• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.140-145
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• 2016

Genes in multicellular organisms are transcribed in development, differentiation, or tissue-specific manners. The transcription of genes is activated by enhancers, which are transcription regulatory elements located at long distances from the genes. Recent studies have reported that noncoding RNAs are transcribed from active enhancers by RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II); these are called enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). eRNAs are transcribed bi-directionally from the enhancer core, and are capped on the 5’ end but not spliced or polyadenylated on the 3’ end. The transcription of eRNAs requires the binding of transcription activators on the enhancer and associates positively with the transcription of the target gene. The transcriptional inhibition of eRNAs or the removal of eRNA transcripts results in the transcriptional repression of the coding gene. The transcriptional procedure of eRNAs causes enhancer- specific histone modifications, such as histone H3K4me1/2. eRNA transcripts directly interact with Mediator and Rad21, a cohesin subunit, generating a chromatin loop structure between the enhancer and the promoter of the target gene. The recruitment of RNA Pol II into the promoter and its elongation through the coding region are facilitated by eRNAs. Here, we will review the features of eRNAs, and discuss the mechanism of eRNA transcription and the roles of eRNAs in the transcriptional activation of target genes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.600-610
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• 2017

It was common that the classification of itching was classified into four categories according to the neurophysiological mechanisms of pruritoceptive itching, neuropathic itching, neurogenic itching and psychogenic itching. Recently it was classified by clinical criteria. The neurotransmission pathway of itch is divided into histamine-dependent pathway and histamine-independent pathway. Different receptors and neuropeptides act on each itch mediator. Itch mediators such as histamine, BAM8-22, and chloroquine are transmitted through the histamine-dependent pathway. Cowhage spicule, protease, and TSLP (Thymic stromal lymphopoietin) have been reported to be related to the histamine-independent pathway. These itch mediators, receptors, and neuropeptides are the targets of treatment for itching. Although itching and pain are typical noxious stimuli, and in the past, it was argued that two senses were transmitted through one noxious stimulus receptor. It has recently been shown that itching and pain have an independent neurotransmitter system and both neuronal systems inhibit each other. In addition, the mutual antagonism between itching and pain is explained by various mechanisms. Recently, many new mediators and receptors are being studied. The studies on histamine 4 receptor (H4 receptor) have been actively conducted. And the H4 receptors are expressed in immune cells such as T cells. The therapeutic agent for blocking the H4 receptor can inhibit the inflammatory reaction itself, which is important for the itching and chronicization. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of itching and studying new itch mediators will lead to the development of effective therapies, and this is what I think the itching study will go on.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.144-154
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• 1994

Final goal of periodontal treatment is to reconstruct the destructed periodontal tissue as well as to remove the necrotic pathologic elements. The purpose of this study is to investigate on the effect of Zizyphi extract to the inhibitory ability on collagenolytic activity of P gingivalis, biologic activity of gingival fibroblasts, and on the collagen and protein synthesis of gingival fibroblasts. Gingival fibroblast from giniva of first bicuspids from patient for orthodontic treatment were used and cultured. For the measurement of inhibitory ability of collagenolytic activity, crude enzyme was extracted and used on the basis of modified Ono's method. On the inhibition of collagenolytic enzyme from herbal extracts, collagenokit CLN-100 were used. The cellular activity of gingival fibroblast, were studied using MTT solution and measured optical density on 570mm by ELISA reader. To measure the effects on the ability of whole protein and collagen synthesis, cell membrane was destructed with ultrasonic grinder after culturing, centrifuged and counted by liquid scintilation counter. The inhibitory effects on producing of $IL-l{\beta}$ by monocyte, after promotion of producing $IL-l{\beta}$ by LPS, were compared with the mixture of herbal extracts and other drugs using thymocyte stimulation assay. About inhibitory effects of $PGF_2$. by gingival fibroblasts, herbal extract was compared with the addition of the other control groups using enzyme imunoassay. On the inhibition of collagenolytic activity by P. gingivalis, benzene extracts showed the most efficient inhibitory effects among the $19{\mu}g/ml$ of the compared extracts and 40.5% by Tetracycline. On the cellular activity promoting effects, compared extracts showed a bit of more effects than PDGF of $100{\mu}g/ml$ concentration and IGF of $20{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. All of the PDGF, IGF, Zizyphi Fructus extract should increase in collagen synthesis, but especially 70% ethylalcohol extracts of Zizyphi Fructus showed comparably high effects among the compared extracts. Effects on whole protein synthesis were slightly increased on every extract but especially 70% ethylalcohol extract showed significantly effective than any other estract. On the inhibitory effects of Zizyphi Fructus $IL-l{\beta}$ production by monocyte, compared extracts showed 70% of highly inhibitory effect than that of 60% inhibition effects on controlled group and each extracts showed no significant difference. In $PGF_2$ production inhibitroy effect of Zizyphi Fructus gingival fibroblasts, Herbal extracts showed 70% of inhibition comparing with tat of 90.2% of controlled group, but each extracts showed similar effects excluding the $H_2O$ extracts. These results suggested that Zizyphi Fructus might be useful medicine for inhibition of inflammatory mediator including $IL-l{\beta}$ and $PGF_2$.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.59-69
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• 2012

This study examines the role of mathematics anxiety as a mediator between self efficacy and mathematics skills using a series of regression analyses suggested by Baron RM & Kenny DA(1986). The participants include college students who enrolled in the Food Service Production and Operation course in a department of hotel and restaurant management at a college in the United States. Descriptive analysis, principal component analysis, reliability test, and a series of regression analyses were used for data analysis using SPSS 19.0. In order to collect data for the study, General Self Efficacy Scale(GSES) and Math Anxiety Rating Scale(MARS) were utilized, and they turned out to be reliable(${\alpha}$=.906 and ${\alpha}$=.890, respectively). A significant negative relationship was found between self efficacy and mathematics anxiety. In addition, it was found that self-efficacious students performed better mathematics skills than those who had lower level of self efficacy. However, the relationship was no longer significant when the concept of mathematics anxiety was added, which satisfies the condition of mediation.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 1999

Copper-containig enzyme, laccase (Rhus vernicifera) was immobilized onto gold electrode using self-assembly technique and its surface properties and catalytic activities were examined. Laccase is an oxidoreductase capable to oxidize diphenols or diamines by 4-electron reduction of molecular oxygen without superoxide or peroxide intermediates. The electrode surface were modified by $\beta-mercaptopropionate$ to have a net negative charge in neutral solution and positively charged laccase (pI=9) was immobilized by electrostatic interaction. The successful immobilization was confirmed by cyclic voltammograms which showed typical surface-confined shapes and behaviors. The amount of charge to reduce the surface was similar to the charge calculated assuming the surface being covered by monolayer. The activity of the immobilized enzyme was tested by the capbility of oxidizing a substrate, ABTS (2,2-azine-bis-(3-ethylbenzthioline-6-sulfonic acid) and it was maintained for $2\~3$ days at $4^{\circ}C$. The immobilzed laccase showed about $10\~15\%$ activity compared to that in solution. The laccase-modified electrode showed the activity of elefoocatalytic reduction of oxygen in the presence of mediator, $Fe(CN)_6^{3-}$ The addtion of azide which is an inhibitor of laccase compeletly eliminated the catalytic current.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.305-310
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• 2005

It has been suggested that nitric oxide (NO) derived from inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) may act as a mediator of cytokine-induced effects on bone turn-over. NO is also recognized as an important factor in bone remodeling, i.e., participating in osteoblast apoptosis in an arthritic joint. The components of Agastache rugosa are known to have many pharmacological activities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Agastache rugosa leaf extract (ELAR) on NO production and the iNOS expression in ROS 17/2.8 cells activated by a mixture of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-$alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$. A preincubation with ELAR significantly and concentration-dependently reduced the expression of iNOS protein in ROS 17/2.8 cells activated with the cytokine mixture. Consequently, the NO production was also significantly reduced by ELAR with an IC$_{50}$ of 0.75 mg/mL. The inhibitory mechanism of iNOS induction by ELAR prevented the activation and translocation of NF-$\kappa$B (p65) to the nucleus from the cytosol fraction. Furthermore, ELAR concentration-dependently reduced the cellular toxicity induced by sodium nitroprusside, an NO-donor. These results suggest that ELAR may be beneficial in NO-mediated inflammatory conditions such as osteoporosis.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.627-637
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• 2016

A Study on the Fear of Crime and Life Satisfaction: Focused on the mediating effect of interpersonal trust. The purpose of this study was to examine whether fear of crime accounts for life satisfaction, and the interpersonal trust mediating between fear of crime and life satisfaction. The subject of this study was a group of 557 adults above 20 years old in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. The survey was done from July 1st 2015 to August 31 2014. The results are summarized as follows: First, subjects who were women and had higher education showed higher life satisfaction. Second, fear of crime has statistically significant negative effects on life satisfaction. Third, fear of crime has statistically significant negative effects on interpersonal trust. Fourth, interpersonal trust has statistically significant positive effects on life satisfaction. Lastly, interpersonal trust acts as a mediator between fear of crime and life satisfaction. The implication of this study's results is for policy making and it is discussed to promote a higher level of interpersonal trust and increase the level of life satisfaction for residents.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.101-115
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• 2008

Recently in the human society, the crime using small arms has increased. Also, many accidents happen because of incomplete management of chemicals and radiation. Accordingly, it is necessary to manage dangerous objects by tracing the position of dangerous objects and rapidly providing the correct information for them. This paper presents a web-based system for real-time monitoring of dangerous objects using RFID in order to overcome the limitations and problems of current dangerous objects management techniques. In this paper, we define the architecture for web-based dangerous objects monitoring system and the scheme for storing information of a dangerous object in the RFID tag. We also implement the web-based monitoring system and present the execution result of the system. The proposed real-time monitoring system is composed of the dangerous objects monitoring server which manages information of dangerous objects and controls them, the dangerous objects monitoring middleware which is mediator between dangerous objects and the server, the RFID reader which reads information of dangerous objects from RFID tags attached to the objects and the database which stores information, status and position of dangerous object. The proposed system manages diverse dangerous objects such as small arms, radiation and harmful chemicals based on the position of them using RFID, so the user can check dangerous objects when they are checked in and checked out and the user can acquire the real-time position information of them through the system. Furthermore, the user can visually monitor dangerous objects through web browser from any where and at any time because the system is web-based system and it provides graphical user interface.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2014

Water extract from spent mushroom substrates (SMS) of Pleurotus eryngii was utilized in decolorization of eight synthetic dyes and wastewater from a textile factory. High laccase activity was detected in the extract of P. eryngii (SMSE). The SMSE showed that decolorization rate was 34~93% after 24 h incubation without any mediator on eight dyes including Rit-blue and Rit-red used in fiber dyeing. Dye decolorization rate more than 90% was observed on bromophenol blue and remazol brilliant blue R (RBBR). Dye in textile wastewater was decolorized at room temperature after three days by addition of P. eryngii SMSE. The results suggest that biological decolorization of dyes using the P. eryngii SMSE can be used as environmental friendly materials.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.131-137
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• 1993

Human neutrophil elastase (HNE, EC 3,4,21, 11), a mediator of tissue breakdown, was inhibited by tetracycline, oxytetracycline and demeclocycline. Among them, oxytetracycline showed the most potent inhibitory effect on the activity of HNE. IC50 of this drug at our specific condition was less than 1 mM. Tetracycline inhibited human neutrophil elastase non-competitively, and oxytetracycline inhibited competitively. Ki values of tetracycline and oxytetracycline were 4.9 mM and 0.39 mM, respectively. Structural modified tetracycline, de-dimethylaminotetracycline, which showed no antibiotic activity since the active dimethylamino radical was removed from the position #4 of the tetracycline, showed similar inhibition effect on the activity of human neutrophil elastase to that of tetracycline. Thus, we speculated that inhibition of human neutrophil elastase by tetracyclines was not depended on the dimethylamino radical which is a critical active site for antibiotic effect, rather it was depended on the hydoxyl radical of tetracyclines. Therefore, the property of inhibiting elastase may be an additional molecular biochemical mechanism of action of these drugs at the inflammatory sites.