• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.262-268
• /
• 2009

We investigated the properties of inorganic diatomic films like silicon oxide ($SiO_2$) and zinc oxide (ZnO) and their composite films are packed as a passivation layer around Ca cells on glass substrates by using an electron-beam evaporation technique and rf-magnetron sputtering method. When these Ca cells are exposed to an ambient atmosphere, the water vapor penetrating through the passivation layers is adsorbed in the Ca cells, resulting in a gradual progress of transparency in the Ca cells, which can be represented by changes of the optical transmittance in the visible range. Compared with the saturation times for the Ca cells to become completely transparent in the atmosphere, the protection effects against permeation of water vapor are estimated for various passivation films. The thin composite films consist of$SiO_2$ and ZnO are found to show a superior protection effect from water vapor permeation compared with diatomic inorganic films like $SiO_2$ and ZnO. Also, this inorganic thin composite films are also found that their protection effect against permeation of water vapor can be significantly enhanced by choosing their suitable composition ratio and deposition method, in addition, the main factors affecting the permeation of water vapor through the oxide films are found to be the polarizability and the packing density.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.592-597
• /
• 2010

Cinnamomi Ramulus is one of the medicinal plants that have been used to improve various diseases caused by insufficient blood circulation. This study was performed for the investigation of vasodilation efficacy ethanol extract of Cinnamomi Ramulus (CR). CR exhibited vascular relaxation against phenylephrine (PE, $10^{-6}M$)-, KCl- and NaF-induced contraction in rat thoracic aorta. In addition, its relaxation was endothelium-independent. Treatment of potassium channel blockers such as gilbenclamide (Gli, $10^{-5}M$), tetraethylammonium (TEA, 1 mM) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, 0.2 mM) did not effect on the relaxation of CR. The relaxant effects were also not inhibited by pre-treatment of rat aorta with L-NAME ($10^{-4}M$), methylene blue ($10^{-5}M$), indomethacin ($10^{-5}M$), and atropine ($10^{-6}M$). However, nifedipine ($10^{-5}M$), L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, in part attenuated the relaxation of CR ($0.2\;mg/m{\ell}$), but SK&F96365 ($3{\times}10^{-5}M$), receptor activated $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker and 2-APB ($10^{-4}M$), store operated $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker did not affact dilation of CR. These findings suggest that the endothelium-independent relaxation effect of CR is partly related with inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ influx via voltage dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.137-144
• /
• 2007

Although lovastatin, a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase, has been shown to have anti-cancer actions, the effect on human hepatoma cells was not investigated. Moreover, the exact mechanism of this action is not fully understood. In this study we investigated the mechanism by which lovastatin induces apoptosis using HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells. Lovastatin induced apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner in the cells, assessed by the flow cytometric analysis. Treatment with mevalonic acid, a precursor of cholesterol, did not significantly suppress the lovastatin-induced apoptosis. Lovastatin induced a rapid and sustained increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. Treatment with EGTA, an extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator did not significantly alter the lovastatin-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase and apoptosis, whereas intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ reduction with BAPTA/AM and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blockers (dantrolene and TMB-8) completely blocked these actions of lovastatin. In addition, the lovastatin-induced apoptosis was significantly reduced by a calpain inhibitor, a broad spectrum caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk and inhibitors specific for caspase-9 and caspase-3 (z-LEHD-fmk and z-DEVD-fmk, respectively), but not by an inhibitor specific for caspase-8 (z-IETD-fmk). Collectively, these results suggest that lovastatin induced apoptosis of HepG2 hepatoma cells through intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release and calpain activation, leading to triggering mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. These results further suggest that lovastatin may be valuable for the therapeutic management of human hepatoma.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.256-261
• /
• 2014

Bee venom (BV) therapy has been used as a traditional medicine to treat a variety of conditions, such as arthritis, back pain, cancerous tumors, and skin diseases. However, regulatory effects of BV on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$-induced HaCaT cell migration or anti-inflammatory have not been explored. In the present study, we investigated the effects of BV on HaCaT cell migration and anti-inflammation. HaCaT cell migration was evaluated by wound-healing assay. The pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, and IL-8 were examined by ELISA or Western blotting. BV treatment led to an increase in migration of HaCaT cells for 24 and 48 h. Especially, 10 ng/ml of BV were significantly increased HaCaT cell migration. Also, BV suppressed the secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-8 in culture medium with HaCaT cells. In addition, Western blot results demonstrate that BV suppressed the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, in HaCaT cells. Especially, 1 or 10 ng/ml of BV markedly decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results demonstrate the potential of BV for the prevention of skin inflammation induced by TNF-${\alpha}$.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
• /
• v.50 no.11
• /
• pp.2.1-2.16
• /
• 2018

Supplementation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at sites of bone resorption is required for bone homeostasis because of the non-proliferation and short lifespan properties of the osteoblasts. Calcium ions ($Ca^{2+}$) are released from the bone surfaces during osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. However, how elevated extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations would alter MSCs behavior in the proximal sites of bone resorption is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ on MSCs phenotype depending on $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations. We found that the elevated extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ promoted cell proliferation and matrix mineralization of MSCs. In addition, MSCs induced the expression and secretion of osteopontin (OPN), which enhanced MSCs migration under the elevated extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ conditions. We developed in vitro osteoclast-mediated bone resorption conditions using mouse calvaria bone slices and demonstrated $Ca^{2+}$ is released from bone resorption surfaces. We also showed that the MSCs phenotype, including cell proliferation and migration, changed when the cells were treated with a bone resorption-conditioned medium. These findings suggest that the dynamic changes in $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations in the microenvironments of bone remodeling surfaces modulate MSCs phenotype and thereby contribute to bone regeneration.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.158-176
• /
• 2014

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of ARTEMISIAE CAPILLARIS HERBA and COPTIDIS RHIZOMA Extracts on cell death in pancreatic cancer cells. Method : Human-derived pancreatic cancer cell line, MIA PaCa-2 cells were treated by Prescription A with various concentrations and the cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay. To investigate the effects of Prescription A on pancreatic cancer cells, the staining of Annexin V/PI, cell cycle arrest, nuclear chromatin condensation and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined. The effect of Prescription A's effective components, ARTEMISIAE CAPILLARIS HERBA and COPTIDIS RHIZOMA Extracts on cell death were also observed. Results : The viability of MIA PaCa-2 cells treated with Prescription A were decreased in a dose dependent manner. Prescription A induced cell death in MIA PaCa-2 cells as shown by result of Annexin V/PI double staining, chromatin condensation and cell cycle arrest. In addition, production of ROS was increased by Prescription A treatment, suggesting that ROS induced by Prescription A mediated cell death. Furthermore, Prescription A's effective components, ARTEMISIAE CAPILLARIS HERBA and COPTIDIS RHIZOMA Extracts were also induced apoptosis of MIA PaCa-2 cells through ROS production. Conclusion : These results suggest that Prescription A's effective components, ARTEMISIAE CAPILLARIS HERBA and COPTIDIS RHIZOMA Extracts induced death of MIA PaCa-2 through ROS production.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.129-147
• /
• 2019

Because of the various concepts and meanings of fractions and the difficulty of learning, studies to improve the teaching methods of fraction have been carried out. Particularly, because there are various methods of teaching depending on the type of fractions or the models or methods used for problem solving in fraction operations, many researches have been implemented. In this study, I analyzed the fractional operations of CCSSM-CA and its U.S. textbooks. It was CCSSM-CA revised and presented in California and the textbooks of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Co., which reflect the content and direction of CCSSM-CA. As a result of the analysis, although the grades presented in CCSSM-CA and Korean textbooks were consistent in the addition and subtraction of fractions, there are the features of expressing fractions by the sum of fractions with the same denominator or unit fraction and the evaluation of the appropriateness of the answer. In the multiplication and division of fractions, there is a difference in the presentation according to the grades. There are the features of the comparison the results of products based on the number of factor, presenting the division including the unit fractions at first, and suggesting the solving of division problems using various ways.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.11
• /
• pp.1533-1544
• /
• 2021

n-Caproic acid (CA) is gaining increased attention due to its high value as a chemical feedstock. Ruminococcaceae bacterium strain CPB6 is an anaerobic mesophilic bacterium that is highly prolific in its ability to perform chain elongation of lactate to CA. However, little is known about the genome-wide transcriptional analysis of strain CPB6 for CA production triggered by the supplementation of exogenous lactate. In this study, cultivation of strain CPB6 was carried out in the absence and presence of lactate. Transcriptional profiles were analyzed using RNA-seq, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the lactate-supplemented cells and control cells without lactate were analyzed. The results showed that lactate supplementation led to earlier CA p,roduction, and higher final CA titer and productivity. 295 genes were substrate and/or growth dependent, and these genes cover crucial functional categories. Specifically, 5 genes responsible for the reverse β-oxidation pathway, 11 genes encoding ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, 6 genes encoding substrate-binding protein (SBP), and 4 genes encoding phosphotransferase system (PTS) transporters were strikingly upregulated in response to the addition of lactate. These genes would be candidates for future studies aiming at understanding the regulatory mechanism of lactate conversion into CA, as well as for the improvement of CA production in strain CPB6. The findings presented herein reveal unique insights into the biomolecular effect of lactate on CA production at the transcriptional level.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.146-152
• /
• 2022

One disadvantage of deep cycle flooded lead-acid batteries is increasing water loss caused by use of (+) Pb-Sb / (-) Pb-Sb alloy grid. Water loss is generated by the emission of hydrogen gas from the (-) electrode during battery charging. In this paper, we maintain cycle life aspect through the development of hybrid flooded lead-acid batteries to which a (+) Pb-Sb / (-) Pb-Ca grid is applied and deal with the improvement of water loss. The amount of water loss compared to that of the (-) Pb-Sb grid decreased when Ca was added to the (-) Pb grid. For the (-) Pb-Ca grid, it was confirmed that the time to reach 0.0 V, at which water decomposition occurs, was increased compared to that of the (-) Pb-Sb grid at the NPV (Negative Potential Voltage). In the cycle life test conducted with the BCI (Battery Council International) standard, compared to the (+) Pb-Ca grid, the (+) Pb-Sb grid increased the life cycle of the batteries and the (+) Pb-Ca grid showed an early end of life due to PbO corrosion layer generation, as determined through SEM / EDS and Tear Down analysis. In conclusion, by addition of Sb to (+) Pb grid and Ca to (-) Pb grid, we developed a hybrid flooded lead-acid battery that meets user requirements to improve water loss characteristics and preserve cycle life characteristics.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.53-57
• /
• 2010

The influence of CaO addition on the crystallization temperature, crystal types, and microstructure of L-A-S ($Li_2O-Al_2O_3-SiO_2$) glass-ceramics system fabricated from a coal bottom ash, produced at thermal power plant, was studied. The glass transition and crystallization temperatures were shifted to the higher temperature position with increasing CaO content in a non-isothermal analysis using a DTA. The major crystalline phases of L-A-S glass-ceramics system produced were identified as ${\beta}$-spodumene ($LiAlSi_2O_6$) and eucryptite ($LiAlSiO_4$). The glass-ceramics showed a bulk and surface crystallization behavior at a time. With increasing CaO content, the ${\beta}$-spodumene peak in XRD increased and some CaO-related phases were formed. The surface crystal grown from the exterior to the center in glass-ceramics showed various shapes by amount of CaO added. Some cracks were generated at the glass-ceramics containing CaO above 9 wt% due to the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients between a ${\beta}$-spodumene and CaO-related crystal phases.