• BMB Reports
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• 제52권10호
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• pp.613-618
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• 2019

Microglial cells are known as the main immune cells in the central nervous system, both regulating its immune response and maintaining its homeostasis. Furthermore, the antioxidant ${\alpha}-lipoic$ acid (LA) is a recognized therapeutic drug for diabetes because it can easily invade the blood-brain barrier. This study investigated the effect of ${\alpha}-LA$ on the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated BV-2 microglial cells. Our results revealed that ${\alpha}-LA$ significantly attenuated several inflammatory responses in BV-2 microglial cells, including pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6, and other cytotoxic molecules, such as nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species. In addition, ${\alpha}-LA$ inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of ERK and p38 and its pharmacological properties were facilitated via the inhibition of the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway. Moreover, ${\alpha}-LA$ suppressed the activation of NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes, multiprotein complexes consisting of NLRP3 and caspase-1, which are involved in the innate immune response. Finally, ${\alpha}-LA$ decreased the genes accountable for the M1 phenotype, $IL-1{\beta}$ and ICAM1, whereas it increased the genes responsible for the M2 phenotype, MRC1 and ARG1. These findings suggest that ${\alpha}-LA$ alleviates the neuroinflammatory response by regulating microglial polarization.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.239-252
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• 2024

Dexmedetomidine displays multiple mechanisms of neuroprotection in ameliorating ischemic brain injury. In this study, we explored the beneficial effects of dexmedetomidine on blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and neuroinflammation in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 1.5 h and reperfusion for 24 h to establish a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Dexmedetomidine (9 ㎍/kg) was administered to rats 30 min after MCAO through intravenous injection, and SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor, 200 ㎍/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 30 min before MCAO. Brain damages were evaluated by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, hematoxylin-eosin staining, Nissl staining, and brain water content assessment. BBB permeability was examined by Evans blue staining. Expression levels of claudin-5, zonula occludens-1, occludin, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as well as M1/M2 phenotypes-associated markers were assessed using immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and gelatin zymography. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to examine inflammatory cytokine levels. We found that dexmedetomidine or SB203580 attenuated infarct volume, brain edema, BBB permeability, and neuroinflammation, and promoted M2 microglial polarization after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Increased MMP-9 activity by ischemia/reperfusion injury was inhibited by dexmedetomidine or SB203580. Dexmedetomidine inhibited the activation of the ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK pathways. Moreover, activation of JNK or p38 MAPK reversed the protective effects of dexmedetomidine against ischemic brain injury. Overall, dexmedetomidine ameliorated brain injury by alleviating BBB permeability and promoting M2 polarization in experimental cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury model by inhibiting the activation of JNK and p38 MAPK pathways.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.295-300
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• 2015

Stress and its related hormones epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) play a crucial role in tumor progression. Macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME) polarized to M2 is also a vital pathway for tumor deterioration. Here, we explore the underlying role of macrophages in the effect of stress and E promoting breast cancer growth. It was found that the weight and volume of tumor in tumor bearing mice were increased, and dramatically accompanied with the rising E level after chronic stress using social isolation. What is most noteworthy, the number of M2 macrophages inside tumor was up-regulated with it. The effects of E treatment appear to be directly related to the change of M2 phenotype is reproduced in vitro. Moreover, E receptor $ADR{\beta}2$ involved in E promoting M2 polarization was comprehended simultaneously. Our results imply psychological stress is influential on specific immune system, more essential for the comprehensive treatment against tumors. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(5): 295-300]

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.313-321
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• 2009

The construction of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) boats is decreasing trend since the application of international regulations on the control of marine environmental pollution, which recommended the use of environmentally friendly materials. The aluminum alloy used with material for ship is a superior to FRP. It is environmental friendly, easy to recycle, and provides a high added value to fishing boats. However, the welding for Al alloy materials have many problems, such as deformation by welding heat and effect of the working environment. In this paper, it was carried out welding by robot with welding material of ER5183 and ER5556 on 6061-T6 Al alloy for ship. The mechanical and electrochemical characteristics evaluated for specimen welded by robot. The cathodic polarization trend for the base metal and welding metal showed the effects of concentration polarization due to oxygen reduction and activation polarization due to hydrogen generation. The hardnesses of welding zone and heat affected zone are lower than that of base metal. At the result of tensile test, the specimen welded with ER5183 presented excellent property compared with ER5556.

• Carbon letters
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• 제28권
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• pp.105-110
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• 2018

Owing to their scalability, flexible operation, and long cycle life, vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) have gained immense attention over the past few years. However, the VRFBs suffer from significant polarization, which decreases their cell efficiency. The activation polarization occurring during vanadium redox reactions greatly affects the overall performance of VRFBs. Therefore, it is imperative to develop electrodes with numerous catalytic sites and a long cycle life. In this study, we synthesized heteroatom-rich carbon-based freestanding papers (H-CFPs) by a facile dispersion and filtration process. The H-CFPs exhibited high specific surface area (${\sim}820m^2g^{-1}$) along with a number of redox-active heteroatoms (such as oxygen and nitrogen) and showed high catalytic activity for vanadium redox reactions. The H-CFP electrodes showed excellent electrochemical performance. They showed low anodic and cathodic peak potential separation (${\Delta}E_p$) values of ~120 mV (positive electrolyte) and ~124 mV (negative electrolyte) in cyclic voltammetry conducted at a scan rate of $5mV\;s^{-1}$. Hence, the H-CFP-based VRFBs showed significantly reduced polarization.

• 한국표면공학회지
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.156-162
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• 2008

Small FRP(fiber-reinforced polymer) fishing ships have numerous problems with the point of the environmental and recycling perspectives. In light of these aspects, aluminum can be used as a material for ship building. It is environmental friendly, easy to recycle, and provides a high added value to fishing boats. In this paper, we report on mechanical and electrochemical characteristics of welding parts for friction stir welded 5456-H116 Al alloy. In friction stir welded at various traveling speeds under the rotation speed of 500 RPM, the best characteristics presented in traveling speed of 15mm/min. The anodic polarizations of base metal and welding metal were observed tendency which current density from the open circuit potential suddenly increase. The cathodic polarization presented concentrated polarization caused by the dissolved oxygen reduction reaction and activation polarization caused by hydrogen generation. From result of Tafel analysis, the corrosion potential of 5456 alloy(Base metal) was lower than that of friction stir welded part, as were its corrosion current densities.

• 대한화학회지
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• 제56권2호
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• pp.264-273
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• 2012

Five derivatives of phenylthiourea namely: 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-phenylthiourea (1), 1-(4-methylphenyl)-3- phenylthiourea (2), 1-(4-bromophenyl)-3-phenylthiourea (3), 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-phenylthiourea (4) and 1-phenylthiourea (5) have been evaluated as new inhibitors for the corrosion of carbon steel in 2 M HCl solution using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements showed that these derivatives are mixed-type inhibitors. The inhibition efficiency was found to increase with inhibitor concentration and decreases with rise in temperature. The thermodynamic parameters of adsorption and activation were determined and discussed. Nyquist plots showed depressed semicircles with their centre below real axis. The adsorption process of studied derivatives on carbon steel surface obeys Temkin adsorption isotherm. The synergistic effect of these derivatives and some anions is discussed from the viewpoint of adsorption models. The electrochemical results are in good agreement with the calculated quantum chemical HOMO and LUMO energies of the tested molecules.

• 대한화학회지
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• 제58권2호
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• pp.160-168
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• 2014

The electrochemical behavior and corrosion inhibition of zinc in 0.5 M $H_2SO_4$ in the absence and presence of some chromones has been investigated using weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM) techniques. The presence of these investigated compounds in the corrosive solutions decrease the weight loss, the corrosion current density, and double layer capacitance but increases the charge transfer resistance. Polarization studies were carried out at room temperature, and showed that all the studied compounds act as mixed type inhibitors with a slight predominance of cathodic character. The effect of temperature on corrosion inhibition has been studied and the thermodynamic activation and adsorption parameters were determined and discussed. The adsorption of the investigated compounds on zinc was found to obey Langmuir adsorption isotherm.

• 한국콘크리트학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국콘크리트학회 2004년도 춘계 학술발표회 제16권1호
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• pp.806-809
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• 2004

The early-age cracks have bad effects on the diffusion movement of chloride ions and oxygen. In this study, a corrosion analysis algorithm for cracked concrete is proposed to examine the influence of early-age cracks on corrosion of RC structures. For different environmental exposure conditions of RC structures, a corrosion model is combined with models for activation polarization and concentration polarization. From the finite element corrosion analysis using the proposed algorithm and the models, the effects of early-age cracks to the corrosion is simulated.

• 한국공작기계학회논문집
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2005

PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) is considered as an attractive option to produce electric power in manyapplications. A fundamental step of theoretical fuel cell open circuit potential is examined and compared with the measured data from 1.2KW PEMFC module. The hydrogen pressure and stack temperature are also measured during the operation of PEMFC module. It is found that the stack voltage and current data agree in general with the results calculated by chemical potential approach though they still have a discrepancy. It is analysed that the discrepancy is due to activation polarization, concentration overvoltage and ohmic overvoltage.