• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.17-29
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• 2002

Interfacial properties and microfailure degradation mechanisms of the bioabsorbable composites for implant materials were investigated using micromechanical technique and measurement of surface wettability. As hydrolysis time increased, the tensile strength, the modulus and the elongation of poly(ester-amide) (PEA) and bioactive glass fibers decreased, whereas those of chitosan fiber almost did not change. Interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between bioactive glass fiber and poly-L-lactide (PLLA) was much higher than PEA or chitosan fiber/PLLA systems using dual matrix composite (DMC) specimen. The decreasing rate of IFSS was the fastest in bioactive glass fiber/PLLA composites whereas that of chitosan fiber/PLLA composites was the slowest. Work of adhesion, $W_a$ between bioactive glass fiber and PLLA was the highest, and the wettability results were consistent with the IFSS. Interfacial properties and microfailure degradation mechanisms can be important factors to control bioabsorbable composite performance.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.55-61
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• 2017

In DVB-S3 standard of satellite broadcasting systems, FTN technique is applied to LDPC codes with (1+7) PSK modulation. In standard, BICM-ID and BCJR decoding method are considered to alleviate performance degradation due to FTN processing. BICM-ID method improves performance by calculating a new LLR from hard-decision value of decoder output. BCJR also improves performance by calculating forward and backward matrix each other. However these two methods require high computational complexity. Therefore this paper proposed modified decoding method in order to reduce computational complexity without performance degradation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2015

TGF-${\beta}$ regulates pleiotropic cellular responses including cell growth, differentiation, migration, apoptosis, extracellular matrix production, and many other biological processes. Although non-Smad signaling pathways are being increasingly reported to play many roles in TGF-${\beta}$-mediated biological processes, Smads, especially receptor-regulated Smads (R-Smads), still play a central mediatory role in TGF-${\beta}$ signaling for epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Thus, the biological activities of R-Smads are tightly regulated at multiple points. Inhibitory Smad (I-Smad also called Smad7) acts as a critical endogenous negative feedback regulator of Smad-signaling pathways by inhibiting R-Smad phosphorylation and by inducing activated type I TGF-${\beta}$ receptor degradation. Roles played by Smad7 in health and disease are being increasingly reported, but the molecular mechanisms that regulate Smad7 are not well understood. In this study, we show that E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch acts as a positive regulator of TGF-${\beta}$ signaling and of subsequent EMT-related gene expression. Interestingly, the Itch-mediated positive regulation of TGF-${\beta}$ signaling was found to be dependent on Smad7 ubiquitination and its subsequent degradation. Further study revealed Itch acts as an E3 ubiquitin ligase for Smad7 polyubiquitination, and thus, that Itch is an important regulator of Smad7 activity and a positive regulator of TGF-${\beta}$ signaling and of TGF-${\beta}$-mediated biological processes. Accordingly, the study uncovers a novel regulatory mechanism whereby Smad7 is controlled by Itch.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.324-330
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• 2012

The microstructural changes of three pieces from an ancient iron pot were studied in order to identify present the material degradation due to repeated heating for one-thousand years. The microstructures of the pieces were divided into the areas of ferrite/graphite, ferrite/pearlite, and corroded oxidation. The area of ferrite/graphite was undergone by severe Galvanic corrosion, but that of ferrite/pearlite was not even during a thousand years' using. The shape of the graphites was coexisted with types of A, B, and C of as modern graphite classification. In the ferrite/pearlite area, abnormal acicula precipitates with a high aspect ratio of $0.2{\mu}m$ thickness and several hundreds ${\mu}m$ length were presented. They might be a kind of carbide in the ferrite matrix with its special precipitate plane.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.273-284
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance to degradation and to compare the wear resistance characteristics of four esthetic restorative materials in an alkaline solution(0.1N NaOH). The composite resins studied were Composan LCM flow(Promedica, Germany). Clearfil ST(Kuraray medical, Japan), Durafi VS1(Heraeus Kulzer, U.S.A), Point 4(Kerr, U.S.A). The results were as follows : 1. The mass loss of each brand was $1.02{\sim}6.04%$ and highest value in Durafil VS$(6.04{\pm}0.29%)$. 2. The sequence of the degree of degradation layer depth was in descending order by Durafil VS, Clearfil ST, Point 4 and Composan LCM flow. There were significant differences between Point 4, Composan LCM flow and the others (p<0.001). 3. The sequence of the Si loss was in descending order by Clearfil ST, Durafil VS, Composan LCM flow and Point 4. There were significant differences among the materials (p<0.001). 4. On SEM, destruction of bonding between matrix and filler and on CLSM, the depth of degradation layer of specimen surface was observed. 5. The sequence of maximum wear depth was in descending order by Durafil VS, Composan LCM flow, Point 4 and Clearfil ST. There were no significant differences among the materials (p>0.001) 6. The correlation coefficient between Si loss and degradation layer depth (r=0.892, p<0.01) and Si loss and mass loss(r=0.736, p<0.01) were relatively high. These results indicate that hydrolytic degradation, wear and another factor may consider as evaluation factors of composite resins.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.190-201
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance to degradation and to compare the wear resistance characteristics of four esthetic restorative materials in an alkaline solution. The brands studied were Charmfil, Charmfil flow(composite resin), Compoglass F and PrimaFlow(compomer). The results were as follows: 1. The mass loss were not significantly different among the materials(p>0.05). 2. The sequence of the degree of degradation layer depth was in descending order by Compoglass F, PrimaFlow, Charmfil, and Charmfil flow. There were significant differences between Compoglass F and the others(p<0.05). 3. The sequence of the Si loss was in descending order by Charmfil flow, Charmfil, PrimaFlow, and Compoglass F. There were significant differences among these materials(p<0.05). 4. When observed with SEM, destruction of bonding between matrix and filler was observed and when observed with CLSM, the depth of degradation layer of specimen surface was observed. 5. The sequence of maximum wear depth was in descending order by Comfoglass, PrimaFlow Charmal, and Charmfil flow. There were significant differences among these materials(p<0.05). 6. The correlation coefficient between Si loss and degradation layer depth (r=0.602, p<0.05) Vicker's hardness number and maximum wear depth (r=0.501, p<0.05) were relatively high. These results indicate that wear and hydrolytic degradation may be considered to be evaluation factors of composite resins and compomers.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.557-568
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance to degradation and to compare the wear resistance characteristics of four esthetic restorative materials in an alkaline solution(0.1N NaOH). The brands studied were MetafilCX(Sun medical, Japan) Solitaire 2(Heraeus Kulzer, USA), Composan LCM(Promedica, Germany), DenFil(Vericom, Korea). The results were as follows: 1. The mass loss of each brand was 0.74~7.94% and highest value in Metafil($7.94{\pm}0.39%$). 2. The sequence of the degree of degradation layer depth was in descending order by Metafil, Solitaire 2, DenFil, Composan LCM. There were significant differences between Metafil and the others(p<0.05). 3. The sequence of the Si loss was in descending order by Metafil, Solitaire 2, Composan LCM, DenFil. There were significant differences among the materials(p<0.05). 4. On SEM, destruction of bonding between matrix and filler and on CLSM, the depth of degradation layer of specimen surface was observed. 5. The sequence of maximum wear depth was in descending order by Metafil, Solitaire 2, Composan LCM and DenFil. There were significant differences among the materials(p<0.05). 6. The correlation coefficient between Si loss and degradation layer depth (r=0.491, p<0.05) and Vicker's hardness number and maximum wear depth (r=-0.942, p<0.05) were relatively high. These results indicate that hydrolytic degradation and wear may consider as a evaluation factors of composite resins.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.420-430
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• 2002

Background : Excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition by airway inflammation is presumed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of worsening airflow obstruction (Ed- acceptable three-word noun) seen during acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Although many proteases can cleave ECM molecules, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors are likely to be the physiologically relevant mediators of ECM degradation. Objectives ; The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that antibiotic treatment can change airway MMPs and TIMP-1 concentrations/levels by controlling airway inflammation in acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Methods : We studied 40 patients, all of whom had an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. The patients were treated with two different antibiotics, moxifloxacin and clarithromycin, in a double-blind manner for 7 days. Sputum samples were induced and collected before and after antibiotic therapy. We measured the sputum concentration of MMP-1,-9, TIMP-1, IL-8 and secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor (SLPI) in sputum supernatants by ELISA method. Results : There was no difference after antibiotic treatment in the sputum concentrations of MMP-1,-9, TIMP-1, IL-8 and SLPI between the patients treated with moxifloxacin and those treated with clarithromycin. But the sputum concentrations of TIMP-1, and SLPI, and the TIMP-1/MMP-1 ratio were significantly reduced by the antibiotic therapy. There were significant positive correlations between sputum TIMP-1 levels and IL-8 levels (p<0.01, r=0.751), and between the sputum TIMP-1/MMP-1 ratio and IL-8 levels (p<0.01, r=0.752). The sputum SLPI levels were significantly elevated by antibiotic treatment and were negatively correlated with sputum TIMP-1 levels (p<0.01, r=-0.496) and TIMP-1/MMP-1 levels (p<0.01, r=-0.456). Conclusion : The study shows that the worsening of airway inflammation in acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis is associated with an imbalance between the concentrations/levels of TIMP-1 and MMPs. Antibiotic treatment can prevent progression of airway narrowing in acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis by modulation of the protease and anti-protease imbalance.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.407-419
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• 2002

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall characterized by progressive accumulation of lipids, cells, and extracellular matrix. Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases(TIMPS) contribute to vascular matrix remodeling in atherosclerosis, and some cytokines may play role in the synthesis or activation of MMPs or TIMPs. Material and Method： We produced experimental atherosclerotic plaques in 9 rabbits by atherogenic hypercholesterol diet for 12 weeks, and 10 other rabbits were used as control group with standard laboratory chow, At that time, 19 rabbits were sacrificed and aorta, coronary arteries and blood specimens were prepared. The expressions of MMP-9, TIMP-2 and interleukin(IL)-18, and the bioactivity of IL-6 were investigated with H&E stain, immunohistochemical stain, immunoblotting(Western blot analysis), and bioassay. Result： Serum cholesterol in the experimental group increased up to 1258$\pm$262 mg/dL(control group： 41$\pm$7 mg/dL). All experimental group showed well-developed atherosclerotic plaques in aorta and coronary artery. The expression of MMP-9 in aorta and coronary artery of the experimental group showed significant increase than that of the control group by immunohistochemistry. Among the experimental group, complicated lesions with intimal rupture or complete luminal occlusion, demonstrated stronger expression of MMP-9. Interestingly, there was no difference in expression of TIMP-2 between the experimental and the control group. These findings were confirmed by Western blot analysis. The bioassay revealed significant up-regulation of serum bioactivity of IL-6 in the experimental group(4819.60$\pm$2021.25 IU/$m\ell$) compared to that of IL-6 in the control group(27.20 $\pm$ 12.19 IU/$m\ell$). IL-18 was expressed in all atherosclerotic plaques, whereas little or no expression was detected in the control group. Conclusion： The increased MMP-9 expression along with the unchanged TIMP-2 expression seem to be contributory factors in extracellular matrix degradation in atherosclerosis. Focal overexpression of MMP-9 may promote plaque destabilization and cause complications of atherosclerotic plaques such as thrombosis with/without acute coronary syndrome. Elevation of IL-6 and IL-18 may be more than just markers of atherosclerosis but actual participants in lesion development. Identification of critical regulatory pathway is important to improve the understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of atherosclerosis and may open the way for novel therapeutic strategies.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.1-5
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• 2009

A new pixel circuit for Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes (AMOLEDs), based on the polycrystalline silicon thin film transistors (Poly-Si TFTs), was proposed and verified by SMART SPICE simulation. One driving and six switching TFTs and one storage capacitor were used to improve display image uniformity without any additional control signal line. The proposed pixel circuit compensates an inevitable threshold voltage variation of Poly-Si TFTs and also compensates the degradation of OLED at low power supply voltage($V_{DD}$). The simulation results show that the proposed pixel circuit successfully compensates the variation of OLED driving current within 0.8% compared with 20% of the conventional pixel circuit.