• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.179-184
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• 2021

Stratum corneum known as a skin barrier, which maintains water in skin, is the outer layer of the skin. Natural moisturizing factors (NMF) are one of the constituents in stratum corneum and amino acids are the highest components among NMF. In this study, we designed stearic acid-based solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for improved skin penetration of serine (Ser). Ser-capsulated SLN was manufactured by double-melting emulsification method. The mean particle size and zeta potential of SLNs were 256.30 ~ 416.93 nm and -17.60 ~ -35.27 mV, respectively. The higher the degree of hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity of emulsifiers, the smaller the particle size and the higher the stability and capsulation rate. In addition, skin penetration was conducted using SkinEthic^TM RHE which is one of the reconstructed human epidermis models. The results of Ser penetration demonstrated that all SLNs enhanced than serine solution. The amount of enhanced Ser penetration from SLNs were approximately 4.1 ~ 6.2 times higher than that from Ser solution. Therefore, Ser-loaded SLN might be a promising drug delivery system for moisturizing formulation in cosmeceutical.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.217-225
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• 1993

The role of endogenous brain angiotensin ll (Ang ll) in mediating the cardiovascular and vasopressin responses to hemorrhage was assessed in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) with or without losartan (DuP 753), a specific Ang ll receptor subtype I $(AT_1)$ antagonist and saralasin, a combined $AT_1/AT_2$ antagonist was administered into the cerebral lateral ventricle. Hemorrhage was performed at a rate of 3 ml/kg/min far 5 min. Intracerebroventricular administration of losartan and saralasin had no effect on the basal blood pressure. However, in response to acute hemorrhage, central Ang ll antagonists produced a remarkably greater fall in blood pressure, a reduced tachycardia, and an enhanced renin release compared with the aCSF control experiment in SHR, but effected no significant change in WKY rats. Central Ang ll-blocked SHR showed significantly lower blood pressure and heart rate during the recovery period than the aCSF control rats. Vasopressin release tallowing the hemorrhage was attenuated by icv Ang ll antagonists: the effect was more pronounced in SHR than in WKY rats. Centrally administered losartan and saralasin produced remarkably similar effects on the cardiovascular function and vasopressin responses to hemorrhage. These data suggest that brain Ang ll acting primarily through AT, receptors plays an important physiological role in mediating rapid cardiovascular regulation and vasopressin release in response to hemorrhage especially in Hypertensive rats.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.496-505
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• 2020

Background: Panax ginseng is a marvelous herbal remedy for all ailments of body. That may be why it is called Panax, which means "cure for all". Melanin is a pigment that gives color to our skin; however, increased melanin production can lead to tumor formation. Human exposure to ultraviolet B radiation has increased extensively owing to the increased sunlight due to global warming. Consequently, a phenomenon called photoaging has been observed for all skin colors and types. As a result of this phenomenon, a set of enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases, which serve as degradation enzymes for extracellular matrix proteins, mainly collagen, is increased, causing depletion of collagen and resulting in early wrinkle formation. Methods: Therefore, in our study, we used the murine melanoma cell line B16/F10 to study the inhibition of melanogenesis by Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) extract in vitro and HRM-2 hairless mice exposed to artificial ultraviolet B to examine the efficacy of KRG in vivo. We prepared a 3% red ginseng extract cream and evaluated its effects on human skin. Results: Our results demonstrated that KRG induced potent suppression of tyrosinase activity and melanin production in B16/F10 cells; moreover, it reduced the transcription and translation of components involved in the melanin production pathway. In the in vivo experiments, KRG potently suppressed the expression of matrix metalloproteinases, reduced wrinkle formation, and inhibited collagen degradation. On human skin, ginseng cream increased skin resilience and skin moisture and enhanced skin tone. Conclusion: Therefore, we conclude that KRG is an excellent skin whitening and antiaging product.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.151-158
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• 2009

To implement the insects' flapping flight for developing flapping MAVs(micro air vehicles), the unsteady flow characteristics of the insects' forward flight is investigated. In this paper, two-dimensional FSI(Fluid-Structure Interaction) simulations are conducted to examine realistic flow features of insects' flapping flight and to examine the flexibility effects of the insect's wing. The unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with an artificial compressibility method are implemented as the fluid module while the dynamic finite element equations using a direct integration method are employed as the solid module. In order to exchange physical information to each module, the common refinement method is employed as the data transfer method. Also, a simple and efficient dynamic grid deformation technique based on Delaunay graph mapping is used to deform computational grids. Compared to the earlier researches of two-dimensional rigid wing simulations, key physical phenomena and flow patterns such as vortex pairing and vortex staying can still be observed. For example, lift is mainly generated during downstroke motion by high effective angle of attack caused by translation and lagging motion. A large amount of thrust is generated abruptly at the end of upstroke motion. However, the quantitative aspect of flow field is somewhat different. A flexible wing generates more thrust but less lift than a rigid wing. This is because the net force acting on wing surface is split into two directions due to structural flexibility. As a consequence, thrust and propulsive efficiency was enhanced considerably compared to a rigid wing. From these numerical simulations, it is seen that the wing flexibility yields a significant impact on aerodynamic characteristics.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.416-423
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• 2019

A novel non-enzymatic oxalic acid (OA) sensor based on the platinum/carbon black-nickel-reduced graphene oxide (Pt/CBNi-rGO) nanocomposite is reported. The nanocomposites were prepared by the ethylene glycol reduction method. Their morphology and chemical composition were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results clearly demonstrated the formation of the Pt/CB-Ni-rGO nanocomposite. The electrocatalytic activity of the Pt/CB-Ni-rGO electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. It was determined that the appropriate amount of Pt enhanced the catalytic activity of Pt for oxalic acid electro-oxidation. Moreover, the modified electrode was determined to be highly selective for oxalic acid without interference from compounds commonly found in urine including uric acid and ascorbic acid. The chronoamperometric signal gave a wide linearity range of 20 μM-60 mM and the detection limit (3σ) was found to be 2.35 μM. The proposed method showed high selectivity, stability, and good reproducibility and could be used with micro-volumes of sample for the detection of oxalic acid. Finally, the oxalic acid content in artificial and control urine samples were successfully determined by our proposed electrode.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.221-229
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• 2000

Lactogenesis in mammary gland is under the control of various lactogenic hormones including hypophysial growth hormone and prolactin. Recent studies reported that such pituitary lactogenic hormones are also expressed in mammary cells as well as in pituitary. For the purpose to analyze the role of these non-pituitary hormones in mammary cells, $\beta$ -lactoglobulin (BLG) gene promoter was selected as a model system. The growth hormone suppressed BLG promoter activity when it was applied alone on cultured mammary HCll cells. Along with lactogenic hormones such as insulin, prolactin and glucocorticoid, however, it significantly enhanced expression of BLG promoter activity in a dosage- dependent manner. Exogenous expression of the growth hormone gene in cultured mammary cells also strongly promoted cell proliferation and BLG promoter activity. Bovine growth hormone promoter, on the contrary, did not revealed any notable activity. Above results suggest that endogenous expression of the pituitary hormone genes in mammary cells is not a regulation leakage but a physiological control. Moreover, artificial overproduction of the growth hormone in mammary gland may help increase milk production.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.439-445
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• 2017

Transplant production in a plant factory with artificial lighting provides several benefits; (1) rapid and uniform transplant production, (2) high production rate per unit area, and (3) production of disease free transplants production. To improve the growth of runner plants when strawberry transplants are produced in a plant factory, we conducted two experiments to investigate (1) the effect of different light intensity for stock and runner plants on the growth of runner plants, and (2) the effect of different container volume for runner plants on their growth. When the stock and runner plants were grown under nine different light conditions composed of three different light intensities (100, 200, and $400{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ PPF) for each stock and runner plants, increasing the light intensity for stock plants promoted the growth of runner plants, however, the growth of runner plants was not enhanced by increasing the light intensity for runner plants under same light intensity condition for stock plants. We also cultivated runner plants using plug trays with four different container volumes (21, 34, 73, and 150 mL) for 20 days after placing the stock plants, and found that using plug trays with lager container volume did not enhance the growth of runner plants. These results indicate that providing optimal condition for stock plants, rather than the runner plants, is more important for increasing the growth of the runner plants and that the efficiency of strawberry transplant production in a plant factory can be improved by decreasing light intensity or container volume for runner plants.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.237-242
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• 2006

Surfaces found in nature, including biological surfaces have been providing inspiration to modify/fabricate artificial surfaces as solutions for tribological applications. As an example, the concept of 'lotus-effect' has motivated tribologists world wide to modify/fabricate surfaces for enhanced tribological performance. These was done by creating nano/micro-scale asperities on various surfaces using ion beam milling and ion-beam assisted roughening. In order to understand the attributes of natural surfaces, which are inspirational to tribologists, we characterized the surface of two natural surfaces-Nelumbo nucifera (lotus) and Colocasia esculenta leaves. Further, we evaluated their micro-scale friction property, both in their fresh and dried conditions. The characterization of surfaces was conducted using a confocal microscope and SEM, which involved the evaluation of size and distribution of protuberances. The micro-scale friction property was evaluated using a ball-on-flat type micro-tribo tester, under reciprocating motion. A soda lime glass ball (2 mm diameter) was used in these tests. Tests were conducted at the applied normal load of $3000{\mu}N$, at a sliding speed of 1 mm/sec for a scan length of 3 mm. All experiments were conducted at ambient temperature ($24{\pm}1^{\circ}C}$) and relative humidity ($45{\pm}5%$). It was observed that the friction behaviour of the natural surfaces was influenced by their surface characteristics (morphology and distribution of protuberances) and also by the condition (fresh or dried) in which they were tested.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.239-247
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• 2011

Simvastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, which catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, an early and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Simvastatin has good permeability, but it also has low solubility (BCS class II), which reduces its bioavailability. To overcome this problem, a solid dispersion is formed using a spray-dryer with polymeric material carrier to potentially enhance the dissolution rate and extend drug absorption. As carriers for solid dispersion, Gelucire$^{(R)}$44/14 and Gelucire$^{(R)}$ 50/13 are semisolid excipients that greatly improve the bioavailability of poorly-soluble drugs. To avoid any toxic effects of an organic solvent, we used aqueous medium to melt Tween$^{(R)}$ 80 and distilled water. The structural behaviors of the raw materials and the solid dispersion were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The DSC and PXRD data indicated that the crystalline structure of simvastatin was transformed to an amorphous structure through solid dispersion. Then, solid dispersion-based tablets containing 20 mg simvastatin were prepared with excipients. Dissolution tests were performed in distilled water and artificial intestinal fluid using the USP paddle II method. Compared with that of the commercial tablet (Zocor$^{(R)}$ 20 mg), the release of simvastatin from solid dispersion based-tablet was more efficient. Although the stability study is not complete, this solid dispersion system is expected to deliver poorly water-soluble drugs with enhanced bioavailability and less toxicity.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2010

The effect of Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) and Rahnella aquatilis Ra39 against apple fire blight disease caused by Erwinia amylovora were tested as a possible alternative to streptomycin. In vitro studies, no inhibition effect against the pathogen was found when ASM was tested. Under greenhouse conditions, application of R. aquatilis Ra39 with the highly susceptible M26 rootstock resulted in a marked disease suppression. Application of ASM and strain Ra39 caused a high decrease of the disease, 82% and 58% respectively; this was correlated with a reduction of the growth of the pathogen within host plants up to 64% and 49.5% respectively. Further studies in the field under artificial infection condition during full bloom revealed that application of ASM and R. aquatilis Ra39 with Gala variety resulted in a control effect up to 21 and 29% respectively. In physiological studies, enhanced activities of PR-proteins (chitinase and $\beta$-1, 3-glucanase) were detected, which are well known as biochemical markers for systemic acquired resistance. Application of ASM to apple shoots caused the highest chitinase activity followed by strain Ra39. The enzyme activity was increased after 2, 4 and 6 days from application. In addition, ASM-treatment caused the higher $\beta$-1, 3-glucanase activity than strain Ra39. Maximum enzyme activity was recorded after 6 days from application and then decreased after 8 and 10 days from application.