• BMB Reports
• /
• v.54 no.8
• /
• pp.425-430
• /
• 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and may increase the risk of adverse outcomes in lung cancer patients. In this study, we investigated the expression and function of mucin 1 (MUC1) after SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lung epithelial cancer cell line Calu-3. MUC1 is a major constituent of the mucus layer in the respiratory tract and contributes to pathogen defense. SARS-CoV-2 infection induced MUC1 C-terminal subunit (MUC1-C) expression in a STAT3 activation-dependent manner. Inhibition of MUC1-C signaling increased apoptosis-related protein levels and reduced proliferation-related protein levels; however, SARS-CoV-2 replication was not affected. Together, these results suggest that increased MUC1-C expression in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection may trigger the growth of lung cancer cells, and COVID-19 may be a risk factor for lung cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.9
• /
• pp.5467-5472
• /
• 2013

Objective: To construct short hairpin RNA (shRNA) eukaryotic expression vectors targeting Livin and Survivin genes, and to explore the impact of co-transfection of Livin and Survivin shRNA expression vectors on the biological behavior of HepG2 cells. Methods: shRNA eukaryotic expression vectors pSD11-Livin and pSD11-Survivin were designed and constructed then transfected into HepG2 cells separately or in combination. mRNA and protein expression in transfected cells was assessed by quantitative fluorescence PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay and cell apoptosis by TUNEL assay. Results: The Livin and Survivin shRNA eukaryotic expression vectors were successfully constructed and transfected into HepG2 cells. The relative mRNA expression levels of Livin and Survivin in HepG2 cells co-transfected with pSD11-Livin and pSD11-Survivin were $0.12{\pm}0.02$ and $0.33{\pm}0.13$, respectively, which was significantly lower than levels in cells transfected with either pSD11-Livin or pSD11-Survivin (P<0.05). The relative protein expression levels of Livin and Survivin in the co-transfected cells were also significantly decreased compared to single-transfection (P<0.05). The inhibition rate of cell growth in the co-transfection group was higher than that in the single-transfection groups at 48 h, 60 h, or 72 h after transfection (P<0.01). The apoptotic rate increased to the greatest extent in the co-transfection group relative to any other group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Co-transfection with pSD11-Livin and pSD11-Survivin was more efficient than transfection with either vector alone in reducing the mRNA and protein expression of Livin and Survivin genes in HepG2 cells. Co-transfection also inhibited the proliferation of transfected cells more than the other groups, and induced cellular apoptosis more effectively.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.103-110
• /
• 2016

PURPOSES: In this paper, the effectiveness of speed-maintained standardization in road geometry on environmental impact at a downward slope location, based on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission indicators, was studied. Specifically, the aim of this study was to ascertain whether speed-maintained standardization resulted in decreased $CO_2$ emissions as well as noise pollution, due to reduced vehicle speeds. METHODS : In this study, speed-maintained standardization in road geometry was proposed as a means to reduce vehicle speeds, with a view to reducing $CO_2$ emissions and noise pollution. This technique was applied at a downward slope location. The vehicle speeds, $CO_2$ emissions, and noise levels before and after application of speed-maintained standardization were compared. RESULTS: It was found that speed-maintained standardization was effective as a means to reduce speed, as well as $CO_2$ emissions and noise pollution. By applying speed-maintained standardization, it was confirmed that vehicle speeds were reduced consistently. As a result, $CO_2$ emissions and noise levels were decreased by 9% and 11%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS : This study confirmed that speed-maintained standardization in road geometry is effective in reducing vehicle speeds, $CO_2$ emissions, and noise levels. Moreover, there is further scope for the application of this method in the design of roads in urban and rural areas, as well as in the design of highways.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.127-135
• /
• 2007

Korea and Japan hosted the FIFA World Cup Soccer Game in 2002. Ten stadiums had been built and more than 30 soccer grounds for practice were renovated in Korea. Sport fields in both countries had problems on cool-season turfgrass growth and quality by summer decline during humid and warm climate especially followed by intensive uses. We measured the effects of air-flow system, which is designed to optimize rootzone soil gas and moisture levels to promote the growth and maintenance turfgrass. This experiment was carried out to verify the effects of the system on soil gas exchange, ground resilience, and turfgrass recovery in turfgrass rootzone. Within 1 or 2hr of operation of the system, rootzone soil gas ($CO_2$, $O_2$) levels returned to natural atmospheric levels completely Soil $CO_2$ levels began to decrease within the first 10 min of operation of the system. The levels were reduced from 1.3 to 0.06% after 30 min, and natural atmospheric levels within 1 hr. When the system was turned off, $CO_2$ levels increased to 0.36% and 0.7% after 5 and 20 hr, respectively. The application of the system did not affect the resilience of turf surface after traffic treatments. Higher traffic treatment resulted in higher surface resilience especially in zoysiagrass plots. Operation of the system had a significant beneficial impact on turf recovery by increased root dry wight and improved turf quality, as compared with the non-operated check plots.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.61-68
• /
• 1993

Since November 1990, the observations of carbon dioxide$(CO_2)$ levels have been carried out at Tae-ahn Peninsula(TAP) in Korea. Analysis on atmospheric data obtained in the period from November 1990 to August 1992 is carried out and the results are included in this study. It is observed that variations of monthly average level on $CO_2$ are in the range of 315.72 $\sim$ 365.37ppm(amplitude 17.65ppm). The seasonal variation is large with a maximum occurring in March-April and with a minimum in July-August. A comparison of TAP data is made with data obtained at Ryori in Japan for 1991. The annual average value of TAP is 1.79ppm higher than that of Ryori. It is also found that in summer the minimum level of $CO_2$ at TAP is almost same as the $CO_2$ level occurring at Quinghai Province in China and at Ulaan Uul in Mongolia. Albeit, a maximum concentration of $CO_2$ at TAP is slightly higher than that of the same gas observed at other sites in spring. We interpret that TAP is generally under the influence of airflows coming from China. According to analysis of trajectories and airflows, we find the high values of $CO_2$ when an air flow is originated mainly from China and when an airflow is both of local(Korea) and of China origins. In contrast, when an airflow of maritime origin arrives, a low value of the atmospheric constituent is observed at TAP.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.177-181
• /
• 2012

To understand the effects of lower pH levels due to elevated $CO_2$ and salinity, we designed and constructed a pH-control system that included automatic $CO_2$ infusion and measured the hatching rate of a crustacean model species, Artemia franciscana. The pH-control system was cost-effective and capable of performing animal tests in which pH fluctuated around $8.0{\pm}0.1$, with the temperature around $27{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$. Hatching rate was observed under four different pH levels (7.0, 7.3, 7.6, and untreated control) combined with three salinity ranges (15, 25, and 35 ppt). The results demonstrated that lower pH levels led to decreased hatching rates regardless of salinity, and the minimum hatching rate was detected at pH 7.0 compared to the control (pH $8.0{\pm}0.1$), supporting the idea that OA has adverse effects on hatching rates and increases the risk of juveniles being introduced in the ecosystem. In contrast, salinity changes exhibited no synergistic effects with pH and had independent effects.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.12-18
• /
• 1992

The trap levels of ZnO-based varistor are obtained by Isothermal Capacitance Transient Spectroscopy method. Here ICTS measuring system consists of YHP 4192A Impedance Analyzer and a personal computer for the data acquisition. Between $-40^{\circ}C$ and $60^{\circ}C$, the grain boundary trap levels of 0.48 and 0.94eV were detected for $ZnO-Bi_2O_3-MnO$ system. The hole omission spectra are observed in the case of the addition of CoO into the $ZnO-Bi_2O_3$ system, while the electron emission spectra are detected in the case of the addition of MnO. The nonlinear resistance coefficient $\alpha$ increases with the decrease of the dormer concentration. Finally, the trap level density of $ZnO-Bi_2O_3-MnO$ system is found to decrease with the amount of CoO, while $\alpha$ is found to increase with the amount of CoO.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.233-239
• /
• 2019

This paper presents a literature review on the active technologies to regulate the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in Kimchi packaging. In this study, laser-etched pouches and $O_2$ scavengers were used for Kimchi packaging, and the efficiency of each packaging technique to regulate the $CO_2$ and $O_2$ levels inside Kimchi packages was investigated. When Kimchi was packaged with a laser-etched pouch, the $CO_2$ concentration in the sample with a high gas transmission rate was less than that in other pouches (p<0.05), and a low $CO_2$ level had little effect on the expansion of the package volume. Kimchi treated with an $O_2$ absorber exhibited a significantly lower (p<0.05) $O_2$ concentration inside the packages relative to the control. A low $O_2$ concentration inside the Kimchi package effectively inhibited the growth of total aerobic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria, as well as yeasts and molds on Kimchi. These results suggest that $O_2$ absorbers have a positive effect on the microbial quality of Kimchi. Therefore, packaging in a laser-etched pouch and the use of an $O_2$ scavenger could provide a novel packaging material for regulating the $CO_2$ and $O_2$ levels during Kimchi packaging.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers D
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.45-50
• /
• 2003

Texture analysis has been efficiently utilized in the area of terrain classification. In this application features have been obtained in the 2D image domain. This paper suggests 3D co-occurrence texture features by extending the concept of co-occurrence to 3D world. The suggested 3D features are described using co-occurrence histogram of digital elevations at two contiguous position as co-occurrence matrix. The practical construction of co-occurrence matrix limits the number of levels of digital elevation. If the digital elevation is quantized into the number of levels over the whole DEM(Digital Elevation Map), the distinctive features can not be obtained. To resolve the quantization problem, we employ local quantization technique which preserves the variation of elevations. Experiments has been carried out to verify the proposed 3D co-occurrence features, and the addition of the suggested features significantly improves the classification accuracy.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.588-597
• /
• 2009

Measurements of atmospheric $CO_2$ were made in the mountainous region of Srinagar-Garhwal, India (January to December 2006). Concentrations of $CO_2$ averaged $393\pm4.9$ ppm in 2006. Daily variations of $CO_2$ values showed minimum during the daytime (376.2 ppm) and peaked in the morning/evening (410.1 ppm). At monthly intervals, the $CO_2$ values varied from $367\pm11.14$ (May) to $425.2\pm13.54$ ppm (March). If divided on a seasonal basis, the values declined to minimum amounts in post-monsoon ($389.9\pm9.0$ ppm) and reached maximums during winter ($397.1\pm11.6$ ppm). Although phenology is significant in controlling $CO_2$ levels, short-term changes cannot be explained without the anthropogenic perturbations (e.g., vehicular pollution and forest fires). The $CO_2$ concentrations in Srinagar-Garhwal (393.4 ppm) were generally higher than those of other major monitoring locations around the world.