• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.367-375
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• 2022

Gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) are a major cause of radioresistance and chemoresistance in gastric cancer (GC). Therefore, targeting GCSCs is regarded as a powerful strategy for the effective treatment of GC. Atorvastatin is a widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drug that inhibits 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, a rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. The anticancer activity of atorvastatin, a repurposed drug, is being investigated; however, its therapeutic effect and molecular mechanism of action against GCSCs remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the anticancer effects of atorvastatin on MKN45-derived GCSCs. Atorvastatin significantly inhibited the proliferative and tumorsphere-forming abilities of MKN45 GCSCs in a mevalonate pathway-independent manner. Atorvastatin induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and promoted apoptosis by activating the caspase cascade. Furthermore, atorvastatin exerted an antiproliferative effect against MKN45 GCSCs by inhibiting the expression of cancer stemness markers, such as CD133, CD44, integrin α6, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1, Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog, through the downregulation of β-catenin, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and protein kinase B activities. Additionally, the combined treatment of atorvastatin and sorafenib, a multi-kinase targeted anticancer drug, synergistically suppressed not only the proliferation and tumorsphere formation of MKN45 GCSCs but also the in vivo tumor growth in a chick chorioallantoic membrane model implanted with MKN45 GCSCs. These findings suggest that atorvastatin can therapeutically eliminate GCSCs.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.343-355
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• 2023

After the implementation of the total pollution load control system, the effect of improving river water quality by expanding investments in basic environmental facilities, inducing operational efficiency, and reducing the load of various pollutants was clear. However, since the implementation of the system, the management of non-point pollutants has been neglected; management focused on specific substances (biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total phosphorus (T-P)) and lacked specific cause analysis and action plans, failed to establish a relationship between water quality and pollution load, failed to reflect stakeholder demands for river water quality management, and failed to apply technical conditions. Therefore, to overcome the limitations raised and achieve a practical and efficient advanced total pollution system, the current system was partially improved and will continue to be improved. This study analyzed the performance and limitations of the total pollution system and introduced recent improvements and the contents that are being improved. The main contents included reducing emissions and reduction monitoring, using water quality tele-monitoring system (TMS) data and self-measurement data, adding population-inducing facilities, and adjusting regional development projects from 20 to 30 multi-family housing units, currentizing each pollutant source according to the roadmap. If the system is improved in a developmental direction and responds to various changes, it will be a more practical and effective policy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.223-233
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• 2024

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has exacerbated the rate of tuberculosis (TB) infection among close contacts of TB patients in remote regions. However, research on preventive behaviors, guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM), among household contacts of TB cases is scarce. This study aimed to employ the HBM as a framework to predict TB preventive behaviors among household contacts of TB patients in the border areas of Northern Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional study with multi-stage random sampling was conducted in Chiang Rai Province. The study included 422 TB patients' household contacts aged 18 years or older who had available chest X-ray (CXR) results. A self-administered questionnaire was used to conduct the survey. Results: The participants' mean age was 42.93 years. Pearson correlation analysis showed that TB preventive behavior scores were significantly correlated with TB knowledge (r=0.397), perceived susceptibility (r=0.565), perceived severity (r=0.452), perceived benefits (r=0.581), self-efficacy (r=0.526), and cues to action (r=0.179). Binary logistic regression revealed that the modeled odds of having an abnormal CXR decreased by 30.0% for each 1-point score increase in preventive behavior (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.61 to 0.79). Conclusions: HBM constructs were able to explain preventive behaviors among TB patients' household contacts. The HBM could be used in health promotion programs to improve TB preventive behaviors and avoid negative outcomes.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.590-600
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• 2024

Angelica keiskei, a perennial herb from Apiaceae family, has been reported to improve diabetes, inhibit thrombosis, alleviate dyslipidemia, and prevent type 2 diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis. In this study, the protective effects of A. keiskei extract (AKE) against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-induced oxidative stress and vascular inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were investigated through cell viability analysis, antioxidant enzyme analysis, western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. The results demonstrated that pretreatment of Angelica keiskei with AKE significantly inhibited the expression of key adhesion molecules such as E-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 induced by TNF-α. AKE also showed a substantial reduction in intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity, indicating potential antioxidant capabilities. This study further explained that AKE interfered with the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway by inhibiting phosphorylation of IκBα and NF-κB, thereby preventing nuclear translocation. Additionally, AKE selectively inhibited the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) within the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, revealing a specific action mechanism. These findings collectively suggest that AKE possesses multi-faceted protective properties, making it a potential therapeutic agent for inflammatory conditions and early atherosclerosis.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.143-154
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• 2024

Friction pendulums typically suffer from poor uplift-restraining. To improve the uplift-restraining and enhance the energy dissipation capacity, this article proposed a composite isolation device based on electromagnetic forces. The device was constructed based on a remote control system to achieve semi-active control of the composite isolation device. This article introduces the theory and design of an electromagnetic chuck-friction pendulum system (ECFPS) and derives the theoretical equation for the ECFPS based on Maxwell's electromagnetic attraction equation to construct the proposed model. By conducting 1:3 scale tests on the electromagnetic device, the gaps between the practical, theoretical, and simulation results were analyzed, and the accuracy and effectiveness of the theoretical equation for the ECFPS were investigated. The hysteresis and uplift-restraining performance of ECFPS were analyzed by adjusting the displacement amplitude, vertical load, and input current of the simulation model. The data obtained from the scale test were consistent with the theoretical and simulated data. Notably, the hysteresis area of the ECFPS was 35.11% larger than that of a conventional friction pendulum. Lastly, a six-story planar frame structure was established through SAP2000 for a time history analysis. The isolation performances of ECFPS and FPS were compared. The results revealed that, under horizontal seismic action, the horizontal seismic response of the bottom layer of the ECFPS isolation structure is greater than that of the FPS, the horizontal vibration response of the top layer of the ECFPS isolation structure is smaller than that of the FPS, and the axial force at the bottom of the columns of the ECFPS isolation structure is smaller than that of the FPS isolation structure. Therefore, the reliable uplift-restraining performance is facilitated by the electromagnetic force generated by the device.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.188-198
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• 2016

This study examined the effects of a smoking cessation coaching program based on the motivation stage applying the Transtheoretical Model to stop the smoking of patients in terms of the amount of smoking, nicotine dependence, CO level, and urine cotinine. The study design was a multi-repeat multiple repeat intermittent time series study with one-group, a pre-post design. The participants were 47 smoking patients (44 males and 3 females), who were treated at a public hospital in N city. The participants were 4 (8.51%) subjects in the action stage and 43 subjects (91.49%) in the preparation stage of the motivation stage. The coaching program intervention was conducted at the first day, second week, and 6th week. The smoking cessation maintenance of the subjects was checked at the 12th week. A chi-square test and t-test were used to analyze the data. The subjects in the action stage were kept under the condition of no smoking and nicotine dependence. After the program of subjects in the preparation stage, the amount of smoking, nicotine dependence, and CO level were significantly lower compared to the pre-test (p<.001). The findings suggest that the coaching program based on the motivation stage was effective in improving the smoking cessation for patients who smoke. On the other hand, the patients in the smoking cessation program may require much more financial assistance than those of healthy people. A greater workforce and budget will be needed for patients to stop smoking.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.153-194
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• 2009

The resources of outer space are for the common exploitation of mankind, and it is a common responsibility of mankind to protect the outer space environment. With the rapid development of space science and technology, and especially with the busy space activities of some major space powers, environmental contamination or space debris is steadily increasing in quantity and has brought grave potential threats and actual damage to the outer space environment and human activities in space. Especially We must mitigate and seek out a solution to remove space debris which poses a threat directly to man's exploitation and use of outer space activities in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and in the Geostationary Orbit (GEO), through international cooperation and agreement in the fields of space science, economics, politics and law, in order to safeguard the life and property of mankind and protect the earth's environment. While the issue of space debris has been the subject of scientific study and discussion for some time now, it has yet to be fully addressed within the context of an international legal framework. During the earlier stages of the space age, which began in the late 1950s, the focus of international lawmakers and diplomats was the establishment of basic rules which sought to define the legal nature of outer space and set out the parameters for space activities and the nature and scope of activities carried out in outer space were quite limited. Consequently, environmental issues and the risks that might arise from the generation of space debris did not receive priority attention within the context of the development international space law. In recent years, however, the world has seen dramatic advances in technology and increases in the type and number of space-related activities which are being carried out. In addition, the number of actors in this field has exploded from two highly developed States to a vast array of different States, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, including private industry. Therefore, the number of artificial objects in the near-Earth space is continually increasing. As has been previously mentioned, COPUOS was the entity that created the existing five treaties, and five sets of legal Principles, which form the core of space law, and COPUOS is clearly the most appropriate entity to oversee the creation of this regulatory body for the outer space environmental problem. This idea has been proposed by various States and also at the ILA Conference in Buenos Aires. The ILA Conference in Buenos Aires produced an extensive proposal for such a regulatory regime, dealing with space debris issues in legal terms This article seeks to discuss the status of international law as it relates to outer space environmental problem and space debris and indicate a course of action which might be taken by the international community to develop a legal framework which can adequately cope with the complexity of issues that have recently been recognized. In Section Ⅱ,Ⅲ and IV of this article discuss the current status of international space law, and the extent to which some of the issues raised by earth and space environment are accounted for within the existing United Nations multilateral treaties. Section V and VI discuss the scope and nature of space debris issues as they emerged from the recent multi-year study carried out by the ILA, Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space ("COPUOS") as a prelude to the matters that will require the attention of international lawmakers in the future. Finally, analyzes the difficulties inherent in the future regulation and control of space debris and the activities to protect the earth's environment. and indicates a possible course of action which could well provide, at the least, a partial solution to this complex challenge.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.699-711
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: We investigated whether extra-pulmonary vein (PV) ablation targeting a high maximal slope of the action potential duration restitution curve (Smax) improves the rhythm outcome of persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) ablation. Methods: In this open-label, multi-center, randomized, and controlled trial, 178 PeAF patients were randomized with 1:1 ratio to computational modeling-guided virtual Smax ablation (V-Smax) or empirical ablation (E-ABL) groups. Smax maps were generated by computational modeling based on atrial substrate maps acquired during clinical procedures in sinus rhythm. Smax maps were generated during the clinical PV isolation (PVI). The V-Smax group underwent an additional extra-PV ablation after PVI targeting the virtual high Smax sites. Results: After a mean follow-up period of 12.3±5.2 months, the clinical recurrence rates (25.6% vs. 23.9% in the V-Smax and the E-ABL group, p=0.880) or recurrence appearing as atrial tachycardia (11.1% vs. 5.7%, p=0.169) did not differ between the 2 groups. The post-ablation cardioversion rate was higher in the V-Smax group than E-ABL group (14.4% vs. 5.7%, p=0.027). Among antiarrhythmic drug-free patients (n=129), the AF freedom rate was 78.7% in the V-Smax group and 80.9% in the E-ABL group (p=0.776). The total procedure time was longer in the V-Smax group (p=0.008), but no significant difference was found in the major complication rates (p=0.497) between the groups. Conclusions: Unlike a dominant frequency ablation, the computational modeling-guided V-Smax ablation did not improve the rhythm outcome of the PeAF ablation and had a longer procedure time.

• The Journal of Art Theory & Practice
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• no.15
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• pp.83-109
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• 2013

The study mainly discusses appreciation of interactive art works seen from the perspective of play attributes that make spectators glimpse the truth of things. The general studies of interactivity, as one of remarkable features in contemporary art, are regarding the relation between the effects of digital media and interactivity as well as video games. From the preceding discussion, I analyze the effects of the appreciating interactive art works which are focused on new sensory systems, the methods to intuit the essence of the art works. Based on the concept, as I investigate the play attributes found in the interactive art works, this study gives attention to the possibility that if the spectators can reach the inherent aspects of interactive art works, while interacting them. Thus to discuss the properties of the play, this article studies play concept of Johan Huizinga(1872-1945), psychologist and anthropologist and play theory of Hans Georg Gadamer(1900-2002) who considers play as a metaphor for art. As Huizinga thinks acting is the important attribute of play, Gadamer argues whenever the term 'play' is used, we should think about 'to-and tro movement' and the movement is absence of goal as well as endlessly renews through repetition. Then what we should pay attention to, seeing the essence of art and play as similar? That is, Gadamer claims, we can understand the truth of things through the play. To apply the play concept to the interactive art works, I research the works of Maurice Benayoun(1957 - ), French interactive artist. By employing interactivity, he attempts to extend and affect the experience of his art works to one of social phenomenon. Striving this, spectators can widen and deepen the breadth of their intuition and recognize the essence of art works. It is the interactive art works that can be the apex of the transformation of structure from the play to the art. The endless repetitive process of play, which is free creation-annihilation process, is similar with the interactive experience of spectators that is variable, de-centered, and multi-sensory. The pure action of the play lets us recognize, sense and accept the world and through the system of interactive art experience, we can expand the horizons of perception. Interactive art works with these play attributes are capable of playing the role that the spectators glimpse the truth of things and experience the world around them.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.269-278
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• 2020

In this study, we analyzed the safety accidents that occurred in the apartment construction site and the correlations between the victims according to the type of work accidents through multiple correspondence analysis. There is a lack of disaster-related studies on apartment construction sites, the third most frequent building type in Korea, and most of them have used survey techniques. Therefore, the exploratory data analysis was conducted in industrial accident cause data, and derived the correlation analysis between each disaster victim through multiple correspondence analysis. The results of the study are summarized in two as follows. First, as the number of heights increased due to the high rise and complexity of apartments, the fall rate and mortality rate were high. In addition, deaths are mostly caused by very few experienced workers or those with more than 10 years of experience, resulting from safety training, lack of experience, and insensitivity to safety. Second, multi-correspondence analysis showed that most safety accidents can be prevented by wearing safety equipment, and following proper work process and its safety action. The key factors derived from this study can be used for safety education, supervision, and management in apartment construction sites.