• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2015

Flowering time (or heading date) is controlled by intrinsic genetic programs in response to environmental cues, such as photoperiod and temperature. Rice, a facultative short-day (SD) plant, flowers early in SD and late in long-day (LD) conditions. Casein kinases (CKs) generally act as positive regulators in many signaling pathways in plants. In rice, Heading date 6 (Hd6) and Hd16 encode $CK2{\alpha}$ and CKI, respectively, and mainly function to delay flowering time. Additionally, the major LD-dependent floral repressors Hd2/Oryza sativa Pseudo-Response Regulator 37 (OsPRR37;hereafter PRR37) and Ghd7 also confer strong photoperiod sensitivity. In floral induction, Hd16 acts upstream of Ghd7 and CKI interacts with and phosphorylates Ghd7. In addition, Hd6 and Hd16 also act upstream of Hd2. However, whether CKI and $CK2{\alpha}$ directly regulate the function of PRR37 remains unclear. Here, we use in vitro pull-down and in vivo bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays to show that CKI and $CK2{\alpha}$ interact with PRR37. We further use in vitro kinase assays to show that CKI and $CK2{\alpha}$ phosphorylate different regions of PRR37. Our results indicate that direct posttranslational modification of PRR37 mediates the genetic interactions between these two protein kinases and PRR37. The significance of CK-mediated phosphorylation for PRR37 and Ghd7 function is discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.285-296
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• 1997

Injury to brain transforms resting astrocytes to their reactive form, the hallmark of which is an increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the major intermediate filament protein of their cell type. The overall glial response after brain injury is referred to as reactive gliosis. Glial-neuronal interaction is important for neuronal migration, neurite outgrowth and axonal guidance during ontogenic development. Although much attention has been given to glial regulation of neuronal development and regeneration, evidences also suggest a neuronal influence on glial cell differentiation, maturation and function. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of glial-hippocampal neuronal co-culture on GFAP expression in the co-cultured astrocytes. The following antibodies were used for double immunostaining chemistry; mouse monoclonal antibodies for confirm neuronal cells, rabbit anti GFAP antibodies for confirm astrocytes. Primary cultured astrocytes showed the typical flat polygonal morphology in culture and expressed strong GFAP and vimentin. Co-cultured hippocampal neurons on astrocytes had phase bright cell body and well branched neurites. About half of co-cultured astrocytes expressed negative or weak GFAP and vimentin. After 2 hour glutamate (0.5 mM) exposure of glial-neuronal co-culture, neuronal cells lost their neurites and most of astrocytes expressed strong CFAE and vimentin. In Western blot analysis, total GFAP and vimentin contents in co-cultured astrocytes were lower than those of primary cultured astrocytes. After glutamate exposure of glial-neuronal co-culture, GFAP and vimentin contents in astrocytes were increased to the level of primary cultured astrocytes. These results suggest that neuronal cell decrease GFAP expression in co-cultured astrocytes and hippocampal neuronal-glial co-culture can be used as a reactive gliosis model in vitro for studying GFAP expression of astrocytes.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.156-159
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• 2013

Background: Cardiac pacemakers are known to be susceptible to strong electromagnetic fields (EMFs). This in vivo study investigated occurrence of electromagnetic interference with pacemakers caused by common environmental sources of EMFs. Methods: Eleven volunteers with a pacemaker were exposed to EMFs produced by two mobile phone base stations, an electrically powered commuter train, and an overhead high voltage transmission lines. All the pacemakers were programmed in normal clinically selected settings with bipolar sensing and pacing configurations. Results: None of the pacemakers experienced interference in any of these exposure situations. However, often it is not clear whether or not strong EMFs exist in various work environments, and hence an individual risk assessment is needed. Conclusions: Modern pacemakers are well shielded against external EMFs, and workers with a pacemaker can most often return to their previous work after having a pacemaker implanted. However, an appropriate risk assessment is still necessary after the implantation of a pacemaker, a change of its generator, or major modification of its programming settings.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.921-930
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• 2010

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common rheumatic childhood disease; its onset is before 16 years of age and it persists for at least 6 weeks. JRA encompasses a heterogeneous group of diseases that is classified according to 3 major presentations: oligoarthritis, polyarthritis, and systemic onset diseases. These presentations may originate from the same or different causes that involve interaction with specific immunogenetic predispositions, and result in heterogeneous clinical manifestations. An arthritic joint exhibits cardinal signs of joint inflammation, such as swelling, pain, heat, and loss of function; any joint can be arthritic, but large joints are more frequently affected. Extra-articular manifestations include high fever, skin rash, serositis, and uveitis. The first 2 types of JRA are regarded as T helper 1 (Th1) cell-mediated inflammatory disorders, mainly based on the abundance of activated Th1 cells in the inflamed synovium and the pathogenetic role of proinflammatory cytokines that are mainly produced by Th1 cell-stimulated monocytes. In contrast, the pathogenesis of systemic onset disease differs from that of other types of JRA in several respects, including the lack of association with human leukocyte antigen type and the absence of autoantibodies or autoreactive T cells. Although the precise mechanism that leads to JRA remains unclear, proinflammatory cytokines are thought to be responsible for at least part of the clinical symptoms in all JRA types. The effectiveness of biologic therapy in blocking the action of these cytokines in JRA patients provides strong evidence that they play a fundamental role in JRA inflammation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.24 no.6 s.177
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• pp.1456-1469
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• 2000

Mechanical behaviors of uniaxially fiber-reinforced metal matrix composites under transverse loading conditions were studied at room and elevated temperatures. A mono-filament composite was selecte d as a representative analysis model with perfectly bonded fiber/matrix interface assumption. The elastic-plastic and visco-plastic models were investigated by both theoretical and numerical methods. The product of triaxiality factor and effective strain as well as stress components and strain energy was obtained as a function of location to estimate the failure sites in fiber-reinforced metal matrix composite. Results showed that fiber/ matrix interfacial debond plays a key role for local failure at the room temperature, while void creation and growth in addition to the interfacial debond are major concerns at the elevated temperature. It was also shown that there would be an optimal diameter of fiber for the strong fiber-reinforced metal matrix composite.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2014

This study aims at proposing a sound and sustainable development direction of an residential environment by analyzing testimonies of residents who lived in Park Hill flats or their surround at Sheffield City in the United Kingdom. The results are obtained through the analysis on a residential environment of Park Hill flats, opinions of the residents on its refurbishment, and effects of the building on the residential environment. The block of Park Hill flats was a community with a strong unity and solidarity, but that became increasingly a slum by the decline of the physical and social environment since the 1980s. In particular, it was identified that the deterioration of the social environment than that of the physical environment was a major cause of the decline. Nevertheless, it was found that "streets in the sky", the concept applied in Park Hill, played a key role in activating the community in the apartment complex. However, that street system in the complex has caused noise, poor security, and invasion of privacy. If such problems are solved, the streets in the sky will be a meaningful alternative for community activation and then ensuring sustainability in Korean residential environments that lost the function of the community.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.19-34
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• 1998

The author collected and compared midsagittal, coronal, coronal oblique, and transversal images of Korean monophthongs /a, i, e, o, u, i, v/ produced by a healthy male speaker using 1.5 T MR, VISION. Area was measured by computer software after tracing the cross-section at different points along the tract. Results showed that the width of the oral and pharyngeal cavities varied compensatorily from each other on the midsagittal dimension. Formant frequency values estimated from the area functions of the seven vowels showed a strong correlation (r=0.978) with those analyzed from the spoken vowels. Moreover, almost all of 35 students who listened to the synthesized vowels from area data perceived the synthesized vowels as equivalent to the spoken ones. Movement of constriction points of vowel /u/ with wider lip opening sounded /i/ and led to slight changes in vowel quality. Jaw and tongue movement led to major volume variation with an anatomical limitation. Each comer vowel varied systematically from a somewhat constant volume of the average area. Thus, the author proposed that any simulation studies related to vocal tract area variation should reflect its constant volume. The results may be helpful to verify exact measurement of the vocal tract area through vowel synthesis and a simulation study before having any operation of the vocal tract.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.840-846
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• 2014

This study investigated growth and hematological changes in parrotfish Oplegnathus fasciatus (~200 g/fish) reared under different total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentrations (0, 4, or 8 mg/L) for 6 weeks. Survival rates of parrotfish in all experimental groups did not significantly differ, as they were all ~100%. Although specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain, and daily feed intake in the high TAN concentration group (TAN8) were significantly lower than in the other two groups, there was no significant difference between the TAN4 group and the control group, (TAN0), indicating that parrotfish have a strong resistance to ammonia toxicity. As for temporal changes of the major blood components, cortisol increased as a result of stress caused by the high ammonia concentration in the TAN8 group. For this reason, the concentrations of energy sources such as glucose and total cholesterol were reduced. However, there was little difference among all experimental groups in concentrations of liver function glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and nutrient factors, such as total protein and albumin.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.83-93
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• 2000

29 dementia patients over 60 years of no in the nursing home were assigned to execute rehabilitation program a month for 3 months. 1 evaluated MBI scores and MMSE scores and analyzed correlation between both scores. Analyses of results were as follows : 1. In the experimental group with rehabilitation program. ADL and cognitive function were improved significantly(p<0.05). 2. In the control group with no rehabilitation program. ADL was decreased significantly(p<0.05), cognition was not changed (pgt;0.05). 3. There were significant rises in MBI scores and MMSE scores in the experimental group(p<0.05). 4. There was a significant fall in MBI scores in the control group(p<0.05). a no change in MMSE scores in the control group(p>0.05). 5. There was strong correlation between ADL and cognition in the experimental group and the control group. 6. Inverse correlation revealed between the experimental group and the control group in ADL. 7. Inverse correlation revealed between the experimental group and the control group in cognition.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.255-259
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• 2003

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a critical role in various immune responses involving $CD4^+$ T cells and have been used to generate anti-tumor immunity. Chemotherapy induces severe side effects including immunosuppression in patients with cancer. Although immunosuppression has been studied, the effects of anticancer drugs on DCs are not fully determined. In this study, we demonstrated that CD40 activation strongly protected DCs from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or mitomycin C-induced apoptosis. DCspecific surface markers, including CD11c and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, were used for identifying DCs. CD 40 activation with anti-CD40 mAb significantly enhanced the viability of DCs treated with 5-FU or mitomycin C, assayed by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide). Fluorescence staining and analysis clearly confirmed the enhancing effect of anti-CD40 mAb on the viability of DCs, suggesting that CD40 activation may transduce critical signals for the viability of DCs. Annexin V staining assay showed that CD40 significantly protected DCs from 5-FU or mitomycin C-induced apoptosis. Taken together, this study shows that CD40 activation with anti-CD40 mAb has strong anti-apoptosis effect on DCs, suggesting that CD40 activation may overcome the immunosuppression, especially downregulation of number and function of DCs in chemotherapy-treated cancer patients.