Ursolic acid is a triterpenoid compound present in many plants. This study examined the antimicrobial activity of ursolic acid against mutans streptococci (MS) isolated from the Korean population. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and time kill curves of MS. The cytotoxicity of ursolic acid against KB cells was tested using an MTT assay. The MIC90 values of ursolic acid for Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus isolated from the Korean population were 2 μg/ml and 4 μg/ml, respectively. Ursolic acid had a bactericidal effect on S. mutans ATCC 25175 T and S. sobrinus ATCC 33478 T at > 2 × MIC (4 μg/ml) and 4 × MIC (8 μg/ml), respectively. Ursolic acid had no cytotoxic effect on KB cells at concentrations at which it exerted antimicrobial effects. The results suggest that ursolic acid can be used in the development of oral hygiene products for the prevention of dental caries.

Angelica decursiva has been used in Korean traditional medicine as an antitussive, an analgesic, an antipyretic and a cough remedy. However, its anti-cancer properties have not yet been well defined. In our current study, we report the cytotoxic activity and the mechanism of cell death induced by ethanol extracts of Angelica decursiva (EEAD) against the human oral cancer cell line, KB. Treatment of KB cells with EEAD induced apoptotic cell death in both a dose- and time-dependent manner as determined by MTT assay and DNA fragmentation. However, no cytotoxic effects of EEAD against human normal oral keratinocytes (HNOK) were evident. By western blot analysis, we found that apoptosis in KB cells is associated with a decrease in procaspase-7 and -9. In addition, the activation of caspase-7 was detectable in living KB cells by fluorescence microscopy. These results suggest that EEAD exhibits anti-cancer activity in KB cells via apoptosis and thus has potential as an anticancer agent in future drug development strategies.

Angelica decursiva has been used in Korean traditional medicine as an antitussive, an analgesic, an antipyretic and a cough remedy. However, the anti-cancer properties of Angelica decursiva have not yet been well defined. In our current study the cytotoxic activity of ethanol extracts of Angelica decursiva root (EEAD) and the mechanism of cell death exhibited by EEAD were examined in FaDu human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells. The cytotoxic effects of EEAD upon the growth of FaDu cells were examined with an MTT assay. In addition, the mechanism of cell death induced by EEAD was evaluated by DNA fragmentation analysis, immunoblotting and caspase activation measurements. EEAD induced apoptotic cell death in FaDu cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, as determined by MTT assay and DNA fragmentation analysis. Furthermore, the proteolytic processing of caspase-3, -7 and -9 was increased by EEAD treatment of FaDu cells. In addition, the activation of caspase-3 and -7 was detected in living FaDu cells by fluorescence microscopy. These results suggest that EEAD can induce apoptosis and suppress cell growth in cancer cells and may have utility as a future anticancer therapy.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of closed and open kinetic chain exercise for increasing knee joint function on the knee position sense in the normal adults. Thirty normal adults(male 15, female 15; mean age: 22.13±2.58 years) were participated in this study into two groups, each with 15 people. The group I was trained that closed kinetic chain exercise on the knee joint and the group II was trained that open kinetic chain exercise on the knee joint. Exercise programs performed for 4 weeks, 3 times a week were using Shuttle 2000-1 closed kinetic chain exercise and Knee Extensor open kinetic chain exercise(HUR, Filand). The results of this study were as follows: 1) There were statistically significant decreasing of measuring error degree in 0-20。were found between before and after training in closed kinetic chain exercise(p<.05). 2) There were statistically significant decreasing of measuring error degree in 21-40。were found between before and after training in closed kinetic chain exercise(p<.05). 3) There were statistically significant decreasing of measuring error degree in 41-60。were found between before and after training in closed kinetic chain exercise(p<.05). 4) There were statistically significant decreasing of measuring error degree in 0- 20。were found between before and after training in open kinetic chain exercise(p<.05). 5) There were statistically significant decreasing of measuring error degree in 21-40。were found between before and after training in open kinetic chain exercise(p<.05). 6) There were statistically significant decreasing of measuring error degree in 41- 60。were found between before and after training in open kinetic chain exercise(p<.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that closed and open kinetic chain exercise has increased in the knee joint proprioception between before and after training. Especially, closed kinetic chain exercise could be more useful intervention than open kinetic chain exercise for increasing proprioceptive sense.

The majority of strokes are caused by ischemia and result in brain tissue damage, leading to problems of the central nervous system including hemiparesis, dysfunction of language and consciousness, and dysfunction of perception. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) on necrosis in neuronal cells that have undergone needle electrode electrical stimulation(NEES) prior to induction of ischemia. Ischemia was induced in male SD rats(body weight 300g) by occlusion of the common carotid artery for 5 min, after which the blood was reperfused. After induction of brain ischemia, NEES was applied to Zusanli(ST 36), at 12, 24 and 48 hours. Protein expression was investigated using immuno-reactive cells, which react to PARP antibodies in cerebral nerve cells, and Western blotting. The results were as follows: In the cerebral cortex, the number of PARP reactive cells after 24 hours significantly decreased(p<.05) in the NEES group compared to the GI group. PARP expression after 24 hours significantly decreased(p<.05) in the NEES group compared to the GI group. As a result, NEES showed the greatest effect on necrosis- related PARP immuno-reactive cells 24 hours after ischemia, indicating necrosis inhibition, blocking of neural cell death, and protection of neural cells. Based on the results of this study, NEES can be an effective method of treating dysfunction and improving function of neuronal cells in brain damage caused by ischemia.

The fabrication of interconnect from titanium powders and powders is investigated. Corrosion-resistant titanium and are used as reinforcement in order to reveal high heat and corrosion resistance at the elevated temperature. We fabricated the plates for interconnect reinforced with by mixing titanium powders with 10 wt.% of nano-sized . Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) was chosen for the sintering of these composites. The plate made of titanium powders and powders demonstrates higher corrosion resistance than that of the plate of titanium powders alone. The physical properties of specimens were analyzed by performing hardness test and biaxial strength test. The electrochemical properties, such as corrosion resistance and hydrogen permeability at high temperature, were also investigated. The microstructures of the specimens were investigated by FESEM and profiles of chemical compositions were analyzed by EDX.

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Needle Electrode Electrical Stimulation(NEES) on ischemia-induced cere˗ brovascular accidents. After obstruction and reperfusion of arteries in white mice, the amounts of necrosis and inflammation related sub˗ stances Bax, IL-6, Caspase-3, and COX-2 were measured in neurons of the fore-brain. The following results were obtained. This study used 21 male specific pathogen free(SPF) SD rats, 8 weeks of age and approximately 300g in weight. Each exposed artery was completely occluded with non-absorbent suture thread and kept in that state for 5 minutes. The sutures were then removed to allow reperfusion of blood. Test group is control group(common carotid artery occlusion models), a GI(underwent common carotid artery occlusion), and NEES(underwent NEES after artery occlusion). The GI and NEES groups were given 12, 24, or 48 hours of reperfusion before NEES. NEES device(PG6, ITO, Japan, 9V, current, 2Hz) was used to stimulate the bilateral acupoint ST36 of the SD rats for 30 minutes while they were sedated with 3% isoflurane. An immuno-his˗ tochemistry test was done on the forebrains of the GI induced rats. Both Bax and Caspase-3 immuno-reactive cells, related to apoptosis, were greater in the GI than the NEES group. Cox-2 and IL-6 immuno-reactive cells, related to inflammation, were greater in the GI and NEES groups than the control group. We can expect that applying NEES after ischemic CVA is effective for preventing brain cells from being destroyed. And we can conclude NEES should be applyed on early stage of ischemic CVA.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of group exer˗ cise program on depression in the elders with dementia. Subjects of this research were selected from the patients of Hyoja hospital(Yong˗ in, Korea). They were elders with dementia having minor to moderate degrees of cognitive function. Twenty-four subjects were randomly assigned into two groups, each with 12 people; exercise group and the control group. The control group only performed general physio˗ therapy, while the exercise group performed exercise program and general physiotherapy for 8 weeks. Depression of the exercise group and the control group were measured at baseline before the study, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after the study. Depression was measured by Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea Version(GDSSF-K). Firstly, when comparing the levels of depression within the same group, depression was significantly lower in the exercise group, after the group exercise program. However, depression of the control group did not show significant changes before or after the study. Secondly, when comparing the levels of depression of the control group and the exercise group, differences between the levels meas˗ ured before the study and 8 weeks after the study, was a statistically significant decrease of depression. Thirdly, effects of group exercise program according to the applied period were analyzed showing 8 weeks of group exercise to be more beneficial than 4 weeks. People who performed continuous group exercise program showed decrease in depression compared to the absence of group exercise program. This can infer beneficial effects of group exercise program. Group exercise program had desirable influence on decreasing the level of depression.

Nowadays, importance of regional specific on-farm research is largely increased in order to reduce the feeding cost of cattle. For this project, three regional districts (Yeongam, Yeonggwang and Jangheung) were selected wherein the cultivation area of forage production were largely increased from 1,200 ('08) to 2,600 ㏊ ('09) in Yeongam, 1,001('08) to 1,925 ㏊ ('09) in Yeonggwang, and 1,300 ('08) to 2,820 ㏊ ('09) in Jangheung district. Among the forage species, Italian ryegrass (IRG) and forage barley were predominantly cultivated in these regions. On the other hand, rye, grassland and summer annual forages were cultivated very little in a manner of land area. The productivity of forage barley was slightly increased 21.5('06), 26.2('07), and 27.3 MT/㏊ ('08) as silage. The number of farm and cultivation area was also increased remarkably. The present research project will be conducted from 2009 to 2010. Forage production and utilization for reduction of feeding cost, and high quality of Hanwoo beef production will investigated, in a manner of cultivation of forage crops mainly IRG, forage barley, IRG+barley mixture and corn.

Schwann cells play an important role in peripheral nerve regeneration. Upon nerve injury, Schwann cells are activated and produce various proinflammatory mediators including IL-6, LIF and MCP-1, which result in the recruitment of macrophages and phagocytosis of myelin debris. However, it is unclear how the nerve injury induces Schwann cell activation. Recently, it was reported that necrotic cells induce immune cell activation via toll-like receptors (TLRs). This suggests that the TLRs expressed on Schwann cells may recognize nerve damage by binding to the endogenous ligands secreted by the damaged nerve, thereby inducing Schwann cell activation. To explore the possibility, we stimulated iSC, a rat Schwann cell line, with damaged neuronal cell extracts (DNCE). The stimulation of iSC with DNCE induced the expression of various inflammatory mediators including IL-6, LIF, MCP-1 and iNOS. Studies on the signaling pathway indicate that NF-xB, p38 and JNK activation are required for the DNCE-induced inflammatory gene expression. Furthermore, treatment of either anti-TLR3 neutralizing antibody or ribonuclease inhibited the DNCE-induced proinflammatory gene expression in iSC. In summary, these results suggest that damaged neuronal cells induce inflammatory Schwann cell activation via TLR3, which might be involved in the Wallerian degeneration after a peripheral nerve injury.

지진하중에 대한 구조물의 동적 거동과 내진성능을 평가하기 위하여 유사동적실험기법이 흔히 사용되고 있으나, 실험장비의 제약과 구조물의 규모 등으로 대부분 축소모형실험에 의존하고 있다. 그러나 일반적인 상사법칙은 탄성범위에서 유도된 것으로 지진거동과 같은 비탄성 거동을 예측하는 경우에는 한계가 있기 때문에 축소모형의 실험결과를 원형 구조물에 직접 적용하는 것은 많은 주의가 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 원형구조물과 축소모형에 대한 철골모형을 실험 대상으로 하여 실제 축소모형 실험결과로부터 원형구조물의 거동을 예측하는 경우의 문제점을 확인하고, 그 해결방법을 모색하고자 한다. 실제로 축소모형실험에서는 원형구조물의 경계조건을 정확히 재현하기 어려우며, 축소모형의 제작과정과 실험과정에서의 모든 오차가 강성의 변화로 반영되어 나타난다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 기하학적 상사율과 축소모형의 변화된 강성비를 함께 고려한 수정된 상사법칙을 제안하였으며, 수정된 상사법칙이 적용된 축소모형에 대하여 유사동적실험을 수행하여 지진응답결과를 원형구조물의 결과와 비교하였다. 축소모형에 대한 유사동적실험결과로부터 제안된 상사법칙을 적용함으로써 원형구조물의 지진응답 재현이 효과적임을 입증하였다.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the legal field, particularly under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) framework, is a transformative journey that is reshaping the landscape of legal practice. This transformation presents a myriad of opportunities, challenges, and ethical considerations that require our collective attention and action. The potential of AI to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility in legal services is substantial. However, it is crucial to navigate this transformation responsibly, ensuring that the integration of AI respects and upholds our ethical, legal, and societal values. Striking a balance between technological advancement and human expertise, while also addressing the social implications of AI, is a critical task that lies ahead. The role of international collaboration and knowledge sharing in shaping the AI-infused future of law is significant. Platforms such as the RCEP provide an invaluable opportunity for nations to share best practices, learn from each other, and collaboratively tackle challenges arising from the intersection of AI and law. Moreover, the development of human resources is paramount. As AI continues to revolutionize the legal industry, continuous education and training are crucial to ensure that our workforce can harness these changes effectively. Lastly, the continuous development and promotion of technological innovation in the legal field is a strategic necessity. By acknowledging and addressing the challenges posed by AI, we can harness its potential to elevate our legal systems, redefine the roles of legal professionals, and serve our societies better.