• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.15.1-15.10
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• 2021

Abnormal inflammatory responses are closely associated with intestinal microbial dysbiosis. Oral administration of Qmatrix-diabetes-mellitus complex (QDMC), an Aloe gel-based formula, has been reported to improve inflammation in type 2 diabetic mice; however, the role of the gut microbiota in ameliorating efficacy of QDMC remains unclear. We investigated the effect of QDMC on the gut microbiota in a type 2 diabetic aged mouse model that was administered a high-fat diet. Proinflammatory (TNF-α and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokine levels in the fat were normalized via oral administration of QDMC, and relative abundances of Bacteroides, Butyricimonas, Ruminococcus, and Mucispirillum were simultaneously significantly increased. The abundance of these bacteria was correlated to the expression levels of cytokines. Our findings suggest that the immunomodulatory activity of QDMC is partly mediated by the altered gut microbiota composition.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.123-132
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• 2013

Obesity is consistently increasing in prevalence and can trigger insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Many lines of evidence have shown that macrophages play a major role in inflammation associated with obesity. This study was conducted to determine metformin, a widely prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes, would regulate inflammation through down-regulation of scavenger receptors in macrophages from obesity-induced type 2 diabetes. RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with LPS to induce inflammation, and C57BL/6N mice were fed a high-fat diet to generate obesity-induced type 2 diabetes mice. Metformin reduced the production of NO, $PGE_2$ and pro-inflammatory cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$) through down-regulation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ translocation in macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, the protein expressions of anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, were enhanced or maintained by metformin. Also, metformin suppressed secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and reduced the protein and mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in obese mice as well as in macrophages. The expression of scavenger receptors, CD36 and SR-A, were attenuated by metformin in macrophages and obese mice. These results suggest that metformin may attenuate inflammatory responses by suppressing the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and the expressions of scavenger receptors.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.563-578
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to suggest the estimation model of' amenity environment' by Perceived Envionmental Quality Index(PEQI) model. A questionnaire survey was carried out for 연e study area of Taegu-Kyungbuk region. Sampling size was 838(427 of Taegu and 411 of Kyungbuk residents by stratified sampling of each region's(7 Gu for Tae-gu, 7 Cities 61 Gun far Kyungbuk) population. The survey was done during Sep. to Nov, of 1996. The suggested model was composed of four estimation categories and 16 Indicators. The four categories were 'Cleanness 61 Quietness', 'Naturalness & Harmony', 'Beauty 61 Comfort' and 'Environmental Conservation Efforts'. And each category has several individual Indicators. The weighted means of satisfaction were different by each region. Suseong-gu, Dalseogu, Joong-gu(Taegu), Bumcheon, Andong, and Cheondo(Kyungbuk) showed high enoronmental satisfaction, but Dong-gu. Seo-gu(taegu), Youngcheon, and Pohang(Kyungbuk) showed lower environmental satisfaction. By Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP) of weighting values for each categorirs, 'Enoronmental Conservation Efforts' was estimated as the most Important(value of 0.367), and 'Naturalness 61 Harmony'(0. 242),'Clenness & guletness'(0.225), and 'Beauty & Comfort'(0.166) were Important respectively. Total PEQI's were estimated as 48.0 for Taegu, and 53.3 for Kyungbuk. PEQI's for each regions were between 46.2(Dong-gu) and 59.9(Kimcheon). The validity of the suggested model was verined by factor analysis. The four factors were identnied as the same categories and indicators. Finally, The LISREL+7 model was suggested as estimauon model of 'Amenity Environment' for Taegu-Kyungbuk region.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.174-180
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• 2005

Antigen presenting cells (APCs), dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, playa critical role not only in the initiation of immune responses, but also in the induction of immune tolerance. In an effort to regulate immune responses through the modulation of APC function, we searched for and characterized APC function modulators from natural products. Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum SPM1204 (SPM1204) isolated from feces of healthy Korean in the age of 20s was used in this experiment. DCs and macrophages were cultured in the presence of supernatants of SPM 1204 and then examined for their activities for the presentation exogenous antigen in association with major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) and macrophage activation. SPM1204 increased class I MHC-restricted presentation of exogenous antigen (cross-presentation) in a DC cell line, DC2.4 cells. The RAW 264.7 cell line was used to test the nonspecific effect of immune reinforcement of SPM1204 as a source of biological regulating modulator for the macrophage activation, include nitric oxide (NO) production and cytokine production. Results showed that the production of NO, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interleukin 1 (IL-1)-$\beta$ and morphological changes in macrophages were largely affected by SPM1204 in a dose-dependent manner. Our results demonstrated that SPM1204 promote cross-presentation of dendritic cells as well as the induction of NO, TNF-$\alpha$ production, and activation of macrophage.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.203-214
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• 2014

Objective: This study aims to examine the psychological effects of pilots caused by the environmental differences between actual and simulated flights by measuring biochemical stress level and subjective stress level. Background: Currently, the flight system of the air force suffers from several problems including a limited training area, increase of complex and tangled missions and rise in oil prices. In order to overcome these problems an L-V-C (Live, Virtual, Constructive) training system has been proposed as a solution. However, to establish the effective L-V-C training system, it is required to figure out the characteristics of each system first. Also we have to solve the problems which could occur when these systems are connected together. Method: In order to measure the biochemical stress level of pilots, we investigated the differences in cortisol responses after actual and simulated flight training separately. Meanwhile, we conducted the questionnaire survey of about 40 pilots to identify the subjective stress level of pilots. Results: There was significant difference in cortisol level between actual and simulated flight tasks. However, we found that there was no significant difference in pilots' feelings about two flight tasks. Conclusion: The results from this study can be used as basis for the further research on not only how to decrease linkage errors of the L system and the V system but also how to make the L-V training system more practical. Application: The results of the analysis might help to develop the Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) pilot training system.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.125-134
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study is to develop the strategy of promoting participation on physical activity programs among the disabled through analysis of satisfaction on the Welfare Center for the Disabled-based program. Methods: The subjects were 151 disabled people who had physical disability or brain disorder. They had participated on the physical activity programs which were opened in 13 welfare centers for the disabled of Daegu and Gyeongbuk. The data were collected by the survey for 2 weeks in May, 2011. Results: There were no differences in the satisfaction on physical activity programs by general characteristics and health status. As for cognitive factors, it were significantly different on the satisfaction by the importance of physical activity and the fitness maintenance factor (p<0.05, p<0.01). Significant differences were found in the satisfaction by the participating attitude and the participation motives, such as goal-oriented and activity-oriented motives. It were significantly different on the satisfaction by the duration, frequency per week, time per once, and components in terms of the physical activity program. Conclusions: To revitalize the physical activity-for-all project for the disabled, it needs to develop the strategy and to enhance the health education to improve their health status.

• Convergence Security Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.15-28
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• 2020

Smart City is highly anticipated to solve the problems of existing cities and create new added value, but there is also increasing concern about security risks. The negative view of smart city according to security risk awareness is a problem that needs to be improved in order to activate the fourth industrial revolution technology and develop smart city. This study examined risk factors in smart cities based on perceived risk and user resistance theory, and empirically analyzed the relationship with resistance attitudes. According to the empirical analysis with 288 research samples, security, social, and physical risk factors directly affect smart city resistance, while financial, performance, and privacy risk have no significant effect. In addition, it was verified that the security risk can is an antecedent factor for other risk factors, and it was confirmed that it is required to separately discuss the security and privacy risk in the smart city environment. This study shows that it is necessary to prepare policy supports for social interactions as well as security and physical safety issues in order to activate smart city by discussing the risk factors that negatively affect smart city perception from the public's point of view.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.347-354
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• 2013

Cordyceps militaris, a traditional medicinal mushroom, produces a component compound, cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine). Cordycepin has many pharmacological activities including immunological stimulating, anti-cancer, and anti-infection activities. However, the therapeutic mechanism has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we examined the effects of cordycepin on the antigen-presenting function of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Dendritic cells (DCs) were cultured in the presence of cordycepin and then allowed to phagocytose microspheres containing ovalbumin (OVA). After washing and fixing, the efficacy of OVA peptide presentation by DCs was evaluated using CD8 and CD4 T cells. Also, we confirmed the protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines through RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Cordycepin decreased both MHC class I and class II-restricted presentation of OVA and suppressed the expression of both MHC molecules and the phagocytic activity toward exogenous OVA. The class II-restricted OVA presentation-regulating activity of cordycepin was also confirmed using mice that had been injected with cordycepin followed by soluble OVA. Furthermore, cordycepin suppressed the mRNA and protein levels of iNOS, COX-2, pro-inflammatory cytokines in a concentration-dependent manner. These results provide an understanding of the mechanism of the T cell response-regulating activity of cordycepin through the inhibition of MHC-restricted antigen presentation in relation to its actions on APCs.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.6-12
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• 2014

The survey of weed occurrence was conducted to identify problem weed species in the paddy field. The 320 sites of the 13 regions in Gyeongbuk Province were investigated from June to July, 2013. In the whole region, 51 weed species were identified including 34 annuals and 17 perennials. The highest importance value of annual weed and perennial was dominant 88.4 and 48.7%, in Gumi region, respectively. The most dominant weed species in paddy fields of Gyeongbuk Province were Monochoria vaginalis var. plantaginea (10.80%), followed by Lemna paucicostata (10.74%), Bidens tripartite (8.77%), Echinochloa oryzoides (7.17%), and Scirpus juncoides (6.20%). The similarity of paddy weeds in 13 regions observed through TWINSPAN analysis was distinguished by Ludwigia prostrata, Scirpus juncoides, Lindernia dubia, Polygonum aviculare, and Alopecurus aequalis var. amurensis. The weed species, Ludwigia prostrata, was divided into the four regions, Gyeongju, Gumi(direct seeding cultivation), Youngcheon and Euiseong and ten regions, Gumi, Bonghwa, Sanju, Goryung, Youngdeog, Pohang, Sanju, Andong, Yecheon, and Cheongdo.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.135-144
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• 2009

This study estimates the expected number of accidents in Kyungbuk Province to capitalize on experience gained from four years of accident history using the Empirical Bayes (EB) Method. The number of accidents of each site in Kyungbuk Province is recalculated using the Equivalent Property Damage Only (EPDO) method to reflect the severities of the accidents. A cluster analysis is performed to determine similar sites and a unique Safety Performance Function (SPF) is established for each site. The overdispersion parameter is built to correct the difference between the actual number of accidents and the underlying probability distribution. To adjust for varying traffic characteristics of each site, a relative weight is applied and eventually estimates the expected number of accidents. The results show that the highest accident sites are Kimcheon, Youngcheon, and Chilgok, but on the other hand the lowest is Gunwi.