• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.257-272
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• 2022

In addition to inducing apoptosis, caspase inhibition contributes to necroptosis and/or autophagy depending on the cell type and cellular context. In macrophages, necroptosis can be induced by co-treatment with Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] for TLR4 and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly I:C] for TLR3) and a cell-permeable pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD. Here, we elucidated the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of cell death. We showed that LPS/zVAD- and poly I:C/zVAD-induced cell death in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) was inhibited by receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1) inhibitor necrostatin-1 and autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine. Electron microscopic images displayed autophagosome/autolysosomes, and immunoblotting data revealed increased LC3II expression. Although zVAD did not affect LPS- or poly I:C-induced activation of IKK, JNK, and p38, it enhanced IRF3 and STAT1 activation as well as type I interferon (IFN) expression. In addition, zVAD inhibited ERK and Akt phosphorylation induced by LPS and poly I:C. Of note, zVAD-induced enhancement of the IRF3/IFN/STAT1 axis was abolished by necrostatin-1, while zVAD-induced inhibition of ERK and Akt was not. Our data further support the involvement of autocrine IFNs action in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent necroptosis, LPS/zVAD-elicited ROS production was inhibited by necrostatin-1, neutralizing antibody of IFN receptor (IFNR) and JAK inhibitor AZD1480. Accordingly, both cell death and ROS production induced by TLR ligands plus zVAD were abrogated in STAT1 knockout macrophages. We conclude that enhanced TRIF-RIP1-dependent autocrine action of IFNβ, rather than inhibition of ERK or Akt, is involved in TLRs/zVAD-induced autophagic and necroptotic cell death via the JAK/STAT1/ROS pathway.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.spc
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• pp.34-50
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• 2022

Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted using hydrochemical data in four testbeds (A to D) built for the development of site characterization technologies to assess the hydrochemical processes controlling the hydrochemistry in each site. The PCA results indicated the nitrogen loading to deep bedrock aquifers through permeable fractures in Testbed A, the chemical weathering enhanced with the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in Testbed B, the reductive dechlorination in Testbed C, and the different hydrochemistry depending on the depth to bedrock in Testbed D, consistent with the characteristics of each site. In Testbeds B and D, outliers seemed to affect the PCA result probably due to the small number of samples, whereas the PCA result was still consistent with site characteristics. This study result indicates that the PCA is widely applicable to hydrochemical data for the assessment of major hydrochemical processes in contamination sites, which is useful for site characterization when combined with other site characterization technologies, e.g., geological survey, geophysical investigation, borehole logging. It is suggested that PCA is applied in contaminated sites to interpret hydrochemical data not only for the distribution of contamination levels but also for the assessment of major hydrochemical processes and contamination sources.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2023

Objective : Gardeniae Fructus (GF) has bitter and cold nature. Thus, it has been traditionally prescribed in processed form roasted with ginger juice for patients with a weak stomach. This study investigated the effects of processed GF in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-treated gastric epithelial cells. Methods : Processed GF was made by applying 40% ginger juice or 10% ethanol for 24 h and then roasting at 150℃ for 5 minutes. Apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was monitored by flow cytometry using the membrane permeable fluorescent dye Rh123. Protein expression was measured by Western blot analysis. Results : Cell viability was reduced by tBHP and restored by ethanol extract of GF (GFE). In the TUNEL assay, it was found that cell death by tBHP was due to apoptosis, and GFE had an anti-apoptotic effect. Processed GF roasted with ginger juice showed the best anti-apoptotic effect. Processed GF also inhibited MMP loss and restored tBHP-induced changes in expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins. Increased ROS production and GSH depletion after tBHP treatment were significantly reduced by processed GF. In addition, tBHP-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was inhibited by processed GF. Conclusion : These results demonstrate that the processed GF is able to protect gastric epithelial cells from oxidative stress-induced cell death with antiapoptotic and antioxidant activity. In addition, it shows that the processing of GF, which have been traditionally used for gastrointestinal protection, partially have scientific validity.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2022

Environmental contamination by organic compounds are not only restricted to water, but extends to soil and groundwater as well. However, highly oxidized compounds, such as halogenated organics and nitro-compounds, can be detoxified employing reducing methods. Permeable reactive barrier is one of the representative technologies where zero-valent metals (ZVMs) are employed for groundwater remediation. However, organics contaminates often contaminate the unsaturated zone above the groundwater. Despite the availability of technologies like soil vapor extraction and bioremediation, removing organic compounds from this zone represents several challenges. In this study, the reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline was achieved using zero-valent iron (ZVI) under unsaturated conditions. Results indicated that the water content was an important variable in this reaction. Under dry conditions (water content = 0.2%), the reduction reaction was inhibited; however, when the water content was between 10% and 25% (saturated condition), ZVI can reduce nitrobenzene. Palladized iron (Pd/Fe) can be used to reduce nitrobenzene when the water content is between 2.5% and 10%. The reaction was evaluated over a wide range of temperatures (10 - 40 ℃), and the results indicated that increasing the temperature resulted in increased reaction rates under unsaturated conditions.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Recently, due to the frequent occurrence of localized torrential rains and heat waves caused by abnormal climates. For this reason, it is necessary to develop an economical and eco-friendly rainwater detention facility that can secure the groundwater level through rainwater detention as well as flood prevention against concentrated rainfall by simultaneously implementing rainwater permeation and storage. In this study, the structural safety of an eco-friendly rainwater infiltration type detention facility made using eco-friendly inorganic binders including red clay was examined. Static analysis considering the constant load and additional vertical load and dynamic analysis considering the seismic spectrum were performed. As a result, it was found that the eco-friendly prefabricated rainwater infiltration type detention facility developed in this study has a maximum stress of about 68.1% to 75.4% and a maximum displacement of about 0.9% to 9.6% under the same load and seismic conditions compared to the existing PE block rainwater detention facility. It was confirmed that the eco-friendly prefabricated rainwater infiltration type detention facility secured excellent structural stability.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.177-189
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• 2022

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are defined as practical and technical approaches to restoring functioning ecosystems and biodiversity as a means to address socio-environmental challenges and provide human-nature co-benefits. This study reviews NbS-related literature to identify its key characteristics, techniques, and challenges for its application in climate-adaptive water management. The review finds that NbS has been commonly used as an umbrella term incorporating a wide range of existing ecosystem-based approaches such as low-impact development (LID), best management practices (BMP), forest landscape restoration (FLR), and blue-green infrastructure (BGI), rather than being a uniquely-situated practice. Its technical form and operation can vary significantly depending on the spatial scale (small versus large), objective (mitigation, adaptation, naturalization), and problem (water supply, quality, flooding). Commonly cited techniques include green spaces, permeable surfaces, wetlands, infiltration ponds, and riparian buffers in urban sites, while afforestation, floodplain restoration, and reed beds appear common in non- and less-urban settings. There is a greater lack of operational clarity for large-scale NbS than for small-scale NbS in urban areas. NbS can be a powerful tool that enables an integrated and coordinated action embracing not only water management, but also microclimate moderation, ecosystem conservation, and emissions reduction. This study points out the importance of developing decision-making guidelines that can inform practitioners of the selection, operation, and evaluation of NbS for specific sites. The absence of this framework is one of the obstacles to mainstreaming NbS for water management. More case studies are needed for empirical assessment of NbS.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.290-297
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• 2022

During surgery, Surgical instruments are often left behind due to accidents. Most of these are surgical gauze, so radioactive non-permeable gauze (X-ray gauze) is used for preventing of accidents which gauze is left in the body. This gauze is divided into wire and pad type. If it is confirmed that the gauze remains in the body, gauze must be detected by radiologist's reading by imaging using a mobile X-ray device. But most of operating rooms are not equipped with a mobile X-ray device, but equipped C-Arm equipment, which is of poorer quality than mobile X-ray equipment and furthermore it takes time to read them. In this study, Use C-Arm equipment to acquire gauze image for detection and Build dataset using artificial intelligence and select a detection model to Assist with the relatively low image quality and the reading of radiology specialists. mAP@50 and detection time are used as indicators for performance evaluation. The result is that two-class gauze detection dataset is more accurate and YOLOv5 model mAP@50 is 93.4% and detection time is 11.7 ms.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.353-353
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• 2023

기후변화에 대응하는 도시유출 저감과 열섬효과를 방지하기 위해 투수블럭 시공이 증가 추세 있으나, 투수블럭과 하부 도로포장체에 대한 강우모사 시험시 토양함수율 설정기준을 정립할 필요가 있다. 유역 혹은 시험체의 유출량 예측에는 토지 이용에 따라 미국자연자원보호청(Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS)의 SCS 유효우량 산정 방법을 통해 CN을 활용할 수 있으며, 이때 유역 혹은 시험체의 선행강우일수에 따라 유출량 결과가 큰 차이가 발생한다. 연구를 위해 시험실이 위치하고 있는 부산시와 양산시 무강우 일수(10년, 2012~2021)를 홍수기, 비홍수기 각각 분석한 결과에 따라, 투수블록 포장체의 CN 산정을 위해 자연강우 이후 시험시 AMC조건을 따르며, 무강우일수 5일 이내에는 비성수기 12.7~27.94mm, 성수기 35.56~53.34mm의 평균강우 20.32mm, 44.45mm에 해당하는 체적의 실험수를 사전에 살수한 후 강우모의시험을 진행한다. 사전살수를 통해 하부기층 토양을 AMC-II 기준에 맞추고, 강우모의 시험을 통해 CN(II) 산정한다. 동일기준에서 진행된 시험 결과, 일정한 유출을 확인하였으며, 적용에 일관성을 유지할 수 있었다. 따라서 토양종류와 토양함수조건에 의거 투수블록 포장 시험체의 CN을 산정을 통해, 도시홍수 유출모형에 적용할 수 있다. 53.34mm 이상의 자연강우시 모니터링을 통한 CN(III)을 산정하여CN(II)로 환산하여 경제적이고 합리적인 유출량을 산정한다.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2023

Since silicon having a band gap energy of about 1.12 eV are limited to a maximum operating temperature of less than 250 ℃, the sample with MIS structure based on the SiC substrate of wide-band gap energy was manufactured and the hydrogen response characteristics at high temperatures were investigated. The dielectric layer applied here is a tantalum oxide layer that is highly permeable to hydrogen gas and shows stability at high temperatures. It was formed by RTO at a temperature of 900 ℃ with tantalum. The thickness, depth profiles, and leakage current of the tantalum oxide layer were analyzed through TEM, SIMS, and leakage current characteristics. For the hydrogen gas response characteristics, the capacitance change characteristics were investigated in the temperature range from room temperature to 400 ℃ for hydrogen gas concentrations from 0 to 2,000 ppm. As a result, it was confirmed that the sample exhibited excellent sensitivity and a response time of about 60 seconds.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.466-472
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• 2023

Exon skipping is an efficient technique to inhibit specific gene expression induced by a short-sequence peptide nucleic acid (PNA). To date, there has been no study on the effects of PNA on skin pigmentation. In melanocytes, the tripartite complex is responsible for the transport of mature melanosomes from the nucleus to the dendrites. The tripartite complex is composed of Rab27a, Mlph (Melanophilin), and Myosin Va. Defects in the protein Mlph, a melanosome transport-related protein, are known to cause hypopigmentation. Our study shows that Olipass peptide nucleic acid (OPNA), a cell membrane-permeable PNA, targets exon skipping in the Mlph SHD domain, which is involved in Rab27a binding. Our findings demonstrate that OPNA induced exon skipping in melan-a cells, resulting in shortened Mlph mRNA, reduced Mlph protein levels, and melanosome aggregation, as observed by microscopy. Therefore, OPNA inhibits the expression of Mlph by inducing exon skipping within the gene. These results suggest that OPNA, which targets Mlph, may be a potential new whitening agent to inhibit melanosome movement.