• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.812-824
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• 2013

Reserpine, an anti-hypertensive drug, is able to positively modulate several phenotypes associated with $A{\beta}$ toxicity in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated into the therapeutic effects of reserpine on mammalian neurodegenerative disorders, and found that significant alteration of the key factors influencing AD was detected in Tg2576 mice after reserpine treatment for 30 days. The aggressive behavior of Tg2576 mice was significantly improved upon reserpine treatment, whereas their social contact was consistently maintained. Furthermore, the levels of $A{\beta}$-42 peptide in the hippocampus of the brain and blood serum were lower in the reserpine-treated group than in the vehicle-treated group. Among g-secretase components, the expression levels of PS-2, Pen-2, and APH-1 were slightly lower in reserpine-treated Tg2576 mice, although a significant change in nicastrin (NCT) expression was not detected. Furthermore, the serum level of nerve growth factor (NGF) increased in reserpine-treated Tg2576 mice compared with vehicle-treated mice. Among down-stream effectors of the NGF receptor TrkA signaling pathway, reserpine treatment induced elevation of TrkA phosphorylation and reduction of ERK phosphorylation. In addition, in the NGF receptor $p75^{NTR}$ signaling pathway, the expression levels of $p75^{NTR}$ and Bcl-2 were enhanced in reserpine-treated Tg2576 mice compared with vehicle-treated mice, whereas the expression level of RhoA declined. Overall, these results suggest that reserpine can help relieve AD pathogenesis in Tg2576 mice through downregulation of $A{\beta}$-42 deposition, alteration of ${\gamma}$-secretase components, and regulation of NGF metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.73-87
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• 2018

A variety of micro meteorological variables such as air temperature, wind, solar radiation and latent heat at Gwangneung forests (conifer and broadleaved forests) and AWS (Automated Weather Station) of Pocheon urban area were used to quantify the air temperature reduction effect of forests, which is considered to be an eco-friendly solution for reducing the urban heat island intensity during summer. In June, July and August of 2016 and 2017, the average maximum air temperature differences between above and below canopy of forests, and between the forests and urban areas were $-1.9^{\circ}C$ and $-3.4^{\circ}C$ respectively, and they occurred at 17:00. However, there was no difference between conifer and broadleaved forests. The effect of air temperature reduction by the forests was positively correlated with accumulated evapotranspiration and solar radiation from 14:00 to 17:00 and showed a negative correlation with wind speed. We have developed a model to quantify the effect of air temperature reduction by forests using these variables. The nighttime air temperature reduction effect by forests was due to the generation of cold air from radiative cooling and the air temperature inversion phenomenon that occurs when the generated cold air moves down the side of mountain. The model was evaluated in Seoul by using 28 AWSs. The evaluation shows that the air temperature of each district in Seoul was negatively correlated with the area and size of the surrounding tall vegetation that drives vegetation evapotranspiration during the day. During the night, however, the size of the surrounding tall vegetation and the elevations of nearby mountains were the main influencing factors on the air temperature. Our research emphasizes the importance of the establishment and management of urban forests and the composition of wind roads from mountains for urban air temperature reduction.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.238-252
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• 1998

Reumatic arthritis is a disease with joint pain being one of the key symptoms. The patient suffers from the pain, stiff sensation and edema due to the inflammation taking Place In one or more joints. Accompanying these problems are fatigue, unusual exhaustion, fever, tachycardia and weakness. Inaddition, joints are often deformed and muscles shrink along with the progress of edema, coupled with depression and psychological instability resulting from the loss of the mobile function and limitations on the daily life. Some patients become fed up with the long and hard flight with the disease and just give up, which aggravates the symptoms. Others come to the hospital only when the conditions have become serious. We need to prevent these and guide the patients in the right direction. Against this backdrop, this study aims to look into the relations between the knowledge on the part of the patients together with their feeling of self-efficacy and the compliance. The results are expected to help the patients improve their life, In addition to providing useful materials for setting up appropriate plan for nursing intervention. The study was conducted by distributing questionnaire to 88 patients selected from the out-patient department of a university hospital in Inchon, from April 6 to 27, 1998. The following tools were used the yardstick of self-efficacy, developed in 1997 by the Society for the Health of Rheumatism Patients, was used for measuring the levels of knowledge and the feeling of self-efficacy. The degree of compliance was measured by the data collected from documents in addition to the results of the analysis of the interviews with the patients. The reliability of the tools was confirmed. In the analysis, the general characteristics were expressed in figures and percentages. The levels of knowledge, feeling of self-efficacy, and compliance were expressed in the average values and standard deviations. The relations among the variables following the general characteristics were analysed by the t-test and one-way ANOVA. The Pearson correction coefficient was used for the analysis of factors. Multiple-loop analysis was used to identify the variables affecting the compliance. The following are the results of this study. 1. Among the 88 patients, 18 were men and the remaining 70 were women, with a ratio 1 : 3.87. Regarding the age groups, 23 were between 50 and 59 years old, with those between 50 and 69 accounting for 51.1% of the total. High school graduates or higher amounted to 58%. Religious patients was 67% or 59 persons. Fifty nine percent were unemployed, and 58.3% (49 persons) had two children or fewer. The period of suffering from rheumatism varied between 2 months and IS years, with 70% less than years. 2. The average figure In relation to the of knowledge was 17.63 points over 30 or 58. 76%, which means a medium level. 3. The average figure of the feeling of self-efficacy was 60.06 points. 4. The level of compliance was 3.26, which was above average. 5. The relation between the feeling of self-efficacy and compliance showed an "r" value of 0.37, which was significant. It means that the higher the feeling, the greater the compliance points. 6. The analysis of the knowledge level revealed that the difference is found only between the college graduates and junior-high graduates or lower. 7. The feeling of self-efficacy varied along with the age and education level. 8. The general characteristics of patients as discussed above did not show significant difference with the compliance. 9. Regarding the elements influencing the compliance, the number of children, period of suffering, income, age, feering of self-efficacy, knowledge, and compliance had 54% of significance. In conclusion, rheumatism victims can lead a better life if they are appropriately educated, based on efficient training program from the early days of the disease ; if they become able to manage themselves thanks to the training ; and if they are helped by a program focusing on the increase of the feeling of self-efficacy aimed at changing patient's behavior.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.304-313
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• 2008

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stress distribution in bone and displacement distribution of the miniscrew according to the length and number of the miniscrews used for the fixation of miniplate, and the direction of orthodontic force. Methods: Four types of finite element models were designed to show various lengths (6 mm, 4 mm) and number (3, 2) of 2 mm diameter miniscrew used for the fixation of six holes for a curvilinear miniplate. A traction force of 4 N was applied at $0^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ to an imaginary axis connecting the two most distal unfixed holes of the miniplate. Results: The smaller the number of the miniscrew and the shorter the length of the miniscrew, the more the maximum von Mises stress in the bone and maximum displacement of the miniscrew increased. Most von Mises stress in the bone was absorbed in the cortical portion rather than in the cancellous portion. The more the angle of the applied force to the imaginary axis increased, the more the maximum von Mises stress in the bone and maximum displacement of the miniscrew increased. The maximum von Mises stress in the bone and maximum displacement of the miniscrew were measured around the most distal screw-fixed area. Condusions: The results suggest that the miniplate system should be positioned in the rigid cortical bone with 3 miniscrews of 2 mm diameter and 6 mm length, and its imaginary axis placed as parallel as possible to the direction of orthodontic force to obtain good primary stability.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.961-969
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• 2015

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main catechin in green tea, has been shown to have some beneficial effects against various human diseases, including diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity. To investigate the mechanism of the suppressive effects of EGCG on inflammatory response in macrophages, alterations on the levels of nitric oxide (NO) regulatory factors and inflammatory cytokines were measured in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. No significant toxicity was detected in RAW264.7 cells treated with 100–400 μM EGCG. Moreover, the optimal concentration of LPS was determined to be 1 μg/ml based on the results of cell viability assay, NO assay and IL-6 enzyme-linked immunsorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, NO levels decreased significantly by 68.2% in the 400 μM EGCG/LPS treated group, while the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression decreased by 12-17% in the 200 and 400 μM EGCG/LPS treated group. A significant decrease in transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF- α and IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) was also detected in the EGCG/LPS treated group. However, IL-6 transcript and protein was maintained at a constant level when in the LPS treated group relative to the EGCG/LPS treated group. Overall, these results suggest that the differential regulation of inflammatory cytokines is an important factor influencing the suppressive effects of EGCG against LPS-activated inflammatory response in RAW264.7 cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.484-491
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• 2005

Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) analyzes potential hazard of microorganisms on public health and offers structured approach to assess risks associated with microorganisms in foods. This paper addresses specific risk management questions associated with Staphylococcus aureus in kimbab and improvement and dissemination of QMRA methodology, QMRA model was developed by constructing four nodes from retail to table pathway. Predictive microbial growth model and survey data were combined with probabilistic modeling to simulate levels of S. aureus in kimbab at time of consumption, Due to lack of dose-response models, final level of S. aureus in kimbeb was used as proxy for potential hazard level, based on which possibility of contamination over this level and consumption level of S. aureus through kimbab were estimated as 30.7% and 3.67 log cfu/g, respectively. Regression sensitivity results showed time-temperature during storage at selling was the most significant factor. These results suggested temperature control under $10^{\circ}C$ was critical control point for kimbab production to prevent growth of S. aureus and showed QMRA was useful for evaluation of factors influencing potential risk and could be applied directly to risk management.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.223-231
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate the factors influencing water quality of the river (Mankyeong River) and groundwater in controlled horticulture region from 1994 to 1998. Water quality of Mankyeong River was monitored at 13 sites along main stream for 6 months from April to September from 1994 to 1997. Monthly average concentrations of $NH_4-N$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $Cl^-$ were highest in April, while that of $NO_3-N$ was highest in August. Monthly average concentrations of COD was highest in September Concentrations of $NH_4-N$ and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ in many sites of Mankyeong River exceeded the water quality criteria of agricultural water for irrigation. Water quality of Mankyeong River was not suitable for the irrigation source excepted the sites such as Hari, Gosan and Soyang stream. The floodgates of Mokcheon, Yocheon, Jeonju and Samcheon streams were rapidly polluted by the municipal sewage, otherwise the Iksan stream was rapidly polluted by the sewage of swine. The sum of inorganic ion concentrations in Mankyeong River was highest at floodgate of Yocheon due to the sewages municipal and industrial. The order of the major anions and canons concentration in Mankyeong River- stream were $SO{_4}^{2-}$ > $Cl^-$ > $NO{_3}^-$ > $PO{_4}^{3-}$ and $Na^+$ > $Ca^{2+}$ > $NH{_4}^+$ > $Mg^{2+}$ > $K^+$, respectively. The geoundwater quality at controlled horticulture region was surveyed 4 sites from 1994 to 1998. Concentrations of $NH_4-N$ and $NO_3-N$ were lower at the deeper groundwater. However there was no difference between the concentrations of $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $Na^+$, and the groundwater depth below 15m. Contents of $NH_4-N$, $NO_3-N$, $PO{_4}^{3-}$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ in groundwater were the highest at dry season. Nitrate-N level, exceeded $20mg\;l^{-1}$, the critical level for agricultural usage, at Yongjinmyeon Wanju and $PO{_4}^{3-}$ concentration were higher at Seogtandong Iksan than the other places.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2006

Salt stress is one of major environmental factors influencing plant growth and development. To identify salt tolerance determinants in higher plants, a large-scale screen was conducted with a bialaphos marker-based T-DNA insertional collection of Arabidopsis ecotype C24 mutants. One line for salt stress-sensitive mutant (referred to as ssm1) exhibited increased sensitivity to both ionic (NaCl) and nonionic (mannitol) osmotic stress in a root growth assay. This result suggests that ssm1 mutant is involved in ion homeostasis and osmotic compensation in plant. Molecular cloning of the genomic DNA flanking T-DNA insert of ssm1 mutant was achieved by mutant genomic DNA library screening. T-DNA insertion appeared in the first exon of an open reading frame on F3M18.7, which is the same as AtSYP61. SSM1 is SYP61/OSM1 that is a member of the SNARE superfamily of proteins required for vesicular/target membrane fusions and factor related to abiotic stress.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.3 s.62
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• pp.503-515
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• 1998

In order to investigate the factors influencing QOL and life satisfaction of the physically disabled, the author interviewed, by using structuralized questionnaire, 440 individuals among the physically disabled who were participated in Health Examination from April to July, 1997. The questionnaire consisted of the general characteristics(sex, age, marital status, family number, etc), the Reintegration to Normal Living Index(RNLI) to assess QOL, and the single item of five-likert scale to evaluate life satifaction. The means of RNLI were $16.2{\pm}4.8$ in total score, $12.2{\pm}3.4$ in daily functioning and $4.0{\pm}2.1$ in perception of self. The respondents were less reintegrated toward social activities and relationships than impairments or disabilities. While the satisfied group was 47.3%, the dissatisfied group was 52.7%. As the results of multiple regression and logistic regression analysis, the significant predictors of QOL were age, education, job, grade of disability and subjective health status. The life satisfaction were related to economic status, job and subjective health status. To improve QOL and life satisfaction of the physically disabled, it is important that we improve their basic socioeconomic status by getting a job through rehabilitation education and induce them to have positive self-assessment by extending the opportunity of social participation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2006

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment outcome according to the salvage treatment modalities and identify the prognostic factors influencing the survival. Materials and Methods: Forty-five patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer treated between 1994 to 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Median time from initial surgery to loal recurrence was 16months. Of the patients, 25 (56%) recurred at presacral and perirectal space. Among the 18 (40%) patients who received salvage surgery, 14 patients were treated with postoperative chemoradiotherapy. Among 27 (60%) patients who didn't receive salvage surgery, 16 were treated with chemoradiotherapy and 11 were treated with radiotherapy alone. Radiotherapy was given with total dose ranging from 37.5 to 64.8 Gy. Results: Five-year locoregional progression-free survival rate and overall survival rate of all patents were 49.5% and 34.3%, respectively. The 5-year locoregional progression-free survival rate and overall survival rate of patients undergoing salvage surgery were 77.0% and 52.1% compared with 36.0% and 37.9% f3r patients treated with chemoradiotherapy and 0% and 0% for patients treated with radiotherapy alone, respectively. The 5-year locoregional progression free survival and overall survival of patients who recurred earlier than 24 months were higher (67.5% and 59.1%) than the other patients (39.5% and 24.9%). Among the 27 patients who didn't receive salvage surgery, there was no significant difference for locoregional progression free survival and overall survival between re-irradiated patients and radiation-naive patients. Conclusion: Surgical resection is preferred to treatment for locally recurrent rectal cancer. If salvage surgery is not possible, chemoradiotherapy may achieve higher locoregional progression free survival and overall survival than radiotherapy alone.