• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.868-880
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• 2018

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most aggressive cancers presenting with high rates of invasion and metastasis, and unfavorable prognoses. The current study aims to investigate whether EZH2/miR-139-5p axis affects epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in PC, and the mechanism how EZH2 regulates miR-139-5p. Human PC and adjacent normal tissues were collected to determine expression of EZH2 and miR-139-5p, and their relationship with clinicopathological features of PC. Human PC cell line was selected, and treated with miR-139-5p mimics/inhibitors, EZH2 vector or shEZH2 in order to validate the regulation of EZH2-mediated miR-139-5p in PC cells. Dual-luciferase report gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were employed to identify the relationship between miR-139-5p and EZH2. RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis were conducted to determine the expression of miR-139-5p, EZH2 and EMT-related markers and ZEB1/2. Tumor formation ability and in vitro cell activity were also analyzed. Highly-expressed EZH2 and poorly-expressed miR-139-5p were detected in PC tissues, and miR-139-5p and EZH2 expressions were associated with patients at Stage III/IV, with LNM and highly-differentiated tumors. EZH2 suppressed the expression of miR-139-5p through up-regulating Histone 3 Lysine 27 Trimethylation (H3K27me3). EMT, cell proliferation, migration and invasion were impeded, and tumor formation and LNM were reduced in PC cells transfected with miR-139-5p mimics and shEZH2. MiR-139-5p transcription is inhibited by EZH2 through up-regulating H3K27me3, thereby down-regulation of EZH2 and up-regulation of miR-139-5p impede EMT and LNM in PC. In addition, the EZH2/miR-139-5p axis presents as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of PC.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.202-211
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• 2015

Companies build the factory automation system to improve management effectiveness and productivity as prime strategies for sustainable growth. But most companies undergo various trials and errors while carrying out the project without elaborate preparation stage for factory automation. In this study, we tried to verify what factors are critical to effectively building distribution automation system, which is a branch of factory automation system. A consulting model for setting up a Material Handling Automation System by utilizing the Stage-Gate Process, which is product development process was studied. 29 material handling automation projects carried out between the year 1990 to 2013 at K-Company were selected. Interviews with the project managers, operators and maintenance personnels, various records and current status of the projects were used as data for structural equations based on the Milan consulting model and existing researches of factory automation, CIM for material handling automation. Creating effective basis of production, material handling system and energy saving system with expert review, when preparing a material handling automation project, help promote the project planning thus contributing to the performance of the resulting system, which appears though rather weakly in our data. Also the effect of material handling automation can be enhanced through sufficient and effective links to the relevant environments such as production logistics management and automated warehouses. More detailed planning characteristics of project promotion or some time-series data of effective Material Handling Automation System could enhace furthur studies. We propose a consulting model for setting up an efficient material handling automation system.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.161-202
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• 2024

Backgrounds/Aims: Reported incidence of extrahepatic bile duct cancer is higher in Asians than in Western populations. Korea, in particular, is one of the countries with the highest incidence rates of extrahepatic bile duct cancer in the world. Although research and innovative therapeutic modalities for extrahepatic bile duct cancer are emerging, clinical guidelines are currently unavailable in Korea. The Korean Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery in collaboration with related societies (Korean Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery Society, Korean Society of Abdominal Radiology, Korean Society of Medical Oncology, Korean Society of Radiation Oncology, Korean Society of Pathologists, and Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine) decided to establish clinical guideline for extrahepatic bile duct cancer in June 2021. Methods: Contents of the guidelines were developed through subgroup meetings for each key question and a preliminary draft was finalized through a Clinical Guidelines Committee workshop. Results: In November 2021, the finalized draft was presented for public scrutiny during a formal hearing. Conclusions: The extrahepatic guideline committee believed that this guideline could be helpful in the treatment of patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.5107-5110
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• 2014

Background: The incidence rate of thyroid cancer has been increasing worldwide in recent years, and it is also the most prevalent cancer when it comes to the number of patients among Korean women. With it, ultrasonographic screening test has also become very common. However, there is still controversy over the performance of this screening test. Therefore, the National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA) organized a Round-table Conference on the issues regarding ultrasonographic screening for thyroid cancer in Korea. The objective of the conference was mainly about delivering worthwhile information reflecting social value for the current situation, which was based on evidence surrounding thyroid cancer screening that relevant experts investigated and agreed on. The significance of this Round-table Conference lies in the fact that we reviewed the current evidence, and we were able to discuss the social value and future direction for ultrasonographic screening in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.860-866
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• 2020

This study examined the characteristics of eggs obtained from layer chickens reared with feed that included Tenebrio molitor larvae, which were in turn bred using feed that included dried food waste powder. The eggs showed a tendency to be slightly thinner in the treated groups, but the Haugh unit indicating freshness was higher in the treated groups than the control group, and the 5% larval-treated group showed the highest value. The color of the yolk tended toward higher redness, lower brightness, and lower yellowness in the 5%-treated group, which also showed similar crude fat and protein values to the control group; the 10%- and 15% larval-treated groups had lower crude fat and protein values, although the carbohydrate content was higher. Structural amino acids in the treated groups showed a higher ratio of non-essential amino acids to essential amino acids than the control. The polyphenol content, which is an index of antioxidants, was highest in the 5%-treated group, and it is thought that this may affect the storage and antioxidant properties of the eggs. Thus, when employed with a feed source to maintain high protein and high fat, T. molitor larvae may cause critical changes in the nutrient content of eggs and improve their freshness.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.537-546
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• 2009

Determination of optimal pressure monitoring location is essential to manage water distribution system efficiently and safely. In this study, entropy theory is applied to overcome defects of previous researches about determining the optimal sensor location. The previous studies required the calibration using historical data, therefore, it was difficult to apply the proposed method in the place where the enough data were not available. Also, most researches have focused on the locations to minimize cost and maximize accuracy of the model, which is not appropriate for the purpose of maintenance of the water distribution system. The proposed method in this study quantify the entropy which is defined as the amount of information calculated from the pressure change due to the variation of discharge. When abnormal condition is occurred in a node, the effect on the entire network is presented by the entropy, and the emitter is used to reproduce actual pressure change pattern in EPANET. The optimal location to install pressure sensors in water distribution system is the nodes having the maximum information from other nodes. The looped and branched networks are evaluated using the proposed model. As a result, entropy theory provides general guideline to select the locations to install pressure sensors and the results can be used to help decision makers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.67-77
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the problems of reclamation sites and the prospects of farming in reclamation areas seen by local governments and the KRC branches in Chungnam, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam provinces. A mail survey method was used. The survey items were set for 15 items regarding the reclamation site situation, problems, and prospects. Seventy-five copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the local government, and 90 copies were sent to the KRC 165 copies in total. In response to the questionnaire, 72 recipients of the local governments responded, showing a 96% response rate, and 74 (82.2%) of the KRC responded. The overall response rate was 88.5%. The opinions on the rental method of the reclaimed land were found to differ according to the geographic conditions of the reclaimed land, the construction conditions, and the time. Regarding the survey on crops preferred for cultivation, rice was highest in both local governments (61%) and KRC (46%). When cultivating field crops in reclaimed land, 56% of local governments and 57% of KRC considered salinity as the most problematic or resolvable problem. Regarding growing other field crops in reclaimed land, salt and drainage problems were recognized as the biggest obstacles in all reclaimed land. As for technologies that need to be applied first for the future agriculture of reclamation land, KRC responded with automatic water management (48%) and local governments responded with unmanned agricultural machinery (32%). In order to diversify the land use in the reclamation area, it is necessary to reduce salt damage and ensure systematic maintenance, employing, for example, automatic water management facilities and drainage improvement methods. The results of this study can set a land use direction for reclamation sites and provide useful information for use in various forms.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.423-430
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• 2009

In order to elucidate the precise phylogenetic relationships of Korean wild boar (Sus scrofa coreanus), a partial mtDNA D-loop region (1,274 bp, NC_000845 nucleotide positions 16576-1236) was sequenced among 56 Korean wild boars. In total, 25 haplotypes were identified and classified into four distinct subgroups (K1 to K4) based on Bayesian phylogenetic analysis using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. An extended analysis, adding 139 wild boars sampled worldwide, confirmed that Korean wild boars clearly belong to the Asian wild boar cluster. Unexpectedly, the Myanmarese/Thai wild boar population was detected on the same branch as Korean wild boar subgroups K3 and K4. A parsimonious median-joining network analysis including all Asian wild boar haplotypes again revealed four maternal lineages of Korean wild boars, which corresponded to the four Korean wild boar subgroups identified previously. In an additional analysis, we supplemented the Asian wild boar network with 34 Korean and Chinese domestic pig haplotypes. We found only one haplotype, C31, that was shared by Chinese wild, Chinese domestic and Korean domestic pigs. In contrast to our expectation that Korean wild boars contributed to the gene pool of Korean native pigs, these data clearly suggest that Korean native pigs would be introduced from China after domestication from Chinese wild boars.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.269-276
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• 2019

A colorimetric rapid detection method based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was developed for the analysis of organophosphorus (OP) and carbamate (CB) pesticides. The AChE catalyzes acetylthiocholine into thiocholine having (-) and (+) charges, and the (+) charge results in gold nanoparticle (GNP) aggregation. The in-activation of AChE by OP and CB has been well known. In order to optimize the colorimetric method, optimal dilution times of commercial serum containing AChE, diameter of GNP, and concentration of acetylthiocholine were tested as a key parameter. The colorimetric detection limits of the method were 7.5 ng/mL for both dimethyl amine and carbofuran pesticides in 60% ethanol. No cross-reaction to other chemicals, such as aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A, which can be contaminated with pesticides in agricultural products, was observed. Recoveries from lettuce, sesame leaf, and cabbage lettuce spiked with known concentrations of dimethyl amine and carbofuran were found to be ranged from 83.85 to 133.16%. These results indicated that the colorimetric rapid method based on AChE can be a useful tool for the sensitive, specific, rapid, and accurate detection of OP and CB pesticides in fresh vegetables.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.23-39
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• 2022

Objective : To summarize clinical and demographic variables and machine learning uses for predicting functional outcomes of patients with stroke. Methods : We searched PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science to identify published articles from 2010 to 2021. The search terms were "machine learning OR data mining AND stroke AND function OR prediction OR/AND rehabilitation". Articles exclusively using brain imaging techniques, deep learning method and articles without available full text were excluded in this study. Results : Nine articles were selected for this study. Support vector machines (19.05%) and random forests (19.05%) were two most frequently used machine learning models. Five articles (55.56%) demonstrated that the impact of patient initial and/or discharge assessment scores such as modified ranking scale (mRS) or functional independence measure (FIM) on stroke patients' functional outcomes was higher than their clinical characteristics. Conclusions : This study showed that patient initial and/or discharge assessment scores such as mRS or FIM could influence their functional outcomes more than their clinical characteristics. Evaluating and reviewing initial and or discharge functional outcomes of patients with stroke might be required to develop the optimal therapeutic interventions to enhance functional outcomes of patients with stroke.