• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.256-266
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• 2020

Carboxypeptidase D (CPD) is a zinc-dependent protease, which is highly expressed in macrophages, and is thought to participate in inflammatory processes. In the present study, we investigated the possible regulatory effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), which is an active form of vitamin A and plays a critical regulatory role in both the innate and adaptive immunity, on CPD expression and secretion in human monocytic THP-1 cells. CPD mRNA expression first increased, from a concentration as low as 10 nM ATRA to a maximum level of expression, at 1 μM. ATRA enhanced intracellular CPD expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner but did not affect cell surface CPD expression. Interestingly, 9-cis-RA did not affect CPD expression. Additionally, an experiment with RAR/RXR selective agonist or antagonists demonstrated that ATRA-induced enhancement of CPD expression was RAR/RXR dependent. ATRA also enhanced CPD secretion from THP-1 cells; however, this enhancement was RAR/RXR-independent. The anti-inflammatory agent dexamethasone reversed ATRA-induced enhancement of CPD expression and secretion. Our results suggest ATRA exerts regulatory effects on expression and secretion of CPD in human monocytes, and ATRA-induced CPD secretion may be associated with inflammatory response.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.58-64
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• 2008

Surface-void defects observed on the galvannealed(GA) steel sheets in Interstitial-free high-strengthened steels containing Si and Mn have been investigated using the combination of the FIB(Focused Ion Beam) and FE-TEM(Field Emission-Transmission Electron Microscope) techniques. The scanning ion micrographs of cross-section microstructure of defects showed that these defects were identified as craters which were formed on the projecting part of the substrate surface. Also, those craters were formed on the Si or Mn-Si oxides film through the whole interface between galvannealed coating and steel substrate. Interface enrichments and oxidations of the active alloying elements such as Si and Mn during reduction annealing process for galvanizing were found to interrupt Zn and Fe interdiffusion during galvannealing process. During galvannealing, Zn and Fe interdiffusion is preferentially started on the clean substrate surface which have no oxide layer on. And then, during galvannealing, crater is developed with consumption of molten zinc on the oxide layer.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.913-923
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• 2023

In this study, a triboelectric nanogenerator was fabricated using the composite of teflon-based polymer and graphene flower, which are stable in air and have relatively high electronegativity. The composite was used to fabricate an electronegative layer of a nanogenerator using a spin-coating method. For the electropositive layer, a zinc oxide film was prepared using a sol-gel method. The fabricated triboelectric nanogenerator produced a maximum power of about 44 ㎼. In conclusion, since all the active layers of the triboelectric nanogenerator was made by the solution process, it is scalable to a large area.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 2022

NF-κB acts as a critical transcription factor in inflammation and innate immunity, and it is also closely involved in cell survival and tumorigenesis via induction of anti-apoptotic genes. In these processes, NF-κB cooperates with multiple other signaling molecules and pathways, and although many studies have demonstrated that Hsp90 regulates NF-κB activity, the exact mechanism is unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between Hsp90 and IKKγ in the regulation of NF-κB using expression plasmids of IKK complex components. Wild-type and deletion mutants of IKKγ were expressed together with Hsp90, and the combined regulatory effect of Hsp90 and IKKγ on NF-κB activation was assayed. The results show that Hsp90 activates NF-κB by promoting the phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα and that activation of NF-κB by NIK and LPS was increased by Hsp90. IKKγ elevated the effect of Hsp90 on NF-κB activation by increasing phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα. The positive regulation on NF-κB by Hsp90 and IKKγ was also proved in analysis with IKKβ-EE, the constitutively active form of IKKβ. In experiments with the deletion mutants of IKKγ, the N-terminal IKKβ binding domain, C-terminal leucine zipper, and zinc finger domains of IKKγ were found not necessary for the positive regulation of NF-κB activity. Additionally, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was synergistically elevated by Hsp90 and IKKγ. These results indicate that inhibiting the interaction between Hsp90 and IKKγ is a possible strategic method for controlling NF-κB and related diseases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.64-64
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• 2003

The sex differentiation of fishes occurs under the control of genetic and various environmental factors. DM-domain containing genes are novel zinc finger transcription factors and play key roles in sex determination. In order to isolate the wrasse DMRT (wDMRT) cDNA from the protogynous wrasse (Halichoeres tenuispinnis), the wrasse testis cDNA library was screened using the $^{32}$ P-labeled PCR products, which were amplified with the degenerate primers from conserved DM-domain regions of several DMRT genes. Among a few positives obtained through screening, the full length wDMRT cDNA of 2.9kb size encoding a predicted 300 amino acid residues was isolated. The sequence analysis exhibited 60%, 43% sequence identity with rainbow trout and tilapia DMRT1, respectively. RT-PCR assay showed that wDMRT was expressed specifically in male testis. Also, wDMRT gene was strongly expressed in May during reproductive season, when the reproductivity of wrasse is most active. This results suggested that wDMRT gene function in testis differentiation The conserved DM-domain regions were amplified using PCR from DMRT genes of several species among Labridae, and their sequences were determined. The sequence of DM-domain region of Halichoeres. tenuispinis was identical to those of Pseudolabrus japonicus, Pteragogus flagellifera, and showed 94% identity with that of Halichoeres poecioptrerus.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.247-253
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• 2002

Natural manganese ore was selected as main active component for a non-zinc desulfurization sorbent used in the gas clean-up process of the integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) because of excellent H$_2$S removal efficiency and economical aspect . In this study, the regeneration characteristics of sorbent after desulfurization reaction were determined in a thermobalance reactor and a fixed bed reactor in the temperature range of 350~55$0^{\circ}C$. The mixed gases of oxygen and nitrogen are used as the regeneration reaction gases for manganese sorbent. According to Mn-S-O phase diagram, the manganese sorbent has a low regeneration efficiency in medium temperature due to formation of MnSO$_4$ and the regeneration temperature must be over 85$0^{\circ}C$. To improve that problem, ammonia and steam was added in regeneration mixed gases. Effect of new regeneration method was determined by XRD and difference of desulfurization through multicycle tests.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.367-373
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• 2007

Livers of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) were investigated on the food compositional characteristics and also compared to that of Alaska pollack (Theragra chalcogramma). The proximate compositions of skipjack tuna and yellowfin tuna livers were high in crude protein, carbohydrate, and crude ash, while were low in crude lipid when compared to that of Alaska pollack liver. The results of heavy metal suggested that tuna livers appeared safe as a food resource. The total amino acid contents of skipjack tuna and yellowfin tuna livers were 17.7 and 17.1 g/100 g, respectively, and the major amino acids in both livers were aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, valine, leucine, and lysine. Tuna livers were good sources of iron and zinc, while have low lipid content. The extractive nitrogen contents of skipjack tuna and yellowfin tuna livers were 526.5 and 468.2 mg/100 g, respectively, and their major free amino acids were taurine, glutamic acid, and alanine. From the results of taste value, the major taste active compounds among free amino acids were glutamic acid and aspartic acid.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2000

Several chemical washing procedures were applied to Zn and Cd contaminated soil. Batch and column tests were performed to determine the metal extraction efficiency as a function of pH and concentration. Washing efficiencies by water and NaOH are very low but those by HCI, EDTA and Oxalic acid are high. The most efficient washing occurs in case of using HCI because heavy metal is ionized easily at the condition of low pH. EDTA and Oxalic acid are also effective to extract Zn and Cd because they have a high complexation affinity for heavy metals forming active surface complexes. More Zn is released than Cd is and release trend is increased as pH is decreased and concentration of washing solution is increased. When heavy metal contaminated soil is remediated, HCI and EDTA are more effective to remove Zn than others are. Meanwhile HCI and Oxalic acid are more effective to remove Cd than others are.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.543-543
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• 2013

Thin-film transistors (TFTs) based on oxide semiconductors have been regarded as promising alternatives for conventional amorphous and polycrystalline silicon TFTs. Oxide TFTs have several advantages, such as low temperature processing, transparency and high field-effect mobility. Lots of oxide semiconductors for example ZnO, SnO2, In2O3, InZnO, ZnSnO, and InGaZnO etc. have been researched. Particularly, zinc-tin oxide (ZTO) is suitable for channel layer of oxide TFTs having a high mobility that Sn in ZTO can improve the carrier transport by overlapping orbital. However, some issues related to the ZTO TFT electrical performance still remain to be resolved, such as obtaining good electrical contact between source/drain (S/D) electrodes and active channel layer. In this study, the bottom-gate type ZTO TFTs with staggered structure were prepared. Thin films of ZTO (40 nm thick) were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering and performed at room temperature in an Ar atmosphere with an oxygen partial pressure of 10%. After annealing the thin films of ZTO at $400^{\circ}C$ or an hour, Cu, Mo, ITO and Ti electrodes were used for the S/D electrodes. Cu, Mo, ITO and Ti (200 nm thick) were also deposited by DC magnetron sputtering at room temperature. The channel layer and S/D electrodes were defined using a lift-off process which resulted in a fixed width W of 100 ${\mu}m$ and channel length L varied from 10 to 50 ${\mu}m$. The TFT source/drain series resistance, the intrinsic mobility (${\mu}i$), and intrinsic threshold voltage (Vi) were extracted by transmission line method (TLM) using a series of TFTs with different channel lengths. And the performances of ZTO TFTs were measured by using HP 4145B semiconductor analyzer. The results showed that the Cu S/D electrodes had a high intrinsic field effect mobility and a low effective contact resistance compared to other electrodes such as Mo, ITO and Ti.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.473-473
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• 2013

전자종이, 입을 수 있는 디스플레이, 플렉서블 터치 스크린, 투과성 면 등과 같은 차세대 플렉서블 투명 전자소자는 기계적으로 유연하고 광학적으로 투명하며 무게가 가벼운 특성을 지녀야 할 것으로 예상된다. 현재까지는Indium tin oxide (ITO), zinc tin oxide (ZTO), carbon nano tube (CNT)와 polyimide 계열의 물질들이flexible, wearable, and transparent electronics (FWTEs) 소자의 electrode, active channel, dielectric layers로 제안되어 활발히 연구되었다. 최근에는 높은 이동도(~200,000 cm2/Vs) 및 유연성(fracture strain of 30%), 투명도 (97.5% for monolayer)와 같은 특성을 갖는 그래핀에 대한 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 그러나 그래핀을 차세대 플렉서블 투명 전자소자 구현에 적용하기 위해서는 플렉서블하고 투명한 절연체의 확보 및 그래핀의 진성(intrinsic) 특성 유지 등과 같은 문제점들을 해결해야 한다. 따라서, 본 연구팀에서는 그래핀 기반 플렉서블 투명 전자소자의 게이트 절연층으로 적합한 poly-4-vinylphenol/poly (melamineco-formaldehyde) (PVP/PMF) 물질을 제시하고 이에 대한 전기적 재료적 분석을 수행하였다. 특히 다양한 PVP와 PMF의 비율 및 가열(annealing 혹은 curing) 온도에서 형성된 PVP/PMF 층의 화학 및 전기적 특성을 FT-IR, I-V, 그리고 C-V 측정을 통해 확인하였다. PVP/PMF는 유기절연 물질의 하나로서 높은 유연성과 투명도를 갖고 있을 뿐만 아니라 그래핀에 적용 시 그래핀의 진성 특성을 확보할 수 있다. 이는 PVP/PMF에 존재하는 hydroxyl (-OH) 그룹과 그래핀 상에서 정공(hole)을 공급하는 것으로 알려져 있는 -OH 그룹들간의 cross-linking 메커니즘에 의한 것으로 예상된다. 마지막으로 최적화된 PVP/PMF (낮은 hysteresis 전압)를 게이트 절연층에 적용하여 polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 기판 및 연구원의 손가락 위에 95.8%의 투명도 및 0에 가까운 Dirac point를 갖는 그래핀 기반 플렉서블 투명 전자소자를 성공적으로 집적하였다.