• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1281-1293
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• 2019

The rhizosphere is the active zone where plant roots communicate with the soil microbiome, each responding to the other's signals. The soil microbiome within the rhizosphere that is beneficial to plant growth and productivity is known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). PGPR take part in many pivotal plant processes, including plant growth, development, immunity, and productivity, by influencing acquisition and utilization of nutrient molecules, regulation of phytohormone biosynthesis, signaling, and response, and resistance to biotic- and abiotic-stresses. PGPR also produce secondary compounds and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that elicit plant growth. Moreover, plant roots exude attractants that cause PGPR to aggregate in the rhizosphere zone for colonization, improving soil properties and protecting plants against pathogenic factors. The interactions between PGPR and plant roots in rhizosphere are essential and interdependent. Many studies have reported that PGPR function in multiple ways under the same or diverse conditions, directly and indirectly. This review focuses on the roles and strategies of PGPR in enhancing nutrient acquisition by nutrient fixation/solubilization/mineralization, inducing plant growth regulators/phytohormones, and promoting growth and development of root and shoot by affecting cell division, elongation, and differentiation. We also summarize the current knowledge of the effects of PGPR and the soil microbiota on plants.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.511-519
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• 2021

Slewing bearing is applied to the transmission of rotational power of the body and turret in a special vehicle for anti-aircraft weapons that overcomes the enemy flight system approaching at low altitudes with rapid response fire. When the turret load and impact load generated when shooting are combined in performing the combat mission of a special vehicle, structural stability must be secured to achieve a successful function. Among the components of the slewing bearing, the stability of the components against the complex loads acting by the turret drive and shooting was evaluated by considering the shape and material characteristics of the ring-gear, roller, and wire-race. As a research method for stability evaluation, based on engineering theory, the strength characteristics of the components were examined by numerical calculations. Finite element analysis was performed on components using the ANSYS analysis program. The results of theoretical analysis and the results of finite element analysis were very similar. A structural stability evaluation for the slewing bearing, which was performed mainly on the analysis, confirmed that the design strength of the slewing bearing determined in the preliminary design in the early stage of localization development was sufficient.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.597-612
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• 2022

Recently, large-scale mathematics assessments are shifting from traditional paper-based tests to computer-based tests, nationally and internationally. This study explored the mode effect (the difference in student achievement by the change of test mode) according to the types of test items, the technological function reflected in the items, the characteristics of students' computer use, and the computer-based test environment. To this end, we analyzed the results of the 2020 national assessment of educational achievement of high school mathematics conducted on a paper and computer basis. As a result, firstly, the mode effect induced by the mode transition was generally insignificant, but the mode effect was larger in the extended response type than other types. Secondly, there were differences in the mode effect according to the transition to test with computer mode where innovative items were added. Thirdly, the difference between mode effects was statistically significant according to the student's sense of efficacy in computer use. The results of this study suggest that innovative items should be introduced deliberately according to the targeted content and competency in evaluation, and that assessment design and environment preparation need to be carefully developed so that nonessential abilities other than students' mathematical ability or incidental situation do not distort the assessment results.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.45-53
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• 2022

This paper investigates empirically the lead-lag relation between the 'apartment price index' and 'Internet search volume'. This study uses Naver Trend Index as a proxy for Internet search volume. An increase in Internet search volume on the apartment price index indicates an increase in people's attention to an apartment. Different from previous studies exploring the relation between 'the released price index of the apartment' and 'Naver Trend Index', this study investigates the relation of the Naver Trend Index with 'the fundamental price component of an apartment' and 'the transitory price component of an apartment', respectively. The results of the Granger causality test reveal that there are bidirectional Granger causalities between the 'released price' and Naver Trend Index. In addition, the 'fundamental price component of an apartment' and Naver Trend Index have a feedback relation, while 'the transitory price component of an apartment' Granger causes the Naver Trend Index uni-directionally. The impulse response function analysis indicates that the shock of apartment prices increases Naver Trend Index in the first month. Overall, The close relationship between apartment prices and Naver Trend Index suggests that increases in the movement of apartment prices are positively associated with public attention on the apartment market.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.38-49
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• 2021

Airway mucus secretion is an essential innate immune response for host protection. However, overproduction and hypersecretion of mucus, mainly composed of the gel-forming MUC5AC protein, are significant risk factors for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway negatively regulates MUC5AC expression; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we showed that TGFβ significantly reduces the expression of MUC5AC mRNA and its protein in NCI-H292 cells, a human mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell line. This reduced MUC5AC expression was restored by a TGFβ receptor inhibitor (SB431542), but not by the inhibition of NF-κB (BAY11-7082 or Triptolide) or PI3K (LY294002) activities. TGFβ-activated Smad3 dose-dependently bound to MUC5AC promoter. Notably, TGFβ-activated Smad3 recruited HDAC2 and facilitated nuclear translocation of HDAC2, thereby inducing the deacetylation of NF-κB at K310, which is essential for a reduction in NF-κB transcriptional activity. Both TGFβ-induced nuclear translocation of Smad3/HDAC2 and deacetylation of NF-κB at K310 were suppressed by a Smad3 inhibitor (SIS3). These results suggest that the TGFβ-activated Smad3/HDAC2 complex is an essential negative regulator for MUC5AC expression and an epigenetic regulator for NF-κB acetylation. Therefore, these results collectively suggest that modulation of the TGFβ1/Smad3/HDAC2/NF-κB pathway axis can be a promising way to improve lung function as a treatment strategy for asthma and COPD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.305-315
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• 2021

Background: Panax stipuleanatus represents a folk medicine for treatment of inflammation. However, lack of experimental data does not confirm its function. This article aims to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of triterpenoid saponins isolated from P. stipuleanatus. Methods: The chemical characterization of P. stipuleanatus allowed the identification and quantitation of two major compounds. Analgesic effects of triterpenoid saponins were evaluated in two models of thermal- and chemical-stimulated acute pain. Anti-inflammatory effects of triterpenoid saponins were also evaluated using four models of acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, xylene-induced ear edema, carrageenan-induced paw edema, and cotton pellet-induced granuloma in mice. Results: Two triterpenoid saponins of stipuleanosides R₁ (SP-R₁) and R₂ (SP-R₂) were isolated and identified from P. stipuleanatus. The results showed that SP-R₁ and SP-R₂ significantly increased the latency time to thermal pain in the hot plate test and reduced the writhing response in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. SP-R₁ and SP-R₂ caused a significant decrease in vascular permeability, ear edema, paw edema, and granuloma formation in inflammatory models. Further studies showed that the levels of inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin 6 in paw tissues were downregulated by SP-R₁ and SP-R₂. In addition, the rational harvest of three- to five-year-old P. stipuleanatus was preferable to obtain a higher level of triterpenoid saponins. SP-R₂ showed the highest content in P. stipuleanatus, which had potential as a chemical marker for quality control of P. stipuleanatus. Conclusion: This study provides important basic information about utilization of P. stipuleanatus resources for production of active triterpenoid saponins.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.25-31
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• 2011

In this study, the experimental design methodology was applied to optimize 1,4-dioxane treatment in E-beam process. Main factor was mathematically described as a function of parameters 1,4-dioxane removal efficiencies(%), TOC removal efficiencies(%) modeled by the use of the central composite design(CCD) method among the response surface methodology(RSM). Concentration of 1,4-dioxane is designated as "$x_1$" and Irradiation intensity is designated as "$x_2$". The regression equation in coded unit between the 1,4-dioxane concentration and removal efficiencies(%) was $y=71.00-10.85x_1+20.67x_2+{1.53x_1}^2-{7.92x_2}^2-1.23x_1x_2$. The regression equation in coded unit between the 1,4-dioxane concentration and TOC removal efficiencies(%) was $y=44.48-13.25x_1+9.54x_2+{5.43x_1}^2-{1.35x_2}^2+4.45x_1x_2$. The model predictions agreed well with the experimentally observed results $R^2$(Adj) over 90%. Toxicity test using algae Pseudokirchneriella Subcapitata showed that the inhibition was reduced according to increasing an E-beam irradiation.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.309-327
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• 2021

Dynamic treatment regimes (DTRs) are decision-making rules designed to provide personalized treatment to individuals in multi-stage randomized trials. Unlike classical methods, in which all individuals are prescribed the same type of treatment, DTRs prescribe patient-tailored treatments which take into account individual characteristics that may change over time. The Q-learning method, one of regression-based algorithms to figure out optimal treatment rules, becomes more popular as it can be easily implemented. However, the performance of the Q-learning algorithm heavily relies on the correct specification of the Q-function for response, especially in observational studies. In this article, we examine a number of double-robust weighted least-squares estimating methods for Q-learning in high-dimensional settings, where treatment models for propensity score and penalization for sparse estimation are also investigated. We further consider flexible ensemble machine learning methods for the treatment model to achieve double-robustness, so that optimal decision rule can be correctly estimated as long as at least one of the outcome model or treatment model is correct. Extensive simulation studies show that the proposed methods work well with practical sample sizes. The practical utility of the proposed methods is proven with real data example.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.146-159
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• 2021

DNA methylation, and consequent down-regulation, of tumour suppressor genes occurs in response to epigenetic stimuli during cancer development. Similarly, human oncoviruses, including human papillomavirus (HPV), up-regulate and augment DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activities, thereby decreasing tumour suppressor genes (TSGs) expression. Ubiquitin-like containing PHD and RING finger domain 1 (UHRF1), an epigenetic regulator of DNA methylation, is overexpressed in HPV-induced cervical cancers. Here, we investigated the role of UHRF1 in cervical cancer by knocking down its expression in HeLa cells using lentiviral-encoded short hairpin (sh)RNA and performing cDNA microarrays. We detected significantly elevated expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), a known TSG, in UHRF1-knockdown cells, and this gene is hypermethylated in cervical cancer tissue and cell lines, as indicated by whole-genome methylation analysis. Up-regulation of UHRF1 and decreased TXNIP were further detected in cervical cancer by western blot and immunohistochemistry and confirmed by Oncomine database analysis. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we identified the inverted CCAAT domain-containing UHRF1-binding site in the TXNIP promoter and demonstrated UHRF1 knockdown decreases UHRF1 promoter binding and enhances TXNIP expression through demethylation of this region. TXNIP promoter CpG methylation was further confirmed in cervical cancer tissue by pyrosequencing and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Critically, down-regulation of UHRF1 by siRNA or UHRF1 antagonist (thymoquinone) induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7), which stabilises and promotes UHRF1 function, is increased by HPV viral protein E6/E7 overexpression. These results indicate HPV might induce carcinogenesis through UHRF1-mediated TXNIP promoter methylation, thus suggesting a possible link between CpG methylation and cervical cancer.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.349-360
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• 2020

Bio-conversion manufacturing technology has been developed to produce ginsenoside Rd which is increasingly in demand as a cosmetic material due to various possibilities related to improving skin function. In order to convert ginsenoside Rb1 which is contained in red ginseng saponin (RGS) into Rd, several commercial enzymes were tested. Viscoflow MG was found to be the most efficient. In order to optimize the conversion of RGS to ginsenoside Rd by enzymatic transition was carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design (BBD). The main independent variables were RGS concentration, enzyme concentration, and reaction time. Conversion of ginsenoside Rd was performed under 17 conditions selected according to BBD model and optimization conditions were analyzed. The concentration of the converted ginsenoside Rd ranged from 0.3113 g/L to 0.5277 g/L, and the highest production volume was obtained under condition of reacting 2% RGS and 1.25% enzyme for 13.5 hours. Consequently, RGS concentration, enzyme concentration which is 0.05 less than p-value and among the interactions between the independent variables, the interaction between enzyme concentration and reaction time was confirmed to be the most influential.