Traf4 (Tumor necrosis factor Receptor Associated Factor 4) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) - associated factors (TRAFs) family. TRAF4 is overexpressed in tumor cells such as breast cancer and associated with cytoskeleton and membrane fraction. Interestingly, TRAF4 was localized with tight junctions (TJs) proteins including OCLN and TJP1 in mammary epithelial cells. However, the expression patterns and biological function of Traf4 were not examined in preimplantation mouse embryos although Traf4-deficient mouse showed embryonic lethality or various dramatic malformation. In this study, we examined the temporal and spatial expression patterns of mouse Traf4 during preimplantation development by qRT-PCR and immunostaining, and its biological function by using siRNA injection. We found upregulation of Traf4 from the 8-cell stage onwards and apical region of cell – cell contact sites at morula and blastocyst embryos. Moreover, Traf4 knockdown led to defective TJs without alteration of genes associated with TJ assembly but elevated p21 expression at the KD morula. Taken together, Traf4 is required for TJs assembly and cell proliferation during morula to blastocyst transition.

본 프로젝트는 최근 사회적 이슈가 되고 있는 미세먼지 저감 숲 조성을 목적으로 진행된 것이다. 대상지는 전라남도 여수 국가산업단지로 부지면적은 32,550,850㎡이다. 매립지이자 중화학공업단지라는 특수한 여건을 고려하여, 여수산단의 녹지조성 가능지 발굴을 포함한 종합적인 저감 숲 조성 마스터플랜 제시를 최종 목표로 한다. 아울러 산단 입주기업의 사업장 내부에 대한 미세먼지 저감녹지 조성에 대한 방안제시도 포함하는 것으로 진행하였다. 연구결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 여수 산단지역과 입주기업의 사업장 내부의 조사 분석을 실시하였고. 미세먼지 저감 숲 조성사업의 실현가능성 및 녹지조성 효과 등을 근간으로 하여 크게 3단계 사업권역으로 구분하였다. 그리고 산단 주변의 자연지형 즉 산지 및 녹지를 연계 활용하여 2개의 녹지 보전·형성축을 계획했다. 북측 녹지축은 산단 내부의 산지 및 도로녹지 등을 연계하는 1차 미세먼지 차단축, 남측 녹지축은 여수시가지로 유입되는 미세먼지 차단을 위한 2차 완충기능 목적이다. 미세먼지 저감 숲 조성 마스터플랜은 산단 도로 등 시설배치 및 녹지분포 등 공간구성에 따라 구간 및 유형을 구분하였다. 그 결과 여수 국가산단 전 지역이 총 10개 타입으로 분류되었으며, 각각의 유형에 대해 적용 가능한 미세먼지 저감 숲 및 녹지공간의 조성방법과 식재구조 그리고 저감수종 등을 제시했다. 기본계획은 산단의 도로, 녹지, 구릉지 등 공공영역 즉 사업장 외부공간을 중심으로 수립하였으며, 그 외 사업장 내부 즉 사적영역에 대해서는 입주기업의 여건 및 주변상황에 따라 선택하고 시도할 수 있도록 공간구성 및 식재수종 선정 등 다수의 계획모델을 제시했다.

Despite evidence that bacteria-sensing Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are activated in salivary gland tissues of Sjogren syndrome (SS) patients, the role of oral bacteria in SS etiopathogenesis is unclear. We previously reported that two SS-associated oral bacteria, Prevotella melaninogenica (Pm) and Rothia mucilagenosa (Rm), oppositely regulate the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) in human salivary gland (HSG) cells. Here, we elucidated the mechanisms underlying the differential regulation of MHC I expression by these bacteria. The ability of Pm and Rm to activate TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 was examined using TLR reporter cells. HSG cells were stimulated by the TLR ligands, Pm, and Rm. The levels of MHC I expression, bacterial invasion, and viability of HSG cells were examined by flow cytometry. The hypoxic status of HSG cells was examined using Hypoxia Green. HSG cells upregulated MHC I expression in response to TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 activation. Both Pm and Rm activated TLR2 and TLR9 but not TLR4. Rm-induced downregulation of MHC I strongly correlated with bacterial invasion and cell death. Rm-induced cell death was not rescued by inhibitors of the diverse cell death pathways but was associated with hypoxia. In conclusion, Pm upregulated MHC I likely through TLR2 and TLR9 activation, while Rm-induced hypoxia-associated cell death and the downregulation of MHC I, despite its ability to activate TLR2 and TLR9. These findings may provide new insight into how oral dysbiosis can contribute to salivary gland tissue damage in SS.

HAE-06 extract is a mixture of four medicinal plants, namely Lonicerae Folium et Caulis (Lonicera japonica), Scutellariae Radix (Scutellaria baicalensis), Adenophorae Radix (Adenophora triphylla var. japonica), and Polygonati Oddorati Rhizoma (Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum). The HAE-06 extract demonstrated a concentration-dependent relaxing effect and enhanced cAMP production in bronchial smooth muscle that had been stimulated to contract with acetylcholine. Using a blocker, it was confirmed that the effect was through the β2-adrenergic receptor/cAMP/PKA pathway. In addition, it is thought that the HAE-06 extract has a bronchial smooth muscle relaxation effect by reducing the inflow of Ca2+ through the K+ and Ca2+ channels present in the sarcoplasmic membrane. If research continues in the future, it is believed that it will be possible to use it as a material for pharmaceuticals and functional foods.

우리나라 딸기 재배는 시설 재배로 이루어지고 있으며, 대부분 농가의 급액 관리는 재배자의 경험을 토대로 타이머 제어 방식으로 이루어지고 있다. 타이머 급액 방법은 재배 환경, 작물의 생육 단계, 배지 수분 함량 등을 고려하기 어려워 작물을 최적 수준으로 관리하지 못하고, 급액 관리의 정확성이 결여되는 문제점이 있다. 적산 일사량과 배지 수분함량을 이용한 급액 방법은 작물의 생육 상태에 따라 정밀하게 양액을 공급하는 친환경적인 방법이다. 본 연구는 코이어배지를 이용 한 딸기 수경재배에서 적산일사량과 배지 수분함량을 이용한 복합 급액 제어와 타이머 제어 급액 방법을 비교하고 복합 급액 제어 시 최적의 적산 일사량 기준을 설정하고자 수행하였다. 적산일사량 급액 방법은 외부 일사량을 기준으로 100, 150, 250J∙cm -2에 도달하면 자동으로 급액하며 배지 수분함 량이 60% 미만이면 강제 급액하고, 1회 급액량은 50mL로 공급하였다. 타이머 제어는 대조구로 설정하였다. 급액을 개시 하는 적산 일사량 기준이 작을수록 일일급액량이 많았으며 100J∙cm -2 기준 급액 시 급액량은 250J∙cm -2 처리구 대비 46% 많았다. 지상부 생체중과 건물중 모두 복합 급액 제어 방법이 타이머 제어보다 높았으며, 100, 150J∙cm -2 처리구에서 지상부 생체중이 높았고 100J∙cm -2 처리구에서 건물중이 유의하게 높은 값을 나타냈다. 수량 또한 타이머 제어 방법보다 복합 제어 방법에서 유의하게 높았으며 적산 일사량 기준이 작을수록 초기 수량이 증가하였다. 평균 과중은 타이머 제어 급액 시 가장 낮았다. 본 연구 결과 딸기의 정밀 급액 관리를 위하여 적산 일사량과 배지 수분 함량 센서를 이용한 복합 제어 활용 가능성을 확인하였다.

본 연구는 방사선 형질전환 차조기와 백출복합물(차조기 복합물)이 퇴행성관절염 관련 매개체에 미치는 영향을 확인하고자 MIA(monosodium iodoacetate)로 퇴행성관절염을 유도한 랫드로 평가 하였다. 차조기 복합추출물을 2주 동안 25, 50, 100 ㎎/㎏/day의 용량으로 경구 투여하고 랫드의 우측 관절 내 공간에 MIA를 주입한 후 동일 용량을 4주 동안 지속 투여하였다. 이후, 혈청 바이오마커와 무 릎 관절 분석의 형태학 및 조직병리학적 분석에 기초한 치료 효과를 평가하였다. 대조군 랫드와 비교하였을 때 차조기 복합추출물은 혈청 내 염증 및 골 대사 마커(TNF-α, MMP-3, COX-2, PGE2, COMP, Aggrecan)의 생성량을 유의하게 감소시켰다. 이와는 반대로 연골 흡수 매개체인 CTX-2 생성을 증가시켰으며, 방사선 형질전환 차조기는 무릎 연골과 활막을 효과적으로 보존하였다. 그 결과, 차조기 복합물은 퇴행성관절염 증상을 개선하였다. 따라서, 차조기 복합물은 퇴행성관절염 관리를 위한 식품 소재로 사용될 수 있다.

PURPOSES : The evaluation of the road pavement thickness in an apartment complex through a methodology for estimating the number of construction vehicles is presented. We also show the usability of the new design criteria. METHODS : A field survey plan was established by conducting literature and preliminary surveys, and the structural performance of each section of the road pavement was compared through a structural analysis program. The load on construction vehicles is required for analyzing the ESAL factors of construction vehicles; it is calculated as a methodology for estimating construction vehicles because it is difficult to measure the traffic volume through visual inspection. Accordingly, the extent of damage predicted by road pavement sections in apartment complexes was analyzed to examine the possibility of applying the methodology for estimating the number of construction vehicles. RESULTS : If the road crack exceeds 20% as a result of the site survey of a previous study, structural damage to the road pavement occurs from construction vehicles. Compared to the actual traffic volume observation, an error of 5% took place; therefore, it is necessary to perform a design such that the damage caused by the load of the construction vehicle be 15% or less for proper road performance. Structural analysis through the KENPAVE program showed that the damage caused by the load of the construction vehicle exceeded 20% in all sections except section B (with a thickness of 46 cm). CONCLUSIONS : Owing to the limitations of the test construction section and environmental conditions, it is necessary to assess the effects of various variables by conducting an analysis. This is expected to be applied as a design basis considering more reliable construction vehicles.

Nanostructured ZnO materials have been studied extensively because of their functional properties. This paper presents a composite material of zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO QDs) and porous carbon using a one-step carbonization process. The direct carbonization of a metal–organic complex generates mesostructured porous carbon with a homogeneous distribution of ZnO QDs. The structural and morphological properties are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The resulting ZnO QDs@porous carbon composite delivers a high specific capacity of 990 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1, 357 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1, and high reversibility when evaluated as an anode for lithium ion batteries.

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of odor-causing substances in Yeosu national industrial complex, which is designated as an “Odor management Area,” in 2019 and the surrounding area. The sampling sites were divided into three areas: five sites within the industrial complex (Management area), one site within the borders of the complex (Boundary area), and two sites within residential areas (Affected area) affected by odors. The odor compounds were collected from March to September at dawn, daytime, and night. The analytical items were meteorological data, complex odor, legally-designated 22 odor compounds and other VOCs. Complex odor was exceeded on the limit three occasions at two sites in the management area. Ammonia, two types of sulfides, three types of aldehydes, and five VOCs were detected to be within the emission standards. Ammonia was the most frequently detected compounds. Aldehydes and sulfur compounds made a relatively high contribution to the level of odors. Therefore, aldehydes and sulfur compounds should be reduced first in order to prevent odors from occurring.

Background: Thera-Band, Narrow squats, Kinesiology taping helps in the reduction of loading on the knee joints. Despite the fact that the varus knee negatively affects the alignment of the lower extremities, most of the studies have analyzed each independently. Objectives: To investigate the effects of a complex exercise program consisting of elastic band exercises and squat exercises on the distance between the inner knees and balance in young adults with genu varum. Design: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Methods: The complex exercise group performed resistance exercises using an elastic band. The taping group used kinesiology tape on the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris. To select those to be included in the study, we measured the distance between the knees using digital Vernier calipers and to measure the balance ability, we used a balance training system. The data were analyzed with the independent t-test and paired t-test. Results: The study indicated a significant difference in the distance between the knees between the two groups, but no significant differences in the dynamic balance between the groups. Also, the static balance comparison between the groups according to the intervention method included the trace length, C90 area, C90 angle and velocity. There were no significant differences in the static balance between the groups. In addition, the complex exercise program was more effective than taping. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the complex exercise program and taping decrease the between both the knee and increase the balance.

This study conducted a survey on environmental awareness and analyzed outdoor PM10 and heavy metals (cadmium, lead) for 60 local residents living in the Gwangyang national industrial complex from July 2019. 40.0% of subjects responded that local environmental pollution was serious. Especially, there was a high proportion of residents living near the industrial complex or roads where it was perceived that local environmental pollution was serious. The average concentration of PM10 in the outdoors of the houses was 10.95 μg/m3 and the average concentration of heavy metals in PM10 was 1.90 ng/m3 for Cd and 24.92 ng/m3 for Pb. Overall, the average concentration of PM10 and heavy metals revealed a tendency to be high in the houses located near the industrial complex or the roads. As a result of a risk assessment carried out, the cancer risk of Cd was estimated to exceed 106 in the CTE, RME and Monte Carlo analysis. These results suggest that the urgent implementation of specific environmental health education for local residents is necessary.