• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.49-62
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• 2019

Environmental changes can affect life-history traits, such as growth rate and reproduction, and organisms adapt on a given environmental condition to maximize ecological fitness. This study shows the effects of water temperature and dissolved oxygen level on early growth and accumulated damage in fish using a dynamic-state-dependent model. I have hypothesized that the level of foraging activity is related to growth and stress and so the optimal level can maximize reproductive success - ultimately, fitness. The critical temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) is also defined as inducing the maximum growth rate at the level. So, the model predicts the highest growth rate at oxygen saturation and lower growth rate at lower or higher level of DO in water. Lower DO (i.e., hypoxia) causes slower growth rate through higher amount of accumulated stress whereas higher DO (i.e., hyperoxia) induces faster growth rate, but smaller body size. In addition, I show that there is lower impact when considering simple or independent environmental factors on environmental assessment. My findings suggest that multiple environmental factors as physiological ecology approach should be considered to improve impact assessment in environmental changes and a further study is needed to develop advanced assessment tools considering multiple environmental factors.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.599-606
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• 2022

Strain gauges and the bridge weigh-in-motion (BWIM) method are the representative field measurement methods used for fatigue evaluationsof a steel bridge-in-service. For a fatigue reliability evaluation to assess fatigue damage accumulation, the effective stress range and the number of stress cycles applied as the fatigue details can be estimated based on the AASHTO Manual for Bridge Evaluations with the field measurement data of the target bridge. However, the procedure for estimating the effective stress range and the stress cycles from field measurement data has not been explicitly presented. Furthermore, studies that quantitatively compare differences in fatigue evaluation results according to the field measurement data type or processing method used are still insufficient. Here, a fatigue reliability evaluation is conducted using strain and BWIM data that are measured simultaneously. A frame model and a shell-solid model were generated to examine the effect of the accuracy of the structural analysis model when using BWIM data. Also, two methods of handling BWIM data when estimating the effective stress range and average daily cycles are defined. As a result, differences in evaluation results according to the type of field measurement data used, the accuracy of the structural analysis model, and the data handling method could be quantitatively confirmed.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.294-308
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• 2021

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Allomyrina dichotoma larva (ADL), one of the many edible insects recognized as future food resources, has a range of pharmacological activities. In a previous study, an ADL extract (ADLE) reduced the hepatic insulin resistance of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice. On the other hand, the associated molecular mechanisms underlying pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction remain unclear. This study examined the effects of ADLE on palmitate-induced lipotoxicity in a beta cell line of a rat origin, INS-1 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: ADLE was administered to high-fat diet treated mice. The expression of apoptosis-related molecules was measured by Western blotting, and reactive oxidative stress generation and nitric oxide production were measured by DCH-DA fluorescence and a Griess assay, respectively. RESULTS: The administration of ADLE to HFD-induced diabetic mice reduced the hyperplasia, 4-hydroxynonenal levels, and the number of apoptotic cells while improving the insulin levels compared to the HFD group. Treatment of INS-1 cells with palmitate reduced insulin secretion, which was attenuated by the ADLE treatment. Furthermore, the ADLE treatment prevented palmitate-induced cell death in INS-1 cells and isolated islets by reducing the apoptotic signaling molecules, including cleaved caspase-3 and PARP, and the Bax/Bcl2 ratio. ADLE also reduced the levels of reactive oxygen species generation, lipid accumulation, and nitrite production in palmitate-treated INS-1 cells while increasing the ATP levels. This effect corresponded to the decreased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein. CONCLUSIONS: ADLE helps prevent lipotoxic beta-cell death in INS-1 cells and HFD-diabetic mice, suggesting that ADLE can be used to prevent or treat beta-cell damage in glucose intolerance during the development of diabetes.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2023

Background: Air pollution has led to an increased exposure of all living organisms to fine dust. Therefore, research efforts are being made to devise preventive and therapeutic remedies against fine dust-induced chronic diseases. Methods: Research of the respiratory protective effects of KRG extract in a particulate matter (PM; aerodynamic diameter of <4 ㎛) plus diesel exhaust particle (DEP) (PM4+D)-induced airway inflammation model. Nitric oxide production, expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and IRAK-1, TAK-1, and MAPK pathways were examined in PM4-stimulated MH-S cells. BALB/c mice exposed to PM4+D mixture by intranasal tracheal injection three times a day for 12 days at 3 day intervals and KRGE were administered orally for 12 days. Histological of lung and trachea, and immune cell subtype analyses were performed. Expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung were measured. Immunohistofluorescence staining for IRAK-1 localization in lung were also evaluated. Results: KRGE inhibited the production of nitric oxide, the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and expression and phosphorylation of all downstream factors of NF-κB, including IRAK-1 and MAPK/AP1 pathway in PM4-stimulated MH-S cells. KRGE suppressed inflammatory cell infiltration and number of immune cells, histopathologic damage, and inflammatory symptoms in the BALF and lungs induced by PM4+D; these included increased alveolar wall thickness, accumulation of collagen fibers, and TNF-α, MIP2, CXCL-1, IL-1α, and IL-17 cytokine release. Moreover, PM4 participates induce alveolar macrophage death and interleukin-1α release by associating with IRAK-1 localization was also potently inhibited by KRGE in the lungs of PM4+D-induced airway inflammation model. KRGE suppresses airway inflammatory responses, including granulocyte infiltration into the airway, by regulating the expression of chemokines and inflammatory cytokines via inhibition of IRAK-1 and MAPK pathway. Conclusion: Our results indicate the potential of KRGE to serve as an effective therapeutic agent against airway inflammation and respiratory diseases.

• Convergence Security Journal
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.27-36
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• 2023

In recent years, ransomware attacks have become more organized and specialized, with the sophistication of attacks targeting specific individuals or organizations using tactics such as social engineering, spear phishing, and even machine learning, some operating as business models. In order to effectively respond to this, various researches and solutions are being developed and operated to detect and prevent attacks before they cause serious damage. In particular, honeypots can be used to minimize the risk of attack on IT systems and networks, as well as act as an early warning and advanced security monitoring tool, but in cases where ransomware does not have priority access to the decoy file, or bypasses it completely. has a disadvantage that effective ransomware response is limited. In this paper, this honeypot is optimized for the user environment to create a reliable real-time dynamic honeypot file, minimizing the possibility of an attacker bypassing the honeypot, and increasing the detection rate by preventing the attacker from recognizing that it is a honeypot file. To this end, four models, including a basic data collection model for dynamic honeypot generation, were designed (basic data collection model / user-defined model / sample statistical model / experience accumulation model), and their validity was verified.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.375-383
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• 2023

To determine the cause of the population decline in Gobiobotia naktongensis, substrate preference and burying behaviour were investigated in this study. In general, the species was shown to prefer a substrate size of 1 mm or less, depending on the flow. In addition, the burying depth varied according to the size of the fish and increased with a decrease in water temperature. Our findings showed that the main cause of the population reduction was the physical changes in the substrate structure due to the dams or barrages construction. Notably, the accumulation of silt and mud in the substrate upon the formation of an upstream lentic water region for structural construction and bed armouring caused by scouring and reduced downstream inflow of fine sediment were deterministic in the fish habitat changes, causing problems in burying. As sand substrate structure is critical for the survival and inhabitation of psammophilous species, efficient strategies should be developed with proper habitat management to reduce the anthropogenic damage

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.56 no.12
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• pp.837-844
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• 2023

Small and medium-sized mountain rivers that flow through steep, confined valleys carry large amounts of coarse-grained sediment and woody debris during floods. It causes an increase in flood water level by aggrading the riverbed and the cross-section blockage due to driftwood accumulation during flooding. However, the existing flood level calculation in the river basic plan does not consider these changes. In this study, using the Typhoon Hinnamnor flood in September 2022 as an example, we performed numerical simulations using the HEC-RAS model, taking into account the blockage of a cross-section at the bridge and changes in riverbed elevation that occurred during floods, and analyzed the flood level to predict flood risk. This study's results show that flooding occurs if more than 30% of the cross-section is blocked. The rise of flood water levels corresponds to that of the riverbed due to sediment deposition. These results can be used as basic data to prevent and effectively manage flood damage and contribute to establishing flood defense measures that consider actual phenomena.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2023

Gastritis is an inflammation of the gastric mucosa and gastric ulcers are a break in the mucosa of the stomach lining. Past research on gastritis and gastric ulcers has been mainly conducted from the perspective that environmental factors are the primary cause of these gastric diseases. However, recently the importance of genetic factors has been emphasized due to current developments in genetic research. The SLC25A26 gene is believed to be associated with the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress promotes an inflammatory response, which increases the production of free radicals and causes cellular damage, and these lead to the development of gastric diseases. In this study, the correlation between SLC25A26 and gastric diseases was analyzed. Polymorphisms in SLC25A26 were analyzed in 1,369 domestic gastric disease patients and 7,471 healthy controls. As a result, 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (in the genotype) and 13 SNPs (in the imputation) showed statistical significance (P<0.05), and high relative risk of gastric diseases. Among them, the rs13874 allele of SLC25A26 showed a highly significant association with gastric diseases. In the genotype-based mRNA expression analysis, the minor allele (C) group showed increased mRNA expression and this could increase oxidative stress. In conclusion, SLC25A26 polymorphisms are associated with gastric diseases. These results may provide a basis for new guidelines for gastric disease management in the Korean population.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1021-1030
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• 2024

Objective: R-loops are DNA:RNA triplex hybrids, and their metabolism is tightly regulated by transcriptional regulation, DNA damage response, and chromatin structure dynamics. R-loop homeostasis is dynamically regulated and closely associated with gene transcription in mouse zygotes. However, the factors responsible for regulating these dynamic changes in the R-loops of fertilized mouse eggs have not yet been investigated. This study examined the functions of candidate factors that interact with R-loops during zygotic gene activation. Methods: In this study, we used publicly available next-generation sequencing datasets, including low-input ribosome profiling analysis and polymerase II chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq), to identify potential regulators of R-loop dynamics in zygotes. These datasets were downloaded, reanalyzed, and compared with mass spectrometry data to identify candidate factors involved in regulating R-loop dynamics. To validate the functions of these candidate factors, we treated mouse zygotes with chemical inhibitors using in vitro fertilization. Immunofluorescence with an anti-R-loop antibody was then performed to quantify changes in R-loop metabolism. Results: We identified DEAD-box-5 (DDX5) and histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC2) as candidates that potentially regulate R-loop metabolism in oocytes, zygotes and two-cell embryos based on change of their gene translation. Our analysis revealed that the DDX5 inhibition of activity led to decreased R-loop accumulation in pronuclei, indicating its involvement in regulating R-loop dynamics. However, the inhibition of histone deacetylase-2 activity did not significantly affect R-loop levels in pronuclei. Conclusion: These findings suggest that dynamic changes in R-loops during mouse zygote development are likely regulated by RNA helicases, particularly DDX5, in conjunction with transcriptional processes. Our study provides compelling evidence for the involvement of these factors in regulating R-loop dynamics during early embryonic development.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 1998

Purpose : The use of cyclosporine and mitomycin in various immunologic or neoplastic disorders has been known to cause wide-ranged nephrotoxic effects including thrombotic microangiopathy. However, the mechanism of nephrotoxicity of these drugs has not been studied adequately, so that present experimental study has been undertaken to find out whether these drugs can cause direct damage to the kidney and to clarify the pathogenetic mechanism of nephrotoxic effect of these drugs. Materials and methods : Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 gm were used for experimental animals and unilateral renal perfusion technique, modified from the method described by Hoyer et al was used. Isolation of left kidney from systemic circulation was made by clamping aorta and left renal vein and a hole was punctured in the anterior wall of the left renal vein. Cyclosporine (2.5 mg in 4 ml solution) and mitomycin (1.6 mg in 4ml solution) were infused through left renal artery and normal saline was used in control rats. Forty-eight hours after infusion of the drugs, animals were sacrificed and left kidney removed and processed for histologic examination. Total ischemic time of left kidney was less than 15 minutes: Results : Cyclosporine-perfused group showed severe swelling of glomerular endothelial ceil along with swelling of glomerular epithelial cell and interstitial vascular endothelial cell. Mitomycin-perfused group also showed severe swelling of glomerular endothelial and epithelial cells. And in addition to these findings, they demonstrated platelets aggregation, swelling and degranulation of platelets and fibrin accumulation in some of the capillaries, indicating occurrance of thrombotic microangiopathy. Conclusion : present experiment indicates that cyclosporine and mitomycin can cause direct toxic injury to renal endothelial cell. And this direct toxic damage to endothelial cell seems to be an important initiating event for the development of thrombotic microangiopathy.