• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.1253-1257
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• 2011

The surface structures, adsorption conditions, and thermal desorption behaviors of cyclopentanethiol (CPT) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au(111) were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). STM imaging revealed that although the adsorption of CPT on Au(111) at room temperature generates disordered SAMs, CPT molecules at $50^{\circ}C$ formed well-ordered SAMs with a $(2{\surd}3{\times}{\surd}5)R41^{\circ}$ packing structure. XPS measurements showed that CPT SAMs at room temperature were formed via chemical reactions between the sulfur atoms and gold surfaces. TDS measurements showed two dominant TD peaks for the decomposed fragments ($C_5H_9^+$, m/e = 69) generated via C-S bond cleavage and the parent molecular species ($C_5H_9SH^+$, m/e = 102) derived from a recombination of the chemisorbed thiolates and hydrogen atoms near 440 K. Interestingly, dimerization of sulfur atoms in n-alkanethiol SAMs usually occurs during thermal desorption and the same reaction did not happen for CPT SAMs, which may be due to the steric hindrance of cyclic rings of the CPT molecules. In this study, we demonstrated that the alicyclic ring of organic thiols strongly affected the surface structure and thermal desorption behavior of SAMs, thus providing a good method for controlling chemical and physical properties of organic thiol SAMs.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.216-221
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• 2011

Objective: To differentiate the human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the defined culture condition and determine its therapeutic potential for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases. Methods: The embryoid bodies were formed from hESCs and attached on the matrigel coated culture dishes. The neural structures consisting neural precursors were selected and expanded to form rosette structures. The mechanically isolated neural rosettes were differentiated into pigmented cells in the media comprised of N2 and B27. Expression profiles of markers related to RPE development were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining. Dissociated putative RPE cells ($10^5$ cells/5 ${\mu}L$) were transplanted into the subretinal space of rat retinal degeneration model induced by intravenous sodium iodate injection. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after transplantation, and immnohistochemistry study was performed to verify the survival of the transplanted cells. Results: The putative RPE cells derived from hESC showed characteristics of the human RPE cells morphologically and expressed molecular markers and associated with RPE fate. Grafted RPE cells were found to survive in the subretinal space up to 4 weeks after transplantation, and the expression of RPE markers was confirmed with immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: Transplanted RPE cells derived from hESC in the defined culture condition successfully survived and migrated within subretinal space of rat retinal degeneration model. These results support the feasibility of the hESC derived RPE cells for cell-based therapies for retinal degenerative disease.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.2241-2247
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• 2007

A new series of chiral bent-shaped liquid crystals with an asymmetric central core based on 1,6- dihydroxynaphthalene and chiral terminal chain prepared from (S)-(?)-2-methyl-1-butanol, 1,6-naphthalene bis[4-(4-alkoxyphenyliminomethyl)]benzoates [N(1,6)-n-O-PIMB(n-2)*-(n-4)O (n = 8-11)] were synthesized. Their mesomorphic properties and phase structures were investigated by means of electro-optical, polarization reversal current, and second harmonic generation measurements in order to confirm the relationship between the molecular structure and phase structure. All odd n (n = 9 and 11) compounds, N(1,6)-9-O-PIMB7*-5O and N(1,6)-11-O-PIMB9*-7O exhibit antiferroelectric phase, whereas even n (n = 8 and 10) compounds was flexible, N(1,6)-10-O-PIMB8*-6O exhibits the ferroelectric phase but N(1,6)-8-O-PIMB6*-4O exhibits the antiferroelectric phase. These results come from the decrease of the closed packing efficiency within a layer and the lack of uniform interlayer interaction between adjacent layers, which were caused by the asymmetrical naphthalene central core. Thus, we concluded that the structure of central core as well as the terminal chain plays an important role for the emergence of particular polar ordering in phase structures.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.879-894
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• 2016

In micro-fluid systems, fluids are injected into extremely narrow polymer channels in small amounts such as micro-, nano-, or pico-liter scales. These channels themselves are embedded on tiny chips. Various specialized structures in the chips including pumps, valves, and channels allow the chips to accept different types of fluids to be entered the channel and along with flowing through the channels, exert their effects in the framework of different reactions. The chips are generally crystal, silicon, or elastomer in texture. These highly organized structures are equipped with discharging channels through which products as well as wastes of the reactions are secreted out. A particular advantage regarding the use of fluids in micro-scales over macro-scales lies in the fact that these fluids are much better processed in the chips when they applied as micro-scales. When the laboratory is miniaturized as a microchip and solutions are injected on a micro-scale, this combination makes a specialized construction referred to as "lab-on-chip". Taken together, micro-fluids are among the novel technologies which further than declining the costs; enhancing the test repeatability, sensitivity, accuracy, and speed; are emerged as widespread technology in laboratory diagnosis. They can be utilized for monitoring a wide spectrum of biological disorders including different types of cancers. When these microchips are used for cancer monitoring, circulatory tumor cells play a fundamental role.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 1999.07a
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• pp.140-140
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• 1999

Ti/Ni multilayered films (MLF) are ideal for neutron optics particularly in neutron guides and focusing devices. This system also possesses the tendency of amorphization through a solid-state reaction (SSR). This behaviors are closely related to the electronic structures and both magneto-optical (MO) and optical properties of metals depend strongly on their electron energy structures. Mutual inter-diffusion of the Tin and Ni atoms in the MLF caused by a low temperature annealing should decrease the thickness of pure Ni, as well as change the chemical and atomic order in the reactive zone. The application of the MO spectroscopy to the study of SSR in the MLF allows us to obtain an additional information on the changes in the atomic and chemical orders in the interface region. The optical one has no restriction on the magnetic state of the constituent sublayers. Therefore, the changes in magnetic, MO and optical properties of the Ti/Ni MLF due to SSR can be expected. To the best of our knowledge, the MO and optical spectroscopies were not used for this purpose. SSR has been studied in the series of the Ti/Ni MLFs with bilayer periods of 0.65-22.2nm and constant ratio of the Ti to Ni sublayers thickness by using MO and optical spectroscopies as well as an x-ray diffraction. The experimental MO and optical spectra are compared with the computer-simulated spectra, assuming various interface models. The relative changes in the x-ray diffraction spectra and MO properties of the Ti/Ni MLF caused by annealing are bigger for the multilayers with "thick" sublayers, or the SSR with the formation of amorphous alloy takes place mainly in the Ti/Ni multilayers with "thick" sublayers, while in the nominal threshold thickness of the Ni-sublayer for the observation of the equatorial Kerr effect in the as-deposited and annealed Ti/Ni MLFs of about 3.0 and 4.5nm thick is explained by the formation of amorphous alloy during the deposition or the formation of the nonmagnetic alloyed regions between pure components as a result of the SSR. For the case of Ti/Ni MLF the MO approach is more sensitive for the determination of the thickness of the reacted zone, while x-ray diffraction is more useful for structural analyses.structural analyses.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.93-100
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• 1996

Previously, as an effort to make an autonomously replicating expression vector in fish, an ARS (autonomously replicating sequence) was cloned from MAR (matrix attachment region) of Misgurnus mizolepis. The DNA fragment composed of 443 base pairs contains ARS core consensus sequences, topoisomerase II consensus sequences, and A or T box sequences which are homologous to the known consensus sequences originated from other organisms. The clond ARS, as other DNA replication origins, contains inverted repeat sequences and several potential hairpin loop structures. These consensus sequences and hairpin structures may serve as recognition signals for regulatory proteins of DNA replication initiation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.405-410
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• 1996

Previous studies have shown that transforming growth factor beta ($TGF-{\beta}$) is a potent regulator of cell growth and differentiation. To study the effects of $TGF-{\beta}$ on cell morphology and cytoskeleton reorganization, we conducted a survey using Mv1Lu mink lung epithelial cells with antibodies to cytoskeletal proteins and an extracellular matrix protein. While the untreated cells showed a cuboidal shape of typical epithelia, the Mv1Lu cells displayed a drastic shape change in the presence of $TGF-{\beta}$. This alteration was most prominent when near-confluent cells were treated with $TGF-{\beta}$. Since the morphology alteration is known to be accompanied by the reorganization of cytoskeletal proteins in other cell types, we investigated the intracellular distribution of the three major cytoskeletal structures: microfilaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. In the microfilament system, $TGF-{\beta}$ induced new stress fiber formation, which was caused primarily by the polymerization of cytoplasmic G-actin. However, $TGF-{\beta}$ appeared not to induce any significant changes in microtubular structures and vimentin filaments as determined by indirect fluorescence microscopy. Finally we confirmed the rapid accumulation of fibronectin by immunoblot analysis and chased the protein locations by immunofluorescence microscopy.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.162-169
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• 2015

Hamamelis japonica (Hamamelidaceae), widely known as Japanese witch hazel, is a deciduous flowering shrub that produces compact clumps of yellow or orange-red flowers with long and thin petals. As a part of our ongoing search for phenolic constituents from this plant, eleven phenolic constituents including six flavonol glycosides, a chalcone glycoside, two coumaroyl flavonol glycosides and two galloylated compounds were isolated from the flowers. Their structures were elucidated as methyl gallate (1), myricitrin (2), hyperoside (3), isoquercitrin (4), quercitrin (5), spiraeoside (6), kaempferol 4'-O-β-glucopyranoside (7), chalcononaringenin 2'-O-β-glucopyranoside (8), trans-tiliroside (9), cis-tiliroside (10), and pentagalloyl-O-β-D-glucose (11), respectively. These structures of the compounds were identified on the basis of spectroscopic studies including the on-line LCNMR-MS and conventional NMR techniques. Particularly, directly coupled LC-NMR-MS afforded sufficient structural information rapidly to identify three flavonol glycosides (2 - 4) with the same molecular weight in an extract of Hamamelis japonica flowers without laborious fractionation and purification step. Cytotoxic effects of all the isolated phenolic compounds were evaluated on HCT116 human colon cancer cells, and pentagalloyl-O-β-D-glucose (11) was found to be significantly potent in inhibiting cancer cell growth.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.497-502
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• 2014

Microfluidics can provide unique experimental tools to visualize the development of neural structures within a microscale device, which is followed by guidance of neurite growth in the axonal isolation compartment. We utilized microfluidics technology to monitor the differentiation and migration of neural cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). We co-cultured hESCs with PA6 stromal cells, and isolated neural rosette-like structures, which subsequently formed neurospheres in suspension culture. Tuj1-positive neural cells, but not nestin-positive neural precursor cells (NPCs), were able to enter the microfluidics grooves (microchannels), suggesting that neural cell-migratory capacity was dependent upon neuronal differentiation stage. We also showed that bundles of axons formed and extended into the microchannels. Taken together, these results demonstrated that microfluidics technology can provide useful tools to study neurite outgrowth and axon guidance of neural cells, which are derived from human embryonic stem cells.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.625-631
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• 2013

Mucoadhesive property is the major function as an adhesive for medical devices, and therefore, these days many researches have conducted to develop polymers having this property. Recently, biomimetic technology has been used for developing mucoadhesive polymers. Among many technologies, mussel-inspired approaches have received noticeable attention because of its thread's strong adhesive characteristics. In this study, we synthesized mucoadhesive biomimetic polymers employing catechol structures which are abundant in mussel adhesive proteins, and their structures and molecular weights were characterized by using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. To evaluate in vitro mucoadhesive strength, the sheet type of the small intestinal porcine submucosa was prepared. Compared to commercial fibrin glue adhesives, catechol-containing mucoadhesive polymers showed enhanced adhesive strength. The study of adhesive strength with considering diverse factors, such as temperature, pressure, and oxidant amount indicated that mussel-inspired mucoadhesive polymer could be a promising candidate for an adhesive in various biomedical applications.