• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1088-1096
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether wild ginseng (WG) administration could attenuate anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) following withdrawal from repeated morphine administration in rats. Male rats were administered daily doses of WG (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg, i.p.) for 5 days, 30 min before morphine injection (40 mg/kg, s.c). The anxiety- and depression-like behavioral responses were measured 72 h after the last morphine injection using an elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swimming test (FST), respectively. Changes in hypothalamic CRF and NPY expressions were also examined by analyzing their immunoreactivities in the hypothalamus. Daily administration of WG significantly reduced anxiety- and depression-like behavior, and elicited the suppression of CRF expression and the stimulation of NPY expression in the hypothalamus. Our results demonstrated that WG extract might be effective at inhibiting the anxiety and depression responses due to morphine withdrawal by possibly modulating the hypothalamus CRF and NPY systems. Furthermore, these findings imply that WG extract can be used for developing new medication to cure or alleviate morphine withdrawal symptoms and to prevent relapses of morphine use.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.45-55
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• 2004

Immersion means the state of total devotion to what one is involved in. The typical form of this immersion experience happens when one is engaging in computer games. We analyze how the users became immersed in computer games. There are 22 elements of immersion involved in cognitive and emotional fun based cm the flow theory. After analyzing these elements with respect to flow dimension and game mechanics, we find that there are differences in the degree of their immersion in games. There are 7 elements that may be considered preferentially in designing computer games: unity, stimulation, gambling, virtual reality, fantasy, satisfaction accomplishment. We match these elements to Roget's categories and search for new categories with heading information and reference information. As a result 22 immersion elements are subdivided into 229 factors in the concrete. With these factors, we can design a multimedia game which has mon powerful immersion.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.352-373
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• 2003

Rhamnose-rich (RROP-s) and fucose-rich (FROP-s) oligo-and polysaccharides were prepared and extensively characterised by physical and chemical procedures [1,2] and compared to L-fucose. Their biological properties were then studied on human skin fibroblast cell cultures, human skin explant cultures and on hairless rat skin, using a variety of cell-biological, biochemical and computerised morphometrical procedures. Among the most important properties we could establish, the following are of particular interest for the tretment and prevention of age-dependent modifications of human skin (loss of skin-tissue, cells and matrix, wrinkle formation and others) : stimulation of cell proliferation (by $^3$[H]-thymidine incorporation and the MTT test), scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using several different procedures, and protease (MMP-2 and MMP-9) down-regulation. A topical preparation, using RROP-s and FROP-s, and/or L-fucose, was shown to increase cell proliferation, dermal matrix synthesis, efficient scavenging of ROS-s and to increase also the thickness of dermal tissue when applied for 4 weeks on hairless rat skin, accompanied by the densification of collagen bundles as well as by an increase of elastin synthesis. Using fluorescent labeled FROPs, it could be shown that these oligosaccharides react with cell-membrane receptors and especially with the elastin-laminin-receptor and the fucose-mannose receptor, but they penetrate also in the cell nucleus, suggesting the possibility of a direct action on the regulation of gene expression. When applied to the human skin of a team of voluntary women encompassing all age-groups, the efficiency of FROP-containing preparation could be confirmed using indentometry and computerised evaluation of skin micro-relief, as well as evaluation of periorbital wrinkles. It appears therefore that these preparations correspond to all the requirements of active anti-aging principles.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.151-170
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• 2007

Backgraounds : Recent studies provide the evidences that the efficacy of acupuncture may be no better than placebo or inconclusive. These results are very different from those of the actual clinical situations in many acupuncture medical institutions. Objectives : The present study was designed to evaluate the influencing factors which affect the efficacy of acupuncture scale(FEAS) as the methodological assessment tool of acupuncture for examining acupuncture interventions and to demonstrate the importance of it in randomized controlled trials of acupuncture. Data sources : Electronic data were retrieved from NDSL, Pubmed, sciencedirect, LWW, OVID, Black-Well Synergy, Wiley Interscience, EBSCO HOST, springer, PML, and Kluwer. No electronic data were collected from MEDLIS and MEDLAS. Study selection : The inclusion criteria were five systematic reviews included in Alberta study and all randomized controlled trials obtained from their references. Study analysis : The acupuncture rationale, methods of stimulation, treatment regimen, and the practitioner's background were rated by FEAS, and the scores were compared with those by other methodological assessment tools. Results : The number of positive conclusions of high-rank RCTs by FEAS was the same as or higher than that of high-rank RCTs by other methodological assessment tools. Conclusions : We have analysed 5 systematic reviews and their objectives 58 RCTs using FEAS. Practitioner's background has been described slightly in some reviews and studies. It may directly influence the effectiveness of acupuncture negatively in the systematic reviews.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2701-2705
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• 2015

Chondrosarcoma, the second most common type of bone malignancy, is characterized by distant metastasis and local invasion. Previous studies have shown that treatment by pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) has beneficial effects on various cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of PEMF applied for 3 and 7 days on the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels in chondrosarcoma SW1353 cells stimulated with two different doses of $IL-1{\beta}$. SW1353 cells were treated with (0.5 and 5 ng/ml) $IL-1{\beta}$ and PEMF exposure was applied either 3 or 7 days. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels were measured in conditioned media by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were relative to protein levels. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). P<0.05 was considered significant. PEMF treatment significantly decreased MMP-9 protein levels in human chondrosarcoma cells stimulated with 0.5 ng/ml $IL-1{\beta}$ at day 7, whereas it did not show any effect on cells stimulated with 5 ng/ml $IL-1{\beta}$. There was no significant change in TIMP-1 protein levels either by $IL-1{\beta}$ stimulation or by PEMF treatment. The results of this study showed that PEMF treatment suppressed $IL-1{\beta}$-mediated upregulation of MMP-9 protein levels in a dual effect manner. This finding may offer new perspectives in the therapy of bone cancer.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.106-110
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• 2015

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a new clomiphene citrate (CC) regimen on preventing thin endometrial lining in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients receiving CC plus gonadotropin treatment with a timed intercourse cycle. Methods: A total of 114 women with PCOS were included in this trial. Patients were divided into two groups and treated in accordance with the controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) protocol. In group A, 104 COS cycles in 67 patients were included, and in each cycle 150 mg CC was given for three days, starting from day 3. In group B, 69 COS cycles in 47 patients were included, in which 100 mg CC was given for five days, starting from day 3. The thickness of the endometrium was measured on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection. Timed intercourse was recommended at 24 and 48 hours after the hCG injection. Results: Additional doses of human menopausal gonadotropin and the number of days of hCG administration were not significantly different between the two groups. Endometrial thickness on the day of hCG administration was significantly larger in group A than group B (4$9.4{\pm}2.1mm$ vs. $8.5{\pm}1.7mm$, p=0.004). The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in group A than in group B (38.4% vs. 21.7%, p=0.030). Conclusion: Three-day CC treatment resulted in a significantly higher pregnancy rate than the standard five-day CC treatment in a timed intercourse cycle in PCOS patients. Facilitating adequate endometrial growth via the early discontinuation of CC might be a crucial factor in achieving a higher pregnancy rate.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers D
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.8-17
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• 2002

This paper suggests that the immune algorithm can effectively be used in tuning of a PID controller. The artificial immune network always has a new parallel decentralized processing mechanism for various situations, since antibodies communicate to each other among different species of antibodies/B-cells through the stimulation and suppression chains among antibodies that form a large-scaled network. In addition to that, the structure of the network is not fixed, but varies continuously. That is, the artificial immune network flexibly self-organizes according to dynamic changes of external environment (meta-dynamics function). However, up to the present time, models based on the conventional crisp approach have been used to describe dynamic model relationship between antibody and antigen. Therefore, there are some problems with a less flexible result to the external behavior. On the other hand, a number of tuning technologies have been considered for the tuning of a PID controller. As a less common method, the fuzzy and neural network or its combined techniques are applied. However, in the case of the latter, yet, it is not applied in the practical field, in the former, a higher experience and technology is required during tuning procedure. In addition to that, tuning performance cannot be guaranteed with regards to a plant with non-linear characteristics or many kinds of disturbances. Along with these, this paper used immune algorithm in order that a PID controller can be more adaptable controlled against the external condition, including moise or disturbance of plant. Parameters P, I, D encoded in antibody randomly are allocated during selection processes to obtain an optimal gain required for plant. The result of study shows the artificial immune can effectively be used to tune, since it can more fit modes or parameters of the PID controller than that of the conventional tuning methods.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.46-64
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• 2003

Therapeutic angiogenesis is the controlled induction or stimulation of new blood vessel formation to reduce unfavourable tissue effects caused by local hypoxia and to enhance tissue repair. Therapeutic ultrasound can be considered as a physical agent to deliver therapeutic angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of therapeutic ultrasound after muscle contusion injury by observed immunoreactivity of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) that plays an important role in angiogenesis and substance-P in pain transmission. Ultrasound irradiation(1MHz, $1W/cm^2$, continuous mode, treatment time 5 min) was applied through water submersion technique to 1 limb daily by kept off 5cm from muscle belly of gastrocnemius. The result of this study were as follows. 1. In morphological observation, there were no significant changes excepts of 7 days. At 7 days, granular tissue viewed abundantly in control group. In other groups, general feature were increased interspace of muscle fiber; centronucleated muscle fiber; collapsed of muscle and nerve tissue; appeared inflammatory cell. 2. The VEGF was expressed in interspace of muscle fiber. Especially, at 7 days in experimental group, VEGF was showed in connective tissue surrounding gastrocnemius muscle. 3. The VEGF was higher expressed in experimental group at 2 and 3 days, but in control group at 7 days. These data suggest therapeutic ultrasound enhanced production of VEGF in the early day relatively, therefore stimulated angiogenesis in the skeletal muscle induced contusion injury. Also therapeutic ultrasound may stimulate pain relief by diminish of substance-P in dorsal horn of spinal cord.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.203-209
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to develop a minimally constraint joint angle measurement system for the feedback control of FES (functional electrical stimulation) locomotion. Feedback control is desirable for the efficient FES locomotion, however, the simple on-off control schemes are mainly used in clinic because the currently available angle measurement systems are heavily constraint or cosmetically poor. We designed a new angle measurement system consisting of a magnet and magnetic sensors located below and above the ankle joint, respectively, in the rear side of ipsilateral leg. Two magnetic sensors are arranged so that the sensing axes are perpendicular each other. Multiple positions of sensors attachment on the shank part of the ankle joint model and also human ankle joint were selected and the accuracy of the measured angle at each position was investigated. The reference ankle joint angle was measured by potentiometer and motion capture system. The ankle joint angle was determined from the fitting curve of the reference angle and magnetic flux density relationship. The errors of the measured angle were calculated at each sensor position for the ankle range of motion (ROM) $-20{\sim}15$ degrees (dorsiflexion as positive) which covers the ankle ROM of both stroke patients and normal subjects during locomotion. The error was the smallest with the sensor at the position 1 which was the nearest position to the ankle joint. In case of human experiment, the RMS (root mean square) errors were $0.51{\pm}1.78(0.31{\sim}0.64)$ degrees and the maximum errors were $1.19{\pm}0.46(0.68{\sim}1.58)$ degrees. The proposed system is less constraint and cosmetically better than the existing angle measurement system because the wires are not needed.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.577-592
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to propose various directions for effectively proposing window displays that satisfy changing consumer needs by investigating and analyzing the characteristics of unexpected expressions used in recent Christmas windows. Research was conducted by investigating unexpectedness in window displays through literature reviews and previous studies. To observe unexpectedness in Christmas windows, website-based case images of window displays from the six years between 2010 and 2015 were collected from the department stores of Bergdorf Goodman, Printemps, Selfridges, and Isetan. Unexpected expressions in department-store Christmas window displays could be categorized into four expressive methods of hybrid expressions, figurative expressions, amusing expressions, and exaggerative expressions. The results were as follows: First, hybrid expressions are interpreted by consumers as having new or diverse meanings that change the original external forms of subjects or objects. Second, Christmas colors are used in the window backgrounds' figurative expressions, but these windows do not use excessive expressions; furthermore, these windows personify people as animals and anthropomorphize animals as people, using subjects to depict other subjects to show unfamiliar images. Third, amusing expressions are used to decorate windows with unique and novel ideas that provide stimulation and amusement for customers and capture their attention through the composition of windows that entail childish props and elements that create funny. Fourth, exaggerative expressions deliberately stretch and expand subjects or objects in windows to elicit customers' curiosity and interest through emphasis.