• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.195-204
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• 2012

Recently, we reported growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6) as a new maternal effect gene (MEG), that expressed in the oocytes but functioned principally during embryogenesis. Gas6 RNAi-treated oocytes developed to metaphase II (MII) stage but they have affected M-phase promoting factor (MPF) activity and incurred abnormal pronuclear (PN) formation during fertilization. Gas6 is a ligand of TAM family members (Tyro3, Axl and Mertk) of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK). Purpose of the present study was to evaluate the expression of Tyro3, Axl and Mertk transcripts in oocytes and early embryos. Expression of Gas6 and Mertk mRNA was detectable in oocytes and follicular cells, while Tyro3 and Axl mRNA was expressed only in follicular cells. Expression of Mertk mRNA was relatively constant during oocytes maturation and embryogenesis, but the other receptors, Tyro3 and Axl, were not expressed in oocytes and PN stage of embryos at all. Knockdown of Mertk mRNA and protein by using sequence-specific Mertk double strand RNA (dsRNA) did not affect oocytes maturation. In this case, however, contrary to the ligand Gas6 RNA interference (RNAi), MPF activity had not been changed by Mertk RNAi. Therefore, we concluded that the Gas6-Mertk signaling is not directly related to the oocyte maturation. It is still required to study further regarding the function of Mertk as the receptor of Gas6 during preimplantational early embryogenesis.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.387-396
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• 2003

A field study was conducted during the summer time of 2002 to determine compositions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from vehicles and to develop source emission profiles that is applied to CMB model to estimate the source contribution of certain area. Source emission profile is widely used for the estimation of source contribution by the chemical mass balance model and have to be developed applicable for the target area of estimation. This study was aimed to develop source emission profile and estimation of source contribution of VOCs after application of the chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model. After considering the emission inventory and other research results for the VOCs in Seoul, Korea, the sources like vehicle emission (tunnel), gas station (gasoline, diesel), solvent usage (painting operation, dry cleaning, graphic art), and gas fuels were selected for the major VOCs sources. Furthermore, ambient air samples were simultaneously collected from 09:00 to 11:00 for four days at eight different official air quality monitoring sites as receptors in Seoul during summer of 2001. Source samples were collected by canisters, and then about seventy volatile organic compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC/FID). Based on both the developed source profiles and the database of the receptors, CMB model was intensively applied to estimate mass contribution of VOCs sources. Examining the source profile from the vehicle, the portion of alkanes of VOCs was highest, and then the portion of aromatics such toluene, m/p-xylene were followed. In case of gas fuel. they have their own components; the content of butane, propane, ethane was higher than any other component according to the fuel usage. The average of the source apportionment on VOCs for 8 sites showed that the major sources were vehicle emission and gas fuels. The vehicle emission source was revealed as having the highest contribution with an average of 49.6%, and followed by solvent with 21.3%, gas fuel with 16.1%, gasoline with 13.1%.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2022

Background: Cupressus arizonica Greene is a coniferous tree with great importance in fragrance and pharmaceutical industries. Essential oils from C. arizonica (EC) have shown potential antioxidant, and anti-microbial activities. This study aimed at investigating the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects/mechanisms of EC. Methods: The EC was evaluated for anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities on male Wistar rats using a formalin test and carrageenan-induced paw edema, respectively. Also, we pre-treated some of the animals with naloxone and flumazenil in the formalin test to find out the possible contributions of opioid and benzodiazepine receptors to EC anti-nociceptive effects. Finally, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was used to identify the EC's constituents. Results: EC in intraperitoneal doses of 0.5 and 1 g/kg significantly decrease the nociceptive responses in both early and late phases of the formalin test. From a mechanistic point of view, flumazenil administration 20 minutes before the most effective dose of EC (1 g/kg) showed a meaningful reduction in the associated anti-nociceptive responses during the early and late phases of the formalin test. Naloxone also reduced the anti-nociceptive role of EC in the late phase. Furthermore, EC at the doses of 1, 0.5, and 0.25 g/kg significantly reduced paw edema from 0.5 hours after carrageenan injection to 4 hours. GC/MS analysis showed that isolated EC is a monoterpene-rich oil with the major presence of α-pinene (71.92%), myrcene (6.37%), δ-3-carene (4.68%), β-pinene (3.71%), and limonene (3.34%). Conclusions: EC showed potent anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities with the relative involvement of opioid and benzodiazepine receptors.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.757-762
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• 2003

Since theoretical investigations of gas phase clusters enable the evaluation of intrinsic molecular properties and intermolecular interactions, one can predict the macroscopic properties of bulk matter, from a microscopic determination of the properties of individual atoms, molecules, or clusters. Based on the insights obtained from theoretical investigations of the properties of a large number of cluster systems (ranging from simple water clusters to large π-systems), we have investigated the properties of various novel molecular systems including endo/exohedral fullerenes, nanotori, nonlinear optical materials, ionophores/receptors, polypeptides, enzymes, organic nanotubes, nanowires, and electronic and nano-mechanical molecular devices. The present minireview highlights some of the interesting results obtained in the course of our extensive theoretical investigations of clusters and nanomaterials.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.2723-2725
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• 2014

Recently we have reported a novel class of anion receptors which are based on 2n-crown-n topology. Trioxane derivatives are capable of anion sensing through pure aliphatic C-H hydrogen bonding. In this work, we highlight another interesting property, i.e., they can also recognize cations as normal crown ethers (3n-crown-n topology). Since the same functional moiety can recognize anions and cations, these coronands are predicted to be amphi-ionophores. However, we could not detect cations even in the gas phase. Considering trioxane is analogous to [$1_6$]starand, this was rather counter-intuitive. The calculation results show that these coronands can detect alkali metals with very low affinity. The low affinity toward cations should be responsible for this failure of experimental detection. With careful theoretical study, we found that this low affinity toward cations could be explained by the unfavorable charge-dipolar moiety orientations as proposed by Cui et al. As in the case of [$1_6$]starand, this is an example that underscores the importance of charge-dipolar moiety orientation in supramolecular interactions.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.265-272
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• 1999

A simultaneous profile analysis of 19 environmental estrogens, which act like estrogen and may effect the endocrine system by binding to hormone receptors or influencing cell signaling pathways, was attempted. The present method was based on the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). It involves solid-liquid extraction, enzyme hydrolysis, liquid-liquid extraction and quantitative conversion into trimethylsilyl (TMS)-ether derivatives. Analytical recovery range was 47.6 ~ 99.5% and the RSD values of within-a-day and day-to-day test were 0.66 ~ 9.33%, 1.66 ~ 16.14%, respectively. The Korean reference values for the evaluation of environmental estrogen effects were established by this method.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.359-366
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• 2009

CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) is considered as the most promising interim solution to deal with the greenhouse gas such as $CO_2$ responsible for global warming. Even though carefully chosen geologic formations are known to contain stored gas for a long time period, there are potential risks of leakage. Up to now, applicable risk assessment procedures for the leakage of $CO_2$ are not available. This study presents a basis for risk analysis applicable to a complex geologic storage system. It starts with the classification of potential leakage pathways. Receptors and the leakage effect on them are identified and quantified. Then, a fault tree is constructed, which yields the minimum cut set (i.e., the most vulnerable leakage pathway) and quantifies the probability of the leakage risk through the cut set. The methodology will provide a tool for risk assessment in a CCS project. The outcomes of the assessment will not only ensure the safety of the CCS system but also offer a reliable and efficient monitoring plan.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.233-249
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• 1984

To find out the effects of ginsenosides to some parameters of the haemodynamic and gas exchange depending to the autonomic nervous system - and to border it against the psychosomatic nervous ways was the idea of these studies. The lot of the effects are very differentiated, so that we have to find out the special ginsenoside receptors in that system.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.562-573
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• 2008

Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) measured from the local industrial sources in Wanju industrial complex during June $2007{\sim}January$ 2008. The samples were collected from the primary sources (6 emission points) in 4 major factories in Wanju industrial complex as well as two general sources in Wanju County to elucidate the abundances of speciated VOCs and their spacial and temporal distributions depending on source bases. Industrial sources are as follows; fabricated metal manufacture, motor vehicle manufacture, rubber and plastic manufacture, and chemical manufacture factories. Two general source samples were collected from gasoline gas station and dry cleaning shop in urban area. In order to understand the near source influence at receptor, samples from the two receptor sites (one is at center of the industrial complex and the other site is at distance residential area downwind from the center) were collected with sample canister, and analyzed by using GC/MSD. The concentrations from different sources were compared and discussed. The mass contributions of the speciated VOCs to total VOCs measured from industrial sources and ambient ai r at two receptors were presented and discussed.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.477-490
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• 2014

Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma, also named cold plasma, is defined as a partly ionized gas. Therefore, it cannot be equated with plasma from blood; it is not biological in nature. Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma is a new innovative approach in medicine not only for the treatment of wounds, but with a wide-range of other applications, as e.g. topical treatment of other skin diseases with microbial involvement or treatment of cancer diseases. This review emphasizes plasma effects on wound healing. Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma can support wound healing by its antiseptic effects, by stimulation of proliferation and migration of wound relating skin cells, by activation or inhibition of integrin receptors on the cell surface or by its pro-angiogenic effect. We summarize the effects of plasma on eukaryotic cells, especially on keratinocytes in terms of viability, proliferation, DNA, adhesion molecules and angiogenesis together with the role of reactive oxygen species and other components of plasma. The outcome of first clinical trials regarding wound healing is pointed out.