Constructivist Understandings of North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Programme : National Security Policy Based on North Korea’s Strategic Culture

Park, Jisun Ewha Institute of Unification Studies 2014 Journal of peace and unification Vol.4 No.1

North Korea’s growing emphasis on the development and proliferation of nuclear weapons and missiles to reinforce its national security may appear an irrational and reckless concert of power. However, it is difficult to explain Pyongyang’s security policy with the concept of materialistic power or interest without reflecting on the ideological concept of identity and culture owing to its idiosyncratic social structures. This is because strategic culture of North Korea demonstrates considerably distinctive characteristics requiring new interpretations in the scope of global security in the 21st century. Therefore, the aim of this study is to reconsider the military behaviour of North Korea by scrutinising endogenous social structures of its culture and identity beyond the traditional dichotomous thinking, which requires rational or irrational explanation. In this manner, this paper offers a critical analysis based on constructivist approaches. For this, this study will focus primarily on the following three areas: •A discussion on the general tenets of constructivism and constructivist understanding applied to issues of national security •A technical analysis on North Korea’s growing missile threats •A study on the importance of ‘state identity’ and Pyongyang’s national security using constructivist approaches This essay will show the theoretical potential of constructivist approaches to provide a ubiquitous lens to understand multifarious domestic and national security phenomena. In addition, as an empirical case study, North Korea’s military adventurism, such as repetitive nuclear/missile tests will be interpreted with the importance of social structure based on ideational elements such as ‘state identity’, ‘norms’ and ‘culture’ beyond materialistic and rationalistic interests.

Parenting experiences among fathers of prematurely-born children with cerebral palsy in South Korea

Park, Jisun,Bang, Kyung-Sook Korean Academy of Child Health Nursing 2021 Child Health Nursing Research Vol.27 No.1

Purpose: The symptoms and impairments caused by cerebral palsy usually require long-term treatment, resulting in a substantial burden on the family of affected children. This study explored the experiences of fathers with prematurely-born children with cerebral palsy, with a focus on how such experiences influenced their families. Methods: A qualitative case study method was used. Nine subjects were recruited from April 2018 to June 2019 at one hospital, and each was interviewed three times by a neonatal nurse. Results: Five core experiences of fathers were identified: "regret for an insufficient initial response", "confronting my child born as a premature baby", "the position of being a dad who can't do anything", "the process of treatment like a tunnel with no exit", and "a father's getting meaning in life through children". These stories covered an individual's timeline and family interactions. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that fathers of prematurely-born children tend to suppress their emotions; therefore, a novel intervention program to encourage fathers' emotional expression and to support healthier interactions with their families is needed. Moreover, our findings could contribute basic information for the construction of a community-based support system to aid families, including prematurely-born children and other persons with impairments.

Innate Type 2 Response to Aspergillus fumigatus in a Murine Model of Atopic Dermatitis–like Skin Inflammation

Park Arum,Lee Eun,Park Hyojung,Park Mee-Na,Lee Jiho,Song Kun Baek,Yoon Jisun,Jung Sungsu,Suh Nayoung,Yoon Jin,Yu Jinho 대한의학회 2021 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.36 No.40

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease mediated by T helper type 2 (Th2) cells in acute phase. Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) play a role in the initiation of the Th2 response. Although mold exposure is associated with the development of AD, studies on the underlying mechanisms are lacking. This study investigated whether group 2 ILCs are involved in inflammation in AD-like skin induced by Aspergillus fumigatus (Af). Methods: We investigated changes of group 2 ILCs population in Af-induced AD-like skin lesions. To induce AD-like skin lesions, Af extracts were applied to the dorsal skin of BALB/c and Rag1−/− mice five times per week, with repeat exposures at 2-week intervals. Results: The clinical parameters were higher in the Af-treated group than in the control group. Histologic findings revealed epiderrmal and dermal thickening as well as eosinophil and mast cell infiltration into the skin of Af-treated mice. Populations of group 2 ILCs in the skin were also significantly higher in the Af-treated group. In addition, interleukin-33 mRNA expression was significantly higher in the skin lesions of the Af-treated mice. In the Rag1−/− mice lacking mature lymphocytes, AD-like skin lesions were still induced by Af and ILCs depletion using an anti-CD90.2 mAb lowered the Af-induced inflammatory response. Conclusions: Group 2 ILCs may play a role in a murine model of Af-induced AD-like skin lesions.

Gluco-Oligosaccharides from Weissella cibaria as Potential Prebiotics

( Jisun Park ),( Young-seo Park ) 한국산업식품공학회 2021 산업 식품공학 Vol.25 No.4

Oligosaccharide-producing lactic acid bacteria were isolated from young radish and identified as Weissella cibaria YRK005. Oligosaccharides from W. cibaria YRK005 were purified using size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography, and their structure was determined. The oligosaccharides consisted of glucose only, ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed that the oligosaccharides consisted of 93.8% α-1,6 glycosidic linkages and 6.2% α-1,4 glycosidic linkages, and molecular weight was determined to be 1.12×10² Da. When the oligosaccharides' prebiotic effect on probiotic strains was examined, the oligosaccharides promoted the growth of four probiotic strains, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactococcus lactis, and Lactobacillus pentosus, compared to fructo-oligosaccharides as a reference. These results indicated that oligosaccharides from W. cibaria YRK005 could be used as potential prebiotics.

Constructivist Understandings of North Korea`s Ballistic Missile Programme: National Security Policy Based on North Korea`s Strategic Culture

( Jisun Park ) 이화여자대학교 통일학연구원 2014 Journal of peace and unification Vol.4 No.1

North Korea’s growing emphasis on the development and proliferation of nuclear weapons and missiles to reinforce its national security may appear an irrational and reckless concert of power. However, it is difficult to explain Pyongyang’s security policy with the concept of materialistic power or interest without reflecting on the ideological concept of identity and culture owing to its idiosyncratic social structures. This is because strategic culture of North Korea demonstrates considerably distinctive characteristics requiring new interpretations in the scope of global security in the 21st century. Therefore, the aim of this study is to reconsider the military behaviour of North Korea by scrutinising endogenous social structures of its culture and identity beyond the traditional dichotomous thinking, which requires rational or irrational explanation. In this manner, this paper offers a critical analysis based on constructivist approaches. For this, this study will focus primarily on the following three areas: ㆍA discussion on the general tenets of constructivism and constructivist understanding applied to issues of national security ㆍA technical analysis on North Korea’s growing missile threats ㆍA study on the importance of ‘state identity’ and Pyongyang’s national security using constructivist approaches This essay will show the theoretical potential of constructivist approaches to provide a ubiquitous lens to understand multifarious domestic and national security phenomena. In addition, as an empirical case study, North Korea’s military adventurism, such as repetitive nuclear/missile tests will be interpreted with the importance of social structure based on ideational elements such as ‘state identity’, ‘norms’ and ‘culture’ beyond materialistic and rationalistic interests.

Mycorrhizal Fungal Diversity Associated with Six Understudied Ectomycorrhizal Trees in the Republic of Korea

Park Ki Hyeong,Oh Seung-Yoon,Cho Yoonhee,Seo Chang Wan,Kim Ji Seon,Yoo Shinnam,Lim Jisun,Kim Chang Sun,Lim Young Woon 한국미생물학회 2023 The journal of microbiology Vol.61 No.8

Mycorrhizal fungi are key components of forest ecosystems and play essential roles in host health. The host specificity of mycorrhizal fungi is variable and the mycorrhizal fungi composition for the dominant tree species is largely known but remains unknown for the less common tree species. In this study, we collected soil samples from the roots of six understudied ectomycorrhizal tree species from a preserved natural park in the Republic of Korea over four seasons to investigate the host specificity of mycorrhizal fungi in multiple tree species, considering the abiotic factors. We evaluated the mycorrhizal fungal composition in each tree species using a metabarcoding approach. Our results revealed that each host tree species harbored unique mycorrhizal communities, despite close localization. Most mycorrhizal taxa belonged to ectomycorrhizal fungi, but a small proportion of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were also detected. While common mycorrhizal fungi were shared between the plant species at the genus or higher taxonomic level, we found high host specificity at the species/OTU (operational taxonomic unit) level. Moreover, the effects of the seasons and soil properties on the mycorrhizal communities differed by tree species. Our results indicate that mycorrhizal fungi feature host-specificity at lower taxonomic levels.

Empty Sella Syndrome Associated with Growth Hormone Deficiency: the First Case Report of Weiss-Kruszka Syndrome

Park Jisun,Ha Dong Jun,Seo Go Hun,Maeng Seri,Kang Sung Mo,Kim Sujin,Lee Ji Eun 대한의학회 2021 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.36 No.18

Weiss-Kruszka syndrome (WSKA), caused by heterozygous loss-of-function variants in ZNF462 gene, is a recently described and extremely rare genetic disorder. The main phenotypes include characteristic craniofacial features, ptosis, dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, and neurodevelopmental impairment. We report the first Korean boy with molecularly confirmed WSKA presenting with an atypical manifestation. A 16-year-old boy with a history of bilateral ptosis surgery presented with short stature (−3.49 standard deviation score) and delayed puberty. The patient showed characteristic craniofacial features including an inverted triangular-shaped head, exaggerated Cupid's bow, arched eyebrows, down-slanting palpebral fissures, and poorly expressive face. He had a mild degree of intellectual disability and mild hypotonia. Endocrine studies in the patient demonstrated complete growth hormone deficiency (GHD) associated with empty sella syndrome (ESS), based on a magnetic resonance imaging study for the brain that showed a flattened pituitary gland and cerebrospinal fluid space herniated into the sella turcica. To identify the genetic cause, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES). Through WES, a novel de novo heterozygous nonsense variant, c.4185del; p.(Met1396Ter) in ZNF462 was identified. This is the first case of WSKA accompanied by primary ESS associated with GHD. More clinical and functional studies are needed to elucidate this association.

KBG Syndrome: Review of the Literature

Jisun Park,Ji Eun Lee Interdisciplinary Society of GeneticGenomic Medici 2023 Journal of interdisciplinary genomics Vol.5 No.2

KBG syndrome (KBGS) is a multisystem disorder characterized by short stature, distinctive facial features including macrodontia of upper central permanent incisors, and developmental/cognitive delay. It is caused by variants or deletion of Ankyrin Repeat Domain 11 (ANKRD11) located in chromosome 16q24.3. Since its initial report in 1975, KBG syndrome has been recognized as an exceedingly rare disorder. However, recent advancements in genetic diagnostic techniques have led to an increase in both the diagnosis rate and the number of reported cases, contributing to a rapid increase in its global prevalence. We review the clinical aspects of KBGS, including previously reported and newly reported cases, as well as the related genetic patterns discovered so far.

Pseudogracilibacillus endophyticus sp. nov., a moderately thermophilic and halophilic species isolated from plant root

Park, Jisun,Kim, Min-Kyeong,Yun, Bo-Ram,Han, Ji-Hye,Kim, Seung Bum Microbiology Society 2018 International journal of systematic and evolutiona Vol.68 No.1

Three dimensional cell printing with sulfated alginate for improved bone morphogenetic protein-2 delivery and osteogenesis in bone tissue engineering

Park, Jisun,Lee, Su Jeong,Lee, Hwangjae,Park, Su A,Lee, Jae Young Elsevier 2018 Carbohydrate Polymers Vol.196 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Three-dimensional (3D) cell printing is a unique technique that enables free-form fabrication of cell-laden hydrogel scaffolds with controllable features and interconnected pores for tissue engineering applications. To this end, bioink materials able to offer good printability and favorable cellular interaction are highly required. Herein, we synthesized alginate sulfate, which is a structural mimic of heparin that can strongly bind with growth factors to prolong their activities, and studied its feasibility for cell printing applications. Several bio-inks composed of alginate and alginate-sulfate were studied to characterize their material properties and their utilities in 3D printing. The inclusion of alginate-sulfate in bio-inks (alginate/alginate-sulfate) did not significantly influence their rheological properties and allowed for a good 3D printing processibility with distinct pores and features. Moreover, alginate/alginate-sulfate bio-inks exhibited an improved retention of bone morphogenetic protein 2 in 3D-printed scaffolds. Osteoblastic proliferation and differentiation <I>in vitro</I> were promoted by alginate/alginate-sulfate 3D-printed constructs with an optimal composition of 3% alginate and 2% alginate-sulfate. We envision that bio-inks displaying prolonged interactions with growth factors will be useful for tissue engineering applications including bone regeneration.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Alginate/alginate sulfate bioinks permit good 3D cell printing. </LI> <LI> Improvement of the release of BMP-2 was achieved using alginate sulfate. </LI> <LI> Proliferation and differentiation of the printed osteoblasts were enhanced. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>