed using a silver nitrate-impregnated silica gel absorbent. $^3H$ remaining in the fuel dissolved solution as $^3H_2O$ was selectively recovered by distillation. Its recovery yield was 97.9% with a relative standard deviation of 0.9% (n=3). $^3H$ in a spent PWR fuel with burnup value of 37,000 MWd/MtU was analyzed, reliability of this analytical method being evaluated by standard addition method.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.433-457
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• 2011

This study attempts to make a constructive contribution to the debate on which WTO rules accommodate trade measures for environmental purposes. Does trade undermine the regulatory efforts of governments. However, the theoretical dimensions are partly addressed on the several key questions. For instances, is economic integration through trade and investment a threat to the environment? to control pollution and resource degradation? Will economic grow driven by trade help us to move towards a sustainable use of the world's environmental resources? The growing world economy has been accompanied by environmental degradation including deforestation, losses in bio-diversity, global warming, air pollution, depletion of the ozone layer, overfishing and so on. The sheer number of us obviously put pressure on natural resources and ecological systems, and this pressure will counting to rise as we grow towards 10 billion in the next century. What is more, there is no indication that consumption per capita is slowing. The perceived costs of acting alone in terms of lost investments and jobs often take the stream out of regulatory initiatives. In the worst case scenario environmental community is fearful that international trade will magnify the effects of poor environmental polices in the world Generally, economic growth drive by trade may speed up the process of environmental degradation unless sufficient environmental safeguards are put in place. Under these circumstances, this paper attempts to make a constructive contribution to the study on which WTO rules accommodate trade measures for environmental purposes.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2009

This research was performed to figure out the optimal mixing ratio of food- to livestock wastewater for the best degradation of organic matter in the anaerobic digestion. The presence of various microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, was also investigated in both wastewater in this process. Enteric bacteria were only found in livestock wastewater, whereas pathogenic bacteria like S. aureus were detected in both wastewater. The optimal mixing ratio of food- to livestock wastewater for the best mineralization was found to fifty to fifty, with reduction ratios of $BOD_5$, CODcr SS as 23.2%, 24.7%, 19.7%, respectively. Hygiene of the digested sludge was also analyzed by counting the number of total colonies and various pathogens. Enterobacteriaceae including E. coli were barely detected in 10 days after reaction. Meanwhile, S. aureus was gradually reduced during reaction, even showing 1,000~5,000 CFU/mL in final days.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.141-148
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• 2011

It is clarified in the radioactive waste transfer regulation that the concentration of radioactive waste for the major radio nuclide has to be examined when radioactive waste is guided to the radioactive waste stores. In case of the low level radioactive waste sample, the analytical results of radioactive waste concentration frequently show a value lower than minimum detectable activity (MDA). Since the MDA value basically depends on the amount of a sample, background value, measurement time, counting efficiency, and etc, it would be necessary to increase a sample amount with a intention of minimizing MDA. In order to measure a concentration of $^{129}I$ in low and medium level radioactive waste, $^{129}I$ was collected by using a distillation technique after leaching the simulated radioactive waste sample with a non-volatile acid. The recovery of $^{129}I$ measured was compared with that measured with column elution technique which is a conventional method using an anion-exchange resin. The recovery of inactive iodide by using the distillation method and column elution were found as $86.5{\pm}0.9%$ and $87.3{\pm}2.7%$, respectively. The recovery and MDA value calculated for distillation technique when 100 g of extracted solution of $^{129}I$ was taken, were found to be $84.6{\pm}1.6%$ and $1.2{\times}10^{-4}Bq/g$, respectively. Consequently, the proposed technique with simplified process lowered the MDA value more than 10 times compared to the column elution technique that has a disadvantage of limited sampling amount.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.873-887
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• 1996

Platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) is one of the polypeptide growth fators. PDGF has been reported as a biological mediator which regulates activities of wound healing process including the cell proliferation, migration and metabolism. Recent studies indicated that demineralized root surface as the primary site for growth factor application has advantages over other application method, especially due to binding capacity of growth factor for exposed matrix component of deminera1ized dentin surface. The purpose of this study is to evaluate optimal application time of PDGF-BB on proliferation of human gingival fibroblasts using deminera1ized dentin surface as primary application site. Human gingival fibroblasts and dentin slabs were prepared from the first premolar tooth extracted for the orthodontic treatment, cells were cultured in DMEM/I0% FBS at the $37^{\circ}C$, 5% CO2 incubator. All of the dentin slabs were preconditioned with Tetracycline HCI(100mg/ml) solution and rinsed in PBS. In the cell proliferation experiment, experimental group was immersed in DMEM containing 10% FBS, 50ng/rnl PDGF-BB during different time(30sec, 1, 2, 4, 8 minutes) and dried. Cells at concentration of $1{\times}10^5$cells/ml were seeded in each culture well which contained dentin slabs and incubated for 6 hours. Then, all of the dentin slabs were moved into new 24 well culture dish and incubated for 24, 48, 72 hours. The cell counting was done by hemocytometer with inverted phase contrast microscope after trypsinization. The results were as follows : The application of PDGF-BB for 1, 2 min slightly increased the number of gingival fibroblasts, and the application of PDGF-BB for 4, 8 min prominently increased the number of gingival fibroblasts. The application of PDGF-BB for 4 min showed maximum proliferation rate of gingival fibroblasts at 24, 48, 72 hours, and the application of PDGF-BB for 8 min showed less proliferation rate of gingival fibroblasts compared to the application of PDGF-BB for 4 min at 24, 48, 72 hours. In conclusion, the application of PDGF-BB for 4 min appeared to be optimal to obtain maximum proliferation of gingival fibroblasts using demineralized dentin surface as primary applicaton site of PDGF-BB.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.431-456
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the appropriate time of introduction and the usage of the number line, in order to suggest the right point of learning the number concept to the elementary school students. For the efficient achievement of this purpose, we investigated the mathematical models for constructing the number concept such as number line, empty number line and double number line, counting and development of number concept. Then, we conducted case study on the time of introduction and the usage of the number line. Finally, we analyzed the result. First, there is need for adjustment to conduct the introduction of the number line from the second year of elementary school, so to help the students understand the continuing number concept through the understanding on the metaphorical concept of the number line. Second, there is the need of positive introduction and the use on the mathematical models; empty number line which helps to draw various thinking strategy visually through the process of operations such as addition and subtraction; the division into equal part and division by equal part in which multiplicative comparative situation or division takes place; the double number line which helps to understand the rate or proportional distribution. Finally, when adopting the number line, the empty number line, or the double number line, we suggested the necessity of learning about elaborate guidance and the usage in order to fully understand the metaphorical concept of the number line.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.22-31
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• 2010

Because the estimated cost at early stage has great influence on decisions of project owner, the importance of early cost estimation is increasing. However, it depends on experience and knowledge of the estimator mainly due to shortage of information. Those tendency developed into case-based reasoning(CBR) method which solves new problems by adapting previous solution to similar past problems. The performance of CBR model is affected by attribute weight, so that its accurate determination is necessary. Previous research utilizes mathematical method or subjective judgement of estimator. In order to improve the problem of previous research, this suggests CBR schematic cost estimation method using genetic algorithm to determine attribute weight. The cost model employs nearest neighbor retrieval for selecting past case. And it estimates the cost of new cases based on cost information of extracted cases. As the result of validation for 17 testing cases, 3.57% of error rate is calculated. This rate is superior to accuracy rate proposed by AACE and the method to determine attribute weight using multiple regression analysis and feature counting. The CBR cost estimation method improve the accuracy by introducing genetic algorithm for attribute weight. Moreover, this makes user understand the problem-solving process easier than other artificial intelligence method, and find solution within short time through case retrieval algorithm.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.129-136
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• 2009

During the maintenance period at Korean nuclear power plants, internal exposure of radiation workers occurred by the inhalation of $^{131}I$ released to the reactor building when primary system opened. The internal radioactivity of radiation workers contaminated by $^{131}I$ was measured using a whole body counter. Intake estimation and the calculation of committed effective dose were also conducted conforming to the guidance of internal dose assessments from publications of International Commission on Radiological Protection. Because the uptake and excretion of $^{131}I$ in a body occur quickly and $^{131}I$ is accumulated in the thyroid gland, the estimated intakes showed differences depending on the counting time after intake. In addition, since ICRP publications do not provide the intake retention fraction (IRF) for whole body of $^{131}I$, the IRF for thyroid was substitutionally used to calculate the intake and subsequently this caused more error in intake estimation. Thus, intake estimation and the calculation of committed effective dose were conducted by manual calculation. In this study, the IRF for whole body was also calculated newly and was verified. During this process, the estimated intake and committed effective dose were reviewed and compared using several computer codes for internal dosimetry.