• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 1995

In the Vicinity of the Sindae-dong waste disposal site in Taejon, the average Cu, pb and Zn concentrations in soils are higher than those in other Korean soils but these are not high enough to cause any harmful effect to human and animal through the crop plants. Copper, Pb and Zn are not detected in the groundwater samples and F, Cl, $NO_2$, $NO_3$ and $SO_4$ concentrations in groundwater samples are lower than drinking water standards. However, the pH of groundwater sample in site D is 5.58 which is not suitable for the drinking water. With the electric resistivity method, the water-containg layers are found in contaminated soils and the resistivity values are considerably low because of the dispersion of plume by the leak of leachates. According to the results from the magnetic survey method, the anomalous values of the total geomagnetic fields and their gradients are found in the sampling site of low resistivity and high trace element concentrations.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2021

One of the major sources of air pollution is urban particulate matter (UPM), which causes lung diseases involving oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer. Codonopsis lanceolata (CL) has been used in East Asia as a traditional oriental medicinal ingredient for lung diseases (e.g., asthma and bronchitis). However, the connection between the impact of CL and UPM in the lungs has rarely been investigated. This study aimed to confirm the inhibitory activity of the ethanol extract of CL (ECL) against oxidative stress and disruption of tight cell junctions in human pulmonary epithelial cells after exposure to UPM. As the lung cells were pre-treated with ECL, the UPM-induced increase in cellular reactive oxygen species production suppressed tight junction proteins (e.g., N-cadherin, fibronectin, occludin, zonula occludens-1, and claudin-4). These results suggest that ECL prevents the possible effects of UPM toxicity on the lungs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.122-134
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• 2001

Background : Some chemotherapeutic drugs induce NF-${\kappa}B$ activation by degrading the $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ protein in cancer cells which contributes to anticancer drug resistance. We hypothesized that inhibiting $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation would block NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and result in increased tumor cell mortality in response to chemotherapy. Methods : The "superrepressor" form of the NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor was transferred by an adenoviral vector (Ad-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-SR) to the human lung cancer cell lines (NCI H157 and NCI H460). With a MIT assay, the level of sensitization to cisplatin and paclitaxel were measured. To confirm the mechanism, an EMSA and Annexin V assay were performed. Results : EMSA showed that $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-SR effectively blocked the NF-${\kappa}B$ activation induced by cisplatin. Transduction with Ad-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-SR resulted in an increased sensitivity of the lung cancer cell lines to cisplatin and paclitaxel by a factor of 2~3 in terms of $IC_{50}$. Annexin-V analysis suggests that this increment in chemosensitivity to cisplatin probably occurs through the induction of apoptosis. Conclusion : The blockade of chemotherapeutics induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation by inducing Ad-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-SR, increased apoptosis and increasing the chemosensitivity of the lung cancer cell lines tested, subsequently. Gene transfer of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-SR appears to be a new therapeutic strategy of chemosensitization in lung cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.1158-1167
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• 2012

During the peeling, cutting, and shredding of wild root vegetables, the surface is exposed to air. This results in a rapid deterioration in quality and an increase in the potential of contamination by microorganisms, both of which reduce the shelf-life of wild root vegetables in retail markets. Thus, in this study, the effects of various washing treatments on the quality of wild root vegetables, including lotus root, burdock root, and bellflower root, were investigated at 10 and $24^{\circ}C$. Lotus root, burdock root and bellflower root were washed with 0.2% acetic acid (AA), 0.2% citric acid (CA), 500 ppm acidified sodium chlorite (ASC), and tap water (TW), which was used as a control, and stored at $10^{\circ}C$ and $24^{\circ}C$. The changes in total plate counts, coliform groups, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, color, pH, and exterior appearance of the samples were then evaluated. The pH and initial microbial contamination levels were reduced when the root vegetables were washed with AA, CA, and ASC. In particular, initial population levels of total plate counts and coliform groups were not detected in lotus root and burdock root that had been washed with ASC and their growth was significantly (p<0.05) inhibited during storage at 10 and $24^{\circ}C$ when compared to the control (TW). In addition, the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities of the root vegetables washed with AA, CA and ASC were lower than that of root vegetables washed with TW. ASC was determined to be the most effective treatment for preventing microbial growth, tissue softening, and the development of browning and an unpleasant smell. At $10^{\circ}C$, the overall qualities of the wild root vegetables were maintained longer when compared to $24^{\circ}C$.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2006

Among the effector molecules connected with the group of cell surface receptors, Ras proteins have essential roles in transducing extracellular signals to diverse intracellular events, by controlling the activities of multiple signaling pathways. For over 20 years since the discovery of Ras proteins, an enormous amount of knowledge has been accumulated as to how the proteins function in overlapping or distinct fashions. The signaling networks they regulate are very complex due to their multiple functions and cross-talks. Much attention has been paid to the pathological role of Ras in tumorigenesis. In particular, human tumors very frequently express Ras proteins constitutively activated by point mutations. Up to date, three members of the Ras family have been identified, namely H-Ras, K-Ras (A and B), and N-Ras. Although these Ras isoforms function in similar ways, many evidences also support the distinct molecular function of each Ras protein. This review summarizes differential functions of Ras and highlights the current view of the distinct signaling network regulated by each Ras for its contribution to the malignant phenotypic conversion of breast epithelial cells. Four issues are addressed in this review: (1) Ras proteins, (2) membrane localization of Ras, (3) effector molecules downstream of Ras, (4) Ras signaling in invasion. In spite of the accumulation of information on the differential functions of Ras, much more remains to be elucidated to understand the Ras-mediated molecular events of malignant phenotypic conversion of cells in a greater detail.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.940-947
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• 2017

Goat milk has a protein composition similar to that of breast milk and contains abundant nutrients, but its use in functional foods is rather limited in comparison to milk from other sources. The aim of this study was to prepare a goat A2 ${\beta}$-casein fraction with improved digestibility and hypoallergenic properties. We investigated the optimal conditions for the separation of A2 ${\beta}$-casein fraction from goat milk by pH adjustment to pH 4.4 and treating the casein suspension with calcium chloride (0.05 M for 1 h at $25^{\circ}C$). Selective reduction of ${\beta}$- lactoglobulin and ${\alpha}_s$-casein was confirmed using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The hypoallergenic property of A2 ${\beta}$-casein fraction was examined by measuring the release of histamine and tumor necrosis factor alpha from HMC-1 human mast cells exposed to different proteins, including A2 ${\beta}$-casein fraction. There was no significant difference in levels of both indicators between A2 ${\beta}$-casein treatment and the control (no protein treatment). The A2 ${\beta}$-casein fraction is abundant in essential amino acids, especially, branched-chain amino acids (leucine, valine, and isoleucine). The physicochemical properties of A2 ${\beta}$-casein fraction, including protein solubility and viscosity, are similar to those of bovine whole casein which is widely used as a protein source in various foods. Therefore, the goat A2 ${\beta}$-casein fraction may be useful as a food material with good digestibility and hypoallergenic properties for infants, the elderly, and people with metabolic disorders.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.11a
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• pp.147-172
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• 1994

Aziridinylbenzoquinones such as 3, 6-diaziridinyl-1, 4-benzoquinone (DZQ) and its 2, 5-methyl analog (MeDZQ) require bioreductive activation in order to elicit their anticancer activities. To determine the involvement of DTD in the activation of these drugs, we have used a ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction to map the intracellular alkylation sites in a sing1e copy gene at the nucleotide level. We have performed this analysis in two human colon carcinoma cells, one proficient (HT-29) and one deficient (BE) in DT-diaphorase (DTD) activity. In the DTD proficient HT-29 cell line, DZQ and MeDZQ were found to alkylate both 5'-(A/T)G(C)-3' and 5'-(A/T)A-3' sequences. This is consistent with the nucleotide preferences observed when DZQ and MeDZQ are activated by purified DTD to reactive metabolites capable of alkylating DNA in vitro [Lee, C. -S., Hartley, J. A., Berardini, M. D., Butler, J., Siegel., D., Ross, D., & Gibson, N. W. (1992) Biochemistry, 31: 3019-3025]. Surprisingly in the DTD-deficient BE cell line a pattern of alkylation induced by DZQ and MeDZQ similar to that observed in the DTD-proficient HT-29 cells was observed. This suggests that reductive enzymes other than DTD can be involved in activating DZQ and MeDZQ to DNA reactive species in vivo.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 2020

To keep pace with other powerful nations in this era of the era of digitalization and to emerge stronger in the world, the defense forces of South Korea aim to innovate and prepare themselves for digital battlefields of possible wars in the future. The resources in the defense sector, which is the core of defense intelligence, is based on an intelligent mission collaboration tactical network system via cyber, command, control, communication, and computer (C4), and military and non-human weapons. Defense intelligence depends on the degree of the convergence of advanced Information and communication technologies (ICTs). Considering this aspect of defense intelligence, We plan to determine the application status of defense blockchain technology and examine the feasibility of applying blockchain technology and the core of applied technology. Generally, a key feature of blockchain technology is its data integrity in untrusted environments. There are various types of core technologies for the blockchain depending on the target areas of application in the defense sector, and it is also essential to derive new application strategies for core technologies that are applied in combination with other ICT technologies. We plan to demonstrate new defense ICT converged technologies (DNAB2: Data, Network, AI, BigData, Blockchain) and DNAB2-As-Services in the defense strategy.

• Atmosphere
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.495-503
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• 2010

Satellite data have an intrinsic problem due to a number of various physical parameters, which can have a similar effect on measured radiance. Most evaluations of satellite performance have relied on comparisons with limited spatial and temporal resolution of ground-based measurements such as soundings and in-situ measurements. In order to overcome this problem, a new way of satellite data evaluation is suggested with statistical tools such as empirical orthogonal function(EOF), and singular value decomposition(SVD). The EOF analyses with OMI and OMI HCHO over northeast Asia show that the spatial pattern show high correlation with population density. This suggests that human activity is a major source of as well as HCHO over this region. However, this analysis is contradictory to the previous finding with GOME HCHO that biogenic activity is the main driving mechanism(Fu et al., 2007). To verify the source of HCHO over this region, we performed the EOF analyses with vegetation and HCHO distribution. The results showed no coherence in the spatial and temporal pattern between two factors. Rather, the additional SVD analysis between $NO_2$ and HCHO shows consistency in spatial and temporal coherence. This outcome suggests that the anthropogenic emission is the main source of HCHO over the region. We speculate that the previous study appears to be due to low temporal and spatial resolution of GOME measurements or uncertainty in model input data.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.127-140
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• 2023

The vibration of microtubule in human cells is the source of electrical field around it and inside cell structure. The induction of electrical field is a direct result of the existence of dipoles on the surface of the microtubules. Measuring the electrical fields could be performed using nano-scale sensors and the data could be transformed to other computers using internet of things (IoT) technology. Processing these data is feasible by artificial intelligence-based methods. However, the first step in analyzing the vibrational behavior is to study the mechanics of microtubules. In this regard, the vibrational behavior of the microtubules is investigated in the present study. A shell model is utilized to represent the microtubules' structure. The displacement field is assumed to obey first order shear deformation theory and classical theory of elasticity for anisotropic homogenous materials is utilized. The governing equations obtained by Hamilton's principle are further solved using analytical method engaging Navier's solution procedure. The results of the analytical solution are used to train, validate and test of the deep neural network. The results of the present study are validated by comparing to other results in the literature. The results indicate that several geometrical and material factors affect the vibrational behavior of microtubules.