• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.91-103
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to compare the satisfaction of the urban parks and to classify and assess the environmentally-friendly behaviors in the urban parks. For this purpose, the park user's behaviors and satisfactions were surveyed in 10 parks in Seoul and its suburb area. Parks are divided into 2 types, the walking-distance parks and the metropolitan parks, by time to reach, visit frequency and visit purpose. The park users are generally satisfied with the facilities, but not satisfied with some specific items, such as cultural facilities, accommodations for the handicapped, safety facilities and sports facilities. The environmentally-friendly behaviors are positively assessed in general, but the behavior of the natural experience was negatively assessed. The environmentally-friendly behaviors in the urban parks are classified into 2 factors; the experience factor and the activity factor. The parks are categorized into 3 types by these factors. For type I parks, the experience factor is dominant, but the activity factor is relatively low. For type II parks, the both factors are low and the parks are necessary to improve. And type III parks are positively assessed in the aspect of the environmentally-friendly behaviors, even though some park are necessary to complement.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.287-293
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• 2009

Cell survival is the result of a balance between programmed cell death and cellular proliferation. Cell membrane receptors and their associated signal transducing proteins control these processes. Of the numerous receptors and signaling proteins, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the most important receptors involved in signaling pathways implicated in the proliferation and survival of cancer cells. EGFR is often highly expressed in human tumors including oral squamous cell carcinomas, and there is increasing evidence that high expression of EGFR is correlated with poor clinical outcome of common human cancers. Therefore, we examined the antiproliferative activity of gefitinib, epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR TKI), in head and neck cancer cell lines. SCC-9, KB cells were cultured and growth inhibition activity of gefitinib was measured with MTT assay. To study influence of gefitinib in cell cycle, we performed cell cycle analysis with flow cytometry. Western blot was done to elucidate the expression of EGFR in cell lines and phosphorylation of EGFR and downstream kinase protein, Erk and Akt. Significant growth inhibition was observed in SCC-9 cells in contrast with KB cells. Also, flow cytometric analysis showed G1 phase arrest only in SCC-9 cells. In Western blot analysis for investigation of EGFR expression and downstream molecule phosphorylation, gefitinib suppressed phosphorylation of EGFR and downstream protein kinase Erk, Akt in SCC-9. However, in EGFR positive KB cells, weak expression of active form of Erk and Akt and no inhibitory activity of phosphorylation in Erk and Akt was observed. The antiproliferative activity of gefitinib was not correlated with EGFR expression and some possibility of phosphorylation of Erk and Akt as a predictive factor of gefitinib response was emerged. Further investigations on more reliable predictive factor indicating gefitinib response are awaited to be useful gefitinib treatment in head and neck cancer patients.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.165-174
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• 2022

As the mechanism underlying glucose metabolism regulation by oxymatrine is unclear, this study investigated the effects of oxymatrine on pyroptosis in INS-1 cells. Flow cytometry was employed to examine cell pyroptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Cell pyroptosis was also investigated via transmission electron microscopy and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Protein levels were detected using western blotting and interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The caspase-1 activity and DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 protein (Nrf2) were also assessed. In the high glucose and high fat-treated INS-1 cells (HG + PA), the caspase-1 activity and LDH content, as well as Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3, Gsdmd-N, caspase-1, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD, IL-1β, and IL-18 levels were increased. Moreover, P65 protein levels increased in the nucleus but decreased in the cytoplasm. Oxymatrine attenuated these effects and suppressed high glucose and high fat-induced ROS production. The increased levels of nuclear Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the HG + PA cells were further elevated after oxymatrine treatment, whereas cytoplasmic Nrf2 and Keleh-like ECH-associated protein levels decreased. Additionally, the elevated transcriptional activity of p65 in HG + PA cells was reduced by oxymatrine, whereas that of Nrf2 increased. The results indicate that the inhibition of pyroptosis in INS-1 cells by oxymatrine, a key factor in its glucose metabolism regulation, involves the suppression of the NF-κB pathway and activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1589-1603
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• 2018

Twenty analogs of $[Orn^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$ were synthesized and assayed for their biological activities: seven analogs of $[Orn^6,X^9]{\alpha}-factor$, seven analogs of $[X^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$, five analogs of $[X^5,X^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$, and native ${\alpha}-factor$ (X = amino acids). Their biological activities (halo, gene induction, and affinity) were measured using S. cerevisiae Y7925 and LM102 and compared with those of native ${\alpha}-factor$ (100%). G protein-coupled receptor was expressed in strain LM102 containing pESC-LEU-STE2 vector. $[Dap^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$ with weak halo activity (10%) showed the highest receptor affinity (> 230%) and the highest gene induction activity (167%). $[Arg^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$ showed the highest halo activity (2,000%). The number of active binding sites per cell (about 20,000 for strain LM102) was determined using a newly-designed fluorescence-based detector, $[Arg^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor-Edan$, with high sensitivity (12,500-fold higher than the absorption-based detector $[Orn^6]{\alpha}-factor-[Cys]_3$).

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 2014

The uncertainty assessment is important to improve the reliability of emission inventory data. The DARS (Data Attribute Rating System) have recommended as the uncertainty assessment technic of emission inventory by U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) EIIP (Emission Inventory Improvement Program). The DARS score is based on the perceived quality of the emission factor and activity data. Scores are assigned to four attributes; measurement/method, source specificity, spatial congruity and temporal congruity. The resulting emission factor and activity rate scores are combined to arrive at an overall confidence rating for the inventory. So DARS is believed to be a useful tool and may provide more information about inventories than the usual qualitative grading procedures (e.g. A through E). In this study, the uncertainty assessment for 2009 CAPSS (Clean Air Policy Support System) emission inventory is conducted by DARS. According to the result of this uncertainty assessment, the uncertainty for fugitive dust emission data is higher than other sources, the uncertainty of emission factor for surface coating is the highest value, and the uncertainty of activity data for motor cycle is the highest value. Also it is analysed that the improvement of uncertainty for activity data is as much important as the improvement for emission factor to upgrade the reliability of CAPSS emission inventory.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.6
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• pp.187-204
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• 2001

As a competition between a country and a company becomes fierce and the quality information, reliability and quality guarantee of a product are more emphasized, quality has become an important strategic task of a company. A company today has a strategic quality management system for quality improvement in order to perform such a strategic task. The content of this are as follows. Classify the types of quality strategy of our manufacturing companies when the necessity of a strategic quality management increases in order to adapt to a rapidly changing management environment and study the characteristics of a quality management activity factor of quality strategy. The content and meaning of this analysis are summarized as follows. Confirmed qualify management activity in which quality strategy could be used by analyzing the effects by tendency of a quality management activity factor by quality strategy. It was a product/service factor that a quality management activity factor contrasted most clearly by tendency of quality strategy. Also, it can be said that this study set the foundation of quality strategy of our manufacturing company in a methodological way because this can be used in developing the theory and model of quality management and in verifying them by confirming and embodying the main area for successful quality management through comparing and analyzing factors related with main areas of quality management.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.223-228
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• 1989

Natural killer (NK) cells are a heteroguneous subpopulation of lymphocytes that spontaneously exhibit cytotoxic activity against various virus-Infected and neoplastic target cells without prior exposure to a specific antigen. It was thought that NK calls play an important role in immunosurvrillanre against viral agents and tumors, and in prevention of metastasis. Recently, several reports have indicated evidence that ginseng extracts show a significant stimulatory effect on the humoral and cellular immune responses. This evidence gives support to the suggestion that the anticarcinogenic effect of ginseng may be due to the effect of ginseng on the immunological system. Treatment with total, diol, and triol saponin resulted in an increase in NK cytotoxic activity, but no enhancement of the lytic activity due to the natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF). Therefore, these results suggest that the augmentation of NK activity by ginseng saponin fractions may not be due to the activation of NKCF lytic activity.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.100-107
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• 1998

Methanol extracts of five Berberidaceae species were examined against tissue factor inhibitory and tumour cell growth inhibitory activity. Methanol extracts of Berberis koreana Palibin showed a strong cytotoxicity activity against SK-MEL-2 (Melanoma) tumour cell lines with more than 90% in $25{\mu}g/m\ell$ and against A549 (Lung carcinoma), SK-OV-3 (Ovarian cancer), XF498 (CNS cancer) and HCTl5 (Colon cancer), other Berberidaceae species except B. koreana species have no effect on the tumour cells. Biologically active compound, therefore, was isolated through the activity guided fractionation and purification. The structure was confirmed by NMR. FT-IR and MS to 2-(3,4-dihydroxybenzyl)-ethyl alcohol. It showed cytotoxicity activity against SNU-C4 tumour cell lines with 50.7% in $50{\mu}g/m\ell$. Methanol extracts of 5 Berberidacae species have no effect on the tissue factor inhibitory activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.589-594
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• 2015

The shadow enhancer of the short gastrulation (sog) gene directs its sequential expression in the neurogenic ectoderm and the ventral midline of the developing Drosophila embryo. Here, we characterize three unusual features of the shadow enhancer midline activity. First, the minimal regions for the two different enhancer activities exhibit high overlap within the shadow enhancer, meaning that one developmental enhancer possesses dual enhancer activities. Second, the midline enhancer activity relies on five Single-minded (Sim)-binding sites, two of which have not been found in any Sim target enhancers. Finally, two linked Dorsal (Dl)- and Zelda (Zld)-binding sites, critical for the neurogenic ectoderm enhancer activity, are also required for the midline enhancer activity. These results suggest that early activation by Dl and Zld may facilitate late activation via the noncanonical sites occupied by Sim. We discuss a model for Zld as a pioneer factor and speculate its role in midline enhancer activity.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2004

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are capable of degrading extracellular matrix, a process that is necessary for angiogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis. Platelet-activating factor (PAP) increases angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis through nuclear factor (NF)-$\kappa$B activation. Based on these facts, the involvement of MMPs in PAF-induced pulmonary metastasis was investigated in murine sarcoma cells, MMSV-BALB/3T3. Messenger RNA expression and enzymatic activity of MMP-9 were assessed by RT-PCR and zymography, and cell migration and metastasis were done for the detection of MMP-9 functional activity. PAP induced mRNA expression and enzymatic activity of MMP-9, and its effects were either inhibited by the PAP antagonist, WEB 2170 or by the NF-$\kappa$B inhibitor, parthenolide, or p65 antisense oligonucleotide in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, PAF induced promoter activity of MMP-9, which was inhibited by WEB 2170, phenanthroline, NAC, PDTC. These results indicate that PAF induces mRNA expression and enzymatic activity of MMP-9 in NF-$\kappa$B dependent manner. Cell migration assay showed that PAF induced MMSV-BALB/3T3 migration, and its effect was significantly inhibited by treatment with phenanthroline. PAF enhanced pulmonary metastasis of murine sarcoma cells, MMSV-BALB/3T3 was also reduced by phenanthroline. These results suggest that PAF-enhanced cell migration and pulmonary metastasis is mediated through the expression of MMP. In conclusion, It is suggested that PAF enhances pulmonary metastasis by inducing MMP-9 expression via the activation of NF-$\kappa$B.