• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.74-81
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• 2020

Under physiological and pathological conditions, mechanical forces generated from cells themselves or transmitted from extracellular matrix (ECM) through focal adhesions (FAs) and adherens junctions (AJs) are known to play a significant role in regulating various cell behaviors. Substantial progresses have been made in the field of mechanobiology towards novel methods to understand how cells are able to sense and adapt to these mechanical forces over the years. To address these issues, this review will discuss recent advancements of traction force microscopy (TFM), intracellular force microscopy (IFM), and monolayer stress microscopy (MSM) to measure multiple aspects of cellular forces exerted by cells at cell-ECM and cell-cell junctional intracellular interfaces. We will also highlight how these methods can elucidate the roles of mechanical forces at interfaces of cell-cell/cell-ECM in regulating various cellular functions.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.350-353
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• 2005

Alanine at residue 73 (Ala-73) and aspartate at residue 9 (Asp-9) are characteristic to both Cw6 and Cw7 alleles of HLA-C gene and have been suggested as possible markers for psoriasis vulgaris (PsV). However, the results from various ethnic groups/populations are contradictory and inconclusive. In this study, an attempt has been made to examine the association between HLA-C (Ala-73 and Asp-9) and susceptibility to PsV among Saudi patients. Genomic DNA was extracted from 25 Saudi PsV patients and 75 control subjects. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify HLA-C sequences using earlier reported primers, C133P and C243PR. Sequence-specific primers were used to specifically detect nucleotide coding for Ala-73 and Asp-9 in all the subjects. The results showed significantly higher frequency of Asp-9 (84.0% versus 61.3%) in PsV patients as compared to controls (p < 0.05, 2-tailed Fisher's exact test). The frequencies of Ala-73 among PsV patients (92%) and controls (88%) did not differ significantly.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2002

Cellular DNA in prokaryotes is organized in nucleic acid-protein self-assemblies referred to as the nucleoid. The physical forces responsible for its stability inside the poor solvent properties of the cytoplasm and their functional implications are not understood. Studies on the organisation and functioning of the cytosol of cells largely rely on experimental protocols performed in highly dilute solutions using biochemically purified molecules, which is not a reliable substitute for the situation existing in vivo. Our current research interest is focused on the characterization of biological and physical forces determining the compaction and phase separation of DNA in Escherichia coli cytoplasm. We have emphasized the effect of excluded volume in solutions with high macromolecular concentrations (macromolecular crowding) upon self-association patterns of reactions. The prokaryotic cytosol was simulated by addition of inert polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG) (average molecular weight 20000), as an agent which afterwards facilitates the self-association of macromolecules. Fluorescence microscopy was used for direct visualization of nucleoids in intact cells, after staining with DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride). Addition of the crowding agent PEG 20,000, in increasing concentrations generated progressively enhanced nucleoid compaction, the effect being stronger in the presence of 0.2 M NaCl and 5 mM MgCl$\_$2/. Under these conditions, the nucleoids were compacted to volumes of around 2 ㎛$\^$3/ or comparable sizes with that of living cells.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.147-156
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• 2007

The orientation and deformation of polymer chains in a confined channel flow has been investigated. The polymer chain was modeled as a Finitely Extensible Nonlinear Elastic (FENE) dumbbell. The Brownian configuration field method was extended to take the interaction between the flow and local chain dynamics into account. Drag and Brownian forces were treated as anisotropic in order to reflect the influence of the wall in the confined flow. Both Poiseuille flow and 4 : 1 contraction flow were considered. Of particular interest was molecular tumbling of polymer chains near the wall. It was strongly influenced by anisotropic drag and high shear close to the wall. We discussed the mechanism of this particular behavior in terms of the governing forces. The dumbbell configuration was determined not only by the wall interaction but also by the flow type of the geometric origin. The effect of extensional flow on dumbbell configuration was also discussed by comparing with the Poiseuille flow.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4477-4487
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• 2015

In this review we summarize the results of studies employing high-throughput methods of profiling of HPV-associated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and squamous cell cervical cancers at key intracellular regulatory levels to demonstrate the unique identity of the landscape of molecular changes underlying this oncopathology, and to show how these changes are related to the 'natural history' of cervical cancer progression and the formation of clinically significant properties of tumors. A step-wise character of cervical cancer progression is a morphologically well-described fact and, as evidenced by genome-wide screenings, it is indeed the consistent change of the molecular profiles of HPV-infected epithelial cells through which they progressively acquire the phenotypic hallmarks of cancerous cells. In this sense, CIN/cervical cancer is a unique model for studying the driving forces and mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Recent research has allowed definition of the whole-genome spectrum of both random and regular molecular alterations, as well as changes either common to processes of carcinogenesis or specific for cervical cancer. Despite the existence of questions that are still to be investigated, these findings are of great value for the future development of approaches for the diagnostics and treatment of cervical neoplasms.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.901-906
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• 2018

Water and oxygen are two of the most essential molecules for many species on earth. Their unique properties have been studied in many areas of science. In this study, the interaction of water and oxygen molecules was observed at the nano-scale. Using molecular dynamics, a water droplet with 30,968 water molecules was simulated. Then, 501 oxygen molecules were introduced into the domain. A few oxygen molecules were attracted to the surface of the water droplet due to van der Waals forces, and some oxygen molecules actually entered the water droplet. These interactions were visualized and quantified at four temperatures ranging from 280 to 370 K. It was found that at high temperatures, there was a higher possibility of the oxygen molecules penetrating the water droplet than that at lower temperatures. However, at lower temperatures, oxygen molecules were more likely to be found interacting at the surface of the water droplet than at high temperatures.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.122-129
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• 1997

Machining technology has emerged to the point of performing atomic-scale fabrication. In tail paper atomic-scale machining characteristics are investigated by using Molecular Statics simulation method. The cutting model used in this work simulates machining with tools such as an AFM. It is shown that built-up edge formation and cutting forces depend on tool tip geometry. Also, the material flow during cutting is shown for various cutting conditions such as depth of cut, rake angle, and edge radius of tool.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.812-822
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• 2004

This paper shows that carbon nanotubes can be applied to a nanopipette. Nano space in atomic force microscope multi-wall carbon nanotube tips is filled with molecules and atoms with charges and then, the tips can be applied to nanopipette when the encapsulated media flow off under applying electrostatic forces. Since the nano space inside the tips can be refilled, the tips can be permanently used in ideal conditions of no chemical reaction and no mechanical deformation. Molecular dynamics simulations for nanopipette applications demonstrated the possibility of nano-lithography or single-metallofullerene-transistor array fabrication.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.320-328
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• 2008

We established a thermodynamic framework of group contribution method based on modified double lattice (MDL) model. The proposed model included the long-range interaction contribution caused by the Coulomb electrostatic forces, the middle-range interaction contribution from the indirect effects of the charge interactions and the short-range interaction from modified double lattice model. The group contribution method explained the combinatorial energy contribution responsible for the revised Flory-Huggins entropy of mixing, the van der Waals energy contribution from dispersion, the polar force, and the specific energy contribution from hydrogen bonding. We showed the solvent activities of various polymer solution systems in comparison with theoretical predictions based on experimental data. The proposed model gave a very good agreement with the experimental data.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.637-647
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• 2018

Extra-hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) plays an important role in reproduction. To study the treatment effect of Grin (a novel hGHRH homodimer), the infertility models of 85 male Chinese hamsters were established by intraperitoneally injecting 20 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide once in a week for 5 weeks and the treatment with Grin or human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) as positive control was evaluated by performing a 3-week mating experiment. 2-8 mg/kg of Grin and 200 U/kg of hMG showed similar effect and different pathological characteristics. Compared to the single cyclophosphamide group (0%), the pregnancy rates (H-, M-, L-Grin 26.7, 30.8, 31.3%, and hMG 31.3%) showed significant difference, but there was no difference between the hMG and Grin groups. The single cyclophosphamide group presented loose tubules with pathologic vacuoles and significant TUNEL positive cells. Grin induced less weight of body or testis, compactly aligned tubules with little intra-lumens, whereas hMG caused more weight of body or testis, enlarging tubules with annular clearance. Grin presented a dose-dependent manner or cell differentiation-dependentincrease in testicular GHRH receptor, and did not impact the levels of blood and testicular GH, testosterone. Grin promotes fertility by proliferating and differentiating primitive cells through up-regulating testicular GHRH receptor without triggering GH secretion, which might solve the etiology of oligoasthenozoospermia.