• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.321-335
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• 2019

This study aims to explore the influencing factors and the process of enhancing science self-efficacy (SSE) and to lay the foundation in understanding science self-efficacy of students. The ten categories related to the science self-efficacy were derived through the coding of the interview data based on the grounded theory and paradigm analysis to develop a process model of science self-efficacy improvement. Through the process analysis, four cyclical phases were found in the process of enhancing SSE: 'Entering into learning science' phase, 'enhancing SSE' phase, 'adjustment' phase, and 'result' phase. More specifically, the phase of 'entering into learning science' is where students choose science track and stimulated to construct SSE. The phase of 'enhancing SSE' is where students taking a science track actively learn science and perform science activities. In the phase of 'adjustment', students come to have successful performance about learning science and performing science activities by using diverse strategies. Finally, 'result' phase indicates different appearances of students depending on SSE levels. The phases were non-linear and periodically repeat depending on situation. The core category in the selective coding was indicated to be 'enhancing science self-efficacy.' Students' SSE form by learning science and performing science activities. These finding may help better understand the behavior of students who are taking a science track by facilitating effective science learning through the increase of their SSE levels.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.325-333
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• 2021

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders. Enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis by promoting proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) is a promising therapeutic strategy for AD. 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) and oleanolic acid (OA) are small, bioactive compounds found in ginseng that can promote NSC proliferation and neural differentiation in vitro. However, it is currently unknown whether PPD or OA can attenuate cognitive deficits by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis in vivo in a transgenic APP/PS1 AD mouse model. Here, we administered PPD or OA to APP/PS1 mice and monitored the effects on cognition and hippocampal neurogenesis. Methods: We used the Morris water maze, Y maze, and open field tests to compare the cognitive capacities of treated and untreated APP/PS1 mice. We investigated hippocampal neurogenesis using Nissl staining and BrdU/NeuN double labeling. NSC proliferation was quantified by Sox2 labeling of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. We used western blotting to determine the effects of PPD and OA on Wnt/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway activation in the hippocampus. Results: Both PPD and OA significantly ameliorated the cognitive impairments observed in untreated APP/PS1 mice. Furthermore, PPD and OA significantly promoted hippocampal neurogenesis and NSC proliferation. At the mechanistic level, PPD and OA treatments resulted in Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway activation in the hippocampus. Conclusion: PPD and OA ameliorate cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis, achieved by stimulating the Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. As such, PPD and OA are promising novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.103-113
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• 2022

In this paper, a combined ¹⁸F-FDG(fluorodeoxyglucose) and MNP(magnetic nanoparticles) contrast agent was synthesized using N-(p-maleimidophenyl) isocyanate as the crosslinker for use in simultaneous PET-MRI scans. PET-MRI images were acquired and evaluated before and after injection of the combined contrast imaging agent (¹⁸F-FDG labeled MNP) from a glioma stem cell mouse model. After setting the region of interest (ROI) on each acquired image, the area of the lesion was calculated by segmentation. As a result, the PET image was larger than the MRI. In particular, the simultaneous PET-MRI images showed accurate lesions along with the surrounding soft tissue. The mean and standard deviation values were higher in the MRI images alone than in the PET images or the simultaneous PET-MRI images, regardless of whether the contrast agent was injected. In addition, the simultaneous PET-MRI image values were higher than for the PET images. For PSNR experiments, the original image was PET Image using 18F-FDG, MRI using MNPs, and MRI without contrast medium, and the target image was simultaneous PET-MRI image using 18F-FDG labeled MNPs contrast medium. As a result, all of them appeared significantly, suggesting that the 18F-FDG labeled MNPs contrast medium is useful. Future research is needed to develop an agent that can simultaneously diagnose and treat through SPECT-MRI imaging research that can use various nuclides.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.184-195
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• 2022

The invasive alien species Brassica tournefortii Gouan (Brassicaceae) is herein reported for the first time in Korea, from Gunsan-si, Gochang-gun, and Jeju-si. Brassica tournefortii can easily be distinguished from B. juncea and B. napus by its dense stiff hairs at the base of the stem and leaves, basally and distally branched stems, partially dehiscent fruits, and seeds that become mucilaginous in the presence of moisture. Although some taxonomists have classified this species as belonging to Coincya Rouy based on its fruit and seed characteristics, the existence of one vein on the fruit valves and our maximum likelihood analysis using internal transcribed spacer sequences placed it in Brassica. Distribution data, photographs, and a description of B. tournefortii are presented herein. Moreover, potential changes in the distribution of B. tournefortii were predicted under different climate scenarios, but our analysis showed that the probability of the spreading of this species is low. Nevertheless, continuous monitoring is necessary for an accurate assessment. The results of the present study can be used to conduct an invasion risk assessment and can assist with the effective management of this invasive alien species.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.328-333
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• 1990

In developing dynamic growth model of a crop, it is important to estimate accurate dry matter partition to different parts of crop plants. Two rice varieties, Samkang and Chucheong, were transnplanted with three planting densities of 72. 90 and 120 hills per 3.3㎡ on May 30 and June 15 in 1988 to study the effect of planting density on dry matter partition in rice plants. Total dry wight per square meter of two varieteis in May 30 transplanting were greater than those in June 15 transplanting. Total dry wights were increased as planting density was increased. The response of dry weights of differents parts of rice plants per hill were decreased as the density was increased. Although the difference in dry weights of leaf blade and stem and sheath between two varieties was not great, greater ear weight of Samkang resulted in greater total dry weight than that of Chucheong. Despite of transplant in date and planting density on dry weights, the ratio of dry matter partition to different parts of rice plants at a certain growth stage remained constant. Estimated dry weights of different parts at two stages of growth based on average ratio of dry matter partition over two transplantion dates and planting densities agreed well with those observed.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of engineering design-based ocean cleanup classes on STEAM attitudes and creative engineering problem-solving dispositions. Furthermore, during this process, we tried to determine interesting points that students encountered in engineering design-based classes. For this study, a science class with six lessons based on engineering design was developed and reviewed by a professor who majored in engineering design, along with five engineering design experts with a master's degree or higher. The subject of the class was selected as the design and implementation of scientific and engineering measures to reduce marine pollution based on the method implemented in an actual Ocean Clean-up Project. The engineering design process utilized the engineering design model presented by NGSS (2013), and was configured to experience redesign through the optimization process. To verify effectiveness, the STEAM attitude questionnaire developed by Park et al. (2019) and the creative engineering problemsolving propensity test tool developed by Kang and Nam (2016) were used. A pre and post t-test was used for statistical analysis for the effectiveness test. In addition, the contents of interesting points experienced by the learners were transcribed after receiving descriptive responses, and were analyzed and visualized through degree centrality analysis. Results confirmed that engineering design in science classes had a positive effect on both STEAM attitude and creative engineering problem-solving disposition (p< .05). In addition, as a result of unstructured data analysis, science and engineering knowledge, engineering experience, and cooperation and collaboration appeared as factors in which learners were interested in learning, confirming that engineering experience was the main factor.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2024

Objectives: The pulp is the center of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels. The condition in which the pulp becomes inflamed due to caries or periodontitis is called pulpitis. Pulpitis is a difficult-to-treat disease and causes peripheral nerve tissue changes and severe pain; however, the relationship between neuronal activity and voltage-gated sodium channel 1.7 (Nav1.7) expression in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) during pulpitis has not been well studied. In this study, we found that experimentally induced pulpitis activates Nav1.7 expression in the periphery, leading to neuronal overexpression in the TG. Thus, we sought to identify ways to regulate this process. Methods: Acute pulpitis was induced in rat maxillary molars by treating the pulp with allyl isothiocyanate (AITC). Three days later, in vivo optical imaging was used to record and compare neural activities in the TG. Western blotting was used to identify molecular changes in terms of the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Fos, transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), and collapsin response mediator protein-2 (CRMP2) in the brain stem. Results: The results confirmed the neurological changes in the TGs of the pulpitis model, and histological and molecular biological evidence confirmed that increased Nav1.7 expression induced by pulpitis leads to pain. Furthermore, selective inhibition of Nav1.7 resulted in changes in neural activity, suggesting that pulpitis induces increased Nav1.7 expression, and that effective control of Nav1.7 could potentially reduce pain. Conclusions: The inhibition of overexpressed Nav1.7 channels may modulate nociceptive signal processing in the brain and effectively control pain associated with pulpitis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1151-1156
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• 2014

Traditional medicinal plants are widely used to treat many diseases, such as inflammation, infections, and even cancer. Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, a Chinese elm species, is distributed in Korea, China, and Japan. The stem bark is widely employed in Korean traditional medicine to treat dermatitis, mastitis, and edema. The aim of this study was to investigate whether water extract of U. macrocarpa Hance bark (Ulmus cortex) has a immune-modulating function in a mouse model. Three different concentrations (30 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg) of Ulmus cortex water extract (UCWE) were orally administered to mice for 14 days, and their immune responses were analyzed. Cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, and IFN-${\gamma}$, increased in the blood of UCWE-fed groups when compared with a control group. In contrast, the IL-4 level did not change in any of the UCWE-fed groups Cell-mediated cytotoxicity was also assayed using lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK). LAK showed greater cytotoxicity in the UCWE-fed groups than LAK in the control group. Internal organ indices, such as liver, kidney, spleen, and thymus, were similar in all the groups, including the control group, indicating that UCWE may have been nontoxic in the experimental animals. These data suggest that UCWE has an immune-modulating function in a mouse model.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.160-168
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• 2012

This study generated regression models to estimate the carbon storage and uptake from the urban deciduous landscape trees through a direct harvesting method, and established essential information to quantify carbon reduction from urban greenspace. Tree species for the study included Acer palmatum, Zelkova serrata, Prunus yedoensis, and Ginkgo biloba, which are usually planted as urban landscape trees. Tree individuals for each species were sampled reflecting various diameter sizes at a given interval. The study measured biomass for each part including the roots of sample trees to compute the total carbon storage per tree. Annual carbon uptake per tree was quantified by analyzing radial growth rates of stem samples at breast height. The study then derived a regression model easily applicable in estimating carbon storage and uptake per tree for the 4 species by using diameter at breast height(dbh) as an independent variable. All the regression models showed high fitness with $r^2$ values of 0.94~0.99. Carbon storage and uptake per tree and their differences between diameter classes increased as the diameter sizes got larger. The carbon storage and uptake tended to be greatest with Zelkova serrata in the same diameter sizes, followed by Prunus yedoensis and Ginkgo biloba in order. A Zelkova serrata tree with 15cm in dbh stored about 54kg of carbon and annually sequestered 7 kg, based on a regression model for the species. The study has broken new grounds to overcome limitations of the past studies which substituted, due to a difficulty in direct cutting and root digging of urban landscape trees, coefficients from the forest trees such as biomass expansion factors, ratios of below ground/above ground biomass, and diameter growth rates. Study results can be useful as a tool or skill to evaluate carbon reduction by landscape trees in urban greenspace projects of the government.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.2
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• pp.127-135
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• 2023

This study aimed to develop biomass allometric equations and estimate carbon emission factors, such as the wood density, biomass-expansion factor, and root-to-shoot ratio, for Platanus occidentalis and Metasequoia glyptostroboides planted in urban areas. Twenty M. glyptostroboides and 25 P. occidentalis trees were harvested, and the dry weights and stem volumes of stems, branches, leaves, and roots (>5 mm) were measured. The wood densities of M. glyptostroboides and P. occidentalis were 0.293 ± 0.008 g cm^-3 and 0.509 ± 0.018 g cm^-3, and the biomass-expansion factors were 1.738 ± 0.031 and 1.561 ± 0.035. The root-to-shoot ratios were 0.446 ± 0.009 and 0.402 ± 0.012. The uncertainty tests (coefficient of variation, %) gave 2.8% and 3.5% values for wood density, 1.8% and 2.3% for biomass-expansion factor, and 2.1% and 2.9% for root-to-shoot ratio, respectively. Among the developed allometric equations, Model I using the diameter at breast height (DBH) was suitable. The allometric equations of M. glyptostroboides and P. occidentalis above ground were y = 1.679 (DBH)^1.315 and y = 0.505 (DBH)^1.896, and the allometric equations of the root and total were y = 0.746 (DBH)^1.315, y = 0.301 (DBH)^1.751, y = 2.422 (DBH)^1.316, and y = 0.787 (DBH)^1.858. If the carbon-emission factors of this study and biomass allometric equations of the three developed models are used to estimate the carbon storage and biomass of urban forests, errors caused by not considering the use of fixed factors and the environmental differences can be reduced.