• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.3143-3165
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• 2017

We present a computerized framework for producing color pastel painting from the visual information extracted from a photograph. To express color pastel painting, we propose a multi-layered framework where each layer possesses pastel stroke patterns of different colors. The stroke patterns in the separate layers are merged by a rendering equation based on a participating media rendering scheme. To produce the stroke patterns in each layer, we review the physical properties of pastels and the mechanism of a convolution framework, which is the most widely used scheme to simulate stick-shaped media such as pencils. We devise the following computational models to extend the convolution framework to produce pastel strokes: a bold noise model, which mimics heavy and clustered deposition of pigment, and a thick convolution filter model, which produces various pastel stroke patterns. We also design a stochastic color coordination scheme to mimic pastel artists' color expression and to separate strokes in different layers. To demonstrate the soundness of approach, we conduct several experiments using the models and compare the results with existing works or real pastel paintings. We present the results for several pastel paintings to demonstrate the excellent performance of our framework.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.215-225
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• 1999

Phytochromes (with gene family members phyA, B, C, D, and E) are a wavelength-dependent light sensor or switch for gene regulation that underscore a number of photo responsive developmental and morphogenic processes in plants. Recently, phytochrome-like pigment proteins have also been discovered in prokaryotes, possibly functioning as an auto-phosphorylating/phosphate-relaying two-component signaling system (Yeh et al., 1997). Phytochromes are photochromically convertible between the light sensing Pr and regulatory active Pfr forms. Red light converts Pr to Pfr, the latter having a "switch-on" conformation. The Pfr form triggers signal transduction pathways to the downstream responses including the expression of photosynthetic and other growth-regulating genes. The components involved in and the molecular mechanisms of the light signal transduction pathways are largely unknown, although G-proteins, protein kinases, and secondary messengers such as $Ca^{2+}$ ions and cGMP are implicated. The 124-127 kDa phytochromes form homodimeric structures. The N-terminal half contains the tetrapyrrolic phytochromobilin for red/far-red light absorption. The C-terminal half includes both a dimerization motif and regulatory box where the red light signal perceived by the chromophore-domain is recognized and transduced to initiate the signal transduction cascade. A working model for the inter-domain signal communication within the phytochrome molecule is proposed in this Review.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.33-42
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• 2011

Zinc plays a key role in genetic expression, cell division, and cell growth and is essential for the functions of more than 450 metalloenzyme. There are high concentrations of zinc in pigment epithelium in bullfrog eye. Zinc deficiency causes night blindness and abnormal dark adaptation. The purpose of this study was to identify ERG (electroretinogram) b-wave sensitivity during light and dark adaptation in bullfrog retina after zinc and zinc chelators treatment such as histidine and TSQ (N-(6-methoxy-8-qunolyl)-p-toluenesulfon amide). Especially, we focused whether histidine act as a zinc chelator in the Muller cell. The results of our study are summarized as follows: 1) Both zinc and histidine elevated ERG b-wave amplitude and threshold in Muller cells by accelerating rhodopsin regeneration time and increased a-peak absorbance during light adaptation. 2) TSQ reduced those by prolonging rhodopsin regeneration time and decrement of a-peak absorbance during light adaptation. 3) Zinc shortened rhodopsin regeneration time and prolonged a-peak absorbance. These results suggested that histidine may act as a zinc-mediated transporter in presynaptic Muller cell membrane rather than zinc chelator and acts as a GABA-receptor inhibitor which blocks $Cl^-$ influx to the postsynapse.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2018

Ethyl linoleate is an unsaturated fatty acid used in many cosmetics for its various attributes, such as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and clinically proven to be an effective anti-acne agent. In this study, we investigated the effect of ethyl linoleate on the melanogenesis and the mechanism underlying its action on melanogenesis in B16F10 murine melanoma cells. Our results revealed that ethyl linoleate significantly inhibited melanin content and intracellular tyrosinase activity in ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced B16F10 cells, but it did not directly inhibit activity of mushroom tyrosinase. Ethyl linoleate inhibited the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, and tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP1) in governing melanin pigment synthesis. We observed that ethyl linoleate inhibited phosphorylation of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase $3{\beta}$ ($GSK3{\beta}$) and reduced the level of ${\beta}-catenin$, suggesting that ethyl linoleate inhibits melanogenesis through $Akt/GSK3{\beta}/{\beta}-catenin$ signal pathway. Therefore, we propose that ethyl linoleate may be useful as a safe whitening agent in cosmetic and a potential therapeutic agent for reducing skin hyperpigmentation in clinics.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2013

Normal embryonic development at a constant temperature ($18^{\circ}C$) has been described for the Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii (Acipenseriformes). Hormone-induced spawning and artificial insemination were performed to prepare embryonic batches for embryologic examination. After insemination, early cleavages of the Siberian sturgeon embryos continued for 7 h post-fertilization (HPF), showing the typical pattern of uneven holoblastic cleavage. Blastulation and gastrulation began at 9 HPF and 19 HPF, respectively. Epiboly formation (2/3 covered) was observed at 25 HPF during gastrulation. Neurulation was initiated with the formation of a slit-like neural groove from the blastopore at 33 HPF. During neurulation, the primary embryonic kidney (pronephros) and s-shaped heart developed. The embryos underwent progressive differentiation, which is typical of Acipenseriform species. A mass hatching was observed at 130 HPF, and the average total length of the hatched prolarvae was 10.5 mm. The hatched prolarvae possessed a typical pigment plug (yolk plug). The results of this study are valuable not only as a reference guide for the artificial propagation of Siberian sturgeon in hatcheries but also as the basis for the derivation of developmental gene expression assays for this species.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.4 s.55
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• pp.357-363
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• 2006

Chromium compounds are widely used in diverse industries including pigment manufacturing, painting, metal plating and leather tanning. With the wide uses of chromium, various adverse effects of the compounds on the environment and human health have been reported. Among them, hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)], which is a carcinogenic heavy metal, has been widely studies. Epidemiological investigations have shown that respiratory cancers had been found in workers who had been occupationally exposed to Cr (VI). In this study, cell toxicity and induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by Cr (VI) (1, 2, 4, $8{\mu}M$) in cultured human bronchial epithelial cells were investigated. Exposure of the cells to Cr (VI) led to cell death, ROS increase, and cytosolic caspase-3 activation. The ROS increase was related with the decreased level of GSH. Chromatin condensation and fragmentation were occurred by Cr (VI) when evaluated by DAPI staining or agarose gel electrophoresis of the extracted DNA. Expression of ROS related genes including glutathione S-transferase, heme oxygenase-1, metallothionein were significantly induced in Cr (VI) treated cells. This result suggests the toxicity in cultured cells by Cr (VI) was expressed through the apoptotic process with ROS induction.

• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.429-439
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• 2018

To develop a convenient promoter analysis system for fungi, a null-pigment mutant (NPG) of Aspergillus nidulans was used with the 4'-phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTase) gene, npgA, which restores the normal pigmentation in A. nidulans, as a new reporter gene. The functional organization of serially deleted promoter regions of the A. nidulans trpC gene and the Cryphonectria parasitica crp gene in filamentous fungi was representatively investigated to establish a novel fungal promoter assay system that depends on color complementation of the NPG mutant with the PPTase npgA gene. Several promoter regions of the trpC and crp genes were fused to the npgA gene containing the 1,034-bp open reading frame and the 966-bp 3' downstream region from the TAA, and the constructed fusions were introduced into the NPG mutant in A. nidulans to evaluate color recovery due to the transcriptional activity of the sequence elements. Serial deletion of the trpC and crp promoter regions in this PPTase reporter assay system reaffirmed results in previous reports by using the fungal transformation step without a laborious verification process. This approach suggests a more rapid and convenient system than conventional analyses for fungal gene expression studies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1273-1280
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• 2019

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the elderly population, and damage to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells due to oxidative stress contributes to the development of AMD. Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer is one of the most widely used herbal medicines for the treatment of various diseases in Asian countries. Although recent studies indicated that treatment with G. uralensis can protect cells from oxidative stress, its mechanisms in RPE cells remain unknown. We evaluated the effect of a G. uralensis ethanol extract (GU) on $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative injury in ARPE-19 RPE cells. The GU pretreatment attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation induced by $H_2O_2$, which was associated with induced expression of nuclear factor erythroid-derived-2-like 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). GU also suppressed $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage and mitochondrial dysfunction. The inhibitory effect of GU on $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis was associated with the protection of caspase-3 activation. Overall, GU appeared to protect RPE cells from oxidative injury by inhibiting DNA damage and reducing apoptosis. Further studies are needed to determine the regulation of Nrf2-mediated HO-1 expression, but our results suggest the possibility of using GU to reduce the risk of AMD.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.287-293
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• 2022

Gray hair is a representative sign of aging. Intrinsic aging, stress, and the external environment cause hair graying. Stress is known to be a major factor in the early onset of hair graying. We previously found that Pueraia lobata root extract (PLRE) can prevent hair graying by promoting melanin formation. However, it remains unknown whether PLRE can prevent hair graying induced by conditions of stress. In this study, we confirmed the effect of PLRE on stress-induced hair graying. A reporter cell line was newly constructed to confirm the expression of microphthalamia-associated transcription factor (MITF), the main transcription factor for melanin production. MITF expression and melanin pigmentation were reduced in human hair follicle tissue treated with the stress hormone cortisol or H₂O₂ to induce oxidative stress. PLRE treatment restored MITF expression and increased the amount of melanin pigment in the hair follicle. The expression of Tyrosinase related proteins-2 (TRP-2), a melanin synthesis enzyme in the hair follicle, also increased. In conclusion, PLRE can effectively prevent the inhibition of melanin synthesis by stress hormones and oxidative stress.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2016

Purpose: The study was conducted to determine that photoreceptors of mouse having pigment in RPE(retinal pigment epithelium) can be damaged by blue-light and apoptosis of specific cells among photoreceptors are induced by blue-light, and to assist the investigation of AMD(Age-related macular degeneration) mechanisms and development of AMD drugs. Methods: C57Black mice were injured by irradiating $2800{\pm}10lux$ of 463 nm LED for 6 hours after 24 hours dark adaptation and eyes were enucleated 1, 3, 7 days. Damage of retina induced by blue-light was determined by western blotting GFAP(Glial fibrillary acidic protein) expression. In the light-injured retina, cell death of photoreceptors was determined by TUNEL(Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assay. ERK(Extracellular signal-regulated kinases), JNK, and SRC(sarcoma) expression were assessed by western blotting to determine regulated pathway. Blue light-injured retina were immunostained with antibodies against Opsin and Rhodopsin as markers of photoreceptors to compared the damage cone cells with rod cells. Results: After 1, 3 and 7 days from exposure to blue-light, thickness of retina was more decreased than control, and more decreased at nuclear layer than at outer plexiform layer and GFAP expression was increased day 1 after blue-light injured. While phosphorylated ERK and SRC protein expressions at day 1 were increased after blue-light injured, phosphorylated c-JUN was decreased. Fluorescence intensity analysis showed that markers of cone and rod cells were decreased after blue-light injured and Opsin was more decreased than Rhodopsin. Conclusions: The study suggests possibilities that the blue-light promotes retinal damage and causes apoptotic cell death via ERK and SRC pathway in mouse retina, and blue-light retinal damage is more induced cone cells apoptosis than rod cells directly.