• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.314-314
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• 2023

Extreme climate events can have a large impact on human life by hampering social, environmental, and economic development. Global circulation models (GCMs) are the widely used numerical models to understand the anticipated future climate change. However, different GCMs can project different future climates due to structural differences, varying initial boundary conditions and assumptions about the physical phenomena. The multi-model ensemble (MME) approach can improve the uncertainties associated with the different GCM outcomes. In this study, a comprehensive rating metric was used to select the best-performing GCMs out of 11 CMIP5 and 13 CMIP6 GCMs, according to their skills in terms of four temporal and five spatial performance indices, in replicating the 21 extreme climate indices during the baseline (1975-2017) in South Korea. The MME data were derived by averaging the simulations from all selected GCMs and three top-ranked GCMs. The random forest (RF) algorithm was also used to derive the MME data from the three top-ranked GCMs. The RF-derived MME data of the three top-ranked GCMs showed the highest performance in simulating the baseline extreme climate which was subsequently used to project the future extreme climate indices under both the representative concentration pathway (RCP) and the socioeconomic concentration pathway scenarios (SSP). The extreme cold and warming indices had declining and increasing trends, respectively, and most extreme precipitation indices had increasing trends over the period 2031-2100. Compared to all scenarios, RCP8.5 showed drastic changes in future extreme climate indices. The coasts in the east, south and west had stronger warming than the rest of the country, while mountain areas in the north experienced more extreme cold. While extreme cold climatology gradually declined from north to south, extreme warming climatology continuously grew from coastal to inland and northern mountainous regions. The results showed that the socially, environmentally and agriculturally important regions of South Korea were at increased risk of facing the detrimental impacts of extreme climatology.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.441-450
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• 2023

β-Catenin (Ctnnb1) has been shown to play critical roles in the development and maintenance of epithelial cells, including the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Ctnnb1 is not only a component of intercellular junctions in the epithelium, it also functions as a transcriptional regulator in the Wnt signaling pathway. To identify which of its functional modalities is critically involved in mouse RPE development and maintenance, we varied Ctnnb1 gene content and activity in mouse RPE lineage cells and tested their impacts on mouse eye development. We found that a Ctnnb1 double mutant (Ctnnb1^dm), which exhibits impaired transcriptional activity, could not replace Ctnnb1 in the RPE, whereas Ctnnb1^Y654E, which has reduced affinity for the junctions, could do so. Expression of the constitutively active Ctnnb1^∆ex3 mutant also suppressed the development of RPE, instead facilitating a ciliary cell fate. However, the post-mitotic or mature RPE was insensitive to the loss, inactivation, or constitutive activation of Ctnnb1. Collectively, our results suggest that Ctnnb1 should be maintained within an optimal range to specify RPE through transcriptional regulation of Wnt target genes in the optic neuroepithelium.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.384-400
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• 2013

In this study, spatio-temporal patterns of extreme precipitation events caused by typhoons are examined based on observational daily precipitation data at approximately 340 weather stations of Korea Meterological Administration's ASOS (Automated Synoptic Observation System) and AWS (Automatic Weather System) networks for the recent 10 year period (2002~2011). Generally, extreme precipitation events by typhoons exceeding 80mm of daily precipitation commonly appear in Jeju Island, Gyeongsangnam-do, and the eastern coastal regions of the Korean Peninsula. However, the frequency, intensity and spatial extent of typhoon-driven extreme precipitation events can be modified depending on the topography of major mountain ridges as well as the pathway of and proximity to typhoons accompanying the anti-clockwise circulation of low-level moisture with hundreds of kilometers of radius. Yellow Sea-passing type of typhoons in July cause more frequent extreme precipitation events in the northern region of Gyeonggi-do, while East Sea-passing type or southern-region-landfall type of typhoons in August-early September do in the interior regions of Gyeongsangnam-do. These results suggest that when local governments develop optimal mitigation strategies against potential damages by typhoons, the pathway of and proximity to typhoons are key factors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.649-659
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• 2011

To examine the anti-cancer effects of Lepidium virginicum L., the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of a water extract of L. virginicum leaves (WELVL) and of L. virginicum roots (WELVR) were investigated in HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells. The treatment of HCT116 cells with WELVL and WELVR resulted in the inhibition of growth and morphological changes in a concentration-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis. The growth inhibition and apoptosis induction by WELVR was stronger than that of WELVL thus, we determined that WELVR was the more optimal extract for this study. The increased apoptotic events in HCT116 cells caused by WELVR were associated with an up-regulation of Fas ligand, Bax, and Bad expression, a down-regulation of Bcl-2, Bcl-$_XL$, and Bid expression, and a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, ${\Delta}{\psi}m$). WELVR treatment induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9, and the degradation of caspase-3 substrate proteins, such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), ${\beta}$-catenin, and phospholipase C-${\gamma}1$ (PLC-${\gamma}1$). In addition, apoptotic cell death induced by WELVR was correlated with a down-regulation of inhibitors of the apoptosis protein (IAP) family, such as the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), cIAP-1, and cIAP-2. These findings suggest that the WELVR-induced inhibition of cell proliferation is associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death. WELVR may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1115-1119
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• 2001

Objective : Management strategies for pediatric chiasmatic-hypothalamic gliomas(CHG) include surgery, irradiation, chemotherapy and a combination of these modalities. This study was performed in order to compare the efficacy of various methods of treatment and to describe its optimal management. Material and Method : We have reviewed the results of management of 6 children with a diagnosis of CHG, who were observed closely during the last 8 years. The patients were aged 7 months to 15 years. Our patients presented with diencephalic syndrome, endocrine dysfunction, and progressive visual loss. None of these had evidence of neurofibromatosis-1. Treatment consisted of surgery alone(2), surgry and irradiation(2), surgery, irradiation and chemotherapy(1), and surgery and chemotherapy(1). Results : Four children had large exophytic suprasellar tumors and two showed diffuse midline lesions. Obstructive hydrocephalus was present in all patients. Pathologic examination revealed anaplastic astrocytoma in 1 and lowgrade astrocytoma in 5. Two patients, recently treated with radiation therapy following radical subtotal resection, showed significant tumor reductions and good clinical status. Four patients had partial tumor resection. Of these patients, two developed disease stabilization during follow-up period of 7 and 8 years, respectively. Life-threatening complications were noted in remaining two patients. Conclusion : CHG may follow an unpredicatable course and show a various reponse to each treatment modality. Further studies are indicated to define the optimal method of treatment of CHG in childhood.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.532-538
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• 2008

For the newly isolated $H_2$-producing chemoheterotrophic bacterium Citrobacter amalonaticus Y19, anaerobic glucose metabolism was studied in batch cultivation at varying initial glucose concentrations (3.5-9.5 g/l). The carbon-mass and energy balances were determined and utilized to analyze the carbon metabolic-pathways network. The analyses revealed (a) variable production of major metabolites ($H_2$, ethanol, acetate, lactate, $CO_2$, and cell mass) depending on initial glucose levels; (b) influence of NADH regeneration on the production of acetate, lactate, and ethanol; and (c) influence of the molar production of ATP on the production of biomass. The results reported in this paper suggest how the carbon metabolic pathway(s) should be designed for optimal Hz production, especially at high glucose concentrations, such as by blocking the carbon flux via lactate dehydrogenase from the pyruvate node.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1708-1714
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• 2013

Polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) polymers used as an active ingredient in an antibacterial humidifier disinfectant were reported to cause harm to the human health when inhaled, although physical contact with this material was known to present low toxicity to humans. It is therefore necessary to develop an optimal analysis method which enables detection and analysis of PHMG polymers. MALDI-TOF investigations of PHMG are performed with a variety of matrices, and it is found that CHCA and 2,5-DHB are excellent matrices which well reflects the polymer population even at high mass. For the provided PHMG sample, the number-average ($M_n$) and weight-average ($M_w$) molecular masses were determined to be 744.8 and 810.7, respectively, when the CHCA was used as a matrix. The rank of the matrices in terms of averaged molecular weight was CHCA ~2,5-DHB > 5-NSA > DHAP, THAP > ATT > IAA ~ super-DHB ~ HABA. In addition, PSD of the PHMG oligomer ions exhibited a few unique fragmenation characteristics. The formation of a- and c-type fragments was the major fragmentation pathway, and the 25-Da loss peaks generally accompanied a- and c-type fragments.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.2720-2724
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• 2013

Polynorbornenes prepared by vinyl addition pathway are known to have some desirable characteristics for wider application but they have some critical drawbacks such as brittleness, poor solubility and adhesion. In order to improve these drawbacks, extensive research for the successful homo- and copolymerization of polar functionalized norbornene with olefin has been carried out. Even though considerable advance has been achieved in the polymerization of polar functionalized monomers, successful catalytic systems for the homopolymerization of polar functionalized norbornene are rare. In this study, a novel successful catalytic system for the polymerization of polar functionalized norborene is proposed. This system employs Pd ${\beta}$-diketiminate/borate cocatalyst in water/organic mixed solvents and it is unique due to introduction of water as a component of solvents. Polymers obtained in this study show high Mw with narrow PDI. Effects of several reaction parameters to the polymer activity and properties are investigated and optimal catalytic system are proposed.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.228-232
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• 2003

Lovastatin produced by Aspergillus terreus via polyketide pathway is a secondary metabolite with high anti-hypercholesterolemic activity. In this paper we are going to present effective strain development strategies for lovastatin production by comparing the productivity of the mutants obtained through traditional rational screening process and protoplast fusion method. Mutants resistant against various antibiotics and/or antimetabolites showed significantly higher lovastatin productivity than the corresponding mother strains, demonstrating that rational screening method was very efficient in selecting high yielding producers. Recombinant fusants obtained using protoplast fusion between high producers were observed to have very different morphology and physiology as represented by the production and secretion of lovastatin, as well as cell growth pattern. In parallel with the strain development, optimization process for the production medium was carried out in order to find optimal concentrations of the medium components using such a powerful statistical method as response surface method (RSM). It was concluded that not only the optimum production medium but also good morphological characteristics of the high-yielding producers led to higher lovastatin production.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1222-1228
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• 2006

Two kinds of Haematococcus pluvialis cells (green vegetative cells cultivated under optimal cell culture conditions and red cyst cells maintained under high light stress conditions to induce astaxanthin production) were used to investigate the protein expression profiles by two-dimensional electrophoresis, image analysis, and peptide mass fingerprinting. The cellular accumulation of astaxanthin was evident after exposure to high light intensity and reached the maximum cellular level after 78 h of high light stress. In a 2-D electrophoresis analysis, 22 proteins were upregulated over 2-fold in the red cyst cells when compared with the green vegetative cells and selected for further analysis by chemically assisted fragmentation (CAF)-MALDI-TOF sequencing to identify the protein functions. Among 22 different spots, several key enzymes specific to the carotenoid pathway, including isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase (IPP) and lycopene $\beta$-cyclase, appeared in H. pluvialis after exposure to high light intensity. Therefore, IPP and lycopene $\beta$-cyclase would appear to be involved with carotenoid accumulation in the cytoplasm, as these peptides were preferentially upregulated by high light intensity preceding an increase in carotenoid, and only these forms were detected in the red cyst cells.