• Title/Summary/Keyword: systems

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Construction of Gene Network System Associated with Economic Traits in Cattle (소의 경제형질 관련 유전자 네트워크 분석 시스템 구축)

  • Lim, Dajeong;Kim, Hyung-Yong;Cho, Yong-Min;Chai, Han-Ha;Park, Jong-Eun;Lim, Kyu-Sang;Lee, Seung-Su
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.26 no.8
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    • pp.904-910
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    • 2016
  • Complex traits are determined by the combined effects of many loci and are affected by gene networks or biological pathways. Systems biology approaches have an important role in the identification of candidate genes related to complex diseases or traits at the system level. The gene network analysis has been performed by diverse types of methods such as gene co-expression, gene regulatory relationships, protein-protein interaction (PPI) and genetic networks. Moreover, the network-based methods were described for predicting gene functions such as graph theoretic method, neighborhood counting based methods and weighted function. However, there are a limited number of researches in livestock. The present study systemically analyzed genes associated with 102 types of economic traits based on the Animal Trait Ontology (ATO) and identified their relationships based on the gene co-expression network and PPI network in cattle. Then, we constructed the two types of gene network databases and network visualization system (http://www.nabc.go.kr/cg). We used a gene co-expression network analysis from the bovine expression value of bovine genes to generate gene co-expression network. PPI network was constructed from Human protein reference database based on the orthologous relationship between human and cattle. Finally, candidate genes and their network relationships were identified in each trait. They were typologically centered with large degree and betweenness centrality (BC) value in the gene network. The ontle program was applied to generate the database and to visualize the gene network results. This information would serve as valuable resources for exploiting genomic functions that influence economically and agriculturally important traits in cattle.

Effect of Ondansetron Alone and Combination of Naltrexone and Ondansetron on Alcohol Intake in C57BL/6 Mice (Naltrexone과 ondansetron의 병합투여가 C57BL/6형 생쥐의 알코올 섭취량에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Hyeun-Kyeung;Kim, Sung-Gon;Kang, Cheol-Joong;Park, Sang-Ick;Kim, Won-Ho
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.17 no.11
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    • pp.1576-1581
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    • 2007
  • Dopamine reward pathway projecting from ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens is well known as playing an important role in alcohol dependence. It is supposed that this dopamine pathway is modulated by $5-HT_3$ nervous system, and it was reported that ondansetron (OND), $5-HT_3$ receptor antagonist, reduced drinking amount and increased abstinence rate in alcohol-dependent patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of combination of OND and naltrexone (NTX), non-specific opioid receptor antagonist, on alcohol intake in C57BL/6 mice. In 40 C57BL/6 mice in the state of alcohol dependence, vehicle, while OND 0.01 mg/kg, or NTX 1.0 mg/kg administrated respectively, or OND 0.01 mg/kg and NTX 1.0 mg/kg administrated simultaneously for ten days, medication effects on 2-hr alcohol, 22-hr water, 24-hr food intake and body weight were studied. When vehicle group was compared with 3 medication groups respectively, using a repeated measure ANOVA, NTX alone and vehicle groups showed a significant medication by time interaction (p=0.042) in 2-hr alcohol intake, but in the other 2 groups, OND and NTX combination group and OND alone group, there was no significant interaction with vehicle group in 2-hr alcohol intake. From these results, it is suggested that there is no effect on alcohol intake in mice treating with OND, and naltrexone#s suppression effect on alcohol intake in mice is attenuated when treating with OND and NTX simultaneously. It is supposed that a further study looking at the interactions of serotonin, dopamine and opioid nerves systems will be needed.

Effects of Powders of Soybean and Doenjang on Cholesterol Level and Antioxidant Activities in Rats Fed with a High Cholesterol Diet (대두와 된장분말이 고콜레스테롤식이를 급여한 흰쥐의 콜레스테롤 농도 및 항산화 활성에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Jae-Joon;Kim, Ah-Ra;Lee, Hwan;Kim, Cheol-Ho;Chang, Hae-Choon;Lee, Myung-Yul
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.20 no.7
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    • pp.1134-1142
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    • 2010
  • This study was carried out to investigate the effects of powders of autoclaved soy flour and doenjang fermented using Bacillus subtilis DJI on lipid profiles and antioxidative activities of rats fed a high cholesterol diet. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 200~210 g were divided into four groups: normal diet group (N), high cholesterol diet group (HC), autoclaved soy flour and high cholesterol diet group (SHC), and doenjang and high cholesterol diet group (DHC). The serum ALT, AST and ALP activities of the SHC and DHC groups were lower than those of the HC group, but exerted no significant change on serum LDH activity. Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels were markedly decreased by autoclaved soy flour and doenjang administration, while the serum HDL-cholesterol level was higher in groups given autoclaved soy flour and doenjang administration. The GSH-Px and catalase activities in liver elevated by a high cholesterol diet were significantly decreased by autoclaved soy flour and doenjang administration (p<0.05). Liver GSH levels of the SHC and DHC groups were significantly decreased compared to the HC group (p<0.05). Liver TBARS level was significantly decreased in the DHC group fed with doenjang powder compared with those of the HC group (p<0.05). These results suggest that soy flour and doenjang may reduce levels of serum cholesterol and prevent oxidative stress by stimulating antioxidative systems in rats fed a high cholesterol diet.

Flexible Specialization: A New Paradigm for Modern Industrial Society ? (柔軟的 專門化(Flexible Specialization) : 현대 産業社會의 새로운 패러다임 ?)

  • Lee, Deog-An
    • Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.148-162
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    • 1993
  • There is much speculation that modern capi-talist society is undergoing fundamental and qualitative chnge towards flexible specialization. The purpose of this study is to examine this hypothesis. This paper focusses on: the idea of flexible specialization; the significance of this transition; industrial district; and the implicati-ons of this new production system for Korean industrial space. Main arguments of this study are as follows: First, as all different groups of researchers apply the idea of flexible specialization according to their own specifications, the current debate on this topic is not much fruitful. Not surpri-singly, the concept of flexible specialization has overlapped with subocontracting. This intergration of subcontracting into flexible specialization systems, however, is inappropriate because the two concepts have different historical contexts. The other cause of this controversy is its inherent weekness, conceptual ambiguity. Thus, today's flexibility becomes tomorrow's rigidity. Secondly, transition towards flexible speciali-zation has only been partially achieved even in advanced capitalist countries. The application of dualistic explanatory framework, such as rigidity versus flexibiity, mass production versus small-lot multi-product production, and de-skilling versus re-skilling, has resulted in great exaggeration of the transformation, from Fordism to post-Fordism. There is no intermediary part between two places. Considering that the workers allocated to the Fordist mass production assembly line are not as large as one might imagine, the shift from mass to flexible production has only limited implications for the transformation of capitalist economy. Thirdly, 'industrial district' contorversy has contributed to highlighting the importance of small firms and areas as production space. The agglomeration of small firms in specific areas is common in Korea, but it is quite different from the industrial district based on flexible specialization. The Korean phenomenon stems from close interactions with its major parent firm rather than interactions between flexible, specialized, autonomous and technology-intensive smll firms. Most Korean subcontractors are still low-skilled, labour-intensive, and heavily dependent on their mojor parent firms. Thus, the assertion that the Seoul Metropolitan Area adopts flexible specialization has no base. Fourthly, the main concern of flexible speciali zation is small firms. However, the corporate organization that needs product diversification and technological specialization is oligopolistic large corporations typified by multinational corporations. It is because of this that most of these organizations are adoptiong Fordist mass production methods. The problem of product diversification will be resolved naturally if economic internationalization progresses further. What is more important for business success is the quality and price competitiveness of firms rather than product diversification. Lastly, in order to dispel further misunderst-anding on this issue, it is imparative that the conceptual ambiguity is resolved most urgently. This study recommends adoption of more speci-fied and direct terminology (such as, factory automation, computer design, out-sourcing, the exploitation of part-time labor, job redesign) rather than that of ideological ones (such as, Taylorism, Fordism, neo-Taylorism, neo-Fordism, post-fordism, flexible specialization, peripheral post-Fordism). As the debates on this topic just started, we still have long way to go until consensus is reached.

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An Integrated VR Platform for 3D and Image based Models: A Step toward Interactivity with Photo Realism (상호작용 및 사실감을 위한 3D/IBR 기반의 통합 VR환경)

  • Yoon, Jayoung;Kim, Gerard Jounghyun
    • Journal of the Korea Computer Graphics Society
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    • v.6 no.4
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    • pp.1-7
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    • 2000
  • Traditionally, three dimension model s have been used for building virtual worlds, and a data structure called the "scene graph" is often employed to organize these 3D objects in the virtual space. On the other hand, image-based rendering has recently been suggested as a probable alternative VR platform for its photo-realism, however, due to limited interactivity. it has only been used for simple navigation systems. To combine the merits of these two approaches to object/scene representations, this paper proposes for a scene graph structure in which both 3D models and various image-based scenes/objects can be defined. traversed, and rendered together. In fact, as suggested by Shade et al. [1]. these different representations can be used as different LOD's for a given object. For in stance, an object might be rendered using a 3D model at close range, a billboard at an intermediate range. and as part of an environment map at far range. The ultimate objective of this mixed platform is to breath more interactivity into the image based rendered VE's by employing 3D models as well. There are several technical challenges in devising such a platform : designing scene graph nodes for various types of image based techniques, establishing criteria for LOD/representation selection. handling their transition s. implementing appropriate interaction schemes. and correctly rendering the overall scene. Currently, we have extended the scene graph structure of the Sense8's WorldToolKit. to accommodate new node types for environment maps. billboards, moving textures and sprites, "Tour-into-the-Picture" structure, and view interpolated objects. As for choosing the right LOD level, the usual viewing distance and image space criteria are used, however, the switching between the image and 3D model occurs at a distance from the user where the user starts to perceive the object's internal depth. Also. during interaction, regardless of the viewing distance. a 3D representation would be used, if it exists. Finally. we carried out experiments to verify the theoretical derivation of the switching rule and obtained positive results.

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Environmental Adaptability of Eupatorium rugosum : Relationship between Accumulation of Heavy Metals and Phenolic Compounds (서양등골나물의 환경적응력 : 중금속 축적과 Phenolic Compounds의 관계)

  • 김용옥;박종야;이호준
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.26 no.1
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    • pp.5-12
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    • 2003
  • Seed germination rate and seedling growth were measured on 6 different species(Phytolacca americana, Eupatorium rugosum, Rumex acetocella, Echinochloa crusgalli, Cassia mimosoides var. nomame, Setaria viridis) treated with leaf extract of E. rugosum. Total phenolic compound and heavy metal were analyzed on leaf and soil with and without E. rugosum. The growth of P. americana seedlings were stimulated by 10% and 25% of E. rugosum water extract treatment. The content of total phenolic compounds in soil was lower than that of leaf extract, and 25% was confirmed as threshold concentration in natural systems because the total phenolic compounds were not significantly different between the control soils and the soil treated with 10%, and 25% extract. Total phenolic compound concentrations of the leaf extracts were highest (1.66 mg/l) with E. rugosum grown under the Quercus forest canopy and lowest (1.09 mg/l) for the plant grown in the mixed forest edge. Leaf extracts of plants selected in different sampling sites (Forest interior, Forest edge, under Pinus Canopy and Quercus Canopy) were significant, while soil extracts were not. Seed germination of R. acetocella and S. viridis were significantly inhibited at over 50% concentrations of E. rugosum, but C. mimosoides var. nomame was not affected at any concentration. The radicle and shoot growth of the native species group were reduced two times more than those of the exotic species group by the treatment of extracts. Especially, the seed germination percentage and dry weight of E. rugosum were greater than those of the control group by treatments with extracts of 10% and 25%. Analysis of aqueous extracts from E. rugosum by HPLC identified 6 phenolic compounds: caffeic acid (460.9 mg/l), benzoic acid (109.7 mg/l), protocatechuic acid (7.3 mg/l), ρ-hydroquinone (6.0 mg/l), cinnamic acid (2.7 mg/l) and hydroquinone (0.23 mg/l). The seed germination of P. americana was also inhibited dramatically by protocatechuic acid and cinnamic acid even though the content of caffeic acid (460.9 mg/l) was the highest among analyzed phenolic compounds. The heavy metal content of soil without A. altissima was higher than that of soil with E. rugosum. Particularly, Al, Fe and Mn was considerably high and most of the heavy metal were accumulated in leaves where a high level of total phenolic compounds was found.

On the Observation of Sandstorms and Associated Episodes of Airborne Dustfalls in the East Asian Region in 2005 (2005년 동아시아 지역에서 발생한 모래폭풍과 먼지침전(황사)의 관측)

  • Kim, Hak-Sung;Chung, Yong-Seung
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.196-209
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    • 2009
  • Occurrences of sandstorms in the deserts and loess of Mongolia and northern China and associated dustfall episodes in the Korean Peninsula were monitored during the period January through December, 2005. False colour images were made by directly receiving the NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data, and the distribution and transport of sandstorms were analyzed. The ground concentrations for PM10, PM2.5 and visibility of the dustfall episodes (PM10 concentration over $190{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$) were analyzed at Cheongwon, located midway in South Korea, and in the leeward direction of the place of origin of the sandstorms. Variations in the concentrations of $O_3,\;NO_2$, CO and $SO_2$ were also compared with dust concentrations in the dustfall episodes. Fewer occurrences of strong sandstorms in the place of origin were observed in 2005, due largely to the accumulation of snow and mild fluctuations of high and low pressure systems in the place of origin, thereby accounting for a low frequency of dustfall episodes in Korea, compared with those during the period 1997-2005. A total of 7 dustfall episodes were monitored in Korea in 2005 that lasted 11 days. In summer, sandstorms occurred less frequently in the source region in 2005 due to high humidity and milder winds, thereby causing no dustfall episodes in Korea. In case the sandstorms occurring at the place of source head directly to Korea without passing through large cities and industrial areas of China, the PM2.5 concentrations were measured at 20% or lower than the PM10 concentrations. However, when the sandstorms headed to Korea via the industrial areas of eastern China, where they pick up anthropogenic air pollutants, the PM2.5 concentrations were at least 25% higher of the PM10 concentrations. On the other hand, over 5 cases were observed and analyzed in 2005 where the PM10 concentrations of sand dust originating from the deserts were measured at $190{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ or lower, falling short of the level of a dustfall episode.

Protective Effect of a Herbal Preparation (HemoHIM) on the Self-Renewal Tissues and Immune System against γ-Irradiation (방사선에 대한 생약복합조성물(HemoHIM)의 재생조직 및 면역계 방호 · 회복촉진 효과)

  • Jo, Sung-Kee;Park, Hae-Ran;Jung, Uhee;Oh, Heon;Kim, Sung-Ho;Yee, Sung-Tae
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.34 no.6
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    • pp.805-813
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    • 2005
  • In our previous study, a novel herb mixture (HIM-I) of Angelim gigas radix, Cnidium officinale rhizoma, and Paeonia japonica radix was developed to protect the intestinal and immune systems and promote its recovery against radiation damage. In this study, a new herbal preparation (HemoHIM) with the high immune modulating activity was developed from HIM-I. HIM-I was fractionated into ethanol fraction (HIM-I-E) and polysaccharide fraction (HIM-I-P). And HemoHIM was prepared by adding HIM-I-P to HIM-I. The protective activities against $\gamma$ -irradiation were compared among HemoHIM, HIM-I and the fractions. HemoHIM and HIM-I significantly decreased the radiation-induced DNA damage in vitro, and scavenged hydroxyl radicals in a dose-dependent manner. HemoHIM showed similar activity to HIM-I. In vitro proliferation assay with mouse lymphocytes and bone marrow cells showed that HIM-I-P was remarkably higher than HIM-I and HIM-I-E in cell proliferating activity. HemoHIM showed higher activity than HIM-I and this might be associated with the higher polysaccharide content. The in vivo protective effects of HemoHIM and HIM-I were investigated in $\gamma$-irradiated mice. HemoHIM increased the surviving intestinal crypts to a similar extent compared with HIM-I. In contrast, HemoHIM appeared to be more effective than HIM-I in endogenous spleen colony formation assay. The recovery of white blood cells and lymphocytes in irradiated mice were significantly enhanced by the administration of HemoHIM. Also HemoHIM administration prolonged the survival of irradiated mice. These results showed that the novel herbal preparation, HemoHIM, effectively protected the self-renewal tissues and immune system, and promoted the survival of irradiated mice. Moreover, in comparison with HIM-I, HemoHIM maintained similar activity in the reduction of oxidative damage of self-renewal tissue but exhibited the higher activity in protection and proliferation of immune and hematopoietic cells. These results suggested that HemoHIM might be more effective than HIM-I in immune modulation as well as radioprotection.

A Case study and Analysis on the Up-Lift Pressure Treatment Evaluation of Underground Installations for their Efficient Adoption (사례분석을 통한 효율적 상향수압(Up-Lift Pressure) 처리공법 적용방안에 관한연구 - ◯◯ 상업지역 현장사례 중심으로 -)

  • Ko, Ok-Yeol;Kwon, Oh-Chul;Shim, Jae-Kwang;Park, Tae-Eun
    • Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.119-129
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    • 2009
  • Building construction trends have been changed dramatically in terms of size and mass. With the need to maximize land usage, there has been an increase in the construction of high-rise buildings. This affects not only the entire construction duration and cost, but also subsequent construction activities, such as work to increase underground facilities and in reclamation land area construction. These types of site conditions require soft ground reinforcement and the proper uplift water pressure treatment. In general, two kinds of methods have been used for uplift water pressure treatment systems. However, there have been some problems arising as the result of a lack of research and analysis on underground construction techniques, and a reliance on experiments over actual survey and analysis of site conditions. This paper focused on the problems of conventional selection procedure, by analyzing drawings and proposing a kind of modeling for a reasonable procedure. The results were applied to OO project as a sample construction case to be verified in this research. The initial plan in the case project was the Rock Anchor System. However, as there were terrible miscalculations of basic site conditions that had an extraordinary influence on the underground water level, such as the site's proximity to the Han-river, it was necessary to change the plan to include apermanent drainage system. This achieved a direct construction cost reduction \ 406,702,000 and a maximum sayings of 4% of operational cost, based on the 50-year building Life Cycle Cost.

Mock-up Test of Temperature Crack Reduction Method Application by Setting Time Control of Mat Foundation Mass Concrete (응결시간조정에 의한 매트기초 매스 콘크리트의 온도균열저감 공법적용의 Mock-up Test)

  • Han, Cheon-Goo;Lee, Jae-Sam;Noh, Sang-Kyun
    • Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.55-61
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    • 2009
  • Recently, the number of high-rise buildings being built in Korea by major construction companies for residential and commercial use has been increasing. When constructing a high-rise building, it is necessary to apply massive amounts of concrete to form a mat foundation that can withstand the huge load of the upper structure. However, it is of increasing concern that due to limitations in terms of the amount of placing equipment, available job-sites and systems for mass concrete placement in the construction field, it is not always possible to place a great quantity of concrete simultaneously in a large-scale mat foundation, and for this reason consistency between placement lift cannot be secured. In addition, a mat foundation Is likely to crack due to the stress caused by differences inhydration heat generation time. To derive a solution for these problems, this study provides test results of a hydration heat crack reduction method by applying placement lift change and setting time control with a super retarding agent for mass concrete in a large-scale mat foundation. Mock-up specimens with different mixtures and placement liftswere prepared at the job-site of a newly-constructed high-rise building. The test results show that slump flow of concrete before and after adding the super retarding agent somewhat Increases as the target retarding time gets longer, while the air content shows no great difference. The setting time was observed to be retarded as the target retarding time gets longer. As the target retarding time gets longer, compressive strength appears to be decreased at an early stage, but as time goes by, compressive strength gets higher, and the compressive strength at 28 days becomes equal or higher to that of plain concrete without a super retarding agent. For the effect of placement lift change and super retarding agent on the reduction of hydration heat, the application of 2 and 4 placement lifts and a super retarding agent makes it possible to secure consistency and reduce temperature difference between placement lifts, while also extending the time to reach peak temperature. This implies that the possibility of thermal crack induced by hydration heat is reduced. The best results are shown in the case of applying 4 placement lifts.