• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.220-237
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• 2020

Modern electrochemical energy devices involve generation and reduction of fuel gases through electrochemical reactions of water splitting, alcohol oxidation, oxygen reduction, etc. Initially, these processes were executed in the presence of noble metal-based catalyst that showed low overpotential and high current density. However, its high cost, unavailability, corrosion and related toxicity limited its application. The search for alternative with high stability, durability, and efficiency led scientists towards carbon nanoparticles supported catalysts which has high surface area, good electrical conductivity, tunable morphology, low cost, ease of synthesis and stability. Carbon nanoparticles are classified into two groups based on morphology, one and zero dimensional particles. Carbon nanoparticles at zero dimension, denoted as carbon dots, are less used carbon support compared to other forms. However, recently carbon dots with improved electronic properties have become popular as catalyst as well as catalyst support. This review focused on the recent advances in electrocatalytic activities of carbon dots. The mechanisms of common electrocatalytic reactions and the role of the catalysts are also discussed. The review also proposed future developments and other research directions to overcome current limitations.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.728-738
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• 2020

Time and cost-effective production of next-generation sequencing data has enabled the performance of population-scale comparative and evolutionary studies for various species, which are essential for obtaining the comprehensive insight into molecular mechanisms underlying species- or breed-specific traits. In this study, the evolutionary and functional analysis of Korean native pig (KNP) was performed using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data by comparative and population genomic approaches with six different mammalian species and five pig breeds. We examined the evolutionary history of KNP SNPs, and the specific genes of KNP based on the uniqueness of non-synonymous SNPs among the used species and pig breeds. We discovered the evolutionary trajectory of KNP SNPs within the used mammalian species as well as pig breeds. We also found olfaction-associated functions that have been characterized and diversified during evolution, and quantitative trait loci associated with the unique traits of KNP. Our study provides new insight into the evolution of KNP and serves as a good example for a better understanding of domestic animals in terms of evolution and domestication using the combined approaches of comparative and population genomics.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2004

Nickel(II) compounds are carcinogenic metals which induce genotoxicity and oxidative stress through the generation of reactive oxygen species. In search of new molecular pathways toward understanding the molecular mechanism of nickel(II)-induced carcinogensis, we performed mRNA differential display analysis using total RNA extracted from nickel(II) acetate-treated normal rat kidney cells (NRK-52E). Cells were exposed for 3 days to 160 and 240 uM nickel(II) concentrations. cDNAs corresponding to mRNAs for which expression levels were altered by nickel(II) were isolated, sequenced, and followed by a GenBank Blast homology search. Specificity of differential expression of cDNAs was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Two of them (SH3BGRL3 and FHIT) were down-regulated and one (metallothionein) was up-regulated by nickel(II) treatment. The expression of these mRNAs were nickel(II) concentration-dependent. The levels of FHIT and metallothionein proteins were also consistent with the results for mRNAs. Overall, although the fundamental questions related to function of these genes in nickel(II)-mediated carcinogenicity are not answered, our study suggests that they can be interesting candidates for studies of molecular mechanisms of nickel(II) carcinogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.303-307
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• 2003

Tributyltin (TBT) used world-wide in antifouling paints toy ships is a wide-spread environmental pollutant. At low doses, antiproliferative modes of action have been shown to be involved, whereas at higher doses apoptosis seems to be the mechanism of toxicity in reproductive organs by TBT. In this study, we investigated that the mechanisms underlying apoptosis induced by TBT in R2C cell. Effects of TBT on intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were investigated in R2C cells by fluorescence detector. TBT significantly induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level in a time-dependent manner. The rise in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level was followed by a time-dependent generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the cytosol level. Simultaneously, TBT induced the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial membrane into the cytosol. Furthermore, ROS production and the release of cytochrome c were reduced by BAPTA, an intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, indicating the important role of $Ca^{2+}$ in R2C during these early intracellular events. In addition, Z-DEVD FMB, a caspase -3 inhibitor, decreased apoptosis by TBT. Taken together, the present results indicated that the apoptotic pathway by TBT might start with an increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level, continues with release of ROS and cytochrome c from mitochondria, activation of caspases, and finally results in DNA fragmentation.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of Taraxaci Herba (TH) on cell death in breast cancer cells. Methods : In this experiment, the effects of TH on proliferation rates, cell morphology and growth pattern, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In addition, the effects on nuclear condensation, fragmentation and formation of acidic vesicular organelles (AVO) in MCF-7 cells were also investigated. Finally, autophagy related with protein was observed by using western blot method. Results : TH inhibited proliferation of MCF-7 cells, TH elevated intracellular ROS levels significantly. Treatment with TH did not affect nuclear morphologies such as condensation or fragmentation. On the other hand, TH treatment effectively induced AVO. Finally, one of autophagy related with protein, Microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3A (MAP1LC3A, LC3) level was elevated by treatment with TH. Conclusions : These data indicate that TH is able to be used for patient with breast cancer and mechanisms are involved in autophagy through ROS generation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.509-515
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• 2009

This paper proposes an optimal design scheme to reduce the noise of the engine cooling fan by adapting Kriging with two meta-heuristic techniques. An engineering model has been developed for the prediction of the noise spectrum of the engine cooling fan. The noise of the fan is expressed as the discrete frequency noise peaks at the BPF and its harmonics and line spectrum at the broad band by noise generation mechanisms. The object of this paper is to find the optimal design for noise reduction of the engine cooling fan. We firstly show a comparison of the measured and calculated noise spectra of the fan for the validation of the noise prediction program. Orthogonal array is applied as design of experiments because it is suitable for Kriging. With these simulated data, we can estimate a correlation parameter of Kriging by solving the nonlinear problem with genetic algorithm and find an optimal level for the noise reduction of the cooling fan by optimizing Kriging estimates with simulated annealing. We notice that this optimal design scheme gives noticeable results. Therefore, an optimal design for the cooling fan is proposed by reducing the noise of its system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.1307-1312
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• 2007

This paper proposes an optimal design scheme to reduce the noise of the engine cooling fan by adapting Kriging with two meta-heuristic techniques. An engineering model has been developed for the prediction of the noise spectrum of the engine cooling fan. The noise of the fan is expressed as the discrete frequency noise peaks at the BPF and its harmonics and line spectrum at the broad band by noise generation mechanisms. The object of this paper is to find the Optimal Design for Noise Reduction of the Engine Cooling Fan. We firstly show a comparison of the measured and calculated noise spectra of the fan for the validation of the noise prediction program. Orthogonal array is applied as design of experiments because it is suitable for Kriging. With these simulated data, we can estimate a correlation parameter of Kriging by solving the nonlinear problem with genetic algorithm and find an optimal level for the noise reduction of the cooling fan by optimizing Kriging estimates with simulated annealing. We notice that this optimal design scheme gives noticeable results. Therefore, an optimal design for the cooling fan is proposed by reducing the noise of its system.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.85-99
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• 2003

Muscle tone is the force with which a muscle resists being lengthened. Muscle tone is often tested clinically by passively extending and flexing a relaxed patient's limbs and feeling the resistance offered by the muscle. Both nonneural and neural mechanism contribute to muscle tone. Muscle tone is the mechanisms that contribute to the generation of tone in individual muscles when a person is in a relaxed state. This background level of activity changes in a certain antigravity posture muscle when we stand upright, thus counteracting the force of gravity. This increased level of activity in antigravity muscles is known as postural tone. The evidence from experiments showing that lesions of the dorsal(sensory) roots of the spinal cord reduced muscle(postural) tone is influenced by inputs from the somatosensory system. Patients with neurological damage have several state of muscle(postural) tone, which display from flaccidity to rigidity. This review article deal with muscle tone and somatosensory system acting on this. The understanding about this contribute to a better therapeutic approach for the rehabilitation of patients to have an abnormal muscle(postural) tone due to neurological damage.

• Laser Solutions
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2009

Engineering ceramics as sapphire are widely used in industry owing to their superior mechanical and corrosion properties. However, micromachining of sapphire is a considerable challenge due to its transparency. Recently, direct ablation of sapphire has been demonstrated with a visible laser pulse at sufficiently high laser intensity. In this work, the theoretical model for pulsed laser ablation of sapphire is suggested and numerical analysis is carried out using the model. Sapphire ablation begins with plasma generation by the laser interaction with surface defects, impurities and contaminations in the initial stage of machining. Subsequent absorption of the visible laser beam can be explained by three mechanisms: metalization of sapphire surface due to the EUV radiation from the hot plasma, increments of surface roughness and temperature-dependent absorption coefficient. Comparison of the computation results with experimental observation indicates that the proposed model of sapphire is reasonable.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.533-540
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• 2023

Sweroside is a natural monoterpene derived from Swertia pseudochinensis Hara. Recently, studies have shown that sweroside exhibits a variety of biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic effects. However, its role and mechanisms in high glucose (HG)-induced renal injury remain unclear. Herein, we established a renal injury model in vitro by inducing human renal tubular epithelial cell (HK-2 cells) injury by HG. Then, the effects of sweroside on HK-2 cell activity, inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) were observed. As a result, sweroside treatment ameliorated the viability, inhibited the secretion of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and VCAM-1), reduced the generation of ROS, and inhibited EMT in HK-2 cells. Moreover, the protein expression of SIRT1 was increased and the acetylation of p65 NF-kB was decreased in HK-2 cells with sweroside treatment. More importantly, EX527, an inhibitor of SIRT1, that inactivated SIRT1, abolished the improvement effects of sweroside on HK-2 cells. Our findings suggested that sweroside may mitigate HG-caused injury in HK-2 cells by promoting SIRT1-mediated deacetylation of p65 NF-kB.