• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.637-645
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• 2019

Due to the transformation to the intelligent information society, the rapid change of our life and environment is expected. The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the National Research Council of Science and Technology (NST) introduced a five-year government supported research institution's planning and evaluation based on the mid-to long-term perspective. This study collects international benchmarking information including industry, academia, and research fields by collecting mid- and long-term strategy reports from public research institutes, surveys by experts from abroad universities and research institutes, and analyzing overseas market information reports. The British Geological Survey (BGS), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the japanese geological survey related institutes (AIST-GSJ) plans for three-dimensional national geological information, predictions of geological environmental disasters, and development of important metals and material in the low carbon economic transformation and in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The mid- and long-term program emphasizes basic and public research on geological information through abroad experts survey such as the IPGP-CNRS etc. The market analysis of the mining automation and digital map sectors has been able to derive the fields in which the role of public research institutes by the market is expected such as data collection on land and in the air, mobile or three-dimensional information production, smooth/fast/real-time maps, custom map design, mapping support to various platforms, geological environmental risk assessment and disaster management information and maps.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.733-737
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• 2018

Cucurbitacin-I, a natural triterpenoid derived from Cucurbitaceae family plants, exhibits a number of potentially useful pharmacological and biological activities. Indeed, the previous study demonstrated that cucurbitacin-I reduced the proliferation of colon cancer cells by enhancing apoptosis and causing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. CD44, a type I transmembrane protein with the function of adhering to cells, mediates between the extracellular matrix and other cells through hyaluronic acid. Recent studies have demonstrated that an overexpression of the CD44 membrane receptor results in tumor initiation and growth, specific behaviors of cancer stem cells, the development of drug resistance, and metastasis. The aim was to examine the effect of cucurbitacin-I on CD44 expression human ovarian cancer cells because the effect of cucurbitacin-I on CD44 expression has not been reported. The expressions of CD44 mRNA and protein were detected using a quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and a Western blot analysis, respectively. Treatment with cucurbitacin-I inhibited the expression of CD44 mRNA and protein. A subsequent analysis revealed that cucurbitacin-I blocked the phosphorylation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappa-B ($NF-{\kappa}B$), which are key regulators of CD44 expression. Taken together, the data demonstrate that cucurbitacin-I regulates the AP-1 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways, leading to decreased CD44 expression.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.121-129
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• 2008

Major factors affecting water quality in rivers are transportation, input of pollutant loads and kinetic transformation of pollutants. Government level decision makings on water quality management are based on steady state water quality modeling. However, it is more than often that such a steady state assumption is far from real situations in rivers. Therefore, it is unavoidable to have modeling errors in water quality modeling especially for steady state modeling for longer period of time. Authors attempted to identify sources of errors in results of steady state models and thus tried to find out ways to minimize those errors. Three water quality models, QUAL2E (Brown et al., 1983), QUAL2K (Chapra et al., 2006) and CAP (Seo and Lee, 2000) were applied to the lower stream of the Geum River. $BOD_5$ and COD tend to underestimate observed data while TN and TP showed relatively smaller errors. QUAL2E model provided best calibration results for BOD5 and TP and QUAL2K model showed best calibration results for TN. Since these errors are only relative values, it was difficult to conclude which model is better performing in certain situations. The most probable reasons for errors in water quality modeling are; 1) inappropriate consideration on flow characteristics, 2) lack of information on incoming pollutant load and 3) inappropriate location of sampling for water quality analysis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.2051-2057
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• 2011

Several studies have demonstrated that nanoparticles (NPs) have toxic effects on cultured cell lines, yet there are no clear data describing the overall molecular changes induced by NPs currently in use for human applications. In this study, the in vitro cytotoxicity of three oxide NPs of around 100 nm size, namely, mesoporous silica (MCM-41), iron oxide ($Fe_2O_3$-NPs), and zinc oxide (ZnO-NPs), was evaluated in the human embryonic kidney cell line HEK293. Cell viability assays demonstrated that 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ MCM-41, 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ $Fe_2O_3$, and 12.5 ${\mu}g/mL$ ZnO exhibited 20% reductions in HEK293 cell viability in 24 hrs. DNA microarray analysis was performed on cells treated with these oxide NPs and further validated by real time PCR to understand cytotoxic changes occurring at the molecular level. Microarray analysis of NP-treated cells identified a number of up- and down-regulated genes that were found to be associated with inflammation, stress, and the cell death and defense response. At both the cellular and molecular levels, the toxicity was observed in the following order: ZnO-NPs > $Fe_2O_3$-NPs > MCM-41. In conclusion, our study provides important information regarding the toxicity of these three commonly used oxide NPs, which should be useful in future biomedical applications of these nanoparticles.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.261-268
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• 2018

Differences in host ethnicities and geographical distributions may influence the genetic variation and pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori strains, particularly with respect to those with a high risk of gastric cancer and in Asian Enigma regions. We simultaneously identified H. pylori virulence-associated genes involved in inflammation and cell damage in Thai and Korean dyspeptic patients. The virulence-associated gene cagA, cagA genotypes (East Asian and Western type cagA), vacA genotypes (s- and m-), oipA, and sabA were detected in Thai and Korean dyspeptic patients by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, and DNA sequence analysis. Comparisons between the two regions showed that cagA, East Asian type cagA, and vacA s1/m1 in Korean dyspeptic patients occurred at rates of 100%, 86.67%, and 88.89%, respectively (p < 0.05). The oipA- and sabA-positive samples were significantly more predominant in the Korean population (95.56%, 91.11%) than in the Thai population (32%, 34%). DNA sequence analysis revealed differences in the patterns of cytosine-thymine dinucleotide repeats of oipA and sabA among the two populations of dyspeptic patients. Our results indicate that the H. pylori strains detected in the two regions were divergent, and strains colonizing the Korean dyspeptic patients may be more virulent than those in the Thai population. Our data may help explain H. pylori pathogenesis in Asian Enigma areas with a low gastric cancer incidence. However, other factors involving H. pylori infection in these two regions should be further analyzed.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.151-159
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• 2008

In this research, kinematic comparative analysis was performed on strokes of abscission and spinal cord injured athletes who participated in 2008 Beijing Paralympics wheelchair table tennis games. Strokes of all situations were collected under real match-like conditions. Among those, three major forehand stroke motions and backhand stroke motions were drawn Data collected by 9 infrared cameras were expressed in angular motions using graphic program LabVIEW7.0. As a result, forehand stroke of spin handicap athlete from analyzed images, the rotations of the trunk happened with the rotations of shoulder and the flexion extensions of elbow nearly at the same time. According to these results, insufficient turning force or speed of rackets is recompensed using flexion. backhand stroke of spin handicap athlete from analyzed images, the rotations of the trunk, the flexion extensions of the elbow and the flexion extensions of the shoulder were lined up on the prolongations of ping-pong balls. Forehand stroke of abscission athletes was done by outward rotation of the arm using backswing and inner rotation. As for backhand stroke, backswing was made by inner rotation in the spin of shoulder and waist. And after the backswing, impact was formed in wide outer rotation towards the ball.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.689-692
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• 2015

Background: Incorporation of molecular analysis of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene into routine clinical practice has shown great promise to provide personalized therapy of the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the developed world. However, the genetic testing of EGFR mutations has not yet become routine clinical practice in territories remote from the central regions of Russia. Therefore, we aimed to study the frequency of major types of activating mutations of the EGFR gene in NSCLC patients residing in West Siberia. Materials and Methods: We examined EGFR mutations in exons 19 and 21 in 147 NSCLC patients (excluding squamous cell lung carcinomas) by real time polymerase chain reaction. Results: EGFR mutations were detected in 28 of the 147 (19%) patients. There were 19 (13%) cases with mutations in exon 19 and 9 cases (6%) in exon 21. Mutations were more frequently observed in women (42%, p=0.000) than in men (1%). A significantly higher incidence of EGFR mutations was observed in bronchioloalveolar carcinomas (28%, p=0.019) and in adenocarcinomas (21%, p=0.024) than in large cell carcinomas, mixed adenocarcinomas, and NOS (4%). The EGFR mutation rate was much higher in never-smokers than in smokers: 38% vs. 3% (p=0.000). The frequency of EGFR mutations in the Kemerovo and Tomsk regions was 19%. Conclusions: The incorporation of molecular analysis of the EGFR gene into routine clinical practice will allow clinicians to provide personalised therapy, resulting in a significant increase in survival rates and improvement in life quality of advanced NSCLC patients.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.413-422
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• 2016

With the rapidly increasing population density and development of infrastructure, the loss of life and property damage caused by landslides has increased gradually in urban area. Especially, Because Busan has high percentage of mountainous terrain among the metropolitan in Korea, it is unavoidable to develop mountainous region excessively. The objective of this evaluation is to study on landslide hazard possibility for Mt. Hwangryeong in Busan Metropolitan City using the infinite slope model considering the groundwater level. All data related to creating the thematic maps was carried out using ArcGIS 10.0. The results show that FS (Factor of Safety) for landslide is inversely proportional to groundwater level change as expected. Most area indicates stable state in dry condition, and unstable area increase due to high pore water pressure when the groundwater level rise. However, several places in high lineament density area where landslide has been previously occurred, are more stable than other places according to the analysis. This inconsistency between real situation and analysis results indicates that additional analytical method would be necessary to solve the problem. Therefore, we suggest that development of new infiltration theory for unsaturated zone would be helpful to evaluate groundwater level distribution as time goes by.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.33-43
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• 2012

Why solar companies preferred vertical integration of whole value chain? Major solar companies have built internally strong vertical integration of entire PV value chain. We raise a question whether such integration increases the corporate value and whether market situation affects the result. To test these questions, we conducted multi-variant analysis where characteristic factors mainly affect the corporate value measured in terms of Tobin'Q, based on the financial and non-financial data of PV companies listed in US stock market between 2005 and 2010. We hypothesize that since integration increases the overall efficiency but decreases the flexibility to adjust to various market situation, the combined effect of the efficiency gain and the flexibility loss ultimately determines the sign of integration effect on the corporate vale. We infer that the combined effect will be influenced heavily by business cycle, as in boom market (Seller's market) the efficiency gain may be larger than the flexibility loss and vice versa in bust market. We test whether the sign of combined effect changes after the year of 2009 and which factors influence most the sign. Year of 2009 is known as the year when market shifted from Seller's to Buyer's market. We show that 1) integration increases corporate value in general but after 2009 integration significantly decreases the value, 2) the ratios such as Production/Total Cost, Cash turnover period chosen for reversal of the flexibility measure are negatively affect Tobin's Q and especially stronger after 2009. This shows the flexibility improves corporate value and stronger in the recess period (Buyer's market). These results imply that solar company should set up integration strategy considering the tradeoff between efficiency and flexibility and the impact of the business cycle on both factors. Strategy only based on the price competitiveness determined in boom time can bring undesirable outcomes to the company. In addition, Strategic alliances in some value chains as a flexible bondage should be taken in account as complementary choice to the rigid integration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1901-1906
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• 2012

Background: The discovery that microRNA (miRNA) regulates metastasis provide a principal molecular basis for tumor heterogeneity. A characteristic of solid tumors is their heterogenous distribution of blood vessels, with significant hypoxia occurring in regions (centers of tumor) of low blood flow. It is necessary to discover the mechanism of breast cancer metastasis in relation to the fact that there is a differential distribution of crucial microRNA in tumors from centers to edges. Methods: Breast tissues from 48 patients (32 patients with breast cancer) were classified into the high invasive and metastatic group (HIMG), low invasive and metastatic group (LIMG), and normal group. Samples were collected from both the centers and edges of all tumors. The first six specimens were detected by microRNA array, and the second ten specimens were detected by real-time qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Correlation analysis was performed between the miRNAs and target proteins. Results: The relative content of miR-20a and miR-20b was lower in the center of the tumor than at the edge in the LIMG, lower at the edge of the tumor than in the center in the HIMG, and lower in breast cancer tissues than in normal tissues. VEGF-A and HIF-1alpha mRNA levels were higher in the HIMG than in the LIMG, and levels were higher in both groups than in the normal group; there was no difference in mRNA levels between the edge and center of the tumor. VEGF-A and HIF-1alpha protein levels were higher in the HIMG than in the LIMG, and protein levels in both groups were higher than in the normal group; there was a significant difference in protein expression between the edge and center of the tumor. Correlation analysis showed that the key miRNAs (miR-20a and miR-20b) negatively correlated with the target proteins (VEGF-A and HIF-1alpha). Conclusions: Our data suggest that miR-20a and miR-20b are differentially distributed in breast cancer, while VEGF-A and HIF-1alpha mRNA had coincident distributions, and VEGF-A and HIF-1alpha proteins had uneven and opposing distributions to the miRNAs. It appears that one of the most important facets underlying metastatic heterogeneity is the differential distribution of miR-20a and miR-20b and their regulation of target proteins.