• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.560-570
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• 2006

Mistletoe (Viscum album) lectins, which are classified as a type II ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) due to their unique biological function and the potential medical and therapeutic application in cancer cells, receive a rising attention. The heterodimeric glycoproteins contain the A-chain with catalytic activity and the B-chain with sugar binding properties. In recent years, studies involving the lectins from the white berry European mistletoe (Viscum album) and the yellow berry Korean mistletoe (Viscum album coloratum) have been described. However, the detailed mechanism in exerting unique cytotoxic effect on cancer cells still remains unclear. Here, we aim to understand and define the molecular basis and biological effects of the type II RIPs, through the studies of the recombinant Korean mistletoe lectin. To this end, we expressed, purified the recombinant Korean mistletoe lectin (rKML), and investigated its molecular characteristics in vitro, its cytotoxicity and ability to induce apoptotic cell death in cancer cells. To gain structural basis for its catalytic activity and sugar binding properties, we performed homology modeling studies based on the high degree of sequence identity and conserved secondary structure prediction between Korean and European, Himalayan mistletoe lectins, and Ricin.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.54-64
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• 2013

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the effects and intervention methods of aromatherapy studies in nursing. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted. Nursing literature databases were searched to identify intervention studies published in Korea between 2000 and 2011. Finally, 53 articles were included in the review. Results: The most preferred application method of aromatherapy was massage. The major dependent variables were anxiety, depression, pain, and sleep disturbance. 76.5% of the studies reported positive effects on anxiety. 93.8% of the studies reported positive effects on depression. 86.7% of the studies reported positive effects on pain. 92.3% of the studies reported positive effects on sleep disturbance. Psychometric measurements were mainly used in the studies. Only 33.9% of the studies adopted physical or physiological measurements. The most prevalent physical or physiological instrument was vital signs. Conclusion: Aromatherapy had positive effects on anxiety, depression, pain, and sleep disturbance measuring when using psychometric instruments. However, there was no sufficient evidence measuring when using physical or physiological instruments. These need to be studied using well-designed, randomized, controlled trials, and should encourage the use of both psychometric and physiological measures for aromatherapy intervention in nursing studies.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.376-384
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• 2017

In this paper, we describe a case of using robot technology in child studies to examine children's judgement and reasoning of the life phenomenon on boundary objects. In order to control the effects of the appearance of the robot, which children observe or interact directly with, on the children's judgement and reasoning of the life phenomenon, we developed a robot similar to human. Unit experimental scenarios representing biological and psychological properties were implemented based on control of robot's motion, speech, and facial expressions. Experimenters could combine these multiple unit scenarios in a cascade to implement various scenarios of the human-robot interaction. Considering that the experimenters are researchers of child studies, there was a need to develop a remote operation console that can be easily used by non-experts in the robot field. Using the developed robot platform, researchers of child studies could implement various scenarios by manipulating the biological and psychological properties of the robot based on their research hypothesis. As a result, we could clearly see the effects of robot's properties on children's understanding about boundary object like robots.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2010

Gene-environment interactions are important in pathogenesis of suicide or suicidal behavior. Twin and adoption studies and family studies show that genetic factors play a critical role in suicide or suicidal behavior. Given the strong association between serotonergic neurotransmission and suicide, recent molecular genetic studies have focused on polymorphisms of serotonin genes, especially on serotonin transporter and tryptophan hydroxylase genes. Some studies have revealed a significant interaction between s allele of the serotonin transporter gene and the risk of suicide attempt associated with childhood trauma. In addition, the polymorphism of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene also may influence the effect of childhood trauma in relation to the risk of attempting suicide. Future studies should explore genetic and environmental factors in suicide or suicidal behavior and examine for gene and environment interaction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.112-116
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• 2004

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.21-23
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.79-80
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• 2002

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 1989

For the advancement of research in biological education in Korea, research trends shown in Journal of Biological Education(JBE)of England were analyzed by using a PC program(REFMENU). Papers Published in JBE between 1977 and 1987 were registered on the program with classifying keys of biological education and biology including names of authors, year, title, volume pages, and key words. Those input-date were analyzed by sorting depend-ing on either the classifying keys or the key words. Among the 361 papers 28.8% was dealing with the theory of science education. The rest dealt with biology and biological education, together. Of the six categories of biological education, the research on biological curriculum was 41 % of total and was the most. The major trends in this category was in developing the content of the curriculum. In the research of biological instruction, 37 papers dealt with the instruction theory and the rest 60 papers dealt with the tactics of Instruction. Of the 60 papers on materials in biological education, the research in developing the biological material was the most. Thus, the general research trend was far more practical aspect than the theoretical aspect of biological education. In the analysis of the papers depending on the biological categories, the one dealt with ecology was the most(26.8%). The rest papers showed almost even distribution in the 13 categories of biology. The results of this analysis was discussed by comparing with the research trends in Korea to suggest the possible future studies.

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.129-141
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• 2018

Suicide is a behavior that is intended to cause death by itself and requires medical treatment, resulting in suicidal attempt or completion. Suicide causes loss of life, damages the body, costs a lot of medical expenses, and causes families to fall into sorrow and suffering therefore this suicide is a huge loss to family and society. There have been attempts to reduce and prevent suicide by understanding the mechanism of suicide. The mechanism of suicide can be thought of as psychological mechanism and biological mechanism. In the past, if we considered the psychological and biological mechanisms separately, the development of neuroscience now connects and integrates these two. Psychological factors affect biological factors and biological temperaments also affect perception or thinking about the situation and increase psychological vulnerability. Distant factors in suicidal behavior-such as childhood adversity and family and genetic predisposition-increase the lifetime risk of suicide. They alter the response to stress and other processes through changes in gene expression and regulation of emotional and behavioral characteristics. Distant factors affect the biological system and consequently changes in these systems can increase the risk of suicide. In other words, the distal factor does not directly induce suicidal behavior but rather acts indirectly through developmental or mediating factors. These mediating factors are impulsive aggressive and anxious trait, and chronic use of substances. The mechanism of this disorder is the abnormality of the serotonin system and the abnormality of the lipid level. Proximal factors are associated with the onset of suicide events and include changes in the major neurotransmitter systems, inflammatory changes, and dysfunction of glial cells in the brain. A series of studies, including a variety of research methods and postmortem and in-vivo imaging studies, show the impairment of the serotonergic neurotransmitter system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis stress response system for suicidal behavior. These disorders lead to suicidal behavior due to difficulty in cognitive control of mood, pessimism, reactive aggression, abnormality in problem solving abilities, excessive response to negative social signals, severe emotional distress, and cognitive dysregulation of suicidal ideation.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.177-193
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• 2010

Significant advances have been made in understanding the biological underpinnings of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), particularly in the field of genetics and neuroimaging. Association studies in candidate genes related with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, monoamines including serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline, and proteins including FK506-binding protein 5 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor have provided important insights with regard to the vulnerability factors in PTSD. Genome-wide association studies and epigenetic studies may provide further information for the role of genes in the pathophysiology of PTSD. Hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulated cortex and amygdala have been considered as key structures that underlie PTSD pathophysiology. Future research that combines genetic and neuroimaging information may provide an opportunity for a more comprehensive understanding of PTSD.