• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.195-203
• /
• 2024

Muscle disorders arise from genetic factors or other external environmental influences, leading to muscle loss and decreased strength. Muscle disease is closely related to age, and with the global progression of aging, there is increasing interest in the prevention and treatment of muscle diseases among the elderly population. Muscles release various substances during contraction and relaxation when exercising, and growth and differentiation are enhanced. Similar effects can be achieved by vibration stimulations of specific frequencies. To examine the response of muscle cells to vibration stimuli, an in vitro vibration device capable of setting various frequencies and amplitudes was developed for use with a 6-well plate. In vitro vibrational stimulation was applied to C2C12 myoblasts to quantify the growth and differentiation of myoblasts, as well as cell apoptosis. 10 Hz vibrational stimuli resulted in increases in ERK signaling and decreases in cell death. Moreover, an increase in the number of exposures to vibration promoted cellular differentiation. In conclusion, 10 Hz vibrational stimuli have the potential to increase muscle growth and differentiation and reduce apoptosis in C2C12 myoblasts.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.141-147
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was attempted to new methods in mammalian embryos vitrification. This method was affected to increase of the embryo vitrification efficiency and it would be applied to the field of embryo transfer to recipient by modified loading method of embryo into 0.25 ml plastic straw. The frozen mouse embryos were carried out warmed from two different cell stages (8-cell and blastocyst, respectively) by attachment of an embryo in the vitrification straw (aV) method. All groups were cultured in M-16 medium to determine the development and survivability for 24 h, respectively. Results shown that, the survivability of two different groups were significantly different (94.8% vs. 70.9%). Total cell number was not significantly different the non-frozen blastocyst ($99.7{\pm}12.4$) compared to the post-thaw blastocyst ($94.8{\pm}15.1$). From the 8-cell embryo, total cell number of frozen blastocysts were significantly lower than others groups ($74.7{\pm}14.6$, p<0.05). In the case of cell death analysis, the blastocysts from non-frozen and frozen-thawed 8-cell group were not different ($0.0{\pm}0.0$ vs. $1.9{\pm}3.1$, p>0.05). However, the apoptotic nuclei of blastocyst were significantly observed the frozen-thawed group ($5.4{\pm}4.4$) compared to non-frozen group (p<0.05). Therefore, this new method of embryos using in-straw dilution and direct transfer into other species would be more simple procedure of embryo transfer rather than step-wise dilution method and cryopreservation vessels, so we can be applied in animal as well as human embryo cryopreservation in further.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.359-366
• /
• 2013

This work is investigated for the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen iodide (HI). Platinum was used as active material by loading on $ZrO_2-SiO_2$ mixed oxide in HI decomposition reaction. To obtain high and stable conversion of hydrogen iodide in severe condition, it was required to improve catalytic activity. For this reason, a method increasing dispersion of platinum was proposed in this study. In order to get high dispersion of platinum, zirconia was incorporated in silica by sol-gel synthesis. Incorporating zirconia influence increasing platinum dispersion and BET surface area as well as decreasing deactivation of catalysts. It should be able to stably product hydrogen for a long time because of inhibitive deactivation. HI decomposition reaction was carried out under the condition of $450^{\circ}C$ and 1 atm in a fixed bed reactor. Catalysts analysis methods such as $N_2$ adsorption/desorption analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, ICP-AES and CO gas chemisorption were used to measurement of their physico-chemical properties.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.230-237
• /
• 1996

The objective of the present study is to evaluate organic removal efficiencies, nitrogen removal efficiencies, kinetic constant, sludge production rates, oxygen requirements, and optimum treatment renditions for recycling water treatment of aquaculture by using a trickling filter process. When the loading rates were $0.500\~0.082kg\;COD/m^3/day$ and $0.271\~0.044kg\;NH_4^+-N/m^3/day$, SCOD and ammonia removal efficiencies were $74.5\~84.0\%$ and $43.7\~61.8\%$, respectively. The maximum removal rate of ammonia was 119.5 mg/L/day. Observed cell yield coefficient in the trickling filter reactor was 0.572 kg VSS/kg $BOD_{rem}$. When the hydraulic loading rate was $6.712\~40.341m^3/m^2/day$, oxygen uptake rate was $1.33\~7.22\;mg\;O_2/L/hr$.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.15-31
• /
• 2012

In our previous studies, the antioxidant, anti-aging, and antibacterial activities of Persicaria hydropipier L. extract, and the moisturizing effect of cream containing P. hydropipier extract were investigated. In this study, the cellular protective effects of P. hydropipier extract and isoquercitrin, main component from P. hydropipier in $^1O_2$-induced photohemolysis of human erythrocytes and ultraviolet B (UVB)-exposed HaCaT cells were investigated. Liposomes such as ethosome and elastic liposome for enhanced transdermal delivery were prepared. Size, loading efficiency, stability, and cumulative permeated amounts of ethosomes and elastic liposomes were evaluated. P. hydropipier extract and isoquercitrin showed more prominent cellular protective effect than (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol, known as lipid antioxidant at $5{\mu}g/mL$. P. hydropipier extract didn't show any characteristics of cytotoxicity at $50{\mu}g/mL$. When HaCaT cells were exposed to a single large dose ($400mJ/cm^2$) of UVB, the extract protected the cells against UVB radiation in a concentration dependent manner ($12.5{\sim}50{\mu}g/mL$). Cell viability of HaCaT cells exposed to UVB $400mJ/cm^2$ was increased by treatment with P. hydropipier extract or isoquercitrin from 36 % (cell viability of positve control groups) to 90 % (cell viability of P. hydropipier extract or isoquercitrin- treated groups). The size of 0.04 % P. hydropiper extract loaded ethosomes was 173.0 nm and the loading efficiency was 55.58 %. 0.04 % P. hydropiper extract loaded ethosomes were stable with as monodisperse particles for 1 week. The ethosome exhibited more skin permeability than general liposome and ethanol solution. The optimal ratio of lipid to surfactant ($Tego^{(R)}$ care 450) of 0.1 % P. hydropiper extract loaded elastic liposomes was observed to be 95 : 5. Vesicle size of 0.1 % P. hydropiper extract loaded elastic liposome was 176.5 nm. The deformability index of the elastic liposome was 16.4. The loading efficiency was 68.8 %. The elastic liposome containing P. hydropiper extract showed more skin permeability than liposome without surfactant ($Tego^{(R)}$ care 450).

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.283-291
• /
• 2006

The survival and growth of epithelial cells depends on adhesion to the extracellular matrix. An adhesion signal may regulate the initiation of differentiation, since epidermal keratinocytes differentiate as they leave the basement membrane. A metabolically dead cornified cell envelope is the end point of epidermal differentiation so that this process may be viewed as a specialized form of programmed cell death. In order to investigate the precise cellular signaling events loading to terminal differentiation of keratinocytes, we have utilized HaCaT cells to monitor the biological consequences of $Ca^{2+}$ stimulation and numerous downstream signaling pathways, including activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase(ERK) pathway and activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K). The results presented in this study show that $Ca^{2+}$ function as potent agents for the differentiation of HaCaT keratinocytes, and this differentiation depends or the activation of ERK, Protein kinase B(PKB) and p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase(p70S6K). Finally, the results show that the expression of Activator protein 1(AP-1; c-Jun and c-Fos) increased following $Ca^{2+}$-mediated differentiation of HaCaT cells, suggesting that ERK-mediated AP-1 expression is critical for initiating the terminal differentiation of keratinocytes.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.144-150
• /
• 2015

Gellan gum as a natural polysaccharide has good heat resistance, acid resistance and enzymes resistance. However, one of the drawbacks of gellan gum might be the lower mechanical strength. In this work, gellan gum scaffolds were mixed with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microsphere in order to improve mechanical properties. The gellan gum scaffolds with various contents of PLGA microsphere were prepared for the regeneration of disc tissues. To evaluate the mechanical strength of hybrid structure of gellan gum and PLGA microsphere, compression strength of the fabricated scaffolds was measured. MTT analysis, SEM observation, histological evaluation and RT-PCR were performed to confirm the effect on the cell growth and extracellular matrix secretion. As a result, it showed the best cell proliferation and extracellular matrix secretion in gellan gum sponge containing 50% PLGA microspheres. In conclusion, this study confirmed that the hybrid structure of gellan gum and PLGA microspheres was found suitable in regeneration of the intervertebral disc.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.30-37
• /
• 2005

The bending strength characteristics and local deformation behaviors of honeycomb sandwich composites were investigated using three-point bending experiment and finite element simulation with a real model of honeycomb core. Two kinds of cell sizes of honeycomb core, two kinds of skin layer thicknesses, perfect bonding specimen as well as initial delamination specimen were used for analysis of stress and deformation behaviors of honeycomb sandwich beams. Various failure modes such as skin layer yielding, interfacial delamination, core shear deformation and local buckling were considered. Its simulation results were very comparable to the experimental ones. Consequently, cell size of honeycomb core and skin layer thickness had dominant effects on the bending strength and deformation behaviors of honeycomb sandwich composites. Specimens of large core cell size and thin skin layer showed that bending strength decreased by $30\~68\%$.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.11-25
• /
• 2009

Fuel cells are expected to be one of the major clean new energy sources in the near future. However, the slow kinetics of electrocatalytic hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and the high loading of Pt for the anode and cathode material are the urgent issues to be addressed since they determine the efficiency and the cost of this energy source. In this review paper, a new approach was developed for designing electrocatalysts for the HOR and ORR in fuel cells. It was found that the electronic properties of Pt could be fine-tuned by the electronic and geometric effects introduced by the substrate alloy metal and the lateral effects of the neighboring metal atoms. The role of substrate was found reflected in a volcano plot for the HOR and ORR as a function of their calculated d-band centers. This paper demonstrated a viable way to designing the electrocatalysts which could successfully alleviate two issue facing the commercializing of the fuel cell-the cost of electrocatalysts and their efficiency.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea TC
• /
• v.43 no.3 s.345
• /
• pp.32-38
• /
• 2006

In this paper, an intercell interference (ICI) reduction technique is proposed for OFDM-based cellular systems using the concept of virtual multiple antenna where multiple antenna techniques are performed on a set of subcarriers, not on the actual antenna array. The proposed technique is especially effective for user terminals with a single antenna at cell boundary in fully-loaded OFDM cellular systems with a frequency reuse factor equal to 1. Proposed ICI reduction techniques developed for SISO and MISO environments are shown to be robust to symbol timing offsets and efficient for various cell environments by adjusting group size depending on the number of adjacent cells. Also, the concept of a virtual signature randomizer (VSR) is introduced to improve channel separability in the virtual MIMO approach. It is shown by simulation that the proposed techniques are effective in reducing ICI and inter-sector interference compared with the conventional methods.