• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2185-2190
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• 2013

Gallbladder carcinoma, the most frequent malignant neoplasm of the biliary tract system, has always been considered to feature late clinical presentation and diagnosis, limited treatment options and an extremely poor prognosis. In recent years, while the incidence of gallbladder cancer has appeared to be on the increase, the available treatment methods have not greatly improved survival of the affected patients. Thus, exploring new therapeutic targets for this devastating disease is an urgent matter at present. Epidemical studies have demonstrated that the incidence of gallbladder carcinoma exhibits a distinct gender bias, affecting females two to three times more than males, pointing to crucial roles of estrogen. It is well known that estrogen acts on target tissues by binding to estrogen receptors (ERs), which are mainly divided into three subtypes, $ER{\alpha}$, $ER{\beta}$ and $ER{\gamma}$. $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$ appear to have overlapping but also unique even opposite biological effects. As important pathogenic mediators, ERs have been considered to relate to several kinds of tumors. In gallbladder carcinoma tissue, ERs have been shown to be positively expressed, and ERs expression levels are associated with differentiation and prognosis of this cancer. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms of estrogen inducing growth of gallbladder carcinoma remain poorly understood. On the base of the current investigations, we deduce that estrogen participates in promotion of gallbladder carcinoma by influencing the formation of gallstones, stimulating angiogenesis, and promoting abnormal proliferation. Since ERs mediate the carcinogenic actions of estrogen in gallbladder, and therapy targeting ERs may provide new directions for gallbladder carcinoma. Therefore, it should be stressed that ERs are potential therapeutic targets for gallbladder carcinoma.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.73-88
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• 2018

The present study examined how processing features of visual information near the hand would affect task switching. Recent studies reported enhanced cognitive control of visual information presented the near hands. To investigate the enhancement of cognitive control based on the relationship between hand proximity and attention, we implemented 2 experiments. In the task switching performance experiment, the hand proximity effect depended on modality of cue and target. The first experiment showed that stimuli near the hand received greater cognitive control than stimuli far from the hand, resulting in smaller switch cost. The result could rule out the feature-binding problem, which identifies reduced switch cost as the cause instead of hand proximity. Our results show that hand proximity actually reduced switch cost. In the second experiment, we examined the effects of hand nearness, modality, and their interaction on switch cost. In task switching, the target was always visual, and the cue was presented either visually or auditorily. In addition, we manipulated the cue-target interval to observe the preparation effect of cue. The results showed that a visual cue near the hand reduced switch cost by shortening task preparation time. Also, modality switching between an auditory cue and visual target was remarkable in a hand-near condition. The results for the visual cue could be interpreted as a benefit of rapid visual attention orienting. On the other hand, the results for the auditory cue could be interpreted as the cost of interference of modality switching by slower attentional disengagement of stimuli near the hands. Finally, modulation of switch cost by attention induced by hand nearness was discussed.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2017

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), also known as Bluetooth Smart, has ultra-low power consumption; in fact, BLE-enabled devices can run on a single coin cell battery for several years. In addition, BLE can estimate the approximate distance between two devices using the Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) feature, enabling relatively precise navigation in indoor and small outdoor areas where GPS is not an option. In this paper, an experimental setup is presented in which BLE is used for navigation within a small outdoor area. BLE-based beacons are installed in fixed positions, which periodically transmit a universally unique identifier (UUID). A smart device receives the UUID and sends it to a database server using cellular or Wi-Fi technology. The server returns fixed position information corresponding to the received UUID codes, and the smart device uses that information to compute its current position based on relative signal strengths, and display it on a map. These results demonstrate the successful application of BLE technology for navigation in small outdoor areas. This system can be implemented for indoor navigation as well.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 2016

Lectins belong to the pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) class and play important roles in the recognition and elimination of pathogens via the innate immune system. Recently, it was reported that lily-type lectin-1 is involved when a pathogen attacks in the early immune response of fish. However, this study is limited to information that the lectin is involved in the innate immune response against viral infection. In the present study, the lily-type lectin-2 and -3 of Oplegnathus fasciatus (OfLTL-2 and 3) have been presented to be included B-lectin domain and two D-mannose binding sites in the amino acid sequence that an important feature for the fundamental structure. To investigate the functional properties of OfLTLs, the tissue distribution in the healthy rock bream and temporal expression during early developmental stage analysis are performed using quantitative real-time PCR. OfLTL-2 and 3 are predominantly expressed in the liver and skin, but rarely expressed in other organ. Also, the transcripts of OfLTLs are not expressed during the early developmental stage but its transcripts are increased after immune-related organs which are fully formed. In the challenge experiment with RBIV (rock bream iridovirus), the expression of OfLTLs was increased much more strongly in the late response than the early, unlike previously known. These results suggest that OfLTLs are specifically expressed in the immune-related tissues when those organs are fully formed and it can be inferred that the more intensively involved in the second half to the virus infection.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.604-608
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• 2006

Polymer composites for measuring the radioactive contamination are prepared by coating ZnS(Ag) powders as a scintillator on polysulfone base layer. The composites consist of the active layer for a scintillation reaction with radioactive wastes and the transparent support layer for transmittance of light photons emitted by scintillation in the active layer. The binding of the active layer, including ZnS(Ag), on the support layer is proceeded via coating with polysulfone as a binder, without any extra adhesive. The coating was obtained by either casting via a Doctor Blade as applicator or screen printing. The prepared composites feature a monolithic structure, resulting in the complete adhesion between two layers. The composite prepared by the casting technique using an applicator holds a good detection efficiency in measuring the alpha radionuclide, but its structure becomes fragile because of warping in morphology. On the contrary, the composite prepared by the screen printing shows a good detection capacity as well as a good stability in a mechanical shape.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.19
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• pp.53-68
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• 2018

Hanging scrolls and handscrolls are common mounting for East Asian painting and calligraphy in which wooden Chukmok with Chukdu of various materials are attached either at the top and bottom or at each side of a work. Hanging scroll paintings or calligraphy can be hung for appreciation and rolled up for preservation. The Chukmok and Chukdu of a hanging scroll were made from different materials and were known by distinct names in Korea, China, and Japan. In Korea, the wooden Chukmok were called sanghachukhoengmok(上下軸橫木), which means horizontal wooden bars for the top and bottom axes. The wooden Chukdu were called Chukdu(軸頭), meaning the head of an axis. These Chukmok and Chukdu were made of Korean red pine, nut pine, or shiny xylosma. In China, the rod was called zhougan(軸杆) and zhoutou(軸頭), and they were made of Japanese cedar, sappan wood, or red sandalwood. In Japan, the top rod was called hassou(八双; 八裝) and the bottom jikugi(軸木), and they were made of Japanese cedar, red sandalwood, or crystal. In Korean hanging scrolls, the cross section of a Chukdu is either flat or round, and it can be either patterned or patternless. The designs include concentric circles, two circles, and three circles. Among the portraits of meritorious subjects analyzed in this study, three examples feature concentric circles on Chukdu with a flat cross section, which coincides with most of the king's instructions housed at the Jangseogak Archives. This suggests that flat Chukdu with a concentric circle pattern were used for binding most of the paintings of meritorious subjects commissioned by the royal court.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.331-344
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• 1990

What makes glucose transport function sensitive to insulin in one cell type such as adipocyte, and insensitive in another such as liver cells is unresolved question at this time. Recently it is known that insulin stimulates glucose transport in adipocytes largely by redistributing transporter from the storage pool that is included in a low density microsomal fraction to plasma membrane. Therefore, insulin sensitivity may depend upon the relative distribution of gluscose transporters between the plasma membrane and in an intracellular storage compartment. In hepatocytes, the subcellular distribution of glucose transporter is less well documented. It is thus possible that the apparent insensitivity of the hepatocyte system could be either due to lack of the constitutively maintained, intracellular storage pool of glucose transporter or lack of insulin-mediated transporter translocation mechanism in this cell. In this study, I examined if any intracellular glucose transporter pool exists in hepatocytes and this pool is affected by insulin. The results obtained summarized as followings: 1) Distribution of subcellular fractions of hepatocyte showed that there are $24.9{\pm}1.3%$ of plasma membrane, $36.9{\pm}1.7%$ of nucleus-mitochondria enriched fraction, $23.5{\pm}1.2%$ of lysosomal fraction, $9.6{\pm}1.0%$ of high density microsomal fraction and $4.9{\pm}0.5%$ of low density microsomal fraction. 2) In adipocyte, there were $29.9{\pm}2.6%$ of plasma membrane, $19.4{\pm}1.9%$ of nucleus-mitochondria enriched fraction, $26.7{\pm}1.8%$ of high density microsomal fraction and $23.9{\pm}2.1%$ of low density microsomal fraction. 3) Surface labelling of sodium borohydride revealed that plasma membrane contaminated to lysosomal fraction by $26.8{\pm}2.8%$, high density microsomal fraction by $8.3{\pm}1.3%$ and low density microsomal fraction by $1.7{\pm}0.4%$ respectively. 4) Cytochalasin B bound to all of subcellular fractions with a Kd of $1.0{\times}10^{-6}M$. 5) Photolabelling of cytochalasin B to subcellular fractions occurred on 45 K dalton protein band, a putative glucose transporter and D-glucose inhibited the photolabelling. 6) Insulin didn't affect on the distribution of subcellular fractions and translocation of intracellular glucose transporters of hepatocytes. 7) HEGT reconstituted into hepatocytes was largely associated with plasma membrane and very little was found in low density microsomal fraction which equals to the native glucose transporter distribution. Insulin didn't affect on the distribution of exogeneous glucose transporter in hepatocytes. From the above results it is concluded that insulin insensitivity of hepatocyte may due to lack of intracellular storage pool of glucose transporter and thus intracellular storage pool of glucose transporter is an essential feature of the insulin action.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.6 s.101
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• pp.466-473
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• 2006

Impaired insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells in response to glucose is an important feature in the pathology of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). In the course of screening for useful insulin secretagogues, we have isolated and identified YHB-2017 (Genistein) as a insulin secretion potentiator from fermentation broths of our in-house microbial library. The insulinotropic activity of YHB-2017 in isolated rat pancreatic islets was exerted only at high concentration of glucose (8.3-16 mM) but not at low concentration of glucose (3.3-5.5 mM). Also, in perifusion study with isolated rat pancreatic islets, YHB-2017 stimulated insulin secretion in a time-dependent manner when YHB-2017 was added to KRB buffer containing 16 mM glucose. In the presence of $200\;{\mu}M$ diazoxide and 35 mM KCI, which stimulates maximum $Ca^{2+}$ influx independently of KATP channel, YHB-2017 enhanced KATP channel-independent insulin secretion at high concentration glucose (16 mM). To elucidate the mechanisms of the glucose-dependent potentiation effect of YHB-2017, pharmacologic inhibitors for protein kinase A, protein kinase C and calcium/calmodulin kinase II were pre-treated and then the potentiation effect of YHB-2017 on insulin secretion was investigated. Pre-treatment of H89 as a PKA inhibitor had a significant inhibitory effect on YHB-2017-induced potentiation effect. Furthermore, western immunoblotting analyses revealed that YHB-2017 increased phosphorylation of PKA substrates and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) under high concentration of glucose. These results demonstrated that the insulinotropic effect of YHB-2017 is mediated through PKA signal pathway and activated amplifying $K_{ATP}$ channel-independent insulin secretion pathway.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-66
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• 1997

Insulin resistance is a prominent feature of diabetic state and has heterogeneous nature. However, the pathogenetic sequence of events leading to the emergence of the defect in insulin action remains controversial. It is well-known that prolonged hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia are one of the causes of development of insulin resistance, but both hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia stimulate glucose uptake in peripheral tissue. Therefore, it is hypothesized that insulin resistance may be generated by a kind of protective mechanism preventing cellular hypertrophy. In this study, to evaluate whether the acutely increased glucose uptake inhibits further glucose transport stimulated by insulin, insulin sensitivity was measured after preloaded glucose infusion for 2 hours at various conditions in rats. And also, to evaluate the mechanism of decreased insulin sensitivity, insulin receptor binding affinity and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein of plasma membrane of gastrocnemius muscle were assayed after hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp studies. Experimental animals were divided into five groups according to conditions of preloaded glucose infusion: group I, basal insulin ($14{\pm}1.9{\mu}U/ml$) and basal glucose ($75{\pm}0.7mg/dl$), by normal saline infusion; group II, normal insulin ($33{\pm}3.8{\mu}U/ml$) and hyperglycemia ($207{\pm}6.3mg/dl$), by somatostatin and glucose infusion; group III, hyperinsulinemia ($134{\pm}34.8{\mu}U/ml$) and hyperglycemia ($204{\pm}4.6mg/dl$), by glucose infusion; group IV, supramaximal insulin ($5006{\pm}396.1{\mu}U/ml$) and euglycemia ($l00{\pm}2.2mg/dl$), by insulin and glucose infusion; group V, supramaximal insulin ($4813{\pm}687.9{\mu}U/ml$) and hyperglycemia ($233{\pm}3.1mg/dl$), by insulin and glucose infusion. Insulin sensitivity was assessed with hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique. The amounts of preloaded glucose infusion(gm/kg) were $1.88{\pm}0.151$ in group II, $2.69{\pm}0.239$ in group III, $3.54{\pm}0.198$ in group IV, and $4.32{\pm}0.621$ in group V. Disappearance rates of glucose (Rd, mg/kg/min) at steady state of hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp studies were $16.9{\pm}3.88$ in group I, $13.5{\pm}1.05$ in group II, $11.2{\pm}1.17$ in group III, $13.2{\pm}2.05$ in group IV, and $10.4{\pm}1.01$ in group V. A negative correlation was observed between amount of preloaded glucose and Rd (r=-0.701, p<0.001) when all studies were combined. Insulin receptor binding affinity and content of GLUT4 were not significantly different in all experimental groups. These results suggest that increased glucose uptake may inhibit further glucose transport and lead to decreased insulin sensitivity.

• Archives of design research
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• v.19 no.1 s.63
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• pp.201-214
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• 2006

Modern society is an age of vagueness and confusion. In addition, vagueness, complexity and variety are seen throughout art including modern philosophy, literature, and environmental design. A phenomenon like this shows that modern society has integrated different components as an organic relationship frequently crossing the boundary of fields. This feature can be regarded as hybrid related with accepting contradictory components and binding them into one under relationship between part and whole. As new design concept, presented are attitude to accept the two instead of attitude to select one of the alternatives, abundance instead of dearness, and ambiguity instead of simplicity. This principle has a crucial influence on creative design providing opposing contradiction and several alternative plans as non-deterministic form not completed one and, above all, useful information in mutual dependence and mutual relationship. When it comes to hybrid, therefore, a strategy is needed to consider layer of several fields getting out of standardizing space into a single space. As an event of this situation and concept, space experience means behaving freely based on experience of users' body. It can be known that this experience brings about users' more dynamic experience in comparison with the experience of seeing environmental design from a viewpoint of visual ism on the existing simplicity. Such a practical experience is subjective, synesthetic, and non-observational one. Therefore, hybrid has brought active users to the stage, which is distinguished from synesthesia felt through body's experience, not through observational attitude and visual space which achieve former balance and harmony with non-determination. That's because hybrid creatures are turning to a product resulted from creative imagination instead of from reappearance which makes text visualized. Such experience performed by user's active participation collapses the boundary between special elite-centered art and daily life and it is the present progressive form showing creation process of future events and new esthetic experience.