• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.723-730
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• 2007

Kinesin is an ATP-driven microtubule motor protein that plays important roles in control of microtubule dynamics, intracellular transport, cell division and signal transduction. The kinesin superfamily is composed of numerous members that are classified into 14 subfamilies. Animal kinesins have been well characterized. In contrast, plant kinesins have not yet to be characterized adequately. Here, a novel plant-specific kinesin gene, GhKCH2, has been cloned from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibers and biochemically identified by prokaryotic expression, affinity purification, ATPase activity assay and microtubule-binding analysis. The putative motor domain of GhKCH2, $M_{396-734}$ corresponding to amino acids Q396-N734 was fused with 6$\times$His-tag, soluble-expressed in E. coli and affinity-purified in a large amount. The biochemical analysis demonstrated that the basal ATPase activity of $M_{396-734}$ is not activated by $Ca^{2+}$, but stimulated 30-fold max by microtubules. The enzymatic activation is microtubule-concentration-dependent, and the concentration of microtubules that corresponds to half-maximum activation was about 11 ${\mu}M$, much higher than that of other kinesins reported. The cosedimentation assay indicated that $M_{396-734}$ could bind to microtubules in vitro whenever the nucleotide AMP-PNP is present or absent. As a plant-specific microtubule-dependent kinesin with a lower microtubule-affinity and a nucleotide-independent microtubule-binding ability, cotton GhKCH2 might be involved in the function of microtubules during the deposition of cellulose microfibrils in fibers or the formation of cell wall.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.161-165
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• 2008

This study was performed for the purpose of monitoring monthly levels of two pathogenic microorganisms, Cryptosporidium and Giardia, from November 2005 to August 2007 in Sangsa Lake. Water temperatures, pH and DO fluctuated seasonally at the study site. Annual mean values of BOD, COD and SS were $0.8\;mg\;L^{-1}$, $2.3\;mg\;L^{-1}$ and $1.9\;mg\;L^{-1}$ respectively. Although there was distinct seasonal variation in water chemistry and chlorophyll $\underline{a}$ concentration, the lake generally contains low concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll $\underline{a}$. The relative abundance of coliform bacteria was always greater than that of fecal coliform. The fecal coliform bacteria comprised $8.5{\sim}22.1%$ of total coliform bacteria. Seasonal analysis of Cryptosporidium and Giardia levels in the study site showed that in winter (November through February), Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts were most abundant ($1.1{\sim}1.8\;{\times}\;10\;cells\;L^{-1}$ and $3.8{\sim}5.1\;{\times}\;10\;cells\;L^{-1}$, respectively), while in summer (July through September) the abundance was lowest ($0.0{\sim}0.3\;{\times}\;10\;cells\;L^{-1}$ and $0.9{\sim}2.9\;{\times}\;10\;cells\;L^{-1}$, respectively). Molecular identification revealed two subtypes of Cyrptosporidium parvum in Sangsa Lake.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.237-241
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• 2012

Embryonic genome activation (EGA) is the first major transition that occurs after fertilization, and entails a dramatic reprogramming of gene expression that is essential for continued development. Although it has been suggested that EGA in porcine embryos starts at the four-cell stage, recent evidence indicates that EGA may commence even earlier; however, the molecular details of EGA remain incompletely understood. The RNA polymerase II of eukaryotes transcribes mRNAs and most small nuclear RNAs. The largest subunit of RNA polymerase II can become phosphorylated in the C-terminal domain. The unphosphorylated form of the RNA polymerase II largest subunit C-terminal domain (IIa) plays a role in initiation of transcription, and the phosphorylated form (IIo) is required for transcriptional elongation and mRNA splicing. In the present study, we explored the nuclear translocation, nuclear localization, and phosphorylation dynamics of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain in immature pig oocytes, mature oocytes, two-, four-, and eight-cell embryos, and the morula and blastocyst. To this end, we used antibodies specific for the IIa and IIo forms of RNA polymerase II to stain the proteins. Unphosphorylated RNA polymerase II stained strongly in the nuclei of germinal vesicle oocytes, whereas the phosphorylated form of the enzyme was confined to the chromatin of prophase I oocytes. After fertilization, both unphosphorylated and phosphorylated RNA polymerase II began to accumulate in the nuclei of early stage one-cell embryos, and this pattern was maintained through to the blastocyst stage. The results suggest that both porcine oocytes and early embryos are transcriptionally competent, and that transcription of embryonic genes during the first three cell cycles parallels expression of phosphorylated RNA polymerase II.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.595-600
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• 2014

The characteristics of kinetic energy transfer during a collision between a rigid target particle on a surface and a fragile bullet particle moving at a high velocity were analyzed using molecular dynamics simulation. Bullet particles made of $CO_2$ were considered and their size, temperature, and velocity were varied over a wide range. The fraction of kinetic energy transferred from the bullet particle to the target particle was almost independent of the former's size or velocity; however, it was sensitively dependent on its temperature, which can be attributed to the change in the bullet rigidity with temperature. This fraction was nearly twice as high for $CO_2$ bullets as for Ar bullets. This result explains the reason for the more superior cleaning performance of $CO_2$ bullets than Ar bullets with regard to contaminants in the 10 nm size range.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2011

The rapid rise in the incidence of obesity has emerged as one of the most pressing global public health issues in recent years. The underlying etiological causes of obesity, whether behavioral, environmental, genetic, or a combination of several of them, have not been completely elucidated. The obesity epidemic has been attributed to the ready availability, abundance, and overconsumption of high-energy content food. We determined here by Pearson's correlation the relationship between food type consumption and rising obesity using the loss-adjusted food availability data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Services (ERS) as well as the obesity prevalence data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our analysis showed that total calorie intake and consumption of high fructose com syrup (HFCS) did not correlate with rising obesity trends. Intake of other major food types, including chicken, dairy fats, salad and cooking oils, and cheese also did not correlate with obesity trends. However, our results surprisingly revealed that consumption of com products correlated with rising obesity and was independent of gender and race/ethnicity among population dynamics in the U.S. Therefore, we were able to demonstrate a novel link between the consumption of com products and rising obesity trends that has not been previously attributed to the obesity epidemic. This correlation coincides with the introduction of bioengineered corns into the human food chain, thus raising a new hypothesis that should be tested in molecular and animal models of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.622-627
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• 2012

The processes to determine the composition, dynamics, and activity of infection mechanisms by the rhizosphere microflora have attracted the interest of scientists from multiple disciplines although considerable progress of the infection pathways and plant-pathogen interactions by soil borne fungal pathogens have been made. Soilborne pathogens are confined within a three-dimensional matrix of mineral soil particles, pores, organic matter in various stages of decomposition and a biological component. Among the physical and chemical properties of soils soil texture and matric water potential may be the two most important factors that determine spread exudates by soil borne fungal pathogens, based on the size of the soil pores. Pathogenic invasion of plant roots involves complex molecular mechanisms which occur in the diffuse interface between the root and the soil created by root exudates. The initial infection by soilborne pathogens can be caused by enzymes which breakdown cell wall layers to penetrate the plant cell wall for the fungus. However, the fate and mobility of the exudates are less well understood. Therefore, it needs to develop methods to control disease caused by enzymes produced by the soilborne pathogens by verifying many other possible pathways and mechanisms of infection processes occurring in soils.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.35-45
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• 2012

The development of digital media made the change of architectural paradigm from tectonic to the surface and pattern. This means the transition to the new kind of materiality and the resurrection of ornament. This study started as an aim to apply biological pattern to architectural design from the new perception of pattern. Architectural patterns in the early era appeared as ladders, steps, chains, trees, vortices. But since 21st century, we can find patterns in nature like atoms and molecular structures, fluid forms of dynamics and new geometrical pattern like fractal and first of all biological patterns like viruses and micro-organisms, Voronoi cells, DNA structure, rhizomes and various hybrids and permutations of these. Pattern became one of the most important elements and themes of contemporary architecture through the change of materiality and resurrection of ornament with the new perception of surface in architecture. One of the patterns that give new creative availability to the architectural design is biological pattern which is self-organized as an optimum form through interaction with environment. Biological patterns emerge mostly as self-replicating patterns through morphogenesis, certain geometrical patterns(in particular triangles, pentagons, hexagons and spirals). The architectural application methods of biological patterns are direct figural pattern of organism, circle pattern, polygon pattern, energy-material control pattern, differentiation pattern, parametric pattern, growth principle pattern, evolutionary ecologic pattern. These patterns can be utilized as practical architectural patterns through the use of computer programs as morphogenetic programs like L-system, MoSS program and genetic algorithm programs like Grasshoper, Generative Components with the help of computing technology like mapping and scripting.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.139-159
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• 2018

Green Leaf Volatiles (GLVs) is a class of biogenically emitted oxygenated hydrocarbons that have been identified as a potential source of Secondary Organic Aerosols (SOA) via aqueous oxidation. The physico-chemical properties of GLVs are vital to understanding their fate and transport in the atmosphere via fog processing, but few experimental data are available. We studied the aqueous solubility, 1-octanol/water partition coefficient, and Henry's law constant ($K_H$) of five GLVs at $25^{\circ}C$: methyl jasmonate, methyl salicylate, 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, and cis-3-hexenyl acetate. Henry's law constant was also measured at temperatures and ionic strengths typical of fog. Experimental values are compared to scarcely-available literature values, as well as estimations using group and bond contribution methods, property-specific correlations and molecular dynamics simulations. From these values, the partition coefficients to the air-water interface were also calculated. The large Henry's law constant of methyl jasmonate ($8091{\pm}1121M{\cdot}atm^{-1}$) made it the most significant GLV for aqueous phase photochemistry. The HENRYWIN program's bond contribution method from the Estimation Programs Interface Suite (EPI Suite) produced the best estimate of the Henry's constant for GLVs. Estimations of 1-octanol/water partition coefficient and solubility are best when correlating an experimental value of one to find the other. Finally, the scavenging efficiency was calculated for each GLV indicating aqueous phase processing will be most important for methyl jasmonate.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10245-10250
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• 2015

Background: Glucocorticoids are commonly co-administered with chemotherapy to prevent drug-induced allergic reactions, nausea, and vomiting, and have anti-tumor functions clinically; however, the distinct effects of GC on subtypes of tumor cells, especially in breast cancer cells, are still not well understood. In this study, we aimed to clarify the effect of GC on subtypes of T47D breast cancer cells by focusing on apoptosis, cell organization and migration, and underluing molecular mechanisms. Materials and Methods: The cell scratch test was performed to observe the cell migration rate in T47D cells treated with dexamethasone (Dex). Hoechst and MTT assays were conducted to detect cell survival and rhodamine-labeled phalloidin staining to observe cytoskeleton dynamics. Related factors in the AKT/mTOR pathway were determined by Western blotting. Results: Dex treatment could effectively inhibit T47D breast cancer cell migration with disruption of the cytoskeletal dynamic organization. Moreover, the effect of Dex on cell migration and cytoskeleton may be mediated by AKT/mTOR/RhoA pathway. Although Dex inhibited T47D cell migration, it alone may not induce cell apoptosis in T47D cells. Conclusions: Dex in T47D human breast cancer cells could effectively inhibit cell migration by disrupting the cytoskeletal dynamic organization, which may be mediated by the AKT/mTOR/RhoA pathway. Our work suggests that glucocorticoid/Dex clinical use may prove helpful for the treatment of breast cancer metastasis.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.827-834
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• 2020

Damage of tungsten due to helium ions of a PF device was studied. The tungsten was analyzed by SEM and AFM after irradiation. SEM revealed fine bubbles of helium atoms with diameters of a few nanometers, which join and form larger bubbles and blisters on the surface of tungsten. This observation confirmed the results of molecular dynamics simulation. SEM analysis after etching of the irradiated surface indicated cavities with depth range of 35-85 nm. The average fluence of helium ion of the PF device was calculated about 5.2 × 10¹⁵ cm^-2 per shot, using Lee code. Energy spectrum of helium ions was estimated using a Thomson parabola spectrometer as a function of dN/dE ∝ E^-2.8 in the energy range of 10-200 keV. The characteristics of helium ion beam was imported to SRIM code. SRIM revealed that the maximum DPA and maximum helium concentration occur in the depth range of 20-50 nm. SRIM also showed that at depth of 30 nm, all of the tungsten atoms are displaced after 20 shots, while at depth of higher than 85 nm the destruction is insignificant. There is a close match between SRIM results and the measured depths of cavities in SEM images of tungsten after etching.