• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2018

It is noted that chalcone derivatives have characteristic diverse pharmacological properties, and that precise evidence has been growing that they could regulate a tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) induced insulin resistance. The purpose of the present investigation is to elucidate the effects of the identified chalcone derivatives on adipogenesis, and to find the underlying mechanism of action in that case. Consequently, we first investigated whether the chalcone derivatives could affect the identified $PPAR{\gamma}$-induced transcriptional activity on the proliferator-activated receptor response elements (PPRE) at target promoters, and find that trans-chalcone most significantly increased the $PPAR{\gamma}$-induced transcriptional activity. Additionally, we confirmed that there were up-regulatory effects of trans-chalcone during the adipogenesis and lipid accumulation, and on the mRNA of adipogenic factors in 3T3-L1 cells. Next, we examined the effect of trans-chalcone on the inhibition induced by $TNF-{\alpha}$ on adipogenesis. To that end, we noted that the treatment with trans-chalcone attenuated the effect of $TNF-{\alpha}$ mediated secretion of various adipokines that are involved in insulin sensitivity. For this reason, we noted that this study clearly demonstrates that trans-chalcone enhanced adipogenesis, in part, by its potent effect on $PPAR{\gamma}$ activation and by its reverse effect on $TNF-{\alpha}$.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.501-512
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• 2016

High-strength structural bolts have been utilized for beam-to-column connections in steel-framed structural buildings. Failure of these components may be caused by the bolt shank fracture or threads stripping-off, documented in the literature. Furthermore, these structural bolts are galvanized for corrosion resistance or quenched-and-tempered in the manufacturing process. This paper adopted the finite element simulation to demonstrate discrete mechanical performance for these bolts under tensile loading conditions, the coated and uncoated numerical model has been built up for two numerical integration methods: explicit and implicit. Experimental testing and numerical methods can fully approach the failure mechanism of these bolts and their ultimate load capacities. Comparison has also been conducted for two numerical integration methods, demonstrating that the explicit integration procedure is also suitable for solving quasi-static problems. Furthermore, by using precise bolt models in T-Stub, more accurately simulate the mechanical behavior of T-Stub, which will lay the foundation of the mechanical properties of steel bolted joints.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2008

The general corrosion behavior of austenitic and ferritic steels(316L, 304, N controlled 304L, and 410) in supercritical water is investigated in this paper. After exposure to deaerated supercritical water at $480^{\circ}C$/25 MPa for up to 500 h, the four steels studied were characterized using gravimetry, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(SEM/EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), and X-ray diffraction(XRD). The results show that the 316L steel with a higher Cr and Ni content has the best corrosion-resistance performance among the steels tested. In addition to the oxide layer mixed with $Fe_{3}O_{4}$ and $(Fe,Cr)_{3}O_{4}$ that formed on all the samples, a $Fe_{3}O_{4}$ loose outer layer was observed on the 410 steel. The corrosion mechanism of stainless steels in supercritical water is discussed based on the above results.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.383-387
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• 2013

In the present study, we determined the antifungal effect of obacunone isolated from Phellodendri Cortex against Candida ablicans, a pathogenic fungus. The antifungal effect was analyzed by an in-vitro susceptibility test and in a murine model of disseminated candidiasis. Possible mechanism of the antifungal activity was also examined. Analyses of data resulting from the susceptibility test revealed that the compound inhibited C. albicans growth. At 25 ${\mu}g$ obacunone/ml, there was app. 45% reduction of CFUs (colony forming units) as compared to obacunone-untreated C. albicans yeast cells (P<0.01). In the murine model of disseminated candidiasis due to C. albicans, obacunone enhanced resistance of mice against disseminated candidiasis. During an entire period of 30-day observation, control animals all died within 14 days, whereas 60% of obacunone-treated mice survived (P<0.05). In addition, obacunone inhibited the hyphal production, a major virulence factor of C. albicans, from the blastoconidial form. Thus, obacunone appears to have antifungal activity for C. albicans infection. This may possibly be mediated by the blockage of hyphal production.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2006

The production of extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamases ($ESBL_S$) is the main mechanism of bacterial resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and monobactams, whose prevalence varies depending on the different geographical areas. In the last years it has increased notably to the point of being considered a health problem of great importance. The characterization of the ESBLs producing Klebsiella penumoniae strains present in clinical isolates is time-consuming. I describe here the development of a new system, which consists of a multiplex PCR. I found 51 K. pneumoniae strains to be presumptive strains ESBLs producers by clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) guidelines. The double disc synergy test showed 47 positive K. pneumoniae, which were K. pneumoniae isolates. All ESBLs producing K. pneumoniae strains were resistant to antibiotic amikacin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. By multiplex PCR analysis, $bla_{TEM}$ gene in 17 strains 44 $bla_{SHV}$ genes and $bla_{CTX}$ genes in 33 strains were identified. In this study, the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was a good method to detect and differentiate ESBLs producing K. penumoniae strains in clinical isolates.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2011

This study investigated the fouling behavior of $Al_2O_3$ colloids on polyethylene microfiltration membrane. To examine the effect of operation variation on fouling, operating pressure was increased from 0.49 to 1.96 bar along with time elapses and then was reduced to 0.49 bar reversely. A hysteresis behavior was observed in the membrane permeate flux over pressure, revealing different fluxes at the same pressure according to the pressure control type, increasing and decreasing. Permeate resistance and its rate of increase was higher in the decreasing pressure cycle than in the increasing pressure cycle. At the initial period of filtration, fouling mechanism for the both cycles was governed by the cake filtration. The degree of fouling was higher in the decreasing pressure cycle compared with in the increasing pressure cycle.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.37-55
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• 2013

An important issue in the design of soil-nailing systems, as long-term retaining walls, is to assess their stability during seismic events. As such, this study is aimed at simulating the dynamic behavior and failure pattern of nailed structures using two series of numerical analyses, namely dynamic time history and pseudo-static. These numerical simulations are performed using the Finite Difference Method (FDM). In order to consider the actual response of a soil-nailed structure, nonlinear soil behaviour, soil-structure interaction effects, bending resistance of structural elements and construction sequences have been considered in the analyses. The obtained results revealed the efficiency of both analysis methods in simulating the seismic failure mechanism. The predicted failure pattern consists of two sliding blocks enclosed by three slip surfaces, whereby the bottom nails act as anchors and the other nails hold a semi-rigid soil mass. Moreover, it was realized that an increase in the length of the lowest nails is the most effective method to improve seismic stability of soil-nailed structures. Therefore, it is recommended to first estimate the nails pattern for static condition with the minimum required static safety factor. Then, the required seismic stability can be obtained through an increase in the length of the lowest nails. Moreover, placement of additional long nails among lowest nails in existing nailed structures can be considered as a simple retrofitting technique in seismic prone areas.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.27-29
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• 2004

Drug transporters play an essential role in the absorption, distribution and elimination of clinical drugs, nutrients and toxicants. The importance of the transporters is exampled by therapeutic failure in cancer chemotherapy that is mainly caused by the overexpression of multidrug resistance (MDR)-related transporters. In addition, the transporters may involve in drug-drug interactions that lead to serious adverse drug responses and some transporters also contribute to inter-individual variation in drug responses. As an effort to understand the mechanism underlying the inter-individual variation of transporters activity, genetic and environmental factors influencing the expression or function of the transporters have extensively explored through last decade. Among them, genetic polymorphism of drug transporter encoding genes has generated much interest since the discovery of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of MDR1 gene. Besides drug transporters, xenobiotic receptors also modulate drug disposition by regulating the transcription of drug metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters. Among many xenobiotic receptors, pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) are two most well characterized since these receptors show wide substrate specificities and regulate the expression of various enzymes involved in drug disposition. Recently, several functional genetic polymorphisms were reported in PXR coding gene. In the present study, genetic polymorphisms of two drug transporters, MDR1 and BCRP, and two xenobiotic receptors, PXR and CAR, were investigated in Korean population.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.33-40
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• 2012

Objectives: Existing cardiovascular simulators are used to evaluate artificial organs such as artificial hearts, prosthetic valves, and artificial blood vessels, and pulses are typically triggered using artificial hearts. However, the forms of pulse waves vary according to the location of arteries, and for precise assessment of artificial blood vessels, the development of simulators that generate diverse pressure pulse waves is necessary. This study developed a novel cardiovascular simulator that generates different forms of pulse waves. Methods: This simulator consists of a stepping motor, a slider-crank mechanism that transforms the rotation movement of a motor into the straight-line motion of a piston, a piston that generates pulsatile flows, a water tank that supplies fluids, an elastic tube made of silicon, and a device that adjusts the terminal resistance of fluids. Results & Conclusion: This study examined motor rotation and its operation under conditions similar to the physiological conditions of the heart. The simulator developed in this study produced diverse forms of waves, and the generated pressure waves well satisfied physiological conditions.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2017

ZnO nanowires were synthesized and annealed at various temperatures of $500-800^{\circ}C$ in oxygen atmosphere to investigate hydrogen gas sensing properties. The diameter and length of the synthesized ZnO nanowires were approximately 50-100 nm and a few $10s\;{\mu}m$, respectively. $H_2$ gas sensing performance of the ZnO nanowires sensor was measured with electrical resistance changes caused by $H_2$ gas with a concentration of 0.1-2.0%. The response of ZnO nanowires at room temperature to 2.0% $H_2$ gas is found to be two times enhanced by annealing process in $O_2$ atmosphere at $800^{\circ}C$. In the current study, the effect of heat treatment in $O_2$ atmosphere on the gas sensing performance of ZnO nanowires was studied. And the underlying mechanism for the sensing improvement of the ZnO nanowires was also discussed.