• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.4-11
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• 2020

Objective: Puerarin has the potential of regulating the differentiation of preadipocytes, but its mechanism of action has not yet been elucidated. Adipocytes found in adipose tissue, the main endocrine organ, are the main sites of lipid deposition, and are widely used as a cell model in the study of in vitro fat deposition. This study aimed to investigate the effects of puerarin on adipogenesis in vitro. Methods: Puerarin was added to the culture medium during the process of adipogenesis. The proliferation and differentiation of bovine preadipocytes was measured through cell viability and staining with oil red O. The content of triacylglycerol was measured using a triglyceride assay kit. The mRNA and protein expression levels of adipogenic genes, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α, were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. Results: The addition of puerarin significantly increased adipogenesis of bovine preadipocytes and enhanced the mRNA and protein level expression of PPARγ (p<0.01). The expression of P-Akt increased after adipogenic hormonal induction, whereas puerarin significantly increased PPARγ expression by promoting the Akt signaling component, P-Akt. The mechanism of adipogenesis was found to be related to the phosphorylation level of Ser473, which may activate the downstream signaling of the Akt pathway. Conclusion: Puerarin was able to promote the differentiation of preadipocytes and improve fat deposition in cattle. The mechanism of adipogenesis was found to be related to the phosphorylation level of Ser473.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2003

This study was designed to investigate the effects of main constituents of Nigella sativa (NS) seed on the survival and CNS responses in experimental animals. The toxicological investigations were conducted for the determination of median lethal doses $(LD_{50})$ of NS seed constituents [i.e. aqueous extract (AE), fixed oil (FO), volatile oil (VO)] and main components of its VO [i.e. thymoquinone (TQ), ${\alpha}-pinene$ (AP) and p-cymene (PC)]. A part of this study includes evaluation NS constituents in the induction of minimal neurological deficit (MND) as a parameter for neurotoxicity using chimney test. In this study, the i.p. $LD_{50}$ values of AE, FO, VO, TQ (suspended In 0.5%CMC), TQ (dissolved in corn oil), AP and PC, were 3020, 3371, 1853, 616.6, 90.3, 1726 and 1523 mg/kg, respectively. All the NS constituents can be considered moderately toxic ($LD_{50}$ ranged from 616.6 to 3371 mg/kg), except the oily solution of TQ, which was very toxic ($LD_{50}$ was 90.3 mg/kg). It appeared that the toxicity of the whole VO is mainly due to its content of TQ and to some extent PC. All the NS constituents induced different degrees of MND at certain dose levels. The median neurotoxic (or sedating) doses $(TD_{50})$ of AE, FO, VO, TQ (suspended in CMC) and AP and PC, were 950, 1403, 306, 88.1, >173 and 368 mg/kg, respectively. TQ was the most potent component in inducing MND, whereas the FO and AE were the least. Neurotoxicity induced by the VO in the chimney test may refer basically to its contents of TQ and to some extent PC and AP.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.1535-1542
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• 2012

A Heat Recovery Steam Generator(HRSG) is the main component of a Combined Cycle Power Plant(CCPP). It is a very large structure that is made from relatively thin metal sheets. Therefore, the structural integrity of an HRSG is very important to ensure safe operation during plant lifetime. In particular, thermal deformation and thermal fatigue have been revealed as the main causes of the mechanical degradation of an HRSG. In order to prevent unexpected damage, safety evaluation based on a large-scale analysis is necessary. Therefore, this study aims to improve the safety of HRSG by using Finite Element Analysis(FEA) results derived from large-scale analysis. Furthermore, the modified design is verified by comparing it with the original one. This result will be used as basic data for improving the safety of a vertical-type HRSG.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.414-424
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• 2007

Adenophorae Radix (AR), Liriopis Tuber (LT), Dendrobii Monile (DM), Polygonati Officinalis (PO), Polygonati Rhizoma (PR) have been used to treated a variety condition/diseases in traditional oriental medicine. The present study was conducted to investigate the immunmodulatory effects of the water-extracted AR, LT, DH, PO and PR. In spleen cell proliferation assay, DH was significantly enhanced mitogenic activity compared with control group. In RT-PCR, DH ad PO induced IL-2 and IFNr cytokine gene expression in mouse spleen cells. Methotrexate(MTX), immune supression agent, was significantly inhibited mouse spleen cell proliferation(1600 mg/ml). In spite of MTX treatement, DH and PO sustained the spleen cell proliferation, In the flow cytometry analysis, DH stimulated mouse spleen cells showed an increase in B-cell phenotype (CD45R/B220). The water-extracted DH and PO inhibited NO production and iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cell. DH induced IL-2 and IFNg gene expression in human peripheral mononuclear cells. The GC-MS analysis show that the main component of water-extracted DH was b-Nitroethyl alcohol. The main components of water-extracted PO were Dipirartril-tropico, Methyl sulfoxide and Demsodrox. These data suggest that among these extracts, DH has a protective effcet of immune suppression caused by MTX. DH may be enhance cellular and humoral immune response by the regulation of cytokine gene expression, NO production and B cell production.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 2009

The failure analysis of scales deposited on automotive thermostat housing has been carried out. Observations using energy dispersive spectroscopy and electron probe micro analyzer indicate that the main components of scales are some of additives of coolant used. For a detailed investigation of organic matters pyrolysis-GC/MS is employed. The result shows that the main organic component is benzoic acid and furthermore, a small amount of acetophenone, benzene and phenyl group is detected. Based on the results of failure analysis performed, the scales on automotive thermostat housing appear due to the deposition of coolant components, followed by crevice corrosion, into gap between housing and rubber horse. New accelerated test methodology, which could mimic the scale formation and the crevice corrosion on thermostat housing, is developed considering the above results. In order to reproduce the real operating conditions, the accelerating factors, i.e. temperature and humidity, are changed and programmed. The reproducibility of the accelerated test proposed is confirmed after analyzing the scales obtained from the accelerated test.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.12-25
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• 2015

The tributaries of Daechung Lake play an important role in controlling eutrophication in the lake, which is used for agricultural purposes and as potable water. However, water quality properties were not extensively studied in the tributaries of Daechung Lake. The objectives of this study are to investigate spatial and temporal properties of water quality and to characterize streams which could threaten water quality of Daechung Lake. For this study, water samples were weekly or monthly collected from February 2014 to October 2014 in 9 streams. Water quality parameters analyzed in this study include biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen and phosphorus (TN and TP), suspended solids (SS), and chlorophyll a. Based on temporal distribution and principal component analysis, BOD, COD, TOC, SS, and TP were controlled by not only river discharge that increased during summer due to heavy rain fall, but also due to anthropogenic input (e.g., bridge construction and/or agricultural activity). Dilution is also one of the factors explaining TN and conductivity, both of which decreased with increased discharge. Generally, concentrations of contaminants (BOD, COD, TOC, TN and TP) in the tributaries were higher than those of Daechung Lake. However, pollution load indicated that only the main channel of Geum River and Sook Stream may largely influence lake waters, attributed mostly to their large volumes. This implies that the main channel and Sook Stream are the major influences on the water quality of Daechung Lake.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.115.1-115.1
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• 2011

We analyzed the line profiles of the planetary nebula (PN) NGC 7009 secured with the Keck I HIES and BOES's spectral data. The 5 positions were taken over the nebular image, 4 points on the bright rim plus 1 point at the central position. The covered spectral wavelength range was $3250{\AA}-8725{\AA}$ in these observations. We decomposed the lines of HI, HeI, HeII, CII, NIII, [ClIII], [NII], [OII], [OIII], [SII], [SIII], [ClIII], and [ArIII] using the IRAF and StarLink/Dipso. After correcting the Earth's movement and the PN's radial velocities, -48.6 & -48.9 km/s, respectively, for the Keck & BOES, we produced the line profiles in a velocity scale. The zero velocity at each line profile clearly indicates which part of the components is approaching or receding, giving a general information of the kinematical structure. Almost all of the low-to-medium excitation lines, such as [NII], [SII], [O III], and [ArIII], secured at the central position and four positions along the major & minor axes, showed 3 components, double peak + a wide wing component, suggesting the fast outflow structures are present. The overall geometry is a prolate shell which also has a fainter outer shell in the halo zone, but there appears to be some peculiar sub-structures inside the main shell. The high excitation He I, HeII, NIII lines which might be formed close to the inner boundary of the shell show unusual features, completely different from the other lines. The HeII and these high excitation lines may be indicative of a relative recent fast outflow from the central star and the permitted lines such as NIII might be affected by the innermost structure. We discuss a possible presence of a jet-like fast outflow structure in an out-flow axis different from the main axis of the spheroid shell.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.467-476
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• 2008

To keep the superconducting (SC) magnet coils of KSTAR at proper operating conditions, not only the coils but also other cold components, such as thermal shields (TS), magnet structures, SC bus-lines (BL), and current leads (CL) must be maintained at their respective cryogenic temperatures. A helium refrigeration system (RRS) with an exergetic equivalent cooling power of 9 kW at 4.5 K without liquid nitrogen ($LN_2$) pre-cooling has been manufactured and installed. The main components of the KST AR helium refrigeration system (HRS) can be classified into the warm compression system (WCS) and the cryogenic devices according to the operating temperature levels. The process helium is compressed from 1 bar to 22 bar passing through the WCS and is supplied to cryogenic devices. The main components of cryogenic devices are consist of cold box (C/B) and distribution box (D/B). The C/B cool-down and make the various cryogenic helium for the KSTAR Tokamak and the various cryogenic helium is distributed by the D/B as per the KSTAR requirement. In this proceeding, we will present the commissioning results of the KSTAR HRS. Circuits which can simulate the thermal loads and pressure drops corresponding to the cooling channels of each cold component of KSTAR have been integrated into the helium distribution system of the HRS. Using those circuits, the performance and the capability of the HRS, to fulfill the mission of establishing the appropriate operating condition for the KSTAR SC magnet coils, have been successfully demonstrated.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.162-171
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• 2012

We investigated food webs of a $Salix$ $subfragilis$-dominated wetland in the Janghang wetland in the Hangang estuary, which is very close to the Demilitarized Zone, along the west coast of Korea. Our study focused on understanding sesarmine crab ($Sesarma$ $dehaani$)-related food webs in a $S.$ $subfragilis$ forest. For our study, we used carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes and fatty acid biomarkers. We collected samples of plants, animals, and detrital sediment from four quadrats ($5{\times}5m^2$) set in the $S.$ $subfragilis$ community. Samples were collected from September 2006 to June 2009, except during the winter hibernation period of $S.$ $dehaani$. In the wet season, the sediment showed relatively high ${\delta}^{13}C$ and low ${\delta}^{15}N$ signatures compared with relatively low ${\delta}13C$ and high ${\delta}15N$ signatures in the dry season. Mature $S.$ $dehaani$ appeared to feed on fresh leaves and other carbon sources, such as immature individuals or fish, in addition to detrital sediment, which appeared to be the main carbon source for immature crabs. Principal component analysis of fatty acid biomarkers of $S.$ $dehaani$ showed a clear difference between immature individuals (10-30 mm) and mature ones (larger than 30 mm), indicating that the main food source for immature crabs was detrital sediment, whereas mature crabs foraged plants in addition to consuming detrital sediment. On the basis of our results from stable isotope and fatty acid analyses, mature $S.$ $dehaani$ appeared to feed on detrital sediment and fresh leaves of $S.$ $subfragilis$ in summer in addition to engaging in cannibalism of immature individuals.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 1975

Neutral lipids of hot pepper seeds were analyzed by employing TLC and GLC methods. This seeds contained TG, SE, FFA, S, DG, and MG, i.e., the main component. TG was found 75. 81%. From the analysis of fatty acids it was found that linolenic (37. 6%). linoleic (27. 0%) and palmitic acid (16. 5%) were presented as the main fatty acids. In the case of SE, linolenic, palmitic and linoleic acids were 38. 1%, 22. 0%, and 20. 9%, respectively, and other acids were presented in small quantities.