• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.59.1-59.1
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• 2015

We present hydrodynamic simulations of gas clouds that inflowing from the disk to a few hundred parsec region of the Milky Way. Realistic Galactic structures are included in our simulations by thousands of multipole expansions that describe 6.4 million stellar particles of a self-consistent Galaxy simulation (Baba, Saitoh & Wada, in prep.). We find that a hybrid multipole expansion model with two different basis sets and a thick disk correction well reproduces the overall structures of the Milky Way. We find that the nuclear ring evolves into 240 pc at T~1500 Myr, regardless of the initial size. For most of simulation runs, gas inflow rate to the nuclear region is equilibrated as ~0.02 Msun/yr, and thus accumulated gas mass and star formation activity is stabilized as $6{\times}10^7Msun$ and ~0.02M/yr, respectively. These stabilized values are in a good agreement with estimations for the CMZ. The nuclear ring is off-centered to the Galactic center by the lopsided central mass distribution of the Galaxy model, and thus an asymmetric mass distribution is arose accordingly. The lopsidedness also leads the nuclear ring to be tilted to the Galactic plane and to precess along the Galaxy rotation. In early evolutionary stage when gas clouds start to inflow and form the nuclear ring, the z-directional oscillations of the gas clouds results in the twisted, infinity-shaped nuclear ring. Since the infinity-shaped feature is transient only for first 100 Myr, the current infinity-shape observed in the CMZ may indicate that the CMZ forms quite recently.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.439-447
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• 2017

Myotonia congenita (MC) is a genetic disease that displays impaired relaxation of skeletal muscle and muscle hypertrophy. This disease is mainly caused by mutations of CLCN1 that encodes human skeletal muscle chloride channel (CLC-1). CLC-1 is a voltage gated chloride channel that activates upon depolarizing potentials and play a major role in stabilization of resting membrane potentials in skeletal muscle. In this study, we report 4 unrelated Korean patients diagnosed with myotonia congenita and their clinical features. Sequence analysis of all coding regions of the patients was performed and mutation, R47W and A298T, was commonly identified. The patients commonly displayed transient muscle weakness and only one patient was diagnosed with autosomal dominant type of myotonia congenita. To investigate the pathological role of the mutation, electrophysiological analysis was also performed in HEK 293 cells transiently expressing homo-or heterodimeric mutant channels. The mutant channels displayed reduced chloride current density and altered channel gating. However, the effect of A298T on channel gating was reduced with the presence of R47W in the same allele. This analysis suggests that impaired CLC-1 channel function can cause myotonia congenita and that R47W has a protective effect on A298T in relation to channel gating. Our results provide clinical features of Korean myotonia congenita patients who have the heterozygous mutation and reveal underlying pathophyological consequences of the mutants by taking electrophysiological approach.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.329-334
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• 2006

RNAi (RNA interference) has become a popular means of knocking down a specific gene in vivo. The most common approach involves the use of chemically synthesized short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which are relatively easy and fast to use, but which are costly and have only transient effects. These limitations can be overcome by using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression vectors. However, current methods of generating shRNA expression vectors require either the synthesis of long (50-70 nt) costly oligonucleotides or multi-step processes. To overcome this drawback, we have developed a one-step short-oligonucleotides-based method with preparation costs of only 15% of those of the conventional methods used to obtain essentially the same DNA fragment encoding shRNA. Sequences containing 19 bases homologous to target genes were synthesized as 17- and 31-nt DNA oligonucleotides and used to construct shRNA expression vectors. Using these plasmids, we were able to effectively silence target genes. Because our method relies on the onestep ligation of short oligonucleotides, it is simple, less error-prone, and economical.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.129-139
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• 2000

Clinical observation was made on 210 cases of CVA that were confirmed through brain CT, MRI scan and clinical observation. They were hospitalized in the oriental medical hospital of Kyungwon University from January to December in 1998. Objective : To evaluate the current status of cerebrovascular disease in Korea, we performed observation on stroke patients. Methods : We performed a retrospective study on 210 cases of stroke who had been admitted to the Dept. of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyungwon University from Jan. 1, 1998 to Dec. 31, 1998. Results : The incidence was highest in the patients with the age of above fifty. The frequency of strokes was similar between male and female cases. Ischemic stroke(70.0%) was more common than hemorrhagic stroke(20.5%), with transient ischemic attacks(9.5%) occuring less frequently. Middle cerebra! arterial territory was the most commonly involved site in ischemic strokes. Among intracerebral hemorrhages, putaminal hemorrhages were found in 69.8%, and was followed by IVH(9.3%), IVH with ICH(7.0%), subcortical hemorrhages (4.7%) and pontine hemorrhages(4.7%). The most ordinary preceding disease was hypertension. The next was diabetes mellitus. Most cases were given simultaneous treatment in both western and oriental medical methods. Conclusions : Generally it is thought that CVA occurs frequently in winter. But our observations reveal no such relationship. The predisposing factors of cerebral infarction were usually initiated during the time of resting and sleeping and those of cerebral hemorrhage chiefly during the time of exercising. I Patients whose condition of consciousness was bad at the time of admission tended to have a bad prognosis. This study suggests changing trends of stroke in Korea, and that a multicenter prospective study using stroke registry is required for confirmation.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.62 no.7
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• pp.943-949
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• 2013

Recently, an electric vehicle (EV) has been become a huge issue in the automotive industry. The EV has many electrical units: electric motors, batteries, converters, etc. The DC distribution power system (DPS) is essential for the EV. The DC DPS offers many advantages. However, multiple loads in the DC DPS may affect the severe instability on the DC bus voltage. Therefore, a voltage bus conditioner (VBC) may use the DC DPS. The VBC is used to mitigate the voltage transient on the bus. Thus, a suitable control technique should be selected for the VBC. In this research, Current controller with fixed switching frequency is designed and applied for the VBC. The DC DPS consist of both a resistor load and a boost converter load. The load variations cause the instability of the DC DPS. This instability is mitigated by the VBC. The simulation results by Matlab simulink and experimental results are presented for validating the proposed VBC and designed control technique.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.16-23
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• 2012

Current display manufacturing processes apply thermal treatment of glass backplanes widely for hydrogen degassing, crystallization of thin-films, tempering, forming, and precompaction. Estimation of the characteristics of transient heating stages and thermal non-uniformities on a single glass substrate or in a stack of glasses are extremely helpful to understand non-homogeneity of mechanical and electronic features of nano/micro structures of end products. Based on simple heat transfer models and using an electric muffle furnace, temperature variations in a glass stack were predicted and measured for glass backplanes of $1.5{\times}1.85m^2$ in size and 0.7 mm in thickness. Except for the period of putting glass backplanes into the furnace, thermal radiation was the major heating mechanism for the treatment and theoretical predictions agreed well to the experimental temperatures on the backplanes. Using the theoretical model, thermal fields for a glass stack of glass-size, $2.2{\times}2.5m^2$, and of the number of sheets, 1 to 12, were calculated for practical design and manufacturing of the muffle furnace for large-scale displays, e.g. up to $8^{th}$ generation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.33-40
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• 2009

This paper presents the high performance control of interior permanent magnet synchronous motor(IPMSM) using space vector(SV) PWM method based on hybrid artificial intelligent(HAI) controller. The HAI controller combines the advantages between adaptive fuzzy control and neural network The SV PWM method is applied to a speed control system of motor in the industry field until now and is feasible to improve harmonic rate of output current, switching frequency and response characteristics. This HAI controller is used instead of conventional PI controller in order to solve problems happening when calculating a reference voltage. The HAI controller improves speed performance by hybrid combination of reference model-based adaptive mechanism method, fuzzy control and neural network. This paper analyzes response characteristics of parameter variation, steady-state and transient-state using proposed HAI controller and this controller compares with conventional fuzzy neural network(FNN) and PI controller. Also, this paper proves validity of HAI controller.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2013

The transient receptor potential melastatin type 7 (TRPM7) channel is a widely expressed non-selective cation channel with fusion to the C-terminal alpha kinase domain and regarded as a key regulator of whole body $Mg^{2+}$ homeostasis in mammals. However, the roles of TRPM7 during osteoclastogenesis in RAW264.7 cells and bone marrow-derived monocyte/macrophage precursor cells (BMMs) are not clear. In the present study, we investigate the roles of TRPM7 in osteoclastogenesis using methods of small interfering RNA (siRNA), RT-PCR, patch-clamp, and calcium imaging. RANKL (receptor activator of NF-${\kappa}B$ ligand) stimulation did not affect the TRPM7 expression and TRPM7-mediated current was activated in HEK293, RAW264.7, and BMM cells by the regulation of $Mg^{2+}$. Knock-down of TRPM7 by siTRPM7 reduced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) increases by 0 mM $[Mg^{2+}]_e$ in HEK293 cells and inhibited the generation of RANKL-induced $Ca^{2+}$ oscillations in RAW264.7 cells. Finally, knock-down of TRPM7 suppressed RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis such as activation and translocation of NFATc1, formation of multinucleated cells, and the bone resorptive activity, sequentially. These results suggest that TRPM7 plays an essential role in the RANKL-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ oscillations that triggers the late stages of osteoclastogenesis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.592-598
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Increased mass of adipose tissue in obese persons is caused by excessive adipogenesis, which is elaborately controlled by an array of transcription factors. Inhibition of adipogenesis by diverse plant-derived substances has been explored. The aim of the current study was to examine the effects of the aqueous methanol extract of laver (Porphyra yezoensis) on adipogenesis and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and to investigate the mechanism underlying the effect of the laver extract. MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 cells were treated with various concentrations of laver extract in differentiation medium. Lipid accumulation, expression of adipogenic proteins, including CCAAT enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$, fatty acid binding protein 4, and fatty acid synthase, cell viability, apoptosis, and the total content and the ratio of reduced to oxidized forms of glutathione (GSH/GSSG) were analyzed. RESULTS: Treatment with laver extract resulted in a significant decrease in lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which showed correlation with a reduction in expression of adipogenic proteins. Treatment with laver extract also resulted in a decrease in the viability of preadipocytes and an increase in the apoptosis of mature adipocytes. Treatment with laver extract led to exacerbated depletion of cellular glutathione and abolished the transient increase in GSH/GSSG ratio during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. CONCLUSION: Results of our study demonstrated that treatment with the laver extract caused inhibition of adipogenesis, a decrease in proliferation of preadipocytes, and an increase in the apoptosis of mature adipocytes. It appears that these effects were caused by increasing oxidative stress, as demonstrated by the depletion and oxidation of the cellular glutathione pool in the extract-treated adipocytes. Our results suggest that a prooxidant role of laver extract is associated with its antiadipogenic and proapoptotic effects.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.548-558
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• 2018

Objective : Diagnosing acute cerebral infarction is crucial in determining prognosis of stroke patients. Although many serologic tests for prompt diagnosis are available, the clinical application of serologic tests is currently limited. We investigated whether $S100{\beta}$, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), D-dimer, and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) can be used as biomarkers for acute cerebral infarction. Methods : Focal cerebral ischemia was induced using the modified intraluminal filament technique. Mice were randomly assigned to 30-minute occlusion (n=10), 60-minute occlusion (n=10), or sham (n=5) groups. Four hours later, neurological deficits were evaluated and blood samples were obtained. Infarction volumes were calculated and plasma $S100{\beta}$, MMP-9, D-dimer, and HSP70 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : The average infarction volume was $12.32{\pm}2.31mm^3$ and $46.9{\pm}7.43mm^3$ in the 30- and 60-minute groups, respectively. The mean neurological score in the two ischemic groups was $1.6{\pm}0.55$ and $3.2{\pm}0.70$, respectively. $S100{\beta}$, MMP-9, and HSP70 expressions significantly increased after 4 hours of ischemia (p=0.001). Furthermore, $S100{\beta}$ and MMP-9 expressions correlated with infarction volumes (p<0.001) and neurological deficits (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in D-dimer expression between groups (p=0.843). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) showed high sensitivity and specificity for MMP-9, HSP70 (AUC=1), and $S100{\beta}$ (AUC=0.98). Conclusion : $S100{\beta}$, MMP-9, and HSP70 can complement current diagnostic tools to assess cerebral infarction, suggesting their use as potential biomarkers for acute cerebral infarction.