• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.737-748
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• 2016

By this time, insect antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been characterized more than 150 peptides since purification of cecropin in the hemolymph of pupae from Hyalophora cecropia in 1980. Therefore, it is considered that insects are good sources of AMP selection. Insect AMPs are small (low molecular weight) and cationic, and amphipathic with variable length, sequence, and structure. They perform a pivotal role on humoral immunity in the insect innate immune system against invading pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Most of the insect AMPs are induced rapidly in the fat bodies and other specific tissues of insects after septic injury or immune challenge. Then the AMPs subsequently released into the hemolymph to act against microorganisms. These peptides have a broad antimicrobial spectrum against various microbes including anticancer activities. Insect AMPs could be divided into four families based on their structures and sequences. That is the α-helical peptides, cysteine-rich peptides, proline-rich peptides, and glycine-rich peptides/proteins. For instance, cecropins, insect defensins, proline-rich peptides, and attacins are common insect AMPs, but gloverins and moricins have been identified only in lepidopteran species. This review focuses on AMPs from insects and discusses current knowledge and recent progress with potential applications of insect AMPs.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 1996

Seed size and days required to reach specific growth stages were determined for Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. varieties which are major grass species found in Korean paddy field and the results were compared with E. frumentacea (Roxb.) Link. In addition, responses of the Echinochloa species on preemergence herbicides (molinate, esprocarb, and mefenacet) were investigated with respect to time of application. One thousand seed weight of E. crus-galli var. oryzicola was about 3 times heavier than that of var. praticola, but was not significantly different that of E. frumentacea. Days requited to reach the 2.5 leaf-stage (LS) were 11, 13, and 14 days after seeding for E. frumentacea, E. crus-galli var. oryzicola, and E. crus-galli var. praticola, respectively. E. crus-galli var. praticola was more sensitive to molinate, esprocarb and mefenacet than var. oryzicola and the sensitivity of both the varieties decreased as the time of application LS was delayed. However, there was no great difference in the response for E. frumentacea when applied between 1.5 and 3.0 LS. In thiocarbamate hebicides esprocarb was more active to Echinochloa species than molinate and the higher the active ingredient of the herbicides, the greater was the activity to Echinochloa species. Differential susceptibility of Echinochloa species to the herbicides was not related to the seed size, but to the early growth stages at the time of herbicide application which were affected by the seed size.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.195-198
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• 2006

Lethal toxin is a critical virulence factor of anthrax. It is composed two protein: protective antigen (PA) and lethal factor (LF). PA binds to specific cell surface receptors and, forms a membrane channel that mediates entry of LF into the cell. LF is a zinc-dependent metalloprotease, which cleaves MKKs [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) kinases] at peptide bonds very close to their N-termini. In this study, we suggest application of cell-based assays in the early phase of drug discovery, with a particular focus on the use of yeast cells. We constructed MEK1 expression system in yeast to determine LF activity and approached cell-based assay system to screen inhibitors, in which the results covering the construction of LF-substrate in yeast expression vector, expression, and LF-mediated proteolysis of substrate were described. These results could provided the basic steps in design of cell-based assay system with the high efficiency, rapidly and easy way to screening of inhibitors.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2003

The current study investigated the effect of Korean safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed powder and its water and ethanol extracts on bone metabolism during recovery from rib-fracture induced by surgical operation in rats. 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 320 g were divided into 9 groups after arrival: 10d control (AIN 76 semi-purified diet), 10d safflower seed powder (10d SS-powder), 10d safflower seed ethanol extract (10d SS-EtOH), 10d safflower seed water extract (10d SS-$H_2O$), 20d control (AIN-76 semi-purified diet), 20d safflower heed powder (20d SS-powder), 20d safflower seed ethanol extract (20d SS-EtOH), 20d safflower seed water extract (20d SS-$H_2O$), and 20d sham-operation (20d sham), The dietary level for all the supplements was 5% based on the raw material weight. The rats were fed the experimental diets for 10 days before the rib fracture operation and for a further 10 or 20 days after the operation. A number 9 rib was fractured surgically and a sham-operation also performed. The rats were then sacrificed on the l0th or 20th day after the operation. The body weight initially decreased after the operation in all the rib-fractured groups, then gradually recovered. The concentrations of plasma osteocalcin were higher in the control group than in all the safflower-supplemented groups 10 and 20 days after the rib-fracture (p < 0.05). The bone-specific ALP (alkaline phosphatase) activity was significantly higher in the SS-EtOH group than in the other groups 20 days after the rib-fracture (p < 0.05). The level of urinary DPD (deoxypridinoline) was significantly higher in the SS-EtOH and SS-$H_2O$ groups than in the other groups 10 days after the rib-fracture. When comparing the PTH (parathyroid hormone) and calcitonin levels, the SS-$H_2O$ group exhibited the highest PTH level among the groups 10 and 20 days after the rib-fracture. Thus, it was concluded that the bone turnover during the fracture-healing period was more rapid in the rats supplemented with safflower seed powder or its fractions than in the control rats. Furthermore, the SS-$H_2O$ fraction was identified as the most effective in stimulating bone remodeling, as bone resorption and bone formation were both significantly increased during fracture healing when compared to the control group.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.13
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• pp.39-71
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• 1986

Interlibrary loan has been a very common library service in the developed countries but it is yet to be actualized formerly in Korea. As Korea is moving toward an information society where all the individual user's request in the library should be met, we need to understand, in detail, the theory and practice of interlibrary loan service. As various information technology has been applied to the libraries, the libraries became the open system. Thus, the libraries become more cooperative, form networks, and make interlibrary loan service available. This study is based on the following three hypothesis formulated from the systems theory. 1. If libraries cooperate each other and form some kind of networks by mail, computers or telecommunications, they become the open system. 2. If a library develops as the open system, interlibrary loan becomes available in the library. 3. If the interlibrary loan system works, the role of the librarians will be changed. The research was carried out by analyzing the various studies about interlibrary loan service and by examining the interlibrary loan systerns presently working in the U.S.. The conclusions are reached deductively from the data. Some of the terminology used are defined as follows: System: a network of interrelated procedures that are joined together to perform an activity or to accomplish a specific objective. It is, in effect, all the ingredient which make up the whole. Cooperation: Working together to benefit participant libraries. Network: a much more structured type of cooperation in which definite regions or areas are connected by electronic or other means to promote interlibrary loaning of materials, in-service traing & other sharing of resources. Interlibrary loan: the lending of books between libraries. The model of cooperation or networks was used to be (1) a star type, (2) a hieranchical type, (3) a distributed type or (4) the combination of aforementioned three. However, the development of the telecommunications and computers enables all kinds of libraires cooperate together. Interlibrary loan service starts with the needs of user's information. The information have to be logically accessed through bibliographies, computers, electronic mails and satellite communications. And the logical access requires the information technology and the libraries become cooperative. The physical access to the information follows next but only traditional method of mail and some commercial service are currently available for this purpose. Therefore, researches are needed to develop this physical access. If the libraries form networks, the microaspect of library changes accordingly as the macroaspect changes. If the libraries . cooperate to become one large world library, the librarians plan, organize, control library operations and report the results. And the librarians work inside and outside of the library to cooperate with other libraries. Only the cooperation of the libraries will enhance interlibrary loan and the Korean librarians have to be prepared to accept the new role of librarianship for the interlibrary loan service.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.623-628
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• 2009

The emergence of compact and low-power wireless communication sensors and actuators in the technology supporting the ongoing miniaturization of processing and storage allows for entirely the new kinds of embedded systems. These systems are distributed and deployed in environments where they may have been designed into a particular control method, and are often very dynamic. Collection of devices can communicate to achieve a higher level of coordinated behavior. Wireless sensor nodes deposited in various places provide light, temperature, and activity measurements. Wireless sensor nodes attached to circuits or appliances sense the current or control the usage. Together they form a dynamic and multi-hop routing network connecting each node to more powerful networks and processing resources. Wireless sensor networks are a specific-application and therefore they have to involve both software and hardware. They also use protocols that relate to both applications and the wireless network. Wireless sensor networks are consumer devices supporting multimedia applications such as personal digital assistants, network computers, and mobile communication devices. Wireless sensor networks are becoming an important part of industrial and military applications. The characteristics of modem embedded systems are the capable of communicating adapting the different operating environments. In this paper, We designed and implemented sensor network system which shows through host PC sensing temperature and humidity data transmitted for wireless sensor nodes composed wireless temperature and humidity sensor and designs sensor nodes using embedded system with the intention of studying USN.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.425-434
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• 1998

This study was designed to investigate the microglial reactions to the neurodegenerative changes in the cat retina. All experiments were performed using adult cats of both sex, weighing $2,500g\sim3,500g$. 5,7-DHT $(100{\mu}g)$ dissolved in 0.1% ascorbic acid was injected into the vitreous body. All injections were performed in one-side eye; the other side served as the control, which was injected only with 0.1% ascorbic acid. Cats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after intravitreal injection of 5,7-DHT For light microscopy, retinae were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and processed using NDPase histochemistry. Same retinae were fixed with 1% para(formaldehyde-2.5% glutaraldehyde and processed for electron microscopy. NDPase-positive microglial cells were mainly distributed in the inner plexiform layer of the retina, and characterized by a small somata with a few slender processes, which were also extended in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner nuclear layer (INL). The intensity of the microglia stained for NDPase was abruptly increased at 7 day as compared with that of the control, and thereafter continuously sustained until 21 day, the last experimental group in this study. Under the electron microscopical observation, microglial cells in the control group exhibited elongate nucleus with perinuclear chromatin condensation, and the perikaryon was scanty. However, a few hypertrophic glial cells were frequently found at 3 days after the drug injection. By 7 day, most microglial cells directed toward the degenerated neurons in the GCL, and the number of microglial cells was slightly increased as compared with the former group. At the 14 day, most microglial cells wrapped the degenerated cells in the GCL, and a few cells showed phagocytotic features. By 21 day, most microglial cells were engaged in phagocytotic activity, and their cytoplasm was filled with the phagorytosed material. Based on the results, 5,7-DHT may act as a specific neurotoxin to the cat retina, and microglial reactions to the neuronal death are already induced in early experimental stage. These results indicate that the microglial cells in the cat retina show characteristic features as a protective effect of neural tissue.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

There have been many emotion researches to investigate physiological responses on specific emotions with physiological parameters such as heart rate, blood volume flow, and skin conductance. Very few researches, however, exists by detecting them with facial skin temperature. The purpose of present study was to observe the differences of facial skin temperature by using thermal camera, when participants stimulated by monitor scenes which could evoke fear or joy. There were totally 98 of participants; undergraduate students who were in their adult age and middle, high school students who were in their adolescence. We measured their facial temperature, before and after presenting emotional stimulus to see changes between both times. Temperature values were extracted in these regions; forehead, inner corners of the eyes, bridge of the nose, end of the nose, and cheeks. Temperature values in bridge and end of the nose were significantly decreased in fear emotion stimulated. There was also significant temperature increase in the area of forehead and the inner corners of the eyes, while the temperature value in end of the nose decreased. It showed decrease in both stimulated fear and joy. These results might be described as follows: When arousal level going up, sympathetic nervous activity increases, and in turn it makes blood flow in peripheral vessels under the nose decrease. Facial temperature changes by fear or joy in this study were the same as the previous studies which measured temperature of finger tip, when participants experiencing emotions. Our results may help to develop emotion-measuring techniques and establish computer system bases which are to detect human emotions.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.35-42
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• 2016

Electrospinning is a simple and effective process for producing nanofiber with diameter range from nanometers to micrometers which have high specific surface area. Hence, medicated nanofibers can be readily fabricated using a solution containing a mixture of a plant-extracts and a polymer. It has proved that Juniperus Chinensis can be effectively used for the prevention of UV and SLS-induced advers skin reaction such as radical production, inflammation and skin cell damage. It also found that Juniperus Chinensis has efficient ingredient of antifungal activity and house dust mite repellent effect. The fabrication of PVA nanofibers containing Juniperus Chinensis extracts by electrospinning has been studied. PVA/Juniperus Chinensis extracts composite nanofibers were produced at different Juniperus Chinensis concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1.5 wt. %). The parameters of electrospinning including polymer contents, voltage and tip-to-collector distance (TCD) were optimized for fabrication process. The study show that 12 wt. % PVA, 10kV applied voltage and TCD 10~20 cm are the best condition to obtain uniform PVA/Juniperus Chinensis extracts composite nanofibers. Morphologies of the electrospun composite nanofiber were observed by using a field emission scanning electron microscope. It has been found that the average diameters of fibers increased by the adding of Juniperus Chinensis extracts. As the results, PVA/Juniperus Chinensis extracts composite nanofibers having a diameter in the range from 310~360 nm were successfully prepared via an electrospinning.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.229-246
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• 1997

Implantation is a most important biological process during pregnancy whereby conceptus establishes its survival as well as maintenance of pregnancy. During the periimplantation period, both uterine endometriurn and conceptus synthesize and secrete a host of growth factors and cytokines which mediate the actions of estrogen and /or progesterone and also exert their steroid-independent actions. Growth factors expressed by the materno-conceptal unit en masse have important roles in cell migration, stimulation or inhibition of cell proliferation, cellular differentiation, maintenance of pregnancy and materno-conceptal communications in an autorcrine /paracrine manner. The present review focuses on the role of the intrauterine IGF system during periimplantation conceptus development. The IGF system comprises of IGF- I and IGF- II ligands, types I and II IGF receptors and six or more IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs). IGFs and IGFBPs are expressed and secreted by uterine endometrium with tissue, pregnancy stage and species specificities under the influence of estrogen, progesterone and other growth factor(s). Conceptus also synthesizes components of the IGF system beginning from a period between 2-cell and blastocyst stages. Maternal IGFs are utilized by both maternal and conceptal tissues; conceptus-derived growth factors are believed to be taken up primarily by conceptus. IGFs enhance the development of both maternal and conceptal compartments in a wide range of biological processes. They stimulate proliferation and differentiation of endometrial cells and placental precursor cells including decidual transformation from stromal cells, placental formation and the synthesis of some steroid and protein hormones by differentiated endometrial cells or placenta. It is also well-documented in a number of experimental settings that both IGFs stimulate preimplantation embryo development. In slight contrast to these, prenatal mice carrying a null mutation of IGF and /or IGF receptor gene do not exhibit any apparent growth retardation until after implantation. Reason (s) for this discrepancy between the knock-out result and the in vitro ones, however, is not known. IGFBPs, in general, are believed to inhibit IGF action within the materno-conceptal unit, thereby allowing endometrial stromal cell differentiation as well as dampening ex cessive placental invasion into maternal tissue. There is evidence, however, indicating that IGFBP can enhance IGF action depending on environrnental conditions perhaps by directioning IGF ligand to the target cell. There is also a third possibility that certain IGFBPs and their proteolytic fragments may have their own biological activities independent of the IGF. In addition to IGFBPs, IGFBP proteases including those found within the uterine tissue or lumen are thought to enhance IGF bioavailability by degrading their substrates without affecting their bound ligand. In this regard, preliminary results in early pregnant pigs suggest that a partially characterized IGFBP protease activity in uterine luminal fluid enhances intrauterine IGF bioavailability during conceptus morphological development. In summary, a number of in vitro results indicate that IGFs stimulates the development of the rnaterno-conceptal unit during the periimplantation period. IGFBPs appear to inhibit IGF action by sequestering their ligands, whereas IGFBP proteases are thought to enhance intrauterine bioavailability of IGFs. Much is remaining to be clarified, however, regarding the roles of the individual IGF system components. These include in vivo evidence for the role of IGFs in early conceptus development, identification of IGF-regulated genes and their functions, specific roles for individual IGFBPs, identification and characterization of IGFBP proteases. The intrauterine IGF club house thus will be paying a lot of attention to forthcoming results in above and other areas, with its door wide-open!