• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2016

Objectives: This study examined the relative efficacies of a derivative of betulinic acid (dBA) and its poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nano-encapsulated form in A549 lung cancer cells in vivo and in co-mutagen [sodium arsenite (SA) + benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)]-induced lung cancer in mice in vivo. Methods: dBA was loaded with PLGA nanoparticles by using the standard solvent displacement method. The sizes and morphologies of nano-dBA (NdBA) were determined by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and their intracellular localization was verified by using confocal microscopy. The binding and interaction of NdBA with calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (CT-DNA) as a target were analyzed by using conventional circular dichroism (CD) and melting temperature (Tm) profile data. Apoptotic signalling cascades in vitro and in vivo were studied by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the ability of NdBA to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was also examined. The stage of cell cycle arrest was confirmed by using a fluorescence-activated cell-sorting (FACS) data analysis. Results: The average size of the nanoparticles was ~ 110 nm. Confocal microscopy images confirmed the presence of NdBA in the cellular cytoplasm. The bio-physical properties of dBA and NdBA ascertained from the CD and the Tm profiles revealed that NdBA had greater interaction with the target DNA than dBA did. Both dBA and NdBA arrested cell proliferation at G0/G1, NdBA showing the greater effect. NdBA also induced a greater degree of cytotoxicity in A549 cells, but it had an insignificant cytotoxic effect in normal L6 cells. The results of flow cytometric, cytogenetial and histopathological studies in mice revealed that NdBA caused less nuclear condensation and DNA damage than dBA did. TEM images showed the presence of NdBA in brain samples of NdBA fed mice, indicating its ability to cross the BBB. Conclusion: Thus, compared to dBA, NdBA appears to have greater chemoprotective potential against lung cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.605-612
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• 2012

Spore-forming bacteria are being used as probiotic supplements for human and animal use, due to their low pH stability and ability to survive the gastric barrier. In this study, the BCNU 9028 strain was screened from meju, a Korean fermented soybean food starter. Biochemical and physiological characteristics, as well as 16S rDNA sequence analyses, indicate that this strain belongs to the genus $Bacillus$. $Bacillus$ sp. BCNU 9028 showed a 92% survivability at pH 2.5 and could also withstand 0.3% ox bile. Furthermore, it was postulated that $Bacillus$ sp. BCNU 9028 could prevent biofilm formation and adherence of food-borne pathogens such as $Listeria$ $monocytogenes$, $S.$ $aureus$ and $E.$ $coli$ on the basis of its autoaggregation and coaggregation capacity with food-borne pathogens. It was shown that BCNU 9028 has good abilities to adhere to the intestinal tract from its hydrophobic character (63.3%). The $Bacillus$ sp. BCNU 9028 strain especially elicited antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and -negative pathogens. These findings suggested that the $Bacillus$ sp. BCNU 9028 strain could be used as a potential probiotic.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.779-785
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• 2015

Cathodic protection is recognized as the most cost-effective and technically appropriate corrosion prevention method for the submerged zone of offshore structures, ships, and deep-sea facilities. When cathodic protection is applied, the cathodic currents cause dissolved oxygen reduction, generating hydroxyl ions near the polarized surface that increase the interfacial pH and result in enhanced carbonate ion concentration and precipitation of an inorganic layer whose principal component is calcium carbonate. Depending on the potential, magnesium hydroxide can also precipitate. This mixed deposit is generally called "calcareous deposit." This layer functions as a barrier against the corrosive environment, leading to a decrease in current demand. Hence, the importance of calcareous deposits for the effective, efficient operation of marine cathodic protection systems is recognized by engineers and scientists concerned with cathodic protection in submerged marine environments. Calcareous deposit formation on a marine structure depends on the potential, current, pH, temperature, pressure, sea-water chemistry, flow, and time; deposit quality is significantly influenced by these factors. This study determines how calcareous deposits form in sea water, and assesses the interrelationship of formation conditions (such as the sea water temperature and surface condition of steel), deposited structure, and properties and the effectiveness of the cathodic protection.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 2005

Xenotransplantation may help to overcome the critical shortage of human tissues and organs for human transplantation, Swine represents an ideal source of such organs owing to their anatomical and physiological similarities to human besides their plentiful supply, However, the use of organs across the species barrier may be associated with the risk of transmission of pathogens, specially porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs).• Although most of these potential pathogens could be eliminated by pathogen-free breeding, PERVs are not eliminated by this treatment. PERVs are integrated into the genome of all pigs and produced by normal pig cells and infect human cells. They belong to gamma retroviruses and are of three classes viruses: A, B and C. In the present study, PCR based cloning was performed with chromosomal DNA extracted from pigs from domestic pigs in Korea. Amplified PCR fragments of about 1.5 Kb, covering the partial env gene, were cloned into pCR2.l-TOPO vectors and sequenced. A total of 91 env clones were obtained from domestic pigs, Berkshire, Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire in Korea. Phylogenetic analysis of these genes revealed the presence of only PERV class A and B in the proportion of 58 % and 42 %, respectively. Among these, 28 clones had the correct open reading frame: 18 clones in class A and 10 clones in class B. Since both these PERV classes are polytropic and have the capacity to infect human cells, our data suggest that proviral PERVs have the potential to generate infectious viruses during or after xenotransplantation in human.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.164-174
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• 2013

It has been seriously difficult to create demand of modular construction because Korean modular method has been considered as container house or lightweight steel house. Actually, barrier factor of modular construction for activation was difficult to produce modular continuously in factories based on stable amount of demands. So, this research found successive factors of modular construction and proposed the method of demand creation through a plethora of case analysis by building types. In addition, this research found the scale of modular potential market. Owners will be able to use this strategy that is proposed in this research when they make a decision about construction system. Also, the modular construction can make potential market in Korea. As a result, modular system producer can make their business strategies and make continuous demand by conjugating the method of creating demand for modular construction which is proposed in this research.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.89 no.3
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• pp.368-377
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• 2000

This study was conducted to examine the recent developments in timber certification schemes at global level such as FSC certification and ISO 14001 system and to analyze their potential impacts on the Korean forest products trade. Data and information on standards and procedure of timber certification and certified forest lands were collected from relevant papers, statistics and reports published by regional and international organizations. In order to analyze the impacts on the Korean forest products trade, questionnaire survey to the affected parties was conducted on acknowledge of key words relating to environment and trade and on the additional amount of willingness to pay for a labeled timber from environmentally sound and sustainably managed forests. Quantities of certified timbers supplied would continue to increase due to lots of timber certification schemes developed and implemented at national, regional and global levels and growing interests in certification from many countries. Demand for certified timbers, however, is far from clear at this stage. The deciding factor would be consumer reaction to the certified products. In the short run, the timber certification would have a little impacts on forest products imports into Korean markets since domestic purchasers do not have much interests in environment related trade measures and their willingness to pay price premiums for certified timbers is not high. However, it could be expected that timber certification has negative impacts on exports of forest products, such as flooring and plywood, to developed European markets where timber certification is used as a trade barrier.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1035-1045
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• 2016

To evaluate the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on Peyer's patch cells, mice were treated with a high dose of kanamycin to disturb the gut microbial environment. The overarching goal was to explore the potential of LAB for use as a dietary probiotic that buffers the negative consequences of antibiotic treatment. In vitro, LAB stimulated the production of immunoglobulin A (IgA) from isolated Peyer's patch cells. Inflammation-related genes (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8) were up-regulated in Caco-2 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), while tight-junction-related genes (ZO-1 and occludin) were down-regulated; the effects of LPS on inflammatory gene and tight-junction gene expression were reversed by treatment with LAB. Mice treated with a high dose of kanamycin showed increased serum IgE levels and decreases in serum IgA and fecal IgA levels; the number of Peyer's patch cells decreased with kanamycin treatment. However, subsequent LAB treatment was effective in reducing the serum IgE level and recovering the serum IgA and fecal IgA levels, as well as the number of Peyer's patch cells. In addition, ZO-1 and occludin mRNA levels were up-regulated in the ileum tissues of mice receiving LAB treatment. Lactic acid bacteria can enhance the intestinal immune system by improving the integrity of the intestinal barrier and increasing the production of IgA in Peyer's patches. Lactic acid bacteria should be considered a potential probiotic candidate for improving intestinal immunity, particularly in mitigating the negative consequences of antibiotic use.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.438-444
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• 2011

Purpose: Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) are readily harvested from lipoaspirated tissue or subcutaneous adipose tissue fragments. The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is a heterogeneous set of cell populations that surround and support adipose tissue, which includes the stromal cells, ASCs, that have the ability to differentiate into cells of several lineages and contains cells from the microvasculature. The mechanisms that drive the ASCs into the osteoblast lineage are still not clear, but the process has been more extensively studied in bone marrow stromal cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the osteogenic capacity of adipose derived SVF cells and evaluate bone formation following implantation of SVF cells into the bone defect of human phalanx. Methods: Case 1 a 43-year-old male was wounded while using a press machine. After first operation, segmental bone defects of the left 3rd and 4th middle phalanx occurred. At first we injected the SVF cells combined with demineralized bone matrix (DBM) to defected 4th middle phalangeal bone lesion. We used P (L/DL)LA [Poly (70L-lactide-co-30DL-lactide) Co Polymer P (L/DL)LA] as a scaffold. Next, we implanted the SVF cells combined with DBM to repair left 3rd middle phalangeal bone defect in sequence. Case 2 was a 25-year-old man with crushing hand injury. Three months after the previous surgery, we implanted the SVF cells combined with DBM to restore right 3rd middle phalangeal bone defect by syringe injection. Radiographic images were taken at follow-up hospital visits and evaluated radiographically by means of computerized analysis of digital images. Results: The phalangeal bone defect was treated with autologous SVF cells isolated and applied in a single operative procedure in combination with DBM. The SVF cells were supported in place with mechanical fixation with a resorbable macroporous sheets acting as a soft tissue barrier. The radiographic appearance of the defect revealed a restoration to average bone density and stable position of pharyngeal bone. Densitometric evaluations for digital X-ray revealed improved bone densities in two cases with pharyngeal bone defects, that is, 65.2% for 4th finger of the case 1, 60.5% for 3rd finger of the case 1 and 60.1% for the case 2. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that adipose derived stromal vascular fraction cells have osteogenic potential in two clinical case studies. Thus, these reports show that cells from the SVF cells have potential in many areas of clinical cell therapy and regenerative medicine, albeit a lot of work is yet to be done.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1118-1127
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• 2020

Alzheimer's disease causes progressive neuronal loss that leads to cognitive disturbances. It is not currently curable, and there is no way to stop its progression. However, since medical treatment for Alzheimer's disease is most effective in the early stages, early detection can provide the best chance for symptom management. Biomarkers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease include amyloid β (Aβ) deposition, pathologic tau, and neurodegeneration. Aβ deposition and phosphorylated tau can be detected by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis or positron emission tomography (PET). However, CSF sampling is quite invasive, and PET analysis needs specialized and expensive equipment. During the last decades, blood-based biomarker analysis has been studied to develop fast and minimally invasive biomarker analysis method. And one of the remarkable findings is the involvement of platelets as a primary source of Aβ in plasma. Aβ can be transported across the blood - brain barrier, creating an equilibrium of Aβ levels between the brain and blood under normal condition. Interestingly, a number of clinical studies have unequivocally demonstrated that plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios are reduced in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Together, these recent findings may lead to the development of a fast and minimally invasive early diagnostic approach to Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease, especially the involvement of platelets as a source of peripheral Aβ production and its potential as a blood-based biomarker.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.301-308
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• 2022

Since nanoporous silica aerogel was first synthesized in 1931, its potential as an ultra-lightweight superinsulation material has been steadily attracting attention. Silica aerogel is the best thermal insulation material to date. However, the potential applications of this lightweight material have so far been hindered by its inherent fragibility and brittleness arising from its ultra-porous nature. Although the monolithic form of silica aerogel has the best ultra-lightweight superinsulation properties, it cannot be used in this form. Instead it is used in the form of powders, particles, and blankets. However, these forms still have shortcomings. Silica aerogel is most widely applied in the form of a fiber-reinforced aerogel blanket, but this form is likely to generate dust when handled. Although silica aerogel particles have been proven to be non-toxic to humans, dust formation remains a major barrier to the widespread application of silica aerogel blankets. This paper will investigate the unique properties of silica aerogel and determine what fields it can be used in or potentially be used in due to its unique properties. In addition, we will review the important advances in silica aerogel synthesis technology and its commercialization so far, and then consider the problems that exist for its widespread commercialization in the future and how to overcome them.