• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.280-285
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• 2012

The developing embryo naturally experiences relatively low oxygen conditions in vivo. Under in vitro hypoxia, mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) lose their self-renewal activity and display an early differentiated morphology mediated by the hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$). Previously, we demonstrated that histone deacetylase (HDAC) is activated by hypoxia and increases the protein stability and transcriptional activity of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ in many human cancer cells. Furthermore HDAC1 and 3 mediate the differentiation of mECSs and hematopoietic stem cells. However, the role of HDACs and their inhibitors in hypoxia-induced early differentiation of mESCs remains largely unknown. Here, we examined the effects of several histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) on the self-renewal properties of mESCs under hypoxia. Inhibition of HDAC under hypoxia effectively decreased the HIF-$1{\alpha}$ protein levels and substantially improved the expression of the LIF-specific receptor (LIFR) and phosphorylated-STAT3 in mESCs. In particular, valproic acid (VPA), a pan HDACI, showed dramatic changes in HIF-$1{\alpha}$ protein levels and LIFR protein expression levels compared to other HDACIs, including sodium butyrate (SB), trichostatin A (TSA), and apicidin (AP). Importantly, our RT-PCR data and alkaline phosphatase assays indicate that VPA helps to maintain the self-renewal activity of mESCs under hypoxia. Taken together, these results suggest that VPA may block the early differentiation of mESCs under hypoxia via the destabilization of HIF-$1{\alpha}$.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 1998

By their rapid and periodic actions, the cilia of the human respiratory tract play an important role in clearing inhaled noxious particles. Based on the automated image-processing technique, we studied the method analyzing ciliary beat frequency (CBF) objectively and quantitatively. Microscopic ciliary images were transformed into digitized gray ones through an image-grabber, and from these we extracted signals for CBF. By means of a FFT, maximum peak frequencies were detected as CBFs in each partitioned block for the entire digitized field. With these CBFs, we composed distribution maps visually showing the spatial distribution of CBFs. Through distribution maps of CBF, the whole aspects of CBF changes for cells and the difference of CBF of neighboring cells can be easily measured and detected. Histogram statistics calculated from the user-defined polygonal window can show the local dominant frequency presumed to be the CBF of a cell or a crust the region includes.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.604-611
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• 2007

Java Card has gained genera1 acceptance with standard for smart card and (U)SIM technology, and it is in distinction from native card by its post-issuance of an application and independence from hardware platforms. However, a main weak point of Java Card is its low execution speed caused by the hardware limitation and Java programming language itself. In this paper, we propose a new Java Card Installer to improve the download speed during the post-issuance of an application by resolving symbolic references to physical references in HAM. Our Resolution_In_RAM is based on the improved new RAM writing is 100,000 times faster than EEPROM writing and PageBuffer that is operated as block mode, rather than cell mode is used to write to EEPROM. Consequently, the total number of EEPROM writing are reduced 37%, and the times of downloading are reduced over 30% by using the Resolution_In_RAM-based Java Card Installer.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.367-374
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• 2014

In this study, skin permeation enhancement was confirmed by designing it to have a structure and composition similarity to the intercellular lipids that improve miscibility with skin by cross-linked lipids poloxamer. The cross-linked lipids poloxamer was synthesized and analyzed by 1H NMR that structure dose had conjugated pluronic with ceramide3. Active component is released by modification of liquid crystal structure because PPO part, large-scale molecule block of pluronic, has hydrophobic nature at skin temperature of $35^{\circ}C$. Conjugated pluronic with ceramide3 was synthesized using Pluronic F127 and p-NPC (4-nitrophenyl chloroformate) at room temperature yielded 89%. Pluronic(Ceramide 3-conjugated Pluronic) was synthesized by reaction of p-NP-Pluronic with Ceramide3 and DMAP. The yield was 51%. This cross-linked lipids poloxamer was blended and dissolved at isotropic state with skin surface lipids, phospholipid, ceramide, cholesterol and anhydrous additive solvent. Next step was preceded by ${\alpha}$-Transition at low temperature for making the structure of Meso-Phase Lamella, and non-hydrous skin analogue liquid crystal using thermo-sensitivity smart sensor, lamellar liquid crystal structure through aging time. For confirmation of conjugation thermo-sensitivity smart sensor and non-hydrous skin analogue liquid crystal, structural observation and stability test were performed using XRD(Xray Diffraction), DSC(Differential Scanning Calorimetry), PM (Polarized Microscope) And C-SEM (Cryo-Scanning Electron Microscope). Thermo-sensitivity observation by Franz cell revealed that synthesized smart sensor shown skin permeation effect over 75% than normal liquid crystal. Furthermore, normal non-hydrous skin analogue liquid crystal that not applied smart sensor shown similar results below $35^{\circ}C$ of skin temperature, but its effects has increased more than 30% above $35^{\circ}C$.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2016

Understanding of morphological structures such as the sphenoid spine and pterygoid processes is important during lateral transzygomatic infratemporal fossa approach. In addition, osseous variations such as pterygospinous and pterygoalar bridges are significant in clinical practice because they can produce various neurological disturbances or block the passage of a needle into the trigeminal ganglion through the foramen ovale. Two hundred and eighty-four sides of Korean adult dry skulls were observed to carry out morphometric analysis of the lateral plate of the pterygoid process, to investigate, for the first time among Koreans, the incidence of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar bony bridges, to compare the results with those available for other regional populations, and to discuss their clinical relevance as described on literatures. The mean of maximum widths of the left and right lateral plates of the pterygoid process were 15.99 mm and 16.27 mm, respectively. Also, the mean of maximum heights of the left and right lateral plates were 31.02 mm and 31.01 mm, respectively. The ossified pterygospinous ligament was observed in 51 sides of the skulls (28.0%). Ossification of the pterygospinous ligament was complete in four sides (1.4%). In 47 sides (16.6%), the pterygospinous bridge was incomplete. The ossified pterygoalar ligament was observed in 24 sides of the skulls (8.4%). Ossification was complete in eight sides (2.8%) and incomplete in 16 sides (5.6%). This detailed analysis of the lateral plate of the pterygoid process and related ossification of ligaments can improve the understanding of complex clinical neuralgias associated with this region.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2020

Repetitive changes in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) triggers egg activation, including cortical granule exocytosis, resumption of second meiosis, block to polyspermy, and initiating embryonic development. [Ca²⁺]i oscillations that continue for several hours, are required for the early events of egg activation and possibly connected to further development to the blastocyst stage. The sources of Ca²⁺ ion elevation during [Ca²⁺]i oscillations are Ca²⁺ release from endoplasmic reticulum through inositol 1,4,5 tri-phosphate receptor and Ca²⁺ ion influx through Ca²⁺ channel on the plasma membrane. Ca²⁺ channels have been characterized into voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (VDCCs), ligand-gated Ca²⁺ channel, and leak-channel. VDCCs expressed on muscle cell or neuron is specified into L, T, N, P, Q, and R type VDCs by their activation threshold or their sensitivity to peptide toxins isolated from cone snails and spiders. The present study was aimed to investigate the localization pattern of N and P/Q type voltage-dependent calcium channels in mouse eggs and the role in fertilization. [Ca²⁺]i oscillation was observed in a Ca²⁺ contained medium with sperm factor or adenophostin A injection but disappeared in Ca²⁺ free medium. Ca²⁺ influx was decreased by Lat A. N-VDCC specific inhibitor, ω-Conotoxin CVIIA induced abnormal [Ca²⁺]i oscillation profiles in SrCl₂ treatment. N or P/Q type VDC were distributed on the plasma membrane in cortical cluster form, not in the cytoplasm. Ca²⁺ influx is essential for [Ca²⁺]i oscillation during mammalian fertilization. This Ca²⁺ influx might be controlled through the N or P/Q type VDCCs. Abnormal VDCCs expression of eggs could be tested in fertilization failure or low fertilization eggs in subfertility women.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2017

Background: Naringenin (NRG) is a common dietary polyphenolic constituent of fruits. NRG has diverse pharmacological activities, and is used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases including gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells of the GI tract. In this study, the authors investigated the effects of NRG on ICCs and on GI motility in vitro and in vivo. Methods: ICCs were dissociated from mouse small intestines by enzymatic digestion. The whole-cell patch clamp configuration was used to record pacemaker potentials in cultured ICC clusters. The effects of NRG on GI motility were investigated by calculating percent intestinal transit rates (ITR) using Evans blue in normal mice. Results: NRG inhibited ICC pacemaker potentials in a dose-dependent manner. In the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride or iberiotoxin, NRG had no effect on pacemaker potentials, but it continued to block pacemaker potentials in the presence of glibenclamide. Preincubation with SQ-22536 had no effect on pacemaker potentials or on their inhibition by NRG. However, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one blocked pacemaker potential inhibition by NRG. In addition, L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester blocked pacemaker potential inhibition by NRG. Furthermore, NRG significantly suppressed murine ITR enhancement by neostigmine in vivo. Conclusion: This study shows NRG dose-dependently inhibits ICC pacemaker potentials via a cyclic guanosine monophosphate/nitric oxide-dependent pathway and $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels in vitro. In addition, NRG suppressed neostigmine enhancement of ITR in vivo.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.15-25
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• 2002

In this paper a design of high performance cryptographic processor which implements AES Rijndael algorithm is described. To eliminate performance degradation due to round-key computation delay of conventional processor, the on-the-fly precomputation of round key based on modified round structure is adopted. And on-the-fly round key generator which supports 128, 192, and 256-bit key has modular structure. The designed processor has iterative structure which uses 1 clock cycle per round and supports three operation modes, such as ECB, CBC, and CTR mode which is a candidate for new AES modes of operation. The cryptographic processor designed in Verilog-HDL and synthesized using 0.251$\mu\textrm{m}$ CMOS cell library consists of about 51,000 gates. Simulation results show that the critical path delay is about 7.5ns and it can operate up to 125Mhz clock frequency at 2.5V supply. Its peak performance is about 1.45Gbps encryption or decryption rate under 128-bit key ECB mode.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.189-225
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• 2021

The use of albendazole and mebendazole, i.e., benzimidazole broad-spectrum anthelmintics, in treatment of parasitic infections, as well as cancers, is briefly reviewed. These drugs are known to block the microtubule systems of parasites and mammalian cells leading to inhibition of glucose uptake and transport and finally cell death. Eventually they exhibit ovicidal, larvicidal, and vermicidal effects on parasites, and tumoricidal effects on hosts. Albendazole and mebendazole are most frequently prescribed for treatment of intestinal nematode infections (ascariasis, hookworm infections, trichuriasis, strongyloidiasis, and enterobiasis) and can also be used for intestinal tapeworm infections (taeniases and hymenolepiasis). However, these drugs also exhibit considerable therapeutic effects against tissue nematode/cestode infections (visceral, ocular, neural, and cutaneous larva migrans, anisakiasis, trichinosis, hepatic and intestinal capillariasis, angiostrongyliasis, gnathostomiasis, gongylonemiasis, thelaziasis, dracunculiasis, cerebral and subcutaneous cysticercosis, and echinococcosis). Albendazole is also used for treatment of filarial infections (lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, loiasis, mansonellosis, and dirofilariasis) alone or in combination with other drugs, such as ivermectin or diethylcarbamazine. Albendazole was tried even for treatment of trematode (fascioliasis, clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, and intestinal fluke infections) and protozoan infections (giardiasis, vaginal trichomoniasis, cryptosporidiosis, and microsporidiosis). These drugs are generally safe with few side effects; however, when they are used for prolonged time (>14-28 days) or even only 1 time, liver toxicity and other side reactions may occur. In hookworms, Trichuris trichiura, possibly Ascaris lumbricoides, Wuchereria bancrofti, and Giardia sp., there are emerging issues of drug resistance. It is of particular note that albendazole and mebendazole have been repositioned as promising anti-cancer drugs. These drugs have been shown to be active in vitro and in vivo (animals) against liver, lung, ovary, prostate, colorectal, breast, head and neck cancers, and melanoma. Two clinical reports for albendazole and 2 case reports for mebendazole have revealed promising effects of these drugs in human patients having variable types of cancers. However, because of the toxicity of albendazole, for example, neutropenia due to myelosuppression, if high doses are used for a prolonged time, mebendazole is currently more popularly used than albendazole in anti-cancer clinical trials.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2021

Agrovoltaic system is a concept that combines agriculture and photovoltaic (PV) system by applying a PV system to the upper part of farmland. In this study, we developed a folding drive system for an agrophotovoltaic (agroPV) module (150 Wp/4×9 cell) exclusively for pear farming with 10 kW capacity. The system was installed in 2018, and the growth characteristics and quantity of pears under the agroPV folding system have been investigated for 2 years. We found that thare is no differences of the characteristics of pears grown under the agroPV system compared to the pears grown without the system (control) except the percutaneous color L of pear. However, the weight and sugar content of the pear grown under the agroPV system were decreased by 4.5% and 1.3°Bx compared to that of the control, respectively. We assume that this is mainly due to the influenced of the delay in flowering as upper PV module block some of sunlight. However, interestingly, when we deleyed the pear harvesting by 2 weeks, the weight of pears increased by 8.5% and they became nearly the sample as the control pears harvested 2 week earlier. In addition, we also found that the agroPV modules decrease the fall rate of pear when the typoon struck, also it mitigates cold damage by 38% during April by protecting from frost. In conclusion, it can be said that the agroPV system help to protect target crops from the environmental conditions and the quality of the crops are similar to the that of control.