• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.287-297
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• 2001

Contraction of smooth muscle is initiated by an increase in cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ leading to activation of $Ca^{2+}$/ calmodulin-dependnet myosin light chain (MLC) kinase and phosphorylation of MLC. The types of contraction and signaling mechanisms mediating contraction differ depending on the region. The involvement of these different mechanisms varies depending on the source of $Ca^{2+}$ and the kinetic of $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization. $Ca^{2+}$ mobilizing agonists stimulate different phospholipases $(PLC-{\beta},\;PLD\;and\;PLA_2)$ to generate one or more $Ca^{2+}$ mobilizing messengers $(IP_3\;and\;AA),$ and diacylglycerol (DAG), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC). The relative contributions of $PLC-{\beta},\;PLA_2$ and PLD to generate second messengers vary greatly between cells and types of contraction. In smooth muscle cell derived form the circular muscle layer of the intestine, preferential hydrolysis of $PIP_2$ and generation of $IP_3$ and $IP_3-dependent\;Ca^{2+}$ release initiate the contraction. In smooth muscle cells derived from longitudinal muscle layer of the intestine, preferential hydrolysis of PC by PLA2, generation of AA and AA-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ influx, cADP ribose formation and $Ca^{2+}-induced\;Ca^{2+}$ release initiate the contraction. Sustained contraction, however, in both cell types is mediated by $Ca^{2+}-independent$ mechanism involving activation of $PKC-{\varepsilon}$ by DAG derived form PLD. A functional linkage between $G_{13},$ RhoA, ROCK, $PKC-{\varepsilon},$ CPI-17 and MLC phosphorylation in sustained contraction has been implicated. Contraction of normal esophageal circular muscle (ESO) in response to acetylcholine (ACh) is linked to $M_2$ muscarinic receptors activating at least three intracellular phospholipases, i.e. phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC), phospholipase D (PLD) and the high molecular weight (85 kDa) cytosolic phospholipase $A_2\;(cPLA_2)$ to induce phosphatidylcholine (PC) metabolism, production of diacylglycerol (DAG) and arachidonic acid (AA), resulting in activation of a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent pathway. In contrast, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) contraction induced by maximally effective doses of ACh is mediated by muscarinic $M_3$ receptors, linked to pertussis toxin-insensitive GTP-binding proteins of the $G_{q/11}$ type. They activate phospholipase C, which hydrolyzes phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate $(PIP_2),$ producing inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate $(IP_3)$ and DAG. $IP_3$ causes release of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and formation of a $Ca^{2+}$-calmodulin complex, resulting in activation of myosin light chain kinase and contraction through a calmodulin-dependent pathway.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2016

Objectives: The mushroom Ganoderma lucidum has been widely used as a traditional herbal medicine for many years. Although several studies have focused on the anti-oxidative activity of this mushroom, the molecular mechanisms underlying its activity have not yet been clearly established. The present study investigated the cytoprotective effect of ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum (EGL) against oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide, $H_2O_2$) and elucidated the underlying mechanisms in a C2C12 myoblast cell line. Methods: Oxidative stress markers were determined by using the comet assay to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage. Cell viability and Western blotting analyses were employed to evaluate the cellular response to EGL and $H_2O_2$ in C2C12 cells. Transfection with nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-specific small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) was conducted to understand the relationship between Nrf2 expression and $H_2O_2$-induced growth inhibition. Results: The results showed that EGL effectively inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced growth and the generation of ROS. EGL markedly suppressed $H_2O_2$-induced comet-like DNA formation and phosphorylation of histone H2AX at serine 139 ($p-{\gamma}H2AX$), a widely used marker of DNA damage, suggesting that EGL prevented $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage. Furthermore, the EGL treatment effectively induced the expression of Nrf2, as well as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), with parallel phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Nrf2 in the C2C12 myoblasts. However, zinc protoporphyrin IX, a HO-1 inhibitor, significantly abolished the protective effects of EGL against $H_2O_2$-induced accumulation of ROS and reduced cell growth. Notably, transient transfection with Nrf2-specific siRNA attenuated the cytoprotective effects and HO-1 induction by EGL, indicating that EGL induced the expression of HO-1 in an Nrf2-dependent manner. Conclusion: Collectively, these results demonstrate that EGL augments the cellular anti-oxidant defense capacity through activation of Nrf2/HO-1, thereby protecting C2C12 myoblasts from $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative cytotoxicity.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.31 no.6B
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• pp.551-560
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• 2006

Security in WPAN is one of the most fundamental issues to overcome the barrier of wireless environment. Although piconet security mechanisms have been defined in the WPAN standards, many remains open and are left for implementation. Koinonia is a high-rate Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) technology, and is developed for multimedia traffic transmission in personal area. In Koinonia WPAN, a piconet consists of one master and more than one slave, and piconet security mechanisms is not defined at all. Therefore, we propose a robust piconet security mechanism for secure communications between slaves in a piconet. Based on security requirements analysis, our proposed protocols are shown to meet the security needs for Koinonia high-rate WPAN.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.378-393
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• 2022

As an emerging power generation technology, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have received increasing attention due to their boundless promise in energy harvesting and self-powered sensing applications. The recent rise of soft robotics has sparked widespread enthusiasm for developing flexible and soft sensors and actuators. TENGs have been regarded as promising power sources for driving actuators and self-powered sensors, providing a unique approach for the development of soft robots with soft sensors and actuators. In this review, TENG-based soft robots with different morphologies and different functions are introduced. Among them, the design of biomimetic soft robots that imitate the structure, surface morphology, material properties, and sensing/generating mechanisms of nature has greatly benefited in improving the performance of TENGs. In addition, various bionic soft robots have been well improved compared to previous driving methods due to the simple structure, self-powering characteristics, and tunable output of TENGs. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive review of various studies within specific areas of TENG-enabled soft robotics applications. We first explore various recently developed TENG-based soft robots and a comparative analysis of various device structures, surface morphologies, and nature-inspired materials, and the resulting improvements in TENG performance. Various ubiquitous sensing principles and generation mechanisms used in nature and their analogous artificial TENG designs are demonstrated. Finally, biomimetic applications of TENG enabled in tactile displays as well as in wearable devices, artificial electronic skin and other devices are discussed. System designs, challenges and prospects of TENGs-based sensing and actuation devices in the practical application of soft robotics are analyzed.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.28-39
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• 1985

The driving mechanisms for low level jets(LLJ) and coastal surface maximum winds are studied with observed wind data from June, 1976 through August, 1980 at Port Aransas and Victoria, Texas, in connection with a baroclinic model. This model is developed considering the forcing functions such as the synoptic and meso-scale pressure gradient, the frictional force, and the atmospheric stability. The results show that a LLJis observed on over 95% of the occasions when a nighttime coastal wind maximum occurred. Baroclinicity generated by sloping terrain during the summertime causes the diurnal variation in the thermal field. This thermal wind component would then decrease the prevailing synoptic-scale southerly wind by day and allow it to increase at night. Nighttime atmospheric stability leads to frictional decoupling which enhances the nocturnal LLJ. At the coastal site neutral stability prevails, thus all owing downward transfer of momentum from the nocturnal LLJ and results in the nocturnal coastal surface wind maximum. The height of LLJis not uniquely related to the inversion layer, and the results of the computations using this model show a good agreement with the observations.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.46-54
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• 2006

Various schemes for mobility are currently studied in ITU-T, 3GPP, IETF, and so on. Mobility support in NGN for seamless service is necessarily required. Currently proposed mechanisms are MIPV6,0, Q.MMF, and IMS. However the performance comparison of all existing schemes is not examined as yet. That is, the existing methods need to be compared according to each performance parameter. So, in this paper, we investigate and compare the performances of MIPv6,0, Q.MMF, IMS to location registration. In addition, this paper presents the performance comparison of handover latency times. For this, we use NS-2 simulator. As a result of analysis, Q.MMF shown the best performance as it is measured the minimum time and cost. And it has low handover latency time in comparison with other mechanisms.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.205-213
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• 2009

The mechanisms underlying the actions of the antioxidants upon reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by NADPH oxidase complex have remained uncertain. In this study, we investigated NADPH oxidase activity and the role of antioxidant enzymes upon the generation of ROS during hypoxic stress. ROS generation was found to increase in the mouse kidney under hypoxic stress in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, we found in MCT cells that hypoxia-induced hydrogen peroxide production was decreased by NAC pretreatment. We further analyzed HIF-$1{\alpha}$, PHD2 and VHL expression in the NAC-pretreated MCT cells and assessed the response of antioxidant enzymes at the transcriptional and translational levels. SOD3 and Prdx2 were significantly increased during hypoxia in the mouse kidney. We also confirmed in hypoxic $Prdx2^{-/-}$ and SOD3 transgenic mice that erythropoietin (EPO) is transcriptionally regulated by HIF-$1{\alpha}$. In addition, although EPO protein was found to be expressed in a HIF-$1{\alpha}$ independent manner in three mouse lines, its activity differed markedly between normal and $Prdx2^{-/-}$/SOD3 transgenic mice during hypoxic stress. In conclusion, our current results indicate that NADPH oxidase-mediated ROS generation is associated with hypoxic stress in the mouse kidney and that SOD3 and Prdx2 cooperate to regulate cellular redox reactions during hypoxia.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.32 no.2 s.57
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• pp.111-116
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• 2006

Essential oils have been used extensively in pharmacy, medicine, food, beverages, cosmetics, perfumery and aromatherapy. Although anti-bacteria, anti-virus, alleviation of fever operations and an anti-inflammatory properties have been reported, action mechanisms have not been fully discovered. In the present study, anti-inflammatory activities of thirty three essential oils have been evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells by the evaluation of nitric oxide (NO) generation since NO generation is implicated in causal factor of inflammation. Among the tested 33 essential oil, Lemongrass oil showed the most inhibitory effect on LPS-induced NO generation in a dose dependent manner ($IC_{50}$ : $22 {\mu}g/mL$). In further study, it was found that Lemongrass oil inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase. These results suggest that Lemongrass oil may be useful for improvements of the inflammatory disease such as pimple acne skin.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.9
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• pp.793-803
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• 2020

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) promote tumour progression by contributing to angiogenesis, immunosuppression, and immunotherapy resistance. Although recent studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) can promote the expansion of MDSCs in the tumour environment, the mechanisms involved in this process are largely unknown. Here, we report that microRNA 449c (miR-449c) expression was upregulated in myeloid progenitor cells upon activation of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) under tumour conditions. MiR-449c upregulation increased the generation of monocytic MDSCs (mo-MDSCs). The increased expression of miR-449c could target STAT6 mRNA in myeloid progenitor cells to shift the differentiation balance of myeloid progenitor cells and lead to an enhancement of the mo-MDSCs population in the tumour environment. Thus, our results demonstrate that the miR-449c/STAT6 axis is involved in the expansion of mo-MDSCs from myeloid progenitor cells upon activation of CXCR2, and thus, inhibition of miR-449c/STAT6 signalling may help to attenuate tumour progression.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.75-87
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• 2021

Air quality related to particulate matters and ammonia is being come to the fore as the national concern in Korea. CAPSS (Clean Air Policy Support System) provides emission coefficients of these kinds of particulate and gaseous matters in the fields of livestock; however reliability issues are consistently mentioned. Evaluation of emission rates of PM2.5 and NH3 of the country is very important, but only few studies are available as the background related to observation of the concentration of the particulate matter and ammonia, especially within livestock house in Korea. In this paper, long-term measurement of PM10, PM2.5, and ammonia within the mechanically ventilated broiler house were carried out to introduce backgrounds of generation and emission of the particulate matters and ammonia. Measurement results were analyzed according to seasonal changes, age of broilers(weeks) and measurement locations. Concentration of inhalable and respirable dust were also evaluated in terms of occupational respiratory health according to increase in broiler's activity. From the results of this study, identification of the generation mechanisms of the particulate and gaseous matters, and evaluation of the emission rate of these in the broiler house will be carried out.