• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.239-244
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• 2014

Several recent studies have showed that the n-myc downstream regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) is a new tumor suppressor gene, and that it plays an important role in tumor suppression in several cancers or cancer cell lines. However, few studies focused on its function in neuroblastoma cells. In the present investigation, we demonstrated that NDRG2 overexpression inhibited their proliferation. Using a cDNA microarray, we found that overexpression of NDRG2 inhibited the expression of cysteine-rich protein 61 (CYR61), a proliferation related gene. From our research, CYR61 may partially hinder NDRG2-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation. Overexpression of NDRG2 resulted in accumulation of cells in the G1 phase, which was accompanied by upregulation of p21 and p27 and downregulation of CDK4 and cyclin D1. Taken together, these data indicate that NDRG2 inhibits the proliferation of neuroblastoma cells partially through suppression of CYR61. Our findings offer novel insights into the physiological roles of NDRG2 in neuroblastoma cell proliferation, and NDRG2 may prove to be effective candidate for the treatment of children with neuroblastoma.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.101-107
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• 2010

A rapid and sensitive reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of N-(-4-Chlorophenyl)-6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-chromanecarboxamide (KAL-1120), a novel anti-inflammation agent, in the rat plasma. The method was applied to analyze the compound in the biological fluids such as bile, urine and tissue homogenates. After liquid-liquid extraction, the compound was analyzed on an HPLC system with ultraviolet detection at 275 nm. HPLC was carried out using reversed-phase isocratic elution with a $C_{18}$ column, a mobile phase of a mixture of acetonitril (40 v/v%) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The chromatograms showed good resolution and sensitivity and no interference of plasma. The calibration curve for the drug in plasma was linear over the concentration range of 0.05-50 ${\mu}g$/mL. The intra- and inter-day assay accuracies of this method ranged from 0.06% to 9.33% of normal values and the precision did not exceed 6.28% of relative standard deviation. The plasma concentration of KAL-1120 decreased to below the quantifiable limit at 1.5 hr after the i.v. bolus administration of 2-10 mg/kg to rats ($t_{1/2,({\alpha})}$ and $t_{1/2,({\beta})$ of 2.15 and 26.7 min at a dose of 2 mg/kg, 3.91 and 33.0 min at a dose of 10 mg/kg, respectively). The steady-state volume of distribution ($V_{dss}$) and the total body clearance ($CL_t$) were not significantly altered in rats given doses from 2 to 10 mg/kg. Of the various tissues tested, KAL-1120 was mainly distributed in the lung and heart after i.v. bolus administration. KAL-1120 was detected in the bile by 30 min after its i.v. bolus administration. However, the concentration in the urine after i.v. bolus administration became too low to measure, suggesting that KAL-1120 is mostly excreted in the bile. In conclusion, this analytical method was suitable for the preclinical pharmacokinetic studies of KAL-1120 in rats.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.725-737
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• 2020

Background: T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a kind of aggressive hematological cancer, and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is activated in most patients with T-ALL and responsible for poor prognosis. 20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh2 (20(S)-GRh2) is a major active compound extracted from ginseng, which exhibits anti-cancer effects. However, the underlying anticancer mechanisms of 20(S)-GRh2 targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in T-ALL have not been explored. Methods: Cell growth and cell cycle were determined to investigate the effect of 20(S)-GRh2 on ALL cells. PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway-related proteins were detected in 20(S)-GRh2-treated Jurkat cells by immunoblotting. Antitumor effect of 20(S)-GRh2 against T-ALL was investigated in xenograft mice. The mechanisms of 20(S)-GRh2 against T-ALL were examined by cell proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy. Results: In the present study, the results showed that 20(S)-GRh2 decreased cell growth and arrested cell cycle at the G1 phase in ALL cells. 20(S)-GRh2 induced apoptosis through enhancing reactive oxygen species generation and upregulating apoptosis-related proteins. 20(S)-GRh2 significantly elevated the levels of pEGFP-LC3 and autophagy-related proteins in Jurkat cells. Furthermore, the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was effectively blocked by 20(S)-GRh2. 20(S)-GRh2 suppressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis and autophagy by suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in Jurkat cells. Finally, 20(S)-GRh2 alleviated symptoms of leukemia and reduced the number of white blood cells and CD3 staining in the spleen of xenograft mice, indicating antitumor effects against T-ALL in vivo. Conclusion: These findings indicate that 20(S)-GRh2 exhibits beneficial effects against T-ALL through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and could be a natural product of novel target for T-ALL therapy.

• ETRI Journal
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.459-468
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• 2013

A novel integrated laser, that is, a distributed reflector laser diode integrated with an electroabsorption modulator, is proposed to improve the output efficiency, single-mode stability, and chirp. The proposed laser can be realized using the selective metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy technique (that is, control of the width of the insulating mask), and its fabrication process is almost the same as the conventional electroabsorption modulated laser (EML) process except for the asymmetric coupling coefficient structure along the cavity. For our analysis, an accurate time-domain transfer-matrix-based laser model is developed. Based on this model, we perform steady-state and large-signal analyses. The performances of the proposed laser, such as the output power, extinction ratio, and chirp, are compared with those of the EML. Under 10-Gbps NRZ modulation, we can obtain a 30% higher output power and about 50% lower chirp than the conventional EML. In particular, the simulation results show that the chirp provided by the proposed laser can appear to have a longer wavelength side at the leading edge of the pulse and a shorter wavelength side at the falling edge.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.104-108
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• 2003

We have measured the transport properties of $Bi_2$$Sr_2$$CaCu_2$$O_{8+d}$ (BSCCO) intrinsic Josephson junction mesa. Transport measurements with current flow along the c-axis, perpendicular to the layer of mesa showed multi-branch structures on the current-voltage characteristics. For single intrinsic junctions, the microwave radiation appears in the form of three different modes of oscillations, which include Josephson emission, nonequilibrium broad emission and sharp coherent microwave emission. Mutual phase interactions between two-mesas structures of BSCCO intrinsic Josephson junctions were studied. The results were explained within the framework of the Josephson plasma excitation model due to quasiparticle injection.n.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.654-665
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• 2016

The pumping of electric power from photovoltaic (PV) farms is normally carried out using transformers, which require heavy mounting structures and are thus costly, less efficient, and bulky. Therefore, transformerless schemes are developed for the injection of power into the grid. Compared with the H4 inverter topology, the H6 topology is a better choice for pumping PV power into the grid because of the reduced common mode current. This paper presents how the perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) can be implemented in the H6 inverter topology along with the improved sinusoidal current injected to the grid at unity power factor with the average current mode control technique. On the basis of the P&O MPPT algorithm, a power reference for the present insolation level is first calculated. Maintaining this power reference and referring to the AC sine wave of bus bars, a sinusoidal current at unity power factor is injected to the grid. The proportional integral (PI) controller and fuzzy logic controller (FLC) are designed and implemented. The FLC outperforms the PI controller in terms of conversion efficiency and injected power quality. A simulation in the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment is carried out. An experimental prototype is built to validate the proposed idea. The dynamic and steady-state performances of the FLC controller are found to be better than those of the PI controller. The results are presented in this paper.

• 한국광학회지
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.96-99
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• 1998

본 연구에서는 새로운 광피드백 장기 안정화법을 제안하고 실험적으로 그 가능성을 입증하였다. 제안한 방법은 광로장을 제어하는 방법으로써 지금까지와는 다른 고감도의 광피드백 위상 변별 기법을 도입하였다. 이는 외부 반사체로 사용한 공초점 패브리-페로 공진기의 반사모드의 편광 분광법에 의하여 위상 변별 신호를 얻어내는 것이다. 실험 결과 약 20시간 정도의 안정된 제어 상태를 유지하였다. 이 실험에서 사용한 광학계가 각각의 분리된 광학 요소를 광학 테이블에 배열한 불안정한 상태였으므로 광학계의 크기를 줄이고 각 광학적 요소를 하나의 판 위에 고정시킴으로서 일체화시킨다면 안정된 제어의 유지시간을 대폭 늘일 수 있을 것이다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제73권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Care of patients with sepsis has improved over the last decade. However, in the recent two years, there was no significant progress in the development of a new drug for critically ill patients. In January 2011, it was announced that the worldwide phase 3 randomized trial of a novel anti-Toll-like receptor-4 compound, eritoran tetrasodium, had failed to demonstrate an improvement in the mortality of patients with severe sepsis. In October 2011, Xigris (drotrecogin alfa, a recombinant activated protein C) was withdrawn from the market following the failure of its worldwide trial that had attempted to demonstrate improved outcome. These announcements were disappointing. The recent failure of 2 promising drugs to further reduce mortality suggests that new approaches are needed. A study was published showing that sepsis can be associated to a state of immunosuppression and loss of immune function in human. However, the timing, incidence, and nature of the immunosuppression remain poorly characterized, especially in humans. This emphasizes the need for a better understanding of sepsis as well as new therapeutic strategies. Many clinical experiences of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) treatment for adult acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients, which is caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus, were reported. The use of ECMO in severe respiratory failure, particularly in the treatment of adult ARDS, is occurring more commonly.

• 대한전기학회논문지:전기물성ㆍ응용부문C
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• 제53권8호
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• pp.426-432
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• 2004

This paper presents a systematic approach of measurement, modeling and analysis of grounding system impedance in the field of lightning protection system and intelligent power equipments. The measurement and analysis system of ground impedance is based on a computer aided technique. The magnitude and phase of ground impedance were determined by the novel measurement and analysis using the revised fall-of-potential method. The ground impedances of the ground rod of 50 m long are considerably dependent on the frequency. The ground impedance is mainly resistive in the frequency range of 3-20 kHz. At higher frequencies, the reactive components of the ground impedances are no longer negligible and the inductance of the ground rod was found to be the core factor deciding the ground impedance. Although the steady-state ground resistance of the ground rod of 50 m was less than that of the ground rod of 10 m, the ground impedances of the ground rod of 50 m over the frequency range of more than 60 kHz were much greater than those of the ground rod of 10 m. Furthermore, the equivalent circuit model based on the measured data was proposed. and the calculated results were in approximately agreement with the measured data.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.419-428
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• 2013

The modular multilevel cascade converter (MMCC) is a new family of multilevel power converters with modular realization and a cascaded pattern for submodules. The MMCC family can be classified by basic configurations and submodule types. One member of this family, the Hexverter, is configured as Double-Delta Full-Bridge (DDFB). It is a novel multilevel AC/AC converter with direct power conversion and comparatively fewer required components. It is appropriate for connecting two three-phase systems with different frequencies and driving an AC motor directly from a utility grid. This paper presents the dq model of a Hexverter with both of its AC systems by state-space representation, which then simplifies the continuous time-varying model into a periodic discrete time-invariant one. Then a generalized multivariable optimal control strategy for regulating the Hexverter's independent currents is developed. The resulting control structure can be adapted to other MMCCs and is flexible enough to include other control criterion while guaranteeing the original controller performance. The modeling method and control design are verified by simulation results.