• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.217-231
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• 2015

This study aims to infer the gene-protein 'brings_about' chains of pancreatic cancer which were referred to in the pancreatic cancer related researches by constructing the gene-protein interaction network of pancreatic cancer. The chains can help us uncover publicly unknown knowledge that would develop as empirical studies for investigating the cause of pancreatic cancer. In this study, we applied a novel approach that grafts text mining and the main path analysis into Swanson's ABC model for expanding intermediate concepts to multi-levels and extracting the most significant path. We carried out text mining analysis on the full texts of the pancreatic cancer research papers published during the last ten-year period and extracted the gene-protein entities and relations. The 'brings_about' network was established with bio relations represented by bio verbs. We also applied main path analysis to the network. We found the main direct 'brings_about' path of pancreatic cancer which includes 14 nodes and 13 arcs. 9 arcs were confirmed as the actual relations emerged on the related researches while the other 4 arcs were arisen in the network transformation process for main path analysis. We believe that our approach to combining text mining analysis with main path analysis can be a useful tool for inferring undiscovered knowledge in the situation where either a starting or an ending point is unknown.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6073-6076
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• 2012

Discovery of anticancer drugs that kill or disable tumor cells in the presence of normal cells without undue toxicity is a potential challenge for therapeutic care. Several papers in the literature have emphasized the potential implications of marine products such as seaweeds which exhibit antitumor activity. Study attempts to screen the antitumor effect of Sargassum sp, against chosen cell lines such as MCF-7 (Breast cancer) and Hep-2 (Liver Cancer). Ethanol extract of Sargassum sp. was concentrated using a Soxhlet apparatus and dissolved in DMSO. In vitro cytotoxic activity of Sargassum sp at various concentrations ($100{\mu}g/ml-300{\mu}g/ml$) screened for antitumor effect against the chosen cell lines using MTT assay (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, a yellow tetrazole). The study documented that the percentage of cell viability has been reduced with increased concentration, as evidenced by cell death. Sargassum sp extract shows potential cytotoxic activity ($P{\leq}0.05$) with $IC_{50}$ of $200{\mu}g/ml$ and $250{\mu}g/ml$ against Hep-2 and MCF-7 cell lines respectively. The ethanol fraction of Sargassum sp induced cell shrinkage, cell membrane blebbing and formation of apoptotic bodies with evidence of bioactive components as profound influencing factors for anti-tumor effects. Further research need to be explored for the successful application of Sargassum sp as a potent therapeutic tool against cancer.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2015

The aim of the study was to explore the possible molecular markers of chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium vivax isolates in Thailand. A total of 30 P. vivax isolates were collected from a malaria endemic area along the Thai-Myanmar border in Mae Sot district of Thailand. Dried blood spot samples were collected for analysis of Pvmdr1 and Pvcrt-o polymorphisms. Blood samples ($100{\mu}l$) were collected by finger-prick for in vitro chloroquine susceptibility testing by schizont maturation inhibition assay. Based on the cut-off $IC_{50}$ of 100 nM, 19 (63.3%) isolates were classified as chloroquine resistant P. vivax isolates. Seven non-synonymous mutations and 2 synonymous were identified in Pvmdr1 gene. Y976F and F1076L mutations were detected in 7 (23.3%) and 16 isolates (53.3%), respectively. Analysis of Pvcrt-o gene revealed that all isolates were wild-type. Our results suggest that chloroquine resistance gene is now spreading in this area. Monitoring of chloroquine resistant molecular markers provide a useful tool for future control of P. vivax malaria.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.705-716
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• 2011

For the efficient discovery of knowledge and information from the observed systems, data mining techniques can be an useful tool for the prediction of water quality at intake station in rivers. Deterioration of water quality can be caused at intake station in dry season due to insufficient flow. This demands additional outflow from dam since some extent of deterioration can be attenuated by dam reservoir operation to control outflow considering predicted water quality. A seasonal occurrence of high ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) concentrations has hampered chemical treatment processes of a water plant in Geum river. Monthly flow allocation from upstream dam is important for downstream $NH_3$-N control. In this study, prediction models of water quality based on multiple regression (MR), artificial neural network and data mining methods were developed to understand water quality variation and to support dam operations through providing predicted $NH_3$-N concentrations at intake station. The models were calibrated with eight years of monthly data and verified with another two years of independent data. In those models, the $NH_3$-N concentration for next time step is dependent on dam outflow, river water quality such as alkalinity, temperature, and $NH_3$-N of previous time step. The model performances are compared and evaluated by error analysis and statistical characteristics like correlation and determination coefficients between the observed and the predicted water quality. It is expected that these data mining techniques can present more efficient data-driven tools in modelling stage and it is found that those models can be applied well to predict water quality in stream river systems.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.13-27
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• 2012

Companies see a new business opportunity in the increased popularity of social network services and the related studies are also gaining more attention. This study attempted to analyze the social networks and thereby find a pattern in the use of social network services. Network users' pattern has been categorized by their purpose of use. Among various social network services, we selected the Facebook and its users were analyzed by a network analysis tool called NodeXL. In the end, several subgroups have been identified in a seemingly homogeneous network. Furthermore, the network shape differences according to the usage of social network services has been studied by comparing "friends" of an individual Facebook user with those of the K University Facebook page.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.611-626
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to explore the composite properties of linear functions using CAS calculators. The meaning and processes in which technological tools such as CAS calculators generated to instrument are reviewed. Other theoretical topic is the design of an exploring model of observing-conjecturing-reasoning and proving using CAS on experimental mathematics. Based on these background, the researchers analyzed the properties of the family of composite functions of linear functions. From analysis, instrumental capacity of CAS such as graphing, table generation and symbolic manipulation is a meaningful tool for this exploration. The result of this study identified that CAS as a mediator of mathematical activity takes part of major role of changing new ways of teaching and learning school mathematics.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.349-354
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• 2006

The aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates many of the biological and toxicological effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, dioxin) and related chemicals. The application of recombinant reporter plasmid such as the firefly luciferase gene has proven to be a very effective method to detect these chemicals. The bioassay system, CALUX, is sensitive in directly detecting AhR-agonists from a variety of environmental and biologic materials. However, responses of the AhR-dependent bioassays are dependent on the cell types used. Thus, we developed a sensitive bioassay using the recombinant mouse hepatoma cell (Hepa1c1c7) for the determination of dioxins. The recombinant cell line was stably transfected with firefly luciferase reporter gene (pGudLuc1.1). The transfected cells showed the highest induction of luciferase activity at 4.5 hr and a decrease beyond this time point. The system showed the highest sensitivity of detection ever reported. Upon TCDD exposure cells showed 2 fold increase at 10 pM and 7 fold increase at 100 pM, respectively. The passage number after the transfection played an important role in the sensitivity. The increase of passage number tended to increase the sensitivity of the cells up to 15. The media without phenol red showed a higher induction rate than with phenol red, suggesting the preferable use of phenol red-free media for the bioassay. Since each of the assays has unique characteristics that make them suitable for some screening applications and not others, development of sensitive bioanalytical methods based on a variety of cellular systems in a key to the successful determination of dioxins. The bioassay system developed in this study will contribute to further development of successful screening the AhR agonists among the environmental mixture. In addition, the rapid and sensitive nature of this cellular system can be applied as a valuable tool to screen the dioxin-like moieties among the prodrugs at the initial stage, thereby expediting the new drug discovery.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.783-793
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• 2019

When endoplasmic reticulum (ER) functions are perturbed, the ER induces several signaling pathways called unfolded protein response to reestablish ER homeostasis through three ER transmembrane proteins: inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), PKR-like ER kinase (PERK), and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6). Although it is important to measure the activity of ATF6 that can indicate the status of the ER, no specific cell-based reporter assay is currently available. Here, we report a new cell-based method for monitoring ER stress based on the cleavage of $ATF6{\alpha}$ by sequential actions of proteases at the Golgi apparatus during ER stress. A new expressing vector was constructed by using fusion gene of GAL4 DNA binding domain (GAL4DBD) and activation domain derived from herpes simplex virus VP16 protein (VP16AD) followed by a human $ATF6{\alpha}$ N-terminal deletion variant. During ER stress, the GAL4DBD-VP16AD(GV)-$hATF6{\alpha}$ deletion variant was cleaved to liberate active transcription activator encompassing GV-$hATF6{\alpha}$ fragment which could translocate into the nucleus. The translocated GV-$hATF6{\alpha}$ fragment strongly induced the expression of firefly luciferase in HeLa Luciferase Reporter cell line containing a stably integrated 5X GAL4 site-luciferase gene. The established double stable reporter cell line HLR-GV-$hATF6{\alpha}$(333) represents an innovative tool to investigate regulated intramembrane proteolysis of $ATF6{\alpha}$. It can substitute active pATF6(N) binding motif-based reporter cell lines.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.39-62
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• 2020

Purpose - Korean exports account for a vast proportion of Korean GDP, and large volumes of Korean products are sold in the United States. Identifying and characterizing actual and potential product hazards related to Korean products is critical to safeguard Korean export trade, as severe quality issues can impair Korea's reputation and reduce global consumer confidence in Korean products. In this study, we develop country-of-origin-based product risk analysis methods for social media with a specific focus on Korean-labeled products, for the purpose of safeguarding Korean export trade. Design/methodology - We employed two social media datasets containing consumer-generated product reviews. Sentiment analysis is a popular text mining technique used to quantify the type and amount of emotion that is expressed in the text. It is a useful tool for gathering customer opinions regarding products. Findings - We document and discuss the specific potential risks found in Korean-labeled products and explain their implications for safeguarding Korean export trade. Finally, we analyze the false positive matches that arise from the established dictionaries that were used for risk discovery and utilize these classification errors to suggest opportunities for the future refinement of the associated automated text analytic methods. Originality/value - Various studies have used online feedback from social media to analyze product defects. However, none of them links their findings to trade promotion and the protection of a specific country's exports. Therefore, it is important to fill this research gap, which could help to safeguard export trade in Korea.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.134-142
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• 2021

Objective: To understand the athletic characteristics of Thoroughbreds, high-throughput analysis has been conducted using horse muscle tissue. However, an in vitro system has been lacking for studying and validating genes from in silico data. The aim of this study is to validate genes from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of our previous RNA-sequencing data in vitro. Also, we investigated the effects of exercise-induced stress including heat, oxidative, hypoxic and cortisol stress on horse skeletal muscle derived cells with the top six upregulated genes of DEGs. Methods: Enriched pathway analysis was conducted using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) tool with upregulated genes in horse skeletal muscle tissue after exercise. Among the candidates, the top six genes were analysed through geneMANIA to investigate gene networks. Muscle cells derived from neonatal horse skeletal tissue were maintained and subjected to exercise-related stressors. Transcriptional changes in the top six genes followed by stressors were investigated using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: The inflammation response pathway was the most commonly upregulated pathway after horse exercise. Under non-cytotoxic conditions of exercise-related stressors, the transcriptional response of the top six genes was different among types of stress. Oxidative stress yielded the most similar expression pattern to DEGs. Conclusion: Our results indicate that transcriptional change after horse exercise in skeletal muscle tissue strongly relates to stress response. The qRT-PCR results showed that stressors contribute differently to the transcriptional regulation. These results would be valuable information to understand horse exercise in the stress aspect.