• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.37-50
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• 1984

The effects of $Ca^{++}$ and its antagonists (verapamil and $La^{+++}$) upon the spontaneous contraction and the contracture induced by 60 mM K-Tyrode solution were studied in the isolated uterine muscle. Longitudinal muscle strips were prepared from the rat uteri at estrous stage. All experiments were performed in tris-buffered Tyrode solution which was aerated with 100% $O_2$ and kept at 35^{\circ}$. The results obtained were as follows: 1) In the uterine strips contracting spontaneously, both the amplitude of peak tension and the area of contraction curve increased dose-dependently in the range of $0.5${\sim}8$ mM $Ca^{++}$. The frequency of contraction increased as the concentration of $Ca^{++}$ increased up to 2 mM, but above this concentration the frequency decreased. In $Ca^{++}-free$ media, however, contraction did not develop. In the contracture induced by 60 mM K-Tyrode solution, the developed tension increased dose-dependently as the concentration of external $Ca^{++}$ increased to 8 mM. In the absence of external $Ca^{++}$ K-contracture appeared, but it was not sustained. 2) The spontaneous contraction of rat uterus was suppressed by verapamil in proportion to an increase of its concentration and totally abolished at the concentration of $3{\times}10^{-4}\;g/l$, but the spontaneous contraction re-appeared by addition of $Ca^{++}$. The amplitude of peak tension recovered completely but the recovery of frequency was incomplete. K-contracture decreased in a dose-dependent manner after the treatment with verapamil and totally disappeared at its concentration of $3{\times}10^{-4}\;g/l$. Even in this case contracture developed again by extra $Ca^{++}$. 3) The spontaneous contractile activity was inhibited by $La^{+++}$. At the concentration of $10^{-4}$M $La^{+++}$, fibrillation appeared. In the strip inhibited by $10^{-5}M\;La^{+++}$, contractility recovered completely by extra $Ca^{++}$ while in the $10^{-4}M\;La^{+++}$ treated preparation, the rhythmic spontaneous contraction did not develop even at the concentration of 16 mM $Ca^{++}$. After the initial transient depression of contracture tension by $10^{-3}M$ of $La^{+++}$, the strip stowed considerably large size of contracture, hardly influenced by external $Ca^{++}$ or verapamil. The results obtained in this experiment suggest that in the rat uterine muscle there would be some competitive actions between $Ca^{++}$ and its antagonists. It is speculated that $Ca^{++}$ plays an important role in the conduction of excitation, and $La^{+++}$ influences upon cellular $Ca^{++}$ mobilization and re-uptake process as well as transmembrane $Ca^{++}$ transport in a K-depolarized state.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
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• v.14B no.7
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• pp.531-540
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• 2007

In this research, we proposed a two-phase hybrid stock price forecasting model with cointegration tests and artificial neural networks. Using not only the related stocks to the target stock but also the past information as input features in neural networks, the new model showed an improved performance in forecasting than that of the usual neural networks. Firstly in order to extract stocks which have long run relationships with the target stock, we made use of Johansen's cointegration test. In stock market, some stocks are apt to vary similarly and these phenomenon can be very informative to forecast the target stock. Johansen's cointegration test provides whether variables are related and whether the relationship is statistically significant. Secondly, we learned the model which includes lagged variables of the target and related stocks in addition to other characteristics of them. Although former research usually did not incorporate those variables, it is well known that most economic time series data are depend on its past value. Also, it is common in econometric literatures to consider lagged values as dependent variables. We implemented a price direction forecasting system for KOSPI index to examine the performance of the proposed model. As the result, our model had 11.29% higher forecasting accuracy on average than the model learned without cointegration test and also showed 10.59% higher on average than the model which randomly selected stocks to make the size of the feature set same as that of the proposed model.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.286-292
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated the anti-obese activity of HPJ extract in C57BL/6J mice. The C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group (Con), high fat diet control group (HFD), treatment groups with HPJ at 125 mg/kg (HPJ125), 250 mg/kg (HPJ250), or 500 mg/kg (HPJ500). To induce an obesity, mice were fed by a high fat diet for 6 weeks, and mice were administered with HPJ extract once a day for 8 weeks. At the end of treatment, we examined the effect of HPJ extract on body weight, plasma lipid, and lipogenic enzymes. HPJ extract was found to lower whole body and epididymal adipose tissue weights and lowered plasma levels of glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and leptin, compared to those in HFD group. Histological analyses of the liver and fat tissues of mice treated with HPJ extract revealed significantly decreased number of lipid droplets and decreased size of adipocytes compared to the HFD group. In addition, HPJ extract preserved the morphological integrity of pancreatic islets. To elucidate an action mechanism of HPJ extract, Western blot and RT-PCR were performed using epididymal adipose tissues. HPJ extract up-regulated the levels of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its substrate, acetyl-CoA carboxylasse (ACC). HPJ extract also attenuated lipogenic gene expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding protein $1{\alpha}$ (SREBP$1{\alpha}$), fatty acid synthase (FAS), sterol-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) in dose-dependent manners. In contrast, expressions of lipolytic genes such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-$\alpha$ (PPAR-${\alpha}$) and CD36, and fatty acid $\beta$-oxidation gene, carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) were increased. These results suggest that HPJ extract ameliorates obesity through inhibiting synthesis of lipogenic enzymes as well as stimulating fatty acid oxidation resulting from activation of AMPK, and HPJ extract could be developed as a potential therapeutic agent for obese patients.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.281-289
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• 1989

The present study was disigned to determine the concentration of bioavailable steroid hormones in the atretic follicular fluid (FF). The concentradons of progesterone (P), testosterone (T), estradiol (E), androstenedione (A), and 5-$\alpha$ dihydrotestosterone (DIlT) were determined by the established methods of luminescent immunoassay (LIA) or radioimmunoassay (RIA). Concentrations of T, A and Diff in human FF from smail (< 6 mm). medium (8-15 mm), and large (> 15 mm) atretic follicles were significandy higher than those of normal ones (p < 0.01). However, the levels of T, A and DHT in smail atretic foflicle were significandy lower than those found in normal one. The concentrations of P in atretic FF from porcine small (< 3 mm), medium (4-6 mm), and large (> 7 mm) follicles were not different from that of normal ones. However, the concentration of E in atretic forncles of each group was significantly lower than that of normal group (p < 0.001 in each group). On the other hand, the percentages of bioavailable T (BI) in human FF were significandy (p <0.001) higher than those in normal groups. The BT in normal or atretic FF was more than 90 % of total T. The present result demonstrates that the bioavailable androgen, but not E levels in atretic follicles is higher than that of normal one, and that the atretic mechanism might be dependent on the ovarian forncle size in the developmental stage and on the animal model system. Moreover, the present study suggests that the steroids found in the FF are the bioavailable forms and the concentration of BT in FF could be used as one of the valuable criteria classifying the ovarian atretic follicle.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.152-162
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• 1994

The photodegradation efficiency of formic acid on $TiO_2$ photocatalytic membranes was investigated. A new titania membrane reactors for purification of water combining microfiltration with photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds were developed. Titania membrane tubes(average pore size of $0.2\mu m$) were prepared by the slip casting, and porous thin films of $TiO_2$ were formed on the tube surface by the sol-gel process to increase the surface area, and consequently to increase photodegradation efficiency of organic compounds. The UV light with the wavelength of 365 nm was used as a light source for photocatalytic reactions. The photodegradation efficiency of the organic compounds was strongly dependent on the flux of the solution, the microstructure of the membrane (sol pH), and the amount of $O_2$ supplied. The effects of the primary oxidant such as $H_2O_2$ and dopants such as $Nb_2O_5$ on the photodegradation efficiency were also investigated. The results showed that more than 80% of formic acid could be degraded using membrane coated with a $TiO_2$ sol of pH 1.45. The photodegradation efficiency could be improved by about 20% when adding $H_2O_2$ in feed solution or doping $TiO_2$ membranes with $Fe_2O_3$.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.329-337
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• 2015

All known genomes (N=10) in the order Nitrosomonadales were analyzed to contain 9,808 and 908 gene clusters in their pan-genome and core genome, respectively. Analyses with reference genomes belonging to other orders in Betaproteobacteria revealed that sizes of pan-genome and core genome were dependent on the number of genomes compared and the differences of genomes within a group. The sizes of pan-genomes of the genera Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira were 7,180 and 4,586 and core genomes, 1,092 and 1,600, respectively, which implied that similarity of genomes in Nitrosospira were higher than Nitrosomonas. The genomes of Nitrosomonas contributed mostly to the size of the pan-genome and core genomes of Nitrosomonadales. COG analysis of gene clusters showed that the J (translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis) category occupied the biggest proportions (9.7-21.0%) among COG categories in core genomes and its proportion increased in the group which genetic distances among members were high. The unclassified category (-) occupied very high proportions (34-51%) in pan-genomes. Ninety seven gene clusters existed only in Nitrosomonadales and not in reference genomes. The gene clusters contained ammonia monooxygenase (amoA and amoB) and -related genes (amoE and amoD) which were typical genes characterizing the order Nitrosomonadales while they contained significant amount (16-45%) of unclassified genes. Thus, these exclusively-conserved gene clusters might play an important role to reveal genetic specificity of the order Nitrosomonadales.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.25 no.5 s.52
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• pp.511-523
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• 1995

The elastic open activator is one of the modified myodynamic activator. The reduced size of the appliance mass motivates the patients' comfort and longer time of wearing. Its peculiarities in loose fitting and the lack of appliance stabilization in the mouth draws the tongue and the surrounding functional matrices on close interaction with the appliance, consigns the physiologic exertion to target structures, and eventually makes it feasible to the inland of non-extraction treatment In the context of the sagittal malocclusion, the orthodontic trench is dependent upon the growth of basal structure aimed, therefore, it is contemplated to grabble the effects of Elastic Open Activator upon the class II malocclusion of growing child retrospectively. The cephalometric headfilms and study models of nine Class II malocclusion of growing child retrospectively. The cephalometric headfilms and study models of nine class II division 1 and five division 2 patients were evaluated and analyzed, and the following observations were drawn, 1. The maxilla maintained a normal growth pattern in both groups. 2. The mandible grew anteroinferiorly in both groups. 3. The upper incisors tipped ligually in Class II division 1 and tipped labially in Class II division 2 and anterior vertical alveolar growth was interrupted in both groups. 4. The lower incisors tipped labially. 5. There was an arch expansion in both groups and increase of available space in Class II division 2

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.541-549
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• 2015

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer (BC) with higher metastatic rate and both local and systemic recurrence compared to non-TNBC. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) secondary to oxidative stress is associated with DNA damage, chromosomal degradation and alterations of both hypermethylation and hypomethylation of DNA. This study concerns differential methylation of promoter regions in specific groups of genes in TNBC and non-TNBC Saudi females in an effort to understand whether epigenetic events might be involved in breast carcinogenesis, and whether they might be used as markers for Saudi BCs. Methylation of glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1), T-cadherin (CDH13), Paired box protein 5 (PAX5), death associated protein kinase (DAPK), twist-related protein (TWIST), DNA-binding protein inhibitor (ID4), High In Normal-1 (HIN-1), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (p16), cyclin D2 and retinoic acid receptor-${\beta}$ ($RAR{\beta}1$) genes was analyzed by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) in 200 archival formalin-fixed paraffin embedded BC tissues divided into 3 groups; benign breast tissues (20), TNBC (80) and non-TNBC (100). The relationships between methylation status, and clinical and pathological characteristics of patients and tumors were assessed. Higher frequencies of GSTP1, ID4, TWIST, DAPK, PAX5 and HIN-1 hypermethylation were found in TNBC than in non-TNBC. Hypermethylation of GSTP1, CDH13, ID4, DAPK, HIN-1 and PAX5 increased with tumor grade increasing. Other statistically significant correlations were identified with studied genes. Data from this study suggest that increased hypermethylation of GSTP1, ID4, TWIST, DAPK, PAX5 and HIN-1 genes in TNBC than in non-TNBC can act as useful biomarker for BCs in the Saudi population. The higher frequency of specific hypermethylated genes paralleling tumor grade, size and lymph node involvement suggests contributions to breast cancer initiation and progression.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 1993

Nylon 6 based magnetic pellets for injection molding were produced using plasma arc melt-spun $Nd_{10.5}Fe_{79}Co_{2}Zr_{1.5}B_{7}$ powders. Two sorts of bonded magnets made of two different sizes of particles ($38~75\;\mu\textrm{m}$ and $75~150\;\mu\textrm{m}$) were prepared to determine critical volume fraction of magnet powders, and the magnetic prop erties of the magnets were discussed as a function of density. For the nylon fi based Nd-Fe-Co-Zr-B pellets made of $38~75\;\mu\textrm{m}$ particles, the critical volume fraction of powders 0.7 was obtained with the pellet density which is 90% of theoretical density while the magnets of $75~150\;\mu\textrm{m}$ showed the density of 87% of the theoretical value with the same volume fraction. The nylon (i magnets with the addition of 0.5 wt. % silicon oil only exhibited the best magnetic properties to have $_{i}H_{c}=8.8\;kOe,\;B_{r}=5.1\;kG$ and $(BH)_{max}=5.2\;MGOe$ which are of world class. An empirical relationship in predicting the magnet density with a known fraction ($V_s$) of loading powders was obtained such as ${\rho}(g/cm^{3})=1.1+K.V_{s}$ where the K ranges over 5.3~5.6 be ing dependent upon the particle size loaded.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1-26
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• 2008

This study examines the statistical relationship between medical specialists and managerial performance, using regression analysis with the number of medical specialists per 100 beds as the independent variable and the managerial performance index as the dependent variable. Managerial performance index incorporated the number of out-patients per specialist, the number of in-patients per specialist, the volume of revenue per specialist, the number of beds per specialist, and the average length of stay. To compare different groups of hospitals, dummy variable was applied to five groups of hospitals according to size: 100-299 beds, 300-599 beds, 600-899 beds, 900-1199 beds, and more than 1200 beds. The data consisted of 181 general hospitals with more than 100 beds, which included 28 public hospitals, 73 corporate hospitals, 64 university hospitals and 16 private hospitals. Of those, 87 hospitals were located in big cities and 94 hospitals in medium to small cities. This study used hospitals from the Korean Hospital Association, and data published in 2004. The collected data sample was analyzed using the SPSSWIN 12.0 version, and the study hypothesis was tested using regression analysis. The findings of this study are summarized as follows: Hypothesis 1 predicting a negative effect of the number of medical specialists on the number of out-patients per specialist was supported with statistical significance. The analysis of dummy variable showed causality in all the hospital groups larger than the group of 100-299 beds. Hypothesis 2 predicting a negative effect of the number of medical specialists on the number of in-patients per specialist was supported with statistical significance. The analysis of dummy variable showed causality in the hospital group of 300-599 beds when compared to the group of 100-299 beds. Hypothesis 3 predicting a negative effect of the number of medical specialists on the volume of revenue per specialist was not supported. However, the analysis of dummy variable showed that the volume of revenue per specialist increased in the hospital groups of 600-899 beds, 900-1199 beds, and over 1200 beds, when compared to the group of 100-299 beds. Hypothesis 4 predicting a negative effect of the number of medical specialists on the average length of stay was supported with statistical significance. The analysis of dummy variable showed causality in the hospital group of 300-599 beds, when compared to the group of 100-299 beds. Results of this study show that the number of the medical specialists per 100 beds is an important factor in hospital managerial performance. Most hospitals have tried to retain as many medical specialists as possible to keep the number of patients stable, to ensure adequate revenue, and to maintain efficient managerial performance. Especially, the big hospitals with greater number of beds and medical specialists have shown greater revenue per medical specialist despite the smaller number of patients per medical specialist. Findings of this study explains why hospitals in Korea are getting bigger.