• Title/Summary/Keyword: biological class

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Numerical Analysis of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Stack Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD를 이용한 용융탄산염 연료전지 스택의 수치모사)

  • Lee, Kab-Soo;Cho, Hyun-Ho
    • Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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    • v.8 no.4
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    • pp.155-161
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    • 2005
  • In this paper, commercial CFD program FLUENT v5.3 is used for simulation of MCFC stack. Besides using conservation equations included in FLUENT by default, mass change, mole fraction change and heat added or removed due to electrochemical reactions and water gas shift reaction are considered by adding several equations using user defined function. The stacks calculated are 6 and 25 kW class coflow stack which are composed of 20 and 40 unit cells respectively. Simulation results showed that pressure drop took place in the direction of gas flow, and the pressure drop of cathode side is more larger than that of anode side. And the velocity of cathode gas decreased along with the gas flow direction, but the velocity of anode gas increased because of the mass and volume changes by the chemical reactions in each electrodes. Simulated temperature profile of the stack tended to increase along with the gas flow direction and it showed similar results with the experimental data. Water gas shift reaction was endothermic at the gas inlet side but it was exothermic at the outlet side of electrode respectively. Therefore water gas shift reaction played a role in increasing temperature difference between inlet and outlet side of stack. This results suggests that the simulation of large scale commercial stacks need to consider water gas shift reaction.

A New Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor, MHY4381, Induces Apoptosis via Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species in Human Prostate Cancer Cells

  • Richa, Sachan;Dey, Prasanta;Park, Chaeun;Yang, Jungho;Son, Ji Yeon;Park, Jae Hyeon;Lee, Su Hyun;Ahn, Mee-Young;Kim, In Su;Moon, Hyung Ryong;Kim, Hyung Sik
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.184-194
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    • 2020
  • Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors represent a novel class of anticancer agents, which can be used to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in several types of cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of MHY4381, a newly synthesized HDAC inhibitor, against human prostate cancer cell lines and compared its efficacy with that of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a well-known HDAC inhibitor. We assessed cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, and other biological effects in the prostate cancer cells. We also evaluated a possible mechanism of MHY4381 on the apoptotic cell death pathway. The IC50 value of MHY4381 was lower in DU145 cells (IC50=0.31 µM) than in LNCaP (IC50=0.85 µM) and PC-3 cells (IC50=5.23 µM). In addition, the IC50 values of MHY4381 measured in this assay were significantly lower than those of SAHA against prostate cancer cell lines. MHY4381 increased the levels of acetylated histones H3 and H4 and reduced the expression of HDAC proteins in the prostate cancer cell lines. MHY4381 increased G2/M phase arrest in DU145 cells, and G1 arrest in LNCaP cells. It also activated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which induced apoptosis in the DU145 and LNCaP cells by increasing the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and releasing cytochrome c into the cytoplasm. Our results indicated that MHY4381 preferentially results in antitumor effects in DU145 and LNCaP cells via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and ROS-facilitated cell death pathway, and therefore can be used as a promising prostate cancer therapeutic.

The Evolution of Makeup Methods of Korean Women in Response to Changing Standards of Beauty in the Early 20th Century (20세기 초 미의식의 변화에 따른 국내여성들의 화장법)

  • Lee, Soon-Jae
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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    • v.34 no.8
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    • pp.1364-1377
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    • 2010
  • Although the human body is a biological subject with definite and distinctive physical features, its actualization and perception differs among societies. The aesthetics of the human body are based on diverse cultural perceptions that must be considered prior to design development. This study establishes the foundations of newly adopted concepts of beauty that are presumed to have been established in the first half of the twentieth century that continue to affect our mindset even now. The research includes human figures in the articles of women's magazines and cosmetic advertisements in the early $20^{th}$ century. The results are as follows: First, the change of perception in the human body: Instead of being a subject of preservation, the body has become a subject of sculpture with emphasis on health in the 1920's and on beauty in the 1930's. The recognition of the importance of the body has created intensive attention on physical training and an increased sense of hygiene. The body exposed to the public perceives itself through the eyes of others that alter one's own perception of oneself as well as become a target of evaluation. There is an additional emphasis on the exotic eroticism of a passive subordinate. Western culture became the standard for modernization along with the dissociation of traditional standards and values. Through the effect of education and western thinking, the awareness of women's rights and self-appreciation was developed. Second, ideal beauty can be summarized as follows: Unprocessed natural beauty was extolled as ideal in the 1920's, but the 1930's, it highlighted big eyes and an aquiline nose that are the characteristics of western women. Taking care of one's appearance was recognized as an important value for every social class. Cosmetics and skin care treatments promised soft and white skin. In contrast to western cosmetics, dark and shiny hair was highly favored. Exercising and traveling, differing seasonal and regional skin treatments were also widely accepted. In its initial stages, the research had originally assumed that the beginning of the twentieth century would be a time in which traditional concepts of beauty and new, westernized aesthetics coexisted. However, as the research progressed, it was clear that the idea of beauty had already adopted occidental ideals by that time. Thus, it seems necessary to continue the study on the shifting paradigms of beauty that must have occurred in the nineteenth and late twentieth century.

Prediction of the Variation in Annual Biomass of White Croaker Argyosomus argentatus in Korean Waters using Leslie Matrix (한국 연근해 보구치, Argyrosomus argentatus의 Leslie Matrix에 의한 자원변동 예측)

  • LEE Sung Il;ZHANG Chang Ik
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.34 no.5
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    • pp.423-429
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    • 2001
  • Prediction of the variation in annual biomass was conducted for the white croaker. Argyrosomus argentatus in Korean waters using leslie Matrix, based upon fishery data for the past 21 years and biological data, We used density-independent and density-dependent Leslie Matrix models. Similar parameters were estimated from two models except that the density-dependent model was influenced by the density effect variable, q(i,t), The eigenvalue of the white croaker population for the $1984\~1995$ period was estimated to be 0.8, indicating a declining pattern of the population. The survival rate of 0-th year class was calculated to be 0.00005. Based on the schedule of the age-specific survival rate and fecundity, the future biomass and catch was predicted for various levels of fishing mortalities (F), If F was set at 0.252/yr ($F_{35x}$) or 0.368/yr ($F_{0.1}$), the biomass and catch increased, and if F was set at 0.922 ($F_{current}$), the biomass and catch decreased, The fishing mortality at equilibrium was estimated to be 0.7/yr. Finally, the management strategy of the white croaker was discussed.

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G protein-coupled receptors in stem cell maintenance and somatic reprogramming to pluripotent or cancer stem cells

  • Choi, Hye Yeon;Saha, Subbroto Kumar;Kim, Kyeongseok;Kim, Sangsu;Yang, Gwang-Mo;Kim, BongWoo;Kim, Jin-Hoi;Cho, Ssang-Goo
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.68-80
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    • 2015
  • G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a large class of transmembrane receptors categorized into five distinct families: rhodopsin, secretin, adhesion, glutamate, and frizzled. They bind and regulate 80% of all hormones and account for 20-50% of the pharmaceuticals currently on the market. Hundreds of GPCRs integrate and coordinate the functions of individual cells, mediating signaling between various organs. GPCRs are crucial players in tumor progression, adipogenesis, and inflammation. Several studies have also confirmed their central roles in embryonic development and stem cell maintenance. Recently, GPCRs have emerged as key players in the regulation of cell survival, proliferation, migration, and self-renewal in pluripotent (PSCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs). Our study and other reports have revealed that the expression of many GPCRs is modulated during the generation of induced PSCs (iPSCs) or CSCs as well as during CSC sphere formation. These GPCRs may have crucial roles in the regulation of self-renewal and other biological properties of iPSCs and CSCs. This review addresses the current understanding of the role of GPCRs in stem cell maintenance and somatic reprogramming to PSCs or CSCs.

Physicochemical Characteristics of Fe3O4 Magnetic Nanocomposites Based on Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) for Anti-cancer Drug Delivery

  • Davaran, Soodabeh;Alimirzalu, Samira;Nejati-Koshki, Kazem;Nasrabadi, Hamid Tayefi;Akbarzadeh, Abolfazl;Khandaghi, Amir Ahmad;Abbasian, Mojtaba;Alimohammadi, Somayeh
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.49-54
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    • 2014
  • Background: Hydrogels are a class of polymers that can absorb water or biological fluids and swell to several times their dry volume, dependent on changes in the external environment. In recent years, hydrogels and hydrogel nanocomposites have found a variety of biomedical applications, including drug delivery and cancer treatment. The incorporation of nanoparticulates into a hydrogel matrix can result in unique material characteristics such as enhanced mechanical properties, swelling response, and capability of remote controlled actuation. Materials and Methods: In this work, synthesis of hydrogel nanocomposites containing magnetic nanoparticles are studied. At first, magnetic nanoparticles ($Fe_3O_4$) with an average size 10 nm were prepared. At second approach, thermo and pH-sensitive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide -co-methacrylic acid-co-vinyl pyrrolidone) (NIPAAm-MAA-VP) were prepared. Swelling behavior of co-polymer was studied in buffer solutions with different pH values (pH=5.8, pH=7.4) at $37^{\circ}C$. Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles ($Fe_3O_4$) and doxorubicin were incorporated into copolymer and drug loading was studied. The release of drug, carried out at different pH and temperatures. Finally, chemical composition, magnetic properties and morphology of doxorubicin-loaded magnetic hydrogel nanocomposites were analyzed by FT- IR, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: The results indicated that drug loading efficiency was increased by increasing the drug ratio to polymer. Doxorubicin was released more at $40^{\circ}C$ and in acidic pH compared to that $37^{\circ}C$ and basic pH. Conclusions: This study suggested that the poly (NIPAAm-MAA-VP) magnetic hydrogel nanocomposite could be an effective carrier for targeting drug delivery systems of anti-cancer drugs due to its temperature sensitive properties.

Three Non-Aspartate Amino Acid Mutations in the ComA Response Regulator Receiver Motif Severely Decrease Surfactin Production, Competence Development, and Spore Formation in Bacillus subtilis

  • Wang, Xiaoyu;Luo, Chuping;Liu, Youzhou;Nie, Yafeng;Liu, Yongfeng;Zhang, Rongsheng;Chen, Zhiyi
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.301-310
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    • 2010
  • Bacillus subtilis strains produce a broad spectrum of bioactive peptides. The lipopeptide surfactin belongs to one well-known class, which includes amphiphilic membrane-active biosurfactants and peptide antibiotics. Both the srfA promoter and the ComP-ComA signal transduction system are an important part of the factor that results in the production of surfactin. Bs-M49, obtained by means of low-energy ion implantation in wild-type Bs-916, produced significantly lower levels of surfactin, and had no obvious effects against R. solani. Occasionally, we found strain Bs-M49 decreased spore formation and the development of competence. Blast comparison of the sequences from Bs-916 and M49 indicate that there is no difference in the srfA operon promoter PsrfA, but there are differences in the coding sequence of the comA gene. These differences result in three missense mutations within the M49 ComA protein. RT-PCR analyses results showed that the expression levels of selected genes involved in competence and sporulation in both the wild-type Bs-916 and mutant M49 strains were significantly different. When we integrated the comA ORF into the chromosome of M49 at the amyE locus, M49 restored hemolytic activity and antifungal activity. Then, HPLC analyses results also showed the comA-complemented strain had a similar ability to produce surf actin with wild-type strain Bs-916. These data suggested that the mutation of three key amino acids in ComA greatly affected the biological activity of Bacillus subtilis. ComA protein 3D structure prediction and motif search prediction indicated that ComA has two obvious motifs common to response regulator proteins, which are the N-terminal response regulator receiver motif and the C-terminal helix-turn-helix motif. The three residues in the ComA N-terminal portion may be involved in phosphorylation activation mechanism. These structural prediction results implicate that three mutated residues in the ComA protein may play an important role in the formation of a salt-bridge to the phosphoryl group keeping active conformation to subsequent regulation of the expression of downstream genes.

Biotransformation of natural polyacetylene in red ginseng by Chaetomium globosum

  • Wang, Bang-Yan;Yang, Xue-Qiong;Hu, Ming;Shi, Li-Jiao;Yin, Hai-Yue;Wu, Ya-Mei;Yang, Ya-Bin;Zhou, Hao;Ding, Zhong-Tao
    • Journal of Ginseng Research
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    • v.44 no.6
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    • pp.770-774
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    • 2020
  • Background: Fermentation has been shown to improve the biological properties of plants and herbs. Specifically, fermentation causes decomposition and/or biotransformation of active metabolites into high-value products. Polyacetylenes are a class of polyketides with a pleiotropic profile of bioactivity. Methods: Column chromatography was used to isolate compounds, and extensive NMR experiments were used to determine their structures. The transformation of polyacetylene in red ginseng (RG) and the production of cazaldehyde B induced by the extract of RG were identified by TLC and HPLC analyses. Results: A new metabolite was isolated from RG fermented by Chaetomium globosum, and this new metabolite can be obtained by the biotransformation of polyacetylene in RG. Panaxytriol was found to exhibit the highest antifungal activity against C. globosum compared with other major ingredients in RG. The fungus C. globosum cultured in RG extract can metabolize panaxytriol to Metabolite A to survive, with no antifungal activity against itself. Metabolites A and B showed obvious inhibition against NO production, with ratios of 42.75 ± 1.60 and 63.95 ± 1.45% at 50 µM, respectively. A higher inhibitory rate on NO production was observed for Metabolite B than for a positive drug. Conclusion: Metabolite A is a rare example of natural polyacetylene biotransformation by microbial fermentation. This biotransformation only occurred in fermented RG. The extract of RG also stimulated the production of a new natural product, cazaldehyde B, from C. globosum. The lactone in Metabolite A can decrease the cytotoxicity, which was deemed to be the intrinsic activity of polyacetylene in ginseng.

A Study on Regulatory Law for Management System of Combined Medical Device (결합 의료기기 관리제도의 규제관련 법률에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Yong Jun;Choi, Mi Lim;Lee, Jeong Chan;Jung, Yong Gyu
    • Journal of Service Research and Studies
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.1-10
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    • 2014
  • According to recent trends in technological advances and globalization, medical device industry may improve the constitution to meet worldwide medical equipment management system. Also it is holding a strand of mitigation to reach the level of international regulation. In addition, recent legislation tends are to stay limited ranges of industry regulations at least and take as open attitude for integration of new technologies combined medical devices. A greater environmental risk is not likely to work in medical technology, Combinded medical device is used as close to zero risk in most of the human body, which is classified as Class 1. Even medical device such as little or no risk in handling, it is possible to minimize the unnecessary administrative power and a waste of time to occur. For the medical device may be improving people's choices and access, medical equipment operator is expanding to include dealers, because this will be exalted to particular area of the business of the company. In this paper, we investigate the legal prerequisites for the establishment of a medical device. And propose improved regulations in topics in order to facilitate the repair and distribution markets for fair trade.

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EVALUATION OF BIODEGRADABILITY, BIOCOMPATIBILITY AND TISSUE REGENERATIVE CAPACITY OF SYNTHETIC BIODEGRADABLE MEMBRANES IN BEAGLE DOGS (수종의 생분해성 차폐막의 생채분해도, 생채친화도 및 조직재생유도 능력에 관한 실험적 연구)

  • Seol, Y.J.;Kim, T.I.;Lee, J.I.;Bae, C.M.;Lee, S.J.;Chug, C.P.
    • Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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    • v.25 no.3
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    • pp.603-613
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    • 1995
  • The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate on the biodegradability, biocompatibility and tissue regenerative capacity of synthetic bioabsorbable membranes in beagle dogs. For animal study, 9 adult beagle dogs were used to examination, on the surgical implantation of membranes and histological analysis. In each animal, the 3rd and 4th premolars of the both sides of the mandible were selected as test teeth. Two types of bioresorbable membranes including "Guidor membrane", "S-membranes" were used to examining for biological activity, and also Gore-tex membranes was used for positive control. Surgically created defects were made in 2 premolars of both sides of the mandible at $3{\times}4mm^2$ in size and tested membranes were implanted in the defected area. A plaque control regimen was instituted with daily tooth brushing with a 0.1% chlorhexidine digluconate during experimental periods. All the experimental animals were sacrificed after 2, 4, and 8 weeks from surgery and undecalcified slides were prepared using the "sawing and grinding" technique described by Donath and Breuner". In biodegradability, all the membranes were started their biodegradation from two weeks after implantation and gradually demolished of their frame morphology from eight weeks. However, demolition of membranes in 8 weeks after implantation was highest in Guidor membranes and followed by S-membranes. Biocompatibilityof two kinds of biodegradable membranes including Guidor and S-mambrane were shown to be well tolerated to the surrounding tissue, and were minimal accumulation of inflammatory cell infiltration around the implanted membranes to compare with Gore-tex membrane. Regeneration of defected alveolar bone was initiated from two weeks of membrane implantation and new bone formation was gradually increased from that time. However, pattern of new bone formation on the defected areas of two kinds of biodegrable membranes was almost similar and quite competitive comparing with Gore-tex membrane. These results implicate that bioresorbable membranes should be highly useful tool for guided tissue regeneration of periodontal defects.

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