• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2015

In filamentous fungi, velvet complex associated with the veA gene plays pivotal roles in development and secondary metabolism. In a model fungus Aspergillus nidulans, many proteins that can interact with VeA, including two methyltransferases VipB and VipC, have been isolated and characterized. In this study, we isolated homologs of the vipB and vipC genes in the human opportunistic pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus and named AfuvipB and AfuvipC. The AfuvipB gene, annotated as Afu3g14920 in the Aspergillus Genome Database (AspGD) database, consists of 1,510 bp interrupted with 10 introns yielding 336 amino acid-long putative methyltransferase protein. Similarly, AfuvipC, which is Afu8g01930, has 10 introns and encodes a polypeptide with 339 amino acids having a methyltransferase domain in the middle of the protein. To characterize the function of the genes in A. fumigatus, knock-out mutants were generated and the phenotypes were observed. Deletion of AfuvipB gene caused no obvious phenotypic change on point inoculation but showed smaller colony than wild-type when the mutant was subjected to culture on single spore-driven culture condition. However, AfuvipC deletion mutant demonstrated no phenotypic difference from wild type both in point inoculation and streaking cultures. These results indicate that the two methyltransfereases might have a redundant role and could be dispensable in normal culture conditions.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 2009

Bone remodeling is a continuous process of skeletal renewal during which bone formation is tightly coupled to bone resorption. Mechanical loading is an important regulator of bone formation and resorption. In recent studies, neurotransmitters such as vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were found to be present inside bone tissue and have been suggested to potentially regulate bone remodeling. In this study, our objective was to use a pre-established in vitro oscillatory fluid flow-induced shear stress mechanical loading system to quantify the effect of VIP on bone resorptive activity and investigate its combined effect with mechanical loading. VIP decreased osteoclastogenesis significantly decreased RANKL/OPG mRNA ration by approximately 90%. Combined VIP and mechanical loading further decreased RANKL/OPG ratio to approximately 95%. These results suggest that VIP present in bone tissue may synergistically act with mechanical loading to regulate bone remodeling via suppression of bone resorptive activities.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.98
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• pp.661-670
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• 2005

In this paper, the microstrip $90^{\circ}$ hybrid to provide -3dB coupling and $90^{\circ}$ phase difference at broadband frequency range of 2 to 6 GHz is designed. This proposed hybrid is composed of 3-section. The two outside section are realized by symmetrical edge coupled lines, but on the other hand the middle section consists of VIP(Vertically Installed Planar) circuit. The ground part of VIP circuit is partially removed to get tight coupling, particularly. This hybrid is easy to realize due to microstrip structure and has good holing flexibility by taking advantage of VIP circuit as a control point of optimization. The proposed hybrid provide satisfactory performance as compared with simplicity of structure and fabrication first of all.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1774-1780
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• 2016

Vegetative insecticidal proteins (Vips) are insecticidal proteins synthesized by Bacillus thuringiensis during the vegetative stage of growth. In this study, Vip3Aa protein, obtained by in vitro expression of the vip3Aa gene from B. thuringiensis WB5, displayed high insecticidal activity against Spodoptera litura aside from Spodoptera exigua and Helicoverpa armigera. Bioassay results showed that the toxicity of Vip3Aa protein against S. litura larvae statistically decreased along with the increase of the age of the larvae, with LC₅₀ = 2.609 ng/cm² for neonatal larvae, LC₅₀ = 28.778 ng/cm² for first instar larvae, LC₅₀ = 70.460 ng/cm² for second instar larvae, and LC₅₀ = 200.627 ng/cm² for third instar larvae. The accumulative mortality of 100% larvae appeared at 72 h for all instars of S. litura larvae, when feeding respectively with 83.22, 213.04, 341.40, and 613.20 ng/cm² of Vip3Aa toxin to the neonatal and first to third instar larvae. The histopathological effects of Vip3Aa toxin on the midgut epithelial cells of S. litura larvae was also investigated. The TEM observations showed wide damage of the epithelial cell in the midgut of S. litura larvae fed with Vip3Aa toxin.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.158-174
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of light irradiation modes on polymerization shrinkage, degree of cure and microleakage of a composite resin. VIP$^{TM}$ (Bisco Dental Products, Schaumburg, IL, USA) and Optilux 501$^{TM}$ (Demetron/Kerr, Danbury, CT, USA) were used for curing Filtek$^{TM}$ Z-250 (3M Dental Products, St. Paul., MN, USA) composite resin using following irradiation modes: VIP$^{TM}$ (Bisco) 200mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ (V2), 400mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ (V4), 600mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ (V6), Pulse-delay (200 mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ 3 seconds, 5 minutes wait, 600mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ 30seconds, VPD) and Optilux 501$^{TM}$ (Demetron/Kerr) C-mode (OC), R-mode (OR). Linear polymerization shrinkage of the composite specimens were measured using Linometer (R&B, Daejeon, Korea) for 90 seconds for V2, V4, V6, OC, OR groups and for up to 363 seconds for VPD group (n=10, each). Degree of conversion was measured using FTIR spectrometer (IFS 120 HR, Bruker Karlsruhe, Germany) at the bottom surface of 2 mm thick composite specimens V2, Y4, V6, OC groups were measured separately at five irradiation times (5, 10, 20, 40, 60 seconds) and OR, VPD groups were measured in the above mentioned irradiation modes (n=5 each). Microhardness was measured using Digital microhardness tester (FM7, Future-Tech Co., Tokyo, Japan) at the top and bottom surfaces of 2mm thick composite specimens after exposure to the same irradiation modes as the test of degree of conversion(n=3, each). For the microleakage test, class V cavities were prepared on the distal surface of the ninety extracted human third molars. The cavities were restored with one of the following irradiation modes : V2/60 seconds, V4/40 seconds, V6/30 seconds, VPD , OC and OR. Microleakage was assessed by dye penetration along enamel and dentin margins of cavities. Mean polymerization shrinkage, mean degree of conversion and mean microhardness values for all groups at each time were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test, and using chi-square test far microleakage values. The results were as follows : . Polymerization shrinkage was increased with higher light intensity in groups using VIP$^{TM}$ (Bisco) : the highest with 600mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$, followed by Pulse-delay, 400mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ and 200mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ groups, The degree of polymerization shrinkage was higher with Continuous mode than with Ramp mode in groups using Optilux 501$^{TM}$ (Demetron/Kerr). . Degree of conversion and microhardness values were higher with higher light intensity. The final degree of conversion was in the range of 44.7 to 54.98% and the final microhardness value in the range of 34.10 to 56.30. . Microleakage was greater in dentin margin than in enamel margin. Higher light intensity showed more microleakage in dentin margin in groups using VIP$^{TM}$ (Bisco). The microleakage was the lowest with Continuous mode in enamel margin and with Ramp mode in dentin margin when Optilux 501$^{TM}$ (Demetron/Kerr) was used.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.55-71
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• 2022

Recently, the domestic department store industry is growing into a complex shopping cultural space, which is advanced and differentiated by changes in consumption patterns. In addition, competition is intensifying across 70 places operated by five large companies. This study investigates the determinants of the visits to department stores using the big data concept's automatic vehicle access system (pos) and proposes how to strengthen the competitiveness of the department store industry. We use a negative binomial regression test to predict the frequency of visits to 67 branches, except for three branches whose annual sales were incomplete due to the new opening in 2021. The results show that the demand for visiting department stores is positively associated with airport, terminal, and train stations, land areas, parking lots, VIP lounge numbers, luxury store ratio, F&B store numbers, non-commercial areas, and hotels. We suggest four strategies to enhance the competitiveness of domestic department stores. First, department store consumers have a high preference for luxury brands. Therefore, department stores need to form their own overseas buyer teams to discover and attract new luxury brands and attract customers who have a high demand for luxury brands. In addition, to attract consumers with high purchasing power and loyalty, it is necessary to provide more differentiated products and services for VIP customers than before. Second, it is desirable to focus on transportation hub areas such as train stations, airports, and terminals in Gyeonggi and Incheon. Third, department stores should attract tenants who can satisfy customers, given that key tenants are an important component of advanced shopping centers for department stores. Finally, the department store, a top-end shopping center, should be developed as a space with differentiated shopping, culture, dining out, and leisure services, such as "The Hyundai", which opened in 2021, to ensure future growth potential.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.6099-6104
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• 2015

Background: Previous studies investigating the association between miR-34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism and cancer risk showed inconclusive. Here, we performed meta-analysis to investigate the association between miR- 34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism and digestive cancer risk. Materials and Methods: Literature database including PubMed, OVID, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched for publications concerning the association between the miR-34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism and digestive cancer risk. Results: A total of 6 studies consisting of 3246 cases and 3568 controls were included in this meta-analysis. The combined analysis suggested the miR-34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism significantly reduced digestive cancer risk under allelic model, homogeneous co-dominant model and recessive model (C vs T: OR=0.88, 95%CI=0.82-0.95, p-value=0.001; CC vs TT: OR =0.67, 95%CI=0.57-0.80, p-value=0.000; CC vs TT/TC: OR=0.68, 95%CI=0.58-0.80, p-value=0.000). Q-test and I2 test revealed no significant heterogeneity in all genotype comparisons. The Begger's funnel plot and Egger's test did not show significant publication bias. Conclusions: The current evidence supports the conclusion that the miR-34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism decreases an individual's susceptibility to digestive cancers.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2014

This project's aim was to determine the reserpine-induced gastric ulcer preventive effect of polysaccharide of Larimichthys crocea swim bladder (PLCSB) in ICR mice. The anti-gastric ulcer effects of polysaccharide of Larimichthys crocea swim bladder was evaluated in mice model using morphological test, serum levels assay, cytokine levels assay, tissue contents analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis and western bolt assay. High concentration (50 mg/kg dose) of PLCSB reduced IFN-${\gamma}$ as compared to low concentration (25 mg/kg dose) and control mice. SS and VIP serum levels of PLCSB treated mice were higher than those of control mice, and MOT and SP serum levels were lower than control mice. Gastric ulcer inhibitory index of PLCSB treatment groups mice were much lower than control mice, and the high concentration treated mice were similar to the ranitidine treated mice. The SOD and GSH-Px activities of PLCSB treated mice were higher than control mice, close to normal mice and ranitidine treated mice. PLCSB treated mice also showed the similar contents of NO and MDA to normal group. By RT-PCR and western blot assay, PLCSB significantly induced inflammation in tissues of mice by downregulating NF-${\kappa}B$, iNOS, and COX-2, and upregulating $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$. These results suggest that PLCSB showed a good gastric ulcer preventive effect as the gastric ulcer drug of ranitidine. Polysaccharide of Larimichthys crocea swim bladder may be used as a drug material from marine products.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.455-461
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• 2018

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a Fusarium mycotoxin, causes health hazards for both humans and livestock. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic profiles of the liver, serum, and urine of piglets fed DON using proton nuclear magnetic resonance ($^1H-NMR$) spectroscopy. The $^1H-NMR$ spectra of the liver, serum, and urine samples of the piglets provided with feed containing 8 mg DON/kg for 4 weeks were aligned and identified using the icoshift algorithm of MATLAB $R^2013b$. The data were analyzed by multivariate analysis and by MetaboAnalyst 4.0. The DON-treated groups exhibited discriminating metabolites in the three different sample types. Metabolic profiling by $^1H-NMR$ spectroscopy revealed potential metabolites including lactate, glucose, taurine, alanine, glycine, glutamate, creatine, and glutamine upon mycotoxin exposure (variable importance in the projection, VIP > 1). Forty-six metabolites selected from the principal component analysis (PCA) helped to predict sixty-five pathways in the DON-treated piglets using metabolite sets containing at least two compounds. The DON treatment catalyzed the citrate synthase reactions which led to an increase in the acetate and a decrease in the glucose concentrations. Therefore, our findings suggest that glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, ATP synthase, and pyruvate carboxylase should be considered important in piglets fed DON contaminated feed. Metabolomics analysis could be a powerful method for the discovery of novel indicators underlying mycotoxin treatments.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.55-66
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• 2018

Objectives To evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness of bee venom acupuncture for ankle sprain. Methods We conducted search across 11 electronic databases (Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL [CENTRAL], KoreaMed, Kmbase, Koreanstudies Information Service System [KISS], National Digital Science Library [NDSL], Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information [KISTI], China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], Wanfang and Chinese Scientific Journals Database [VIP] database) to find clinical trials that used bee venom acupuncture as treatment for ankle sprain. The methodological quality of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) tool, while non-randomized controlled clinical trials (NRCTs) were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Study (RoBANS) tool. Results Four RCTs and one nRCT met our inclusion criteria. Almost studies showed that bee venom acupuncture has positive effect on ankle sprain. 4 studies of same intervention and control included in the meta-analysis. When comparing bee venom acupuncture and acupuncture with acupuncture, the effect size of standardized mean difference (SMD) was -0.19 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.95~1.56, Z=0.55, p=0.83). And when comparing bee venom acupuncture with acupuncture, the effect size of SMD was -0.17 (95% CI: -0.65~0.31, Z=0.71, p=0.48). Conclusions Although our systematic review found encouraging but limited evidence of bee venom acupuncture for ankle sprain, most of the studies included in the analysis were evaluated as methodologically high risk of bias. From now on further well-designed RCTs should be encouraged.