• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.85-94
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• 2000

These experiments were conducted to examine the effects of theophylline, pentoxifylline and heparin on frozen-thawed Hanwoo sperm for enhancing motility and viability of sperm. Frozen-thawed semen collected from one bull was treated in TALP(tyrode-albuminlactate-pyruvate) containing varous concentrations of theophylline and pentoxifylline. After incubated at 5% CO2 in air atmosphere for 6 hours, the motility of sperm after the treatments was characterized by CASA(computer aided semen analysis) system. When monitored notility(MOT) and curvilinear velocity(VCL), theophylline and pentoxifylline exerted their optimal action at the concentration of 30 mM and 3 mM, respectively. No difference of sperm motility was observed when the sperm was treated with both substances compared with a single treatment of each substance. Comparison was then made for evaluating the effect of theophylline and / or pentoxiophylline on the motility and viability of significant treatment effects of each substance, high MOT and VCL values were detected in sperm treated with theophylline. In the case of sperm viability examined by an eosin-nigrosin staining, however, a significant decrease was found after the combined treatment of theophylline+pentoxyphilline than after the treatment with heparin alone or no treatment(P<0.05). In conclusion, theophylline, pentoxiphylline or heparin can be used for enhancing the motional characteristics and viability of frozen thawed Hanwoo semen. Considering characteristics of these substances, theophyline may be useful in the artificial insemination system, which requires vigorous sperm motility. While, heparin supporting sperm viability in vitro can be effectively used for improving in vitro-fertilization system.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.671-675
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• 2014

Well-defined star shaped and linear block copolymers were synthesized to study the dispersion stability of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc). We synthesized dispersants using (2-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (PEGMA) by activators generated by electron transfer (AGET) atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). pDMAEMA-b-pPEGMA copolymers were characterized by GPC and NMR. Furthermore, we studied the effect of the dispersion stability of copper phthalocyanine by controlling the degree of polymerization of PEGMA as a stabilizing group. The 4-arm star shaped polymeric dispersant showed better dispersion stability of CuPc at $25^{\circ}C$ for 7 days.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.42-42
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• 2003

Large-conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated potassium channels ($BK_{Ca}$ are a widely distributed and play key roles in various cell functions. In nerve cells, $BK_{Ca}$ channels shorten the duration of action potentials and block $Ca^{2+}$ entry thereby repolarizing excitable cells after excitation. $BK_{Ca}$ channel opening has been postulated to confer neuroprotection during stroke, and has attracted attention as a means for therapeutic intervention in asthma, hypertension, convulsions, and traumatic brain injury. Several natural and synthetic compounds including a steroid hormone, $\beta$-estradiol, have been identified as the activators of $BK_{Ca}$ channels. Based on the structural features of the previously reported activators of $BK_{Ca}$ channels, we designed several lead compounds, synthesized chemically, and tested their functional activity on cloned $BK_{Ca}$ channels. The $\alpha$ subunit of rat $BK_{Ca}$ channel was expressed alone or with different $\beta$ subunits in Xenopus oocytes and the effects of the compounds were tested electrophysiological means. One of the lead compounds affected the activity of the $\alpha$ subunit of $BK_{Ca}$ channel in a $\beta$ subunit-specific manner. While the activity of B $K_{ca}$ channel $\alpha$ subunit was Potentiated, the channel composed of $\alpha$ and $\beta$1 subunits were inhibited by this compound. We are currently investigating the mechanism of the $\beta$ subunit-dependent effects and planning to localize the receptor site of the lead compound.f the lead compound.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.376-395
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• 1996

The neuropeptide substance P(SP) has been recognized to modulate immune systems, with close proximity between peptidergic sensory nerve endings and immune cells. These include the macrophage and neutrophil activation, IL-2 production in T cell, augmentation of Ig synthesis, mast cell degranulation, $PGE_2$ and collagenase secretion in synoviocytes. In this study I examined SP-induced various biological activities such as antimicrobial action, cytokine production, and mast cell degranulation in the presence or absence of other inflammatory cell activators. Antimicrobial studies showed that undifferentiated HL-60 cells were not affected by SP. However, SP significantly enhanced antimicrobial action of TPA-treated or dbcAMP-treated HL-60 cells which had been differentiated into PMN or macrophage/monocyte. I could not find synergistic relationship between SP and LPS in parallel experiments of the above. SP did not induce IL-l production from murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 whether costimulated with LPS or not. Mast cell degranulation was occured only when stimulated with high dose ($10^{-5}M$) of SP and the degree of this activation was slightly reduced by simultaneous application of $MIP-1{\alpha}$. In addition, CGRP which is known to be a common coexisting neuropeptide with SP within specific fibers did not augment the function of SP on mast cell degranulation. These results suggest that immunoregulatory activities of SP could be mediated through direct upregulation of various functions of immune cells and also upregulation of responsiveness of immune cells to other immune activators.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.113-118
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• 2012

Effects of plant activators on germination of primed pepper seeds were investigated. The percent germination and T50 of primed seeds with 0.1mM ASM were 98% and 0.96 day at the 7 days after seeding, respectively. However, the germination of primed seeds with 0.5mM ASM were suppressed as 17% at the 7 days after seeding. The percent germination of primed seeds with 0.01mM INA were 90% at the 2 days after seeding. However, those of primed seeds by 0.1mM INA were increased as 90% at the 5 days after seeding. The percent germination of primed seeds was not change by treatment of the BABA and JA.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.559-564
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• 2022

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent diseases in modern society. Many complicationssuch as hepatic cirrhosis, neuropathy, cardiac infarction, and so on are associated with diabetes. Although a relationship between diabetes and hair loss has been recently reported, the treatment of diabetic hair loss by Wnt/β-catenin activators has not been achieved yet. In this study, we found that the depilation-induced anagen phase was delayed in both db/db mice and high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. In diabetic mice, both hair regrowth and wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis (WIHN) were reduced because of suppression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and decreased proliferation of hair follicle cells. We identified that KY19382, a small molecule that activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling, restored the capabilities of regrowth and WIHN in diabetic mice. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling activator also increased the length of the human hair follicle which was decreased under high glucose culture conditions. Overall, the diabetic condition reduced both hair regrowth and regeneration with suppression of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Consequently, the usage of Wnt/β-catenin signaling activators could be a potential strategy to treat diabetes-induced alopecia patients.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.147-162
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• 1992

The objectives of the present experiments were to characterize the effects of the peptides belonging to the pancreatic polypeptide family on the contractility of cerebral arteries and to observe the interactions of these peptides with the cyclic nucleotide activators and the potassium channel openers. Dogs of either sex, $20{\sim}30\;Kg$ in weight, were sacrificed. Basilar and middle cerebral arteries from brain were isolated and prepared for myography in the PSS equilibrated with 95% $O_2$ and 5% $CO_2$ at $37^{\circ}C$. The endothelial cells of the spiral strips were removed by CHAPS solution (0.3% w/v, 15 seconds). 1. PP, PYY and NPY contracted the arterial strips concentration-dependently with a rank order of potency of PYY>NPY>PP. These peptides were 20 to 200 times more potent than norepinephrine, and only PYY showed a greater potency than 5-HT. 2. Cyclic nucleotide activators, forskolin (for cAMP) and sodium nitroprusside (for cGMP) reduced the basal tone and inhibited the PP-, PYY- and NPY- induced contractions by concentration-dependent manners. Forskolin was more potent in reducing basal tone than sodium nitroprusside. 3. Potassium channel openers, RP 49356, P 1060 and BRL 38227 reduced the basal tone concentration-dependently and tended to inhibit the PP-, PYY- and NPY- induced contractions. Notably, BRL 38227 with low concentration $(0.1\;{\mu}M)$ enhanced the contractions induced by those peptides while P 1060 inhibited the contractions concentration-dependently. 4. The combinations of the cyclic nucleotide activators and the potassium channel openers were slightly additive in reducing the basal tone. P 1060 and BRL 38227 enhanced the relaxant effect of sodium nitroprusside significantly. On the PYY-induced contration $(0.1\;{\mu}M)$, $K^+$ channel openers tended to inhibit the inhibitory actions of forskolin and sodium nitroprusside. P 1060 and BRL 38227 antagonized the inhibitory action of sodium nitroprusside significantly. The results of the present study may be summarized that in canine cerebral arteries, not only NPY but also PYY may play a role in a cerebrovascular spasm, and intracellular concentration of either cAMP or cGMP may be involved in the mechanism of vasoconstrictive actions of these peptides, which may be affected either positively or negatively by a $K^+$ channel opener.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.103-106
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• 2000

The effects of replacement level, curing method and chemical admixtures were investigated in the cement-fly ash paste. The strength of cement-fly ash paste is lower than that of controlled cement paste only and the differences increase with replacement level. However, in steam curing, strength of cement-fly ash pastes is improved, especially, at early ages. In order to improve early strength, the use of $Na_2SO_4$in cement-fly ash paste increases the quality of concrete. In addition, improvement of strength of concrete including 30% of fly ash can be obtained and achieves the highest strength compared to other concrete mixtures.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.27-32
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• 2002

In this research influences of type and concentration of alkali activator and curing condition on the hydration, and properties of alkali activated blast furnace slag(AAS) concrete were investigated. Sodium carbonate and sulfate were used as alkali activators and their concentration were 4~10 weight percent with Na$_2$O equivalent to binder. The curing conditions were standard curing using 23$^{\circ}C$ water and activated curing chamber at $65^{\circ}C$. Results show that in case of sodium carbonate addition high early strengths were gained by activation of early hydration, but later strength gained was slight. On the other side sodium sulfate strengths were continuously increased with adding amount and ages. Steam curing activated early hydration so that early strengths were improved but later strengths were similar to standard curing. The strength reduction of AAS mortar with sodium sulfate was less than OPC mortar in 5% sulfuric acid solution so that AAS concrete can be useful for acid-resistance concrete.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.11-16
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• 2002

The production of Portland cement involves maximum use of resources and energy, which leads to destruction of tile ecological environment, raising in serious environmental issues such as acid rain and the greenhouse effect. In order to combat the arising problems associated with Portland cement, it thus is necessary that a non-clinker cement should be developed. In this study, non-clinker cement is produced by blending granulate blast furnace slag with phosphogypsum as main materials, and small amounts of hydrate lime or waste lime as activators. This paper aims to investigate compressive strength according to various condition of mixing ratio, blame, W/C ratio and curing temperature. Compressive strength of non-clinker cement increases continuously according to increase in curing age and blain. Although the compressive strength is fairly comparable to that of OPC in the early curing age, it reaches a higher lever in the later age than that of OPC due to the optimum mixing ratio and the continuous reaction of slag and phosphogypsum. Results obtained from this study have shown that non-clinker cement could be used as a replacement of OPC.