• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.104-112
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• 2012

Silica is one of the most abundant compounds found in nature. Immoderate exposure to crystalline silica has been linked to pulmonary disease and crystalline silica has been classified as a Group I carcinogen. Ultrafine (diameter <100 nm) silica particles may have different toxicological properties compared to larger particles. We evaluated the effect of ultrafine silica nanoparticles on mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC) and murine dendritic cell line, DC2.4. The exposure of dendritic cells (DCs) to ultrafine silica nanoparticles showed a decrease in cell viability and an induction of cell death in size- and concentration-dependent manners. In addition, in order to examine the phenotypic changes of DCs following co-culture with silica nanoparticles, we added each sized-silica nanoparticle along with GM-CSF and IL-4 during and after DC differentiation. Expression of CD11c, a typical DC marker, and multiple surface molecules such as CD54, CD80, CD86, MHC class II, was changed by silica nanoparticles in a size-dependent manner. We also found that silica nanoparticles affect inflammatory response in DCs in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we found that p38 and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation may be critical for the inflammatory response by silica nanoparticles. Our data demonstrate that ultrafine silica nanoparticles have cytotoxic effects on dendritic cells and immune modulation effects in vitro and in vivo.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 2012

The present study showed that Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-${\beta}_1$) can induce apoptosis of bovine mammary epithelial cells. This apoptosis was also observed with phosphorylation of Smad2/3 within 0.5-2 h. Afterwards the signal transferred into the nucleus. Moreover, intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration was significantly elevated as well as Caspase-3 activated and DNA lysised, thereby inducing the programmed cell death. This signaling pathway of TGF-${\beta}_1$ was blocked by SB-431542 ($10^{-2}{\mu}M$) via inhibiting ALK-5 kinase activity, which thus reversed the anti-proliferation and apoptosis effect of TGF-${\beta}_1$ in mammary epithelial cells. These results indicated that TGF-${\beta}_1$ induced apoptosis of bovine mammary epithelial cells through the ALK-5-Smad2/3 pathway, which plays an important role in inhibiting survival of mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ also played a critical role in TGF-${\beta}_1$-induced cell apoptosis.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.623-632
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• 2007

Thermosensitive nanoparticles were prepared via the self-assembly of two different $poly({\varepsilon}-caprolactone)$-based block copolymers of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-$poly({\varepsilon}-caprolactone)$ (PNPCL) and poly(ethylene glycol)-b-$poly({\varepsilon}-caprolactone)$ (PEGCL). The self-aggregation and thermosensitive behaviors of the mixed nanoparticles were investigated using $^1H-NMR$, turbidimetry, differential scanning microcalorimetry (micro-DSC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and fluorescence spectroscopy. The copolymer mixtures (mixed nanoparticles, M1-M5, with different PNPCL content) formed nano-sized self-aggregates in an aqueous environment via the intra- and/or intermolecular association of hydrophobic PCL chains. The microscopic investigation of the mixed nanoparticles showed that the critical aggregation concentration (cac), the partition equilibrium constants $(K_v)$ of pyrene, and the aggregation number of PCL chains per one hydrophobic microdomain varied in accordance with the compositions of the mixed nanoparticles. Furthermore, the PNPCL harboring mixed nanoparticles evidenced phase transition behavior, originated by coil to the globule transition of PNiPAAm block upon heating, thereby resulting in the turbidity change, endothermic heat exchange, and particle size reduction upon heating. The drug release tests showed that the formation of the thermosensitive hydrogel layer enhanced the sustained drug release patterns by functioning as an additional diffusion barrier.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.562-569
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• 2004

Self-assembling nanospheres of hydrophobized pullulan have been developed. Pullulan acetate (PA), as hydrophobized pullulan, was synthesized by acetylation. Carboxymethylated poly(ethylene-glycol) (CMPEG) was introduced into pullulan acetate (PA) through a coupling reaction using N, N'-dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC). A synthesized PA-PEG-PA (abbreviated as PEP) conjugate was confirmed by Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Since PEP conjugates have amphiphilic characteristics in aqueous solution, polymeric nanoparticles of PEP conjugates were prepared using a simple dialysis method in water. From the analysis of fluorescence excitation spectra primarily, the critical association concentration (CAC) of this conjugate was found to be 0.0063 g/L. Observations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the spherical morphologies of the PEP nanoparticles. The particle size distribution of the PEP conjugates was determined using photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and the intensity-average particle size was 193.3 ${\pm}$ 13.53 nm with a unimodal distribution. Clonazepam (CNZ), as a model drug, was easy to entrap into polymeric nanoparticles of the PEP conjugates. The drug release behavior was mainly diffusion controlled from the core portion.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 2009

We prepared norfloxacin (NFX)-incorporated polymeric micelle using poly ($\varepsilon$-caprolactone)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL/PEG, CE) diblock copolymers. Particle size was from 60 to 200 nm according to the PCL block length. Their critical association concentration (CAC) was decreased according to the increase of PCL block length. $^1H$-NMR study showed core-shell type micelle structures of CE diblock copolymers in the aqueous environment. Drug release from polymeric micelle was continued over 2 days. Duration of drug release was varied according to the PCL block length and drug contents. At antimicrobial activity test, polymeric micelle showed almost similar cytotoxicity compared to NFX itself.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.674-682
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• 2014

Four experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of fat-soluble vitamin administration to sows or newborn pigs on plasma vitamin status. In Exp. 1 and 2, a total of 24 and 43 newborn pigs were allotted to control and vitamin treatments (vitamin $D_3$ with variable addition of vitamins A and E) orally or by i.m. injection. In Exp. 3, pigs from Exp. 2 were allotted to 2 treatments (${\alpha}$vitamins $D_3$ and E in drinking water) for 14 d postweaning. In Exp. 4, twenty-four gestating sows were used for 2 treatments (${\pm}injection$ of a vitamin $D_3$/A/E product 2 wk prepartum). In Exp. 1 and 2, when vitamin $D_3$ was administrated orally or by i.m. injection on d 1 of age, pigs had increased plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH $D_3$) concentration 10 d after administration compared with control pigs (p<0.05). The injectable administration with vitamin $D_3$ and E was able to achieve higher plasma 25-OH $D_3$ (p<0.05) and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol (p<0.05) concentrations than oral administration. At weaning, the pigs in the injection group had higher plasma 25-OH $D_3$ concentration than those in the other groups in both studies (p<0.05). In Exp. 3, water supplementation of vitamin $D_3$ and E postweaning increased plasma 25-OH $D_3$ and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentrations at d 14 postweaning (p<0.01). In Exp. 4, when sows were injected with the vitamin $D_3$ product prepartum, serum 25-OH $D_3$ concentrations of sows at farrowing (p<0.01), and in their progeny at birth (p<0.01) and weaning (p<0.05) were increased. These results demonstrated that fat-soluble vitamin administration to newborn pigs increased plasma 25-OH $D_3$ concentration regardless of administration routes and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration by the injectable route, and that water supplementation of vitamin $D_3$ and E to nursery pigs increased plasma 25-OH $D_3$ and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentrations. Additionally, injecting sows with vitamin $D_3$ prepartum increased 25-OH $D_3$ in sows and their offspring. If continued research demonstrates that the serum levels of 25-OH $D_3$ are critical in weanling pigs, a variety of means to increase those levels are available to swine producers.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 1994

We have constructed a vertical gradient freeze (VGF) grower for GaAs single crystals 2 inch in diameter and have grown semi-insulating GaAs co-doped with Cr and In. For the co-doped crystal, the segregation coefficients of the dopants remain unchanged when compared to those doped with only Cr or In. The concentration of Cr and in atoms range from about $2{\Times}10_{16} to 3{imes}10^{17} cm^{-3}$ and $2{\Times}10^{19} to 3{\Times}10^{20} cm^{-3}$ at the seed to the tail part of the grown crystal, respectively. The averaged dislocation etch pit density is found to be less than $8000 cm^{-2}$ throughout the ingot. It is also found that there is some evidence of lattice hardening for the crystal in which the dislocation density is decreased to less than $1000 cm^{-2}$ as In concentration increases. The resistivity increases abruptly from $10^{-2}$ up to $10^8$ Ohm-cm, while the carrier concentration decreases from $10^{16}$ to $10^8 cm^{-3}$ along the growth direction of the GaAs crystal. Semi-insulating properties can be obtained above a critical concentration of Cr of about $6{\Times}10{^16} cm^{-3}$ in the crystal. The main deep levels existing in the GaAs: Cr,In sample are two electron traps at $E_C-0.81eV, E_C-0.35eV$, and two hole traps at $E_V+0.89eV, E_V+0.65eV$.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.151-159
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• 2006

In these days, the importance of sludge treatment is emerging due to the London Convention, so this study was conducted to propose the alternatives for the improved sludge treatment on the organic wastewater and sewage sludge with JAR test and settling column equipped with stirrer. The minimum coagulant dosage to earn the optimum sludge settling efficiency resulted from 200mg/l and each critical sludge settling interface showed no distinct difference when PAC was dosed over 200mg/l. Accordingly, Clarification Rate(CR) with 200mg/l dosage was calculated to CR=(Ho-Ht) / Ho=1-0.4=0.6 because the critical sludge settling height stopped at 0.4. The settling velocity of sludge interface was decreased with the increase of MLSS concentration but rather increased with MLSS concentration over 1,000mg/l. This resulted from positive effect of interacted coagulation for floc formation by transfer to the zone of compressed settling when MLSS concentration increased over 1,000mg/l. The settling velocity of sludge interface showed $28.66{\times}10^{-3}/min$ for average settling velocity of sewage sludge which is 6.7 times higher than $4.25{\times}10^{-3}/min$ for average settling velocity of organic wastewater sludge. The increasing rate of CR for organic wastewater activated sludge was higher than that of settling velocity under 200mg/l of PAC dosage but settling velocity was higher than CR over 200mg/l of PAC dosage. However, in case of sewage sludge, the differential rate of CR was low when PAC dosage was increased but the settling velocity was suddenly increased with over 200mg/l dosage. Therefore coagulation effect was more efficient to MLSS settling velocity rather than SS removal effect in the supernatant.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.18-38
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• 2002

A previous study on the model coatings based on latex-bound plastic pigment coatings (1) has been extended to latex-bound No. 1 clay, ultra-fine ground calcium carbonate (UFGCC), and clay-carbonate pigment mixture coatings, which are being widely used in the paper industry. The latex binder used was a good film-forming, monodisperse S/B latex or 0.15$\mu\textrm{m}$. No. 1 clay was representative of plate-like pigment particles, whereas UFGCC was of somewhat rounded rhombohedral pigment particlel. Both of them had negatively skewed triangular particle size distributions having the mean particle suet of 0.7${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and 0.6$\mu\textrm{m}$, respectively. Their packing volumes were found to be 62.5% and 657%, respectively. while their critical pigment volume concentrations (CPVC's) were determined to be 52.7% and 50.5% ( average of 45% caused by the incompatibility and 55.9% extrapolated) by coating porosity, respectively. Each pigment/latex coating system has shown its unique relationship between coating properties and pigment concentrations, especially above its CPVC. Notably, the clay/latex coating system hat shown higher coating porosity than the UFGCC/latex system at high pigment concentrations above their respective CPVC's. It was also found that their coating porosity and gloss were inter-related to each other above the CPVC's, as predicted by the theory. More interestingly, the blends of these two pigments have shown unique rheological and coating properties which may explain why such pigment blends are widely used in the industry. These findings have suggested that the unique structure of clay coatings and the unique high-shear rheology of ground calcium carbonate coatings can be judiciously combined to achieve superior coatings. Importantly, the low-shear viscosity of the blends was indicative of their unique packing and coating structure, whereas their high-shear rheology was represented by a common mixing rule, i.e., a viscosity-averaging. Transmission and scanning electron and atomic force microscopes were used to probe the state of pigment / latex dispersions, coating surfaces, freeze fractured coating cross-sections, and coating surface topography. These microscopic studies complemented the above observations. In addition, the ratio, R, of CPVC/(Pigment Packing Volume) has been proposed as a measure of the binder efficiency for a given pigment or pigment mixtures or as a measure of binder-pigment interactions. Also, a mathematical model has been proposed to estimate the packing volumes of clay and ground calcium carbonate pigments with their respective particle size distributions. As well known in the particle packing, the narrower the particle size distributions, the lower the packing volumes and the greater the coating porosity, regardless of particle shapes.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.585-600
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• 2007

The hydrologic cycle and BOD pollutant loads of all sub-watersheds were analyzed using HSPF (Hydrological Simulation Program-Fortran). At first, sensitivity analyses to water quantity (peak discharge and total volume) and quality (BOD peak concentrations and total loads) were conducted and some critical Parameters were selected. For more precise simulation, the study watershed was divided into four parts according to the landuse characteristics and used climate data and so calibrated and verified respectively. It was found that as the urban area ratio increases in the downstream direction, baseflow decreases (11.1 % $\rightarrow$ 5.0%) and the ratio of direct runoff volume(42.5 % $\rightarrow$ 56.9 %), BOD concentration (3.3 mg/L $\rightarrow$ 15.0 mg/L) and unit loads (55.4 kg/ha/year $\rightarrow$ 354.5 kg/ha/year) increase.