• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2020

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder causing dementia worldwide, and is mainly characterized by aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ). Increasing evidence has shown that plant extracts have the potential to delay AD development. The plant sterol β-Sitosterol has a potential role in inhibiting the production of platelet Aβ, suggesting that it may be useful for AD prevention. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of β-Sitosterol on deficits in learning and memory in amyloid protein precursor/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) double transgenic mice. APP/PS1 mice were treated with β-Sitosterol for four weeks, from the age of seven months. Brain Aβ metabolism was evaluated using ELISA and Western blotting. We found that β-Sitosterol treatment can improve spatial learning and recognition memory ability, and reduce plaque load in APP/PS1 mice. β-Sitosterol treatment helped reverse dendritic spine loss in APP/PS1 mice and reversed the decreased hippocampal neuron miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency. Our research helps to explain and support the neuroprotective effect of β-Sitosterol, which may offer a novel pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of AD. Taken together, these findings suggest that β-Sitosterol ameliorates memory and learning impairment in APP/PS1 mice and possibly decreases Aβ deposition.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1827-1836
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• 2017

The world dairy industry has long been challenged by bovine mastitis, an inflammatory disease, which causes economic loss due to decreased milk production and quality. Attempts have been made to prevent or treat this disease with multiple approaches, primarily through increased abuse of antibiotics, but effective natural solutions remain elusive. Bee venom (BV) contains a variety of peptides (e.g., melittin) and shows multiple bioactivities, including prevention of inflammation. Thus, in the current study, it was hypothesized that BV can reduce inflammation in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T). To examine the hypothesis, cells were treated with LPS ($1{\mu}g/ml$) to induce an inflammatory response and the anti-inflammatory effects of BV (2.5 and $5{\mu}g/ml$) were investigated. The cellular mechanisms of BV against LPS-induced inflammation were also investigated. Results showed that BV can attenuate expression of an inflammatory protein, COX2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$. Activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, an inflammatory transcription factor, was significantly downregulated by BV in cells treated with LPS, through dephosphorylation of ERK1/2. Moreover, pretreatment of cells with BV attenuated LPS-induced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (e.g., superoxide anion). These results support our hypothesis that BV can decrease LPS-induced inflammatory responses in bovine mammary epithelial cells through inhibition of oxidative stress, NF-${\kappa}B$, ERK1/2, and COX-2 signaling.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.743-749
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• 2014

Even if many studies for the prevention of accidents in chemical plant have been carried out, recently more severe accidents in chemical plants have occurred continuously. These have a large potential impact and the loss of casualties and economic can vary according to the activities of early emergency responses. Thus, in order to mitigate the impact of accidents, the studies preparing the guidelines for emergency response have to be urgently needed. In this study, the current emergency responses guidelines and regulations in Korea were investigated to find out the drawbacks. And, to tackle these, BCP(Business continuity plan) method was used to improve the activities of early emergency responses as suggesting the basic components, response steps, feedback and procedures of the emergency responses.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.313-324
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• 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which causes serious respiratory illness such as pneumonia and lung failure, was first reported in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, China. The etiological agent of COVID-19 has been confirmed as a novel coronavirus, now known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is most likely originated from zoonotic coronaviruses, like SARS-CoV, which emerged in 2002. Within a few months of the first report, SARS-CoV-2 had spread across China and worldwide, reaching a pandemic level. As COVID-19 has triggered enormous human casualties and serious economic loss posing global threat, an understanding of the ongoing situation and the development of strategies to contain the virus's spread are urgently needed. Currently, various diagnostic kits to test for COVID-19 are available and several repurposing therapeutics for COVID-19 have shown to be clinically effective. In addition, global institutions and companies have begun to develop vaccines for the prevention of COVID-19. Here, we review the current status of epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development for COVID-19.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.553-560
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• 1999

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) membrane exposure on the initial healing of the periodontal tissue in guided tissue regeneration (GTR) procedure. 90 sites selected from 90 patients were treated with gingival flap surgery supported by an e-PTFE membrane. The material included angular bony defects with probing attachment loss of > 5mm or degree II furcation involvement. Treated sites were classified with membrane exposure group and non-exposure group at membrane removal and evaluated healing type. The results were obtained as follows. 1. e-PTFE membrane was exposed at 61 sites (67.8%) among 90 sites. 2. Thirteen sites (14.4%) depicted rapid healing type, 65 sites (72.2%) depicted typical healing type, 9 sites (10%) showed delayed healing type and 3 sites (3.3%) were categorized as adversed healing type. 3. In e-PTFE membrane exposure group, 1 site (1.6%), 51 sites (83.6%), 6 sites (9.8%) and 3 sites (4.9%) showed rapid healing type, typical healing type, delayed healing type and adverse healing type respectively. 4. In e-PTFE membrane non-exposure group, 12 sites (41.3%), 14 sites (48.3%) and 3 sites (10.3%) showed rapid healing type, typical healing type and delayed healing type respectively. Adverse healing type was not observed. 5. The rate of favourable healing between e-PTFE membrane exposure group and non-exposure group was not statistically significant(p=0.56). These results suggest that the prevention of membrane exposure may be important to obtain rapid healing type. However favourable healing could be obtained with stringent infection control program even if membrane was exposed.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.19-25
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• 2008

In this paper, author proposes a novel step-up AC-DC chopper operated with power factor correction(PFC) and with high efficiency. The proposed chopper behaves with discontinuous current control(DCC) of input current. The input current waveform in the proposed chopper is got to be a discontinuous sinusoid form in proportion to magnitude of ac input voltage under the constant duty cycle switching. Therefore, the input power factor is nearly unity and the control method is simple. In the general DCC chopper, the switching devices are turned-on with the zero current switching, but turn-off of the switching devices is switched at current maximum value. To achieve a soft switching of the switching rum-off, the proposed chopper is used a new partial resonant circuit. The result is that the switching loss is very low and the efficiency of chopper is high.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2006

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is rare X-linked genetic disorder involving absence of the enzyme hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) related to purine metabolism. The deficiency of HGPRT activity leads to an excesscive uric acid production and consequent hyperuricemia. It occurs almost exclusively in males, and the incidence is estimate to be 1/100,000~380,000. Clinical presentation is characterized by developmental delay, mental retardation, choreoathetosis, spastic cerebral palsy, nephrolithiasis, obstructive nephropathy and acute gouty arthritis. A characteristic feature of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is the appearance of intractable self-mutilation behavior. Self-mutilation behavior is complicated by secondary infection and tissue loss as well as pain. The dental management of self-mutilation includes presertive methods of using appliances such as lip bumper or soft mouthguard and radical methods such as extraction of all teeth or orthognathic surgery. A case of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome patient with self-mutilation and severe lower lip injury is presented. He was treated successfully with soft mouthguard.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.177-186
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• 2018

Purpose: Increasing number of older adults are receiving cancer surgeries especially for gastrointestinal cancers, which brings forth attention to age-related postoperative complication prevention. Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication that rises after surgical procedures involving general anesthesia, largely in the elderly population. Due to its sudden onset and fluctuating symptoms, POD often goes underdiagnosed and undertreated even though it may lead to various adverse outcomes. POD in GI cancer surgical elderly patients is poorly understood in terms of prevalence, pathophysiology, assessment, treatment and nursing management. We aimed to identify available literature and investigate study results to broaden our understanding of geriatric GI cancer POD. Methods: The search process involved six databases to identify relevant studies abided by inclusion criteria. Results: Eleven studies were selected for this review. Geriatric POD is closely related to frailty and surgical complications. Frailty increases vulnerability to surgical stress and causes cerebral changes that affect stress-regulating neurotransmitter proportions, brain blood flow, vascular density, neuron cell life and intracellular signal transductions. These conditions of frailty result in increased risks of surgical complications such as blood loss, cardiovascular events and inflammation, which all may lead to the POD. Mini Metal State Examination (MMSE), Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and Delirium Rating Scale-revised-98 (DRS-R-98) are recommended for POD assessment to identify high-risk patients. Conclusion: The POD prevalence ranged from 8.2% to 51.0%. The multifactorial causative mechanism suggests nurses to identify highrisk elderly GI-cancer surgical patients by reviewing patient-specific factors and surgery-specific factors.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.409-417
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• 2017

The study is concerned with doing research on the plan to prevent the dispute occurring between contract parties regarding the additional cost generated when the construction period is shortened during construction work. After the review of the claim cases and the judgment cases of the court regarding the additional cost caused by the shortened construction period, the representative problem is the incomplete regulations on calculating the additional cost. In the 1st stage of the results of the research on the problem, the procedure handling the additional cost is presented, and the process of planning and approving the shortening of the construction period is gone through in the stage of the procedure to prevent the dispute on the additional cost between contract parties. In the 2nd stage, the plan on enacting and revising the regulations on removing the incomplete problems of the current regulations relating to the calculation of the additional cost. The basis for the advanced contract management is provided by resolving the incomplete problems of the current regulations relating to the shortening of the construction period with the prevention of a dispute and the resultant loss.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.57-67
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• 2015

This paper proposes an Fuzzy-based Risk Reasoning Driving Strategy on VANET. Its first reasoning phase consists of a WC_risk reasoning that reasons the risk by using limited road factors such as current weather, density, accident, and construction, a DR_risk reasoning that reasons the risk by combining the driving resistance with the weight value suitable for the environment of highways and national roads, a DS_risk reasoning that judges the collision risk by using the travel direction, speed. and distance of vehicles and pedestrians, and a Total_risk reasoning that computes a final risk by using the three above-mentioned reasoning. Its second speed reduction proposal phase decides the reduction ratio according to the result of Total_risk and the reduction ratio by comparing the regulation speed of road to current vehicle's speed. Its third risk notification phase works in case current driving speed exceeds regulation speed or in case the Total_risk is higher than AV(Average Value). The Risk Notification Phase informs rear vehicles or pedestrians around of a risk according to drivers's response. If drivers use a brake according to the proposed speed reduction, the precedent vehicles transfers Risk Notification Messages to rear vehicles. If they don't use a brake, a current driving vehicle transfers a Risk Message to pedestrians. Therefore, this paper not only prevents collision accident beforehand by reasoning the risk happening to pedestrians and vehicles but also decreases the loss of various resources by reducing traffic jam.