• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.133-137
• /
• 2001

Long terminal repeats (LTRs) of the human endogenous retrovirus K family (HERV-K) have been found to be coexpressed with sequences of genes closely located nearby. We examined transcribed HERV-K LTR elements in human brain tissue. Using cDNA synthesized from mRNA of the human brain, we performed PCR amplification and identified ten HERV-K LTR elements. These LTR elements showed a high degree of sequence similarity (92.4-99.7%) with the human-specific LTR elements. A phylogenetic tree obtained by the neighbor-joining method revealed that HERV-K LTR elements could be divided into two groups through evolutionary divergence. Some HERV-K LTR elements (HKL-B7, HKL-B8, HKL-B10) belonging to the group II from human brain cDNA were closely related to the human-specific HERV-K LTR elements. Our data suggest that HERV-K LTR element are active in the human brain; they could conceivably play a pathogenic role in human diseases such as psychosis.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.14-22
• /
• 2011

In this study, 15 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to analyze the population structure of 55 mungbean accessions (34 from South Asia, 20 from West Asia, 1 sample from East Asia). A total of 56 alleles were detected, with an average of 3.73 per locus. The mean of major allele frequency, expected heterozygosity and polymorphic information content for 15 SSR loci were 0.72, 0.07 and 0.33 respectively. The mean of major allele frequency was 0.79 for South Asia, and 0.74 for West Asia. The mean of genetic diversity and polymorphic information content were almost similar for South Asian and West Asian accessions (genetic diversity 0.35 and polymorphic information content 0.29). Model-based structure analysis revealed the presence of three clusters based on genetic distance. Accessions were clearly assigned to a single cluster in which >70% of their inferred ancestry was derived from one of the model-based populations. 47 accessions (85.56%) showed membership with the clusters and 8 accessions (14.54%) were categorized as admixture. The results could be used to understanding the genetic structure of mungbean cultivars from these regions and to support effective breeding programs to broaden the genetic basis of mungbean varieties.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.315-321
• /
• 2018

Molecular and functional characterization of proteins and their levels is of great interest in understanding the mechanism of diverse cellular processes. In this study, we report on the convenient Escherichia coli-based protein expression system that allows recombinant of soluble proteins expression and cytosolic domain of membrane-localised kinases, followed by the detection of autophosphorylation activity in protein kinases. This approach is applied to regulatory proteins of Arabidopsis thaliana, including 14-3-3, calmodulin, calcium-dependent protein kinase, TERMINAL FLOWER 1(TFL1), FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase and cytoplasmic domain of leucine-rich repeat-receptor like kinase proteins. Our Western blot analysis which uses phospho-specific antibodies showed that five putative LRR-RLKs and two putative RLCKs have autophosphorylation activity in vitro on threonine and/or tyrosine residue(s), suggesting their potential role in signal transduction pathways. Our findings were also discussed in the broader context of recombinant expression and biochemical analysis of soluble and membrane-localised receptor kinases in microbial systems.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.15-19
• /
• 2019

In this study, Theta Gamma Coupling (TGC) analysis was carried out after performing simple and repeated upper limb exercise and comparative experiment to observe changes in the motor cortex of the brain through TGC and to see if mobile rehabilitation therapy is actually effective. As a result, exercise using mobile devices showed higher TGC values in motor cortex as compared with simple repeat upper limb exercise. In addition, paired t-test using SPSS showed statistically significant difference between exercise using mobile devices and simple repeat exercise at P3(t=3.390, df(degree of freedom)=12, p value=0.005). Exercise using mobile devices is effective for rehabilitation because it increases the Theta-Gamma Coupling and activates the motor cortex. Also, since the mobile game contents required the subject to detailed athletic ability adjustment with immersion in the task, it may be thought that brain activation is stronger than simple rehabilitation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.275-287
• /
• 2020

Since its introduction in the forensic field, quantitative PCR (qPCR) has played an essential role in DNA analysis. Quality of DNA should be evaluated before short tandem repeat (STR) profiling to obtain reliable results and reduce unnecessary costs. To this end, various human DNA quantification kits have been developed. Among these kits, the PowerQunat® System was designed not only to determine the total amount of human DNA and human male DNA from a forensic evidence item, but also to offer data about degradation of DNA samples. However, a crucial limitation of the PowerQunat® System is its high cost. Therefore, to minimize the cost of DNA quantification, we evaluated kit performance using a reduced volume of reagents (1/2-volume) using DNA samples of varying types and concentrations. Our results demonstrated that the low-volume method has almost comparable performance to the manufacturer's method for human DNA quantification, human male DNA quantification, and DNA degradation index. Furthermore, using a reduced volume of regents, it is possible to run 2 times more reactions per kit. We expect the proposed low-volume method to cut costs in half for laboratories dealing with large numbers of DNA samples.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.73-85
• /
• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the adaptation process of correctional officers' job stress. Methods: Participants collected were fourteen officers who had experienced the adaptation process of job stress. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews until the point of theoretical saturation from May to August, 2017. Transcribed interview contents were analyzed using Corbin and Strauss' grounded theory method. Results: A total of 98 concepts, 27 subcategories, and 10 categories were identified through the open coding. As a result of axial coding based on the paradigm model, the job stress adaptation process centering phenomenon of correctional officers was revealed as 'repeat-mark hardening', and the core category was extracted as 'endurance in hardening' consisting of a three-step process: enduring, understanding prisoner management procedures, and rebuilding. The rebuilding was considered as the key phase to escape the repeat-mark hardening and the participants utilized various strategies such as finding fun elsewhere, restoring confidence, accepting values of the prison officer in this phase. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the adaptation process of correctional officers' job stress can be a process that endurance the hardening. Therefore, it is necessary to develop systematic practical education and vocational motivation programs.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.56-62
• /
• 2020

Mulberry (Morus spp. family: Moraceae) has prime importance in the sericulture industry, and its foliage is the only natural feed of the silkworm Bombyx mori L. Traditional classification methods using morphological traits were largely unsuccessful in assessing the diversity and relationships among different mulberry species because of environmental influences on the traits of interest. For these reasons, it is difficult to differentiate between the varieties and cultivars of Morus spp. In the present study, inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to investigate the genetic diversity of 48 mulberry samples genotyped using nine ISSR primers. The ISSR markers exhibited polymorphisms (53.2%) among mulberry genotypes. Furthermore, similarity coefficient estimated for these ISSR markers was found to vary between 0.67 and 0.99 for the combined pooled data. The phenogram drawn using the UPGMA cluster method based on combined pooled data of the ISSR markers divided the 48 mulberry genotypes into seven major groups. No genetic association was found in the collection area, and there was a mixed pattern between the mulberry lines. The hybridization between different mulberry species is highly likely to be homogenized due to natural hybridization.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.65 no.5
• /
• pp.633-639
• /
• 2022

Accurate diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is the starting point for optimal treatment. Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is currently regarded as one of the first-line treatment options for medically refractory TN. GKRS is a less invasive treatment with a low risk of complications than other surgical procedures that provides a favorable pain control Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) I-IIIb rate of >75% at short-term follow-up. Drawbacks of GKRS include the latency period before pain relief and higher recurrence rate compared with microvascular decompression. Therefore, repeat treatment is necessary if the initial GKRS was effective but followed by recurrence. The concept of dose rate and the biologically effective dose of radiation has been actively studied in radiation oncology and is also applied in GKRS for TN to achieve high safety and efficacy by prescribing the optimal dose. Recent progress in functional imaging, such as diffusion tensor imaging, enables us to understand the pathophysiology of TN and predict the clinical outcome after GKRS. Here, we review TN, GKRS, and recent updates, especially in the concepts of radiation dose, diffusion tensor imaging studies, and repeat treatment in GKRS for TN.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.45 no.8
• /
• pp.522-530
• /
• 2022

Transposable elements (TEs) account for approximately 45% of the human genome. TEs have proliferated randomly and integrated into functional genes during hominoid radiation. They appear as right-handed B-DNA double helices and slightly elongated left-handed Z-DNAs. Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) families are widely distributed in human chromosomes at a ratio of 8%. They contain a 5'-long terminal repeat (LTR)-gag-pol-env-3'-LTR structure. LTRs contain the U3 enhancer and promoter region, transcribed R region, and U5 region. LTRs can influence host gene expression by acting as regulatory elements. In this review, we describe the alternative promoters derived from LTR elements that overlap Z-DNA by comparing Z-hunt and DeepZ data for human functional genes. We also present evidence showing the regulatory activity of LTR elements containing Z-DNA in GSDML. Taken together, the regulatory activity of LTR elements with Z-DNA allows us to understand gene function in relation to various human diseases.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.75-79
• /
• 2022

In this study, the effect of mechanical and chemical properties of glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic (GFRTPs) according to the number of recycling was confirmed. The composite materials were manufactured through a hot press compression molding process using an E-glass chopped strand mat and a polypropylene film. Four specimens were named according to the number of recycled test repeat: First manufacture, 1st Recycle, 2nd Recycle, and 3rd Recycle. To investigate the mechanical properties of the prepared specimen, tensile test, flexural test, drop-weight impact test, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and field emission electron gun-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) was performed. As a result, as the number of recycling steps repeat, the degree of crystallization, tensile strength, elastic modulus, and flexural strength were increased, but the impact properties were greatly reduced.