• ALGAE
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.81-92
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• 2023

Obesity-induced inflammation is crucial in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. In this study, we investigated the effects of the Gracilaria chorda (GC) on lipid accumulation and obesity-induced inflammatory changes or glucose homeostasis in cell models (3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW 264.7 macrophages). Samples of GC were extracted using solvents (water, methanol, and ethanol) and subcritical water (SW) at different temperatures (90, 150, and 210℃). The total phenolic content of GCSW extract at 210℃ (GCSW210) showed the highest content compared to others, and GCSW210 highly inhibited lipid accumulation and significantly reduced gene expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, and fatty acid synthase in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In addition, GCSW210 effectively downregulated the pro-inflammatory cytokine regulator pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages, including mitogen-activated protein kinase, signal transducers and activators of transcription and nuclear factor-κB. In co-culture of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW 264.7 macrophages, GCSW210 significantly reduced nitric oxide production and interleukin-6 levels, and improved glucose uptake with dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that GCSW210 improves glucose metabolism by attenuating obesity-induced inflammation in adipocytes, which may be used as a possible treatment option for managing obesity and associated metabolic disorders.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.403-416
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• 2023

This paper summarised and re-examined the theoretical basis of the commonly used design rule developed by Cochrane in the 1920s to consider staggered bolt holes in tension members, i.e., the s²/4g rule. The rule was derived assuming that the term two times the bolt hole diameter (2d₀) in Cochrane's original equation could be neglected, and assuming a value of 0.5 for the fractional deduction of a staggered hole in assessing the net section area. Although the s²/4g rule generally provides good predictions of the staggered net section area, the above-mentioned assumptions used in developing the rule are doubtful, in particular for a connection with a small gauge-to-bolt-hole diameter (g/d₀) ratio. It was found that the omission of 2d₀ in Cochrane's original equation appreciably overestimates the net section area of a staggered bolted connection with a small g/d₀ ratio. However, the assumed value of 0.5 for the fractional deduction of a staggered hole underestimates the staggered net section area for small g/d₀ ratios. To improve the applicability of the above two assumptions, a modified design equation, which covers a full range of g/d₀ ratio, was proposed to accurately predict the staggered net section area and was validated by the existing test data from the literature and numerical data derived from this study. Finally, a reliability analysis of the test and numerical data was conducted, and the results showed that the reliability of the modified design equation for evaluating the net section resistance of staggered bolted connections can be achieved with the partial factor of 1.25.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.5C
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• pp.323-331
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• 2006

It is a recent worldwide trend that erosion characteristics of soil, the resistance factor against scour, are quantified and considered in the estimation of scour depths in fine-grained soils. As part of the efforts, local erosion characteristics on fine-grained soils of the West Coast area are analyzed through scour rate experiments, where a lot of sea-crossing long-span bridges are planned and being constructed in recent years. Four sites including Incheon Bridge, Choji Bridge, Hwankyung Bridge, and Janghang area are finally selected for this study and the scour rate tests are performed using 34 undisturbed soil samples from the sites. The critical shear stresses which represent erodibility of the soil tend to be proportional to the undrained shear strength values. The relative ability of cohesive fine-grained soils to resist erosion is assumed to be higher than that of noncohesive soils. Quantified local erosion characteristics of fine-grained soils in the West Coast area are presented in forms of charts showing relationships between scour rates and shear stresses, and suggested as basic data for the estimation of scour depths and design of bridge foundations in the West Coast area.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of bone metabolic parameters between climbing exercise training and treadmill running training with alpha lipoic acid supplementation in ovariectomized rats. Fifty-six Sparague-Dawley, 8 weeks of age, were assigned into nine groups: normal control at pre-test (Pre-NC), normal control at post-test (NC), sham-sedentary (SS), ovariectomized-control (OVX-Con), ovariectomized-ALA inject (OVX-ALA), ovariectomized-climbing exercise (OVX-CE), ovariectomized-ALA inject+climbing exercise (OVX-ACE), ovariectomized-treadmill exercise (OVX-TE) and ovariectomized-ALA inject+treadmill exercise (OVX-ATE). The climbing exercise group voluntarily climbed the 200 cm tower to drinking water from the bottle set at the top of it. The treadmill exercise group was performed the 60 min treadmill running with grade 6-8%, and velocity 10-15 m/min. The frequency of exercise training was performed 6 days per wk in both training intervention. For the comparison of bone metabolic responses following to different training intervention, the strength, length and weight of femur, total bone density, bone mineral contents, deoxypyridioline, osteocalcin and parathyroid hormone, estradiol and lutenizing hormone were measured in this study. The body weight was higher in the OVX-Con, OVX-ALA and OVX-TE groups as compared to NC group. The total bone mineral density of OVX-ACE showed a higher value than SS, OVX-Con, OVX-ATE and OVX-TE. But urine and blood metabolic parameters showed no significance among groups. In conclusion, this study results suggested that climbing exercise training and alpha lipoic acid supplementation may an effective intervention for prevention of osteoporosis in ovriectomized rats.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.73-95
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to analyze the industrial structural changes and types of specialized in the shipbuilding cities, which are representative sectors of industrial city decline, and explore regional responses. Most cities designated as special areas for industrial crisis response in 2018 are specialized in shipbuilding. While the shift from prosperity to recession since the 2010s is the main factor, each city has responded differently to the industrial crisis. The analysis, targeting seven shipbuilding cities, shows that regions where large shipyards of major corporations with high industrial competitiveness are located have relatively less decline during business fluctuations, and there is a tendency for a decrease in industrial structural diversity during prosperous periods and an increase during recessionary periods. Based on the resistance and recoverability to industrial crises, the industrial paths of shipbuilding cities are classified into four types. Considering regional industrial structure and competitiveness, it is necessary to develop customized support strategies such as maintaining and declining shipbuilding industries and fostering new alternative industries.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.661-673
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• 2023

Treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) has always been challenged by the development of resistance. We investigated the antiproliferative activity of licochalcone H (LCH), a regioisomer of licochalcone C derived from the root of Glycyrrhiza inflata, in oxaliplatin (Ox)-sensitive and -resistant CRC cells. LCH significantly inhibited cell viability and colony growth in both Ox-sensitive and Ox-resistant CRC cells. We found that LCH decreased epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and AKT kinase activities and related activating signaling proteins including pEGFR and pAKT. A computational docking model indicated that LCH may interact with EGFR, AKT1, and AKT2 at the ATP-binding sites. LCH induced ROS generation and increased the expression of the ER stress markers. LCH treatment of CRC cells induced depolarization of MMP. Multi-caspase activity was induced by LCH treatment and confirmed by Z-VAD-FMK treatment. LCH increased the number of sub-G1 cells and arrested the cell cycle at the G1 phase. Taken together LCH inhibits the growth of Ox-sensitive and Ox-resistant CRC cells by targeting EGFR and AKT, and inducing ROS generation and ER stress-mediated apoptosis. Therefore, LCH could be a potential therapeutic agent for improving not only Ox-sensitive but also Ox-resistant CRC treatment.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.362-368
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• 2023

In this paper, we presented the characteristics of the impulse signal which is applicable to the ultra-wideband antennas. In general, the width of the impulse has around sub nano or pico seconds in the time domain, where it corresponds to the wideband in the frequency domain. We confirmed by experiment that the impulse has around 130ps of the pulse width and bandwidth of 4GHz when 10MHz of sine wave excited as an input pulse. The fidelity factor was calculated in the time domain and -10dB bandwidth in the frequency domain was investigated for resistively loaded dipole antennas with different resistance per unit length. The received impulse signal through the wideband antennas is confirmed in the time and frequency domains that received pulse is to be similar to the generated impulse. The fidelity and bandwidth of the quantity value are 0.98 and 3.4GHz, respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.773-783
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• 2023

Background: Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is one of the major fungal diseases in agriculture. Biological methods are preferred over chemical fungicides to control gray mold since they are less toxic to the environment and could induce the resistance to pathogens in plants. In this work, we try to understand if ginseng defense to B. cinerea could be induced by fungal hypovirulent strain △BcSpd1. BcSpd1 encodes Zn(II)₂Cys₆ transcription factor which regulates fungal pathogenicity and we recently reported △BcSpd1 mutants reduced fungal virulence. Methods: We performed transcriptomic analysis of the host to investigate the induced defense response of ginseng treated by B. cinerea △BcSpd1. The metabolites in ginseng flavonoids pathway were determined by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS and the antifungal activates were then performed. Results: We found that △BcSpd1 enhanced the ginseng defense response when applied to healthy ginseng leaves and further changed the metabolism of flavonoids. Compared with untreated plants, the application of △BcSpd1 on ginseng leaves significantly increased the accumulation of p-coumaric acid and myricetin, which could inhibit the fungal growth. Conclusion: B. cinerea △BcSpd1 could effectively induce the medicinal plant defense and is referred to as the biological control agent in ginseng disease management.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.179-190
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• 2023

The effect of the particle size and silica structure on the wear behavior of Silica/Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) compounds was investigated using a blade-type abrader and the findings were compared with those obtained with an Akron abrader. The compensated characteristic parameter (Ψ_c), which was the contributory factor of the combined effect of the particle size and filler structure, was introduced. This parameter was found to exhibit a linear relationship with the Young's modulus. The Young's modulus correlated more with Ψ_c than the uncompensated characteristic parameter (Ψ) modeled for carbon black. The wear rate and volume loss measured using a blade-type abrader and Akron abrader were respectively observed to be inversely proportional to Ψ_c, that is, the wear resistance of Silica/SBR compound improved as the particle size became smaller and the silica structure became intricate. The coefficient of determination (R²) obtained from the linear relationship between Ψ_c and wear rate was higher than those between Ψ_c and volume loss for the Silica/SBR compound. Thus, the blade-type abrader exhibited high potential to be used for accurately evaluating the effect of particle size and structural properties of silica on the wear behavior of SBR compounds.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.229-237
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• 2024

Cough is a common symptom of several respiratory diseases. However, frequent coughing from acute to chronic often causes great pain to patients. It may turn into cough variant asthma, which seriously affects people's quality of life. For cough treatment, it is dominated by over-the-counter antitussive drugs, such as asmeton, but most currently available antitussive drugs have serious side effects. Thus, there is a great need for the development of new drugs with potent cough suppressant. BALB/c mice were used to construct mice model with cough to investigate the pharmacological effects of pectolinarigenin (PEC). Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining were used to assess lung injury and airway remodeling, and ELISA was used to assess the level of inflammatory factor release. In addition, inflammatory cell counts were measured to assess airway inflammation. Airway hyperresponsiveness assay was used to assess respiratory resistance in mice. Finally, we used Western blotting to explore the potential mechanisms of PEC. We found that PEC could alleviate lung tissue injury and reduce the release of inflammatory factors, inhibit of cough frequency and airway wall collagen deposition in mice model with cough. Meanwhile, PEC inhibited the Ras/ERK/c-Fos pathway to exhibit antitussive effect. Therefore, PEC may be a potential drug for cough suppression.