β-catenin is a cytoplasmic protein that participates in the assembly of cell-cell adherens junctions by binding cadherins to the cytoskeleton. In addition, it is a key component of the Wnt signaling pathway. Activation of this pathway triggers the accumulation of β-catenin in the nucleus, where it activates the transcription of target genes. Abnarmal accumulation of β -catenin is characteristic of polyposis coli(APC) or Axin tumor suppressor proteins, which regulates β-catenin degradation, or activating mutations in β-catenin molecule itself. Here we show that overexpression of Sox4 down-regulates wild type β-catenin in HEK 293 cells. The inhibitory effect of Sox4 on wild type β-catenin is apparently mediated by the ubiquitin- proteasoem system and requires an active glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK3β). Mutations in the N-terminus of β -catenin(S33Y) which compromise its degradation by the proteasomes or inhibition of GSK3β activity rendered β-catenin resistant to down-regulation by Sox4. In light of recent evidence that Sox4 expression is activated in colon and other tumors with β-catenin dysregulation, our findings suggest that Sox4 is part of a feedback inhibitory pathway for Wnt signaling in normal cells. Moreover, the mutations in APC, Axin or β-catenin in cancer cells appear to render β-catenin resistant to the effects of Sox4 inhibition.

Amino acid transporters play an important role in supplying organic nutrient to cells. The expression of L-type arnino acid transporter 1 (LATl) and its subunit 4F2 heavy chain (4F2hc) was evaluated to deterrnine the alterations to these transporters in oral norrnal mucosa (ONM) , oral precancerous lesion (OPL) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Sections from formalin-ftxed, paraffm-embedded S따nples of ONM, OPL or OSCC were exarnined using immunohistochernical staining to detect LATl and 4F2hc proteins. 까le LATl and 4F강lC expression increased progressively from ONM to hypeφ，Iastic and to dysplastic lesions and OSCC. In partiαlar， LATl rnay be a more S야dftc indicator of tumor prog~않sion than 4F2hc. 까le gradually increasing LA Tl and 4F2hc expression detected during the multistep progressive change shows that the protein rnay have an important role in the early stages of multistep oral carcinogenesis. In addition, the specific inhibition of LA Tl and 4F2hc rnight be a new rationale to suppress oral cancer progression.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in the processes of inflammation and carcinogenesis. Three isoforms of NO 야mthase have been identified: endothelial 띠띠c oxide 와nth앓e (NOS), neuronal NOS, and inducible NOS (이OS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of iNOS expression in 7, 12-dimethylbenz[alanthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. Sixty three outbred young (6-week-old) male Syrian golden hamsters were randomly divided into three groups: DMBA treated group (n=57) and non-treated (n=3), and mineral-oil treated group (n=3). No iNOS activity could be detected in the untreated or mineral oil-treated pouches. 80th cytoplasmic and nuclear stainings were observed in the DMBA-treated pouch kera띠lCX까es. There were iNOS expression 외so in the strorna1 cells. The mean values of iNOS expression in the epithelium increased gradually from control to dysplastic lesions and more to invasive squ따nous cell carcinoma. πle clifference between iNOS expr'않sion in the normal and that the dysplastic and carcinomatous lesions is statistically significant. The mean values of iNOS expression in the stroma increased gradually from control to dysplastic lesions and more to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. The difference between iNOS expression in the normal and that the carcinomatous lesions is statistica11y si맑， ificant. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that iNOS is expressed in DMBA-induced hamster pouch carcinomas. πlis finding suggests that iNOS expression may be associated with the development of chemically induced oral carcmomas.

다이아몬드 증착시 기판의 표면처리를 변화시켰을 때 다이아몬드의 핵생성 밀도에 미치는 영향에 대하여 연구하였다. 실험장치는 열 필라멘트 CVD 장치를 사용하였고, 반응가스로 메탄과 수소가스를 사용하였다. 기판의 표면 처리는 탄소 상을 기판에 증착시키는 방법, Soot에 의한 기판 표면처리, 혹연에 의한 기판 표면처리로 크게 3가지로 행하였다. 모든 경우에 핵생성 밀도가 증가하였으나 탄소 상을 증착시킨 경우와 soot에 의한 사전처리의 경우의 핵생성 밀도의 증가가 혹연에 의한 처리보다 더 현저하였다. 또한 탄소강의 증착의 경우 표면에 굴곡이 없는 매우 평탄하고 균일한 다이아몬드 막을 얻을 수 있었다. 사전증착처리 한 기판에 탄소 층을 형성시켰을 때 탄소 층과 기판과의 접착력이 약한 것을 이용하여 다이아몬드 막을 쉽게 분리시켜 free standing 다이아몬드 박막을 얻을 수 있음을 알았다.

열 필라멘트 화학증착(CVD) 다이아몬드 제조에서 bias인가에 따른 다이아몬드 생성양상의 변화를 조사하였다. 기존의 bias실험에서는 기판과 필라멘트 사이에 bias를 인가시켰으나, 본 연구에서는 이 방법 외에 필라멘트 상 하에 텅스텐 망을 설치하여 bias를 인가시켰다. 실험결과 bias 전압을 인가하는 방법에 관계없이 필라멘트의 전자방출을 촉진시키는 방향으로 bias가 인가될 겨우 다이아몬드의 생성밀도 및 증착속도에 유리하게 작용하였다. 본 결과로부터 다이아몬드 증착시 필라멘트에서 방출되는 전자가 중요한 영향을 미치고 있음을 확인하였다. 전자의 기판표면과의 충돌에 의하여 다이아몬드의 생성에 미치는 효과는 적어도 본 실험에서는 중요하지 않음을 알 수 있었다.

The duck-rice farming system is increasingly spread up throughout Korea since 1992. It is discussed the rice yield, rice quality, weed and pest management in the duck-rice weeding system compared to conventional farming system. Moreover the optimizing duck population, system management and fertilizer application rate were reported. Energy input and output by duck-rice farming system were carefully compared with those of low input sustainable paddy field and conventional farming paddy field. To find out the environmentally sound function of duck-rice system, the total nitrogen in paddy soil and paddy water, and nitrogen cycle in paddy rice cultivation system were analysed. Finally the input and output were calculated, and ecological characteristic were determined in terms of nitrogen balance, labor input, animal input, renewable energy input, turnover of soil organic matter, energy loss, non-renewable indirect and direct energy input. It was concluded duck-rice weeding system could be recommended in terms of not only environmentally sound, but also farmer"s income. But there are still some research needs for successful adaption of duck-rice farming to investigate to determine the optimal population of duck in rice paddy field unit, release time of duckling, duck management after release, and strategy for duck marketing and duck processing.