• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.286-293
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• 2010

Peak bone mass is established predominately during childhood and adolescence. It is an important determinant of future resistance to osteoporosis and fractures to gain bone mass during growth. The issue of low bone density in children and adolescents has recently attracted much attention and the use of pediatric dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is increasing. The process of interpretation of pediatric DXA results is different from that of adults because normal bone mineral density (BMD) of children varies by age, body size, pubertal stage, skeletal maturation, sex, and ethnicity. Thus, an appropriate normal BMD Z-score reference value with Z-score should be used to detect and manage low BMD. Z-scores below -2.0 are generally considered a low BMD to pediatrician even though diagnoses of osteoporosis in children and adolescents are usually only made in the presence of at least one fragility fracture. This article will review the basic knowledge and practical guidelines on pediatric DXA based on the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) Pediatric Official Positions. Also discussed are the characteristics of normal Korean children and adolescents with respect to BMD development. The objective of this review is to help pediatricians to understand when DXA will be useful and how to interpret pediatric DXA reports in the clinical practice for management of children with the potential to develop osteoporosis in adulthood.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.193-197
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• 2013

In order to investigate the effects of antioxidants on the culture of mouse preantral follicles in vitro, we examined the effects of taurine, glutathione and catalase on their growth and maturation. Addition of taurine was not effective on the survival of preantral follicles. However, metaphase II rates of oocytes within preantral follicles were significantly higher in 1 mM treated group than in control and 10 mM treated group (p<0.05). Glutathione did not improved the rates of survival and metaphase II oocytes. However, metaphase II rates of oocytes progressively decreased with increasing glutathione concentration. Catalase also showed that the rates of survival and metaphase II oocytes progressively decreased with increasing concentration. Especially, all of preantral follicles cultured in medium containing 100 IU/ml catalase were degenerated. These results suggest that low concentraion of taurine, as an antioxidant, have positive effect on the culture of mouse preantral follicles in vitro.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.121-135
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• 2006

With the growth and maturation of IT industry, the necessity of audit about development, maintenance and management of high-quality information system is gradually increasing. In addition, the necessity of inner auditing system, which could totally verify and evaluate the effectiveness of project according to the characteristics of organization conducting information-oriented business, also being proposed. Government offices including Korea Institute of Science and Technology(KISTI) collectively controlling nationwide science-technology related information have no guiding principle or organization within themselves even though performing information-oriented businesses are becoming more bigger and complicated. In this paper, we propose scheme for devising framework, which can audit construction and operation of knowledge information, check list and guideline. In addition, we present concrete ways for adapting these schemes to institutes which manage science-technology knowledge information. Audit framework consists of points of time in audit, audit domain and audit criterion. Points of time in audit are defined as three phases as followings: pre-audit, in-progress audit and post-audit. Audit domain includes 16 detail audit domains and especially we set 11 check items and 40 detail investigation items for database implementation business. We expect that management level of science-technology implementation business of organizations using this research result will increase and they could offer high-quality information service.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.63-67
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• 2021

Antibiotics are widely used to improve productivity in the dairy industry. However, the inappropriate use of antibiotics causes the deterioration in the quality of dairy products undergoing fermentation and maturation. Hence, probiotic use is emerging as an alternative to curb the increased utilization of antibiotics. Probiotics are defined as "living microorganisms that, when administered in appropriate amounts, confer health benefits on the host." They may improve host disease resistance by regulating intestinal microflora balance and promote animal growth and development. In the dairy industry, probiotics have been studied to increase milk production by improving digestion in dairy cows, enhance the content of dairy components such as milk fat and protein, reduce the risk of mastitis in cows, and increase calf weight. Thus, the use of probiotics can improve the production and safety of dairy products. However, some probiotics are still unstable during storage and have low quality and safety issues. Therefore, to reduce the use of antibiotics in the dairy industry, probiotics should be developed and produced considering the above-mentioned problems.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.626-631
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• 2021

Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, is a critical component of cytokine and growth factor signaling pathways regulating hematopoietic cell proliferation. JAK2 mutations are associated with multiple myeloproliferative neoplasms. Although physiological and pathological functions of JAK2 in hematopoietic tissues are well-known, such functions of JAK2 in the nervous system are not well studied yet. The present study demonstrated that JAK2 could negatively regulate neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Depletion of JAK2 stimulated neuronal differentiation of mouse ESCs and activated glycogen synthase kinase 3β, Fyn, and cyclin-dependent kinase 5. Knockdown of JAK2 resulted in accumulation of GTP-bound Rac1, a Rho GTPase implicated in the regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics. These findings suggest that JAK2 might negatively regulate neuronal differentiation by suppressing the GSK-3β/Fyn/CDK5 signaling pathway responsible for morphological maturation.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 2022

To date, various techniques have been utilized to assess the contractility of cardiomyocytes and their response to drug-induced toxicity. However, these techniques are either invasive or involve complex fabrication methods and expertise. Here, we introduce the use of video-based analysis software to track the motion of cardiomyocytes and assess their contractility. The software, called "Tracker", is freely available and this is the first attempt at using it for cardiac contractility measurement. We used the software to measure the contractile properties of cells cultured on a rigid substrate and two flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates having different elastic moduli day-wise up to eight days. Contractility was found to be highest in the most flexible substrate. Subsequently, the cardiotoxicity response of the cells on three different substrates was analyzed with verapamil. It was observed that the cells on rigid substrate were primarily affected by drug-induced toxicity, while the drug had a lesser impact on cells on the more flexible PDMS substrate. Evidently, the flexible substrate aided the maturation of cells and had lower drug toxicity, while the cells on PS could not fully mature. The assessment of cardiomyocytes using "Tracker" proved to be simple and reliable.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.205-213
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• 2022

The experimental fish transplanted from China in 2015 was used after seedling production and cultivated. Breeding management for experiment was carried out from October 2020 to February 2021. Also, it succeeded in inducing artificial maturation three to four months earlier than wild broodstock and secured good quality fertilized eggs. The average size of fertilized eggs was 1.22 mm, at 20℃ Blastodisc (15 minutes post-fertilization), 2 cell (50 minutes), 4 cell (1 hours), 8 cell (2 hours), 16 cell (2 hours and 30 minutes), 32 cell (2 hours and 50 minutes), morula (3 hours), blastula (8 hours), gastrula (15 hours), skull formation (20 hours), organ formation (30 hours) and hatching yolk larvae stage (35 hours). The total length of the just hatched larvae were 2.50 ± 2 mm, and then gain growth of 42.5 mm by 60 days, reaching 45 ± 5 mm.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.256-267
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• 2023

The suitability of any fish species for successful aquaculture requires basic information on its reproduction and growth. This study investigated some facets of the reproductive biology of Synodontis shall (Mochokidae) from River Siluko in Nigeria. Fish samples were collected forth-nightly for a duration of fourteen (14) months-March 2015 to April, 2016 with the assistance of artisanal fishermen. Fishes were identified using taxonomic guides and standard techniques were used for determination of sex ratio, gonad maturation and fecundity. Linear regression method was used to define the correlation between fecundity and fish length, body weight and ovary weight. Results showed that sex ratio did not indicate a significant divergence (p > 0.05) from the 1 male to 1 female distribution ratio (1:1.41). Gonad morphology revealed paired gonads. Testes and ovaries were classified into four maturity stages: immature, resting, ripening and ripe. Gonadosomatic index ranged from 0.04 to 5.68 (males) and 0.03 to 20.19 (females). Absolute fecundity ranged from 1,014 to 4,520 eggs (mean = 2,592 eggs) and did not correlate significantly (p > 0.05) to ovary weight. This study has contributed to existing data on the biology of freshwater fish species in Nigeria and provided valuable information for fishery management tools in the conservation and utilization of this valuable freshwater fish species.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.11
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• pp.584-593
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• 2023

Hypoxia, a widespread occurrence observed in various malignant tumors, results from rapid tumor growth that outpaces the oxygen supply. Tumor hypoxia precipitates several effects on tumor biology; these include activating angiogenesis, intensifying invasiveness, enhancing the survival of tumor cells, suppressing anti-tumor immunity, and fostering resistance to therapy. Aligned with the findings that correlate CMGC kinases with the regulation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF), a pivotal modulator, reports also indicate that hypoxia governs the activity of CMGC kinases, including DYRK1 kinases. Prolyl hydroxylation of DYRK1 kinases by PHD1 constitutes a novel mechanism of kinase maturation and activation. This modification "primes" DYRK1 kinases for subsequent tyrosine autophosphorylation, a vital step in their activation cascade. This mechanism adds a layer of intricacy to comprehending the regulation of CMGC kinases, and underscores the complex interplay between distinct post-translational modifications in harmonizing precise kinase activity. Overall, hypoxia assumes a substantial role in cancer progression, influencing diverse aspects of tumor biology that include angiogenesis, invasiveness, cell survival, and resistance to treatment. CMGC kinases are deeply entwined in its regulation. To fathom the molecular mechanisms underpinning hypoxia's impact on cancer cells, comprehending how hypoxia and prolyl hydroxylation govern the activity of CMGC kinases, including DYRK1 kinases, becomes imperative. This insight may pave the way for pioneering therapeutic approaches that target the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and its associated challenges.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.277-284
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• 2024

Background: Newly introduced transgenic plants can outcompete native species in natural ecosystems, threatening the biodiversity of a country. This study ascertained the weediness potential of plants according to the seed amount under the assumption that transgenic seeds were unintentionally spilled. Using sunflowers as the study system, 0, 50, 100, and 150 seeds were sown in 1 m × 1 m and 2 m × 2 m plots, and seed germination, survival, flowering, and competition between the surviving and wild plants were investigated. Results: There was no significant difference in the germination rate of sunflowers depending on the cultivar, but differences were observed depending on the sowing density and plot size. As the number of seeds sown increased, the flowering and seed maturation of sprouted plants occurred earlier; the plant height and flower length of the surviving plants decreased. In addition, as the number of seeds increased, not only did the early importance of sunflowers increase, but the period of dominance over weeds also improved. Conclusions: These results suggest that the weediness potential of sunflowers varies with the number of seeds at the time of release, which may affect germination and growth, and compete with weeds in transgenic plants.