• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.115-123
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate the coordination patterns of the sternocleidomastoid and posterior cervical muscles in response to symmetrical and asymmetrical jaw functions in normal adults. Methods: Twenty-seven healthy volunteers (8 females, 19 males; mean age, $30.4{\pm}2.5$ years) participated in this study. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to record activities in the masseter, suprahyoid, sternocleidomastoid, and posterior cervical muscles at rest and during maximum tooth clenching, biting of a cotton roll with the anterior teeth, unilateral biting of a cotton roll with the posterior teeth, bilateral biting of cotton rolls with the posterior teeth, and jaw opening while seated. Normalized amplitude, activity indices, and asymmetry indices were compared between the muscles and the jaw tasks. Results: During symmetrical jaw functions (e.g., tooth clenching, biting with the anterior teeth, bilateral biting with the posterior teeth, jaw opening), the sternocleidomastoid and posterior cervical muscles showed elevated EMG amplitudes compared with the resting condition. The co-activation pattern of the sternocleidomastoid muscle was more pronounced than those of the posterior cervical muscles during these tasks. During asymmetrical jaw functions (e.g., unilateral biting with the posterior teeth), the ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid and masseter muscles showed higher contraction activity than did the contralateral muscles, but the contralateral posterior cervical muscles were more active than the ipsilateral muscles. Conclusions: The sternocleidomastoid and posterior cervical muscles were shown to be co-activated and coordinated anteroposteriorly or bilaterally according to symmetrical or asymmetrical jaw function. These results suggest an integrated neural control mechanism for the jaw and neck muscles, and provide further evidence supporting the intimate functional coupling between the trigeminal and cervical neuromuscular systems.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.37-42
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• 2003

In soldering of electronic packaging, the research on substituting lead-free solder materials for Pb-Sn alloys has become active due to environmental and health concerns over the use of lead. The reliability of the solder joint is very important in the development of solder materials and it is known that it is related to wettability of the solder over the substrate and microstructural evolution during soldering. It is also highly affected by type and extent of the interfacial reaction between solder and substrate and therefore, it is necessary to understand the interfacial reaction between solder and substrate completely. In order to predict the intermetallic compound (IMC) phase which forms first at the substrate/solder interface during the soldering process, a thermodynamic methodology has been suggested. The activation energy for the nucleation of each IMC phases is represented by a function of the interfacial energy and the driving force for phase formation. From this, it is predicted that the IMC phase with the smallest activation energy forms first. The grain morphology of the IMC at the solder joint is also explained by the calculations which use the energy. The Jackson parameter of the IMC grain with a rough surface is smaller than 2 but it is larger than 2 in the case of faceted grains.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2011

Nardostachyts chinensis (N. chinensis) belonging to the family Valerianaceae has been used to elicit stomachic and sedative effects. The MAPKs are serine/threonine kinases involved in the regulation of various cellular responses, such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The PKC also plays a key role in regulating the response of hematopoietic cells to both physiological and pathological inducers of proliferation and differentiation. This study investigated the signaling pathways on the U937 cell differentiation induced by N. chinensis. N. chinensis induced the differentiation of U937 cells, as shown by increased of differentiation surface antigen CD11b. Activation of ERK increased time-dependently in differentiation of U937 cells induced by N. chinensis, but activations of JNK and p38 were unaffected. Inhibitor of ERK (PD98059) significantly reduced CD11b expression induced by N. chinensis in U937 cells. In addition, N. chinensis increased protein level of PKC ${\beta}$I and PKC ${\beta}$II isoforms, but the protein level of PKC ${\alpha}$ and PKC ${\gamma}$was constant. PKC inhibitors (GF 109203X and H-7) inhibited U937 cell differentiation and the ERK activation induced by N. chinensis. These results indicated that PKC and ERK may be involved in U937 cell differentiation induced by N. chinensis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2016

The intestinal environment plays a critical role in maintaining swine health. Many factors such as diet, microbiota, and host intestinal immune response influence the intestinal environment. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) is an important apical brush border enzyme that is influenced by these factors. IAP dephosphorylates bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), unmethylated cytosine-guanosine dinucleotides, and flagellin, reducing bacterial toxicity and consequently regulating toll-like receptors (TLRs) activation and inflammation. It also desphosphorylates extracellular nucleotides such as uridine diphosphate and adenosine triphosphate, consequently reducing inflammation, modulating, and preserving the homeostasis of the intestinal microbiota. The apical localization of IAP on the epithelial surface reveals its role on LPS (from luminal bacteria) detoxification. As the expression of IAP is reported to be downregulated in piglets at weaning, LPS from commensal and pathogenic gram-negative bacteria could increase inflammatory processes by TLR-4 activation, increasing diarrhea events during this phase. Although some studies had reported potential IAP roles to promote gut health, investigations about exogenous IAP effects or feed additives modulating IAP expression and activity yet are necessary. However, we discussed in this paper that the critical assessment reported can suggest that exogenous IAP or feed additives that could increase its expression could show beneficial effects to reduce diarrhea events during the post weaning phase. Therefore, the main goals of this review are to discuss IAP's role in intestinal inflammatory processes and present feed additives used as growth promoters that may modulate IAP expression and activity to promote gut health in piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.334-342
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• 2013

Proteases and protease inhibitors play key roles in most physiological processes, including cell migration, cell signaling, and cell surface and tissue remodeling. Among these, the matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) pathway is one of the most efficient biosynthetic pathways for controlling the activation of enzymes responsible for protein degradation. This also indicates the association of MMPs with the maturation of spermatozoa. In an attempt to investigate the effect of MMP activation and inhibitors in cultures with various hormones during sperm capacitation, we examined and monitored the localization and expression of MMPs (MMP-2 and MMP-9), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-2 and TIMP-3), as well as their expression profiles. Matured spermatozoa were collected from cultures with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and Lutalyse at 1 h, 6 h, 18 h, and 24 h. ELISA detected the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-2, and TIMP-3 in all culture media, regardless of medium type (FSH-supplemented fertilization Brackett-Oliphant medium (FFBO), LH-supplemented FBO (LFBO), or Lutalyse-supplemented FBO (LuFBO)). TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 expression patterns decreased in LFBO and LuFBO. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in FBO and FFBO progressively increased from 1 h to 24 h but was not detected in LFBO and LuFBO. The localization and expression of TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 in sperm heads was also measured by immunofluorescence analysis. However, MMPs were not detected in the sperm heads. MMP and TIMP expression patterns differed according to the effect of various hormones. These findings suggest that MMPs have a role in sperm viability during capacitation. In conjunction with hormones, MMPs play a role in maintaining capacitation and fertilization by controlling extracellular matrix inhibitors of sperm.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2007

Background: Cordyceps militaris have been reported to modify the immune and inflammatory responses both in vivo and in vitro. Macrophages play important roles in the innate immunity through the phagocytosis of antigens. This study examined the effects of Cordyceps militaris on the activation of murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and primary macrophages. Methods: The components contained in culture broth of Cordyceps militaris were purified by propyl alcohol extraction and HP 20 column chromatography to CMDB, CMDBW, CMDB5P, and CMDB25P. The amounts of nitric oxide (NO) were determined by using ELISA, Griess reagent respectively. The amounts of some cytokines were determined by using ELISA, western blot, and RT-PCR The expression levels of cell surface molecules (ICAM-1, B7-1 and B7-2) were measured by flow cytometric analysis. Results: All the components of Cordyceps militaris produced significant amounts of NO. In particular, CMDB produced much more NO in RAW 264.7 cells and primary macrophages than other fractions of Cordyceps militaris. CMDB increased significantly the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-1${\beta}$, and IL-6 dose-dependently in RAW 264.7 cells. Examination of the gene expression level also showed that the enhanced production of cytokines was correlated with the up-regulation of i-NOS expression, cycloxygenase (COX)-2 expression, IL-1${\beta}$ and IL-6 expression, and TNF-${\alpha}$ expression on the expression of mRNAs by semi-quantitative RT-PCR Western blot analysis also confirmed that CMDB enhances the expression level of these cytokines. Conclusion: These results show that CMDB stimulates the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines and can also up-regulate the gene expression levels in macrophages.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.177-193
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• 2003

Objective : The present studies investigated the effects of 120Hz high frequency electroacupunctue(EA) on the stress-induced stomach dysfunction in relation to its effect on the level of stress hormone and gastric mucosal damages. The gastric mucosal injury was induced by cold-restraint stress and two acupoints corresponding to Zusanli and Sanyinjiao in man were used. Methods: Cold-restraint stress produced typical gastric lesions in all rats of the stressed groups, but he number of ulcers as well as the mean ulcer diameter were reduced by 120 Hz EA pre-treatment. The cold-restraint stress also induced an increase in catecholamine response involving epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine, but an slight decline were observed in EA pre-treated rats compared with cold-restrained rats. Results: The degranulation value of gastric mast cell was significantly higher in cold-restrained rats than in control ones. However, with the significant reduction of degranulation values of gastric mast cells in EA pre-treated rats compared with cold-restrained ones, $PGE_2$ content in the gastric mucosa of EA pre-treated rats was also different from that observed in cold-restrained rats. Cold-restraint stress induced an elevated mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory gene such as cyclooxygenases-2 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-${\alpha}$, but these expression were down-regulated in EA pre-treated rats. Immunohistochemecal analysis showed that while the inhibitory-${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ an TNF-${\alpha}$ immunoreaction in the surface epithelium of the stomach tended to increase, both reactions in the EA pre-treated rats showed similar pattern as observed in controls. Conclusions : These results suggest that 120 Hz EA may act as a therapeutical means for gastric mucosal damages through a activation of pituitary adrenal system. it could be concluded that 120 hz high frequency electroacupuncture affords a good protective potential against stress-induce gastrointestinal dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.257-263
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• 2006

We have investigated the effect of silver added to Cu films on the microstructure evolution, resistivity, surface morphology, stress relaxation temperature, and adhesion properties of Cu(Ag) alloy thin films deposited on Mo glue layer upon annealing. In addition, pure Cu films deposited on Mo has been annealed and compared. The results show that the silver in Cu(Ag) thin films control the grain growth through the coarsening of its precipitates upon annealing at $300^{\circ}C{\sim}600^{\circ}C$ and the grain growth of Cu reveals the activation energy of 0.22 eV, approximately one third of activation energy for diffusion of Ag dopant along the grain boundaries in Cu matrix (0.75 eV). This indicates that the grain growth can be controlled by Ag diffusion along the grain boundaries. In addition, the grain growth can be a major contributor to the decreased resistivity of Cu(Ag) alloy thin films at the temperature of $300^{\circ}C{\sim}500^{\circ}C$, and decreases the resistivity of Cu(Ag) thin films to $1.96{\mu}{\Omega}-cm$ after annealing at $600^{\circ}C$. Furthermore, the addition of Ag increases the stress relaxation temperature of Cu(Ag) thin films, and thus leading to the enhanced resistance to the void formation, which starts at $300^{\circ}C$ in the pure Cu thin films. Moreover, Cu(Ag) thin films shows the increased adhesion properties, possibly resulting from the Ag segregating to the interface. Consequently, the Cu(Ag) thin films can be used as a metallization of advanced TFT-LCDs.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.940-958
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to analyze the kinematic and kinetic characteristics of two horticultural activities: seed sowing and planting plant. Thirty-one male university students (aged $26.2{\pm}2.0years$) participated in this study. Kinematic factors (movement times, peak velocity, joint angles, and grasp patterns) were assessed using a three-dimensional motion analysis system while the subjects performed the horticultural activities. Kinetic factors (muscle activation of eight upper-limb muscles: the anterior deltoid, serratus anterior, upper trapezius, infraspinatus, latissimus dorsi, biceps brachii, brachioradialis, and flexor carpi radialis) were assessed using surface electromyography. The acts of seed sowing and planting plant were comprised of five tasks which included six types of phases: reaching, grasping, back transporting, forward transporting, watering, and releasing. The movement times, peak velocity, joint angles, and grasp patterns were significantly different across the tasks involved in the horticultural activities. All eight muscles of the upper limbs were utilized during the horticultural activities, and the muscle activation of the serratus anterior was the highest compared to that of the other muscles tested. The kinematic and kinetic characteristics of these horticultural activities showed similar characteristics to reaching and grasping rehabilitation training and daily living activities. The present study provides reference data for common horticultural activities using a kinematic and kinetic analysis.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find out the effects on muscle activations of serratus anterior and upper trapezius muscles when push-up plus exercise togu applied differently depending on the body part. Method : Thirty six volunteers took part in this study and we divided into three groups(upper arm togu group 12, leg togu group 12, upper arm-leg togu group 12). Each experimental group performed push-up plus exercise. All volunteers received a total of 18 exercise session over a 6 week period (three times per week). Exercise program was composed of serratus anterior and upper trapezius push-up plus exercise. Then we measured muscle activation of scapular stabilizer by electromyography. Repeated ANOVA was used to examine the effects of the intervention on each outcome measure. Result : After the six week intervention, there was a significant difference between the pre and 6 week in serratus anterior and upper trapezius muscle activity(p<0.05). After the six week intervention, there was a significant difference among the three group in serratus anterior muscle activity but no significant difference in upper trapezius muscle activity(p>.05). Conclusion : Serratus anterior and upper trapezius showed high muscle activity during push-up plus exercise. Therefore have a positive impact of scapular stabilizer. The larger the area of the unstable support surface, the larger muscle activity was larger of variation quantity.