• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.175-180
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• 2012

Skin-derived precursor cells (SKPs) are multipotent, sphere-forming and embryonic neural crest-related precursor cells that can be isolated from dermis. It is known that the properties of porcine SKPs can be enhanced by leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) which is an essential factor for the generation of embryonic stem cells in mice. In our present study, to enhance or maintain the properties of murine SKPs, LIF was added to the culture medium. SKPs were treated with 1,000 IU LIF for 72 hours after passage 3. Quantitative real time RT-PCR was then performed to quantify the expression of the pluripotent stem cell specific genes Oct4, Nanog, Klf4 and c-Myc, and the neural crest specific genes Snai2 and Ngfr. The results show that the expression of Oct4 is increased in murine SKPs by LIF treatment whereas the level of Ngfr is decreased under these conditions. Interestingly, LIF treatment reduced Nanog expression which is also important for cell proliferation in adult stem cells and for osteogenic induction in mesenchymal stem cells. These findings implicate LIF in the maintenance of stemness in SKPs through the suppression of lineage differentiation and in part through the control of cell proliferation.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.90-96
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• 2011

In this paper, we propose a new discrete logarithm problem(DLP) based on the class semigroups of imaginary quadratic non-maximal orders using the special character of non-invertible ideal and analysis its security. To do this, we first explain the mathematical background explicitly and prove some properties of Cls (O) which relate to constructing the DLP and guaranteeing the security. To test the security of the proposed DLP, we compare the class number of the maximal order with that of the non-maximal order and investigate the unique factorization problems of ideals between class groups of the maximal orders and class semigroups of non-maximal orders to ensure the security of the cryptosystem.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.171-174
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• 2012

Various small molecules can be used to control major signaling pathways to enhance stemness and inhibit differentiation in murine embryonic stem cell (mESC) culture. Small molecules inhibiting the fibroblast growth factor (FGF)/ERK pathway can preserve pluripotent cells from stimulation of differentiation. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of pluripotin (SC-1), an inhibitor of the FGF/ERK pathway, on the colony formation of outgrowing presumptive mESCs. After plating the zona pellucida-free blastocyst on the feeder layer, attached cell clumps was cultured with SC-1 until the endpoint of the experiment at passage 10. In this experiment, when the number of colonies was counted at passage 3, SC-1-treated group showed 3.4 fold more mESC colonies when compared with control group. However, after passage 4, there was no stimulating effect of SC-1 on the colony formation. In conclusion, SC-1 treatment can be used to promote mESC generation by increasing the number of early mESC colonies.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 한국동물번식학회 2001년도 춘계학술발표대회
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• pp.79-79
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• 2001

This study was conducted to measure the total protein, DNA, and RNA contents of corpus luteum(CL) in various stages of estrous cycle and pregnancy. CLs were collected from a local slaughterhouse and stages of the estrous cycle of CL were classified as CL1~2, days 1 to 10; CL3(with/without central cavity), days 11 to 17; CL4, days 18 to 20 by method of Ireland et. al(1980) and stages of the pregnancy of CL were classified as P1~3, months 11~3: P4~6, months 4~6; P7~9, months 7~9 of pregnancy. CL3 with/without central cavity(CC) was identified as described by Kastelic et. al.(1990)-CL with CC, more than 2mm in diameter; CL without CC, less than 2mm in diameter. In total protein content, CL3 with CC was significantly lower than P7~9(p<.05). The total DNA content was lower in CL3 with CC than CL3 without CC and CL4(p<.05). In protein : DNA ratio, CL3 with CC was significantly lower than CL4(p<.05), CL3 without CC was significantly lower than P7~9(p<.05), CL4 was significantly lower than CL3 with CC, P1~3 and P7~9(p<.05). No differences were observed in RNA content, protein:RNA ratio, RNA/DNA of CLs in stages of estrous cycle and pregnancy.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.17-22
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• 2011

This study was designed to determine the effect of electric field strength, duration and fusion buffer in fusion parameters on the rate of membrane fusion between the somatic cell and cytoplast for Korean cattle (HanWoo) somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) procedure. Following electrofusion, effect of 5 or $10\;{\mu}M$ $Ca^{2+}$-ionophore of activation treatment on subsequent development was also evaluated. Cell fusion rates were significantly increased from 23.1% at 20 V/mm to 59.7% at 26 V/mm and 52.9% at 27 V/mm (p<0.05). Due to higher cytoplasmic membrane rupture or cellular lysis, overall efficiency was decreased when the strength was increased to 30 V/mm (18.5%) and 40 V/mm (6.3%) and the fusion rate was also decreased when the strength was at 25 V/mm or below. The optimal duration of electric stimulation was significantly higher in $25\;{\mu}s$ than 20 and $30\;{\mu}s$ (18.5% versus 9.3% and 6.3%, respectively, p<0.05). Two nonelectrolyte fusion buffers, Zimmermann's (0.28 M sucrose) and 0.28 M mannitol solution for cell fusion, were used for donor cell and ooplast fusion and the fusion rate was significantly higher in Zimmermann's cell fusion buffer than in 0.28 M mannitol (91.1% versus 48.4%, respectively, p<0.05). The cleavage and blastocyst formation rates of SCNT bovine embryos activated by $5\;{\mu}M$ $Ca^{2+}$-ionophore was significantly higher than the rates of the embryos activated with $10\;{\mu}M$ of $Ca^{2+}$-ionophore (70.0% versus 42.9% and 22.5% versus 14.3%, respectively; p<0.05). This result is the reverse to that of parthenotes which shows significantly higher cleavage and blastocyst rates in $10\;{\mu}M$ $Ca^{2+}$-ionophore than $5\;{\mu}M$ counterpart (65.6% versus 40.3% and 19.5% versus 9.7%, respectively; p<0.05). In conclusion, SCNT couplet fusion by single pulse of 26 V/mm for $25\;{\mu}s$ in Zimmermann's fusion buffer followed by artificial activation with $5\;{\mu}M$ $Ca^{2+}$-ionophore are suggested as optimal fusion and activation methods in Korean cattle SCNT protocol.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제9권6호
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• pp.333-339
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• 2005

B/K protein is a novel protein containing double C2-like domains. We examined the specific signaling pathway that regulates the transcription of B/K in PC12 cells. When the cells were treated with forskolin ($50{\mu}M$), B/K mRNA and protein levels were time-dependently decreased, reaching the lowest level at 3 or 4 hr, and thereafter returning to the control level. Chemicals such as dibutyryl-cAMP, cellpermeable cyclic AMP (cAMP) analogue and CGS21680, adenosine receptor $A_{2A}$ agonist, also repressed the B/K transcription. However, 1,9-dideoxyforskolin did not show inhibitory effect on B/K transcription, suggesting direct involvement of cAMP in the forskolin-induced inhibition of B/K transcription. Effect of forskolin, dibutyryl cAMP and CGS21680 was significantly reduced in PKA-deficient PC12 cell line (PC12-123.7). One cAMP-response element (CRE)-like sequence (B/K CLS) was found in the promoter region of B/K DNA, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated its binding to CREM and CREB. Forskolin significantly suppressed the promoter activity in CHO-K1 cells transfected with the constructs containing B/K CLS, but not with the construct in which B/K CLS was mutated (AC：TG). Taken together, we suggest that the transcription of B/K gene in PC12 cells may be regulated by PKA-dependent mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.227-239
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• 1988

In order to investigate the morphological characteristics of dendritic cells in the mammary gland, the appearance on the clear cells(CLs) or ATPase-positive dendritic cells(APDCs) have been observed by the light microscope. The results obtained were summarized as follows: CLs were observed in the mammary tissues of the experimental animals, such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs, pigs, cows and Korean native goats, and these CLs were confirmed as the ATPase-positive cells of typical dendritic appearance(APDCs), The APDCs were distributed in between the secretory epithelial cells, between the secretory epithelial cells and the myoepithelial cells, the basal area of the secretory epithelial cells, the interalveolar and interlobular connective tissues, and in between the epithelial cells of secretory duct. The APDCs were observed more frequently during the middle period of lactation than the other periods, and were irregularly or uniformly distributed according to the location. During the middle period of lactation, there were notable quantitative differences in the APDSs depending on the mammary glands of mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and cats, The most prominent differences were recognized among the mice, guinea pigs and cats. The number of AP DCs per unit area was statistically fewer in the guinea pigs($209.07{\pm}51.75cells/mm^2$) than in the mice($221.00{\pm}50.94cells/mm^2$) and cats($223.56{\pm}49.68cells/mm^2$) (respectively, p<0.05, p<0.05). Among the A/J, DBA/2, C57BL/6 and NIH(GP) mice, the mean densities of APDCs was statistically significantly fewer in the DBA/2($196.65{\pm}43.47cells/mm^2$) than in the C57BL/6($248.40{\pm}41.40cells/mm^2$) and NIH(GP) ($235.98{\pm}55.89cells/mm^2$) (respectively, p<0.0000, p<0.0000), however no significant difference between the C57BL/6 and the NIH(GP) was recognized (p>0.1). Among the F344, SD and W rats, the statistical analysis were confirmed that there were significantly fewer APDCs in the F344($198.72{\pm}47.61cells/mm^2$) than in the SD($227.70{\pm}41.40cells/mm^2$) and W($223.56{\pm}49.68cells/mm^2$) (respectively, p<0.0000, p<0.0001), however no significant difference between the SD and the W was recognized(p>0.1). The mean difference between the inbred and the noninbred counts in the mice was statistically significant (p<0.0001), and the similar result was presented in the rats(p<0.0000).

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.507-514
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• 2016

Although 3D-complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) mapping is useful in radiofrequency catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), the directions and configuration of the bipolar electrodes may affect the electrogram. This study aimed to compare the spatial reproducibility of CFAE by changing the catheter orientations and electrode distance in an in -silico left atrium (LA). We conducted this study by importing the heart CT image of a patient with AF into a 3D-homogeneous human LA model. Electrogram morphology, CFAE-cycle lengths (CLs) were compared for 16 different orientations of a virtual bipolar conventional catheter (conv-cath: size 3.5 mm, inter-electrode distance 4.75 mm). Additionally, the spatial correlations of CFAE-CLs and the percentage of consistent sites with CFAE-CL<120 ms were analyzed. The results from the conv-cath were compared with that obtained using a mini catheter (mini-cath: size 1 mm, inter-electrode distance 2.5 mm). Depending on the catheter orientation, the electrogram morphology and CFAE-CLs varied (conv-cath: $11.5{\pm}0.7%$ variation, mini-cath: $7.1{\pm}1.2%$ variation), however the mini-cath produced less variation of CFAE-CL than conv-cath (p<0.001). There were moderate spatial correlations among CFAE-CL measured at 16 orientations (conv-cath: $r=0.3055{\pm}0.2194$ vs. mini-cath: $0.6074{\pm}0.0733$, p<0.001). Additionally, the ratio of consistent CFAE sites was higher for mini catheter than conventional one ($38.3{\pm}4.6%$ vs. $22.3{\pm}1.4%$, p<0.05). Electrograms and CFAE distribution are affected by catheter orientation and electrode configuration in the in-silico LA model. However, there was moderate spatial consistency of CFAE areas, and narrowly spaced bipolar catheters were less influenced by catheter direction than conventional catheters.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.24-31
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• 2004

The objective of this work is to suggest a mastless pattern fabrication technique using the combination of machining by Nanoindenter(equation omitted) XP and HF wet etching. Sample line patterns were machined on a borosilicate surface by constant load scratch (CLS) of the Nanoindenter(equation omitted) XP with a Berkovich diamond tip, and they were etched in HF solution to investigate chemical characteristics of the machined borosilicate surface. All morphological data of scratch traces were scanned using atomic force microscope (AFM).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics B
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• 제33B권12호
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• pp.62-70
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• 1996

Image restoration is the process which estimates the original image form the blurred image observed by the non-ideal imaging system with additivenoise. According to the regularized approach, the resotred image can be obtained by iterative methods or the constrained least square error(CLS) filter. Among those retoratin methods, despite of many advantages, iterative iamge restoration is limited in use because of slow convergence. In the present paper, fast iterative image restoration algorithms based on preconditoning are proposed. The preconditioner can be obtained by using the characteristics finite impulse response (FIR) filter structure.