• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 2021

Background: Abnormal chloride (Cl-) transport has a detrimental impact on mucociliary clearance in both cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF chronic rhinosinusitis. Ginseng is a medicinal plant noted to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The present study aims to assess the capability of red ginseng aqueous extract (RGAE) to promote transepithelial Cl- secretion in nasal epithelium. Methods: Primary murine nasal septal epithelial (MNSE) [wild-type (WT) and transgenic CFTR-/-], fisher-rat-thyroid (FRT) cells expressing human WT CFTR, and TMEM16A-expressing human embryonic kidney cultures were utilized for the present experiments. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and airway surface liquid (ASL) depth measurements were performed using micro-optical coherence tomography (μOCT). Mechanisms underlying transepithelial Cl- transport were determined using pharmacologic manipulation in Ussing chambers and whole-cell patch clamp analysis. Results: RGAE (at 30㎍/mL of ginsenosides) significantly increased Cl- transport [measured as change in short-circuit current (ΔISC = ㎂/㎠)] when compared with control in WT and CFTR-/- MNSE (WT vs control = 49.8±2.6 vs 0.1+/-0.2, CFTR-/- = 33.5±1.5 vs 0.2±0.3, p < 0.0001). In FRT cells, the CFTR-mediated ΔISC attributed to RGAE was small (6.8 ± 2.5 vs control, 0.03 ± 0.01, p < 0.05). In patch clamp, TMEM16A-mediated currents were markedly improved with co-administration of RGAE and uridine 5-triphosphate (8406.3 +/- 807.7 pA) over uridine 5-triphosphate (3524.1 +/- 292.4 pA) or RGAE alone (465.2 +/- 90.7 pA) (p < 0.0001). ASL and CBF were significantly greater with RGAE (6.2+/-0.3 ㎛ vs control, 3.9+/-0.09 ㎛; 10.4+/-0.3 Hz vs control, 7.3 ± 0.2 Hz; p < 0.0001) in MNSE. Conclusion: RGAE augments ASL depth and CBF by stimulating Cl- secretion through CaCC, which suggests therapeutic potential in both CF and non-CF chronic rhinosinusitis.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.141-150
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• 2022

Responding to the increasing demand for research on seismic resistance of structures triggered by a large-scale earthquake in Korea, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety revised the typical application of the existing seismic design standards with the national seismic performance target enhanced. Therefore, in this paper, the dam body of the aged Test-Bed and the penstock with fluid were modeled by the three-dimensional finite element method by introducing several variables. The current seismic design standard law confirmed the safety of the dam structure and penstock against seismic waves. As a result of the 3D finite element analysis, the stress change due to the water impact of the penstock was minimal, and it was confirmed that the effect of the hydraulic pressure was more significant than the water impact in the earthquake situation. When the hydrostatic pressure is in the form of SPH, it was analyzed that the motion of the fluid and the location of stress caused by the earthquake can be effectively represented, and it will be easier to analyze the weak part. As a result of the analysis, which considers penstock's corrosion, the degree of stress dispersion gets smaller because the penstock is embedded in the body. The stress result is minimal, less than 1% of the yield stress of the steel. In addition, although there is a possibility of micro-tensile cracks occurring in the inlet of the dam, it has not been shown to have a significant effect on the stress increa.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2023

The grouting method is a method of construction for the purpose of waterproofing and reinforcing soft ground. When grout is injected into the ground, there are various types of penetration and diffusion of grout depending on the shape of the ground, the size of soil, the porosity, and the presence or absence of groundwater. the current situation. Therefore, in this study, to investigate the penetration performance of the grouting to conductive material, laboratory tests were performed on the addition of the conductive material. In the injection test, 0%, 3%, and 5% of the mixed water were added as conductive materials to the grout, and the original ground condition was composed of various types of ground composed of gravel and silica sand. Conductive grout is injected by pressure into the model ground using a dedicated injection device, and the injection time (t), pressure (p), flow rate (v) and injection amount (q) are measured, and the hardened body injected in the model ground is collected. Penetration performance was evaluated. In the results of the grout injection experiment, the amount of conductive material used and the grout injection rate showed an inverse relationship, and it was confirmed that the penetration pattern was changed according to the size of the soil particles in the model ground. The grout containing the conductive material has relatively good penetration into the ground and excellent strength and durability of the hardened body, so it was judged that it could be used as an additive for measuring the penetration range of the grout.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2008

It is interesting to note that distinct element method has been used extensively to model the response of micro and discontinuous behavior in geomechanics. Impressive advances related to response of distinct particles have been conducted and there were difficulties in considering fluid effect simultaneously. Current distinct element methods are progressively developed to solve particle-fluid coupling focused on fluid flow through soil, rock or porous medium. In this research, numerical simulations of fluid injection into particulate materials were conducted to observe cavity initiation and propagation using distinct element method. After generation of initial particles and wall elements, confining stress was applied by servo-control method. The fluid scheme solves the continuity and Navior-Stokes equations numerically, then derives pressure and velocity vectors for fixed grid by considering the existence of particles within the fluid cell. Fluid was injected as 7-step into the assembly in the x-direction from the inlet located at the center of the left boundary under confining stress condition, $0.1MP{\alpha}\;and\;0.5MP{\alpha}$, respectively. For each simulation, movement of particles, flow rate, fluid velocity, pressure history, wall stress including cavity initiation and propagation by interaction of flulid-paricles were analyzed.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1327-1339
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• 2022

Objective: Fat deposition in poultry is an important factor in production performance and meat quality research. miRNAs also play important roles in regulating adipocyte differentiation process. This study was to investigate the expression patterns of miRNAs in duck adipocytes after differentiation and explore the role of miR-214 in regulating carnitine palmitoyltransferases 2 (CPT2) gene expression during duck adipocyte differentiation. Methods: Successful systems for the isolation, culture, and induction of duck primary fat cells was developed in the experiment. Using Illumina next-generation sequencing, the miRNAs libraries of duck adipocytes were established. miRanda was used to predict differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs and their target genes. The expression patterns of miR-214 and CPT2 during the differentiation were verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot. Luciferase reporter assays were used to explore the specific regions of CPT2 targeted by miR-214. We used a miR-214 over-expression strategy in vitro to further investigate its effect on differentiation process and CPT2 gene transcription. Results: There were 481 miRNAs identified in duck adipocytes, included 57 DE miRNA candidates. And the 1,046 targets genes of DE miRNAs were mainly involved in p53 signaling, FoxO signaling, and fatty acid metabolism pathways. miR-214 and CPT2 showed contrasting expression patterns before and after differentiation, and they were selected for further research. The expression of miR-214 was decreased during the first 3 days of duck adipocytes differentiation, and then increased, while the expression of CPT2 increased both in the transcriptional and protein level. The luciferase assay suggested that miR-214 targets the 3'untranslated region of CPT2. Overexpression of miR-214 not only promoted the formation of lipid droplets but also decreased the protein abundance of CPT2. Conclusion: Current study reports the expression profile of miRNAs in duck adipocytes differentiated for 4 days. And miR-214 has been proved to have the regulator potential for fat deposition in duck.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

In the current era of the global mobile smart device revolution, electronic devices are required in all spaces that people interact with. The establishment of the internet of things (IoT) among smart devices has been recognized as a crucial objective to advance towards creating a comfortable and sustainable future society. In-mold electronic (IME) processes have gained significant industrial significance due to their ability to utilize conventional high-volume methods, which involve printing functional inks on 2D substrates, thermoforming them into 3D shapes, and injection-molded, manufacturing low-cost, lightweight, and functional components or devices. In this article, we provide an overview of IME and its latest advances in application. We review biomimetic nanomaterials for constructing self-supporting biosensor electronic materials on the body, energy storage devices, self-powered devices, and bio-monitoring technology from the perspective of in-mold electronic devices. We anticipate that IME device technology will play a critical role in establishing a human-machine interface (HMI) by converging with the rapidly growing flexible printed electronics technology, which is an integral component of the fourth industrial revolution.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2024

Various innovative technologies and methods are being applied to ensure the stability of steep rock slopes. However, there are design limitations concerning site ground conditions, leading to discrepancies between the designed and actual ground conditions during construction. In the case of the retaining wall in Yeosu, where the study area is located, although the construction of a 5-stage retaining wall is planned, at the current completion of the second stage, cracks on the upper part of the wall, settlement in the front of the wall, and seepage have been observed. After the completion of stages one and two, issues regarding cracks and settlement on the upper part of the wall and seepage in the front of the wall were discovered. Thus, there was a need to reevaluate the results of the existing stability assessment. It was confirmed that the issue was due to groundwater leakage, attributed to the lack of clear assessment of the colluvial soil layer during the initial design stage. Therefore, to conservatively reflect groundwater level conditions, a groundwater level contour was positioned at the top of the wall to conduct a slope stability assessment. The assessment results indicated that the safety factor during the rainy season exceeded the required value of 1.3, with a calculated safety factor of 1.31. However, during seismic events, the safety factor was determined to be 1.12, falling short of the required safety factor of 1.3. Therefore, it is suggested that the existing retaining walls constructed during stages one and two undergo reinforcement using methods such as micro-piles with grouting, and additional work should be carried out to ensure a clear assessment of the colluvial soil layer.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.203-213
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• 2024

This study delves into the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced cement composites(FRCC) concerning the dispersion method of multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs). MWCNTs find utility in industrial applications, particularly in magnetic sensing and crack detection, owing to their diverse properties including heat resistance and chemical stability. However, current research endeavors are increasingly directed towards leveraging the electrical properties of MWCNTs for self-sensing and smart sensor development. Notably, achieving uniform dispersion of MWCNTs poses a challenge due to variations in researchers' skills and equipment, with excessive dispersion potentially leading to deterioration in mechanical performance. To address these challenges, this study employs ultrasonic dispersion for a defined duration along with PCE surfactant, known for its efficacy in dispersion. Test specimens of FRCC are prepared and subjected to strength, drawing, and direct tensile tests to evaluate their mechanical properties. Additionally, the influence of MWCNT dispersion efficiency on the enhancement of FRCC mechanical performance is scrutinized across different dispersion methods.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.326-341
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that leads to the progressive destruction of articular cartilage. Current clinical therapeutic strategies are moderately effective at relieving OA-associated pain but cannot induce chondrocyte differentiation or achieve cartilage regeneration. We investigated the ability of wedelolactone, a biologically active natural product that occurs in Eclipta alba (false daisy), to promote chondrogenic differentiation. Methods and Results: Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical staining, and immunofluorescence staining assays were used to evaluate the effects of wedelolactone on the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). RNA sequencing, microRNA (miRNA) sequencing, and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation analyses were performed to explore the mechanism by which wedelolactone promotes the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. We found that wedelolactone facilitates the chondrogenic differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived MSCs and rat bone-marrow MSCs. Moreover, the forkhead box O (FOXO) signaling pathway was upregulated by wedelolactone during chondrogenic differentiation, and a FOXO1 inhibitor attenuated the effect of wedelolactone on chondrocyte differentiation. We determined that wedelolactone reduces enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2)-mediated histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation of the promoter region of FOXO1 to upregulate its transcription. Additionally, we found that wedelolactone represses miR-1271-5p expression, and that miR-1271-5p post-transcriptionally suppresses the expression of FOXO1 that is dependent on the binding of miR-1271-5p to the FOXO1 3'-untranscribed region. Conclusions: These results indicate that wedelolactone suppresses the activity of EZH2 to facilitate the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs by activating the FOXO1 signaling pathway. Wedelolactone may therefore improve cartilage regeneration in diseases characterized by inflammatory tissue destruction, such as OA.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 2022

Prunus subg. Cerasus is the most planted street and landscaping tree in South Korea, but it is difficult to identify species according to their macro-morphologies, leading to problems when attempting properly to manage species quantities. The purpose of this study is to understand the current status of plant types and species compositions in Bundang Central Park in Bundang-gu of Seongnam City and to discuss the necessity of the management of landscaping tree planting. In April of 2021, during the cherry blossom season, a total of 5,866 planted cherry trees were investigated within an area of 6 km² of Bundang-gu in Seongnam City. As a result, 5,744 trees were sorted into eleven taxa, but the remaining 122 trees were not determined due to their complex morphologies. Prunus ×yedoensis Matsum. accounted for the highest proportion (52.1%), followed by P. serrulata Lindl. var. pubescens Nakai and P. jamasakura Siebold ex Koidz. P. ×nudiflora (Koehne) Koidz., a plant native to Jejudo Island, was not found in this survey. In order to help identify cherry trees based on micro-morphologies, an identification key was presented for the eleven taxa planted as major landscaping trees. It is known that cherry trees frequently form interspecific hybrids in nature. In order to prevent a loss of the genetic originality of native species due to hybridization and gene introgression from foreign cherry trees, it is necessary to manage planting species near the habitats of native taxa and track their origins.