• Biomedical Engineering Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.337-344
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• 2018

Additive manufacturing (AM) is an alternative metal fabrication technology. The outstanding advantage of AM (3D-printing, direct manufacturing), is the ability to form shapes that cannot be formed with any other traditional technology. 3D-printing began as a new method of prototyping in plastics. Nowadays, AM in metals allows to realize not only net-shape geometry, but also high fatigue strength and corrosion resistant parts. This success of AM in metals enables new applications of the technology in important fields, such as production of medical implants. The 3D-printing of medical implants is an extremely rapidly developing application. The success of this development lies in the fact that patient-specific implants can promote patient recovery, as often it is the only alternative to amputation. The production of AM implants provides a relatively fast and effective solution for complex surgical cases. However, there are still numerous challenging open issues in medical 3D-printing. The goal of the current research review is to explain the whole technological and design chain of bio-medical bone implant production from the computed tomography that is performed by the surgeon, to conversion to a computer aided drawing file, to production of implants, including the necessary post-processing procedures and certification. The current work presents examples that were produced by joint work of Polygon Medical Engineering, Russia and by TechMed, the AM Center of Israel Institute of Metals. Polygon provided 3D-planning and 3D-modelling specifically for the implants production. TechMed were in charge of the optimization of models and they manufactured the implants by Electron-Beam Melting ($EBM^{(R)}$), using an Arcam $EBM^{(R)}$ A2X machine.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.363-367
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• 1992

The crystal structure of (1,3,6,9,11,14-hexaazatricycol[12.2.1.$1^{6,9}$]octadecane)copper(Ⅱ) perchlorate, Cu($C_{12}H_{26}N_6$)$(ClO_4)_2$, has been determined by the X-ray diffraction methods. The crystal data are as follows: Mr=516.9, triclinic, ${\alpha}=8.572\;(2)$, b=8.499 (3), c=15.204 (3) ${\AA}$, ${\alpha}=80.42\;(5),\;{\beta}=73.57\;(3),\;{\gamma}=69.82\;(4)^{\circ},\;V=994.2\;{\AA}^3,\;D_C=1.726\;gcm^{-3}$, space group $P{\tilde{1}},\;Z=2,\;{\mu}=21.27\;cm^{-1}&, F(000)=534 and T=297 K. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full-matrix least-squares methods to and R value of 0.081 for 1608 observed reflections measured with graphite-mono-chromated Mo Ka radiation on a diffractometer. There are two independent complexes in the unit cell. The two copper ions lie at the special positions (1/2, 0, 0) and (0, 1/2, 1/2)and each complex possesses crystallographic center of symmetry. Each Cu ion is coordinated to four nitrogen donors if the hexaazamacrotricyclic ligand and weakly interacts with two oxygen atoms of the perchlorate ions to form a tetragonally distorted octahedral coordination geometry. The Cu_N (sec), Cu_N(tert) and Cu_O coordination distances are 1.985 (14), 2.055 (14) and 2.757 (13) ${\AA}$ for the complex A and 1.996 (10), 2.040 (11) and 2.660 (13) ${\AA}$ for the complex B, respectively. The macrocycles in the two independent cations assume a similar conformation with the average r.m.s. deviation of 0.073 ${\AA}$. Two 1,3-diazacyclopentane ring moieties of the hexaazamacrotricyclic ligand are placed oppositely and almost perpendicularly to the square coordination plane of the ruffled 14-membered macrocycle. The secondary N atoms are hydrogen-bonded to the perchlorate O atoms with distances of 3.017 (23) and 3.025 (19) ${\AA}$ for the complexes A and B, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2009

Indium tin oxide(ITO) thin films were deposited on the glass substrates by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering method. The influence of rapid thermal annealing (RTA) treatment on the optical and electrical properties of the films were investigated for the purpose of fabricating plasma display signboard. Structural properties, surface roughness, sheet resistance and transmittance of the ITO film were analysed by using x-ray diffraction method, atomic force microscopy (AFM), four point prove, and ultraviolet-visible spectrometer, respectively. It was found that the RTA treatment increased the transmittance and decreased the resistivity of the ITO film, respectively. Furthermore, we successfully demonstrated the direct-current plasma signboard by using ITO electrode and phosphors.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.221-226
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• 2021

We fabricate the non-equiatomic high-entropy alloy (NE-HEA) Fe_49.5Mn₃₀Co₁₀Cr₁₀C_0.5 (at.%) using spark plasma sintering under various sintering conditions. Each elemental pure powder is milled by high-energy ball milling to prepare NE-HEA powder. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the sintered samples are investigated using various methods. We use the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method to investigate the microstructural characteristics. Quantitative phase analysis is performed by direct comparison of the XRD results. A tensile test is used to compare the mechanical properties of small samples. Next, electron backscatter diffraction analysis is performed to analyze the phase fraction, and the results are compared to those of XRD analysis. By combining different sintering durations and temperature conditions, we attempt to identify suitable spark plasma sintering conditions that yield mechanical properties comparable with previously reported values. The samples sintered at 900 and 1000℃ with no holding time have a tensile strength of over 1000 MPa.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.506-518
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• 2021

The imprinted tumour suppressor NOEY2 is downregulated in various cancer types, including ovarian cancers. Recent data suggest that NOEY2 plays an essential role in regulating the cell cycle, angiogenesis and autophagy in tumorigenesis. However, its detailed molecular function and mechanisms in ovarian tumours remain unclear. In this report, we initially demonstrated the inhibitory effect of NOEY2 on tumour growth by utilising a xenograft tumour model. NOEY2 attenuated the cell growth approximately fourfold and significantly reduced tumour vascularity. NOEY2 inhibited the phosphorylation of the signalling components downstream of phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinase (PI3K), including phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK-1), tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC-2) and p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), during ovarian tumour progression via direct binding to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Particularly, the N-terminal domain of NOEY2 (NOEY2-N) had a potent anti-angiogenic activity and dramatically downregulated VEGF and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), key regulators of angiogenesis. Since no X-ray or nuclear magnetic resonance structures is available for NOEY2, we constructed the three-dimensional structure of this protein via molecular modelling methods, such as homology modelling and molecular dynamic simulations. Thereby, Lys15 and Arg16 appeared as key residues in the N-terminal domain. We also found that NOEY2-N acts as a potent inhibitor of tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. These findings provide convincing evidence that NOEY2-N regulates endothelial cell function and angiogenesis by interrupting the VEGFR-2/PDK-1/GSK-3β signal transduction and thus strongly suggest that NOEY2-N might serve as a novel anti-tumour and anti-angiogenic agent against many diseases, including ovarian cancer.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 2022

ZnO single layer (60 nm thick) and ZnO with Ag interlayer (ZnO/Ag/ZnO; ZAZ) films were deposited on the glass substrates by using radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) magnetron sputter to evaluate the effectiveness of Ag interlayer on the optical visible transmittance and the conductivity of the films. In the ZAZ films, the thickness of ZnO layers was kept at 30 nm, while the Ag thickness was varied as 5, 10, 15 and 20 nm. In X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, ZnO films show the (002) diffraction peak and ZAZ films also show the weak ZnO (002) peak and Ag (111) diffraction peak. As a thickness of Ag interlayer increased to 20 nm, the grain size of the Ag films enlarged to 11.42 nm and the optical band gap also increased from 4.15 to 4.22 eV with carrier concentration increasing from 4.9 to 10.5×10²¹ cm^-3. In figure of merit measurements, the ZAZ films with a 10 nm thick Ag interlayer showed the higher figure of merit of 4.0×10^-3 Ω^-1 than the ZnO single layer and another ZAZ films. From the experimental result, it is assumed that the Ag interlayer enhanced effectively the opto-electrical performance of the ZAZ films.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2022

Objective: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress engages the unfolded protein response (UPR) that serves as an important mechanism for modulating hepatic fatty acid oxidation and lipogenesis. Chronic fasting in mice induced the UPR activation to regulate lipid metabolism. However, there is no direct evidence of whether negative energy balance (NEB) induces ER stress in the liver of cows. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between the NEB attributed to feed deprivation and ER stress in bovine hepatocytes. Methods: Blood samples and liver biopsy tissues were collected from 6 non-lactating cows before and after their starvation for 48 h. The blood non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) and glucose level were analyzed. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to explore the regulation of genes associated with UPR and lipid metabolism. Results: The starvation increased the plasma BHBA and NEFA levels and decreased the glucose level. Additionally, the starvation caused significant increases in the mRNA expression level of spliced X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1s) and the protein level of phosphorylated inositol-requiring kinase 1 alpha (p-IRE1α; an upstream protein of XBP1) in the liver. The mRNA expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and its target fatty acid oxidation- and ketogenesis-related genes were significantly upregulated by the starvation-mediated NEB. Furthermore, we found that the mRNA expression levels of lipogenic genes were not significantly changed after starvation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that in the initial stage of NEB in dairy cows, the liver coordinates an adaptive response by activating the IRE1 arm of the UPR to enhance ketogenesis, thereby avoiding a fatty liver status.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.341-350
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• 2021

Purpose: The use of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans in biomedical and dental research is growing rapidly. This study aimed to explore the scientific literature on approaches and applications of micro-CT in restorative dentistry. Materials and Methods: An electronic search of publications from January 2009 to March 2021 was conducted using ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The search included only English-language articles. Therefore, only studies that addressed recent advances and the potential uses of micro-CT in restorative and preventive dentistry were selected. Results: Micro-CT is a tool that enables 3-dimensional imaging on a small scale with very high resolution. In this method, there is no need for sample preparation or slicing. Therefore, it is possible to examine the internal structure of tissue and the internal adaptation of materials to surfaces without destroying them. Due to these advantages, micro-CT has been recommended as a standard imaging tool in dental research for many applications such as tissue engineering, endodontics, restorative dentistry, and research on the mineral density of hard tissues and bone growth. However, the high costs of micro-CT, the time necessary for scanning and reconstruction, computer expertise requirements, and the enormous volume of information are drawbacks. Conclusion: The potential of micro-CT as an emerging, accurate, non-destructive approach is clear, and the valuable research findings reported in the literature provide an impetus for researchers to perform future studies focusing on employing this method in dental research.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.199-204
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• 2022

A new three-dimensional Gd-MOF, [Gd(p-XBP4)₄(H₂O)]·W(CN)₈; (1; p-XBP4 = N,N'-p-phenylenedimethylenbis (pyridin-4-one)) has been synthesized by slow-evaporation and its crystal structure was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) analysis. For each Gd^III ion, there are seven coordination sites, which are occupied by six oxygen atoms of six p-XBP4 ligands and one oxygen atom from the water molecule. The [W(CN)₈]^3- anion exists for charge balance with cationic framework. The Gd^II ions are interconnected by the p-XBP4 ligand to form the three-dimensional structure. Considering the magnetic property of lanthanide ions, magnetic studies of Gd-MOF were investigated by direct-current (DC) magnetic susceptibilities measurements.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.30.1-30.9
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• 2022

Hereditary spastic paraplegia is a not common inherited neurological disorder with heterogeneous clinical expressions. ALDH18A1 (located on 10q24.1) gene-related spastic paraplegias (SPG9A and SPG9B) are rare metabolic disorders caused by dominant and recessive mutations that have been found recently. Autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia is a common and clinical type of familial spastic paraplegia linked to the SPG11 locus (locates on 15q21.1). There are different symptoms of spastic paraplegia, such as muscle atrophy, moderate mental retardation, short stature, balance problem, and lower limb weakness. Our first proband involves a 45 years old man and our second proband involves a 20 years old woman both are affected by spastic paraplegia disease. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the patients, their parents, and their siblings using a filter-based methodology and quantified and used for molecular analysis and sequencing. Sequencing libraries were generated using Agilent SureSelect Human All ExonV7 kit, and the qualified libraries are fed into NovaSeq 6000 Illumina sequencers. Sanger sequencing was performed by an ABI prism 3730 sequencer. Here, for the first time, we report two cases, the first one which contains likely pathogenic NM_002860: c.475C>T: p.R159X mutation of the ALDH18A1 and the second one has likely pathogenic NM_001160227.2: c.5454dupA: p.Glu1819Argfs Ter11 mutation of the SPG11 gene and also was identified by the whole-exome sequencing and confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Our aim with this study was to confirm that these two novel variants are direct causes of spastic paraplegia.