• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3191-3196
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• 2013

Leaf extracts of Cassia alata L (akapulko), traditionally used for treatment of a variety of diseases, were evaluated for their potential antitumor properties in vitro. MTT assays were used to examine the cytotoxic effects of crude extracts on five human cancer cell lines, namely MCF-7, derived from a breast carcinoma, SK-BR-3, another breast carcinoma, T24 a bladder carcinoma, Col 2, a colorectal carcinoma, and A549, a nonsmall cell lung adenocarcinoma. Hexane extracts showed remarkable cytotoxicity against MCF-7, T24, and Col 2 in a dose-dependent manner. This observation was confirmed by morphological investigation using light microscopy. Further bioassay-directed fractionation of the cytotoxic extract led to the isolation of a TLC-pure isolate labeled as f6l. Isolate f6l was further evaluated using MTT assay and morphological and biochemical investigations, which likewise showed selectivity to MCF-7, T24, and Col 2 cells with $IC_{50}$ values of 16, 17, and 17 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Isolate f6l, however, showed no cytotoxicity towards the non-cancer Chinese hamster ovarian cell line (CHO-AA8). Cytochemical investigation using DAPI staining and biochemical investigation using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-a method used to detect DNA fragmentation-together with caspase assay, demonstrated apoptotic cell death. Spectral characterization of isolate f6l revealed that it contained polyunsaturated fatty acid esters. Considering the cytotoxicity profile and its mode of action, f6l might represent a new promising compound with potential for development as an anticancer drug with low or no toxicity to non-cancer cells used in this study.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 2010

Objective: This study aimed to develop information materials on vaccine's safety and adverse events which can be utilized by healthcare professionals when prescribing, dispensing and administering vaccines and also by non-healthcare professionals such as pharmaceutical distributors of vaccine. Methods: Information materials regarding vaccines from domestic and foreign governmental organizations, academies, medical organizations and pharmaceutical companies were reviewed. Advisory Committee which consisted of experts in the areas of the vaccine's safety verified the contents and the final information material. Results: Based on the collected data, we developed general guidelines including vaccine constituents, safety information and adverse events of each vaccines, storage and handling, and labeling information. The information materials were developed for both healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals such as vaccine distributors. Conclusion: Information materials on vaccine's safety and adverse events developed from this study could be utilized to provide useful information on the vaccine to the medical institutions and distributors.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2022

3D open-field farm model developed from UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) data could make crop monitoring easier, also could be an important dataset for various fields like remote sensing or precision agriculture. It is essential to separate crops from the non-crop area because labeling in a manual way is extremely laborious and not appropriate for continuous monitoring. We, therefore, made a 3D open-field farm model based on UAV images and developed a crop segmentation model using a supervised machine learning algorithm. We compared performances from various models using different data features like color or geographic coordinates, and two supervised learning algorithms which are SVM (Support Vector Machine) and KNN (K-Nearest Neighbors). The best approach was trained with 2-dimensional data, ExGR (Excess of Green minus Excess of Red) and z coordinate value, using KNN algorithm, whose accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score was 97.85, 96.51, 88.54, 92.35% respectively. Also, we compared our model performance with similar previous work. Our approach showed slightly better accuracy, and it detected the actual crop better than the previous approach, while it also classified actual non-crop points (e.g. weeds) as crops.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.277-284
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• 2011

To investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis on N uptake and its assimilation under drought-stressed conditions in white clover, total $^{15}N$ amount and $^{15}N$ amount incorporated into $NO_3^-$, amino acids and soluble proteins were quantified by $^{15}N$ tracing during 7 days of water treatment. Under well-watered conditions, there were no significant effects of AM symbiosis on all parameters analyzed in this study. Drought stress decreased total $^{15}N$ amount both in AM and non-AM plants, with a lower rate in AM plants (-13.8%) relative to non-AM plants (-28.5%) at day 7. Drought significantly increased $^{15}N-NO_3^-$ amount in non-AM plants. The amount of $^{15}N$-amino acids was 1.26-fold and 1.33-fold higher, respectively, in leaves and roots of AM plants compared to those of non-AM ones. Drought decreased the amount of $^{15}N$-soluble proteins in leaves at day 7, with a higher rate in non-AM plants than in AM ones. These results clearly indicate that AM colonization effectively alleviating the decrease in N uptake, amino acids and proteins synthesis caused by drought stress.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the long term bone healing after horizontal ridge augmentation using auto block bone graft for implant installation timing. Materials and Methods: Five Beagle dogs(which were 14 months old and weighted approximately 10kg). In surgery 1(extraction & bone defect), premolars(P2, P3,P4) were extracted and the buccal bone plate was removed to create a horizontally defected ridge. After three months healing, in surgery 2(ridge augmentation). Auto block bone grafts from the mandibular ramus were used in filling the bone defects were fixed with stabilizing screws. The following fluorochrome labels were given intravenously to the beagle dogs: oxytetracycline 1week after the surgery, alizarin red 4 weeks after the surgery, calcein blue 8 weeks after the surgery. The tissue samples were obtained from the sacrificed dogs of 1, 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks after the surgery. Non-decalcified sections were prepared by resin embedding and microsection to find thickness of $10{\mu}m$ for the histologic examination and analysis. Results: 1. We could achieve the successful reconstruction of the horizontal bone defect by auto block bone graft. The grafted bone block remained stable morohologically after 16 weeks of the surgery. 2. In the histologic view. We observed osteoid tissue from the sample $4^{th}$ week sample and active capillary reconstruction in the grafted bone from the $12^{th}$ week sample. Healing procedures of auto bone grafts were compared to that of the host bone. 3. Bone mineralization could be detected from the $8^{th}$ week sample. 4. Fluorochrome labeling showed active bony changes and formation at the interface of the host bone and the block graft mainly. Bony activation in the grafted bone could be seen from the $4^{th}$ week samples. Conclusions: Active bone formation and remodeling between the grafted bone and host bone can be seen through the revascularization. After the perfect adhesion to host bone, Timing of successful implant installation can be detected through the ideal ridge formation by horizontal ridge augmentation.

• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.942-952
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• 2006

We propose an automatic segmentation method for identifying pulmonary structures using gray-level information of chest CT images. Our method consists of following five steps. First, to segment pulmonary structures based on the difference of gray-level value, we select the threshold using optimal thresholding. Second, we separate the thorax from the background air and then the lungs and airways from the thorax by applying the inverse operation of 2D region growing in chest CT images. To eliminate non-pulmonary structures which has similar intensities with the lungs, we use 3D connected component labeling. Third, we segment the trachea and left and right mainstem bronchi using 3D branch-based region growing in chest CT images. Fourth, we can obtain accurate lung boundaries by subtracting the result of third step from the result of second step. Finally, we select the threshold in accordance with histogram analysis and then segment radio-dense pulmonary vessels by applying gray-level thresholding to the result of the second step. To evaluate the accuracy of proposed method, we make a visual inspection of segmentation result of lungs, airways and pulmonary vessels. We compare the result of the conventional region growing with the result of proposed 3D branch-based region growing. Experimental results show that our proposed method extracts lung boundaries, airways, and pulmonary vessels automatically and accurately.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2019

2-Nitroimidazole derivatives have been reported to accumulate in hypoxic tissue. We prepared a novel $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole and evaluated the feasibility for hypoxia imaging agent. $Bz-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole was synthesized by direct coupling of $Bz-MAG_3$ and 2-nitroimidazole using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. $Bz-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole was labeled with $^{99m}Tc$ in the presence of tartaric acid and $SnCl_2-2H_2O$ at $100^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. And the reaction mixture was purified by $C_{18}$ Sep-pak cartridge. The labeling efficiency and the radiochemical purity were checked by ITLC-SG/acetonitrile. The tumor was grown in balb/c mice for 8~13 days after the subcutaneous injection of tumor cells, CT-26 (murine colon adenocarcinoma cell). Biodistribution study and tumor autoradiography were performed in the xenografted mice after i.v injection of 74 kBq/0.1 mL and 19 MBq/0.1 mL of $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole, respectively. In vivo images of $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole in tumor bearing mice were obtained 1.5 hr post injection. The labeling efficiency was $45{\pm}20%$ and the radiochemical purity after purification was over 95%. Paper electrophoresis confirmed negative charge of $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole. $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole was very stable at room temperature and its protein binding was 53%. The $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole exhibited high uptake in the liver, stomach and intestine. In biodistribution study using tumor bearing mice, the uptakes (% ID/g) of the tumor were $0.5{\pm}0.1$, $0.4{\pm}0.0$, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ and $0.1{\pm}0.1$ at 5, 15, 30 min and 4 hrs. Tumor/muscle ratio were $1.4{\pm}0.1$, $2.2{\pm}0.83$, $3.0{\pm}0.9$, and 3.7 (n=2) for 5, 15, 30 min and 4 hrs. The uptake in hypoxic area was found higher than in non-hypoxic area of tumor tissue by autoradiography. In vivo images showed the relatively faint uptake to the hypoxic tumor region. $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$-2-nitroimidazole was successfully synthesized and found feasible for imaging hypoxia.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.446-452
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• 2021

As a higher standard for food consumption is required, the consumption of chicken meat that can satisfy the subdivided food preferences is increasing. In March 2003, the quality criteria for chicken carcasses notified by the Livestock Quality Assessment Service suggested quality grades according to fecal contamination and the size and weight of blood and bruises. On the other hand, it is too difficult for human inspection to qualify mass products, which is key to maintaining consistency for grading thousands of chicken carcasses. This paper proposed the computer vision algorithm as a non-destructive inspection, which can identify chicken carcass parts according to the detailed standards. To inspect the chicken carcasses conveyed at high speed, the image calibration was involved in providing robustness to the side effect of external lighting interference. The separation between chicken and background was achieved by a series of image processing, such as binarization based on Expectation Maximization, Erosion, and Labeling. In terms of shape analysis of chicken carcasses, the features are presented to reveal geometric information. After applying the algorithm to 78 chicken carcass samples, the algorithm was effective in segmenting chicken carcass against a background and analyzing its geometric features.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.398-406
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• 2022

The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is the outermost layer of cellular environment in which numerous biophysical and biochemical processes are in action sustaining viability. Advances in cell engineering enable modification of bacterial genetic information that subsequently alters membrane physiology to adapt bacteria to specific purposes. Surface display of a functional molecule on the outer membranes is one of strategies that directs host cells to respond to a specific extracellular matter or stimulus. While intracellular expression of a functional peptide or protein fused to a membrane-anchoring motif is commonly practiced for surface display, the method is not readily applicable to exogenous or large proteins inexpressible in bacteria. Chemical conjugation at reactive groups naturally occurring on the membrane might be an alternative, but often compromises fitness due to non-specific modification of essential components. Herein, we demonstrated two distinct approaches that enable site-specific decoration of the outer membrane with a fluorescent agent in Escherichia coli. An unnatural amino acid genetically incorporated in a surface-exposed peptide could act as a chemoselective handle for bioorthogonal dye labeling. A surface-displayed α-helical domain originating from a part of a selected heterodimeric coiled-coil complex could recruit and anchor a green fluorescent protein tagged with a complementary α-helical domain to the membrane surface in a site- and hetero-specific manner. These methods hold a promise as on-demand tools to confer new functionalities on the bacterial membranes.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.65-74
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• 2021

In order to efficiently inspect rapidly increasing old tunnels in many well-developed countries, many inspection methodologies have been proposed using imaging equipment and image processing. However, most of the existing methodologies evaluated their performance on a clean concrete surface with a limited area where other objects do not exist. Therefore, this paper proposes a 6-step framework for tunnel crack detection deep learning model development. The proposed method is mainly based on negative sample (non-crack object) training and Cascade Mask R-CNN. The proposed framework consists of six steps: searching for cracks in images captured from real tunnels, labeling cracks in pixel level, training a deep learning model, collecting non-crack objects, retraining the deep learning model with the collected non-crack objects, and constructing final training dataset. To implement the proposed framework, Cascade Mask R-CNN, an instance segmentation model, was trained with 1561 general crack images and 206 non-crack images. In order to examine the applicability of the trained model to the real-world tunnel crack detection, field testing is conducted on tunnel spans with a length of about 200m where electric wires and lights are prevalent. In the experimental result, the trained model showed 99% precision and 92% recall, which shows the excellent field applicability of the proposed framework.