• Korean Membrane Journal
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.8-24
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• 1999

free volume in polymers is defined as the difference of the specific volume and the volume which is not available for the particular molecular motion which is responsible or the process that is considered . Relations between free volume and viscosity free volume and diffusion coefficient are pre-sented both in the case of simple low molecular weight liquids and in the case of polymers. Molecular models and free volume models are reminded starting from the equilibrium state equation of Simha and Somcynski. The non equilibrium situations of specific volume of glass polymers below Tg are shown introducing different relaxation volume equations which involve different material's parameters and con-cept of the fictitious temperature. The diffusivity equations of Vrentas and Duda are introduced both for the glassy and rubbery states. The possibility of introducing time relaxation functions is also suggested. The importance of finding experimental evidences of the free volume is stressed. highlights of the free volume measurement methods are given in particular as to dilatometry photocromy fluorescence electron spin resonance small angle X-ray scattering positron annihilation spectroscopy.

• BMB Reports
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.131-138
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• 2013

During cancer progression, bone marrow derived myeloid cells, including immature myeloid cells and macrophages, progressively accumulate at the primary tumour site where they contribute to the establishment of a tumour promoting microenvironment. A marked infiltration of macrophages into the stromal compartment and the generation of a desmoplastic stromal reaction is a particular characteristic of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and is thought to play a key role in disease progression and its response to therapy. Tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) foster PDA tumour progression by promoting angiogenesis, metastasis, and by suppressing an anti-tumourigenic immune response. Recent work also suggests that TAMs contribute to resistance to chemotherapy and to the emergence of cancer stem-like cells. Here we will review the current understanding of the biology and the pro-tumourigenic functions of TAMs in cancer and specifically in PDA, and highlight potential therapeutic strategies to target TAMs and to improve current therapies for pancreatic cancer.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.857-862
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• 2009

We model lattice-mismatched group III-V semiconductor $In_{x}Ga_{1-x}$ alloys with the three-parameter anharmonic Kirkwood-Keating potential, which includes realistic distortion effect by introducing anharmonicity. Although the potential parameters were determined based on optical properties of the binary parent alloys InAs and GaAs, simulated dielectric functions, reflectance, and Raman spectra of alloys agree excellently with experimental data for any arbitrary atomic composition. For a wide range of atomic composition, InAs- and GaAs-bond retain their respective properties of binary parent crystals despite lattice and charge mismatch. It implies that use of the anharmonic Kirkwood-Keating potential may provide an optimal model system to investigate diverse and unique optical properties of quantum dot heterostructures by circumventing potential parameter searches for particular local structures.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.95-104
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• 2015

The development of cancer has been an extensively researched topic over the past few decades. Although great strides have been made in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, there is still much to be learned about cancer's micro-environmental mechanisms that contribute to cancer formation and aggressiveness. Macrophages, lymphocytes which originate from monocytes, are involved in the inflammatory response and often dispersed to areas of infection to fight harmful antigens and mutated cells in tissues. Macrophages have a plethora of roles including tissue development and repair, immune system functions, and inflammation. We discuss various pathways by which macrophages get activated, various approaches that can regulate the function of macrophages, and how these approaches can be helpful in developing new cancer therapies.

• BMB Reports
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• 제54권2호
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• pp.89-97
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• 2021

Post-transcriptional regulation is an indispensable cellular mechanism of gene expression control that dictates various cellular functions and cell fate decisions. Recently, various chemical RNA modifications, termed the "epitranscriptome," have been proposed to play crucial roles in the regulation of post-transcriptional gene expression. To date, more than 170 RNA modifications have been identified in almost all types of RNA. As with DNA modification-mediated control of gene expression, regulation of gene expression via RNA modification is also accomplished by three groups of proteins: writers, readers, and erasers. Several emerging studies have revealed that dysregulation in RNA modification is closely associated with tumorigenesis. Notably, the molecular outcomes of specific RNA modifications often have opposite cellular consequences. In this review, we highlight the current progress in the elucidation of the mechanisms of cancer development due to chemical modifications of various RNA species.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.255-258
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• 1993

Molecular dynamics (MD) calculations were carried out in order to investigate the effect of MD cell size to predict the melting phenomena of A-type zeolite. We studied two model systems: a pseudocell of $(T_2O_4Na)_n$, (L= 12.264 $^{\AA}$, N= 84) and a true-cell of (SiAlO$_4Na)_n$. (L= 24.528 $^{\AA}$, N= 672), where T is Si or Al. The radial and bond angle distribution functions of T(Si, Al)-O-T(Si, Al) and diffusion coefficients of T and O were reported at various temperatures. For the true-cell model, the melting temperature is below 1500 K and probably around 1000 K, which is about 600-700 K lower than the pseudocell model. Although it took more time (about 30 times longer) to obtain the molecular trajectories of the true-cell model than those of the pseudocell model, the true-cell model gave more realistic structural transition for the A-type zeolite, which agrees with experiment.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.315-322
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• 1991

In a recent $paper^1$ we reported equilibrium (EMD) and non-equilibrium (NEMD) molecular dynamics simulations of liquid argon using the Green-Kubo relations and NEMD algorithms to calculate the thermal transport coefficients-the self-diffusion coefficient, shear viscosity, and thermal conductivity. The overall agreement with experimental data is quite good. In this paper the same technique is applied to calculate the thermal transport coefficients of liquid water at 298.15 K and 1 atm using TIP4P model for the interaction between water molecules. The EMD results show difficulty to apply the Green-Kubo relations since the time-correlation functions of liquid water are oscillating and not decaying rapidly enough except the velocity auto-correlation function. The NEMD results are found to be within approximately ${\pm}$30-40% error bars, which makes it possible to apply the NEMD technique to other molecular liquids.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.2-2
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• pp.188.2-188.2
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• 2003

Large-conductance $Ca^{2+}$ activated potassium channels $(BK_{ca})$ are widely distributed and play key roles in various cell functions. In nerve cells, B $K_{ca}$ channels shorten the duration of action potentials and block $Ca^{2+}$ entry thereby repolarizing excitable cells after excitation. $(BK_{ca})$ channel opening has been postulated to confer neuroprotection during stroke and has attracted attention as a means for therapeutic intervention in asthma, hypertension, convulsion, and traumatic brain injury. (omitted)

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.39.1-39.18
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• 2022

RNA metabolism plays a central role in regulating of T cell-mediated immunity. RNA processing, modifications, and regulations of RNA decay influence the tight and rapid regulation of gene expression during T cell phase transition. Thymic selection, quiescence maintenance, activation, differentiation, and effector functions of T cells are dependent on selective RNA modulations. Recent technical improvements have unveiled the complex crosstalk between RNAs and T cells. Moreover, resting T cells contain large amounts of untranslated mRNAs, implying that the regulation of RNA metabolism might be a key step in controlling gene expression. Considering the immunological significance of T cells for disease treatment, an understanding of RNA metabolism in T cells could provide new directions in harnessing T cells for therapeutic implications.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.100006.1-100006.10
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• 2024

Nitric oxide (NO) serves as an evolutionarily conserved signaling molecule that plays an important role in a wide variety of cellular processes. Extensive studies in Drosophila melanogaster have revealed that NO signaling is required for development, physiology, and stress responses in many different types of cells. In neuronal cells, multiple NO signaling pathways appear to operate in different combinations to regulate learning and memory formation, synaptic transmission, selective synaptic connections, axon degeneration, and axon regrowth. During organ development, elevated NO signaling suppresses cell cycle progression, whereas downregulated NO leads to an increase in larval body size via modulation of hormone signaling. The most striking feature of the Drosophila NO synthase is that various stressors, such as neuropeptides, aberrant proteins, hypoxia, bacterial infection, and mechanical injury, can activate Drosophila NO synthase, initially regulating cellular physiology to enable cells to survive. However, under severe stress or pathophysiological conditions, high levels of NO promote regulated cell death and the development of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, I highlight and discuss the current understanding of molecular mechanisms by which NO signaling regulates distinct cellular functions and behaviors.