• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.766-779
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• 2016

This study was designed to look at a gap between what is reported and what is real, based on 'virtuality' shown in the media coverage of the Sewol ferry disaster. The way the Korean media reported the disaster raised serious concern in describing realities as the coverage was dotted with omitted, diluted, misleading, false and biased information, dubbed as the sinking of journalism by the Special Committee of the Korea Broadcasting Journalist Association. Virtuality can be problematic in journalism since users, when frequently exposed to 'mediated reality' or mediated presentment, often consider it actual and respond to it, rather than reacting to 'actual reality'. Many studies have found that media users tend to perceive mediated reality as an actual outside world. This paper aimed to explain signification of media reporting and limitations of user perception by reviewing major discussions and arguments on virtuality in previous research and history of thoughts. It was easy to link virtuality of mediated reality to the role of the media, which impact public opinion and change the flow of an event, and to other concepts such as the socialization of power, social control and social hegemony.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1330-1335
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• 2011

N-Acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) serve as the vital quorum-sensing signals that regulate the virulence of the pathogenic bacterium Erwinia carotovora. In the present study, an approach to efficiently restrain the pathogenicity of E. carotovora-induced soft rot disease is described. Bacillus thuringiensis-derived N-acyl homoserine lactonase (AiiA) was projected onto the surface of Pseudomonas putida cells, and inoculation with both strains was challenged. The previously identified N-terminal moiety of the ice nucleation protein, InaQ-N, was applied as the anchoring motif. A surface display cassette with inaQ-N/aiiA was constructed and expressed under the control of a constitutive promoter in P. putida AB92019. Surface localization of the fusion protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence microscopy. The antagonistic activity of P. putida MB116 expressing InaQ-N/AiiA toward E. carotovora ATCC25270 was evaluated by challenge inoculation in potato slices at different ratios. The results revealed a remarkable suppressing effect on E. carotovora infection. The active component was further analyzed using different cell fractions, and the cell surface-projected fusion protein was found to correspond to the suppressing effect.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.616-623
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• 2017

Ginsenoside Rg3, a saponin extracted from ginseng, has various pharmacological and biological activities; however, its effects against Brucella infection are still unclear. Herein, the inhibitory effects of ginsenoside Rg3 against intracellular parasitic Brucella infection were evaluated through bacterial infection, adherence assays, and LAMP-1 colocalization, as well as immunoblotting and FACS for detecting MAPK signaling proteins and F-actin polymerization, respectively. The internalization, intracellular growth, and adherence of Brucella abortus in Rg3-treated RAW 264.7 cells were significantly decreased compared with the Rg3-untreated control. Furthermore, an apparent reduction of F-actin content and intensity of F-actin fluorescence in Rg3-treated cells was observed compared with B. abortus-infected cells without treatment by flow cytometry analysis and confocal microscopy, respectively. In addition, treating cells with Rg3 decreased the phosphorylation of MAPK signaling proteins such as ERK 1/2 and p38 compared with untreated cells. Moreover, the colocalization of B. abortus-containing phagosomes with LAMP-1 was markedly increased in Rg3-treated cells. These findings suggest that ginsenoside Rg3 inhibits B. abortus infection in mammalian cells and can be used as an alternative approach in the treatment of brucellosis.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.4739-4749
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• 1978

This studies were conducted to derive synthetic unitgraphs and triangular unitgraphs correlated with watershed characteristics which can be used to the estimation and control of flood for the rational development of Agricultural water resources. Derived Synthetic unitgraphs and Triangular unitgraphs can be applied to the ungaged watersheds were compared with average unitgraphs by observed data. Seven small watersheds were selected as studying basins Han, Geum, Nakdong, Yeongsan and Inchon river system. The results summarized for these studies are as follows: 1. Average unitgraphs by observed data and dimensionless unitgraphs for synthesis were derived for all river systems. 2. Peak discharge per unit area of the unitgraph, qp, was derived as qp=10-0.389-0.0424Lg with a high significance. 3. Formulas for the base width of unitgraph of 50 and 75 percent for peak flow for each water systems was adopted as Table 5. 4. The base length of the unitgraph, Tb, in hours in connection with time to peak, Tp, in hours was expressed as Tb =4.3Tp. 5. Peak discharge, Qp, were obtained as Table 6 by the Triangular form to all subwatersheds. 6. Relative errors in the peak discharge of the synthetic unitgraphs showed to be 7.3 percent to the peak of observed average unitgraphs except errors of peak discharge for Yeongsan river system. This indicates that Synthetic unitgraphs for the small watersheds of Han, Geum, Nakdong and Inchon river systems can be applied to the ungaged watersheds. On the other hand, It was confirmed that the accuracy of Instantaneous Unit Hydrograph with only 1.6 percent as relative errors was approaching more closely to the observed average unitgraph than that of synthetic unitgraph with relative errors. 23.9 percent for Yeongsan river system. 7. Errors in the peak discharge of the triangular unitgraph to the observed average unitgraph showed to be 0.6 percent to 7.5 percent which can be regarded as a high precision within the range of 200 to 500$\textrm{km}^2$ in area. On the contrary, application of triangular unitgraph within the range of 200$\textrm{km}^2$ in area has defined as a unsuitable method because of high relative errors, 26.4 percent to 61.6 percent.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2016

Background: The same plant, Camellia sinensis, is used to produce all types of tea, and the differences among the various types arise from the different processing steps that are used. Based on the degree of fermentation, tea can be classified as black, green, white, or oolong tea. Of these, black tea is the most or fully fermented tea. The oxidized polyphenolic compounds such as theaflavins (TF) and thearubigins (TR) formed during fermentation are responsible for the color, taste, flavor, and aroma of black tea. Results: Research indicates that an optimum ratio of TF and TR (1:10) is required to ensure a quality cup of tea. The concentrations of TF and TR as well as desirable quality characteristics increase as fermentation time increases, reaching optimum levels and then degrading if the fermentation time is prolonged. It is also necessary to control the environment for oxidation. There are no established environment conditions that must be maintained during the fermentation of the ruptured tea leaves. However, in most cases, the process is performed at a temperature of $24-29^{\circ}C$ for 2-4 h or 55-110 min for orthodox tea or crush, tear, and curl (CTC) black tea, respectively, under a high relative humidity of 95-98% with an adequate amount of oxygen. Conclusion: The polyphenolic compounds in black tea such as TF and TR as well as un-oxidized catechins are responsible for the health benefits of tea consumption. Tea is rich in natural antioxidant activities and is reported to have great potential for the management of various types of cancers, oral health problems, heart disease and stroke, and diabetes and to have other health benefits such as the ability to detoxify, improve urine and blood flow, stimulate, and improve the immune system.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.224-231
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• 2020

With the improvement in the standard of living and extension of life expectancy, the incidence of prostate diseases has increased yearly, thus becoming a serious disease affecting the health of men. The extract mixture of Cornus officinalis and Stauntonia hexaphylla leaves is a developed functional food formula to improve prostate health. This study developed a simultaneous analytical method of bioactive compounds for quantifying the mixture of Cornus officinalis and S. hexaphylla leaves using high-pressure liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV). HPLC analytical condition was performed on a Hector C₁₈ column with a mobile phase of 0.1 % formic acid in water (A) and 0.1 % formic acid in acetonitrile (B) under the following gradient conditions: 0-50 min, 12 %-40 % (B) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Meanwhile, this method was validated properly and successfully used to quantify the bioactive components of morroniside and hederacoside D in 20 sample batches and assess the quality of different ages and seasons of S. hexaphylla leaves. The result showed that the content of morroniside in the extract mixture of Cornus officinalis and S. hexaphylla leaves ranged from 1.38-1.62 mg/g, and the hederacoside D ranged from 28.42-32.02 mg/g, suggesting that this novel analytical method will be suitable for the quality control of the extract mixture to improve benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2015

This paper describes how to apply one-dimensional simulation to predict unsteady state characteristics of the cold-gas pintle thruster. Mass flow rate, chamber pressure, and nozzle exit pressure are key parameters for thrust control. Chamber pressure rose and fell monotonously with the pintle stroke variation, while thrust variation was different from chamber pressure variation. During the forward pintle stroke operation, the thrust value tended to decrease initially and returned to increase when pintle speed and chamber free volume exceed some specified value. Even though one-dimensional simulation has the limitations to predict unsteady state characteristics, it is still useful for initial performance assessment of various thrusters which adopt an altitude compensation nozzle such as a dual-bell nozzle, prior to experiment or numerical analysis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2012

Under some pathological conditions as bile flow obstruction or liver diseases with the enterohepatic circulation being disrupted, regurgitation of bile acids into the systemic circulation occurs and the plasma level of bile acids increases. Bile acids in circulation may affect the nervous system. We examined this possibility by studying the effects of bile acids on gating of neuronal (N)-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel that is essential for neurotransmitter release at synapses of the peripheral and central nervous system. N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel currents were recorded from bullfrog sympathetic neuron under a cell-attached mode using 100 mM $Ba^{2+}$ as a charge carrier. Cholic acid (CA, $10^{-6}M$) that is relatively hydrophilic thus less cytotoxic was included in the pipette solution. CA suppressed the open probability of N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel, which appeared to be due to an increase in (no activity) sweeps. For example, the proportion of sweep in the presence of CA was ~40% at +40 mV as compared with ~8% in the control recorded without CA. Other single channel properties including slope conductance, single channel current amplitude, open and shut times were not significantly affected by CA being present. The results suggest that CA could modulate N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel gating at a concentration as low as $10^{-6}M$. Bile acids have been shown to activate nonselective cation conductance and depolarize the cell membrane. Under pathological conditions with increased circulating bile acids, CA suppression of N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel function may be beneficial against overexcitation of the synapses.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.6 no.1_2
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• pp.136-149
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• 1999

Background : Although a number of studies are related to QA improvement, there are few studies applied various method of QA tools. This study reviewed the availability of general quality assurance(QA) tools according to ten steps in performing quality improvement activities at emergency room of a tertiary teaching hospital which has more than 1,000 beds. Methods : All patients in emergency room from 15th Oct. 1997 to 5th Sep. 1998 were surveyed. The survey data based on the patient's records of emergency room were evaluated according to length of stay, and we tried to identify problems with management of emergency room. To solve the problems, our team applied general QA tools(brainstorming, flow chart, nominal group technique, benchmarking, cause-and-effect diagram, run chart, control chart) to quality improvement activities and discussed the availability of the tools. Results : After the activities such as changes of staffing, the establishment of local area network and chest pain clinic, application of triage and so on, the percentage of patient who had stayed more than six hours was reduced from 56.0% to 46.8%. The mean number of patients per day in emergency room was increased from 49 to 62. But the reporting time for laboratory test was not changed after these activities. Conclusion : Each QA tool has unique benefit and limitation, but we can implement and evaluate the quality improvement activities more scientifically and systematically by applying these tools to practice according to QA ten steps.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.393-397
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECFTIVES: Artemisinin, a natural product isolated from Gaeddongssuk (artemisia annua L.) and its main active derivative, dihydroartemisinin (DHA), have long been used as antimalarial drugs. Recent studies reported that artemisinin is efficacious for curing diseases, including cancers, and for improving the immune system. Many researchers have shown the therapeutic effects of artemisinin on tumors such as breast cancer, liver cancer and kidney cancer, but there is still insufficient data regarding glioblastoma (GBM). Glioblastoma accounts for 12-15% of brain cancer, and the median survival is less than a year, despite medical treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of DHA and transferrin against glioblastoma (glioblastoma multiforme, GBM). MATERIALS/METHODS: This study was performed through in vitro experiments using C6 cells. The toxicity dependence of DHA and transferrin (TF) on time and concentration was analyzed by MTT assay and cell cycle assay. Observations of cellular morphology were recorded with an optical microscope and color digital camera. The anti-cancer mechanism of DHA and TF against GBM were studied by flow cytometry with Annexin V and caspase 3/7. RESULTS: MTT assay revealed that TF enhanced the cytotoxicity of DHA against C6 cells. An Annexin V immune-precipitation assay showed that the percentages of apoptosis of cells treated with TF, DHA alone, DHA in combination with TF, and the control group were $7.15{\pm}4.15%$, $34.3{\pm}5.15%$, $66.42{\pm}5.98%$, and $1.2{\pm}0.15%$, respectively. The results of the Annexin V assay were consistent with those of the MTT assay. DHA induced apoptosis in C6 cells through DNA damage, and TF enhanced the effects of DHA. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that DHA, the derivative of the active ingredient in Gaeddongssuk, is effective against GBM, apparently via inhibition of cancer cell proliferation by a pharmacological effect. The role of transferrin as an allosteric activator in the GBM therapeutic efficacy of DHA was also confirmed.