• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.439-456
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• 2021

Purpose: Gastric cancer (GC) has high morbidity and mortality and is a serious threat to public health. The flavonoid compound vitexin is known to exhibit anti-tumor activity. In this study, we explored the therapeutic potential of vitexin in GC and its underlying mechanism. Materials and Methods: The viability, migration, and invasion of GC cells were determined using MTT, scratch wound healing, and transwell assays, respectively. Target molecule expression was determined by western blotting. Tumor growth and liver metastasis were evaluated in vivo using nude mice. Protein expression in the tumor tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: Vitexin inhibited GC cell viability, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in a dose-dependent manner. Vitexin treatment led to the inactivation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) pathway by repressing HMGB1 expression. Vitexin-mediated inhibition in proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of GC cells were counteracted by hyper-activation of PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α pathway or HMGB1 overexpression. Finally, vitexin inhibited the xenograft tumor growth and liver metastasis in vivo by suppressing HMGB1 expression. Conclusions: Vitexin inhibited the malignant progression of GC in vitro and in vivo by suppressing HMGB1-mediated activation of PI3K/Akt/HIF-1α signaling pathway. Thus, vitexin may serve as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of GC.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.526-535
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• 2022

Background: During the pathogenesis of tendinopathy, the chronic inflammation caused by the injury and apoptosis leads to the generation of scars. Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) is extracted from ginseng and has anti-inflammatory effects. Rg1 is a unique phytoestrogen that can activate the estrogen response element. This research aimed to explore whether Rg1 can function in the process of tendon repair through the estrogen receptor. Methods: In this research, the effects of Rg1 were evaluated in tenocytes and in a rat model of Achilles tendinitis (AT). Protein levels were shown by western blotting. qRT-PCR was employed for evaluating mRNA levels. Cell proliferation was evaluated through EdU assay and cell migration was evaluated by transwell assay and scratch test assay. Results: Rg1 up-regulated the expression of matrix-related factors and function of tendon in AT rat model. Rg1 reduced early inflammatory response and apoptosis in the tendon tissue of AT rat model. Rg1 promoted tenocyte migration and proliferation. The effects of Rg1 on tenocytes were inhibited by ICI182780. Rg1 activates the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF1R) and MAPK signaling pathway. Conclusion: Rg1 promotes injured tendon healing in AT rat model through IGF1R and MAPK signaling pathway activation.

• KIPS Transactions on Computer and Communication Systems
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.105-112
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• 2022

Recently, many studies using reinforcement learning-based autoscaling have been performed to make autoscaling policies that are adaptive to changes in the environment and meet specific purposes. However, training the reinforcement learning-based Horizontal Pod Autoscaler(HPA) policy in a real environment requires a lot of money and time. And it is not practical to retrain the reinforcement learning-based HPA policy from scratch every time in a real environment. In this paper, we implement a reinforcement learning-based HPA in Kubernetes, and propose a transfer leanring technique using a queuing model-based simulation to accelerate the training of a reinforcement learning-based HPA policy. Pre-training using simulation enabled training the policy through simulation experience without consuming time and resources in the real environment, and by using the transfer learning technique, the cost was reduced by about 42.6% compared to the case without transfer learning technique.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.40-45
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• 2022

The electrical/thermal stabilities and magnetic field controllability of a no-insulation (NI) high-temperature superconducting magnet are characterized by contact resistance between turn-to-turn layers, and the contact resistance characteristics are determined by properties of conductor surface and winding tension. In order to accurately predict the electromagnetic characteristics of the NI coil in a design stage, it is necessary to control the contact resistance characteristics within the design target parameters. In this paper, the contact resistance and critical current characteristics of a rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) conductor were measured to analyze the effects of surface treatment conditions (roughness and oxidation level) of the copper stabilizer layer in REBCO conductor. The test samples with different surface roughness and oxidation levels were fabricated and conductor surface analysis was performed using scanning electron microscope, alpha step surface profiler and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Moreover, the contact resistance and critical current characteristics of the samples were measured using the four-terminal method in a liquid nitrogen impregnated cooling environment. Compared with as-received REBCO conductor sample, the contact resistance values of the REBCO conductors, which were post-treated by the scratch and oxidation of the surface of the copper stabilizer layer, tended to increase, and the critical current values were decreased under certain roughness and oxidation conditions.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.420-426
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• 2022

Breast cancer is among the cancers that may be healed as the disease diagnosed at early times before it is distributed through all the areas of the body. The Automatic Analysis of Diagnostic Tests (AAT) is an automated assistance for physicians that can deliver reliable findings to analyze the critically endangered diseases. Deep learning, a family of machine learning methods, has grown at an astonishing pace in recent years. It is used to search and render diagnoses in fields from banking to medicine to machine learning. We attempt to create a deep learning algorithm that can reliably diagnose the breast cancer in the mammogram. We want the algorithm to identify it as cancer, or this image is not cancer, allowing use of a full testing dataset of either strong clinical annotations in training data or the cancer status only, in which a few images of either cancers or noncancer were annotated. Even with this technique, the photographs would be annotated with the condition; an optional portion of the annotated image will then act as the mark. The final stage of the suggested system doesn't need any based labels to be accessible during model training. Furthermore, the results of the review process suggest that deep learning approaches have surpassed the extent of the level of state-of-of-the-the-the-art in tumor identification, feature extraction, and classification. in these three ways, the paper explains why learning algorithms were applied: train the network from scratch, transplanting certain deep learning concepts and constraints into a network, and (another way) reducing the amount of parameters in the trained nets, are two functions that help expand the scope of the networks. Researchers in economically developing countries have applied deep learning imaging devices to cancer detection; on the other hand, cancer chances have gone through the roof in Africa. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is a sort of deep learning that can aid you with a variety of other activities, such as speech recognition, image recognition, and classification. To accomplish this goal in this article, we will use CNN to categorize and identify breast cancer photographs from the available databases from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.1817-1826
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• 2022

Public concern on the methods of raising food-producing animals has increased, especially in the last two decades, leading to voluntary and mandated changes in the animal production methods. The primary objective of these changes is to improve the welfare of farm animals. The use of gestational stalls is currently a major welfare issue in swine production. Several studies assessed the welfare of alternative housing systems for gestating sows. A comparative study was performed with gestating sows housed in either individual stalls or in groups in a pen with an electronic sow feeder. This review assessed the welfare of each housing system using physiological, behavioral, and reproductive performance criteria. The current review identified clear advantages and disadvantages of each housing system. Individual stall housing allowed each sow to be given an individually tailored diet without competition, but the sows had behavioral restrictions and showed stereotypical behaviors (e.g., bar biting, nosing, palate grinding, etc.). Group-housed sows had increased opportunities to display such behavior (e.g., ability to move around and social interactions); however, a higher prevalence of aggressive behavior, especially first mixing in static group type, caused a negative impact on longevity (more body lesions, scratch and bite injuries, and lameness, especially in subordinate sows). Conclusively, a more segmented and diversified welfare assessment could be beneficial for a precise evaluation of each housing system for sows. Further efforts should be made to reduce aggression-driven injuries and design housing systems (feeding regimen, floor, bedding, etc.) to improve the welfare of group-housed sows.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.353-374
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• 2022

The study investigated students' instrumentalization levels and computer programming self-efficacy in mathematics classrooms while using Scratches, to understand the properties of equality. 32 of 7th-grade students from D middle school in Gyeonggi-do participated in the program consisting of 7 lesson units. To investigate individual students' levels of instrumentalization, each worksheet they worked on using Scratches was saved into computers after each lesson. Questionnaires measured self-efficacy regarding computer programming at the study's beginning and the end. The level of students' instrumentalization was revealed to be variously from level 0 to 4. In the beginning, 9% of students corresponded to level 3 or 4, but more than 80% of students reached level 3 or above at the end. In addition, computer programing self-efficacy was improved significantly.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigates the alterations in A549 human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells exposed to Citrus junos extract (CJE). We further examine the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of CJE on NSCLC cells. Methods: Inhibition of proliferation was examined by applying the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay on CJE-treated A549 NSCLC cells. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was performed to measure the degree of toxicity of CJE on NSCLC cells. The effect on migratory proliferation was confirmed using the scratch wound healing assay. The antiproliferative effect of the CJE on human lung cancer cells was verified through morphological observation, fluorescence microscopy, and caspase-3 colorimetry. Results: Exposure of NSCLC cells to CJE resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell activity and increased toxicity to the cells. In addition, microscopic observation revealed a reduced ability of the cancer cells to migrate and proliferate after exposure to the CJE, with simultaneous morphological apoptotic changes. Fluorescence staining and microscopic examination revealed that this death was a process of self-programmed cell death of NSCLC cells. Compared to unexposed NSCLC cells, the expression of caspase-3 was significantly increased in cells exposed to CJE. Conclusion: Exposure of A549 human NSCLC cells to CJE inhibits the proliferation, increases the cytotoxicity, and decreases the ability of cells to migrate and grow. Moreover, the expression of caspase-3 increases after CJE treatment, suggesting that the apoptosis of NSCLC cells is induced by a chain reaction initiated by caspase-3. These results indicate that Citrus junos is a potential therapeutic agent for human non-small-cell lung cancer.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.133-143
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• 2023

Background: Past studies suggested that ginseng extracts and ginseng-derived molecules exerted significant regulatory effects on skin. However, no reports have described the effects of ginseng-derived nanoparticles (GDNPs) on skin cell proliferation and wound healing. In this study, we investigated whether GDNPs regulate the proliferation of skin cells and promote wound healing in a mouse model. Methods: GDNPs were separated and purified via differential centrifugation and sucrose/D2O gradient ultracentrifugation. GDNP uptake, cell proliferation and cell cycle progression were measured by confocal microscopy, CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Cell migration and angiogenic effects were assessed by the wound scratch assay and tube formation assay, respectively. ELISA was used to detect extracellular matrix secretion. The relevant signaling pathway was confirmed by western blotting. The effects of GDNPs on skin wound healing were assessed by wound observation, HE staining, and western blotting. Results: GDNPs possessed the essential features of exosomes, and they were accumulated by skin cells. Treatment with GDNPs notably enhanced the proliferation of HaCaT, BJ and HUVECs. GDNPs also enhanced the migration in HaCaT cells and HUVECs and angiogenesis in HUVECs. GDNPs increased the secretion of MMP-1, fibronectin-1, elastin-1, and COL1A1 in all three cell lines. GDNPs regulated cell proliferation through the ERK and AKT/ mTOR pathways. Furthermore, GDNPs facilitated skin wound healing and decreased inflammation in a mouse skin wound model. Conclusion: GDNPs can promote skin wound healing through the ERK and AKT/mTOR pathways. GDNPs thus represent an alternative treatment for chronic skin wounds.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.246-254
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• 2023

Background: Here, we aimed to assess the inhibitory effect of a new compound from Panax ginseng on the migration of human ovarian cancer cells and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods: A new compound, ginsenglactone A (1), was isolated from ginseng roots, together with seven known compounds (2-8). Spectroscopic data were used to elucidate the chemical structure of 1. The tubular structure formation in HUVECs was assessed by Mayer's hematoxylin staining. The migration of A2780 cells was evaluated using the scratch wound healing assay. Results: HUVECs treated with 1 had the statistically significant decrease in tubular structure formation compared to the HUVECs treated with compounds 2-8. This effect was enhanced by co-treatment with inhibitors for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) (LY294002) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) (U0126). Treatment with 1 decreased the expression of phosphorylation of ERK, PI3K, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor2 (VEGFR2), Akt, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). In addition, the ability of A2780 cells to cover the scratched area were also decreased. This effect was enhanced by co-treatment with U0126. Lastly, treatment with 1 decreased the phosphorylation of ERK, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and MMP-2. Conclusion: These results suggest that ginsenglactone A is a potential inhibitor of HUVEC tubular structure formation and A2780 cellular migration, which may be helpful for understanding its anticancer mechanism.