• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• 제54권8호
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• pp.553-566
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• 2021

River confluence is often characterized by shear layer and the associated strong mixing. In natural rivers, the main channel and its tributary can be separated by the shear layer using contrasting colors. The shear layer can be easily observed using aerial images from satellite or unmanned aerial vehicles. This study proposes a low-cost identification method extracting geographic features of the shear layer using RGB aerial image. The method consists of three stages. At first, in order to identify the shear layer, it performs image segmentation using a Gaussian mixture model and extracts the water bodies of the main channel and tributary. Next, the self-organizing map simplifies the flow line of the water bodies into the 1-dimensional curve grid. After that, the curvilinear coordinate transformation is performed using the water body pixels and the curve grid. As a result, the shear layer identification method was successfully applied to the confluence between Nakdong River and Nam River to extract geometric shear layer features (confluence angle, upstream- and downstream- channel widths, shear layer length, maximum shear layer thickness).

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제45권7호
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• pp.465-478
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• 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of target messenger RNA (mRNA) complementary to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) at the post-transcriptional level. Hsa-miR-422a, which is commonly known as miRNA derived from transposable element (MDTE), was derived from short interspersed nuclear element (SINE). Through expression analysis, hsa-miR-422a was found to be highly expressed in both the small intestine and liver of crab-eating monkey. AT-Rich Interaction Domain 5 B (ARID5B) was selected as the target gene of hsa-miR-422a, which has two binding sites in both the exon and 3'UTR of ARID5B. To identify the interaction between hsa-miR-422a and ARID5B, a dual luciferase assay was conducted in HepG2 cell line. The luciferase activity of cells treated with the hsa-miR-422a mimic was upregulated and inversely downregulated when both the hsa-miR-422a mimic and inhibitor were administered. Nuclear factor erythroid-2 (NF-E2) was selected as the core transcription factor (TF) via feed forward loop analysis. The luciferase expression was downregulated when both the hsa-miR-422a mimic and siRNA of NF-E2 were treated, compared to the treatment of the hsa-miR-422a mimic alone. The present study suggests that hsa-miR-422a derived from SINE could bind to the exon region as well as the 3'UTR of ARID5B. Additionally, hsa-miR-422a was found to share binding sites in ARID5B with several TFs, including NF-E2. The hsa-miR-422a might thus interact with TF to regulate the expression of ARID5B, as demonstrated experimentally. Altogether, hsa-miR-422a acts as a super enhancer miRNA of ARID5B by collaborating with TF and NF-E2.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.51-55
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• 2022

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes are responsible for the degradation and formation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and overproduction of MMPs is observed in several diseases, such as cancer and asthma, that progress with metastatic characteristics. Natural products, especially phytochemicals, have been an important source of MMP inhibitors with reduced side effects. Although the majority of phytochemicals inhibit the enzymatic activity of MMPs, some suppress MMP production. In this context, the current study evaluated the potential of Corydalis heterocarpa, a halophyte with reported bioactivities, to inhibit MMP expression in PMA-stimulated HT-1080 cells. A crude C. heterocarpa extract was shown to decrease the mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 while increasing the endogenous MMP inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 which regulate MMP expression in healthy tissues. In addition, our results show that the inhibitory effects of C. heterocarpa might occur through suppression of the phosphorylation of MAPK signaling, the upstream activator of MMP overexpression. In conclusion, C. heterocarpa is a potential source of antimetastatic compounds that might serve as lead molecules to develop novel MMP inhibitors.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.575-581
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• 2022

Brown rats (Rattus norvegicusBerkenhout, 1769) were eradicated from Sasudo Island (33°55'13.04" N, 126°38'19.98" E), an uninhabited island designated as Natural Monument No. 333 and the largest breeding site for the streaked shearwater (Calonectris leucomelasTemminck, 1835) in South Korea. Twelve eradication studies were conducted from November 2015 to February 2021. The survey was conducted using a line census method that entailed slow wandering throughout the island and identifying starting and returning points. Capture traps were installed around traces of Rattus norvegicus,such as excrement and identified holes. As a result, 2 to 6 individuals were captured at each instance, except for the last time, when no individuals were captured. It is hypothesized that brown rats arrived at Sasudo Island via vessels arriving at the island for leisure and fishing. After the damage to streaked shearwater caused by brown rats was confirmed in 2006, entry to Sasudo Island was strictly prohibited through security measures, and marine clean-up programs that began in 2013 and continuous capturing since 2015 have been successful in eradicating brown rats. To maintain and manage the condition in Sasudo Island, preservation and management measures, such as strict visitor control, are necessary to prevent the inflow of new brown rats in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.248-253
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• 2023

Most offshore platforms utilize chain mooring systems for position keeping. However, information regarding related design modification processes is scarce in literature. This study focuses on the floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering terminal (FLBT) as the target of shore platform and analyzes the corresponding initial mooring design and model tests via numerical simulations. Subsequently, based on the modified design conditions, a new mooring system design is proposed. Adjusting the main direction of the mooring line bundle according to the dominant environmental direction is found to significantly reduce the mooring design load. Even turret-moored offshore platforms are exposed to beam sea conditions, leading to high mooring tension due to motions in beam sea conditions. Collinear environmental conditions cannot be considered as design conditions. Mooring design loads occur under complex conditions of wind, waves, and currents in different environmental directions. Therefore, it is essential appropriately assign the roll damping coefficients during mooring analysis because the roll has a significant effect on mooring tension.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.137-152
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• 2023

As the world progresses towards a global society as time goes by, it is a natural reality that interpreting the fortunes of people born in foreign countries will inevitably increase in the future. If the time of birth is different, a big problem arises in the theory of MyungLiollgy. Therefore, this researcher decides whether to use the local standard time of the country of birth or convert it to the Korean time zone when a foreign-born person writes four weeks, because the position of the sun determines the time and date, so the local standard time It was concluded that it was appropriate to use it, and to support the discussion on the correction of true solar time in Eastern and Western countries, we carefully selected major countries and major cities where the time difference between the currently used national standard time and the true solar time according to the actual longitude line was expected, and the results were presented. was calculated and derived. As a result of the study, it was confirmed that the time difference between the national standard time and the true solar time is much greater than the general idea. On the other hand, through the case of actual foreign-born people, it was possible to find out the great influence of summer time on the composition of the sandbar, in addition to the influence of the exact time difference on the birth date and cutting time. Through the results of this study, it is thought that we have laid the systematic foundation of the myo-logical theory on the correction of true solar time in Eastern and Western countries for the simplicity of the four weeks of foreign-born people, and this will serve as an opportunity to reduce confusion about the method of simplifying the four weeks of foreign-born people. It is assumed that it will be possible.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.98-103
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• 2023

Sphaeranthus africanus is commonly used as a traditional remedy for sore throats and pain treatment in Vietnam. The aerial parts have been studied for its anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties. However, the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of the plant has not been explored. In this work, hydrophilic extracts of the plant's aerial parts were prepared in order to investigate its antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. Also, the cytotoxicity of the root was evaluated and compared to that of the aerial parts. All of the extracts inhibited lipid peroxidation with IC₅₀ values ranging from 2.05 to 3.56 ㎍/mL, indicating substantial antioxidant activity. At an IC₅₀ value of 4.80 ㎍/mL, the 50% ethanol extract exhibited the most potent inhibition of α-glucosidase. The cytotoxic activity of root extracts is 2 to 5-fold less than that of the aerial parts. Nevertheless, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts of the root demonstrated a selective effect on leukemia cells, with no harm towards the normal HEK-293 cell line. This work provides a scientific support for the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of the plant. Hence, it may find a promising material for the development of novel antioxidant and antidiabetic agents. More research can be conducted on the phytochemistry and anticancer activities of the plant's root.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.920-929
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• 2024

As a pivotal defensive line against multitudinous malignant tumors, natural killer (NK) cells exist in the tumor microenvironment (TME). RAD18 E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase (RAD18) has been reported to foster the malignant progression of multiple cancers, but its effect on NK function has not been mined. Here, the study was designed to mine the mechanism by which RAD18 regulates the killing effect of NK cells on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Expression of E2F Transcription Factor 7 (E2F7) and RAD18 in CRC tissues, their correlation, binding sites, and RAD18 enrichment pathway were analyzed by bioinformatics. Expression of E2F7 and RAD18 in cells was assayed by qRT-PCR and western blot. Dual-luciferase assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay verified the regulatory relationship between E2F7 and RAD18. CCK-8 assay was utilized to assay cell viability, colony formation assay to detect cell proliferation, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test to assay NK cell cytotoxicity, ELISA to assay levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and immunofluorescence to detect expression of toxic molecules perforin and granzyme B. High expression of RAD18 and E2F7 was found in CRC tissues and cells. Silencing RAD18 could hamper the proliferation of CRC cells, foster viability and cytotoxicity of NK cells, and increase the secretion of GM-CSF, TNF-α, IFN-γ as well as the expression of perforin and granzyme B. Additionally, ChIP and dual-luciferase reporter assay ascertained the binding relationship between RAD18 promoter region and E2F7. E2F7 could activate the transcription of RAD18, and silencing RAD18 reversed the inhibitory effect of E2F7 overexpression on NK cell killing. This work clarified the inhibitory effect of the E2F7/RAD18 axis on NK cell killing in CRC, and proffered a new direction for immunotherapy of CRC in targeted immune microenvironment.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• 제49집
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• pp.265-294
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• 2024

This study begins with a question about research methods in humanities. It is grounded in the humanities, focusing on the changes that have brought light and darkness to the humanities, and focusing on discourse regarding research methods that explore those changes. If the role of the humanities is to prevent the proverbial "gray rhino," unlike the sciences, and if the humanities have a role to play in moderating the uncontrollable development of the sciences, what kind of research methods should humanities pursue. Furthermore, what kind of research methods should be pursued in the humanities, in line with the development of the sciences and the changing environment? This study discusses research methods in the humanities as follows: first, in Section 2, I advocate for the collaboration between humanities and scientific methods, utilizing accumulated assets produced by humanities and continuously introducing scientific methods. Prediction of change is highly precise and far-reaching in engineering and the natural sciences. However, it is difficult to approach change in these fields in a macro or integrated manner. Because they are not precise, they are not welcome in disciplines that deal with the real world. This is primarily the responsibility of humanities. Where science focuses on precision, humanities focuses on questions of essence. This is because while the ends of change have varied throughout history, the nature of change has not varied that much. Section 3 then discusses the changing environment, proposals for changes to humanistic research methods, reviews and proposals inductive change research methods, and makes some suggestions for humanistic change research. The data produced by the field of humanities accumulated by humankind in the past is abundant and has a wide range of applications. In the future, we should not only actively accept the results of scientific advances but also actively seek systematic humanistic approaches and utilize them across disciplinary boundaries to find solutions at the intersection of scientific methods and humanistic assets.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.597-606
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• 2014

The preference of general adult on the forest and forest road was surveyed and analyzed for the development of forest therapy program. This study was conducted for the purpose of providing a basis for the development of more targeted-and differentiated-forest therapy program by analyzing the preference of general adult on the forest and forest road from 19 April 2014 to 30 June 2014 through on-line survey. The sample group of 613 adults has been used in practical analysis. Using SPSS 21.0, We looked at the preference differences of the forest and forest road according to the demographic characteristics(sex, age, education level, occupation and monthly income) through descriptive statistics analysis, frequency analysis, cross tabulation analysis, multiple response analysis. The seasonal preference was spring, autumn, any season, summer, winter in order and there was a significant difference according to one's sex, age, occupation and monthly income. There was a significant difference in the configuration of forest according to one's monthly income. The favorite type of forest as a place of forest healing program was natural recreational forest, healing forest, urban forest, park, school forest in order. There was no significant difference in the favorite forest type regarding to the distance to the healing place from one's residence in all cases. There was a significant difference in the type of forest according to one's monthly income. The most favorite configuration of forest road was gentle sloped road. Once walking into the forest for the purpose of healing, the favorite forest road length was 1.5~3 km, less then 1.5 km, more than 3 km in order and there was a significant difference in preference according to one's sex, age, education level and monthly income. We believe that the healing program should be differentiated from the general form of it according to one's sex, age, education level, occupation and monthly income as a result of this investigation of preference of general adult on the forest and forest road for the development of forest therapy program. In particular, we believe that the differentiated program should be offered according to one's age. We expect this analysis to be used as a basis for the development of forest therapy program.