• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.56-59
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• 2013

Plant phytochromes, molecular light switches that regulate various aspects of plant growth and development, are known as autophosphorylating serine/threonine kinases. Although recent studies reveal that phytochrome autophosphorylation plays an important role in the regulation of phytochrome signaling through the control of phyA protein stability, the in vivo functional roles of phytochrome kinase activity in plant light signaling are largely unknown. Thus, it is necessary to investigate the detailed function of phytochrome as a protein kinase, which might include mapping of kinase domain on the phytochrome molecule, searching for substrates that could be phosphorylated by phyA, and in vivo functional analysis of the kinase activity with phytochrome mutants displaying reduced kinase activity. Our recent studies reveal that the kinase activity of phytochrome plays a positive role in plant light signaling. Therefore, we highlight the current knowledge about the functional roles of phytochrome kinase activity in the light signal transduction of plants, based on our recent results.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate influence of contract-relax exercise on functional leg length inequality (FLLI) and muscle activity. Methods: The subjects were consisted of 40 healthy adults who had FLLI of which degree was at least 10mm. All subjects were randomly assigned to two groups : Contract-Relax Exercise (CRE) group (n=20), control group (n=20). The experimental group underwent CRE for 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Myosystem 1200 was used to measure the activity of rectus femoris and hamstring muscle. The tape measure method was used to measure FLLI. Statistical analysis was used repeated ANOVA know comparison of period, independent T-est know comparison of experiment group and control group. Results: All measurements for each subject took the following test : pre-test, post-test in 2 weeks, post-test in 4 weeks. The FLLI of the experimental group was significantly reduced according to within intervention period (p<0.05). Rectus femoris and hamstring muscle activity of the experimental group was significantly increased (p<0.05). Conclusion: The CRE can reduce FLLI and increase rectus femoris and hamstring muscle activity. Various contract-relax exercise for reduced of FLLI and the methods should be customized for the patients.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.327-336
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analyze muscle activities on functional insole with diet effect. Originally, ten healthy female subjects with an average age of 23.2 year(S.D=1.1), weight of 49.7 kg(S.D=4.9), height of 163.2 cm(S.D=3.5) and a shoe size of 237.5 cm(S.D=4.9) were participated in this experiment. Ten healthy females walked on a treadmill(speed=about 4.2 km/h) wearing two different insole types. Muscle activities data was collected using the EMG operating system. The surface EMG signal for tibialis anterior(TA), gastrocnemius(GA), vatus lateralis(VL) and biceps femoris(BF) were acquired at the RMS(10 Hz, 350 Hz) using Noraxon Telemyo DTS system(Noraxon inc, USA). This study processed the data using the Windows SPSS ver.17.0 to get an independent t-test, with the setting, p<.05. Analysis of muscle activity were measured and calculated during walking. The results are as follow: Functional insole wearing were increased muscle activities significantly from Tibialis anterior(TA) during total gait cycle. Normal distribution was demonstrated in total step of stances period. One foot standing position showed decreased muscle activity. Two foot standing position was demonstrated with gastrocnemius and biceps femoris. As a result of the analysis, Functional insole will inerease the diet effect in the use of four muscle groups.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.365-371
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• 2012

We aimed to analyze the muscle activity of adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis during gait and develop the wearing of musculo-skeletal functional garment by applying the principle of sports taping based on the result of the analysis. We selected 20 male students between the ages of 13 and 18 and divided them into 2 groups: one group consisted of 10 patients with idiopathic scoliosis <20 degrees of Cobb's Angle: the other group had 10 normal students. Using, we measured and analyzed the muscle activity of 8 different regions: left and right latissimus dorsi, left and right thoracolumbar fascia, left and right gluteus medius, and left and right biceps femoris during gait. Our results can be summarized as follows: Firstly, in patients with idiopathic scoliosis, the gait showed a significantly low activity of the right latissimus dorsi muscle when the left foot was supported on the ground(p<.05). Secondly, in the overall gait cycle, the patients showed a higher activity of the right thoracolumbar fascia and right gluteus medius than that seen in the normal students: however, this difference was not statistically significant. Thirdly, by applying sports taping on the bisis of the results, this study developed the wearing of musculo-skeletal functional garment that could maximize the stimuli of the right latissimus dorsi and alleviate muscle contraction of the right thoracolumbar fascia and right gluteus medius, while expanding the spinal line upward and downward, by focusing on the difference between left and right muscular strength of the muscle activity of the bright latissimus dorsi. Overall, we expect that by wearing of musculo-skeletal functional garment, the muscular functions in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.25-30
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• 2011

Purpose : This study aims to examine the changes of muscle activity of the tibialis anterior muscle and the gastrocnemius muscle on the ground and unstable ground for functional reach test. Methods : This study chose 24 elderly men and 24 elderly women who could walk independently, reach their arm over 25 cm, show shoulder joint $90^{\circ}$ flexion, had no operations on lower limb joints, and don't take medication affecting the ability to keep balance. Muscular activity of the tibialis anterior muscle and the gastrocnemius muscle was measured using functional reach test and electromyogram. Functional reach test was conducted at a total of four sections, 0cm, 15cm, 20cm, and 25cm. Results : It was known that the gastrocnemius muscle was used more than the tibialis anterior muscle to keep balance and the elderly with good balance ability showed no great change of muscular activity on both the stable and unstable ground. Conclusion : It was found that the subjects used their gastrocnemius muscle more and lower limbs of frequently used parts to keep their balance. As the elderly have good balance ability, they showed no great change of muscular activity on both the stable and unstable ground.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2002

Objectives : To evaluate the effects of a strengthening exercise program on the physical activity, activities of daily living(ADL), social behavior and functional performance of the elderly in a home for the aged. Methods : We administered a survey questionnaire that consisted of questions to establish general characteristics, health habits and status, physical activity, ADL, and social behavior. Additionally, a physical fitness and functional performance examination was peformed on subjects who were 65 years old or older. Study subjects numbered 33 in the experimental group and 35 in the control group. For intervention, we used a strengthening exercise program of the upper and lower limbs for 12 weeks(5 times/week) using dumbbells and lead-packed weights. Results : After the strengthening exercise program, the scores of physical activity and social behavior were significantly higher than the control group and the before exercise measurements. Moreover, the variables of functional performance were significantly higher than in the control group or the before exercise records. Conclusion : These results Indicate that a strengthening exercise program can improve the score of physical activity, ADL and social behavior, as well as decrease the time(sec) of functional performance of the elderly in a home for the aged.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.1063-1072
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• 2011

This study analyzed the functional components and antioxidant activities of pomegranate juice and pomegranate husk, endocarp and seed extracts by comparing Korean and Iranian pomegranates. Korean pomegranate husk (KPH) had the highest total polyphenol content among the pomegranate extracts, and total phytoestrogen content was highest in Korean pomegranate endocarp (KPE). Iranian pomegranate endocarp (IPE) and Iranian pomegranate husk (IPH) showed the highest flavonoid levels. Overall, Korean pomegranate had more functional components than those in Iranian pomegranate. KPE had the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase like-activity among all of the extracts, and KPH had the highest nitrite scavenging activity. IPE showed the highest superoxide anion scavenging activity. The ABTS$^+$ assay also indicated that IPH had the highest antioxidant activities. This study also showed that the more total polyphenols, flavonols, and phytoestrogens the pomegranate contained, the higher antioxidant activities. A positive correlation was observed between total polyphenol, flavonol and phytoestrogen levels and antioxidant activities. Korean pomegranates contained more functional components and had higher antioxidant activity than those of Iranian pomegranates. Additionally, pomegranate endocarp and seed extracts were better than pomegranate juice in terms of functional components and antioxidant activity. These results suggest that pomegranate husk, endocarp and seed extracts as well as pomegranate juice may have value as natural antioxidants with their high quality functional components and antioxidant activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2015

p73 is a structural and functional homologue of the p53 tumor suppressor protein. Like p53, p73 induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and transactivates p53-responsive genes, conferring its tumor suppressive activity. In addition, p73 has unique roles in neuronal development and differentiation. The importance of p73-induced apoptosis lies in its capability to substitute the pro-apoptotic activity of p53 in various human cancer cells in which p53 is mutated or inactive. Despite the great importance of p73-induced apoptosis in cancer therapy, little is known about the molecular basis of p73-induced apoptosis. In this review, we discuss the p73 structures reported to date, detailed structural comparisons between p73 and p53, and current understanding of the transcription-dependent and -independent mechanisms of p73-induced apoptosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1717-1720
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• 2007

In the course of screening for nitric oxide inhibitors in activated microglial BV-2 cells, cyclo(dehydrohistidyl-L-tryptophyl) was isolated from solid-state fermentation cultures of an unidentified fungal strain, Fb956. Its structure was determined by spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR and chiral TLC analyses. Cyclo(dehydrohistidyl-L-tryptophyl) was found to have an inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production with an $IC_{50}$ of $6.5\;{\mu}M$ in activated BV-2 cells. The structure determination and biological activity of cyclo(dehydrohistidyl-L-tryptophyl) was reported for the first time in this study.

• Bulletin of Food Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.537-543
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• 2009