• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.8-14
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• 2015

Plants grown in metal-contaminated sites have to be managed and disposed of safely even in phytoremediation because heavy metals can be transferred to other organisms through the food chain, which could result in bioaccumulation in organisms of a higher trophic level. However, if the harvested plants could be used for bioenergy, the ecological risk is reduced and phytoremediation improves economic feasibility. This study researched the effects of EDDS (Ethylenediamine disuccinate) on the heavy metal uptake performance of Brassica campetris and Sorghum biocolor, both of which have potential as bioenergy plants. The results showed that EDDS could increase Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd, and Zn concentrations in the roots and shoots of both of these plants. Furthermore, EDDS reduced the metal inhibition of the S. bicolor length growth. The translocation factors (TF) of S. bicolor and B. campestris are smaller than one for all five heavy metals tested and decreased by the following order: heavy metal + EDDS > heavy metals only > uncontaminated soil. The results suggest that with regard to plant growth and metal accumulation, S. bicolor treated with EDDS is more suitable than is B. campestris for the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with multiple metal species.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.49-54
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• 2004

Purpose : To valuate the usefulness of mammographic image by using phantom 1,2 to controls the enhancement of image quality. Procedure : Set up same equipments for experiment (all the qualification must be the same). Control group and 4 other experiment the developing mammographys by using the image system with film/intensifying screen and distribute marks on each test objects of phantom 1, 2. Result : The results of the experiment using phantom 1, 2 on control group and 4 others are : 1. phantom 1's valuation with 3 items. - control group received 29 out of 32 - group A received 25 - group B received 16 - group C received 11.5 - group D received 28.5 The evaluation shows that the system has proved to display excellent image quality except group B and C. 2. Phantom 2's valuation with 4 items. - control group received 38 out of 38 - group A received 30 - group B received 16 - group C received 12.5 - group D received 38 Even with phantom 2, group B and C has displayed poor image quality. Conclusion : Both experiments using phantom 1 and 2 have shown that the most strong factor that control and influence the image quality are the filming equipments. Especially, the developing system has most powerful influence above all.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.257-280
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• 2014

In this paper, a novel PARAllel FACtor (PARAFAC) decomposition based Blind Source Separation (BSS) algorithm is proposed for modal identification of structures equipped with tuned mass dampers. Tuned mass dampers (TMDs) are extremely effective vibration absorbers in tall flexible structures, but prone to get de-tuned due to accidental changes in structural properties, alteration in operating conditions, and incorrect design forecasts. Presence of closely spaced modes in structures coupled with TMDs renders output-only modal identification difficult. Over the last decade, second-order BSS algorithms have shown significant promise in the area of ambient modal identification. These methods employ joint diagonalization of covariance matrices of measurements to estimate the mixing matrix (mode shape coefficients) and sources (modal responses). Recently, PARAFAC BSS model has evolved as a powerful multi-linear algebra tool for decomposing an $n^{th}$ order tensor into a number of rank-1 tensors. This method is utilized in the context of modal identification in the present study. Covariance matrices of measurements at several lags are used to form a $3^{rd}$ order tensor and then PARAFAC decomposition is employed to obtain the desired number of components, comprising of modal responses and the mixing matrix. The strong uniqueness properties of PARAFAC models enable direct source separation with fine spectral resolution even in cases where the number of sensor observations is less compared to the number of target modes, i.e., the underdetermined case. This capability is exploited to separate closely spaced modes of the TMDs using partial measurements, and subsequently to estimate modal parameters. The proposed method is validated using extensive numerical studies comprising of multi-degree-of-freedom simulation models equipped with TMDs, as well as with an experimental set-up.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.170-177
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• 2006

Hydrogen can extend the lean misfire limit to a large extent when it is mixed with conventional fuels for a spark ignition engine. In this study, hydrogen-enriched gaseous fuels by reforming process were simulated according to their proportions of $H_2$, CO, $CO_2$ and $N_2$ gases. Pure hydrogen and two different hydrogen-enriched gaseous mixtures(A-, B-composition) were tested for their basic effects on the engine performances and emissions in a single cylinder research engine. A- and B-composition showed different results from 100% $H_2$ addition because air/fuel mixtures were more diluted by their additions. Even though the energy fraction of reformed gases was increased, combustion stabilities and lean misfire limits were not sensitively improved. It means that combustion augmentation by $H_2$ addition was offset by the charge dilution of $N_2$ and $CO_2$. In addition, the low flammability of CO gas deteriorated thermal efficiencies. CO emission was drastically increased with B-composition which included higher CO component. However, $NO_x$ was reduced as energy fraction($X_e$) rised except for the case of 100% $H_2$ addition at $\lambda=1.2$ and was, for A-composition, lowered to a factor of ten when compared with that of $H_2$ addition. HC emissions were largely influenced by $COV_{imep}$ due to misfire and partial burns.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.269-277
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• 2016

Erm proteins methylate the specific adenine residue ($A_{2058}$, E. coli numbering) on 23S rRNA to confer the $MLS_B$ (macrolidelincosamide-streptogramin B) antibiotic resistance on a variety of microorganisms ranging from antibiotic producers to pathogens. When phylogenetic tree is constructed, two main clusters come out forming each cluster of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. Two representative Erm proteins from each cluster were selected and their in vitro methylation activities were compared. ErmS and ErmE from Actinobacteria cluster exhibited much higher activities than ErmB and ErmC' from Firmicutes: 9 fold difference when ErmC' and ErmE were compared and 13 fold between ErmS and ErmB. Most of the difference was observed and presumed to be caused by N-terminal and C-terminal extra region from ErmS and ErmE, respectively because NT59TE in which N-terminal end 59 amino acids was truncated from wild type ErmS exhibited only 22.5% of wild type ErmS activity. Meanwhile, even NT59TE showed three and 2.2 times more activity when it was compared to ErmB and C, respectively, suggesting core region from antibiotic producers contains extra structure enabling higher activity. This is suggested to be possible through the extra region of 197RWS199 (from both ErmS and ErmE), 261GVGGSLY267 (from ErmS), and 261GVGGNIQ267 (from ErmE) and 291SVV293 (from ErmS) and 291GAV293 (from ErmE) by multiple sequence alignment.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1316-1321
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• 2009

Multiple beneficial properties of Opuntia ficus indica (OPF) are well established. In the present study, we have investigated the immunological role of OPF extract (OPFE) on murine splenocytes. OPFE dose- and time-dependently enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes without cytotoxicity. Our results also showed that the number of $CD4^+$ helper T cells and CD45R/$B220^+$ pan B cells increased markedly, but not $CD8^+$ cytotoxic T cells or $CD11b^+$ granulocytes/macrophages. In addition, OPFE significantly decreased the production levels of T helper (Th) 1 type cytokines, interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, although had no significantly differences in those of interleukin (IL)-4, a Th2 type cytokine in concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated blastogenic cells. Furthermore, OPFE alone strongly increased IL-4 production and decreased TNF-$\alpha$ production even in the absence of Con A. On the basis of these results, this study suggests that OPFE enhances immunity by regulating the pro- and anti-inflammatory response, indicating that this extract exerts a marked immunomodulatory effect, confirming its usefulness as therapy for immune-related diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2017

In the human airway, mucus exists to protect the respiratory system as a primary barrier of the innate immune system. However, hyperexpressed mucus limits airflow, resulting in a decrease of lung function. Among more than 20 mucin family members, MUC5AC and MUC5B are major glycoproteins in human airway mucus. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway is one of the mechanisms of these mucins expression and specificity protein-1 (Sp1) transcription factor is the downstream signal of this pathway, playing pivotal roles in mucin expression. Even though there are some drugs for treating mucus hypersecretion, no drug has proven effects on humans. We found that the flavonoid tilianin regulated MUC5AC expression and also inhibited Sp1 phosphorylation. In this study, we investigated how tilianin would modulate EGFR signaling and regulate mucin production. In conclusion, tilianin inhibited MUC5AC expression mediated via modulating the EGFR-MEK-ERK-Sp1 signaling pathway in NCI-H292 human airway epithelial cells. This study may provide the basis for the novel treatment of mucus hypersecretion.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.639-647
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• 2009

In this work, wrapping conductors with thin magnetic materials is proposed as a magnetic shielding method. The 0.1 mm thick metal sheets of mu-metal, grain-oriented electrical steel, and non-oriented electrical steel were produced from commercial alloy sheets through cold rolling and followed high temperature annealing. In case of 3-phase electric currents, mu-metal was the best in shielding performance at a B-field magnitude of about 100 ${\mu}T$, whereas silicon steels were better than mu-metal at a B-magnitude over 500 ${\mu}T$. In addition, wrapping with silicon steel(inner) together with mu-metal(outer) resulted in a shielding factor less than 0.1 even at 500 ${\mu}T$. These results are due to changes in hierarchy of magnetic permeabilities of the materials with increasing magnetic field strength. In case of single-phase electric current, B-magnitude outside the magnetic shell was rather increased compared to the unshielded case. This result is explained by vector composition of B-fields near magnetic shielding materials.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 1998

Consumers have recently preferred to purchase extensive UV intercepting products, which are waterproof and free from side effects on skin. During the testing of cytotoxicity (in-vitro) in neutral red (NR) method, cell survival ratio of UV-B interceptors decreased to just above 0.08 w/v%, and it was observed that the UV-A interceptors the ratio also decreased to just above 0.06 w/v%. In addition patch-tests of inorganic UV interceptors resulted in no skin irritation even below 10.0 and 11.25. In absorption curves, UV-B was most suitable for octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) and UV-A for butyl methoxy dibenzoylmethane (BMDM). For this reason, $Nylonpoly^{TM}$ UVA/UVB the material of OMC and BMDM coated with Nylon & polyethylene, was used as the organic UV interceptor. Zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) was used as inorganic UV interceptors. The appropriate mixture ratio of ZnO and $TiO_2$ was 6 to 4:6% of ZnO, 4% of $TiO_2$ and 5% of $Nylonpoly^{TM}$ UVA/UVB were all combined and added to our sunscreen cream. The SPF value of in-vitro was 38.9. In practical application, each sun protection factor (SPF) duration of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion and water-in-silicone (W/S) emulsion containing sunscreen cream of the same content showed that W/S type of sunscreen cream was 5 times as durable as the other. Therefore, this product is fit for use in swimming, climbing or skiing. This research is to minimize skin trouble caused by UV interceptors and to make one with proper softness, skin safety and UV intercepting efficiency.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.92-92
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• 2019

Excessive or chronic inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases such as sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. Hibiscus syriacus L. has been used as a medicinal plant in many Asian countries, even though its anti-inflammatory activity has been unclear. Therefore, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of anthocyanin fractions from the H. syriacus L. varieties Pulsae (PS) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines in RAW264.7 macrophages. PS suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) secretion concomitant with downregulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Furthermore, PS inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-12 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Further study showed that PS significantly decreased LPS-induced nuclear translocation of the nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) subunits, p65 and p50. Molecular docking data showed that many anthocyanins from PS fit into the hydrophobic pocket of MD2 and bound to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), indicating that PS inhibits the TLR4-MD2-mediated inflammatory signaling pathway. Especially, apigenin-7-O-glucoside most powerfully bound to MD2 and TLR4 through LYS122, LYS122, and SER127 at a distance of $2.205{\AA}$, $3.098{\AA}$, and $2.844{\AA}$ and SER441 at a distance of $2.873{\AA}$ (docking score: -8.4) through hydrogen bonding, respectively. Additionally, PS inhibited LPS-induced TLR4 dimerization/expression on the cell surface, which consequently decreased MyD88 recruitment and IRAK4 phosphorylation. PS completely blocked LPS-mediated mortality in zebrafish larvae by diminishing the recruitment of neutrophil and macrophages accompanied by low levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Taken together, our results indicate that PS attenuates LPS-mediated inflammation in both in vitro and in vivo by blocking the TLR4/MD2-MyD88/IRAK4-$NF-{\kappa}B$ axis. Therefore, PS might be used as a novel modulatory candidate for effective treatment of LPS-mediated inflammatory diseases.