• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2453-2458
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• 2015

Background: X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) associated factor 1 (XAF1) exhibits aberrantly low or absent expression in various human malignancies, closely associated with anti-apoptosis and overgrowth of cancer cells. However, limited attention has been directed towards the contribution of XAF1 to invasion, apoptosis, and cisplatin (DDP)-resistance of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells. This study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of XAF1 on invasion, cell cycle, apoptosis, and cisplatin-resistance by overexpressing XAF1 in SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells. Methods and Results: The pEGFP-C1-XAF1 plasmid was transfected into SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells, and the expression of XAF1 at both mRNA and protein levels was analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting. Overexpression of XAF1 suppressed XIAP expression in both SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells. Transwell invasion assays demonstrated that XAF1 exerted a strong anti-invasive effect in XAF1-overexpressing cells. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis revealed that XAF1 overexpression arrested the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, and cell apoptosis analysis showed that overexpression of XAF1 enhanced apoptosis of SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells apparently by activating caspase-9 and caspase-3. Furthermore, MTT assay confirmed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect of cisplatin in the tested tumor cells, and overexpression of XAF1 increased the sensitivity of SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells to cisplatin-mediated antiproliferative effects. Conclusions: In summary, our data indicated that overexpression of XAF1 could suppress XIAP expression, inhibit invasion, arrest cell cycle, promote apoptosis, and confer cisplatin-sensitivity in SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells. Therefore, XAF1 may be further assessed as a potential target for the treatment of both cisplatin-resistant and non-resistant EOCs.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.13-18
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine whether Hominis Placental pharmacopuncture solution (HPPS) combined with zinc-oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) activates RAW 264.7 cells. Methods: We soaked ZnO nanoparticles in the Hominis Placenta pharmacopuncture solution, thereby making a combined form (ZnO NP HPPS). The effect of ZnO NP HPPS on the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured by 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. The effect of ZnO NP HPPS on NF-${\kappa}B$ was measured by using a luciferase assay. The effect of ZnO NP HPPS on the cytokine expression was assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The cellular uptake of ZnO NP HPPS was measured by using a flow cytometric analysis, and cellular structural alterations were analyzed by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: Neither the HPPS nor the ZnO NPs induced intracellular ROS production in RAW 264.7 cells. Neither of the materials activated NF-${\kappa}B$ or it's dependent genes, such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1, and MCP-1. However, ZnO NP HPPS, the combined form of ZnO NPs and HPPS, did induce the intracellular ROS production, as well as prominently activating NF-${\kappa}B$ and it's dependent genes. Also, compared to ZnO NPs, it effectively increa-sed the uptake by RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, cellular structural alterations were observed in groups treated with ZnO NP HPPS. Conclusions: Neither ZnO NP nor HPPS activated RAW 264.7 cells, which is likely due to a low cellular uptake. The ZnO NP HPPS, however, significantly activated NF-${\kappa}B$ and up-regulated its dependent genes such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1, and MCP-1. ZnO NP HPPS was also more easily taken into the RAW 264.7 cells than either ZnO NP or HPPS.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.786-793
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• 2000

Objectives : A clinical analysis was performed to provide management strategy and to improve management outcome of elderly patients with intracranial aneurysm. Patients and Methods : We reviewed medical records of 746 consecutive patients with intracranial aneurysm who were admitted from July 1991 to December 1996. They were divided into two age groups : elderly(120 patients aged 65 years or older) and non-elderly(626 patients aged 64 years or younger). We investigated the differences between the two groups in clinical characteristics, management outcome and surgical results. Results : Female(80.0%), internal carotid artery aneurysm(48.9%), poor clinical grade(Hunt and Hess Grade IV, V : 39.8%), postoperative subdural fluid collection(38.2%), and postoperative hydrocephalus(39.7%) were more frequent in the elderly patients. There were no significant differences in the incidence of hypertension, multiple aneurysm, unruptured aneurysm, rebleeding, delayed ischemic neurological deficits, postoperative hemorrhage, and low density on the postoperative brain CT scan. In some cases, surgical clipping of ruptured aneurysm could not be performed due to moribund state or refusal of surgery by the elderly patient's family. Both management outcome and surgical results in elderly aneurysm patients at 3 months after rupture were worse than those of the non-elderly group. The most common reason of unfavorable outcome was poor clinical grade in both groups, while serious medical illness causing unfavorable outcome was more common in the elderly group. Conclusion : Surgical treatment of a ruptured aneurysm should not be avoided in elderly patient solely on the basis of advanced age. If the patients are in good clinical grade, early aneurysm surgery followed by early ambulation should be recommended. Further improvements in outcome may be achieved by thorough knowledge of poor resilience of brain, CSF flow dynamics, and diminished cardiopulmonary reserve in elderly patients with intracranial aneurysm.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.30.1-30.10
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• 2017

Small-scale fish farmers in developing countries are faced with challenges owing to their limited information on aquaculture management. Nile tilapia farmers in Teso North Sub-County recorded lower yields than expected in 2009 despite having been provided with required inputs. Water quality was suspected to be the key factor responsible for the low yields. This study sought to assess the effects of earthen pond water physico-chemical parameters on the growth of Nile tilapia in six earthen fish ponds under semi-intensive culture system in Teso North Sub-County. The study was longitudinal in nature with pond water and fish being the units of analysis. Systematic sampling was used to select five ponds while a control pond was purposively selected based on its previously high harvest. Four ponds were fed by surface flow and two by underground water. Each pond was fertilized and stocked with 900 fry of averagely 1.4 g and 4.4 cm. Physico-chemical parameters were measured in-situ using a multi-parameter probe. Sixty fish samples were randomly obtained from each pond fortnightly for four months using a 10 mm mesh size and measured, weighed and returned into the pond. Mean range of physico-chemical parameters were: dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.86-10.53 mg/l, temperature $24-26^{\circ}C$, pH 6.1-8.3, conductivity $35-87{\mu}S/cm$ and ammonia 0.01-0.3 mg/l. Temperature (p = 0.012) and conductivity (p = 0.0001) levels varied significantly between ponds. Overall Specific Growth Rate ranged between 1.8% (0.1692 g/day) and 3.8% (1.9 g/day). Ammonia, DO and pH in the ponds were within the optimal levels for growth of tilapia, while temperature and conductivity were below optimal levels. As temperature and DO increased, growth rate of tilapia increased. However, increase in conductivity, pH and ammonia decreased fish growth rate. Temperature and DO ranging between 27 and $30^{\circ}C$ and 5-23 mg/l, respectively, and SGR of 3.8%/day and above are recommended for higher productivity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.330-336
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• 2005

The ozone injection method was proposed to improve the catalytic process for the removal of nitrogen oxides ($NO_x$). Nitric oxide (NO) in the exhaust gas was first oxidized to nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) by ozone produced by dielectric barrier discharge, and then the exhaust gas containing the mixture of NO and $NO_2$ was directed to the catalytic reactor where both NO and $NO_2$ were reduced to $N_2$ in the presence of ammonia as the reducing agent. A commercially available $V_2O_5-WO_3/TiO_2$ catalyst was used as the catalytic reactor. The $NO_2$ content in the mixture of NO and $NO_2$ was changed by the amount of ozone added the exhaust gas. The effect of reaction temperature, initial $NO_x$ concentration, feed gas flow rate, and ammonia concentration on the removal of $NO_x$ at various $NO_2$ contents was examined and discussed. The increase in the content of $NO_2$ by the ozone injection remarkably improved the performance of the catalytic reactor, especially at low temperatures. The present ozone injection method appears to be promising for the improvement of the catalytic reduction of $NO_x$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2012

In this study, Application of sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process for RO retentate treatment was performed. Efficiency of treatment by load and temperature variation was tested. The SBR process was operated two types as HRT per one cycle was 8 and 12 hours, respectively. Methanol was injected for an effective denitrificaion owing to low C/N ratio of the RO retentate. TN removal efficiency of the SBR process was relatively stable at the change of flow-rate and temperature. The optimum time cycle of SBR process was 2 cycle/day for TN removal, and in the case of 3 cycle/day, the effluent TN concentration was found under the effluent quality standard. In the result of assessment, the application of SBR process for RO retentate treatment was effective and could be utilized to design for the wastewater treatment plant. The specific nitrification rate (SNR) and specific denitrification rate (SDNR) were $0.043{\sim}0.066kg\;NH_3-N/kg\;MLVSS{\cdot}day$ and $0.096{\sim}0.287kg\;NH_3^--N/kg\;MLVSS{\cdot}day$, respectively. The derived kinetic could be applied for design to the aerobic and anoxic tank in the RO retentate treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.861-867
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• 2001

In this paper, in order to investigate the catalytic effect of the sludge exhausted from waterworks on NO$_{x}$ removal, we measure NO removal characteristics with and without sludge pellets in BaTiO$_3$-sludge packed-bed reactor of plate-plate geometry. NO initial concentration is 50 ppm balanced with air and a gas flow rate is 5ι/min. Gas temperature is changed from 25 to 10$0^{\circ}C$ to investigate the role of sludge pellet on removing active oxygen species and NO$_2$. BaTiO$_3$pellets is filled for coronal discharge at upstream of reactor and sludge pellets is filled for catalytic effect at downstream of reactor. The volume percent of sludge pellets to BaTiO$_3$pellets is changed from 0% to 100% and AC voltage is supplied to the reactor for discharging simulated gases. In the results, when sludge pellets is put at the downstream of plasma reactor, NO removal rate is slightly increased. However, NO$_2$and $O_3$ as by-products during NO removal is significantly decreased from 51ppm without sludge pellets to 5 ppm with sludge pellets and from 50 ppm without sludge pellets to 0.004ppm with sludge pellets, respectively. Therefore, NO$_{x}$(NO+NO$_2$) removal rate is increased up to 93%. It is thought that sludge pellet maybe react with active oxygen species and NO$_2$ generated by corona discharge in surface of BaTiO$_3$pellets, the then NO$_2$O$_3$as by-products are considerably decreased. When we increase gas temperature from room temperature to 10$0^{\circ}C$, NO removal rate is decreased, while NO$_2$ concentration is independent on gas temperature. These result suggest that the removal mechanism of active oxygen species and NO$_2$in sludge pellet is not absorption, but chemical reaction. Therefore we expect that sludge pellets exhausted for waterworks could be used as catalyst for NO$_{x}$ removal with high removal rate and low by-product.oduct.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.120-127
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• 2016

This study examined the dynamic characteristics of the gate to identify the optimal gate installation direction according to the installation direction. A 1:31 scale model was constructed for a 47.5m prototype gate using acrylic. The scaled weights were tuned by adding lead weights. The first step was to measure the natural frequencies of the model gates, and compare them with finite-element analysis of the prototypes as a calibration. The scaled model was tested in a 1.6 m wide concrete flume for two orientations to determine the effects of the gate orientation on structural vibrations. Vertical vibrations were measured under a range of operational conditions, including a range of bottom opening heights and different upstream and downstream water levels. For large bottom opening heights in the normal direction, relatively large vibrations were induced by vortices shed at the plate bottom that would strike the horizontal truss member. This phenomenon was avoided in the reverse direction. For small bottom opening heights in the normal direction, these vibrations were caused by a suction force that developed at the gate bottom. The gate model in the reverse direction was preferred because of its low overall vibrational response under general gate opening and flow level combinations.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2012

The safety of cosmetics or cosmetic ingredients on human skin is generally evaluated by visual assessment but some early subtle skin changes may not be noticed by the naked eyes. Thus, the present study was conducted to detect skin reactions induced by mildly irritating cosmetic ingredients by using a laser Doppler perfusion imager (LDPI) method that measures blood flow, a $Vapometer^{(R)}$ that measure strans epidermal water loss (TEWL), and a spectrophotometer that measures the skin color as the erythema values ($a^*$). Visual assessment showed that all tested oils and humectants except propylene glycol belong to the low skin irritation ranges (grades 0+ to 2.9+) while all tested surfactants and propylene glycol belong to the moderate-to strong-skin irritation ranges (grades 3+ to 5+). Among three instrumental methods, TEWL assessment appeared to be more sensitive than spectrophotometric or LDPI method and suitable for the detection of subtle skin response invisible to the naked eye (grades 0+ to 2.9+). Skin reactions of grade 3+ to 5+ could be detected by all three instrumental methods. In conclusion, the current study suggested that the sub-clinical skin reactions due to mild irritants contained in cosmetics can be best assessed by TEWL measurements.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.363-376
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• 2017

The insurance market is saturated and its growth engine is exhausted; consequently, the insurance industry is now in a low growth period with insurance companies that face a fierce competitive environment. In such a situation, it will be an important issue to find the probability distributions that can explain the flow of insurance claims, which are the basis of the actuarial calculation of the insurance product. Insurance claims are generally known to be well fitted by lognormal distributions or Pareto distributions biased to the left with a thick tail. In recent years, skew normal distributions or skew t distributions have been considered reasonable distributions for describing insurance claims. Cooray and Ananda (2005) proposed a composite lognormal-Pareto distribution that has the advantages of both lognormal and Pareto distributions and they also showed the composite distribution has a higher fitness than single distributions. In this paper, we introduce new composite distributions based on skew normal distributions or skew t distributions and apply them to Danish fire insurance claim data and US indemnity loss data to compare their performance with the other composite distributions and single distributions.