• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.59-70
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• 2009

This study presents a novel traffic information system which is capable of detecting unsafe traffic events leading to accident occurrence and providing warning information to drivers for safer driving. Unsafe traffic events are captured by a vehicle image processing-based detection system in real time. Surrogate safety measures (SSM) representing quantitative accident potentials were derived, and further utilized to develop a data processing algorithm and analysis techniques in the proposed system. This study also defined 'emergency warning area' and 'general warning area' for more effective provision of warning information. In addition, methodologies for determining thresholds to trigger warning information were presented. Technical issues and further studies to fully exploit the benefits of the proposed system were discussed. It is expected that the proposed system would be effective for better management of traffic flow to prevent traffic accidents on freeways.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.59-67
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• 2020

Expressway is the main link in promoting the national economic development, which plays a vital part in improving the regional economy and people's living standards, therefore, it is of great significance to accelerate the construction of expressways. However, because it is difficult for the existing system to identify the information of special vehicles quickly, leading to the cumbersome flow of special vehicles passing through the toll station of expressways [1], which brings a certain burden to the work of expressway administrators. The surge in the number of private cars also increased the traffic pressure of toll stations, especially the free expressways traffic policy implemented by the State during holidays, resulting in more frequent traffic jams at high-speed intersections. According to this situation, a intelligent system was created to ameliorate the difficult situation of special vehicle identification on expressways, reduce the congestion at high-speed intersections, and improve the efficiency of staff by data-based means.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.63-73
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• 2016

PURPOSES : The objective of this study was to analyze variations in the vehicle driving behavior characteristics on signalized intersections according to the use of traffic enforcement camera (red light camera). METHODS : In order to analyze the driving behavior characteristics on signalized intersections when red light camera are installed, the target sites for investigation were selected depending on whether the red light camera is installed and accident rates increased after the installation. In particular, to analyze the characteristics of dilemma zones in signalized intersections, approach speed and deceleration speed of 3 type vehicles (passing vehicles during a yellow light, stopping at a yellow light, passing vehicles during a green light) were examined. Based on these data, the starting point, ending point, and distance of the dilemma zones were calculated. Also, the locations of increased traffic accidents and decreased accidents after the installation of the equipment were distinguished when analyzing the traffic accident characteristics. RESULTS : Analysis results revealed that there was a tendency for the dilemma zone distance to decrease after the installation of equipment(red light camera) in most sites. This tendency was found to be due to the decrease in the approaching speed of vehicles at intersections after the installation of equipment, resulting in the starting and ending points of dilemma zone to become closer to the stop line. Moreover, analysis showed that the number of traffic accidents decreased for most intersections after the installation of equipment and safety of the intersections increased somewhat. CONCLUSIONS : In general, installation of equipment(red light camera) caused the intersections approaching speed and dilemma zone distance to decrease. Decision-making is difficult for drivers in the dilemma zone, so the decrease in the dilemma zone distance implies an improvement in traffic safety. Furthermore, the number of accidents within intersections significantly decreased after the equipment was installed, leading to the conclusion that installation of the equipment affected the decrease in traffic accidents.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.125-131
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• 2017

Status epilepticus is the most common serious neurological condition triggered by abnormal electrical activity, leading to severe and widespread cell loss in the brain. Lithium has been one of the main drugs used for the treatment of bipolar disorder for decades, and its anticonvulsant and neuroprotective properties have been described in several neurological disease models. However, the therapeutic mechanisms underlying lithium's actions remain poorly understood. The muscarinic receptor agonist pilocarpine is used to induce status epilepticus, which is followed by hippocampal damage. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of lithium post-treatment on seizure susceptibility and hippocampal neuropathological changes following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. Status epilepticus was induced by administration of pilocarpine hydrochloride (320 mg/kg, i.p.) in C57BL/6 mice at 8 weeks of age. Lithium (80 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 15 minutes after the pilocarpine injection. After the lithium injection, status epilepticus onset time and mortality were recorded. Lithium significantly delayed the onset time of status epilepticus and reduced mortality compared to the vehicle-treated group. Moreover, lithium effectively blocked pilocarpine-induced neuronal death in the hippocampus as estimated by cresyl violet and Fluoro-Jade B staining. However, lithium did not reduce glial activation following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. These results suggest that lithium has a neuroprotective effect and would be useful in the treatment of neurological disorders, in particular status epilepticus.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.389-395
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• 2011

Repeated administration of psychostimulants such as cocaine leads to the development of behavioral sensitization. Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK), an enzyme important for long-term neuronal plasticity, has been implicated in such effects of these drugs. Although the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) is the site mediating the expression of behavioral sensitization by drugs of abuse, the precise role of ERK activation in this site has not been determined. In this study we demonstrate that blockade of ERK phosphorylation in the NAcc by a single bilateral microinjections of PD98059 (0.5 or $2.0{\mu}g/side$), or U0126 (0.1 or $1.0{\mu}g/side$), into this site dose-dependently inhibited the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization when measured at day 7 following 6 consecutive daily cocaine injections (15 mg/kg, i.p.). Acute microinjection of either vehicle or PD98059 alone produced no different locomotor activity compared to saline control. Further, microinjection of PD98059 ($2.0{\mu}g/side$) in the NAcc specifically lowered cocaine-induced increase of ERK phosphorylation levels in this site, while unaffecting p-38 protein levels. These results indicate that ERK activation in the NAcc is necessary for the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization, and further suggest that repeated cocaine evokes neuronal plasticity involving ERK pathway in this site leading to long-lasting behavioral changes.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.911-916
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to review and suggest coastal shipping policies for introduction of WIG craft into domenstic passenger shipping market. Two Korean companies are leading in the development of WIG craft as an innovative sea transportation vehicle, and it is awaiting for commercialization. WIG craft is expected to be commercialized from coastal passenger market and we used AHP method to investigate the major factors and its' priority for smooth market entry. The results shows that priorities are on the WIG craft legislation, dock installation and operation, port state control, and pilot hiring and training, craft maintenance, and ship's certification in order.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2012

Interruption of blood flow through coronary arteries and its subsequent restoration triggers the generation of a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to myocardial cell death. In this study, we determined whether a methanol extract of Cassia mimosoides var. nomame Makino could prevent myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. When radical scavenging activity of the extract was measured in vitro using its ${\alpha}$,${\alpha}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical quenching ability, the extract showed an activity slightly lower than that of ascorbic acid. Three days after oral administration of the extract (400 mg/kg/day) to rats, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury was generated by 30 min of ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), followed by 3 hr reperfusion. Compared with the vehicle-treated group, administration of the extract significantly reduced infarct size (IS) (ratio of infarct area to area at risk) in the extract-treated group by 28.3%. Reduction in the cellular injury was mediated by attenuation of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio by 33.3%, inhibition of caspase-3 activation from procaspase-3 by 40%, and subsequent reduction in the number of apoptotic cells by 66.3%. These results suggest that the extract attenuates myocardial injury in a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion by scavenging ROS, including free radicals, and consequently blocking apoptotic cascades. Therefore, intake of Cassia mimosoides var. nomame Makino might be beneficial for preventing ischemic myocardial injury.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 2018

Objectives: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease with the destruction of periodontal ligament, alveolar bone loss and inflammation of gingva, leading to teeth loss. Eclipta prostrata L. (Ecliptae Herba) has been used to treat the inflammatory disease as a Korean traditional medicine. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of E. prostrata L. on periodontitis. Methods: E. prostrata L. was extracted with water and lyophilized. The aqueous extract of E. prostrata L. (EP) was topically applied to the periodontal lesion for 2 weeks. To induce the periodontitis, a 3-0 nylon ligature was placed around the cervix of the lower first molar in rat. Rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 7); NL group (non-ligatured and non-treated), L group (ligatured and vehicle-treated) and EP group (ligatured and EP-treated). After sacrifice, the mandibles was dissected and stained with methylene blue solution to analyze the alveolar bone loss. The expression of MMP-9 was determined in gingival tissues. To confirm the effect of EP on recovery of gingiva, mRNA expressions of type I pro-collagen and MMP-9 levels were investigated in LPS-treated HS68 fibroblast cells. In addition, inflammatory mediators were evaluated in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Results: Alveolar bone loss was significantly inhibited by EP treatment. The mRNA expression of MMP-9 was attenuated in rats treated with EP. In addition, treatment with EP increased the expression of type I pro-collagen, while the expression of MMP-9 was decreased in LPS-stimulated HS68 fibroblast cells. Furthermore, EP down-regulated the LPS-induced IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, COX-2 and iNOS production in RAW264.7 cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that EP have ameliorative effects on periodontitis through inhibiting alveolar bone loss and modulating the inflammatory mediators. Therefore, E. prostrata L. may be an alternative on patients with periodontitis.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.435-439
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• 2011

Sildenafil citrate (SIL) a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5I) has been used for long time as a first line oral drug for erectile dysfunction. Though it has beneficial effects on erectile organ it also has some adverse effects in other cells and/or tissues related to reproductive system when exposed to longer duration. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the long term effect of SIL on sperm parameters in Wistar albino rat. The animals are divided into two groups, for group I - rats were treated with saline (vehicle alone) and group - II oral administration of 5 mg/kg b.w. of SIL was administrated orally once in a day for 120 days. At the end of the trial period animals were sacrificed and epididymal sperm were subjected to various analysis. Results showed significant reduction in sperm count, motility, viability and morphologically intact sperm in long term PDE5I exposed animals when compared to control. Acrosomal status and fertility test also showed significant reduction in long term PDE5I exposed animals. The present study clearly indicated that long term SIL has shown to induce alteration in sperm quality and quantity, leading to decline in fertility rate. Indicate that SIL impinge on spermatogenesis as well as epididymal function. Understanding the molecular down-stream events involved in long-term exposure to PDE5 inhibitor can be valuable to supervise on related infertility issues and to suggest corrective measures.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.613-619
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• 2014

The optic nerve often suffers regenerative failure after injury, leading to serious visual impairment such as glaucoma. The main inhibitory factors, including Nogo-A, oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein, and myelin-associated glycoprotein, exert their inhibitory effects on axonal growth through the same receptor, the Nogo-66 receptor (NgR). Oncomodulin (OM), a calcium-binding protein with a molecular weight of an ~12 kDa, which is secreted from activated macrophages, has been demonstrated to have high and specific affinity for retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and promote greater axonal regeneration than other known polypeptide growth factors. Protamine has been reported to effectively deliver small interference RNA (siRNA) into cells. Accordingly, a fusion protein of OM and truncated protamine (tp) may be used as a vehicle for the delivery of NgR siRNA into RGC for gene therapy. To test this hypothesis, we constructed OM and tp fusion protein (OM/tp) expression vectors. Using the indirect immunofluorescence labeling method, OM/tp fusion proteins were found to have a high affinity for RGC. The gel shift assay showed that the OM/tp fusion proteins retained the capacity to bind to DNA. Using OM/tp fusion proteins as a delivery tool, the siRNA of NgR was effectively transfected into cells and significantly down-regulated NgR expression levels. More importantly, OM/tp-NgR siRNA dramatically promoted axonal growth of RGC compared with the application of OM/tp recombinant protein or NgR siRNA alone in vitro. In addition, OM/tp-NgR siRNA highly elevated intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and inhibited activation of the Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA). Taken together, our data demonstrated that the recombinant OM/tp fusion proteins retained the functions of both OM and tp, and that OM/tp-NgR siRNA might potentially be used for the treatment of optic nerve injury.