• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.25-28
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• 2003

Ion channel inhibitors are widely used for pharmacological discrimination between the different channel types as well as for determination of their functional role. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) could affect the large conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channel ($BK_{Ca}$) currents using perforated-patch or cell-attached configuration of patch-clamp technique in the rabbit pulmonary arterial smooth muscle. Application of 4-AP reversibly inhibited the spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs). The reversal potential and the sensitivity to charybdotoxin indicated that the STOCs were due to the activation of $BK_{Ca}$. The $BK_{Ca}$ currents were recorded in single channel resolution under the cell-attached mode of patch-clamp technique for minimal perturbation of intracellular environment. Application of 4-AP also inhibited the single $BK_{Ca}$ currents reversibly and dose-dependently. The membrane potential of rabbit pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells showed spontaneous transient hyperpolarizations (STHPs), presumably due to the STOC activities, which was also inhibited by 4-AP. These results suggest that 4-AP can inhibit $BK_{Ca}$ currentsin the intact rabbit vascular smooth muscle. The use of 4-AP as a selective voltage-dependent $K^+$ (KV) channel blocker in vascular smooth muscle, therefore, must be reevaluated.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1574-1582
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• 2014

Bacteria recognize changes in their population density by sensing the concentration of signal molecules, N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs). AHL-mediated quorum sensing (QS) plays a key role in biofilm formation, so the interference of QS, referred to as quorum quenching (QQ), has received a great deal of attention. A QQ strategy can be applied to membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for advanced wastewater treatment to control biofouling. To isolate QQ bacteria that can inhibit biofilm formation, we isolated diverse AHL-degrading bacteria from a laboratory-scale MBR and sludge from real wastewater treatment plants. A total of 225 AHL-degrading bacteria were isolated from the sludge sample by enrichment culture. Afipia sp., Acinetobacter sp. and Streptococcus sp. strains produced the intracellular QQ enzyme, whereas Pseudomonas sp., Micrococcus sp. and Staphylococcus sp. produced the extracellular QQ enzyme. In case of Microbacterium sp. and Rhodococcus sp., AHL-degrading activities were detected in the whole-cell assay and Rhodococcus sp. showed AHL-degrading activity in cell-free lysate as well. There has been no report for AHL-degrading capability in the case of Streptococcus sp. and Afipia sp. strains. Finally, inhibition of biofilm formation by isolated QQ bacteria or enzymes was observed on glass slides and 96-well microtiter plates using crystal violet staining. QQ strains or enzymes not only inhibited initial biofilm development but also reduced established biofilms.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.79-85
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• 2009

In this study, the effects of psychosocial stress (box color and precision demand) on muscle activity were evaluated in laboratory setting. Eight subjects performed sagittally symmetric lifting tasks. Box color (yellow, black), precision demand (yes, no), and box weight (5%MVC, 10%MVC, 15 %MVC) were varied and surface EMG signals from seven muscles(medial deltoid right, biceps brachii right, lateral triceps right, latissimus dorsi right, erector spinae right, external oblique right, internal oblique right) were recorded. EMG signals were band-pass filtered($10{\sim}400\;Hz$), rectified, RMS smoothed and normalized (NEMG). Analysis of variance tests were conducted on the total NEMG (TNEMG: the sum of the seven muscles' NEMGs) and on the individual muscle's NEMGs. Box color had no effect on the TNEMG and on the seven muscles activities(p>0.05). When precision demand was required at the end point of lifts, the mean NEMG showed higher values than no precision demand conditions: TNEMG (14% increase) and medial deltoid(40% increase), biceps brachii(10% increase), lateral triceps(26% increase), latissimus dorsi(25% increase) muscles. Those increases showed more conspicuous as the box weight increased in the muscles of medial deltoid, lateral triceps, and latissimus dorsi.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the antibiotic effects of bee venom (Apis mellifera) on the growth performance and blood characteristics in broiler chicken. 1-day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into 3 groups with 3 replicates of 5,000 birds each. The treatments were control without antibiotic and bee venom, 0.5ppm or 1ppm bee venom. The final body weight and body weight gain were significantly higher in bee venom than control (P<0.05). The feed conversion ratio in all treated groups were significantly improved as compared to that of control (P<0.05). No significant differences among the groups were observed in the contents of total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein, albumin and globulin in blood serum. The white blood cell, red blood cell, heterophil, lymphocyte, and stress indicator (heterophil:lymphocyte rate) were not significantly different among the groups. The superoxide dismutase-like activities in the groups that were water containing bee venom were significantly increased compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). It has been suggested that bee venom promotes the growth of broilers without any negative effect when added in broiler water.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.5-9
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• 1963

1. Creosote in treated wood that exposed in open areas of outdoor is gradually lost by elapse of some period of time. This is the interst and important problem relating to decide the effect on the life extension of creosoted wood. As a general preservative losses occurring in wood treated by oil born preservative such as creosote oil are taken place boy the evaporating and washing activities of the exposed surfaces of wood due to the climatic conditions. Accordingly author intend to inspect differences in retention among species showing after creosoted blocks had been treated by evaporating and washing alternately for a definite time in the laboratory. 2. In this study rail road tie woods of Quercus aliena Blume, Fagus crenata Blume and Fraxinus mandchurica Ruprecht which entered into area for treatment at the plant, locating in Suwon, Korea, were selected to the test species. $2{\times}2{\times}2$ centimeter forty small wood blocks for each species were cut, treated by the mixed solution of equal 50% creosote and heavy oil (hot and cold method), and inspected absorption percents. After evaporation and washing treatments alternately to the intervals of definite time had been accomplished, the losses of creosote were inspected. 3. According to the results Quercus Fagus and Fraxinus are showing the values of 37.9, 87.3 and 59.3% in absorption, and these values were reduced into 28.7, 63.8 and 44.4% respectively by evaporating and washing treatments for a definite time. These indicate that losses of ease absorbing species are greater than difficult one and on the contrary difficult are lesser. However above reduced values are calculated to the 24.3, 26.9 and 25.1% when the absorption percents of each species were assumed as 100% retention respectively. Therefore actual differences of losses among species are lesser than those of absorption percents.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Navigation
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.83-96
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• 1986

In the restricted sea way such as fair way in harbor, narrow channel etc, the safe ship-handling is a very important problem, which is greatly related with turning ability of ships. It is of great importance that ship-handlers can grasp the position of pivoting point varying with time increase at any moment for relevant steering activities. Mean while, in advanced ship-building countries they study and investigated pivoting point related with turning characteristics, hut their main interest lies in ship design, not in safe ship controlling and maneuvering. In this regards it is the purpose of this paper to provide ship-handlers better under standing of pivoting point location together with turning characteristics and then to help them in safe ship-handling by presenting fact that pivoting points vary according to configuration of ships. The author calculated the variation of pivoting point as per time increase for various type of vessels, based on the hydrodynamic derivatives obtained at test of Davidson Laboratory of Stevens Institutes of Technology , New Jersey, U.S.A. The results were classified and investigated according to the magnitude of block coefficient , length-beam ratio, length-draft ratio, rudder area ratio ete, and undermentioned results were obtained. (1) The trajectory of pivoting point due to variation of rudder angle are all the same at any time, though the magenitude of turning circle are changed variously. (2) The moving of pivoting point is affected by the magnitude of block coefficient, length-beam ratio, length-draft ratio, however the effect by rudder area ratio might be disregarded. (3) In controlling and maneuvering of vessels in harbor, ship-handlers might regard that the pivoting point would be placed on 0.2~0.3L forward from center of gravity at initial stage. (4) The pivoting point of VLCC or container feeder vessels which have block coefficient more than 0.8 and length-beam ratio less than 6.5 are located on or over bow in the steady turning. (5) When a vessel intends to avoid some floating obstruction such as buoy forward around her eourse, the ship-handler might consider that the pivoting point would be close by bow in ballast condition and cloase by center of gravity in full-loaded condition.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.100-111
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• 2017

Evaluating the performance of R&D Activity is complicated because it is hard to quantify the R&D results unlike the traditional manufacturing or service industries. Recently, to overcome this, process-focused evaluation methods applying the philosophy of quality into R&D environment have been introduced. However, these quality activities are mainly conducted without feedback system after the evaluation work is done. The aim of this study is to present a R&D quality diagnosis framework to obtain the improvement opportunities from R&D process perspective. The research is designed as follows : First, R&D standard process and R&D quality elements are derived from a literature review. Second, the diagnosis objects are obtained by investigating the R&D quality elements at each R&D steps. Third, a two-dimensional diagnosis model, which enables the objective measurement of the 'system compatibility' and 'accomplish level', is presented. The proposed method can provide an effective way to find opportunities for efficient quality improvement of R&D process.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.765-773
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• 2011

Objective: This study aims towards exploring a model of the HCI evaluation methods to improve the usability of mobile device, based on a case of a Mobile PDA system in a Museum context. Background: Mobile PDA systems in a Museum context is widely utilized for the educational purposes, but it is criticized for low usability that the device only play a role in textbooks on legs without any interactive educational activities. Therefore, the usability improvements on the mobile PDA system should be considered. Method 1: This model was developed with a combination of the expert review and the user testing, and with a combination of the qualitative and quantitative studies. In more details, first of all, a qualitative study was conducted as a combination of three different methods: 1) expert review with heuristics, 2) interviews with persons working in a museum, and 3) contextual enquiry. Results 1: The experts review provided with critical usability issues, and the semi-constructive interview helped to understand the background of the mobile device. Lastly, the contextual enquiry showed user experience problems and directions of improving the device from user's perspective. Method 2: Based on the results of the qualitative study, a questionnaire was designed. Results 2: The analysis of the quantitative study was conducted to generalize the problems, and prioritize the direction of improving the device within the limitation of the cost and time in a museum. Conclusion: This study has implications in developing an example of a HCI evaluation model to improve the user experience of the mobile device as well as finding problems and directions of how to improve the mobile PDA systems in the museum. Application: In fact, most of the studies related to the evaluation of the mobile device have been conducted in a laboratory context due to the cost and time. This paper, however, attempted to apply to various HCI research techniques from different constituents in real context.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

Human genomic DNA is continuously attacked by oxygen radicals originated from cellular metabolic processes and numerous environmental carcinogens. 2-deoxyribonolactone (dL) is a major type of oxidized abasic (AP) lesion implicated in DNA strand scission, mutagenesis, and formation of covalent DNA-protein crosslink (DPC) with DNA polymerase (Pol) ${\beta}$. We show here that human DNA polymerase (Pol)${\iota}$ and mitochondrial $Pol{\gamma}$ give rise to stable DNA-protein crosslink (DPC) formation that is specifically mediated by dL lesion. $Pol{\gamma}$ mediates DPC formation at the incised dL residue by its 5'-deoxyribose-5-phosphate (dRP) lyase activity, while $Pol{\gamma}$ cross links with dL thorough its intrinsic dRP lyase and AP lyase activities. Reactivity in forming dL-mediated DPC was significantly higher with $Pol{\gamma}$ than with $Pol{\iota}$. DPC formation by $Pol{\gamma}$, however, can be reduced by an accessory factor of $Pol{\gamma}$ holoenzyme that may attenuate deleterious effects of crosslink adducts on mitochondrial DNA. Comparative kinetic analysis of DPC formation showed that the rate of DPC formation with either $Pol{\iota}$ or $Pol{\gamma}$ was lower than that with $Pol{\beta}$. These results revealed that the activity of catalytic lyase in DNA polymerases determine the efficiency of DPC formation with dL damages. Irreversible crosslink formation of such DNA polymerases by dL lesions may result in a prolonged strand scission and a suicide of DNA repair proteins, both of which could pose a threat to the genetic and structural integrity of DNA.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.66-74
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• 2020

This study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of crude saponin from Platycodon grandiflorum on Clinical chemical parameters in male rats acutely exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-ρ-dioxin (TCDD). Crude saponin was prepared from Korean Platycodon grandiflorum with Diaion HP-20 adsorption chromatography after extraction of 80% ethanol at 75℃. The crude saponin was confirmed by thin layer chrmatography. When compared with ginseng saponins, the crude saponin had both a few number of saponins and a broad distribution. Forty male rats (200±20 g) were divided into 4 groups. Normal control (NC) group received vehicle and saline; TCDD-treated (TT) group received TCDD (40 ㎍/kg, single dose) intraperitoneally; Platycodon grandiflorum saponin (PG5 and PG10) groups received crude saponin 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg (p.o), respectively, for 2 weeks before 1 week of TCDD-exposure. Increase of body weight was retarded greatly by TCDD-exposure. Body weight of animals in TT group was significantly decrease after 2 days of TCDD-exposure. However, body weights of animals in PG groups increased through the experimental perimental period, although the increasing rate was slower than that of NC group. Increases in contents of blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) and activities of amylase, lipase, AST, ALT and LDH by toxic action of TCDD were significantly attenuated by crude saponin from Platycodon grandiflorum (P<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that crude saponin prepared from Korean Platycodon grandiflorum might be a member of useful protective agents against TCDD, which is one of the environmental hormones.