• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2022

Onions are a significant crop in Korea, and cultivation is increasing every year along with high demand. Onions are planted in the fall and mainly harvested in June, the rainy season, therefore, physiological changes in onion bulbs during long-term storage might have happened. Onions are stored in cold room and at adequate relative humidity to avoid quality loss. In this study, bio-yield stress and weight loss were measured as the quality parameters of net packaged onions during 10 weeks of storage, and the storage environmental conditions are monitored using sensor networks systems. Quality estimation of net packaged onion during storage was performed using the storage environmental condition data through machine learning approaches. Among the suggested estimation models, support vector regression method showed the best accuracy for the quality estimation of net packaged onions.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.391-398
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• 2022

Polyploidization is a process by which cells are induced to possess more than two sets of chromosomes. Although polyploidization is not frequent in mammals, it is closely associated with development and differentiation of specific tissues and organs. The liver is one of the mammalian organs that displays ploidy dynamics in physiological homeostasis during its development. The ratio of polyploid hepatocytes increases significantly in response to hepatic injury from aging, viral infection, iron overload, surgical resection, or metabolic overload, such as that from non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLDs). One of the unique features of NAFLD is the marked heterogeneity of hepatocyte nuclear size, which is strongly associated with an adverse liver-related outcome, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplantation, and liver-related death. Thus, hepatic polyploidization has been suggested as a potential driver in the progression of NAFLDs that are involved in the control of the multiple pathogenicity of the diseases. However, the importance of polyploidy in diverse pathophysiological contexts remains elusive. Recently, several studies reported successful improvement of symptoms of NAFLDs by reducing pathological polyploidy or by controlling cell cycle progression in animal models, suggesting that better understanding the mechanisms of pathological hepatic polyploidy may provide insights into the treatment of hepatic disorders.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.145-153
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• 2022

The gut microbiota is involved in the maintenance of physiological homeostasis and is now recognized as a regulator of many diseases. Although germ-free mouse models are the standard for microbiome studies, mice with antibiotic-induced sterile intestines are often chosen as a fast and inexpensive alternative. Pathophysiological changes in the gut microbiome have been demonstrated, but there are no reports so far on how such alterations affect the bacterial composition of the uterus. Here we examined changes in uterine microbiota as a result of gut microbiome disruption in an antibiotics-based sterile-uterus mouse model. Sterility was induced in 6-week-old female mice by administration of a combination of antibiotics, and amplicons of a bacteria marker gene (16S rRNA) were sequenced to decipher bacterial community structures in the uterus. At the phylum-level, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were found to be dominant, while Ralstonia, Escherichia, and Prauserella were the major genera. Quantitative comparisons of the microbial contents of an antibiotic-fed and a control group revealed that the treatment resulted in the reduction of bacterial population density. Although there was no significant difference in bacterial community structures between the two animal groups, β-diversity analysis showed a converged profile of uterus microbiotain the germ-free model. These findings suggest that the induction of sterility does not result in changes in the levels of specific taxa but in a reduction of individual variations in the mouse uterus microbiota, accompanied by a decrease in overall bacterial population density.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.361-380
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• 2023

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a technique to record oscillatory magnetic fields coming from ongoing neuronal activity. Functional brain activities performing cognitive or physiological tasks are performed on structural connections between neurons or brain regions. MEG data can be characterized as highly correlated, spatio-temporal, multidimensional, multilayered dynamic networks. Due to its complex structure, many studies on MEG network have not yet been conducted. In this study, we will explain the concept, necessity, and possible approaches of MEG network analysis. We reviewed the characteristics of MEG data. Network measures and potential network models in MEG and clinical studies are also reviewed.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.19
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• 2024

TNF, a pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokine, is important for protective immunity and immunopathology during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, which causes tuberculosis (TB) in humans. TNF is produced primarily by phagocytes in the lungs during the early stages of Mtb infection and performs diverse physiological and pathological functions by binding to its receptors in a context-dependent manner. TNF is essential for granuloma formation, chronic infection prevention, and macrophage recruitment to and activation at the site of infection. In animal models, TNF, in cooperation with chemokines, contributes to the initiation, maintenance, and clearance of mycobacteria in granulomas. Although anti-TNF therapy is effective against immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, it carries the risk of reactivating TB. Furthermore, TNF-associated inflammation contributes to cachexia in patients with TB. This review focuses on the multifaceted role of TNF in the pathogenesis and prevention of TB and underscores the importance of investigating the functions of TNF and its receptors in the establishment of protective immunity against and in the pathology of TB. Such investigations will facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies that target TNF signaling, which makes beneficial and detrimental contributions to the pathogenesis of TB.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2007

In all female mammals, reproductive system is one of the first biological systems to show age-related decline. Female mammals in reproductive aging, though the phenomena is somewhat species-specific, start to show declining fertility and changes of numerous physiological functions. This review will present a current information on the aging of the female reproductive hormonal axis and introduce three useful rodent models for studying this field. Middle age($8{\sim}12$ months old) in female rats and mice is comparable to the stage prior to the entry of menopause in human. In this period pulsatile and surge GnRH secretion from hypothalamus gradually attenuated, then reduced pulsatile and surge LH secretion is followed consequently. This age-related defects in GnRH-LH neuroendocrine axis seem to be highly correlated with the defects in brain signals which modulate the activities of GnRH neuron. Many researchers support the idea which the age-related hypothalamic defects are the main cause of reproductive aging, but some ovarian factors such as inhibin response also could contribute to the induction of reproductive senescence. Some rodent models are quite valuable in studying the reproductive aging. The follitropin receptor knockout(FORKO) mice, both of null and haploinsufficient state, could produce depletion of oocyte/follicle with age. Dioxin/aryl hydrocarbon receptor(AhR) knockout mice also show severe ovarian defects and poor reproductive success early in their life compared to the age-matched normal mice. Further studies on the reproductive aging will be a great help to evaluate the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy(HRT) and to improve the safety of HRT.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2017

Recently the global epidemic problem of obesity has stimulated intense interest in the study of physiological mechanisms using animal models as a way to gain crucial data required for translation to human studies. Panax ginseng has been reported to have anti-obesity or antidiabetic effects in many animal studies; however, there have been few studies investigating human obesity. Herein, we will assess and examine the evidence supporting the anti-obesity effect of Panax ginseng in animal models with respect to anthropometric and metabolic outcomes. We will include controlled, comparative studies assessing the effect of Panax ginseng in preclinical studies of obesity. Panax ginseng will be administered during or following the induction of experimental obesity. The primary outcome measure will be anthropometric assessment and the secondary outcome measures will include adipose tissue weight, total amount of food consumed and metabolic parameters. We will search MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus without language, publication date, or other restrictions. Ethical approval will not be necessary as the data collected in this study will not be individual patient data, consequently there will be no concerns about violations of privacy. After finishing the whole procedure, the results will be disseminated by publication in a peer-reviewed journal or presented at a relevant conference. This protocol has been registered on the Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies (CAMARADES) website (http://www.camarades.info).

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.938-945
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• 2020

A dynamic model was developed to predict the Escherichia coli cell counts in pig trotters at changing temperatures. Five-strain mixture of pathogenic E. coli at 4 Log CFU/g were inoculated to cooked pig trotter samples. The samples were stored at 10℃, 20℃, and 25℃. The cell count data was analyzed with the Baranyi model to compute the maximum specific growth rate (μ_max) (Log CFU/g/h) and lag phase duration (LPD) (h). The kinetic parameters were analyzed using a polynomial equation, and a dynamic model was developed using the kinetic models. The model performance was evaluated using the accuracy factor (A_f), bias factor (B_f), and root mean square error (RMSE). E. coli cell counts increased (p<0.05) in pig trotter samples at all storage temperatures (10℃-25℃). LPD decreased (p<0.05) and μ_max increased (p<0.05) as storage temperature increased. In addition, the value of h₀ was similar at 10℃ and 20℃, implying that the physiological state was similar between 10℃ and 20℃. The secondary models used were appropriate to evaluate the effect of storage temperature on LPD and μ_max. The developed kinetic models showed good performance with RMSE of 0.618, B_f of 1.02, and A_f of 1.08. Also, performance of the dynamic model was appropriate. Thus, the developed dynamic model in this study can be applied to describe the kinetic behavior of E. coli in cooked pig trotters during storage.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 1997

To assess the reliability of chronobiological models of sleep/wake regulation, it is necerssary that the models predict the data which has been studied in sleep research, and they should be generalized across all ages. To date, many adult human data on such models have accumulated, yet it is evident that a comprehensive theory of the biorhythmic aspects of sleep/wake states has not established. Circadian rhythms such as the time going to bed, sleep onset, slow wave sleep pressure, periodicity of REM sleep, daytime performance, and early evening alertness are resumed everyday. Even in adult humans, sleep is inherently polyphasic. In both the disentrained and entrained states, naps when allowed tend to recur in a temporally lawful manner. The monophasic sleep pattern of most industrial societies therefore appears to be purely of social origin. The endogenous biorhythmic nature of circasemidian sleep tendency is supported by the ubiquity of the phenomenon across all ages. The NREM/REM sleep cycle within sleep with its inherent physiological, endocrine, and neurochemical fluctuations represents the best-documented ultradian sleep rhythms. Also, a daytime ultradian variation in sleepiness with a periodicity similar to nocturnal NREM/REM cycle(BRAC hypothesis) is suggested. This review article provides a brief synoptic review of the evidences for circadian, circasemidian, and ultradian sleep/wake rhythms, and then the authour will suggest the issues which expedite fuller modeling of sleep/wake system, to be further discussed.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2016

This study was conducted to develop temperature-driven models for a population model of turnip aphid, Lipaphis erysimi: nymphal development rate models and apterious adult's oviposition (larviparous) model. Nymphal development and the longevity and fecundity of adults were examined on cabbage at six constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, $35{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, 16L:8D). L. erysimi nymphs did not survive at $10^{\circ}C$. Development time of nymphs increased with increasing temperature up to $30^{\circ}C$ and thereafter slightly decreased, ranging from 18.5 d at $15^{\circ}C$ to 5.9 d at $30^{\circ}C$. The lower threshold temperature and thermal constant were estimated as $7.9^{\circ}C$ and 126.3 degree days, respectively. The nonlinear model of Lactin 2 fitted well for the relationship between the development rate and temperature of small (1+2 instar), large (3+4 instar) and total nymph (all instars). The Weibull function provided a good fit for the distribution of development times of each stage. Temperature affected the longevity and fecundity of L. erysimi. Adult longevity decreased as the temperature increased and ranged from 24.4 d at $20^{\circ}C$ to 16.4 d at $30.0^{\circ}C$ with abnormal longevity 18.2 d at $15^{\circ}C$, which was used to estimate adult aging rate model for the calculation of adult physiological age. L. erysimi showed a maximum fecundity of 91.6 eggs per female at $20^{\circ}C$. In this study, we provided three temperature-dependent components for an oviposition model of L. erysimi: total fecundity, age-specific cumulative oviposition rate, and age-specific survival rate.