• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.482-490
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• 2018

Candida albicans infections are often problematic to treat owing to antifungal resistance, as such infections are mostly associated with biofilms. The ability of C. albicans to switch from a budding yeast to filamentous hyphae and to adhere to host cells or various surfaces supports biofilm formation. Previously, the ethanol extract from Paeonia lactiflora was reported to inhibit cell wall synthesis and cause depolarization and permeabilization of the cell membrane in C. albicans. In this study, the P. lactiflora extract was found to significantly reduce the initial stage of C. albicans biofilms from 12 clinical isolates by 38.4%. Thus, to assess the action mechanism, the effect of the P. lactiflora extract on the adhesion of C. albicans cells to polystyrene and germ tube formation was investigated using a microscopic analysis. The density of the adherent cells was diminished following incubation with the P. lactiflora extract in an acidic medium. Additionally, the P. lactiflora-treated C. albicans cells were mostly composed of less virulent pseudohyphae, and ruptured debris was found in the serum-containing medium. A quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that P. lactiflora downregulated the expression of C. albicans hypha-specific genes: ALS3 by 65% (p = 0.004), ECE1 by 34.9% (p = 0.001), HWP1 by 29.2% (p = 0.002), and SAP1 by 37.5% (p = 0.001), matching the microscopic analysis of the P. lactiflora action on biofilm formation. Therefore, the current findings demonstrate that the P. lactiflora ethanol extract is effective in inhibiting C. albicans biofilms in vitro, suggesting its therapeutic potential for the treatment of biofilm-associated infections.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.559-563
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• 2009

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate is a key intermediate in several central metabolic pathways of all organisms. Aldolase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase are involved in the production or elimination of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate during glycolysis or gluconeogenesis, and are differentially expressed under various physiological conditions, including cancer, hypoxia, and apoptosis. In this study, we examine the effects of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate on cell survival and apoptosis. Overexpression of aldolase protected cells against apoptosis, and addition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to cells delayed apoptosis. Additionally, delayed apoptotic phenomena were observed when glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate was added to a cell-free system, in which artificial apoptotic process was induced by adding dATP and cytochrome c. Surprisingly, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate directly suppressed caspase-3 activity in a reversible noncompetitive mode, preventing caspase-dependent proteolysis. Based on these results, we suggest that glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, a key molecule in several central metabolic pathways, functions as a molecule switch between cell survival and apoptosis.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.27 no.4C
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• pp.308-315
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• 2002

Guaranteed frame rate (GFR) service has been defied to provide minimum cell rate (MCR) guarantees for virtual connections (VCs) carrying Internet traffic in ATM networks and allow them to fairly share residual bandwidth. The simplest switch implementation mechanism to support the GFR service in ATM networks consists of the frame-based generic cell rate algorithm (F-GCRA) frame classifier and the early packet discard (EPD)-like buffer acceptance algorithm in a single FIFO buffer. This mechanism is simple, but has foiled to guarantee the same bandwidth as an MCR to a VC that has reserved a relatively large MCR. This paper applies the packet spacing scheme to TCP traffic to alleviate its burstness, so as to guarantee a larger MCR to a VC. In addition, the random early detection (RED) scheme is added to the buffer acceptance algorithm in order to improve fairness in use of residual bandwidth. Simulation results show that the applied two schemes improve a quality of service (QoS) in the GFR service for the TCP traffic.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.556-561
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• 2006

The HOX genes coding homeodomain proteins have been suggested as a candidate molecular switch that determines the fates of cells during embryonic development and patterning. It is believed that a set of differentiation-specific HOX genes enter into a turn-on state during tissue differentiation, in contrast to stem cell-specific HOX genes that enter into a turn-off state. However, comprehensive data of expression profiles of HOX genes in human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and differentiated embryonic tissues are not available. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns of all 39 HOX genes in hESC and human fetal tissues and analyzed the relationships between hESC and each tissue. Of the 39 genes, 18 HOX genes were expressed in stem cells, and diverse expression patterning was observed in human fetal tissues when compared with stem cells. These results indicate that HOX genes could be main targets for switching of stem cell differentiation into tissues.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.479-494
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• 2022

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that have been intensively studied as therapeutic tools for a variety of disorders. To enhance the efficacy of MSCs, therapeutic genes are introduced using retroviral and lentiviral vectors. However, serious adverse events (SAEs) such as tumorigenesis can be induced by insertional mutagenesis. We generated lentiviral vectors encoding the wild-type herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene and a gene containing a point mutation that results in an alanine to histidine substitution at residue 168 (TK(A168H)) and transduced expression in MSCs (MSC-TK and MSC-TK(A168H)). Transduction of lentiviral vectors encoding the TK(A168H) mutant did not alter the proliferation capacity, mesodermal differentiation potential, or surface antigenicity of MSCs. The MSC-TK(A168H) cells were genetically stable, as shown by karyotyping. MSC-TK(A168H) responded to ganciclovir (GCV) with an half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value 10-fold less than that of MSC-TK. Because MSC-TK(A168H) cells were found to be non-tumorigenic, a U87-TK(A168H) subcutaneous tumor was used as a SAE-like condition and we evaluated the effect of valganciclovir (vGCV), an oral prodrug for GCV. U87-TK(A168H) tumors were more efficiently ablated by 200 mg/kg vGCV than U87-TK tumors. These results indicate that MSC-TK(A168H) cells appear to be pre-clinically safe for therapeutic use. We propose that genetic modification with HSV-TK(A168H) makes allogeneic MSC-based ex vivo therapy safer by eliminating transplanted cells during SAEs such as uncontrolled cell proliferation.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.216-225
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• 2006

This paper presents a new circuit topology of DC busline switch and snubbing capacitor-assisted full-bridge soft-switching PWM inverter type DC-DC power converter with a high frequency link for low voltage large current applications as DC feeding systems, telecommunication power plants, automotive DC bus converters, plasma generator, electro plating plants, fuel cell interfaced power conditioner and arc welding power supplies. The proposed power converter circuit is based upon a voltage source-fed H type full-bridge high frequency PWM inverter with a high frequency transformer link. The conventional type high frequency inverter circuit is modified by adding a single power semiconductor switching device in series with DC rail and snubbing lossless capacitor in parallel with the inverter bridge legs. All the active power switches in the full-bridge inverter arms and DC busline can achieve ZVS/ZVT turn-off and ZCS turn-on commutation operation. Therefore, the total switching losses at turn-off and turn-on switching transitions of these power semiconductor devices can be reduced even in the high switching frequency bands ranging from 20 kHz to 100 kHz. The switching frequency of this DC-DC power converter using IGBT power modules is selected to be 60 kHz. It is proved experimentally by the power loss analysis that the more the switching frequency increases, the more the proposed DC-DC converter can achieve high performance, lighter in weight, lower power losses and miniaturization in size as compared to the conventional hard switching one. The principle of operation, operation modes, practical and inherent effectiveness of this novel DC-DC power converter topology is proved for a low voltage and large current DC-DC power supplies of arc welder applications in industry.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.140-157
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to develop three functions for smartphones and PCs using a textile touch sensor in an everyday sports jacket and to present their usefulness; to this end, we have developed a mutual capacitive textile touch sensor and corresponding structure, and we have implemented three functions into a textile touch sensor jacket, of which we also conducted a usability evaluation. The jacket has a sensor on the wrist of the left sleeve and a device on the left arm. The sensor system can be divided into three main categories: a sensor acting as a switch, a circuit connecting the sensor and the device, and the device that acts as power control and system on/off. The functions are implemented in the texture touch sensor jacket in three modes: cell phone mode, music mode, and PPT presentation mode. We conducted an evaluation of each function in each mode, which indicated that all functions performed well without errors and that the switch had excellent operation for the number and intensity of touch. In terms of usability in a humid environment, the performance of touch functions was found to be equally implemented. In the temperature environment, neither high nor low temperatures caused issues with the functions. A wearing satisfaction assessment evaluated psychological satisfaction, clothing convenience, device convenience, device usability, and device effectiveness. This research jacket is thought to be desirable for the relatively bendable, flexible, and intimate sensor used on the clothing, and the circuit made of conductive fabric tape.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2023

Internal storage state, weight data, and weight-centered calculation values for overhead bin can all be seen in this paper's real-time internal status identification system. The suggested system offers such valuable data via a range of sensors, including load cells and switch arrays. The proposed system could locate internal free space, locate the center of gravity, and give real-time visual information. It was developed utilizing an embedded system and the C programming language. These features led to the creation of smart overhead bins and real-time cargo loading monitoring technologies, both of which could one day aid in the creation of a cargo loading automation system.

• Korean Journal of Crystallography
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.138-140
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• 2005

A new crystal of helminth glutathione S-transferase, 28 kDa isozyme from Clonorchis sinensis has been grown from a 20% PEG MME 550 solution containing 50 mM $CaCl_{2}$ in 0.1 M bis-Tris buffer (pH 6.5) in $2{\sim}3$ days. The crystals diffract to $3.0{\AA}$ resolution and belong to the orthorhombic space group $P2_{1}2_{1}2_{1}$ with cell parameters $a=62.58{\AA},\;b=69.92{\AA},\;and\;c=339.67{\AA}$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.377-379
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• 1998

고속의 입력 큐를 가진 스위치는 출력 큐를 가진 스위치보다 더 경제적이며 단순하다고 알려져 있다. 그러나 입력 큐를 가진 스위치는 성능을 크게 저하시키는 HOL Blocking이라는 문제를 가지고 있다. 입력 큐 스위치는 랜덤 어세스 입력 큐와 셀 스케쥴링 알고리즘을 사용한다면 휠씬 좋은 성능을 얻을 수 있다. 많은 입력 큐 ATM 스위치의 Self-Firing셀 스케쥴러가 제안되어 왔으나, 여러 가지 입력포트와 분포에서 측정된 성능이 서로 크게 차이가 난다는 점에서 공정하지 못한 것이었다. 본 논문에서 우리는 어떠한 트애픽 분포에서도 공정성을 가지는 셀 스케쥴러를 제안하며, 제안한 스케쥴러가 비록 트래픽이 비균일 분포일지라도 공정성이 유지되는 것을 모의 실험을 통하여 증명한다.