• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.851-860
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• 2023

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the target genes of gga-miR-20a-5p and the regulated immune responses in the chicken macrophage cell line, HD11, by the exosome-mediated delivery of miR-20a-5p. Methods: Exosomes were purified from the chicken macrophage cell line HD11. Then, mimic gga-miR-20p or negative control miRNA were internalized into HD11 exosomes. HD11 cells were transfected with gga-miR-20a-5p or negative control miRNA containing exosomes. After 44 h of transfection, cells were incubated with or without 5 ㎍/mL poly(I:C) for 4 h. Then, expression of target genes and cytokines was evaluated by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction. Results: Using a luciferase reporter assay, we identified that gga-miR-20a-5p directly targeted interferon gamma receptor 2 (IFNGR2), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 5 (MAP3K5), and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 14 (MAP3K14). Moreover, the exosome-mediated delivery of gga-miR-20a-5p successfully repressed the expression of IFNGR2, MAPK1, MAP3K5, and MAP3K14 in HD11 cells. The expressions of interferon-stimulated genes (MX dynamin like GTPase 1 [MX1], eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2A [EIF2A], and oligoadenylate synthase-like [OASL]) and proinflammatory cytokines (interferon-gamma [IFNG], interleukin-1 beta [IL1B], and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNFA]) were also downregulated by exosomal miR-20a-5p. In addition, the proliferation of HD11 cells was increased by exosomal miR-20a-5p. Conclusion: The exosome-mediated delivery of gga-miR-20a-5p regulated immune responses by controlling the MAPK and apoptotic signaling pathways. Furthermore, we expected that exosomal miR-20a-5p could maintain immune homeostasis against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 infection by regulating the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and cell death.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.6D
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• pp.881-893
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• 2008

The major objective of this study is to investigate the fatigue damage factor evaluation of immovability crossing for railway turnout by the field test and qualitative analysis. From the field test results of the servicing turnout crossing and qualitative analysis with frictional wear which section stiffness decreased, it was evaluated fatigue life of servicing turnout crossing. Most design practices have not taken advantage of the advanced theories in the modern fracture mechanics and finite element analysis due to complexity of analysis as well as the large quantity of vaguely defined parameters in actual designs. This paper considers fatigue problems in turnout crossing using effective analytical and design tools from the field of qualitative constraint reasoning. A set of software modules was developed for fatigue analysis and evaluation, which is easily applicable in engineering practices of designers. The techniques enable the use complex analysis formulations to tackle practical problems with uncertainties, and present the design outcome in two-dimensional design space solution. Appropriate engineering assumptions and judgments in carrying out these procedures, often the most difficult part for practicing engineers, can be partially produced by using qualitative reasoning to define the trends and ranges, interval constraint analysis to derive the controlling parameters, as well as design space to account for practical experience.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.253-263
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• 2011

This study was conducted to gain preliminary data for restoration and management of constructed small-scale ponds in paddy fields through analysis of their physicochemical and biological properties. A field survey was performed at 13 small-scale ponds located in paddy fields from August 2009 to October 2010. Structural properties, water quality, soil characteristics and fish fauna were measured. Results showed that small-scale ponds without frames might lose their function over time because of crumbling walls. Therefore, it is necessary for these ponds to have frames for soil protection and sustainable maintenance. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentration were higher than the water quality standard for agricultural water in small-scale ponds. In particular, TN concentration was 8.03 mg $L^{-1}$ and over 8 times the water quality standard because of the presence of livestock such as cows and pigs in the study areas. Sand, organic matter and available phosphorus contents of soil in small-scale ponds was 53.4${\pm}$16.6%, 21.8${\pm}$9.74 g $kg^{-1}$ and 12.8${\pm}$7.59 mg $kg^{-1}$, respectively indicating that sand and available phosphorus contents were suitable for plants in small-scale ponds, but organic matter contents was somewhat low in newly constructed small-scale ponds, and would take some time to stabilize for plant growing. Fish fauna was not diverse with only 4 species at all sites surveyed. Collected fishes share a common feature that they all inhabit paddy fields or canals with shallow water depth. In this study, all ponds were not linked to the streams and canals around them. It appears that connection to adjacent streams was the major factor controlling fish fauna in small-scale ponds. The results of statistical analysis were classified into three groups. Factor 1 was 26.3%, which shows a structural properties such as area and depth of small-scale pond. As for factor 2, it appears on 20.1%, showing water quality like a TP, suspended solids (SS) and COD. Small-scale ponds were classified into three groups by factor scores. Group I consisted of 6 small-scale ponds, which were larger than the others. Group III had higher water quality than the others. We conclude that the most important points to be considered for restoration and management of small-scale ponds is connection with adjacent streams or ditches and depth and size of the small-scale pond.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.192-197
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• 2006

Purpose : Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) is a key cytokine for controlling vascular permeability and angiogenesis, which is one of the major findings in airway remodeling. However, it is not well known if it is associated with acute lower respiratory tract disease such as lobar pneumonia. The aim of this study is to compare serum VEGF levels in patients with asthma according to its severity and duration of cough, and to compare its levels with children with lobar pneumonia. Methods : Using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the serum VEGF levels were measured in 16 mild asthmatics, 14 moderate to severe asthmatics, six children with lobar pneumonia, and 22 control subjects. The asthmatics were also classified into three groups according to the duration of cough. Serum VEGF levels were compared in each group. Results : Serum VEGF levels were significantly increased in the children with moderate to severe asthma and lobar pneumonia compared to the children with mild asthma and control subjects. Serum VEGF levels were higher in children with chronic coughs of more than two weeks than in children with coughs lasting less than two weeks. Serum levels of VEGF showed positive correlations with blood platelet and white blood cell counts. Conclusion : VEGF increased according to the severity of asthma and duration of cough in children with asthma. It may play an important role not only in chronic airway inflammation, but also in the acute inflammation in children with lower respiratory tract disease.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.80 no.1
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• pp.32-41
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• 1991

This study is focusted to the national park of Korean typical mountain Chi-ri, its visual resources of forests, and practiced inspectind course by way of hypothesis and tests, to show visual resource management objectively, and that of quantitative basic data. spatial image structure measured by Semantic Differential(S.D.) Scale was shown through factor analysis algorithm for the analyzing psychological amount and examined the flowing out of decisive factor and the objective importance related mutual factors by appling the measurement of visual quality. Also, it has been investigated the differences between the degrees of expectation which is used before and of satisfaction which is used, by appling instrumental expectation theory. And showed patterns of investigation area through factor analyzing algorithm. As a national Park, visual factors that have natural landscape harmonized forest, sky, surface of the water, curious stones and rocks, temples should be escalate their values affirmatively so as to be the scenery of pointed direction and enjoyable, and it is needs the techniques visual resource management and its controlling technique to make artificial structures more intentional planning and systemical setting. Manmade distinctive quality in the spatials that affect complementally or harmonizingly, should be received considering relations between the distifution and joining which in line with various visual presenting massive factors. More than that, it is needed united basic standard to the beauty of arrangements which contain visual continuity considered balance between nature and human work, simplicity of structural types, assimilation, emphasis, unification of different factors and pro rata.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2009

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a syndrome accompanied with the abnormal secretion or function of insulin, a hormone that plays a vital role in controlling the blood glucose level (BGL). Type land 2 DM are most common form and the prevalence of the latter is recently increasing, The aim of this article was to assess whet her Type 2 DM could act as a predisposing risk factor on the pulpo-periapical pathogenesis. Previous literature on the pathologic changes of blood vessels in DM was thoroughly reviewed. Furthermore, a histopathologic analysis of artificially-induced periapical specimens obtained from Type 2 diabetic and DM-resistant rats was compared. Histopathologic results demonstrate that the size of periapical bone destruction w as larger and the degree of pulpal inflammation was more severe in diabetic rats, indicating that Type 2 D M itself can be a predisposing risk factor that makes the host more susceptible to pulpal infection. The possible reasons may be that in diabetic state the lumen of pulpal blood vessels are thickened by atheromatous deposits, and microcirculation is hindered, The function of polymorphonuclear leukocyte is also impair ed and the migration of immune cells is blocked, leading to increased chance of pulpal infection. Also, lack of collateral circulation of pulpal blood vessels makes the pulp more susceptible to infection. These decrease the regeneration capacity of pulpal cells or tissues, delaying the healing process, Therefore, when restorative treatment is needed in Type 2 DM patients, dentists should minimize irritation to the pulpal tissue un der control of BGL.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.787-795
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• 2021

Eupatorium chinensis var. simplicifolium (EUC) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Young sprouts of EUC have been used as food for a long time, and the whole EUC plant has been used as an herbal remedy in oriental medicine. Arteriosclerosis, or chronic inflammation in arterial vessels, is a cardiovascular disease and is involved in various disorders. Cardiovascular diseases such as restenosis and neuropathic hyperplasia are mainly caused by abnormal growth and movement due to multiple growth factors in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a mitogen released from damaged vessel walls and is involved in the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. To determine the effects of EUC on the abnormal proliferation and migration of VSMCs, the present study investigated intracellular signaling pathways in PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs treated with and without EUC. Pretreating PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs with EUC tended to effectively decrease cell proliferation and migration. Subsequently, the intracellular growth-related signaling pathways of AKT, phospholipase C gamma (PLC-γ), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were investigated using western blotting to confirm inhibited phosphorylation. Furthermore, flow cytometry data showed that EUC blocked the cell cycle of VSMCs. These results suggest that EUC can inhibit the proliferation and migration of VSMCs by controlling the cell cycle and growth factor receptors. Furthermore, this indicates that EUC can be used as a preventative against cardiovascular disease resulting from abnormal proliferation and migration of VSMCs.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.92-100
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• 2011

Objectives：We developed a Korean version of the Brief Measure of Worry Severity(BMWS), and examined its reliability, validity, and factor structures. We also explored the associations of pathological worry with depression and anxiety. Methods：Three hundreds fifty-two subjects including community population and college students completed the BMWS, and 27 subjects repeated the scale three weeks later. Reliability was assessed by Cronbach's coefficient ${\alpha}$ and test-retest correlation. The external validity was examined by the correlation of the BMWS score with the scores of Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Patient Health questionnaire-2(PHQ-2), State Anxiety Inven-tory(SAI), and Trait Anxiety Inventory(TAI). And principal component analysis was performed to evaluate the construct validity. The associations of pathological worry with depression and anxiety were explored using partial correlation analysis. Results：Cronbach's coefficient ${\alpha}$ for the BMWS was 0.904 and test-retest correlation was 0.56(P<0.01). The Spearman correlation coefficients of the BMWS score with the scores of BDI, PHQ-2, SAI, and TAI were 0.60(P<0.01), 0.42(P<0.01), 0.36(P<0.01), and 0.59(P<0.01), respectively. The BMWS showed unifactorial construct. When controlling for TAI score, the correlation coefficient between the BMWS score and the BDI score was 0.357(P<0.01), and when controlling for BDI score the correlation coefficient between the BMWS score and the TAI score was 0.446(P<0.01). Conclusion：The Korean version of the BMWS was found to be a reliable and valid questionnaire for measuring pathological worry. And we could identify the associations of the pathological worry with depression as well as anxiety.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 2011

In plants, heteroblasty reflects the morphological adaptation during leaf development according to the external environmental condition and affects the final shape and size of organ. Among parameters displaying heteroblasty, leaf index is an important and typical one to represent the shape and size of simple leaves. Leaf index factor is eventually determined by cell proliferation and cell expansion in leaf blades. Although several regulators and their mechanisms controlling the cell division and cell expansion in leaf development have been studied, it does not fully provide a blueprint of organ formation and morphogenesis during environmental changes. To investigate genes and their mechanisms controlling leaf index during leaf development, we carried out molecular-genetic and physiological experiments using an Arabidopsis mutant. In this study, we identified macrophylla (mac) which had enlarged leaves. In detail, the mac mutant showed alteration in leaf index and cell expansion in direction of width and length, resulting in not only modification of leaf shape but also disruption of heteroblasty. Molecular-genetic studies indicated that mac mutant had point mutation in ROTUDIFOLIA3 (ROT3) gene involved in brassinosteroid biosynthesis and was an allele of rot3-1 mutant. We named it mac/rot3-5 mutant. The expression of ROT3 gene was controlled by negative feedback inhibition by the treatment of brassinosteroid hormone, suggesting that ROT3 gene was involved in brassinosteroid biosynthesis. In dark condition, in addition, the expression of ROT3 gene was up-regulated and mac/rot3-5 mutant showed lower response, compare to wild type in petiole elongation. This study suggests that ROT3 gene has an important role in control of leaf index during leaf expansion process for proper environmental adaptation, such as shade avoidance syndrome, via the control of brassinosteroid biosynthesis.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.343-363
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• 2023

Sulawesi island, as a global producer of nickel resources, is leading the rapid growth of nickel industry of Indonesia. Nickel laterite deposits in Sulawesi was formed by lateritization of the world-scale East Sulawesi Ophiolite (ESO) under the active tectonic setting and tropical rainforest climate. In this paper, exploration cases for nickel laterite deposits in five regions of Sulawesi are reported. Regional characteristics on nickel laterite deposits in Sulawesi are understood based on various exploration activities such as outcrop, trench and pit survey, petrological observation, geochemical analysis, and interpretation of drilling data, etc.. In the northeastern part of 'Southeast-Arm', which is a strategic location for nickel industry of Indonesia, ESO is extensively exposed to the surface. In the Morombo and Morowali regions, typical high-grade saprolite-type orebodies with a thickness of 10 to 20 m occur. The cases showed that topographic relief tends to regulate Ni-grade distribution and orebody thickness, and that high grade intervals tend to occur in places where joints and garnierite veins are dense. In the Tinanggea and South Palangga regions in the southern part of the Southeast-Arm, overburden composed of Neogene to Quaternary deposits is a major factor affecting the preservation and profitability of nickel laterite deposits. Despite the overburden, high-grade saprolite-type orebodies composed of Ni-bearing serpentine with garnierite veins occur in a thickness of around 10 m to secure economic feasibility. In contrast, in the Ampana region in the northern part of 'East-Arm', low-grade nickel laterite deposits with immature laterite profile was identified, which is thought to be the result of active denudation due to tectonic uplift. Exploration cases in this paper will help to understand characteristics and controlling factors on nickel laterite deposits in Sulawesi, Indonesia.