• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.1096-1106
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• 2018

Purpose: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the sixth most common cause of death in the United States. MicroRNAs have been identified as vital players in neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. microRNA-128 (miR-128) has been shown to be dysregulated in AD. This study aimed to explore the roles and molecular mechanisms of miR-128 in AD progression. Materials and Methods: Expression patterns of miR-128 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR-{\gamma}$) messenger RNA in clinical samples and cells were measured using RT-qPCR assay. $PPAR-{\gamma}$ protein levels were determined by Western blot assay. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Cell apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry via double-staining of Annexin V-FITC/PI. Caspase 3 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity was determined by a Caspase 3 Activity Assay Kit or $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 Transcription Factor Assay Kit, respectively. Bioinformatics prediction and luciferase reporter assay were used to investigate interactions between miR-128 and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ 3'UTR. Results: MiR-128 expression was upregulated and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ expression was downregulated in plasma from AD patients and $amyloid-{\beta}$ $(A{\beta})-treated$ primary mouse cortical neurons (MCN) and Neuro2a (N2a) cells. Inhibition of miR-128 decreased $A{\beta}-mediated$ cytotoxicity through inactivation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MCN and N2a cells. Moreover, $PPAR-{\gamma}$ was a target of miR-128. $PPAR-{\gamma}$ upregulation attenuated $A{\beta}-mediated$ cytotoxicity by inactivating $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MCN and N2a cells. Furthermore, $PPAR-{\gamma}$ downregulation was able to abolish the effect of anti-miR-128 on cytotoxicity and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity in MCN and N2a cells. Conclusion: MiR-128 inhibitor decreased $A{\beta}-mediated$ cytotoxicity by upregulating $PPAR-{\gamma}$ via inactivation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MCN and N2a cells, providing a new potential target in AD treatment.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.403-408
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• 2012

Gelatin/Ag nanoparticle (AgNP) biocomposite was synthesized using the solution plasma process (SPP) that has been recently introduced as an effective method for synthesis of nanoparticles. In this study, gelatin/AgNP biocomposite was synthesized using various concentrations of Ag precursor ($AgNO_3$) and gelatin in the range of 1-5 mM and 1-3% (w/w), respectively, without using any chemical reducing agent. Physical properties of the gelatin/AgNP biocomposites were analyzed using EDS, FE-SEM, and TEM. The results indicated that spherical AgNPs with approximately 12~20 nm in diameter were synthesized successfully in the gelatin matrix by SPP. As the concentration of gelatin was increased (3%, w/w), disperse stability of AgNP was improved and micro-pores of gelatin became smaller and denser in the 3D scaffold. Bactericidal activity of the AgNPs was examined against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by measuring zone of growth inhibition and decrease in colony forming unit (CFU). CFUs of S. aureus and E. coli were decreased approximately to 56% and 0%, respectively, by the gelatin/AgNP biocomposite, Ag5G3.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.199-204
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• 2008

Indium tin oxide (ITO) has been commonly used as an anode for organic light emitting diode (OLED), because of its relatively high work function, high transmittance, and low resistance. The ITO was mostly deposited by capacitive type DC or RF sputtering. In this study we introduced a new facing target sputtering method. On applying this new sputtering method, the effect of fundamental deposition parameters such as substrate heating and post etching were investigated in relation to the resultant I-V-L characteristics of OLED. Three kinds of ITOs deposited at room temperature, at $400^{\circ}C$ and at $400^{\circ}C$ with after surface modification by $O_2$ plasma etching were compared. The OLED on ITO deposited with substrate heating and followed by etching showed better I-V-L characteristics, which starts to emit light at 4 volts and has luminescence of $65\;cd/m^2$ at 9 volts. The better I-V-L characteristics were ascribed to the relevant surface roughness with uniform micro-extrusions and to the equi-axed micromorphology of ITO surface.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.521-524
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• 1999

Nb silicide was formed on the Si micro-tip arrays in order to improve field emission properties of Si-tip field emitter array. After silicidization of the tips, the etch-back process, by which gate insulator, gate electrode and photoresist were deposited sequentially and gate holes were defined by removing gradually the photoresist by $O_2$ plasma from the surface, was applied. Si nitride film was used as a protective layer in order to prevent oxygen from diffusion into Nb silicide layer and it was identified that the NbSi2 was formed through annealing in $N_2$ ambient at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour. By the Nb silicide coating on Si tips, the turn-on voltage was decreased from 52.1 V to 32.3 V and average current fluctuation for 1 hour was also reduced from 5% to 2%. Also, the fabricated Nb silicide-coated Si tip FEA emitted electrons toward the phosphor and light emission was obtained at the gate voltage of 40~50 V.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2389-2394
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• 2016

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is influenced by genetic and micro-environmental changes. Malignant plasma cells produce an abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulin, as well as cytokines, such as IL-10 and IL-6 which stimulate cells of the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) and cause dysfunction and failure of many organs. B cell activating factor (BAFF), IL6, IL10 are known to influence the growth & survival of the malignant clone. Aim: The objectives of the present study were to investigate the circulating levels of BAFF, IL-10 and IL-6, correlate them with well-known parameters of disease activity in patients with MM, and to detect their impact on the patients' survival. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 89 newly diagnosed MM patients and seventy apparently healthy volunteers as a normal control group. BAFF, IL6, IL10 were measured by ELISA for both groups. Survival analysis was performed for all patients. Results: Studied markers were higher in the MM patients compared to the normal control subjects. Patients' survival was improved by high serum BAFF levels. Conclusions: High levels of BAFF were found to improve patients' survival. BAFF and IL-6 can be considered probable diagnostic markers for MM.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.19-19
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• 2005

This paper reports a novel magnetic force-based microfluidic immunoassay using microbeads and magnetic nanoparticles. The magnetic force-based immunoassay was devised first and successfully applied to detect the rabbit IgG as the model analyte of microfluidic sandwich immunoassay. The microchannels were fabricated by poly(dimethysiloxane) (PDMS) molding processes and bonded on a slide glass by plasma treatment. At the part of the inlet, sample solution was hydrodynamically focused. The focused microbeads of sample solution were flowed through the 150 ${\mu}m$ width channel of outlet. However, when the microbeads are conjugated with the superparamagnetic nanoparticles under the applied magnetic fields, they will switch their flow path and flow through the 95 ${\mu}m$ width channel of outlet. The movements of microbeads conjugated with magnetic nanoparticles were demonstrated by magnetic field $gradients.^{1)}$ High magnetic field gradients using micro electromagnets could be applied to this detection method for high sensitivity and lower detection limit. In addition, the multiplexed $immunoassay^{2)}$ using an encoded microbead which is immobilized with a certain antibody could be possible using this detection principle.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2017

Analysis of mineral nutrients in plant is required for evaluating diagnosis of plant nutritional status. Pretreatment procedure for the analysis of plant can be varied depending on elements to be analyzed. Wet-digestion is suitable for total nitrogen, phosphate and cations, however, digestion solution including nitric acid is not suitable for nitrogen analysis. Incineration procedure is required to analyze chloride, silicate and total sulfur. After digestion, total nitrogen is analyzed by Kjeldahl method, and phosphate is detected at 470nm by colorimetric analysis with ammonium meta vanadate. Cations and micro elements are determined by titration or colorimetry, also, these elements can be measured by Atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) or Inductively coupled plasma spectrometer (ICP).

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.385-392
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• 1994

The morphology variat~on of diamond thin films, grown by microwave plasma chem~cal vapor deposition, was investigated. With increasing substrate temperature from $550^{\circ}C$ to $750^{\circ}C$, the film morphology was changed from {111} to {100}, and then to cauliflower. The nondiamond components in the film increased with increasing temperature. Micro Raman spectrum suggested that the nondiamond components might exist along the boundaries of d~amond particles. The texture of diamond films, analyzed by X-ray diffraction, was varied from random orientation to <100> , and finally to <110> with increasing substrate temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.883-888
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• 2002

SiC direct bonding technology is very attractive for both SiCOI(SiC-on-insulator) electric devices and SiC-MEMS(micro electro mechanical system) fields because of its application possibility in harsh environments. This paper presents pre-bonding techniques with variation of HF pre-treatment conditions for SiC wafer direct bonding using PECVD(plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition) oxide. The PECYD oxide was characterized by XPS(X-ray photoelectron spectrometer) and AFM(atomic force microscopy). The characteristics of the bonded sample were measured under different bonding conditions of HF concentration and an applied pressure. The bonding strength was evaluated by the tensile strength method. The bonded interface was analyzed by using SEM(scanning electron microscope). Components existed in the interlayer were analyzed by using FT-IR(fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). The bonding strength was varied with HF pre-treatment conditions before the pre-bonding in the range of 5.3 kgf/cm$^2$to 15.5 kgf/cm$^2$.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.631-638
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• 1995

In this study, mechanical characteristics test of Functionally Gradient Materia (FGM) was performed by means of Modified Small Punch (MSP) Test with FGM; NiCrAlY-8YSZ and PSZ-Ni. To determine fracture mechanic factor, it was carried out MSP test that has possibility with small specimen (10*10*0.5 mm$^{t}$ ) and AE test to analyze micro fracture mechanism. As a result, fracture behavior became varied from brittle fracture to ductile as the content of Ni(or NiCrAlY) composition was increased and fracture energy was increased too. AE characteristics demonstrated that AE technique can detect the onset of fracture processes and AE energy was suddenly increased in the vicinity of maximum load. Since Young's modulus, fracture stress and fracture toughness was determined by MSP test, it can be known that the composition of NiCrAly 75%/8YSZ25% has the best mechanical property and furthermore this result is supported with fracture surface observation.