Connexin 43 (Cx43) is one of the gap junction proteins which are compounds of transmembrane proteins and transports the small-molecular-weight chemicals up to 2 kDa. Lacking of Cx43 influences the junctional protein, induces autophagy and apoptosis in somatic cells. However, the function of Cx43 in porcine early embryos is still unknown. Aim to find out the molecular mechanism of Cx43 on the developmental competence in early porcine embryos, Cx43 dsRNA (1 ㎍/㎕) was microinjected into the parthenogenetically activated porcine zygotes. Blastocyst rate (treatment, 8.8±1.6% vs. control, 38.6±4.3%) and total cell numbers in the blastocyst (treatment, 20.7±3.5 vs. control, 39.8±4.1) were significantly reduced following Cx43 knocking down. Results from FITC-dextran and Western blot assay show that knock down (KD) of Cx43 significantly increased membrane permeability through down regulation of genes which are component of both adherence and tight junction in the porcine blastocyst. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was significantly increased in the Cx43 KD group compared to control. In addition, KD of Cx43 activated Caspase 3 and significantly increased ATG8 expression, induced autophagy and apoptosis. Results suggest that KD of Cx43 influences preimplantation porcine embryo development via increasing membrane permeability and ROS generation, and inducing autophagy and apoptosis.

Melatonin (N-aceyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is the major hormone of the pineal gland. Melatonin and its metabolic derivatives possess extensive free-radical scavenging abilities and played critical roles in antioxidative stress, resisting apoptotic cell death. Melatonin also could enhance mitochondrial biogenesis in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. In addition, melatonin attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by reducing oxidative stress damage via activation of SIRT1 signaling in a melatonin receptor 2-dependent manner. Activation or overexpression of SIRT1 could enhance mitochondrial biogenesis and function by inducing PGC-1α expression and deacetylation. The aim of this study was to investigate if melatonin enhances mitochondrial biogenesis and function via activation of melatonin receptor 2/SIRT1/PGC1-α Pathway. The results showed that Melatonin rescued rotenone-induced impairment of porcine embryo development. Treatment with rotenone could increase oxidative stress and apoptosis. Rotenone impaired mitochondrial functions by disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential, reducing mitochondrial DNA copy number and ATP production. Melatonin could improve SIRT1 and PGC-1α expression, inducing mitochondrial biogenesis. Rotenone-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and ATP deficiency was rescued by melatonin treatment, the oxidative stress and apoptosis was significantly decreased. Inhibition of melatonin receptor 2 or Knockdown of SIRT1 abolished the protective effects of melatonin on rotenone-induced impairments. Therefore, melatonin enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis and function, protected against rotenone-induced impairments.

PURPOSES : Thermal cracking (also called low-temperature cracking) is a serious stress for asphalt pavement, especially in eastern South Korea, the northern USA, and Canada. Thermal cracking occurs when the level of thermal stress exceeds the corresponding level of low temperature strength of the given asphalt materials. Therefore, computation of thermal stress is a key factor for understanding, quantifying, and evaluating the level of low-temperature cracking resistance of asphalt pavement. In this paper, two different approaches for computing thermal stress on asphalt binder were introduced: Hopkins and Hamming’s algorithm (1967) and the application of a simple power-law function. All the computed results were compared visually; then the findings and recommendations were discussed. METHODS: Thermal stress of the tested asphalt binder was computed based on the methodology introduced in previous literatures related to viscoelastic theory. To perform the numerical analysis, MATLABTM 2D matrix-correlation and Microsoft Excel visual basic code were developed and used for the function fitting and value-minimization processes, respectively. RESULTS : Different results from thermal stress were observed with application of different computation approaches. This variation of the data trends could be recognized not only visually but also statistically. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that these two different computation approaches can successfully provide upper and lower limits (i.e. boundaries) for thermal stress prediction of a given asphalt binder. Based on these findings, more reliable and reasonable thermal stress results could be provided and finally, better pavement performance predictions could also be expected.

In a sheet metal forming process, fracture and wrinkle are the most difficult task in new parts launching. The variation in process condition generates the fracture and wrinkle fluctuation. The fracture and wrinkle are very sensitive to the process conditions, then the main effects of the design variables cannot be obtained from the standard mean analysis. Therefore, in order to minimize the fracture and wrinkle in parts of automobile, a special method to counterpart is required. In this study, a new design method to achieve the optimal in the sheet metal forming process is proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is shown with an example of the parts of fracture and wrinkle.

호박꽃과실파리, Bactrocera scutellata (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae),는 호박 등 박과식물의 해충으로 야외 트랩실험을 통해 호박꽃과실파리 수컷이 cue lure와 raspberry ketone에 유인되는 것이 확인되었으며, 전자현미경 관찰을 통해 호박꽃과실파리의 촉각(antennae)과 작은턱수염(maxillary palps)에 각각 다른 형태의 냄새감각기들이 존재한다는 것을 확인하였다. 이 결과를 바탕으로 Bactrocera 속 과실파리들의 parapheromone 성분들인 cue lure, raspberry ketone, methyl eugenol, 및 zingerone 등의 물질들이 촉각과 작은턱수염 중 어떤 감각기관에 의해 감지되는지 알아보기 위해 이 물질들과 식물 냄새성분인 3-octanone에 대한 호박꽃과실파리의 eleltroantennogram (EAG) 및 electropalpogram (EPG) 반응을 측정하였다. 그 결과 cue lure 및 raspberry ketone은 작은턱수염에서 큰 EPG 반응을 보였으나 촉각에서는 EAG 반응을 나타내지 않았다. 이와는 대조적으로 호박꽃과실파리의 기주식물인 호박에서 방출되는 냄새 성분 중 하나인 3-octanone은 촉각에서 큰 EAG 반응을 나타내었으나 작은턱수염에서는 아주 작은 EPG 반응만을 나타내었다. 이러한 결과는 호박꽃과 실파리 수컷에 강한 유인력을 나타내는 cue lure와 raspberry ketone이 촉각이 아니라 작은턱수염에 존재하는 냄새감각세포들에 의해 감지된다는 것을 의미하며 이것은 호박과실파리 등 아직 강력한 유인제가 알려져 있지 않은 다른 과실파리류의 유인제 개발에 유용한 정보가 될 것이다.

The honey bee soluble acetylcholinesterase 1 (AmAChE1) is overexpressed under the overwintering and brood rearing-suppressed conditions. To investigate the role of AmAChE1 in regulating acetylcholine (ACh) titer, ACh concentrations both in the head (neuronal) and abdomen (non-neuronal) were analyzed. ACh titer was significantly lower in both tissues of worker bees under the overwintering and brood rearing-suppressed conditions compared to control bees. The expression levels of another two factors that regulate ACh titer, choline acetyltransferase (AmAChT) and acetylcholinesterase 2 (AmAChE2), were not altered as judged by qPCR and native PAGE, suggesting that the lower ACh titer was mainly regulated by AmAChE1. For precise verification of AmAChE1 as an ACh titer regulator, honey bees were put under brood rearing-suppressed condition to induce AmAChE1 and injected AmAChE1 dsRNA to knock down the gene. The ACh titer of AmAChE1-knocked down honey bees was 1.9 and 2.6 folds higher than that of control bees in head and abdomen, respectively. Taken together, in spite of its extremely low catalytic activity, the overexpression of AmAChE1 is likely to be related with the low level of ACh homeostasis, perhaps via ACh sequestration, under brood rearingsuppressed condition, and likely induce metabolic changes through ACh receptors-related pathways.

Insect cuticle tanning (pigmentation and sclerotization) is a complex and vital process, which includes hydroxylation of initial amino acid, tyrosine, to DOPA and decarboxylation of DOPA to dopamine. In the pigmentation process, dopamine further undergoes two N-acylation reactions to yield N-acetyldopamine (NADA) and N-β-alanyldopamine (NBAD). In the former reaction, arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT1) converts dopamine to NADA, and in the later reaction, aspartate 1-decarboxylase (ADC) provides β-alanine, which is conjugated with dopamine catalyzed by NBAD synthase (Ebony) for production of NBAD. In this study, we performed functional genomics of TmAANAT1, TmADC and Tmebony to determine whether they are required for cuticle pigmentation in Tenebrio molitor adults. Loss of function of these genes by RNAi caused the significantly darker body color than that of control animals. Note that, although all phenotypes exhibited dark cuticle pigmentation, RNAi of either TmADC or Tmebony only altered brownish outer region of the cuticle to dark/black. In contrast, RNAi of TmAANAT1 had no effect on the brown hue of the outer cuticle layer, but less or no pigmented inner region of the cuticle became significantly darker than those of control adults. These results suggest that, like that seen in TcAANAT1- or TcADC-deficient Tribolium castaneum adults, NADA produced by a reaction by TmAANAT1 contributes the lighter inner cuticle layer(s), whereas NBAD appears to do the highly pigmented outer cuticle layer(s) of the cuticle of T. molitor adults. This work was supported by NRFs (NRF-2015R1A6A3A04060323 and NRF-2018R1A2B6005106).

The purpose of present study was to investigate the effect of kinesio taping on pulmonary function in stroke patients using manual wheelchairs. Twenty stroke patients were divided into a wood chair group (WCG, n=10), a wheelchairs group (WG, n=10), and a kinesio taping with wheelchairs group (KWG, n=10). Taping with wheelchairs group was applied kinesio taping on back muscles (vertical paraspinal strips and oblique strips). All three groups were trained in upright seated posture for 30 minutes. Pulmonary function tests were performed with forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow as spirometer. There was a significant increase in forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity only in KWG. The results of this study demonstrate that kinesio taping has an immediate effect on the improvement of pulmonary function in stroke patients using manual wheelchairs.

목적: 눈의 여러 가지 기능 중 버전스 기능을 토대로 눈과 손의 협응능력과 시각적 집중력을 어느 정도로 예측할 수 있는지 알아보고 시지각 훈련이나 재활치료에 필요한 기초자료를 제시하고자 한다. 방법: 완전교정시력이 0.8 이상인 성인 33명을 대상으로 von Graefe 법을 사용하여 원거리 및 근거리 사위 검사와 폭주 및 개산여력, 조절성폭주비(AC/A)를 측정했다. 작업치료사들이 사용하는 세 가지 검사 (Purdue pegboard, concentration grid, dynavision)를 사용하여 대상자의 시각인지 및 운동기능을 평가 했다. 결과: 근거리 내사위 군에서는 Purdue AS와 조절성폭주비에서, 외사위 군에서는 Purdue AS와 원거리 폭주여력에서 상관관계가 가장 높게 나타났다(각각 r=-0.59, r=0.41). 세 가지 검사에서 모두 평균 이상인 8명을 대상으로 D2 검사에서 근거리 개산여력과 가장 높은 상관관계를 보였으며(r=0.77) 그 다음으로 Purdue AS와 조절성 폭주비에서는 r=-0.76, 근거리 폭주여력에서는 r=0.41를 보여 높은 상관도를 보였다. 결론: 눈과 손 협응과정에서 비교적 중요하다고 판단되는 눈의 기능은 조절성 폭주비로 판단된다. 그러나 사위의 방향이나 운동기능 평가 방식을 고려하여 개인에 적합한 재활훈련을 설계하는 것이 적합하다고 생각된다.

Taguchi regarded the concept of quality as ‘total loss to society due to fluctuations in quality characteristics from the time of supplied to the customer.’ The loss function is a representative tool that can quantitatively convert the loss that occurs due to the deviation of the quality characteristic value from the target value. This has been utilized in various studies with the advantage that it can change the social loss caused by fluctuation of quality characteristics to economic cost. The loss function has also been used extensively in the study of producer specification limits. However, in previous studies, only the second order loss function of Taguchi is used. Therefore, various types of losses that can occur in the process can’t be considered. In this study, we divide the types of losses that can occur in the process considering the first and second loss functions and the Spiring’s reflected normal loss function, and perform total inspection before delivering the customer to determine the optimal producer specification limit that minimizes the total cost. Also, we will divide the quality policy for the products beyond the specification limits into two. In addition, we will show the illustration of expected loss cost change of each model according to the change of major condition such as customer specifications and maximum loss cost.

Background: Progressive muscle weakness is aggravated not only in the skeletal muscles but also in the respiratory muscles in many patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMD). Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been reported as therapy for pulmonary rehabilitation to improve respiratory strength, endurance, exercise capacity, and quality of life, and to reduce dyspnea. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of playing harmonica for 5 months on pulmonary function by assessing the force vital capacity (FVC), peak cough flow (PCF), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) in patients with NMD. Methods: Six subjects with NMD participated in this study. The subjects played harmonica once a week for 2 hours at a harmonica academy and twice a week for 1 hour at home. Thus, training was performed thrice a week for 23 weeks. The examiner assessed pulmonary function by measuring FVC in the sitting and supine positions and PCF, MIP, MEP, and MVV in the sitting position at the beginning of training and once a month for 5 months. Results: Both sitting and supine FVC significantly increased after playing harmonica (p=.042), as did MIP (p=.043) and MEP (p=.042). Conclusion: Playing harmonica can be used as an effective method to improve pulmonary function in patients with NMD.

It is important to consider interaction between species in understanding structure and function of the biological community. Current ecological issues such as climate change and habitat loss emphasize the significance of the concept of species interaction in that varying species’ interaction across environmental gradients may lead to altered ecological function and services. However, most community studies have focused on species diversity through analysis of quantitative indices based on species composition and abundance data without considering species interactions in the community. ‘Ecological network analysis’ based on network theory enables exploration of structural and functional properties of ecosystems composed of various species and their interactions. In this paper, network analysis of Cheonggye stream as a case study was presented to promote uses of network analysis on ecological studies in Korea. Cheonggye stream has a simple biological structure with link density of 1.48, connectance 0.07, generality 4.43, and vulnerability 1.94. The ecological network analysis can be used to provide ecological interpretations of domestic long-term monitoring data and can contribute to conserving and managing species diversity in ecosystems.

목적 : 본 연구는 인지 중재 비율을 조절한 점진적 관찰감소 동작관찰훈련과 기존의 동작관찰훈련에 대한 상지기능 변화를 비교하여 효율적인 중재 방법을 알아보고자 실시하였다. 연구방법 : 14명의 만성 뇌졸중 환자를 대상으로 7명의 실험군은 점진적 관찰감소 동작관찰훈련을, 7명의 대조군은 기존의 동작관찰훈련을 주 3회, 30분씩, 4주간 실시하였고 각 군은 기존에 실시하던 전통적 작업치료 및 물리치료 역시 시행하였다. 상지 운동기능의 사전, 사후 평가는 울프운동기능검사(Wolf Motor Function Test; WMFT), 상지기능장애 설문지(Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand; DASH), 상자와 나무토막 검사(Box and Block Test; BBT)를 사용하였고, 각 군의 중재 전과 후의 차이는 윌콕슨 부호 순위검정(Wilcoxon signed-ranks test), 두 군 간의 중재 후 효과 비교는 맨 휘트니검정(Mann-Whitney U test)을 사용하여 분석하였다. 결과 : 점진적 관찰감소 동작관찰훈련군과 기존의 동작관찰훈련군은 모두 WMFT, DASH, BBT에서 통계적으로 유의한 변화가 있었다(p<.05). 점진적 관찰감소 동작관찰훈련군과 기존의 동작관찰훈련군의 상지기능 변화량 비교에서는 WMFT의 소요시간과 DASH의 점수에서 점진적 관찰감소 동작관찰훈련군이 더 많은 변화 가 있었으며 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 있었다(p<.05). 결론 : 본 연구 결과 중재기간에 따라 인지 중재 비율을 고려한 점진적 관찰감소 동작관찰훈련이 기존의 동작관찰훈련보다 상지기능 향상에 효과적이었다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 만성 뇌졸중 환자의 상지기능 향상을 위한 동작관찰훈련의 중재 시 인지비율을 고려한 중재 전략이 필요하다.

특성 분노는 분노 경험과 관련된 개인의 심리 특성 중 하나로, 특성 분노가 높은 이들은 낮은 이들에 비해 더 자주, 더 강하게, 더 길게 분노를 경험한다. 본 연구의 목적은 분노를 경험하는 동안에 활성화되는 뇌 영역을 관찰하고, 활성화된 뇌 영역 중 특성 분노와 연관이 있는 영역을 확인하는 것이다. 본 연구에서는 실험 참가자 35명을 대상으로 과거에 분노했던 기억을 회상하여 분노를 유발하는 과제를 수행하는 동안의 뇌 기능을 측정하였다. 정서적 중립 사건을 회상하는 조건에 비해 분노 사건을 회상하는 조건에서 더 활성화된 뇌 영역은 우측 superior temporal gyrus (BA38), 좌측 inferior frontal gyrus (BA45), 우측 thalamus, 우측 insula (BA13), 양측 cuneus (BA17), 그리고 우측 cerebellum anterior lobe으로 나타났다. 분노 회상 시 뇌 활성화 정도와 특성 분노 점수 간 상관 분석 결과, 특성 분노 점수가 높을수록 분노 회상시 우측 insula의 활성화가 높았다. Insula가 정서 경험과 신체 내부감각수용기에서 오는 정보를 통합하여 자극에 대한 주관적인 느낌을 표상하는 영역으로 알려져 있으므로, 특성 분노가 높은 사람일수록 분노 자극에 대한 주관적인 느낌을 더 강하게 표상한다고 해석할 수 있다. 이 연구 결과는 분노의 개인차에 대한 뇌 기제를 규명한 것으로, 분노 및 분노 조절 관련 문제들에 대한 신경과학적 이해를 향상시키는데 기여할 것으로 기대된다.

목적 : 본 연구는 주의력결핍 과잉행동장애 아동(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; ADHD)의 타이밍과 운동기능 및 실행기능의 상관관계를 알아보고자 하였다. 연구방법 : 연구 대상은 부산 지역에 거주하며, ADHD 진단을 받은 만 6~12세 아동 32명을 대상으로 하였다. 연구도구는 타이밍 기능 평가를 위해 상호작용식 메트로놈, 운동기능을 평가하기 위해 Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of motor proficiency, Second edition(BOT-2), 그리고 실행기능 평가를 위해 스트룹 아동 색상 단어 검사와 아동 색 선로 검사를 실시하였다. 타이밍과 운동기능 및 실행기능과의 상관관계를 알아보기 위해 상관분석을 사용해 분석하였다. 결과 : ADHD 아동의 타이밍과 운동기능과의 상관관계를 알아본 결과, 타이밍과 BOT-2 영역 중 미세한 손의 조절, 신체 협응에서 음의 상관관계가 있었다. BOT-2 하위 영역에서는 미세 운동 정확성, 양측 협응과 음의 상관관계가 있었다(p<.05). ADHD 아동의 타이밍 기능과 실행기능과의 상관관계를 알아본 결과, 타이밍과 스트룹 아동 색상 단어 검사의 단어 점수와 아동 색 선로 검사의 Children’s Color Trails Test(CCTT)-1 점수에서 음의 상관관계가 있었다(p<.05). 결론 : 본 연구의 결과를 통해 타이밍과 운동 및 실행기능의 상관관계를 확인할 수 있었다. 따라서 타이밍 평가를 통해 ADHD 아동의 운동기능과 실행기능을 예측할 수 있을 것이다.

Judging by the volume of marketplace failures, it seems that consumer innovators make biased assessments about the value of the innovativeness of new products (Gourville, 2006; Mugge & Dahl, 2013). Research suggests that consumer evaluate offerings based on form (i.e. visual appeal) and function (i.e. utilitarian appeal) (Gourville, 2006; Talke, Salomo, Weiringa & Lutz, 2009; Mugge & Dahl, 2013). In relation to innovative new products, the consumer decision-making path is unclear and the optimal mix of continuity and discontinuity across form and function is unknown. The lack of information regarding how marketers should appropriate resources to maximise returns thus, is an issue that requires resolution. To help resolve this gap, we seek to address two important practical marketing questions in the context of innovative new product introductions: (Q1) What is the impact that discontinuity and continuity across form and function have on new product adoption, and (Q2) What if any, are the underlying mediating mechanisms for different markets? To address these, we collected data from participants based in the United States of America through an online experiment. The participants were presented with four products, comprising variations of a digital camera based of continuity and discontinuity across form and function. The findings revealed that the same product could lead to differing perception of value based on the participant being an innovator or an adapter. The differing perceptions were explained by differences in assessments of potential costs and benefits from the product. Based on the findings of the study managerial recommendations on targeting the right segment for the right product were offered.