• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1883-1895
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• 2018

Alcohol dependence is a global public health problem, yet the mechanisms of alcohol dependence are incompletely understood. The traditional view has been that ethanol alters various neurotransmitters and their receptors in the brain and causes the addiction. However, an increasing amount of experimental evidence suggests that gut microbiota also influence brain functions via gut-to-brain interactions, and may therefore induce the development of alcohol use disorders. In this study, a rat model of alcohol dependence and withdrawal was employed, the gut microbiota composition was analyzed by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the metagenome function was predicted by PICRUSt software. The results suggested that chronic alcohol consumption did not significantly alter the diversity and richness of gut microbiota in the jejunum and colon, but rather markedly changed the microbiota composition structure in the colon. The phyla Bacteroidetes and eight genera including Bacteroidales S24-7, Ruminococcaceae, Parabacteroides, Butyricimonas, et al were drastically increased, however the genus Lactobacillus and gauvreauii in the colon were significantly decreased in the alcohol dependence group compared with the withdrawal and control groups. The microbial functional prediction analysis revealed that the proportions of amino acid metabolism, polyketide sugar unit biosynthesis and peroxisome were significantly increased in the AD group. This study demonstrated that chronic alcohol consumption has a dramatic effect on the microbiota composition structure in the colon but few effects on the jejunum. Inducement of colonic microbiota dysbiosis due to alcohol abuse seems to be a factor of alcohol dependence, which suggests that modulating colonic microbiota composition might be a potentially new target for treating alcohol addiction.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.747-754
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• 2009

In this study, adsorption isotherms of o-DCB(ortho-dichlorobenzene) on an activated carbon heated at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours were obtained by experiment and were predicted by using molecular simulation. The initial molecular structure of the activated carbon was designed on the basis of its molecular formula and functional groups ratio measured experimentally. Then, the molecular structure was optimized using the COMPASS(condensed-phase optimized molecular potentials for atomistic simulation studies) force field. The particle porosity, specific surface area, and particle density obtained from the optimized molecular structure of activated carbon were compared with those experimental data. The errors between experimental data and simulation results of the particle porosity, specific surface area, and particle density were shown as 7.6, 3.8, and 2.8%, respectively. Adsorption isotherms constants of o-DCB are calculated by the GCMC(grand canonical Monte Carlo) method in the optimized molecular structure of activated carbon. The simulation result of the adsorption isotherms showed an error of under 3%, compared to that of experimental data. Adsorption isotherms, adsorption heat and pore diffusivity of 2,3,7,8-TCDD(tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) was finally obtained in the same molecular structure of the activated carbon as used for o-DCB. Thus, adsorption characteristics of persistent organic pollutants on activated carbon, which are not easy to experimentally evaluate, are predicted by the molecular simulation.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.336-345
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate the treatment modalities (Tx-Mods) for patients with unilateral hemifacial microsomia (UHFM) according to Pruzansky-Kaban types and growth stages. Methods: The samples consisted of 82 Korean UHFM patients. Tx-Mods were defined as follows: Tx-Mod-1, growth observation due to mild facial asymmetry; Tx-Mod-2, unilateral functional appliance; Tx-Mod-3, fixed orthodontic treatment; Tx-Mod-4, growth observation due to a definite need for surgical intervention; Tx-Mod-5, unilateral mandibular or bimaxillary distraction osteogenesis (DO); Tx-Mod-6, maxillary fixation using LeFort I osteotomy and mandibular DO/sagittal split ramus osteotomy; Tx-Mod-7, orthognathic surgery; and Tx-Mod-8, costochondral grafting. The type and frequency of Tx-Mod, the number of patients who underwent surgical procedures, and the number of surgeries that each patient underwent, were investigated. Results: The degree of invasiveness and complexity of Tx-Mod increased, with an increase in treatment stage and Pruzansky-Kaban type (initial < final; [I, IIa] < [IIb, III], all p < 0.001). The percentage of patients who underwent surgical procedures increased up to 4.2 times, with an increase in the Pruzansky-Kaban type (I, 24.1%; IIa, 47.1%; IIb, 84.4%; III, 100%; p < 0.001). However, the mean number of surgical procedures that each patient underwent showed a tendency of increase according to the Pruzansky-Kaban types (I, n = 1.1; IIa, n = 1.5; IIb, n = 1.6; III, n = 2.3; p > 0.05). Conclusions: These findings might be used as basic guidelines for successful treatment planning and prognosis prediction in UHFM patients.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.1413-1424
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• 2013

Recently, the frequency of severe storms increases in Korea. Severe storms occurring in a short time cause huge losses of both life and property. A considerable research has been performed for the flood control system development based on an accurate stream discharge prediction. A physical model is mainly used for flood forecasting and warning. Physical rainfall-runoff models used for the conventional flood forecasting process require extensive information and data, and include uncertainties which can possibly accumulate errors during modelling processes. ANFIS, a data driven model combining neural network and fuzzy technique, can decrease the amount of physical data required for the construction of a conventional physical models and easily construct and evaluate a flood forecasting model by utilizing only rainfall and water level data. A data driven model, however, has a disadvantage that it does not provide the mathematical and physical correlations between input and output data of the model. The characteristics of a data driven model according to functional options and input data such as the change of clustering radius and training data length used in the ANFIS model were analyzed in this study. In addition, the applicability of ANFIS was evaluated through comparison with the results of HEC-HMS which is widely used for rainfall-runoff model in Korea. The neuro-fuzzy technique was applied to a Cheongmicheon Basin in the South Han River using the observed precipitation and stream level data from 2007 to 2011.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.23 no.4 s.32
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• pp.436-450
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• 1990

This study was designed to investigate the mar factors affecting selection of delivery facilities by pregnant women. Five hundred women hospitalized at 23 Seoul-area delivery facilities, such as university hospitals, general hospitals, hospitals, and clinics were selected and given questionnaires from April 24 to May 7, 1990. A total of 350 questionnaires were collected and analysed for the study. The results are as follows ; 1. In general, variables which significantly affected the choice of delivery facilities included the age of women, their educational level, the educational level of their husbands, monthly average incomes and residential areas. 2. In analyzing the obstetrical characteristics of the women, those variables significantly affecting the choice of delivery facilities were the gestational period, the facilities for prenatal care, the frequency of prenatal care, the type of delivery, the frequency of miscarriage, previous delivery experiences and the awareness on prenatal care. 3. In comparing the motivation factors for selecting the delivery facilities, all the factors except convenience and need for hospitalization differed significantly among delivery facilities. 4. The factor analysis was assessed for twenty possible factors motivating the choice of delivery facilities. Six factors including personal service, scale of the facility, reputation, urgency, convenience, and experience were noted explaining by 57.7%. 5. In the discriminant analysis used to clarify the major factors affecting the selection of delivery facilities, the 16 significant variables were regarded as independent variables, and the type of delivery facilities was considered a dependent variable. The stepwise method was applied to the analysis. Detected discriminant variables were the facilities for prenatal care, scale factor, personal service factor, urgency factor, convenience factor, reputation factor, experience factor, gestational period, types of delivery, frequency of miscarriage, age and income. These 12 discriminant variables were tested, with reference to discriminant prediction, on their importance in the choice of the delivery facility, by the discriminant functional formula. The test showed a hit-rate of 67.7%. The results suggest that general characteristics, obstetrical characteristics, and motivations for selecting the delivery facilities differ significantly according to the types of the delivery facilities. This study implies that all types of delivery facilities should attempt to acommodate characteristics and motivations of pregnant women. The facilities should be prepared to increase their patients satisfaction with required medical conditions by improving service and responding to the pregnant women's preferences.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1304-1310
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• 2015

The period circadian clock gene 3 (PER3) plays a role in the mammalian circadian clocksystem. A regular exercise regime may affect the PER3 transcription in skeletal muscle. Although the effects of day length on circadian and circannual processes are well established in humans and mice, the influence of exercise on these processes in the horse has not been investigated. The present study investigated the expression of the PER3 gene following exercise in a thoroughbred breed of Korean horse. In addition, a comprehensive in silico nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (nsSNP) analysis of the horse PER3 gene and predicted effects of nsSNPs on proteins were examined. The expression of PER3 in skeletal muscle was significantly upregulated after exercise. Four nsSNPs were functionally annotated and analyzed by computational prediction. The total free energy and RMSD values of PER3 gene showed causative mutations. The results showed that nsSNP s395916798 (G72R) was associated with residues that have stabilizing effects on structure and function of PER3 gene. This study documented role of PER3 gene in phenotypic adaptation related to exercise in skeletal muscle. Further, the SNPs in PER3 could serve as useful biomarkers of early recovery after exercise in racehorses.

• Clean Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.117-122
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• 2005

N-vinyl caprolactam (NVCL), a kind of N-vinyl amide monomer, must be dissolved in continuous phase ($scCO_2$) for dispersion polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide. Phase behavior of $CO_2$+NVCL is very important and necessary for determining initial polymerization condition and for monomer extraction from final polymer. There is the limitation of experimental method for obtaining pure properties of the monomer because of the possibility of polymerization. And N-methyl caprolactam (NMCL) is the useful solvent for the gas treating process. In the viewpoint of molecular thermodynamics, NVCL and NMCL have same functional group i.e. ${\varepsilon}$-caprolactam. In the case of NVCL, hydrogen of amide group is substituted with vinyl group and for NMCL, hydrogen of amide group is substituted with methyl group. We suggested modified group contribution method for this ${\varepsilon}$-caprolactam derivatives. This new group contribution parameter was applied to correlate $CO_2$ + N-vinyl caprolactam or N-methyl caprolactam system.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2007

P2X receptors are membrane-bound ion channels that conduct $Na^+,\;K^+$, and $Ca^{2+}$ in response to ATP and its analogs. There are seven subunits identified so far ($P2X_1-P2X_7$). $P2X_2$ receptors are known to be expressed in a wide range of organs including brains and adrenal grands. PC12 cells are originated from adrenal grand and differentiated by nerve growth factor or pituitary adenylate cyclase activating poly peptide (PACAP). Previous studies indicate that $P2X_2$ receptor activation in PC12 cells couples to $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ release of catecholamine and ATP. It is known that acidic pH potentiates ATP currents at $P2X_2$ receptors. This leads to a hypothesis that $P2X_2$ receptors may play an important role in PC12 cell differentiation, one of the characteristics of which is neurite outgrowth, induced by the hormones under lower pH. In the present study, we isolated several clones which potentiate neurite outgrowth by PACAP in acidic pH (6.8), but not in alkaline pH (7.6). RT-PCR and electrophysiology data indicate that these clones express only functional $P2X_2$ receptors in the absence or presence of PACAP for 3 days. Potentiation of neurite outgrowth resulted from PACAP (100 nM) in acidic pH is inhibited by the two P2X receptor antagonists, suramin and PPADS ($100\;{\mu}M)$ each), and exogenous exprerssion of ATP-binding mutant $P2X_2$ receptor subunit ($P2X_2[K69A]$). However, acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) are not involved in PACAP-induced neurite outgrowth potentiation in lower pH since treatments of an inhibitor of ASICs, amyloride ($10\;{\mu}M$), did not give any effects to neurite extension. The vesicular proton pump ($H^+-ATPase$) inhibitor, bafilomycin (100 nM), reduced neurite extension indicating that ATP release resulted from $P2X_2$ receptor activation in PC12 cells is needed for neurite outgrowth. These were confirmed by activation of mitogen activated protein kinases, such as ERKs and p38. These results suggest roles of ATP and $P2X_2$ receptors in hormone-induced cell differentiation or neuronal synaptogenesis in local acidic environments.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2301-2305
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• 2016

Background: The early detection of anthracycline- induced cardiotoxicity is very important since it might be useful in prevention of cardiac decompensation. This study was designed with the intent of assessing the usefulness of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and NT- Pro BNP estimation in early prediction of anthracycline induced cardiotoxicity. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study histologically proven breast cancer patients who were scheduled to receive anthracycline containing combination chemotherapy as a part of multimodality treatment were enrolled. Baseline cardiac evaluation was performed by echocardiography (ECHO) and biomarkers like cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and N terminal- pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT- Pro BNP). All patients underwent cTnT and NT- Pro BNP estimation within 24 hours of each cycle of chemotherapy and were followed up after 6 months of initiation of chemotherapy. Any changes in follow up ECHO were compared to ECHO at baseline and cTnT and NT- Pro BNP levels after each cycle of anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Results: Initial data were obtained for 33 patients. Mean change in left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDD) within 6 months was $0.154{\pm}0.433cms$ (p value=0.049). Seven out of 33 patients had an increase in biomarker cTnT levels (p value=0.5). A significant change in baseline and follow up LVDD was observed in patients with raised cTnT levels (p value=0.026) whereas no change was seen in ejection fraction (EF) and left atrial diameters (LAD) within 6 months of chemotherapy. NT- Pro BNP levels increased in significant number of patients (p value ${\leq}0.0001$) but no statistically significant change was observed in the ECHO parameters within 6 months. Conclusions: Functional monitoring is a poorly effective method in early estimation of anthracycline induced cardiac dysfunction. Estimation of biomarkers after chemotherapy may allow stratification of patients in various risk groups, thereby opening window for interventional strategies in order to prevent permanent damage to the myocardium.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.4467-4474
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the factor of the quality of elderly women's sleep. The subjects in this study were 198 elderly women who were at the age of 60 and up. One instrument used to assess their quality of sleep was Buysse, et. al.(1989)'s Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI), and the other used to check their urinary incontinence was Jackson, et. al.(1996)'s Urination Symptom Inventory. The collected data were analyzed by the statistical package SPSS 18.0. The elderly women got $7.09{\pm}4.29$ in the quality of sleep of the PSQI, and 67.7 percent suffered from sleep disorders. Among the subfactors of the PSQI, their subjective quality of sleep was low, and the quality of sleep during, sleep latency was low as well. And their sleep disturbance was great. In contrast, the effectiveness of their habitual sleep was relatively good, and they didn't take medicine such as a sleep pill a lot, and their functional sleep disorder in the daytime wasn't great. There were differences in the quality of sleep according to their education, financial state, self-rated health status and family relations, and whether they worked out on a regular basis or not made a difference to that as well. No differences were found according to age, religion, occupation and having a coffee or not. There was a positive correlation between their quality of sleep in the PSQI and urinary incontinence(r=.51, p=.000). Out of the subfactors of the PSQI, the sleep disturbance factor was most closely linked to urinary incontinence(r=.465, p=.001). Finally, urinary incontinence and subjective health status were identified as the variables that exerted a statistically significant influence on the quality of sleep. Those variables made a 31% prediction of it.