• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.804-811
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• 2013

Melanopsin is an opsin-like photopigment found in the small proportion of photosensitive ganglion cells of the retina. It is involved in the regulation of the synchronization of the circadian cycle as well as in the control of pupillary light reflex. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether melanopsin is also expressed in the other areas of the central visual system outside the retina. We have studied the distribution and morphology of neurons containing melanopsin in the mouse visual cortex with antibody immunocytochemistry. Melanopsin immunoreactivity was mostly present in neuronal soma, but not in nuclei. We found that melanopsin was present in a large subset of neurons within the adult mouse visual cortex with the highest density in layer II/III. In layer I of the visual cortex, melanopsin-immunoreactive (IR) neurons were rarely encountered. In the mouse visual cortex, the majority of the melanopsin-IR neurons consisted of round/oval cells, but was varied in morphology. Vertical fusiform and pyramidal cells were also rarely labeled with the anti-melanopsin antibody. The labeled cells did not show any distinctive distributional pattern. Some melanopsin-IR neurons in mouse visual cortex co-localized with nitricoxide synthase, calbindin and parvalbumin. Our data indicate that melanopsin is located in specific neurons and surprisingly widespread in visual cortex. This finding raises the need of the functional study of melanopsin in central visual areas outside the retina.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.733-737
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• 2018

Cucurbitacin-I, a natural triterpenoid derived from Cucurbitaceae family plants, exhibits a number of potentially useful pharmacological and biological activities. Indeed, the previous study demonstrated that cucurbitacin-I reduced the proliferation of colon cancer cells by enhancing apoptosis and causing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. CD44, a type I transmembrane protein with the function of adhering to cells, mediates between the extracellular matrix and other cells through hyaluronic acid. Recent studies have demonstrated that an overexpression of the CD44 membrane receptor results in tumor initiation and growth, specific behaviors of cancer stem cells, the development of drug resistance, and metastasis. The aim was to examine the effect of cucurbitacin-I on CD44 expression human ovarian cancer cells because the effect of cucurbitacin-I on CD44 expression has not been reported. The expressions of CD44 mRNA and protein were detected using a quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and a Western blot analysis, respectively. Treatment with cucurbitacin-I inhibited the expression of CD44 mRNA and protein. A subsequent analysis revealed that cucurbitacin-I blocked the phosphorylation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappa-B ($NF-{\kappa}B$), which are key regulators of CD44 expression. Taken together, the data demonstrate that cucurbitacin-I regulates the AP-1 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways, leading to decreased CD44 expression.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.469-478
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• 2020

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) propagation is highly dependent on cellular proteins. To identify the host factors involved in HCV propagation, we previously performed protein microarray assays and identified the LIM and SH3 domain protein 1 (LASP-1) as an HCV NS5A-interacting partner. LASP-1 plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation, migration, and protein-protein interactions. Alteration of LASP-1 expression has been implicated in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the functional involvement of LASP-1 in HCV propagation and HCV-induced pathogenesis has not been elucidated. Here, we first verified the protein interaction of NS5A and LASP-1 by both in vitro pulldown and coimmunoprecipitation assays. We further showed that NS5A and LASP-1 were colocalized in the cytoplasm of HCV infected cells. NS5A interacted with LASP-1 through the proline motif in domain I of NS5A and the tryptophan residue in the SH3 domain of LASP-1. Knockdown of LASP1 increased HCV replication in both HCV-infected cells and HCV subgenomic replicon cells. LASP-1 negatively regulated viral propagation and thereby overexpression of LASP-1 decreased HCV replication. Moreover, HCV propagation was decreased by wild-type LASP-1 but not by an NS5A binding-defective mutant of LASP-1. We further demonstrated that LASP-1 was involved in the replication stage of the HCV life cycle. Importantly, LASP-1 expression levels were increased in persistently infected cells with HCV. These data suggest that HCV modulates LASP-1 via NS5A in order to regulate virion levels and maintain a persistent infection.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.301-308
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• 2018

Anthropogenic radioactive noble gases formed by nuclear fission are significant indicators used to monitor the nuclear activity of neighboring countries. In particular, radioactive xenon, owing to its abundant generation and short half-life, can be used to detect nuclear testing, and radioactive krypton has been used as a tracer to monitor the reprocessing of nuclear fuels. Released radioactive noble gases are in the atmosphere at infinitesimal amounts due to their dilution in the air and their short half-life decay. Therefore, to obtain reliable and significant data when performing measurement of noble gases in the atmosphere, the minimum detectable activity (MDA) for noble gases should be defined as low as possible. In this study, the MDA values for radioactive xenon and krypton were theoretically obtained based on the BfS-IAR system by collecting both noble gases simultaneously. In addition, various MDA methods, confidence level and analysis conditions were suggested to reduce and optimize MDA with an assessment of the factors affecting MDA. The current investigation indicated that maximizing the pretreatment efficiency and performance maintenance of the counter were the most important aspects for Xe. In the case of Kr, since sample activities are much higher than those of Xe, it is possible to change the target MDA or to simplification of the analysis system.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.336-344
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• 2015

The capacity for liver regeneration involves a variety of nutritional factors. Vitamin C has multiple metabolic and antioxidant functions. In this study, we investigated the role of vitamin C in liver regeneration following hepatectomy in senescence marker protein (SMP)-30 knockout (KO) mice. Partial hepatectomy was performed by resecting the median and left lateral lobes of mice. Vitamin C accelerated liver recovery in SMP30 KO mice treated with vitamin C (KV). The livers of the KV mice exhibited lower levels of aspartate aminotransferase and lower injury than those of the KO mice. Increased type II transforming growth factor-β receptor (TGF-βRII)-mediated regeneration signaling was accompanied by HGF and cMet in the KV but not the KO mice. Consistent with this, the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins, including cyclin D1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), increased rapidly in the KV mice. Enhanced activation of ERK and GSK-3β proteins and a significantly increased number of binuclear hepatocytes were also detected in the livers of the KV mice. Moreover, the KV mice synthesized the highest levels of albumin. These data suggest that treating SMP30 knockout mice with vitamin C resulted in earlier recovery and liver regeneration by activation of the regeneration system.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.23-39
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• 2019

The purpose of the study was to analyze the home economics education experts' and teachers' perception of ways to align instruction with evaluation, based on the 2015 revised technology and home economics curriculum for the purpose of developing the independent living competencies, and to provide examples of alignment in practice. The analysis is based on the data from a Delphi study (10 experts) and a survey of technology and home economics teachers(n=422). The results of survey indicated that experts and teachers perceived the instruction-assessment alignment to be most appropriate for project learning-project assessment, followed by project learning-portfolio assessment, problem solving learning-portfolio assessment, and problem solving learning-project assessment, in order. Based on the survey results, a model of instruction-assessment alignment and a teaching-learing plan were presented, based on 'Development task of life cycle and Life plan' unit. This was considered to be a proper method of instructional alignment for the purpose of developing 'independent living competence' with project-learning/project-assessment. The model focuses on consistency between instruction and evaluation, unity in methods, and the availablility of feedbacks of assessment for the improvement of independent living competencies. In conclusion, this study contributes as foundational information for teaching and learning-assessment alignment. Diverse methods of instruction-evaluation alignment is expected for future research.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.55-73
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• 2008

This research explores the relationship between gender equity within family and second birth in Korea. For a factor analysis on the intention of having additional children for women with one child, I have used the data from the 2005 National Survey on Marriage and Fertility Trend" of the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. Among 516 samples(year of 20-44), women planning to have second birth are 54.7%, and others have answered that they have no intention to have second birth. As a result, main causes affecting progressing to second birth seemed to be family planning on family cycle, such as controlling age gaps between first and second child, composing children genders as they wish etc. The variable of "gender equity between couples" in progressing to second birth are of significant only with married working women group. In case of married working women, more the husband's houseworking hours increase, the more prone to progress to second birth. However, in case of housewives, gender equity level, such as husband's housework hours or share of housework are not of significant influence in progressing to second birth. Not only working mothers but also housewives need the realization of gender equity within the family and the expansion of social support system for work-family life balance.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2002

We investigated the compositional changes of glycoconjugates (GCs) and expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-$\alpha$, c-fos and c-jun in the vagina of normal and ovariectomized rats by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The mucinous transformation of the superficial layer that occurred from late diestrus to proestrus was accompanied with extensive enrichment of GCs. According to the cyclic changes of the vagina, distinct reactivity patterns such as SBA affinity in the diestrus and Con A affinity in the diestrus and estrus phase was observed. However, weak staining for GCs was detected in the atrophied vaginal epithelium of ovariectomized rats. ER-$\alpha$ immunoreaction was mainly demonstrated in the basal layer of epithelium and estrus cycle-related variation in the number of ER-$\alpha$ immunoreaction were not pronounced. But the stromal cells showing ER-$\alpha$ immunoreaction were abundantly observed from diestrus to estrus phase. The most numerous c-fos immunoreactive cells were observed in the basal and intermediate layer of epithelium and stromal fells from the proestrus to estrus phase and c-jun in the basal layer of epithelium during estrus phase. The c-jun immunoreaction of stromal cells expressed only in the estrus phase. In the ovariectomized rats, a few of ER-$\alpha$, c-fos and c-jun immunoreactive cells were observed in the vaginal epithelium and no immunoreaction were found in the stromal cells. ER-$\alpha$ and c-fos immunoreaction fully expressed in the proestrus coincident with the cell proliferation, mutinous transformation and cornification of vaginal epithelium. These data indicate that vagina epithelium and stromal reals express multiple protein such as ER-$\alpha$, c-fos and c-iun by estrogen that may function in process of cells proliferation and differentiation of vagina epithelium.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.47-61
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to analyze the trend of changes in household labor among middle-aged generations who are facing dynamic changes in the middle of their life cycle. The research method is a literature study that examines and analyzes related data. Specifically, it aims to analyze the basic characteristics of middle-aged generations and trends in household labor, which are revealed through Time Use Survey, market trend reports, newspaper articles, and books. From the perspective of family resource management, housework is an unpaid activity performed by and for family members, and is an activity that can be replaced by purchasing goods or services from the market. This study focuses on the rapid growth of the home appliance market that replaces housework with the development of technology after industrialization, and how the change of technology affected the efficiency of housework. In addition, the composition and characteristics of middle-aged generations greatly changed according to changes in family structure, form, and family value. Examining the current state of housework and changing trends of middle-aged generations, which have different characteristics from previous generations, is significant in that it can predict future market trends and suggest implications for family policies that support the improvement of the quality of life of middle-aged generations.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1268-1276
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• 2018

The cytidine analog decitabine (DEC) acts as a nucleic acid synthesis inhibitor, whereas ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is an inhibitor of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible synergistic inhibitory effect of these two inhibitors on proliferation of human gastric cancer AGS cells. The inhibitory effect of PDTC on AGS cell proliferation was significantly increased by DEC in a concentration-dependent manner, and this inhibition was associated with cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and the induction of apoptosis. This induction of apoptosis by the co-treatment with PDTC and DEC was related to the induction of DNA damage, as assessed by H2AX phosphorylation. Further studies demonstrated that co-treatment with PDTC and DEC induced the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, increased the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax, and down-regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, ultimately resulting in the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm. Co-treatment with PDTC and DEC also activated caspase-8 and caspase-9, which are representative caspases of the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways. Co-treatment also activated caspase-3, which was accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Taken together, these data clearly indicated that co-treatment with PDTC and DEC suppressed the proliferation of AGS cells by increasing DNA damage and activating the ROS-mediated extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways.